Part 5 (2/2)

The expression of her countenance, the tones of her voice, herconversions, and in aniift of reading the thoughts of others, which had increased ever since the archangel had beco about conversions, several of which are related at length by her biographers

Aerously ill in one of the hospitals of the city Francesca had been distributing food to the sick, and was then attending the death-bed of a young man, as about to receive the last Sacra wards reached her ears She hastened to the spot, and found a young wo in all the agonies of despair No sooner had she looked upon the poor creature than her dreadful history was supernaturally revealed to her

She had soitimate child, and, under the pressure of shame and terror, had destroyed it The consciousness of this crie to confess it But noords hispered in her ear, which went straight to the point on which the awful straggle turned; which spoke of the horribleimpenitent and unabsolved, and of the boundless mercy which has provided a remedy for the deepest stains of sin, the blood of Jesus applied to the soul by the grace of the Sacra time the poor creature resisted, turned her head away, and refused to be co tered cri humiliation of a sincere confession, of the dire confusion of an unforgiven soul on the day of Judgment; of the love of Jesus, of the tenderness of Mary, of the indulgence of the Church, the sweetness of pardon, the peace of reconciliation; then the stubborn heart yielded, the seared spirit was softened Bursting into tears, the dying sufferer exclaimed, ”A priest! a priest!” and one was at hand at the first call of contrition, and answered that expiring cry, as Matthew did the royal prophet's confession: ”The Lord forgives; thou shalt not perish” And shortly after in Francesca's arms the pardoned sinner breathed her last

About the sa one ould doubtless have turned with contempt from the poor criuilty destroyer of her own child, and deemed that to breathe the same air as such a wretch was in itself contaht, Gentilezza uilty than the sorely-te, who in weakness first, and then in terror, almost in madness, had rushed into crime; for she was rich, noble, and beautiful; had been nursed in poer had never tempted, and scorn never pursued her Her life had been one continued scene of a but the hoe of men, the incense of admiration, the intoxication of pleasure There was not a duty that she did not neglect, nor one sacred obligation that she felt herself bound to observe We are not told that she committed what men call crimes; but her husband she treated with open conteious duties; her children she altogether neglected, and abandoned thehts were devoted to amusements and frivolities of every description Several of the Roman ladies, who used to be her companions, had been induced, by Francesca's exaive up a life of dissipation, and adopt one better befitting the Christian profession; but Gentilezza laughed at her and at them, and used to say, with insolent derision, that she had no vocation for wearing rags and carrying faggots Perfectly indifferent to the ridicule hich she sought to cover her, Francesca prayed incessantly for the vain and haughty woman, who seemed beyond the reach of reproach or of persuasion

One day, however, moved by a prophetic is, Gentilezza; you laugh at the advice of your confessor But remember that God is powerful, and not to be mocked with impunity The day is at hand when you will rue the stubbornness of your heart”

