prayers of Suor Maria Maddalena but she one day in the yeare 1589. going to visit this sicke person was so inflamed with Charity as that with her tongue she began to licke her handes and armes in those places where the pestiferous euill did most afflict her and hauing told the sicke person that she must haue confidence in God Note and in the B. Virgin because she should be cured away she went And it was admirable how within few dayes she was wholy cleere of that sicknes and in such sort as it seemed not that in her flesh there had beene euer any infirmity At the same time there was in the Monastery a lay Sister called Suor Pace Colombini This woman had lost all sense in one whole side of her body through the excessiue torment that she had felt in so much as her flesh being depriued of sense might haue beene cut off without any payne to the patient So as she despayring wholy of humane help prayed the Mother Suor Maria Maddalena that for the loue of Iesus she would make the signe of the Crosse vpon her The good Mother in her great humility made som resistance but finally being more vrged by ardent Charity Note three tymes she signed her with the signe of the Crosse It is incredible to tell how immediatly therupon the sicke person was freed and so freed that instantly she went about the busines of the Monastery And she her selfe is yet liuing and giues cleere testimony to this miracle She seeth the soule of one Religious ascend into heauen and of another who was suffering in Purgatory in a particuler manner CHAP. 39. THE same yeare on the fift of Iune a Religious of that Monastery passed from this to a better life to whome Suor Maria Maddalena had performed great offices of charity during the whole tyme of her sicknes Her body was yet in the Church vnburyed when she with the rest of her Sisters being imployed about their vsuall exercises and being moued by God she went towardes the grate of the Chapter-house from wheÌ„ce she might see the body of her dead Sister She was scarcely arriued thither when being rapt in Extasis she saw her soule fly happily vp into the ioyes of heauen Whereupon she brake out into these wordes Farewell my Sister farewell happy soule Thou art going vp to heauen like purest Doue leauing all vs heer below O how glorious art thou and how faire and who shall be able to describe thy beauty How small a tyme hast thou remayned in those flames Thy body is not yet buryed and thy soule is flying vp into eternall glory Now dost thou see cleerly that which I was wont to tell thee whilest yet thou wast on earth that thy sufferings heere would seeme nothing to thee in respect of the glory which Iesus had layd vp for thee in Heauen In the meane tyme it was declared to her by our Lord how that soule because she had suffered extremely in this life and for the deuotion which she had to holy Indulgences as imparting the merits of Christ Iesus she had stayed in Purgatory only fifteen houres In the meane tyme the body was buryed and she returned from her Rapt saying Whilest buriall is giuing to the body in earth the soule is placed for all eternity in heauen About the same tyme making prayers before the B. Sacrament there was represented to the eyes of her mind the Soule of another Religious of that Monastery which had also passed to a better life and it was suffering in Purgatory for the defects thereof and as she related she saw it apparelled with a garment of fire and a white vest vnderneath adore the food of the Angells with great reuerence She vnderstood afterwardes how that flame which incompassed her and the obligation to stand an houre in the day to honour the B. Sacrament in the Church of that Monastery was imposed by God in punishment for her hauing negligently omitted diuers tymes to receaue the holy Communion But that white Vest which gaue her great consolation was graunted in reward of her virginity purity which she had still manteyned Afterwards in the same yeare 1589. she saw it flye fayre and purifyed into eternall Rest After the fiue yeares of Probation she is taken out of the lake of Lyons by her Patron-Saints that is she is freed from the assaults of Diuells rewarded by God with infinite graces CHAP. 40. THE fiue yeares were passed wherein Suor Maria Maddalena had beene so furiously assaulted by the tentations of infernall enemyes when at length her Iesus was pleased to make an end of those afflictions and as a Conqueresse to reward her euen in this life with graces of imcomparable valew So as vpon the night of that admirable solemnity of the Holy Ghost on the 10. of Iune in the year 1590. being in the Quire with the other Religious in celebration of the sacred Office at the singing of that Canticle Te Deum laudamus c. she was estranged from her senses and in such sort remayned without speach till Mattins were at an end Then became her countenance to be of admirable beauty by the wordes which she vttered it was cleerly known that she then conceaued in her selfe celestiall ardours of the Holy Ghost by the strength whereof the powers of her mind were all purifyed and she vtterâ— many sentences of the holy Scripture with admirable deuotion At these things were present her Patron-Saints who immediatly before had drawne her out of the Lake of Lyons that is they freed her from those afflictions wherein as in a lake she had been as already hath beene sayd fiue continued yeares for her Probation they intierly tooke from the Diuels all power of afflicting her in future time wherupoÌ„ all fullfilled with heauenly delights she sayd Eripuit me de manibus inimicorum ipsi confusi sunt Et transiui perignem aquaÌ„ eduxisti me in refrigerium These most cruell beasts she spake heere of the Diuells haue certaine wayes to fright vs wherby they thought to returne to their great Diuell to giue him account of some rich gaine that they had made but my Patron-Saints do take them â—d ruine them because now euery thing is â—rifyed in the bloud of my God and that â—herin they thought to haue gotten the vpper â—nd euen by that they are the more tormenâ—ed since they returne without victory And â—ho shall be able to conceaue O my Lord how â—hat which to me seemed affliction is no affliâ—tion but triumph and glory to my soule She â—ad no sooner ended these wordes but â—he turned her selfe being still in Extasis â—owardes the Prioresse to her Mistres who were neere her and wringing them with her handes she sayd with an inestimable ioy of hart It is come and it is past she speakes of the tyme of her Probation do you therefore help me to thanke and glorify my God After this she returned from the
that rapt that they could not heare her without wonder Another tyme retyring into the Quire she tooke a great Rope with which she caused her handes to be bound behind her and she made her selfe to he hood-winked and so to be tyed to the grate of the Altar to the end that the Religious who were to passe that way might be moued therby to vilify laugh at her But it proued otherwise for they seeing so piteous a spectacle there was not one of them who did not find her selfe kindled towardes deuotion and she being asked by the Prioresse vpon what reason she had done that act she answered that she had done it to become thereby more humble and more prone to holy Obedience She prayed her also with feruent tears that she would be pleased to bid the Religious that as she should be going to that Altar for a certaine deuotion oâ— hers they should say such wordes to heâ— as these whereby to vilify her so much the more Suor Maria Maddalena this iâ— come vpon you for your dâ—fects and because you will be doing of thinges too much after your owne fashion The Mother Prioresse satisfyed her desire heerin and therupon Suor Maria Maddalena demanded pardon of them all with so great humility that there was none of them who found not her selfe tenderly affected with it and hauing continued for the space of an houre in this Mortification she was loosed at last by Mother Prioresse not without extraordinary edification In this meane tyme fastning her eyes vpon an Image of the B. Virgin she was estranged from her senses and she vnderstood from her Lord how that act of humility had beene gratefull to him And by this meanes a great multitude of Diuells being confounded they came about her with so horrible outcryes as gaue her no small vexation She resisteth other tentations of the Diuells and sends them often away CHAP. 37. FOR the adding of one affliction to another there passed not much tyme before the Diuell appeared to her againe with hideous aspect whilest she was making Prayer so that euen ouerwhelmed instantly with great terrour she became deadly pale And calling first vpon S. Michael the Archangell in her ayde and turning her face vp to heauen she sayd O Word O Word In te Domine sperâ—ui non confundar in aeternum After which words she vttered a profound sigh and turning towards the Diuell sayd What dost thou demand of me O thou horrible beast O bone Iesu by the sight of my offences which I see and by that other sight of myne enemyes me thinkes that I am euen in possession of hell But if you O Diuells had euen swallowed me vp you should yet be forced to deliuer me backe againe Whilest thus she was tormented with this fearefull spectacle her face became al wanne and through the excesse of that agony her sweat distilled in great aboundance She was then cast downe to the ground with great fury beaten with incredible rage For sometimes the Diuell strocke her ouer the head sometymes he cast her downe precipitously so that her face was swelled in such sort that for the space of many dayes it was necessary for her to be vnder cure But she conforming her selfe to the will of God sayd thus In fine O thou hideous beast when thou shalt haue tormented me according to thyne owne desire what wilt thou haue obteyned therby Benedicaâ— Dominum in omni tempore semper laus eius in ore meo Then rysing vp on her feet and leaning against an Altar she was againe impetuously cast downe to the ground But she hauing recourse to the ayde of heauen sayd Exurgat Deus dissipentur inimici eius And then turning towards the Diuells she added Yet can you do no more then is permitted to you by my Spouse I deny not but that thou art strong O horrible beast that I of my selfe am weake Note but my Lord standeth neere me who is infinitely more strong and more couragious then thou Do you not obserue O you ignorant fooles that I am with my Iesus and that you can do me no harme Do you not yet further obserue that by these so many your battailes you make me become a more glorious Conqueresse Soone after she droue those maligne spirits away with a discipline For seeing her selfe enuironed by them she cast her selfe vpon the ground still striking now on the right hand and then on the left with strange agility Afterwardes walking through the Oratory where she was with great speed she did strike vpon the benches and vpon the walls in such sort as that she resembled the Sonne of God when he droue the sellers out of the Temple She saw afterwards that many of those maligne spirits retyred themselues into all the parts of the Monastery to assault the other Religious with other tentations but they could not enter into the Chapter house for the humble and reuerent acts which are exercised there Some of them she saw where the Religious vse to communicate where they heare the word of God who earnestly laboured to disquiet their harts with