having obstinately repelled those of Brother Thomas; and not only did he permit his sister to serve God as she wished, but humbled himself and confessed his faults with lively sorrow; to use Catherine's expression, he ejected all the poison that defiled his soul, and accused himself of sins that he would never before acknowledge. The wolf was changed into a lamb; the fierce lion had become docile as a child, and all the witnesses were filled with admiration. His mother could find no explanation for this astonishing change; his sisters congratulated him, and the whole household returned thanks to God. The two Religious, full of joy, hastened to bear the joyous news to Catherine.
The Saint, who had seen all in spirit, and who had obtained that grace from the Lord, had not yet come out of ecstacy, but continued to enjoy the caresses of her Divine Spouse. Before the religious brethren entered her room, however, she said: "We must render thanks to God, because Jacques Tholomei, who was a slave to Satan, was delivered this morning; he has confessed to Friar Bartholomew." When the Religious described their joy, Catherine's companion replied: "She was just relating it to me as you entered." Catherine then said to them with her usual edifying manner: " Fathers, we must give thanks to God who never disregards the prayers of his servants, and the good desires which his own divine Spirit inspires. The enemy of salvation, had resolved to rob us of that dear sheep, but the Father of mercies defended his own; he imagined that he had also gained Ghinoccia from our Lord; and he has lost Jacques of whom he had become master. Indeed, our divine Shepherd assures us in the Gospel: "that no one can take from him his own." (John v 28) Ghinoecia
