entangled forest, he comprehended that God alone could succor them and began to pray. Knowing how agreeable his spiritual daughter was to God, he said interiorly: " O Catherine, meek and devoted servant of God, help us in this peril." Scarcely had he uttered these words in heart, than the Robber nearest him, and the one too who appeared to be charged to kill him, said: " Why should we kill these poor friars who never did us any injury } it would be indeed an enormous crime ! let us suffer them to go, they are good hearted men, who will never betray us." All accepted this opinion so suddenly advanced, with such unanimity, that not only they allowed the Religious their lives, but even restored to them their garments, horses and all that they had stolen, except a little money, and suffered them to go at liberty: they arrived at my house on the same day and related these preceding circumstances. When Friar Thomas returned to Sienna he certified, as he wrote, and as he recounted to me, that at the same moment in which he had invoked her assistance, Catherine said to one of her nearest companions: " My father Confessor is calling me, and I am aware that he is in great danger," and rising immediately she went to pray in her oratory. It cannot be doubted, that it was at that moment by the efficacy of her prayers, that a change so wonderful was produced in the dispositions of the robbers; and she did not, we may believe, desist from praying until they had restored to those Religious their liberty and their goods. It is evident that Catherine possessed the spirit of prophecy, for she knew at a distance of twenty-four miles, a mental prayer addressed to her, and was capable of granting so promptly and perfectly the help implored.
How advantageous is it to be in the friendship of
