Aleydis of Scharembeke

ON B. ALEYDIS OF SCHAREMBEKE, NUN OF THE CISTERCIAN ORDER,

AT CAMERA NEAR BRUSSELS.

A.D. MCCL.

PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.

On the title of Saint or Blessed, generally ascribed.

Aleydes of Scharembeka, Cistercian Nun, at Camera near Brussels (B.)

G. H.

Brussels, a most noble city of Brabant,

has in the vicinity, on the way to Vilvorde, the village of Scharembeke, commonly Scarbekæ, whence the above-titled Virgin took her name, and perhaps her origin. To the same city also is nearest at the entrance of the Soniacan forest, Memory in the Fasti Camera S. Mariæ, a monastery of Cistercian nuns, founded about the year MCC, as we have more amply set forth on XIX February, at the Life of B. Boniface Bishop of Lausanne, resting in the same place. To that day Molanus, in the Birthdays of Saints of Belgium, after the elogium of the said Boniface, adds these: "There likewise, on the feast of S. Barnabas, the death of Aleidis of Scarenbeka, Nun, leper, in the Jubilee year MCCL. Whose virtues and merits, visitations and miracles, cannot to the full be explained." In the same manner on the said day Miræus in the Belgic and Burgundian Fasti writes these things: "In the same convent in the year MCCL died B. Aleidis of Scarebeke, Nun, leper, whose merits and miracles are read in the monastery of Rouge-Cloître, Life written by a contemporary in John Gilleman in the Hagiology of Brabant." Although the Author nowhere indicates himself, in number 34 however he alleges a vision, made at the very time of death, to a certain person still living in body; and by that indicates that he too lived in the XII century: but the style refers a Cistercian Monk; and perhaps he was Confessor of the monastery, who however preferred to conceal both himself and the cause of his knowledge from which he wrote.

[2] We give the same Acts from the said Mss. of the monastery of Rouge-Cloître, of Corsendonc in Campine, and of Louvain of S. Martin, everywhere of Canons Regular: it is given from Mss. in which codices only indeed the title of Venerable is given to her; but generally in the text "Saint Aleydis" is called n. 21, 23, 29, 33, 34; "Blessed and Saint" absolutely n. 29 and 34; "holy Virgin", n. 16. The same Acts Chrysostom Henriquez edited, among the five prudent Virgins of the Cistercian Order, and on each page repeated the title "Blessed Aleydis." John d'Assignies also edited the same Life in French, among the Lives of the Saints, men and women, of the Cistercian Order, from fol. 309, Name of Saint and Blessed. with the title "Saint Aleidis of Scarembeke." So also Angelus Manrique, in the Evangelical Laurel published in Spanish, book 3 discourse 7 §3, treats of the Saints of the Cistercian Order; and folio 255, "S. Aleyda," he says, "nun of our Order on the XI day of June": and citing Brito tom. 1 book 6 ch. 19, he asserts, that this one is ascribed among the Saints of the Order to the Blessed; and that on account of the epistle of Guafred of Villiers to Ida the nun. Her memory on this XI June is celebrated in the Ms. Florarium, likewise in Menardus, Henriquez, Chalemot, Bucelinus: and these four honor her with the title of Blessed; but on the day following XII June, the same is referred by Raïss in the Auctarium to the Births of Molanus, and Benedict Dorganius in the Benedictine Calendar: and by this one also S. Aleidis is called Virgin.

[3] Simon Peyronet, Presbyter at Toulouse, in the Notes to the holy Gallo-Latin Onomasticon p. 455 with great praise mentions this Virgin, French name Alix. and indicates that in French she is called Alix, and thence he believes are taken the names Alize, Alizon, and Alizette, and also Lizette by aphæresis of the first syllable; all however are supposed to be for the same name, which Latin writers express by the words Adela, Adelaidis, Aleydis, and Aletha. Otherwise I do not dissemble, that among the Nuns of that place scarcely any memory of this Blessed Sister survives, much less cult: so that it is to be desired that her sacred body by some divine providence be brought to light, and with due honor translated, that it may resuscitate the memory of so great virtue by daily sight.

LIFE

By a Cistercian author of the same age.

From three Ms. codices.

Aleydes of Scharembeka, Cistercian Nun, at Camera near Brussels (B.)

BHL Number: 0264

FROM MSS.

PROLOGUE.

