The Story of Siena and San GimignanoGardner, Edmund G.
History
The Story of Siena and San Gimignano
Gardner, Edmund G.
Art -- Italy -- Siena; San Gimignano (Italy) -- History; Siena (Italy) -- History
"I went to visit him of whom you know; whereby he received so great
comfort and consolation that he confessed and disposed himself right
well. And he made me promise by the love of God that, when the time for
the execution came, I would be with him. And so I promised and did.
Then, in the morning, before the bell tolled, I went to him; and he
received great consolation. I took him to hear Mass; and he received the
Holy Communion, which he had never received again.[20] His will was
attuned and subjected to the will of God; and there alone remained a
fear of not being brave at the last moment. But the boundless and
flaming bounty of God passed his expectation, creating in him so great
affection and love in the desire of God, that he could not stay without
Him, saying: 'Stay with me, and do not leave me. So shall I fare not
otherwise than well; and I die content.' And he laid his head upon my
breast. Then I felt an exultation and an odour of his blood and of mine
too, which I desired to shed for the sweet spouse Jesus. And as the
desire increased in my soul and I felt his fear, I said: 'Take comfort,
my sweet brother; for soon shall we come to the nuptials. Thither shalt
thou go, bathed in the sweet blood of the Son of God, with the sweet
name of Jesus, the which I would not that it ever leave thy memory. And
I am waiting for thee at the place of execution.' Now, think, father and
son, that his heart then lost all fear, and his face was transformed
from sadness into joy; and he rejoiced, exulted and said: 'Whence cometh
to me so great grace, that the sweetness of my soul will await me at the
holy place of execution?' See how he had come to such light that he
called the place of execution holy! And he said, 'I shall go all joyous
and strong; and it will seem to me a thousand years before I come there,
when I think that you are awaiting me there.' And he uttered words of
such sweetness of the bounty of God, that one might scarce endure it."
She waited for him at the place of execution, with continual prayer, in
the spiritual presence of Mary and of the virgin martyr Catherine. She
knelt down and laid her own head upon the block, either dreaming of
martyrdom or to make herself one in spirit with him at the dread moment.
She besought Mary to give him light and peace of heart, and that she
herself might see him return to God. Her soul, she says, was so full
that, although there was a multitude of the people there, she could not
see a creature.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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