f very great simplicity, who earned her livelihood by her
labor, and was inwardly favored of the Lord, came all sorrowful to me,
and said, "Oh my mother, what strange things have I seen!" I asked what
they were, "Alas" said she, "I have seen you like a lamb in the midst
of a vast troop of furious wolves. I have seen a frightful multitude of
people of all ranks and robes, of all ages, sexes and conditions,
priests, friars, married men, maids and wives, with pikes, halberts and
drawn swords, all eager for your instant destruction. You let them
alone without stirring, or being surprised and without offering any way
to defend yourself. I looked on all sides to see whether anyone would
come to assist and defend you; but I saw not one."

Some days after, those, who through envy were raising private batteries
against me, broke forth. Libels began to spread. Envious people wrote
against me, without knowing me. They said that I was a sorceress, that
it was by a magic power I attracted souls, that everything in me was
diabolical; that if I did charities, it was because I coined, and put
off false money, with many other gross accusations, equally false,
groundless and absurd.

As the tempest increased every day, some of my friends advised me to
withdraw, but before I mention my leaving Grenoble, I must say
something farther of my state while here.

It seemed to me that all our Lord made me do for souls, would be in
union with Jesus Christ. In this divine union my words, had wonderful
effect, even the formation of Jesus Christ in the souls of others. I
was in no wise able of myself to say the things I said. He who
conducted me made me say what He pleased, and as long as He pleased. To
some I was not permitted to speak a word; and to others there flowed
forth as it were a deluge of grace, and yet this pure love admitted not
of any superfluity, or a means of empty amusement. When questions were
asked, to which an answer were useless, it was not given me. It was the
same in regard to such as our Lord was pleased to conduct through death
to themselves, and who came to seek for human consolation. I had
nothing for them but what was purely necessary, and could proceed no
farther. I could at least only speak of indifferent things, in such
liberty as God allows, in order to suit everyone, and not to be
unsociable or disagreeable to any; but for His own word, He Himself is
the dispenser of it. Oh, if preachers were duly careful to speak o