# A soul on trial at judgment time: Revelations of St. Bridget
*2016-07-24*

> Bill Young explores a powerful revelation from St. Bridget of Sweden regarding the Particular Judgment of a monk who presumed upon God's mercy while living a life of sin.

## The Revelation of St. Bridget

In honor of the feast of St. Bridget of Sweden on July 23rd, I was reading through her Prophecies and Revelations. In Book Four, Chapter 102, we are given a glimpse into a soul on trial at his Particular Judgment. This revelation was shared to give us an idea of what that judgment will be like. In this specific account, we see the soul of a monk standing before Christ the Judge, with the Blessed Virgin Mary interceding for him in compassion.

## The Nature of a Just Judge

During the trial, the Son explains to His mother the nine characteristics of a righteous judge: listening attentively, distinguishing charges, intending to render a just judgment, inquiring into the causes of litigation, inquiring into the duration of the quarrel and the damage caused by delays, evaluating the trustworthiness of witnesses, refusing to be rushed or intimidated by power, showing no favoritism or susceptibility to bribes, and being fair to all regardless of status. The Mother of God pleads for the soul, but the Son reminds her that a physical verdict must precede the spiritual one, and no one is convicted unless the sin has been carried out.

## The Prosecutor's Case

The devil acts as the prosecutor, revealing the monk's true nature. Though the man wore the habit of a monk—a name implying self-restraint and abstinence—the devil claims the man's deeds were actually the devil's deeds. He describes how the monk sought worldly advances and sensual desires, celebrating Mass with presumption and chanting for the sake of human praise. The devil explains that while the monk was called to a life of retirement and spiritual peace, he instead pursued greed and gluttony, which the devil describes as a 'deep hole' that can never be filled.

## The Soul's Testimony

When the Judge questions the soul, the man admits that he preferred his own will over the way of perfection. He confesses that he entered the religious life not for holiness, but to flee the world's reproach and find a quieter life. He admits that while he saw the examples of the saints, he found them loathsome and chose his own path. Even his fasting and prayer were superficial, performed only to please others while hiding greater sins. Most tragically, the soul admits he presumed upon God's mercy, intending to repent in old age, only to be struck by sudden death and find his tongue tied and his memory lost at the moment he needed confession most.

## The Final Verdict

Because the soul condemned himself through his own testimony, the Judge delivers the verdict. The physical verdict was that the soul must depart his body quickly; the spiritual verdict was that he must spend eternity in the flames of hell, as an unworthy sheep who fell away from the flock. The Judge notes that while this trial seemed to take time for our understanding, it actually occurred in an instant. This serves as a stark lesson for anyone who thinks they can continue a sinful lifestyle and simply amend their ways later in life.

*We must repent now and amend our ways, for we know not the day nor the hour of our judgment, and we cannot presume upon God's mercy as an excuse to delay conversion.*