t I
said, and acknowledged it to be the truth. Indeed it was the Spirit of
truth which inspired me to speak to him, without which I should be only
a mere simpleton. Yet as soon as those persons spoke to him, who sought
for pre-eminence, and who could not suffer any good but what came from
themselves, he was so weak as to be imposed on with impressions against
the truth. This weakness has hindered him from doing all the good which
otherwise he might have done.

After I had spoken to him, he said that he had it in his mind to give
me Father La Combe for director; he was a man illuminated of God, who
well understood the inward path, and had a singular gift of pacifying
souls. Greatly was I rejoiced when the Bishop appointed him, seeing
thereby his authority united with the grace which already seemed to
have given him to me, by a union and effusion of supernatural life and
love. The fatigues I had, and watchings with my daughter, threw me into
a violent sickness attended with exquisite pain. The physicians judged
me in danger, yet the sisters of the house quite neglected me;
especially the stewardess. She was so penurious, that she did not give
me what was necessary to sustain life. I had not a penny to help myself
with, as I had reserved nothing to myself. Besides, they received all
the money which was remitted to me from France, which was very
considerable. I practiced poverty and was in necessity even among those
to whom I had given all. They wrote to Father La Combe, desiring him to
come to me, as I was so extremely ill. Hearing of my condition he was
so touched with compassion as to walk on foot all night. He traveled
not otherwise, endeavoring in that, as in everything else, to imitate
our Lord Jesus Christ.

As soon as he entered the house my pains abated; when he had prayed and
blessed me, laying his hand on my head, I was perfectly cured, to the
great astonishment of my physicians; who were not willing to
acknowledge the miracle.

These sisters advised me to return to my daughter. Father La Combe
returned with me. A violent storm arose on the Lake, which made me very
sick, and seemed likely to upset the boat. But the hand of Providence
remarkably appeared in our favor; so much so, that it was taken notice
of by the mariners and passengers. They looked upon Father La Combe as
a saint. We arrived at Tonon, where I found myself so perfectly
recovered, that, instead of making and using the remedies I had
proposed,