THE LIFE OF THE HOLY AND VENERABLE MOTHER Suor Maria Maddalena DE PATSI, A Florentine Lady, & Religious of the Order of the Carmelites. WRITTEN In Italian by the Reverend Priest Sigr. Vincentio Puccini, who was sometimes her Ghostly Father. And now translated into English.  Si compatimur, & conregnabimus. Rom. 8. If we suffer with Christ, we shall reign with him. 
Published by allowance of Superiors. ANNO M.DC.XIX.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE AND MOST REVEREND LADY, THE LADY MARY PERCY LA. ABBESS OF THE ENGLISH RELIGIOUS OF THE HOLY ORDER OF S. BENNET AT OUR B. LADIES OF THE ASSUMPTION IN BRUSSELS.  
MADAM,  
HAVING received commandment from a dying Friend to publish this Translation of the life of the Venerable, and holy Suor Maria Maddalena de Patsi, together with the Preface that goes before it, under such an avow, as I should think most fit for such a subject; I found myself cast upon the same resolution by duty, which of myself I should have embraced, out of voluntary election, & affection: in as much as the thing admitted of no debate, or dispute, but that it must be presented to your Ladyship. For your Ladyship taketh not up the life of this Great and Admirable Woman upon trust, since you have read it in the original tongue, and by means thereof you have planted, not only in your own Religious heart, but in the hearts also of your own excellent Religious, a most tender, & dear remembrance of her rare virtue. And beside I am in myself so much bound to your Ladyship, as that (having nothing of mine own to present as a token of my true desires to serve you, I account this trust to have come into my hands very luckily since it helps me to pay my debts, without any charge to my conscience, out of another man's goods.  
It appears already, that I need not bring this Holy Woman and your Ladyship acquainted together. That which I have to say of her goeth in the Preface to the Reader. Of your Ladyship I only ask, that you will continue to make her as much your pattern as you may; & I wish that as you were the first of our country, since the lamentable fall thereof, who made so high Nobility of blood (as high perhaps as any Subject in Christendom doth bear) stoop so low to the lure of evangelical Poverty, and other perfections: so the eminency of your Heroical Example, may again be able to bring forlorn virtue into request. Only I advise the world, that, unless it will amend, it come not near your Ladyship, & the blessed company of Religious, which you have the honour & happiness to govern. For I know not what receipt you have gotten, but I am sure you have it there among you, to make Beauty chaste, Poverty commodious, Obedience easy, Understanding humble, and the bitterness of Austerity, not only savoury, but even sweet. And I beseech jesus you may ever have it; and that by the intercession of this great Servant of his, & your devotion to her, both your Lad '. self, & your whole happy Congregation, may obtain as full a measure of benediction from his divine Majesty, as is cordially desired by  
Your La. most entirely devoted servant, G. B. From Collen this 20. of April, 1619.   

THE PREFACE TO THE READER.  
IT was the saying of an ancient Roman, who going to die in a valiant manner (according to the account which then was made) & being withal desirous, that one of the branches of his House should profit by the sight of that example; Specta juvenis etc. in ea enim tempora natus es. quibus firmare animum expedit constantibus exemplis. Behold, O young man, for thou art borne in such an age, as wherein thy mind hath need to be fortified by such examples of constancy as this is. How much more need have we of pregnant, and excellent examples we who are Christians, and must therefore by answerable to the dignity, and height of that incomparable vocation: and who withal are fallen upon such a sensual, corrupt, and erroneous age as this, wherein well doing is so wonderfully out of fashion. And therefore Specta juvenis, behold, and look upon examples, which may help thee both unto true spiritual fortitude in undertaking, and performing that with is good, and to uncorrupted prudence in discerning, and avoiding that which is ill.  
And howsoever it be true, that through the goodness of God, we have many other helps which (by our cooperating with his grace) may induce us much towards the remaining in our duty, or at least returning towards him; as namely the counsel of virtuous friends, the reading of holy books, and the observation of God's universal providence; yet I think there is none which doth more sweetly insinuate itself, and more effectually prevail with us, then that of good and fit examples. Segniùs irritant animum demissa per aures, quàm quae sunt oculis subiecta fidelibus: The hearing of good advise is but a dull kind 〈◊〉 insinuation, in respect of the seeing strong examples. And from hence it is, that when either good counsel is given us in private conference, or by public exhortation or preaching, men think that then they do the business best, when they accompany that part with ●he other. Benedictus Deus qui talia do●a dedit hominibus: Blessed be therefore Almighty God, who hath given men such gifts as these, and who hath enriched all ages with innumerable examples of virtuous acti●ns to be admired, and hath permitted such as are vicious to be abhorred.  
I propound to you therefore, towards the making of you with myself, a little more observant of the good will of God, and more considerative of what his grace is accustomed to work in their hearts, who truly, & operatively love him, an example of a venerable, & most holy creature, by sex a woman, but in spirit & strength of mind, more than a man. And I would not go far off for it in respect of time, lest I should be told of being unseasonable, as if so great perfection were not compatible with such an age as this: but I bring it to you of such ●one as died but in the year of our Lord 1607.  
This great Servant of God was calle● Suor Maria Maddalena de Patsi, a Florentine Lady, of excellent beauty, of illustrious extraction, both by Father and Mother and (which more properly was her own) of s● eminent, & admirable virtue, as the process of her life here translated will declare. Now this life was written originally in Italian by 〈◊〉 Reverend Priest, called Sigr. Vincenti● Puccini, and he chose to do it, in a plain an● perspicuous manner, without any other ornament, then that of Truth. He divided it into two parts; the former containing an historic call narration of what she did, and suffered i● this world; the other a particular account o● those high intelligences which it pleased God t● impart to her, in her several Rapts, and Excesses of mind, which by order of Superiors were taken in writing by the other Religious●▪ as she was uttering them. Now these grew to multiply both in so great number and measure as that the foresaid second part, did afterwards endure a division into five, so as in all they are six parts, and they make a large volume, full of admirable Conceptions and Expressions. Which yet because they are so high, and full of mysteries, I have contented my ●elfe with translating only the first, that being all the historical part of her life, wherein also are divers sufficient touches of those other, together with many most approved miracles, whereby it pleased God to declare the sanctity ●f this his Servant.  
The Author whom I named, is also a Florentine, a Gentleman of a good house, and of a good estate, but which he is daily giving away for God's sake; and a man of great reputation both for his judgement, his piety, and the good example of his life. Which yet with ●ne, is much the more considerable, because I have understood by some who know him best, that himself (for as much as concerns conscience) is also governed by others of great sanctity, and experience in the way of spirit: and it is well that he is so. For though many do excellently govern others, no creature is able to do it sufficiently for himself. But as for his own virtue, & value, it is not a thing ●nly known to men of his own City and Country, but to many Gentlemen, and some Noblemen of England, and they not only Catholics, but Protestants.  
This virtuous Priest, was the Ghostly Father of that holy Woman, and he governed her soul (together with the whole Monastery where she lived) for the space of some immediate years before she died. And for the greater credit of that which is here delivered and to the end that not only no pious Catholic may doubt thereof, but that even no prudent Protestant may have colour to quarrel or so much as question the truth of that which shall be in this book declared, I will deliver some circumstances, which I assure myself, i● the judgement of indifferent, and moral men will serve the turn.  
In the Monastery of Florence called Santa Maria de gli Angioli, there be three score Religious women, who are though worthy (as worthy as flesh, and blood may be to receive every day the Body of our Blesse● Saviour, in the B. Sacrament, though indeed this cannot be worthily done by any, and i● must suffice that it be not done unworthily To the so often feeding upon this bread o● Angels, they are admitted not by any importunity, or fancy, or particular judgement o● their own, but by the hand of this Priest whom I have already described. In whose government of them, if there be a●y imperfection, it is in that he may be thought a little scrupulous, through the great light he hath of the purity & Majesty of almighty God, on the one side, and the great indecency or rather deformity, which he discovereth in the least sin on the other. Now the passages of this Saint's life, after she entered into the Monastery were verified, and that upon Oath, by these other Religious women that lived with her, in presence of their spiritual Magistrates, who had authority to take full information thereof.  
Let me further present to your consideration, discreet Reader, that at the time of taking those Oaths, the Religious were particularly put in mind (though they were far from being ignorant thereof before) of the nature of an oath, and with how much truth & reverence they were bound to swear; & that they must not, for the converting, or saving of the whole world, tell the least officious lie, & especially in matters of this nature; wherein as it was to be an act of justice, and Religion, to express a truth when they were lawfully called thereunto: so to publish, and authorize an untruth, truth, was to commit a grievous sin. And indeed the Catholic, Apostolic, Roman Church doth so much abhor all collusion, & fraud in this high kind, as that it denounceth a solemn sentence of most rigorous Excommunication, ipso facto, to be incurred, by any that shall publish, or any way cooperate willingly towards a false Miracle.  
Now therefore that such a company of holy women, as I have here described, who do otherwise lead a life of so great perfection, and penance, as is notorious to the world in those parts, being directed in their conscience by such a Ghostly Father, & being put in mind of their duty towards God, and the world, in so express manner, by their other spiritual Governors, should in despite of all Religion, and reason, combine, and band themselves to deceive the world, and damn their own souls, by avowing solemn untruths; and to do all this between four walls, and in the midst of perpetual fastings, praying, hair cloth, disciplines, and the like, is not only improbable, but impossible. And I shall wonder with what sense, by the Civil, or Municipal Law of any Country, the oaths of any two honest men, or women, may be admitted to rule the case of men's lands, and lives, and that the oaths of so many persons, and such persons, should be rejected, in verifying of that which passed upon their knowledge, and under their eyes. So that when this truth is told you, that the several Chapters of this following history, were ratified by the subscription, and oaths of these Religious, I assure myself that all danger of doubt will be removed; and to the end that there be no question made, but that they did so subscribe, & swear, I will here set down that part of the Author's Preface to the Reader which concerneth the act in law, whereby it is expressly declared.  
To the end, that the truth of what is delivered in this history, might appear more clearly, the most Reverend Monsigr. Pietro Nicolini, Vicar-general of Florence, at the instance of the Governor of the Monastery, came in person to the same place, together with the Chancellor of the archbishopric, upon the 14. day of April, in the year of our Lord 1609. where, calling all the Religious of that House into their presence, who had seen with their own eyes the actions of their Mother Suor Maria Maddalena, which are set down in this present work, he examined them most particularly, concerning the truth thereof. Which Religious women, amounting to the number of threescore, who are accustomed every morning to receive the Body of our Lord, did affirm, under their oaths, that those things which are recounted in this life of this servant of God, are mere, and real Truth; and many of them, did moreover say by word of mouth, that they had seen many more particulars, then are written there. Now therefore at the end of every Chapter of this book those Religious women who were present, and saw the wonderful things which therein are severally related, did subscribe the same with their own hand writing; and so by the subscription of all these Chapters, there is a great book filled; and in the presence of Monsigr. the Vicar General, and of the Governor of the Monastery, and of four witnesses, there was an authentical Instrument, or Writing, made by Sigr. Frosino, a Milanese, Chancellor of the archbishopric, which public Instrument, or writing, together with the aforesaid book, full of subscriptions is kept for eternal memory in the Monastery; and a copy of them both (being authenticated by the said Chancellor) was entered, & is conserved in the Rolls of the archbishopric of Florence. And all this diligence was used, to take from any man (that shall read the great and wonderful things that God did work by this Mother Suor Maria Maddalena, his beloved Spouse) the least suspicion, or doubt, of the truth thereof.  
This is contained in the Authors Preface to the Reader, touching those things that passed from the time of her entering into the Monastery, which was in the seavententh year of her age, until the time of her death, which happened in the one and fortieth year: and for those other that are recounted from her first use of reason, till she entered into Religion, her Mother, and Servants, & next kindred, and Ghostly Fathers did certainly, & ionytly, and severally avow, that which is here related, besides that herself did confess them to be true. So that for as much as concerns the matter in fact, the credit of the history being now settled, as I conceive it is; I will only in a few words give an advice, or two, concerning the reading of this life, whether it fal● into the hands of Catholics, or Protestants.  
And first let it be laid for a ground, that mirabilis est Deus in Sanctis suis, Almighty God is wonderful in his Saints. God i● wonderful in all his works, and ways, bu● he is said to be wonderful, per excellentiam, in his Saints, as if in comparison of that wonderfullnes, the rest of his works were not wonderful. hereupon I would have it follow, that in the reading of Saints lives, men ought t● carry themselves with great sobriety. Catholics must be sober, and not venture to freely upon the imitation of every thing, whereof they find an example in the life of Saints, but content themselves with the knowledge of how little themselves are worth, and with admiration o● that which is above their calling, or the proportion of God's grace given to them. And for as much as concerneth practise, they must employ themselves in the purchase of those seue●ll solid virtues, which shine so brightly in ●hose lives, according to the circumstances of ●me and place; and in such cases as are que●ionable, it is not safe to do any thing of mo●ent without the advice of their spiritual guide's, and Ghostly Fathers. And above all we ●ust be sure, not to despise, or censure rashly, ●hat which is represented by great authority, ●nd with great Charity; but praising Almighty God (according to the advise of Sales the ●ood Bishop of Geneva, in that excellent book ●f his, which is entitled, An Introduction ●o a devout life) for the superabundance of ●is graces powered upon others, we must stay ●ur selves humbly in the ordinary, & (for us) ●ore assured way; less excellent in itself, ●ut more suitable to our infirmity, and poverty wherein yet if we converse with humility and ●delity, God will afterward raise us up to greatness which is truly great. And as for Protestant's, if any such may read this book, I will only desire them to be that which they ●ould fain be thought to be, that is discreet ●nd not to oppose, upon this only reason, because we affirm; nor to scorn things as vanities, and inventions, only because themselu● understand them or see them not; and finally not to be so discourteous, even to the Omnipocency of Almighty God, as not to let him dispose of his creatures, as is most pleasing t● himself.  
We see that he governeth his servants o● ordinary condition with great variety, according to the several temper of their minds; some are drawn by health, plenty, estimation, and all kind of prosperity which without sin may be enjoyed; some others again would be as it were putrefied by such warmth as that, and are best kept in temper by the contraries. So also are his Saints (in whom nature is not destroyed, but perfected) conducted by the hand of his admirable providence in several ways: some by Comforts, and Rapts & Ecstasies of love and they also are in themselves of very several kinds; for some of them bind all the senses at once, and some leave them free to some particular purposes; even as we see, that naturally it happeneth sometyms in dreams. And in like manner we also find by experience, that some men are mad outright, and others again are so in some one particular occasion, and some again are mad in all, unless it be only in some one wherein ●hey are of as sound discourse as any other man.  
But it pleaseth God to lead on other Saints by great aridityes, and desolations of spirit: and so he maketh them appear in the eyes of men to be no more than ordinary persons; & others again he placeth as Lanterns and Beakons, for all the world to behold▪ and take example by, through the supernatural concourse which it pleaseth his divine Majesty to yield of working many, and most undoubted miracles in confirmation of their sanctity, or otherwise for the manifestation of his own greater glory, as it hath been abundantly seen in the case of Suor Maria Maddalena. The evidence of whose holiness, and the testimony which it both pleased God to give unto it, hath so appeared in the eyes of the world, as that order is come from Rome to the Religious where she lived, that they may publicly expose her Picture in their Church, with the Voto's round about it, which are testimonies of the graces that God hath granted by means of her intercession. Now these things are yielded to so very rarely, and never, but after a most rigorous examination of particulars (which is taken by a Congregation of Cardinals, and other learned and prudent, pious men deputed ever for these purposes) as that even this circumstance alone, doth much advance our certainty of her sanctity, and this so much the more because it hath been done within a dozen years after her death. A rare example: for the Church walks on with a foot of lead in such occasions as these, and makes not such haste, but upon extraordinary inducements.  
And whensoever any particular is recounted, if a man shall deride it, because only it is strange, or superior to the course of nature, or because it is ridiculous in his opinion, and contrary to those foolish, and false grounds which man's discourse being naturally both lame and blind, hath framed for itself to walk upon, he may also scoff at those particulars which are related in the holy Scripture itself, That God condemned all mankind, for one only man's, and woman's eating of an apple: That he brought armies of frogs into Pharo's Court, in despite of all his guards: That the wedge of the hatchet leapt instantly up to the helm, when it was put into the water: That the sight of a man borne blind, was given by means of applying dirt, and spittle to his eyes: That sick persons were cured by walking only in another man's shadow. These things, and many other like to these, are recorded in holy Scripture, and yet no Christian man must presume so much as once to doubt thereof. So as the only strangeness or supernaturallnes of any event, cannot authorize any modest, and wise person to deride it; but may justly & aught in prudence oblige him to doubt thereof, or rather to deny his assent thereto till it be conveniently proved.  
The authority therefore is that, whereupon the credit of any supernatural thing doth depend, whether it be more, or less, and not only the mere strangeness of the thing itself. And from hence it is, that whatsoever is recorded in holy Scripture, how wide soever it falleth in respect of our experience, or how far soever it overshooteth in respect of reason, must cheerfully, & undoubtedly be assented to, because it resteth upon an infallible authority, which is the Revelation of God, and the proposition of his Catholic Church. And such an authority doth declare whatsoever thing to be as certainly true, as truth itself is true; and that no man may doubt thereof, but upon the price of being either an Infidel or an Heretic. There is another kind of inferior authority, standing upon human, and moral proof, exhibited under the Oaths of many persons, being eye witnesses, and free from all exception, both concerning the very actions themselves of Saints, and the miraculous works of God showed in honour of them, & by the means of their intercession, whereof no man, that hath perfect information of the particulars, can so much as doubt without extreme imprudence, nor once deride without profaneness.  
But he that deserves to wear that Livery, will not only laugh at me, translating here the life of this modern Saint; but will make as little scruple to laugh at all our Saints lives, though written by other Saints themselves, and other most excellent persons, as S. Bonaventure writing the life of S. Francis, S. Bernard of S. Malachias, Paulus Diaconus of S. Gregory, S. Gregory of S. Bennet, Possidius of S. Augustine the incomparable Doctor, S. Hierome of S. Paul the first Eremit, of S. Hilarion, Malchus, & a great number of most holy Virgins; Cassianus of whole troops of ancient eremites, S. Ambrose of S. Agnes, and S. Athanasius of S. Anthony, who all relate miraculous things of those several Saints in great abundance. As little difficulty, I say, will he make to laugh at these, which I here relate in the person of my Author, whilst yet whosoever he be, he cannot bring the tenth part of that proof, whereby he would be taken for his Mother's Son, or the heir of his Father's land, or that the very name he is known by, is his own; which I will offer to the eye of any indifferent man, for all that is affirmed here concerning this great servant of God. And that any person either absurdly incredulous, or profanely blasphemous, may see how little reason he hath in rebelling thus from the laws of human society, and planting his own either humorous imagination, or impious assertions in place thereof, I will address him to that excellent Treatise, De utilitate credendi, written by that Top and Crown of wits S. Augustine, who by a number of most pregnant reasons, and most palpable experiments, doth demonstrate it to be a point of sottish pride and impertinency, and not of wit or judgement for men to be ever questioning or doubting, & to admit of nothing which hath passed under the testimony of their own eyes.  
We therefore that are Catholics shall make no difficulty, to embrace with a most pious affection the belief of this history, and Protestants I hope will find no true cause to doubt thereof. And moreover if it were but even out of novelty, these later, me thinks, aught to fly upon this kind of study, with great appetite, for as much as concerns the understanding part; because in their own Communion, they have in effect none at all of whom they writ, and recommend the lives of Saints: nay I scarce know of any ancient Saints whom yet they will (though extremely against the very appearance of common sense) pretend to have been of their Religion, whose lives they have written, or in whose honour they have so much as published any Sermon, which yet they might do, at least for admiration, or imitation, though they will not do it for Invocation. I cannot say what the reason hereof may be unless they know not how to recompt the ancient Saints lives untruly, without being reproved, and confuted by us; and ●hey cannot do it truly, without casting shame, and confusion of face upon themselves, through the extreme unlikeness that would instantly appear, both in the belief, and life of these ●ew men, who are but like so many pretty fay●ings, being compared and ranged with those venerable, and sacred antiquities of the Church; which on the other side are as so many exquisite Statues, drawn by the life of that dear Original, our B. Saviour jesus Christ himself, of whom it was said to us, Inspice, & fac secundum exemplar etc. Behold, and do according to this example, or matterne.  
I confess it would be excellent sport if it were not extreme pity to see how much these good men make of a little; and how they do not only gape, but even gasp again, after the finding of somewhat which may seem to carry some small show of sanctity, in any of their own brethren, whilst they despise ours. Wherein yet if you come to particulars, whatsoever truth they will tell you, or even whatsoever they will but aspire unto, shall not e●tend itself beyond the latitude, and obligation o● an honest moral man of any Religion As, that such an one is no great Gamester that he is no Swearer; that he owes no man ●ny thing, that he enjoys a good report, an● doth his neighbours no wrong, that he follow sermons close, and perhaps that he is studious and frequents not Taverns, or Plays. Th● much they will say, and they may say it truel● of many whom either the precepts of good education, or the custom of good conversation or the piety of natural inclination doth dispo● so well. And thus much may be also most trul● said of many men in Turkey, or Barbary who have not so much as a belief in Christ.  
But if you will further ask what heroical acts have been performed by them what great estates they have wholly given aw● for God's sake, what sacrifice they have made o● themselves, in imitation, and union of th● high oblation which our B. Saviour did (〈◊〉 much to his cost) make for us to his Eternal Father; what corporal punishment they ha● inflicted upon themselves what fasting, an● prayer, and ground lodging they have used in a word what painful things they have voluntarily undertaken, & what contentments (even not unlawful in themselves) have been generously by them despised: if you ask them, I say, any such question, you must be also content to make yourself the answer; for they will hardly confess the truth of having no such thing as this among them, and they cannot prove so great an untruth, as that they have any such. Yet (blessed be the glorious name of God) not only our Ecclesiastical histories, but even our present eyes, and hands, are plenae gregibus bonorum exemplorum, full of admirable, and sublime examples, of most heroical holy men, and women. And in this respect we are well content to be more subject to their profane & false Criticisms, than they can well be to our true ones; since they have no Text for us to comment upon, whereas among us there is no want in this kind. But the Poet's request was b●t reasonable, when he desired the Reader, either not to carp at his writings, or else to utter some of his own which might be considered of— Carpere vel noli nostra, vel ede tua. For our parts, we find no one thing to be of more assistance, and use in the way of spirit, than the reading of Saints lives, which give the bri●… to vi●e, and the spur to virtue, opening to us a large and clear prospect upon the mercies of God, and the miseries of ourselves, the best of whom being compared with them, are but as dwarves in respect of G●…ts.  
And who can behold in this holy Woman the heroical exercise of all virtue but he will admire God and be ashamed of himself? In her he shall find a most prompt Obedience, a most voluntary and exact Poverty, a most entire Chastity, a most ardent Charity, a most profound humility, with a perfect contempt, and mortification of herself, and inflexible rectitude of intention and adoring resignation to the will of God, and (which shineth in her both among, and above the rest) an insatiable thirst of suffering for the mere love of his divine Majesty, and such a suffering, as might be pure, and without the society of so much as any spiritual comfort. Wherein Almighty God did sometimes hear her prayer, and she stood under all burdens, with an invincible, and even incredible constancy, and strength of mind. And who is there now I say, that will not tremble to compare himself to such a pattern of perfection as this is? At lest who will not admire her, and more admire God in her, especially if he consider her life, from the 52. Chapter to the end of the book, where, as there is less mention of her Rapts, and Miracles, so is there much more particular relation of her virtuous, and heroical operations, whereof I had an inclination to set down some particulars, respectively to all th●se virtues which I here have named, but I feared to become tedious, and I hope they will be drawn up, and drunk down more profitably (because more naturally) at the very springs themselves where they gr●w and where I desire they may be sought. Upon the true taste & digestion whereof, this conclusion I hope will result: that whatsoever so excellent and hero●call actions are performed, it cannot be but ●hiefly by the ins●irations and pious affections imparted by Almighty God; & that his diuin Majesty (who is supreme wisdom and good●es, and who exerciseth both an universal & ●et most particular providence over all his ●reatures, & much more over his holy Church 〈◊〉 general) cannot in justice concur towards the producing of such acts in a false Religion, whereby the judgement of men may be entangled and abused. But that wheresoever he doth so concur, it may serve for a great argument to prove the truth of that Religion, which by the performers thereof is professed; and the want thereof, in any other congregation of pretended Christians, may not less assure us, that it is possessed by a spirit of error.  
O wretched, and thrice miserable creature that Suor Maria Maddalena was, if the way of penance, mortification, and most voluntary suffering, both exterior, and interior, be not the true and only way to heaven▪ How many painful disciplines, rude haire-cloaths, hungry meals, sad nights, bitter sighs and salt tears, did she with a noble & faithful heart endure, send forth, and shed? And all in vain, if it should be true which Protestants affirm, that faith only justifieth, that Christ hath so suffered for us all, as that we are not bound in our bodies to suffer with him, that these voluntary afflictions are no better than superstitions, and that any satisfaction which we pretend to make to God (though we protest we can make none but by virtue of his grace in Christ) are no less than so many derogations to the infinite value of his sacred Passion. But on the other side, O happy, and a thousand times happy, is that excellent soul of hers, if it be both true, and evident, that the way to heaven is narrow, and few there are that find it; and if that of liberty be a wide, and open way, by which men run with ease upon perdition; if heaven be such a thing as will not be gotten by one that seeks it, tamquam aliud agens, and much less, in contrarium tendens, but he must be careful, and studious, & laborious, and earnest, and ardent, and even violent in the attaining thereof: Et violenti rapiunt illud.  
This was ever true since the fall of Adam, and hath much more been evident, since the Redemption of Mankind was wrought by Christ our Saviour, through the mystery of the Cross, yea and through all the actions, and passions, of his most sacred life. For though he abrogated the judicial, and Ceremonial law of Moses (which being but images, and shadows, must needs yield to the Truth, & Life, which came into the world with him, or rather which was he himself) yet not only was the Moral law not abrogated, or abridged (Non ve●i solvere legem, sed implere) but it was expressly ratified, and may rather be said in some sense to have been enlarged, by those Counsels of perfection, of continuing in perpetual chastity (Qui potest capere capiat) of giving all to the poor, & following Christ, & loving our enemies; which like codicils, after a sort were annexed to his last will, and Testament by himself.  
Besides, that by the blessed example of his own admirable life, those temporal benefits which under the old law, were wont to hold so high a place, as Riches, Plenty, Posterity, and the like, were then degraded in a manner, and their contraries, as Pain, Poverty, Persecution, Chastity, and Humility, assumed into their place, when they were sanctified in the person, and by the practice of our B. Saviour. And ever since (out of the abundance of his grace, Et de plenitudine eius accepimus omnes) the same hath been done by the Saints of his holy Catholic Church, to the wonder of the whole world, even in despite of all sensuality, and impiety. Since so man, glorious Kings, & Queens, delicate Virgins, valiant Captains, profound Doctors have gi●en over, in several ages, all the whole world at once, and cast the care of greatness, of pleasure, of liberty of human knowledge, behind their backs for ever that they might only attend to the all-sufficient contemplation of Ch●ist jesus nailed upon a Cross.  
Whom, how, and with what heart can the eye of any Christians consideration behold ●o shamefully naked, and so mercilessly scourged, so dolorously crowned, and so impiously blasphemed for him, and me, and all mankind, without a just indignation against ourselves, and implacable hatred of sin▪ and a most ardent love towards so dear a Saviour w●th a most tender compassion of his unspeakable torments? At least Catholics that find not such holy affections in themselves as th●se, will never flatter themselves with a conceit of 〈◊〉 indeed true Christians: whereas the adversaries of the doctrine of Penance think themselves bound to no other painful acts, but of the mind. But when I name compassion, I mean not a mere and only affection of the mind, whereby we use to grieve for the misery of another man, but I mean by it a kind of joint-tenancy as it were, in suffering as he suffered, and as his Saints have suffered, through hi● assistance, and by his example, by fasting, & praying, and retiring, and mortifying, and submitting ourselves to affronts, and corporal pains, for the satisfaction of God's justice due to former sins, and that afterwards neither sensuality, nor ambition, nor any other passion may dishonour, and deflower our souls. Now if these things be as they have been here delivered, and as indeed they are, in what glory, I say, shall we believe this holy, and admirable Suor Maria Maddalena de Patsi to remain whose whole Pilgrimage in this world, may be accounted to have been but one continued act of doing Penance, as by the reading of her life will appear: whereof as she took the example from the best examples of antiquity, so she hath delivered over her own to all posterity. And in what obscurity, & true misery do they remain, who being wholly blinded by their passions, and even pressed almost to death by dangerous objects, procure to make the very reasonable part of their souls believe, that the liberty of the Gospel of Christ doth free Christians from the ●ye of keeping his commandments, and that because Christ hath suffered for us all, therefore he hath suffered all for us; and that we have no corporal penance l●ft us by obligation to undergo, either with him, or for ourselves.  
When any speech is used to them by us, concerning fasting, they tell us out of the Scripture, that those things defile not the man that enter in, but those others that issue out of man: when we speak to them of other penances, they ask us still out of Scripture, Who commanded these things at our hands? And when we yet come further to such particulars, as carry with them any extraordinary maceration of the body by hayrecloathes, or the drawing of a little blood by disciplines, or the taming of a man's self by long watches, and the like, they stuff our ears, & they would stop our mouths, with speech concerning those false Prophets, who are said in holy Scripture, to have lanced, and wounded themselves with knives: and others, that sacrificed their sons, & daughters to the Devil.  
It were well if once they would begin to think of what they said, and finding that it is not to the purpose, they might give over suc● impertinencies as these. For concerning the firs● of these three places, our B. Saviour himself who gave us the example, and who by telling us how we were to carry ourselves in fasting did imply a Precept of the thing itself: he himself I say it was, who told the jews how man was not defiled by eating meat, with unwashed hands (for which they taxed him) but by wicked cogitations, brought forth by the tongue, and so powered into the ears of other men, for which he reproved them. By this doctrine he discovered their Hypocrisy, and confounded their presumption, but he did nothing less than disallow, either of those fasts to which his Church should have power to oblige our consciences, or of those others which every man in his own private devotion, should think fit to make, either in contemplation of his love, or in union with his pains, and penance.  
As impertinently do they ask us, who commanded these things at our hands? For that was said by the Prophet to the people, which glorified themselves for the punctuality wherewith they performed certain exterior, and ceremonial things, when in the mean ●●me they persecuted the Prophets, they oppressed the people, they dishonoured God, by ●ayly and hourly, and grievous sins, without any meaning to reform their lives, pervading themselves absurdly that they had liberty to be as wicked as they would, so that withal they carried any appearance of piety ●n the exterior. Now, what hath this objection to do with us, who are taught by the Catholic Church, that our principal endeavour is to be placed in the performing of the will of God, the rooting out of ill habits, and ●he planting of solid virtue in their place; and ●et that exterior mortifications, and penances, aught in all reason to be imbrac●d, as means whereby the mind may be brought back to God, and to make some poor kind of amends, for the unlawful pleasure which we take in Creatures, to the great offence of the Creator and especially for the love of God in C●rist jesus our Saviour who suffered so grievous things for us. We shall therefore not only be wicked, but extremely base, if we dispose not ourselves to pay the gold of his pains, with the dross of our penance. And therefore when they ask us, Who commanded these things at our hands? We answer with o●● who said most worthily, That the law of G● commandeth us but a little, but the love of G● a great deal. Yet besides all this there are among other examples in holy Scripture, both● the old, and new Testament, which are pregnant proofs of what we ought to do in th● particular, and in either of them I will give o● instance.  
I mean not here to press the examp● of the glorious Precursour & Baptist of our 〈◊〉 Saviour S. john, for he was sanctified in hi● Mother's womb, & the life which he lead i● the wilderness with a perpetuity of solitude, haire-cloaths, extreme fasts and prayers, is rather to be accounted of austerity than property of penance, because we do not know that he ever sinned voluntarily. Besides that the admirable sanctity of his life in this kind, is so notorious to the world, as that I may forbear al● speech thereof: though Melancthon, and some others of that miserable crew, would needs transform his camels-hair into Chamlet, and his Locusts into Lobsters. But I pass over those blind and bold blasphemies, and the only use that I will make of S. john's example in ●is place, is that men shall not do amiss thus 〈◊〉 parallel themselves by him, as to say, That ●one sanctified in his Mother's womb, a prophet, an Angel, a second Elias, an Er●ite, a Virgin, a Precursor & Baptist of ●hrist our Lord, and one who by his sacred testimony was pronounced to be the greatest which then had risen among the sons ●f men, did pass his days and years even from his tender infancy in such a holy excess of sufferance, and such a general restraint of himself, even from those contentments and pleasures of this life, which yet in themselves are not unlawful; and all this before the Saviour of the world had manifested his own ●aynefull life, & the bitter passion of his never. ●nough lamented death: what will it become us to do, & to suffer for his sake, & for our sins which we know if we will consider them to be infinite. But in particular I desire that the Royal Prophet David be looked upon with an attentive eye. He pretended no such privilege as these Carpet-cavalliers of Christ do sometimes assume, whilst they excuse themselves, either upon the tenderness of their complexion or the contrariety of their custom, or the variety of their employments, and vocation. 〈◊〉 nature he was fair, and of deli●ate constitution; b● custom he was after his first remo● from private fortune a Courtier, & a souldie by condition he grew afterwards to be: Ki● of extraordinary power and command, a● witha●, o● infinite affairs. It is true that h● came by the ill custody of his senses, to be h● a certain beauty with too much appetite an● the resolution to commit adultery, made he● design, and execute a murder, and that withs●od ou● circumstances as did extremely aggravate the fact itself Such wa● his sinn●: now look a little upon his penance. Immediately after he wa● brought ba●ke to himself by the Prophet Nathan, he confessed and renounce● his fault, and fled at full speed to the mercy of Almighty God, imploring it in most tender & dear terms. Which though it might go for much with others, ye● was it nothing with him for he soon left words, and be to●ke himself to deeds, by bringing forth fruits worth of penance. For one thing it is, as saith the great Saint G●ey, to bring forth fruits worthy of Innocency, and another to bring them forth worthy of Penance. He brings them forth worthy of Innocency, who abstains ●om things that are unlawful; but they are ●t fruits worthy of penance (which suppo●th that a man hath sinned) unless as he hath ●ne somethings unlawful, so in contemplatiō●hereof he be content to abstain afterwards, ●en from things which in themselves are lawful.  
But in the Prophet David, let us con●der, first, that without all doubt, he did much afflict himself many ways which we were ne●er acquainted withal. For a less perfect man ●en the Prophet David was, would not speak ●f all that past between God, and him in that ●nd. Next, let us duly ponder, that whatso●er is recounted of him by himself, is as true 〈◊〉 God; for the Holy Ghost did not only make ●he pen, but guide the hand that wrote it, so 〈◊〉 to make the least doubt of the certain truth ●hereof, is to be without doubt no Christian.  
By his eyes he had offended, and behold ●hose eyes of his are now become even sluices, & ●ud-gates of tears; which when he was in his ●d, did serve him for a Bath and when he was 〈◊〉 table, did water the wine as he was drinking 〈◊〉 Exitus aquarum deduxerunt oculi m●●, ●uia non custodierunt legem tuam. Lachrymis meis stratum meum rigabo. P● tum meum cum sletu miscebam. Turb● tus est à furore oculus meus, inuetera● inter omnes inimicos meos. His very ey● sight grew dim, through his considerati● of the wrath of God, and it wasted him in su● sort, that even in the sight of all his enemies it decayed him and made him old. He was 〈◊〉 continually in lamentation, as that it brought him to be nothing but skin, and bones, A vo● gemitus mei ad haesit os meum carnime● He was not only mortified in his drink, & 〈◊〉 his lodging, but as much at least in his meat and clothing; for he fed upon ashes, as if i● had been bread, Quia cinerem tamquam panem manducabam: yea he was not s● much a Protestant, but that he thought it 〈◊〉 good way to work upon the interior, by mean● of the exterior, for he humbled his soul by fasting, Humiliavi jeiunio animam meam and not only with fasting, but with haircloat● or sackcloth also, & induebam me cilicio●  
Nor yet was all this all the trouble tha● he put his body unto; for he saith, Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum, and certainly if he were prepared for the whip, it is not to be doubted but that the whip was sometimes prepared for him. He had offended God by the unlawful use of Bersabees company, but now he would be leaving both hers, and all other company, and lamenting, himself all alone like a Pelican in the wilderness, like a solitary sparrow upon the house top, and like a night-raven in that sad habitation which she chocseth. Similis factus sum Pellicano solitudinis: factus sum sicut Nicticorax in domicilio. Vigilavi, & factus sum sicut passer solitarius in tecto. He had certainly been of scandal, and induced others, by his example to sin; and for this cause it became him to be so zealous afterward of the good of others; which affected him so far, as by the excese thereof to be grown even into a consumption. Tabescere me fecit zelus meus, yea, and he would faint, & swoon, through the anguish he conceived, for the sins that were committed by others against God. Defectio tenuit me pro peccatoribus derelinquentibus legem tuam. His prayers in the mean time were far from being intermitted, for in that kind he called upon God seven times in day, and night; whereof midnight was one, and early in the morning was another. Septies in die laude● dixi tibi. Media nocte surgebam. In matutinis meditabor in te.  
Such a penitent was this, and far more than such a one as I have here expressed, for I may not enlarge myself as I would; and yet he was assured by Nathan, that God had forgiven his sin; nay himself was made Prophet of God, and a type of Christ, and a secretary of the holy Ghost: and moreover he was a King and he never had but one fit of that burning fever of sensuality, and when once he had been reproved by the Prophet, he instantly reforme● himself, and never would, nor never did serve up the second course of sin. How much the● may this example confound us catholics, wh● offending God so much, and (which is worse) with so many relapses, are disposed to do so little penance? And how much more may i● confound all Protestants, who do plainly in effect protest against all corporal Penance, and make themselves believe, that one single sig● is able to set all accounts strait between Go● and them, and at on instant to free their soul● (all festered with the sins of a most lascivious enormous life) not only from the guilt of sin● ●ut from all manner of temporal punishment, which in the justice of God might be due unto 〈◊〉. They were best say again, that these things ●ere abrogated, as a part of the ceremonial ●w: but I have touched that point already, & ●hey might say, that sin as well as the Pen●ance due to sin, was taken way. As if the ●ambe were not occisus ab origine u●un●i, and in the law of Moses they were saved 〈◊〉 less than we, by faith in Christ: they in the ●ayth of Christ to come, and we in the faith of ●hrist come already. But faith in Christ is so ●r from being contrary to Penance, as that 〈◊〉 true faith is there expressed, where Pen●ance for sin is not embraced. And of the two, 〈◊〉 is clear, that we are much more obliged to ●e doing of severe Penance when we sin, ●hen they were before the coming of Christ our saviour, by how much the more potent, and efficacious means, for the abstaining from ●ne, we have than they, by the application ●f our saviours blood, which so frequently 〈◊〉 derived towards us in the holy Sacraments of the Church.  
In that which followeth I bind myself 〈◊〉 be very brief, and I will but point out another penitent in the new testament, and th● is S. Paul, who was not only a doctor of th● lesson of Penance, but a disciple also. Whe● speaking of what himself did suffer, he saith A dimpleo ea quae desunt passionum chr●sti, pro corpore eius quae est Ecclesia: fulfil those things which were wanting to t● sufferings of Christ, for his body which is t● Church. Not that the Passion of our Saviour was not in the belief of S. Paul, as it is in o● superabundantly sufficient, whose least act h● been able, and meritorious, to save a thousa● and million of worlds; but that, in respects us, this was still wanting: That as he suffere● in the quality of a Head, so we, as member must also suffer, yea and corporally suffer as 〈◊〉 had done; and S. Paul affirmeth, that he 〈◊〉 his part, was doing his duty, in supplying 〈◊〉 defect.  
Again he adviseth, or rather describes true Christians, Semper mortificatinem jesu Christi in corpore nostro po●tantes, ut & vita jesu manifestetur in co●poribus nostris. To carry always in our bodies the mortification of Christ jesus, th● the life of jesus may be manifested in our bod● He saith not, that the mortification of Christ ●esus is to be carried only in the Mind, by ●hinking on him, nor in the Tongue, by talking of him, but in the Body of flesh & blood, 〈◊〉 feeling displeasure, and pain in ours, for ●is sake, as he did in his for ours. In such sort, 〈◊〉 that, according to his holy, Apostolical doctrine, the excellency, and purity, & patience 〈◊〉 the life of jesus, is made manifest to the ●orld, by the penance which Christians use, ●en upon their bodies: which because it is of 〈◊〉 much repugnance to flesh and blood, it doth among other proofs, establish the divinity of ●hrist our Saviour, against jews and Turks, ●nd Pagans, when they see what we suffer, & ●ith how much joy, and longanimity, we do it 〈◊〉 honour of him, whom they blaspheme, but ●e adore.  
In another place he thus professeth clearly 〈◊〉 his own person. Itaque curro, non tam●am in incertum, sic pugno, non tam●am aërem verberans: sed castigo corpus ●eum, & in servitutem redigo, ne cùm ●js praedicaverim, ipse reprobus efficiar. ●herfore do run, not as to obtain a price vn●taine, I so fight, not as if I did but whip, or beat the air, but I chastise, or beat m● body, & I bring it into subjection, lest whe● I shall have preached salvation to others, myself may become a Reprobate. Now if a S● Paul, who was converted by an express, an● personal apparition of our B. Saviour, after his Ascension, who was made an Apostle, an● canonised by the mouth of God himself, to b● not only a Vessel elected for his honour, b● even a very vessel of Election, and that h● should carry his name before the Kings of th● earth, who had been rapt up in Extasis, 〈◊〉 high as the very third heaven itself, whe● such Arcana, such deep mysteries had been● imparted to him, as it was not lawful for m● to utter, were not only still importuned, an● even buffeted with temptations of sense, for h● greater humiliation, and probation, but f● the bringing, and keeping of his body in subjection, and servitude to his mind (for fea● lest otherwise, in the midst of his preaching of salvation to others, himself might become a reprobate) did not only beat the air wi● hi● tongue, as the Protestants, and lose Catholics use to do, whilst they only talk 〈◊〉 what Christ suffered, but did also beat his b● 〈◊〉, as himself recordeth; how will it become us 〈◊〉 carry ourselves in point of penance, when ●e shall have considered of all the differences ●hat are between S. Paul, and us? How ●uch must we begin to suffer with Christ our Lord, who did not so drink up the chalice of tribulation, but that he left certain drops 〈◊〉 be swallowed afterwards by us, when first ●en they should be sanctified to us by him? ●ow carefully must we mortify, and how wil●ngly must we punish ourselves, or at least ●ow much may we be ashamed, if we do it not? ●nd if Protestants, or any other libertines, ●ill still be laughing at us for our Labour, whilst they laugh at us, we shall do well to ●eep for them, as S. Augustine, upon another occasion, did for others.  
So that now the examples of Scriptures, 〈◊〉 both Testaments, and indeed of the holy Church in all ages, and above all of Christ our ●nly Saviour, and Redeemer, doth command us, and even urge, and force us (Charitas Christi urget nos) in some sort to show that ●e are in earnest, when we tell ourselves that ●e believe in Christ, and that he died for us, ●hat we might die to sensuality and sin, and live to him, either by continuing in innocency, or by doing of Penance. For my part I know no reason why this consequence should n● hold, that, If you would judge your selves, you should not be judged (which are the words of the Apostle:) so if we shall chastise, & punish ourselves in this life, it will be a grea● means, among others, to move God to mercy, and to obtain that the punishment of the nex● may be prevented. And this is the voice no● only of so many Doctors, and Fathers, as hau● had occasion to speak hereof, but even of very reason, and common sense itself.  
Lest of all doth that other instance o● the false Prophets & idolaters, make against the use of such Penance as is embraced by Catholics, in honour of Christ our Saviour, an● in chastisement of themselves for having offended his divine Majesty, by the transgression o● his laws. For as God, and Belial, have nothing common to one another; so neither ha● their sons, and servants. Those other by their barbarous ostentations of cruelty, did bu● offer sacrifice to the Devil, and thereby the● endeavoured to give reputation, both to themselves, and to their Idolatrous worship of fals● Gods: whereas we on the other side, by the moderate, and secret punishment which we inflict upon ourselves, do acknowledge our frailties, in the only true, and ever living God, and do obtain through his mercy (who will reward that openly, which he seethe in secret) so much grace as may, futurely make, us less offensive to him: wherein we are justified, as hath been seen by the example of the greatest Saints of the Church of God, who have traced out this way unto us. And our present Adversaries do not consider in the mean time, that they study not to fasten any thing upon us in this particular, to which they also, incidently, entitle not the Prophets, and Apostles, and all the holy eremites, Martyrs, Doctors, Confessors, and Virgins of the holy Catholic Church.  
And indeed, if we mean to inherit the promises of Christ jesus our Lord, and Master, we must consider, and accept of the legacy, which he gave to his chosen followers, even when he was going out of this life, which was no better than a bundle of myrrh; for he said we should grieve, & weep, and the world, and worldly men should be well at ease, and full of joy. And though his word be as as good as his Oath, yet to the end that, with us, it might have the better credit, he affirmed it with great asseveration: only he told us withal, that a time would come when our sorrow should be turned to joy: & in like manner there is no doubt, but that their dissolute, and vicious joy, will end in lamentable affliction, and desolation, Amen, amen dico vobis, quia plorabitis, & flebitis vos, mundus autem gaudebit, sed tristitia vestra vertetur in gaudium.  
Wicked men at that day will be strangely at their wit's end, and so extremely out of countenance, as that they would be glad to bribe hideous mountains, to overwhelm, and hide them from the wrath of God. But such wishes or offers will not serve their turns; for there they must appear in the eye of the whole world and that with such a cry of lamentation, as none but the utterers of it are able to comprehend. There shall they have an inflexible judge above them, the Conscience of deserved death within them, the Memory of an ugly, and naughty life behind them, an Eternity of unquenchable fire, and an irreparable loss of God before them, huge squadrons of devouring spirits round about them, and hell itself, with a swallowing, and insatiable mouth under them. Being thus on all sides besieged, the Holy Ghost himself hath been pleased, by way of prevention to let us know, how these men (who would needs have the world at will, and who placed their felicity in the commodities, and pleasures of their own, and the affliction of other folks) are to express themselves to their own greater confusion, when they shall behold the Elect of God. Stabunt justi in magna constantia adversus eos, 
Sap. 8●  qui se angustiaverunt, & qui abstulerunt labores eorum. Videntes turbabuntur timore horribli, & mirabuntur in subitatione insperatae salutis, dicentes intra se, poenitentiam agentes, & prae angustia spiritus gementes. Hi sunt quos aliquando habuimus in derisum, & in similitudinem improperij. Nos insensati vitam illorum aestimabamus insaniam, & finem illorum sine honore. Ecce quomodo computati sunt inter filios Dei, & inter Sanctos sors illorum est. Which signifieth to this effect: The just shall stand with great constancy against those who oppressed them, and have taken their labours from them. When the wicked see them, they shall be shaken wi●h a horrible fear, and they shall wonder to see how suddenly they are come into a despair of all salvation, saying thus within themselves, being all wounded with grief, and sighing deeply through the affliction of their spirit: These are the men whom formerly we had in scorn, & held to be fit for nothing but reproach. We senseless persons esteemed their life to be a madness, and their end to be without honour: but now behold how they are numbered among the sons of God, and their lot is fallen among the Saints.  
And here I will beseech both all Protestants, who laugh at the Catholic Church, when it is subject to persecution, and when it speaks of Penance (and therefore, in their translation of the Bible they do express, poenitentiam agite, by the words of Repentance only, and not of doing penance, as if all consisted in the bare affection of the mind without putting the body to any pain at all) and all sensual catholics also, who allow of the name, but care not for the thing which by it is signified: I beseech them both, I say, even by the sacred bowels of our B. Saviour, and (if interest weigh more with them then love) by the desires they have of declining that ●ake of torment, to ponder well this place of Scripture last alleged; and to see who they be that must perforce take those words into their mouth, at the day of judgement: that is, whether they are to be good Catholics, who are persecuted, and who have lead an austere life of penance, according to the Counsels of Christ our Saviour, and the practice of our holy Mother the Church; or whether they be not Protestants, and such as will be Libertines of any other Religion.  
It is evident that Catholics never let it pass their thoughts, that the life of a Protestant, or Libertine, was to be accounted a kind of madness, according to the state of this only world, and the discourse of flesh and blood, (whereof that place of Scripture speaketh:) for if we square things by this only rule, and that we think not of the other better life, there is no question but they are the only wise & well judging men; and in conformity of this doth the holy Apostle express himself, when he saith, that sins are Prudentia carnis, The wisdom of the flesh. But Protestants, and other Libertines, are (without all manner of contradiction) the men that count all other● fools, who undergo any penalties for their conscience, and take pains, and inflict punishment upon themselves, that so by the infinite goodness of God, they may one day arrive to heaven. For how often do they make themselves merry with the miseries of other men, and deride the patched coats, the penances and perpetual labours of our religious orders, & other exemplar Catholics, who are ever procuring and working out their salvation, in fear and trembling, according to the advice of S. Peter? And how much do they congratulate themselves, for having so much wit, as to hold such things as these for toys, and to prefer that which they see, and feel, before any thing which they hear, & should believe? And therefore since they are the men, who now esteem, and are ready to beg, such as suffer for their conscience, & addict themselves to penance, for Idiots; let them take heed, that hereafter they pronounce not upon themselves that other miserable, and irrevocable sentence of being frantikes.  
This venerable woman, Suor Maria Maddalena de Patsi, who (because she was so very eminent even above herself in other things) in the delight she took in penance hath thereby induced me to entangle myself ●n speech thereof: she I say, did not so lead herself on the blind side, but she passed her life, as ●f every day should have been her last, and so did she continue to suffer for the pure love of God, as if every act had been her first. With unspeakable patience, and even joy, did she bear the afflictions both of body and mind, which it pleased the immediate hand of God to lay upon her, and with a most heroical spirit did she out of pure love, and in union of the sufferings of our B. Saviour, put herself to so many voluntary penances. She fasted divers years after a sort in bread and water only, a long time she went bare foot, she wore but one, and the same single thin coat, in all the rigorous seasons of the year, and of divers years, she slept very few hours in the night, even when she slept most, and those few either upon a sack of straw, or upon the bare ground, she wore a girdle sometimes next her skin, all embroidered as it were with sharp iron nails▪ which the life doth not so particularly mention, but the thing itself is extant, & many of 〈◊〉 Nation have seen it. Sometimes she would for the overcoming of a temptation, tumble n●ked in a bed of thorns, after the example of th● great Saint Bennet, that great Father of 〈◊〉 many Saints; her disciplines of iron, and h● so many hours of continued prayer, were th● daily entertainment of her delicate body, an● of her mind; and in a word, what pain w● there that she endured not, and what pennant was there that she desired not for the love 〈◊〉 God? And, which is the crown of all this, s● did it with admirable humility, and all other virtue, as one who made no prime account o● any thing corporal, but did chief use it, as 〈◊〉 excellent help towards the obtaining of spiritual graces.  
But now, Hiems transijt, in ber a bij● & recessit: The winter of her affliction is a● an end, and all storms of difficulty are overblown, and her happy soul is feeding, an● feasting at the table of Almighty God himself and will be so for all eternity. What remain for us to do, but to make her a pattern for v● to admire, and imitate according to our several vocations? Non accepit in vano ani●am suam: She employed not the operations 〈◊〉 her soul upon toys, and trash; and so let ●very one of us say with S. Augustine, 
August. Confess. l. 4. c. 11.  Noli ●sse vana anima mea, & obsurdescere in ●ure cordis, tumultu vanitatis tuae: Do ●ot thou turn fool, O my soul, and let the ●are of thy heart grow deaf to the tumultuous coif of vanity, that importunes thee. For in ●ie, whatsoever diverts from God is vanity, & whatsoever distracts from him is worse; and ●he more we suffer in this life, the more we shall ●oy in the next, so that we do it as we ought. Let us consider, and tremble at the story of Dives and Lazarus, in S. Luke, if we find ●ur selves wholly carried away with lose mirth ●nd plenty, and sensuality, and if we have a great aversion from sobriety, poverty, and pen●ance; for we see that Lazarus, who was the very outcast of the world, was carried into ●he bosom of Abraham; and Dives, who ●ight be the object of men's envy, was instantly confined to eternal torments, and made uncapable of so much as pity. And yet we read not there, of any other reason given for this diversity, but that men must not think to find heaven both here, and there; and that Lazarus had been poor, and miserable here, and was then to go to a bed or bosom of everlasting rest; and Dives had regorged in delicacies, and was afterward to remain in that centre of eternal torments. From this later God deliver us, and to that other God conduct us; and God inspire us, and enable v● (after the example of this dear servant of his) to the love, and practise of holy penance, which is the only way whereby sinners may arrive to a good journeys end.   

