e reciting on the
steps of the monastery the little hours in honor of the Blessed
Virgin, his vision carried him beyond the earth. He seemed to behold
the Blessed Trinity in the form of a lyre or harp; this vision
affected him so much that he could not refrain from tears and sighs.
On the same day he accompanied the procession from the church, but
even up to the time of dinner he could not withhold his tears, and
after dinner his joy and consolation were so great that he could speak
of no subject except the Blessed Trinity. In these conversations he
made use of many different comparisons to illustrate his thoughts.
Such an impression was made on him on that occasion that during his
after life, whenever he prayed to the Blessed Trinity, he experienced
great devotion.

At another time, to his great joy, God permitted him to understand how
He had created this world. This vision presented to him a white
object, with rays emanating from it. From this object God sent forth
light. However, he could not clearly explain this vision, nor could he
recall the illuminations given to him by God on that occasion. During
his stay of about a year at Manresa, after he had begun to receive
from God consolations, and fruitful lights for the direction of
others, he gave up his former rigorous penances. At that time he
trimmed his nails and hair. During the time of his residence at
Manresa, while assisting at Mass, he had another vision in the church
of the monastery. At the elevation of the body of Christ Our Lord he
beheld, with the eyes of his soul, white rays descending from above.
Although he cannot, after so long an interval, explain the details of
this vision, still the manner in which Our Lord Jesus Christ is
present in the Blessed Sacrament was clearly and vividly stamped upon
his mind. Often in prayer, and even during a long space of time, did
he see the humanity of Christ with the eyes of the soul. The form
under which this vision appeared was that of a white body, neither
large nor small; besides, there seemed to be no distinction of members
in His body. This vision appeared to him often at Manresa, perhaps
twenty or even forty times, once at Jerusalem, and once when he was at
Padua. He saw the Blessed Virgin under the same form, without any
distinction of members. These visions gave him such strength that he
often thought within himself, that even though Scripture did not bear
witness to these mysteries of faith, still, from wh