me, and preserved me from ignominy. Now, I will bestow on thee, from my own body, a garment that shall be invisible to men, but perceptible to thee, because it will preserve from cold both thy soul and thy body, until the day in which I will clothe thee with honor and glory before the saints and angels. "And immediately he drew from the wound of his adorable Heart a vestment tinged with the purple hue of his precious blood and beaming with light. He put it on her with his own sacred hands, saying to her; "I give thee on earth this vestment with its exclusive right, as a symbol and pledge of the hope of glory that shall be thine in Heaven!" The vision disappeared. The efficacy of this divine garment was such, not only for her soul, but also in reference to her body, that, from that moment, Catherine wore neither in summer, nor in winter, more than one robe and never added to it even in the most severe cold She has even acknowledged to me, that she did not feel cold — her miraculous garment preserved her, so that she did not think it possible for her to require more.
Let us remark the merit of that faithful servant of God. She follows in her secret alms-deed, the footsteps of St. Nicholas, and imitates in giving her very personal clothing, the glorious St. Martin. Not only did our Lord appear to her and return her thanks, but the infallible Truth also gave her a formal promise of an eternal recompense, and bestowed on her a sensible and perpetual sign of the joy her alms had caused Him who is of all alms-givers the best. He also assures her of final perseverance, and distinctly makes known to her the secret of her predestination and the splendor of her reward. He did not accord similar revelations to the Saints that we have mentioned above, and who had done many, very many
