Elizabeth of Schönau


Liber tercius visionum capitulum I [tr. L.Dysinger. O.S.B.]	Roth (Brünn, 1884), pp. 62-64; f° 59-60


TO the Lord [Fulbert], revered abbot of Laach, Sister Elysabeth of Schönau sends reverence and love in Christ.	Domino V. venerando abbati de Lacu soror Elysabeth Sconaugensis venerationem et dilectionem in Christo.

The vision I beheld during Matins, as the [Feast of the] Lord’s Nativity drew near was this.	Visio, quam imminente dominica nativitatis in tempore matutinali vidi, huiusmodi erat.
Another vision I beheld the following year on the night of the Lord’s Nativity at the time of Matins; it was this:	Item alia visio, quam vidi sequienti anno in nocte dominice nativitatis in tempore matutinali, huiusmodi erat.
I saw first two great and splendidly ardent stars separated from each other by a small interval. They converged from their separation in such a way that it was as if there was made one body from them, like the sun shining in its strength (Rev.1:16),	Vidi primum duas stellas grandes et splendidas vehementer parvo intervallo ab invicem distantes, et convenerunt e diverso, ita ut fieret quasi corpus unum ex eis simile soli fulgenti in virtute sua,
and circled around it was a brilliant circle of three colors: red and green and sapphire. In the middle of this luminous body I saw a seated woman, gloriously crowned like a queen of great majesty, having in her a very handsome and lovable child.	et erat in circuitu eius circulus clarus, habens colores tres, videlicet rubeum et viridem et saphirinum. In medio autem huius lucidi corporis vidi sedere femininam gloriose coronatam velut reginam magne maiestatis, et habentem in sinu parvulum speciosum et amabilem nimis,
And it was made known to me that this was our Blessed Lady Virgin Theotokos. Throughout the whole time of the divine office being celebrated that night, I saw this vision and so many others, but what was revealed to me in them must now be passed over in silence.	et intimatum est michi, quoniam ipsa esset beata domina nostra virgo Theodochos. Cunque per totum tempus divini officii, quod agebatur nocte illa, vidissem visionem hanc et quamplura, que nunc silentio pretereunda sunt,
It was revealed to me at the Mass of Terce that She, Our Blessed Lady, condescended to present Herself to me more closely and clearly than before, but apart from her child.	in ea mihi revelata fuissent, in tercia quoque missa eadem beata domina nostra se michi presentare dignata propinque magis et evidentius, quam ante, sed absque parvulo suo.


(5) THEREFORE, as I had been advised by my brother, who was at that hour celebrating the Divine Office with us, I spoke to her, saying:	(V.) [...] Tunc ergo, sicut premonita fueram a fratre meo, qui eadem hora divinum apud nos celebrabat officium, allocuta sum eam dicens:
I beseech you, O my Lady, reveal to me something regarding that great teacher of the church, Origen, who in so many places has admirably honored and praised you: namely, whether or not he is saved. For the Catholic Church has condemned him on account of the many heresies that may be found found in his writings.	Digneris obsecro domina mea aliquid revelare mihi de illo magno doctore ecclesie Origine, qui et tuas landes honorifice et amabiliter multis in locis descripsit, utrum salvus factus sit an non, quoniam ecclesia catholica eum condempnat pro eo quod in scriptis eius multa heretics inveniuntur.


TO which she responded in this way:	d hec michi in hunc modum respondit :
It is not the Lord’s will that much should be revealed to you. But you should know that Origen's error did not arise from malice, but rather from the excessive fervor with which he immersed his senses in the mysteries of the Sacred Scriptures which he loved, and the divine secrets which he tended to scrutinize excessively.	Non est ^[f^°^60]voluntas domini, ut multum tibi de hoc reveletur. Scire autem debes, quoniam error Origenis non ex malicia erat, sed magis ex nimio fervore, quo sensum suum ^[p.63] inmersit profunditatibus scripturarum sanctarum, quas amabat, et divinis secretis, que nimis perscrutari volebat.
And for that reason the punishment which detains him is not harsh. Indeed, because of the honor his writings offer to to me, a light that shines on certain souls illuminates him on every feast on which the Church celebrates my memory.	Propterea et pena eius, in qua detinetur, gravis non est. Scito etiam quod pro ea honorificentia, quam michi in scriptis suis exhibuit, singulare quoddam lumen inter ceteras animas ipsum illustrat per singulas festivitates, in quibus mea commemoratio in ecclesia celebratur.
BUT as to what must happen to him on the last day: that will not be revealed to you now, but remains among those [hidden] matters the Lord wishes to keep secret.	Quid autem de ipso in novissimo die fieri debeat, nunc tibi revelandum non est, sed hoc inter archana sua dominus vult habere.


And I would add to these [words] that on the third day after this, when I spoke to the beloved of the Lord, blessed John the Evangelist, about that previously-mentioned doctor [Origen], he said with regard to Our Lady,	Ad hec et illud annectam, quod in die tercia post hec dilectus domini beatus Johannes evangelista dicebat, cum etiam ad ipsum quadam occasione loqui contigisset de doctore memorato, inquit domine nostre:
“The Lord has left the judgment of Origen to her decision so that whatever she might want to be done with him on the Last Day will be done.”	In arbitrio posuit dominus iudicium eius, et, quicquid ipsa in novissimo die de ipso voluerit fieri, fiat.
But to the words of our Lady, which she directed to me on the day of the Lord's birth, I immediately appended another request, saying,	Verbis autem domine nostre, que in die natalis domini dixerat ad me, continuo et aliam inquisitionem suibieci dicens:
“Please reveal to me, Lady with regard that brother who was so strangely buried at the church of Laach, whether prayers may be licitly be offered for him.”	Reveles michi, queso, domina et de illo fratre, qui aput Lacensem ecclesiam tam mirabiliter interiit, utrum pro eo orationes fieri liceat annon.
And she said,	Et ait:
“The Lord wishes to reveal nothing whatever to you concerning him since nothing of this [matter] would prove useful for the people.”	Neque uno modo neque alio quicquam tibi de illo revelari vult dominus, quoniam nichil ex hoc utilitatis in populo esset proventurum,
And now I have been anxious to announce these things to you since I did not want to appear to have forgotten your request.	et nunc hec vobis annuntiare sollicita fui, quatenus petitiones vestre non viderer fuisse oblita.
May you and the brothers with you remember to be consoled according to your wise discretion.	Vos autem tam vos ipsum quam fratres, qui sunt aput vos consolari mementote secundum discretionem prudentiae vestre.

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