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 and, on this occasion alone, the number of those whom she has delivered equals the population of Rome."

Seeing that her god-daughter remained stupefied and seemed still to doubt the evidence of her sense, the apparition added, " In proof of the truth of my words, know that you yourself will die a year hence, on the Feast of the Assumption; if you outlive that period, believe that this was an illusion."

St. Peter Damian concluded this recital by saying that the young lady passed the year in the exercise of good works, in order to prepare herself to appear before God. The year following, on the Vigil of the Assumption, she fell sick, and died on the day of the feast itself, as had been predicted.

The Feast of the Assumption is, then, the great day of Mary's mercy towards the poor souls; she delights to introduce her children into the glory of Heaven on the anniversary of the day on which she herself first entered its blessed portals. This pious belief, adds Father Louvet, is founded on a great number of particular revelations; it is for this reason that in Rome the Church of St. Mary in Montorio, which is the centre of the arch-confraternity of suffrages for the dead, is dedicated under the title of the Assumption.

Besides the consolations which the souls receive from the Blessed Virgin, they are also assisted and consoled by the