Faults escaped in the printing.  
●●ge. Line. Fault. Correction. In the Preface **. 〈◊〉. 5. hath passed, hath not passed In the Preface *** 〈◊〉 15. heroical heroically 〈◊〉 15. 16. and an 〈◊〉 18. whatsoever wheresoever 〈◊〉. 5. deal Among others 〈◊〉 bid. 16. property properly ●…lt. 20. jeiunio in jeiunio In the Preface ****. 〈◊〉. 18. his defect this defect ●. 4. in the only in the sight of the only 〈◊〉. 24. naughty nasty 〈◊〉. 4. entangle enlarge  
Other faults, of less moment, if any be found, are remitted, in courtesy, to the gentle Readers own correction.   

THE LIFE OF SVOR MARIA MADDALENA DE PATSI.  

Of the Birth, Descendence, and Education of Suor Maria Maddalena, till she came to the age of seven years. CHAP. I.  
THE Eternal God hath always showed, & doth continually show himself wonderful in his Saints; to the end, that in every age, some may be found, who by their actions giving men assurance of his infinite goodness & providence, may invite them to admire, and never cease to praise his name. Bu● particularly in these days of ours, h● hath appeared wonderful in Suor Maria Maddalena the true servant of jesus, since he did not only place her in a Religious state, as a bright pattern of all vertue● but was pleased that in her should shin● a beam of his divine power & goodness, revealing to her most high mysteries, & making her partaker of heavenly riches here on earth. Nevertheless, because she remaining shut up in a Monastery, they were few who saw the wonderful things which our Lord wrought in her; I will therefore describe her life, & death after a plain manner, to the end that as her desire was wont to be, every one might (by looking into that glass of Goodness) be inflamed with the heavenly fire, which was ever burning and feeding upon her purest heart.  
This Suor Maria Maddalena, was borne in Florence on the second of April● 1566. of Camillo the son of Geri de Patsi, and of Maria the daughter of Lorenzo Buondelmonti, two families most illustrious for antiquity and greatness. Her ●ame was Catharina, which afterward ●as thought not to be without mystery, 〈◊〉 like she was to Saint Catharina of Ste●a, to whom she was particularly de●oted. Her Mother affirmed that she had ●euer, when she was with child of her, ●elt either any indisposition, or weight ●f the burden, nor in the infancy & ten●er age of the child had she any of those ●combrances, which children do usual bring to such as govern them; but she ●uer received comfort by her, partly through the grace of her countenance, ●nd partly through the promptitude of ●er obedience.  
She had no pleasure in childish pa●imes or plays; but (notwithstanding ●at she was affable in her conversation) ●e took withal, 
Note.  extreme contentment 〈◊〉 hear spiritual things spoken of, and ●ith discretion diverted all discourses of worldly matters. And when she changed upon devout persons, she would be ●king them of such things as appertained to salvation of the soul, and particularly of the mystery of the most Holy Trinity, 
An admirable thing.  whereof she was so incredibly enamoured, as that the Creed of S. Athanasius coming once into her hands, she not only read it with greediness, but carried it to her mother with extreme contentment, as a thing of rare estimation. By which actions wrought in so tender years, it might be inferred, what kind of creature she was to show herself, with the help of God, in a more mature and perfect age.   

Of her Charity towards poor folks: and the Mental Prayer which she used. CHAP. 2.  
BEING come to the seventh year of her age, she began to make show of her holy inclination. For part of her meat, such as is usually given to children, either for breakfast or collation, when they are taught to work or read, 
Note.  she would already be distributing to Prisoners, and other poor people: and she was delighted extraordinarily whensoever she had opportunity of teaching other children the Pater Noster, the ave Maria, and such like prayers. In which holy exercise she might spend much time in their house, in the Country, instructing withal kind of patience and charity, the poor Countrey-maydes and neighbours children. And to this she went with so great passion, as that once being to return towards the City, she began to weep bitterly, for this only reason as she confessed, that she should be disabled to teach a daughter of a husbandman's 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 wonderful thing, that in so tender years, she could take so great care, as she had for the preserving of her heart in purity, and to cast such a bridle upon her thoughts, as to keep them ever addressed to the service and glory of Almighty God. And withal, that when she was but newly come to the use of reason, she could exalt her understanding, and entertain it in mental prayer, to which she was much given; having already been instructed by her ghostly Father, the Father Andreas Rossi of the Society of jesus. For a preparation thereunto, she used to read in a little book of Father Gaspari Loarte of the same Society, and then with a lively feeling of heavenly things, having prostrated herself on earth, and with devotion said the Hymn, Veni sancte Spiritus, and the Consiteor, she raised her mind to most divine thoughts, and not encumbered with earthly cares, she only considered within herself, how she might come to a religious state.  
So great was the delight she took in prayer, as that the half hour which was assigned to that effect by her ghostly Father, 
Note.  did often pass a whole one. When sometimes she was alone, retiring herself into the most secret parts of the house, she gave liberty unto her soul to discharge those amorous desires which were kindled in it towards the obtaining of heaven. Whereupon, they of the house seeking her up and down with diligence, would find her behind some bed, so plunged into heavenly contemplation, and so as it were transformed in God, that she could neither hear nor see any object. She was often interiorly stirred up by the presence of God, to the true purchase of evangelical perfection. Whereupon through the light of those celestial graces, which by his Majesty were communicated to her, whensoever she heard any such words spoken, as became not the mouth of Christians, or that they resulted not to the honour of his divine Majesty, 
Note.  she conceived so bitter grief, as that one night particularly, she spent all in tears and sighs upon that occasion, excusing nevertheless the defects of others with abundant charity.   

Of the great desire which she had to receive the B. Sacrament: and of the penances which she used. CHAP. 2.  
BESIDES this, she was so desirous to receive our Lord jesus being veiled under the show of bread, that when she saw her mother, or other devout persons communicate, she procured to come close to them, and being extremely in appetite to receive the odour of that most sacred food, she could hardly part from such as she knew had received it. Afterward, being entered into the tenth year of her age, she began (with the leave of her Ghostly father) to communicate sometimes, and she received so much delight thereby, as forced from her the tears of joy. And on the other side, she did so afflict herself, when by any occasion she was hindered, that in nothing she could find comfort. Once upon Holy Thursday, being in contemplation of the sovereign love which our Lord jesus showed, in leaving himself unto us in the Blessed Sacrament & no less attentively considering what she might render by way of gratitude for so great love, she did with admirable devotion dedicate herself to Christ jesus by a vow of Virginity, when she was arrived but to the eleventh year of her age. By that time she delighted in nothing, but discoursing of heavenly things, nor did she look after any other object, but how she might be wholly answerable to the example of her heavenly Spouse.  
Therefore did she refuse soft beds, 
Note.  and slept often upon straw, and in the most secret places of the house, she would be disciplining of herself. And for her greater mortification she took secretly certain ong stalks of Orange trees, which were full of prickles, and binding them hard about her head, she passed a whole night in excessive pain, only for the imitation of jesus, who was crowned with piercing thorns. And because where the divine love hath dominion, there is ever kindled a desire of doing penance more and more, therefore did this devout child exercise herself in other acts of mortification, as sometimes in her meat, not taking any more than what was merely necessary, and scarcely that sometimes, in making herself obedient to the unworthiest and basest person in the house, and in many other holy actions altogether repugnant to Sense, seeking ever new means, whereby she might become more acceptable to our sovereign Lord.   

How she was left in the Monastery of S. Giovannino: 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 seven years, and her Father being to go in public employment to Cortona, her parents determined (by the advice of the Reverend Father Pietro Blanca Rector of the College of the Society of jesus) to leave her placed for a year in the Monastery of S. Giovannino of Florence. Which Father because he well knew the perfection & singular spirit of this child as also the ardent desire she had to frequent the Blessed Sacrament, resolved to place her there, under condition that upon every Sunday and Holiday she might communicate at her own devotion. This being then promised very willingly by those Reverend Mothers, she entered into the said Monastery, and passed the year with great increase of virtue, and no less satisfaction of the said Religious, for the lively example which every one of them took from her true devotion. Nevertheless, there wanted not in that time, some occasions to disturb so great a frequency of the Sacraments, but she kindling herself more and more in so holy a desire, did not at all release the ardent purpose she had to get ground in the service of God.  
With excessive fervour she followed the exercise of Mental Prayer, 
Note.  and did very often, for the space of four continued hours, enjoy celestial thoughts. And on the day of the most holy Ascension of jesus into heaven (whilst in a most retired part of the Monastery she was devoutly praying) the Giver of all good things imparted to her so lively a knowledge of his divine Bounty, that with much difficulty she was able to contain the joy & triumph that in her soul she felt. Those Reverend Mothers were moved by her virtue, to have extraordinary desire, that she would take their habit, and with particular instance advised her to it, letting her see the good which thereby would redound to the Monastery. Whereupon she earnestly prayed the illuminatour of all hearts, to make her choose that place, which should be most for the service & honour of his divine Majesty.  
In the mean time, her Father & Mother being returned from Cortona, took her home into the house, and forbore not by many ways to disturb her holy purpose, being urged by the affection of flesh and blood, which is the usual author of such inconveniencies; and they did so the rather, because she was their only daughter. But she having by help from heaven, overcome all difficulties, and being more desirous than ever, to imitate the Incarnate Word, in the state of holy Religion, said resolutely unto them, that she would rather suffer her head to be strucken from her shoulders, 
Note.  then consent not to be Religious. Her parents hearing this, remitted all to her Ghostly Father, who wisely counseled her to choose some Monastery, where both devotion, and a perfect observant life did flourish in the Religious, to which herself was much inclined. There being then propounded to her the Monastery of S. Maria de li Angioli near 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 never seen: yet at last hearing the former so highly paysed, & especially for the frequent receiving of the B. Sacrament, which there is used every day, she determined to go into the said Monastery for fifteen days. And having obtained licence on the Vigil of the Assumption of the B. Virgin, she entered full of joy, and in the time of her stay there, gave an excellent example of life.  
Having diligently then considered the several Orders of Religion, she was wholly satisfied that this was the place to which our Lord had called her. Therefore it grieved her to go thence at all, but being forced by her parents she must needs return home, where with a great deal of grief for the space of three months she remained. But finally being more and more moved by Almighty God to take the habit of Religion, on the Saturday precedent to the first Sunday of Aduent, in the year 1582. she entered into the Monastery to consecrate herself for ever to the service of God. And having obtained their acceptation, she was on the eight of December in the same year, being the day of the Conception of the B. Virgin received with great joy and satisfaction by all the Religious. Afterward upon the thirtieth of january next following, with ardent desire of heavenly graces & extreme contempt of earthly cares, she took the habit of the Carmelits order in the said monastery, at the hands of the Confessor thereof Agostino Campi of Pontremoli, a Priest of great virtue and exemplar life. And in the instant when he put the crucifix into her hand, the Religious singing those words of S. Paul: Mihi absit gloriari nisi in cruse Domini nostri jesu Christi etc. 
Note.  it is a wonder to tell, how she felt interiorly so great an union with our Lord jesus, and such a spiritual sweetness, that in all her life, as she said, she remembered not to have found the like. Whereupon having placed in eternal oblivion, all the commodities of this life, and having confirmed herself more resolutely in her holy purpose, she protested at that time to her heavenly Spouse, that she would never thirst after any thing but him crucified, nor aspire to any thing, but that her soul might to the uttermost of her possibility, be instructed and devoted to do him service. After she was clad with the sacred habit, she did with profound humility, give herself for dead to the Mother, who was Mistress of the Novices, 
Note.  and did ardently beg, that she would ever humble her, and mortify her, and at all time contradict her will, and direct her in all her actions. A lively and fit example for all such as thirst after an increase of Religious virtue: for without this resignation, there is no profit to be expected in a spiritual life.   

In the year of her Noviship she makes great proof of many virtues: of the much desire she had to be Professed, which was accorded by her Superiors by reason of her great sickness, from which she was freed in miraculous manner. CHAP. 5.  
HAVING at last obtained, that which so long she had desired, to be clothed with the Religious Habit, 
Note.  with great devotion and fervour she submitted herself to the easy yoke of the Holy Obedience of the Mistress of the Novices, with such humility, as that in the perfection of that kind of life, she seemed not a Novice, but a Religious woman of many years. In conversing with her Sisters, she esteemed herself in degree and condition inferior to them all; and although by others she were held a Saint, yet she gave little satisfaction to herself, but was usually her own accuser of idleness, and other defects, in the presence of every one of them. Moreover, she showed herself compassionate in supporting the defects of others, and withal sweetness used to accommodate herself to their wills. In countenance she was ever discharged, and cheerful; nor could she be troubled through any accident, by means of the gift she had of prayer, whereby she had already acquired so great union with God, that she had continual fruition of his presence in her soul. By the attractive manner of her speech (whereof yet she was most sparing) she kindled in the hearts of others an unspeakable desire of serving God. Much labour she used in the mortification of her will, and in the hiding of her virtue, carrying always her eye upon the execution of such Orders, as were common to all the Novices, & upon the doing of whatsoever might bring to her most humility and mortification. By these virtues she walked on towards greater perfection, having extreme desire to be united with her heavenly Spouse by the knot of holy Profession.  
Now the time being come when seven Novices were to be veiled and professed, and her time not being come that she might also make the same oblation of herself to the eternal God, she was afflicted with much grief, though she were somewhat recomforted with a promise, which was made her by the chief of the Religious, that towards the end of the year her desire should be granted. The year being ended, and she again making instance with great affection to be knit to God by the free vow of solemn Profession, it was answered that she must expect till some other Novices might join with her. To this she instantly replied thus with great humility; I shall not make my Profession with others, but you willbe constrained by a necessity which will go much against your will, to permit that I be professed alone. It punctually came to pass as she fortould; for hardly there had passed a month, but that she (being assailed by a sharp burning fever, and a vehement cough accompanied with extreme pain) grew into such danger of her life, that four of the chief Physicians in the Town, confessed jointly that they could not penetrate her disease. And jacopo Tronconi, one of the four by whom she was most often visited, affirmed many times, that by all the study that he had employed, he was never able to discover either the occasion or the quality of that sickness; and that it must be left to God, for of man's help there was little hope. Yet failed she not to use convenient remedies, but all in vain, since every day more and more her life was found to be in danger. She did ever almost sit upright, not being able to lie at length in her bed, for the perpetual cough that afflicted her, in such sort as it allowed her very little time to restore her weak body either with food or rest. But even then did her spiritual parts receive strength, when being asked sometimes by her sisters what she thought upon in the midst of her cruel pains, she instantly (pointing to a Crucifix, which was near her bed) made this answer, I contemplate the great sufferings which that cordial and incomprehensible love endured for my salvation; he seethe my weakness, and with that sight of his I am comforted, 
Note.  since all the pains and griefs which all the chosen children of God have endured, did pass through that most holy Humanity of Christ, where they grew to be sweet, and to be desired by us his members. Thus was the spouse of jesus afflicted indeed in body, but in her soul so cheerful & serene, that she said she thought herself after a sort to ●e feeding upon the joys of heaven.  
Her health being thus despaired of by the Physicians, it was resolved 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 rise whom he found to be so much afflicted by that sickness. Yet she confiding in God, prayed her Sisters (after leave obtained) that they would carry her before an Altar of the B. Virgin, where there was a little bed set up 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 devotion and fervour than we can imagine. After this she was carried by force of arms into the Infirmary; & the Infirmarian was entreated by her, that (the curtains of the bed being drawn) they would departed out of the chamber, for she was desiro● to take a little rest. All this was done & a whole hour being past, when they had heard no noise in her chamber, no so much as the Cough which used so continually to importune her; the Infirmarian was all in a wonder at it, whe● with others entered in, and opening th● curtains found that she reposed well in God; for being alienated from her senses, she was rapt into heavenly contemplations. Her face was grown beautiful and delightful to the astonishment of such as looked upon her; her flesh was grown lively coloured, and even inflamed; her eyes were fastened so steadfastly beholding a Crucifix, that, upon the whole matter, she seemed no more to be that pale and lean Suor Maria Maddalena, but even a very Angel of heaven. In the mean time, this accident was made known to the Mother Prioress, whereupon she, with the rest of all the other Mothers and Sisters, did suddenly go by one and one into the chamber, where they all saw the wonder which God had wrought in his devout servant. And this was the first time that she had been seen in rapt, wherein she continued for the space of two hours. It was not matter of less amazement to them, which happened in the forty days which followed next; for every day in the morning as soon as she had received the food of Angels, the same wonder was seen; she remaining abstracted from her senses, and immersed in divine contemplations, which shall briefly be pointed at in the first Chapter of the second part. And so it pleased our Lord after these Ecstasies, to restore the health of her body in miraculous manner; since without applying any further remedy, her disease so ceased, as that she was wholly free; our Lord vouchsafing to preserve her, to the end, that others by her example, might be much more inflamed to love him.   

