them, but I was desirous of instructing thee by my examples, and teaching thee to overcome by means of the Cross. If you want to become powerful against your enemies, take the Cross for thy safeguard. Has not my Apostle told thee that I ran with joy to the cruel and ignominious death of Mt. Calvary. (Heb. XII 2) Choose, therefore, to have trials and afflictions; endure them not only with patience, but embrace them with delight; they are lasting treasures, for the more thou wilt suffer for me, the more thou wilt be like me, and according to the doctrine of the Apostle, the more thou wilt resemble me in sufferings, the more, also, thou shalt be like unto me in grace and glory. Regard, therefore, my beloved child, on my account, sweet things as bitter, and bitter things as sweet, and be certain thou shalt always be strong." Catherine profited so well by this lesson, and after it received trials with so much joy, that she acknowledged to me, that nothing exterior consoled her so much as pains and afflictions; she suffered when she was deprived of them, because she felt that they were the gems which would enrich her heavenly crown. When the King of heaven and earth, had thus armed her who was destined to defend his cause, he permitted the enemy to advance and assail her. The devils attacked her on every side, and made unheard of efforts to overthrow her: they commenced by the most humiliating temptations and presented them to her imagination, not only during sleep, but in exciting phantoms which might have defiled her eyes and ears, and they tormented her in a thousand ways. These combats are horrible to relate, but the victory which followed them ought to be a source of joy to pure souls. Catherine combated courageously against herself, by mortifying her flesh with a chain of