[1] The deeds of the Saints are not to be kept silent, Since a new and unheard matter, newly recited in the ears of the multitude, by the human kind, not by proper nature, but by drawn-out carelessness, prone rather to condemn than to indulge, is wont to be judged in multiple ways; we suppose that not a few things for the fortification of men, against the most wicked cunning of demons, should be brought into light; in the manner of a candle, useless unless it burns, suffocated under the bushel of silence. But although the faithful one is an odor of life to some, but to some an odor of death; of life indeed to those, who solicitously gaze at the life of the faithful for the rectitude of faith and morals to be imitated; but of death to those, who for defense of the error of body and heart contumaciously despise the just one's life with manners; not therefore, because spiritual food is withdrawn from the polluted and unbelieving, lacking the savor of all goods; therefore even the faithful, to whom all foods are clean, are to be held to be deprived of the spiritual exemplar of goods. Therefore, not fearing the bites of detractors, but rather loving the courses of those advancing; as far as the smallness of our small ingenuity permits, let us bring into the midst the Life of Lady Aleydis of Scharembeke of good memory: because of these some do not advance. to whose example let us firmly stand, lest falling down, clinging to earth through the love of temporal things, we be polluted: to whose purity of merit, let us wipe ourselves, lest we grow filthy with the dust of inane thoughts, declining the mind to the lowest: to whose sight let us see ourselves, nor curiously bend the eye of intention to inane studies.

ANCIENT DIVISION.

CHAPTER I.

Education: monastic life: illustrious virtues: miracles.

[2] The aforesaid Lady therefore was, from the beginning of her first age, amiable and graceful to the sight of all; yet not in the manner of Dinah, Modestly educated less cautiously tracking the beauty of other women, did she go out into the streets; but in the manner of the Mother of God, dwelling within her chamber and nourishing grace, she always remained at home. Therefore the seventh year of her life's course completed, in which she was preserved under the guard of her parents; secular pomp left, fearing to be polluted by it; the monastery which is called Camera S. Mariæ, of the Cistercian Order, she happily entered: and there given to literary studies, not only of her contemporaries, seven years old entered the monastery, eminently advances: but even of more mature years, with the light of true wisdom infused from above, in a short time she excelled. For God the Father of lights, from whom is every best gift, had given her sense capable in all things, easy intellect, tenacious memory, grace in conversation, efficacy in work, in beginnings effect, in studies advance. With these gifts therefore growing in her more and more, indeed herself through these progressing, and directing her acts from virtue to virtue; knowing, that if study does not advance, it quickly fails; with the discipline of the body and strict guard of the heart, of which one without the other cannot be well observed, she came to more mature years.

[3] Wishing therefore the aforesaid Lady Aleydis to place a stable and firm foundation for her edifice, lest by the assault of anyone, founded in humility and the fear of the Lord, the things superbuilt should threaten ruin to the bystanders; with provident circumspection humility (as a most safe tower, by which she might prevent enemies, coming from afar, from approaching the citadel of her own conscience; and might suppress the domestic enemies, rarely failing from their assault) she claimed for herself as foundation. The foundation therefore laid, she strove to superbuild not mediocre edifices, but understanding from Scripture, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; by right investigation of reason she strove to apply it to humility. Ps. 110:10 For fear surrounds all the corners of conscience; purges all the chinks of impurity both of heart and of mind; and through its virtue anyone is rooted in the true knowledge of himself. From it indeed is born confusion of past things, groan of present, labor and lament of future: hence proceeds the hope of pardon, namely the lightening of labor and punishment, and the consolation of eternal glory.

III

[4] By fear therefore in all things humbled and contrite, she is drawn into the love of God: she strove to embrace the true love of God with the inmost bowels: who armed her, that she might be able to stand against the snares of the devil, by wisely instructing. For through it she powerfully commanded the senses of her body, drawing them back from unlawful things, and polishing herself to the line of rectitude. Through the virtue of this every hour was brief to her, every labor seemed light to her. In regard to it every transitory thing quickly grew vile to her, and to every good work she showed herself expedite. On account of this all visible things, unless using them for the sole necessity of the body, she rejected, and all adversities brought upon her she patiently sustained. O how often she cried to her Spouse with Rachel, saying: "Give me children, otherwise I shall die"; because truly hope that is deferred afflicts the soul, and nothing so affects it as impatient desire. Wounded therefore in a way by the odor of this sweetness and burning desire, and drawing groans and sighs, she marveled (nor does it suffice to marvel) what the fruit of the land of promise would be to taste, whose flowers' inestimable odor presented to her memory inestimable amenity.

