Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/176

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It happened as she announced. A short time after, Nanni came out of prison, but he was obliged to pay very heavy sums, and Catherine rejoiced, saying: "That God was taking away the venom that impoisoned him." Tribulation only augmented his fervor; he desired to give Catherine, by an authentic act, a beautiful residence which he possessed, about two miles from the city, so that she might establish a monastery of females. Catherine did this with the special authorization of Gregory XI. of happy memory, and bestowed on it the name of "Holy Mary of the Angels." I assisted at the consecration with all her spiritual family; the commissary designated by the Sovereign Pontiff was Friar John, abbot of the convent of St. Anthem. This conversion, operated by the omnipotent hand of God, is due to Catherine's prayers. I may myself render testimony of it. I was during several years Nanni's Confessor, and I know that he made great progress in good, during the time that I knew him.

Volumes would not suffice for relating all that our Lord accomplished by his faithful Spouse, for the conversion of sinners, the spiritual advancement of the good, the encouragement of the weak, the consolation of the afflicted, the warning of souls in danger, etc. Who could compute the miserable whom she saved from hell, the hardened hearts that she has touched, the worldlings detached from vanity, persons tempted that she assisted by her prayers and freed from the demon by her counsels, the elect whom she directed in the path of virtue, those whose good desires she aided in progress towards perfection, those whom she saved from the abyss of vice and conducted to heaven, by bearing them, so to speak, in her arms, suffering and praying for their salvation ? Yes, I may say as St. Jerome said to St. Paul: Were