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
without troublesome considering of any thing which might concerne either her selfe or others that her memory should forget all thinges except the benefits receaued by him that her will should desire none of these earthly things but only do that whereby his diuine Maiesty might be pleased Finally he would haue her resigne all these facultyes of mind vnto his Prouidence and cast her selfe like a dead body into his hands Our Lord also told her his pleasure was That she should enter like another Daniel into a lake of Lions that is into a multitude of most horrible tentations which were to last fiue yeares That by her infernall enemyes she should be extremely afflicted vexed And to conclude that after the manner of gould she should be cast into the furnace of troubles and vexations both of body and mind wherby she might afterwards appeare more beautifull in the sight of God She further vnderstood That she was to enter into these tribulations as into a lake vpon the next feast of the solemnity of the Holy Ghost and by our Lord she was certifyed that in all these battails she should obteyne victory for the Word in the lake it self would preserue her the most sacred Virgin S. Augustine S. Angâ—lus the Carmelite S. Catharine of Siena to all whome she was particulerly deuoted should bring her the food of spirituall comfort which they were to deriue from the Humanity of the Word by the vigour wherof she was to be restored and should not be ouercome by those tentations The Eternall Father did also promise That before this Probation he would infuse the Holy Ghost into her soule to the end that being fortifyed by such a buckler of defence she might more cheerfully enter into this battaile against the Diuells And besides he shewed her the lake of Lyons that is the tribulations and tentations that she was to endure after hauing receaued the holy Ghost Whereupon by this spectacle she grew instantly extremely pale shewing excessiue horrour at the sight of the most vgly formes of Diuels which appeared before her in the shape of hideous cruell beasts But yet neuertheles she offered her selfe with a cheerefull hart to the Eternall Father for the suffering of whatsoeuer tormeÌ„ts or tentations How she was called three tymes by God and by him were giuen twenty Rules to be obserued by her CHAP. 10. THERE past not much tyme when once after hauing communicated she againe found her self to be called by Iesus in these wordes Come hither O my Spouse for I am he who drew thee out of my owne vnderstanding and placed thee in thy Mothers wombe where I was delighted in thee To this vocation she suddainly hearkned seeking vp down the Monastery where her Iesus might be and her countenance was extraordinarily inflamed In the the meane tyme she heard her selfe called againe in this manner O come for I am he who drew thee out of thy Mothers wombe vniting my selfe to thee and taking pleasure in thee She did therfore now with greater zeale proceed in the search of Iesus but the heauenly voyce not ceasing called her the third time with these wordes Come hither O thou elected soule for I will giue thee a Rule make a bound to thy passions for the whole tyme of thy life vntill I bring thee to delight and enioy me in the land of the liuing As soon as she heard these words she becam immouable abstracted into Extasie At which tyme there were giuen to her by the eternal Word twenty rules which she was to obserue throughout all her life for her greater profit in the perfection of vertue which she in the person of the VVord deliuered in this manner I the Spouse of thy soule and the Word of my Eternall Father do giue thee a Rule in the same act of loue wherewith I graunted made thee partaker of the greatnes of my purity o thou beloued of me who am beloued note this Rule which is myne and thyne myne because I prescribe it and thyne because thou art to obserue it 1. First I require of thee that in all thy actions internall and externall thou haue an eye to that Purity which I haue made thee vnderstand and imagine that euery one of thy wordes and works are to be the last of thy life 2. Thou shalt procure to the vttermost of thy power and of the grace which I will giue thee to haue as many eyes as thou shalt gaine soules 3. Thou shalt neuer giue any counsaile nor impose any commandement although thou haue authority so to do till first thou shalt haue made it knowne to me as I am hanging vpon the Crosse 4. Thou shalt not obserue any defect nor reproue it in any mortall creature till first thou shalt haue knowne that thy selfe it more vnworthy then that creature 5. Thy words shall be sincere true graue and far from all flattery and thou shalt be euer bringing me for an example to the works which are to be performed by the Creatures 6. Take care that with such as are thy â—qualls thy cheerefullnes do not take away thy grauity that thy grauity do not diminish â—n thee Meeknes and Humility 7. Let all thy actions be performed with â—uildnes and with so humble and sweet manner that they may be like so many loadstons to draw the creatures towards me and let them be done with so much prudence as that they may serue for a rule to the members of my body that is to the soules of my Religious and to thy Neighbours 8. Be thirsty as is the Harte after water night and day to be exercise Charity towards the members of my body making the same account of the weaknes wearines of thyne owne which thou makest of the ground whereon thou treadest 9. Thou shalt force thy selfe as much as I shall make thee able to be meate for the hungry drinke for the thirsty a garment for the naked a garden for the imprisoned and a solace for the afflicted 10. With such as I leaue in the sea of the world thou shalt be prudent as the serpeÌ„t and with myne elected soules thou shalt be simple as the Doue being affrayd of the former as of the face of a dragon but louing the later as so many Temples of the holy Ghost 11. Be euer subduing of thy Passions and demand grace of me wherewith to do it who haue dominion ouer all the creatures 12. Thou shalt condescend vnto my creatures and suffer with them as I whilest I was on earth proceeded with supreme charity towards them hauing euer in thyne eares that sentence which was afterward of myne Apostle Quis infirmatur ego non infirmor 13. Thou shalt neuer faile to giue any thing to any person when it is desired if thou haue power to dispose therof and thou shalt neuer depriue any creature of any thing that hath beene graunted to it vnles first thou consider that I am the searcher of thy hart that
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
