most holy Mary which were vouchsafed to Veronica, she had one after the gospel of the first Mass on Christmas Day. The Queen of heaven held her divine Son in her arms, and was attended by a multitude of saints, among whom were distinguished the seven founders of the order of Servites. Having related this event in her journal, she adds, "As usual, I forced myself not to desire these kind of things, and I even despised the vision as an illusion of the devil. But the most holy Mary, with a gracious expression of countenance, and a smile full of majesty, said to me, 'Daughter, I am no evil spirit, nor are these my children such. Nevertheless, continue to act as thou hast done, for thou hast been often bidden to do so by obedience, and by myself.' She immediately caused me to adore the Most Holy Trinity; and at the same moment there came to me three rays of light, and I was confirmed as daughter, spouse, and disciple of the Three Divine Persons, as I have frequently described elsewhere. Then all those saints and blessed souls offered up an act of thanksgiving for me to God and the most Holy Mary. .. The Blessed Virgin then caused me to renew my profession, and when I came to that part of the formula in which eternal life is promised, all the saints answered, Amen, and all the instruments in my heart were moved." The last fact to which she alludes was one of not unfrequent occurrence; it was discussed and approved by the tribunal of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, who acknowledged it to be a real prodigy.

CHAPTER VIII.

HER TENDER DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN, TO HER GUARDIAN ANGEL, AND THE OTHER SAINTS.

WE have doubted whether we ought to devote a special chapter to this subject, for what has been already said in the course of our narrative, is amply sufficient to mark out Veronica as one of the most devoted of the clients of Mary. But on the other hand, considering that this peculiar grace being, as the Fathers tell us, most efficacious in promoting our salvation, as well as one of the most beautiful of the prerogatives of the saints, we have resolved to dwell on it particularly, as there are many things concerning it which have not yet been drawn out.

Although we have read the lives of many other saints, we have never met, excepting in Veronica's case, with examples of familiar intercourse between our Blessed Lady and a child of three years old. It is, indeed, a peculiar privilege, and one never granted to any but chosen souls. Nor can it be supposed that the Queen of heaven would condescend to such holy intimacy with a soul that did not burn with love for her. Such communications must have marvellously increased the affection of Veronica for her who is of simple creatures the most worthy of love. We have seen that our Lord Jesus Christ deigned to be her visible instructor in virtue, and in this the Blessed Virgin also took part. Our Saint has left us many of the lessons which she received from her glorious Patroness; for Jesus Himself had been

pleased expressly to commission His holy Mother to teach her, when He appeared in her company to

Veronica, and pronounced those sweet words, "My most beloved Mother, I wish this our beloved to be always guided by thee."

But we must not linger on what is plain. It is time for us to proceed to certain indisputable facts which will give us an idea of the caresses which took place between our Lady and her devoted daughter. It is well known that it is the cherished office of love to share in the sorrows of the beloved object. Therefore it was that Veronica was so fond of testifying her homage by participating in the martyrdom of the Queen of Dolours. On this theme she would often meditate and speak. When she did so, it was with such a feeling of compassion, that Father Tassinari declares himself to have been frequently moved to tears; and at such times she seemed to him a living portrait of her whose woes she depicted. And indeed these Dolours had made so powerful an impression on her heart, as to leave there the symbolic representation of the seven swords. She was so anxious that her religious should be incited to practise the same devotion, that she placed in the choir a statue of the Mother of Dolours, in whose honour she appointed a solemn procession on the third Sunday of every month, which is still kept up by the community. When she was elected abbess, and had accepted, according to custom, the keys, the rules, and the seal of the convent, she placed them all before the most holy Sacrament, and then, falling on her knees at the foot of the superior's stall, she directed Sister Florida Ceoli, her assistant, to place thereon their statue of the Mother of Dolours. This done, Veronica presented the insignia of her office to the sacred image, imploring the Blessed Virgin to be abbess instead of herself. Every

evening before retiring to rest, she renewed the devout ceremony of surrendering the keys to her as to her superior.

There is no doubt that our Blessed Lady graciously accepted the offering of her client, with all the benignity of her maternal heart. We learn from Veronica herself that her heavenly Advocate appeared to her, and told her lovingly that she must not shrink from that undertaking, for that she would herself fulfil the functions of abbess. If any reader should be disinclined to believe this vision and statement of Veronica, he may be convinced by various facts, which were vouched for by nearly all the witnesses in the process, who deposed that during the abbess-ship of our Saint, they had sensibly and tangibly felt that the most Holy Virgin was their abbess, and spoke through the lips of Veronica. This was clear from the wonderful effect produced by her discourses at chapter, as also by the marvellous order and peace which characterized the community during the happy period of her rule, and the copious alms, both of money and provisions, which flowed in from all quarters so abundantly as to enable the building and other advantageous arrangements to be forwarded. In order that they might all recognize the maternal hand whence all this providential bounty flowed, these benefits invariably coincided with the approach or celebration of the more solemn feasts of our Blessed Lady; so that it was a common saying among the nuns, "Our divine abbess has paid for the feast." Hence Veronica called her, not only the superior, but the procuratrix of the establishment. It is pleasant to read the following note which she sent on the 14th of April, 1723, to her bishop, into whose hands she committed all the money

she received:"Your lordship must forgive me, if I again trouble you with a letter. Our Superior, the most Holy Virgin, who provides us with money and other alms, is the cause of my doing so. It is she who now sends you thirty-three pauls. I ask permission to write to the manufacturer, to tell him to make some cloth for the religious. I know he cannot make it immediately, for he requires three or four months' notice. It will cost a good deal, but I am not afraid; I rely implicitly on the Superior, and on your lordship."

As specimens of her affection for our Blessed Lady, we shall select two of the letters which she wrote to Father Tassinari, and which were examined by the Sacred Congregation of Rites. On the 2nd of February, 1713, she writes:-"Father, do not be discouraged at the coldness of your daughter. Give her your charitable assistance, by commands, penances, and sufferings. I speak from my heart when I tell you that I can no longer endure myself. I am satisfied with the Will of God, but I am in fear and trembling lest I should be banished from God on account of my ingratitude. I go to the feet of most holy Mary, and there I make my protestations, renew my vows, and offer up my hearty prayers. But only think! she does not wish for my prayers. I go on, and throw the blame on your reverence, saying: 'Mamma mia, I can do nothing else. Holy obedience sends me to thee; thou art bound to hear me. After all, I am thy child, and the child of thy servant. Thou art the Mother of Dolours-behold me who am full of sorrow. I repent of my sins, I grieve for my ingratitude; I know that I dare not lift my eyes to heaven. Full of confidence in thy mercy, I resign myself to thy