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U /cc '•The Hebrew word for tnist signifies to twine round, to ding to ; it is tlie word that is used to cxpiiSf, the action of those plants that put out tendrils and support themselves on something firm and strong. . . . May we both cling fast to Christ, let the tendrils of our hearts twine round Ilim, and He will hold us up, for we cannot sujiport our- selves." — Extract ficr.i Letter, Ni 3sn Oi aaiomisBb \j /consecrated women / to; il is put out • • • •ts twine ort our- KY IMARY PRYOR HACK. . ) utiwr ,)J ' Chiiitian H\>i>nin/w('. TORONTO : S. R. BRIGGS, TORONTO WILLARD TRACT DEPOSITORY AND lilBLE DEPOT, Corner of Yonge ani> Tkmperance Street-s. //0'6 fi- iler has not been to show forth one cle:3'rec of holiness after another in an ascend- ing scale i but rather to demonstrate that in a variety of characters, and under very varied circumstances, the results of true consecration arc essentially the same. Much new teaching might be drawn from other lives, while to make the circle of experience in any degree complete would be manifestly impossible. And this incompleteness is increased by the fact that many women's lives, which might present most helpful phases of experience, leave no record behind. After alluding to the more prominent lives of Christian women, an American divine thus writes of those who work unseen beyond their own little circles: "And many other modest, obscure, hidden ones, whose biographies the world will never sec in i)rint, will stand among the crowned ones in glory," adding "they did what they could." And what more appreciative words can be written of a woman's devotion to her Lord, than these words used by the Saviour Himself concerning the woman who brought her gift of fragrant oint- ment to anoint His head, causing Him to exclaim, «'Siie hath done what she could." Her offering could not be hidden from Him who saw not only the outward gift, but the inward attitude of the heart which prompted it, which could alone make it of value in His sight "to whom ^//hearts are open, all desires known." It is surely for the encouragement of all women that, " throughout the whole world," the imple outcome of this woman's love to her Lord has, by His command, been "spoken of for a memorial of her." CIHrTE I. 11. III. IV. VI. VII. VIII. Ni 3sn 01 a3iomis3a u ii CONTENTS. -•♦■ INTRODUCTION CII\PTKR I. CATIIAKINF. OFSIEXA Praying and xvaUhhig, II. SUSANNA WF.SLF.Y AND AMELIA SIEVEKIXG. ''Ahi'oys tthoundin^ in the work of the loui:' FAQI I III. FKAU TRUDEL Etidmin^ as seeing Him who is invisible. IV. CHARLOTTE ELIZABETIT TONNA. *' Rejoicing' in hcpe.'" V. MARGARET WILSON «' Throughly furnished unto all gojd ivorh." VI. MATILDA COUNTESS VON DER RECKE VOL- MERSTEIN ''Fervent in spirit, sening th-: Lord.'* 41 5S 73 "S • • VII. CILRLSTLNE ALSOP . *' A suecourer of many. " VIII. SARALL A N AND ELLZABET/I IV- ■-' M::et for the Masttr's use:' 169 18S '97 • • • Vlll Contents. CHAPTER IX. CHRISTIAN EDDY AND LOUISE SCIIEPLER /7^ " Poor, yd viaJdng many rich:' X. FIDELIA FISKE Watching for souls. XL ADELAIDE L. NEIVTON ''Holy in all manner oj conversation:' Xri. LENA IIUBER ''Kept ly the forcer of Cody " Eor-etling the things that are behind."^ XV. MARIE " Con see rated vnlo the lord:' 237 . 267 .291 Xni. lyiLIIELnilNA, viscountess GLENORCIIY , 299 ''Doing sen'iee as unto the Lord:' XIV. ISABELLA GRAHAM ... 313 335 I Ni 3sn 01 a3iomis3d u Th a ter child] amon of th uncai souls ! 1 i TAG* EK . 217 1 INTRODUCTION. 237 267 f 291 299 Z^i 335 IN the record of our Lord's life on earth there are few more exquisitely touching words than those uttered by II im v.hen, not willing that two or three only should appropriate His family affections, He said, " Whosoever shall do the wil\ of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother and sister and mother." It is witli the tender relationships of sister and mother borne to Him by every consecrated woman the world over, that we have to concern ourselves. In that day in which the secrets of all hearts shall be laid bare, will not many a faithful woman ask of Him with unfeigned surprise, " When did I act the part of sister or mother to Thee ? " and will He not reply, " Inas- much as thou wast a sister or a mother to any for My sake, thou wast ' My sister and mother ' " ? We must not limit this blessed bond of relationship. The need of men and women and children, to have sisters and mothers to care for them, is infinite. The waifs and strays of society, who never felt the touch of a tender loving hand, are not more needy than some of the children reared in the gay wodd, who are only cared for among a thousand other beautiful things, as feeding the pride of their parents. The bodies of the former are ill kept and uncared for, but what shall we say of the starved hearts and souls of the latter? Too often the most cultivated teachers B 2 Consecrated Women. are tliemsclvcs unsatisfied in heart and soul, and arc not careful to keep their chiUing doubts and speculations out of their teaching. It is a cause of deepest regret that there is so ^ften **a divorce between high intellectual culture and r. ' ious faith." But there are women possessing large and cuitivated intellectual powers, and who arc at the same time deeply spiritual. Some of these, in comparative seclusion, are doing a great work in training sons and daughters to be worthy citizens of this world, " having the promise also of that which is to come." These are showing forth to husbands and sons the glory and beauty of a complete and consecrated woman- hood. Others are found, in the ranks of the workers in the foreign and home mission fields, training the minds and souls and bodies of the heathen at home and abroad, bringing to bear upon untutored natures that subtle influence which, when sanctified, affects even the roughest of mankind. Have these noble women forgotten that another and more difficult mission is waiting for the elevated and delicate labour which they only can bestow ? What grander use for their consecrated talents and acquirements than to be placed out to usury among their young countrywomen of the higher and middle classes, reach- ing their souls through their intellects. Thus the talents would be multiplied a thousand fold in a race of women prepared to be not only cultured, but consecrated daughters and sisters and wives and mothers and workers in many fields. In this work the teachers must be true women, with the tender feelings of a woman in full force. Their intellectual powers and acquirements must not make them less able to sit by a sick bed, or to bind up a broken heart, or to be referred to for help in all things small and great by those who look up to them. In the following pnges we have grouped together a number Ni 3sn 01 aaiomisaa u Inirociuction, not careful Lit of their is so 'ften li ri ■ ious 1 cultivated ime deeply are doing be worthy that which Is and sons ed woman- kers in the 1 and souls bringing to liich, when [ave these lit mission they only ted talents nong their ses, reach - snts would jDrepared md sisters ilds. In the tender al powers :o sit by a rred to for ook up to a number of consecrated women. Among them are some who, with large mental and spiritual gifts, were yet fully competent to all the simplest duties of a woman's life. There are others, with fewer opportunities or powers for intellectual advancement, who were equally honourable and devoted in the sphere which they were called to fill. We believe that all of them (whether highly or fairly educated, or with almost no mental cultivation) show forth the refining, elevating power of Divine grace not only on heart and soul, but on the intellect also. For the consecrated woman who does her woman's work in close com- munion with the Lord Jesus, and with a single eye to God's guidance and glory, develops in heart and soul and mind. She is sister or mother or daughter to all within her reach ; and with her heart all broken up with tenderness, and with that quick intuition which God has given her, energized and sanctified by her faith, she sees the need of each and can often devise a remedy ; with her hands she brings help and soothing, or out of her storehouse of experience gems of comfort and counsel. Her life is penetrated by her humbleness and gentleness, and by her own nobility. To her is the description of the wise king applicable: *• Strength and honour are her clothing. . . She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Such women are found in all ranks of society and in all spheres, and their "price is far above rubies." There is one lesson which we read in most of tliese life stories, that to the soul that seeks after God, and after Mim only, a way is made to carry out her convictions of duty, however strange and impracticable they may have appeared at first sight. In many cases the " mountains are made a way," hard things are made easy, and crooked things straight. We may also believe that all of these devoted women were dis 4 Consecrated IVotncn. tinctly prepared for a special calling. And while with some the waiting for its unfolding was long, we are led to sec the necessity for the delay in order that " patience might have her perfect work " in moulding the character for the life mission. It is interesting to mark in many of these lives how the duties and burdens incident to the daily life of a woman were made subservient to the interests of the special mission. Indeed these homely duties may often have been helpful in preventing that overstrain of mind which sometimes overtakes tliose whose attention is concentrated upon one object, especially when that object is intellectual or spiritual work. And no doubt the contact with men and things and with all kinds of perplexities, entailed by their domestic and family cares, by keeping up a fresh sympathy with the toils and joys of every day living were most propitious to the work itself. To some the domestic duties were the mission, and through them heart and soul and mind were disciplined and purified, until the majesty of a holy life was seen and read of all men. From some of these lives we seem to hear the eclio of the words of one who herself had passed through pain and bereavement, and also through the fires of persecution : ♦* Ah, if you knew what peace there is in an accepted sorrow ! " In the lives before us we find woman, whatever the posi- tion in which she is placed, showing lorth those powers and graces peculiar to her. In the Countess von der Recke and Margaret Wilson we see the wife as the true help- meet to her husband, making no exacting demands upon his time and attention. In each case true love is the foundation of the union ; the two are ** no more tv/ain," and the interests of the one are the interests of the other, and the wife feels it to be her highest privilege to make her husband's path of service as easy as possible, however great the sacrifice to her Ni 3sn 01 a3ioiyiS3a u Ic with some ?d to sec the ght luive her life mission. i\v the duties 1 were made on. Indeed ti preventing rtakcs those :t, especially ■k. And no all kinds of ily cares, by )ys of every To some them heart :d, until the nen. From the words of ereavement, if you knew er the posi- powers and der Recke true help- Is upon his foundation he interests c wife feels d's path of iiice to her Introdtiction, 5 own feelings. And, in times of outward separation, is it not those v,-ho aie united in Christ who can bear the trial most bravely, because of that blessed fellowship of spirit over which time and absence have no influence save that of deepening it? One effect of this indescribably tender yet sanctified union ought to be a quickening of the heart in deeper love to all around. It was thus with Margaret Wilson. Not only did her love to her own family suffer no diminution when she entered into new ties, but the more her heart's tender love intensified towards husband and children and adopted children, the more fully did it flow back into the old home with ever deepening current. Her kindred therefore could never have the chillinf^ sense of losing one upon whom they had poured out a life- long affection. In Frau Triidel we see the grace of God magnified in enabling a woman to be a true and noble wife to one who gives her back no hel^), no love, no encouragement to cheer her on her way. In the prayerful training of her own children probably none of the devoted mothers here pourtrayed surpasses Susanna Wesley ; the results of her labour eternity will alone unfold. In those who have not children of their own, we see the mother's heart asserting itself, as in all truly consecrated women it must do. This is exemplified to an almost unlimited extent in Fidelia Fiske, and Christian Eddy, and Catharine of Siena. But why need we particularize where all are pour- ing out the sympathies of their hearts upon sinning or sorrow- ing ones ? If there is one lesson more than another that we read in these life stories, it is that holy living cannot be maintained without much prayer and communion. A young man in pro- fessional life, who devoted his evening hours to work in the I 6 Consecrated Women, lowest part of London, used daily to rescue from sleep two or three of the early morning hours for prayer and communion and study of the Scriptures. " He often recommended the practice to others, enforcing it by the remark of Newton, that * 'f the sack be filled at once with wheat there will be no room for chalT,' saying, 'I fill my sack as early and as full as I can at the footstool of the Lord, or the devil would get in a bushel of chaff before breakfast.' " ]>ut all cannot procure the hour alone with Jesus. In lives that are full of toil early and late, slated times for communion with God are often impossible. However, we see, as in the experience of Frau Triidcl, that unceasing watchfulness and prayer can fill up the hours of heaviest toil and care. God's power of adapting His resources to peculiar circumstances is as much seen in the spiritual as in the natural world : '" Abiding in His presence, and walking in the light, And seeking to do always what is pleasing in His sight, We look to Him to keep us all glorious within." May the distinct lesson of each individual life shown forth in these pages be applied by the Holy Spirit to the hearts and minds of those who may read its story and require its mes- sage. To whatever of holy living these women attained, other Christian women may also attain ; for the Divine words cover the deepest as well as the simplest need : "My grace is sufficient for thce;^ and ''My strength is made/.r/r/ in weak- ncss." Ni 3sn 01 a3iomiS3y lj lecp two or :oramunion lended the ewton, that will be no as full as I Jlcl get in a In lives :ommunion I as in the ilncss and re. God's istanccs is own forth licarts and : its mcs- attained, ine words y grace is ^ in weak- PRAYTNG AKD WATCHING, CATHARINE OF SIENA. My hark is u>aftcd to the strand By breath Divine, And on the helm there rests a hand Other than mine. One 7vho has knoivn in storms to sail I have on board ; AbOi e tJie raving of the gale I hear my Lord. He holds me tvhen the billows smite: I shall not fall ; If short 'tis sharp, if long 'tis light ; He tempers all. Dean Alforo. u The followinfj vivid description of temptation and victory over it is written by one " whose praise is in all the churches." She- had been for many years a Christian, but had only just learned that she might ask for and expect always deliverance /// the /tour of temptation. The temptation referred to came suddenly. " The pain was keen and stinging, and the temptation tremendous to take up the old weapon, and write words which would sting in return by their very truth (1 had to contest every inch with the tempter) ; then, to give up that, but send a text which would bite just as severely ; then, to tell a friend, who would be certain to take up the cudgels without my asking, if he only knew of the circum- stance ; then, to be passive, but not to prevent one who was very indignant from 'speaking his mind' ; then, to do all that was right outside, but to allow myself an unspoken little hope that it would be 'avenged ' somehow, by God if not by man ! But Christ stood by mc, and hcli)ed me over each in succession, till at last I felt Ik- had gained a complete victory for me, and every single bit of vexa- tion was taken away, every shade of ill feeling— so'uttcrly, I can- not explain how utterly ! Then, for about twenty minutes, it was just as if, having extracted the sting, He was Himself pouring in oil and wine. Such a flow of passages of His sweet word came rushing into my mind, bearing upon every point of the little trial and the recent temptation. If I had tried all day I could not have made such a selection for myself. I was intensely happy, for it was, I have no doubt, permitted that He might 'test my gold'/;/ ;//t- in another way. I had proved how He could sustain me in [intense] pain; and nov/ He proved how Pic could triumph for me over any temptation. I say ' any,' because I do not recollect ever having been quite so suddenly and sharply stung and tempted before ; and I had never previously felt such miraculous power upon me in a hand-to-hand battle with Satan."- -/vvw/ '■'■ Such a lUessingi' bv J. T. IVrenford, Vicar of St. Paul's, Newport. Ni 3sn 01 a3iomis3a u .1 victory over urchcs." She y just learncil ;c in the hour clcnly. •* The remcndous to voiild sting in inch with the ich would bite certain to take of the circum- who was very that was riyht that it would It Christ stood last I felt Ile Jc bit of vcxa- ultcrly, I can- linutes, it was elf pouring in :t word came the little trial ould not have r happy, for it my gold 'fot ustain me in iuniph for me recollect ever and tempted culous power ■out ^^Siuii a ivport. I. CATHARINE OF SIENA. ^ Born 1347. Died 1380. WE accept instruction from the study of lives which have shown forth Goil's glory in connection wiiii churches which wc believe to be to a large extent mistaken. Hut we must not allow the good we obtain from the contemplation of such lives to blind us to the errors, in spite of which they were so worthy of imitation. Nor must wc fail to discern how far they were lifted above the errors of their education, and keiit within the borders of such churches, in order that they mi.^ht act as examples to those who would hold all Icachinr^ from outside to be heretical. From such a standpoint we approach the life of Catharine of Siena. Over the ebb and flow of successive waves of thought and action, in churches and individuals, during five hundred years, comes to us the twofold message of her life and teaching : " The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin," and " I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." It was at a stormy time, when social and political strife held sway in Italy, and when morality and religion were at a very low ebb, that Catharine of Siena was born in 1347. Her parents, the wool-dyer Giacomo Bcnincasa and his wife Lapa, were highly virtuous citizens of the independent city of Siena. So careful was Giacomo of his words, so thoughtful of the reputation of others, that he would say to his wife of an enemy who had calumniated him : " Let him alone, dear, let him * This sketch is compiled from "Catharine of Siena," a biography by Josephine E. Butler. By permission of the author. 10 Consecrated U^omcn, alone : Cod will show him his error and be our defonco, and God will bless you." And when he saw any of his 'larL'e household vexed he would gently say: "Now, .