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 The Lord answered. "This man's iniquities have mounted to Heaven — not only has he poured forth injuries against me and my saints, but he threw into the fire a picture representing me and my blessed Mother. Do not intercede for him; it is just that he burn in eternal flames; he merits death a thousand times."

Catherine prostrated herself at the feet of her divine Spouse, and bathed them with her tears — and prayed in aspirations like these: "Didst thou not, loving Jesus I bear this man's sins with ours on thy venerable shoulders ? Am I here to dispute thy justice, or to invoke thy mercy ? Remember Lord thou didst promise to aid me in saving souls; I have no other consolation but that of seeing them return to thee; it is the only circumstance that renders me capable of enduring thy absence. Repel me not, most clement Jesus ! restore to me my brother; draw him from his hardened state!" Catherine continued, during several hours her vigil and her tears to obtain the salvation of that soul.

God opposed the number and enormity of his crimes which demanded vengeance, and Catherine invoked the mercy that led him to come down to earth and die for sinners. At last mercy triumphed over justice, and our blessed Saviour said to Catherine: "My beloved daughter, I suffer myself to be softened by thy tears; I am going to convert him for whom thou pray with such fervor."

At that same instant our Lord appeared to Andrea (Andrew) who was in extremities: "Friend," said he to him, "why will you not confess the sins that you have committed against me ? Confess them and I am ready to pardon thee all thy faults."

These words suddenly softened that obstinate heart, and he cried oat to those that served him: "Send quickly