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CHAPTER XXIX.
INTRODUCTION OF THE CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION; FIRST OPENING OF HER TOMB; HER BODY FOUND INCORRUPT.
"I sleep, but my heart watcheth." — CANT. V, 2.
The wishes of the Sovereign Pontiff, Clement XIV, were received with pious enthusiasm by the venerated Mgr. Incontri, Archbishop of Florence. He commenced immediately the introduction of what is called the ordinary process, namely, regarding the virtues of the servant of God. His death, in 1780, prevented his completing a work so dear to his heart. This consolation was reserved for Mgr. Martini, his worthy successor, known throughout the world by his teachings, which are worthy of the early Fathers of the Church; and above all by his translations into Italian of the Sacred Scriptures, which received the highest praise from Pius VI. The documents of the process for the Cause of Beatification of Sister Teresa Margaret were sent to Rome under the auspices of this great man. The summary was drawn up by the Signor Costanzi, by order of his Eminence Cardinal Salviati, Protector of the Cause, aided by the Discalced Carmelite, Father Eustachio-Maria of Saint Raphael, Postulator of the Order.
The political troubles which occurred at this sad time prevented the distribution of copies of the summary to the members of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. They remained for a long time in the care of an unscrupulous person, who sold them for a trifling sum. This unfaithfulness would have been the occasion of great expense to the Cause, had it not been for the generous kindness of Pius VII, who, learning of the affair, deigned to defray all the expense. The lawyer Mattioli, also, having discovered some stray copies of the summary, graciously furnished them out of honor of the servant of God. Thirteen years had passed since the precious death of Sister Teresa Margaret. A water pipe in the wall beside the tomb had done some damage by leakage, and pools of water had formed quite close to the venerated remains. The community, fearing, and with reason, the consequences which might result from this, earnestly begged Mgr. Martini to authorize them once more to view the blessed body, in which before its burial God had miraculously manifested His glory. This pious wish was joyfully granted by the prelate. On the 16th of June, 1783, his Grace came, accompanied by physicians, notaries, and prominent personages, among whom was seen with emotion the Knight Redi, happy father of our angelic Sister, and Father Ildefonso, her spiritual director. When the tomb was opened the following persons, besides those just named, were present: Mother Madelena Teresa, Prioress; Mother Maria Victoria, sub-prioress (the one who, by a kiss from the Venerable Sister, had been instantly cured of a spasmodic toothache) and the aged Mother Anna Maria, a former Prioress. The latter, so often mentioned in this narrative, had been the confidant of Sister Teresa Margaret and her second Mistress in the novitiate. She showed the greatest zeal for the spread of her veneration.
Their hopes were not disappointed. All hearts were stirred as the Venerable Sister was shown to them. How wonderful! She seemed wrapped in a sweet sleep; she had lost none of her freshness; her limbs were flexible. The entire community was then summoned at the invitation of Mgr. Martini, and all were allowed to behold the angelic countenance of their Sister. How is it possible to express their emotion at such a spectacle? In the name of all, Dr. Roniti wrote a detained account of the occurrences, to which was added the testimony of three other physicians who were present, Drs. Antonio Maria Franchi, Gaetano Pellegrini and Antonio Durazzini; all with one voice declared such preservation and incorruption to be a stupendous miracle.
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