^jw, do not say anything which is not just or kind, and God w.ll give you Ills blessing." And so had the spirit, which pervaded the family life, entered into the children that when the daughter lionaventura married she was unhappy till all unsavoury con- vcrsation had been banished from her new home and the circle which gathered there. In the fourteenth century the city of Siena was a warlike republic, containing two hundred thousand inhabitants The citizens arc still proud of their city, thougli it has diminished in size and now numbers only nine gates instead of thirty-nine as in Catharine's time. These gates led out into the sur- rounding country, for there were no suburbs, so that the line of demarcation between the city and the country was well dehned. The valleys round the city are wooded, and there are pleasant lanes and olive gardens, and meadows with sliecp feeding. It was, no doubt, some of these lanes that Catharine's tiny feet traversed when in her young days she sought for the desert, her ideal of a place in which the soul might find God As night approached the little saint returned as fast as she could to the shelter of her father's house, rightly thinking that the family at home would be anxious about her. The home of Catharine was in the Contrada D'Oca (tho poor quarter) of the city. This is situated in a little valley l>ing between the ancient city and a low hill to the west on which stands the great church of St. Dominic. Here is still standing the house in which she was born, also her father's workshop and the chapel erected to her memory, over the door of which is inscribed, ''Sposce Christi Katharinaj domus." At the age of twelve it was considered time to select a husband for Catharine, but the girl resisted the appeals of her family to enter the married state. After long waiting and much i)ersuasion, and some persecution from thcT vnimacr members of her tamily, her father at last assured 'himsdf Ni 3sn 01 a^iomisay u Catharine of Siena. IX efonco, and f his large 3\v, do not il give you rvadcd tlie ic daughter ivoury con- le and tlic I a warhke ants. The ninishcd in thirty-nine the sur- al the line '• was well and there with sheep Catharine's jht for the find God. fast as she nking that le home of luarter) of tween the stands the the house p and the which is ) select a ippeals of ig waiting e younger 1 himself that the idea was no romantic thought which would pass ;uvay, but indeed u call from God. Giacomo showed his wisdom in thus waiting, for the desire after tuch a life woulil very naturally take possession of the mind of a girl inaucnccd by the false teaching that the highest spiritual attainments can only be reached by those who t/ius devote tliemsclvcs to God. Her biographer says that had Catharine married, and become like Lapa the mother of a numerous family, "she might have been the recipient and dispenser abundantly of spiritual life to all around her ; but she would not have done the work which Catharine of Siena did. Her whole soul, her whole time, the whole strength of her affections Would not have been reserved to be lavished \.\\)o\\ the great funily for whom she elected to live— humanity." This is true as regards her time, and it is evident that Catherine's path was the right one for her. But we must not forget that a marriage combining oneness of heart and soul and mind and life in the service of God and man is a glorious spectacle ; and were marriages, between men and women entirely given up to Christ, largely multiplied, the church would receive a rich blessing in consequence. Many such unions in different ages of the church have plainly testified that it is possible to give the deepest tenderest affections to one, while, at the same time, the heart is enlarged in the love of Christ to embrace souls the world over. Happily Catharine did not go into a convent, as all maidens who had a vocation were supposed to do. It was in her father's house that she sought the Lord, and at this time she cried to Him continually " to lead her in His paths." To wear the mantle of the third order of St. Dominic, and become a preacher, was the craving of her soul. On one occasion her fatiicr entered her chamber when she was in prayer, and the expression of her face so struck him that he could oppose her no longer. Another event hastened the hour when Catharine was to receive formal permission to servo God according to her conscience. One night she dreamed that i^ Consccrafcii IVomcn, St. Dominic came to her and said: " Daugiitcr, b: of good cheer, fear no hindrance, for the day is coming in which you ihall be clothed in the mantle you so much desire." She awoke with new strength and joy. Calling together her parents and brothers and asters, she gave them her reasons for the course she had pursued, begging them no longer to arrange- any earthly sphere for her, for that it would be easier "'to dissolve a rock," than to alter her resolution. She ended her appeal with these very decided words: "If you wish me to remain as a servant in your house I will cheerfully fulfil all your will to the best of my power ; but if ycu should be so displea<:ed with me as to make you rlcwre me to leave you, know that I shall remain unmovahle in my resolve. He who has united my soul to His has all the riches of heaven and earth, anrl He can provide for and protect me." Amid the sobs and tears of all pre.cnt her father at last spoke : " God preserve us, dearest child, from any longer opposing the resolu- tion which He has inspired ; experience proves to\is that you have not been actuated by caprice but by a movement of Divine grace. Fulfil without hindrance the vow you have taken ; do all that the Holy S^iirit commands you ; henceforth your time shall be at your own disposal ; only pray for us that we may become worthy of Him who has called you at so tender an age." Then to his wife and chihlren he said, " J et no one hereafter contradict my dear child, or seek to turn her from her holy resolution." Catiiarinc was now allowed a little chamber to herself, and there for three years with only a board for her bed and with very scanty meals did this young girl wrestle in prayer with God that she might know Christ and "the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, and be made conformable to His death." Lapa was pained to see her child lying only upon a hard board, arr] soaietimes earned her to her own softer bed ; but Catharine woMi-' -loon slip a.;ay to the scene of licr conflicts, her consecratio!., and her most sweet communings wilh her Lord. With all her austerities it is refreshing to find that S Ni 3sn oi aaioiyisaa u Catharine of Siena, »3 p, b; of good in which you desire." She together her ler reasons for ^cr to arrange e easier " to lie ended her u wish me to fully fulfil all should be so to leave you, r'e. He who f heaven and ," Amid the poke : " God ng the resolu- D us til at you iiovement of )w you iiavc ; henceforth ly for us that d you at so le said, " J ct : to turn her owed a little only a board is young girl "f Christ and ship of His ipon a hard er bed ; but lier conflicts, igs with her to find that I Catharine "cherished cleanliness and neatness as a sign of interior purity." " She often changed her woollen garments, .aid allowed n«; nn..»s of asceticism to appear in her person." !-lie set herself the task of living with the smallest pos- sible amount of sleep, in order that she might devote more time to prayer. Her struggl s to overcome the desire for sleep were severe ; but prayer was her life, and it was a joy to her to make an effort to enlarge this privilege. During the hour of matins, while the brothers and sisters of St. Dominic were praying, Catharine slept, and when they returned to the duties of the day she recommenced her pleadings with H- aven. She loved to think that in this way unceasing 'nyer was ascending from the Contrada D'Oca. The annals of the one, holy, catholic chu rch ai -• full of histories of preparation for service and of acts o onsecration, similar in results, yet diversified according to th urroundings and the age in which the ordeal had to bo pas»cU th-ough. Moses spent the third i art of his entire lifetime in f • desert. David was for years, .ke his great Antitype, (. rejected of men. To c> me to later times, we se> trained by early obedien e for spncial service. > quet (afterwards Mrs. Fk cher) had to retire from h house into a lodging, that she might serve God acct ding to her conscience; and the tonsccration, thus publicly vowed, was manifestly owned and blessed of God during si vcars of continuous service. H \rriet Jukes, a young gi, i the middle walks of life, timid v yet bravely dv'^clined 1. :■ first invitation to a ball, and latei refused marriage with one who was dearer than life, because she loved her Lord better , an any earthly joy. Her rewarc was great, even here; and .lie and the husband whom God j. ive her left behind an example of eminent holiness. The third order of St. Do inic, into which Catharine so ardently desired to be admittc , was one v/hich surely every ti'ulv consecr.itf^'^. Christian cntt .-; in a, SDiritual sense. It was instituted to enlist laymen to enier on a service in which they cd and hrislians Bosan- - father's H Consecrated Women, could innuencc many who would be prejudiced against tlid sacerdotal orders. Tiiough the vows were for laymen only, to our ideas they cover the whole ground, and are applicable to those called to preach by word and doctrine equally with those who preach by life and conversation. The members ol this order were sworn " to sacrifice,'" if necessary, their worldly goods and their lives in the cause of their Lord; and their wives engaged never to hinder, but to assist their husbands as much as possible in the work. The want in the church and in the world, to meet which these men and women were enrolled, remains the same as then. It must be supplied by those who mingle, or at some time have mingled, fully in the every day concerns of life. Very few religious teachers, who have never been in common daily life used to all kinds of men, have versatility enough to meet all the needs of every day men and women. Those°who, out of busy lives, give a few hours weekly to mission work of whatever kind, bring to bear upon those among whom they labour a very fresh and intelligent sympathy. Others, who are engaged continuously in visiting the sinful, the sorrowful, and the sick, often become worn and depressed. All honour to those who thus devote themselves entirely to this work ; but if all Christians took their share these might have the' rest which is their right, the rest of change of work. We have seen workers so jaded that, while their hearts have been as full of love to the Lord as ever, they have dreaded to make their accustomed calls, body and mind being unable to bear the strain any longer. Then again we have heard words like these : " Oh that I had time to earn my living and to visit the people as well, then I should not feel that they thought I was working for pay ! " The women at Siena who had hitherto entered the militia of St. Dominic were widows of very mature age, or wives con- secrated to work with their husbands. Having no cloister, each sister was expected to rule her life vci her ov- ' '' This being so, the elders among the sisters ilemurred at the 1 Ni 3sn 01 a3i'jiMib*dd LJ Catharine of Siena. 