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HERE WE TELL OF A BISHOP THAT SAID MASS IN HIS CHURCH BEFORE SAINT MARY AND HER MEINIE: TO WHOM THE SAID LADY DID GIVE A NOBLE VESTMENT
In the days when Pepin ruled in France, the the blessed Saint Bon was bishop of Clermont in Auvergne; the same being a just, a simple, and an holy man. He ruled his diocese with charity, he was constant in all good works, and though he had exceeding great compassion on the faults of others, yet did his own sins always move him to a most lively contrition: and beyond all these virtues, that were so proper to his state, he had a very loving devotion to our holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
And because he was a man of good and simple heart, that wearied not in love nor in well-doing, being filled with that charity that will not have reward for these things, the place of his pilgrimage shone with a peculiar glory in the eyes of the angels,
being made radiant with something of that light which is in
Heaven. There they moved as in their home, standing there, no less than in the Empyrean, before the very countenance of God: for truly Paradise is not a
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place, unless it be that place where love may dwell. Because he ever walked with eyes down desiring in his humility a greater perfection, Saint Bon discerned not the marvels that lay about him. Rather did he bewail the sins and shortcomings that withheld him, as he believed, from the perfect performance of his heavenly devoir, and so from the blessedness of those called to be saints. And for this cause he spent long hours in prayer and supplication, in that his life did, as he thought, so little honour to that Queen of Queens whom he would serve.
Now it happened thus, that on the vigil of the feast of the
Assumption of Our Lady, Saint Bon stayed after the singing of
Vespers alone in the choir of his cathedral-church; and being
moved by deep contemplation of the mystery of the Assumption to a very lively love, he rested many hours in prayer, offering his
tears, his lauds and supplications at Our Lady's feet. So night
came upon him, and still he stayed, uplifted by his devotion
above remembrance of time. Nor did he know that in so doing he
had trespassed upon the angels' hour, for that they made his
church the sanctuary of their night-watches; for where meekness
and purity offer the sacrifice, there may the angelic censers swing.
And he ceased not his orison till the hour of midnight was come. Then did he raise his head full joyously, and cried with a loud voice, saying: “Exaltata est Sancta Dei Genitrix," in honour of the coming of the feast. And when he had
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so done, lo! he was altogether filled with amazement; for of a sudden he saw that a light exceeding great, the which made dim the little lamp before the altar, was come into the church, and in its shining many angels. Now came there white processions into the choir and stood about him as he knelt on the stones. These were those saints that stand in Paradise, all the meinie of Our Lady and her Son. He saw the blessed martyrs, Saint Vincent and Saint Laurence, vested as deacons for the saying of the Mass; and George and Alban, the soldiers of Christ made glorious. He saw, too, those holy and charitable bishops that had gone before him; the stars of the Church of God, whose light he ever kept in mind, Jerome and Gregory, Ambrose and Augustine.
Then was Saint Bon filled with much fear and reverence, saying: "Who am I, most sinful, that I should be here?" And he fell down upon the stones of the pavement, crying aloud in the words of the Patriarch Jacob: "Quam terribilis est, locus iste!
non est hie aliud nisi domus Dei, et porta caeli." That is to
say, How dreadful is this place ! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven.
But whilst that he lay there full of awe, he heard the comfortable sound of chanting exceeding sweet; and being rapt from his fears by this celestial melody, very slowly and reverently he raised up his head. Then saw he that white company of virgins whose high devoir it is to attend on the Mother of God: Catherine of
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the Wheels, Lucy of the Eyes, with Agnes, Cecilia, and also Dorothy; and in the midst of them was that sweet lady the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Angels, and she was crowned with jewels and apparelled right royally, yet walked she with most gracious humbleness. So all this train came forth into the choir, and placed themselves orderly therein, and they sang their hymn unto the end. And they stood in a bright light circle-wise about the altar, as in Paradise they stand about the Altar of the Lamb; but the light came not to the place where Saint Bon was kneeling.
