possible, excite and induce all others to love God with their whole
hearts, and above all other things." Such beautiful sentiments, well
lived up to and exemplified by actions and conduct, would give us, not
an entire assurance as to the remission of our sins, but a firm and
well-founded confidence thereof.

The holy penitent received with this plenary indulgence the grace of
an ecstasy, wherein, by a bright illumination from on high, God
communicated to him what was to occur to his order. When he returned
to join his disciples he said:--"Take courage, my dear children, rejoice
in the Lord. Be not cast down at the smallness of your numbers. Let
not my simplicity nor yours alarm you, for God has shown me clearly
that, by His blessing, He will spread this family of which He is the
Father, into all parts of the world. I should wish to be silent on all
that I have seen, but charity compels me to communicate it to you. I
saw a great multitude coming to us to take a similar habit, and to
lead the same life. I saw all the roads filled with men who walked
hither, and hastened themselves very much. They came in great numbers,
French, Spaniards, Germans, English, and from almost all nations. The
noise of such as come and go, to execute the orders of holy obedience,
still sounds in my ears."

So magnificent a prediction reminds us of the prophet Isaias on the
establishment of the Church: "Jerusalem, thou who sayest, I am barren!
lift up thine eyes and look all around thee. All this vast multitude
surrenders itself up to thee. I see them coming from afar--some from
the North, others from the West, others from the land of the South;
a thousand will come forth from the smallest among them, and from the
very least a great people."