15 ed against th(i laymen only, are applicable i equally with e members ot ', their worldly )rd; and their r husbands as :o meet which 5 the same as le, or at some ncerns of life. Ml in common lity enough to Those wlio, isslon work of ig whom they Others, who the sorrowful, All honour his work ; but have the rest We have seen een as full of :o make their J to bear the i words like id to visit the bought I was :d the militia 3r wives con- ; no cloister, r own Iiuusc. lurrcd at the idea of taking into their order such a youthful maiden as Catharine. But to Lapa's second api)lication they replied : " If she be not too handsome, nor oi" a beauty too remarkable, we will receive her on your account and hers." Catharine was not beautiful, and those who conversed with her found such maturity and self abnegation, sucli stedfastness of purpose in the pursuit of duty, that they at once admitted her. Catharine received the mantle when about sixteen ; she did not, all at once, leave her seclusion. The work that had been going on in her soul had been intensely absorbing. It was needful for Catharine, it is needful for all those who are to guide souls with wisdom and discrimination, to learn to know intimately tlie Shepherd's voice, guiding them in the minutest details of life. Were this deeply spiritual training more earnestly sought after, we should hear less of heart and soul wounds being rudely torn open by those who essay to probe and mollify. Catharine's communion with her Lord is described in her book called " The Dialogue." It is the record of the conver- sations between her soul and God. She explains, however, that God did not generally communicate with her in words, but an impression was made on her mind which resolved itself into the words which she afterwards wrote down. Her biographer says : "If you ore disposed, reader, to doubt the fact of these communications from God, then I would give you one word of advice, and one only. Go you and make the attempt to live a life of prayer such as she lived ; and then, and not till then, will you be in a position which will give you any shadow of a right, or any power, to judge of this soul's dealings with God. " But observe that a brief fitful effort will not suffice to place you in this position ; you must persevere long in the difficult path of Divine research; you must bring to the task the sus- tained self denial and untiring diligence which some men bring to the pursuit of discovery in natural science. . . . The science of which Catharine was a devotee is, let it be I re- membered, pre-eminently an experimental science. For many, i6 Consecrated M'oiuen. however, it is needless that I should speak thus; nor will I attempt any explanation or apology for the manner in which our saint constantly speaks of that which the natural eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, but which God has in all times revealed to them that persistently seek Him. Those who have any experience of real prayer know full well that in the pause of the soul before God, after it has uttered its complaint, made known its desires, or sought guidance in perplexity] there comes the clearer vision of duty, and the still small voice of guidance is heard, rectifying the judgment, strengthening the resolve, and consoling the spirit; they know that this in- fluence, external to us and yet within us, gently and forcibly moves us, deals with us, speaks with us, in fine. Prayer can- not truly be called communion, if the only voice heard be the voice of the pleader. Be still, be silent then, dear reader, if you are disposed to object. \i you have not yet heard the voice of God speaking within you, it is because you have not yet pleaded enough with Him; it is because you have not yet considered or acted in this matter in a truly scientific manner." When the consecration vows had been fully sealed, Satan began his fiercest assaults. How frequently is this the ex- perience of the believer who has made covenant with his Lord ! Before the resolution is taken, Satan's plan often is to lull the soul into a sleepy state, or by subtle means to draw her away from her design; but when the decision is made the conflict is at times severe. In Catharine's case it was like passing through one furnace after another, each one heated immeasurably hotter than it is wont to be heated. It is inexpressibly touching to read the details of her agony— the warm, passionate heart penetrated by the sight, vividly pictured by her imagination, of tender joys which ehe felt were not for her. Yet although consumed by the hunger after these joys, she had no desire to grasp what she believed her Father in heaven had denied. Neither was there any thought of merit connected with the sacrifice. Thousands of liearts have passed through variations of this angui.^h, when all Ni 3sn 01 aai'jiaib'dd u Catharine of Siena. us; nor will I nncr iu which atural eye has IS in all times Those who ill that in the its complaint, in perplexity, till small voice strengthening / that this in- y and forcibly Prayer can- heard be the dear reader, yet heard the you have not have not yet tific manner." sealed, Satan 1 this the ex- lant with his m often is to eans to draw sion is made le it was like 1 one heated :ated. It is her agony — sight, vividly hich ehe felt ' the hunger she believed is there any 'housands of ill, when all 17 the hopes of earth have been blighted and life lias appeared but an and wa..te. Happy they who, like our saint, have had by them m_ the fire - One like unto the Son of man," tempering the otherwise maddening heat, and cnabUng them afterwards " " To bless the cleansing fires, And the furnace of living pain." At one time so terrible was the sense of the presence of evil spirits in her little room that Catharine retreated to the church on the hill. There she remained three days in prayer Tiic spirits seemed to cry to her: " Poor miserable creature, thou canst never pass thy whole life in this state; we will torment thee to death unless thou obey us." Catharine answered : ■Le It so ! I have chosen suffering for Christ's sake, and I am willing, If need be, to endure this till death." On utterin- these words a great light seemed to descend from above^ fil ing the place where she kneeled with heavenly brightness Ihe devis fled, and the Lord Jesus Himself conversed with iier. Catharine asked Him, - Lord, where wast Thou when my heart was so tormented?" -J was in thy heart" He replied. '<0h Lord!'' she answered, -fhou art everl'asting Iruth, and I humbly bow before Thy word; but how can I behove that Thou wast in my heart when it was filled with such detestable thoughts ! " The Lord asked her, " Did these thoughts and temptations give thee pleasure or pain ? " " An exceeding pain and sadness," she replied ; to whom the Lord ; Ihou wast in woe and sadness because I -as hidden in the midst of thy heart; My presence it was, which rendered those thoughts insupportable to thee ; thou didst strive to repel them, because they filled thee with horror, and because thou didst not succeed, thy spirit was bowed down with sorrow When the period I had determined for the duration of the icombat had elapsed, I sent forth the beams of My light, and the shades of hell were dispelled, because they cannot resist ••• — . !>Qi:i.. This circumstance recalls to us a temptation and deliver- i8 Consecrated Women. ance nanatcd to iis by a working man. After a life of evil and blasphemy he fell into poor health, his soul was arrested by the fear of death, and he began to seek ardently after God. Satan, fearing to lose his victim, tempted him fiercely for three weeks. Tlie temptation took this form : " Thy disease is incurable, it will be one of terrible and pro- longed suffering; thou wilt be a burden to thy family; destroy thyself." Night and day for three weeks the man prayed for help, and at the end of that time One whom he described as the Lord Jesus appeared by his bed during the night, and Satan fled away and did not return. Then followed a year of witness bearing, and joy and peace amidst bodily anguish. The grace that was sufficient for patriarchs, for apostles, for Catharine of Siena, is the same to-day. It is our unbelief which prevents the full manifestation of it in individuals and churches now. The language which was once true of Nazareth may be too truly applied now to many of these : "He could not do many mighty works because of their un- belief." Catharine came forth from the furnace without the smell of burning upon her. It was about this time that she had the dream, which was the origin of the legend depicted by Corrcggio and other painters as the mystical marriage of St. Catharine. In her dream she saw her Saviour approach her and place upon her finger a ring, the pledge of her espousals. He told her to keep the ring in all holiness and faithfulness. This made a great impression upon her, and was followed by even closer communion with her Lord than she had before enjoyed. Catharine taught herself to read about this time; she did not learn to write till later, but she acquired such facility in composition that the beauty and clearness of her style are much admired by Italian writers. It is surely the simplicity and reality and directness of her words which give such a charm to her writings. We must hasten on to the time when the call came to Catharine to leave her seclusion. Often a life of extended N! 3Sn 01 QBlOiyiSdd LJ Catharine of Siena. iftcr a life of his soul was I seek ardently tempted him lok this form : rrible and pro- am ily ; destroy lan prayed for 1 he described the night, and owed a year of bodily anguish, )r apostles, for is our unbelief in individuals 1 once true of nany of these : ie of their un- hout the smell i that she had gend depicted :al marriage of ir approach her her espousals, nd faithfulness, as followed by 5he had before bout this time; acquired such Nearness of her X is surely the )rds which give ; call came to fe of extended 19 service begins in a very simple act of duty. It was so with Cntharme. The Divine call came in this command- "Go quickly My daughter, it is the hour of the family repast ; join thy parents and thy family ; remain with them, and I will be with thee." To Catharine, who dreaded the bustle of the large household filled witii children (twenty-five had been born to Giacomo and Lapa), with apprentices, and with traders continually coming and going, the call seemed