When she had recovered her health, she returned to the Noviciate: and considering the many Rapts which were granted to her by her Lord, she was constrained by Obedience to relate to two of the Mothers, such things as were communicated to her by Almighty God. CHAP. 6.  
GREAT was the contentment which the Noviciate, yea all the Monastery received, through the health miraculously recovered by this beloved child of jesus. And the Superiors discovering that she was guided by Almighty God in a particular manner, and that every day more than other she profited in the obtaining of virtue, they deliberated about drawing her out of the Noviciate, although she had been but lately professed, and to put her in some several place, where she might with better opportunity serve our Lord. But when this resolution was come to her ears, she was much afflicted, as being an enemy to all singularity, & went suddenly to beseech the Superiors with great instance, that they would not sever her from the other Novices, or withdraw her from the obedience of her Mistress, accusing herself to be the most imperfect of them all, & that she had more need than others to be directed by her in the way of virtue. When her Superiors observed this singular humility of hers, they were content to grant her holy suit: whereupon being confirmed under the care of the Mistress, it cannot be expressed with how much spirit she gave herself to the contemplation of heavenly mysteries. And if in the first year of her Noviciate she had made particular proof of her sanctity, she grew in doing of it afterward, not employing her forces upon any other thing, than the procuring of those graces which make souls acceptable in the eyes of God. She went ever thinking how she might inflame others towards divine love, exhorting her Sisters to perform the service 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 interpret every thing to a good end. She would never speak much, unless she were urged by questions, & that which she said, would be full of mildness and charity.  
In this mean time, 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 union which she had with the divine Majesty. When it pleased God to restore her to her senses she would immediately return to her fellow Novices, and she proceeded towards them with so great humility and suavity, that it seemed not to be she, who so lately had been seen to participate of so high and heavenly mysteries, as one who valued not much such gifts as those, but attended only to solid virtue and the contempt of herself.  
Now her Superior observing the wonders that God wrought by means of this his true servant (since every day after the holy Communion they had seen her in excess of mind, raised up to the understanding of so high things) they appointed her, in virtue of holy obedience, to prevent the losing of so great heavenly treasures, by communicating whatsoever God should manifest unto her, with the Reverend Mother Suor Vangelista del Giocundo her Mistress and Suor Maria Maddalena Mori. Of these two Mothers, the first who is yet living a Religious woman of great prudence & of no less virtue and sanctity of life, hath witnessed in particular by oaths, and writings under her hand, that she hath with her own eyes seen that which is recounted in this Story of Suor Maria Maddalena, besides many other Religious, who in like manner have affirmed, and do affirm the very same.  
So as now Suor Maria Maddalena did relate to the said Mothers the favours and intelligences which were communicated to her by Almighty God in those Ecstasies. And although she extremely desired to maintain herself abject & vile in the sight of others, yet nevertheless she always 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 diabolical fraud; but in this point she was satisfied by her Ghostly Father. And for the better testifying of the truth, the Right Reverend Man Francisco Benuenuti Governor and Confessarius of the Monastery, & Penitentiarius of the Cathedral Church of Florence, subscribed with his own hand to four books written by the Religious, which contain many devout and high intelligences. By him they were delivered to be reviewed by the Fathers of the Society of jesus, who gave this testimony, that there was nothing to be found in them, contrary to the Catholic faith; but on the other side many things of perfection, & worthy to be understood by all, to bring them more in love with God.   

She seethe the soul of Madre Suor Maria Bagnese, a Florentine, rich with the glory of Heaven. 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 Chapterhouse of that Monastery; and there did see exhibit earnest prayers to that holy soul, to which she was most devoted. Whereupon she obtained to see her in heaven many times, but particularly upon the eleventh of july 1584. she saw her in a most excellent manner; and being commanded in virtue of holy Obedience, she related the Vision in these very words: I have seen in heaven a most beautiful Throne of incomprehensible light, wherein did sit the Blessed Mother Suor Maria Bagnese, all resplendent and full of wonderful Majesty. And I understood that this Throne, was her virginity and purity, which gave her an extreme ornament. I saw also, that the said Throne was all set with precious stones; & these were all those souls which her example had brought to the service of God; which compassing her in, round about after the manner of a crown, did give her greater grace and beauty.  
This was the relation which Suor Maria Maddalena made of that particular. But of how great sanctity the said Madre Suor Maria Bagnese was, whosoever will, may see in her life, which is written by the Father Alessandro Capocchi a Dominican, a man of great holiness; as also by the Father Abbot, Don Siluano Razzi of Camaldoli in the second part of Tuscan Saints, and by the Father Fra Serafino his brother a Dominican, both who were men for their learning and virtue very much to be esteemed.   

Three times our Lord made her know his will was, that she should live upon bread and water: Trial was taken of that motion by her Superiors, 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 employed about the exercises of the Monastery, & finding herself to be moved by God, she went into the dormitory of the Noviciate; where, at the instant that she arrived, she was cast down to the earth with great violence; and remaining so a good while as if she had been dead, she afterwards uttered these words: O my Lord, and what is it which thou demandest of me? Is it perhaps the exterior by the interior? In this mean time, she understood from the Eternal Father (as afterwards in virtue of holy Obedience she told the Religious) that in her diet, his pleasure was she should lead a particular life, sustaining herself only by bread and water, excepting on the Sabbaoth days, and then she was to use the meats of Lent; and this to be done in satisfaction of the offences which are committed against God by his creatures. Afterwards, she saw the reward which is given to such as for the love of God deprive themselves of earthly comforts. Whereupon she said thus; O how sweet and pleasant is that place, but great are the works which they must perform who aspire thither. But if this were sufficient, o my God, for the helping of thy creatures, I would live a thousand years in this manner, and should hold myself to be glorious thereby. Thy Word made me ask to do some penance for thy creatures: art thou content with this? then is it welcome. Thou art Mighty, o my God, yet if thou hadst not called me, and cast me down to the ground, I had not answered thee; but thy will be ever done, and I rather desire to die, then to offend the high Purity. I am resolved to remit myself wholly unto thee; for being united to thee, nothing can be able to trouble me. Grant me therefore this grace, O my jesus, that I may ever be resigned to thy holy will.  
Upon the Thursday following (saying her Office with one of the Sisters) she was in the same manner cast down to the ground, & being suddenly rapt in spirit with her eyes fixed upon heaven she said; Adsum, adsum, adsum, 
Note.  here I am: and then in the person of the Eternal Father she replied; I call thee, that thou mayst answer my vocation and petition, as already I have showed thee. She instantly answered; O it is thou, who art great and powerful. She remained in that contemplation more than half an hour, in which time it was evident that she did extremely suffer, and so ended the Rapt. But the day following, whilst after her manner she was with the Novices, she was forcibly cast down to the ground with great violence, where having lain a while without speech, she said afterwards in the person of the Eternal Father; Crastino die nihil gustabis nisi panem & aquam, & si hoc non facies, retraham abs te oculos meos: To morrow thou shalt eat nothing, but bread and water, and if thou perform not this, I will withdraw mine eyes from thee. But if thou wilt do that which I require, and fulfil my will, and the will of my Word, who with so much love hath given himself, and doth give himself to thee, I will take pleasure in thee, as hitherto I have done. And if thou have a desire that thy work should be grateful to me, see that it be voluntary. This exterior operation which I require of thee, shallbe a glass for thy mind to look in; and fear not that which the adversary will procure to do against thee, for I will not suffer him to prevail; I will give Angels to thy soul, that they may guard it. The Mother of my only begotten Son shallbe thy keeper, that thou lose not the impression of the Passion of the Word, which I have graven in thy heart. Be free from fear for thy desires shall not be known to thine enemy the Devil, but I will fulfil them all.  
After this, she remained a while in silence; but then in her own person all resigned to the will of God, she said: Non moriar, sed adimplebo opera tua: I will not die, but I will perform thy works: upon which words she returned from the Rapt. She considered then with herself, that which the Eternal Father had commanded; 
Note.  and finding that she could not otherwise lead that singular manner of life appointed by God, she resolved instantly to inform her Superiors of the whole affair. Which she did with singular humility; & she was answered by them (out of the great fear they had least in this there might be some mixture of the devils craft) that she should perform Obedience unto them; and as for her food, she should use no other, but such as was common to all the rest; and that they would not permit any one to be particular in her manner of life. Nor did they this without mature deliberation, but determined among themselves to attend the issue, as knowing well, that if it were the will of our Lord, it would be more clearly and apparent to them. And indeed it proved as they conceived, for the day following, the hour of dinner being arrived; & there being set before this servant of God, such diet as was prepared for the other Sisters, she being commanded by holy Obedience (which virtue she had ever in particular recommendation beyond the rest) would needs begin to eat thereof, but it was not possible for her to swallow a bit; for all that which she chewed and procured to put down, was instantly and forcibly cast out by vomit. Many and many times did the Superiors try her, but never would there succeed other effect. Whereupon the Ghostly Father of the house, with Mother Prioress, gave her full liberty to lead that life which the supreme God imposed upon her, for now they knew that such was his will; and that the craft or deceit of the Devil had no part therein. So as upon the day of S. Zanobius Bishop of Florence on the 25. of May in the year 1585. she began in the name of our Lord, to eat bread & drink water, only excepting on Sundays when she was to feed upon the meats of Lent, as our Lord had commanded her. And although she felt great repugnance thus to lead a particular life against the common use, yet nevertheless did she go through with it, as knowing that the will of her God was such.   

The Eternal Father putteth her in mind of some spiritual exercises that she was to perform; he foretelleth the probation that he would make of her for five years, promising first to infuse the holy Ghost into her soul. CHAP. 9  
AT this time on the 26. of the same month and year, she was rapt according to her custom to celestial contemplations, and remained in them two hours without any speech at all. Being returned to her senses, she was commanded by the usual Obedience to report that which in that time she had understood of our Lord. Whereupon with profound humility & much grief of mind she told them, How the Eternal Father had given her a rule of life, which she was to hold, 
Note.  confirming the food only of bread and water; That she was not to exceed five hours of sleep; that ordinarily she should take it on a sack of straw, yet not denying but that sometimes she might repose upon a matteresse; that her words should be of meekness, of truth, and of justice; That her understanding was to be dead without troublesome considering of any thing which might concern either herself or others; that her memory should forget all things except the benefits received by him; that her will should desire none of these earthly things, but only do that whereby his divine Majesty might be pleased. Finally he would have her resign all these faculties of mind unto his Providence, and cast herself like a dead body into his hands. Our Lord also told her his pleasure was, That she should enter like another Daniel into a lake of Lions, that is, into a multitude of most horrible temptations, which were to last five years: That by her infernal enemies she should be extremely afflicted, & vexed. And to conclude, that after the manner of gold she should be cast into the furnace of troubles and vexations both of body and mind, whereby she might afterwards appear more beautiful in the sight of God. She further understood, That she was to enter into these tribulations, as into a lake, upon the next feast of the solemnity of the Holy Ghost; and by our Lord she was certified, that in all these battles she should obtain victory; for the Word, in the lake itself would preserve her, the most sacred Virgin, S. Augustine, S. Ang●lus the Carmelite, S. Catharine of Sienna (to all whom she was particularly devoted) should bring her the food of spiritual comfort, which they were to derive from the Humanity of the Word, by the vigour whereof she was to be restored, and should not be overcome by those temptations. The Eternal Father did also promise, That before this Probation he would infuse the Holy Ghost into her soul, to the end that being fortified by such a buckler of defence she might more cheerfully enter into this battle against the Devils. And beside, he showed her the lake of Lions, that is, the tribulations and temptations that she was to endure after having received the holy Ghost. Whereupon by this spectacle she grew instantly & extremely pale, showing excessive horror at the sight of the most ugly forms of Devils, which appeared before her in the shape of hideous cruel beasts. But yet nevertheless she offered herself with a cheerful heart to the Eternal Father, for the suffering of whatsoever torments or temptations.   

How she was called three times by God: and by him were given twenty Rules to be observed by her. CHAP. 10.  
THERE passed not much time when once, after having communicated, she again found herself to be called by jesus in these words: Come hither, O my Spouse, for I am he who drew thee out of my own understanding, and placed thee in thy Mother's womb, where I was delighted in thee. To this vocation she suddenly hearkened, seeking up & down the Monastery where her jesus might be, and her countenance was extraordinarily inflamed. In the the mean time she heard herself called again in this manner; O come, for I am he who drew thee out of thy Mother's womb, uniting myself to thee, and taking pleasure in thee. She did therefore now with greater zeal proceed in the search of jesus: but the heavenly voice not ceasing, called her the third time with these words: Come hither, O thou elected soul, for I will give thee a Rule & make a bound to thy passions, for the whole time of thy life, until I bring thee to delight, and enjoy me in the land of the living. As soon as she heard these words, she became immovable & abstracted into Ecstasy. At which time there were given to her by the eternal Word, twenty rules which she was to observe throughout all her life for her greater profit in the perfection of virtue, which she in the person of the Word delivered in this manner.  
I the Spouse of thy soul, and the Word of my Eternal Father, do give thee a Rule in the same act of love, wherewith I granted & made thee partaker of the greatness of my purity: o thou beloved of me who am beloved, note this Rule which is mine and thine: ours because I prescribe it, and thine because thou art to observe it.  
1. First I require of thee, that in all thy actions internal and external thou have an eye to that Purity, which I have made thee understand: and imagine that every one of thy words and works are to be the last of thy life.  
2. Thou shalt procure to the uttermost of thy power, and of the grace which I will give thee to have as many eyes as thou shalt gain souls.  
3. Thou shalt never give any counsel, nor impose any commandment, although thou have authority so to do, till first thou shalt have made it known to me, as I am hanging upon the Cross.  
4. Thou shalt not observe any defect, nor reprove it in any mortal creature, till first thou shalt have known, that thyself it more unworthy than that creature.  
5. Thy words shallbe sincere, true, grave and far from all flattery; and thou shalt be ever bringing me for an example to the works which are to be performed by the Creatures.  
6. Take care that with such as are thy equals thy cheerfulness do not take away thy gravity, & that thy gravity do not diminish ●n thee Meekness and Humility.  
7. Let all thy actions be performed with ●uildnes, and with so humble and sweet manner that they may be like so many loadstons to draw the creatures towards me, and let them be done with so much prudence, as that they may serve for a rule to the members of my body, that is, to the souls of my Religious, and to thy Neighbours.  
8. Be thirsty as is the Heart after water, night and day to be exercise Charity towards the members of my body, making the same account of the weakness & weariness of thine own, which thou makest of the ground whereon thou treadest.  
9 Thou shalt force thyself, as much as I shall make thee able, to be meat for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, a garment for the naked, a garden for the imprisoned, and a solace for the afflicted.  
10. With such as I leave in the sea of the world thou shalt be prudent as the serpent, and with mine elected souls thou shalt be simple as the Dove, being afraid of the former as of the face of a dragon, but loving the later as so many Temples of the holy Ghost.  
11. Be ever subduing of thy Passions, and demand grace of me wherewith to do it, who have dominion over all the creatures.  
12. Thou shalt condescend unto my creatures, and suffer with them, as I whilst I was on earth proceeded with supreme charity towards them, having ever in thine ears that sentence, which was afterward of mine Apostle, Quis infirmatur & ego non infirmor?  
13. Thou shalt never fail to give any thing to any person when it is desired, if thou have power to dispose thereof; and thou shalt never deprive any creature of any thing that hath been granted to it, unless first thou consider that I am the searcher of thy heart, & that I am one day to judge thee with power and Majesty.  
14. Thou shalt esteem thy Rule and Constitutions thereof, together with the vows, as I will have thee esteem myself; procuring to engrave in the hearts of all the Religious, the zeal of that state to which I have called them, and of thy Religion.  
15. Thou shalt have great desire to be made subject unto all, and thou shalt have it in horror to be preferred before the meanest and least of the company.  
16. Thou shalt not conceive that thy comfort, repose, and solace consisteth in any other thing, then in contempt and in humility.  
17. Thou shalt forbear to let the creatures know what thy desires are, and what my will is, excepting those whom I have given to live with thee, and my Christ.  
18. Thou shalt be in continual oblation of all thy desires and actions, together with all my members, unto me.  
19 From that hour wherein I left my pure mother, that is, from within two hours before Sun set, thou shalt be in continual oblation of my Passion, of thyself, and of my creatures to the Eternal Father, and this shallbe thy preparation for receiving of me sacramentally: and between the day and the night thou shalt visit my body and blood 33. times.  
20. The last thing shallbe that in all the operations, which I shall suffer thee to perform, as well internal as external, thou art to be transformed into me.  
After this she remained for some time without speech, and she proceeded in the person of the Word, saying; This is the Rule which the beloved of thy soul in act of love hath given to thee. Therefore thou shalt receive it, and such things as are contained therein thou shalt keep at thy heart, and put them in execution, excepting only when Charity, and Obedience do hinder thee from visiting my body, and blood. After these words she returned from the rapt. And how exactly these Rules were observed by her, the progress of her life will show.   

The great excesses of love which she had in the contemplation of Christ jesus. CHAP. 11.  
YET was not the vapour of this burning furnace so very hot, but sometimes the flame increased, which made the most ardent fire of divine love even break from her breast out of her mouth. In so much as in her Rapts fixing her most pure understanding upon the contemplation of infinite love which mo●ed Almighty God to do so much for the most vile creature Man, 
Note the great excess of her love to God expressed in this and the next chapter.  she could not contain herself from exclaiming thus with a loud voice; O love, O love, O God how thou lovest thy creatures, with pure love! O God of love, O God of love, O my Lord, no more love, no more love, it is too much. O my jesus the love that thou bearest to thy creatures! Yet not too much for thy greatness, but too much for a creature, which is so vile and base. Wherefore dost thou O my God give me so much love, who am so unworthy and so vile!  
Being once again in Rapt taking a Crucifix into her hand she went running about the Covent, and easing her heart towards the divine Word with enamoured discourses, and inflamed desires she cried out, O love, O love, O love. This did she with so graceful smiles, & with a countenance of top full of joy that the very sight of her gave occasion to take unspeakable comfort.  
Sometimes she would be fixing her eyes on heaven, sometimes upon the Crucifix, sometimes she would embrace and press it upon her heart, & kiss it with excessive fervour; and the while she would not cease to cry, and cry again; O love, O love, I will never cease, O my God to call thee love, the very joy and triumph of my heart, the hope and comfort of my soul.  
Then turning about to the Sisters which followed her, she would thus say on; Know you not O dear Sisters, that my jesus is nothing else but love, yea that he is even as it were fond with love. Fond with love I say thou art, O my jesus, and I will ever say so. Thou art all amiable and joyful, thou art recreative and comfortative, thou art nutritive and unitive, thou art penance & solace, labour and repose, life and death both at once. Finally, what is that which is not in thee: thou art wise and cheerful, high and immense, admirable and unspeakable, inexcogitable and incomprehensible. Then she kept her eyes still fixed upon the wounded side of the Crucifix, wherein she seemed to discover strange things, and spoke at large of the suprem love, which God beareth to mankind, and of the highest mysteries, which the Incarnate Word wrought on earth for our redemption. And again she exclaimed, O love, O love: then casting her eye, up to heaven she said; Give me so strong a voice, O my Lord, that whilst I call thee Lou●, I may be heard from the East to the West, & throughout all the parts of the world, even to Hell itself, that thou may● be known & reverenced as the true love. O love, O love, which only dost penetrate and transcend, which breakest and bindest, which rulest and governest all things! Thou art heaven and earth, fire and air, blood & water; thou art God and man.. And who shall ever be able, either to express or think of thy greatness, since thou art infinite and eternal!  
In these so lively excesses of Love she did often spend the whole days, so as it seemed that she drew on apace towards an Angelical life, and that she was fed with banqueting dishes from the table of heaven. In these acts her speech was so devout, so inflamed, and so compassionate towards her jesus hanging on the Cross, that not only in name, but in deed she resembled that Maddalena, who was so much wounded with grief upon mount Calvary, when the Word Incarnate gave up his Spirit to his eternal Father.  
Sometimes being urged by the heat of celestial fire, she would run with speed into the Choir, and getting up to the Rood lost where there was a Crucifix, she would unnayle it from the Cross with incredible agility. Then sitting down she would keep it in her bosom, and taking of her veils from her head she would dry with them the sweat and blood which she seemed to see run trickling down from the face of her beloved Spouse. And this would she do with so great fervour of spirit, that the Religious who were present would fear that her heart was not able to endure such an ardent fire of love. It is an admirable thing to tell how when the Sisters had taken those veils & linnen-clothes wherewith she had performed those offices of devotion to the Crucifix they found them so full of sweat, and so very wet, that it seemed as if she had held in her arms the dead jesus, in such sort as he was when in the midst of those cruel torments of the Cross, he suffered death for the salvation of mankind.   

Other amorous Excesses towards Christ jesus, whereof she discharged her heart. CHAP. 12.  
THE celestial fire of love did daily more and more increase in this dear Spouse of jesus, in so much that for the excessive inward heat that she felt, she could not oftentims in the very midst of winter keep on her  bodies. It was further necessary for her to have her other garments extraordinarily lose about her, to the end that her inflamed affections might be able to pass more freely, and oftentimes she was forced to drink cold water, & in great quantity. Into the very water she would also thrust her arms, and bathe her face and cast part thereof into her bosom, affirming that she found herself not only to burn, but even to consume. Then turning herself up to heaven with enamoured countenance she often repeated these words, I can no longer endure so great a flame. And certainly if she had not been succoured by supernatural help, impossible it had been that she could have lived.  
Besides these ardent affects, one other that was very strange may be recounted, which she showed on the day of the Invention, or Finding of the Holy Cross; when having first communicated, she stood for the space of an hour like a strong immovable Tower, and spoke at large of the excellency and nobility of the Cross of jesus with most ardent affection of mind. And after, insisting upon the contemplation of the Incarnate Word which was nailed thereon, she began thus to exclaim; O love, O love, how ●ttle art thou known and beloved! 
Note.  If thou ●anst not find a place wherein to rest, come O ●ue, come all into me, for I shall not fail to deceive thee. O you souls created by love, ●hy do you not love this Love? And what ●hing is love, but only God? Deus Charitas est. 〈◊〉 love thou makest me even melt & consume. Thou makest me die and yet I live, and I ●eele pain by thy making me know how little ●hou art beloved and known.  
In the mean time she used such ●eere and pious gestures, as kindled in the beholders an unspeakable devotion; sometimes she would spread her arms abroad, sometimes she would clap her hands together, and never cease from saying; O come you souls to love my love, come & love your God. But how hot this fire of love was which burned her most pure heart might well be known by her face, which was even like to fire itself, And so with her clothes and the veils of her head she was forced sometimes to fan herself for the mitigating of the extreme heat wherein she was, and yet in the very midst of it, she would often run with great speed, sometimes through the Covent, and sometimes throughout the whole garden, affirming that she went up and down seeking of souls which might know, and love this love. When she happened to meet some one of her Sisters in the way, she would take her by the hand, and wring her very hard, would say; O thou soul, dost thou love this love? what shift dost thou make to live? dost thou not feel thyself consume and even die for love? And when for a good while she had walked thus up and down, she would take into her hands the ropes of the bells, and ringing them exclaim with a loud voice; O you souls, come love, come love this love by whom you are so much beloved. With these affects of her spirit it would not be credible to tell how the minds of the Religious there present were inflamed to devotion, and withal to wonder.  
But among all her amorous excesses, which were so many, one of them was admirable, which in one of her Raptes she expressed. She had passed a whole day in heavenly contemplations, & spoken with so much fervour of soul of the divine love, that she seemed some Angelical spirit, which might have been descended from heaven to express the excellency thereof. By means of this labour she was grown exceedingly weary and void of strength, and being desirous to refresh, and restore herself, she took a Crucifix into her hand, and applying her mouth to the wound thereof, she was seen by the Religious to swallow in the same very sort, as men use to do, when they feed upon some delightful meat. And moreover she delivered such words, as whereby it might clearly be understood, that she was then deliciously fed through the wounds of jesus. And she returned from her Rapt with such sweetness of spirit, and so overflowed with joy, as well might show that she had been nourished with celestial Manna.   

Of an Examination of her conscience that she made in Rapt, whereby the great purity of her soul may be seen. CHAP. 13.  
HOw diligent she was in the examination of her conscience, and how she fixed the eye of her mind upon every little more that might pretend to defile her heart, may be considered by the inquiry that she made upon herself, of what she had done that day; & she made it in a Rapt, whilst she was in the presence of God. She began therefore lying half prostrate with her knees upon the ground to recite those Psalms, Domine quid multiplicati sunt etc. Qui habitat in adiuto●io etc. Which as soon as she had ended, thus she said; O my jesus what was the first thought which I had to day? I grieve that it was not of thee: 
Note.  but I was fearful lest it had been too late to call thy Spouses to praise thee: nor was my thought to offer myself to thee, nor to honour thee. Afterwards: O my jesus, I went to offer myself to thee in the Choir, but I d●d not resign myself entirely and absolutely to thy will. O most bountiful God, and what grace may I hope to receive of thee, I who did not resign myself wholly unto thee, have mercy upon me, O Lord, although I deserve it not, but do rather deserve a thousand hells. Again when I went to sing praises unto thee, I was troubled more to see that some of my Sisters were wanting in performance of the ceremony●s, and Religious actions, than I took care to honour thee, and to offer up my praises in union of such, as are presented by the heavenvly spirits. I may well beg thy mercy, O thou great God, when even in that which immediately apperteines to thee, and to thy praise, I have committed so many imperfections. When I came to receive thy body and blood, which I ought to have done with all possible devotion, I accuse myself, that I made no intention to do it in memory of thy Passion as thou hast directed I should do: neither yet did I think of uniting my soul to thee, but I considered what course I might take for the quieting of my heart. I did first hear the divine Word, but I thought more, whether it was true that we were such, as thou didst cause us to be told by thy Christ, than I did of the love which thou bearest me: and therefore O my Lord, I can ask nothing but mercy of thee. When I went to receive thy blood in the sacrament of Penance, I did more consider what I was to say unto thy Christ for the quietting of my heart, than I did the benefit which thou vouchsafest to give by washing my soul in thy blood, & I did not confide in thee that thou wouldst give me help and grace.  
O my Lord, and what were the first words that I uttered? They were words of reprehension (this she said because being Schoole-Mistres she reprehended one of the Novices.) And my speech being so little sweet, and mild was the cause of disquieting her heart, and that which is worse I wanted Charity; for when I saw that her heart was unquiet, I did not procure to appease it, that so it might be united to thee. Behold O my Lord, what I reap by my so great union with thee, and by the light which thou givest me. If thou gavest it to some other creature, it would be more grateful to thee. But I miserable and wretched soul make no profit at all by it, since I fail of Charity towards thy spouses. I beseech thee even by thy Passion to pardon me.  
When afterwards I went to speak with that creature (this was upon occasion of her going to the Grate to speak with one of her Aunts, and was there Rapt in Extasis) I accuse myself to have committed a great hypocrisy, occasioning myself to be thought for such a one as I am not. Although I made a sign unto thy creatures, but I deserved not that they should understand me, since I seemed to keep my soul united unto thee, and yet thou knowest how often I have wandered from thee. I seemed to be a true Religious woman, and yet thou knowest the poor creature that I am: I demand mercy, O my God, for this great hypocrisy, and I offer to thee thine own blood, which was shed for me with so great love: if thou send me to hell, O my Lord as I deserve, thou mayst justly place me below judas, since I have offended thee so much.  
Then I went to restore my body with necessary food, but what intention had I therein to honour thee? For I remembered not to offer unto thee so many poor creatures, why perhaps had been long knocking at gates for a bit of bread, which yet peradventure was not given them. And for me miserable wretched creature, without any labour of mine, and which is more without any merit, provision is made by the Religion, whereby my body may be sustained. And not only did I commit this offence, but that other also in making that spouse of thine speak so many words, and yet I knew that in that place it was not lawful to speak at all. Behold, O my Lord, how in all my operations I find that I have offended thee: how then shall I appear in thy presence to demand gifts and graces of thee, and to recommend thy creatures to thee, I who have so much offended thee, that I deserve no mercy for myself? But that love which moved thee to come down on earth, and to shed thy blood, let that move thee to show mercy towards my soul.  
When afterwards I forbore to go to praise thee together with the rest of thy Spouses, it was only through mine own fault: for when that creature wished me not to go, I did instantly consent to the not going. O my jesus if she had required some act of Charity at my hands, I should not so soon have given consent, O my Lord, how can I hope ever to come in place where I may eternally praise thee together with those blessed spirits, since I have failed to praise thee together with thy spouses here? I offer thee thy blood that by reason thereof thou mayst have mercy on me.  
And in that work which I did, what intention had I to honour thee, O my Lord, when I grieved more for the time, which thou even in taking from me dost give, than I did for having failed to offer my soul to thee (here she meaneth that time when our Lord did keep her alienated from her senses.) I was careful to give a sign to thy little virgins for the keeping of silence, but I considered not how much more I was bound to keep my soul united to thee.  
When afterwards I was to have invoked the holy Ghost, I wandered with my mind so far off from thee, that I could not remember the manner which I was to hold therein, so as they who have been a less time in a Religious state than myself, had more discretion therein then I Behold, O my jesus how I have failed in all my operations? How then can I appear before thy goodness, having offended thee so much? I do again make o●●er to thee of thy blood, for only in respect of that I hope for pardon.  
And how much did I fail O God, when I had that other work to do, in not taking a little pains to move those few paces? I say I failed of that which I was bound to do: I entreated others that they would ●o●e that charity, and in the mean time I failed of doing it to mine own soul. I took more care that I might not take a little pains, than I did lest thou shouldst departed from me. In all my works I find defects, O my God, ut thou not regarding my offences of thine own goodness hast drawn me to thee again where thou givest me so much light, as if thou avest t to any other ●ule, it would make more profit by it then I most wretched and miss rabble creature do. Again I went to restore myself with corporal food, neither yet did I ●all to mind the many poor ones that want wherewith to feed themselves, whereas for me, O my Lord, thou hast so liberally provided; and now I offer thine own blood again for so many offences, as I have made against thee.  
Alas, O my Lord, how true it is that we are in darkness, and I have not performed any work without offending thee: what then remains for me to do? O my God, though I have offended thee so much in this day, ●et will 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 deserve no pardon, but the blood which thou hast shed for me will make me hope in thee, and that thou wilt forgive me.  
Having made this Examen, being in Rapt all the while, she retired herself into a secret place of the Monastery, where she afflicted her body with a grievous discipline. But first as soon as she returned from her said Rapt, she recommended all the creatures to Almighty God, and offered up for them the blood of Christ jesus.   

