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 heart, fear no obstacle, excite your courage, for the happy day will come when you shall be clothed in the pious habit you desire." This promise filled her heart with joy, she thanked the great St. Dominic with an effusion of tears, which awakened her, and restored her to her senses.

This vision so comforted and strengthened her, that on that very day she assembled her father and mother with her brothers, and with great assurance declared to them: "During a long time you have resolved that I should marry, and have endeavored to force me to do so; you are aware that I hold this project in horror; my conduct must have convinced you of this; I have not however explained myself, on account of the respect due to my parents, but duty obliges me to be silent no longer; I must speak candidly with you, and declare to you an engagement I have assumed, which is not novel, since I contracted it in my infancy. Know therefore, that I have taken a vow of virginity, not through levity, but deliberately and with full knowledge of what I was doing; now that I have a maturer age and a more perfect acquaintance with the nature of my actions, I persist with the grace of God in my resolution, and it will be easier to dissolve a rock than to induce me to change my will; renounce therefore these projects for an earthly union; it is quite impossible for me to satisfy you on this point, because it is better to obey God than man. If you desire to retain me as a domestic in the house, I will render you cheerfully all the services in my power, but if you desire to oblige me to leave it, know that I shall remain immoveable in my resolution; my spouse has all the riches of heaven and earth, his power can protect me and provide abundantly for my every necessity."

At these words all present melted into tears; the sobs