one of great solemnity ; indeed, it was to her like going away from God and she cried : "Wherein have I offended 'I'hee, my God, that Thou dost send me from Thee? What should I do at table? It IS not by bread alone that man lives; are not the words that i,roceed out of Thy mouth far better, to impart vigour and energy to the soul of a pilgrim ? Thou knowest better than I that I fled the society of men that I might find Thee my Lord and my God ; and must I now mingle anew in worldly affairs, to fall again into my former worldliness and stupidity, and perhaps offend against Thee ? " The words of reply are tender : - Le calm. My child ; thou must accomplish all justice, that My grace may become fruitful in thee and in others. I desire not that thou shouldest be separated from Me ; on the contrary, I desire that thou shouldest become more closely united ^o Me by charity towards thy neighbour, ihou knowest that love has two commandments, to love Me and to love thy neighbour." It was from no unwillingness \o do the will of God that Catharine still farther inquired how It would be possible for a woman to go forth into public service on account of the contempt felt for her weakness and the im- propriety of her conversing indiscriminately with men The Lord replied: "The word 'impossible' belongcth not to God ; am not I He who created the human race, who formed both man and woman? I pour out the favour of My Spirit on whom I will. With Me there is neither male nor female, [neither plebeian nnr nnKi,-> 1m,^ „ii __. . t , , ,, ' liut inasmuch as I know that thou hast spoken thus not because of faithlessness but through humility, I will answer I 20 Consecrated Women, thee. I desire thee then to know that at the present time the pride of man has become so great, especially among those who esteem themselves to be learned and wise, that My justice can no longer bear with them and is about to visit them with a just cliastisement. . . . But because I have mercy . . . I v ;il first send to them a salutary and useful confusion, that they may acknowledge their error and humble tlicmselves; even as I did with the Jews and Gentiles, when I sent them simple persons filled by Me with Divine wisdom. Yes, I will send to them luomcn unlearned and by nature fragile, but filled by My grace with courage and power. . . . Wherefore, My daughter, do thou make haste to obey Me without farther hesita ion, for I have a mission for thee to fulfil, and it is My will that thou appear before the public. Wheresoever thou mayest go in the future I will be with thee ; I will never leave thee, but will visit thee and direct all thy actions." Catharine prostrated herself, and exclaimed, " Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me even as Thou wilt.'' Immediately she joined the f-unily. Step by step, as is His wont, the Lord led her. For a time she busied herself in household duties with joyful service. Then came the visits to the poor and needy and sick ; and when the plague visited the city Catharine was foremost in works of mercy, seeking out the most loathsome cases for her own special care. Later, violent dissensions between rival powers in the state caused much suffering, and for a time business was suspended, and the city given up to revolution. As Catharine matured and developed, she was often called to mediate between these contending houses. Wives of banished nobles sought her advice for their husbands, entreating her to visit them at their chateaux in the country. Her manner with those whom she visited in response to these calls, and those who came to her for spiritual counsel, \ad a great charm in it. io sucii siiC Vi'aS ciaughtcr, sister, m.ot'ier by turns j and as in the absorption of heart and mind in her Ufe-call she appears N! 3sn 01 a3iomis3d u Catharhic of Siena. 21 present time ^ among those ise, that My about to visit :caiise I have :iry and useful )r and humble jcntilcs, wlicn ivine wisdom, nature fragile, )wcr. . . . to obey Me n for thee to re the public, be with thee ; direct all thy "Behold the -en as Thou Step by step, le she busied Then came ud when the in works of for her own I rival powers time business 'olution. As ;en called to js of banished eating her to manner with ,11s, and those [ charm in it. IS ; and as in II she appears to have had no self consciousness, her Christian frankness and simi)licity set all at ease. With much true r-jfrnement she retained the simple manners of the peasant, and her country men claimed her as "The people's Catharine," "Our lady of inc Contrada d'Oca," "The daugliter of the Republic." I]ut it was not only with individuals in i)rivatc that her work lay. One who knew her describes how "he had seen her address a multitude of two thousand persons in the street, beseeching them for the love of Jesus to be at i)eace with each otlier, and to search each into his own heart to discover there any lurking egotism, and give up any selfish demand which could only be gratified at the expense of his neighbour. J'hosc who could not hear her voice were moved even to tears by the beaming charity and sweetness of her countenance while she spoke and i)leaded." A life so unusual must of necessity pass through evil report, jealousy and prejudice being especially the inciting causes.' Catharine gave herself to prayer for her enemies. Among her works of mercy was the regular visiting of the prisons, and she frequently procured the release of political prisoners. To her t'le soul of the noble and that of the plebeian were alike precious ; and while to-day we find her preaching salvation and a life of self denial to a learned doctor for whom she has travailed two whole nights in prayer, to-morrow we see her follow an outcast woman to her home, and after embracing her tenderly sit down by her side, like a true woman, to plead with her concerning the beauty and preciousness of that soul which she is in danger of losing eternally. Catharine's cor- respondence formed a large part of her work. Indeed, had she not accomplished so much beside, it might well have been her life work. So clear was her mind and so well defined her messages that she could without any difficulty dictate to two or duee secretaries at once. Her biographer writes that " her letters to artisans and tradesmen were in the same terms as those addresbcd to kings, cardinals, and popes, with rev- erence and consideration combined withcurageous truthfulness, 22 Consecrated IVonun. and when necessary, with severity, and addressing them alike as 'most dear fathers in Christ.' She was a true rei)ublicau in the sense that in her dealings with men as fellow sinners she recognised no difference of rank." To Lernabos Visconti, the lawless Duke of Milan, who was the execration of the sur- rounding country, she writes, after first rebuking his vices : " Oh resist not the Spirit of God which is calling you. Think, oh think, that the blood and tears of the Divine Son are able to cleanse you froni head to foot. Despise not this offer of grace. LchoUl how God loves you. No tongue can tell, no heart can conceive, the mercy and grace which will be granted to you if you will but dispose yourself to rid your soul of mortal sin. Humble yourself under the mighty liand of Goi, and belie 'c in Jesus crucified for you." Again and again she pleaded with liim not to neglect so great salvation, and it would seem as if in his last days the remembrance of her teach- ing had come back. When dying a prisoner in his wretched cell, " unclean and uncared for," he would spend hour after hour in gasping forth m agony the words, " Cor contritum et humilia- (inn, DcuSy non ikspicics ! " Resting upon the eternal Rock herself, Catharine pressed upon all who were in the midst of the discord and the strife to maintain a nuiet reliance upon God. The holy calm which covered her , n encouragement to noble women whose husbands were in tue thick of the conflict to find shelter in the cleft of the same Rock. She writes to the wife of Senator Mugliano, whose life was in danger during the Sienese revolu- tion : *' It seems to me you have both been in great fear, but that you have placed your hope in God and in the power of prayer. I entreat you, in the name of Jesus, to continue firm in this sweet and steadfast peace. My sister, fear nothing that men can do, fear God only." Catharine's dealings with individuals were varied in the ex- treme. Her natural versatility was sanctified to the highest uses ; and living in near communion with God and in consLant prayer, large spiritual insight was given her to discern the needs of Ni 3sn oi udi'jidibdd Lj CatJiarinc of Siena. 23 ng them alike rue republican o\v sinners she s Visconti, the »n of the sur- ing his vices : you. Think, 2 Son are able )t this offer of je can tell, no all be granted your soul of hand of Go.l, ind again she 'ation, and it e of her tcacli- wretched cell, r after hour in /// et humilia- arine pressed and the strife ly calm which vomen whose ind shelter in ife of Senator enese revolu- ;reat fear, but the power of continue firm r nothing that ied in the ex- highest uses j ibiant ]jrayei", the needs of (litfercnt souls. As in her letters so in personal intercourse she was eciually at ease with rich and poor. With her young disciples she was cheerful, often merry. .She had a (juick sense of humour ; and when she saw her devoted followers needlessly distressed because she was spoken against, she would reply with a merry laugh. She understood the world well enough to expect such usage. Catharine's love of flowers brought much brightness into her life; she loved to join young maidens in weaving lilies and roses and violets into wreaths and bou- quets as presents to her friends. Even on her way to Avignon, when hastening because cf the gravity of her mission, the bright colouring of the masses of Alpine flowers from time to time arrested her attention, and with her face all flushed with pleasure she would call her companions to admire them with her. How often the greatest souls are able most keenly to enjoy simple pleasures ! Catharine's work in dealing with souls was, at one time, so large that the Pope Gregory XI. appointed her three helpers. One of them, "Father Ray- mond," thus describes the time. "We worked all day, we heard the confessions of men and women soiled with every variety of crime. We sometimes remained