CHAP. 71. SCARSELY had she ended her Office of the Mistres of the Nouices and being confirmed therein for three other years when in the yeare 1602. she was ouertaken with a continuall Catarre which wrought vpon her in such sort as wholy to depriue her of her strength in a very short tyme. Yet she making small account thereof would neuer excuse her selfe from the rigour of the life she led nay she increased it by more sharp pennances being in doubt that it might arriue by the art of her enemy to alienate her therby from austerity For this cause she would say O how watchfull ought we to be ouer ourselues so dull and cowardly is this sense of ours which will esteeme that to be weaknes iâ—firmâ—ty Note whiâ—h indeed is noth ng but dâ—owsinâ—s for the getting oâ—ly of some repose And to herselfe looking on her selfe she would say I know thee well inough and I will neuer do after thy fancy but gladly imploy my selfe in accomplishment of the will of God In the meane tyme her sickenes increast and in the month of Apâ—ill 160â— a veine brake in her breast so as she cast vp great quantity of bloud which weakned her much But for all this nothing daunted she would neuer thinke of restoring her selfe esteeming that by the fauour of God she might ouercome the inconuenience Yet sometymes she her selfe would say I am many tymes considering whether I be she that I was or no because heeretofore I conceaued that with a strong resolution I could ouercome any difficulty and now the more I force my selfe so much the more feeble and faint I am Neither woâ—ld her Superiours presume hauing seene in her so great wonders to commaÌ„d her by holy Obedience that she should go into the bed and forbeare the austerityes of her life though they fayled not earnestly to desire it of her but contrary wise she made earnest prayers mingled with salt teares to God that he would not permit that she should seeme sicke Finally she was reduced to such termes that she could not take any food nor make two paces without much afflictioÌ„ and her Superiours commanded her to go to bed Imediatly she did as they enioyned such account did she make of holy Obedience Note but because as hath beene sayd she feared much that this might happen by the stratagems of the Diuell whilest she tooke conuenient remedyes for her body she was much troubled in her mind She continued so till the second of August with singuler patience when being first surprised with an extraordinary accident of her cough there followed a very great aboundance of bloud which she could not forbeare to cast vp The Phisitians were in some doubt least perhaps she might be suffocated with that bloud and so continued she till the day of S. Laurence there being found no remedy by which her bleeding might be stayed At that tyme all the Religious stood round about her bed euen ouerwhelmed with affliction but to all of them she gaue courage and assured them confidently that she was not then to dye but that she must make an end of her office of Mistress of the Nouices as indeed it happened for shortly after being in great part deliuered of her infirmity vpon the feast of all the Saints she resumed her Charge to the ioy of the whole Monastery Our Lord telleth her in a Rapt that she was to suffer much till her death She is elected Subprioresse by the Religious and soone after she is assaulted by her last sicknes CHAP. 72. VPON the day of S. Iohn Baptist in the yeare 1604. she was rapt in Extasis this being the last Rapt which was manifested to the Religious and she vnderstood by God that from thenceforth euen to her death she was to be afflicted with continuall sicknes She with a cheerfull countenance made answere O my Iesus wilt thou haue me become as a little Infant nay wilt thou that I be borne againe And being all in admiration she added O how little shall I become againe by reason of wh ch littlenes these soules of myne will know me no longer She would by this inferre as afterwards by Obedience she related that by occasion of her sicknes she was now to lead a life so different from the former that it would seeme to them a being borne againe because she was to beare the naked crosse This succeeded punctually for from that tyme forward she found so great pouerty of spirit as it might seeme after a sort that she was abandoneâ— by God Yet she neuertheles was still more earnest in the execution of the diuine Will and shewed her selfe ready to suffer any afflictioÌ„ whatsoeuer theÌ„ shortly after returned out of Rapt In the meane tyme she ended her Office of Mistresse of the Nouices and because new Officers were to be chosen she fearing very much that some other charge might be giuen her did humbly propose her case and much desired to repose a little in her so great weaknes and withall in respect of her sicknes which so continually called vpon her This she sayd not for the ease of her body but to auoyd all kind of superiority The Religious being assembled among themselues considering the great goodnes of this holy Soule they chose her by common consent to be Subprioresse of the Monastery in the moneth of October of the same yeare She accepted the Office but with much griefe of mind esteeming her self vnable to satisfy so great an obligation yet being resigned to the Will of God she instantly quieted her selfe and began her charge with singuler example But as it pleased Almighty God eight daâ—es were not past when she being assayled by a vehement feuer and intense paines of â—he head she was forced to retyre to bed although she vsed all endeauour to rise euery morning with the other Religious to heare Masse and to receaue the food of the Angells Returning afterwards into her cell so weake would she be growne with it and so afflicted that euen for pure weaknes she was like to swoune Yet being vrged by the great deuotion she carryed towardes that heauenly food she imbraced euery morning the same trouble so that she was often assaulted by an extraordinary accesse of a feuer euen at that tyme. Nay euen for this very cause she suffered euery morning most bitter paynes vntill her death because her body not being able to mainteine it selfe through the great weaknes wherein it was vnles from three to three houres it were successiuely fed she indured patiently all that misery that she might communicate Sometymes being exhorted by the Religious that for this reason she would not frequent the B. Sacrament euery morning but by forbearing it the better attend to the recouering of her health the good Mother made answere If it seeme fit to you that I forbeare for my vnworthines willingly I will be depriued ut if you be moued by other respects I would neuer yeâ—ld to it though
miseryes of other men and deride the patcht coats the pennances and perpetuall labours of our religious orders other exemplar Catholikes who are euer procuring and working out their saluation in feare and trembling according to the aduice of S. Peter And how much do they congratulate themselues for hauing so much wit as to hould such thinges as these for toyes and to preferre that which they see and feele before any thing which they heare should beleeue And therefore since they are the men who now esteeme and are ready to begge such as suffer for their conscience addict themselus to pennance for Idiots let them take heed that heerafter they pronounce not vpon themselues that other miserable and irreuocable sentence of being frantikes This venerable woman Suor Maria Maddalena de Patsi who because she was so very eminent euen aboue her selfe in other â—hinges in the delight she tooke in pennance hath thereby induced me to intangle my selfe â—n speach thereof she I say did not so lead her selfe on the blind side but she passed her life as â—f euery day should haue beene her last and so did she continue to suffer for the pure loue of God as if euery act had beene her first With vnspeakable patience and euen ioy did she beare the afflictions both of body and mind which it pleased the immediate hand of God to lay vpon her and with a most heroicall spirit did she out of pure loue and in vnion of the sufferings of our B. Sauiour put her selfe to so many voluntary pennances She fasted diuers yeares after a sort in bread and water only a long tyme she went bare foot she wore but one and the