Last night I became very sick. There didn’t seem to be any part of me that didn’t give me trouble. Sleep came only in restless spurts. I offered it to my Father in union with the Cross, trusting in His ability to bring goodness from a bad situation.

Some hours later, I felt led to seek comfort in the familiar prayers of the Rosary. Almost immediately, I saw myself back in the tomb. But, such changes had occurred! It seemed as if a moment of the Resurrection had been taken out of time for me.

The vigilant angel was no longer containing his brilliance. He stood, wings wide, brightening the tomb like the first rays of dawn. The body of our Lord lay on a stone shelf, unwrapped (actually, I had never seen it wrapped) and seemed to be just asleep. It seemed as though He had begun to rise; He was no longer dead, but had not yet reached His full glory.

From within me, though not in words, came permission too approach Him and be healed! Such peace and joy and love filled me. I saw myself the little mouse that I was scampering happily along the stone shelf, like a little pet welcoming a beloved master. I snuggled next to His side, the way my dog does to me when I’m in bed. The warmth from His body filled me with the greatest contentment I’ve ever known, and I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

I awoke several more times during the night, but these were from the normal need to roll over. Each time, I could still feel His presence near me.

All day long, that presence remained, filling me with peace and joy. He called me to my formal prayer period earlier than I had planned. That was fine with me, as I had so many questions for Him about all that had happened.

I asked Him why I had been shown the glory of the Cross when others had seen the agony. He replied that I was too fragile to know the agony. He wanted me to know, without a doubt, that Satan’s power was limited, and that the ultimate victory was already won. This knowledge will be a great source of strength to me. I know Satan can do only the harm to me that I let him do.

Then why the glimpse of the agony of the Cross? This was so I could know the depth of His great love. Nothing was too much to bear for us.

Why did I seem to be sealed in the tomb? First, to learn to be a mouse. Of myself I am nothing more. However, because of His great love, the mouse was allowed in the holiest and safest place this side of Heaven, and was allowed the familiarity of snuggling next to the warmth of His rising. Only pure angels and those who can see themselves as mice can share in this intimacy.

Why did I not see his body wrapped? I felt this was symbolic, and it was. It was to show me that nothing stands between a soul and God except that which the soul brings with it.

By waiting until I had begun a Rosary to end the darkness of the tomb was an answer to an earlier prayer. I had asked for guidance as to the forms of my prayers. Should I abandon the traditional forms in favor of spending more time in contemplation? I know now that a balanced prayer life is what He wants of me.

My questions answered, I was allowed to join the rest of God’s people in celebrating the great victory of Easter. I was given the imagery of a great celebration with all those who love Him dressed in brilliant white robes. Our Lord was among us, rejoicing with us at His great victory. I finally felt that Easter had come!