Reflections from the Mirror of a Mystic

When the soul has arrived at true life^ - and all her actions are referred to the glory’ of God, she feels herself suddenly stirred by a desire to see what her Spouse is like, asking Who and What is He who has become Man for her sake? He who has died to save her, and has given Himself to her? This Jesus Who on leaving the earth has left her His Sacraments and promised her His Kingdom; this Jesus, ever ready to provide for the needs of the body and the consolation of the soul, What is He like? And the soul, full of questions, feels the desire of seeing her Spouse increase within her; the longing to; ^ow what He is like, what He is in Hhpself; for the knowledge, such as it is, wfrieh “she gathers from creatures does not ^Content her.

Then v the soul does like Zaccheus the publican, Vho wanted to see; she goes on in /froiit, far from the crowd, from the Multitude of creatures, which keep us low, -Jaiid prevent the getting sight of Christ. She mounts the tree of faith which has its root in God, and spreads into twelve branches The lower extend towards the Humanity of Jesus, and the world’s salvation; the upper tell of the Divinity, the Trinity, the Unity. — The soul mounts like Zaccheus to the top of the tree; for Christ is going to pass by with all His gifts. Beaching the summit she sees the Son of Man; but the light says to her “Behold the Divinity, infinite, incomprehensible, inaccessible; and all created light stops short. This is the Abyss! — and the soul reaches the highest knowledge of God which can be procured here below; viz. ignorance and the confession that she understands not.