earthly thoughts to the end that they might not come to know the great vnion which is made with Almighty God by receauing that food of life Some of them she saw in the worke house who tempted the Religious to worke negligently and to haue no zeale to relieue the pouerty of their Order Others againe she saw in the Refectory who incited the Religious to be at the Table without deuotion and attention to the sacred lesson Seeing also at another time whilest she was in Rapt and the Religious were singing the diuine Laudes in the Quire that a great multitude of Diuells was at the doore ready to enter in and that one was already entred and stood tempting the Spouses of Christ the good Mother being enflamed with feruour of Spirit went as it were flying towards the Quire and snatching vp a Crosse she droue away therewith those infernall spirits But as she often saw the Diuells throughout the Couent who indeuoured extremely to distract the Relious from the strait way to heauen so were there also shewed vnto her by our Lord a greater number of holy Angells which gaue strength and courage to their soules whereby they might resist temptations She freeth one of the Religious from a contagious disease and cureth a lay Sister of whome the one halfe was senseles from the head to the feet CHAP. 38. SVOR Barbara Bassi a professed Religious had beene subiect for many yeares to a contagious disease almost throughout her whole body wherby she was much payned and especially when she tooke her food And the remedyes she vsed did but tend to the increase of her torment so as the Phisitians allowed her but a short tyme of life the rather because the sayd sicknes was such as that by little and little it did eate away all her flesh Many tymes she had recommended her selfe to the
is worse with so many relapses are disposed to do so little pennance And how much more may iâ— confound all Protestants who do plainely in effect protest against all corporall Pennance and make themselues beleeue that one single sigâ— is able to set all accounts straight between Goâ— and them and at on instant to free their soulâ— all festred with the sinnes of a most lasciuious enormous life not only from the guilt of sinâ— â—ut from all manner of temporall punishment which in the iustice of God might be due vnto 〈◊〉 They were best say againe that these things â—ere abrogated as a part of the ceremoniall â—w but I haue touched that point already â—hey might say that sinne as well as the Penâ—ance due to sinne was taken way As if the â—ambe were not occisus ab origine uâ—unâ—i and in the law of Moyses they were saued 〈◊〉 lesse then we by fayth in Christ they in the â—ayth of Christ to come and we in the fayth of â—hrist come already But fayth in Christ is so â—r from being contrary to Pennance as that 〈◊〉 true fayth is there expressed where Penâ—ance for sin is not imbraced And of the two 〈◊〉 is cleare that we are much more obliged to â—e doing of seuere Pennance when we sinne â—hen they were before the coming of Christ our â—auiour by how much the more potent and â—fficacious meanes for the abstayning from â—ne we haue then they by the application â—f our Sauiours bloud which so frequently 〈◊〉 deriued towardes vs in the holy Sacraâ—ents of the Church In that which followeth I bind my selfe 〈◊〉 be very briefe and I will but point out another penitent in the new testament and thâ— is S. Paul who was not only a doctour of thâ— lesson of Pennance but a disciple also Wheâ— speaking of what himselfe did suffer he sayth A dimpleo ea quae desunt passionum chrâ—sti pro corpore eius quae est Ecclesia fullfill those things which were wanting to tâ— sufferings of Christ for his body which is tâ— Church Not that the Passion of our Sauioâ— was not in the beliefe of S. Paul as it is in oâ— superabundantly sufficient whose least act hâ— beene able and meritorious to saue a thousaâ— and million of worlds but that in respectâ— vs this was still wanting That as he suffereâ— in the quality of a Head so we as membeâ— must also suffer yea and corporally suffer as 〈◊〉 had done and S. Paul affirmeth that he 〈◊〉 his part was doing his duty in supplying 〈◊〉 defect Againe he aduiseth or rather descrâ—beth true Christians Semper mortificatinem Iesu Christi in corpore nostro poâ—tantes vt vita Iesu manifestetur in coâ—poribus nostris To carry alwayes in our bâ—dyes the mortification of Christ Iesus thâ— the life of Iesus may be manifested in our bodâ— He sayth not that the mortification of Christ â—esus is to be carryed only in the Mind by â—hinking on him nor in the Tongue by talâ—ing of him but in the Body of flesh bloud 〈◊〉 feeling displeasure and payne in ours for â—is sake as he did in his for ours In such sort 〈◊〉 that according to his holy Apostolicall doâ—trine the excellency and purity patience 〈◊〉 the life of Iesus is made manifest to the â—orld by the pennance which Christians vse â—en vpon their bodyes which because it is of 〈◊〉 much repugnance to flesh and bloud it doth â—mong other proofes establish the diuinity of â—hrist our Sauiour against Iewes and Turkes â—nd Pagans when they see what we suffer â—ith how much ioy and longanimity we do it 〈◊〉 honour of him whome they blaspheme but â—e adore In another place he thus professeth clerly 〈◊〉 his owne person Itaque curro non tamâ—am in incertum sic pugno non tamâ—am aërem verberaÌ„s sed castigo corpus â—eum in seruitutem redigo ne cùm â—js praedicauerim ipse reprobus efficiar â—herfore do run not as to obtaine a price vnâ—taine I so fight not as if I did but whip or beat the ayre but I chastize or beat mâ— body I bring it into subiection least wheâ— I shall haue preached saluation to others my selfe may become a Reprobate Now if a Sâ— Paul who was conuerted by an expresse anâ— personall apparition of our B. Sauiour afteâ— his Ascension who was made an Apostle anâ— canonized by the mouth of God himselfe to bâ— not only a Vessell elected for his honour bâ— euen a very vessell of Election and that hâ— should carry his name before the Kings of thâ— earth who had beene rapt vp in Extasis 〈◊〉 high as the very third heauen it selfe wheâ— such Arcana such deep mysteryes had beenâ— imparted to him as it was not lawfull for mâ— to vtter were not only still importuned anâ— euen buffeted with tentations of sense for hâ— greater humiliation and probation but fâ— the bringing and keeping of his body in subiection and seruitude to his mind for feaâ— least otherwise in the middst of his preachinâ— of saluation to others himselfe might becomâ— a Reprobaee did not only beate the ayre wiâ— hiâ— tongue as the Protestants and loose Câ—tholikes vse to do whilest they only talke 〈◊〉 what Christ suffered but did also beat his b◠〈◊〉 as himselfe recordeth how will it become vs 〈◊〉 carry our selues in point of pennance when â—e shall haue considered of all the differences â—hat are betweene S. Paul and vs How â—uch must we begin to suffer with Christ our Lord who did not so drinke vp the chalice of â—ribulation but that he left certayne drops 〈◊〉 be swallowed afterwardes by vs when first â—en they should be sanctifyed to vs by him â—ow carefully must we mortify and how wilâ—ngly must we punish our selues or at least â—ow much may we be ashamed if we do it not â—nd if Protestants or any other libertines â—ill still be laughing at vs for our Labour â—hilest they laugh at vs we shall do well to â—eep for them as S. Augustine vpon anoâ—her occasion did for others So that now the examples of Scripturs 〈◊〉 both Testaments and indeed of the holy Church in all ages and aboue all of Christ our â—nly Sauiour and Redeemer doth command vs and euen vrge and force vs Charitas Christi vrget nos in some sort to shew that â—e are in earnest when we tell our selues that â—e belieue in Christ and that he dyed for vs â—hat we might dye to sensuality and sinne and liue to him either by continuing in innocency or by doing of Pennance For my part I know no reason why this consequence should nâ— hould that If you wold iudge your selus you should not be iudged which are the words of the Apostle so if we shall chastise punish our selues in this life it will be a greaâ— means among others to moue God to mercy and to obtayn that the punishment of the nexâ— may be preuented And this is the voyce noâ— only of so
in the house and in many other holy actions altogeather repugnant to Sense seeking euer new meanes whereby she might become more acceptable to our soueraigne Lord. How she was left in the Monastery of S. Giouannino and of the inspirations which she had to become Religious in the Monastery of S. Maria de li Angeli CHAP. 4. BEING aged now of fourten years and her Father being to go in publique imployment to Cortona her parents determined by the aduice of the Reuerend Father Pietro Blanca Rector of the College of the Society of Iesus to leaue her placed for a yeare in the Monastery of S. Giouannino of Florence Which Father because he well knew the perfection singuler spirit of this child as also the ardent desire she had to frequent the Blessed Sacrament resolued to place her there vnder condition that vpon euery Sunday and Holy-day she might communicate at her owne deuotion This being then promised very willingly by those Reuerend Mothers she entred into the sayd Monastery and passed the yeare with great increase of vertue and no lesse satisfaction of the sayd Religious for the liuely example which euery one of them tooke from her true deuotion Neuertheles there wanted not in that tyme some occasions to disturbe so great a frequence of the Sacraments but she kindling her selfe more and more in so holy a desire did not at all release the ardent purpose she had to get ground in the seruice of God With excessiue feruour she followed the exercise of Mentall Prayer Note and did very often for the space of foure continued houres enioy celestiall thoughts And on the day of the most holy Ascension of Iesus into heauen whilest in a most retyred part of the Monastery she was deuoutly praying the Giuer of all good things imparted to her so liuely a knowledge of his diuine Bounty that with much difficulty she was able to conteyne the ioy triumph that in her soule she felt Those Reuerend Mothers were moued by her vertue to haue extraordinary desire that she would take their habit and with particuler instance aduised her to it letting her see the good which thereby would redound to the Monastery Whereupon she earnestly prayed the illuminatour of all harts to make her choose that place which should be most for the seruice honour of his diuine Maiesty In the meane tyme her Father Mother being returned from Cortona tooke her home into the house and forbare not by many wayes to disturbe her holy purpose being vrged by the affection of flesh and bloud which is the vsuall author of such inconueniencies and they did so the rather because she was their only daughter But she hauing by help from heauen ouercome all difficultyes and being more desirous then euer to imitate the Incarnate Word in the state of holy Religion sayd resolutly vnto them that she would rather suffer her head to be strocken from her shoulders Note then consent not to be Religious Her parents hearing this remitted all to her Ghostly Father who wisely counsayled her to choose some Monastery where both deuotion and a perfect obseruant life did flourish in the Religious to which her selfe was much inclined There being then propounded to her the Monastery of S. Maria de