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62 62 B. ANGELINA CORBARA love of almsgiving, she took meat ont of the pot in her father's kitchen to give to the poor. The cook was very angry, and complained that she gave her chari- ties at the expense of his character, as he would be suspected of stealing; whereupon the meat was miraculon^y increased to the original quantity. Her beauty, amiability, and connec- tions soon brought numbers of suitors for her hand, among whom her parents chose the Count of Civitella, in the Abruzzi. In vain did Angelina beg to be allowed to remain unmarried. Her father threatened to kill her unless she consented to an alliance with the count. It was revealed to her in a vision that she might obey and still keep her vow. On the day of the marriage, she throw herself on her knees before a crucifix, and implored, the Saviour to remember that she had dedicated herself to Him. An angel appeared and comforted her. Meantime the count, wondering where she was and what she was doing, looked through a crack in the door, and saw a young man talking to her. He broke into the room in a fury, and found her alone. He asked to whom she had been talking. Angelina then confessed all the circumstances. From that moment he considered himself privileged in having under his care a virgin espoiyed to Christ. He followed her example and advice in taking a vow of celibacy, and they lived devoutly at Civitella, spending their time in works of piety and mercy. There were at least six places in Italy called Civitella; this was Civitella del Tronto, and in the time of Jacobilli was a royal free city with 837 fires, a castle, and a tower. It gave to its possessor the title of count, as also did Montorio, another place belonging to Angelina's husband; both were near Terano and Ascoli. The young couple lived happily at Civitella for a year, and then the count died, exhorting his wife to persevere in all her good intentions and good works. Angelina, who was now 17, joined the Third Order of St. Francis, with all the young women who were her companions or attendants. They travelled through various places in the Abruzzi, inspiring many persons with the wish to follow their saintly example. She was sum- moned to appear before Ladislas, king of Naples (138G-1414), accused of being an extravagant woman who had spent all her husband's property, and of being a vagabond and a heretic who dis^ approved of marriage and misled the ignorant. The king resolved to have her burnt alive ; he did not tell any one of his intention, but Angelina knew it. Before entering his presenqe, she went into the kitchen of his palace, and got one of the servants to fill the comer of her poor cloak with burning coals, which she carried to him. He saw that she was not afraid of fire, and that God would save her by a miracle if He chose her to do His work. Ladislas conversed with her, and was completely disarmed and won over to her side by her modest, fearless answers, her good sense, and un- selfishness. He parted from her with demonstrations of respect and friendship. Her reputation for sanctity was esta- blished by her raising from the dead a young man of one of the principal families in the kingdom of Naples. So many persons wished to do her honour that she had to leave Naples by night to avoid the distinction which was thrust upon her. Her influence led so many young girls of noble families to become nuns, that their parents persuaded the king to banish her from his dominions. She returned to her father, who gavo her his blessing and his consent to the line of life she had taken. She sold all she had, and distributed the money to the poor. In August, 1395, she went with her companions to visit the sepulchre of St. Francis at Assisi, and to obtain the indulgence at the famous church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, a mile from Assisi. While there she was instructed in a vision to found a convent in Foligno, of Tertiarie Claustrale, cloistered nuns of the Third Order. She went to Foligno with her friends, and visited all the churches in the town, including that of St. Francis, where the body of St. Angela of Foligno was kept. Then, having ob- tained a piece of ground from the lord of Foligno, and procured the consent of