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 They announced to her mother that, as soon as she would soon recover from her illness, she might repair to the church of the Friar Preachers, to take the habit of St. Dominic, in presence of the Brethren and Sisters, with the customary ceremonies. At this happy news, Catherine shed tears of joy, and gave thanks to her heavenly Spouse and to Saint Dominic, who realized at last his promise. She implored her restoration to health, not in order to be released from sufferings, but so as to accomplish more promptly the first and strongest wish of her heart. She was heard, and became quite well in a few days, for how could our Lord refuse her when she asked him to remove an obstacle in the way of his greater glory, and the service of one who loved him so devotedly.

The mother now sought to retard the happy day of her reception, but in vain; she was obliged to yield to the pressing solicitations of Catherine, and go to the Church, where in the presence of many Sisters of the Order who rejoiced at it, and the Friar Preachers who directed them, Catherine was clothed with their habit which by its black and white draperies represented humility and innocence. It seems to me that the habit of no other Order would have been so suitable for her; had it been wholly white or wholly black, the signification would have been incomplete: gray which results from their mixture, could indeed have represented her mortification, but not her triumph over poisonous natural pride, nor the bright purity of her virginal innocence. Catherine was the first Virgin that was ever received, in Sienna, among the Sisters of Penance, but many followed her, and the words of David may appropriately be applied to