CHAPTER XXIII.

HER CHARITY REWARDED BY SIGNS CONSIDERED TO BE MIRACULOUS.

"The right hand of the Lord hath wrought strength; the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me."

— Ps. cxvii, 16.

This marvelous conduct was undoubtedly a prodigy of incomparable charity. The Venerable Sister, at the age of twenty, showed a courage and maturity of holiness far beyond her years. Her serenity before the continual furious assaults of the poor insane Sister, her calm energy enabling her to arrange and accomplish her numerous occupations with system and order, her care to provide with exquisite charity for the needs of the sick and the sanitary wants of the community; her exact attendance in the choir; and finally her continual union with God in the midst of the most distracting occupations — were not these so many prodigies of grace?

Many facts, carefully examined, in her process convey the impression that her virtues were of a miraculous degree. She had an interior light about the most secret needs of the sick. Did one of them feel a desire for a remedy, without being called the servant of God was at once there with it in her hand. In 1767, although not infirmarian, she had permission to lend her services to the sick Sister Teresa Maria of the Immaculate Conception, who was confined to her bed in consequence of terrible convulsions, leading to slight shocks of apoplexy. One evening our Sister had visited her immediately before going to prayer, and had left her quite comfortable. During prayer she felt a strong inspiration to go to her. Reaching the cell of the sick Sister she found her suffering from a violent attack, and needing her immediate assistance. She cared for her, called the infirmarian and returned to the meditations. During the long sickness of Mother Teresa Adelaide, who was failing from the weakness of old age, it was noticed continually that when she called the name of the Venerable Sister, she would hasten to her even though she was at a distance and would in an instant satisfy her desires. The feeble voice of the sick Sister could not by natural means be heard at a distance of several cells and at the end of long corridors. Besides this, the extreme deafness of the poor patient, which prevented her hearing the least sound of the human voice, no matter how loud, without using an ear trumpet, was the occasion of another prodigy. Notwithstanding this infirmity she understood every word of our little infirmarian, something which consoled her greatly. Father Ildefonso, who assisted her in her last moments, had the happiness of witnessing this wonder. Being at the bedside of the sick Sister, he heard her call the servant of God, but in so weak a voice that he himself could scarcely recognize it. Suddenly the Venerable Sister appeared — she had been occupied in another cell. The Father immediately left the cell, but the Mother Prioress begged him to wait outside the door, which was ajar, and secretly watch the prodigies of charity God worked by means of our young Sister. He heard the poor sick one beg Sister Teresa Margaret to change her position. She raised her on the pillows without assistance and with marvelous ease, "As one would raise a feather," to quote the process. The sick Sister thanked her, and then said: "Now, that you have made me so comfortable, say something to me about Jesus." "The servant of God then commenced" — these are the words of Father Ildefonso — "to speak to her in a low voice through a respectful fear of being overheard. She thought I had gone to the recreation room, not far distant from the cell of the dying Sister. She commenced then to suggest to her acts of faith, patience and resignation and the sacrifice of her life; but above all, moving sentiments of hope, and of the love of God. These she knew would appeal most to the dying Sister. All was said with such piety, unction, and perfect impressiveness, that I could not restrain my tears. The sick one, stone deaf as she was, understood all that she said — this I perceived by her answers. I was perfectly astonished, knowing by experience, her total deafness which deprived her even of the consolation enjoyed in hearing the voice of the priest in the tribunal of penance. I then was convinced, and still remain so, that Sister Teresa Margaret could not without a double favor from our Lord hear at a great distance the faint voice of the dying Sister, calling her to her bedside, and then be so easily understood by her, in spite of her utter deafness."

Although we have determined to be as brief as possible, we must make known the following fact, which is as pleasing as it is extraordinary: Sister Maria Victoria, a companion of our Venerable Sister in the novitiate, suffered with continual toothache, which caused her real agony. In September, 1765, while the two novices were in the refectory at the second table, Sister Teresa Margaret noticed that her companion was once more a victim to violent toothache. Rising, she called her out of the refectory, and under an impulse of affectionate compassion, kissed her tortured cheek. Then without saying a word she returned to her place. During the early days of the Church the kiss of peace was held in honor. Since then, abuse having caused it to be abolished, it is seldom allowed in monasteries. Our holy Mother St. Teresa, careful to preserve religious respect among her daughters, severely prohibits all such familiarities. The spontaneous act of our dear Sister Teresa Margaret was an inspiration from on high, and our Lord marked it with the seal of His omnipotent approval. For no sooner had her virginal lips touched Sister Maria Victoria's cheek than the pain ceased, never to return. Everyone in the monastery believed that God worked wonders by means of the Sign of the Cross, which the Venerable Sister made on the sick with the little statue of Our Lady of Good Counsel which she always carried with her; and also by the anointings which she made with oil from a lamp burning before another image of the Blessed Virgin. The passing touch of her pure hands, in the delicate manner of a little caress, on the painful spot of one of her patients, often gave instant relief and sometimes perfect cure. Thus God delighted to show the pleasure He took in the tenderness and force of the charity which He Himself had so intensely enkindled in the heart of His faithful servant.

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