li Angioli neere S. Friano of the order of the Carmelites and that other venerable Monastery of the Crocetto of the order of S. Dominicke to which later she had some inclination because the Religious of that place are neuer seene yet at last hearing the former so highly paysed especially for the frequent receauing of the B. Sacrament which there is vsed euery day she determined to go into the sayd Monastery for fifteene dayes And hauing obteyned licence on the Vigill of the Assumption of the B. Virgin she entred full of ioy and in the tyme of her stay there gaue an excellent example of life Hauing diligently then considered the seuerall Orders of Religion she was wholy satisfyed that this was the place to which our Lord had called her Therefore it grieued her to go thence at all but being forced by her parents she must needs returne home where with a great deale of grief for the space of three monthes she remayned But finally being more and more moued by Almighty God to take the habit of Religion on the Saturday precedent to the first Sunday of Aduent in the yeare 1582. she entred into the Monastery to consecrate her selfe for euer to the seruice of God And hauing obteyned their acceptation she was on the eight of December in the same yeare being the day of the Conception of the B. Virgin receaued with great ioy and satisfaction by all the Religious Afterward vpon the thirtith of Ianuary next following with ardent desire of heauenly graces extreme contempt of earthly cares she tooke the habit of the Carmelits order in the sayd monastery at the hands of the Confessour thereof Agostino Campi of Pontremoli a Priest of great vertue and exemplar life And in the instant when he put the crucifixe into her hand the Religious singing those words of S. Paul Mihi absit gloriari nisi in cruce Domini nostri Iesu Christi c. Note it is a wonder to tell how she felt interiourly so great an vnion with our Lord Iesus and such a spirituall sweetnes that in all her life as she sayd she remembred not to haue found the like Whereupon hauing placed in eternall obliuion all the commodityes of this life and hauing confirmed her selfe more resolutely in her holy purpose she protested at that tyme to her heauenly Spouse that she would neuer thirst after any thing but him crucifyed nor aspire to any thing but that her soule might to the vttermost of her possibility be instructed and deuoted to do him seruice After she was clad with the sacred habit she did with profound humility giue her selfe for dead to the Mother who was Mistresse of the Nouices Note and did ardently beg that she would euer humble her and mortify her and at all tyme contradict her will and direct her in all her actions A liuely and fit example for all such as thirst after an increase of Religious vertue for without this resignation there is no profit to be expected in a spirituall life In the yeare of her Nouiship she makes great proof of many vertues of the much desire she had to be Professed which was accorded by her Superiours by reason of her great sicknes from which she was freed in miraculous manner CHAP. 5. HAVING at last obteyned that which so long she had desired to be clothed with the Religious Habit Note with great deuotion and feruour she submitted her selfe to the easy yoke of the Holy Obedience of the Mistresse of the Nouices with such humility as that in the perfection of that kind of life she seemed not a Nouice but a Religious woman of many years In conuersing with her Sisters she esteemed her selfe in
by Almighty God CHAP. 6. GREAT was the contentment which the Nouiciate yea all the Monastery receaued through the health miraculously recouered by this beloued child of Iesus And the Superiours discouering that she was guided by Almighty God in a particuler manner and that euery day more then other she profited in the obteyning of vertue they deliberated about drawing her out of the Nouiciate although she had beene but lately profest and to put her in some seuerall place where she might with better opportunity serue our Lord. But when this resolution was come to her ears she was much afflicted as being an enemy to all singularity went suddainly to beseech the Superiours with great instance that they would not seuer her from the other Nouices or withdraw her from the obedience of her Mistresse accusing her selfe to be the most imperfect of thē al that she had more need then others to be directed by her in the way of vertue When her Superiours obserued this singular humility of hers they were cōtent to graunt her holy suite whereupon being confirmed vnder the care of the Mistresse it cannot be exprest with how much spirit she gaue her selfe to the contemplation of heauenly Misteryes And if in the first yeare of her Nouiciate she had made particuler proofe of her sanctity she grew in doing of it afterward not imploying her forces vpon any other thing then the procuring of those graces which make soules acceptable in the eyes of God She went euer thinking how she might inflame others towards diuine loue exhorting her Sisters to performe the seruice of God with humility and purity of mind From her mouth there came none but holy words She would excuse the defects of others Note and interprete euery thing to a good end She would neuer speake much vnles she were vrged by questions that which she sayd would be full of mildnes and charity In this meane tyme being yet more kindled to holy actions she was often rapt in spirit and was come to such a degree of perfection that no worldly thing could disorder the vnion which she had with the diuine Maiesty When it pleased God to restore her to her senses she would immediatly returne to her fellow Nouices and she proceeded towards them with so great humility and suauity that it seemed not to be she who so lately had beene seene to participate of so high and heauenly Misteryes as one who valued not much such gifts as those but attended only to solid vertue and the contempt of her selfe Now her Superiour obseruing the wonders that God wrought by meanes of this his true seruant since euery day after the holy Communion they had seene her in excesse of mind raysed vp to the vnderstanding of so high things they appointed her in vertue of holy obedience to preuent the loosing of so great heauenly treasures by communicating whatsoeuer God should manifest vnto her with the Reuerend Mother Suor Vangelista del Giocundo her Mistresse and Suor Maria Maddalena Mori Of these two Mothers the first who is yet liuing a Religious woman of great prudence of no lesse vertue and sanctity of life hath witnessed in particuler by oaths and writings vnder her hand that she hath with her owne eyes seene that which is recounted in this Story of Suor Maria Maddalena besides many other Religious who in like manner haue affirmed and do affirme the very same So as now Suor Maria Maddalena did relate to the sayd Mothers the fauours and intelligences which were cōmunicated to her by Almighty God in those Extasies And although she extremly desired to maintaine her self abiect vile in the sight of others yet neuertheles she alwayes preferred holy Obedience before any inclination of her own and the rather she did it in this case to be the better assured thereby whether or no there were any mixture of diabolicall fraud but in this point she was satisfyed by her Ghostly Father And for the better testifying of the truth the Right Reuerend Man Francesco Benuenuti Gouernour and Confessarius of the Monastery Penitentiarius of the Cathedrall Church of Florence subscribed with his owne hand to foure bookes written by the Religious which conteine many deuout and high intelligences By him they were deliuered to be reuiewed by the Fathers of the Society of Iesus who gaue this testimony that there was nothing to be found in them contrary to the Catholique fayth but on the other side many things of perfection worthy to be vnderstood by all to bring thē more in loue with God She seeth the soule of Madre Suor Maria Bagnese a Florentine rich with the glory of Heauen CHAP. 7. SVOR Maria Maddalena was wont to visit often the body of the venerable Mother Suor Maria Bagnese a Florentine who is buried in a case of stone within the Chapter-house of that Monastery and there did see exhibite earnest prayers to that holy soule to which she was most deuoted Whereupon she obteyned to see her in heauen many tymes but particulerly vpon the eleauenth of Iuly 1584. she saw her in a most excellent manner and being commanded in vertue of holy Obedience she related the Vision in these very words I haue seene in heauen a most beautifull Throne of incomprehensible light wherein did sit the Blessed Mother Suor Maria Bagnese all resplendent and full of wonderfull Maiesty And I vnderstood that this Throne was her virginity and purity which gaue her an extreme ornament I saw also that the sayd Throne was all set with precious stones these were all those souls which her example had brought to the seruice of God which compassing her in round about after the manner of a crown did giue her greater grace and beauty This was the relation which Suor Maria Maddalena made of that particuler But of how great sanctity the sayd Madre Suor Maria Bagnese was whosoeuer will may see in her life which is written by the Father Alessandro Capocchi a Dominican a man of great holynes as also by the Father Abbot Don Siluano Razzi of Camaldoli in the second part of Tuscan Saintes and by the Father Fra Serafino his brother a Dominican both who were men for their learning and vertue very much to be esteemed Three times our Lord made her know his will was that she should liue vpon bread and water Triall was taken of that motion by her Superiours and with their permission she began to execute the will of God CHAP. 8. ON the 21. of May 1585. this blessed Creature being then imployed about the exercises of the Monastery finding her selfe to be moued by God she went into the dormitory of the Nouiciate where at the instant that she arriued she was cast downe to the earth with great violence and remayning so a good while as if she had been dead she afterwards vttered these wordes O my Lord and what is it which thou demandest of me Is it perhaps the exteriour by the interiour
