steenpoort 2

In the 18th century...

in the time when there was no bridge over the trench [loopgraaf]... 

when it wasn't necessary to defend the city from plague or Ottomans...

in the Stone Gate lived a pious widow, Mrs. Katarina Modlar.

She married young, to a much older city judge Ivan, who died at the age of 55, when a stone fell of the tower, which after his tragic death was finally repaired after years of putting the task at the bottom of the to-do list. The poor judge's soul went to heaven. At least, that was what his widow believed. In Gradec, many knew about the judge's darker side before the marriage to a younger woman!

 

This beautiful and virtuous woman... 

influenced the judge in a good way and in their short life together, she even managed to make him a better man, even though she never truly loved that marriage and her husband. If it wasn't for her father's debt to judge Ivan, she would probably end up in a convent to serve Christ, but she respected her father's will and managed to be a good wife. 

Her piety was consistent. 

And her benevolence was great and famous.

-

Instead of children... 

the judge left her a small chest full of gold... 

so she could live comfortably in her own three rooms above the Stone Gate. 

She even made a chapel out of one room. 

Religious women visited her... 

ate cake and praised her. 

To two of her closest friends... 

she confided a secret behind the beautiful painting that hang on the wall of her chapel: 

who in front of the painting truly prayed to the Virgin Mary, 

his or her wish would be fulfilled. 

And Katarina Moldar even proved so! 

Once she prayed for her neighbour's Magdic sick son and the little fella's fever disappeared. Second time, she prayed for Eva Asparger who was possessed, and there she was, walking down the street, calm and lucid.

[bron]