t gift of prayer and His continual presence, with a faculty and
readiness for everything. A domestic also, who had troubled her for
twenty-two years past, was delivered from her troubles. That produced a
close tie of friendship between the prioress and me, as the wonderful
change and the peace of this sister surprised her, she having so often
seen her in her terrible sorrow. I also contracted other such ties in
this monastery, where there are souls under the Lord's special regard,
whom He drew to Himself by the means He had been pleased to make
choice.

I was specially moved to read the Holy Scriptures. When I began I was
impelled to write the passage, and instantly its explication was given
me, which I also wrote, going on with inconceivable expedition, light
being poured in upon me in such a manner, that I found I had in myself
latent treasures of wisdom and knowledge which I had not yet known of.
Before I wrote I knew not what I was going to write. And after I had
written, I remembered nothing of what I had penned; nor could I make
use of any part of it for the help of souls. The Lord gave me, at the
time I spoke to them (without any study or reflection of mine) all that
was necessary for them. Thus the Lord made me go on with an explanation
of the holy internal sense of the Scriptures. I had no other book but
the Bible, nor ever made use of any but that, and without even seeking
for any. When, in writing on the Old Testament, I made use of passages
of the New, to support what I had said, it was without seeking them,
they were given me along with the explication; and in writing on the
New Testament, therein making use of passages of the Old, they were
given me in like manner without my seeking anything. I had scarce any
time for writing but in the night, allowing only one or two hours to
sleep. The Lord made me write with so much purity, that I was obliged
to leave off or begin again, as He was pleased to order. When I wrote
by day, often suddenly interrupted, I left the word unfinished, and He
afterward gave me what He pleased. If I gave way to reflection I was
punished for it, and could not proceed. Yet sometimes I was not duly
attentive to the divine Spirit, thinking I did well to continue when I
had time, even without feeling His immediate impulse or enlightning
influence, from whence it is easy to see some places clear and
consistent, and others which have neither taste nor unction; such is
the difference of the