She remained in Extasis eight days, and eight nights, speaking of highest mysteries: and every morning at the hour of Tertia, she received the holy Ghost in several forms. CHAP. 14.  
ABOVE all the Ecstasies of this beloved Spouse of jesus, that one was admirable which she had upon the Vigil of the holy Ghost in the year 1585. wherein she remained eight continual days from the said Vigil, until the feast of the Blessed Trinity, returning only to her senses for the space of two hours every day, wherein she recited her office, and provided for the necessity of her life, by feeding only upon a little bread and water, and taking very little rest. In this time she did every morning receive at the hour of Tertia the Holy Ghost in divers forms, of Fire, of a River, of a Dove, of a Pillar, of a Cloud, of a Wind, and of Flaming tongues. And at the same time she became so joyful and bright, and did speak so sublimely of the most hidden Mysteries, that it was a thing miraculous. And yet further, whilst she was speaking in the person of the Eternal Father, or of Christ, or of herself, her voice would be changed in such sort, that even without understanding the words, one might have known, that they were divers persons which discoursed by her tongue. So many were the spiritual intelligences, which our Lord communicated unto her in this Rapt, as that being set down by the Religious, as she produced them, they make a just volume, whereof is compiled an addition to the third part of her life. But to give some pattern of the aforesaid Extasis, I say, that on the Vigil of the holy Ghost which came that year upon the eight of june, she was called by the Eternal Father in these words.  
Come my spouse, the rest, & yet the impulse of my spirit. Whereupon she remained suddenly abstracted from her senses, & said: Ecce venio, venio citò, citò venio. And having been a while in contemplation she began thus to speak in the person of the Incarnate Word. Before thou enter into the admirable knowledge of my holy Ghost, I will make known to thee what I mean to do with thee, therefore be attentive. Hear she stayed a while, and then resumed the discourse still in the person of the Eternal Word. Know that until the day where you there below, do celebrate that feast, whereon thou didst so intrinsically knit thyself to me, and I in so great abundance gave myself to thee (which was meant of the Profession, which the year before she had made upon the day of the most holy Trinity) thou shalt be united to me in such sort that thou shalt be made partaker of diuin treasures. Yet further know, that for the space of five years (as heretofore I told thee) I will deprive thee of the feeling of my grace, but not of my grace itself, for that shall ever be in thee. That privation shallbe made for the glory of my Father, for the joy of the Angels, and of all the blessed spirits which stand assisting at the Throne of the most holy Trinity, for the example of mortal creatures, for the greater torment of damned souls, for the confusion of Devils, for the ease of the souls in Purgatory, and for the comfort of thyself. I will also proceed with thee like to a valorous Captain, who before he exalt his soldier to high honour, doth put him to many proofs; and so I, before I will exalt thee in the sight of my Father, will prove thee first. Thou shalt therefore endeavour to have in thee the knowledge of thy being nothing, and to be ever seconding, and executing the internal inspirations which I will give thee, as hitherto thou hast done. But although thou hast heretofore done it with much endeavour, yet hereafter thou must do it with much more. Thou shalt procure to observe, nay I command thee that thou do observe interiorly, withal sincerity, all the directions, which I have given thee. Thou shalt reprove the defects of others speaking ever all truth. I tell thee yet further that in all the Feria's Sextas (if thou wilt be attentive at the hour when I died upon the Cross) thou shalt receive the spirit which I rendered to my eternal Father; and although thou feel it not, yet shall it ever descend on thee. And as the creature cannot live without a heart, so I cannot be without thee, whensoever thou shalt have the knowledge of thy being nothing, which as long as it remains in thee, thou mayst well be confident, that thou shalt ever be united to me. And my peace shallbe with thee, although it may seem to thee, that thou art in continual war, because in this probation, which I will make of thee, many infernal Lions will come forth against thee, beating thee, and giving thee torments. Nor shall they only strive to beat thee exteriorly, but also interiorly with greater fury: yet they shall not be permitted by me to have power to conquer thee, but thou shalt ever be stored with this same grace of mine which now thou hast. Nay how much more they come towards thee with violence, so much more shall my favourable assistance towards thee superabound, although it is to be without any feeling comfort of thine.  
To this she answered cheerfully, sufficit mihi gratia tua. And after having been a while in silence, the discourse of the Incarnate Word followed on with great earnestness, and abundance of speech to this effect, There will not be wanting such as I have appointed to favour thee (this was said by her Patron-Saints) in bringing to thee spiritual food, and thou shalt speedily fly under the shadow of my purity, not making any motion, or operation without that, although yet even this shallbe without the feeling of my grace. Against the five grievous temptations by which thou shalt be most assaulted, thou shalt arm thyself with the gifts, which already I have communicated to thee. Thou shalt take in the first assault my purity: In the second my heart and thine: In the third my wounds, which thou hast of me: In the fourth the crown of thorns which I wore: In the fifth the great desire which thou hast of the salvation of my creatures. And if all the Devils in hell come with great fury to fright thee, thou shalt not yet be afraid: for as their Envy hath no end, so I will never be wanting to continue my grace in thee. And fail not thou to relate that, which thou shalt participate therein. This was meant by the high Intelligences which he would be pleased to grant her, as afterwards appeared.  
After these words she having heard those heavenly directions, replied in her own person. O thou only begotten, O Incarnate and human Word, who can execute thy great works! In respect of thee they are little, but for me they are great. Upon this thought she remained a while in silence & finding herself still to be filled more and more with the Spirit of God, she followed thus: Who shall ever be able to resist so great assaults, but such a one as is transformed into thee! O my God, who is blind in himself, true in speaking of thee, and of thy creatures? He that shall converse with the creatures without giving scandal or impediment to thy love. The meek, the peaceable, and the patiented.  
After these, and many such other intercourses of heavenly speech, which as hath been said are noted in a book apart, she added this in the person of the only begotten Word. Fear nothing my dearest Child, for I will ever remain with thee, and this probation which I am pleased to make of thee, shallbe an evident sign of the certainty of the great gifts and graces which I have granted thee. Besides it shallbe a mean of bringing thee up to greater perfection. If thou shalt be environed by great battles, not knowing which way to turn thyself, nor conceiving that I am with thee, yet know indeed that by me thou shalt never be abandoned. To these words she answered: Sufficit mihi gratia tua, & in excessu mentis mea non movebor in aeternum. And thus having humbled herself in the divine presence, after many other discourses she yielded herself readily to the sovereign will of God, by saying: Omnia possum in te.   

She entereth into the lake of Lions (that is to say, into the battle against the Devils) and understandeth that she is to suffer for the good of souls. CHAP. 15.  
IN this very Rapt upon the day of the solemnity of the Holy Ghost, she was conducted in height of spirit, and the Lake of Lions was showed, whereinto shortly she was to enter. This was easily known by her words, & her becoming so very pale and sad, as it moved every one to compassion. She than beheld a number of Devils almost numberless, who with frightful temptations threatened to assault her, and she heard most horrible roar, as of the fiercest Lions. Whereupon with the very anguish, having cast herself upon her knees, she delivered words so deserving pity, as made all them weep who were present. But because she spoke with extraordinary vehemency, her speech could not be taken, but a little at the first which was thus.  
I invite the heaven, and the earth, & the inhabitants thereof to come and secure me. Soon after turning herself towards God; Where is (said she) O my God, that sun of thy grace? To me it seems obscured, thy goodness seemeth to be wholly withdrawn from me: I am now abandoned like a body that hath no part wherewith to help itself, and as the trunk of a barren tree: for hearing that thy grace is retired from me, I cannot help myself. After this it was told her by Almighty God, that she not being able to help her Neighbours otherwise, he was pleased that she should do it by supporting of pains and troubles for them.  
Whereupon she added. The cursed Heretics (nor can I name them in this action otherwise) willbe an occasion to me of most bitter pains: for although they did once receive thy holy Ghost, yet have they not continued to possess it. And so many proud Spouses of thine which have rebelled from thee, will provoke these raging Lions to come against me, for the increase of my anguish & affliction. But at last (O Word) if those wretched souls will return to thee, I would esteem myself happy, and a thousand times contented, that the Devils should come unto my torment. I see I am round about environed with such cruel spectacles, that I cannot contain myself, whilst I hear their hideous noise, from extending also mine own voice. And if I shallbe forbidden to do so exteriorly, yet I can never be so abridged interiorly, but that I will exclaim so long to God, as that I willbe heard at last.  
These devilish spirits, O my jesus, would fain abolish all Faith, annihilate humility, disgrace purity, and in am of my resignation unto thee, would place in my heart a will perverted. Nor do I marvel, that since they cannot bring this to pass, they return to me with so great fury and rage, and strive to make so hideous noise, to the end that I may not hear the Orders which came down to me from my God. It happeneth to me, as to one that expecteth death, who hath no less affliction when he seethe the instrument which is to cut off his head, than he hath whilst he is in the act of suffering. I see well, O my Lord, that if thou shouldst retire the power of thy hand, these enemies would deprive me of life. They would fain tear out my bowels, which makes them run against me with such fury. But my Spouse hath first placed in me his own spirit, and his heart, withal those other gifts and graces, and did after place me in this Probation and tentation, resolving that I should suffer for the creatures, to the end that they may be converted to him.  
I remember well, O Word, of certain shadows, which were given me by thee, under which I was to fly for some space of time that I might lose the hearing of these horrible roar, and fearful noises, and the seeing of this spectacle of Devils which is so hideous. O Eternal Word, thou hast brought me into a great lake, wherein I know not which way to turn myself, where I may not see, & hear so many fierce beasts which run with open mouth towards the devouring of me: What therefore shall I do? It willbe best that I take courage, and do myself honour by it, making a virtue of necessity, that is, by glorying in the pains I endure. Redime me à caluminantibus me: Generatio mea ablata est, & convoluta à me: Oportet me gloriari in varijs tentationibus: Timor & tremor venerunt super me, & contexerunt me tenebrae: Aestimata sum tamquam mortuus à cord. O Lord cast thy right hand over me and give me strength: Many other things she proceeded to say, and she also understood in this Bapt, that until the day of the most B. Trinity the feeling of the divine grace should not be wholly withdrawn from her, but that she was more to be fortified by God for her spiritual comfort.   

Of five temptations which for five years did afflict her. She had a sign from God tha● she was not deluded. And how for the space of five hours she was beaten by Devils. CHAP. 16.  
AFTER that the Omnipotent God had fortified this true servant of his, with so many sovereign conceptions, & enriched her with so many graces, upon the day of the most holy Trinity being the 16. of june in the said year 1585. when she returned from that Rapt wherein she had remained for the space of eight days and nights successively, he withdrew from her the delight and feeling of his grace. Whereupon, the hideous sight of Devils, and fierce temptations did at that time begin to afflict and fright her in such sort, that it would have brought terror and horror to any human creature whatsoever, though of most innocent, and holy life. And as she had received from her most gracious God those singular gifts which are deivered in the second part, that is, The sacred wounds in her soul; the crown of thorns; the being espoused by jesus; his heart; and the participation of his divine purity: so on the other side she understood that she was to be assaulted by five most grievous temptations. First in the points of Faith she was to endure many difficulties. Secondly by temptations of Pride. Thirdly by divers motions of sense. Fourthly she was to fall into so great obscurity of mind, that she might have run into many acts of desperation, if she had not been most vigilantly careful. And lastly the inordinate appetite, and desire of meats was extremely to assault her, with other temptations, which were to be in a manner infinite.  
Hereupon she said often afterwards, that there remained not as it were any tentation, which she had not proved; and by the excessive furiousness thereof, she suffered grief almost insufferable. But among these, that sorrow was most piercing beyond all estimation which she took by the horrible sight o● the Devils, who were still under several apparences, discovering and representing to her the multitude of men's enormous, and shameful sins. Besides this, she heard now and then, such horrible skreaming and roaring in her ears, together with hideous blasphemies, which so possessed her hearing, that oftentimes she could hardly hearken to what the Religious would say unto her. Nor did those devilish assaults give her over here; for sometimes the envious spirits would throw her down the stairs, and sometyms she was cruelly bitten by them, as by so many venomous vipers, whereby she suffered extreme pain.  
When by night, she would desire to repose her body, it is hard to express in how great pain she consumed very usually four or five continued hours. In this manner she passed many & many months away, so as now she was come to the 14. of her probation, when on S. Margaret's day of the year 1586. being in the Choir in celebrating the sacred Office of the Church, she was rapt in spirit, & she understood from her dear jesus, that he was pleased until the end of October following, to ease her in some sort of those temptations. So as during that time, she was often abstracted from her senses, and enriched with celestial treasures by the understanding of high mysteries.  
But much more was she formerly afflicted, by the great fear she had, lest the Devil should delude her. Therefore, for the securing of her, that whatsoever happened was by the divine Will, and not accompanied with any illusion, it pleased God (whilst once she was by excess of mind transformed into him) to show her clearly the truth of all that process, & he gave her this for a sign, that she should miraculously remain 15. days successively, without taking any material food at all, excepting only the Sundays and Thursdays, which should occur. Upon the Thursdays he was pleased, that she should sustain he● self by a little bread and water, and upon the Sundays by some food of Lent. This (she obtaining first licence of her Superiors) did punctually execute.  
At that time all her solace & comforts were placed in the holy food of the Angels, which she received every morning, with unspeakable devotion: but otherwise (besides the sadness which long fasting usually carrieth with it) she was assaulted at that time, with most furious temptations; and once lying upon a hard sack of straw, she was dragged & horribly beaten by the Devils, for the space of five hours together. It seemed to her then, that she was sometimes cu● in pieces, & sometyms so cruelly bruised that she was forced to utter these doleful speeches, which S. Antony used, when he was in like manner beaten by Devils, O my Lord, where art thou? But afterward being eased of that agony, she was liberally rewarded by Almighty God, with heavenly graces.   

She delivereth a child possessed by a Devil. CHAP. 17.  
SO much was our Lord pleased to show himself powerful and wonderful in this dear servant of his, that not only he did enrich her with many celestial gifts, & made her appear to be a heavenly spirit even here on earth; but he would also show his wonders by making her do those things, which to the frailty of flesh and blood are impossible. This was made evident by many miracles, that she wrought in her life time, which as testimonies of her sanctity are set down in the course of this Story, according to the times when they were wrought, and the first of them was this.  
The daughter of a Gentleman of Florence named Catharina, was much afflicted by a malign spirit which possessed her body. She was brought by her Mother in the year 1586. to this servant of God, and whilst she was speaking with her, the child began to be tormented, as her manner was, by the Devil, in so much as through the much pain she endured, she foamed abundantly at her mouth, & seemed to be suffocated. But as soon as Suor Maria Maddalena, had in the name of God, commanded the foul spirit, that he should departed, the child was presently freed, and from that time forward was never troubled.   

She speaketh in a Rapt to the Cardinal Archbishop of Florence, who was afterwards Pope Leo the eleventh, and by whom she was found to be sound in spirit. CHAP. 18.  
THIS beloved soul of jesus had understood, that the Cardinal Archbishop of Florence, who was afterwards Pope Leo the eleventh, was desirous to speak with her of many important things, when he should come unto the Monastery, about the election of a new Superior. And the Confessarius together with the Prioress having heard thereof, and fearing least the Cardinal might take some disgust, by somewhat that she might say, they resolved to procure in dexterous manner, that she might have no occasion of speaking with him. 
Note.  But to show, that no counsel though never so wisely conceived, is of force against the will of God, it happened directly contrary to their appointment. For Suor Maria Maddalena being gone to communicate on the 29. day of September 1586. which was the day of the Cardinals coming, she was rapt in that very place where the election of the new Prioress was to be made; and she was by the spirit of God placed there with such stability, as it was not possible for them by any means to remove her thence. And in that very place, the Cardinal found her, after that she had remained there for the space of eleven hours; to whom, yet in Rapt as she was, she presently began to deliver that with great zeal, which our Lord had commanded her to say. 
This was somewhat concerning the due execution of his place.  Whereunto the Cardinal made answer benignly, according to his custom but not without great wonder. And the Hymn of Veni Creator Spiritus being sung for the election of a new Prioress, she returned from her Rapt, and gave her voice amongst the rest. The ceremony being ended, the Lord Archbishop would needs speak with her again, as he did in familiar manner, and at large, particularly ask about those things which a little before he had understood of her, when she was in Rapt. She, ever as to her true Superior, with profound humility and reverence, answered to all his demands, and conferred about many other things, with great confidence. After which he departed much satisfied, when first in the presence of the Mother Prioress, and many other of the Mothers, he had highly praised the virtue and sanctity of this their Religious Sister.   

She foretelleth unto the Cardinal Archbishop of Florence, that he should be Pope: and at another time foreseeth, that he should hold that place but few days. CHAP. 19  
AMONG those discourses, which she had with the Lord Cardinal, she told him upon occasion, that he should one day come to that highest dignity of Popedom. Which came to pass, when in the year 1605. upon the death of Clemens Octaws he was chosen Pope; and he called himself Leo the eleventh. Not only did she foresee this, but said afterwards in a Rapt, that he was to rule the Church of God but a very short time; for when he passed by Florence, as the Pops legate to the King of France, she used these words; This Christ is in present possession of a great honour, but he shall afterwards arrive to the greatest, although he shall not long stay therein; for when he would fain embrace it, then shall the glory of it vanish out of his sight. How clearly this was verified, we see by the success, for he governed the Christian Common Wealth, but six and twenty days.   

How she was perfectly resigned to God. How jesus showed himself thrice to her with a troubled countenance, and afterwards well pleased: and of the three offers which she made to the Eternal Father, with an Image of jesus in her hand. CHAP. 20.  
SPEAKING once with one of the Sisters, 
Note.  she said in humble manner, that she desired nothing of her Lord, but that he would take from her, her own will; and that as she knew, that by her own only endeavour or power she could not profit according to her desire in those virtues, which make a soul grateful to God. She had scarce ended these words, when turning up her eyes to heaven, she was rapt in Extasis, and it was showed to her by jesus, how great an impediment the being guided by one's proper will doth bring to a soul; and especially of one that is Religious, who by the vow of Obedience, hath already consecrated the Will to God. She therefore understood, how the will of jesus was, that in nothing she was to suffer her own Will to have dominion. This being done, she instantly took the Prioress by the hand, who together with many other of the Religious was there present, and she conducted her to the Oratory, where she made fervent prayers to the B. Virgin, beseeching her that she would get her light towards the executing of the divine Will. After this, turning aside to the Mother Prioress, whom still she held by the hand, she begged of her with great earnestness, and with many tears, that even for the love of jesus, she also would endeavour to deprive her of doing her own Will. And then, 
Note.  prostrating herself thrice upon the ground after the manner of demanding pardon, she returned from the Rapt.  
The day following she being withal the other Religious employed in holy exercises, she was again rapt in Extasis, and with great violence cast down to the ground. Her countenance was already seen to be grown pale, for the great horror that she had; and easily it might be discerned, that this happenned not without some mystery. And so it was; for she seemed then to see jesus extraordinarily troubled, because she had made some resistance to his divine Will. For she understood from himself, that her actions were to be singular and that he was pleased to raise her to higher degrees of Religious perfection: but she, being urged by an extreme desire of not appearing such, made therein a kind of resistance in her mind; desiring rather to suffer whatsoever kind of affliction, then to be held by others of a singular life. Therefore our Lord showed himself again unto her as offended, & added how it was his Will that both interiorly and exteriorly she should appear grateful to him, and therefore that she was to make no resistance.  
After dinner she was again raised to Extasis, and understood many things from the Incarnate Word, but particularly how she was to suffer much affliction, thereby to grow more grateful to the Eternal Father. She was also illuminated about many other things, appertaining to the Constitutions of the Monastery, which she particularly related to Mother Prioress. Not many days after having left the Religious with whom then she was, and going into the Choir (being by that time alienated from her senses) she let herself fall upon the ground, with her arms crossed, seeing Christ jesus, who seemed to be again of troubled countenance. Whereupon in imitation of S. Paul, she said; O Lord, what wilt thou have me do? Tell me what is pleasing to thee; and whatsoever it be I will procure to accomplish it, so that thy bright eyes may shine upon me, and that thy countenance towards me may no more be obscured. She added other words all full of profound humility; and having so remained a while, she turned herself with great joy towards a picture of the B. Virgin saying: O Maria, I do yet once again behold those most pure and bright eyes of my Spouse, and they look on me no more with a troubled countenance. But I beseech thee tell me, O my jesus, what can I have done in so short a time, whereby I may have obtained this so dear and delicious aspect of thine? And she had scarce ended these words, when she heard a celestial voice that said, Conformity of will; whereupon she came to know, that by being so humbly resigned to the Will of God, she saw her jesus no more now offended, but benign and appeased.  
In this fervour of spirit she went into the Choir to a chapel of the B. Virgin, and opening the grates of the Altar, she took off the candlesticks, with more agility than can be imagined. Afterwards, ascending up to the Altar, she powered forth earnest prayers to the Mother of God, that she would give her, her son jesus, whose Image together with her own, was there embossed; and upon the sign made, that her suit was granted, she takes into her arms that devout Image of jesus; and laying aside all the ornaments, said thus; I will have thee naked, O my jesus, for I were not able to endure thee withal thy infinite virtues & perfections. I will have thy humanity all naked. She went afterwards with that Image, into all those three places, where he had showed himself to be offended; and in the self same manner as a Priest doth offer the Host, so did she r●ise, by little & little, with admirable reverence that sacred Image, towards the Eternal Father, saying in the first of these places, Offero tibi sancte Pater Fi●ium tuum quem ab aeterno genuisti, & mihi in terram misisti. Holy Father, I offer thy Son to thee, whom thou hast begotten before all eternity, and whom thou hast sent into this world. Going towards the second place, she added this in the way; Vivo ●go iam non ego, vivit verò in me Christus. Dilectus meus candidus & rubicundus. I live, yet not I, but Christ in me. My beloved is white and red. And being now where she desired to be, she performed the same action, as before she had done in the first place, saying: Offero tibi aeterne Pater Filium tuum, quem ab aeterno in sinu tenuisti, & in sapientia tua generasti, & propter miseriam meam, & misericordiam tuam in terram misisti. O Eternal Father, I offer thy Son to thee, whom from all eternity thou didst keep in thy bosom, & whom in thy wisdom thou didst beget, and whom in thy mercy thou didst send into the world for the relief of our misery. Afterwards in the third place using the self same ceremony, she also said; Offero tibi Filium tuum, aeterne Pater, quem post resurrectionem eius ad te attraxisti, & ad dexteram tuam collocasti. O Eternal Father, to thee I offer thy Son, whom after his resurrection thou didst draw up to thee, and didst place him at thy right hand.  
When she had finished these Oblations, she returned into the Choir; and ascending up to the Altar of the B. Virgin, she gave the little child jesus to be kissed by all the Religious, who were come in to that devout spectacle; reaching towards one the head of that sacred Image ●o another the breast, to some the hands, and to others the feet; according as the spirit of God did guide her. With these pious fervours, she did so kindle the minds of her Sisters, both towards devotion and wonder, that there was not any one to be found, who accompanied not her actions with tears. At last she returned from her Rapt, wherein she had continued for three hours.   

She understood from God, how his pleasure was, that she should go barefoot, and basely clad; she performeth it all, and in the bosom of an image of the B. Virgin, she promiseth to observe it: she is proved by her Superiors. CHAP. 21.  
ON the 5. day of july, in the year 1587. after she had served the Religious at the table, as she went towards the dormitory of the Novices (unto the government of whose Mistress, she was at that time subject) she was rapt in spirit. And having delivered a few words, suddenly she raised herself on foot, with such gravity and clearness of countenance, that she seemed to be some Angelical spirit. And (having taken of her hose, and shoes, and going into her cell) she removed every thing without exception, from of the little Altar of her Oratory, saving only a Crucifix: nor did she leave any thing upon her bed, but the mattress the sacks of straw, and a board at the head instead of a bolster. Afterwards being come to the Press where the Sister's clothes are kept, and taking thence the poorest & most patched coat, that she could find, she retired into a private room, and appareled herself therewith. And when she saw herself so vilely clad, she fell suddenly prostrate upon the ground, and yet fixing her eyes upon heaven with incredible devotion she recited Te Deum etc. Besides, making up her former clothes into a bundle being still in Rapt, she carried them to the Prioress, and then passing (into the Choir, went up to the Altar of the B. Virgin, and there, in the bosom of her image (with the pen, ink, and paper that she had brought thither for that purpose) she wrote these words. I Suor Maria Maddalena make profession, and do promise to God, and to his most pure Mother the Virgin Mary, to S. Catharine of Sienna, and to the Seraphical Francis, together with all the celestial Court, Obedience, Chastity, and Poverty in such sort, as God at this instant doth make me understand; and know it with firm purpose that I will never leave it, unless I shall have true light, that his pleasure is otherwise, as now I understand that it is truly he, who is pleased that I shall observe this kind of Poverty. And therefore, confiding in his help and mercy, I make this Profession in manu Puritatis Mariae, in the hand of the Purity of Mary. And in making of this profession, she ever held her left hand in the hands of the Image of the B. Virgin. She further spoke with so much spirit of holy Poverty, that she kindled an ardent desire thereof in the heart of whosoever heard her; and turning then again towards the B. Virgin with words of incredible tenderness, she prayed her to keep her in continual protection, and that she would help her to execute whatsoever our Lord had required of her.  
This being said, she departed, and (returning thither, where she was taken into this Rapt) she spoke these words; Agimus tibi Deo gratias etc. We thank thee O God etc. Then going to Mother Prioress, she begged of her with great fervour of spirit, after she had prostrated herself at her feet, that she would not hinder her from that kind of life, which by God had been prescribed to her. The Superior answered discreetly, that the Confessarius was first to be acquainted with it, and that she should govern herself according to his advice. Now as soon as he had notice of it, he called the Spouse of Christ to him; and (to try her) commanded her by Obedience, that instantly she should apparel herself as formerly she had been used to do. Upon the hearing of these words, she readily and without delay obeyed, and though she broke forth into bitter tears (fearing lest formerly she had been deluded, as not finding the Will of her Ghostly Father to be agreeable to that which she thought to be the will of God) yet nevertheless she quieted herself, 
Note.  and being retired into a private room, she performed that which was imposed by Obedience.  
But on the morning next following, our Lord did comfort her abundantly in the holy Communion, & letting her know, that her Ghostly Father did it to try her spirit, he said that her so ready Obedience was grateful to him. Whereupon she being urged by a new fervour of spirit, returned to the old clothes, and taking the worst of them, she was putting them on, and looking up towards heaven remaining all this while in Rapt, she said; Well yet, O my jesus, now that I am with thee, I will obey thee; when I shallbe there below, I will obey them. She was seen by Mother Prioress to take the said old clothes, and she had hardly pronounced these very words, Suor Maria Maddalena, by Obedience give me those , and forbear to put them on, but that she, hearing that word Obedience, returned from the Rapt, & offered instantly to obey her.   

In Rapt she cureth a lay Sister, who then lay sick in the Monastery. CHAP. 22.  
ON the thirteenth of july, of the same year, she was again rapt in Extasis, and being gone to the Oratory of the Novices, she fell upon her knees before an image of the B Virgin, and soon after taking it into her arms, she went to visit a sick lay Sister, called Suor Fed●, the daughter of Puccius of L●gnaia. This woman was mightily afflicted with grievous sickness, & so sharp pains over her whole body, that her sinews did shrink, and sometimes again she would be all swollen. She did eat and sleep extremely little, and was brought to such terms, that her health was despaired of, & they looked every hour when she would die. As soon as the Mother Suor Maria Maddalena, being yet in Rapt, was arrived there, she made the sign of the Cross upon her with the Image of the B. Virgin, which she carried with her, and having made some prayer, she said, looking up to heaven, Thy will, O my God be done. Having spoken these words, 
Note.  the pains of the sick woman did instantly cease, and she was wholly freed from her infirmity; yea, and as soon as she had eaten somewhat, she rose out of her bed, & returned cheerfully to perform the exercises of the Monastery. This she herself who is yet living, hath testified upon her oath.   

The Devil afflicteth her much exteriorly, & afterwards appeareth to her in the form of a most horrible beast. CHAP. 23.  
IN this mean time, the Devil did procure to disturb the Peace of her mind with most subtle and sly temptations. And he used all art, whereby to make her believe, that the graces which had been given her by God, were but false appearances and diabolical deceits. Nor was he content to tempt her inwardly, but he began exteriorly, upon the 19 of july 1587. to afflict her so fiercely that any one would have been moved to pity by seeing her. Going to rest one evening, there came upon her so great an anxiety, and straightness of breast and throat, that being grown even ugly in countenance, she seemed as if then, she were strangled: whereupon being forced to make lamentation, she uttered words in so weak a voice, that hardly they could be heard, which yet were these; I die, I die, I am suffocated. And although she were recomforted by the Religious, yet still her torment was seen to increase, and great bunches would rise out of her afflicted body. Having remained three hours in this labour, she began at last to repose a little.  
But the Devil left not to torment her, for shortly after, he appeared to her in the form of a most horrible beast, which seemed to make haste towards her to devour her. The afflicted Mother, cast stones against it, and said, Depart from m●, O thou ugly beast, and come not near me. I will thee to departed (and then she added) in the name of jesus; and if I can command thee, I do. She was so astonished with this so horrible sight, that unless she had taken courage, as knowing that it came upon her for God's greater glory, it might have been doubted, that the horror of it would have deprived her of life. This infernal Monster continued two hours in tormenting her; but afterwards it pleased our Lord to free her, and to grant her many graces, which made her, in the after battles, more secure and full of courage.   

After she had been again proved by her Superiors, they knowing the will of God by a miraculous sign, she obtained leave to go bare foot. CHAP. 24.  
OUR Saviour being pleased, that his beloved Spouse should go bare footed and vilely clad, as already hath been touched, he inspired her on the seventh of August 1587. to say thus to her Ghostly Father, with incredible fervour; O Father, who are given me by jesus, for the guiding and safe keeping of my soul, I being urged even by God himself, do beseech you to give me leave, that for my use, I may have one only coat, after the pattern of my spouse, and of his Apostles; and I tell you, my dear Father, that jesus is he, who will have it so, and it is not I. But the Ghostly Father to be yet better assured, that the divine Will was such, enjoyed her still to  herself like the rest. Which she readily obeying, found herself to be assaulted with so grievous pains in the soles of her feet, that she lost the use of her legs, not being able to stand upon them. But encouraged by the Prioress to force herself, she came to that pass, that she was feign to go upon all four, with her hands and knees upon the ground, and when she was to communicate, she was carried in the arms of the Religious. Neither yet for all this, did it seem fit to the Confessarius to give her the leave she asked. In the end her pains growing upon her, the Prioress, and the other Religious going towards her, after they had recommended the matter to God by prayer, said thus; Suor Maria Maddalena, if you judge that this be the work of God, I will you in the name of our Ghostly Father, that you put off your hose and shoes, 
Note.  & that ye walk as we do. It is a wonderful thing to tell, how as soon as she had taken them off (as if they had been gives and fetters) she was wholly free from her pain; she went up and down speedily, and suddenly into the Choir, to give thanks to the B. Virgin, & from thenceforth without any impediment, she betook herself, to do the ordinary business of the Monastery, after her accustomed manner.   

Of the temptations that she had against Faith, and of many other aridityes of spirit. CHAP. 25.  
BY how much more victorious she remained after these infernal battles, so much the more did the Devil torment her, with new temptations. Whereupon she would often say: I know not what kind of thing I am: I know not whether I be a living creature, or some senseless thing. At least there remains nothing in me, that is good, but only a little desire that I have not to offend God. I am grown to be the very receptacle of iniquity, the occasion of all mischief and of all the offences which are committed against God, so that sometimes I am considering, how jesus and the creatures can suffer me to live on earth. By this aridity of spirit, all the exercises of Religion grew tedious to her, so that sometimes she could hardly be drawn either into the Refectory, or into the Quire. But when the tentation was diminished so many were her tears, her sighs, and so great her sadness, that every one would have thought she had committed some grievous sin. Besides, she was incredibly tempted in Faith, and the Devil sought to persuade her, 
Note.  that she should not adore the B. Sacrament, & that God was not there. Nay many times she found extreme difficulty to receive it; for drawing near to the little window to communicate, she remained as it were deprived of all sense; and to her seeming, the Devil would stand there, being resolved to kill her. Besides, he cast it into her thought, as if there were no other life but this; and therefore there was no cause, why she should labour and endure so much. Sometyms she came to so great aridity of spirit, that she was scarce able to look upon the sacred Images, and pictures. Oftentimes the Devil tempted her to blaspheme God, and the Saints; and chief, when with the rest of her Sisters, she was singing the divine Office in the Choir, at that time she heard such blasphemies pronounced in her ears, and such horrible outcries of Devils, that (seeming to her by great odds to exceed the voices of her Sisters) she had much difficulty to comply with her obligations. Whereupon, weeping often for grief in great abundance, she turned to her Sisters, saying, Pray to jesus for me, that in steed of praying him, I blaspheme him not; and the Religious were moved to much compassion by seeing this blessed soul so afflicted in the spirit of devotion. For this reason, the Ghostly Father was often forced to communicate her alone, that more easily she might overcome those temptations. But hardly was she fortified sufficiently even by that heavenly food, for the temptations would occur again with greater fury; the Devil endeavouring to persuade her, that she had lost the divine grace, and therefore that the custom of communicating did her no good, but rather that the justice of God was provoked so much the more to her punishment. And thus she became byond all conceit full of dolour, & only thought how she might carry herself in those fierce assaults. In the midst of these cogitations, it came once into her mind, to use a remedy which against temptations she had learned of the B. Virgin. And it was, that going to Mother Prioress, she prayed her with great instance to command her by holy Obedience, that she should not forbear the holy Communion, and the exercises of the Monastery, and that she should punctually observe that manner of life, which had been prescribed to her by God. Now Mother Prioress to content her, commanded her to do all by holy Obedience. And it cannot be expressed with how great devotion and humility she answered to every particle of that which was imposed in these words; Benedictus Deus, adding further, I will endeavour with the help of jesus, to do all that you have imposed. This solemn sacrifice of her will was so grateful to God, that afterwards he raised her to many Rapts, and her heart became in the midst of so many temptations, to be full of tranquillity & joy.   

