Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/230

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Catherine's numerous spiritual children rejoiced in the Lord, and gave thanks to the Spouse of virgins for this miracle.

A few days after, Catherine, being re-established, went to visit the Apostolical Nuncio just arrived at Pisa; the whole city was in commotion; all the mechanics left their workshops to go out and meet her. Behold ! said they, one who does not drink wine, and who has yet filled an empty Cask with miraculous wine. As soon as Catherine became aware of this general movement, she poured out her tears and prayers before God. She thus complained to him interiorly: " Lord, why wilt thou afflict the heart of thy lowly servant, and render her the sport of everybody ? All of thy servants can live in peace among men, except me ! Who did solicit this wine from thy bounty ? For many long years, by an effect of thy inspiration, I deprive myself of wine, and now behold wine covers me with ridicule. In the name of all thy mercies, I conjure thee to dry up, as quickly as possible, this wine, and in such a manner as to destroy this report and unbecoming excitement. " God seemed incapable of supporting her trouble longer, and produced a second miracle, greater in my opinion than the first. The hogshead was filled with superior wine, and many of the inhabitants procured quantities from it through devotion, and yet its contents had not diminished, but on a sudden the wine changed into a thick sediment, and what had been lately so delightful and exhilarating, became disgusting dregs similar to mud, and utterly unfit for drinking. In consequence, the master of the cellar and those who went to obtain wine, were forced to be silent, being ashamed to relate any more the circumstance that had