same single thin coate in all the rigorous seasons of the yeare and of diuers years she slept very few houres in the night euen when she slept most and those few either vpon a sack of straw or vpon the bare ground she wore a girdle sometymes next her skin all imbrodered as it were with sharp iron nayles which the life doth not so particulerly mentioÌ„ but the thing it selfe is extant many of 〈◊〉 Nation haue seene it Sometymes she would for the ouercoming of a temptation tumble nâ—ked in a bed of thorns after the example of thâ— great Saint Bennet that great Father of 〈◊〉 many Saints her disciplines of iron and hâ— so many houres of continued prayer were thâ— dayly entertaynment of her delicate body anâ— of her mind and in a word what paine wâ— there that she endured not and what pennanâ— was there that she desired not for the loue 〈◊〉 God And which is the crowne of all this sâ— did it with admirable humility and all otheâ— vertue as one who made no prime account oâ— any thing corporall but did chiefly vse it as 〈◊〉 excellent helpe towards the obtayning of spirituall graces But now Hyems transijt im ber a bijâ— recessit The winter of her affliction is aâ— an end and all stormes of difficulty are ouer-blowne and her happy soule is feeding anâ— feasting at the table of Almighty God himselfâ— and will be so for all eternity What remaynâ— for vs to do but to make her a patterne for vâ— to admire and imitate according to our seuerall vocations Non accepit in vano aniâ—am suam She imployed not the operations 〈◊〉 her soule vpon toyes and trash and so let â—very one of vs say with S. Augustine August Confess l. 4. c. 11. Noli â—sse vana anima mea obsurdescere in â—ure cordis tumultu vanitatis tuae Doe â—ot thou turne foole O my soule and let the â—are of thy hart grow deafe to the tumultuous â—oyfe of vanity that importunes thee For in â—ie whatsoeuer diuerts from God is vanity â—hatsoeuer distracts from him is worse and â—he more we suffer in this life the more we shall â—oy in the next so that we do it as we ought Let vs consider and tremble at the story of Diues and Lazarus in S. Luke if we find â—ur selues wholy carryed away with loose mirth â—nd plenty and sensuality and if we haue a great auersion from sobriety pouerty and penâ—ance for we see that Lazarus who was the very out-cast of the world was carryed into â—he bosome of Abraham and Diues who â—ight be the obiect of mens enuy was instantâ—y confined to eternall torments and made vncapable of so much as pitty And yet we read not there of any other reason giuen for this diuersity but that men must not thinke to find heauen both heere and there and that Lazarus had been poore and miserable heere and was then to go to a bed or bosome of euerlasting rest and Diues had regorged in delicacyes and was afterward to remayne in that center of eternall torments From this later God deliuer vs and to that other God conduct vs and God inspire vs and enable vâ— after the example of this deare seruant of his to the loue and practise of holy pennance which is the only way wherby sinners may aryue to a good iourneyes end Faults escaped in the printing â—â—ge Line Fault Correction In the Preface ** 〈◊〉 5. hath passed hath not passed In the Preface *** 〈◊〉 15. heroicall heroically 〈◊〉 15. 16. and an 〈◊〉 18. whatsoeuer wheresoeuer 〈◊〉 5. dele Among others 〈◊〉 bid 16. property properly â—…lt 20. ieiunio in ieiunio In the Preface **** 〈◊〉 18. his defect this defect â— 4. in the only in the sight of the only 〈◊〉 24. naughty nasty 〈◊〉 4. entangle enlarge Other faults of lesse moment if any be found are remitted in courtesy to the gentle Readers owne correction THE LIFE OF SVOR MARIA MADDALENA DE PATSI Of the Birth Descendence and Education of Suor Maria Maddalena till she came to the age of seauen yeares CHAP. I. THE Eternall God hath alwayes shewed doth continually shew himselfe wonderfull in his Saints to the end that in euery age some may be found who by their actions giuing men assurance of his infinite goodnes prouidence may inuite them to admire and neuer cease to prayse his name Buâ— particulerly in these dayes of ours hâ— hath appeared wonderfull in Suor Maria Maddalena the true seruant of Iesus since he did not only place her in a Religious state as a bright patterne of all vertueâ— but was pleased that in her should shinâ— a beame of his diuine power goodnes reuealing to her most high mysteries making her partaker of heauenly riches heere on earth Neuertheles because she remayning shut vp in a Monastery they were few who saw the wonderful things which our Lord wrought in her I will therfore describe her life death after a plaine manner to the end that as her desire was wont to be euery one might by looking into that glasse of Goodnes be inflamed with the heauenly fire which was euer burning and feeding vpon her purest hart This Suor Maria Maddalena was borne in Florence on the second of Aprilâ— 1566. of
degree and condition inferiour to them all and although by others she were held a Saint yet she gaue little satisfaction to her selfe but was vsually her own accuser of idlenes and other defectes in the presence of euery one of them Moreouer she shewed her selfe compassionate in supporting the defects of others and withall sweetnes vsed to accommodate her selfe to their wills In countenance she was euer discharged and cheerefull nor could she be troubled through any accident by meanes of the gift she had of prayer whereby she had already acquired so great vnion with God that she had continuall fruition of his presence in her soule By the attractiue manner of her speach whereof yet she was most sparing she kindled in the harts of others an vnspeakable desire of seruing God Much labour she vsed in the mortification of her will and in the hiding of her vertue carrying alwayes her eye vpon the execution of such Orders as were common to all the Nouices vpon the doing of whatsoeuer might bring to her most humility and mortification By these vertues she walked on towards greater perfection hauing extreme desire to be vnited with her heauenly Spouse by the knot of holy Profession Now the tyme being come when seauen Nouices were to be veyled and professed and her tyme not being come that she might also make the same oblation of her selfe to the eternall God she was afflicted with much griefe though she were somewhat recomforted with a promise which was made her by the chiefe of the Religious that towardes the end of the yeare her desire should be gâ—aunted The yeare being ended and she againe making instance with great affection to be knit to God by the free vow of solemne Profession it was answered that she must expect till some other Nouices might ioyne with her To this she instantly replyed thus with great humility I shall not make my Profession with others but you will be constrayned by a necessity which will go much against your will to permit that I be profest alone It punctually came to passe as she fortould for hardly there had past a moneth but that she being assayled by a sharp burning feuer and a vehement cough accompanyed with extreme paine grew into such danger of her life that foure of the chiefe Phisitians in the Towne confessed ioyntly that they could not penetrate her disease And Iacopo Tronconi one of the foure by whome she was most often visited affirmed many tymes that by all the study that he had imployed he was neuer able to discouer either the occasion or the quality of that sicknes and that it