prayers of Suor Maria Maddalena but she one day in the yeare 1589. going to visit this sicke person was so inflamed with Charity as that with her tongue she began to licke her handes and armes in those places where the pestiferous euill did most afflict her and hauing told the sicke person that she must haue confidence in God Note and in the B. Virgin because she should be cured away she went And it was admirable how within few dayes she was wholy cleere of that sicknes and in such sort as it seemed not that in her flesh there had beene euer any infirmity At the same time there was in the Monastery a lay Sister called Suor Pace Colombini This woman had lost all sense in one whole side of her body through the excessiue torment that she had felt in so much as her flesh being depriued of sense might haue beene cut off without any payne to the patient So as she despayring wholy of humane help prayed the Mother Suor Maria Maddalena that for the loue of Iesus she would make the signe of the Crosse vpon her The good Mother in her great humility made som resistance but finally being more vrged by ardent Charity Note three tymes she signed her with the signe of the Crosse It is incredible to tell how immediatly therupon the sicke person was freed and so freed that instantly she went about the busines of the Monastery And she her selfe is yet liuing and giues cleere testimony to this miracle She seeth the soule of one Religious ascend into heauen and of another who was suffering in Purgatory in a particuler manner CHAP. 39. THE same yeare on the fift of Iune a Religious of that Monastery passed from this to a better life to whome Suor Maria Maddalena had performed great offices of charity during the whole tyme of her sicknes Her body was yet in the Church vnburyed when she with the rest of her Sisters being imployed about their vsuall exercises and being moued by God she went towardes the grate of the Chapter-house from wheÌ„ce she might see the body of her dead Sister She was scarcely arriued thither when being rapt in Extasis she saw her soule fly happily vp into the ioyes of heauen Whereupon she brake out into these wordes Farewell my Sister farewell happy soule Thou art going vp to heauen like purest Doue leauing all vs heer below O how glorious art thou and how faire and who shall be able to describe thy beauty How small a tyme hast thou remayned in those flames Thy body is not yet buryed and thy soule is flying vp into eternall glory Now dost thou see cleerly that which I was wont to tell thee whilest yet thou wast on earth that thy sufferings heere would seeme nothing to thee in respect of the glory which Iesus had layd vp for thee in Heauen In the meane tyme it was declared to her by our Lord how that soule because she had suffered extremely in this life and for the deuotion which she had to holy Indulgences as imparting the merits of Christ Iesus she had stayed in Purgatory only fifteen houres In the meane tyme the body was buryed and she returned from her Rapt saying Whilest buriall is giuing to the body in earth the soule is placed for all eternity in heauen About the same tyme making prayers before the B. Sacrament there was represented to the eyes of her mind the Soule of another Religious of that Monastery which had also passed to a better life and it was suffering in Purgatory for the defects thereof and as she related she saw it apparelled with a garment of fire and a white vest vnderneath adore the food of the Angells with great reuerence She vnderstood afterwardes how that flame which incompassed her and the obligation to stand an houre in the day to honour the B. Sacrament in the Church of that Monastery was imposed by God in punishment for her hauing negligently omitted diuers tymes to receaue the holy Communion But that white Vest which gaue her great consolation was graunted in reward of her virginity purity which she had still manteyned Afterwards in the same yeare 1589. she saw it flye fayre and purifyed into eternall Rest After the fiue yeares of Probation she is taken out of the lake of Lyons by her Patron-Saints that is she is freed from the assaults of Diuells rewarded by God with infinite graces CHAP. 40. THE fiue yeares were passed wherein Suor Maria Maddalena had beene so furiously assaulted by the tentations of infernall enemyes when at length her Iesus was pleased to make an end of those afflictions and as a Conqueresse to reward her euen in this life with graces of imcomparable valew So as vpon the night of that admirable solemnity of the Holy Ghost on the 10. of Iune in the year 1590. being in the Quire with the other Religious in celebration of the sacred Office at the singing of that Canticle Te Deum laudamus c. she was estranged from her senses and in such sort remayned without speach till Mattins were at an end Then became her countenance to be of admirable beauty by the wordes which she vttered it was cleerly known that she then conceaued in her selfe celestiall ardours of the Holy Ghost by the strength whereof the powers of her mind were all purifyed and she vtterâ— many sentences of the holy Scripture with admirable deuotion At these things were present her Patron-Saints who immediatly before had drawne her out of the Lake of Lyons that is they freed her from those afflictions wherein as in a lake she had been as already hath beene sayd fiue continued yeares for her Probation they intierly tooke from the Diuels all power of afflicting her in future time wherupoÌ„ all fullfilled with heauenly delights she sayd Eripuit me de manibus inimicorum ipsi confusi sunt Et transiui perignem aquaÌ„ eduxisti me in refrigerium These most cruell beasts she spake heere of the Diuells haue certaine wayes to fright vs wherby they thought to returne to their great Diuell to giue him account of some rich gaine that they had made but my Patron-Saints do take them â—d ruine them because now euery thing is â—rifyed in the bloud of my God and that â—herin they thought to haue gotten the vpper â—nd euen by that they are the more tormenâ—ed since they returne without victory And â—ho shall be able to conceaue O my Lord how â—hat which to me seemed affliction is no affliâ—tion but triumph and glory to my soule She â—ad no sooner ended these wordes but â—he turned her selfe being still in Extasis â—owardes the Prioresse to her Mistres who were neere her and wringing them with her handes she sayd with an inestimable ioy of hart It is come and it is past she speakes of the tyme of her Probation do you therefore help me to thanke and glorify my God After this she returned from the
of Obedience was imposed by her Superiours Note She neuer considered that person which commanded her but acknowledged therin Christ our Lord nor as she often sayd was the Obedience performed by her from tyme to tyme for any reason but only because she esteemed her selfe commanded therein by diuine authority Euen her eating or resting and all the other actions of her life though neuer so necessary she would not accoÌ„plish at any tyme but as it were by actuall Obedience so very much resigned was she to the will of her Superiours that she would not haue begunne any little vnasuall action vnles by them she were moued to it She held that day to be as it were lost wherin she had not submitted her wil to some one of her sisters and not to omit such occasions she made her selfe ready with extraordinary humility to obey euen her inferiours And once she sayd conferring thereabouts with one of her Sisters If at once you desire secretly to enrich your selfe in short tyme with much vertue giue not ouer this good and profitable exercise for towardes the giuing of death to the outward man and life to the inward man I hold it to be fall of efficacy With how great diligence she obserued the holy vow of Pouerty CHAP. 62. OF holy Pouerty she was extraordinary zealous and euen before she was Religious she would often say I hold all earthly things to be dust and durt so that I may gaine Christ Iesus Being afterwardes conducted to a Religious state where this vertue flourisheth it cannot be exprest with wordes how she adorned her selfe therewith She condoled with her selfe very oftrn that euen in her necessityes she was prouided for by the Monastery nay she would weep bitterly saying I shall euen dye without hauing obserued holy Pouerty according to my desire Therefore also it was that she euer thought her selfe to possesse more then the other Religious and her Superiours seeing this inflamed desire of hers they reteyned themselues often from doing her certain â—ittle curtesies not to giue her giefe therby she reioyced very much when she wanted any thing Once it happened whilest she was at table by the forgetfulnes of her that serued there was no bread â—â—t before her this was so grateful to her â—hat full of contentment she rose afterwardes without demanding it And beâ—ng nioyned by the Prioresse for Obedience â—o declare the cause of her mirth she answered with profound humility that she had neuer receaued a greater contentment then in the want of that bread On the other side it afflicted her extremely when she saw any of the Religious keep any thing by her which was superfluous and she would say that the vow of Pouerty would in no sort agree with a particuler superfluity Often would she go into her cell and with supreme diligence consider if any thing were there more then needed It happened once that her Superiour hauing giuen her a little peece of Say wherwith to mend her Habit and seeing afterwards that she needed it not she had scruple of this act as of a sinne carrying speedily the Say back to the Prioresse she accused her selfe therof with teares giuing thankes vnto our Lord that he had preserued her so long in life as that she might do pennance for it Sometymes being more kindled with the desire of this vertue she would say looking vp to heauen O my God why dost thou moue me in my desire to be so poore for thee and yet thou seest that I am not suffered to go begging my bread from doore to doore wherein I should take so much pleasure â—ay among all contentmens that I could haue in this life this were the greatest that thou wouldst O my Iesus affoard me this grace that I might dy naked vpon a Crosse as for me thou didst And to her Sisters Note she would say sometymes Tell me I pray you what would you giue that our Lord would grant vs this most singuler benefit that when we were desirous to eate nothing might be giuen vs when we were desirous to rest we might haue no bed when we should haue need of cloaths they might be wanting to vs I for my part sayd she assure you that whosoeuer would do me such a fauour I would hold my selfe bound to present him with my very bloud O then for Gods sake let vs procure well to penetrate this noble vertue For whosoeuer possesseth it hath God in recompence Another tyme she retyred into the poorest parts or the Monastery with a Crucifixe in her hand and being on her knees vpon the naked ground with her eyes turned vp to our Lord with teares and sighes she cast out these words O me happy creature if all that which this body had need of were wanting to it nay insteed of being relieued if it suffered insolency misery for loue of thee O my Iesus then indeed I might is some part hold my selfe poore for loue of thee By this zeale towards holy Pouerty she did euidently increase in the celestiall fire of loue towards Christ Iesus crucifyed How she admirably kept the vow of Chastity CHAP. 63. SO great was the candour of her Chastity that in this point she was noâ— as one apparelled with flesh and bloud but rather like an Angelicall spirit For this she had many gifts from God amongst which that one was singuler which in the tyme of her Probation aâ— hath already beene exprest the Queene of heauen bestowed vpon her when appearing to her she couered her all with a most pure veile and told her that in thâ— rest of her whole life she neuer more should feele any motion of sense Heereof euident signes were seene when being arryued to the last dayes of her life with serene countenance she sayd How she thanked God that she had neuer known what belonged to any thing against Chastity and how she did not remember that euer she had taken delight but in Almighty God and that she felt nothing at that time which brought to her greater quietnes Sometyms she would also say in the very midst of her grieuous pains Thou knowest well O my Lord that my soule hath neuer desired any thing but thee She esteemed it for a notable defect to be talking of kinred or worldly matters it seeming as she sayd that it was in no sort fit for a Religious woman consecrated to God by a solemne vow of Chastity to admit into her hart any little little thought or to speake words which in any sort might be disagreeable to their state Therefore would she interrupt the discourses of earthly things and draw them to matter of spirit but yet this she did in so excellent manner that she neuer either interrupted others or shewed to be troubled in her selfe She was seene sometymes to kisse the walls of the Monastery with extrem affection and being demanded why she did it Do you thinke perhaps sayd she that I haue not reason O my Sisters
