the "active life." He did not, however, deprive her of his heavenly communications, but on the contrary augmented them, so as to lead her to a higher degree of perfection. Frequently in his apparitions, after speaking to her of his Kingdom, and revealing to her some of its secrets, after having read or recited psalms with her, he added: "Go quickly, this is the hour of repast, thy parents are going to take their places at the table, thou wilt stay there with them; and then thou wilt return to me." At these words, Catherine would break forth into sobs: " If I have offended thy Majesty, behold my wretched body, punish it immediately, I cheerfully accept every thing; but spare me the grief of being separated from thee, even for one instant, my beloved I What will I do at table if thou know full well that I partake of a food that those whom thou command me to seek, know not. Is it in bread only that man finds strength ? do not the words that issue from thy mouth better impart vigor and energy to the soul of the pilgrim ? Thou know far better than I, that I fled the society of creatures to find thee, my Lord and my God. And now that I have obtained thy grace, notwithstanding my unworthiness, must I resign this inestimable treasure, to mingle anew in worldly affairs, to fall again into my former ignorance and perchance become odious to thee ? Ah no, no, thy infinite goodness will never command any thing which can separate the soul from thee." Sobs would interrupt her, and she would cast herself at our Lord's feet, in hopes of winning his consent to remain. Then our Lord, would speak, I do not say in these very words, but in this meaning: "Calm thyself, beloved daughter, thou must accomplish all justice, and cause my grace to fructify in thee and to others far from being desirous of separating from
