tyrs,
confessors, hermits, popes, and bishops, and large bands of religious
of both sexes--in one word, the entire army of the blessed--appeared before
him. All bore on their heads triumphal crowns, and the flowers of their
crowns differed in form, in colour, in odour, and in perfection,
according to the difference of the sufferings, labours and victories
which had procured them eternal glory. Their whole life, and all their
actions, merits, and power, as well as all the glory of their triumph,
came solely from their union with the merits of Jesus Christ.

The reciprocal influence exercised by these saints upon each other,
and the manner in which they all drank from one sole Fountain--the
Adorable Sacrament and the Passion of our Lord--formed a most touching and
wonderful spectacle. Nothing about them was devoid of deep meaning,--their
works, martyrdom, victories, appearance, and dress,--all, though
indescribably varied, was confused together in infinite harmony and
unity; and this unity in diversity was produced by the rays of one
single Sun, by the Passion of the Lord, of the Word made flesh, in whom
was life, the light of men, which shined in darkness, and the darkness
did not comprehend it.

The army of the future saints passed before the soul of our Lord,
which was thus placed between the desiring patriarchs, and the
triumphant band of the future blessed, and these two armies joining
together, and completing one another, so to speak, surrounded the
loving Heart of our Saviour as with a crown of victory. This most
affecting and consoling spectacle bestowed a degree of strength and
comfort upon the soul of Jesus. Ah! He so loved his brethren and
creatures that, to accomplish the redemption of one single soul, he
would have accepted with joy all the sufferings to which he was now
devoting himself. As these visions referred to the future, they were
diffused to a certain height in the air.

But these consoling visions faded away, and the angels displayed
before him the scenes of his Passion quite close to the earth, because
it was near at hand. I beheld every scene distinctly portrayed, from
the kiss of Judas to the last words of Jesus on the cross, and I saw in
this single vision all that I see in my meditations on the Passion. The
treason of Judas, the flight of the disciples, the insults which were
offered our Lord before Annas and Caiphas, Peter's denial, the tribunal
of Pilate, Herod's mockery, the scourging and