candida -4

All this, she told Father Paul.

Years later, she remembered that wonderful day:

"A few years after my profession, I got to know the Venerable Paul of the Cross, on the occasion when he came to give the spiritual exercises to the religious of the convent of St. Lucy. 

After Paul gave the retreat, especially the first one, one could see the great reform of life in the convent.  All the religious began to treat one another with greater charity, to perform more frequent acts of humility, to stay away from the parlor-window, and to observe greater silence."  

She added:

"The first time the Servant of God came to give the spiritual exercises at the convent of St. Lucy, he was wearing a very poor rough tunic, with a mantle, but barefoot and without a hat or berretino [pet]. Just to see him, moved one to compassion and devotion." 

From that date onward...

Mother Mary Crucified - as she was now called - began a frequent and long correspondence with Father Paul.  Only 32 letters have been preserved and recently published in an English translation.  Most have unfortunately been lost.  Mother M. Crucified, testified that she even burned some lest others read about God's gifts to her.


~bron~