I am one day to iudg thee with power and Maiesty 14. Thou shalt esteeme thy Rule and Constitutions thereof togeather with the vowes as I will haue thee esteeme my selfe procuring to ingraue in the harts of all the Religious the zeale of that state to which I haue called them and of thy Religion 15. Thou shalt haue great desire to be made subiect vnto all and thou shalt haue it in horrour to be preferred before the meanest and least of the company 16. Thou shalt not conceaue that thy comfort repose and solace consisteth in any other thing then in contempt and in humility 17. Thou shalt forbeare to let the creatures know what thy desires are and what my will is excepting those whom I haue giuen to liue with thee and my Christ 18. Thou shalt be in continuall oblation of all thy desires and actions togeather with all my members vnto me 19. From that houre wherein I left my pure mother that is from within two howres before Sun set thou shalt be in continuall oblation of my Passion of thy selfe and of my creatures to the Eternall Father and this shall be thy preparation for receauing of me sacramentally and betweene the day and the night thou shalt visit my body and bloud 33. times 20. The last thing shall be that in all the operations which I shall suffer thee to performe as well internall as externall thou art to be transformed into me After this she remayned for some tyme without speach and she proceeded in the person of the Word saying This is the Rule which the beloued of thy soule in act of loue hath giuen to thee Therefore thou shalt receaue it and such thinges as are conteyned therein thou shalt keep at thy hart and put them in execution excepting only when Charity and Obedience do hinder thee from visiting my body and bloud After these wordes she returned from the rapt And how exactly these Rules were obserued by her the progresse of her life will shew The great excesses of loue which she had in the contemplation of Christ Iesus CHAP. 11. YET was not the vapour of this burning fornace so very hot but sometymes the flame increased which made the most ardent fire of diuine loue euen breake from her breast out of her mouth In so much as in her Rapts fixing her most pure vnderstanding vpon the contemplation of infinite loue which moâ—ed Almighty God to do so much for the most vile creatur Man Note the great excesse of her loue to God expressed in this and the next chapter she could not conteine her selfe from exclayming thus with a loud voyce O loue O loue O God how thou louest thy creatures with pure loue O God of loue O God of loue O my Lord no more loue no more loue it is too much O my Iesus the loue that thou bearest to thy creatures Yet not too much for thy greatnes but too much for a creature which is so vile and base Wherfore dost thou O my God giue me so much loue who am so vnworthy and so vile Being once againe in Rapt taking a Crucifixe into her hand she went running about the Couent and easing her hart towards the diuine Word with inamoured discourses and inflamed desires she cryed out O loue O loue O loue This did she with so gracefull smiles with a countenance of top full of ioy that the very sight of her gaue occasion to take vnspeakable comfort Sometimes she would be fixing her eyes on heauen sometimes vpon the Crucifixe sometimes she would imbrace and presse it vpon her hart kisse it with excessiue feruour and the while she would not cease to cry and cry againe O loue O loue I will neuer cease O my God to call thee loue the very ioy and triumph of my hart the hope and comfort of my soule Then turning about to the Sisters which followed her she would thus say on Know you not O deere Sisters that my Iesus is nothing els but loue yea that he is euen as it were fond with loue Fond with loue I say thou art O my Iesus and I will euer say so Thou art all amiable and ioyfull thou art recreatiue and confortatiue thou art nutritiue and vnitiue thou art pennance solace labour and repose life and death both at once Finally what is that which is not in thee thou art wise and cheerefull high and immense admirable and vnspeakable in excogitable and incomprehensible Then she kept her eyes still fixed vpon the wounded side of the Crucifixe wherein she seemed to discouer strang thinges and spake at large of the suprem loue which God beareth to mankind and of the highest Misteryes which the Incarnaâ—e Word wrought on earth for our redemption And againe she exclaymed O loue O loue then casting her eye vp to heaueÌ„ she sayd Giue me so strong a voyce O my Lord that whilest I call thee Louâ— I may be heared from the East to the West throughout all the parts of the world euen to Hell it selfe that thou mayâ— be known reuerenced as the true loue O loue O loue which only dost penetrate and transcend which breakest and bindest which rulest and gouernest all thinges Thou art heauen and earth fire and aire bloud water thou art God and Man And who shall euer be able either to expresse or thinke of thy greatnes since thou art infinite and eternall In these so liuely excesses of Loue she did often spend the whole dayes so as it seemed that she drew on apace towards an Angelicall life and that she was fed with banquetting dishes from the table of heauen In these acts her speach was so deuout so inflamed and so compassionate towards her Iesus hanging on the Crosse that not only in name but in deed she resembled that Maddalena who was so much wounded with griefe vpon mount Caluary when the VVord Incarnate gaue vp his Spirit to his eternall Father Sometymes being vrged by the heat of celestiall fire she would runne with speed into the Quire and getting vp to the Rood lost where there was a Crucifixe she would vnnayle it from the Crosse with incredible agility Then sitting downe she would keep it in her bosome and taking of her veyles from her head she would dry with them the sweat and bloud which she seemed to see runne trickling downe from the face of her beloued Spouse And this would she do with so great feruour of spirit that the Religious who were present would feare that her hart was not able to indure such an ardent fire of loue It is an admirable thing to tell how when the Sisters had taken those veiles linnen-clothes wherewith she had performed those offices of deuotion to the Crucifix they found them so full of sweat and so very wet that it seemed as if she had held in her armes the dead Iesus in such sort as he was when in the middest of those cruell torments of the Crosse he
Lord Archbishop would needes speake with her againe as he did in familiar manner and at large particulerly asking about those things which a little before he had vnderstood of her when she was in Rapt She euer as to her true Superiour with profound humility and reuerence answered to all his demands and conferred about many other thinges with great confidence After which he departed much satisfyed when first in the presence of the Mother Prioresse and many other of the Mothers he had highly praysed the vertue and sanctity of this their Religious Sister She foretelleth vnto the Cardinall Archbishop of Florence that he should be Pope and at another tyme forseeth that he should hold that place but few dayes CHAP. 19. AMONG those discourses which she had with the Lord Cardinall she told him vpon occasion that he should one day come to that highest dignity of Popedome Which came to passe when in the yeare 1605. vpon the death of Clemens Octauus he was chosen Pope and he called himselfe Leo the eleuenth Not only did she forsee this but sayd afterwards in a Rapt that he was to rule the Church of God but a very short tyme for when he past by Florence as the Pops legate to the King of France she vsed these wordes This Christ is in present possession of a great honour but he shall afterwards ariue to the greatest although he shall not long stay therein for when he would fain imbrace it then shall the glory of it vanish out of his sight How clearely this was verifyed we see by the successe for he gouerned the Christian Common Wealth but six and twenty dayes How she was perfectly resigned to God How Iesus shewed himselfe thrice to her with a troubled countenance and afterwards well pleased and of the three offers which she made to the Eternall Father with an Image of Iesus in her hand CHAP. 20. SPEAKING once with one of the Sisters Note she sayd in humble manner that she desired nothing of her Lord but that he would take from her her owne will and that as she knew that by her own only indeauour or power she could not profit according to her desire in those vertues which make a soule gratefull to God She had scarse ended these wordes when turning vp her eyes to heauen she was rapt in Extasis and it was shewed to her by Iesus how great an impediment the being guided by ones proper will doth bring to a soule and especially of one that is Religious who by the vow of Obedience hath already consecrated the Will to God She therefore vnderstood how the will of Iesus was that in nothing she was to suffer her owne Will to haue dominion This being done she instantly tooke the Prioresse by the hand who togeather with many other of the Religious was there present and she conducted her to the Oratory where she made feruent prayers to the B. Virgin beseeching her that she would get her light towardes the executing of the diuine Will After this turning aside to the Mother Prioresse whom still she held by the hand she begged of her with great earnestnes and with many tears that euen for the loue of Iesus she also would indeauour to depriue her of doing her owne Will And then Note prostrating herselfe thrice vpon the ground after the manner of demanding pardon she returned from the Rapt The day following she being withall the other Religious imployed in holy exercises she was againe rapt in Extasis and with great violence cast downe to the ground Her countenance was already seene to be growne pale for the great horrour that she had and easily it might be discerned that this happēned not without some mystery And so it was for she seemed then to see Iesus extraordinarily troubled because she had made some resistance to his diuine VVill. For she vnderstood from himselfe that her actions were to be singular and that he was pleased to raise her to higher degrees of Religious perfection but she being vrged by an extreme desire of not appearing such made therein a kind of resistance in her mind desiring rather to suffer whatsoeuer kind of affliction then to be held by others of a singular life Therefore our Lord shewed himselfe againe vnto her as offended added how it was his VVill that both interiourly and exteriourly she should appeare gratefull to him and therfore that she was to make no resistance After dinner she was againe raysed to Extasis and vnderstood many things from the Incarnate VVord but particulerly how she was to suffer much affliction thereby to grow more gratefull to the Eternall Father She was also illuminated about many other things apperteyning to the Constitutions of the Monastery which she particulerly related to Mother Prioresse Not many dayes after hauing left the Religious with whome then she was and going into the Quire being by that tyme alienated from her senses she let her selfe fall vpon the ground with her armes crossed seeing Christ Iesus who seemed to be againe of troubled countenance Wherupon in imitation of S. Paul she sayd O Lord what wilt thou haue me do Tell me what is pleasing to thee and whatsoeuer it be I will procure to accomplish it so that thy bright eyes may shine vpon me and that thy countenance towards me may no more be obscured She added other wordes all full of profound humility and hauing so remayned a while she turned her selfe with great ioy towardes a picture of the B. Virgin saying O Maria I do yet once againe behould those most pure and bright eyes of my Spouse and they looke on me no more with a troubled countenance But I beseech thee tell me O my Iesus what can I haue done in so short a tyme whereby I may haue obteyned this so deere and delicious aspect of thyne And she had scarce ended these words when she heard a celestiall voyce that sayd Conformity of will whereupon she came to know that by being so humbly resigned to the Will of God she saw her Iesus no more now offended but benigne and appeased In this feruour of spirit she went into the Quire to a chappel of the B. Virgin and opening the grates of the Altar she tooke off the candlestickes with more agility then can be imagined Afterwards ascending vp to the Altar she powred forth earnest prayers to the Mother of God that she would giue her her sonne Iesus whose Image togeather with her owne was there embost and vpon the signe made that her sute was graunted she takes into her armes that deuout Image of Iesus and laying aside all the ornaments sayd thus I will haue thee naked O my Iesus for I were not able to endure thee withall thy infinite vertues perfections I will haue thy humanity all naked She went afterwardes with that Image into all those three places where he had shewed himselfe to be offended and in the selfe same manner as a Priest doth offer the