you vp into heauen consider it well and faile not to become Religious in this Monastery if you will accomplish the will of God She afterwards going forth of the Monastery was so diuerted by her Parents friends that being one euening in her chamber alone she resolued to go to her Father and readily yield her selfe to his direction And verily it was a wonderful thing that being euen going out of her Chamber she found her selfe to be held so fast that she was not able to stir any further and although she much endeauoured to go forth she was not possibly able to effect it In the end reflecting vpon the tentation she changed her purpose and remayned Superiour in that conflict of the Diuell by meanes of the prayers of Suor Maria Maddalena who at the selfe same tyme seeing in Rapt that the soule of that creature still in the forme of a Doue was striuing to get out of her hands she begged of God both with sighes teaâ—es that he would preserue her But the Religious being desirous to satisfy themselues of the truth heereof the very next day sent to speak with the young mayd and asking what had passed with her in the night before she related the whole story to them and in all the parts thereof it was agreable to that which Suor Maria Maddalena had seene at the selfe same tyme. Of the zeale which she had towards the sauing of Soules CHAP. 50. THIS singular spirit had such an ardent charity towardes the good of soules that it exceeded all humane conceit Our Lord had once shewed her a soule adorned with his grace wherewith she was so strocken in loue that from thenceforth she did euen melt with the desire she had of reducing soules to God and she ardently prayed him that he would graunt her many Soules and in the feruour of her spirit she would say O that it were lawfull for me to go into the Indies or amongst the Turkes I would take those little children Note and with so great affection teach them all that belongeth to our holy Religion that whatsoeuer payns I might endure should be of much comfort to me But because she could not performe this she would often take occasioÌ„ to speake with some of the simpler sort of the Religious and be euer instructing them about heauenly thinges and about the perfection of a Religious life and so great delight she tooke heerin that for this she would forget both her food and her rest Moreouer to the end that God might be pleased for her sake to draw sinnefull soules vnto himselfe she would in the horrour of the night take seuere disciplines and imprison her flesh within piercing haire cloaths Sometimes in the most secret places of the coueÌ„t she would pray most ardently sometymes she would exhibite â—ertaine acts of humility to his diuine Maiesty whereby he might be pleased with the lightning of his loue to pierce â—he stony hart of sinners reducing them â—t last to Pennance But especially in the tyme of Shroâ—etide when the diuine goodnes is most offended she would redouble those holy exercises consuming sometymes the whole nights in prayer and continuall â—amentation oftentymes she was heard to say these wordes I beseech thee O my Iesus that thou wilt grant me so many soules as I am to moue paces in this day Sometims being set on fire by this flame of Charity she would leaue Exercise wherein she was casting her selfe vpon her knees would with sighes and tears desire of Iesus Christ that sinners might be conuerted to him At other tymes she would take a Crucifixe into her hand and after hauing wholy offered her selfe to God she would discharge her selfe further in these wordes Thou O Lord wast pleased to dye vpon the Crosse and to bestow all thy bloud vpon sinners and I also O Lord would be glad to giue my bloud and be depriueâ— of life that they might be conuerted By this meanes she gaue desires to the Religiouâ— of induring any payne for the reduction of soules to God And because Iesus had shewed sometymes to her in Rapt how hideously deformed a Soule is which liueth in darknes of sinne she would say sometymes that she saw no difference in the vglines thereof from that of the infernall spirits She sayd she would willingly be depriued of al the extraordinary gifts which she had receaued of God Note that they might be granted to her neighbours that for her part it would suffice if she might keep her good desire of being able to loue and serue his diuine Maiesty For this cause she would also depriue her selfe sometimes of her deere discourses with God that she might be a help to her Sisters for as she often sayd she made greater account of being able to assist others then of all the excesses of mind that she might haue For in these excesses sayd she I am holpen by God but by assisting my neighbour I helpe God Besides she considered so earnestly â—he Creatures in their spirituall part that â—he named them not otherwise then by â—he name of soules not regarding any â—hing in them but the participation which they haue with God in being creâ—ted after his image She obteined of God by her prayers the conuersion of many sinnefull soules CHAP. 51. BVT greater signes of her zeale towards the saluation of others were then seene when being in prayer she was kindled with such desires as made her say once I find that now the world is growne to be in worse state then euer for now there is no more to be found any Charity I haue enuy against the Birds of the aire who can flye vp and downe where they will and make euery body heare their sweet notes they can euery where renew their delightfull musicke without euer resting O thou Word so would I be able to do I would flye through out the world and make my selfe to be heaâ— by euery one that so I might imprint this loâ— and this delight in the harts of thy creatures After this she shewed by her wordâ— that she saw a Priest farre of from thâ— way of God Wherupon she gaue her selfâ— to pray vnto the diuin Maiesty with sucâ— feruour of spirit with words so affectuous and with such aboundance of tears for the reduction of that person that she obteyned to see him in good estate Being for this reason growne as cherefull as may be imagined she brake forth into this speach At last O Word my prayers haue obteyned their end Yet did not this qualify the burning fire of her great charity but did rather kindle it so much the more for not content with this she began to pray our Lord for the conuersion of other Priests whome she saw defiled with diuers sinnes and this she vrged by so deuout reasons as seemed after a sort euen to conuince and oblige Almighty God to infuse diuine grace into those sinnefull soules whereby they might be â—lluminated for
Camillo the sonne of Geri de Patsi and of Maria the daughter of Lorenzo Buondelmonti two familyes most illustrious for antiquity and greatnes Her â—ame was Catharina which afterward â—as thought not to be without mystery 〈◊〉 like she was to Saint Catharina of Steâ—a to whome she was particulerly deâ—oted Her Mother affirmed that she had â—euer when she was with child of her â—elt either any indisposition or weight â—f the burthen nor in the infancy tenâ—er age of the child had she any of those â—combrances which children do vsualâ— bring to such as gouerne them but she â—uer receaued comfort by her partly â—hrough the grace of her countenance â—nd partly through the promptitude of â—er obedience She had no pleasure in childish paâ—imes or playes but notwithstanding â—at she was affable in her conuersatioÌ„ â—e tooke withall Note extreme contentment 〈◊〉 heare spirituall things spoken of and â—ith discretion diuerted all discourses of â—orldly matters And when she chaunâ—d vpon deuout persons she would be â—king them of such things as appertaiâ—ed to saluation of the soule and particulerly of the mistery of the most Holy Trinity An admirable thing whereof she was so incredibly inamoured as that the Creed of S. Athanasius coÌ„ming once into her handes she not only read it with greedines but carryed it to her mother with extreme contentment as a thing of rare estimation By which actions wrought in so tender yeares it might be inferred what kind of creature she was to shew her selfe with the help of God in a more mature and perfect age Of her Charity towards poore folkes and the Mentall Prayer which she vsed CHAP. 2. BEING come to the seauenth yeare of her age she began to make shew of her holy inclination For part of her meat such as is vsually giuen to childreÌ„ either for breakefast or collation when they are taught to worke or read Note she would already be distributing to Prisoners and other poore people and she was delighted extraordinarily whensoeuer she had oportunity of teaching other children the Pater Noster the Aue Maria and such like prayers In which holy exercise she might spend much time in their house in the Countrey instructing withall kind of patience and charity the poore Countrey-maydes and neighbours children And to this she went with so great passion as that once being to returne towards the Citty she began to weep bitterly for this only reason as she confest that she should be disabled to teach a daughter of a husbandmans belonging to the house which daughter for the recomforting of our little one must needs be also conducted with her to Florence It seemeth a wonderfull thing that in so tender yeares she could take so great care as she had for the preseruing of her hart in purity and to cast such a bridle vpon her thoughts as to keep them euer addressed to the seruice and glory of Almighty God And withall that when she was but newly come to the vse of reason she could exalt her vnderstanding and intertaine it in mentall prayer to which she was much giuen hauing already beene instructed by her ghostly Father the Father Andreas Rossi of the Society of Iesus For a preparation thereunto she vsed to read in a little book of Father Gaspari Loarte of the same Society and then with a liuely feeling of heauenly thinges hauing prostrated her selfe on earth and with deuotion sayd the Hymne Veni sancte Spiritus and the Consiteor she raysed her mind to most diuine thoughts and not incombred with earthly cares she only considered within her selfe how she might come to a religious state So great was the delight she tooke in prayer as that the halfe houre which was assigned to that effect by her ghostly Father Note did often passe a whole one When sometymes she was alone retyring her selfe into the most secret parts of the house she gaue liberty vnto her soule to discharge those amorous desires which were kindled in it towards the obteyning of heauen Whereupon they of the house seeking her vp and downe with diligence would find her behind some bed so plunged into heauenly coÌ„templation and so as it were transformed in God that she could neither heare nor see any obiect She was often interiourly stirred vp by the presence of God to the true purchase of Euangelical perfection Whereupon through the light of those celestiall graces which by his Maiesty were communicated to her whensoeuer she heard any such wordes spoken as became not the mouth of Christians or that they resulted not to the honour of his diuine Maiesty Note she conceaued so bitter griefe as that one night particulerly she spent all in teares and sighes vpon that occasion excusing neuertheles the defects of others with aboundant charity Of the great desire which she had to receaue the B. Sacrament and of the pennances which she vsed CHAP. 2. BESIDES this she was so desirous to receaue our Lord Iesus being veyled vnder the shew of bread that when she saw her mother or other deuout persons communicate she procured to come close to them and being extremely in appetite to receaue the odour of that most sacred food she could hardly part from such as she knew had receaued it Afterward being entred into the tenth yeare of her age she began with the leaue of her Ghostly father to communicate sometymes and she receaued so much delight therby as forced from her the teares of ioy And on the other side she did so afflict her selfe when by any occasion she was hindred that in nothing she could find comfort Once vpon Holy Thursday being in contemplation of the soueraigne loue which our Lord Iesus shewed in leauing himselfe vnto vs in the Blessed Sacrament no lesse attentiuely considering what she might render by way of gratitude for so great loue she did with admirable deuotion dedicate her selfe to Christ Iesus by a vow of Virginity when she was arriued but to the eleuenth yeare of her age By that tyme she delighted in nothing but discoursing of heauenly things nor did she looke after any other obiect but how she might be wholy answerable to the example of her heauenly Spouse Therefore did she refuse soft beds Note and slept often vpon straw and in the most secret places of the house she wold be disciplining of her selfe And for her greater mortification she tooke secretly certaine ong stalkes of Orange trees which were full of prickles and binding them hard about her head she past a whole night in excessiue payne only for the imitation of Iesus who was crowned with piercing thornes And because where the diuine loue hath dominion there is euer kindled a desire of doing pennance more and more therefore did this deuout child exercise her selfe in other acts of mortification as sometims in her meate not taking any more then what was meerely necessary and scarcely that sometymes in making her selfe obedient to the vnworthiest and basest person
