247. The extreme cruelty of some who nevertheless profess mercy and holiness with the mouth

Something so very cruel was depicted to me this night, that anyone would shudder if he should get even a slight notion of it. Therefore I want to spare chaste eyes and ears an account of the details. They were proclaiming the mercy of God the Messiah, which they arrogated to themselves alone. For some quite trivial reason, as I explained to them, they seemed to want to lay a most cruel hand upon innocence itself, for the sake of revenge (but in the manner of spirits, who believe that what they conjure up by fantasy is really there). So they were occupied with an act entirely opposite to mercy, but whether they have any mercy, and charity, anyone can judge, since they themselves committed an act contrary to mercy and charity, just for the sake of vengeance against innocence - not against wickedness, or with a good motive.