[B.] St. IGNATIUS of LOYOLA Presentation: The ... - St. Gaspar Bertoni

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[3. The Wedding Ring from the Glorious Sacred Side]
2138: Then He indicated to His Mother that she should be vested in the wedding garment: and
this was a most rich mantle covered with gems. Mary handed this to St. Catherine, and she
vested Veronica in it. Jesus Christ then drew the Wedding Ring from His Side: the ring, with a
gem on which was the Name of Jesus: Jesus Christ with His Mother then slipped it on her finger:
then He blessed it. There ensued the celestial harmony. There was imposed the new rules of a
more perfect life. Among its stipulations was that from now on her life would be totally crucified.
He made her the mistress of all His treasures, the merits of His actions and sufferings.
2139: - Wounded in her heart, on Christmas, by the Baby Jesus, with a kind of arrow, the
blood issued forth, and this was noted various times by the other nuns.
- The Stigmata, and the renovation of these at different times, and a prodigious odor
which permeated throughout the entire monastery. The Sisters would know from this when the
Stigmata were being renewed, and the bandages which covered these, gave this sweet odor to
the garments in the laundry.
- A Participation in the other sufferings of the Passion.
- The multiplicity of the signs impressed on her heart: in all, there were 24.
[a.
Sublime Gifts lived in Charity]
2140: But be zealous for the better gifts. And I will show you yet a more excellent way. 1
Co 12:31.
Veronica came to know well that one way can be excellent, because it exceeds others
[and thus one arrives in the heights], because of its sublimity, rarity, singularity. This, however, is
admired the more, but in it there is also the greater danger for the person who traverses it, either
of taking vain glory in the praise that accrues from it, or of falling down because of its height. And
greater, too, is the envy of one’s enemies, as they strive either to incite one to slip, or by trying to
deceive the individual by suggesting other false ways in preference to the true path. Therefore, all
the less is the number of those who can be helped, or directed along such a journey, since there
are so few who walk along such a way and come to know these extraordinary ways.
2141: Now, the most excellent path is that which is the most direct, smooth, secure, and
masterful, along which all follow, and in which, in the final analysis, every path must be inserted,
even that which is the most singular, if it is authentic. This is the way of charity, to which are
subordinated all the visions, the ecstasies, and the like, almost like the sacraments in the
Church, which signify and produce and increase, charity. Therefore, the Holy Church, in order to
prove the authenticity of singular spirits, tries each one and observes with various trials, in order
to ascertain their charity. Charity consists more in what is done than in the affections: If anyone
will love me, he will keep My word… Jn 14:23. This is the path that Veronica trod. This is the
pathway of charity, which is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who is given to
us…Rm 5:5. And this is why He is most excellently called the Gift of God. - Being justified
freely by his grace, etc., let us glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God Rm 3:24;
5:2.
2142: And Veronica certainly had every human reason to glory for these reasons. She was
endowed with such grace.
And she did not glory in those gifts that render one graces: sanctifying grace, holiness:
she was endowed with grace from the time of her swaddling clothes. She maintained innocence
of life until her death. She was educated by the Virgin Mary and by Jesus Christ, and she was
always instructed and moved by them right up until her very last day.
Her infused, theological virtues: in her faith, she yearned for Martyrdom; hope in which
she desired death for the assurance of being united with Christ: I am having a desire to be