[5] By the light of truth, the heart thus shining, and lifting the edge of the eyes upward, within and outside she exercises holy works: she now strove through love to bring forth, what she had previously conceived through knowledge; now she tried through affection to feel, by which understanding she had previously been borne pregnant; now to the obedience of this love she felt herself so wholly given and poured out, that to no command coming from elsewhere could she submit her shoulder to bear. Therefore while she felt herself entangled in such appetite, and more vehemently urged by the goad of desire; for the bridechamber of her Spouse she adorned her face, within and without decorated herself: within by tribulations she associated herself to God, without with labors she subjugated her body: within by a shower of tears and watchful recollection of her own infirmity, and the delay of the vision of divine glory, she continually flowed; and to produce fruits, apt for refreshing the soul, at all time she watered the conscience. Outside the necessity of all the neighbors, inside pusillanimity, strongly distressed her: for she was the consoler of all, the refresher of individuals. With inmost bowels compassionate to the wretched, she patiently sustained the infirmities of others; she did not return turns for injury done to her. Within she shone clinging to the image of God, which she bore in her heart; to whose sight outside at every hour, in gesture and habit she strove to present herself. Outside benign, social, meek, peaceful, common also she showed herself to all; within to the divine majesty and God's ordination she poured herself wholly. Within burning and kindled with the fire of chastity, outside shining and producing the fruit of birth: for she knew that idleness is enemy to the soul: therefore to every good work expeditely and prepared she directed her steps. No space, no hour beyond the custom of the moderns she idly neglected; for either within she had leisure for divine meditation, or outside she expended zeal to work or to edifying speech. But alas! the stones of the sanctuary are scattered through the streets, and there is none who gathers them up. The discourse of divine eloquence, namely the chosen fodder of the soul, generates fastidium for the moderns; and the deeds of the earthly, fable and lie, it delights to hear. She had heard in the Gospel, that the Lord with three disciples ascended a mountain; whose footsteps desiring to imitate

that she might attain the summit of the mountain of God, she joined the zeal of work and also of meditation to prayer: many things indeed she found by giving leisure to work, more however she perceived by clinging to reason, but greatest of all by insisting on prayer. So devoutly and humbly did she implore the divine clemency, that to her prayers God inclined himself from heaven. She recognized herself guilty and culpable to God, wherefore with head bowed she always walked. Curiosity of clothes always displeased her, with obedience she applied herself to mature stability.

[6] everywhere modest, devout, In her infirmity she was burdensome to no one: but to each and all was gracious. To the requirement of time and disposition of place in all things she conformed. In the refectory temperate, modest, and bashful; not fluctuating curiously with the gaze of the eyes, but everywhere simple, with bowed face she showed herself. In the cloister exemplary, not wandering around seeking diverse places, she gave heed to reading. In the church devout, wholly poured out to God, and prudent. watching with pure intention of mind over the divine offices, and intent on prayer. In the dormitory quiet, using no insolence, by which the rest of others could be hindered. In labor strenuous, strong, and prepared, never having leisure for idleness. In conversation socially provident and affable, cheerful and desirable to all, she used few and reasonable words. To derisive or laugh-moving words, boastful or swelling, showing dissolution or levity, or detractive, or reprehensible, she did not open her mouth: but her edifying discourse, the word refreshing the languid soul, presenting nothing of reproach in itself, with humility of soul flowed from her mouth. But to what do I consume time in vain labor, insisting on the explanation of her individual virtues? when I see the matter undertaken plainly to exceed the pusillanimity of my powers, even for the publication of her virtue alone; when individual virtues in her were patently ordained, and I do not know myself sufficient to execute the due material? Otherwise all the eructations of her heart, the explanations of her speech, the operations of her hands, the augmentations of other virtues, she did not subject to human judgment; but as penetratingly as she could, sincerely desiring to please God. lest any spots however small, namely a mixture of human praise, should defile, she performed all things, and at every hour and moment to the divine sight, through the Angel deputed to her, she labored solicitously to present them.

[7] Although, dearest ones, the virtues and merits, visitations and miracles, Among the miracles which to the life of Lady Aleydis as a mirror for the human race are to be attributed, the individual ones cannot to the full be explained; yet I do not suspect all should be kept silent: but rather on account of the matter of virtue to be exercised, the matter to be held more amply, some I think should be publicly recited. At the time indeed of the ninth year of the aforesaid Lady, when on a certain day at the hour of Compline, she joined the rest psalming in the choir; it happened that the candle, by which they were seeing, by chance slipped from the dark-lantern, and was wholly deprived of the office of light. Which taken up, the said little girl, she finds the extinguished candle lit in her hand: as always girded according to her custom and prepared for all things, that she might light it took up the way. But by God's disposition, who was about to kindle her with the light of his brightness, and who wished to spare the tenderness of his beloved; while she was still laboring on the way, she found the candle in her hand glowing red with fire.

[8] So solicitously and intently, at every hour and moment, did she sigh for divine contemplation; that not only was she content with daily contemplative enjoyment of God; but also while she committed her members to sleep, and her eyes took sleep, by the sight of a dream in the church, in the accustomed manner, with vigilant heart, she directed her prayers to God. Of which in the Canticle of canticles: "I sleep, and my heart watches." Cant. 5:2 From which custom it happened, during contemplation she beholds a golden Cross, that when on one occasion through a nocturnal vision she stood before a certain altar, and poured out her mind to divine things with sighs and groans more abundantly; she merited to behold more evidently a golden cross, sent from heaven to her by a cord. The vision and the transmission of this cross similarly, not unduly demonstrates to us the Passion of the Lord, which in the manner of the Spouse she bore as a bundle of myrrh between her breasts; and that with the affliction of heart and body, with martyrdom consummated in her, she presented herself as a Martyr to God.

