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Catherine was wonderfully compassionate to the wants of the poor, but her heart was even more sensitive to the sufferings of the sick. To relieve them, she accomplished things apparently incredible, but this is no reason for suppressing them, and I shall therefore relate them to the glory of Almighty God. I have, for proof, the written and verbal testimony of Friar Thomas, whom I have already named, of St. Dominic of Sienna, doctor of divinity, and prior provincial of the Roman Province. I could also cite Lapa and Lysa with several respectable ladies who have affirmed the same things to me.

There was at Sienna a poor sick woman named Teeca; her indigence was so extreme, that she was forced to seek in a hospital the remedies she needed, and which she was unable to procure. The hospital in which she entered was barely able to furnish what was strictly necessary. Her disease grew worse and worse, so that the leprosy covered her whole body; the smell arising from her disease repelled every one, so that no person had courage to take care of her, and preparations were made to remove her outside of the city, as is customary in such maladies. When Catherine heard this, her charitable heart was touched; she hastened to the hospital, visited the leper, kissed her, and offered not only to supply all her necessities, but also to become her servant during the remainder