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 as far as Catherine's residence, where they told me she was at the Friars' Church. I was greatly astonished — I turned back with my companion, and in effect, found Catherine, with her associates, in the lower part of the Church. I enquired of them where she was; they answered that she was kneeling on one of the benches in an ecstasy; and as I was still annoyed at the accident that had occurred to me, I besought them to use every means of making her return to herself, because we were in great haste. They obeyed, and when we were seated with the Prior, I told him in a low voice and in a few words, my anxiety; she smiled gently and said to me, just as though she knew all the particulars: " Did you not search diligently ? " on my answering, "yes" she added, "why, then, should you be troubled so much; " and again she could not avoid smiling. I observed it, and kept silence, during her conversation with the Prior, who went away as soon as he had obtained the desired response. I was already more tranquilized, and said: " Mother, I really believe that you took the particle of my consecrated Host." She meekly answered: " Do not accuse me of that. Father, it was not I, but another; I can merely inform you that you will not find that particle again." Then I obliged her to explain. " Father," said she, " be no wise troubled in reference to that particle; I will tell you the truth as to my Confessor and my spiritual father; that particle was brought me, and presented for my reception by our Lord Jesus Christ himself. My companions engaged me not to communicate this morning, in order to avoid certain murmurs. I was unwilling to be troublesome to them, but I had recourse to my divine Spouse: he condescendingly appeared to me and gave me, with his sacred hands, that particle which you had