ANNOTATIONS OF G.H.

CHAPTER II.

Separated on account of leprosy; she is illustrated by various consolations and visitations. She helps souls in purgatory.

VII

VIII

[9] After these things, when she grew in years by augmentation of virtues, and yet by discretion of virtues surpassed the number of years; God willing, the future vessel of his election, to be entirely purged from all temporal noise and the pollution of this age; not however for the fault or punishment of some crime, but by way of visitation and in the manner of a spouse, giving his bride the earnest in sign of perfect love; that she might more freely have leisure for God alone, That she might have leisure for God alone, and within the chamber of her mind, as in a bridal chamber to dwell with him, and desiring his spouse to be intoxicated with the sweetness of his odor; with an incurable disease, desirable to few, namely leprosy, gravely struck her. struck with leprosy On the first night of her separation from the Community, the contagious nature of her disease requiring, she was afflicted with such grief of soul, she is separated, with great sadness of the convent she was crushed with such grave wound of heart, that by mental consternation she was compelled to lie under for the defection of spirit. But how great sadness do you think the whole Convent was affected with, when from the brightness of so great a light it saw itself deprived, and from a consolation so useful made destitute.

[10] Returning therefore the said Saint to the accustomed solaces of the heart, being mindful of God, she was delighted and consoled: to whose feet with devout prayers with a shower of tears she fled, seeking to be refreshed. To his handmaid's humility the pious Lord looking with eyes of mercy, deigned to refresh her sweetly. She is fostered with the greatest consolation from heaven, For the tempest was calmed and tranquility given, and peace restored to the heart. With such great sweetness of odor she was soon divinely suffused, with such great delights as if with the pleasures of paradise filled, that if the choice of pristine health were left to her judgment, and yet she ought to be exalted to that glory to which she was now drawn by hope; she most certainly affirmed she would refuse health. Moreover she preferred to remain in this state, and to be visited by God alone; than to dominate the whole world, and yet not be frustrated of the hope of future glory. And when she had now learned by many experiments, conceived in mind, decreed by reason, fleeing to the wounds of Christ: and committed to memory, that to flee to the divine harbor was most safe, in every tribulation and anguish, depression and inedia, in the manner of a little child for sucking its mother's breasts, she flew to Christ's breast and to the wounds; by whose liquor she felt her wounded members quickly restored to health.

[11] With such affection sometimes in the celebration of Masses did she sigh for the divine presence, at the time of the sacrifice of the Mass that from the great scintillation of desire, all the veins of the body seemed to suffer violence and to be torn apart. But God, who in his inborn goodness is wont to hear the prayers of those asking, knows how to open the door to those knocking, has been accustomed to expedite the vows of those seeking; long not sustaining the Beloved to be tortured, nor wishing her to be defrauded of her desire; illustrated her mind with the spirit of consolation, and watered all the chinks of the earth of her heart with the dew of heaven: and soon transferred the South from heaven, and brought in the African in his virtue; with such great jubilation finally, with such great exultation of mind from the abundance of his house had he intoxicated the heart of the Beloved, she is rapt into the sweetest ecstasy: that for the excessive triumph of soul, what she felt or what was done with her, she wholly was ignorant. From whose abundance of admirable sweetness, with all marveling with stupor, she spread the odor of sweetness far and wide. O happy one! who could forget the miseries of this exile even for an hour, and enjoy that internal joy and rest at least for a little while. But, alas me wretched! who still wandering and fugitive fluctuate over the earth, nowhere finding what I desire, but everywhere finding what I flee.

[12] And when the house, which on account of her singular infirmity had been specially appointed for her, entering into the new house, was finished (for meanwhile for almost four years she had remained in another house) on the first day of her entrance into the same house the Lord appeared to her, standing with outstretched arms in the middle of the house; and received her in his arms with embrace, and said: she is honored with the embrace of the appearing Christ, "Welcome, dearest daughter; well shall you come, long desired in this tabernacle of my covenant; as long as you shall dwell in this body, I shall remain with you: and I shall be as your cellarer, to provide you all things necessary."