must be left to God for of mans help there was little hope Yet fayled she not to vse conuenient remedyes but all in vaine since euery day more and more her life was found to be in danger She did euer almost sit vpright not being able to lye at length in her bed for the perpetuall cough that afflicted her in such sort as it allowed her very little tyme to restore her weake body either with food or rest But euen then did her spirituall parts receaue strength wheÌ„ being asked sometims by her sisters what she thought vpon in the midst of her cruell paynes she instantly pointing to a Crucifixe which was neere her bed made this answere I contemplate the great sufferings which that cordiall and incomprehensible loue indured for my saluation he seeth my weaknes and with that sight of his I am comforted Note since all the paynes and griefes which all the chosen children of God haue endured did passe through that most holy Humanity of Christ where they grew to be sweet and to be desired by vs his members Thus was the spouse of Iesus afflicted indeed in body but in her soule so cheerefull serene that she sayd she thought her selfe after a sort to â—e feeding vpon the ioyes of heauen Her health being thus despayred of by the Phisitians it was resolued by the Religious that she should make her Profession which she had so much desired The Confessarius therefore was conducted to her for he would not suffer her to ryse whom he fouÌ„d to be so much afflicted by that sicknes Yet she confiding in God prayed her Sisters after leaue obteyned that they would carry her before an Altar of the B. Virgin where there was a little bed set vp for the performance of that holy ceremony Which being put in execution on the 27. of May 1584. which was the morning of the most holy Trinity she made in the hands of the Father Confessarius in presence of all the Religious her holy Profession with greater deuotion and feruour then we can imagine After this she was carryed by force of armes into the Infirmary the Infirmarian was intreated by her that the curtaines of the bed being drawne they would depart out of the chamber for she was desiroâ— to take a little rest All this was done a whole houre being past when they had heard no noyse in her chamber no so much as the Cough which vsed so continually to importune her the Infirmarian was all in a wonder at it wheâ— with others entred in and opening thâ— curtaines found that she reposed well in God for being alienated from her senses she was rapt into heauenly contemplations Her face was growne beautifull and delightfull to the astonishmenâ— of such as lookt vpon her her flesh was growne liuely coloured and euen inflamed her eyes were fastned so stedfastly behoulding a Crucifixe that vpon the whole matter she seemed no more to be that pale and leane Suor Maria Maddalena but euen a very Angell of heauen In the meane tyme this accident was made knowne to the Mother Prioresse wherupon she with the rest of all the other Mothers and Sisters did suddainly go by one and one into the chamber where they all saw the wonder which God had wrought in his deuout seruant And this was the first time that she had been seen in Rapte wherein she continued for the space of two hours It was not matter of lesse amazement to them which happened in the fourty dayes which followed next for euery day in the morning as soone as she had receaued the food of Angells the same wonder was seene she remayning abstracted from her senses and immersed in diuine contemplations which shal briefly be pointed at in the first Chapter of the second part And so it pleased our Lord after these Extasies to restore the health of her body in miraculous manner since without applying any further remedy her disease so ceased as that she was wholy free our Lord vouchsafing to preserue her to the end that others by her example might be much more inflamed to loue him When she had recouered her health she returned to the Nouiciate and considering the many Rapts which were graunted to her by her Lord she was constreyned by Obedience to relate to two of the Mothers such thinges as were communicated to her
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
suffered death for the saluation of mankind Other amorous Excesses towardes Christ Iesus whereof she discharged her hart CHAP. 12. THE celestiall fire of loue did dayly more and more increase in this deer Spouse of Iesus in so much that for the excessiue inward heate that she felt she could not oftentims in the very middest of winter keep on her wollen bodyes It was further necessary for her to haue her other garmeÌ„ts extraordinarily loose about her to the end that her inflamed affections might be able to passe more freely and oftentymes she was forced to drinke cold water in great quantity Into the very water she would also thrust her armes and bath her face and cast part thereof into her bosome affirming that she found her selfe not only to burne but euen to consume Then turning her selfe vp to heauen with inamoured countenance she often repeated these words I can no longer indure so great a flame And certainly if she had not byn succoured by supernatural help impossible it had beene that she could haue liued Besides these ardent affects one other that was very strang may be recouÌ„ted which she shewed on the day of the Inuention or Finding of the Holy Crosse when hauing first communicated she stood for the space of an houre like a strong immoueable Tower and spake at large of the excellency and nobility of the Crosse of Iesus with most ardent affection of mind And after insisting vpon the contemplation of the Incarnate VVord which was nayled theron she began thus to exclaime O loue O loue how â—ttle art thou knowne and beloued Note If thou â—anst not find a place wherein to rest come O â—ue come all into me for I shall not faile to â—eceaue thee O you soules created by loue â—hy do you not loue this Loue And what â—hing is loue but only God Deus Charitas est 〈◊〉 loue thou makest me euen melt consume Thou makest me dye and yet I liue and I â—eele payne by thy making me know how little â—hou art beloued and knowne In the meane tyme she vsed such â—eere and pious gestures as kindled in the beholders an vnspeakable deuotion sometymes she would spread her armes abroad sometymes she would clap her handes togeather and neuer cease from saying O come you soules to loue my loue come loue your God But how hoat this fire of loue was which burned her most pure hart might well be knowne by her face which was euen like to fire it selfe And so with her cloaths and the veyles of her head she was forced sometimes to fanne her selfe for the mitigating of the extreme heat wherein she was and yet in the very midst of it she would often runne with great speed sometymes through the Couent and sometymes throughout the whole garden affirming that she went vp and downe seeking of soules which might know and loue this Loue. When she happened to meet some one of her Sisters in the way she would take her by the hand and wringing her very hard would say O thou soule doest thou loue this loue what shift dost thou make to liue doest thou not feele thy self consume and euen dye for loue And when for a good while she had walked thus vp and downe she would take into her handes the ropes of the bells and ringing them exclaime with a loud voyce O you soules come loue come loue this loue by whome you are so much beloued With these affects of her spirit it would not