on thee a liquor above nature." And placing the right hand on Catherine's neck, he drew her to the wound of his sacred side, saying to her: "Drink, daughter, that luscious beverage which flows from my side, it will inebriate thy soul with sweetness and will also plunge in a sea of delight thy body, which thou despised for love of me." Catherine thus placed at the very fountain of life, applied her mouth to the sacred wound of the Saviour, her soul drew thence an ineffable and divine liquor; she drank long and with as much avidity as abundance; in fine, when our blessed Lord gave her notice, she detached herself from the sacred source, satiated, but still eager, because she experienced no repletion at being satiated, nor pain at still desiring. ineffable mercy of the Lord, how delightful you are to those who love thee ! how delicious to such as taste thee ! Alas, Lord, I, and those who have not experienced it, can not comprehend it; the blind cannot judge of the beauty of colors, nor the deaf the charms of harmony. So as not to be ungrateful, we contemplate and admire, as far as we are able, the great favors thou does accord to thy Saints, and, although they far surpass us, we thank thy divine Majesty for them in proportion to our strength.
Dear reader, observe the wonderful virtue of Catherine. Admire that inspiration of charity which inclines her to perform an act so repugnant to nature: consider the zeal which influences her, notwithstanding the revolt of her senses; remark that amazing courage that cannot be intimidated by the shocking calumny and odious ingratitude of the sick woman; contemplate, in fine, that soul which derives its strength from God, which praise cannot render haughty, and which gains over the flesh a last triumph, by drinking what it shuddered with horror
