ted their states. I felt myself
invested, all of a sudden, with the apostolic state. I discerned the
conditions of the souls of such persons as spoke to me, and that with
so much facility, that they were surprised at it, and said one to
another, that I gave every one of them "the very thing they had stood
in need of." It was thou, O my God, who didst all these things; some of
them sent others to me. It came to such excess, that, generally from
six in the morning till eight in the evening, I was taken up in
speaking of the Lord. People flocked on all sides, far and near,
friars, priests, men of the world, maids, wives, widows, all came one
after another. The Lord supplied me with what was pertinent and
satisfactory to them all, after a wonderful manner, without any share
of my study or meditation therein. Nothing was hid from me of their
interior state, and of what passed within them. Here, O my God, Thou
madest an infinite number of conquests known to Thyself only. They were
instantly furnished with a wonderful facility of prayer. God conferred
on them His grace plentifully, and wrought marvelous changes in them.
The most advanced of these souls found, when with me, in silence, a
grace communicated to them which they could neither comprehend, nor
cease to admire. The others found an unction in my words, and that they
operated in them what I said. Friars of different orders, and priests
of merit, came to see me, to whom our Lord granted very great favors,
as indeed He did to all, without exception, who came in sincerity.

One thing was surprising; I had not a syllable to say to such as came
only to watch my words, and to criticize them. Even when I thought to
try to speak to them, I felt that I could not, and that God would not
have me do it. Some of them in return said, "The people are fools to go
to see that lady. She cannot speak." Others of them treated me as if I
were only a stupid simpleton. After they left me there came one and
said, "I could not get hither soon enough to apprize you not to speak
to those persons; they come from such and such, to try what they can
catch from you to your disadvantage." I answered them, "Our Lord has
prevented your charity; for I was not able to say one word to them."

I felt that what I spoke flowed from the fountain, and that I was only
the instrument of Him who made me speak. Amid this general applause,
our Lord made me comprehend what the apostolic state was, with which He
had