on him as a support for quitting the earth victoriously and soaring to heaven joyously and triumphantly; she appeared to die, because the gross sense of mankind did not descry her glory, but she rests peacefully with the cherished Spouse of her soul and brilliant prodigies have manifested the honors bestowed on her in heaven.
When the blessed Catherine, in accordance with the command of the Supreme Pontiff, Gregory XI., repaired to Florence, [1373] her mission was to establish peace between the shepherd and his flock; she was subjected there to several unjust persecutions. A satellite of the demon precipitated himself upon her, sword in hand, in tending to kill her, and God alone prevented him from it. Notwithstanding all kinds of menaces and dangers, she did not retire until the successor of Gregory XI., Urban VI., had concluded peace with the Florentines; as soon as it was signed, she returned to her home and occupied herself actively with the composition of a book which she dictated under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. She had recommended her Secretaries to be present during her ecstasies, and carefully commit to writing whatever she might then dictate; they did this with fidelity, and collected a whole volume of great and useful truths. She dictated this work while her soul was detached from her senses, and her body in complete insensibility. God designed to prove to us that this work does not resemble that of men, but emanated from the Holy Ghost himself.
The Sovereign Pontiff, Urban VI., [1378] who had seen Catherine at Avignon, when be was Archbishop of Acerenza, and who entertained a high esteem for her lights and virtues, commanded me to write to her to repair to Rome. I obeyed, but she, with her usual prudence answered me thus: "Father, several persons of
