CHAPTER XXVII.

SIGNS WHICH FOLLOWED THE DEATH OF SISTER TERESA MARGARET.

"Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord." — Ps. cxx, VII, 4.

How can we describe the consternation of the community caused by the almost sudden death of our dear Venerable Sister, and the sorrow of her family; above all the misery of her dearly beloved father? The Knight Redi, like the mother of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, had the inestimable happiness of giving his testimony in favor of his daughter in the process preparatory to her beatification.

We will now recount some of the prodigies which took place in this virginal body, considered miraculous by the physicians and surgeons called upon to give their evidence as to the facts we relate. After death the body of Sister Teresa Margaret became rigid, pale, and livid, also enormously swollen. Decomposition seemed about to set in. She had fallen a victim to a disease which gave every reason to fear speedy physical dissolution. However, it was possible to exhibit her remains before the grate in the chapter room. The swelling increasing, it was necessary to elevate the upper part of her body in order that her face might be seen. But when descending to the place of sepulture, the crypt of the old monastery of Saint Teresa, it was noticed that in her hands and feet the livid purplish color had meanwhile changed, and they were now of an exquisite whiteness, whilst her face was of an exceedingly beautiful and ruddy color, as if of perfect health. Because of this prodigy the religious thought it prudent to delay the burial. The following morning, the 9th of March, when they hastened to the crypt, what was their joy to find the swelling had lessened, the cheeks of the deceased rosy, and the hands and feet of a healthy flesh color. Sister Teresa Margaret appeared more beautiful and with brighter color in death than when in life enjoying perfect health. The Father Provincial, hearing of this marvel, ordered the burial of the body to be delayed still longer; our Lord seeming to wish to manifest in it in some sort a reflection of His glory. On the evening of this same day, Dr. Anthony Roniti, having visited some of the sick Sisters — he was surgeon to the community — was asked to descend to the crypt. With the aid of his science he carefully examined the body. Besides the perfect beauty of the countenance, he noted that the glands of the eyes were lacrymal, the skin soft, reddish and life-like, the lips fresh and rosy. Everything gave the impression of a living person, sweetly sleeping. On March 11th he came to make another visit. The beauty of the servant of God had now increased. The swelling of the figure had considerably lessened; this decrease in size could not be explained in any natural way. Moreover, the body not only had no odor of death, but it exhaled a perfume whose sweetness was unlike any known.

Monsignore Francis Incontri, Archbishop of Florence, of pious and holy memory, learning what had happened, ordered that we should await his decision before burying the Venerable Sister. For a third and fourth time, the 14th and 16th of March, the doctor descended to examine the prodigy, which with ever-increasing astonishment he saw was becoming more remarkable. The beautiful life-like color continued the same, while the swelling had almost disappeared. Finally, on the 22nd of March, fifteen days after the decease, at four o'clock in the afternoon, the Archbishop entered the monastery, accompanied by his Chancellor, M. Vignali, Canon Pasquali, several other distinguished priests, and three physicians, one of whom was Dr. Roniti. The Archbishop wished to behold with his own eyes the marvelous miracle. The precious remains, fifteen days after death, were not only intact and with no signs of corruption, but still more, they were life-like and natural in color. The eyes were slightly sunken and the lips were beginning to look parched: these were the only signs of death. There was not the slightest disagreeable odor; however, on close examination, a little mould was discovered under the nostrils, the crypt being damp. On seeing all this, the holy Archbishop was much moved, and tears betrayed his emotion. That God might be the more glorified, his Grace asked one of the religious to raise the arm of the deceased. The arm yielded without resistance: the joints were flexible. Having raised it so that all could see, it was placed in its former position. When the time for enclosing the holy body had arrived, the Prelate, with deepest reverence, ordered that the mould noticed under the nostrils should be removed. The linen used for this purpose was impregnated with a delightful, unknown, and extraordinary perfume. His Grace, once more moved to tears, several times held the scented linen to his face and qualified this wonderful perfume in these words: "The perfume of virginity!" The face of the servant of God was covered with this delightfully scented linen. A tube of lead was placed in the coffin, containing a certificate of the identity of the body; and in addition an account of the observations made on this day, the 22nd of March, 1770. The leaden coffin was soldered and placed in another, then laid in the compartment of the crypt which had been prepared for it. This was sealed in the presence of witnesses.

The life of Sister Teresa Margaret, written by Albergotti, contains the official testimony of the illustrious physician, Dr. Laurenzo Presciani. We will give it in full: "I have," he says, "weighed and examined all the circumstances: 1st — An inflammatory sickness which must end in gangrene and rupture, conditions particularly favorable to decomposition. 2nd — Condition of body, swollen, full of water, the Sister having been of delicate constitution, still youthful. 3rd — The place where the body was placed, underground, exposed to the change of air, without any protection. 4th — The season, which, at that time, was warm and damp. 5th — Finally the material conditions, not only probable gangrene in her bowels, but also the soothing treatment used as a relief, which of their own nature would hasten corruption. All these conditions were directly opposed to the incorruption, which we examined and to which we bear witness. When to these is added the other circumstances regarding the changes which took place in the body, I conclude and proclaim in my testimony that it is a case of extraordinary preservation, and I agree with the very learned Paul Zacchia, in stating that a true case of incorruption is of all miracles the one most worthy of consideration, and that which has for its cause only the omnipotence of God."

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