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.

How she admirably kept the vow of Chastity. CHAP. 63.

SO great was the candour of her Cha∣stity, that in this point, she was no•• as one apparelled with flesh and bloud, but rather like an Angelicall spirit. For this, she had many gifts from God, a∣mongst which, that one was singuler, which in the tyme of her Probation (a•• hath already beene exprest) the Queene of heauen bestowed vpon her, when ap∣pearing to her, she couered her all with a most pure veile; and told her that in th•• rest of her whole life, she neuer more

should feele any motion of sense. Heere∣of euident signes were seene, when being arryued to the last dayes of her life, with serene countenance she sayd, How she thanked God, that she had neuer known what belonged to any thing against Chastity, and how she did not remember that euer she had taken delight, but in Almighty God; and that she felt nothing at that time, which brought to her greater quietnes. Sometyms she would also say, in the very midst of her grieuous pains; Thou knowest well, O my Lord, that my soule hath neuer desired any thing but thee. She esteemed it for a notable defect to be talking of kinred or worldly matters; it seeming as she sayd, that it was in no sort fit for a Religious woman, consecrated to God by a solemne vow of Chastity, to admit into her hart any little, little thought, or to speake words which in any sort might be disagreeable to their state. Therefore would she inter∣rupt the discourses of earthly things, and draw them to matter of spirit; but yet this she did in so excellent manner, that she neuer either interrupted others, or shewed to be troubled in her selfe.

She was seene sometymes to kisse the walls of the Monastery, with extrem affection; and being demanded why she did it; Do you thinke perhaps (sayd she) that I haue not reason, O my Sisters, when these walls do separate me from the vnhappy world, and make sure vnto me the most precious trea∣sure that I possesse, by meanes wherof my soule is kindled to loue Iesus, and to enioy him per∣fectly in my countrey. Other while she would say; If worldly men did comprehend, how great the delights are which they may ex∣pect in the other life who liue in virginity vn∣till their death, like Hartes (who are ready to dye for lacke of water) they would run into the most seuere Religious Orders, to shut themselus vp, that so they might be kept vntoucht and pure; for how much the more a vineyard is hedged in with thorns, the more safe it is. And although of this vertue she had receaued great light from God, & that by him she had beene often assured, that for euer she should remaine entiere, yet neuertheles she was still in extreme apprehension, least she might loose so rich a treasure.

Out of this reason, she did auoyd

as much as was possible, all going to the grates of the Monastery, so much as to speake with secular persons, though they were neuer so good or holy; & she would aduise the Sisters concerning that matter saying, Remember that you are consecrated to God, & a Religious shall neuer come from the grate, but she willbe fayne to spend much tyme ere she can returne to the inward peace, which formerly she had; for secular discourses doe sometymes cast dust or shaddow vpon the faire lilly of Chastity. When she saw any one of the Sisters go with a cheerefull counte∣nance towards the grate, she wold say in pleasant manner; I perceaue you are not yet become altogether one of ours; for the proper∣ty of the Religious of Sancta Maria of the Angells, is rather to be sorry, then to be glad when they are called for to the grates. And contrarywise when in the sisters she dis∣couered a kind of horrour that way, she would take extreme contentment in it, and noted it to be a particuler fruit of the B. Sacrament; and she would say, That she wold gladly be to passe as many hours in Purgatory, as she was to consume in conu••r∣sation

with secular persons. The hatred which she carryed to the Parlatory was so great, that sometymes not being able but to passe therby, she vsed to say; From this place the spouses of Christ draw no profit at all: for insteed of quietnes we haue trouble, insteed of freeing our selues from tentations, they are augmented to our handes. And all this grew from the great affectiō, wher∣with she held holy Virginity in high ho∣nour.

Notes

• Note.