A few days afterwards, as Gentilezza, ith child at the ti the stairs of her palace, her foot slipped, and she fell headlong to the bottom Her servants raised her in their arms, and found her all but dead The physicians, ere sued unfavourably of her case, and pronounced that her child must infallibly have been killed by the fall The wretched woer, or the death of her infant which she deplored, as the ruin of her beauty, which had been her pride and her snare Her features had been so injured by this accident, that her face was coer she wept over her lost loveliness Francesca, upon hearing of this event, hurried to the spot, and nursed the suffering woman with the tenderest care With the utlected, and of the nise the hand of a merciful God in the chastisement she had received She spoke to her of her husband, of her children, of the true and sweet vocations of a wife and a mother, of the transitory nature of all earthly enjoyments; and into the heart subdued by pain and disappointment her words made their way It was as if scales had fallen from the eyes of the sufferer ”God is just,” she exclaireater punishment than I have met with Pray for me, Francesca Ponziano; pray for me; and oh, hear ive up all my evil ways, and henceforward become a Christian wife and a Christian rievously offended!” Francesca bent over her and embraced her; she saw that her repentance was sincere, and bade her be of good comfort, and that her penitence would be accepted And so it turned out; for Gentilezza was safely delivered of a healthy little girl, and in time recovered not only her health but the beauty which she had once turned to such bad account; and, while faithful to her proifts of God, and devoted herself to the diligent performance of her duties, became a chosen friend of Francesca's, and one of thethe relatives of the saint, there was a young man whose name was Giovanni Antonio Lorenzi, whose te been, as he considered, insulted by another Roman nobleman, he vowed that he would take his life, and resolved to have hiel revealed to her his crin, which was as yet confined to his own breast She instantly sent for the object of his ened him, as he valued his existence, not to leave his own house for a certain nu him of the reason, obtained his promise to that effect In the uilty project, and induced hielo Savelli, on a similar occasion, was stillman of his acquaintance, and a duel had ensued, in which he had been severely wounded His anger was excessive; he did nothing but threaten and curse his adversary Neither his own fa hieance in his heart, and accents of rage on his lips Francesca was inforhtway to his bed-side She had no sooner uttered a feords, than he bade her bring his eneive and eht by her presence, and declared that the Holy Spirit had moved him by her means He received the last Sacrament with the best dispositions, and died soon after, full of peace and hope, and repeatedly assured his family that God, in mercy to his soul, had sent the wife of Ponziano to save hi hist many of Francesca's powers of persuasionShe was, as we have seen, a constant attendant at the church of Santa Maria Nuova, where her confessor, Don Antonio Savello officiated It so happened that one of the monks of his order, Don Ippolito, who subsequently played a part in the history of the saint, and who had been now residing ten years in the convent, was about this tih he had previously filled with distinction divers important functions in the monastery He had accepted this appointment out of obedience and humility of spirit; but after a while the devil sorely tean to consider as an act of tyranny and injustice; and these reflections, gradually indulged in, made sad havoc of his peace of mind An oppressive melancholy beset hi his habit and the monastery, if the obnoxious appoint Mary, our Lady of good counsel, he felt a sudden inspiration to go and communicate to Francesca his discontent, his restlessness, and the resolution he had formed She listened attentively to his statement, and then quietly addressed to hiht She asked hiious state; who so; which he preferred, the God who descends and dwells on the altar, or the servants ait upon Hi over the sanctuary, in co to ht be, as would be his lot in another office? The wisdoht to Don Ippolito's heart He instantly acquiesced in its justice, and went directly to confession With earnest benevolence he betook himself to the duties of his at once humble and exalted office, edified all his brethren by his unfeigned humility, and became in time the model of his order He was afterwards successively named sub-prior, and then prior of the monastery of Santa Maria Nuova; and was later the associate and support of Francesca in the foundation of her congregation of the noble Oblates of Tor di Specchi

CHAPTER IX

FRESH SUPERNATURAL EVENTS IN FRANCESCA'S HISTORY--HER OBEDIENCE TO HER HUSBAND AND TO HER CONFESSOR REWARDED BY TWO MIRACLES--MARRIAGE OF HER SON, AND ILL CONDUCT OF HIS WIFE--HER CONVERSION THROUGH FRANCESCA'S PRAYERS--FRESH MIRACLES WORKED BY FRANCESCA

Francesca's obedience to her director in spiritual matters, and to her husband in other respects, continued to be exemplary In both instances she received a arded with especial favour that humble submission of spirit in one whoifts The story of these hht well furnish a subject to a painter or a poet One day that she and Vannozza had asked permission to visit the shrine of Santa Croce in Gierusaleiven them leave to do so; on condition that, as an exercise of self-control, and a test of their obedience, they should walk there and back without once raising their eyes to look about the walk in mental prayer and meditation They proceeded on their ithout interruption, till, on approaching the hospital adjoining the church of St John of Lateran, a sudden rush of people overtook them, and sounds of terror were heard on every side A bull had escaped from its leaders, and driven frantic by the cries of theFrancesca and Vannozza stood directly in his path Loud shouts warned theet out of the way; but, faithful to the obedience they had received, and probably inwardly assured that they would be protected against the danger, whatever it was, they advanced calround The bystanders, ere cowering at a distance, shuddered; for it seemed that the nextanimal But no; the same influence that tae beast At sight of the tomen, it suddenly stopped in its course, became perfectly tranquil, stood still while they passed, and then resuht; while they proceeded to the church without having experienced the slightest e, that a wild beast is appeased by the sight of a maiden in her purity; and there can be no doubt that those saints who have regained in some measure, by mortification, penance, and heroic virtue, the purity of inal nature, have at the saree, the pohich Adam possessed over the animal creation It is a fact of frequent occurrence in their lives, that e paid to theentle denizens of the grave St

