er faithful friend and constant companion, wrote
her biography and gives us different instances of remarkable cures
performed by her. For example, he tells us that Father Matthew of
Cenni, the director of the Hospital of la Misericordia, was stricken
when the plague was raging in Siena in 1373, and of his marvellous
cure.

Perhaps we had better allow him to tell of Catharine's power in his
own words:

"One day on entering, I saw some of the brothers carrying Father
Matthew like a corpse from the chapel to his room; his face was
livid, and his strength was so far gone that he could not answer me
when I spoke to him. 'Last night,' the brothers said, 'about seven
o'clock, while ministering to a dying person, he perceived himself
stricken, and fell at once into extreme weakness.' I helped to put
him on his bed; ... he spoke afterwards, and said that he felt as if
his head was separated into four parts. I sent for Dr. Senso, his
physician; Dr. Senso declared to me that my friend had the plague,
and that every symptom announced the approach of death. 'I fear,'
he said, 'that the House of Mercy (Misericordia) is about to be
deprived of its good director.' I asked if medical art could not
save him. 'We shall see,' replied Senso, 'but I have only a very
faint hope; his blood is too much poisoned.' I withdrew, praying God
to save the life of this good man. Catharine, however, had heard of
the illness of Father Matthew, whom she loved sincerely, and she
lost no time in repairing to him. The moment she entered the room,
she cried, with a cheerful voice, 'Get up, Father Matthew, get up!
This is not a time to be lying idly in bed.' Father Matthew roused
himself, sat up on his bed, and finally stood on his feet. Catharine
retired; and the moment she was leaving the house, I entered it, and
ignorant of what had happened, and believing my friend to be still
at the point of death, my grief urged me to say, 'Will you allow a
person so dear to us, and so useful to others, to die?' She appeared
annoyed at my words, and replied, 'In what terms do you address me?
Am I like God, to deliver a man from death?' But I, beside myself
with sorrow, pleaded, 'Speak in that way to others if you will, but
not to me; for I know your secrets; and I know you obtain from God
whatever you ask in faith.' Then Catharine bowed her head, and
smiled just a little; after a few minutes she lifted up her