Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/167

 mercifully, and streams of pardoning grace flowed in a wonderful manner over the souls of these two miserable men. Catherine obtained the grace of assisting them in spirit, and of accompanying them as far as the city gates. She prayed and wept continually for their change of heart; the demons who saw her, said to her in fury: " if thou does not cease, we and these two reprobates, will torment thee to such a degree, that thou shalt become possessed.: Catherine answered: " Whatever God wills, I will, I shall not discontinue what I have commenced."

When the two criminals halted at the gate of the city, our merciful Redeemer appeared to them covered with wounds and bathed in blood. He exhorted them to conversion and promised them pardon. A ray of divine light immediately penetrated their hearts — they earnestly implored the assistance of a priest and confessed their sins with heartfelt sorrow. Their blasphemies were changed into pious aspirations; they accused themselves, acknowledged that they merited even more terrible torments and marched onward to death, as joyously as if they were going to a festival: instead of loading their executioners with insults, they thanked the Saviour, who in mercy permitted them to acquire, by these transient sorrows, a never-ending glory. All the assistants were in admiration at such a change: the torturers themselves were deeply affected, and dared no longer increase their cruelties, on seeing them in such sentiments, but no one knew whence came this miracle of grace. The good and zealous clergyman who accompanied these hardened sinners endeavoring to convert them, gave these details to Friar Thomas, Catherine's Confessor. The latter having questioned Alessia, was able to certify that at the