The Seventh Book of Revelations: The Classics of Western Spirituality: Birgitta of Sweden: translator: Albert Ryle Kezel

In Rome Lady Birgitta had this revelation which speaks about the glorious sword of sorrow that pierced the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary and which the just man Simeon foretold to her in the temple. Chapter 2.

While Lady Birgitta, the bride of Christ, was in Rome, in the church called Saint Mary Major, on the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary  she was caught up into a spiritual vision, and saw that in heaven, as it were, all things were being prepared for a great feast. 2. And then she saw, as it were, a temple of wondrous beauty; and there too was that venerable and just old man, Simeon, ready to receive the Child Jesus in his arms with supreme longing and gladness. 3. She also saw the Blessed Virgin most honorably enter, carrying her young Son to offer him in the temple according to the law of the Lord. And then she saw a countless multitude of angels and of the various ranks of the saintly men of God and of his saintly virgins and ladies, all going before the Blessed Virgin-Mother of God and surrounding her with all joy and devotion. 4. Before her an angel carried a long, very broad, and bloody sword which signified those very great sorrows which Mary suffered at the death of her most loving Son and which were prefigured by that sword which the just man Simeon would pierce her soul. 5. And while all the heavenly court exulted, this was said to the bride: "See with what great honor and glory the Queen of Heaven is, on this feast, recompensed for the sword of sorrows which she endured at the passion of her beloved Son." And then this vision disappeared.

LATIN

Chapter 2 In Roma habuit domina Birgitta istam reuelacionem, que loquitur de illo glorioso gladio doloris, qui animam beate virginis Marie pertransiuit, quem sibi iustus Symeon prenunciauit in templo.

In purificacione beate Marie virginis, dum esset domina Birgitta Christi sponsa in Roma in ecclesia, que dicitur Sancte Marie Maioris, rapta fuit dicta domina in spiritualem visionem, videns in celo quasi omnia ad magnum festum preparari. 2 Et tunc vidit quasi vnum templum mirabilis pulchritudinis et ibi erat ille venerabilis senex iustus Symeon paratus ad recipiendum puerum Ihesum in vlnis suis cum summo desiderio et gaudio. 3 Videbat quoque beatam virginem honestissime incedentem et portantem puerum filium, vt offerret eum in templo secundum legem Domini; deinde innumerabilem multitudinem angelorum et diuersorum ordinum sanctorum Dei et sanctarum virginum et dominarum beatam virginem matrem Dei precedencium et eam cum omni leticia et deuocione circumdancium. 4 Ante quam portabatur a quodam angelo vnus gladius longus et valde latus et sanguinolentus, qui significabat illos maximos dolores, quos Maria passa est in morte amantissimi filii sui, qui figurabantur in gladio, quem iustus Symeon prophetabat ipsius animam pertransiturum esse. 5 Vnde tota exultante celesti curia dictum fuit sponse: "Ecce quantus honor et gloria rependitur in hoc festo regine celi pro gladio dolorum, quos sustinuit in sui dilecti filii passione." Et tunc hec visio disparuit.