Summary: Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew Chapter IX (zeal for souls) page 71 “On the eve of the Feast of St. Denis, the Areopagite, for whom I had great devotion, while in prayer, our Lord granted me the favor to visit my soul, and transform it into His by a wonderful union. Through this visit lasted but a short time, its effects were very great. I became so spiritual in soul and body that it seemed I no longer performed any natural action, or made the least natural movement. The following day, the Feast of St. Denis, our Lord granted me the same favor after Holy Communion. Although this visit was short, as I have already said, the fruits which I experienced and the dispositions in which it placed my souls, lasted more than fifteen days. Although I saw nothing, I felt within myself, in the depths of my soul, the Sovereign Majesty, as if I saw the Most Holy Trinity. I saw nothing, but the realization I had of His presence within me was more striking than if I had seen Him. During these days I had, indeed, some cause for trouble, but my mind did not allow one distracting thought to enter and lost non of its simplicity; I make use of this expression, because the vision I had of God was simple, quiet and undisturbed. After these days had passed, it was no longer so. It is true this grace was not entirely taken from me, but it was not granted me in such perfection as I have just described. The fruit it continued to produce in me was greater courage of soul, more intense fervor, a more ardent desire to see God and to employ myself in His service according to His good pleasure. In this state there is greater activity and less of that simple looking towards God. The movements being, in all cases, more energetic, greater care is required in order not to commit faults, whereas one is preserved from them when made firm by the power of the prayer spoken of, that is to say, the simple looking towards God. The difference between these two states is easy to be understood. The soul who enjoys this simple sight of God resembles a person who is satiated and has an abundance of all the dishes possible to desire, without even the trouble of seeking them or even sitting down to the table. The soul which no longer has this simple sight of God is like a hungry man, who desires dishes according to his taste, but must procure them by labor, and if he must be solicitous in order to procure them, he must also be the same in order to preserve them. The soul must act in the same manner regarding the virtues, the knowledge of God and self; this exercise is so important, that who ever does not seriously enter into it will always be poor in soul. The knowledge of truth gives repose to the heart and causes a soul to be resigned in great and little things to all God asks of her.” TIME 6:00 Autobiography of the Blessed Mother Anne of Saint Bartholomew Inseparable Companion of Sainit Teresa of Avila and Foundress of the Carmels of Pontoise, Tours and Antwerp: French Translation of the Unpublished Autograph of the Vernerable Servant of God, Preserved by the Carmelites of Antwerp, with Commentary and Historical Notes. By Reverend Marcel Bouis, S.J.: Trnaslated from the French by a Religious of the Carmel of St. Louis, MO., U.S.A. Imprimatur: Joannes Josephus, Archiepiscopus, Sti. Ludovici. 20 December, 1916
