human
Dear child, said the monk,
gpt
Yes, uncle; and I had a strange dream last night.
human
A dream, my little heart? Come, then, and tell it to its uncle. Dreams are the hushing of the bodily senses, that the eyes of the Spirit may open.
gpt
Well, then, said Agnes,
human
I dreamed that I sat pondering as I did last evening in the moonlight, and that an angel came forth from the trees
gpt
Indeed! said the monk, looking up with interest;
human
He was a young man, in dazzling white raiment, and his eyes were deep as eternity, and over his forehead was a silver flame, and he bore a lily-stalk in his hand, which was like what you told of, with light in itself.
gpt
That must have been the holy Gabriel, said the monk,
human
Yes, he touched my forehead with the lily, and a sort of cool rest and peace went all through me, and he said, 'The Lord hath sealed thee for his own!'
gpt
Even so, said the monk, looking up, and crossing himself devoutly,
human
But, dear uncle, said Agnes, hesitating and blushing painfully,
gpt
It may be that the holy angel took on him in part this likeness to show how glorious a redeemed soul might become, that you might be encouraged to pray. The holy Saint Monica thus saw the blessed Augustine standing clothed in white among the angels while he was yet a worldling and unbeliever, and thereby received the grace to continue her prayers for thirty years, till she saw him a holy bishop. This is a sure sign that this young man, whoever he may be, shall attain Paradise through your prayers. Tell me, dear little heart, is this the first angel thou hast seen?
human
I never dreamed of them before. I have dreamed of our Lady, and Saint Agnes, and Saint Catharine of Siena; and sometimes it seemed that they sat a long time by my bed, and sometimes it seemed that they took me with them away to some beautiful place where the air was full of music, and sometimes they filled my hands with such lovely flowers that when I waked I was ready to weep that they could no more be found. Why, dear uncle, do _you_ see angels often?
gpt
Not often, dear child, but sometimes a little glimpse. But you should see the pictures of our holy Father Angelico, to whom the angels appeared constantly; for so blessed was the life he lived, that it was more in heaven than on earth. He would never cumber his mind with the things of this world, and would not paint for money, nor for prince's favor; nor would he take places of power and trust in the Church, or else, so great was his piety, they had made a bishop of him; but he kept ever aloof and walked in the shade. He used to say, 'They that would do Christ's work must walk with Christ.' His pictures of angels are indeed wonderful, and their robes are of all dazzling colors, like the rainbow. It is most surely believed among us that he painted to show forth what he saw in heavenly visions.
human
Ah! said Agnes,
gpt
You may well say so, dear child. There is one picture of Paradise painted on gold, and there you may see our Lord in the midst of the heavens crowning his blessed Mother, and all the saints and angels surrounding; and the colors are so bright that they seem like the sunset clouds,--golden, and rosy, and purple, and amethystine, and green like the new, tender leaves of spring: for, you see, the angels are the Lord's flowers and birds that shine and sing to gladden his Paradise, and there is nothing bright on earth that is comparable to them,--so said the blessed Angelico, who saw them. And what seems worthy of note about them is their marvellous lightness, that they seem to float as naturally as the clouds do, and their garments have a divine grace of motion like vapor that curls and wavers in the sun. Their faces, too, are most wonderful; for they seem so full of purity and majesty, and withal humble, with an inexpressible sweetness; for, beyond all others, it was given to the holy Angelico to paint the immortal beauty of the soul.
human
It must be a great blessing and favor for you, dear uncle, to see all these things, said Agnes;
gpt
I am never tired of hearing you tell of them.
human
There is one little picture, said the monk,
gpt
How great grace must come from such pictures! said Agnes.
human
It seems to me that the making of such holy things is one of the most blessed of good works.--Dear uncle, she said, after a pause,
gpt
I should not wonder in the least, said the monk;
human
Well, uncle, I have longed to consecrate the gorge to Christ by having a shrine there, where I might keep a lamp burning.
gpt
It is a most pious thought, child.
human
And so, dear uncle, I thought that you would undertake the work. There is one Pietro hereabout who is a skilful worker in stone, and was a playfellow of mine,--though of late grandmamma has forbidden me to talk with him,--and I think he would execute it under your direction.
gpt
Indeed, my little heart, it shall be done, said the monk, cheerfully;
human
Sub tutela Michaelis, Pax in terra, pax in coelis.