her selfe with another which was to be giuen her for Gods sake if the rest of the Mothers and Sisters should be so contented Heereupon they consenting not without abundance of teares seeing there before them an example of so great vertue the Prioresse made her put off her coate and to put on the coate of another Sister affirming that she gaue it her for Iesus sake bidding her keep it till it were required againe By this action all diabolicall tentation which vexed her in the point of Pouerty was much weakned and she found withall so great contentment of soule that being rapt in Extasis she seemed to feele part of the ioy of those blessed spirits which are apparelled in heauen with immortall glory And moreo she had a liuely feeling of how much the vertues of Humility and Pouerty ought to be esteemed and loued which make the soules in heauen happy and amiable euen heer on earth God sheweth her the glory of S. Augustine and he helpeth her to say her Office CHAP. 29. ON the Vigil of S. Augustine in the same yeare of 1587. she being imployed about some busines of the Monastery after she had sayd with the other Religious as many Psalmes in honour of that Saint as the name of Augustine conteyned letters she was rapt in Extasis instantly began with great feruour to beg of God that he would shew her the glory of that Saint and that through his merits he would impart some grace to the Religious of that Monastery Her prayers were not made in vaine for instantly she saw as might be vnderstood by her manner of speach that our Lord God for the merits of that Saint imparted to them many spirituall gifts The euening after she being in the Quire at Complyn whilest the Salue Regina was sung she saw S. Augustine inuironed with eternall glory then fastning her eyes on heauen being filled with diuine splendour she began to discourse with that Saint with such admirable feruour of spirit and with so great vehemency of speach that it was impossible for the Religious to note her wordes But the night following saying her Mattins with the rest when she was come to the middest thereof retyring her selfe a little aside she was againe alienated from her senses and S. Augustine did in like manner appeare to her who made an end of saying the Office with heâ— as might easily be knowne by her recyting of one verse and not the other she hearing that the Saint did vtter it At the same tyme she also heard the Angelicalâ— melodyes whereupon she sayd Yea this is other manner of musicke then that which is made below on earth Hauing ended the Office she began to beg of Iesus with most deuout words That he would vouchsafe to come and vnite himselfe to her in the B. Sacrament and remayning yet still in Rapt she went to the vsuall place of the Communion being vpon her knees she remayned there till the Ghostly Father came to communicate the Religious she was also commumnicated without euer going out of the Rapt whereby she was so much kindled with the loue of God that she seemed euen with excesse of tendernes to faint and she vttered words so feruent affectuous as would haue mollifyed any peruerse and stony hart and thus passed she that night in these deuout contemplations She is tempted that for the benefit of soules she would leaue that Religious state And afterwards she was tempted with Pride proper Estimation and of the remedyes which she vsed that she might not be ouercome CHAP. 30. HOVVSOEVER the enemy of mankind saw that he laboured in vaine in striuing to remoue this Spouse of Christ from her holy life yet he ceased not with new assaults to afflict tempt her For vnder the shaddow of good he was desirous to perswade her Note that more quietly she might serue God if putting of the habit of Religion for the benefit of Soules she would returne into the world But finding her still more and more stable in her holy purpose he began againe to appeare to her in fearefull shapes threatning that he would destroy her if she consented not to his wicked suggestion But she contemning his threats and rages being inflamed with desire to serue God to free her selfe from the tentation of leauing the Religious habit she tooke one day the keyes of the Monastery and placed them in the hands of the Crucifixe to shew that she should yeild Obedience only to him in the obseruation of her inclosure The night after being of S. Andrew the Apostle saying Mattins with the rest of her Sisters she was troubled with a most grieuous tentation to make her selfe away She went from thence to the Refectory where she tooke vp a knife and returning into the Quire yet still in Rapt she ascended vp to the Altar of the B. Virgin and put it into her handes so to obteyne the grace of being able to conquer the temptation After this she troad it vnder her feet therby to put the greater scorne vpon the Tempter Another tyme she procured Mother Prioresse to tye her first in her cell for the same purpose and in reward of so great humility God called her to the knowledge of high Mysteryes and â—rengthned her much against new comâ—ts But the threats and temptations of â—he Diuell sometymes of Pride someâ—imes of forsaking her Religious habit â—ot ceasing she ran hastily to the Prioâ—esse and in the presence of all the Religious with a Rope about her necke her hands bound togeather she demanâ—ed the Religious habit for Gods sake and with these actes of mortification humility she obteyned the conquest Yet hardly ouercame she any temptatioÌ„ but that others would grow the more terrible to her thereby Being tempted that she should not obey the Superiours Mother Prioresse made her promise to God in the presence of many Religious perpetuall Obedience Hearing Masse somtymes she was cruelly tormented by Diuells and with much fury sometymes throwne this way and sometymes that way which the Religious so visibly seeing were brought to great compassion towards her To profit yet more in vertue she would put her selfe to the performing of the most vile and ignoble exercises of the Kitchen not only did she make her selfe obedient and subiect to the Mothers but euen to the lay Sisters also And for their help she carryed wood and coles and drew water without fauouring her selfe at all as if she had beene the most abiect person in the Monastery Besids that she did these things whilest she went bare-foot and vilely clad as our Lord had commanded her so that it cannot be exprest how much she mortifyed her self by these exercises Hauing once serued the Religious at the Table and kissed all their feet she was alienated from her senses in reward of that act she was kissed by Iesus and she obteyned to see S. Iohn the Euangelist and S. Catharine of Siena who bound the
Diuells with strait chaines Thus continued she by the space of three years continually fighting and by Humility obteyning victory ouer Pride For hauing ouercome the tentations of leauing her Religious habit she was by Iesus apparelled interiourly with the same habit and by him she was communicated CHAP. 31. HAVING by heauenly help ouercome the tentations of leauing her Religious habit she was much inflamed with a desire to be interiourly apparelled therewith And heereupon powring forth earnest prayers to our Lord vpon the fifth of August and reading the life of S. Diego to whome she was deuoted she grew to be alienated from her senses and by her wordes it was knowne that the Saint aforesayd did shew her a white and faire habit which came forth of the side of the Sonne of God So as now she doubled her prayers to her heauenly Spouse that he would be pleased to grant it to her She also inuocated all her Patron Saints beseeching our Lord againe that vpon that day which was the Feast of S. An Aduocate of interssiō not of Redemption Albertus her Aduocate he would cloath her all interiourly to the end that she might imitate the same Saint with greater feruour of spirit Her desirs were graunted for turning her eyes towards Christ Iesus crucifyed she saw issuing out of his side a most precious Coate out of his right hand a Scapulary out of his left hand a Girdle from his thorny head a White veile and from the wound of his necke which was made when he bare the Crosse a Mantle bright and shining beyond all possibility of imagination Then moued by diuine spirit she ascended vp to the little Altar where the Crucifixe was and whilest she fastned her eyes vpon it the Religious found plainly by her postures and motions that interiourly she was apparelled with the holy Coate Afterwards with great feruour of loue she kist the wound of his side from whence the Vest issued afterwardes receaued from euery other wound of the Crucifixe all those seueral things aforesayd The Garland the Light and the Crucifixe which is giuen by the Priest to such as are vested with a Religious habit she receaued from the Queen of heauen Whereof by the words which then she vttered cleare proof was giuen as also by her kissing an Image of the B. Virgin in the same manner as she had done that of the Crucifixe And it was very remarkable that she omitted not euen the least ceremony which is vsed when the habit of Religion is taken only she vttered not the verses which then are vsually sung but for as much as was to be conceaued they were sung in her hearing by the Angells of heauen for she sayd O yea you sing well indeed these are other manner of musickes then are made heere below on earth After this she was communicated by her Iesus not being able that morning to receaue him with the Religious by reason of her continuall Rapts She sayd the Confiteor and Domine non sum dignus c and the Religious that were present saw that she opened her mouth and made all those other demonstrations which are vsuall with such as receaue the Sacrament Then being richly full of ioy she sayd with incredible spirit of deuotion these wordes Dilectus meus candidus rubicundus Speciosus forma prae filijs hominum Diffusa est gratia in labijs tuis Collocauit se in anima mea Dilata cor meum vt inducat omnem creaturam ad communicationem corporis sanguinis tui Quà m bonus Israël Deus And taking the Crucifixe she gaue it to be kissed by all the Religious there present and hauing afterward recommended to our Lord the saluation of his creatures and withall giuing him thankes for so many graces she returned out of the Rapt wherein for the space of three houres she had remayned She bringeth backe a But of wine which was vtterly spoyled to the perfection which before it had by making a signe of the Crosse vpon it and one of the Religious who was then sicke by drinking thereof was cured CHAP. 32. IN the same yeare and about the end of the sayd Month a But of wine being vtterly spoyled in the Monastery the Religious being poore and ill prouided of money it fell out to be very incommodious to them But Suor Maria Maddalena being called was commanded in vertue of Obedience by Mother Prioresse being Suor Vangelista del Giocondo to pray that the wine might returne to his goodnes and so the Monastery be freed from