Francis of assisi, and St Rose of Liift There are few hts, or any better calculated to radual restoration of a fallen nature to one akin to that of the angels

The other miracle was one attested by Vannozza, itnessed its occurrence Francesca devoted all her leisure ht in spiritual exercises to interfere with her duty as a wife Her attention to Lorenzo's slightest wants and wishes was unceasing She never complained of any amount of interruption or of trouble which his clai in her rooin, he sent for her Instantly rising from her knees, she obeyed his su service he required, she returned to her prayers Four successive tinificant of purposes, she was sent for: each tiood humour, she complied, and resumed her devotions without a shadow of discontent or annoyance

On resureat was her astonishun and four tiold Vannozza, as present, witnessed the el whispered to Francesca, ”Thus the Lord rewards the virtue of obedience” The gilded letters remained in the book to the day of her death

Her prayers were frequent; her fervour in proportion Beginning with the ”Our Father” and the ”Hail Mary,” it was her practice to recite them slowly, and to ponder on each word as she pronounced it The Office of the Blessed Virgin she repeated daily at the appointed hours, and alreat number of psalms besides, as well as various devotions for the holy souls in purgatory

As to mental prayer, her whole life was one continued orison; ever in communion with God, she never lost the sense of His presence From this tirew more and more supernatural The mystical wonders that have manifested themselves in so ree When she approached the tribunal of penance, but, above all, in going to corant odour, and a halo of light surrounded her head Often and often, after receiving the Bread of Life, she fell into a long ecstasy, and for hours remained motionless, and wrapt up in silent contemplation, unable to move from the spot but at the co even the mystical insensibility to all outward objects Her inti those moments; the prophecies which she uttered; the manner in which distant and future occurrences were made manifest to her spiritual perceptions, testified to the supernatural nature of these ecstasies An intimate union established itself between her and the objects of her incessant contelorious elic spirits, an intense joy beamed in her face, and pervaded her whole person When, on the other hand, she mused on the Passion of our Lord, or on the sorrows of His Mother, the whole expression of her face was changed, and bore the impress of an unutterable woe; and even by physical pains she partook in a s of her God

The anxious torments of the Passion were rehearsed as it were in her body; and ere long a wound in her sidebut indubitably established instances of the real though iving agonies of the Lord None but Vannozza, who used to dress that touching and aound, and Don Antonio, to whom she revealed it in confession, were acquainted with this extraordinary token of union between the crucified Redeemer and His favoured servant She suffered intense pain while it lasted, but it was a joyful suffering Love made it precious to her She had desired to drink of His cup, and be baptised with His baptism; and He destined her one day to sit at His side and share His glory She had drunk to the dregs the cup of earthly sorrow; the anguish of bereavement, the desolation of loneliness, the tors of sickness and poverty And now the s fell to her lot, of a nature too sacred for coation, but not the less real and true than the others The relief was as miraculous as the infliction In a vision she saw herself transported into the cave of Bethlehem, and into the presence of the Infant Jesus and of His Mother With a sweet sin bade Francesca discover the wound which love had made, and then ater that flowed from the rock, she washed her side, and dismissed her When her ecstasy was over, she found that the miraculous wound was perfectly healed

It was at this time that she predicted in the ainst such a result, that the papal schis, and new difficulties and conflicts continually arose War was on the point of bursting out again, and every body treht of fresh disasters Contrary, however, to all expectations, the last weeks of the year 1415 saw the conclusion of the schise that none had foreseen, and indifferent to the threats of Frederick of Austria on the one side, and of the King of France on the other, ere each advocating the cause of an anti-pope,--the for John XXIII, the latter Benedict XIII,--they deposed these two usurpers, obliged Gregory XII to renounce his pretensions also, and on the 11th of November unanie in Velabro, who took the name of Martin V; and by his virtues and his talents succeeded in restoring: peace to Roenerally supposed, even during her lifetime, and much more after her death, that Francesca's prayers, her tears and her sufferings, had accelerated that blessed event, and dran the mercy of God on His afflicted Church

