Vision
of the Cross of the Apostolate
End of January,
1894.
One morning, after having received communion,
Conchita was recollected in God;
all of a sudden, she felt a strong joy. She had a vision, something like an allegory,
something that she did not understand. Of a natural size, and on the right side of the transept of the Church called "The
Society", in San Luis Potosi, a square of very bright light, that became clearer towards the
center, so clear that it appeared to be white light. In the middle and above this abyss of
light, with a thousand golden rays, apparently of fire; a very white dove, as if coming from
heaven, with the wings spread covering the flood, that sea of so bright a light.
Conchita again did not understand all of
that, that she was seeing. As the Works of God: with gentleness, calmly, a horizon of dawn, of a lofty and dark
vision that without knowing was known: as it was light and it was love, what was burning
there.
Two or three days afterwards,
in February 1894, on an afternoon, at the same church: the dove returns again, and as
always, amidst suns and the spread wings. But, this time, in a background of that so brilliant a light, radiantly
appeared: the wood of the Cross!
A big Cross, very big. With a Heart in the middle, where the limbs begin. This Cross floated, was among light
suspended, in a twilight of clouds; as in a frame that was with fire enlighted.
And,...under the
Cross, a thousand rays that were never mistaken, neither with the white dove nor with that
brightness that the clouds emitted.
The Heart
was: alive, throbbing and of flesh. Very human, awash in fire. Movable, touchable and
material. As a special blaze of an unquenchable fire: something that made visible that it was
GLORIFIED.
From the heart spranged
up, from its interior: flames, flames as tongues of fire of a very fine brightness.
These went up with violence, as the rage of a volcano. They covered and uncovered, a small and black
Cross, inserted in the Heart, although somewhat standing out.
The throbbing Heart moved with
anxiety, in a disk that as a sun more light gave to it. Although it was Glorified,
hard thorns were hurting it: they squeeze him, that it hurts to see, "thorns of
ingratitude that were never consumed."
A lance pierced him so, that a wide wound it caused. There blood springs forth, liquid and
set, dripping, making threads on the Cross.
Two
months went by, thus. That Cross appeared, in prayer as well as in the daily chores.
An obsessive Cross that neither at night disappeared. But suddenly: the Lord speaks!
And thus Conchita understood, that on her shoulders, a Cross He would put. "My heart will be like your
cloister--He said--there you will soak in the love in which I love. Look, there is rest
there. Perfection on earth, as mine. The intensity of love, purified by yearning and by
sorrow: as my love without a cross wouldn't have been love. Love! Sorrow! Oh, Concha,
my Cross of the Apostolate!"
And so she
knew which her vocation was: "I have a Heart fixed on me,--she would say--speared and
pierced... I long for many souls in that Cloister: I thirst for souls, I thirst for
consolation for this the Heart of my Beloved".
Conchita would always say: "Let us climb to the Cross, with courageous
love". "The poor Cross left our world and came from on high, it came full;
loaded with treasures: with all those of a Risen God!".
"It will drive away
devil; it will spread virtue; it will heal bodies and souls; it will make many
miracles!" It will grow in LIVING CROSSES; in all those that united to the Lord:
with cheerfulness on the lips, joy in the heart, but nailed to the Cross, tell Him
with their life:
Jesus, savior of all people, save them!
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