want The Seruant of God did instantly put her selfe into prayer and being rapt in spirit out of her senses she went speedily where the But of wine was and as soone as euer she made the signe of the Crosse vpon it the wine returned to the former state and so the Monastery was serued At that very tyme one of the Religious called Suor Maria Angela Santucci was sicke so afflicted with a grieuous fluxe that the Phisitians doubted greatly of her recouery But hearing speach of the sayd miracle she demanded a little of that wine which as soone as euer she had drunke with great Fayth she sensibly felt her disease to lessen and soone after she grew intierly well to the great wonder of all the Religious And she her selfe who yet liueth giueth testimony to this miracle She seeth the soule of one of the Religious of that Monastery depart out of Purgatory into Heauen CHAP. 33. ON the third of February in the same yeare 1588. she being rapt in spirit it was graunted her by God to see the soule of one of the Religious of that Monastery which after it had remayned 16. dayes in Purgatory all enuironed with eternall glory went vp to heauen And she vnderstood that vpon three particuler occasions she had remayned during that tyme in Purgatory First because vpon holy dayes hauing an extraordinary curious hand with the needle she had wrought some thinges without necessity Secondly because being an ancient Mother in that Religion she had failed sometymes for certaine humane respects to aduertise the Superiours of the inspirations which God had giuen her for the good state of that Monastery And thirdly because she was too great a louer of her kinred Three vertues also were discouered to her for which the others paine had beene abbreuiated The first was the studious care which she euer had to conserue the purity simplicity of her Order The second the great Charity which she had shewed towards al the Religious The third because she still endeauoured to interprete all thinges to a good end She saw then that this blessed soule went rich in merit to enioy that incomprehensible felicity in the midst of her good Angell and S. Miniatus the Martyr to whome in that yeare she had beene particulerly deuoted And now by the sight of so noble an obiect as this was she did euen triumph with ioy and seemed vnable to conteyne her selfe from aspyring to
they still remayned in â—he darcknes of sinne Sometymes she would say Thou â—â—est O Lord the need which there is of these â—oules for if they who are the light of the â—orld remaine in darknes how much more â—â—all other creatures remaine there And if â—hey who are the salt of the earth be vnsauouâ—y and insipide how shall they be able to seaâ—on others O my Iesus and how shall they be â—ble to lead others on in the way to thee if â—hemselues go on in that way which is conâ—rary to thee She offered her selfe afterwards to our Lord to indure all the peâ—altyes which these soules deserued so â—hat he would deliuer them from comâ—itting of sinne And she would say with â—dmirable zeale Infuse O my Iesus infuse â—â—y bloud into them and for my part if I â—ight indure all the paynes of Purgatory so as â—ithall they might be saued I should be conâ—ent Lay punishment I beseech thee vpon me â—nd giue me payne interiour and exteriour as 〈◊〉 all best please thee For I cannot endure â—hat there should be so great ignorance where there is so great aboundance O miserable and wretched creature that I am why am not I able to take vpon me and to beare all payne Punish thou vpon me O Word their so great ingratitude so great blindnes and ignorance At last finding that she had obteined the conuersion of those sinners she sayd with excesse of ioy Then let them returne vnto thee like so many wandring sheep for all the happy soules of heauen are expecting their approach with ioy With these feruours of Charity she endlesly prayed the diuine Maiesty for the saluation of others reaped the desired fruit of her labours for she often saw how these soules being illuminated by God with his diuine grace did returne to him with repentant harts by the meanes of her prayers Of the Charity which she vsed towardes her Neighbours CHAP. 52. AS her zeale was such towardes the saluation of others soules so her Charity was no lesse which she imployed towards them in all their other necessityes whether they were spiritual or corporall She euer aspired earnestly to be labouring about them and then did she giue particuler demonstration thereof when any one was sicke in the Monastery So as she would be often saying to the Infirmarian That she had nothing to do Note that she had no disposition to pray nor could keep her mind retyred inwardly vpon God and she would secretly inferre by these words that they might giue her much contentment if they would serue themselues of her in the gouernement of such as were sicke Whensoeuer she was satisfyed in this holy desire of hers she would vse supreme diligence about them and when at any tyme the sicknes grew great the good Mother would sometims by holding them vp in her armes and sometimes feeding them performe all the good offices which are imaginable Among many others this one deserues to be remembred There was a lay Sister who had long been sicke and hauing a veyne broken in her breast was afflicted with much infirmity and griefe Suor Maria Maddalena hauing obserued this tooke her into her care and continuing so about a yeare the sayd Sister dyed In that last passage it caÌ„not be exprest what paines she tooke for she watched with her ten nights without taking in effect any rest at all It happened not long after that another lay Sister fell sicke of an incurable soare and it was offensiue in sauour beyond measure Suor Maria Maddalena desired to haue the charge of attending her and when she had obteyned it she would needs with her own hands dresse the soare and when there grew any vermine as sometymes there did she vsed al diligence in remouing it and sometimes would apply her mouth vnto it as if she were tasting of some curious and delicious liquor She fayled not also with deer wordes to exhort the sicke person to endure all with patience assuring her that in heauen she should find a most liberall remuneration When these two were passed in their seuerall tymes to a better life she performed to their bodyes all the accustomed dutyes before they were buryed and to that she added continuall prayers for their soules and by night without taking in a manner any rest she exhibited her feruent desires to God that they might hasten to the fruition of eternall glory And she procured with great diligence that all the Religious would multiply their prayers she offered her selfe willingly to receaue the punishment of their faults and she prayed to God earnestly that she might doe so who graunting her request made her very often feele grieuous paines for many dayes togeather by meanes whereof they being endured by her with singular patience he shewed her those soules when they went towards the enioying of eternall happynes She seeth the soules of two sinners condemned to Hell at their death CHAP. 53. ON the 22. of December in the yeare 1594. being in excesse of mind she saw the soule of a sinner who at that instant departed out of this life and was condemned to those euerlasting paynes She vnderstood afterwardes how that wretched man besides that he had lead a most wicked life was particulerly sentenced to those endled flames for not hauing in account the spirituall treasures of the Church but despising both Indulgences and all other graces which she tenderly powreth vpon her faythfull children About the same tyme she saw in like manner another soule shut vp on all sides into vnquenchable fire and coÌ„demned by the Iustice of God to the torments of Hell Whereupon she grew to be of an afflicted countenance pale beyond all imagination and with tears and sighes turning her selfe to the soule she sayd Thou art now become a firebrand of hell and soone are thy pleasures and pastimes conuerted into bitter and eternall paynes and then looking vp to heauen she sayd O eternall God the men of this world do not consider and penetrate these thinges But vpon this occasion so great was the griefe affliction of her hart that she wanted little of sowning by it And these visions as she related afterwards by her vsuall Obedience were shewed her by God to the end that both her selfe and the other Religious of that Monastery should inflame themselues more vehemently towards the zeale of the saluation of soules offering vp for them both prayers and pennances to the diuine Iustice She was chosen Mistresse of the yong Religious whome she did admirably help forward in the way of spirit CHAP. 54. IN the yeare 1595. she was by common consent of all the Religious elected Mistresse of the yong Religious It would be heard to deliuer fully with how much zeale she addressed them towards Religious perfection and by the vertue which shined in her they went forwards with great facility towards the procuring of euangelicall perfection In this gouernement of hers she euer prescribed seasonable remedyes and gaue wise
more inflamed â—owardes the purchase of vertue With â—hese profitable and laudable directions â—he went through her office in such sort â—hat she was accounted by all the Religiâ—us to be the very rule it selfe of liuing well Of the zeale which she had to Gods honour and the hatred which she bare to sinne CHAP. 55. THE Zeale which she had of Gods honour was so ardent That as she often sayd she would be glad to giue her life for it a thousand tymes in a day And she would often affirme with teares To me it seemeth a strang thing and for my part I cannot comprehend it how there should be so few soules in the world Note which hold the honour of God in the true account of greatnes that it deserues But especially considering how little diligence there is vsed in frequenting the B. Sacrament of the Altar she would be so opprest with sorrow anâ— paine as if with a sharp knife she haâ— beene strocken to the hart she woulâ— often say Well I am sure that one Communion made with true spirit and feeling is apâ— to procure that a soule may come to great perfection of life At other tymes being full of these celestial thoughts she called somâ— one of the Religious to her sayd thus with sighes and teares Let vs pray vnto our Lord O my Sister that he will graunt vâ— light and that we may not be so frozen-cold in his seruice and especially in frequenting that food of life which since it is all fire and loue O let vs euen now constreyne Iesus by our prayers to graunt vs euer in this place 〈◊〉 Pastour who may be zealous of Gods honour and who may haue such light as wherewithal to admit vs worthily to this celestiall table She had moreouer a most feruent zeale in saying the Diuine office when she went towards the Quire she felt such ioy of hart that she seemed as one inuited to a sumptuous banket She endeauoured alwayes that those diuine Laudes should be sayd deuoutly and when she heard any of the Religious make a little more then ordinary hast she suffered much affliction thereby and she would often say to them that she had not the hart to post ouer the Diuine Laudes like to the other externall exercises of the Monastery Note Offences made against God did â—o displease her and caused in her such grief that hearing sometymes but these wordes Mortall Sinne she could hardly conteyne her self through