Himmlische Offenbarungen

XVI Bull of the Canonization. | Bull of the Canonization. XVII

sacrifice on the altar of the Cross through a bloody death to God the Father, and founded, consecrated, and eternally strengthened the Church Militant the Christians on earth who struggle against sin and the devil with the shedding of His precious blood. Finally, however, when He wished to go from the world to the Father, He entrusted to the Prince of the Apostles, the heavenly key-bearer, in his person and the persons of his successors the Supreme Bishops, through the transfer of the keys—that is, by granting the power to bind and to loose—the high priestly office, a special care for His flock, and the general government. Nevertheless, He promised at the same time that He would not leave the Church for eternity. For her abundant benefit, He distributes gifts among His faithful through the Holy Spirit. For according to the Apostle (1 Corinthians 12): To each one gifts are given for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit to speak of wisdom; to another to speak of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith in the same Spirit; to another the grace to make healthy in one Spirit; to another to perform miracles; to another prophecy; to another to distinguish spirits; to another various tongues; to another the interpretation of languages. But all this is worked by that same single Spirit, and He distributes to each one as He wills. And this Church Militant, which the Father of Lights has built in the same Holy Spirit through a wonderful construction of noble stones, adorned with wonderful variety upon the chief cornerstone Christ Jesus, whom He chose before the beginning of the world to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers; in whom He has made acceptable and endowed with the best gifts those who should show a higher way by their example. Therefore the holy Apostles went forth through the whole world and encouraged the human race, which lay captive under the yoke of sins, to life and salvation, and preached the Word of God with firm steadfastness, so that their sound went out into all lands, and their words to the ends of the world. So also the noble martyrs, clothed with the breastplate of faith and girded with the belt of immovable constancy, washed their clothes in the blood of the innocent Lamb, followed Christ Jesus with a white heart, and joined themselves to the building of the upper Jerusalem—that is, the Church Triumphant the holy ones who have reached heaven—with an honorable victory, carrying palm branches in their hands, as living stones, and left an honorable example as well as an eternal and worthy memory to the Church Militant. There also came forth the shining Teachers, who opposed the false Christians and false prophets who undertook to introduce superstitious and varied opinions into the true Catholic faith and to subvert the faith. They refuted their errors with wonderful words and, with strong and correct sayings through the working of the Holy Spirit,

illuminated the faith and the Church Militant. With these, the same Church rode forth strengthened like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, chosen as the sun, terrible as an army set in array. Likewise follow the clear Confessors, adorned with precious stones and shining with virtues, and bring to the Lord—who demands an account of the entrusted gifts because they have practiced with constant and diligent trade in holy works—as faithful and pious servants, manifold fruit from their toil and labor, and place the gift in the chest. The hermits also, and followers of the solitude and deserts, because they fled the vain spectacles of the flattering and deceptive but poisonous world so that they might safely reach the Fatherland, betook themselves to secret places, lay hidden in caves, tormented their own flesh with little and coarse food and with a simple drink of water. And so that they might restrain the thorn of Satan, they clothed themselves with coarse, simple cloaks or rough blankets, went commonly barefoot, refreshed their exhausted limbs by sleeping on the unclean earth or a straw bed, and were occupied with holy meditation and the praise of the Majesty that is above. Finally, after they were called from this valley of tears and heap of misery to the presence of God, they enjoy imperishable joys. There are also the beautiful virgins who, with pure bodies and upright hearts, bring a holy, voluntary mind and oil in their vessels, go out to meet the approaching Bridegroom, and are wedded to Him who is the most beautiful among all the children of men. The devout and chaste widows, however, and other persons of both sexes, because they have always applied their diligence to godly and holy works, present themselves before the judgment seat of God with full sheaves, and sing with the angels "Glory to God in the highest" and wish "peace on earth to men of good will." Truly, all this is worked by that same single Spirit spoken of above, through a service that is to be wondered at in many ways. And Christ Jesus, according to His holy promise, has visited, maintained, protected, strengthened, helped, and increased this His vineyard, the Church Militant, with such male and female workers until this present day, and will also do so in the future through His grace in the times to come. In these last days, however, so that something good might also come from the Midnight the North, that heavenly Vinedresser has once again visited the said vineyard according to His custom, and led a strong woman from afar and from the furthest ends, who brings her worth with her, to the building of this vineyard, namely the blessed widow Birgitt, whom the common people call Brigida, so that she might be added to such a holy

A small printer's ornament consisting of three crosses is centered at the bottom of the page.