in the house and in many other holy actions altogeather repugnant to Sense seeking euer new meanes whereby she might become more acceptable to our soueraigne Lord. How she was left in the Monastery of S. Giouannino and of the inspirations which she had to become Religious in the Monastery of S. Maria de li Angeli CHAP. 4. BEING aged now of fourten years and her Father being to go in publique imployment to Cortona her parents determined by the aduice of the Reuerend Father Pietro Blanca Rector of the College of the Society of Iesus to leaue her placed for a yeare in the Monastery of S. Giouannino of Florence Which Father because he well knew the perfection singuler spirit of this child as also the ardent desire she had to frequent the Blessed Sacrament resolued to place her there vnder condition that vpon euery Sunday and Holy-day she might communicate at her owne deuotion This being then promised very willingly by those Reuerend Mothers she entred into the sayd Monastery and passed the yeare with great increase of vertue and no lesse satisfaction of the sayd Religious for the liuely example which euery one of them tooke from her true deuotion Neuertheles there wanted not in that tyme some occasions to disturbe so great a frequence of the Sacraments but she kindling her selfe more and more in so holy a desire did not at all release the ardent purpose she had to get ground in the seruice of God With excessiue feruour she followed the exercise of Mentall Prayer Note and did very often for the space of foure continued houres enioy celestiall thoughts And on the day of the most holy Ascension of Iesus into heauen whilest in a most retyred part of the Monastery she was deuoutly praying the Giuer of all good things imparted to her so liuely a knowledge of his diuine Bounty that with much difficulty she was able to conteyne the ioy triumph that in her soule she felt Those Reuerend Mothers were moued by her vertue to haue extraordinary desire that she would take their habit and with particuler instance aduised her to it letting her see the good which thereby would redound to the Monastery Whereupon she earnestly prayed the illuminatour of all harts to make her choose that place which should be most for the seruice honour of his diuine Maiesty In the meane tyme her Father Mother being returned from Cortona tooke her home into the house and forbare not by many wayes to disturbe her holy purpose being vrged by the affection of flesh and bloud which is the vsuall author of such inconueniencies and they did so the rather because she was their only daughter But she hauing by help from heauen ouercome all difficultyes and being more desirous then euer to imitate the Incarnate Word in the state of holy Religion sayd resolutly vnto them that she would rather suffer her head to be strocken from her shoulders Note then consent not to be Religious Her parents hearing this remitted all to her Ghostly Father who wisely counsayled her to choose some Monastery where both deuotion and a perfect obseruant life did flourish in the Religious to which her selfe was much inclined There being then propounded to her the Monastery of S. Maria de li Angioli neere S. Friano of the order of the Carmelites and that other venerable Monastery of the Crocetto of the order of S. Dominicke to which later she had some inclination because the Religious of that place are neuer seene yet at last hearing the former so highly paysed especially for the frequent receauing of the B. Sacrament which there is vsed euery day she determined to go into the sayd Monastery for fifteene dayes And hauing obteyned licence on the Vigill of the Assumption of the B. Virgin she entred full of ioy and in the tyme of her stay there gaue an excellent example of life Hauing diligently then considered the seuerall Orders of Religion she was wholy satisfyed that this was the place to which our Lord had called her Therefore it grieued her to go thence at all but being forced by her parents she must needs returne home where with a great deale of grief for the space of three monthes she remayned But finally being more and more moued by Almighty God to take the habit of Religion on the Saturday precedent to the first Sunday of Aduent in the yeare 1582. she entred into the Monastery to consecrate her selfe for euer to the seruice of God And hauing obteyned their acceptation she was on the eight of December in the same yeare being the day of the Conception of the B. Virgin receaued with great ioy and satisfaction by all the Religious Afterward vpon the thirtith of Ianuary next following with ardent desire of heauenly graces extreme contempt of earthly cares she tooke the habit of the Carmelits order in the sayd monastery at the hands of the Confessour thereof Agostino Campi of Pontremoli a Priest of great vertue and exemplar life And in the instant when he put the crucifixe into her hand the Religious singing those words of S. Paul Mihi absit gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri Iesu Christi c. Note it is a wonder to tell how she felt interiourly so great an vnion with our Lord Iesus and such a spirituall sweetnes that in all her life as she sayd she remembred not to haue found the like Whereupon hauing placed in eternall obliuion all the commodityes of this life and hauing confirmed her selfe more resolutely in her holy purpose she protested at that tyme to her heauenly Spouse that she would neuer thirst after any thing but him crucifyed nor aspire to any thing but that her soule might to the vttermost of her possibility be instructed and deuoted to do him seruice After she was clad with the sacred habit she did with profound humility giue her selfe for dead to the Mother who was Mistresse of the Nouices Note and did ardently beg that she would euer humble her and mortify her and at all tyme contradict her will and direct her in all her actions A liuely and fit example for all such as thirst after an increase of Religious vertue for without this resignation there is no profit to be expected in a spirituall life In the yeare of her Nouiship she makes great proof of many vertues of the much desire she had to be Professed which was accorded by her Superiours by reason of her great sicknes from which she was freed in miraculous manner CHAP. 5. HAVING at last obteyned that which so long she had desired to be clothed with the Religious Habit Note with great deuotion and feruour she submitted her selfe to the easy yoke of the Holy Obedience of the Mistresse of the Nouices with such humility as that in the perfection of that kind of life she seemed not a Nouice but a Religious woman of many years In conuersing with her Sisters she esteemed her selfe in
I am one day to iudg thee with power and Maiesty 14. Thou shalt esteeme thy Rule and Constitutions thereof togeather with the vowes as I will haue thee esteeme my selfe procuring to ingraue in the harts of all the Religious the zeale of that state to which I haue called them and of thy Religion 15. Thou shalt haue great desire to be made subiect vnto all and thou shalt haue it in horrour to be preferred before the meanest and least of the company 16. Thou shalt not conceaue that thy comfort repose and solace consisteth in any other thing then in contempt and in humility 17. Thou shalt forbeare to let the creatures know what thy desires are and what my will is excepting those whom I haue giuen to liue with thee and my Christ 18. Thou shalt be in continuall oblation of all thy desires and actions togeather with all my members vnto me 19. From that houre wherein I left my pure mother that is from within two howres before Sun set thou shalt be in continuall oblation of my Passion of thy selfe and of my creatures to the Eternall Father and this shall be thy preparation for receauing of me sacramentally and betweene the day and the night thou shalt visit my body and bloud 33. times 20. The last thing shall be that in all the operations which I shall suffer thee to performe as well internall as externall thou art to be transformed into me After this she remayned for some tyme without speach and she proceeded in the person of the Word saying This is the Rule which the beloued of thy soule in act of loue hath giuen to thee Therefore thou shalt receaue it and such thinges as are conteyned therein thou shalt keep at thy hart and put them in execution excepting only when Charity and Obedience do hinder thee from visiting my body and bloud After these wordes she returned from the rapt And how exactly these Rules were obserued by her the progresse of her life will shew The great excesses of loue which she had in the contemplation of Christ Iesus CHAP. 11. YET was not the vapour of this burning fornace so very hot but sometymes the flame increased which made the most ardent fire of diuine loue euen breake from her breast out of her mouth In so much as in her Rapts fixing her most pure vnderstanding vpon the contemplation of infinite loue which moâ—ed Almighty God to do so much for the most vile creatur Man Note the great excesse of her loue to God expressed in this and the next chapter she could not conteine her selfe from exclayming thus with a loud voyce O loue O loue O God how thou louest thy creatures with pure loue O God of loue O God of loue O my Lord no more loue no more loue it is too much O my Iesus the loue that thou bearest to thy creatures Yet not too much for thy greatnes but too much for a creature which is so vile and base Wherfore dost thou O my God giue me so much loue who am so vnworthy and so vile Being once againe in Rapt taking a Crucifixe into her hand she went running about the Couent and easing her hart towards the diuine Word with inamoured discourses and inflamed desires she cryed out O loue O loue O loue This did she with so gracefull smiles with a countenance of top full of ioy that the very sight of her gaue occasion to take vnspeakable comfort Sometimes she would be fixing her eyes on heauen sometimes vpon the Crucifixe sometimes she would imbrace and presse it vpon her hart kisse it with excessiue feruour and the while she would not cease to cry and cry againe O loue O loue I will neuer cease O my God to call thee loue the very ioy and triumph of my hart the hope and comfort of my soule Then turning about to the Sisters which followed her she would thus say on Know you not O deere Sisters that my Iesus is nothing els but loue yea that he is euen as it were fond with loue Fond with loue I say thou art O my Iesus and I will euer say so Thou art all amiable and ioyfull thou art recreatiue and confortatiue thou art nutritiue and vnitiue thou art pennance solace labour and repose life and death both at once Finally what is