assist her so long as that dreadful illness might last. The Sister accepted her offer the more easily as she found herself neglected by all others.
Behold, therefore, the Virgin serving the widow, youth succoring old age, and her who languished with the love of God, devoted to one who languished with the sorrows of earth. Catherine omits no attention, although the stench becomes more and more insupportable; she remains by the bedside continually, using no precaution, uncovers the wound, cleanses it and changes the linens, and never exhibits the slightest repugnance, whatever be the length of time required or the difficulty in the dressing. The patient admires that constancy and fullness of charity in one so youthful. The enemy of all good, irritated at such exalted virtue, has recourse to artifice, worthy of himself. One day as the saint uncovered the wound, a suffocating odor issued from it; her will, reposing on that of Jesus Christ is not moved; but her stomach turns and endangers vomiting. As soon as she perceives it, she becomes angry with herself, reproaching Herself with this weakness: "What," said she, "you are disgusted at thy Sister who is redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ ! may not thou also fall sick, and become in even a worse condition — thou shalt not remain unpunished." And immediately, stooping down over the breast of the cancerous woman, she applied her mouth to the ulcer, until she was sensible of having overcome her disgust, and triumphed over that natural revolt. The sick woman cried out: "Cease, daughter, dearest child, I cannot endure that you should thus poison yourself with that horrible corruption." But Catherine would not rise until she had vanquished the enemy, who then left her in tranquility for a little while. Perceiving
