[Scriptum compendiosum Psalterii intentionem declarans]

As the same Augustine writes in book nine of his Confessions, when they stood together, leaning at a window where the sunrise could be seen, far from the crowd, where they spoke together alone very sweetly about the eternal life of the saints, and the mouth of the heart was inhabiting the supernal currents of the fountain of life, reaching themselves with a more ardent affection into that same thing, and gradually transcending all temporal things, they reached with a whole stroke of the heart the region of unfailing abundance, the fountain of eternal life. Sighing for it, and leaving there the bound first-fruits of the spirit, they returned to the conversation of the mouth; for this world with its delights was becoming worthless to them in the midst of words. This is there. That the same father Augustine was often snatched into these same excesses, he himself humbly confesses with thanksgiving to the Lord, saying thus in Book 10 of the Confessions:

"Sometimes you introduce me into a very unusual affection, inwardly, I do not know to what sweetness, which if it were to be perfected in me, I do not know what it would be, which this life will not be."

And you aspire that he be frequently drawn into these theoretical excesses. The same Augustine contemplates this in his contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ, saying thus: "You are, O Lord, my life by which I live; the hope to which I cling; the glory which I desire to attain. You, hold my heart, rule my mind, direct my intellect, lift me up with love,

suspend my soul, and draw me into the supernal currents of the spirit that thirsts for you. Let the tumults of the flesh be silent, I ask; let all fantasies of the earth, of the waters, of the air, and of the sky cease. Let dreams and imaginary revelations be silent; let every tongue, every sign, and whatever is made by passing away be silent to itself; and let the soul itself pass beyond, not by thinking of itself, but of you, my God, because you are truly my whole hope." And in his book of Postilations, he says thus: "Give to me, O Lord, the wings of contemplation, imbued with which I may fly up to you," and he says many such things there.

Thus was the same Augustine drawn and enraptured when he had approached a woman sitting in study, and he could have had no response nor nod from her. It was later said to him in a vision: "When you went to Augustine, he was arguing most attentively about the glory of the Trinity, and therefore he did not notice at all that you were there; but now return to him safely, and you will find him gentle and will find healthy counsel." Thus also was that man of exceptional holiness, the blessed Nicholas of Tolentino, prepared in all things. In the sign of his devout prayer and theoretical contemplation, a certain shining star very often preceded him when he went to the place of prayer. For when one night the man of God,