fasting until the evening (having no time to eat), and yet we were not able to receive all who came. I acknowledge, to my shame, that the multitude was often so great that I was fatigued and depressed ; but as for Catharine, she never interrupted her prayers and efforts, but rejoiced continually in conquering souls for her Master, while she simply recommended her friends (AUessia and the other mantcllatas) to take care of us and our material wants, while •'^ held the nets which she knew so well how to fill. The sight of her consoled us greatly and made us forget our fatigues." " After the day's labour," writes the same faith- ful helper, "' Catharine went up the hill rejoicing, to the old Dominican church, and laid at the feet of her Lord and Sa""'our the spiritual conquests of the day ; and there she would remain till the sun had set and the stars lighted the sky, absorbed in the contemplation of the love and power of Christ, and pouring 24 Coitsccmtcd Women. out her soul ,n pniycr for the fuller accompllslmient of the Kre.il promiscorthe Uccleeraer, the descent of the Holy .Sr,irit l.renlhe on these slain/ she cried; and when, in answer to her prayers there na, a great shaking among the multitude for whom she prayed, she asked again 'that this multitude mght stand on their f.et an exceeding great array'; and the l),vn,e breath was felt, an.l n.any that were spirii.Lly i„ thd^ graves came forth." ' Jl^T "°',''"^" '°,."" °f ^" ''•^■^•'"8^ "'"■ "">'« «'ho, Ins work. Among these, she found those who were to her brothers and s.slers and sons and .laughters, bound to le he.-,r by very tender ties. Son.e of these accompanied her on her journeys, and laboured wiU, her in the gospel But our sketch w, 1 be incomplete if we do not alludf Jr'ca.h:' H, " ove .or the members of her own family. Her devotion to those who were he- own nesh and blood is indeed, a bright chapter m the Ron,ish calendar, in which we have so m.-r„y records o hves torn from the parent stems, and brought, by most cruel rendmg of God-given affections, into that apathetic calmness winch ,s supposed, by the votaries of Rome, to be eahz,P < the fulness of peace into which her honoured fathe had entered. She k.ssed him and said : " Blessed be the Lord God for tins entrance mto eternal life. How happy should 1 be, were I where thou art now, my father." Her beloved mother was the cherished companion of many of Catharines Terrvan -i;."^ "' '" '"'"' '- ""^--^ - -»^"" <>: With her true, lender heart, Catharine could not fail to love imie ch, dren, and parents would use every effort to gain admL .on to her presence with their suffering little ones, k, ow . res orat on M.uy sick persons wweat dilierent times restored to health thrcMgh Cathari.te's prayers. Her biographer sa^sl Niasfi oi ud±uiaibdd LJ Cath '/ na. ishmcnt of the ic Holy Spirit. , in answer to the nuiltitude tliis multitude my ' ; and the itually in their ith those who, assist her in > were to her bound to her panied her on pel. But our Catharine's :r devotion to leed, a bright lave so many 1 brought, by that apathetic Rome, to be 's father died iiained calm, loured father 1 be the Lord )py should I Her beloved f Catharine's members of )t fail to ]ove ) gain admis- les, knowing rers for their mes restored rapher says : ♦'She believed in the pu ,e 'the prayer '' li < uc the sick,' and doubted not its fulfilnieni in .cr to .mest prayer, /// ez'cry case in tchich that fuljU man :cas for i..' t^ood of the sufferer and for the glory of Cod." Hut her most j.romi. ncnt work seems to have been for souls. We now come to that part of Catharine's life when be- labours were no longer confined to her own neighbourhootl. After the cessation of the plague the inhabitants of I'iso desired to see Catharine. Tht-y sent a deputntion to Sieno to invite her, holding out the attraction that her "presence would be profitable to many erring souls." At first slic doubted herself lest the motive for going should be simply "her own instinctive love of journeying and adventure." J5ut after seeking guidance of her Lord, and consulting with her friends, she decided to go. This visit was a memorable one to Catherine. At Pisa she entered into some of her deepest trials of faith and into a yet deeper union with her Lord. She was accompanied by her mother and by three or four other devoted women, also by some of the fathers of St. Dominic and by her fliithful secretary Neri, a young nobleman who had been brought to Christ through her instrumentality. The two brothers Luonconti, merchants, received her into their house, and there she dictated to Neri and Father Raymond some of her most stirring appeals to those in whose hands seemed the destiny of the nation. Catharine had long been distressed at the non-residence of the Pope. In this sh'^ saw the source of most of the evils which were now visiting Italy. It was in 1305 that Pope Clement V. removed the papal court to Avignon, and Gregory XL was the si.xth Pope who had thus resided m a foreign land. Italy was left a prey to the Pope's emissaries, and to the discontented of manv nations who were pouring into the country and selling themselves to serve under wild, lawless captains. Among the wildest of these leaders who were troubling the country was the P:nc^lishman Fawk- vood, who in 1377 combined with the cruel Legate, "cardinal Kobert, in putting down some of the cities which had joined iO Conscawti'd IVonun. in revolt a;;.-pnst papal oppression. The discords in her tluiii h and country and the low state of morality Cviuscd unsji. .'..ihle anguish to Catharine. She was as om* consumed with /cal for the honour of licr Lord, and when she began to realize that in her time the purification of the church would not be accom- phshed she looked with the eye of failli into the future and cried : "After these tribulations (lod will puri'y His church by means unknown to man ; He will revive the souls of His elect and tl'.e reformation of the church will be so beautiful that the prospect of it fills my soul with joy." So does God the Father comfort His beloved ones who cry unto Him day and night, with glimpses of the glorious answers to their prayers when their Lord " shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied." While at Pisa, Catharine visited the Carthusian convent at Gorgon Island by re(iuest, and was persuaded to address the large company of monks drawn up under the shade of the olive trees before her and her companions. It must have touched her deeply to look u[)on the faces of these lonely men, living such a cold unnatural life. In breathless silence they hung upon her words, which, coming from the depths of that tender woman's heart, must have fallen upon their ears like an echo of warm motherly and sisterly tones from the sunny days of childhood. She spoke to them "saying what the Holy Ghost inspired her to say in reference to the many illusions and temptations to which solitaries arc liable, and concerning the means of triumphing over them." She had not passed through the trials and temptations incident to a highly sensitive nature without having gained the power to sympathise with hearts everywhere. As she ceased, the prior turned to Raymond and whispered : " Dear brother Raymond, I am confessor of all these brethren and disciples, and I know th . heart of each ; and I assure you that if this saintly lady had herself heard all their confessions, she could not have spoken in a more just and suitable manner ; she perceived all their wants, and did not utter a word which was not useful to them. It is evident Nl 3Sf) Ul UdlJIdlbdd LJ Catlianuc of Siena. ^7 5 in her cluiri h (1 uns]K.i'.,ihle d with /cal for I realize that in not be accoin- Ihe future and I lis clnirth by lis of His elect, luliful that the jod the Father Jay and night, prayers when ,1 and shall be an convent at :o address the shade of the It must have se lonely men, s silence they depths of that iir ears like an he sunny days /hat the Holy ly illusions and loncerning the ;)assed through ensitive nature ie with hearts Raymond and )nfessor of all icart of each ; ;rself heard all ii a more just vants, and did It is evident lli.it she speaks by the inspiration of Cod." Is it not su( h pi culling that is needed now, preai;hing thai is as a minor to .. heart whose deep unuttered needs it meets? Can it be said of the gencraHty of sermons that they do not contain a word which iu not useful to the hearers ? One or two circumstances which occurred during this visit bring out Catharine's great dread of unsanctitied notoriety. On one occasion she was taken very ill, and one of her friends sought some wine to bathe her temples ; and it was reported that to sui)ply this need some very sour wine had been miracu- lously changed into the very best that could be produced. In consecpience the peoi)lc crowded hy liiousands to see her, say- ing : •' Go to, let us see who this woman is who drinks no wine, and yet can miraculously fill the casks." She was much dis- tressed, and prayed : '* Lord, why dost 'i'hou suffer me to be covered with confusion in this way, before all the i)eople ? Thou knowest that by an inspiration of Thy grace I have all my life abstained from wine, and now wine is suffered to be the cause of my being made ridiculous. I beseech Thee to put this matter right, that all this foolish excitement may cease." Very soon it was reported that the wine had become sour again, and the crowd turned wildly against Catharine, much to her amusement. At another time, worn by illness, probably brought on by distress of soul for her downtrodden country and dv.solated church, she pressed all the harder af.oc a participation in the sufferings of Christ. She spent hours daily in siLnt prayer ; words failed her to tell of the deep travail of soul thioiigh wiiich she was passing. The physical sufferings of the Lo'rd were often in her mind for hours, and it seemed as if she could not be satisfied without entering even into some realization of these also. Her friends said : " We cannot follow her, we must leave her alone with her Lord ; there is a mystery in His dealings with her which we cannot fathom." Her biographer auus : • Ana we at liiis day do well to ecno the words * we cannot follow her, we must leave her alone with her Lord.' " mmm ifrrtwniii" 28 Consecrated Women. It was wliile bowed before the