Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/226

 shares very insignificant and thought they must quickly disappear; but in vain they ate, they never saw the last piece, for some bread continually remained on the table, and in this there was nothing to excite surprise, since it was the will of Him who, with five loaves, satisfied five thousand men in the wilderness.

Each one was astonished at herself and her neighbors, and all inquired in what manner Catherine was occupied; it was Answered i7i fervent prayer. The sixteen persons who were then present agreed in saying: Her prayer has called down bread from heaven; we are all satisfied; the little that was served us, far from being diminished is instead increased. After the repast such a quantity of bread remained on the table, that it sufficed to the Sisters in the house and others who afterwards partook of it plentifully; and they were also able to give an abundant alms to the poor. Lysa and Jeanne, eyewitnesses of this marvel, recounted to me one similar to it, which God accomplished by means of Catherine in the same house and in the same year, during the Lenten season and in a week that Frangois (a Sister Penitent of St. Dominic and spiritual companion of Catherine on earth, and I trust now in the better land) was housekeeper.

I am unwilling also to pass in silence what happened to myself when Catherine had gone to the home of the blessed; my witnesses are, all of the Friars who were at that moment in the convent of Sienna. — It is nearly five years ago; I was in that city and at the earnest petition of Catherine's spiritual children, I had commenced writing her life: it occurred to me that the head of the Saint, which had been brought from Rome to Sienna, and which I had ornamented to the best of my ability, had not yet been publicly exposed and honored. I