XII

[13] All day always, before the reception of the holy Eucharist, she burned within with such great desire, with great preparation, she was detained with such sweet joy, with such vigilant intention she prepared the bridal chamber for her Spouse, that to no transitory thing nor to any mundane thing was the entrance to the inner chambers of her heart open. But when the hour was at hand of receiving the Holy of Holies, and with the sense of the heart opened she receives the Eucharist: she felt her heart as a door opened to her by the Lord, and as if with most fragrant aromatics in circuit was filled. And immediately the Lord with inestimable joy, incomparable sweetness, ineffable jubilation of spirit, deigned to enter the garden of his Spouse's heart.

XIII

[14] Near her oratory a certain Lady, for hearing Mass, and giving leisure to prayer, had chosen a place for herself: and saw one day the oratory, as if it were wholly occupied outside by a flame of fire. she was seen as if fiery in the shining oratory: And rising to look in, beheld the Spouse of Christ as wholly fiery, and saw the glory of God dwelling within, which by its glittering seemed incomparably to surpass the splendor of all precious stones and gems.

XIV

[15] When sometimes, as is the custom in the Cistercian order, forced on account of leprosy to abstain from receiving the Blood of Christ, she approached the altar of God with the rest for the Lord's repast, and afterwards before the rest on account of her infirmity saw herself removed from the chalice and Blood of the Lord (for to lepers, on account of the danger of the disease, lest they approach the Blood, it is forbidden) she began to be not a little saddened. Whence it happened that on a certain day, after the reception of the Body

of the Lord, she burned with great desire to be inebriated also from the precious Blood; and in a way inconsolably complained, she is refreshed by a heavenly voice. that she was deprived of so great a gift. But soon her sadness was turned into joy, and she merited to receive divine consolation: for a voice from heaven sounded in her ears, saying: "O most loving daughter, do not be disturbed, and cease to complain, that anything of me is withdrawn from you: because it is fitting to firm faith, that whoever has tasted of my Body, similarly is undoubtedly refreshed from the Blood: because where the part, there the whole; nor can it be called part, but ought to be reputed whole."

[16] On the festivity of the eleven thousand Virgins, [On the feast of XI Thousand Virgins grieving that she is not joined in song to the others,] it happened that the holy Virgin in the morning hour crossed the threshold of her house; and with face turned to the church, after the voices of those devoutly praising God, and the twelfth Responsory which they were chanting at that hour, listened a little. She also began to be not a little disturbed in soul, that, with the rest psalming in the choir, and celebrating the festivity of the holy Virgins with jubilation, she could not be associated; and immediately fled to the Lord, the accustomed solace of her heart, saying: "I pray you, holy Father, although now, as I desire, I cannot praise the holy Virgins with the rest; and on account of the special gift, with which you have enriched me, at present it is not permitted me to be joined to the Community; for the sake of your great clemency, she understands she shall be placed above them in heaven: after the misery of this life, do not allow me at least to be separated from their society." And the Lord to her: "Sweetest daughter, I will not, as you desire, associate you to these Virgins; but in a place much more eminent in my kingdom I will place you."

XVI

[17] Her carnal sister, Lady Ida, on a certain occasion was held by a grave infirmity, in the grave illness of her sister Ida she understands she shall die before her: so that several despaired of her life. Whence Lady Aleydis conceived in heart no small sadness, thinking that from the singular refuge of this life, from the special consolation of her infirmity, she would be destitute. Therefore from excessive grief, somehow doing violence to her heart, with tearful sob she cried out to the Lord in this manner: "My Lord, know for certain, if it were possible with power attributed to me, that with an equal arrow, by which you have inconsolably wounded me with the death of my sister now imminent, I could wound you, I would by no means refrain." To whom the Lord responded: "Do not be consumed by vain grief, daughter: because your sister is not about to die from this infirmity; but your soul from this exile, will first be received into the fatherland according to merit, and afterwards your sister, if she shall lead a blessed life, into the bridal chamber of her Spouse, as the event of the matter proved, with jubilation shall be brought in."

XVII

[18] On the most sacred feast of Easter, while the Responsory, "The Lord rose from the sepulcher," was being sung in the choir; at Easter her house seen as if consumed by fire: she suspected the heaven opened in the manner of a sepulcher. From which she saw a brightness, most like a furnace, coming forth from a distance; and occupying the whole monastery, so that it was thought to be burning. By whose office of brightness her house shone with such splendor, that her maid; fearing the whole place to be consumed by fire, sent forth a voice with a cry: but Lady Aleydis with her hand signaled her to be silent; and she soon was silent.

XVIII

[19] At a certain time on Ascension Sunday, with the divine Office in the church duly performed, on Ascension as if seen to have ascended with Christ: it happened that she returned home later than usual. Her sister, not so much affected by weariness of this delay, but rather compassionate to her weakness and infirmity, with words somewhat sharp, gently rebuked her for the excessive delay. To whom with sweet-sounding speeches she responded, and said: "Do not wonder, Sister, that I have come more tardily to this refreshment of the body; since today part of my heart Jesus returned to the Father, and another part deserted me, and together with him went away, and so left me without me." And with this said, on account of the great jubilation still of her heart she refused to be refreshed with earthly things, but fasted until supper.