that which is not in thee thou art wise and cheerefull high and immense admirable and vnspeakable in excogitable and incomprehensible Then she kept her eyes still fixed vpon the wounded side of the Crucifixe wherein she seemed to discouer strang thinges and spake at large of the suprem loue which God beareth to mankind and of the highest Misteryes which the Incarnaâ—e Word wrought on earth for our redemption And againe she exclaymed O loue O loue then casting her eye vp to heaueÌ„ she sayd Giue me so strong a voyce O my Lord that whilest I call thee Louâ— I may be heared from the East to the West throughout all the parts of the world euen to Hell it selfe that thou mayâ— be known reuerenced as the true loue O loue O loue which only dost penetrate and transcend which breakest and bindest which rulest and gouernest all thinges Thou art heauen and earth fire and aire bloud water thou art God and Man And who shall euer be able either to expresse or thinke of thy greatnes since thou art infinite and eternall In these so liuely excesses of Loue she did often spend the whole dayes so as it seemed that she drew on apace towards an Angelicall life and that she was fed with banquetting dishes from the table of heauen In these acts her speach was so deuout so inflamed and so compassionate towards her Iesus hanging on the Crosse that not only in name but in deed she resembled that Maddalena who was so much wounded with griefe vpon mount Caluary when the VVord Incarnate gaue vp his Spirit to his eternall Father Sometymes being vrged by the heat of celestiall fire she would runne with speed into the Quire and getting vp to the Rood lost where there was a Crucifixe she would vnnayle it from the Crosse with incredible agility Then sitting downe she would keep it in her bosome and taking of her veyles from her head she would dry with them the sweat and bloud which she seemed to see runne trickling downe from the face of her beloued Spouse And this would she do with so great feruour of spirit that the Religious who were present would feare that her hart was not able to indure such an ardent fire of loue It is an admirable thing to tell how when the Sisters had taken those veiles linnen-clothes wherewith she had performed those offices of deuotion to the Crucifix they found them so full of sweat and so very wet that it seemed as if she had held in her armes the dead Iesus in such sort as he was when in the middest of those cruell torments of the Crosse he
I did of the loue which thou bearest me and therfore O my Lord I can aske nothing but mercy of thee When I went to receaue thy bloud in the sacrament of Pennance I did more consider what I was to say vnto thy Christ for the quietting of my hart then I did the benefit which thou vouchsafest to giue by washing my soule in thy bloud I did not confide in thee that thou wouldst giue me help and grace O my Lord and what were the first words that I vttered They were wordes of reprehension this she sayd because being Schoole-Mistres she reprehended one of the Nouices And my speach being so little sweet and mild was the cause of disquieting her hart and that which is worse I wanted Charity for when I saw that her hart was vnquiet I did not procure to appease it that so it might be vnited to thee Behold O my Lord what I reap by my so great vnion with thee and by the light which thou giuest me If thou gauest it to some other creature it would be more gratefull to thee But I miserable and wretched soule make no profit at all by it since I fayle of Charity towards thy spouses I beseech thee euen by thy Passion to pardon me When afterwards I went to speake with that creature this was vpon occasion of her going to the Grate to speake with one of her Aunts and was there Rapt in Extasis I accuse my selfe to haue committed a great hypocrisy occasioning my selfe to be thought for such a one as I am not Although I made a signe vnto thy creatures but I deserued not that they should vnderstaÌ„d me since I seemed to keep my soule vnited vnto thee and yet thou knowest how often I haue wandred from thee I seemed to be a true Religious woman and yet thou knowest the poore creature that I am I demand mercy O my God for this great hypocrisy and I offer to thee thyn owne bloud which was shed for me with so great loue if thou send me to hell O my Lord as I deserue thou mayst iustly place me below Iudas since I haue offended thee so much Then I went to restore my body with necessary food but what intention had I therin to honour thee For I remembred not to offer vnto thee so many poore creatures why perhaps had beene long knocking at gates for a bit of bread which yet peraduenture was not giuen them And for me miserable wretched creature without any labour of myne and which is more without any merit prouision is made by the Religion whereby my body may be susteyned And not only did I commit this offence but that other also in making that spouse of thyne speake so many words and yet I knew that in that place it was not lawfull to speake at all Behould O my Lord how in all my operatioÌ„s I find that I haue offended thee how then shall I appeare in thy presence to demand gifts and graces of thee and to recommend thy creatures to thee I who haue so much offended thee that I deserue no mercy for my selfe But that loue which moued thee to come down on earth and to shed thy blood let that moue thee to shew mercy towards my soule When afterwardes I forbare to go to prayse thee togeather with the rest of thy Spouses it was only through myn own fault for when that creature wished me not to go I did instantly consent to the not going O my Iesus if she had required some act of Charity at my hands I should not so soone haue giuen consent O my Lord how can I hope euer to come in place where I may eternally prayse thee togeather with those blessed spirits since I haue fayled to prayse thee togeather with thy spouses heere I offer thee thy bloud that by reason thereof thou mayst haue mercy on me And in that worke which I did what intention had I to honour thee O my Lord when I grieued more for the tyme which thou euen in taking from me doest giue then I did for hauing fayled to offer my soule to thee heere she meaneth that tyme when our Lord did keep her alienated from her senses I was carefull to giue a signe to thy little virgins for the keeping of silence but I considered not how much more I was bound to keep my soule vnited to thee When afterwards I was to haue inuoked the holy Ghost I wandred with my mind so far off from thee that I could not remember the manner which I was to hould therin so as they who haue beene a lesse tyme in a Religious state then my selfe had more discretion therin then I Behould O my Iesus how I haue fayled in all my operations How then can I appeare before thy goodnes hauing offended thee so much I do againe make oâ—â—er to thee of thy bloud for only in respect of that I hope for pardon And how much did I fayle O God when I had that other worke to do in not taking a little paines to moue those few paces I say I fayled of that which I was bound to do I intreated others that they would â—oâ—e that charity and in the meane tyme I fayled of doing it to myne owne soule I tooke more care that I might not take a little paynes then I did least thou shouldst depart â—rom me In all my workes I find defects O my God ut thou not regarding my offences of thyne own goodnes hast drawne me to thee againe where thou giuest me so much light as if thou auest t to any other â—ule it would make more profit by it then I most wretched and mis rable creature do Againe I went to restore my selfe with corporall food neither yet did I â—all to mind the many poore ones that want wherewith to feed themselues wheras for me O my Lord thou hast so liberally prouided and now I offer thyne owne bloud againe for so many offences as I haue made against thee Alas O my Lord how true it is that we are in darknes and I haue not performed any worke without offending thee what then remaynes for me to do O my God though I haue offended thee so much in this day â—et wil I not commit this last and greatest offence which were if I should not confide in thee and in thy mercy I know well O Lord that I deserue no pardon but the bloud which thou hast shed for me will make me hope in thee and that thou wilt forgiue me Hauing made this Examen being in Rapt al the while she retyred her self into a secret place of the Monastery where she afflicted her body with a grieuous discipline But first as soone as she returned from her sayd Rapt she recommended all the creatures to Almighty God and offered vp for them the bloud of Christ Iesus She remayned in Extasis eight dayes and eight nights speaking of highest Mysteryes and euery morning at the houre of Tertia she receaued the holy
mind that she did not performe the Will of God and especially in going bare-foote and in wearing one only coate as well in Winter as in Sommer Yea and the better to perswade her the Diuell appeared to her at that tyme in the shew of two Religious women the one apparelled in white Note the other in blacke who both aduertised her that the manner of her life was nothing gratefull and acceptable to God nay that she offended him thereby if she continued in such obstinacy she would fall into his displeasure Heerewith she was much afflicted but conferring the whole matter with Mother Prioresse and hauing made much prayer with much feruour she rested certaine that those had been but deceits of the Diuell wherby to remoue her from her course begun Heerof she was yet more assured by God in a Rapt which she had vpon the Vigil of S. Symon and Iude wherein she receaued many other spirituall consolations She seeth Iesus in such sort as he was shewed by Pilate to the Iewes A little bundle of the myrrh of his Passion was graunted to her and Iesus was put into her armes as he was new borne CHAP. 27. VVE must not passe ouer in silence a singular fauour which our Lord God vouchsafed to this blessed soule vpon the Tuesday before Lent which came vpon the 5. of February 1585. as they were making a deuout Procession in the Monastery to appease the diuine Iustice least otherwise he might haue taken due vengeance for the many offences which on that day vse to be committed against him She being rapt in Extasis saw her heauenly Spouse expresly in that dolorous manner as he was when Pilate shewed him to the Iews with these words Ecce Homo By which sight she being instantly kindled with great desire to suffer sayd O my Iesus why cannot I be she who may suffer so many outrages so many scornes and villanies as I see those traytours put vpon thee whilest they are shewing thee to the people Why may not I take from off thy head that piercing Crowne which so much afflicts thee put it vpon myne owne since for me thou wearest it and for me thou sufferest those paynes and torments After these wordes she saw that Iesus to satisfy her desire of suffering would giue to her as once he did to S. Bernard a bundle of the Myrrhe of his Passion and so did she affectuously pray that Saint that he would dispose her to receaue it worthily that her mind by the bloud of Iesus might be purified And when she had named the instrumeÌ„ts of the Passion by one and one she opened her armes making shew of receauing so great a benefit and afterwards ioyning her hands in forme of a Crosse vpon her breast she sayd Fasciculus myrrhae dilectus meus inter vbera mea commorabitur My beloued is as a bundle of Myrrhe which shall remayne betweene my breasts After this action she fell all trembling to the ground making shew of suffering beyond measure for as afterwardes she related by holy Obedience in that instant she endured most bitter torments not only interiourly but exteriourly also But she vnderstood at the same time that her beloued Iesus had graunted her grace whereby she might haue forcible armes to resist the encounters of her spirituall enemyes who then did much more combate with her Neither was there heere an end of celestiall fauours for our Lord God hauing giuen her a â—ittle bundle of Myrrhe the gift of sadnes and griefe he was pleased to release the paines which she endured in receauing therof by a recompence of incomparable ioy For she hauing a long tyme aspired to see her Iesus in such sort as he was wheÌ„ he parted from the pure womb of Maria not only did she remayne fully satisfyed but it was graunted her that for sometyme she might hold