Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/19

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transported to Naples, — where it now reposes amid the splendors of the church of St. Dominic.

The fatigues of his apostolate, did not prevent him from leaving precious writings behind him. Besides the life of St. Agnes of Montepulciano and that of St. Catharine, he translated into Latin, the spiritual treatises of her of whom he was at once the Confessor and Disciple. He composed an admirable commentary on the Magnificat, the Office of the Festival of the Visitation, a treatise on reform, and a great number of very remarkable letters. All his contemporaries laud his science and his virtues; the Sovereign Pontiffs wished to raise him to the highest dignities of the Church, but his humility opposed it. Urban VI in the briefs which he addresses to him, styles him his head, eyes, and mouth, his feet and his hands; he claims for him the veneration of the Emperor, of kings, cardinals and people.

This is the eminent man whom God promises for Confessor to Catharine, as a special favor; he becomes the witness of her life, and the depositary of all the secrets of her soul; he writes what he saw, and what he heard; he addresses himself to those who could be capable of contradicting him and carefully discusses the facts which he relates; he confesses his constant hesitations and all the means that he adopts in order not to be deceived. He requests, through the intercession of her whom he fears to be in illusion, an extraordinary contrition for his sins; and when he has obtained that abundance of tears which the spirit of darkness can never bestow he still doubts; then he meets on the countenance o Catharine, the threatening looks of our Lord himself.