The life of the holy and venerable mother Suor Maria Maddalena De Patsi a Florentine lady, & religious of the Order of the Carmelites. Written in Italian by the Reuerend Priest Sigr. Vincentio Puccini, who was sometymes her ghostly father. And now translated into English.

With how great diligence she obserued the holy vow of Pouerty. CHAP. 62.

OF holy Pouerty she was extraordina∣ry zealous; and euen before she was Religious, she would often say; I hold all

earthly things to be dust and durt, so that I may gaine Christ Iesus. Being afterwardes conducted to a Religious state, where this vertue flourisheth, it cannot be ex∣prest with wordes, how she adorned her selfe therewith. She condoled with her selfe very oftrn, that euen in her necessi∣tyes she was prouided for by the Mona∣stery, nay she would weep bitterly say∣ing; I shall euen dye without hauing obserued holy Pouerty according to my desire. There∣fore also it was, that she euer thought her selfe to possesse more then the other Religious; and her Superiours seeing this inflamed desire of hers, they reteyned themselues often from doing her certain ••ittle curtesies, not to giue her giefe ther∣by; & she reioyced very much when she wanted any thing. Once it happened whilest she was at table, by the forgetful∣nes of her that serued, there was no bread ••••t before her; this was so grateful to her, ••hat full of contentment she rose after∣wardes without demanding it. And be∣••ng nioyned by the Prioresse for Obedience ••o declare the cause of her mirth, she an∣swered

with profound humility, that she had neuer receaued a greater content∣ment, then in the want of that bread.

On the other side, it afflicted her extremely, when she saw any of the Re∣ligious keep any thing by her which was superfluous; and she would say, that the vow of Pouerty, would in no sort agree with a particuler superfluity. Often would she go into her cell, and with supreme diligence consider, if any thing were there more then needed. It happened once, that her Superiour hauing giuen her a little peece of Say wherwith to mend her Habit; and seeing afterwards that she needed it not she had scruple of this act, as of a sinne, & carrying speedily the Say back to the Prioresse, she accused her selfe therof with teares, giuing thankes vnto our Lord, that he had preserued her so long in life, as that she might do pennance for it.

Sometymes being more kindled with the desire of this vertue, she would say, looking vp to heauen; O my God, why dost thou moue me in my desire to be so poore for thee, and yet thou seest that I am not suf∣fered

to go begging my bread from doore to doore, wherein I should take so much pleasure: ••ay among all contentmens, that I could haue in this life, this were the greatest, that thou wouldst, O my Iesus, affoard me this grace, that I might dy naked vpon a Crosse, as for me thou didst. And to her Sisters, she would say sometymes; Tell me, I pray you, what would you giue, that our Lord would grant vs this most singuler benefit, that when we were desirous to eate, nothing might be giuen vs; when we were desirous to rest, we might haue no bed; when we should haue need of cloaths, they might be wanting to vs; I for my part (sayd she) assure you, that whosoeuer would do me such a fauour, I would hold my selfe bound to present him with my very bloud. O then for Gods sake, let vs procure well to pe∣netrate this noble vertue. For whosoeuer pos∣sesseth it, hath God in recompence. Another tyme she retyred into the poorest parts or the Monastery with a Crucifixe in her hand, and being on her knees vpon the naked ground (with her eyes turned vp to our Lord) with teares and sighes, she cast out these words; O me happy creature,

if all that which this body had need of, were wanting to it; nay insteed of being relieued, if it suffered insolency & misery, for loue of thee O my Iesus, then indeed I might is some part hold my selfe poore, for loue of thee. By this zeale towards holy Pouerty she did eui∣dently increase in the celestiall fire of loue towards Christ Iesus crucifyed.

Notes

• Note.