The second mercy is the one by which soul and body are spared from torment, as it was in the case of the king who lived in all sorts of lust and worldly pleasure and had no pain either in body or soul while he lived in the world.
The third mercy is the one by which soul and body are punished, so that they have distress in their flesh and sorrow in their heart, as it happened with Peter and Paul and other saints.
For there are three states for humans in the world: The first state is that of those who fall into sin and get up again; these do I sometimes allow to suffer in their bodies so that they may be saved.
The second state is that of those who would gladly live forever to be able to sin forever and who have all of their will and thought directed to the world, and if they do anything for Me at any time, they do it with the intention of their worldly possessions growing and prospering. Neither punishment of the body nor very much pain of the heart is given to these people, but instead they are allowed to follow their own power and will, because they will receive a reward here for the least little good they have done for Me to then be tormented for all eternity. For since their will to sin is everlasting, their torment shall also be everlasting.
The third state is that of those who are more afraid of sinning against Me and offending Me than they fear any torment. They would rather endure to be tortured with unbearable pain in eternity than consciously provoke Me to wrath. Sorrow of body and heart are given to these men, as with Peter and Paul and other saints, so that they may amend for all their sins in this world, or so that they may be chastised for a time for the sake of their greater glory and as an example to others. I have shown this threefold mercy to three persons in this kingdom whose names are well known to you.
But now, my angel and servant, tell Me, for what kind of mercy do you pray for My bride?"
He answered: "I pray for the mercy of her soul and body, so that she may amend for all her sins in this world and so that none of her sins may come before Your judgment."
Our Lord answered: "May it be done according to your will." Then He said to the bride: "You are Mine and I will do with you as I please. Love nothing as much as Me. Purify yourself constantly from sin every hour according to the advice of those I have entrusted you to. Hide no sin! Leave nothing unexamined! Do not consider any sin to be light or worthy of disregard! For anything you forget, I will remind you of and judge. None of the sins you have done will come before My judgment if they are punished and expiated through your penance while you live. But those sins for which you made no penance will be purged either in Purgatory or by some secret judgment of Mine, unless you make a full satisfaction and amendment for them here in the world."
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Revelations and Prophesies Imparted to St. Bridget of Sweden - Book One: Chapter Thirty-six