be credible to tell how the mindes of the Religious there present were inflamed to deuotion and withall to wonder But among all her amorous excesses which were so many one of them was admirable which in one of her Raptes she expressed She had passed a whol day in heauenly contemplations spoken with so much feruour of soule of the diuine loue that she seemed some Angelicall spirit which might haue beene descended from heauen to expresse the excellency thereof By meanes of this labour she was growne exceedingly weary and voyd of strength and being desirous to refresh and restore her self she tooke a Crucifixe into her hand and applying her mouth to the wound thereof she was seene by the Religious to swallow in the same very sort as men vse to do when they feed vpon som delightful meat And moreouer she deliuered such words as whereby it might cleerely be vnderstood that she was then deliciously fed through the wounds of Iesus And she returned from her Rapt with such sweetnes of spirit and so ouer-flowed with ioy as wel might shew that she had beene nourished with celestiall Manna Of an Examination of her conscience that she made in Rapt whereby the great purity of her soule may be seene CHAP. 13. HOvv diligent she was in the examination of her conscience and how she fixed the eye of her mind vpon euery little moare that might pretend to defile her hart may be considered by the inquiry that she made vpon her selfe of what she had done that day she made it in a Rapt whilest she was in the presence of God She began therefore lying halfe prostrate with her knees vpon the ground to recite those Psalmes Domine quid multiplicati sunt c. Qui habitat in adiutoâ—io c. Which as soone as she had ended thus she sayd O my Iesus what was the first thought which I had to day I grieue that it was not of thee Note but I was fearefull least it had beene too late to call thy Spouses to prayse thee nor was my thought to offer my selfe to thee nor to honour thee Afterwards O my Iesus I went to offer my selfe to thee in the Quire but I dâ—d not resigne my selfe intierly and absolutly to thy will O most bountifull God and what grace may I hope to receaue of thee I who did not resigne my selfe wholy vnto thee haue mercy vpon me O Lord although I deserue it not but do rather dâ—serue a thousand hells Againe when I went to sing prayses vnto thee I was troubled more to see that some of my Sisters were wanting in performance of the ceremonyâ—s and Religious actions then I tooke care to honour thee and to offer vp my prayses in vnion of such as are presented by the heaueÌ„ly spirits I may well beg thy mercy O thou great God when euen in that which immediatly apperteines to thee and to thy prayse I haue committed so many imperfections When I came to receaue thy body and bloud which I ought to haue done with all possible deuotioÌ„ I accuse my selfe that I made no intention to do it in memory of thy Passion as thou hast directed I should do neither yet did I thinke of vniting my soule to thee but I considered what course I might take for the quieting of my hart I did first heare the diuine Word but I thought more whether it was true that we were such as thou didst cause vs to be told by thy Christ then
as thou wert when thy Mother lost thee in the Temple and lastly as thou wert when thou wert prepared for thy Passion She had no sooner spoke these wordes but this suit of hers was graunted and Iesus shewed himselfe to her punctually as she desired in the tyme of his infancy So as full of ioy turning her eyes towardes him she began to speake in this manner O heer behould my little one in the age of three or foure yeares O admirable thing thou art so very little and yet thou art God but thy littlenes makes me know thy greatnes O greatnes and littlenes of my God I shall neuer be satisfyed in behoulding thee O little and great God so beautifull and attractiue She then saw the same Iesus in the state of riper childhood and being then surprized with greater ioy she sayd O behould my spouse who before shewed himselfe to me so very little and now I see him in the age of twelue yeares with a countenance so delightfull admirable wherein there shineth such a graue sweetnes O my God so louely gracious to such as tast thee After this she went to the Oratory where prostrating her selfe on earth before the Altar of the B. Virgin with full zeale she prayed that the liuely flames of diuine loue might dilate themselues in the hart of euery Religious in that Monastery And these prayers were well made for she vnderstood soone after that God granted singular graces to that Monastery so she being all comforted returned shortly out of the Rapt As soone as she had strengthned her selfe by a little food she was againe abstracted from her senses and she laboured with much desire to see the great Son of God in the third manner as she had demanded Her Iesus then appearing to her in that forme and she looking on him with attentiue eyes sayd O my Iesus I will behould thee in this flourshing age of thyne sometimes working sometimes praising thee sometymes labouring for thee I will see thee I say in this so beautifull and gracious age of thyne when thou dost leaue thy selfe to vs by enduring the most sacred Passion I will take extreme delight to behould thee as now theâ— shewest thy selfe namely sitting vpon that fountaine where thou wast interrogating and illuminating Many other discourses she had with her beloued Lord whilest she saw him in those three aforesayd formes besides that in these three dayes of the Holy Ghost whereof she consumed the greatest part in Extasis there were coÌ„municated to her many celestiall secrets and she spake so highly of the greatnesses that are in God as doth exceed all humane thought But I passe on for greateâ— breuity By her Prayers she obteyneth from God space of life for the Confessarius of the Monastery CHAP. 42. IN the yeare 1590. the Confessarius of the Monastery being grieuously sicke and neere to death hauing already beene anâ—ealed this seruant of God both wâ—th sighes and teares disposed her selfe to pray our Lord so earnestly that for the spirituall benefit of her Monastery he would prolonge his life that the sayd Confessarius being aged of 77. yeares in â—hort tyme recouered his forces so well â—hat he left his bed and at the solemnity of the Corpus Domini which was at hand he confessed and communicated the Reâ—igious to their great comfort And by â—his prolonging of his life came much â—pirituall profit to the Monastery To â—his miracle all the Religious doe giue â—laine testimony who yet liue were â—resent at the working thereof She seeth the soule of her Mother ascend vp to heauen and she also seeth a good Priest who enioyeth eternall happines CHAP. 43. IN the Month of September of the same yeare 1590. our Lord Iesus was pleased to refresh his beloued Spouse with an extreme consolation for the agonyes which were so patiently endured by her in the time of her Probation For she being in rapt he shewed her the soule of her mother who 15. dayes before was departed out of this life and so being enuironed by eternall splendours she went vp to heauen accompanyed by her Patron-Saints There were giuen her by her Mother three aduices which by holy Obedience she was enioyned to declare First that to the vttermost of her power she should endeauour to profit in holy humility Secondly that she should be a true obseruer of Obedience and thirdly that in all thinges she should