the vehemenâ—y of her affliction from crying out with 〈◊〉 loud voyce giuing an euident signe of â—he offence which in her hart she felt Being able as she was to penetrate the â—eformity of sinne euen to the quicke so much she abhorred it and such horrour â—he had thereat that to her it would seem â—mpossible to find a Christian so wicked â—s deliberately to offend God And 15. â—ayes before she departed this life I goe â—sayd she out of the world with this incapaâ—ity aboue all the rest that I cannot deuise â—ow to vnderstand by what means a creature â—an be induced to consent and resolue to commit a mortall sinne against the Creatour Whereby it may be well seene how much she was illuminated by God who had made her so zealous of his honour Of her great Humility CHAP. 56. THIS seruant of God was moreoueâ— a bright example of perfect humility and she euer had her selfe in so base conceit that she thought her selfe good for nothing and would often say thaâ— therefore it seemed to her that her Superiour should speake to her in this sort Get you out of this holy place for you are nâ—â— worthy to remayne in the company of thâ— Spouses of Christ Therefore would she bâ— turning towards the Prioresse with such a trembling as if she had committed somâ— grieuous fault Sometyms she would caâ—â— her self vpon her knees at the feet of heâ— Sisters beseech them that they would let her know her faults But then was he conceit of her selfe more base when she was to receaue the B. Sacrament of thâ— Altar for in that act she would doubt least the Diuine iustice might make the earth open to swallow her vp and bitterly weeping she would often say I most vile creature full of sinnes do presume to receaue the King of glory and in this fear she would say further casting her eyes to heauen O my Lord assist me and haue mercy on me Then would she intreat the Religious with great affection to pray to God for her that his Iustice might not cast her headlong into hell It was also necessary sometymes for her Ghostly Father with words of coÌ„fort to encourage her that she should confide in the diuine Mercy Now the account that she made of the vertue of the other Religious was so great that she would kisse the ground where they had gone and she accounted her selfe to haue obteyned of God a space of doing Pennance by meanes of their prayers and she endeauoured to help them in al the exercises which they were to performe how vile so euer in reward as she sayd of so great a benefit When she was Superiour to others she would be euer humbling her selfe to one of her subiects and then in vertue of holy Obedience would command her to impose vpon her some rigorous pennance of what kind she would and oftentymes made some one of them to giue her a discipline commanding her to make no body acquainted with it and so by these acts of great humility those Sisters wold remayne astonished confounded She would also appoint that in the euening they should tell her of any defect committed by her in that day and then she would beg a pennance of them It happened once when she was Mistresse of the Nouices that a deuout yong mayd tooke the holy Habit. And within few dayes after she called her to her and did communicate some of the temptations that troubled her with so great humility and so many teares as if they had beene so many sinnes committed by her and she sayd My child I tell you this Note to the end that you may know what kind a woman you haue to your Mistres and â—f our Lord had not called her to a Religious â—tate she would either haue beene shut vp into â—ome perpetuall prison or els haue ended her â—ayes no otherwise then by the handes of puâ—â—ique Iustice The she added Pray you vnto â—od for me that he may haue mercy on me and â—hat in the end I may be saued She would â—â—wayes euen to her death haue one of â—he Religious expresly deputed to accuse â—er of her defects thereby to humble her â—o much the more in the sight so God â—n the other side she kept her vertues as â—â—cret as was possible and felt great affliâ—â—ion when by any meanes they were â—ade knowne Neuer would she excuse â—er selfe of any errour When any one â—ould recommend some sinner to her â—rayers she was
thy diuine will Sometyms being in speach with her Sisters she would say That she thought there was not in the world so grieuous an aduersity or tribulation which she could not cheerefully endure with the only perswading her selfe that it was the Will of God And so very often she would repeat this speach Do you not find what sweetnes this very naked word conteyneth in it selfe Will of God She would haue esteemed it a notable defect in her selfe if either for her selfe or for others she had demaunded of our Lord any fauour with greater instance then of simple prayers She was wont to say to this purpose I take ioy yea I take glory to do the Will of God and not that he should do mynâ— and therfore I am more bound to God when he heares me not then when he hears me To this vertue she exhorted others also for if you desire sayd she to arriue in short tyme to great perfection you must procure to do all your actions in accomplishment of the will of his diuine Maiesty for this holy intention hath power to sanctify your workes Being surprized with paynes she would often say O my sisters how much shall we loose because we vnderstand not this kind of trafficke with Almighty God Such a willingnes she had to performe the Will of God that only with hearing it mentioned she was sometimes rapt in Extasis And once it happened that hearing one of her Sisters say how another of them had a very ardent desire to execute the Will of God She hath reason sayd she presently for to do the Will of God is a most amiable thing With these wordes she was sweetly alienated from her senses and went vp and downe the Conuent inuiting the Religious that they shold say with her That the will of God is most amiable But this falling out to be at a time when they went to rest she obteyned that all of them coming out of the dormitory and going into the Chappell of the B. Virgin with her might confirme Note that the Will of God was a most amiable thing and they all protested that intierely they would accomplish it for which cause she retyred her selfe euery month into some hidden place punctually coÌ„sidered if she had obserued the twenty Rules which were prescribed to her by God as hath been sayd In this action she spent a whole day and at the end thereof she did beate her selfe grieuously for the space of a whole houre with a discipline of iron because it seemed vnto her that she had vsed negligence in performing the Will of God Of the feruent zeale she had towards Religions obseruance CHAP. 60. SHE bare not lesse affection towards the obseruance of her Rules therfore when she saw them neglected euen in the least thing she presently made it knowne to the Superiours without all humane respects earnestly prayed the more venerable mothers of the Monastery that they would haue vigilant care ouer all the Rules of holy Religion For sayd she by neglecting the least point of the holy Rules not only the order of Religion is offended but euen the apple of the eye of God this being the house of our Lord and beloued deerly by him Besids she sayd of the holy Rule That she had rather suffer any torment then see the least ordinatioÌ„ therof neglected This she shewed by the effects for when there was any busines of the Monastery to be done though neuer so meane this zealous Mother would wake sometymes at midnight in the performance of it to the end that the other Religious to whom they had been committed might comply the better with the other Ruls of the house Therefore being demanded sometymes why she laboured so hard she would answere That she did it to preuent tyme and that so the Rules of that holy house might not be offended And she continued in that kind of labour throughout the whole course of her life and especially through her great humility when in office she was Superiour to others Amongst the rest of the Rules she did exceedingly prize that of holy Silence and she would often say how that a Religious soule could neuer take gust in heauenly thinges which delighted not in sweet silence but that euer it would be much afflicted and troubled because by not refrayning of the tongue many sinnes would be committed For this cause she wished with great affectioÌ„ that the state of Religion were reduced to that perfection of life wherein it was first planted by the Saints And being amongst the Religious she was wont to say Note If we could penetrate to the quicke this dignity of our soules through the intrinsecall vnion which they haue made Almighty God by meanes of the three solemne vowes in such sort as a simple countrey-mayd being assumed to royall estate by some potent King would be offended when she were put in mind of her former condition so would we also haue it in extreme contempt to suffer that our thoughts should cast themselues away vpon the consideration of humane thinges and knowing that we are made spouses of the King of all who will enable vs to satisfy our desires to the full and that with thinges not corruptible terrene eternall we would raise our selues vp with a holy kind of pride to the contemplation of those eternall riches of the kingdome of heauen Therefore we doe much wrong to this soule of ours to hold it imployed vpon thinges so base it being able to mount with thought to the celestiall habitation of those blessed spirits How perfectly obserued the vow of holy Obedience CHAP. 61. VVHOSOEVER is a perfect obseruer of holy Obedience becomâ— the owner as sayth S. Gregory of all the other vertues and it seemed to haue principally flourished in this deuout Mother Nor is it found that euer either iâ— publique or priuate maÌ„ner she procureâ— to draw the will of her Superiours vnto hers nay her will was euer in conformity with theirs and that she iudged to be well done that was done by them It hauing been told her that by imployment within the Monastery she might be hindred from her prayer and from her priuate conuersation with God she answered That our Lord esteemed any little exercise of the Religion more then any thought neuer so high contemplation From hence iâ— came that sometymes being in Rapt it being sayd to her by the Prioresse Suâ—â— Maria Maddalena come now and do this or that she instantly would recouer her selfe though she were in Rapt and readily performe what holy Obedience haâ— commanded From hence also it came that resoluing to humble her self so much the more she knew not in a manner how to execute euen those thinges which were commanded her by God but by the good leaue of her Superiours and as hath byn sayd already she chose rather to go many dayes vpon her hands and knees then to differ in the least degree from that which in the vertue