crucifix, pleading for the salva- tion of a soul, with the thought of the Lord's physical agony in her mind, tluit she felt the piercing pain in hands and feet and side wliich seemed to her the fulfilling of her desire. People of highly strung nervous temperaments know what it is, when hearing vivid descriptions of sharp, agonizing suffering, to feel the corresponding nerves in their own bodies answer in some degree to the sensation described. Was it wonderful that Catharine, having mind and body always in severe tension, should have this experience ? Immediately she besought the Lord that the stigmata might not appear outwardly upon her body. Her -wholesome fear in these things, seeing that she had been educated in the midst of superstition, shows unmis- takably the reality of her allegiance to her Divine Master. The attitude of her soul was, " Not I but Christ." Catharine and her friends returned to Siena in the autumn. The most momentous event of her mature life was yet to come, the visit to Avignon. But that which at present filled the heart of this woman, who held all the sorrows of her nation as her own, was the revolt against the Pope of one city after another. The cruelty and rapacity of the legates knew no bounds. Florence suffered terribly, and, goaded on by their extortion and deceit, her people rose in fury and burned convents, forced the prisons, and abolished the Inquisition in their city. Finally an interdict was laid upon the city, business was stopped, the churches were closed. Florence, usually so full of life and brightness and commercial activity, became quiet and desolate. Catharine was in correspondence with the revolted cities, and she sought to do all in her power to restore prosperity to Florence ; and it was specially in the interests of that city that she consented to go to Avignon. She had previously written to Gregory, pleading with him. " Consider," she writes, " these two evils before you ; on the one hand your temporal possessions, of which you are being deprived ; and on the other the souls which are being lost to you. Which evil is the first ? Open the eyes of your intelHgence, and look steadily at this Ni 3sn 01 aai'jmi^da \j CatJiarinc of Siena, r the salva- al agony in id feet and c. People it is, ^vllc■n ing, to feci er in some dcrful that re tension, ^sought the y upon her g that she Dws unmis- ne Master. he autumn, was yet to It fdled the ;r nation as ter another. 10 bounds, tortion and , forced the y. Finally topped, the of life and id desolate, cities, and rosperity to lat city that Lisly written she writes, r temporal )n the other is the first ? dily at this mnttcr. You will then see, holy father, that of the two evils the latter is by far the worst, and that it is more needfid for you to win back souls than to reconquer your earthly posses- sions. . . . Vou now place your confidence in your soldiers, those devourcrs of human flesh ; and your good (k^ircs for the reform of the church are hindered. Tlacc your hope rather on Christ crucified and in the good government of the church by virtuous pastors; let it please your holiness to seek out true and humble servants of God as pastors in the church, men who desire nothing but the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Alas ! what corruption and confusion we now see. Those who should be models of virtue and simplicity, those who ought to be stewards of the wealth of the church for the good of the poor and of erring souls, are a thousand times more entangled in the hixuries and vanities of the world than the laity ; for indeed many of the laity put the pastors to shame by their pure and holy lives. ... It seems that God permits the church to be robbed of her power and wealth, in order to teach her that He wills her to return to lier primitive state of poverty and humility, and of regard for spiritual radier than temporal things ; for ever since she has sought temporal possessions, things have gone from bad to worse. It seems just indeed that He should permit her such great tribulations." In their extremity, those who desired to make terms with the Pope sent to Catharine, and she went to Florence, where she remained for fifteen days, becoming thoroughly acquainted with the complicated state of public affairs. She then proceeded by land to Avignon. Several of her most faithful adherents accompanied her, and her generous fi lends the brothers Buonconti from Pisa joined her, and made arrangements for the comfort of the travellers by the way. On the iSth of June, 1376, Catharine reached Avignon, where the palace of an absent cardinal was assigned to her during her stay. After two days she was summoned before the Pope in his palace, which stood on the summit of tlie " Rock of the Domes," commanding a magnificent view of the 30 Consecrated Wovicn. Rhone and of the surrounding country. The beauties and glories of nature and art had been lavished upon the palace and gardens. The hall of the consistory was rich in the extreme ; here Catharine in her white serge gown and patched mantle stood before the richly decked Pope and the not less gorgeously attired cardinals. But she thought only of her mission on behalf of poor distressed Florence, and in a clear and masterly manner she placed the facts of the case before the assembled council. Owing however to subsequent com- I)]ications among the Florentine leaders, Catharine's pleading was not at that time successful. Eventually the ban was removed, and life and energy were restored to the beautiful city. On one occasion Gregory requested Catharine to adtlress the consistory on the subject of the church. As she spoke, the unholy lives of many of the clergy in high authority came under review; she asked why she found in the pontifical court, in which all the virtues ought to flourish, nothing but the contagion of the most disgraceful vices. Gregory asked how she, who had so lately arrived, could have knowledge of what went on at Avignon. Standing erect, she raised her thin white hand to heaven and said : '' I declare in the name of Almighty God, that I perceived more distinctly the horrors of the sins which are committed in this court while I was yet in my little room at Siena than even those do who are in the midst of these vices." The Pope remained silent. " Even after this," says her secretaiy Stephen, " Catharine frequently delivered most eloquent addresses, as well as highly practical ores, in the presence of Gregory and the cardinals ; and there reigned so great an authority and so wonderful a grace in her lips that all declared 'Never man spake like this woman,' and many said ' It is not a woman who speaks but the Holy S])int Himself.' " She also expounded to them the Scriptures, which had gone out of use at Avignon, " and her insight and clearness of interpretation astonished the learned doctors." Weak and irresolute as Gregory was, he was of "blame- less life." He was powerfully impressed by Catharine's earnest Ni 3sn 01 aai'jmib'dd lj Catharine of Siena. 31 I beauties and on the palace IS rich in the n and patclicd i the not less It only of her and in a clear le case before ^sequent com- ■ine's pleading the ban was • the beautiful rine to address \s she spoke, Jthority came the pontifical 1, nothing but aregory asked knowledge of •aised her thin the name of :he horrors of : I was yet in 10 are in the lent. " Even nc frequently ghly practical Is ; and there L grace in her this Avoman,' lut the Holy lie Scriptures, r insight and doctors." 3 of "blame- line's earnest appeals to him on the subject of his return to Rome. One day she was passing witli Raymond through the g^and suite of state rooms which led to the Pope's apartments. She turned aside to look at some of the exquisite art treasures which were every- where around. She became absorbed in a rare manuscript. Gregory approached, and stood by her for some time in silence. At length he said, " It is here that I find repose for my soul, in study and in the contemplation of nature." Catharine re- sponded : " In the name of God, and for the fulfilment of duty, you will close the gates of this magnificent palace, you will turn your back on this beautiful country, and set out for Rome, where you will be amidst ruins, tumults, and malaria fever." The words penetrated the soul of the Pontiff, but it was with sadness and anxiety that he looked towards an event which he knew could only be reached through unparalleled difficulties. Twenty-three of the cardinals were Frenchmen, and naturally opnosed the removal from their native land. Many of the ladies of the court at Avignon hated Catharine. At first they treated her with contempt, but when they perceived her power and influence, they sought, by putting on the guise of religion, to gain access to her inner counsels. Catharine however had clear insight, and when any, men or women, sought her society from desire to entrap her, she was always on her guard. One day three deeply learned prelates of high rank, who were ab- sent on her arrival, sought an interview with her. Stephen describes the visit, and tells how with biting words they en- deavoured to wound and irritate her, and how she replied with such wisdom that though the conference lasted for hours they could not find any fault in her, and told the Pope that they had never found " so humble and enlightened a soul." He sternly rebuked them for visiting her in such a critical and uncourtcous spirit. It seemed at one time as if Catharine's appeals to the Pope touching his return to Rome would be frustrated by the wiles of the cardinals. The hour of disappointment is thus eloquently described by her biographer. "Tried to ^2 Consecrated Women, the utmost by the weakness and vacillation oi' the Pope, . . . Catharine withdrew for a season from his presence, and was no longer seen in the Vraican of the * Rock of the Domes.' She entered into the secret presence of her Saviour, and her soul passed once more through that baptism of strong desire, of tears and of passionate intercession, by the strength of which she ever acliieved her wonderful conquests in the kingdom of grace and over the souls of men with whom persuasion and argument had f:iiled. In those solitary iiours lier gaze was fixed far beyond the present, and her heart em- braced all the sorrows of earth, while, like tlie prophets of old, she prayed that the