striue to exercise Prudence Hauing giuen these holy counsels her happy Mother tooke her selfe out of sight and went to enioy supreme happynes Soone after also she saw the soule of a venerable Priest who for the loue of God had laboured much in spirituall exercises and he went to inhabit his celestiall Countrey being rich in glory By these meanes she went still profiting in holy vertue and was kindled more and more towards the purchase of true felicity Of the manner of her life from the tyme that she entred into her Probation vntill her death CHAP. 44. THIS couragious warriour of Iesus being to encounter with diuers tentations lead a life wholy illuminated by God and full of mortification and pennance For in the fiue yeares of her Proâ—ation Note she susteyned not her body otherwise in effect then by bread and water By the space of three yeares she being admonished by aduice from heaueÌ„ went bare footed and consequently being of delicate complexioÌ„ she could not without extreme paine endure those bitter coldes of winter So much the more because for her greater mortification she imployed her selfe as hath been sayd already in those painefull exercises of drawing water and doing of other inferiour things and neither making any account of the raine or snow she went vp and down sometymes in the garden and sometyms in other places of the Monastery so that through the most bitter season of the yeare her flesh would break and open in such sort as to shed bloud in great quantity and that would make most painefull sores Therefore out of compassion the Religious would sometymes swath her legs but she caring for no such complements with a cheerefull countenance would say Giue me leaue to suffer for my sinnes She wore only one Coate which was old and patcht as well in the sharp seasons of the yeare as â—t other tymes so as now and then â—hrough the extreme could she trembled â—n such sort as she could hardly speake Moreouer the vsuall tyme of feeding or sleeping she did ordinarily spend in continuall prayer or in excesses of mind And yet euen when she would dispose her selfe to take any rest she slept in her cloathes and almo t euer vpon a hard sacke of straw or els vpon the bare ground Her sleep was extremly short for that mind which was accustomed in those Nocturnal houres to transforme it selfe often into God by diuine contemplation could hardly induce it selfe to giue long repose to the body though it were much weakned with affliction And yet more to exercise her self in
counsailes according to the need of euery one it being graunted her by God to discerne the most secret thoughts of the mind This was euidently seene when once she sayd to one of them If you be silent with your mouth be you also silent with your hart And That which you are about to tell me keep in silence And to another who came to her for leaue to performe certaine exercises for a humane respect she sayd preuenting the others words When you come to aske leaue to do these things you should come with purity of intention and feruour of desire for our Lord esteemeth not such sacrifices as you are about to make but regards the intention wherewith they are offered She procured also with great diligence to establish her spirituall daughters in true vertue and particulerly in mortification of themselues So as when they went from prayer or other exercises of deuotion she would louingly call thē to her sweetly admonish them of their defects But as for them whome she had obserued to haue receaued spiritual comfort in some good action such she would mortify and say That there was no solid vertue in them since they were impatient vpon euery trifle So as sometymes one of them who knew not wel what belonged to a spirituall life would be troubled at her words but then she would louingly admonish her and say You must know my child that whē you come from making prayer you must be ready to receaue disgusts and reprehensions whether rightfully or wrongfully and you are to be so firme and so established to Almighty God that nothing may be able to disturbe your Peace of mind Note and let this be the fruit and the comfort you seeke to find in holy Prayer thereby to trye them to make them know that they were not to rest vpon any sensible though spirituall delight When they came from prayer some one she would reprehend another whome she found to be of a more ardent nature she would otherwise mortify as by making her take a discipline in the presence of some others and the like to the end that in the ground of humility they might lay sound foundations of a spirituall life Of them whom she found addicted much to prayer she would often send some one to sleep another to do that which she knew to be most contrary to her inclination that so they might learne to ouercome their will become subiect to the hand of others She endeauoured with great care that they might know the account wherein they ought to hold the three vowes by which Religious persons were tyed to God in that holy state She euer exhorted them to holy Obedience saying That they must obey with a cheerfull countenance and a plain hart since they do it not to any vile creature but to the Almighty God himselfe Note Nor is the will giuen away to creatures but to Iesus Christ and if you feele sayd she any repugnance in ouercoming your will you shew but little loue to your God since in a thing whereby you may highly honour him as you may euer do by denying of your selues for loue of him you will not endeauour it Be sorry would she say afterwardes to haue spent any day wherein you haue not mortifyed your selues And in this sort she weakned their naturall ill inclinations with so great suauity of speach inclined them to doe that which was repugnant to their owne will that all the difficulty which they found therein did serue but to bring cōfort to their harts Besides she would kindle them with so liuely words to the obseruance of Pouerty and the dispropriating themselus of any though neuer so little things that it cannot be exprest She would often vse these words of that Saint That whatsoeuer was wanting to a Religious person in this life should be rendred with great vsury in the next She imposed vpon thē that euery month they should of set purpose examine themselues to see if they had any thing at al to which they carryed too much affection and finding that they had any she wisht them to depriue themselues thereof for the loue of God And so one of them hauing once brought to her a paire of beads which she did extraordinarily like the good Mistres tooke them from her and after a long tyme restored them to her againe vpon condition that euery euening she would bring them to her and she continued the custome of carrying them so long that she learnt at last to keep things without propriety and as only lent by the Religion She obserued also that another carryed a particuler affection to her booke wherein she had set downe some spirituall remembrances and to make her pure in the sight of God she bad her cast it into the fire Sometymes she made them change cloaths with one another to exercise them the more in mortification And know sayd she O my children that you cānot liue long in Euangelicall perfection if first a thousand tymes in a day Note you do not dye to your owne commodityes For the exercise of the soule in this life consisteth in louing and hating To loue our God as much as is possible and to hate our selues as much as we can and in this consisteth all