8 May 1864

Someone led me to a place where there was a beautiful road all covered in roses, not only on the ground, but also above like an arch, and all around there were roses but so beautiful that I had never seen anything like them. The person told me to walk. I did not want to trample on those beautiful roses so I took off my shoes. But I took a step or two and then, ouch, I soon had to step back because I trod on a thorn which gave me terrible pain, and I saw that under these beautiful roses there were many prickly thorns, not just underneath but everywhere. So I said: “We need shoes here”; and the other person, looking at me replied: “You certainly do need shoes”. So I put them back on. There was a great number of priests and other people with me who walked beside me. I began walking; despite all my concerns, occasionally getting pricked by one or other of those huge thorns, I nevertheless got to the end of the avenue. Then I looked back and I saw not one of my many walking companions. I was very upset and I immediately turned back to see what they were doing or where they were, but I saw no one. I began to weep copiously and was saying: “Is it possible that they all have abandoned me and that I have to be alone on this road?”.

But while I was there complaining and weeping I saw a huge crowd of priests and clerics and others coming towards me. And when they reached me they said: “Here we are ready to follow you; tell us what to do and we will obey”. I was consoled and I told them: “Well then, if you are ready to struggle along this road with me, let's begin walking”; and they all took to the road and I followed behind. A few lost courage and turned back. A great number were happy and courageous and reached the end. I did so too.

In front of us was a huge and magnificent hall where there were other beautiful roses, and I looked; they were all without thorns and gave off such a sweet perfume.

Then the person who was accompanying me spoke to me saying: “Have you understood all this?”. “No”, I told him “Could you please explain it all to me”. So he said: “Know then that this road stands for the care that you must take of young people. You need to walk along this road with shoes on, meaning mortification. The beautiful roses are symbols of burning charity that has to distinguish you and your helpers in educating young people. The thorns stand for all the obstacles, sufferings, annoyances you have to put up with in this task. But do not lose courage: with charity and mortification you will win out. At the end you will find roses without thorns, as you saw in that rich hall you arrived at”. And then I found myself in my room of course, awake like I am now.