the tender infant in her owne armes It is too hard a taske to expresse the vnspeakable ioy which at that tyme she shewed by her countenance and with her wordes full of louing feruour and deuotion and with what actes of humility she did solemnize and reuerence that celestiall infant and willingly I can be content to leaue it to the contemplation of such deuout spirits as shall read these lines It sufficeth for the present to adde that she being fortifyed by these so great graces was from thenceforth better able to resist all diabolicall temptations Of the sight which God gaue her of her owne defects and of the great comfort which she receaued by a certaine act of Humility CHAP. 28. THE sayd tentations grew vpon her euery day the Diuell seeking someâ—yms to kindle in her a desire of honour and worldly greatnes sometymes to cast â—er vpon despaire and withall to perâ—wade her that she should not weary her â—elfe in vaine nor imploy her selfe so without profit in leading an austere Reâ—igious life She was brought heereby to â—uch termes as she thought that in euery â—f her actions she offended God Before â—hose Image sometimes passing being â—urprized by extraordinary deuotion she would with tendernes let her selfe fall â—owne and in one Rapt of two houres â—ur Lord made her see all the faults and â—efects though neuer so light which in 〈◊〉 her life she had committed This sight made her weep bitterly and she sayd Willingly would I go into Hell if thereby could purchase this that I might neuer hauâ— offended thee O my God Yet euen heer thâ— tentations stayed not nor yet did shâ— giue ouer the discouery of new wayes whereby she might vanquish the common enemy And once she prayed thâ— Mother Prioresse that for her greateâ— mortification she would cause her hand to be bound behind her This act of humility was so pleasing to God that shortly he rapt her into Extasis and for whole continued weeke in a manner she was comforted by the spirit of God The Diuel enuying her so great happynes appeared to her often in diuers terrible shapes Sometymes he representeâ— to her mind the delights of this world Sometimes he made that appeare vntâ— her for base and vile which is so high noble as namely a Religious state Buâ— aboue all thinges he troubled her mucâ— vpon the point of Pouerty for as haâ— beene sayd already she wearing no otheâ— thing vpon her then one bare patcâ— coate the enemy could not endure so great perfection But the Religious Mothers considering that she being clad with one light coate and that almost worne out she would hardly be able to resist the sharp coldes of winter and not being willing on the other side to disturbe her so much as to make her change it they resolued that the Prioresse should dexteriously find some remedy Who in the night of S. Iohn the Euangelist after Mattins made her come into the midst of the Quire told her that to make her profit in holy Pouerty she was desirous that she should depriue her selfe of her coate and should apparell
her selfe with another which was to be giuen her for Gods sake if the rest of the Mothers and Sisters should be so contented Heereupon they consenting not without abundance of teares seeing there before them an example of so great vertue the Prioresse made her put off her coate and to put on the coate of another Sister affirming that she gaue it her for Iesus sake bidding her keep it till it were required againe By this action all diabolicall tentation which vexed her in the point of Pouerty was much weakned and she found withall so great contentment of soule that being rapt in Extasis she seemed to feele part of the ioy of those blessed spirits which are apparelled in heauen with immortall glory And moreo she had a liuely feeling of how much the vertues of Humility and Pouerty ought to be esteemed and loued which make the soules in heauen happy and amiable euen heer on earth God sheweth her the glory of S. Augustine and he helpeth her to say her Office CHAP. 29. ON the Vigil of S. Augustine in the same yeare of 1587. she being imployed about some busines of the Monastery after she had sayd with the other Religious as many Psalmes in honour of that Saint as the name of Augustine conteyned letters she was rapt in Extasis instantly began with great feruour to beg of God that he would shew her the glory of that Saint and that through his merits he would impart some grace to the Religious of that Monastery Her prayers were not made in vaine for instantly she saw as might be vnderstood by her manner of speach that our Lord God for the merits of that Saint imparted to them many spirituall gifts The euening after she being in the Quire at Complyn whilest the Salue Regina was sung she saw S. Augustine inuironed with eternall glory then fastning her eyes on heauen being filled with diuine splendour she began to discourse with that Saint with such admirable feruour of spirit and with so great vehemency of speach that it was impossible for the Religious to note her wordes But the night following saying her Mattins with the rest when she was come to the middest thereof retyring her selfe a little aside she was againe alienated from her senses and S. Augustine did in like manner appeare to her who made an end of saying the Office with heâ— as might easily be knowne by her recyting of one verse and not the other she hearing that the Saint did vtter it At the same tyme she also heard the Angelicalâ— melodyes whereupon she sayd Yea this is other manner of musicke then that which is made below on earth Hauing ended the Office she began to beg of Iesus with most deuout words That he would vouchsafe to come and vnite himselfe to her in the B. Sacrament and remayning yet still in Rapt she went to the vsuall place of the Communion being vpon her knees she remayned there till the Ghostly Father came to communicate the Religious she was also commumnicated without euer going out of the Rapt whereby she was so much kindled with the loue of God that she seemed euen with excesse of tendernes to faint and she vttered words so feruent affectuous as would haue mollifyed any peruerse and stony hart and thus passed she that night in these deuout contemplations She is tempted that for the benefit of soules she would leaue that Religious state And afterwards she was tempted with Pride proper Estimation and of the remedyes which she vsed that she might not be ouercome CHAP. 30. HOVVSOEVER the enemy of mankind saw that he laboured in vaine in striuing to remoue this Spouse of Christ from her holy life yet he ceased not with new assaults to afflict tempt her For vnder the shaddow of good he was desirous to perswade her Note that more quietly she might serue God if putting of the habit of Religion for the benefit of Soules she would returne into the world But finding her still more and more stable in her holy purpose he began againe to appeare to her in fearefull shapes threatning that he would destroy her if she consented not to his wicked suggestion But she contemning his threats and rages being inflamed with desire to serue God to free her selfe from the tentation of leauing the Religious habit she tooke one day the keyes of the Monastery and placed them in the hands of the Crucifixe to shew that she should yeild Obedience only to him in the obseruation of her inclosure The night after being of S. Andrew the Apostle saying Mattins with the rest of her Sisters she was troubled with a most grieuous tentation to make her selfe away She went from thence to the Refectory where she tooke vp a knife and returning into the Quire yet still in Rapt she ascended vp to the Altar of the B. Virgin and put it into her handes so to obteyne the grace of being able to conquer the temptation After this she troad it vnder her feet therby to put the greater scorne vpon the Tempter Another tyme she procured Mother Prioresse to tye her first in her cell for the same purpose and in reward of so great humility God called her to the knowledge of high Mysteryes and â—rengthned her much against new comâ—ts But the threats and temptations of â—he Diuell sometymes of Pride someâ—imes of forsaking her Religious habit â—ot ceasing she ran hastily to the Prioâ—esse and in the presence of all the Religious with a Rope about her necke her hands bound togeather she demanâ—ed the Religious habit for Gods sake and with these actes of mortification humility she obteyned the conquest Yet hardly ouercame she any temptatioÌ„ but that others would grow the more terrible to her thereby Being tempted that she should not obey the Superiours Mother Prioresse made her promise to God in the presence of many Religious perpetuall Obedience Hearing Masse somtymes she was cruelly tormented by Diuells and with much fury sometymes throwne this way and sometymes that way which the Religious so visibly seeing were brought to great compassion towards her To profit yet more in vertue she would put her selfe to the performing of the most vile and ignoble exercises of the Kitchen not only did she make her selfe obedient and subiect to the Mothers but euen to the lay Sisters also And for their help she carryed wood and coles and drew water without fauouring her selfe at all as if she had beene the most abiect person in the Monastery Besids that she did these things whilest she went bare-foot and vilely clad as our Lord had commanded her so that it cannot be exprest how much she mortifyed her self by these exercises Hauing once serued the Religious at the Table and kissed all their feet she was alienated from her senses in reward of that act she was kissed by Iesus and she obteyned to see S. Iohn the Euangelist and S. Catharine of Siena who bound the
that rapt that they could not heare her without wonder Another tyme retyring into the Quire she tooke a great Rope with which she caused her handes to be bound behind her and she made her selfe to he hood-winked and so to be tyed to the grate of the Altar to the end that the Religious who were to passe that way might be moued therby to vilify laugh at her But it proued otherwise for they seeing so piteous a spectacle there was not one of them who did not find her selfe kindled towardes deuotion and she being asked by the Prioresse vpon what reason she had done that act she answered that she had done it to become thereby more humble and more prone to holy Obedience She prayed her also with feruent tears that she would be pleased to bid the Religious that as she should be going to that Altar for a certaine deuotion oâ— hers they should say such wordes to heâ— as these whereby to vilify her so much the more Suor Maria Maddalena this iâ— come vpon you for your dâ—fects and because you will be doing of thinges too much after your owne fashion The Mother Prioresse satisfyed her desire heerin and therupon Suor Maria Maddalena demanded pardon of them all with so great humility that there was none of them who found not her selfe tenderly affected with it and hauing continued for the space of an houre in this Mortification she was loosed at last by Mother Prioresse not without extraordinary edification In this meane tyme fastning her eyes vpon an Image of the B. Virgin she was estranged from her senses and she vnderstood from her Lord how that act of humility had beene gratefull to him And by this meanes a great multitude of Diuells being confounded they came about her with so horrible outcryes as gaue her no small vexation She resisteth other tentations of the Diuells and sends them often away CHAP. 37. FOR the adding of one affliction to another there passed not much tyme before the Diuell appeared to her againe with hideous aspect whilest she was making Prayer so that euen ouerwhelmed instantly with great terrour she became deadly pale And calling first vpon S. Michael the Archangell in her ayde and turning her face vp to heauen she sayd O Word O Word In te Domine sperâ—ui non confundar in aeternum After which words she vttered a profound sigh and turning towards the Diuell sayd What dost thou demand of me O thou horrible beast O bone Iesu by the sight of my offences which I see and by that other sight of myne enemyes me thinkes that I am euen in possession of hell But if you O Diuells had euen swallowed me vp you should yet be forced to deliuer me backe againe Whilest thus she was tormented with this fearefull spectacle her face became al wanne and through the excesse of that agony her sweat distilled in great aboundance She was then