THE DEDICATION

† 4

-ings original: "jejunia," completing the word from the previous page, you humbly consulted a certain venerable priest known to you, a true servant of Christ himself. You asked that he too might be willing to beseech and pray to our same Lord and Savior on your behalf: so that by the merits of His Passion, and those of His nurturing Virgin Mother original: "virginis almæ," a traditional epithet for Mary and all the saints, He might deign to enlighten you concerning this matter and show you the truth.

From this holy man, who is full of the Spirit of God, you succeeded in obtaining all that you hoped for. For (as you say), having been instructed by his teachings and purified, you were made a sharer in holy visions sanctae visiones: divine revelations or supernatural sights granted to the devout alongside him.

Indeed, as you testify, while you were praying, a book original: "liber" was brought to the holy man—though you admit you do not know by whom or in what manner—written both inside and out, and sealed with seven seals a reference to the Book of Revelation 5:1, symbolizing divine secrets that can only be opened by God's authority. On the outside of it, you immediately read these words: "Poisonous offspring..." original: "Genimina venenantia," a phrase echoing the biblical "brood of vipers" used to describe the corrupt