First Vision
Once on a dark night I went alone into the
forest to pray, and seating myself upon a rock I laid before God my deep
necessities, and besought His help. After a short time, seeing a poor man
coming towards me I thought he had come to ask me for some relief because he
was hungry and cold. I said to him, "I am a poor man, and except this blanket I
have nothing at all. You had better go to the village near by and ask for help
there." And lo! even whilst I was saying this he flashed forth like lightning,
and, showering drops of blessing, immediately disappeared. Alas! Alas! it was
now clear to me that this was my beloved Master who came not to beg from a poor
creature like me, but to bless and to enrich me (2 Cor. viii.9), and so I was
left weeping and lamenting my folly and lack of insight.