charity with so much care, that she finished by completely healing her. In proportion as her virginal hand glided over her bruised body, the pain disappeared, and the sick woman who could not move a single member, recovered little by little her liberty of motion: she kept silence while Catherine was present lest she might alarm her humility, but afterwards she said to the physicians and neighbors that were surrounding her: — "Catherine, Lapa's daughter, has cured me by touching me." All were in admiration and gave glory to God; for it was impossible not to admit that this restoration proceeded from a divine virtue; I have related this miracle on the testimony of others, because when it was wrought, I was not yet acquainted with Catherine and did not even reside in Sienna.
During the same pestilence, a hermit called " The Saint," and who was so indeed, was attacked by the contagion. As soon as Catherine heard it, she caused him to be carried from the cell in which he lived outside of Sienna, to the House of Mercy; she visited him with her companions, and was attentive to see that he had all necessary care. She approached him and said in a low tone. " Do not fear, however ill you may become you will not die this time." But she told us nothing similar, when we requested her to pray for his cure. She on the contrary, appeared like ourselves to fear his death; and we were much grieved being sincerely attached to this pious man. The illness grew hourly worse, and we were beginning to despair of the safety of the body, and think only of the salvation of the soul. All physical energy appeared extinct, and we awaited his expiring sigh. Catherine said again in the patient's ear, "Fear not, you will not die." He who appeared to be unconscious