cast downe to the ground with great fury beaten with incredible rage For sometimes the Diuell strocke her ouer the head sometymes he cast her downe precipitously so that her face was swelled in such sort that for the space of many dayes it was necessary for her to be vnder cure But she conforming her selfe to the will of God sayd thus In fine O thou hideous beast when thou shalt haue tormented me according to thyne owne desire what wilt thou haue obteyned therby Benedicaâ— Dominum in omni tempore semper laus eius in ore meo Then rysing vp on her feet and leaning against an Altar she was againe impetuously cast downe to the ground But she hauing recourse to the ayde of heauen sayd Exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici eius And then turning towards the Diuells she added Yet can you do no more then is permitted to you by my Spouse I deny not but that thou art strong O horrible beast that I of my selfe am weake Note but my Lord standeth neere me who is infinitely more strong and more couragious then thou Do you not obserue O you ignorant fooles that I am with my Iesus and that you can do me no harme Do you not yet further obserue that by these so many your battailes you make me become a more glorious Conqueresse Soone after she droue those maligne spirits away with a discipline For seeing her selfe enuironed by them she cast her selfe vpon the ground still striking now on the right hand and then on the left with strange agility Afterwardes walking through the Oratory where she was with great speed she did strike vpon the benches and vpon the walls in such sort as that she resembled the Sonne of God when he droue the sellers out of the Temple She saw afterwards that many of those maligne spirits retyred themselues into all the parts of the Monastery to assault the other Religious with other tentations but they could not enter into the Chapter house for the humble and reuerent acts which are exercised there Some of them she saw where the Religious vse to communicate where they heare the word of God who earnestly laboured to disquiet their harts with earthly thoughts to the end that they might not come to know the great vnion which is made with Almighty God by receauing that food of life Some of them she saw in the worke house who tempted the Religious to worke negligently and to haue no zeale to relieue the pouerty of their Order Others againe she saw in the Refectory who incited the Religious to be at the Table without deuotion and attention to the sacred lesson Seeing also at another time whilest she was in Rapt and the Religious were singing the diuine Laudes in the Quire that a great multitude of Diuells was at the doore ready to enter in and that one was already entred and stood tempting the Spouses of Christ the good Mother being enflamed with feruour of Spirit went as it were flying towards the Quire and snatching vp a Crosse she droue away therewith those infernall spirits But as she often saw the Diuells throughout the Couent who indeuoured extremely to distract the Relious from the strait way to heauen so were there also shewed vnto her by our Lord a greater number of holy Angells which gaue strength and courage to their soules whereby they might resist temptations She freeth one of the Religious from a contagious disease and cureth a lay Sister of whome the one halfe was senseles from the head to the feet CHAP. 38. SVOR Barbara Bassi a professed Religious had beene subiect for many yeares to a contagious disease almost throughout her whole body wherby she was much payned and especially when she tooke her food And the remedyes she vsed did but tend to the increase of her torment so as the Phisitians allowed her but a short tyme of life the rather because the sayd sicknes was such as that by little and little it did eate away all her flesh Many tymes she had recommended her selfe to the
as thou wert when thy Mother lost thee in the Temple and lastly as thou wert when thou wert prepared for thy Passion She had no sooner spoke these wordes but this suit of hers was graunted and Iesus shewed himselfe to her punctually as she desired in the tyme of his infancy So as full of ioy turning her eyes towardes him she began to speake in this manner O heer behould my little one in the age of three or foure yeares O admirable thing thou art so very little and yet thou art God but thy littlenes makes me know thy greatnes O greatnes and littlenes of my God I shall neuer be satisfyed in behoulding thee O little and great God so beautifull and attractiue She then saw the same Iesus in the state of riper childhood and being then surprized with greater ioy she sayd O behould my spouse who before shewed himselfe to me so very little and now I see him in the age of twelue yeares with a countenance so delightfull admirable wherein there shineth such a graue sweetnes O my God so louely gracious to such as tast thee After this she went to the Oratory where prostrating her selfe on earth before the Altar of the B. Virgin with full zeale she prayed that the liuely flames of diuine loue might dilate themselues in the hart of euery Religious in that Monastery And these prayers were well made for she vnderstood soone after that God granted singular graces to that Monastery so she being all comforted returned shortly out of the Rapt As soone as she had strengthned her selfe by a little food she was againe abstracted from her senses and she laboured with much desire to see the great Son of God in the third manner as she had demanded Her Iesus then appearing to her in that forme and she looking on him with attentiue eyes sayd O my Iesus I will behould thee in this flourshing age of thyne sometimes working sometimes praising thee sometymes labouring for thee I will see thee I say in this so beautifull and gracious age of thyne when thou dost leaue thy selfe to vs by enduring the most sacred Passion I will take extreme delight to behould thee as now theâ— shewest thy selfe namely sitting vpon that fountaine where thou wast interrogating and illuminating Many other discourses she had with her beloued Lord whilest she saw him in those three aforesayd formes besides that in these three dayes of the Holy Ghost whereof she consumed the greatest part in Extasis there were coÌ„municated to her many celestiall secrets and she spake so highly of the greatnesses that are in God as doth exceed all humane thought But I passe on for greateâ— breuity By her Prayers she obteyneth from God space of life for the Confessarius of the Monastery CHAP. 42. IN the yeare 1590. the Confessarius of the Monastery being grieuously sicke and neere to death hauing already beene anâ—ealed this seruant of God both wâ—th sighes and teares disposed her selfe to pray our Lord so earnestly that for the spirituall benefit of her Monastery he would prolonge his life that the sayd Confessarius being aged of 77. yeares in â—hort tyme recouered his forces so well â—hat he left his bed and at the solemnity of the Corpus Domini which was at hand he confessed and communicated the Reâ—igious to their great comfort And by â—his prolonging of his life came much â—pirituall profit to the Monastery To â—his miracle all the Religious doe giue â—laine testimony who yet liue were â—resent at the working thereof She seeth the soule of her Mother ascend vp to heauen and she also seeth a good Priest who enioyeth eternall happines CHAP. 43. IN the Month of September of the same yeare 1590. our Lord Iesus was pleased to refresh his beloued Spouse with an extreme consolation for the agonyes which were so patiently endured by her in the time of her Probation For she being in rapt he shewed her the soule of her mother who 15. dayes before was departed out of this life and so being enuironed by eternall splendours she went vp to heauen accompanyed by her Patron-Saints There were giuen her by her Mother three aduices which by holy Obedience she was enioyned to declare First that to the vttermost of her power she should endeauour to profit in holy humility Secondly that she should be a true obseruer of Obedience and thirdly that in all thinges she should striue to exercise Prudence Hauing giuen these holy counsels her happy Mother tooke her selfe out of sight and went to enioy supreme happynes Soone after also she saw the soule of a venerable Priest who for the loue of God had laboured much in spirituall exercises and he went to inhabit his celestiall Countrey being rich in glory By these meanes she went still profiting in holy vertue and was kindled more and more towards the purchase of true felicity Of the manner of her life from the tyme that she entred into her Probation vntill her death CHAP. 44. THIS couragious warriour of Iesus being to encounter with diuers tentations lead a life wholy illuminated by God and full of mortification and pennance For in the fiue yeares of her Proâ—ation Note she susteyned not her body otherwise in effect then by bread and water By the space of three yeares she being admonished by aduice from heaueÌ„ went bare footed and consequently being of delicate complexioÌ„ she could not without extreme paine endure those bitter coldes of winter So much the more because for her greater mortification she imployed her selfe as hath been sayd already in those painefull exercises of drawing water and doing of other inferiour things and neither making any account of the raine or snow she went vp and down sometymes in the garden and sometyms in other places of the Monastery so that through the most bitter season of the yeare her flesh would break and open in such sort as to shed bloud in great quantity and that would make most painefull sores Therefore out of compassion the Religious would sometymes swath her legs but she caring for no such complements with a cheerefull countenance would say Giue me leaue to suffer for my sinnes She wore only one Coate which was old and patcht as well in the sharp seasons of the yeare as â—t other tymes so as now and then â—hrough the extreme could she trembled â—n such sort as she could hardly speake Moreouer the vsuall tyme of feeding or sleeping she did ordinarily spend in continuall prayer or in excesses of mind And yet euen when she would dispose her selfe to take any rest she slept in her cloathes and almo t euer vpon a hard sacke of straw or els vpon the bare ground Her sleep was extremly short for that mind which was accustomed in those Nocturnal houres to transforme it selfe often into God by diuine contemplation could hardly induce it selfe to giue long repose to the body though it were much weakned with affliction And yet more to exercise her self in