Then heard he the saints that cried to Our Lady, asking her
whom she would have sing the Mass of her feast. And Our Lady answered them: "I will have that my servant who kneels beyond
the circle of light, and thence doth offer for me his love and
tears, asking naught in return. For this cause have I chosen him
to offer for me the sacrifice of love."
Then was Saint Bon greatly abashed and full of fear; for, seeing
his church thus filled with all the Host of Heaven, and having
still in his ears the song of angels, it seemed to him too great
presumption that he, the meanest of God's servants, should
minister before these glorious ones. But whilst he kneeled in
adoration came two angels, and raised him up and led him to the
altar at the Virgin's bidding; and there they vested him for the saying of the Mass. And the glorious deacons Vincent and Laurence served him; and the altar was censed by
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angels, and by angels' hands the sacring-bell was rung.
Now when he stood thus before that altar, where every day
he was used to offer the Holy Sacrifice for the Church and for his people whom he loved, courage came anew to the heart of Saint
Bon; for at this place he was accustomed to stand always as
before God's face, in humbleness of spirit but fearing naught,
for that he had an heavenly Intercessor. Therefore it seemed to
him no more matter for dread, but rather for thanksgiving, that
he, unworthy, was thus by divine mercy admitted to the Communion of the Saints ; for he knew that no man by his own power might attain to it. And, all things being set in order, he sang the Mass of Our Lady right clearly and well. And when he was come to the words, "Assumpta est Maria in coelum: gaudent Angeli," all the saints and angels bowed before her, and cried with a loud voice, "Alleluia!"
And when that it was come to the ending of the Mass, the most
holy Virgin kneeled in the midst of her saints, that she might
receive the blessing of Bon her servant; and afterwards she
called him to her feet, and spoke with him full sweetly, and gave
to him a guerdon for the devoir he had done, even an alb, a very
noble vestment that she had brought with her from Paradise. And she warned Saint Bon very straitly, saying: "See that you let none other put upon himself this holy alb, the which I give you in
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reward because you loved me with that love which casteth out fear, and have well and truly sung the Mass of this my feast; for I can in no wise offer this Mass in Paradise, where is the Holy Sacrifice made perfect, but only by the hands of my servants here on earth. And this that I have given you is of that stuff which the virgins my hand-maidens weave for the vesting of the saints; even the vesture of a lowly spirit, which is acceptable to God. See, therefore, that you keep it closely, for great virtue is therein. And look further, that none come to this church that is my sanctuary in the night hours when my mysteries are here sung : for none may gaze on this matter, save him to whom the heavenly vestment has been given."
Then did the Virgin Mary and all her train go back to heaven; and Saint Bon went to his house much comforted, for now he knew well that his poor love was pleasing to Our Lady, and that she looked favourably upon the imperfection of his prayers. And he laid up with exceeding care the vesture that she had given him, and by it he did much healing and brought many souls to God.
Soon after that Saint Bon had died and was surely gone to the joy of Heavenly Syon, a new bishop was made in his place; and he believed not the wonders which were told of that holy man, for he was a prelate of worldly conversation and doubting mind. And it vexed him much that the alb of Saint Bon, the which was laid up in the treasury of the cathedral,
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should be held a vestment of no earthly making, and that for this he might not wear it for the saying of the Mass; for it was exceeding fair. Further, he held that to be but an ignorant and idle fantasy which would have the church sacred to the angels in the night hours because of those words which Saint Bon had had from Our Lady's lips. Therefore, on a certain night, this bishop went alone into the choir of his cathedral-church; and he took from the treasury the alb of Saint Bon, and there before the altar would vest himself therein. But before the heavenly vestment had touched his shoulders, lo, his senses left him, and he woke not till the dawn, and then he lay on his bed in his chamber that was within the bishop's house. And the alb of Saint Bon was found on the high altar, and a fair linen cloth was on it.
Then was that bishop greatly astonished, and his heart was moved,and he called his people together and told them that which had befallen: to the intent that all might know it was unlawful that any should witness the divine secrets which every night were celebrated at that altar, save only him to whom Our Lady, of her mercy, hath given the Heavenly Vesture.
