Himmlische Offenbarungen

...according to our humble understanding and the shortness of time, we have issued some interpretations and explanations regarding several of the aforementioned articles (protesting beforehand, however, as is customary), just as they follow hereafter. We have also set forth several true signs beforehand, by which one can distinguish the revelations of God from the deceptions of the devils. For the protection of all this, we have chosen to confirm the following writings with our own hand and our great seal.

To the venerable fathers and devout men and brothers of the Order of Saint Savior The Birgittines, Geruino Petri, General Confessor of the Vadstena Monastery in the Kingdom of Sweden, and Arthoni Joannis, a member of the aforementioned monastery's convent: Brother Joannes of Turrecremata, Teacher of Holy Scripture and Master of the Holy Apostolic Palace, wishes you salvation, and that you may follow in the footsteps of the holy, God-fearing Blessed Birgitta, your founder.

On a past day, when the matter of several articles from the revelations of Saint Birgitta, your mother and the founder of your order, was examined before the judge in matters of faith and several masters and doctors appointed for that purpose, it pleased your Graces to persuade me with many pleas to apply diligent care and careful diligence. Alongside other venerable masters who were devoted to this work with equal diligence, I was to see and investigate whether the aforementioned articles—as was reported by some of your detractors, as you say—contained anything against the Holy Scripture, the teachings of the holy Teachers The Church Fathers, or anything that might give offense to good morals.

And see, dearest fathers, although this matter required a long time and a man more sharp-witted in searching, more experienced in the art of finding, and richer in the abundance of wisdom; nonetheless, because I carry a heartfelt compassion for your burdens, I have kindly accepted your pleasant request. Trusting in the assistance of the power of Almighty God—who hides the foundations of his wisdom from the wise and reveals them to the little ones—and not a little strengthened by the faithful intercession of the Blessed Birgitta, whom this matter concerns and in whose honor this effort and labor is undertaken, I have allowed myself to study and to see, according to the strength of the understanding entrusted to me from above, whether the aforementioned articles offered to us might be tolerated without injury to the Catholic faith and without disgrace to the doctrine of the holy Teachers.

However, what I think of it, I have recorded in the following chapters according to my humble understanding, and indeed in haste, as you yourselves know. I protest beforehand in everything that is said here—just as I have always done in all my deeds and writings as a good Catholic—that my intention is not to say, nor do I mean to say, or confirm, or stubbornly

defend anything that is against the Holy Scripture, or the conclusion of the General Church The Universal Church Councils, or against the proven doctrine of the holy Teachers, or that might offend pious ears. Everything I have written, I submit to the correction and judgment of this holy and general assembly at Basel The Council of Basel.

Preface
By the Lord Cardinal Joannes of Turrecremata.
To his writings concerning the Heavenly Revelations of Saint Birgitta of Vadstena.

Ozias and the priests spoke to Judith: "All that you speak is true, and there is nothing to be rebuked in your words. So pray now to God for us, for you are a holy and God-fearing woman." original: "Iudith. 8.". These words, of which one reads that they were spoken literally by Ozias the Prince and the priests of the people of Israel to that holy and famous widow Judith in praise of her virtue and holiness, and as a testimony to the truth of the words which they believed she spoke, enlightened and inspired by the grace of the Divine Light, may—according to the hidden understanding—be very fittingly attributed to the honorable and world-famous noble widow, Saint Birgitta from the Kingdom of Sweden, by the princes of the Church, namely the Supreme Bishop The Pope and the Lord Prelates, as well as other spiritual men excellent in learning and power, who oversaw her articles. After they had searched through them all with faithful diligence and understood them well, they found nothing [objectionable]; it is true, and in those words there is nothing to be rebuked. So pray now to God for us, for you are a holy and God-fearing woman.

In these words, five things are noted, through which it is credibly indicated and proven that the revelations of the books of Blessed Birgitta have come from and originated from the Spirit of God. Through these signs, one is accustomed to recognize and distinguish the revelations which are inspired by the Spirit of Truth and poured in through a divine light, from the revelations which are presented and inspired by the spirit of untruth and through a devilish mockery. These signs, if we follow the order of the parts of our purpose, are as follows:

The first sign is when the revelation is approved and sanctioned by the decision of great and experienced men. The second is taken from the effect that is left behind from the revelation in the soul of the person who has it; namely, when an increase in devotion, and especially of humility and the honor of God, is

conformable