Reynistaðarbók, AM 764 4to
Translated from Widding, Ole and Hans Bekker-Nielsen. “Elisabeth of Schönau's Visions in an Old Icelandic Manuscript, AM 764, 4o.” Opuscula 2.1. Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana 25.1. Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1961, pp. 93-6.
Reynistaðarbók. AM 764 4to (c. 1376-1386): 16r-16v
Elisabeth’s Vision in the Book of Reynistaðar.
Seven years after the crucifixion of God the blessed mother Mary was assumed to heaven; forty days later, two nights after the feast of Matthew, she was assumed in the flesh. For a long time little was known concerning her death. How that became illuminated is expounded below.
Elisabeth, the daughter of the king of Hungary, went into the cloister when she was eleven years old. She lived a very holy life and when she had been cloistered for eleven, years the mother of God began appearing to her often. She spoke to her about the various interpretations of holy writ.
An angel of God was also revealed to her who prepared her to learn divine wisdom. She recognized that the angel was always the same, coming to her as true friend and dearest companion.
And when she blossomed from these gifts, she strove to be more pleasing to God as best in all things, observing true humility with good works. It happened later that she realized that Mary, mother of God, honored her by visiting often. Of these visits she spoke secretly to her spiritual father there in the cloister. He advised her to ask the queen something when she appeared to her next time.
She said she would ask as the old man counseled her. “I ask this of you my daughter that you question her whether she has risen from death and now lives with God in both soul and body.”
And the next time when the blessed Mary appeared to Elisabeth they spoke together very lovingly. That was during the octave of the feast of the Assumption of Saint Mary when God’s service is recited in the Church.
A trance passed over Elisabeth, and in that moment the holy mother appeared. Elisabeth then asked her, speaking boldly: “My sweet queen, if it be pleasing to God’s will, we eagerly want to know whether you have risen up and taken your kingdom with your son in soul alone or if you rose up from death both in soul and body. I ask about these things through your mercy because I’ve heard that information regarding your Assumption cannot be found written in the books of the holy fathers.”
The queen answered her: “That which you ask may not become known to you at this time, nevertheless it is my intention that this information will be revealed to you.”
As this sight disappeared the sister made known to the elder how the conversation had gone with queen Mary. The good brother requested that the nun take up special prayers to God’s mother to honor the promise between them and to hold to them daily until a vision resulted.
A whole year passed and the nun did not dare to ask either God’s mother or the holy angel about these things even though they both appeared to her as usual. When the feast of the Assumption of Mary was nearing, Elisabeth became sick. Due to that illness she lay very weak in bed on the eve of the feast.
While the cloister performed the sublime service on the blessed day, a great swoon passed over her. Then she sees in the distance a stone coffin, in which she sees laying a woman’s body. On all sides stood the servants of heaven, God’s bright angels with shining light. And a little later that body rose up with great glory which before had lain in the grave.
The holy angels bowed then and came to her flying all together high up in the heavens in worshipful order beautifully announcing the arrival of the heavenly curia, fair and glorious from the son of man above, the living son of God with many thousands of his host. That same Lord bore in his hand the holy cross covered in a glorious banner. Then an excellent processio was prepared. The queen went into such glory, she who had recently risen up from the grave; the highest king led her with him. Afterward this same procession disappeared from her eyes.
A little space of time passed before the blessed Mary appeared to her. Mary revealed to Elisabeth her blessed and gentle face, but she did not speak with her. And when Mary disappeared that same angel came. Then she spoke to him: “My lord, what does that vision, which I saw recently, signify?”
The angel said this: “In this vision God showed you how Saint Mary was assumed both in soul and body.”
After this vision she became fully healthy. And on the eve of the octave this same angel spoke to her. Elisabeth asked: “how much time passed from the Assumption of our lady before the resurrection of her body followed.”
The angel answered: “On the same day which you now honor as her Assumption she passed away from this life. Forty days after that, on the 23rd of September, she rose from death.” After that the angel disappeared from her sight.