they still remayned in â—he darcknes of sinne Sometymes she would say Thou â—â—est O Lord the need which there is of these â—oules for if they who are the light of the â—orld remaine in darknes how much more â—â—all other creatures remaine there And if â—hey who are the salt of the earth be vnsauouâ—y and insipide how shall they be able to seaâ—on others O my Iesus and how shall they be â—ble to lead others on in the way to thee if â—hemselues go on in that way which is conâ—rary to thee She offered her selfe afterwards to our Lord to indure all the peâ—altyes which these soules deserued so â—hat he would deliuer them from comâ—itting of sinne And she would say with â—dmirable zeale Infuse O my Iesus infuse â—â—y bloud into them and for my part if I â—ight indure all the paynes of Purgatory so as â—ithall they might be saued I should be conâ—ent Lay punishment I beseech thee vpon me â—nd giue me payne interiour and exteriour as 〈◊〉 all best please thee For I cannot endure â—hat there should be so great ignorance where there is so great aboundance O miserable and wretched creature that I am why am not I able to take vpon me and to beare all payne Punish thou vpon me O Word their so great ingratitude so great blindnes and ignorance At last finding that she had obteined the conuersion of those sinners she sayd with excesse of ioy Then let them returne vnto thee like so many wandring sheep for all the happy soules of heauen are expecting their approach with ioy With these feruours of Charity she endlesly prayed the diuine Maiesty for the saluation of others reaped the desired fruit of her labours for she often saw how these soules being illuminated by God with his diuine grace did returne to him with repentant harts by the meanes of her prayers Of the Charity which she vsed towardes her Neighbours CHAP. 52. AS her zeale was such towardes the saluation of others soules so her Charity was no lesse which she imployed towards them in all their other necessityes whether they were spiritual or corporall She euer aspired earnestly to be labouring about them and then did she giue particuler demonstration thereof when any one was sicke in the Monastery So as she would be often saying to the Infirmarian That she had nothing to do Note that she had no disposition to pray nor could keep her mind retyred inwardly vpon God and she would secretly inferre by these words that they might giue her much contentment if they would serue themselues of her in the gouernement of such as were sicke Whensoeuer she was satisfyed in this holy desire of hers she would vse supreme diligence about them and when at any tyme the sicknes grew great the good Mother would sometims by holding them vp in her armes and sometimes feeding them performe all the good offices which are imaginable Among many others this one deserues to be remembred There was a lay Sister who had long been sicke and hauing a veyne broken in her breast was afflicted with much infirmity and griefe Suor Maria Maddalena hauing obserued this tooke her into her care and continuing so about a yeare the sayd Sister dyed In that last passage it caÌ„not be exprest what paines she tooke for she watched with her ten nights without taking in effect any rest at all It happened not long after that another lay Sister fell sicke of an incurable soare and it was offensiue in sauour beyond measure Suor Maria Maddalena desired to haue the charge of attending her and when she had obteyned it she would needs with her own hands dresse the soare and when there grew any vermine as sometymes there did she vsed al diligence in remouing it and sometimes would apply her mouth vnto it as if she were tasting of some curious and delicious liquor She fayled not also with deer wordes to exhort the sicke person to endure all with patience assuring her that in heauen she should find a most liberall remuneration When these two were passed in their seuerall tymes to a better life she performed to their bodyes all the accustomed dutyes before they were buryed and to that she added continuall prayers for their soules and by night without taking in a manner any rest she exhibited her feruent desires to God that they might hasten to the fruition of eternall glory And she procured with great diligence that all the Religious would multiply their prayers she offered her selfe willingly to receaue the punishment of their faults and she prayed to God earnestly that she might doe so who graunting her request made her very often feele grieuous paines for many dayes togeather by meanes whereof they being endured by her with singular patience he shewed her those soules when they went towards the enioying of eternall happynes She seeth the soules of two sinners condemned to Hell at their death CHAP. 53. ON the 22. of December in the yeare 1594. being in excesse of mind she saw the soule of a sinner who at that instant departed out of this life and was condemned to those euerlasting paynes She vnderstood afterwardes how that wretched man besides that he had lead a most wicked life was particulerly sentenced to those endled flames for not hauing in account the spirituall treasures of the Church but despising both Indulgences and all other graces which she tenderly powreth vpon her faythfull children About the same tyme she saw in like manner another soule shut vp on all sides into vnquenchable fire and coÌ„demned by the Iustice of God to the torments of Hell Whereupon she grew to be of an afflicted countenance pale beyond all imagination and with tears and sighes turning her selfe to the soule she sayd Thou art now become a firebrand of hell and soone are thy pleasures and pastimes conuerted into bitter and eternall paynes and then looking vp to heauen she sayd O eternall God the men of this world do not consider and penetrate these thinges But vpon this occasion so great was the griefe affliction of her hart that she wanted little of sowning by it And these visions as she related afterwards by her vsuall Obedience were shewed her by God to the end that both her selfe and the other Religious of that Monastery should inflame themselues more vehemently towards the zeale of the saluation of soules offering vp for them both prayers and pennances to the diuine Iustice She was chosen Mistresse of the yong Religious whome she did admirably help forward in the way of spirit CHAP. 54. IN the yeare 1595. she was by common consent of all the Religious elected Mistresse of the yong Religious It would be heard to deliuer fully with how much zeale she addressed them towards Religious perfection and by the vertue which shined in her they went forwards with great facility towards the procuring of euangelicall perfection In this gouernement of hers she euer prescribed seasonable remedyes and gaue wise
more inflamed â—owardes the purchase of vertue With â—hese profitable and laudable directions â—he went through her office in such sort â—hat she was accounted by all the Religiâ—us to be the very rule it selfe of liuing well Of the zeale which she had to Gods honour and the hatred which she bare to sinne CHAP. 55. THE Zeale which she had of Gods honour was so ardent That as she often sayd she would be glad to giue her life for it a thousand tymes in a day And she would often affirme with teares To me it seemeth a strang thing and for my part I cannot comprehend it how there should be so few soules in the world Note which hold the honour of God in the true account of greatnes that it deserues But especially considering how little diligence there is vsed in frequenting the B. Sacrament of the Altar she would be so opprest with sorrow anâ— paine as if with a sharp knife she haâ— beene strocken to the hart she woulâ— often say Well I am sure that one Communion made with true spirit and feeling is apâ— to procure that a soule may come to great perfection of life At other tymes being full of these celestial thoughts she called somâ— one of the Religious to her sayd thus with sighes and teares Let vs pray vnto our Lord O my Sister that he will graunt vâ— light and that we may not be so frozen-cold in his seruice and especially in frequenting that food of life which since it is all fire and loue O let vs euen now constreyne Iesus by our prayers to graunt vs euer in this place 〈◊〉 Pastour who may be zealous of Gods honour and who may haue such light as wherewithal to admit vs worthily to this celestiall table She had moreouer a most feruent zeale in saying the Diuine office when she went towards the Quire she felt such ioy of hart that she seemed as one inuited to a sumptuous banket She endeauoured alwayes that those diuine Laudes should be sayd deuoutly and when she heard any of the Religious make a little more then ordinary hast she suffered much affliction thereby and she would often say to them that she had not the hart to post ouer the Diuine Laudes like to the other externall exercises of the Monastery Note Offences made against God did â—o displease her and caused in her such grief that hearing sometymes but these wordes Mortall Sinne she could hardly conteyne her self through the vehemenâ—y of her affliction from crying out with 〈◊〉 loud voyce giuing an euident signe of â—he offence which in her hart she felt Being able as she was to penetrate the â—eformity of sinne euen to the quicke so much she abhorred it and such horrour â—he had thereat that to her it would seem â—mpossible to find a Christian so wicked â—s deliberately to offend God And 15. â—ayes before she departed this life I goe â—sayd she out of the world with this incapaâ—ity aboue all the rest that I cannot deuise â—ow to vnderstand by what means a creature â—an be induced to consent and resolue to commit a mortall sinne against the Creatour Whereby it may be well seene how much she was illuminated by God who had made her so zealous of his honour Of her great Humility CHAP. 56. THIS seruant of God was moreoueâ— a bright example of perfect humility and she euer had her selfe in so base conceit that she thought her selfe good for nothing and would often say thaâ— therefore it seemed to her that her Superiour should speake to her in this sort Get you out of this holy place for you are nâ—â— worthy to remayne in the company of thâ— Spouses of Christ Therefore would she bâ— turning towards the Prioresse with such a trembling as if she had committed somâ— grieuous fault Sometyms she would caâ—â— her self vpon her knees at the feet of heâ— Sisters beseech them that they would let her know her faults But then was he conceit of her selfe more base when she was to receaue the B. Sacrament of thâ— Altar for in that act she would doubt least the Diuine iustice might make the earth open to swallow her vp and bitterly weeping she would often say I most vile creature full of sinnes do presume to receaue the King of glory and in this fear she would say further casting her eyes to heauen O my Lord assist me and haue mercy on me Then would she intreat the Religious with great affection to pray to God for her that his Iustice might not cast her headlong into hell It was also necessary sometymes for her Ghostly Father with words of coÌ„fort to encourage her that she should confide in the diuine Mercy Now the account that she made of the vertue of the other Religious was so great that she would kisse the ground where they had gone and she accounted her selfe to haue obteyned of God a space of doing Pennance by meanes of their prayers and she endeauoured to help them in al the exercises which they were to performe how vile so euer in reward as she sayd of so great a benefit When she was Superiour to others she would be euer humbling her selfe to one of her subiects and then in vertue of holy Obedience would command her to impose vpon her some rigorous pennance of what kind she would and oftentymes made some one of them to giue her a discipline commanding her to make no body acquainted with it and so by these acts of great humility those Sisters wold remayne astonished confounded She would also appoint that in the euening they should tell her of any defect committed by her in that day and then she would beg a pennance of them It happened once when she was Mistresse of the Nouices that a deuout yong mayd tooke the holy Habit. And within few dayes after she called her to her and did communicate some of the temptations that troubled her with so great humility and so many teares as if they had beene so many sinnes committed by her and she sayd My child I tell you this Note to the end that you may know what kind a woman you haue to your Mistres and â—f our Lord had not called her to a Religious â—tate she would either haue beene shut vp into â—ome perpetuall prison or els haue ended her â—ayes no otherwise then by the handes of puâ—â—ique Iustice The she added Pray you vnto â—od for me that he may haue mercy on me and â—hat in the end I may be saued She would â—â—wayes euen to her death haue one of â—he Religious expresly deputed to accuse â—er of her defects thereby to humble her â—o much the more in the sight so God â—n the other side she kept her vertues as â—â—cret as was possible and felt great affliâ—â—ion when by any meanes they were â—ade knowne Neuer would she excuse â—er selfe of any errour When any one â—ould recommend some sinner to her â—rayers she was