XIX

[20] A certain noble man, when after the course of his life, sufficiently negligently consummated, a soul is freed from purgatory, after penance for a whole year performed, had migrated from this age; for certain articles of justice, which he made those subject to his jurisdiction rigidly observe, Lady Aleydis with inmost desires had compassion on him: and prayers being poured forth for his soul to the Lord, from the Father of mercies she merited to obtain what she sought. Finally afterwards the same soul of him, in horrible and great torment appeared to her: for whom when through the circle of one year she had performed condign penance, he was freed from the punishment, by which she had seen him tortured. A certain soul, seeking a place of refreshment, another after a year appearing: which had succumbed to grave torment for a year, after the hour of Compline appeared at the door or at the window of the bed of the handmaid of the Lord, desiring by her suffrage to be refreshed from the vehement loathing of punishment. For the remedy of whose torment, when she had subjected herself wholly for some time to the fruit of penance; she merited for her reverence to be heard, and the aforesaid soul to be freed from torments.

XXI

[21] Saint Aleydis suffered in herself such violence of charity, She was solicitous for the living and the dead: and bore such great solicitude for the salvation of the human race, with not a few of the living, troubled in heart, disturbed also in mind, and from carnal temptations through her handed over to salvation; and with the punishment of many of the dead mitigated, and through her desires peace restored to them, she could not be sufficient for herself; but prayed God incessantly with prayers and groans, that he relax the purgatorial punishment of all the dead, and similarly purge the living from all sins, under the condition of this form, that she would lie under the vengeance of all for each one.

XXII

[22] About the feast of B. Barnabas the Apostle she was struck with an unexpected infirmity of body, and on account of the great instance of pain placed in her little bed. [On the feast of S. Barnabas sick and anointed, she understands she shall live yet one more year,] Whence when the languor grew, and she with the Convent despaired of her life; on the feast of the said Apostle she had herself anointed with holy Oil. With that day directing its course to its end, and the office of Compline now duly performed, hoping to enjoy what she had long desired, she was commending her friends to God by prayers; and was somehow hastening to embrace death, indeed rest. But God, examiner of the elect and purger of crimes, desiring to amplify the reward of his Beloved, and to exalt her more; appeared to her at the middle of the night, and showed that she should yet live for a year, and to suffer much for the solace of the living and the dead: until the return of the festivity of B. Barnabas the Apostle, on which, as has been said, she had had herself anointed: and then undoubtedly from exile to the fatherland happily about to migrate. Moreover, since arrows seen first are wont to strike more lightly; the Lord made known to her, that in respect of the time of her whole prior life, much more ample weaknesses of body, much graver tribulations of heart, and passions of all members, through that year's circle she would have to sustain; and that through her patience, and likewise prayers, the torments of many of the dead would be mitigated, and the souls of those still dwelling in body, and the life of those existing in a perilous state, would be cleansed from filth.

XXIII

[23] Saint Aleydis, when from the office of light, namely of the right eye, she offers her lost right eye to God through the said infirmity she felt herself bereft; nor any patent cause, why she suffered things of this kind, could be found in her; she took the title of this loss for support to the new King, who had besieged the Aachen city; for the salvation of the new King. that the said King, the true Father of lights, with the eye of true cognition and intelligence, by which he might understand the supreme good, by understanding might love, by loving might possess, by possessing happily enjoy it, deign to illustrate: and that this had and armed, an impenetrable shield and impregnable castle, for guarding the holy Church of Christ, and to his enemies, he might be able to show himself.

ANNOTATIONS OF G.H.

d Namely 21 October.

CHAPTER III.

Illness, pious death, various visions about her salvation.

XXIV

[24] The office in Septuagesima duly and devoutly being completed by the Nuns in the church, while the handmaid of the Lord, about to return home before the sixth hour in her customary way, took up the journey, On Septuagesima Sunday she foretells she shall not return to the church: and had not yet passed the middle of the journey's space; with face turned to the church, broke into a querulous voice, and said: "My spirit shall be attenuated, my days shall be shortened, the entrance of this way is hereafter closed to me: and I shall pass through it only once, dead; but living in this body, I shall no more be able to return through this way to the church."