perfection She tooke care that they should vse all diligence in keeping the interiour part well guarded She would haue them most zealous of the diuine seruice She often called vpon thē to present God vnto their eyes in all their actions So did she study in like manner to kindle in them that vehemēt desire which her selfe had of the saluation of others and she would often say You must know that we ought much to humble our selues since peraduenture by our negligence many soules are gone into hell Note which it may be would haue enioyed eternall happynes if we had been feruent in offering vp the bloud of Iesus for them She would enioyne them who were vnder her charge that when any one of them had spoken with little charity of her companion she should not that euening presume to enter into the Oratory but remaine at the doore till either she her selfe had giuen her some other pennance or otherwise had giuen her leaue to enter This pennance was ordinarily that being prostrated vpon earth she should suffer the rest of the Sisters to set their feet vpon her mouth Note She would then admonish that when one of them would speake of the other she was first to consider that such a one was the Spouse of the Word the Temple of the Holy Ghost and Sister to the Angells then let her speake with that reuerence which belongeth to such a one She had particuler desire that when the Order did graunt a Recreation her spirituall children should take it cheerfully yea she procured as much as possibly she could that at such tymes they should not haue any manner of disgust whereby afterwards they might be the
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
when these walls do separate me from the vnhappy world and make sure vnto me the most precious treasure that I possesse by meanes wherof my soule is kindled to loue Iesus and to enioy him perfectly in my countrey Other while she would say If worldly men did comprehend how great the delights are which they may expect in the other life who liue in virginity vntill their death like Hartes who are ready to dye for lacke of water they would run into the most seuere Religious Orders to shut themselus vp that so they might be kept vntoucht and pure for how much the more a vineyard is hedged in with thorns the more safe it is And although of this vertue she had receaued great light from God that by him she had beene often assured that for euer she should remaine entiere yet neuertheles she was still in extreme apprehension least she might loose so rich a treasure Out of this reason she did auoyd as much as was possible all going to the grates of the Monastery so much as to speake with secular persons though they were neuer so good or holy she would aduise the Sisters concerning that matter saying Remember that you are consecrated to God a Religious shall neuer come from the grate but she will be fayne to spend much tyme ere she can returne to the inward peace which formerly she had for secular discourses doe sometymes cast dust or shaddow vpon the faire lilly of Chastity When she saw any one of the Sisters go with a cheerefull countenance towards the grate Note she wold say in pleasant manner I perceaue you are not yet become altogether one of ours for the property of the Religious of Sancta Maria of the Angells is rather to be sorry then to be glad when they are called for to the grates And contrarywise when in the sisters she discouered a kind of horrour that way she would take extreme contentment in it and noted it to be a particuler fruit of the B. Sacrament and she would say That she wold gladly be to passe as many hours in Purgatory as she was to consume in conuâ—rsation with secular persons The hatred which she carryed to the Parlatory was so great that sometymes not being able but to passe therby she vsed to say From this place the spouses of Christ draw no profit at all for insteed of quietnes we haue trouble insteed of freeing our selues from tentations they are augmented to our handes And all this grew from the great affectioÌ„ wherwith she held holy Virginity in high honour She seeth the glory which a Religious woman of that Monastery enioyed in heauen CHAP. 64. ON the 29. of October in the yeare 1598. a Religious woman of that Monastery who left a great odour of sanctity being passed to the other life the deuout Mother who was present at her death saw a multitude of Angels making as it were a faire garland round about her and expecting to conduct her soule to heauen After her death the vsuall prayers being made for her the seruant of God saw her in celestiall glory enioying the supreme God and apparelled with a golden mantle which she had receaued in reward of her ardent charity Besides for hauing euer conuersed proceeded towards her neighbour with all meeknes and sweetnes she saw that in reward thereof she receaued a most delicious liquor which distilling from the mouth of Christ Iesus was infused into hers and so she had the tast of an excessiue sweetnes Suor Marta Maddalena did much reioyce in this so agreable sight both because she had beene very familiar with that Religious because she saw her in so great height of glory that it exceeded as she sayd the felicity of any other Religious of that Monastery Besides this she vnderstood that she had beene in Purgatory by the only space of fiue houres for a very light defect which she had fallen into and it was That she afflicted her selfe too much when she saw that others by her occasion were disgusted But she full of ioy began to discourse of her glory as if she would haue melted in excesse of loue And so hauing with great confidence recommended her selfe and the other Relâ—gious vnto her she returned from the Rapt She was chosen Mother of the Nouices The directions which she gaue them CHAP. 65. IN the yeare 1598. she was by commoÌ„ consent made Mistresse of the Nouices and in October she began to execute that office with great vigilancy of care She endeauoured that they who came to Religion should haue a desire thereunto more then ordinary Therfore would she be often trying them and if she found that they had any liuely feeling of that state she would then shew them the Rules of the Monastery saying further Obserue well O my children that whosoeuer will be Religious in our Conuent must neuer performe their owne wills but the contrary of that which they desire She would also trye them with such kind of mortifications as might touch them in the point of estimation And once she made two of them being of 18. or 20. yeares a peece pronouÌ„ce publiquely the Christ Crosse row which children vse to read and to see whether they made any account of themselues she would say also in publique manner These are they whom the world esteems to come with so great desire of seruing God O how much are they deceaued Besides this with making them aske pardon of all the Nouices she would also mortify them Sometyms she would call one of them towardes her and say This child coÌ„ceaueth that we haue had a great good fortune by hauing her in our number These then and other were the meanes wherby she made trial of such as came to serue God When afterwards they were accepted she would with singular affection receaue them and with so gracious a maÌ„ner inflame them towards the seruice of God that within few dayes they would become most obseruant of the Religious Rules And when she saw them setled resolued she drew them with admirable sweetnes of words to the desire of mortifying despising themselues making also earnest prayers to the eternall God for that purpose Sometymes she would call them to her Note saying My children let God only be sufficient for you Take no more care about your kinred or any other earthly thing for I assure you that you shall find in him all true happines and the entire satisfaction of all your iust desires Againe she would tell them that she would endure any defect of theirs except it were speaking ill of others She exhorted them neuer to be discoursing either in priuate or publike of the world but often to examine their owne faults and sometymes she would say to them as at vnawares That hart of yours where is it at this instant What is it that you thinke vpon And according to the answere she would giue excellent aduices beseeching them earnestly afterwardes