The Devil afflicts her with impure temptations. The remedies which she used against them. The B. Virgin covereth her with a white veil, so as she was no more troubled. The Devil procureth to delude her, in the form of a Religious woman. CHAP. 26.  
ON the eight of September in the same year 1587. she was assaulted by a continual sight of Devils; and by enticing temptations of sense, her Chastity was fiercely set upon; but she remembering that which S. Bennet had done upon a like occasion, going into a room where the wood was kept, and there having first bolted the door, she gathered together rugged sticks, and thorns, & she tumbled therein so long stark naked, 
Note.  that the pain served to quench that devilish fire. Sometimes she would afflict her with disciplines of iron, and gird herself about with a most terrible girdle, which in coarsest canvas, she had embroidered with piercing nails, in such sort, that in truth the only sight thereof maketh them shrink and even tremble, who look upon it But this being found by the Mistress, she was commanded not to use either that, or any other so rigorous mortifications, without express licence which she punctually observed from that time forward. In exchange thereof she had recourse by ardent prayers▪ to the most divine assistance; particularly confiding in the intercession of the B. Virgi●, to whom praying one day with abundant tears (that she would enable her to overcome all impure temptations without any spot to her virginity) the Queen of Heaven appeared to her all environed about with eternal glory, & told her that in those so sharp battles, she had never offended his divine Majesty; nay that with having fought so valiantly, she had ever obtained glorious victory. And then she covered her all over with a most pure white veil, wherewith she found herself interiorly to be as it were restrained & bound, in token that from thenceforth she should never more be assaulted with temptations of Sense as in deed it happened; for in all the course of her life she was never troubled more in that kind, nor ever felt in her mind so much, as any one impure imagination.  
On the same day, she was surprised by a burning fever, with pain in her head and back, which afflicted her for twenty days. Notwithstanding this she never forbore the exercise of the Monastery, but was much more kindled towards the use of holy prayer, to which now she gave herself in extraordinary manner. Whereupon being rapt in excess of mind, she understood from her jesus, that her sickness proceeded not from natural causes, but was otherwise permitted by the will of God for her greater glory and probation.  
The Devil, in the mean time, envying her so great good, and being enraged that he could not overcome her, made her fall sometimes down the stairs, sometimes in the Choir, and sometimes in other places: but the servant of God supporting all for the love of jesus, was not at all hurt by it, but taking courage to herself, she rose up fit for new battles. Besides this, in the midst of those fervent prayers, which oftentimes he sent up to heaven, she found herself to be much bitten, as by venomous serpents; it seemed unto her that the parts of her body were cut off by inches; and being forced by these accidents, she fell down to the ground, where it was necessary for her to stay a good while, with much pain, not being able to move any way; and partly by her continual fever, and partly because she sustained herself with only bread & water, she was weakened in such sort, that it seemed she must ●nstantly faint and sown.  
For this cause, by Obedience which was imposed upon her by her Superiors, she was commanded for three weeks together, to take towards the recovery of her strength, all kind of nutriment, excepting flesh. Which being done, and she having recovered a little force, she instantly returned to her former life. But the Devils forgot not to afflict her with new temptations, that so they might discourage her from austerity, by putting thus great doubts into her mind, that she did not perform the Will of God, and especially in going barefoot and in wearing one only coat, as well in Winter as in Summer. Yea, and the better to persuade her, the Devil appeared to her at that time, in the show of two Religious women; the one appareled in white, 
Note.  the other in black, who both advertised her, that the manner of her life was nothing grateful, and acceptable to God; nay that she offended him thereby; & if she continued in such obstinacy, she would fall into his displeasure. Herewith she was much afflicted, but conferring the whole matter with Mother Prioress, and having made much prayer, with much fervour, she rested certain, that those had been but deceits of the Devil, whereby to remove her from her course begun. Hereof she was yet more assured by God, in a Rapt which she had upon the Vigil of S. Simon and Jude, wherein she received many other spiritual consolations.   

She seethe jesus in such sort, as he was showed by Pilate to the jews. A little bundle of the myrrh of his Passion was granted to her, and jesus was put into her arms, as he was new borne. CHAP. 27.  
WE must not pass over in silence a singular favour. which our Lord God vouchsafed to this blessed soul upon the Tuesday before Lent, which came upon the 5. of February 1585. as they were making a devout Procession in the Monastery, to appease the divine justice, lest otherwise he might have taken due vengeance for the many offences, which on that day use to be committed against him. She being rapt in Extasis, saw her heavenly Spouse expressly in that dolorous manner, as he was when Pilate showed him to the jews, with these words, Ecce Homo. By which sight she being instantly kindled with great desire to suffer, said; O my jesus, why cannot I be she, who may suffer so many outrages, so many scorns, and villainies, as I see those traitors put upon thee, whilst they are showing thee to the people? Why may not I take from off thy head, that piercing Crown, which so much afflicts thee, & put it upon mine own, since for me thou wearest it, and for me thou sufferest those pains and torments?  
After these words, she saw, that jesus to satisfy her desire of suffering, would give to her, as once he did to S. Bernard, a bundle of the Myrrh of his Passion, and so did she affectuously pray that Saint, that he would dispose her to receive it worthily, & that her mind by the blood of jesus, might be purified. And when she had named the instruments of the Passion by one and one, she opened her arms, making show of receiving so great a benefit; and afterwards joining her hands in form of a Cross upon her breast, she said; Fasciculus myrrhae dilectus meus inter ubera mea commorabitur: My beloved is as a bundle of Myrrh which shall remain between my breasts. After this action, she fell all trembling to the ground, making show of suffering beyond measure; for as afterwards she related by holy Obedience, in that instant she endured most bitter torments, not only interiorly, but exteriorly also.  
But she understood at the same time that her beloved jesus had granted her grace, whereby she might have forcible arms to resist the encounters of her spiritual enemies, who then did much more combat with her. Neither was there here an end of celestial favours, for our Lord God, having given her a ●ittle bundle of Myrrh (the gift of sadness and grief) he was pleased to release the pains, which she endured in receiving thereof, by a recompense of incomparable joy. For she having a long time aspired to see her jesus, in such sort, as he was when he parted from the pure womb of Maria, not only did she remain fully satisfied, but it was granted her, that for sometime she might hold the tender infant in her own arms. It is too hard a task to express the unspeakable joy which at that time she showed by her countenance, and with her words full of loving fervour and devotion; and with what acts of humility she did solemnize and reverence that celestial infant, and willingly I can be content to leave it to the contemplation of such devout spirits, as shall read these lines. It sufficeth for the present to add, that she being fortified by these so great graces, was from thenceforth better able to resist all diabolical temptations.   

Of the sight which God gave her of her own defects: and of the great comfort which she received by a certain act of Humility. CHAP. 28.  
THE said temptations grew upon her every day, the Devil seeking some●yms to kindle in her a desire of honour, and worldly greatness, sometimes to cast ●er upon despair; and withal to persuade her, that she should not weary her ●elfe in vain, nor employ herself so without profit in leading an austere Religious life. She was brought hereby to ●uch terms, as she thought that in every ●f her actions, she offended God. Before ●hose Image sometimes passing, being surprised by extraordinary devotion, she would with tenderness, let herself fall ●owne, and in one Rapt of two hours, ●ur Lord made her see all the faults and defects though never so light, which in 〈◊〉 her life she had committed. This sight made her weep bitterly, and she said Willingly would I go into Hell, if thereby could purchase this, that I might never hau● offended thee, O my God. Yet even here th● temptations stayed not, nor yet did sh● give over the discovery of new ways whereby she might vanquish the common enemy. And once she prayed th● Mother Prioress, that for her greate● 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 week, in a manner she was comforted by the spirit of God The Devil envying her so great happiness, appeared to her often in divers terrible shapes. Sometimes he represente● to her mind, the delights of this world Sometimes he made that appear vnt● her for base and vile, which is so high & noble, as namely a Religious state. Bu● above all things, he troubled her muc● upon the point of Poverty; for as ha● been said already, she wearing no other thing upon her, than one bare patch coat, the enemy could not endure so great perfection.  
But the Religious Mothers, considering that she being clad with one light coat, and that almost worn out, she would hardly be able to resist the sharp colds of winter; and not being willing on the other side to disturb her so much, as to make her change it, they resolved that the Prioress should dexteriously find some remedy. Who in the night of S. john the Evangelist after Matins made her come into the midst of the Choir, & told her, that to make her profit in holy Poverty, she was desirous that she should deprive herself of her coat, and should apparel herself with another which was to be given her for God's sake, if the rest of the Mothers, and Sisters, should be so contented. Hereupon they consenting not without abundance of tears, seeing there before them an example of so great virtue, the Prioress made her put off her coat, and to put on the coat of another Sister; affirming that she gave it her for jesus sake, bidding her keep it till it were required again. By this action all diabolical tentation which vexed her in the point of Poverty, was much weakened, and she found withal, so great contentment of soul, that being rapt in Extasis, she seemed to feel part of the joy of those blessed spirits, which are appareled in heaven with immortal glory. And moreo- she had a lively feeling of how much the virtues of Humility, and Poverty ought to be esteemed, and loved, which make the souls in heaven happy, and amiable even here on earth.   

God showeth 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 year of 1587. she being employed about some business of the Monastery, after she had said with the other Religious, as many Psalms in honour of that Saint, as the name of Augustine contained letters, she was rapt in Extasis, & instantly began with great fervour to beg of God, that he would show 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 vain, for instantly she saw, as might be understood by her manner of speech, that our Lord God for the merits of that Saint imparted to them many spiritual gifts. The evening after, she being in the Choir at Complyn, whilst the Salue Regina was sung, she saw S. Augustine environed with eternal glory; & then fastening her eyes on heaven, being filled with divine splendour, she began to discourse with that Saint, with such admirable fervour of spirit, and with so great vehemency of speech, that it was impossible for the Religious to note her words.  
But the night following, saying her Matins with the rest, when she was come to the midst thereof, retiring herself a little aside, she was again alienated from her senses, and S. Augustine did in like manner appear to her, who made an end of saying the Office with he● as might easily be known by her reciting of one verse, and not the other, she hearing that the Saint did utter it. At the same time she also heard the Angelical melodies, whereupon she said; Yea this is other manner of music, then that which is made below on earth. Having ended the Office, she began to beg of jesus with most devout words, That he would vouchsafe to come, and unite himself to her in the B. Sacrament; and remaining yet still in Rapt, she went to the usual place of the Communion, & being upon her knees, she remained there till the Ghostly Father came to communicate the Religious & she was also commumnicated without ever going out of the Rapt, whereby she was so much kindled with the love of God, that she seemed even with excess of tenderness to faint, and she uttered words so fervent & affectuous, as would have mollified any perverse, and stony heart; and thus passed she that night in these devout contemplations.   

She is tempted, that for the benefit of souls she would leave that Religious state. And afterwards she was tempted with Pride, & proper Estimation, and of the remedies which she used, that she might not be overcome. CHAP. 30.  
HOWSOEVER the enemy of mankind saw, that he laboured in vain in striving to remove this Spouse of Christ from her holy life, yet he ceased not with new assaults to afflict & tempt her. For under the shadow of good, he was desirous to persuade her, 
Note.  that more quietly she might serve God, if putting of the habit of Religion, for the benefit of Souls, she would return into the world. But finding her still more and more stable in her holy purpose, he began again to appear to her, in fearful shapes, threatening 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 serve God, to free herself from the tentation of leaving the Religious habit, she took one day the keys of the Monastery, and placed them in the hands of the Crucifix, to show that she should yield Obedience only to him, in the observation of her enclosure.  
The night after, being of S. Andrew the Apostle, saying Matins with the rest of her Sisters, she was troubled with a most grievous tentation, to make herself away. She went from thence to the Refectory, where she took up a knife, and returning into the Choir, yet still in Rapt, she ascended up to the Altar of the B. Virgin, and put it into her hands, so to obtain the grace of being able to conquer the temptation. After this, she trod it under her feet, thereby to put the greater scorn upon the Tempter.  
Another time, she procured Mother Prioress to tie her first in her cell for the same purpose, and in reward of so great humility, God called her to the knowledge of high mysteries, and ●rengthned her much against new com●ts. But the threats and temptations of ●he Devil sometimes of Pride, sometimes of forsaking her Religious habit, ●ot ceasing, she ran hastily to the Prioress, and in the presence of all the Religious (with a Rope about her neck, & her hands bound together) she demanded the Religious habit for God's sake; and with these acts of mortification & humility, she obtained the conquest. Yet hardly overcame she any temptation, but that others would grow the more terrible to her thereby. Being tempted, that she should not obey the Superiors, Mother Prioress made her promise to God, in the presence of many Religious, perpetual Obedience. Hearing Mass sometimes she was cruelly tormented by Devils, and with much fury sometimes thrown this way, and sometimes that way, which the Religious so visibly seeing, were brought to great compassion towards her. To profit yet more in virtue, she would put herself to the performing of the most vile and ignoble exercises of the Kitchen; & not only did she make herself obedient, and subject to the Mothers, but even to the lay Sisters also. And for their help, she carried wood and coals, and drew water without favouring herself at all, as if she had been the most abject person in the Monastery. Besides that, she did these things whilst she went barefoot, and vilely clad, as our Lord had commanded her; so that it cannot be expressed, how much she mortified herself by these exercises. Having once served 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 jesus, and she obtained to see S. john the Evangelist, and S. Catharine of Sienna, who bond the Devils with straight chains. Thus continued she by the space of three years continually fight, and by Humility obtaining victory over Pride.   

For having overcome the temptations of leaving her Religious habit, she was by jesus appareled interiorly with the same habit, and by him she was communicated. CHAP. 31.  
HAVING by heavenly help overcome the temptations of leaving her Religious habit; she was much inflamed with a desire to be interiorly appareled therewith. And hereupon pouring forth earnest prayers to our Lord upon the fifth of August, and reading the life of S. Diego, to whom she was devoted, she grew to be alienated from her senses; and by her words it was known that the Saint aforesaid did show her a white and fair habit, which came forth of the side of the Son of God. So as now she doubled her prayers to her heavenly Spouse, that he would be pleased to grant it to her. She also invocated all her Patron Saints, beseeching our Lord again that upon that day which was the Feast of S. 
An Advocate of interssion not of Redemption.  Albertus' her Advocate, he would  her all interiorly, to the end that she might imitate the same Saint, with greater fervour of spirit. Her desires were granted; for turning her eyes towards Christ jesus crucified, she saw issuing out of his side, a most precious Coat, out of his right hand a Scapulary, out of his left hand a Girdle, from his thorny head a White veil, and from the wound of his neck which was made when he bore the Cross, a Mantle bright and shining, beyond all possibility of imagination.  
Then moved by divine spirit, she ascended up to the little Altar, where the Crucifix was; and whilst she fastened her eyes upon it, the Religious found plainly by her postures and motions, that interiorly she was appareled with the holy Coat. Afterwards with great fervour of love, she kissed the wound of his side, from whence the Vest issued; & afterwards received from every other wound of the Crucifix, all those several things aforesaid. The Garland, the Light, and the Crucifix which is given by the Priest to such as are vested with a Religious habit, she received from the Queen of heaven. Whereof by the words which then she uttered clear proof was given, as also by her kissing an Image of the B. Virgin, in the same manner as she had done that of the Crucifix.  
And it was very remarkable, that she omitted not even the least ceremony which is used, when the habit of Religion is taken; only she uttered not the verses, which then are usually sung; but for as much as was to be conceived, they were sung in her hearing by the Angels of heaven; for she said, O yea, you sing well indeed, these are other manner of musics, then are made here below on earth. After this she was communicated by her jesus, not being able that morning to receive him with the Religious, by reason of her continual Rapts. She said the Confiteor, and Domine non sum dignus etc. and the Religious that were present saw that she opened her mouth, and made all those other demonstrations which are usual with such as receive the Sacrament. Then being richly full of joy, she said with incredible spirit of devotion, these words; Dilectus meus candidus & rubicundus; Speciosus forma prae filijs hominum; Diffusa est gratia in labijs tuis; Collocavit se in anima mea; Dilata cor meum ut inducat omnem creaturam ad communicationem corporis & sanguinis tui; Quàm bonus Israel Deus! And taking the Crucifix, she gave it to be kissed by all the Religious there present; and having afterward recommended to our Lord, the salvation of his creatures, and withal giving him thanks, for so many graces, she returned out of the Rapt, wherein for the space of three hours she had remained.   

She bringeth back a But of wine, which was utterly spoiled, to the perfection which before it had, by making a sign of the Cross upon it: and one of the Religious who was then sick by drinking thereof was cured. CHAP. 32.  
IN the same year, and about the end of the said Month, a But of wine being utterly spoiled in the Monastery, & the Religious being poor, and ill provided of money, it fell out to be very incommodious to them. But Suor Maria Maddalena (being called) was commanded in virtue of Obedience by Mother Prioress, being Suor Vangelista del Giocondo to pray that the wine might return to his goodness, and so the Monastery be freed from want. The Servant of God did instantly put herself into prayer; and being rapt in spirit out of her senses, she went speedily where the But of wine was, and as soon as ever she made the sign of the Cross upon it, the wine returned to the former state, and so the Monastery was served.  
At that very time, one of the Religious, called Suor Maria Angela Santucci, was sick, & so afflicted with a grievous flux, that the Physicians doubted greatly of her recovery. But hearing speech of the said miracle, she demanded a little of that wine, which as soon as ever she had drunk with great Faith, she sensibly felt her disease to lessen, and soon after she grew entirely well, to the great wonder of all the Religious. And she herself, who yet liveth, giveth testimony to this miracle.   

She seethe the soul of one of the Religious of that Monastery depart out of Purgatory into Heaven. CHAP. 33.  
ON the third of February in the same year 1588. she being rapt in spirit, it was granted her by God, to see the soul of one of the Religious of that Monastery, which (after it had remained 16. days in Purgatory) all environed with eternal glory went up to heaven. And she understood, that upon three particular occasions, she had remained during that time in Purgatory. First, because upon holy days, having an extraordinary curious hand with the needle she had wrought some things without necessity. Secondly, because being an ancient Mother in that Religion, she had failed sometimes for certain human respects, to advertise the Superiors of the inspirations which God had given her for the good state of that Monastery. And thirdly, because she was too great a lover of her kindred.  
Three virtues also were discovered to her, for which the others pain had been abbreviated. The first was the studious care which she ever had to conserve the purity & simplicity of her Order. The second, the great Charity which she had showed towards all the Religious. The third, because she still endeavoured to interpret all things to a good end. She saw then, that this blessed soul went rich in merit, to enjoy that incomprehensible felicity in the midst of her good Angel, and S. Miniatus the Martyr, to whom in that year she had been particularly devoted. And now by the sight of so noble an object as this was, she did even triumph with joy, and seemed unable to contain herself, from aspiring to follow her, that she might also possess her dear Spouse Christ jesus.   

She is much troubled by the temptations of Gluttony. CHAP. 34.  
IN THIS mean time, the Devil (never ceasing to molest her) came with a temptation of extreme Gluttony. And although any vice of this kind was wholly contrary even to her natural inclination (besides the resolution that she had made, to feed only upon bread and water) yet nevertheless, she was urged withal violence by that malign spirit, sometimes to take meat by stealth, sometimes to desire those meats, which howsoever they were in themselves shut up, yet they seemed visibly to be represented before his eyes For having occasion to pass often by those places where the provision was kept, she would instantly see the doors and cupboards to fly open before her, so as by occasion thereof, she was extraordinarily troubled with that tentation.  
But by how much the more she esteemed that sin to be absurdly undecent and deformed, 
Note.  so much the more did the motion thereof give her cause to humiliate herself; and she would use to say to one of her Sisters; That God Almighty could not suffer the Devils to trouble her in any thing, which gave her greater affliction then by that tentation of Gluttony. But yet, said she, I must be feign to swallow down these bits, which are both sweet and bitter; sweet, because they are made by the permission of God; and bitter for the shame and pain which they carry in themselves. In the eating now and then of an apple (when she was permitted to use food of Lent) she would, through the contemplation of the beauty thereof, so dive into the providence & liberality of him that made it, that she found no taste or savour at all in the thing itself. With these exercises, but above all with the consideration of her own weakness (since so vile and poor a thing, as the desire of meat, is able to make such war against us) she (humbling herself so much the more) was daily overcoming all diabolical suggestions.   

She is tempted with desperation of those succours which God by his Saints doth grant her: and of the remedies which she found. CHAP. 35.  
YET the said suggestions did not cease. For the infernal enemy, observing her great constancy, began furiously to tempt her with despair. And therefore, he represented to her sometimes, that she was to be damned, and that God had abandoned her for her grievous sins. At other times, he would in like manner strive to persuade her, that she was never to find mercy with God, & very often he urged her to kill herself with her own hand s● enticing her sometimes to thrust a knife into her throat, and sometimes to cast a halter about her neck, and so to end her life. But she in the midst of these passages, as afterwards she told the Prioress with abundant tears, made a vow to God, that she would never offend him. And so our Lord was not wanting to strengthen her in those temptations with many celestial favours. For upon the day of S. Thomas of Aquine (being alienated from her senses) she saw him in the glory of heaven, adorned with immortal light, and by him (as afterwards she told by Obedience) all her senses, and her heart were united, by a most precious and delicious liquor, that he powered into her, whereby she was restored, as that her enemies could not conquer her. She also understood in this Rapt, by that glorious Saint, that the aridity of her spirit, was yet to increase much more, which she could hardly believe, as thinking that already it was as much as it could be.  
But soon after, the temptations began again to assault & urge her with such fury, that oftentimes the Prioress commanding her to do some things under holy Obedience, she was even as it were constrained to refuse the doing of it in words, although her mind were most ready to put it in execution. But yet hardly could she have pronounced the ending of those words, but that with tears she would protest that she would sooner die then fail to yield Obedience to her Superiors Whereupon she would in the hands of Mother Prioress make cheerfully her Profession. And our Lord at that time, to make her profit more in holy virtue, did inspire her Superiors to double her penances and mortifications, which she with a cheerful mind did execute, not without admirable example to others. And she was often rapt in Extasis, and strengthened towards the enduring of new spiritual combats.  
It happened in particular manner, upon the day of the holy Annunciata in the same year, that being rapt in spirit, she spoke for the space of six hours, of the Incarnation of the Word in so high manner, that whosoever had heard her, would have been astonished.  
Besides this she saw, when she was in Extasis, at several times, the glory of many Saints in heaven, whereby she was greatly comforted. And among others, she was often assisted by S. Diego her particular Patron, and taught by him how to obtain victory against the Devil.  
Notwithstanding all this, the dryness of spirit grew yet greater in her, 
Note.  so as in the midst of her temptations she took this expedient, to resort to Mother Prioress, and confer with her touching all things; but the Devil opposing himself thereunto, made her often lose the way, & she purposing to go to Mother Prioress should find herself in other places. And beside, when she would be going towards the Chapterhouse, to accuse herself publicly of her defects, she was sometimes so disquieted by the horrible blasphemies of Devils, which she heard sounding in her ears, that she found much difficulty to get thither. But by the many acts of humility and reverence which she made, she overcame all those diabolical devices, and received greater spiritual light from Almighty God.   

Of the several mortifications and humble acts which she performed for the overcoming of her temptations. CHAP. 36.  
FOR this reason she would often kiss the feet of all the Religious. Sometimes with her hands bound behind her, she severally of them all asked pardon for her defects. At other times, in the presence of them all she was disciplined by Mother Prioress; and sometimes by some other of the Religious. Very often being at table in the Refectory, she was called by her Superior with a loud voice, and commanded to go round about, by the Religious, with a basket begging a bit of bread for God's sake; and then commanded to sit upon the ground, and so eat the bread which she had begged. At other times she was made to prostrate upon the ground, and all the Religious did pass over her. And once, being in the Choir with the rest, he was caused to be bound to a post with her hands behind her. But she received this mortification with so joyful 〈◊〉 mind (remembering in this act how Christ jesus had been tied to a pillar) ●hat she was instantly rapt in spirit; and spoke so highly in that rapt, that they could not hear her without wonder. Another time, retiring into the Choir, she took a great Rope with which she caused her hands to be bound behind her, and she made herself to he hoodwinked, and so to be tied to the grate of the Altar, to the end that the Religious who were to pass that way, might be moved thereby to vilify & laugh at her. But it proved otherwise, for they seeing so piteous a spectacle, there was not one of them who did not find herself kindled towards devotion; and she being asked by the Prioress, upon 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 fervent tears, that she would be pleased to bid the Religious that as she should be going to that Altar for a certain devotion o● hers, they should say such words to he● as these, whereby to vilify her so much the more: Suor Maria Maddalena, this i● come upon you for your defects, and because you willbe doing of things too much after your own fashion. The Mother Prioress satisfied her desire herein; and thereupon Suor Maria Maddalena demanded pardon of them all with so great humility, that there was none of them who found not herself tenderly affected with it; and having continued for the space of an hour in this Mortification, she was loosed at last by Mother Prioress, not without extraordinary edification. In this mean time, fastening her eyes upon an Image of the B. Virgin, she was estranged from her senses; and she understood from her Lord, how that act of humility had been grateful to him. And by this means a great multitude of devils being confounded, they came about her with so horrible outcries, as gave her no small vexation.   

She resisteth other temptations of the Devils, and sends them often away. CHAP. 37.  
FOR the adding of one affliction to another, there passed not much time, before the Devil appeared to her again with hideous aspect, whilst she was making Prayer, so that even overwhelmed instantly with great terror, she became deadly pale. And calling first upon S. Michael the Archangel in her aid, and turning her face up to heaven, she said; O Word, O Word, In te Domine sper●ui, non confundar in aeternum. After which words she uttered a profound sigh, and turning towards the Devil, said; What dost thou demand of me, O thou horrible beast? O bone jesus, by the sight of my offences which I see, and by that other sight of mine enemies, me thinks, that I am even in possession of hell. But if you, O Devils, had even swallowed me up, you should yet be forced to deliver me back again.  
Whilst thus she was tormented with this fearful spectacle, her face became all wan; and through the excess of that agony, her sweat distilled in great abundance. She was then cast down to the ground with great fury, & beaten with incredible rage. For sometimes the Devil struck her over the head, sometimes he cast her down precipitously, so that her face was swelled in such sort, that for the space of many days, it was necessary for her to be under cure. But she conforming herself to the will of God, said thus; In fine, O thou hideous beast, when thou shalt have tormented me, according to thine own desire, what wilt thou have obtained thereby? Benedica● Dominum in omni tempore, semper laus eius in ore meo. Then rising up on her feet, and leaning against an Altar, she was again impetuously cast down to the ground. But she having recourse to the aid of heaven, said; Exurgat Deus, & dissipentur inimici eius. And then turning towards the Devils, she added; Yet can you do no more than is permitted to you by my Spouse; I deny not, but that thou art strong, O horrible beast, & that I of myself am weak, 
Note.  but my Lord standeth near me, who is infinitely more strong and more courageous than thou. Do you not observe, O you ignorant fools, that I am with my jesus, and that you can do me no harm? Do you not yet further observe, that by these so many your battles, you make me become a more glorious Conqueress?  
Soon after, she drove those malign spirits away with a discipline. For seeing herself environed by them, she cast herself upon the ground, still striking, now on the right hand, and then on the left, with strange agility. Afterwards walking through the Oratory, where she was, with great speed she did strike upon the benches, and upon the walls in such sort, as that she resembled the Son of God, when he drove the sellers out of the Temple. She saw afterwards that many of those malign spirits retired themselves into all the parts of the Monastery, to assault the other Religious with other temptations, but they could not enter into the Chapter house, for the humble and reverent acts which are exercised there.  
Some of them she saw, where the Religious use to communicate, & where they hear the word of God; who earnestly laboured to disquiet their hearts with earthly thoughts, to the end that they might not come to know the great union which is made with Almighty God, by receiving that food of life. Some of them she saw in the work house, who tempted the Religious to work negligently, and to have no zeal to relieve the poverty of their Order. Others again she saw in the Refectory, who incited the Religious to be at the Table without devotion, and attention to the sacred lesson. Seeing also at another time (whilst she was in Rapt, and the Religious were singing the divine Laudes in the Choir) that a great multitude of Devils was at the door, ready to enter in (and that one was already entered and stood tempting the Spouses of Christ) the good Mother being inflamed with fervour of Spirit, went as it were flying towards the Choir, and snatching up a Cross, she drove away therewith those infernal spirits. But as she often saw the Devils throughout the Covent who endeavoured extremely to distract the Relious from the straightway to heaven, so were there also showed unto her by our Lord, a greater number of holy Angels, which gave strength and courage to their souls, whereby they might resist temptations.   

She freeth one of the Religious from a contagious disease, and cureth a lay Sister of whom the one half was senseless, from the head to the feet. CHAP. 38.  
SVOR Barbara Bassi a professed Religious, had been subject for many years to a contagious disease, almost throughout her whole body, whereby she was much pained, and especially when she took her food. And the remedies she used, did but tend to the increase of her torment; so as the Physicians allowed her but a short time of life; the rather because the said sickness was such, as that by little and little it did eat away all her flesh. Many times she had recommended herself to the prayers of Suor Maria Maddalena, but she one day in the year 1589. going to visit this sick person, was so inflamed with Charity, as that with her tongue she began to lick her hands and arms, in those places where the pestiferous evil did most afflict her, and having told the sick person, that she must have confidence in God, 
Note.  and in the B. Virgin, because she should be cured away she went. And it was admirable, how within few days she was wholly clear of that sickness, and in such sort, as it seemed not, that in her flesh, there had been ever any infirmity.  
At the same time, there was in the Monastery a lay Sister called Suor Place Colombini. This woman had lost all sense in one whole side of her body, through the excessive torment that she had felt; in so much as her flesh being deprived of sense, might have been cut off without any pain to the patiented. So as she despairing wholly of human help, prayed the Mother Suor Maria Maddalena, that for the love of jesus she would make the sign of the Cross upon her. The good Mother, in her great humility, made some resistance, but finally being more urged by ardent Charity, 
Note.  three times she signed her with the sign of the Cross. It is incredible to tell, how immediately thereupon, the sick person was freed, and so freed, that instantly she went about the business of the Monastery. And she herself is yet living, and gives clear testimony to this miracle.   

She seethe the soul of one Religious ascend into heaven, and of another who was suffering in Purgatory, in a particular manner. CHAP. 39  
THE same year, on the fift of june, a Religious of that Monastery passed from this to a better life, to whom Suor Maria Maddalena had performed great offices of charity, during the whole time of her sickness. Her body was yet in the Church unburied, when she, with the rest of her Sisters being employed about their usual exercises, and being moved by God, she went towards the grate of the Chapterhouse, from whence she might see the body of her dead Sister. She was scarcely arrived thither, when being rapt in Extasis, she saw her soul fly happily up into the joys of heaven. Whereupon, she broke out into these words; Farewell my Sister, farewell happy soul. Thou art going up to heaven, like purest Dove, leaving all us here below. O how glorious art thou, and how fair, and who shallbe able to describe thy beauty? How small a time hast thou remained in those flames? Thy body is not yet buried, and thy soul is flying up into eternal glory. Now dost thou see clearly that which I was wont to tell thee, whilst yet thou wast on earth, that thy sufferings here, would seem nothing to thee, in respect of the glory, which jesus had laid up for thee in Heaven.  
In the mean time it was declared to her by our Lord, how that soul, because she had suffered extremely in this life, and for the devotion which she had to holy Indulgences (as imparting the merits of Christ jesus) she had stayed in Purgatory only fifteen hours. In the mean time the body was buried, and she returned from her Rapt, saying; Whilst burial is giving to the body in earth, the soul is placed for all eternity in heaven.  
About the same time, making prayers before the B. Sacrament, there was represented to the eyes of her mind, the Soul 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 (appareled with a garment of fire, and a white vest underneath) adore the food of the Angels, with great reverence. She understood afterwards, how that flame which encompassed her, and the obligation to stand an hour in the day to honour the B. Sacrament in the Church of that Monastery, was imposed by God, in punishment for her having negligently omitted divers times to receive the holy Communion. But that white Vest which gave her great consolation, was granted in reward of her virginity, & purity, which she had still manteyned. Afterwards in the same year 1589. she saw it fly, fair and purified into eternal Rest.   

