CHAPTER IX.

ON THE MANNER AND REGULATION OF OUR SLEEP.

THAT necessary sleep should be allowed to the body, has been frequently revealed by Christ to St. Bridget and others, But every one, before he gives himself up to his nightly repose and goes to sleep, ought diligently to examine his conscience, and to reflect in what he may have neglected his duties or offended God during the day; he ought to seek pardon of God for his faults, and resolve to amend his life with the help of God; he ought to commend his soul and body to God, and also to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to his holy guardian Angel, and making the sign of the cross, thus place himself modestly in bed.

Likewise on rising from sleep, he ought to fortify himself with the sign of the cross, and commend himself to God; he ought to desire and pray that what ever he shall that day do, say, or think, may tend to the eternal praise and glory of God.

Our Lord said to St. Mechtildis: “When any one is going to sleep, let him meditate on something concerning Me, or converse with Me. Thus will his mind watch with Me, though his body sleeps; and if when he suffers from any evil dreams, he feels displeasure and annoyance thereat on awaking, it is a sign that he was in no wise separated from Me. Let him who is about to sleep also desire that I may receive 259every breath he draws that night as a slight tribute of praise to Me; and I who cannot refuse the holy wishes of a pious and loving soul, will in truth fulfil this his desire.”

When St. Gertrude had passed nearly a whole night without sleep, and was greatly weakened and exhausted by it, she offered this loss of her strength to God to His eternal praise, for the salvation of all men. To whom our Lord said: “When any one wearied and worn out with watching beseeches Me to grant him some repose in sleep to My praise and for the renewal of his strength, if I do not then grant his request, and he, taking patience, endures his want with humility; this is most pleasing to My mercy. And it is infinitely more acceptable to Me when one who is sleepless in illness offers to Me humbly and patiently the loss of his strength, than when one watches in prayer during a whole night who, being in good health, is well able to watch.”

The same virgin Gertrude was one night visited by our Lord in her sleep so sweetly that by the company and presence of God she seemed to herself to be refreshed with delicate food. And awaking she gave thanks to God, and said: “O Lord my God, what have I, a most vile sinner, deserved above others, who are often so oppressed by dreams that they even terrify others by their cries?” The Lord answered: “When those whom My divine Providence designs to sanctify by afflictions, bestow more care than they ought on the solace of their bodies while they are awake, and thus deprive themselves of occasions of 260merit, I send them troubles in their dreams out of My divine love, that so they may at least gain some merit. And she replied, “O Lord, can they merit by those things which they suffer without intention, and almost against their will?” Then the Lord said, “My mercy effects this. They indeed are clothed and adorned, although not with gold and jewels, at least with ornaments of bronze.”