alone in prayer, not far from the hermitage. In the
morning he had a vision. In the rays of the rising sun, which after the
chill of night came to revive his body, he suddenly perceived a strange
form.

A seraph, with outspread wings, flew toward him from the edge of the
horizon, and bathed his soul in raptures unutterable. In the centre of
the vision appeared a cross, and the seraph was nailed upon it. When
the vision disappeared, he felt sharp sufferings mingling with the
ecstasy of the first moments. Stirred to the very depths of his being,
he was anxiously seeking the meaning of it all, when he perceived upon
his body the stigmata of the Crucified.[18]

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The passes that give access to the Casentino have all about
one thousand metres of altitude. Until the most recent years
there was no road properly so called.

[2] In France Mount Aiguille, one of the seven wonders of
Dauphiny, presents the same aspect and the same geological
formation. St. Odile also recalls the Verna, but is very much
smaller.

[3] The summit has an altitude of 1269 metres. In Italian they
call it the _Verna_, in Latin _Alvernus_. The etymology, which
has tested the acuteness of the learned, appears to be very
simple; the verb _vernare_, used by Dante, signifies make cold,
freeze.

[4] Name of the highest point on the plateau. Hardly
three-quarters of an hour from the monastery, and not two hours
and a half, as these worthy anchorites believed. This is said
for the benefit of tourists ... and pilgrims.

[5] The forest has been preserved as a relic. Alexander IV.
fulminated excommunication against whomever should cut down the
firs of Verna. As to the birds, it is enough to pass a day at
the monastery to be amazed at their number and variety. M. C.
Beni has begun at Stia (in Casentino) an ornithological
collection which already includes more than five hundred and
fifty varieties.

[6] 1 Cel., 91; Bon., 188; _Fior. i., consid._

[7] _Fior. i., consid.;_ _Conform._, 176b, 1.

[8] Cel., 2, 15; Bon., 100. _Fior. i., consid._

[9] Bon., 118. _Fior. i., consid._

[10] 2 Cel., 100.

[11] _Fior. ii., consid._

[12] The ruins of the castle of Chiusi are three quarters of an
hour from Verna.

[13] _Fior. iv. and v. consid._ These two considerations appear