the best she could, assuring her that she had not for a moment even thought of abandoning her, or retained the slightest ill-feeling towards her; "Beloved Mother," said she to her, "I knew perfectly well that the enemy of our salvation was the originator of those scandals, and that he had deceived you by his grievous malice. I do not accuse you but him. I thank you on the contrary, for the kind affections which induced you to be so anxious concerning my virtue." After thus comforting her, she administered to her the usual attentions, and quickly returned home so as not to lose time.
But Andrea wholly penetrated with the consciousness of her fault, caused those persons before whom she had calumniated Catherine to be called; she confessed with moans her deep guilt and how fearfully the devil had deceived her; she proclaimed aloud that she of whom she had uttered so much evil, was not only innocent, but that she was a saint filled with the Spirit of God, and that she has now a proof of it. And as they demanded an explanation she responded that she had never felt nor comprehended what were spiritual sweetness and consolation before having seen Catherine transfigured before her and environed with light. This testimony increased Catherine's reputation with the public, and the devil who had endeavored to tarnish it, served on the contrary, through the intervention of the Holy Spirit, to glorify it. But our Saint remained as calm in triumph as in trial; she pursued her charitable work, applying at the same time to the study of her own nothingness. He who alone exists by his own power charged himself with honoring her; but the implacable enemy who may be indeed vanquished, but never destroyed, returned to the charge, and determined again to conquer, by the revolt of nature.
