§ 3. Revelations.

Desire not inordinately visions and revelations, (which are sometimes granted even to the wicked). Those who foolishly seek after them, and thoughtlessly lend faith to them, are easily deceived by Satan, who transformeth himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. xi. 14), and in order to mislead, mostly mingles truth with falsehood. He gives out sometimes true things and sometimes false; but the Holy Spirit never reveals, foretells, or announces anything except the truth.

When the good Spirit visits the soul, it is usually 190 at first, seized with fear, but soon receives joy and consolation; and it retains its activity, its interior pence, and eager desire for virtue. But when the devil presents himself, the first fear remains, and even increases in the soul; and though the soul may be exhilarated in the beginning, when the demon transforms himself into an angel of light, yet it is afterwards confused, and filled with darkness and trouble. If thou art in doubt after having seen a vision, till thou canst satisfy thyself, thou dost not offend God, even if the vision be holy and divine. It is right to examine diligently and discreetly whether these visions and revelations are free from all falsehood, fiction, and absurdity, whether they agree with the Catholic faith and the Holy Scriptures, and the writings of the orthodox Fathers; for if they do not agree with them, they must be instantly rejected. A diabolical illusion makes a man proud, unresigned, and obstinate in his own judgment; but a divine revelation renders him humble, resigned, and docile. There are some servants of God who even while they are awake and in good health, are rapt by the operation of God out of their bodily senses, that these being suspended, they may more perfectly attend to divine visions and revelations.

Those are assuredly least liable to be seduced by the malignant spirit who are inundated in revelations with the exceeding sweetness of divine love, and the pure influence of intellectual and supernatural light. And the Lord graciously preserves and protects from being caught in the snares of the devil all who 191are endowed with sincere humility, and who piously seek and invoke Him, lest they perish. For they who are proud, and who conceal within themselves any duplicity and dissimulation, miserably mislead themselves, and fall of their own accord into the nets of the devil. Since God is a most faithful Father, to His humble children asking for bread, an egg, or a fish, He gives not a stone for bread, nor a scorpion for an egg, nor a serpent for a fish: but He gives them His good Spirit (St. Luke xi. 11, 12, 13). He gives that which conduces to their salvation. It is in no wise possible that He should abandon those who humbly have recourse to Him, and truly trust in Him. Therefore the humble always escape the snares of Satan, and there is doubtless no more certain sign and proof of true holiness, than true humility and perfect resignation.