XXV

[25] After Septuagesima the said Saint was held by a grave infirmity in her right foot, On Sexagesima Sunday she is refreshed by Christ: so that she was wholly deprived of all power of going out bodily. Whence as grief affected her more, that she could not be present at the celebration of Masses, since a certain bodily infirmity did not cease incessantly to vex her, and for this cause, when on Sunday in Sexagesima she led the whole day in singular grief of tears, she merited to receive consolations from the Lord, who wished to refresh her in these words: "O sweetest daughter, cease to be so disturbed, for in truth the end of dissolution beyond what has already been shown to you, ought not to be deferred: whence in the next is that I am to come to you, and you proved and purged

after the manner of gold in the furnace, to be carried and placed in heavenly rest, I am about to receive you with great joy." With these heard her spirit rested. However that the above-said words, brought forth from the mouth of Truth, namely, that many souls from the torment of purgatory through her would be freed, might be fulfilled in effect; with grief continually growing, from 13 March she is tortured with great pains, with infirmity of body too more and more growing strong, the said Saint from the third Ides of March until the last day of her life with only two days immediately before the separation of body and soul interpolated, was tortured with such great torment; that on each day, on three or four occasions, grave and intolerable torments, among the lower regions or in purgatory, she asserted to sustain; and then cried out with a miserable voice: "Now I am tortured in hell, now in purgatory." And thence returning she said: "Now from the places of purgatory, now I return from the infernal." Yet always she lay as in an embrace of Jesus somehow, and the higher watering with groans sought, and thence after the torments refreshed the dry heart.

XXVI

[26] When Lady Ida her sister on a certain occasion somehow saw her tortured with intolerable passion, and she says this to her sister in consolation of the living and the dead: and on account of this was compelled to pour forth tears like a shower from her eyes with groaning and wailing; she received from her this response by way of consolation. "Sweetest sister, do not be so afflicted: but do not think me for my sins to be exposed to torments of this kind, but for the dead in penal places long to be tortured; and for the sinners of the world, by the snares of hunters even now miserably entangled, and to be seduced without end, unless through the punishment, by which you see me thus consumed, the dead merit to be freed; and the living, similarly to be relaxed from the snares."

XXVII

[27] In the week before the feast of Pentecost, through a grave infirmity, sparing none of the members of her body, she is deprived of the left eye: the lost left eye she offers for the salvation of S. Louis: of which she assigned the fruit of penance to the King of France, who in that time, against the Pagans enemies of Christ's Cross, had exposed himself at Jerusalem to useful fortune; that illumined by the eye of divine brightness, what with good intention he had begun, he might be able to terminate with a better end; and afterwards the course of his labor completed, enjoy the promised joy of eternal felicity.

XXVIII

[28] With such great charity, which does not seek its own things, but by distributing multiplies what is gathered, she consoles her maid: she was poured out to all; that she might wish herself to be held in despite by all, in contempt by each, provided that some fruit and utility from there could arise for some. On one occasion she called her Martha (her maid) to herself, and said to her: "Be robust, and persevere in good: because I have prayed the Lord for you, and he has heard me. For your seat is prepared from age to age, and in the book of the living with the elect you are noted."

XXIX

[29] A certain Abbot of the Order of S. Augustine happily migrated from this age, whose soul his sister, by divine revelation she knows souls freed from purgatory: a Nun of the same Order, fearing to be tortured with great torments. To the virgin of Christ S. Aleydis through mutual faithful she supplicated, that about her brother's soul, by whose fear sadness was afflicting her not a little, she deign to certify her, and console her with the hope of pardon. To whose grief the said Blessed, as also of all, compassionate in heart; entreated God with prayers for the aforesaid soul: and it was revealed to her, that he was adjudged to light purgatory, and would soon enjoy the desired. Likewise the soul of a certain man noble according to the world, after the dissolution of the body in great torments appeared to her: for whose lightening, when she had for a time performed condign penance, she knew that he was freed from torments.

XXX

[30] An Angel, deputed to her by the Lord as guardian, from accustomed custom, by her guardian Angel she was wont to be awakened, that she might rise for vigils, for some time was accustomed to awaken her from sleep: at whose sign, as soon as she perceived it, without delay she rose; and until the bell of the Conversi either read, or prayed, or did not cease to ask pardon. But it happened on the holy day of Good Friday, that she burned with great desire to behold the Lord hanging on the cross. Whose holy desire the Lord wishing to fulfill, with bloodied hands, she sees Christ appearing with 5 wounds: and pierced feet, and pierced side, with such addresses deigned to appear to her. "Sweetest daughter, I have heard the voice of your heart; and fearing the pusillanimity of the body, therefore I have descended to you, desiring through all things to fecundate the heat of your heart with the higher watering. Behold therefore diligently, and consider, how many and what kind of reproaches, for you and the redemption of the human race, I have sustained." And with this said the vision immediately disappeared. From this hour she burned more and more; if however ardor could grow; in what way to the human race, that he might be able to enjoy his Redeemer, she might be able to impart suffrage.

