Page:Lifeofsaintcatha.djvu/245

 I call attention here to the following remark: it was not without motive that the Blessed Agnes raised only one foot; she did this on account of the incredulous: had she raised both feet, it might have been believed that her body was capable, by a motion communicated to the superior part of raising the legs without the help of the marvelous; but as only one foot raised, it is evident that divine power acted without regard to natural laws, and that there could not be any illusion.

I have a motive in presenting this remark; for, on the morrow when we arrived in turn at our own monastery, there was much conversation in reference to the miracle that the Spouse of virgins had performed in favor of those holy souls; some nuns who had been witnesses of it, calumniated the work of God, like the Pharisees of old who said: "It is by Beelzebub the prince of the devils that he casteth out demons." (Luke, xi. 15) In consequence, as I had received from the Prior Provincial authority over that monastery, I assembled all the Sisters in conference according to the Rule of the Order, and made a minute examination of this miracle under a precept of holy obedience. All present declared positively that they had seen it perfectly: I therefore called before me one of those who had offered the most opposition and asked her whether the affair had passed as we said: she acknowledged it in the presence of all, but she desired to explain that the intention of Blessed Agnes was not such as we believed it; I replied: "My very dear Sister, we do not interrogate you concerning the intentions of Blessed Agnes; we are well aware that yoa are neither her secretary, nor her confidant; we merely ask you, whether you saw the foot rise all alone." She laid " yes" I imposed a penance on her for the discourses