She meaneth heere that this blessed soule loued the internall inspirations which the Word sent to his hart and he did execute them the best he could Luigi was an vnknowne Martyr because he that loueth thee O my God knoweth thee to be so great and so infinitly amiable that it is a great Martyrdome for him to find that he cannot loue thee as he desires and much more to find that thou art not beloued by thy creatures but offended He made himselfe also of himselfe a Martyr O how much did he loue on earth and therefore now he enioyeth God in heauen in a greatfullnes of loue The Word shot through his hart as with a dart when he was mortall and now that he is in heauen those darts do repose in his hart because these communications whichhe deserued by the acts of loue and the vnion which he made which were the darts now he vnderstandeth and enioyeth She saw then that this Saint prayed earnestly for those who in earth had giuen him any spirituall help whereupon she sayd And I also will endeauour to help soules that if any of them go to heauen it may pray for me as Luigi doth for such as gaue him help on earth The Reuerend Fathers of the Society of Iesus hauing afterwardes vnderstood that Suor Maria Maddalena had in Rapt receaued so great a proofe of the sanctity of this their Beato desired of the Monastery wich great instance a Copy of as much as hath been heere deliuered And because the sayd Fathers haue euer giuen great help to this Monastery in spirituall matters their desires were easily satisfyed And to the end that this matter might remaine more authentical they procured that it might be examined and confirmed by witnes of credit therfore at the request of the sayd Fathers the Lord Archbishop of Florence did vpon the 15. of Aprill in the yeare 1606 enter into the Monastery to the good Mother who for the sicknes wherein she was could not rise out of her bed He examined her particulerly about the whol matter in the presence of the Gouernour of the Monastery and of two other Priests who accompanyed him togeather with Niccolo Rogetti a publique Notary of the Rota of Rome and the good Mother euer with profound humility and reuerence answered to all their demands affirming that to be true which it was sayd that she â—ad seene in Rapt concerning the glory of B. Ludouicus of Gonzaga But then what affliction of hart she felt for she expected nothing lesse then â—o be examined about such thinges cannot by any meanes be exprest Note Nor was â—he to be recomforted so much she did â—bhorre that her prayses should be publiâ—hed she sayd being much grieued â—s it possible that a vile Creature such a one as â— am should be noted and written downe in â—ookes and mentioned by the monthes of men Finally for the quieting of her in some measure it was needfull that the Confessarius should tell her that this happened â—y the will of his diuine Maiesty to the â—nd that his glory might the more appeare in that of his Beato She reduceth a Butt of wine which was spoyled to the former goodnes She freeth one of the Religious from the paynes of the Stone two others from other dangerous sicknesses CHAP. 70. IN the yeare 1602. there happened an accident like another whereof there was speach before For a Butt of wine being spoyled in the Monastery the Religious had recourse to Suor Maria Maddalena and she one morning after being communicated went thither where thâ— Butt was and hauing made some shorâ— prayer the Wine returned miraculously to the former goodnes and the Religious who yet liue do testify this Miracle vpon oath In the same yeare Suor Catharinâ— Ginori a Religious Profest who had beeâ— afflicted tormented with the paine oâ— the Stone for the space of three years waâ— once amongst other tymes more vexeâ— without taking any rest at all for the space of six whole dayes nights she came in fine to those teâ—ms that she could not support the rage of her torment But being visited by Suor Maria Maddalena looking towardes her she sayd O my Mother I bâ—seech you Note pray vnto our Lord to miâ—igate my paynes that with patience I may beare them for I doubt much that they may cast me vpon despaire As soone as the blessed Mother heard that word she instantly put her selfe into prayer and presently the sicke person fell a sleep and awaking she found her selfe intierely tree and whole by the earnest prayers of the seruant of God as she her selfe now liuing testifyeth vpon her oath It happened another tyme that Suor Maria Maddalena Mori being troubled extrem ly with the Sciatica which had kept her for the space of 18. moneths without being able to rise out of her bed and Suor Maria Maddalena being in Extasis vpon good Friâ—ay in Meditation of the Misteryes of the holy Passion the sicke person found her selfe toucht and told interiourly that if she were placed in the others presence she should be freed of her paine Therefore she was brought by the Religious into the presence of the deuout Mother being in Rapt and the sicke person being set vpon her knees before her that side of her was toutcht where she felt the paine and presently she found her selfe deliuered thereof and free from the infirmity whereof she had no tast in all the rest of her life which is testifyed by many of the Religious yet liuing In like manner it came to passe that Suor Maria Catharina Chelâ—s had been two yeares in the hands of Phisitians Surgeons by occasion of a horrible soare in her right arme which had made three holes and by one of them a bone went out One day being extraordinarily opprest with paine she had recourse to the Mother Suor Vangelista del Giocondo that she would help her who answered by the inspiration of God that she should go for help to Suor Maria Maddalena which instantly was put in execution Now she vnswathing the sicke Arme drew forth the tents by which only act the paine ceased and in short tyme she recouered her wonted health to the wonder of those Phisitians who held her incure This Religious who is yet liuing with many others doe auow this Miracle Many other graces besides these did this Monastery obteine by her merits but for breuityes sake they are omitted It may suffice that there was no one in the monastery who receaued not singuler benefits of God by her prayers And they who at the present liue haue all of them testifyed vpon oath and do continually auow the meruailous things which our Lord did worke by this deere Spouse of his Being grieuously siâ—ke she did not at the first excuse her selfe from her rigorous manner of life but growing to spit bloud in great quantity she attended to the recou ry of her health Being after curâ—d she returned to her office
sisters who are consecrated to the seruice of God may be zealous according to humane possibility towardes true Religious obseruance and that they may haue no other ayme but to execute those Orders and Counsells tending to saluation which they haue receaued from their Superiours Confirme them I beseech thee in such a delightfull loue towards candour of mind internall purity that they may sooner consent to giue their bodyes to a thousand deaths then their soules to the spot of any one impure cogitation Kindle thou by prayers in the minds of those that are Superiours such an ardent deuotion to holy Pouerty that they may neuer permit the least trifle to be held in propriety wherby the vigour of Religious obseruance may the better be maynteyned whilest in them as there did in the holy Apostls may raigne vnasidâ—s cor vnum Let them neuer carry inordinate affection towardes themselues but only be attentiue in seconding the good will of God and mortifying their senses making this life to be nothing els but a full measure and heape of vertue I will not now expresse my selfe to thee in many wordes to intreate thy prayers to the eternall God for me who yet find my selfe in this valley of teares for I confide in that which thou didst so often promise me with carefull charity whilest I ministred to thee the most holy Sacraments in thy last sicknes O blessed Soule we all relying vpon the sweet assistance of thy prayers doe hope by the goodnes of God after this short pilgrimage of ours to arriue with happines to that high hill of heauen where thou being adorned with immortall light dost liue more triumphant and glorious then can be imagined by the poore thoughts of man which are euen ouer whelmed by the greatnes therof Much people concurred to the sight of her body and the funeralls and she was after buryed with great deuotion CHAP. 76. THE Religious therefore seeing in their presence their deere Mother depriued of life it cannot be exprest what cordial sighes of affection they discharged from their harts towardes the blessed body and in what aboundance they did euen raine tears from their eyes On the one side stood the Nouices on the other the yong Religious who had beene gouerned by her and those others also who had beene vnder her care in the Office of Subprioresse Then all the other Mothers togeather did compasse in the holy Corpes making pious and deuout contemplations And in that dolorous spectacle there were heard so piteous sighes and so ardent sobbes that no one could hold from tears Neither did they faile to do so also in the Chapter-house whither she was brought vpon the Beare after they had performed the vsual sacred ceremonyes to recite deuout Hymnes and Psalmes The place whereon she lay was couered with store of flowers she in the midst therof dead I confesse but with a face so Angelical as that it seemed after a sort that the glory of her soule did euen shine in some degree through her body At two hours before Sunne set at those grates of the Church which answere vpon the Chapter-house there was made by the Father who hath the charge of them a spirituall discourse to all the Religious in honour of the seruant of God exalting those holy vertues wherby on earth she had purchased a Crown in Heauen On the morning following the holy body was placed in the Church of whose death when the voyce was a little spread throughout the Citty such a multitude of people came in that it was a wonder The people in a holy manner were striuing among themselues now in taking with deuotion of those flowers which vpon the Blessed Corpes were scattered now in kissing the habit wherwith it was clad now in touching the hearse and now calling Suor Maria Maddalena a Blessed woman and a Saint nor knew they how to departe thence but would enioy as long as it was possible the sight of that diuine countenance And to satisfy the pious affection of the people by tymes it was necessary to couer the hearse againe and that aboundantly with flowers that euery one might depart contented Some were also placed for the guard of the Blessed Body it being doubted least the people should deuide some part of it from the rest And for the great concourse there was difficulty to performe the sacred Office The Church was open from the 15. houre of the same morning with free liberty for euery one to see the B. Mother but fearing there would be some coÌ„motion it was shut afterwards so the doores were beaten with blows and our eares by the earnest prayers of such as desired to see her Therfore there was no remedy but to open the gate again at the * Two houres before Sunset 22. houre to light torches to the end that the deuout people might be satisfyed in their pious desires and so things continued till the * Sunne set 24. houre The Church was shut after this and the Blessed Corpes layd in a Coffen apparelled for the better preseruing of it from moâ—thes and the like in a Coate a Scapulary and a mantle of Taffaty At the second houre of the night she was buryed behind the high Altar with thâ—t honour and reuerence which belonged to so great a seruant of God Our Lord was not wanting as he had already done in the life of Suor Maria Maddalena so also to shew many miracles after her death as cleere proofes of her great sanctity And these miracles graces granted by Almighty God to this deuout Mother are placed in the end of the second part of her life as may there be seene Laus Deo