XXXI

[31] As the time of the end of her exile was now approaching, a horrible infirmity had so miserably occupied her whole body, that the sentence of Truth, "O all you who pass by the way, attend the office of the whole body being destitute, and see, if there is grief like my grief," seemed to suit her: for from the sole of the foot even to the crown, there was no soundness in her. Lam. 1:12 All looking at her, with fear as of a horrible monster suddenly stood struck; and judged, another creature, comparable to her in horror, could nowhere be found. So she was wholly destitute of the office, namely of body and members; and after the manner of a corpse putrefying in the earth, handed over in her little bed, was about to be consummated as by putrefaction. Such passions and infirmities, growing more than usual, she received with such great delight and joy, as if a bride were to receive from her spouse long desired little gifts. Her hands were necessary to her for slight use: for from excessive infirmity for long times they had been contracted; whose skin, she is delighted in the Lord. in the manner of the bark of some tree, distinguished by various wounds, seemed to bear its likeness. Whence she was wont to sing with triumph: "My hands are turned, full of hyacinths." The skin too of breast, head, and arms, was similar to the bark of a tree, containing various chinks from excessive dryness. Her legs were most similar to a flayed calf, and they together with her feet were swollen. From her body flesh and pus flowed abundantly. From that time when she was deprived of the light of her eyes, her soul was as clothed with Deity, and always comprehended in divine embraces; except only those hours, in which she had been deputed for the dead. No member quiet, none unpossessed by infirmity she retained, except the tongue alone; by which without intermission, as long as she could, to God she sang praises.

XXXII

[32] On the vigil of S. Barnabas the Apostle, after she had had herself anointed with holy Oil, a certain Nun, sitting for solace before her, said: "On this day, the Son of God for our redemption was handed over to the Jews, On 10 June anointed and was scourged by them, and condemned to the death of the cross." At whose voice, perhaps kindled more by desire, she answered her in this manner: "Tomorrow about dawn I shall migrate from this age." Which, as she said, was fulfilled. After Compline the Virgin of God, as a bride adorned with jewelry, and prepared for nuptials, hastened to the gate of death; and bidding farewell to her friends, was commending her soul to God with prayers. But about dawn, as if sleeping and resting, she reclined in her little bed: and at the rising of the sun with a gentle breath gave forth her spirit. On 11 June she dies For she put off the tunic of mortality and misery, and put on the tunic of immortality and glory, full of felicity and joy. She breathed forth the last spirit of life on the third Ides of June, at the rising of the sun, in the year 1250. as has been said, before Prime, in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred fiftieth, in namely the Jubilee year.

XXXIII

[33] It was shown to a certain faithful soul, who was not present at her departure, that her soul, Her soul was seen received by Cherubim and Seraphim. received with great glory in the heavens, was happily joined to the choir of the holy Cherubim and Seraphim. Moreover a certain other faithful soul saw in spirit, that to holy Aleydis, going to the stars of the heavens, both our Lord Jesus Christ, and S. Mary, with the army of the whole heavenly choir, met with great jubilation; and our Lord himself, judging no one but himself worthy to receive her, that he might honorably receive her, honored with the embrace of Christ, preceded the rest, To her received in his arms in embrace, he subjoined: "You have fought the good fight, you have completed the course, you have kept the faith: wherefore now I come, that I may order and join you with a double crown, both of Martyr, and of Virgin, marked for your merits, with happy fellowship. And because you had desired me more ardently than the rest, between the Cherubim and Seraphim, that you may burn and be kindled, I assign a place for you."

[34] Without purgatory she entered heaven. To a certain person, still dwelling in body, two souls appeared; whom when she had solicitously asked, about the soul of S. Aleydis, the one of them responded; that her soul, without any purgatory, with great joy, was associated to heavenly fellowship. A certain little girl, sister of the maid of Lady Aleydis, sleeping in a certain village near the monastery of Camera; saw in dreams, at the time when the said Saint migrated from this age, her soul, as if clothed with the sun in the manner of a little boy, before the gate of heaven being borne by Angels; as if clothed with the sun. also a multitude of the heavenly, who introduced her, as a bride adorned, within the bridal chamber of the heavenly spouse, with ineffable joy: which done the door of heaven was closed. When that little one had seen this, that she was separated from her fellowship and from such great joy, the door of heaven also closed to her, with wailing she emitted most bitter tears. Whom when her mother perceived weeping, rebuking her, why she wept, diligently inquired. To whom the daughter responded: "Lady Aleydis is dead, and from that to me come tears." To which the mother: "You lie: you do not know what you say." To whom again the daughter: "Truly she has migrated from this age, because I too immediately was led with her to the gate of heaven: which, as known to her, when she had more boldly entered, and had left me outside; this grief invaded me." And while she was still speaking, immediately a messenger entered, who affirmed her dead. Hearing which she soon went to the monastery, and found her buried.

ANNOTATIONS OF G.H.

b On day 30 January.

f Day 25 March.