degree and condition inferiour to them all and although by others she were held a Saint yet she gaue little satisfaction to her selfe but was vsually her own accuser of idlenes and other defectes in the presence of euery one of them Moreouer she shewed her selfe compassionate in supporting the defects of others and withall sweetnes vsed to accommodate her selfe to their wills In countenance she was euer discharged and cheerefull nor could she be troubled through any accident by meanes of the gift she had of prayer whereby she had already acquired so great vnion with God that she had continuall fruition of his presence in her soule By the attractiue manner of her speach whereof yet she was most sparing she kindled in the harts of others an vnspeakable desire of seruing God Much labour she vsed in the mortification of her will and in the hiding of her vertue carrying alwayes her eye vpon the execution of such Orders as were common to all the Nouices vpon the doing of whatsoeuer might bring to her most humility and mortification By these vertues she walked on towards greater perfection hauing extreme desire to be vnited with her heauenly Spouse by the knot of holy Profession Now the tyme being come when seauen Nouices were to be veyled and professed and her tyme not being come that she might also make the same oblation of her selfe to the eternall God she was afflicted with much griefe though she were somewhat recomforted with a promise which was made her by the chiefe of the Religious that towardes the end of the yeare her desire should be gâ—aunted The yeare being ended and she againe making instance with great affection to be knit to God by the free vow of solemne Profession it was answered that she must expect till some other Nouices might ioyne with her To this she instantly replyed thus with great humility I shall not make my Profession with others but you will be constrayned by a necessity which will go much against your will to permit that I be profest alone It punctually came to passe as she fortould for hardly there had past a moneth but that she being assayled by a sharp burning feuer and a vehement cough accompanyed with extreme paine grew into such danger of her life that foure of the chiefe Phisitians in the Towne confessed ioyntly that they could not penetrate her disease And Iacopo Tronconi one of the foure by whome she was most often visited affirmed many tymes that by all the study that he had imployed he was neuer able to discouer either the occasion or the quality of that sicknes and that it must be left to God for of mans help there was little hope Yet fayled she not to vse conuenient remedyes but all in vaine since euery day more and more her life was found to be in danger She did euer almost sit vpright not being able to lye at length in her bed for the perpetuall cough that afflicted her in such sort as it allowed her very little tyme to restore her weake body either with food or rest But euen then did her spirituall parts receaue strength wheÌ„ being asked sometims by her sisters what she thought vpon in the midst of her cruell paynes she instantly pointing to a Crucifixe which was neere her bed made this answere I contemplate the great sufferings which that cordiall and incomprehensible loue indured for my saluation he seeth my weaknes and with that sight of his I am comforted Note since all the paynes and griefes which all the chosen children of God haue endured did passe through that most holy Humanity of Christ where they grew to be sweet and to be desired by vs his members Thus was the spouse of Iesus afflicted indeed in body but in her soule so cheerefull serene that she sayd she thought her selfe after a sort to â—e feeding vpon the ioyes of heauen Her health being thus despayred of by the Phisitians it was resolued by the Religious that she should make her Profession which she had so much desired The Confessarius therefore was conducted to her for he would not suffer her to ryse whom he fouÌ„d to be so much afflicted by that sicknes Yet she confiding in God prayed her Sisters after leaue obteyned that they would carry her before an Altar of the B. Virgin where there was a little bed set vp for the performance of that holy ceremony Which being put in execution on the 27. of May 1584. which was the morning of the most holy Trinity she made in the hands of the Father Confessarius in presence of all the Religious her holy Profession with greater deuotion and feruour then we can imagine After this she was carryed by force of armes into the Infirmary the Infirmarian was intreated by her that the curtaines of the bed being drawne they would depart out of the chamber for she was desiroâ— to take a little rest All this was done a whole houre being past when they had heard no noyse in her chamber no so much as the Cough which vsed so continually to importune her the Infirmarian was all in a wonder at it wheâ— with others entred in and opening thâ— curtaines found that she reposed well in God for being alienated from her senses she was rapt into heauenly contemplations Her face was growne beautifull and delightfull to the astonishmenâ— of such as lookt vpon her her flesh was growne liuely coloured and euen inflamed her eyes were fastned so stedfastly behoulding a Crucifixe that vpon the whole matter she seemed no more to be that pale and leane Suor Maria Maddalena but euen a very Angell of heauen In the meane tyme this accident was made knowne to the Mother Prioresse wherupon she with the rest of all the other Mothers and Sisters did suddainly go by one and one into the chamber where they all saw the wonder which God had wrought in his deuout seruant And this was the first time that she had been seen in Rapte wherein she continued for the space of two hours It was not matter of lesse amazement to them which happened in the fourty dayes which followed next for euery day in the morning as soone as she had receaued the food of Angells the same wonder was seene she remayning abstracted from her senses and immersed in diuine contemplations which shal briefly be pointed at in the first Chapter of the second part And so it pleased our Lord after these Extasies to restore the health of her body in miraculous manner since without applying any further remedy her disease so ceased as that she was wholy free our Lord vouchsafing to preserue her to the end that others by her example might be much more inflamed to loue him When she had recouered her health she returned to the Nouiciate and considering the many Rapts which were graunted to her by her Lord she was constreyned by Obedience to relate to two of the Mothers such thinges as were communicated to her
by Almighty God CHAP. 6. GREAT was the contentment which the Nouiciate yea all the Monastery receaued through the health miraculously recouered by this beloued child of Iesus And the Superiours discouering that she was guided by Almighty God in a particuler manner and that euery day more then other she profited in the obteyning of vertue they deliberated about drawing her out of the Nouiciate although she had beene but lately profest and to put her in some seuerall place where she might with better opportunity serue our Lord. But when this resolution was come to her ears she was much afflicted as being an enemy to all singularity went suddainly to beseech the Superiours with great instance that they would not seuer her from the other Nouices or withdraw her from the obedience of her Mistresse accusing her selfe to be the most imperfect of thē al that she had more need then others to be directed by her in the way of vertue When her Superiours obserued this singular humility of hers they were cōtent to graunt her holy suite whereupon being confirmed vnder the care of the Mistresse it cannot be exprest with how much spirit she gaue her selfe to the contemplation of heauenly Misteryes And if in the first yeare of her Nouiciate she had made particuler proofe of her sanctity she grew in doing of it afterward not imploying her forces vpon any other thing then the procuring of those graces which make soules acceptable in the eyes of God She went euer thinking how she might inflame others towards diuine loue exhorting her Sisters to performe the seruice of God with humility and purity of mind From her mouth there came none but holy words She would excuse the defects of others Note and interprete euery thing to a good end She would neuer speake much vnles she were vrged by questions that which she sayd would be full of mildnes and charity In this meane tyme being yet more kindled to holy actions she was often rapt in spirit and was come to such a degree of perfection that no worldly thing could disorder the vnion which she had with the diuine Maiesty When it pleased God to restore her to her senses she would immediatly returne to her fellow Nouices and she proceeded towards them with so great humility and suauity that it seemed not to be she who so lately had beene seene to participate of so high and heauenly Misteryes as one who valued not much such gifts as those but attended only to solid vertue and the contempt of her selfe Now her Superiour obseruing the wonders that God wrought by meanes of this his true seruant since euery day after the holy Communion they had seene her in excesse of mind raysed vp to the vnderstanding of so high things they appointed her in vertue of holy obedience to preuent the loosing of so great heauenly treasures by communicating whatsoeuer God should manifest vnto her with the Reuerend Mother Suor Vangelista del Giocundo her Mistresse and Suor Maria Maddalena Mori Of these two Mothers the first who is yet liuing a Religious woman of great prudence of no lesse vertue and sanctity of life hath witnessed in particuler by oaths and writings vnder her hand that she hath with her owne eyes seene that which is recounted in this Story of Suor Maria Maddalena besides many other Religious who in like manner haue affirmed and do affirme the very same So as now Suor Maria Maddalena did relate to the sayd Mothers the fauours and intelligences which were cōmunicated to her by Almighty God in those Extasies And although she extremly desired to maintaine her self abiect vile in the sight of others yet neuertheles she alwayes preferred holy Obedience before any inclination of her own and the rather she did it in this case to be the better assured thereby whether or no there were any mixture of diabolicall fraud but in this point she was satisfyed by her Ghostly Father And for the better testifying of the truth the Right Reuerend Man Francesco Benuenuti Gouernour and Confessarius of the Monastery Penitentiarius of the Cathedrall Church of Florence subscribed with his owne hand to foure bookes written by the Religious which conteine many deuout and high intelligences By him they were deliuered to be reuiewed by the Fathers of the Society of Iesus who gaue this testimony that there was nothing to be found in them contrary to the Catholique fayth but on the other side many things of perfection worthy to be vnderstood by all to bring thē more in loue with God She seeth the soule of Madre Suor Maria Bagnese a Florentine rich with the glory of Heauen CHAP. 7. SVOR Maria Maddalena was wont to visit often the body of the venerable Mother Suor Maria Bagnese a Florentine who is buried in a case of stone within the Chapter-house of that Monastery and there did see exhibite earnest prayers to that holy soule to which she was most deuoted Whereupon she obteyned to see her in heauen many tymes but particulerly vpon the eleauenth of Iuly 1584. she saw her in a most excellent manner and being commanded in vertue of holy Obedience she related the Vision in these very words I haue seene in heauen a most beautifull Throne of incomprehensible light wherein did sit the Blessed Mother Suor Maria Bagnese all resplendent and full of wonderfull Maiesty And I vnderstood that this Throne was her virginity and purity which gaue her an extreme ornament I saw also that the sayd Throne was all set with precious stones these were all those souls which her example had brought to the seruice of God which compassing her in round about after the manner of a crown did giue her greater grace and beauty This was the relation which Suor Maria Maddalena made of that particuler But of how great sanctity the sayd Madre Suor Maria Bagnese was whosoeuer will may see in her life which is written by the Father Alessandro Capocchi a Dominican a man of great holynes as also by the Father Abbot Don Siluano Razzi of Camaldoli in the second part of Tuscan Saintes and by the Father Fra Serafino his brother a Dominican both who were men for their learning and vertue very much to be esteemed Three times our Lord made her know his will was that she should liue vpon bread and water Triall was taken of that motion by her Superiours and with their permission she began to execute the will of God CHAP. 8. ON the 21. of May 1585. this blessed Creature being then imployed about the exercises of the Monastery finding her selfe to be moued by God she went into the dormitory of the Nouiciate where at the instant that she arriued she was cast downe to the earth with great violence and remayning so a good while as if she had been dead she afterwards vttered these wordes O my Lord and what is it which thou demandest of me Is it perhaps the exteriour by the interiour