had imparted additional delicacy to them. Let us pause and admire the assemblage of virtues which adorned Catherine in this deed. Charity, their Queen, prompted it, humility accompanied it, rendering her the servant of this unfortunate woman; patience led her to support with joy the violence of the leper's temper as well as the disgusts inseparable from that loathsome malady; the strength of her faith shows to her in this diseased subject, the beloved spouse whom she desired to please, and hope never abandoned her, as is shown by her perseverance to the end. A miracle crowns all these virtues, for our Lord healed instantly those hands that had been attacked with leprosy, in serving Teeca during life and after death.
There was also in Sienna, at the time in which Catherine devoted herself to the service of the sick and indigent, a Sister of Penance of St. Dominic, named Palmerina, and who had publicly consecrated herself with all her wealth to works of mercy. Notwithstanding these two reasons for belonging entirely to God, the devil made her his captive. A secret envy and a remnant of pride had inspired her with a profound hatred toward Catherine: not only did she find it disagreeable to see her, but she could not even hear Catherine's name pronounced without being thrown into a paroxysm of vexation; she even denounced her in public, and was so blinded by passion, that she went so far as to calumniate and execrate the devoted servant of God.
Catherine employed all the resources of meekness and humility in endeavoring to calm her, but all these advances were despised. Catherine therefore addressed her self to her divine Spouse as usual; by fervent prayers she "heaped coals of fire on her head," (Rom. xii. 20) for these prayers soaring like flames towards God, implored