for some of the Religious to be euer present with linnen cloaths wherewith to dry her But she all this while attentiue to the saluation of soules thought still vpon new wayes how to please the diuine Maiesty Note and causing the Mother Prioresse to be called to her she discoursed with her at large of Euangelicall Perfection and of that which concerned the good of her religion promising her that she would giue it more assistance from heauen then she had giuen heere on earth Then to all the Mothers and Sisters she againe gaue profitable remembrances amongst which she willed them in particuler Note That they should loue nothing but Christ Iesus that in him they should place all their hope and that they should euer be desirous to suffer for the loue of God After which wordes she tooke leaue of them Being then neere vnto her last passage the Confessarius demanding of her whether yet she was much afflicted and tormented with paine she answered You shall vnderstand O Father that there is no part of my body which is not ful of paine yet indeed I find a great peace in my hart But that which giueth cleere testimony of her sanctity and of all that which in her life is written is that a little after turning towards the sayd Father she coÌ„sulted him about some things to which he hauing giuen satisfaction You shall know sayth she that I haue euer suffered my selfe to be guided simply by Obedience to my Superiours Note and in all my actions haue had no other thing in my mind but the presence of God In the meane tyme vpon the 24. of May 1607. on the day of the most holy Ascension she had the Recommendation of the soule and hauing almost lost her speach yet in the midst of the sighes teares of her Sisters which made a garland of grief about the poore bed whereon she lay turning her head towards the Confessarius she asked him when he could giue her the Viaticum and it being told her that after midnight her desire should be satisfyed she began in that dolorous but yet glorious state to discourse with so much feruour of spirit of the thinges of heauen Note that it was as if she would haue melted and distilled away in the excesse and quintessence of loue At midnight the Father returned to her with the Viaticum and which till then had neuer happened he communicated her in the presence of all the Religious This being done she was obserued to reioyce exceedingly and through the great spirituall contentment of her soule to receaue strength euen in her body but by this tyme the houre of her parting out of this transitory life drew neere vpon her and of her aspiring to that Crowne which once being gotten is neuer lost Therefore the Fathers was called to her at * That is about 8. or 9. by our accouÌ„t twelue of the clocke in the morning that he might be present at her death as was much desired by her In the same manner did they remayâ—e til 14. recyting Psalmes and Hymnes for theÌ„ she had wholy lost the vse of speach But the Ghostly Father being yet to say Masse to communicate the Religious he departed thence and whilest he prepared himselfe he was aduertised how that holy Soule was euen then going to God so that he was much perplexed with the doubt of what he were best to do because if he went to the dying Mother he should not be able it being then too late either to say masse or communicate the Religious But by the prouidence of God it came into his mind to send her word that in vertue of holy Obedience she shold respite her dying so long as that he might haue ended Masse and ministred the most holy Sacrament to the Religious It is an admirable thing how when she receaued that message she seemed to be all reuiued strengthned yea and not hauing spoken at all for many hours she then sayd instantly with a cleare and cheerefull voyce Note being accompanyed with a gracious smile Benedictus Deus And hauing demanded somwhat which might giue her strength she turned to her Sisters who there were present saying I giue thankes vnto our Lord that euen to the very last he hath left me so desolate Vnspeakable spirit and without comfort I do well content my selfe with any thing that pleaseth him And yet againe I offer vnto him any spirituall comfort that I might haue so that only I my be saued Whilest she interteyned her selfe with these so great actions of spirit the Father withall the Religious returned to her and kneeling about her bed all afflicted and full of teares they recyted Psalmes and Hymnes to the end that her holy soule might in the midst of those diuine Laudes which by her were so entierly loued be receaued into that celestiall Countrey At 18. houres of the clocke vpon Friday expresly at that houre wherein Christ Iesus our Lord was tormented vpon the Crosse with the greatest pains she also vpon the Crosse of her bitter afflictions although with extreme sweetnes almost no motion at all finished happily her life on 25. of May in the yeare 1607. that being the feast day of S. Zanobius Bishop of Florence Her countenance remayned so faire and white that insteed of giuing offence it did of all sides breath forth deuotion the odour of sanctity And that holy soule like vnto purest done being euery way enuironed with glorious light and accompanyed by squadrons of Angels did flye as becommeth vs to beleeue into the bosome of God to liue happily there for all eternity The Mother Suor Maria Maddalena dyed in the yeare of her age 41. and 2. monthes and 24. dayes and of her being Religious in the yeare 24. and 25. dayes O blessed soule now that thou liuest triumphant in that happy countrey of Charity in that kingdome of loue imploy I beseech thee thy feruent prayers to the great God for the children of thy Monastery Thou didst vndergo many labours for them thou didst beare painefull burthens that thou mightst with excelleÌ„t vertue discouer to them the way of true happines And if thy zeale were so great in this miserable and fading life now that thou art ascended vp to heauen and art inflamed with more ardent charity how much greater must thy heat be in that most glorious kingdome which was heere so great in the company of terrene and humane passions No other thing is aspired by them but to feele by experience the force of thy deere and blessed help by giuing help with thy prayers towardes those vertues which conduct the possessours of them to that crowne of which there is difficulty in getting but no danger in loosing Permit not that any tyme the horrible infernall Serpent with the poyson of discord may disturbe their holy purposes nor diminish their ObedieÌ„ce which is both the Mother and the Nurse of peace Procure that these thy
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