After the five years of Probation she is taken out of the lake of Lions by her Patron-Saints: that is, she is freed from the assaults of Devils, & rewarded by God with infinite graces. CHAP. 40.  
THE five years were passed, wherein Suor Maria Maddalena had been so furiously assaulted by the temptations of infernal enemies, when at length her jesus was pleased to make an end of those afflictions, and as a Conqueress to reward her even in this life, with graces of incomparable value. So as upon the night of that admirable solemnity of the Holy Ghost on the 10. of june, in the year 1590. being in the Choir with the other Religious in celebration of the sacred Office, at the singing of that Canticle, Te Deum laudamus etc. she was estranged from her senses, and in such sort remained without speech till Matins were at an end. Then became her countenance to be of admirable beauty, & by the words which she uttered, it was clearly known that she then conceived in herself celestial ardours of the Holy Ghost, by the strength whereof, the powers of her mind were all purified; and she utters many sentences of the holy Scripture with admirable devotion.  
At these things were present her Patron-Saints, who immediately before had drawn her out of the Lake of Lions, that is, they freed her from those afflictions, wherein as in a lake, she had been (as already hath been said) five continued years for her Probation, & they entirely took from the Devils all power of afflicting her in future time, whereupon all fulfiled with heavenly delights, she said; Eripuit me de manibus inimicorum, & ipsi confusi sunt; Et transivi perignem & aquam & eduxisti me in refrigerium. These most cruel beasts (she spoke here of the Devils) have certain ways to fright us, whereby they thought to return to their great Devil, to give him account of some rich gain that they had made; but my Patron-Saints do take them ●d ruin them, because now every thing is ●rifyed in the blood of my God, and that therein they thought to have gotten the upper ●nd, even by that they are the more tormented since they return without victory. And ●ho shallbe able to conceive, O my Lord, how ●hat which to me seemed affliction, is no affliction, but triumph and glory to my soul. She ●ad no sooner ended these words, but ●he turned herself, being still in Extasis, ●owardes the Prioress, & to her Mistress, who were near her and wring them with her hands, she said with an inestimable joy of heart; It is come, and it is passed (she speaks of the time of her Probation) do you therefore help me to thank and glorify my God. After this, she returned from the Rapt; yet so, that as soon as she had restored herself with a little bread and water, she went again into Extasis.  
Then did she see a greater light, in the midst whereof there was a troop of her Patron-Saints, who being divided into seven couples in excellent manner, made a noble Procession. These were (for she named them all one by one) S. Thomas of Aquine, S. Agnes, S. john the Evangelist, S. Magdalen, S. john Baptist, S Catharine Virgin and martyr, S. Steven, S Catharine of Sienna, S. Francis, S. Clare, S Augustine, S. Angelus a Carmelitan Martyr S. Michael the Archangel, and her own good Angel. These she saw immediately before, going towards the eternal Father and from his divine breast, they took● admirable gifts wherewith to adorn● her; and she understood that they wer● sent to her, by her heavenly Spouse, in reward of the grievous afflictions that she had sustained in the five years of her Probation, whereby being made even top full with joy, she said: O my Lord, m● thinks thou art about to reward me (if I may so say) even for the offences which I have committed against thee; for I see not that I have done any thing, but offended thee. But well, well, to thee all things are known.  
After this, she made evident show that her Patron-Saintes were drawing near her, when she said, O you my Advocates, how favourable are you unto me? And so each couple of them (as was evident by the manner of her speech) enriched her with several celestial Presents, fetched from heaven. One put upon her ●ead a glorious Crown of immortal Light; Another with chains of gold a●orned her neck; Another with a most ●ure vest on all sides did cover her; Some compassed in her hands with beautiful bracelets; Others enriched her fingers with rings of invaluable price, and o●hers (to conclude) did honour her with most precious stones, and riches of ●eauen.  
She, in the mean time, contemplated with great admiration, the sovereign beauty of those Saints; and finding that they environed her round about, she turned from one side to the o●her, and could never be satisfied in beholding those divine objects. And speaking to them, she said thus: Feign would I see you all at once, but cannot; For if I turn to the right hand, I see not them who are on the left; and if I look on the left, I lose the sight of them who are on the right; and yet feign I would see all your beauties. She showed afterwards, by the manne● of her speech, that the Saints themselves began to make Court unto ou● Lord, with instruments, and voices, & gestures betokening joy, for the victory granted to his Spouse, in the time of her Probation; and so it was an admirable thing, to see how she, with a manner full of majesty, in acting and dancing gave signs of joy. Then she began to discourse with the Saints by one and one, naming both themselves, and the instruments celestial which they had in their hands. Her countenance was joyful & resplendent, when continuing her speech in that heavenly company, she said, I will go into all those places where my adversary hath endeavoured to do me hurt, to confound him the more with all his craft.  
And first, she went into a place of the Monastery where she had been extraordinarily assaulted by the Devil; & there as soon as she arrived, by singing and dancing she affronted Satan. At the first, speaking to the Devils she said, I will in despite of you keep holy the day of ●ur Lord before him, I will laugh you to scorn, ●nd at his feet I will cast myself. Then she ●ell upon her knees, and soon after rising added, Of that which hath happened to ●e before my God, I will glory for your greater ●aine; and thereof I will make a Crown to wear upon my head, and humble myself to him again. O hideous infernal Beasts, cry ●ut and howl as loud as you list, my soul esteems you no more than a fly; but I will ●hanke my God for this great mercy till I die.  
She went after into other places of the Covente, and there with sweet voice did sing, Quis nos separabit à chari●ate Christi? Tribulatio, an Angustia, an Fames! Nemo poterit me separare à charitate Christi. And again she added: Omnia arbitrata sum ut stercora, ut Christum lucrifa●iam. Dominus illuminatio mea, & salus mea ●uem timebo? Then went she speedily to an Altar of the B. Virgin and said to her with great devotion, O most pure Maria, I offer and give myself unto thee, not only with that purity and innocency which I received when I consecrated myself to thee, but I give ●t thee now, being more adorned and more purified. Receive me then, O Maria, and preserve me in thee. After this, she returned from her rapt, and although she had been adorned with so singular gifts, yet nevertheless with a most profound humility she humbled herself before the Religious, who, by that time, were come thither in great number, and then she returned to the common affairs o● the Monastery.   

For reward of the sight of Devils which she had suffered in her Probation, jesus showed himself to her in three manners; promising from thence forth, that she ever should enjoy his presence. CHAP. 31.  
THE course and current of celestial Grace, stayed not here; for the Monday following, which was the second feast of the Holy Ghost (being rapt in Extasis, after the holy Communion) she understood how jesus would that morning reward her with a liberal gift, namely that from thenceforth she ever should have before the eyes of her mind, the high presence of God, in am of the horrible sight of devils, whereby in the time of her Probation she had so terribly been frighted. And then she began to see her beloved Spouse, whereby she was at an instant filled with such joy, as cannot be imagined, and fastening her eyes upon him, she said; O my spouse (for so I will presume to call thee) the sight of the Devil is not so hideous, but that thy sight is incomparably more delightful, who art (as the Prophet saith) speciosus forma prae filijs hominum. And as formerly there was neither time, nor place, when I had not the fearful vision of those malign Spirits, so now, whether I go, or stand, or labour, or speak, I shall ever see thee my beloved. And as they, besides that they appeared to the sight of my mind, sometimes did also show themselves in several forms to my corporal eyes; so thou also wilt not only be present to my mind, but wilt also show thyself to the eyes of my body, thereby to make me triumph in joy and exultation.  
Our Lord did then ask of her, in what appearance she desired to see him, and she answered; As thou art one God in three Persons, so I would be glad to see thee in three manners: As thou wast in the time, when thou wert in Egypt, I say in thy infancy; 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 words, but this suit of hers was granted, and jesus showed himself to her punctually as she desired, in the time of his infancy. So as full of joy, turning her eyes towards him, she began to speak in this manner; O here behold my little one in the age of three or four years; O admirable thing, thou art so very little, and yet thou art God; but thy littleness makes me know thy greatness. O greatness and littleness of my God. I shall never be satisfied in beholding thee; O little and great God so beautiful and attractive. She than saw the same jesus in the state of riper childhood, and being then surprised with greater joy, she said; O behold my spouse, who before showed himself to me so very little, and now I see him in the age of twelve years, with a countenance so delightful & admirable, wherein there shineth such a grave sweetness. O my God so lovely, & gracious, to such as taste thee!  
After this she went to the Oratory where prostrating herself on earth before the Altar of the B. Virgin with full zeal, she prayed that the lively flames of divine love might dilate themselves in the heart of every Religious in that Monastery. And these prayers were well made; for she understood soon after, that God granted singular graces to that Monastery; so she being all comforted returned shortly out of the Rapt. As soon as she had strengthened herself by a little food, she was again 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 jesus then appearing to her in that form, and she looking on him with attentive eyes, said; O my jesus I will behold thee in this flourishing age of thine, sometimes working, sometimes praising thee, sometimes labouring for thee; I will see thee I say, in this so beautiful, and gracious age of thine, when thou dost leave thyself to us by enduring the most sacred Passion; I will take extreme delight to behold thee, as now the● showest thyself, namely sitting upon that fountain, where thou wast interrogating and illuminating. Many other discourses she had with her beloved Lord, whilst she saw him in those three aforesaid forms, besides that in these three days of the Holy Ghost (whereof she consumed the greatest part in Extasis) there were communicated to her many celestial secrets, and she spoke so highly of the greatnesses that are in God, as doth exceed all human thought. But I pass on for greate● brevity.   

By her Prayers she obtaineth from God, space of life for the Confessarius of the Monastery. CHAP. 42.  
IN the year 1590. the Confessarius of the Monastery being grievously sick, and near to death, having already been annealed, this servant of God, both w●th sighs and tears, disposed herself to pray our Lord so earnestly, that for the spiritual benefit of her Monastery he would prolong his life, that the said Confessarius being aged of 77. years in ●hort time, recovered his forces so well, ●hat he left his bed, and at the solemnity of the Corpus Domini, which was at hand he confessed and communicated the Religious, to their great comfort. And by ●his prolonging of his life, came much spiritual profit to the Monastery. To ●his miracle all the Religious do give ●laine testimony, who yet live, & were present at the working thereof.   

She seethe the soul of her Mother ascend up to heaven; and she also seethe a good Priest who enjoyeth eternal happiness. CHAP. 43.  
IN the Month of September, of the same year 1590. our Lord jesus was pleased to refresh his beloved Spouse, with an extreme consolation, for the agonies which were so patiently endured by her in the time of her Probation. For she being in rapt, he showed her the soul of her mother, who 15. days before was departed out of this life, and so being environed by eternal splendours, she went up to heaven, accompanied by her Patron-Saints. There were given her by her Mother three advices, which by holy Obedience she was enjoined to declare. First that to the uttermost of her power, she should endeavour to profit in holy humility. Secondly, that she should be a true observer of Obedience: and thirdly, that in all things she should strive to exercise Prudence. Having given these holy counsels, her happy Mother took herself out of sight, and went to enjoy supreme happiness.  
Soon after also, she saw the soul of a venerable Priest, who for the love of God had laboured much in spiritual exercises; and he went to inhabit his celestial Country being rich in glory. By these means, she went still profiting in holy virtue, and was kindled more and more towards the purchase of true felicity.   

Of the manner of her life, from the time that she entered into her Probation, until her death. CHAP. 44.  
THIS courageous warrior of jesus, being to encounter with divers temptations, lead a life wholly illuminated by God, and full of mortification and penance. For in the five years of her Pro●ation, 
Note.  she sustained not her body otherwise in effect, then by bread and water. By the space of three years, she being admonished by advice from heaven, went bare footed, and consequently being of delicate complexion, she could not without extreme pain endure those bitter colds of winter. So much the more, because for her greater mortification, she employed herself as hath been said already, in those painful exercises, of drawing water, and doing of other inferior things; and neither making any account of the rain or snow, she went up and down, sometimes in the garden, and sometyms in other places of the Monastery; so that through the most bitter season of the year, her flesh would break and open in such sort, as to shed blood in great quantity; and that would make most painful sores. Therefore out of compassion, the Religious would sometimes swath her legs, but she caring for no such compliments, with a cheerful countenance would say; Give me leave to suffer for my sins. She wore only one Coat, which was old, and patched, as well in the sharp seasons of the year, as ●t other times; so as now, and then, through the extreme could she trembled ●n such sort, as she could hardly speak. Moreover the usual time of feeding or sleeping she did ordinarily spend in continual prayer, or in excesses of mind. And yet even when she would dispose herself to take any rest, she slept in her clothes, and almo t ever upon a hard sack of straw, or else upon the bare ground. Her sleep was extremely short; for that mind, which was accustomed in those Nocturnal hours to transform itself often into God, by divine contemplation, could hardly induce itself to give long repose to the body, though it were much weakened with affliction. And yet more to exercise herself in watching (not only in the time of her Probation, but even in the whole course of her life, whilst she had any health) she obtained that the Office should be ever hers, of calling the Religious to Matins. Many times also in the very dead of the night, she was heard to sigh and weep bitterly, and sometimes to punish her body with sharp and severe disciplines, but she being assisted by divine grace found herself in the midst of these mortifications to gather strength.  
When the five years of her Probation were ended, she had particular light from our Lord, how his divine will was, that she should, according to the custom of the Monastery, return to the use of single soled shoes and slippers, which she did readily fulfil, but as for hose, in her life she never put any on again, except for a time of two years, wherein she was still recovering out of a dangerous sickness. After her Probation ended, she began also (being so advised from above) to take upon Sundays, not the food of Lent, but such as was common to the Monastery; and on Thursdays to drink a little wine, but upon other days she continued to fast with bread and water, for twenty months afterwards. But her Superiors then seeing that her forscedayly diminished by her leading so rigorous a life, and fearing that so they might lose the mirror of so admirable ●n example, they commanded her, by ho●y Obedience, that she earnestly should desire grace of our Lord, that she might be able to live according to the common use. She therefore being urged by holy Obedience powered forth fervent prayers to the Eternal God, and obtained to know his divine will to be this, that she wholly should resign herself to the Obedience of her Superiors. Whereupon they ordained, that she should feed upon common meats, wherein after her manner she obeyed readily. And verily she was in this an admirable spectacle to all the Monastery; for still she fed herself most sparingly, and chose for her food the meanest & poorest meats, 
Note.  making show with a holy kind of craft that she liked them best.  
But she never gave over the use of clothing herself with one only Coat, and that the poorest in the Monastery, except in the two years of her great infirmity and recovery from the same; nor did she ever give over to sleep upon a hard sack of straw in the whole time of her life. Only when she began to be sick of that disease, which brought her afterwards to her end, she was commanded by holy Obedience to use matteresse; and when her sickness afterwards so far increased, as that she was tied to her bed, of herself she demanded that her Superiors would permit her to rest upon a featherbed, and to serve herself of linen sheets; not for the ease of her body (as she privately acquainted some of the Religious) but to the end that she might not be accounted singular, but as the rest. And herein did evidently appear the divine providence, for that body of hers came by little and little to so extreme extenuation, that without fail she could not have long endured either upon a sack, or yet upon a mattress. So as in this manner this good Mother came by so praiseworthy a life unto her death, & thereby she being top full of merits, and of holy operations passed on as we may piously believe, to life eternal.   

She recovereth one of the Religious, who was near to death, of an incurrable sore, and freeth another from Leprosy. CHAP. 48.  
ON the 31. of December 1591. being rapt in making her prayer, when she should have gone to be communicated with the rest, the time was past, and all the Religious were communicated, without reflecting that she had been wanting; a thing that never happened to her before. But our Lord who guides his servants with a superior kind of providence, ordained that when she returned from the Rapt she might be communicated with Suor Cherubina of Rabatta, a Religious woman, who was grievously sick of an incurable sore. Upon this occasion the patiented found herself even possessed with a lively faith, that she was, by the others means, to receive her health, as indeed it proved; for she was no sooner communicated, but the Mother Suor Maria Maddalena become abstracted from her senses, and drawing near to the bed of the sick person, looking steadfastly upon her, said thus; Ioyn● with me, O my Sister, in the d sire of your health. She hearing these words, who already prepared herself towards the last passage, resigned herself to the will of God, reposing in him all her confidence. In the mean time, the good servant of God, 
Note.  signing the sore of the sick person thrice with the sign of the Cross, and making a short prayer by her, went away. An admirable thing it was, how her excessive pains ceased in the instant, and the fever in great part was diminished; and she found such amendment, as when the Physician and Surgeon came, being all astonished at the accident, they affirmed jointly that the health of that sick woman which had been despaired of, proceeded from no other cause then the power of God, by the merits of his beloved Spouse.  
In the same year, Suor Maria Benigna Orlandini a Religious Professed, was in great danger of life by a contagious sickness, which by Physicians was held a leprosy, and it possessing the ears and the head, and other parts of her person, did beyond measure afflict her. Being in ●o dangerous state she recommended herself often to the prayers of this blessed ●oule. Whereupon she being one morning rapt in Extasis (after having received the B. Sacrament) she went towards ●he sick woman; and (having taken off ●he veils from her head) with her very ●ongue she licked the ears, 
Note.  and the head of the Patient, in those places where the ●oare was greatest. And this she did with ●o great charity, that it pleased our Lord ●o restore the others health thereby in very short tyme. She is yet alive, an clearly testifieth this miracle.   

She foretells many things. CHAP. 31.  
IN the same year, when the Right Reverend man Francisco Benuenuti the Penitentiero, and a Cannon of the Church of Florence, was given by the Lord Cardinal Archbishop of Florence to be the Governor of that Monastery, this servant of God understood, that he was to hold the place just half as long as the former Confessarius had done, which were 28. years. And so it fell out; for having exercised that place with great prudence & charity for the space of 14. years, he passed to a better life in the year 1605. with great example of good life. And for the much devotion he had to this Monastery, he desired to be there buried; the rather that he might participate of the fervent prayers of those Mothers.  
Within a short time after, she foretold, that our Lord had chosen a young Maid to be a Religious in that Monastery, & that if she hearkened not to the vocation, she would suffer much affliction in the world; and that if her Mother should dissuade her, God would punish her also. It happened that the said young Maid did not accept of her vocation, & thereby she liveth in much affliction. But the Mother who discouraged her, was chastised so terribly by God with a Canker, that by little and little it infected her whole body, and she ended her days in grievous torments.   

She desired so much to suffer, that she was contented, not to receive any spiritual consolation. CHAP. 47.  
THE five years of her Probation being ended, wherein she had suffered such a long and uncomfortable combat, she remained after the manner of a gallant and complete warrior, who beyond measure desiring to come to new proofs of valour, forgetteth all trouble and danger past; & with intrepide mind to give contentment to his Prince, doth cheerfully offer upon new enterprises. In the same manner she was so encouraged, 
Note.  & so in longing to suffer (forgetting how much she had formerly endured) as she made now a kind of agreement with God, that in future time she would never desire so much as any spiritual consolation. This she sought of our Lord, with such unusual desire, that he granted her earnest suit; and although he had formerly promised her that for reward of so many agonies, and for the continual sight which she had had of Devils she should be comforted with his divine presence, yet this was without delight, and only, as she said, for strength and comfort of her travails past. A plain sign of this was seen, when shortly after she being rapt into excess of mind, according to her usual manner, and our Lord imparting to her a lively feeling of himself, she turned to him saying; Ah why my God, dost thou break the promise which thou madest to me, I having renounced for love of thee, all the spiritual delight which I might have in future times.  
She was further so greedy of suffering that she would often say, that she wished not to die so soon, because in heaven there is no suffering yea so much she was inflamed towards the desire thereof, that praying in some retired places of the Monastery, she would hold in her hand a great candle, from which the drops of burning wax might fall, and for the love of God she would suffer them to pierce her naked arms and legs in such sort, as that afterwards she could hardly go; and this custom she followed both many times, and during much tyme. In like manner, when in the bitterness of winter it snowed, she would be going into the garden, & stay there for a good while together, without hose, and her feet naked, and upon her knees would be making prayer to God. And amongst other times, it happened once, that she stayed there in a manner one whole day together. So as she neither thought, nor exercised herself upon any other thing, than mortifications & acts of humility, finding ever new inventions how to suffer; so as the going barefoot, the feeding alone upon bread and water, the use of hair clothes, and disciplines of iron, were the only things, which her heart (aspiring, and even panting to suffer for Christ jesus) would account to be desirable and precious.   

She appears in Vision to one of the Religious, curing her of a Fistula. The same woman afterwards by remaining a while in the bed of Suor Maria Maddalena was cured of a dangerous sickness. CHAP. 48.  
IN the year 1592. Suor Cherubina of Rabbata, of whom already we have made mention, being fallen sick again of a Fistula in one of her eyes, which tormented her with intolerable pains, & recommending herself to the B. Virgin (that patiently she might be able to endure them) one night she found herself to be taken by the face, and she saw Suor Maria Maddalena with a princely aspect, and how with her eyes fixed on heaven she invoked the most Holy Virgin and her Patron-Saints, that they would pray the eternal Father for the recovery of the sick woman. She found afterwards, that the servant of God appeared to her, and that her eye was open where the hurt had been, which continually for the space of six days had been shut. With that, she was in such unsufferable pain, that instantly she fainted, but soon after recovering herself, she found that she was entirely and miraculously free.  
The morning after, relating this whole story to the holy Mother, and ask her whether or no she had been with her the night before, she answered that corporally she had not been there, 
Note.  but that indeed between five and six hours of the night, she had earnestly recommended her recovery to our Lord. So as she knew, that by these prayers, she recovered her health, she being cured at the self same hour.  
There passed not much time, when the said Religious fell yet sick again, and was brought to such terms, that she received the Extreme Unction, expecting every hour when she was to die. In the mean time it seemed to her, that these words were spoken in her mind; If thou wilt be whole, go into the Bed of Suor Maria Maddalena. So as conferring about this inspiration with the Ghostly Father (who was that Reverend man Francisco Benuenuti) with his leave she was borne by the arms of others into the bed of the good Mother. A great wonder was seen thereby, for she had scarce remained there a quarter of an hour, when she found herself at an instant wholly freed from her sickness, and of herself she arose out of the bed, giving thanks to God, who vouchsafed to grant her so many favours, by the merits of his beloved Spouse. And this accident so fallen out, many of the Religious who yet live do affirm upon their oath.   

She hath a Vision of a young Maid, who was to become Religious. CHAP. 49.  
IN the same year of 1592. she saw once in a Rapt, a pure dove like that which went out of the Ark of Noah, & sought ● resting place. This she understood to ●e a certain young maid, who was much inflamed with the desire of being Religious; but as for the place she was ●ndifferent. Now she, being by the divine providence upon her way, even at that time, to come to this Monastery, to see if the Rules and Orders thereof could please her, she was hardly entered, when Suor Maria Maddalena, being rapt in Extasis, knew that to be the Dove which went flying about to seek a place of rest, She saw also the good Angel of that Soul, who held a ladder in his hand, but did not apply it determinately to any one place, by reason of the uncertainty, wherein the young maid remained; & soon after, she heard our Lord say these words to the Angel; Fasten here that ladder for to this place have I chosen her. Wherepon the good Mother (turning towards the same young maid, who at that very instant came where she was) said thus; The ladder is fastened here, which must carry you up into heaven; consider it well, and fail not to become Religious in this Monastery, if you will accomplish the will of God.  
She afterwards going forth of the Monastery, was so diverted by her Parents & friends, that being one evening in her chamber alone, she resolved to go to her Father, and readily yield herself to his direction. And verily it was a wonderful thing, that being even going out of her Chamber, she found herself to be held so fast, that she was not able to stir any further; and although she much endeavoured to go forth, she was not possibly able to effect it. In the end reflecting upon the tentation, she changed her purpose, and remained Superior in that conflict of the Devil, by means of the prayers of Suor Maria Maddalena, who at the self same time seeing in Rapt that the soul of that creature (still in the form of a Dove) was striving to get out of her hands, she begged of God both with sighs & teares, that he would preserve her. But the Religious being desirous to satisfy themselves of the truth hereof, the very next day sent to speak with the young maid, and ask what had passed with her in the night before, she related the whole story to them, and in all the parts thereof it was agreeable to that which Suor Maria Maddalena had seen at the self same tyme.   

Of the zeal which she had towards the saving of Souls. CHAP. 50.  
THIS singular spirit had such an ardent charity towards the good of souls, that it exceeded all human conceit. Our Lord had once showed her a soul adorned with his grace, wherewith she was so strucken in love, that from thenceforth she did even melt with the desire she had of reducing souls to God, and she ardently prayed him, that he would grant her many Souls, and in the fervour of her spirit she would say; O that it were lawful for me to go into the Indies, or amongst the Turks, I would take those little children, 
Note.  and with so great affection teach them all that belongeth to our holy Religion, that whatsoever pains I might endure should be of much comfort to me. But because she could not perform this, she would often take occasion to speak with some of the simpler sort of the Religious and be ever instructing them about heavenly things; and about the perfection of a Religious life, and so great delight she took herein, that for this she would forget both her food and her rest. Moreover to the end that God might be pleased for her sake to draw sinful souls unto himself, she would in the horror of the night take severe disciplines, and imprison her flesh within piercing hair clothes. Sometimes in the most secret places of the covent she would pray most ardently, sometimes she would exhibit ●ertaine acts of humility to his divine Majesty, whereby he might be pleased, with the lightning of his love, to pierce ●he stony heart of sinners, reducing them ●t last to Penance.  
But especially in the time of Shro●etide, when the divine goodness is most offended, she would redouble those holy exercises, consuming sometimes the whole nights in prayer, and continual lamentation, oftentimes she was heard to say these words, I beseech thee, O my jesus, that thou wilt grant me so many souls, as I am to move paces in this day. sometimes being set on fire by this flame of Charity, she would leave Exercise wherein she was, & casting herself upon her knees, would with sighs and tears desire of jesus Christ, that sinners might be converted to him. At other times she would take a Crucifix into her hand and after (having wholly offered herself to God) she would discharge herself further in these words; Thou, O Lord, wast pleased to die upon the Cross, and to bestow all thy blood upon sinners: and I also, O Lord would be glad to give my blood and be depriue● of life that they might be converted. By this means she gave desires to the Religious of enduring any pain for the reduction of souls to God. And because jesus had showed sometimes to her in Rapt, how hideously deformed a Soul is which liveth in darkness of sin, she would say sometimes that she saw no difference in the ugliness thereof, from that of the infernal spirits. She said she would willingly be deprived of all the extraordinary gifts which she had received 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 love and serve his divine Majesty. For this cause she would also deprive herself sometimes of her dear discourses with God, that she might be a help to her Sisters; for as she often said, she made greater account of being able to assist others, then of all the excesses of mind, that she might have. For in these excesses, said she, I am helped by God, but by assisting my neighbour I help God. Besides she considered so earnestly ●he Creatures in their spiritual part, that ●he named them not otherwise, then by ●he name of souls, not regarding any ●hing in them, but the participation which they have with God, in being cre●ted after his image.   

She obtained of God by her prayers the conversion of many sinful souls. CHAP. 51.  
BUT greater signs of her zeal towards the salvation of others, were then seen, when being in prayer, she was kindled with such desires as made her say once; I find that now the world is grown to be in worse state than ever; for now there is no more to be found any Charity; I have envy against the Birds of the air, who can fly up and down where they will, and make every body hear their sweet notes; & they can every where renew their delightful music, without ever resting. O thou Word, so would I be able to do; I would fly through out the world, and make myself to be hea● by every one, that so I might imprint this lo● and this delight, in the hearts of thy creatures.  
After this she showed by her word● that she saw a Priest far of from th● way of God. Whereupon she gave herself to pray unto the diuin Majesty with suc● fervour of spirit, with words so affectuous, and with such abundance of tears for the reduction of that person, that she obtained to see him in good estate. Being for this reason grown as cheerful as may be imagined, she broke forth into this speech; At last, O Word, my prayers have obtained 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 conversion of other Priests, whom she saw defiled with divers sins, and this she urged by so devout reasons, as seemed after a sort even to convince and oblige Almighty God to infuse divine grace into those sinful souls, whereby they might be illuminated, for they still remained in ●he darkness of sin.  
Sometimes she would say; Thou ●●est, O Lord, the need which there is of these ●oules; for if they who are the light of the ●orld remain in darkness, how much more ●●all other creatures remain there? And if ●hey who are the salt of the earth be unsavoury, and insipid, how shall they be able to sea●on others? O my jesus, and how shall they be ●ble to lead others on in the way to thee, if themselves go on in that way which is contrary to thee? She offered herself afterwards to our Lord, to endure all the penalties which these souls deserved, so ●hat he would deliver them from committing of sin. And she would say with admirable zeal; Infuse, O my jesus, infuse ●●y blood into them, and for my part if I ●ight endure all the pains of Purgatory so as withal they might be saved, I should be con●ent. Lay punishment I beseech thee upon me, ●nd give me pain interior and exterior, as 〈◊〉 all best please thee. For I cannot endure, ●hat there should be so great ignorance where there is so great abundance. O miserable and wretched creature that I am, why am not I able to take upon me, and to bear all pain? Punish thou upon me, O Word, their so great ingratitude, so great blindness and ignorance.  
At last, finding that she had obtained the conversion of those sinners, she said with excess of joy; Then let them return unto thee, like so many wandering sheep, for all the happy souls of heaven are expecting their approach with joy. With these fervours of Charity, she endlessly prayed the divine Majesty for the salvation of others, & reaped the desired fruit of her labours; for she often saw how these souls being illuminated by God with his divine grace, did return to him with repentant hearts, by the means of her prayers.   

Of the Charity which she used towards her Neighbours. CHAP. 52.  
AS her zeal was such towards the salvation of others souls, so her Charity was no less which she employed towards them in all their other necessities, whether they were spiritual or corporal. She ever aspired earnestly to be labouring about them; and then did she give particular demonstration thereof, when any one was sick 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 retired inwardly upon God; and she would secretly infer by these words, that they might give her much contentment, if they would serve themselves of her in the government of such as were sick. Whensoever she was satisfied in this holy desire of hers, she would use supreme diligence about them and when at any time the sickness grew great, the good Mother would sometimes by holding them up in her arms, and sometimes feeding them, perform all the good offices which are imaginable. Among many others this one deserves to be remembered.  
There was a lay Sister, who had long been sick, and having a vain broken in her breast, was afflicted with much infirmity, and grief. Suor Maria Maddalena having observed this, took her into her care, and continuing so about a year, the said Sister died. In that last passage it cannot be expressed what pains she took, 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 sick of an incurable soar; and it was offensive in savour beyond measure. Suor Maria Maddalena desired to have the charge of attending her; and when she had obtained it, she would needs with her own hands dress the soar, and when there grew any vermin, as sometimes there did, she used all diligence in removing it, and sometimes would apply her mouth unto it, as if she were tasting of some curious and delicious liquor. She failed not also with dear words to exhort the sick person to endure all with patience; assuring her that in heaven she should find a most liberal remuneration. When these two were passed in their several times to a better life, she performed to their bodies all the accustomed duties before they were buried, and to that she added continual prayers, for their souls, and by night without taking in a manner any rest, she exhibited her fervent desires to God, that they might hasten to the fruition of eternal glory. And she procured with great diligence, that all the Religious would multiply their prayers, & she offered herself willingly to receive the punishment of their faults; and she prayed to God earnestly, that she might do so, who granting her request made her very often feel grievous pains for many days together; by means whereof, they being endured by her with singular patience, he showed her those souls, when they went towards the enjoying of eternal happiness.   

She seethe the souls of two sinners condemned to Hell at their death. CHAP. 53.  
ON the 22. of December in the year 1594. being in excess of mind, she saw the soul of a sinner, who at that instant departed out of this life, and was condemned to those everlasting pains. She understood afterwards, how that wretched man besides that he had lead a most wicked life, was particularly sentenced to those endled flames, for not having in account the spiritual treasures of the Church, but despising both Indulgences, and all other graces, which she tenderly poureth upon her faithful children. About the same time, she saw in like manner another soul shut up on all sides into unquenchable fire, and condemned by the justice of God, to the torments of Hell. Whereupon she grew to be of an afflicted countenance & pale beyond all imagination; and with tears and sighs turning herself to the soul, she said; Thou art now become a firebrand of hell; and soon are thy pleasures and pastimes converted into bitter and eternal pains: and then looking up to heaven, she said, O eternal God, the men of this world do not consider and penetrate these things. But upon this occasion so great was the grief & affliction of her heart, that she wanted little of swooning by it. And these visions (as she related afterwards by her usual Obedience) were showed her by God, to the end, that both herself and the other Religious of that Monastery, should inflame themselves more vehemently towards the zeal of the salvation of souls offering up for them both prayers, and penances, to the divine justice.   

She was chosen Mistress of the young Religious, whom she did admirably help forward in the way of spirit. CHAP. 54.  
IN the year 1595. she was by common consent of all the Religious, elected Mistress of the young Religious. It would be heard to deliver fully, with how much zeal she addressed them towards Religious perfection, and by the virtue which shined in her, they went forwards with great facility towards the procuring of evangelical perfection. In this government of hers, she ever prescribed seasonable remedies, and gave wise counsels, according to the need of every one it being granted her by God to discern the most secret thoughts of the mind. This was evidently seen, when once she said to one of them; If you be silent with your mouth, be you also silent with your heart; And, That which you are about to tell me, keep in silence. And to another who came to her, for leave to perform certain exercises for a human respect, she said preventing the others words; When you come to ask leave to do these things, you should come with purity of intention and fervour of desire; for our Lord esteemeth not such sacrifices as you are about to make, but regards the intention wherewith they are offered,  
She procured also with great diligence, to establish her spiritual daughters in true virtue, and particularly in mortification of themselves. So as when they went from prayer or other exercises of devotion, she would lovingly call them to her, & sweetly admonish them of their defects. But as for them whom she had observed to have received spiritual comfort in some good action, such she would mortify, and say; That there was no solid virtue in them, since they were impatient upon every trifle. So as sometimes, one of them who knew not well what belonged to a spiritual life, would be troubled at her words, but then she would lovingly admonish her, and say; You must know my child, that when you come from making prayer you must be ready to receive disgusts and reprehensions, whether rightfully or wrongfully, and you are to be so firm, and so established to Almighty God, that nothing may be able to disturb your Peace of mind; 
Note.  and let this be the fruit, and the comfort you seek to find in holy Prayer, thereby to try them, & to make them know that they were not to rest upon any sensible, though spiritual delight. When they came from prayer, some one she would reprehend, another whom she found to be of a more ardent nature, she would otherwise mortify, as by making her take a discipline in the presence of some others, and the like, to the end that in the ground of humility they might lay sound foundations of a spiritual life. Of them whom she found addicted much to prayer, she would often send some one to sleep, another to do that which she knew to be most contrary to her inclination, that so they might learn to overcome their will, & become subject to the hand of others. She endeavoured with great care, that they might know the account wherein they ought to hold the three vows, by which Religious persons were tied to God, in that holy state. She ever exhorted them to holy Obedience, saying; That they must obey with a cheerful countenance, and a plain heart, since they do it not to any vile creature, but to the Almighty God himself. 
Note.  Nor is the will given away to creatures, but to jesus Christ: and if you feel (said she) any repugnance in overcoming your will, you show but little love to your God, since in a thing whereby you may highly honour him, as you may ever do by denying of yourselves for love of him, you will not endeavour it. Be sorry (would she say afterwards) to have spent any day wherein you have not mortified yourselves.  
And in this sort she weakened their natural ill inclinations, & with so great suavity of speech, inclined them to do that which was repugnant to their own will, that all the difficulty which they found therein, did serve but to bring comfort to their hearts. Besides, she would kindle them with so lively words, to the observance of Poverty, and the dispropriating themselves of any, though never so little things that it cannot be expressed. She would often use these words of that Saint; That whatsoever was wanting to a Religious person in this life, should be rendered with great usury in the next. She imposed upon them, that every month they should of set purpose examine themselves, to see if they had any thing at all, to which they carried too much affection, and finding that they had any, she wished them to deprive themselves thereof, for the love of God. And so one of them having once brought to her a pair of beads, which she did extraordinarily like, the good Mistress took them from her, and after a long time restored them to her again, upon condition that every evening she would bring them to her, and she continued the custom of carrying them so long, that she learned at last to keep things without propriety, and as only lent by the Religion. She observed also that another carried a particular affection to her book, wherein she had set down some spiritual remembrances, and to make her pure in the sight of God, she bade her cast it into the fire.  
Sometimes she made them change clothes with one another, to exercise them the more in mortification. And know (said she) O my children, that you cannot live long in evangelical perfection, if first a thousand times in a day, 
Note.  you do not die to your own commodities. For the exercise of the soul in this life, consisteth in loving, and hating; To love our God as much as is possible, and to hate ourselves as much as we can, and in this consisteth all perfection. She took care that they should use all diligence, in keeping the interior part well guarded. She would have them most zealous of the divine service. She often called upon them to present God unto their eyes in all their actions. So did she study in like manner to kindle in them, that vehement desire which herself had, of the salvation of others, and she would often say; You must know that we ought much to humble ourselves, since peradventure by our negligence many souls are gone into hell, 
Note.  which it may be would have enjoyed eternal happiness if we had been fervent in offering up the blood of jesus for them.  
She would enjoin them, who were under her charge, that when any one of them had spoken with little charity of her companion, she should not that evening presume to enter into the Oratory, but remain at the door, till either she herself had given her some other penance, or otherwise had given her leave to enter. This penance was ordinarily, that being prostrated upon earth, she should suffer the rest of the Sisters to set their feet upon her mouth. 
Note.  She would then admonish, that when one of them would speak of the other, she was first to consider that such a one was the Spouse of the Word, the Temple of the Holy Ghost, and Sister to the Angels, & then let her speak with that reverence which belongeth to such a one. She had particular desire, that when the Order did grant a Recreation, her spiritual children should take it cheerfully, yea she procured as much as possibly she could, that at such times, they should not have any manner of disgust, whereby afterwards they might be the more inflamed ●owardes the purchase of virtue. With ●hese profitable and laudable directions, ●he went through her office, in such sort, ●hat she was accounted by all the Religious, to be the very rule itself of living well.   