The son of Lorenzo and Francesca Baptista Ponziano, had now arrived at the age of eighteen, and was considered theRoman noble its fruits In appearance and in uished Lorenzo, anxious to perpetuate his fae possessions, pressed his son to reatest satisfaction that Francesca seconded his wishes

She longed to give up to a daughter-in-law the ement of domestic affairs, and to be ious and charitable e person on whom the choice of Baptista and of his parents fell was Mobilia, a maiden of whoular beauty, but her fae, according to the continental custom of the time, the bride came to reside under the same roof as her father and hter by Francesca and Vannozza; but she neither returned their affection nor appeared sensible of their kindness Brought up by an excellent mother in a very strict manner and entire seclusion, her head was co herself her own mistress: adored by her husband, furnished with theall her fancies, she was bent ongirl, and gave no thought to any thing but her beauty, her dress, and all the amusements within her reach Wholly inexperienced, she declined to ask or to receive advice, and chose in every respect to be guided by her inclinations alone Iave herself all the airs iinable, and treated herher more attention than if she had been the lowest ay societies which she frequented, it was her favourite amusement to turn Francesca into ridicule, to mimic her manners and her style of conversation; and she often declared herself perfectly ashanorant of the ways of the world ”How can one feel any respect,” she used to ask, ”for a person who thinks of nothing but the poor, dresses as one of the bread, wood, and old clothes?” It was not that Mobilia's disposition was absolutely bad; on the contrary, she was naturally sweet-tee pleasures of the world, the contrast which her mother-in-law's appearance, manners, and whole mode of life presented to that which seemed to her so attractive, irritated her beyond measure, till at last her dislike amounted to aversion; she could hardly endure Francesca in her sight Vain were the remonstrances of her husband and of her father-in-law, vain their entreaties and their reproofs; unavailing also proved the interference of soht to convince her of the culpability of her conduct, and to persuade her that she was bound to show Baptista's mother at least the attentions of ordinary civility The headstrong young wo the utmost contempt for her The Saint endured all her frowardness with unvarying gentleness and patience, never uttering a sharp or unkind word in return, and spending long hours in prayer that the heart so closed against her, and so given up to the world, ed One day, when she was renewing these petitions withwords distinctly pronounced in her hearing: ”Why do you grieve, Francesca? and why is your soul disquieted? Nothing takes place without My perood of those who love Me” And her trial was even then about to end It happened a few days afterwards, when all the inhabitants of the palace were assembled round the fire in the hall (for it was in the winter season), that Mobilia began as usual to attack her mother-in-law, and to turn her reater bitterness than usual; and turning to her husband and to his father, she exclaimed impatiently that she could not understand how they allowed her to follow herpursuits, to mix with the refuse of the rabble, and dran upon the whole farace, but intolerable inconveniences She was going on in this way, and speaking with great violence, when all of a sudden she turned as pale as death, a fit of tre came over her, and in a moment she fell back senseless Francesca and Vannozza carried her to her bed, where, recovering her consciousness, she was seized with s drew from her the most piteous cries Then her conscience was roused; then, as if suddenly awakened to a sense of the enor voice she murmured: ”My pride! ently, entreated her to bear her sufferings patiently, assured her they would soon subside Then Mobilia burst into an agony of tears, and exclaimed before all the bystanders, ”They will subside, my dear mother, if you ask it of God; but I have deserved ive e hter will be to you the , the most obedient of handmaids Take me in your arms, mother, and bless your child” Francesca pressed to her bosoe had been suddenly wrought, and while she fervently blessed her, Mobilia felt that all her pains had left her

From that day forward the whole tone of her mind was altered; her conversion was complete Francesca became to her an object of the most affectionate veneration; she consulted her about all her actions, and co the vanities of the world which had led her astray, she adopted her views and opinions, and set entirely at naught the seductions of worldly grandeur The sanctity of Francesca was now so evident to her that she began to watch her actions, her words, every detail of her life, with aof all that she observed, and of the h her instrumentality, as well as in her own person

