Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 1.djvu/172

158 158 ST. CATHERINE She was about twenty, and had been more than a year in Borne when her husband died. Many suitors speedily applied for the hand of the beautiful young widow. Once on a festiyal, when St. Brigid was engaged elsewhere, Catherine went to the church of 8t. Sebastian outside the walls, to obtain indulgences. A certain count, with a numerous retinue, hid among the vine- yards through which she had to pass; he ordered his servants to be ready to seize her the moment he should give the signal. A stag appeared, and while they were all looking at it Catherine passed safely by unnoticed. Brigid knew of it by revelation, and from that day Catherine never dared to go openly to the stations outside the walls, nor even about the streets, but frequented the nearest church. At last, one even- ing, Brigid said, TTo-morrow is the feast of St. Lawrence; we will go together to his church." Catherine was afraid, but her mother was confident that they would be protected by Gbd and St. Lawrence. Li the morning, when they went out, they fortified them- selves five times with the sign of the cross, and commended themselves to the protection of the five wounds and of St. Lawrence, and so got safe to church. The count who had annoyed them was hiding about on the road before it was light, hoping to waylay them. When the sun had risen, and was high in the heavens, one of the servants, being very tired, said, " Master, why are we waiting here ? " " To catch that lady for whom we watched in vain before." *' She passed by hours ago, and is in the church." "But," said the count, "it is not yet day." "On the contrary," said the man, '' the sun is high I " Then the count became aware that he had been struck blind for his temerity. He bade his people lead him to the church and inquire for the Swedish ladies. When they were found, he fell at their feet and confessed his fault. His sight was restored by their prayers. Once when Catherine was praying before the altar of St. John, in the church of St. Peter, a pilgrim stood beside her and desired her prayers for a woman of Nericia. " Who are you ? " asked Catherine. "A pilgrim from Sweden." Catherine courteously invited « her to come to her mother's house. Tlio stranger excused herself, saying she had not time to stay, but again urged Cathe- rine to pray earnestly for the soul of her countrywoman, adding, " You will soon hear news from home, and receive valuable help from the Norse woman, and she will place a crown of gold on your heads." Therewith she disappeared. When Catherine questioned her com- panions, they said they had heard her talking, but had seen no one. Next day oame the news that Guda, the wife of Charles, was dead, and in due time a friend brought her will and the gold crown which, according to the custom of her country, she always .wore. The proceeds of its sale provided for the household of these two saintly women for a whole year. They lived together for twenty-five years in Eome, and then went to Jerusalem. While there, Brigid was taken iU. She lived to get back to Bome, but died soon after her arrival, in 1373. By her own wish she was buried first at the monastery of Parnisperna, and was translated the same year to her own monastery of Wadstein. Catherine made all the arrangements, and con- ducted the funeral partyi One of the difficulties of the journey was the law- lessness of the Crucifers, a military religious order who had become corrupt. Miracles accompanied the cortege all the way. They sailed from Dantzig, landed at Osgocia, and proceeded to Suder- copensem, where a great crowd met them. Nobles and clergy, rich and poor, men and women, accompanied them to Wadstein, with all the relics that had been given by the queen of Naples and other great personages, to the new monastery. At Lincopen, Catherine was well received, and the whole population attended a grand func- tion in the cathedral. They arrived at Wadstein, July 4. Among the nuDs was Brigid's granddaughter, Ingigerda^ after ward's abbess. Catherine save her pious advice, find told her that both the detractor and the listener carry the devil in their tongues. She therefore prayed