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.Behold, daughter: that drink so gladdened my soul that, for me, all things in the world lost their taste.Enter, therefore, into this chamberof mine; and eat this, my food; and drink this drink with me.Drink it so that you may berefreshed with God eternally.”Lady Bridget had this revelation in the city of Ortona, in the kingdom of Naples.Christspeaks to her and assures her that there are relics of the body of Saint Thomas theApostle on the altar there and that he takes a most sweet delight in these relics and inthose of his other saints, counting such relics as his precious treasure on earth andpromising great merit and reward to those who honor them with due devotion.Chapter 4To a person who was wide awake and at prayer, it seemed as if her heart were onfire with divine charity and entirely full of spiritual joy so that her body itself seemed to fail in its strength.She then heard a voice that said to her: ”I am the Creator and Redeemer ofall.Know therefore that such a joy, as you now feel in your soul, is a treasure of mine.Forit is written that 'the Spirit breathes where he will, and you hear his voice, but you know notwhence he comes or whither he goes.'This treasure I bestow on my friends in many ways and by many means and throughmany gifts.However, I wish to tell you about another treasure, which is not yet in heavenbut is with you on earth.This treasure is the relics and bodies of my friends.For, in truth,whether they are fresh or moldering, whether they have turned into dust and ashes or not,the bodies of my saints are most certainly my treasure.But, you may ask, since Scripture says, 'Where your treasure is, there your heart is,'how then is my heart with that treasure, namely, with the relics of the saints? I answer you:my heart's supreme delight is to bestow - according to their will, their faith, and the toils oftheir journey - everlasting rewards on all those who visit the places and honor the relics ofmy saints, namely, of those who hade been glorified by miracles and canonized by thesupreme pontiffs.Thus my heart is with my treasure.Therefore, I want you to know forcertain that in this place is my most choice treasure, namely, the relics of my apostleThomas, which are not found elsewhere in such quantity as they are on this altar, wherethey are unspoiled and undivided.For when that city where my apostle's body was first buried was destroyed, then withmy permission this treasure was translated by certain of my friends to this city and wasplaced on this altar.But now it lies here as if concealed, for before the apostle's body came here, the princes of this land were of the disposition described in the Scriptures:'They have mouths and will not speak.They have eyes and will not see.They have earsand will not hear.They have hands and will not touch.They have feet and will not walk,'etc.How could such people then, with such an attitude toward me, their God, be able topay due honor to such a treasure?Therefore, anyone who loves me and my friends above al , and who would rather diethan offend me in the least and who also has the will and the authority to honor me and toinstruct others, such a one, whoever it be, will exalt and honor my treasure, namely, therelics of this my apostle whom I chose and forechose.Therefore, it should be said andpreached for very certain that, just as the bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul are inRome, the relics of Saint Thomas, my apostle, are in Ortona.”The bride, however, answered and said: ”O Lord, did not the princes of this kingdomhave churches built; and did they not practice great almsgiving?” The Lord said to her:”They have done many things and have offered me much money to appease me.Yet thealms of many of them were to me less pleasing and acceptable because of the marriagesthat they had contracted contrary to the statutes of the holy fathers.And even thoughthose marriages that the supreme pontiffs permitted were ratified and to be upheld,nevertheless the will of those people was corrupt and was striving against the statutes ofthe Church.Therefore, at my divine judgment, this must be examined and judged
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