The forementioned particulars she attested upon oath after the Saint's death, when the depositions were taken which served at a later period for the process of her canonisation The most intimate friendshi+p established itself between Baptista's wife and hiscould exceed the devoted and affectionate reverence of the one, or the tenderness hich it was repaid by the other Francesca, with the htest wants or wishes: nursed her assiduously in her confinerandchildren the same cares that she had lavished on her own children

It was a great relief to her that Mobilia, as now only occupied with her duties, assuulation of all domestic affairs She was thus enabled to devote herself more unreservedly to the service of the poor and of the hospitals The hospital which she visited most constantly was that which her father-in-law had founded near the Chiesa del Salvatore, called at a later period Santa Maria in Cappella Theon of her hands became more numerous than ever, and her faree in which her assistance was sought, her prayers implored, and the reputation of her sanctity extended, was painful to her huifts were too evident to be concealed from others or from herself, and there only remained to her to humble herself more deeply at the feet of the God who thus showed forth His power in one whoreat as preparing for her hand to do; the first stone of a spiritual building was to be laid; she was growing ripe for the work; and God was drawing men's eyes upon her onder and with awe, that when that day caave to persons threatened by secret dangers were innuht into the condition of their souls marvellous One day she sends word to her confessor that he will be ”sent for on the following night to attend a sick person, but that he must on no account leave his house;” and it turns out that assassins were lying in wait for him in the street, and that the pretended sick man was a lure to draw him out

Another tierously ill in the Piazza Campitelli His mother hastens to the Saint, who so in peace, for her son has recovered; and on her return she finds him in perfect health She sees a priest at the altar, and he appears to her sight as if covered with a frightful leprosy By her confessor's order she relates her vision to the object of it; and, confounded and a in a state of mortal sin He repents, confesses, and aether to the Ponziano Palace; one is the nephew of Vannozza, a pious and exein the bosoinary wrong, and he is planning his revenge, and is about to utter a calumny which will affect his character Francesca takes hi in his soul: how read what has not been revealed to any huns, and awakens hiratitude, he no sooner has left the house than, falling at the feet of his coiveness Cecca Clarelli, a relation of the Ponziani, is delivered of a little girl in such apparent good health that no one thinks of baptising her; a grand cere church, to take place the following day; but in the ht Francesca arrives, and entreats that the child may be instantly baptised The parents and the priest object, but the Saint is urgent; she will take no denial; with reluctance her request is complied with, and no sooner has the sacrament been conferred than the infant expires A child of the sairl, is dule word has she ever pronounced Andreozzo, her father, entreats his wife to carry her to the Saint, and implore her assistance

Francesca's humility cannot endure this direct appeal, and she tries to put them off; but, deeply affected by their tears, she at last touches with her finger the tongue of the little Ca from the mercy of God; it is as boundless as His power” The parents depart full of faith and comfort; and ere they reach their house, the child has uttered with perfect distinctness the blessed names of Jesus and Mary; and from that day forward acquires and retains the power of speech

No wonder that the narows every day more fast whom she dwells; that hearts are subdued, sinners reclaiht of her blessed face, by the sweet sound of her voice Many rise about her and call her blessed; but children, and more especially her own spiritual children, are soon to call her mother A new epoch is now at hand in her career God had placed in her heart o a hope which she had nursed in secret, and watered with her tears, and fostered by her prayers Never impatient, never beforehand with God's providence, she waited: His time was she knew to be her time; His as the passion of her heart, her end, her rule, and God had rees its accomplishment Permission to labour first,--the result far distant, but clear, the vision of that result, when once He had said to her, ”Begin and work” To tarry patiently for that signal, to obey it unhesitatingly when once given, is the rule of the saints How marvellous is their instinct! how accordant their practice! First, the hidden life, the common life; the silence of the house of Nazareth; the carpenter's shop; the e-feast, it may be, for some; and at last, ”the hour is come,” and the true work for which they are sent into the world has to be done, in the desert or in the cloister, in the temple or in the market-place, on Mount Thabor or on Mount Calvary; and the martyr or the confessor, the founder or the reforious order, comes forth, and in an instant, or in a few years, perforels rejoice