Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/204

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soon as she beheld the possessed woman, she comprehended that escape was inevitable, and expressed her sorrow to Lady Bianchina; " May God forgive you, Lady, for what you have done ! Do you not know that I am often tormented by the devils; how can you oblige me to expose myself to them, by leading before me a possessed individual ? " then she turned towards the demoniac, saying: "You cursed spirit, who are resolved to prevent this reconciliation, place your head here, and wait in that position until my return ! "

At that order, the possessed woman with great docility placed her head as Catherine had commanded, and the Blessed Catherine went to terminate the work her charity had begun. Satan cried out, by the mouth of the possessed: " Why do you retain me here, let me go, I am too cruelly tormented." The persons present said: " Why do you not leave the room, the door is open ? " And the evil spirit said: " I cannot; that woman has enchained me." When he was asked whom he meant, he either would not or could not name her; he only said: " My enemy. " Brother Saint who supported the head of the possessed woman, asked him: " Is thy enemy very powerful ? " He answered " I have none greater in the whole world." When those present desired to prevent his screams, they tried to silence him by saying: " Be quiet, Catherine is coming." The first time he rejoined: " She is not coming yet, she is in such a place," and indicated the exact place where she actually was. On being asked what she was doing: he said, " Something that displeases me sovereignly, and which she often does " — and with that saying, he shrieked still louder: " Why keep me here ? " Still he never moved the head of the demoniac, from the position in which