k, she
sat up at night to learn to read and write, which the want of an
instructor made a great fatigue to her. One day being in great anxiety
about her learning, the Mother of God, to whom she had always
recommended herself, in a comfortable vision bade her banish that
anxiety; for it was enough if she knew three letters: The first, purity
of the affections, by placing her whole heart on God alone, loving no
creature, but in him and for him; the second, never to murmur, or be
impatient at the sins, or any behavior of others, but to bear them with
interior peace and patience, and humbly to pray for them; the third, to
set apart some time every day to meditate on the passion of Christ.
After three years' preparation, she was admitted to the religious habit
in St. Martha's. Her life was entirely uniform, perfect, and fervent in
every action, no other than a living copy of her rule, which consisted
in the practice of evangelical perfection reduced to certain holy
exercises. Every moment of her life she studied to accomplish it to the
least tittle, and was no less exact in obeying the order or direction of
any superior's will. When she could not obtain leave to watch in the
church so long as she desired, by readily complying, she deserved to
hear from Christ, that obedience was a sacrifice the most dear to him,
who, to obey his Father's will, came down from heaven, _becoming
obedient even unto death_.[2]

She lay three years under a lingering illness, all which time she would
never be exempted from any duty of the house, or part of her work, or
make use of the least indulgence, though she had leave; her answer
always was, "I must work while I can, while I have time." It was her
delight to help and serve every one. She always sought with admirable
humility the last place, and the greatest drudgery. It was her desire to
live always on bread and water. Her silence was a sign of her
recollection and continual prayer, in which her gift of abundant and
almost continual tears was most wonderful. She nourished them by
constant meditation on her own miseries, on the love of God, the joys of
heaven, and the sacred passion of Christ. She always spoke of her own
sinful life, as she called it, though it was most innocent, with the
most feeling sentiments of compunction. She was favored by God with many
extraordinary visits and {137} comforts. By moving exhortations to
virtue, she softened and converted several obdurate sinners. She died