Of the zeal, which she had to God's honour, and the hatred which she bore to sin. CHAP. 55.  
THE Zeal which she had of God's honour was so ardent, That (as she often said) she would be glad to give her life for it a thousand times in a day. And she would often affirm with tears, To me it seemeth a strange thing, and for my part I cannot comprehend it, how there should be so few souls in the world, 
Note.  which hold the honour of God in the true account of greatness, that it deserves. But especially, considering how little diligence there is used in frequenting the B. Sacrament of the Altar, she would be so oppressed with sorrow an● pain, as if with a sharp knife she ha● been strucken to the heart; & she woul● often say; Well, I am sure that one Communion made with true spirit and feeling, is ap● to procure, that a soul may come to great perfection of life. At other times, being full of these celestial thoughts, she called som● one of the Religious to her, & said thus with sighs and tears; Let us pray unto our Lord, O my Sister, that he will grant v● light, and that we may not be so frozen-cold in his service, and especially in frequenting that food of life, which since it is all fire, and love, O let us even now constrain jesus, by our prayers, to grant us ever in this place, 〈◊〉 Pastor who may be zealous of God's honour▪ and who may have such light, as wherewithal to admit us worthily to this celestial table.  
She had moreover a most fervent zeal in saying the Divine office; & when she went towards the Choir, she felt such joy of heart, that she seemed as one invited to a sumptuous banquet. She endeavoured always that those divine Laudes should be said devoutly, and when she heard any of the Religious make a little more than ordinary haste, she suffered much affliction thereby; and she would often say to them, that she had not the heart to post over the Divine Laudes like to the other external exercises of the Monastery. 
Note,  Offences made against God did ●o displease her, and caused in her such grief, that hearing sometimes but these words Mortal Sin, she could hardly contain herself, through the vehemency of her affliction from crying out with 〈◊〉 loud voice, giving an evident sign of ●he offence which in her heart she felt. Being able as she was, to penetrate the deformity of sin, even to the quick, so much she abhorred it, and such horror ●he had thereat, that to her it would seem impossible, to find a Christian so wicked ●s deliberately to offend God. And 15. ●ayes before she departed this life; I go ●sayd she) out of the world with this incapacity, above all the rest, that I cannot devise ●ow to understand, by what means a creature ●an be induced to consent, and resolve to commit a mortal sin, against the Creator. Whereby it may be well seen how much she was illuminated by God, who had made her so zealous of his honour.   

Of her great Humility. CHAP. 56.  
THIS servant of God was moreover a bright example of perfect humility; and she ever had herself in so base conceit, that she thought herself good for nothing; and would often say, tha● therefore it seemed to her that her Superior should speak to her in this sort Get you out of this holy place, for you are n●● worthy to remain in the company of th● Spouses of Christ. Therefore would she b● turning towards the Prioress with such a trembling, as if she had committed som● grievous fault. Sometyms she would ca●● herself upon her knees, at the feet of he● Sisters, & beseech them that they would let her know her faults. But than was he conceit of herself more base, when she was to receive the B. Sacrament of th● Altar; for in that act she would doubt, lest the Divine justice might make the earth open to swallow her up; and (bitterly weeping) she would often say; I most vile creature, full of sins, do presume to receive the King of glory, and in this fear she would say further (casting her eyes to heaven) O my Lord assist me, and have mercy on me. Then would she entreat the Religious, with great affection to pray to God for her, that his justice might not cast her headlong into hell. It was also necessary sometimes, for her Ghostly Father with words of comfort to encourage her, that she should confide in the divine Mercy.  
Now the account that she made of the virtue of the other Religious was so great, that she would kiss the ground where they had gone; and she accounted herself to have obtained of God a space of doing Penance, by means of their prayers; and she endeavoured to help them in all the exercises which they were to perform, how vile so ever, in reward as she said, of so great a benefit. When she was Superior to others, she would be ever humbling herself to one of her subjects; and then in virtue of holy Obedience, would command her to impose upon her some rigorous penance, of what kind she would; and oftentimes made some one of them to give her a discipline, commanding her to make no body acquainted with it; and so by these acts of great humility, those Sisters would remain astonished & confounded. She would also appoint, that in the evening they should tell her of any defect committed by her in that day; and then she would beg a penance of them.  
It happened once, when she was Mistress of the Novices, that a devout young maid took the holy Habit. And within few days after, she called her to her, and did communicate some of the temptations that troubled her, with so great humility, and so many tears, as if they had been so many sins committed by her; and she said; My child I tell you this, 
Note.  to the end, that you may know what kind a woman you have to your Mistress; and ●f our Lord had not called her to a Religious state, she would either have been shut up into ●ome perpetual prison, or else have ended her ●ayes no otherwise, then by the hands of public justice. The she added; Pray you unto ●od for me, that he may have mercy on me, and ●hat in the end I may be saved. She would always, even to her death, have one of ●he Religious expressly deputed to accuse ●er of her defects, thereby to humble her ●o much the more in the sight so God; & ●n the other side, she kept her virtues as ●●cret as was possible, and felt great affliction when by any means they were ●ade known. Never would she excuse ●er self of any error. When any one ●ould recommend some sinner to her ●rayers, she was wont to say with humi●●ty; If God should withdraw his hand from ●e, there were not a sin so odious and so enormous which I should not commit.  
When she heard of the grievous sins ●f men, she would examine her own de●●cts, though they were never so small; ●●d then make a comparison between ●●e two, esteeming hers to be much greater, through the continual grace which she received from God. Therefore would she retire into the most hidden places of the Monastery, & there with bitter tear● and severe disciplines afflict herself.  
Being asked upon a time in discreet manner by one of the Religious, if so many graces as she had received from God, had never given her occasion of taking pleasure in herself; Do you not know (say● she) that none are to take the glory of tha● which is none of their own: how then can 〈◊〉 take pleasure in myself for the favours granted me by God, they being all of God? And with these holy cogitations she gre● greatly in humility.   

How in a Rapt she wrought with the needle and made pictures, and other things without the help of any light. CHAP. 57  
SO great was the union which this devout Mother had with jesus, that wh● she was doing the ordinary exercises o● the Monastery, it happened very often ●hat she was abstracted from her senses; ●nd fastening her eyes upon heaven, her ●ace would remain ecstatical; so as whē●he sowed, or was cutting of gold, or ●aking in paper any Images of devotion 〈◊〉 by having her mind so accustomed to ●hose divine contemplations) she would ●emaine in Rapt, even when she was performing the things aforesaid; and yet withal she would proceed in sowing, & ●utting, and painting, & so would continued very many hours together. Wher●pon the Religious seeing these strange ●uents made often trial, whether she served herself of her own sight or no; ●nd sometimes they shut the windows, ●nd at other times they bond her eyes ●bout with a cloth. But she being transformed in God, 
These rochets and pictures many of our Nation have seen.  proceeded to sow and to ●ake most rare works, and almost all ●hey which she wrought were made in ●apt. And they were 3. Rochets which ●e so curious, as whosoever sees them ●ay wonder at them. In like manner ●●d she make many devout Images, and cut gold without employing any sight a● all thereunto.  
And it happened once, whilst she exercised herself in the common labour● of the Monastery, that she was making the bread of the community; and when her hands were all full of past, she heard the sign given of going to receive the holy Communion. Hereby she wa● raised into Extasis, and being inflame● with a desire to unite herself to God i● the B. Sacrament, instantly (as she wa● with her sleeves thrust up towards th● elbow) and with her hands full of past she presents herself at the place, to receive that divine food, with the rest o● the Religious, without ever observing that her hands had been employed i● that business.  
In like manner it happened to he● (although she was then in the Refectory with the other Religious) to take he● food; that she hearing the sign given o● going to the Confessarius, being alienated from her senses, ran even with the fork● in her hand, & the meat upon it, whic● she was to take; without ever reflecting thereupon, and yet dispatched with the Confessarius that which she desired. All the Religious were filled thereby with amazement, and all they who were then present, and do yet live affirm all these things upon their oath.   

Of the great purity of her Intention and Mind. CHAP. 58.  
HOw great the purity of her mind was, most evident signs were given throughout the whole course of her life; for she never desired any thing more, then to make herself grateful to God by this virtue.  
And when any occasion was offered, she inflamed the Religious by lively speech to the purchase of this heavenly jewel, and she said; That they were to respect it in all occasions for it had power to make our very defects become virtues acceptable in the eyes of God, and she would thus express herself; 
Note.  O Purity how great wonders wilt thou discover to us in the other life, which are wholly unknown to creatures; but yet not to such as seek thee. For than will there be found persons, who were much esteemed of, to have been yet so much inferior in this world to many others, as to have compared them together, would have given occasion for men to laugh at them; but because they were rich with this precious treasure, and those others poor, our Lord will exalt these, and abase those.  
Often she used to say with abundance of sighs and tears; According to the weight of our Purity, our Lord will reward us in the next life. And for the great estimation wherein she had this virtue, 
O admirable spirit.  she affirmed many times; If I thought, that with the saying of one word, for any other end, then for the love of God (although it were without offence of him) I might become an ardent Seraphim, I would never say it. If it happened at any time, that she had begun any action for human respects, she would instanly give it over unperfect, nor would she ever have accomplished it, till first she had reduced it to a pure and perfect end. And sometimes she wondered, that there could be a gesture, a motion, a stirring of an eye, of such souls as are consecrated to God, which is not ordained to that high & divine Purity. Again being with her sisters, she would say; We fail of working with Purity, because we want the love of God. And once being demanded by one of her Sisters, how she might do to get that virtue; If in all things, answered she, you will endeavour not to execute your own will, 
Note.  but rather choose the way of suffering then enjoying, you will find in the end that you have wrought purely, because indeed therein we have no interest of our own, therefore the way of suffering is a safe way, and very dear to his divine Majesty. Many other noble advices did she give unto her sisters concerning this virtue, whereby much more she manifested her own mind to be most pure.   

She was ever desirous to accomplish the will of God, and whilst she heard speech thereof, was often abstracted from her senses. CHAP. 59  
SHE had ever a marvelous desire to perform the will of God. And the first grace which she demanded of our Lord most instantly, was, as herself confessed, To have punctually fulfiled the diuin will, when she should be come to the last point of her life. And casting her eyes often up to heaven, she said these words; O my Lord, thou well knowest that even from my infancy I have desired to please thee; and if now I thought thy will were that I should suffer eternally in hell, I would of myself precipitate myself into those flames to accomplish thy divine will. Sometyms being in speech with her Sisters, she would say, That she thought there was not in the world, so grievous an adversity or tribulation, which she could not cheerfully endure with the only persuading herself that it was the Will of God. And so very often she would repeat this speech; Do you not find, what sweetness this very naked word containeth in itself, Will of God? She would have esteemed it a notable defect in herself, if either for herself or for others, she had demanded of our Lord any favour, with greater instance, then of simple prayers. She was wont to say, to this purpose; I take joy, yea I take glory, to do the Will of God, and not that he should do myn●; and therefore I am more bound to God, when he hears me not, then when he hears me.  
To this virtue she exhorted others also, for if you desire (said she) to arrive in short time to great perfection, you must procure to do all your actions in accomplishment of the will of his divine Majesty; for this holy intention hath power to sanctify your works. Being surprised with pains, she would often say; O my sisters, how much shall we lose, because we understand not this kind of traffic with Almighty God. Such a willingness she had to perform the Will of God, that only with hearing it mentioned, she was sometimes rapt in Extasis. And once it happened, that hearing one of her Sisters say, how another of them had a very ardent desire to execute the Will of God, She hath reason (said she presently) for to do the Will of God is a most amiable thing. With these words she was sweetly alienated from her senses, and went up and down the Convent, inviting the Religious that they should say with her, That the will of God is most amiable. But this falling out to be at a time, when they went to rest, she obtained, that all of them coming out of the dormitory, and going into the Chapel of the B. Virgin with her might confirm, 
Note.  that the Will of God was a most amiable thing, and they all protested that intierely they would accomplish it; for which cause she retired herself every month into some hidden place, & punctually considered if she had observed the twenty Rules which were prescribed to her by God, as hath been said. In this action she spent a whole day, and at the end thereof, she did beat herself grievously for the space of a whole hour, with a discipline of iron, because it seemed unto her, that she had used negligence in performing the Will of God.   

Of the fervent zeal she had towards Religion's observance. CHAP. 60.  
SHE bore not less affection towards the observance of her Rules; & therefore when she saw them neglected, even in the least thing, she presently made it known to the Superiors, without all human respects; & earnestly prayed the more venerable mothers of the Monastery, that they would have vigilant care over all the Rules of holy Religion; For (said she) by neglecting the least point of the holy Rules, not only the order of Religion is offended, but even the apple of the eye of God; this being the house of our Lord, and beloved dearly by him. Besides, she said of the holy Rule, That she had rather suffer any torment, then see the least ordination thereof neglected. This she showed by the effects; for when there was any business of the Monastery to be done (though never so mean) this zealous Mother would wake sometimes at midnight, in the performance of it, to the end, that the other Religious to whom they had been committed, might comply the better with the other Rules of the house. Therefore being demanded sometimes, why she laboured so hard, she would answer, That she did it, to prevent time, and that so the Rules of that holy house might not be offended. And she continued in that kind of labour throughout the whole course of her life, and especially (through her great humility) when in office she was Superior to others.  
Amongst the rest of the Rules, she did exceedingly prise that of holy Silence; and she would often say, how that a Religious soul could never take gust in heavenly things, which delighted not in sweet silence; but that ever it would be much afflicted and troubled, because by not refraining of the tongue, many sins would be committed. For this cause, she wished with great affection that the state of Religion were reduced to that perfection of life, wherein it was first planted by the Saints. And being amongst the Religious, she was wont to say: 
Note.  If we could penetrate to the quick this dignity of our souls, through the intrinsical union which they have made Almighty God, by means of the three solemn vows, in such sort, as a simple country-maid, being assumed to royal estate by some potent King, would be offended when she were put in mind of her former condition; so would we also have it in extreme contempt, to suffer that our thoughts should cast themselves away upon the consideration of human things; and knowing that we are made spouses of the King of all, who will enable us to satisfy our desires to the full, and that with things not corruptible & terrene, eternal; we would raise ourselves up with a holy kind of pride, to the contemplation of those eternal riches of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore we do much wrong to this soul of ours, to hold it employed upon things so base, it being able to mount with thought to the celestial habitation of those blessed spirits.   

How perfectly observed the vow of holy Obedience. CHAP. 61.  
WHOSOEVER is a perfect observer of holy Obedience become the owner, as saith S. Gregory of all the other virtues; and it seemed to have principally flourished in this devout Mother. Nor is it found that ever either i● public or private manner, she procure● to draw the will of her Superiors unto hers, nay her will was ever in conformity with theirs, and that she judged to be well done that was done by them. It having been told her, that by employment within the Monastery, she might be hindered from her prayer, and from her private conversation with God, she answered, That our Lord esteemed any little exercise of the Religion more than any thought never so high contemplation. From hence i● came, that sometimes being in Rapt, & it being said to her by the Prioress, Su●● Maria Maddalena come now, and do this or that, she instantly would recover herself, though she were in Rapt and readily perform what holy Obedience ha● commanded. From hence also it came, that resolving to humble herself so much the more, she knew not in a manner how to execute even those things which were commanded her by God, but by the good leave of her Superiors; and as hath been said already, she chose rather to go many days upon her hands and knees, then to differ in the least degree from that which in the virtue of Obedience was imposed by her Superiors. 
Note.  She never considered that person which commanded her, but acknowledged therein Christ our Lord; nor as she often said, was the Obedience performed by her from time to time, for any reason, but only because she esteemed herself commanded therein by divine authority.  
Even her eating or resting, and all the other actions of her life, though never so necessary, she would not accomplish at any time, but as it were by actual Obedience; & so very much resigned was she to the will of her Superiors, that she would not have begun any little unasuall action, unless by them she were moved to it. She held that day to be as it were lost, wherein she had not submitted her will to some one of her sisters: and not to omit such occasions, she made herself ready with extraordinary humility to obey even her inferiors. And once she said, conferring thereabouts with one of her Sisters, If at once you desire secretly to enrich yourself in short time with much virtue, give not over this good and profitable exercise; for towards the giving 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 observed the holy vow of Poverty. CHAP. 62.  
OF holy Poverty she was extraordinary zealous; and even before she was Religious, she would often say; I hold all earthly things to be dust and dirt, so that I may gain Christ jesus. Being afterwards conducted to a Religious state, where this virtue flourisheth, it cannot be expressed with words, how she adorned herself therewith. She condoled with herself very oftrn, that even in her necessities she was provided for by the Monastery, nay she would weep bitterly saying; I shall even die without having observed holy Poverty according to my desire. Therefore also it was, that she ever thought herself to possess more than the other Religious; and her Superiors seeing this inflamed desire of hers, they retained themselves often from doing her certain ●ittle courtesies, not to give her giefe thereby; & she rejoiced very much when she wanted any thing. Once it happened whilst she was at table, by the forgetfulness of her that served, there was no bread ●●t before her; this was so grateful to her, ●hat full of contentment she rose afterwards without demanding it. And being njoined by the Prioress for Obedience ●o declare the cause of her mirth, she answered with profound humility, that she had never received 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 Poverty, would in no sort agree with a particular superfluity. Often would she go into her cell, and with supreme diligence consider, if any thing were there more than needed. It happened once, that her Superior having given her a little piece of Say wherewith to mend her Habit; and seeing afterwards that she needed it not she had scruple of this act, as of a sin, & carrying speedily the Say back to the Prioress, she accused herself thereof with tears, giving thanks unto our Lord, that he had preserved her so long in life, as that she might do penance for it.  
Sometimes being more kindled with the desire of this virtue, she would say, looking up to heaven; O my God, why dost thou move me in my desire to be so poor for thee, and yet thou seest that I am not suffered to go begging my bread from door to door, wherein I should take so much pleasure: ●ay among all contentments, that I could have in this life, this were the greatest, that thou wouldst, O my jesus, afford me this grace, that I might die naked upon a Cross, as for me thou didst. And to her Sisters, 
Note.  she would say sometimes; Tell me, I pray you, what would you give, that our Lord would grant us this most singular benefit, that when we were desirous to eat, nothing might be given us; when we were desirous to rest, we might have no bed; when we should have need of clothes, they might be wanting to us; I for my part (said she) assure you, that whosoever would do me such a favour, I would hold myself bound to present him with my very blood. O then for God's sake, let us procure well to penetrate this noble virtue. For whosoever possesseth it, hath God in recompense. Another time she retired into the poorest parts or the Monastery with a Crucifix in her hand, and being on her knees upon the naked ground (with her eyes turned up to our Lord) with tears and sighs, she cast out these words; O me happy creature, if all that which this body had need of, were wanting to it; nay instead of being relieved, if it suffered insolency & misery, for love of thee O my jesus, then indeed I might is some part hold myself poor, for love of thee. By this zeal towards holy Poverty she did evidently increase in the celestial fire of love towards Christ jesus crucified.   

How she admirably kept the vow of Chastity. CHAP. 63.  
SO great was the candour of her Chastity, that in this point, she was no● as one appareled with flesh and blood, but rather like an Angelical spirit. For this, she had many gifts from God, amongst which, that one was singular, which in the time of her Probation (a● hath already been expressed) the Queen of heaven bestowed upon her, when appearing to her, she covered her all with a most pure veil; and told her that in th● rest of her whole life, she never more should feel any motion of sense. Hereof evident signs were seen, when being arrived to the last days of her life, with serene countenance she said, How she thanked God, that she had never known what belonged to any thing against Chastity, and how she did not remember that ever she had taken delight, but in Almighty God; and that she felt nothing at that time, which brought to her greater quietness. Sometyms she would also say, in the very midst of her grievous pains; Thou knowest well, O my Lord, that my soul hath never desired any thing but thee. She esteemed it for a notable defect to be talking of kindred or worldly matters; it seeming as she said, that it was in no sort fit for a Religious woman, consecrated to God by a solemn vow of Chastity, to admit into her heart any little, little thought, or to speak 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 never either interrupted others, or showed to be troubled in herself.  
She was seen sometimes to kiss the walls of the Monastery, with extreme affection; and being demanded why she did it; Do you think perhaps (said she) that I have not reason, O my Sisters, when these walls do separate me from the unhappy world, and make sure unto me the most precious treasure that I possess, by means whereof my soul is kindled to love jesus, and to enjoy him perfectly in my country. Other while she would say; If worldly men did comprehend, how great the delights are which they may expect in the other life who live in virginity until their death, like Hearts (who are ready to die for lack of water) they would run into the most severe Religious Orders, to shut themselves up, that so they might be kept untouched and pure; for how much the more a vineyard is hedged in with thorns, the more safe it is. And although of this virtue she had received great light from God, & that by him she had been often assured, that for ever she should remain entiere, yet nevertheless she was still in extreme apprehension, lest she might lose so rich a treasure.  
Out of this reason, she did avoid as much as was possible, all going to the grates of the Monastery, so much as to speak with secular persons, though they were never so good or holy; & she would advise the Sisters concerning that matter saying, Remember that you are consecrated to God, & a Religious shall never come from the grate, but she willbe fain to spend much time ere she can return to the inward peace, which formerly she had; for secular discourses do sometimes cast dust or shadow upon the fair lily of Chastity. When she saw any one of the Sisters go with a cheerful countenance towards the grate, 
Note.  she would say in pleasant manner; I perceive you are not yet become altogether one of ours; for the property of the Religious of Sancta Maria of the Angels, is rather to be sorry, then to be glad when they are called for to the grates. And contrariwise when in the sisters she discovered a kind of horror that way, she would take extreme contentment in it, and noted it to be a particular fruit of the B. Sacrament; and she would say, That she would gladly be to pass as many hours in Purgatory, as she was to consume in conversation with secular persons. The hatred which she carried to the Parlatory was so great, that sometimes not being able but to pass thereby, she used to say; From this place the spouses of Christ draw no profit at all: for instead of quietness we have trouble, instead of freeing ourselves from temptations, they are augmented to our hands. And all this grew from the great affection, wherewith she held holy Virginity in high honour.   

She seethe the glory which a Religious woman of that Monastery enjoyed in heaven. CHAP. 64.  
ON the 29. of October in the year 1598. a Religious woman of that Monastery, who left a great odour of sanctity, being passed to the other life, the devout Mother who was present at her death, saw a multitude of Angels making as it were a fair garland round about her, and expecting to conduct her soul to heaven. After her death, the usual prayers being made for her, the servant of God saw her in celestial glory, enjoying the supreme God, and appareled with a golden mantle, which she had received, in reward of her ardent charity. Besides, for having ever conversed & proceeded towards her neighbour with all meekness and sweetness she saw that in reward thereof, she received a most delicious liquor, which distilling from the mouth of Christ jesus, was infused into hers, and so she had the taste of an excessive sweetness. Suor Marta Maddalena did much rejoice in this so agreeable sight, both because she had been very familiar with that Religious, & because she saw her in so great height of glory, that it exceeded (as she said) the felicity of any other Religious of that Monastery. Besides this, she understood that she had been in Purgatory by the only space of five hours, for a very light defect which she had fallen into, and it was, That she afflicted herself too much, when she saw that others by her occasion were disgusted. But she, full of joy, began to discourse of her glory, as if she would have melted in excess of love. And so having with great confidence recommended herself and the other Religious unto her, she returned from the Rapt.   

She was chosen Mother of the Novices: The directions which she gave them. CHAP. 65.  
IN the year 1598. she was by common consent made Mistress of the Novices; and in October she began to execute that office, with great vigilancy of care. She endeavoured that they who came to Religion, should have a desire thereunto more than ordinary. Therefore would she be often trying them, and if she found that they had any lively feeling of that state, she would then show them the Rules of the Monastery, saying further; Observe well, O my children, that whosoever willbe Religious in our Convent, must never perform their own wills, but the contrary of that which they desire. She would also try them with such kind of mortifications, as might touch them in the point of estimation. And once she made two of them, being of 18. or 20. years a piece, pronounce publicly the Christ Cross row, which children use to read; and (to see whether they made any account of themselves) she would say also in public manner; These are they whom the world esteems to come with so great desire of serving God, O how much are they deceived!  
Besides this, with making them ask pardon of all the Novices, she would also mortify them. Sometyms she would call one of them towards her, and say, This child conceiveth that we have had a great good fortune by having her in our number. These then, and other were the means, whereby she made trial of such as came to serve God. When afterwards they were accepted, she would with singular affection receive them, and with so gracious a manner inflame them towards the service of God, that within few days they would become most observant of the Religious Rules. And when she saw them settled & resolved, she drew them with admirable sweetness of words, to the desire of mortifying & despising themselves; making also earnest prayers to the eternal God for that purpose. Sometimes she would call them to her, 
Note.  saying; My children, let God only be sufficient for you. Take no more care about your kindred, or any other earthly thing, for I assure you, that you shall find in him, all true happiness, and the entire satisfaction of all your just desires.  
Again she would tell them, that she would endure any defect of theirs except it were speaking ill of others. She exhorted them never to be discoursing either in private or public of the world but often to examine their own faults, and sometimes she would say to them as at unawares, That heart of yours where is it at this instant? What is it that you think upon? And according to the answer she would give excellent advices, beseeching them earnestly afterwards, that they would with plainness discover their most secret thoughts, and she would also add; If you desire, O my daughters, to come, in short time, to great perfection, take for your Master the Crucifix, let your ears be attentive to his words, for continually he is speaking to your heart, and especially then, when you have received the B. Sacrament. For this, she would often say; What hath Christ jesus been speaking to your heart this morning? and this custom which I have even used from my first tender years, hath been of great profit to me.  
And indeed she made such account of the frequent receiving of the B Sacrament, that she could not endure any one to deprive herself voluntarily thereof; and would say; Thou knowest not, O blessed child, of what thou hast deprived thyself this morning: Knowest thou not, that there is not a more effectual means towards the getting of true perfection than this B. Sacrament: & if thou knewest how to serve thyself well thereof, in few days thou wouldst become full of celestial love. Remember that God is immense charity, and for love doth communicate himself to souls, by means of this amorous food; yet take heed thou receive him not by custom but with actual devotion. And being demanded sometimes what thoughts it was fit to have in receiving of it; It may suffice (said she) to penetrate only in some measure that it is God whom we are about to receive. And she would say further, When you are communicated offer up unto our Lord all the works and spiritual exercises which you are to perform upon that day, in preparation of the sacred food which you are to receive the day following. She told them further, that the fittest time to profit in the perfection of spiritual life, is after the Communion. And therefore she would not suffer the Novices after they were communicated, to go about ordinary business so soon.   

Other Advertisements which she gave to her Novices. CHAP. 66.  
BESIDES this, she would remember them often, that in confessing themselves, they must be diligent by making a most punctual Examen of their life past. And she advised them therein to use words of confusion, whereby the Sacrament might be more grateful to his diuin Majesty: when they asked leave to go and confess themselves, she should say; 
Note.  Remember children that you are going to wash yourselves in the blood of Christ. She would have them examine their consciences thrice in the day, Not so much (said she) to be able to confess themselves well, as for the taking away of those defects, which hinder the life of the spirit. Often she would recommend to them the divine Office, showing how this was one of the greatest obligations which they had, and therefore they must then, entirely alienate their mind from all earthly thoughts. And when they went to the Choir, she would call them saying; Children, till now you have been about human actions, discoursing and conversing with creatures; but now you are to perform divine exercises, by conversing with God himself; yet many times this is little considered, and we hold the divine worship in less estimation, than our other actions.  
Moreover before they began the divine praises, she would have them perform acts of humility, as reputing themselves unworthy to exercise so noble a function. And sometyms she would say; Do you hold yourselves worthy to perform the office of the Angels? If you think so, you are in great error, and therefore I require you instantly to departed out of the Choir; & that (prostrate upon earth) you pray our Lord to grant you another manner of Purity of heart, than yet you have, wherewith to celebrate the divine praises. 
Note.  She exhorted them very often, that whensoever they said the Gloria Patri, they should bow down their heads, and make offer to the most holy Trinity of their lives in act of Martyrdom. And it was observed oftentims, that the good Mother when herself did exercise the like acts, became in countenance so afflicted, and so pale, as did even strike with a kind of honour, such as looked upon her; for than it seemed unto her, that she gave her head to the executioner for the faith of Christ, as (being commanded by Obedience) she confessed to her Superiors. She considered also in what sort her Novices did recite the Psalms, how they were composed, if their eyes were dejected, & the like; and with so great meekness she conversed with them, as made her both to be loved and feared.  
She had great care to order things so, as they might not give them any interior disgust; for she would often say; That God cometh not with his gifts to inhabit an unquiet heart. 
Note.  When any of them was interiorly afflicted with temptations of the enemy, she would soon perceive it, and calling her, would encourage her in so dear a manner, as would serve to comfort the most afflicted heart in the world. But when she saw urgent reason, she would use severe punishments, nor would she (when there was question of the greater glory of God) suffer herself to be overcome in any thing; and she was wont to say, I will see, who can do more either God (whose presence I hold although unworthily) or the adversary who with his temptations procures to remove this soul from doing well.  
That her Novices should be zealous towards holy Obedience she used all incessant diligence; and for this purpose she would impose upon them certain things disagreeable in appearance, even to reason; and she would ponder well both what they answered, & what they did. One of them once who had difficulty in praying, she commanded to go learn that exercise of a certain tree in the garden; and that she should be attentive to what it said. The Novice obedient to that commandment, did put it presently in execution; and it is admirable to consider, that she felt herself so inflamed in her prayer, that she could have passed the whole night following in that action.  
At another time, seeing another of her Novices much tempted, she gave her her own girdle, and made the Novice put it on, whereby the tentation did immediately cease; wherefore she said to the other Novices, that they should so confide in holy obedience, that by means thereof they might hope to obtain singular gifts from God. Finding them sometimes troubled, she would say; Why do you not cast yourselves as dead persons into the hands of Obedience, for if you do not this, you will never be able to know what belongeth to the service of God. She persuaded them to offer their will to our Lord, as a full sacrifice, assuring them they would receive by it extreme contentment, nor would she endure that any of them should oppose themselves to Obedience, saying, that so they would deprive themselves of the merit thereof; If you desire (said she) to accomplish the divine will, 
Note.  take heed you draw not by persuasions, the will of the Superiors to your fancy, but seek their will in all simplicity, for so you shall arrive to great perfection. In sum she did so instruct her Subjects in holy exercises of a true Religious life, as they who are yet living, do co●fesse, that then it was, that they laid the true foundation of the spirit.   

Her only countenance caused grief for sin in the minds of others. CHAP. 67.  
IT was a strange and curious accident that chanced in the year 1599 when Suor Maria Maddalena was Mistress of the Novices. It happened, that one of her Novices was called to the grate to speak with a brother of hers, who led not any of the best lives. And so having given her leave to speak with him, she also as Superior went in her company, according to the custom of the Monastery. Being both come to the grate, the young gentlemen had scarce saluted his Sister, when instantly he went away in a fury, without using any further speech, or so much as taking his leave. The Novice wondered, and grieved, to see the so hasty uncivil departure of her brother, but her own Mother shortly after coming to visit her, she asked her said Mother, whether he had yet acquainted her therewith: to which she answered, that his departure grew, from his not being able to remain in the presence of the Religious woman who was in her company; 
Note.  and that she having cast an eye upon him, he found himself instantly and interiorly to be filled with so great confusion & shame, as that (being surprised with an extraordinary inquietude) he was not able to remain in her presence, but was forced to take himself out of sight. From that time forwards he changed his course of life, and hath ever since given good example to others  
And surely this Suor Maria Maddalena, had that virtue in her most pure aspect imparted by Almighty God; for in particular those Religious do testify who are now living, & formerly were under her charge, that they should easily pass over any affliction, & be wholly appeased in their mind, by seeing in her eyes somewhat, as if it had been divine; and on the other side, being admonished or reproved by her, they would from her very countenance take reason even of trembling and unspeakable sorrow for their faults. And because with her only countenance, she penetrated the minds of others so far to the quick, and clearly saw the state wherein they were, when she was called to the Grate, she found that she spoke to some with great repugnance, and to others with great consolation, so that only by her aspect indeed Angelical, one might come to the knowledge of her angelical life.   

