The seventh revelation in the Book of Questions, in which Christ speaks to his
bride, blessed Bridget, and praises frequent confession, in order that people may
not lose the grace of God that they have.
The Son of God speaks: "When there is fire in a house, a venthole is needed to
let out the smoke and allow the inhabitant to enjoy the heat. Likewise, for anyone
who desires to keep my spirit and my grace, habitual confession is useful in order
to let out the smoke of sin. Although my divine spirit is in itself unchangeable,
nevertheless it quickly withdraws from the heart that is not protected by the
humility of confession."
The eighth revelation in the Book of Questions in which Christ speaks to his bride
and says that the prayer of people who take their pleasure in carnal and earthly
delights, neglecting heavenly desires, charity, and the memory of his passion and of
eternal judgment, is like the sound of colliding stones, and they will be thrust away
with loathing from God's sight like an abortion or an unclean menstrual cloth.
“That man was singing: 'Deliver me, O Lord, from the unrighteous man!' His
voice is in my ears like the sound of two stones struck together. His heart calls to
me as if with three voices. The first says: 'I want to have my will in my own
control, to sleep and to rise and to talk of pleasant things. I shall give to nature what
it craves. I want money in my purse, soft clothes on my back. When I get these and
similar things, I count them a greater happiness than all other gifts and the spiritual
virtues of the soul.'
His second voice says: 'Death is not too hard, and the judgment is not so
severe as is written; harsh threats are made as a warning, but mild punishments are
given out of mercy. Therefore, so long as I can have my will in the present, let my
soul make its passage as best it can in the future.'
The third voice says: 'God would not have redeemed us, if he had not wanted
to give us heavenly things, nor would he have suffered, if he had not wanted to
bring us back to our fatherland. Indeed, why did he suffer? Or who compelled him
to suffer? Of course, I do not understand heavenly things except by hearsay, and I
do not know for sure whether I should trust the Scriptures. If I could only have my
will, I would have it instead of the heavenly kingdom.' You can see what that man's
will is like and why his voice is like the sound of stones in my ears.
But, o friend, I answer your first voice: Your way does not tend toward
heaven, nor is the passion of my love to your taste. Therefore hell lies open for you,
and, because you love the low things of the earth, you will go to the regions below.
I answer your second voice: Son, death will be hard for you, judgment unbearable,
and flight impossible, unless you mend your ways. I tell your third voice: Brother, I
did all my works out of love in order that you might become like me and so that,
after having been turned away from me, you might return to me. But now my
works are dead in you, my words are burdensome, and my way is neglected. What
awaits you, therefore, is the torment and company of demons, because you turn
your back on me, you trample underfoot the signs of my humility, and you do not
consider how I stood on the cross in your sight and for your sake.