A Vision of Beauty

Five visions, twelve commandments, or mandates, and ten parables, or similitudes, make up the second-century Shepherd of Hermas. The visions vividly describe several revelations to Hermas and offer some biographical hints bout the author’s life. The first vision suggests that Hermas had once been a slave:

The one who raised me sold me to a certain Rhoda at Rome. Many years later, I became reacquainted with her and began to love her as a sister. After some time, as she was bathing in the river Tiber, I saw her, gave her my hand, and brought her out of the river. Seeing her beauty, I thought in my heart: “How happy I would be if I had such a wife, both in regard to beauty and manner.” I wanted only this, nothing more.

After some time, as I was on my way into the countryside and glorying in the greatness, splendor and power of God’s creatures, I became drowsy as I walked along…. Kneeling, I began to pray to the Lord and confess my sins. As I was praying, heaven opened, and I saw that woman upon whom I had set my heart, greeting me from heaven with: “Hello, Hermas!”

Looking up at her, I said: “Lady, what are you doing here?”

But she answered: “I was taken up in order to reproach you for your sins before the Lord.”…

…[Later,] as I was reflecting on what had happened and discerning in my heart, I saw in front of me …an older woman in a shining robe…. She sat down by herself and greeted me: “Hello, Hermas.”

Sad and weeping, I said: “Hello, lady.”

She said to me: “Why are you so downcast, Hermas? The courageous, good-natured one who is always laughing—why are you so long-faced and not joyful?”

I said to her: “On account of a wonderful woman who says I sinned against her.”