She showeth in many things her Prophetical spirit. CHAP. 68  
IN the year 1600. being one day, according to her custom in Extasis, she saw the Reverend Father rector of the College of the Society of jesus, who at that time was Virgilio Cepari, as he was speaking to some of the Fathers of his College, about an hour and half after Sunset. But that which was strange is, that (as she told instantly after by Obedience) she distinctly heard all the speech that passed between them. This was verified to the full the next day following, when the said Father rector went to confess those Religious, as sometimes upon extraordinary occasions he did. For the good Mother doubting least perhaps she might have been deceived by the Devil, related to him the whole process, and found it to be punctually true. And this is clearly testified by the said Father who yet liveth.  
She foresaw at divers times many virgins who were to be Religious in that Monastery, besides that she saw the devotions which they should perform; & conferring with the Religious, she would say; That God provided trees for that garden which should fructify. Once particularly about that time, she was asked by them, if a certain Virgin who was then in the Monastery, would become in the end Religious; She answered that she knew for certain that she would, and that God had revealed it to her. She had indeed many difficulties afterwards, but yet in fine, overcame them all, and took the habit of Religion in that Monastery.  
She foretold very often, the death of many, but in particular of a Religious woman of her Monastery, who was sick at the same tyme. Speaking one day with Mother Prioress about her, she said these words; 
Note.  You shall understand Mother, that this Sister will die shortly. The Prioress was amazed at these words, that Religious being then in good health, but eight days were not passed, before she grew very sick, and seven days after that, she died.  
She also foretold her own death; & in one of her grievous sicknesses, understanding that her recovery was despaired of by the Physicians, she said often to Mother Prioress; Assure yourself Mother that I shall not die yet. Moreover a year before her death, when the Physicians counseled her to take the Extreme unction without delay, she resolutely said (though with profound humility) That the time was not yet come; and a few days before she died indeed, she foretold that one of the Religious would shortly follow her. And being desired by the Religious to pray for the recovery of her, who was already sick, she answered, how the will of God was that she should die, and so the sixth day after the death of Suor Maria Maddalena, that other Religious also passed on to a better life. Many other things also did she foresee concerning the good estate of that Monastery, but they are passed over to avoid tediousness.   

She seethe in Rapt B. Luigi Gonzaga of the Society of jesus, amongst the Saints of Heaven. CHAP. 69.  
ON the fourth of April in the same year, being rapt in spirit, as she was often, it was granted to her, that she might see in heaven the glory of B. Luigi Gonzaga of the Society of jesus, and being surprised by the sight of so glorious an object, she began to speak thus with great pauses, interposing a space between one and another, as the lines do afterward declare. O what glory hath Luigi the son of Ignatius! I should never have believed it to have been so much, if my jesus hide not showed it me.— methinks there should hardly be so much glory in all heaven, as I see that Luigi doth enjoy.— I say that Luigi is a great Saint.— We have Saints in the Church, who I do not think have so much glory. (She speaketh here of the Relics & Bones of Saints, which were kept in the Reliquaries of that Church) Feign would I go throughout the whole world, and say that Luigi the son of Ignatius is a great Saint: and I wish I could show to every one his glory, to the end that God might be glorified.— He hath so great glory because he operated interiorly.— Who can ever express the value and virtue of internal works, there is no comparison between the internal and the external.— Luigi whilst he was on earth, held his mouth open towards the countenance of the Word. (She meaneth here that this blessed soul loved the internal inspirations, which the Word sent to his heart, and he did execute them the best he could.) Luigi was an unknown Martyr, because he that loveth thee, O my God, knoweth thee to be so great and so infinitely amiable, that it is a great Martyrdom for him to find that he cannot love thee as he desires, and much more to find that thou art not beloved by thy creatures, but offended.— He made himself also of himself a Martyr.— O how much did he love on earth, and therefore now he enjoyeth God in heaven in a greatfullnes of love.— The Word shot through his heart, as with a dart, when he was mortal, and now that he is in heaven, those darts do repose in his heart, because these communications whichhe deserved by the acts of love, and the union which he made (which were the darts) now he understandeth and enjoyeth. She saw then, that this Saint prayed earnestly for those who in earth had given him any spiritual help, whereupon she said; And I also will endeavour to help souls, that if any of them go to heaven it may pray for me, as Luigi doth for such as gave him help on earth.  
The Reverend Fathers of the Society of jesus having afterwards understood, that Suor Maria Maddalena had in Rapt received so great a proof of the sanctity of this their Beato, desired of the Monastery which great instance, a Copy of as much as hath been here delivered. And because the said Fathers have ever given great help to this Monastery, in spiritual matters, their desires were easily satisfied. And to the end, that this matter might remain more authentical, they procured that it might be examined and confirmed by witness of credit therefore at the request of the said Fathers, the Lord Archbishop of Florence did upon the 15. of April in the year 1606 enter into the Monastery to the good Mother, who for the sickness wherein she was, could not rise out of her bed. He examined her particularly about the whole matter in the presence of the Governor of the Monastery, and of two other Priests who accompanied him, together with Niccolo Rogetti, a public Notary of the Rota of Rome; and the good Mother ever with profound humility and reverence, answered to all their demands, affirming that to be true which it was said that she ●ad seen in Rapt, concerning the glory of B. Ludovicus of Gonzaga.  
But than what affliction of heart she felt (for she expected nothing less than ●o be examined about such things) cannot by any means be expressed. 
Note.  Nor was ●he to be recomforted (so much she did abhor that her praises should be published:) & she said (being much grieved) ●s it possible that a vile Creature, such a one as ● am, should be noted and written down in ●ookes, and mentioned by the months of men! Finally for the quieting of her in some measure, it was needful that the Confessarius should tell her, that this happened ●y the will of his divine Majesty, to the ●nd, that his glory might the more appear in that of his Beato.   

She reduceth a Butt of wine which was spoiled, to the former goodness. She freeth one of the Religious from the pains of the Stone, & two others from other dangerous sicknesses. CHAP. 70.  
IN the year 1602. there happened an accident, like another whereof there was speech before. For a Butt of wine being spoiled in the Monastery, the Religious had recourse to Suor Maria Maddalena, and she one morning (after being communicated) went thither where th● Butt was; and having made some shor● prayer, the Wine returned miraculously to the former goodness, and the Religious who yet live do testify this Miracle upon oath.  
In the same year, Suor Catharin● Ginori a Religious Professed, who had bee● afflicted & tormented with the pain o● the Stone for the space of three years, wa● once amongst other times, more vexe● without taking any rest at all, for the space of six whole days & nights; & she came in fine to those te●ms, that she could not support the rage of her torment. But being visited by Suor Maria Maddalena, looking towards her she said; O my Mother I beseech you, 
Note.  pray unto our Lord to mitigate my pains, that with patience I may bear them; for I doubt much that they may cast me upon despair. As soon as the blessed Mother heard that word, she instantly put herself into prayer, and presently the sick person fell a sleep, and awaking she found herself intierely tree and whole▪ by the earnest prayers of the servant of God, as she herself now living testifieth upon her oath.  
It happened another time, that Suor Maria Maddalena Mori being troubled extreme  with the Sciatica, which had kept her for the space of 18. months without being able to rise out of her bed, and Suor Maria Maddalena (being in Extasis upon good Fri●ay, in Meditation of the mysteries of the holy Passion) the sick person found herself touched and told interiorly, that if she were placed in the others presence, she should be freed of her pain. Therefore she was brought by the Religious into the presence of the devout Mother being in Rapt, and the sick person being set upon her knees before her, that side of her was toutcht where she felt the pain, and presently she found herself delivered thereof and free from the infirmity, whereof she had no taste in all the rest of her life, which is testified by many of the Religious yet living.  
In like manner it came to pass, that Suor Maria Catharina Chel●s had been two years in the hands of Physicians, & Surgeons by occasion of a horrible soar in her right arm, which had made three holes, and by one of them a bone went out. One day being extraordinarily oppressed with pain, she had recourse to the Mother Suor Vangelista del Giocondo, that she would help her, who answered by the inspiration of God, that she should go for help to Suor Maria Maddalena, which instantly was put in execution. Now she (unswathing the sick Arm) drew forth the tents, by which only act the pain ceased, and in short time she recovered her wont health, to the wonder of those Physicians who held her incur. This Religious who is yet living, with many others do avow this Miracle.  
Many other graces besides these, did this Monastery obtain by her merits, but for brevities sake they are omitted. It may suffice, that there was no one in the monastery who received not singular benefits of God by her prayers. And they who at the present live, have all of them testified upon oath, and do continually avow, the marvelous things which our Lord did work by this dear Spouse of his.   

Being grievously si●ke she did not at the first excuse herself from her rigorous manner of life; but growing to spit blood in great quantity, she attended to the recovery of her health. Being after cur●d, she returned to her office. CHAP. 71.  
SCARCELY had she ended her Office of the Mistress of the Novices, and being confirmed therein for three other years, when in the year 1602. she was overtaken with a continual Catarrh, which wrought upon her in such sort, as wholly to deprive her of her strength, in a very short tyme. Yet she making small account thereof, would never excuse herself from the rigour of the life she led; nay she increased it by more sharp penances: being in doubt that it might arrive by the art of her enemy, to alienate her thereby from austerity For this cause she would say; O how watchful ought we to be over ourselves, so dull and cowardly is this sense of ours, which will esteem that to be weakness & infirmity, 
Note.  whi●h indeed is nothing but drowsiness for the getting o●ly of some repose. And to herself, looking on herself, she would say; I know thee well enough, and I will never do after thy fancy, but gladly employ myself in accomplishment of the will of God.  
In the mean time her sickness increased, and in the month of Ap●ill 160●. a vein broke in her breast, so as she cast up great quantity of blood, which weakened her much. But for all this, nothing daunted she would never think of restoring herself, esteeming that by the favour of God she might overcome the inconvenience. Yet sometimes she herself would say; I am many times considering, whether I be she, that I was or no, because heretofore, I conceived that with a strong resolution I could overcome any difficulty, and now the more I force myself, so much the more feeble and faint I am. Neither wo●ld her Superiors presume having seen in her so great wonders to command her by holy Obedience that she should go into the bed, and forbear the austerities of her life, though they failed not earnestly to desire it of her; but contrary wise she made earnest prayers, mingled with salt tears to God, that he would not permit that she should seem sick. Finally she was reduced to such terms, that she could not take any food, nor make two paces without much affliction, and her Superiors commanded her to go to bed. Immediately she did as they enjoined, such account did she make of holy Obedience, 
Note.  but because as hath been said, she feared much that this might happen by the stratagems of the Devil, whilst she took convenient remedies for her body, she was much troubled in her mind.  
She continued so, till the second of August with singular patience; when being first surprised with an extraordinary accident of her cough, there followed a very great abundance of blood which she could not forbear to cast up. The Physicians were in some doubt lest perhaps she might be suffocated with that blood; and so continued she till the day of S. Laurence, there being found no remedy by which her bleeding might be stayed. At that time all the Religious stood round about her bed, even overwhelmed with affliction: but to all of them she gave courage, and assured them confidently, that she was not then to die but that she must make an end of her office of Mistress of the Novices, as indeed it happened; for shortly after, being in great part delivered of her infirmity, upon the feast of all the Saints, she resumed her Charge, to the joy of the whole Monastery.   

Our Lord telleth her in a Rapt, that she was to suffer much till her death. She is elected Subprioresse by the Religious, and soon after she is assaulted by her last sickness. CHAP. 72.  
UPON the day of S. john Baptist in the year 1604. she was rapt in Extasis, this being the last Rapt which was manifested to the Religious, and she understood by God, that from thenceforth, even to her death, she was to be afflicted with continual sickness. She with a cheerful countenance made answer, O my jesus, wilt thou have me become as a little Infant, nay wilt thou that I be borne again? And being all in admiration, she added; O how little shall I become again, by reason of which littleness, these souls of mine will know me no longer She would by this infer, as afterwards by Obedience she related, that by occasion of her sickness, she was now to lead a life so different from the former, that it would seem to them a being borne again, because she was to bear the naked cross. This succeeded punctually; for from that time forward, she found so great poverty of spirit, as it might seem, after a sort, that she was abandone● by God. Yet she nevertheless was still more earnest in the execution of the divine Will, and showed herself ready to suffer any affliction whatsoever, & then shortly after returned out of Rapt.  
In the mean time she ended her Office of Mistress of the Novices; and because new Officers were to be chosen, she (fearing very much that some other charge might be given her) did humbly propose her case, and much desired to repose a little in her so great weakness, and withal in respect of her sickness which so continually called upon her. This she said not, for the ease of her body, but to avoid all kind of superiority. The Religious being assembled among themselves considering the great goodness of this holy Soul, they chose her by common consent to be Subprioresse of the Monastery, in the month of October of the same year. She accepted the Office, but with much grief of mind, esteeming herself unable to satisfy so great an obligation, yet being resigned to the Will of God, she instantly quieted herself, and began her charge with singular example.  
But as it pleased Almighty God, eight da●es were not past, when she being assailed by a vehement fever and intense pains of ●he head, she was forced to retire to bed, although she used all endeavour to rise every morning with the other Religious to hear Mass, and to receive the food of the Angels. Returning afterwards into her cell, so weak would she be grown with it, and so afflicted, that even for pure weakness she was like to swoon. Yet being urged by the great devotion she carried towards that heavenly food, she embraced every morning the same trouble; so that she was often assaulted by an extraordinary access of a fever, even at that tyme. Nay even for this very cause, she suffered every morning most bitter pains until her death; because her body not being able to maintain itself, through the great weakness wherein it was (unless from three to three hours it were successively fed) she endured patiently all that misery, that she might communicate.  
Sometimes being exhorted by the Religious, that for this reason she would not frequent the B. Sacrament every morning, but by forbearing it the better attend to the recovering of her health, the good Mother made answer; If it seem fit to you that I forbear for my unworthiness, willingly I will be deprived; ut if you be moved by other respects I would never ye●ld to it, though it should cost me my life, unless the ghostly Father should impose it upon m●ly Obedience. For me thinks that I am ●ur●, that if I had not the daily help of this most holy Communion, I could not support the continual pains of my infirmity, together with the great desolation of my spirit; but after I have received this food of life, I feel much vigour towards the enduring of my afflictions.  
Among the rest, one of the things that much pained her, was the being continually in her bed; for, in that she was of an active nature, she felt extreme mortification thereby. And she was wont to say; That our Lord could not send her a pain to which naturally she might have more repugnance, then to this. But yet because she knew for certain, that such was the will of God, it cannot be expressed how much contentment she found, even in her greatest dolours. Eight days before she fell sick, hearing the life of a Saint read in the Refectory, who had suffered much for God, she did yet still kindle herself so much towards suffering, that she earnestly again desired occasion of our Lord to suffer agreeably to his will; having entirely forgotten all the afflictions that she had endured before. To this purpose one of her Sisters once saying to her; Mother doth not that seem to you a great affliction, which you suffered in those five years of your Probation? But the Mother quickly answered; That she would never account that, to have been a time of pure suffering, because therein she had tasted of certain celestial delights which were able to sweeten any bitterness of pain whatsoever, but that (saith she) which I desire now of God is this, that he w●ll grant me a pure suffering, 
Admittable strength of mind.  and that it may be tempered with no delight: and through the confidence which I have in the divine goodness, I hope that before I die, I shall obtain this grace; for I know that these delicate meats which are so grateful to our taste, cannot be fed upon at that beavenly table.   

She is violently handled by her sickness, and she supporteth all with singular patience. CHAP. 73.  
THIS her so earnest desire of suffering was not made in vain; for to such terms the holy Mother was reduced, that in this cross of infirmity, she resembled after a sort her jesus, when by the most intense pains of the Cross he was tormented. And although in her necessity the Religious were ever present and there was no want of any thing, yet in all this she took no comfort at all; & she would say sometimes; That she had a heart uncapable of any thing, but anguish; and those things which were wont to bring her comfort, were now changed into pain and grief. Her torments, together with the danger of her life, grew to be every day, more & more; but that bred no decrease in her of the ardent desire to grow in suffering, and in the midst of much anguish (by moments casting up her eyes to heaven) she thanked God for having preserved her life until that hour, wherein she tried and tasted of pure sufferance for love of him, even as herself could have wished Sometyms considering the parts o● her body made subject to so continual p●●nes▪ she said; I know w●ll that my sinnes are such also many, that I deserve another manner o● ch●ist●em●nt then this.  
Moreover the pain of her teeth did solicit her for the space of two year; 
Note.  night and day, w●th such fury, that she was sometimes urged to break into lamentable wo●ds, when she found no remedy that could ease her. This pain was in such degree, that she could not touch one row of her teeth with the other, so as when she was to take her food, the tears were forced from her eyes. And yet further, this pain did so consume and ear into the very roots of her teeth, that all of them by little and little fell out of her mouth, through the excess of anguish.  
If she chanced to have an appetite to one thing more than another, she esteemed it for a notable defect to give any sign thereof; and much more to make it expressly known. And because a Lady who was devoted to her, and most affectionate to the Monastery, being induced by Charity, did often send thither some meats well made, whereby the afflicted mother might in some sort restore herself; she understanding it, made a scruple, and would not eat thereof. But because there was then nothing else which might give her nutriment, she was exhorted by the ghostly Father to taste of it, assuring her that she might depose all scruple. By this means she quieted herself, yet feeling ever great aversion in taking such meats as those, and she would often say; That even in sickness they should not look to any other thing, 
Note.  but that holy Poverty might shine at all times. And so, by how much more delicate and curiously dressed the meats were which she was to take, so much more difficulty & pain she found in taking them; keeping ever her mind stiffly bend upon the life of Christ jesus, who for the reason of our salvation rejected all contentment whatsoever.  
The pains of her head did daily more and more torment her, and especially upon the Fridays, for than she always suffered extraordinary affliction, after that▪ by jesus, he crown of thorns was put upon her head, as may be seen in the seventh Chapter of the second part. Besides she found oftentimes that her body was as if it had been pierced through, by certain cruel shoots, which tormented her like so many darts; and lastly an istue which the Physicians had made for the lessening of her infirmity▪ put her to much trouble in that weak state, and instead of easing did afflic● her.  
Upon the feeling of all these payne● turning her eyes towards a Crucifix sh● would say; O my Lord, if thou dost no● grant me help and heart, this body of myn● cannot endure all these passions. She was also much troubled with a fear which she ha● of offending God, by the words o● lamentation, which sometimes she uttered; and therefore she would entreat the Religious, that they would pray God t● lend her force, whereby she might stand under the burden of so great anguish, without the least offence to his divine Majesty. And so much was her thought hereupon, that often she would say with profound humility to the Governor of that Monastery; Father do you think that I shallbe saved, 
This holy woman was no Protestant.  & he answering like a man amazed, why do you ask me such a question? the good Mother would reply, Let me tell you Father, it is a great matter for a creature, who never did good in her life, to appear before that high Purity of God; and yet again she would be ask, Father do you think that I shallbe saved? In which speech did shine her great humility, since she could be doubtful of her salvation, who had both led such a holy life, & had been honoured even on earth by so admirable graces from God.   

Of her great Patience in the pains of her sickness, and how she received the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. CHAP. 74.  
SHE having demanded of God, as hath been said already, that she might purely and solely suffer; when any thing brought the least shadow of comfort to her, she would be seriously thinking whether in that she had not offended God, and whether for that cause, she might not perhaps be suffering perpetually in the next life. And being told by the Ghostly Father, that before her death it was likely, she might feel much spiritual comfort, I ask not that, answered she, of my Lord, but indeed I ask patience of him, 
Invincible spirit.  for the supporting of these pains. Whereby yet she was not afflicted so furiously, as that she failed to exercise according to her power, the Office of Subprioresse, giving convenient instructions to those sisters which repaired to her. And it was an admirable thing, that none of them could even then go from her without extreme contentment and satisfaction. 
Note.  But her anguish more increasing every day, she felt sometimes in her breast, as if it had been a razor, which would have divided her parts one from another; sometimes in her head, as if there had been strokes with hammers, and such other unspeakable torments, that if formerly she had not freely offered herself to suffer, or had not had a lively notice of the nobility of suffering for the love of jesus Christ, her so many several anguishes, which were excessive beyond human conceit, would infallibly have produced words of impatience.  
Among other things, it was matter of much compassion, to consider her body so consumed, that her bones made great holes, though her skin, and concavities in the bed, wherein she lay; so that when for any necessary occasion, the Religious were to raise her up, she suffered pains that were insufferable. And that which giveth irrefragable testimony to her Purity, is, that when the Religious were performing those aforesaid offices to her person, 
Note.  she would say to them; Do you think, O my Sisters, that this touching or wrapping of mine, which you have used for my assistance, hath impeached Virginity or Purity in any degree? if you think it have, I will procure to help myself alone, or else I will remain still in the place where I am. An evident sign, that, as she had related to her Confessarius, she had never conceived or known any thing in herself which might be contrary to Chastity in the least degree.  
The Physicians could never find a reason, how that body might be able to keep itself in life so long, under the burden of so many & so cruel torments. Nay, and the Religious themselves, being all astonished would say sometimes, that it was impossible for her to live 8. days. And yet those days did pass, & weeks, and months; so that all human discourse was put to silence, and it grew to be accounted miraculous (that body of hers being then reduced to such state, that hardly the Religious had the heart to visit her, as not being able to endure so lamentable a spectacle.) And even when they did visit her, they could not contain their tears; they had not the power to look upon her; they lost as it were the use of speech so as then they parted from her very often without speaking any word unto her at all.  
The Father who then had the care of the Monastery, & communicated her every morning, did often seriously consider her, extremely fearing that she had not force to swallow down that celestial food, as also he doubted least that act of piety, in the bitterness of her pains, might deprive her of life. Notwithstanding all this, she took heart by times, & would needs every day hear the sacred Office, to which she would often listen with incredible attention, whilst two of her Sisters were reciting it near her bed; and sometimes she would also herself pronounce some verses. Finally, after five months of so great infirmity, she was exhorted by the Physicians to take the Extreme Unction, esteeming that at the most she could not pass two or three days of life. She (as foreknowing her approaching death) did instantly resign and prepare herself with great humility, for the taking of that holy Sacrament. But first she did with ardent words recommend the Monastery to the Father, who was the Governor thereof, and made him a promise, that if she went to heaven, she would pray earnestly to God both for him and all the Religious, that after this short life they might meet in that celestial kingdom. 
Note.  She than desired the Prioress to draw all the Religious thither into her presence; and she asked pardon of them all for her defects, and for the evil example that she had given them, encouraging them to keep themselves true spouses of Christ jesus.  
After this, she received of the Ghostly Father on the 13. of May in the year 1607. the Extreme Unction, and she herself did answer both to the verses, and to the Litanies, and never removed her eye from a Crucifix, which she would needs hold continually in her hand. There were not then heard other than sighs and sobs of the Religious, who all being prostrate about the bed of their dear Mother, made as it were a very pool of tears. As soon as she had received this Sacrament, by the comfort which she drew from thence, she was all clear in countenance, and seemed in a manner as if all her pains had left her. And turning towards the Confessarius she said; Father I understand that to morrow morning you will go to visit those Fathers the eremites of Monte Senario, 
A most holy hermitage within 8. miles of Florence.  and now I tell you that you may go securely. Concerning me, have no doubt at all, for you shall find me alive at your return, and I beseech you recommend me to their prayers, whereby I much confide, that our Lord may grant me grace that I may be saved. The Confessarius then answered that he had no mind to go, considering the state wherein she was; she replied yet again; Go securely, for you shall fin●●me alive. And so he having a firm hope thereof, went thither where he had designed; & returning after three days, did find her in the self same terms.   

Having prepared herself to death, she piously rendereth her soul into the hands of her beloved jesus. CHAP. 75.  
AFTER she had received the Sacrament of Holy Oil, in those 13. days of her surviving, she was much more afflicted with several pains, & it seemed as if they had all united themselves to pull her down. And that little flesh which had been resting upon her afflicted bons, through the excess of anguish was distilled into so great abundance of sweat as not only the sheets but even the bed was bathed therewith, so as it was necessary for some of the Religious, to be ever present with linen clothes wherewith to dry her. But she all this while, attentive to the salvation of souls, thought still upon new ways how to please the divine Majesty, 
Note.  and causing the Mother Prioress to be called to her, she discoursed with her at large of evangelical Perfection, and of that which concerned the good of her religion, promising her that she would give it more assistance from heaven, than she had given here on earth. Then, to all the Mothers and Sisters she again gave profitable remembrances amongst which she willed them in particular; 
Note.  That they should love nothing but Christ jesus, that in him they should place all their hope, and that they should ever be desirous to suffer for the love of God. After which words she took leave of them.  
Being then near unto her last passage, the Confessarius demanding of her, whether yet she was much afflicted and tormented with pain, she answered; You shall understand, O Father, that there is no part of my body which is not full of pain, yet indeed, I find a great peace in my heart. But that which giveth clear testimony of her sanctity, and of all that which in her life is written, is that a little after turning towards the said Father she consulted him about some things, to which he having given satisfaction, You shall know (saith she) that I have ever suffered myself to be guided simply by Obedience to my Superiors, 
Note.  and in all my actions have had no other thing in my mind, but the presence of God.  
In the mean time, upon the 24. of May 1607. on the day of the most holy Ascension, she had the Recommendation of the soul; and (having almost lost her speech) yet in the midst of the sighs & tears of her Sisters, which made a garland of grief about the poor bed whereon she lay, turning her head towards the Confessarius she asked him, when he could give her the Viaticum, and it being told her that after midnight her desire should be satisfied, she began in that dolorous, but yet glorious state, to discourse with so much fervour of spirit, of the things of heaven, 
Note.  that it was as if she would have melted and distilled away in the excess and quintessence of love.  
At midnight, the Father returned to her with the Viaticum, and (which till then had never happened) he communicated her in the presence of all the Religious. This being done, she was observed to rejoice exceedingly, and through the great spiritual contentment of her soul, to receive strength even in her body; but by this time, the hour of her parting out of this transitory life drew near upon her, and of her aspiring to that Crown which once being gotten is never lost. Therefore the Fathers was called to her at 
* That is about 8. or 9 by our account.  twelve of the clock in the morning, that he might be present at her death, as was much desired by her. In the same manner did they remain till 14. reciting Psalms and Hymns, for them she had wholly lost the use of speech. But the Ghostly Father, being yet to say Mass, & to communicate the Religious, he departed thence; and whilst he prepared himself, he was advertised how that holy Soul was even then going to God; so that he was much perplexed with the doubt of what he were best to do, because if he went to the dying Mother, he should not be able (it being then too late) either to say mass, or communicate the Religious.  
But by the providence of God it came into his mind, to send her word, that in virtue of holy Obedience, she should respite her dying so long, as that he might have ended Mass, and ministered the most holy Sacrament to the Religious. It is an admirable thing, how when she received that message, she seemed to be all revived, & strengthened, yea and not having spoken at all for many hours, she then said instantly with a clear and cheerful voice, 
Note.  being accompanied with a gracious smile; Benedictus Deus. And having demanded somewhat which might give her strength, she turned to her Sisters who there were present, saying; I give thanks unto our Lord, that even to the very last he hath left me so desolate, 
Unspeakable spirit.  and without comfort. I do well content myself with any thing that pleaseth him. And yet again; I offer unto him, any spiritual comfort that I might have, so that only I my be saved. Whilst she entertained herself with these so great actions of spirit, the Father, withal the Religious returned to her, and kneeling about her bed, all afflicted and full of tears, they recited Psalms and Hymns, to the end that her holy soul might in the midst of those divine Laudes (which by her were so entirely loved) be received into that celestial Country.  
At 18. hours of the clock upon Friday, & expressly at that hour wherein Christ jesus our Lord was tormented upon the Cross with the greatest pains, she also upon the Cross of her bitter afflictions, although with extreme sweetness, & almost no motion at all, finished happily her life on 25. of May, in the year 1607. that being the feast day of S. Zanobius Bishop of Florence. Her countenance remained so fair and white, that instead of giving offence, it did of all sides breathe forth devotion, & the odour of sanctity. And that holy soul, like unto purest done, being every way environed with glorious light, and accompanied by squadrons of Angels, did fly as becometh us to believe, into the bosom of God, to live happily there for all eternity. The Mother Suor Maria Maddalena died in the year of her age 41. and 2. months, and 24. days; and of her being Religious in the year 24. and 25. days.  
O blessed soul, now that thou livest triumphant in that happy country of Charity, in that kingdom of love, employ I beseech thee thy fervent prayers to the great God, for the children of thy Monastery. Thou didst undergo many labours for them, thou didst bear painful burdens, that thou mightst with excellent virtue discover to them the way of true happiness. And if thy zeal were so great in this miserable and fading life, now that thou art ascended up to heaven and art inflamed with more ardent charity, how much greater must thy heat be in that most glorious kingdom, which was here so great in the company of terrene and human passions. No other thing is aspired by them, but to feel by experience the force of thy dear and blessed help, by giving help with thy prayers, towards those virtues which conduct the possessors of them to that crown, of which there is difficulty in getting, but no danger in losing. Permit not that any time the horrible infernal Serpent, with the poison of discord may disturb their holy purposes; nor diminish their Obedience which is both the Mother and the Nurse of peace. Procure that these thy sisters who are consecrated to the service of God, may be zealous according to human possibility towards true Religious observance, and that they may have no other aim but to execute those Orders and Counsels tending to salvation, which they have received from their Superiors. Confirm them I beseech thee, in such a delightful love towards candour of mind, & internal purity, that they may sooner consent to give their bodies to a thousand deaths, than their souls to the spot of any one impure cogitation. Kindle thou by prayers, in the minds of those that are Superiors, such an ardent devotion to holy Poverty, that they may never permit the least trifle to be held in propriety, whereby the vigour of Religious observance may the better be maintained, whilst in them (as there did in the holy apostles) may reign vnasid●s, & cor unum. Let them never carry inordinate affection towards themselves, but only be attentive in seconding the good will of God, and mortifying their senses, making this life to be nothing else, but a full measure and heap of virtue.  
I will not now express myself to thee in many words, to entreat thy prayers to the eternal God for me, who yet find myself in this valley of tears; for I confide in that which thou didst so often promise me, with careful charity, whilst I ministered to thee the most holy Sacraments, in thy last sickness. O blessed Soul, we all relying upon the sweet assistance of thy prayers, do hope by the goodness of God, after this short pilgrimage of ours, to arrive with happiness to that high hill of heaven, where thou being adorned with immortal light, dost live more triumphant and glorious, then can be imagined by the poor thoughts of man, which are even over whelmed by the greatness thereof.   

Much people concurred to the sight of her body and the funerals; and she was after buried with great devotion. CHAP. 76.  
THE Religious therefore seeing in their presence their dear Mother deprived of life, it cannot be expressed, what cordial sighs of affection they discharged from their hearts, towards the blessed body, and in what abundance they did even rain tears from their eyes. On the one side stood the Novices, on the other the young Religious, who had been governed by her, and those others also who had been under her care in the Office of Subprioresse. Then all the other Mothers together, did compass in the holy Corpses, making pious and devout contemplations. And in that dolorous spectacle, there were heard so piteous sighs, and so ardent sobs, that no one could hold from tears. Neither did they fail to do so also in the Chapterhouse, whither she was brought upon the Bear after they had performed the usual sacred ceremonies, to recite devout Hymns, and Psalms. The place whereon she lay was covered with store of flowers, & she in the midst thereof; dead I confess, but with a face so Angelical, as that it seemed after a sort, that the glory of her soul did even shine in some degree through her body. At two hours before Sun set, at those grates of the Church, which answer upon the Chapterhouse, there was made by the Father, who hath the charge of them, a spiritual discourse to all the Religious, in honour of the servant of God, exalting those holy virtues whereby on earth she had purchased a Crown in Heaven.  
On the morning following, the holy body was placed in the Church, of whose death when the voice was a little spread throughout the City, such a multitude of people came in that it was a wonder. The people in a holy manner were striving among themselves, now in taking with devotion of those flowers, which upon the Blessed Corpses were scattered, now in kissing the habit wherewith it was clad, now in touching the hearse, and now calling Suor Maria Maddalena a Blessed woman, and a Saint; nor knew they how to depart thence, but would enjoy, as long as it was possible, the sight of that divine countenance. And (to satisfy the pious affection of the people) by times, it was necessary to cover the hearse again (and that abundantly) with flowers, that every one might departed contented.  
Some were also placed for the guard of the Blessed Body, it being doubted lest the people should divide some part of it from the rest. And for the great concourse, there was difficulty to perform the sacred Office. The Church was open from the 15. hour of the same morning with free liberty for every one to see the B. Mother, but fearing there would be some commotion, it was shut afterwards, & so the doors were beaten with blows and our ears by the earnest prayers of such as desired to see her. Therefore there was no remedy, but to open the gate again at the 
* Two hours before Sunset.  22. hour, & to light torches to the end, that the devout people might be satisfied in their pious desires; and so things continued till the 
* Sun set.  24. hour. The Church was shut after this, and the Blessed Corpses laid in a Coffin, appareled (for the better preserving of it from mo●thes and the like) in a Coat, a Scapulary, and a mantle of Taffeta. At the second hour of the night she was buried behind the high Altar, with th●t honour and reverence, which belonged to so great a servant of God. Our Lord was not wanting, as he had already done in the life of Suor Maria Maddalena, so also to show many miracles after her death, as clear proofs of her great sanctity. And these miracles & graces granted by Almighty God to this devout Mother, are placed in the end of the second part of her life, as may there be seen.   
Laus Deo.