Lady Bridget had this revelation in the city of Ortona, in the kingdom of Naples.
Christ speaks to her and assures her that there are relics of the body of Saint
Thomas the Apostle on the altar there and that he takes a most sweet delight in
these relics and in those of his other saints, counting such relics as his precious
treasure on earth and promising great merit and reward to those who honor them
with due devotion.
To a person who was wide awake and at prayer, it seemed as if her heart were
on fire 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 of all. Know therefore that such a joy, as you now feel in
your soul, is a treasure of mine. For it is written that 'the Spirit breathes where he
will, and you hear his voice, but you know not whence he comes or whither he
goes.'
This treasure I bestow on my friends in many ways and by many means and
through many gifts. However, I wish to tell you about another treasure, which is not
yet in heaven but 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 of their journey - everlasting rewards on all those who
visit the places and honor the relics of my saints, namely, of those who hade been
glorified by miracles and canonized by the supreme pontiffs. Thus my heart is with
my treasure. Therefore, I want you to know for certain that in this place is my most
choice treasure, namely, the relics of my apostle Thomas, which are not found
elsewhere in such quantity as they are on this altar, where they are unspoiled and
undivided.
For when that city where my apostle's body was first buried was destroyed,
then with my permission this treasure was translated by certain of my friends to this
city and was placed 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 ears and 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 to pay due honor to such a treasure?
Therefore, anyone who loves me and my friends above all, and who would
rather die than offend me in the least and who also has the will and the authority to
honor me and to instruct others, such a one, whoever it be, will exalt and honor my
treasure, namely, the relics of this my apostle whom I chose and forechose.
Therefore, it should be said and preached for very certain that, just as the bodies of
the apostles Peter and Paul are in Rome, the relics of Saint Thomas, my apostle, are
in Ortona."
The bride, however, answered and said: "O Lord, did not the princes of this
kingdom have 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 the alms of many of them were to me less pleasing and
acceptable because of the marriages that they had contracted contrary to the statutes
of the holy fathers. And even though those 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 of the Church. Therefore, at my divine
judgment, this must be examined and judged."
ADDITION
When the lady had gone to Ortona, it happened that she and her companions
had to spend a whole night under God's open sky, in the cold and in a heavy rain.
Then toward dawn, Christ said to her: "For three reasons, tribulation comes to
human beings: either for greater humility - as when King David was troubled; or
for greater fear and caution - as when Sarah, Abraham's wife, was taken away by
the King; or for a human being's greater consolation and honor. And so it has
happened to you. For I gave those who met you the impulse to proceed no farther
that day. But you would not believe them, and so you suffered as you have.
Therefore go now into the city, and my servant Thomas will give you what you
desire."
Item concerning the same thing. Christ appeared in Ortona and said: "I told
you earlier that Saint Thomas, my apostle, was my treasure. This is certainly true.
For Thomas himself is truly a light of the world. But human beings love darkness
more than light."
Then Saint Thomas also appeared and said: "I will give to you a treasure that
you have long since desired." And in the same moment, a tiny splinter of a bone of
blessed Thomas came forth from the very case of Saint Thomas's relics without
anyone's touch. The lady received it with joy and reverently saved it.