great deliverance might be hastened, and cried to Tlim who is the ' Desire of ail nations,' ' luen so. Lord Jesus, come quickly.'" Gregory, who had become troubled at her absence, sent for Catharine, and asked her advice concerning his return to Rome. She kept silence. At last the Pope said, " I command you in the name of obedience to tell me what is the will of God in this matter." She bowed her head and replied, " Who knows more perfectly than your Holiness, who has pledged himself by a secret vow ? " Gregory was alarmed, for he believed that no one knew of his secret vow, taken when under the influence of the letters of St. liridget, Queen of Sweden. He now took his resolve. At Catharine's instigation he ceased to speak on the subject to the cardinals and court, but committed the preparations for the departure of himself and his court into the hands of the Duke of Anjou and faithful servants. The Duchess of Anjou had become attached to Catharine at Avignon, and both she and her husband became sincere followers of the Crucified One. Catharine desired to leave as soon as all was arranged, but Gregory would not allow her to depart an hour before himself. She spent the interval in writing. Among the many letters written at this time are two private ones of much interest. To the mother of her young secretary, Stephen Maconi,she wrote; "Take courage, dear lady; be patient, and do not distress yourself because I have kept him too long. J. have watched Ni 3sn 01 adi'jiHib'dd Lj Calhar'uie of Siena, 33 oi* the Pope, his jircsence, ' Rock of the f lier Saviour, t baptism of ession, by the •fill conquests III witli whom solitary hours her heart cm- ophets of okl, liastened, and s,' * P>en so, had become id asked her t silence. At of obedience She bowed tly than your >v?" Gregory of his secret etters of St. resolve. At ic subject to parations for hands of the ess of Anjou .nd botii she rucified One. arranged, but fore himself, many letters nterest. To li, she wrote; not distress ave watched over him well, for affection has made of us two but one, and all your interests arc mine. I wish to do for him and for you all that I can, even to death. You, his mother, have borne him once ; and I — I travail again in birth, every day, not for him only, but for you and all your family, offering to God without ceasing, and with tears and anguish, my strong desire for your salvation." To her own mother, who also deplored her absence, she writes. " If I have remained, my beloved mother, it has been by the will of God, and not by my own or by the will of man. It" any one tells you to the contrary, he is mistaken; for I tell you the truth. I must follow the path which God indicates to me by His providence ; and you, my dear sweet mother, you ought to be content and not unwilling to suffer somcthinf^ for the honour of God. . . . Remember how you used to act when it was a question of our temporal interests, when your sons often took long journeys, and were absent for a length of time on business, and in order to make money ; and now, when it is a question of the things which concern our eternal life, you pine so much and tell me you will die if I do not soon come home. This is because you love the mortal part of me more than the immortal part." During Catharine's stay at Avignon she worshipped at the little chapel attached to her residence. She had a keen ap- preciation of music, and we might have expected her to en- joy the gorgeous ritual of the Vatican church, but the service was overlaid with so much merely to ravish the natural taste, that it did not meet the needs of her soul. Once she at- tended there, but her "spirit was perplexed and her senses confused." From Avignon Catharine went direct to Genoa, where she and her friends had to wait more than a month. They were hospitably entertained at the house of one of her disciples, an honourable lady, Orietta Scott. Cutharines presence was needed to cheer Gregory on his landing, and to encourage him to go forward. With opi)osing KHMMtiM 34 Consccrixtcd Women, elements on every hand, for even tlie winds and waves were against him for many days, it was a hard battle for him to make up his mind to rc-cnibark. Catharine prayed ; and her prayers were answered. Gregory came to her by night alone, v.'rapi)cd in his cloak, to ask of her this time not only wise counsels, but power through her prayers to obey those counsels." The lady Orietta Scott, also Father Raymond and others, were present at the interview, during which Catharine once more urged upon the Pope his duty to press through all obstacles to attain the object in view. When he took leave of her she remained on her knees pleading with Heaven until the morning. Catharine returned to her little room at Siena, from the soli- tude of which she continued to urge Gregory to begin those reforms which were indispensable for the good of the church, of the nation, and of the city which he had found so deso- lated. Florence was still a source of anxiety to Gregory, and he sent for Catharine to go to that city, saying : " I wish that she should go, because she is a woman ; for, because she is a woman and because of the great veneration they have for her character, they will take care not to harm her and will listen to her advice." During this third visit to Florence, Catharine was in the midst of the severest conflict ; law was set at nought and tumult raged. She was able to influence the more sober part of the community for a season, but the time came when, during an insurrection among the wool-carders, the insurgents sought her life. When every refuge had failed Catharine freely offered herself to die, assuring the leader of the mob that " no harm would come to them from any of her friends." The man turned away, taking his followers with him. Catharine shed tears while all beside rejoiced. "She had not been counted worthy of martyrdom." " She was touched by the sorrows of these poor people in their misguided zeal." She retreated to the Convent Vallombrossa in the neighbourhood, returning to Florence when the ban was takmi fmm t-he c' '- " '—f.^ consummation which slie had largely helped to bring about. Ni 3sn oi udi'jidibdd Lj d waves were )r him to make nd her prayers lone, wrapped I counsels, but s." The lady •ere present at e urged upon to attain the remained on g- from the soli- J begin those Df the church, •und so deso- Gregory, and " I wish that •ecause she is they have for her and will e was in the ht and tumult r part of the en, during an Its sought her freely offered at " no harm " Tlie man itharine shed )een counted le sorrows of retreated to od, returning bring about. Catharine of Siena. 35 Before this time Gregory had died, and the ratification of the peace was signed by his successor, Urban Vf. During the few months which remained to Catharine after she returned to Siena she completed her work, " The Dialogue," and wrote letters to Italian politicians and ecclesiastics in the interests of Urban. This ponti.T, having known Catharine at Avignon, requested her to come to his aid in the difficulties that met him in the way of reform. She wrote to him that her friends complained that she travelled too much, and that she must have his command to enable her to go. This she soon received, and immediately prepared to set out. More than forty persons accompanied her, among them the aged Lapa. Catiiarine begged her companions to agree to live in great simplicity at Rome, that by their example they might rebuke the lavish habits of the time. On leaving Siena, as it proved for the last tmie, her biographer tells us " she turned and gazed long upon Its loved walls and towers, the grassy slopes falling from its ramparts, and the winding roads and paths so familiar to her childhood. Offering up a prayer for the peace of her fellow citizens, she turned her face towards Rome." She arrived there in the autumn of 137S, and soon after was sent for by Urban, who called her to address the assembled consistory on the present distress of the church, especially with reference to the schism (the disaffected French cardinals having just elected an anti-pope, called Clement VII.) ''She ^poke learnedly and at some length, exhorting all to constancy and nrmness." Upon one point Catharine laid great stress, viz. the gather- ing together at Rome of holy men and women who should give stability to the church by showing before the world pure and holy lives, and should in other ways uphold the Pope m his work of reform. Although Urban was less zealous than Catharine had hoped, he loved the society of the good and he gave her a brief, empowering her to invite to Rome who"! =]•>£» .,.^,,i,j cu,. .. _ . .1 wiij... ^.1.^ .rOuiu. .jiic -.viuie 10 mose whom she thought most suited to the emergency, and some responded with joy .^.6 Consecrated Women. even at mucli cost. Others were reluctant. Her remon- strances to these may be adapted for the teaching of the churcli now as much as tlien. " Tliis is a sifti g time, one wliich shows us who are true servants of God, av:a who are the self seekers who love God only because of the consolation brought to their own souls. Such i)ersons lock around them and pronounce where spiritual comfort and consolation are to be found and where they are not to be found; they seem to imagine that God is in this place, and not in that. It is not as they imagine j for I perceive that, to the true sen'ant of God, all i)laccs and all times are acceptable. When the time comes fur him to leave his spiritual enjoyments and undertake labour and fatigues for God, the true servant does not hesitate. . . 'i 'iie rule of ihe true saints has always been to come forward in times of necessity and misfortune ; but not in times of pros- l)erity, for they fly such times. . . . It is asserted that if you come here you will lose the habit of devotion, and that you could no longer give yourselves up to prayer. You must '>o very slightly established in devotion if a change of residence would cause you to lose the habit of prayer. It seems that God takes account of places then, and that He is only to be found in woods and solitudes, even in times of public Cccessity." There was little rest for Catharine till she entered upon the /ligher service of the courts above. The adherents of Clement were continually menacing Rome, the battle of Marino was the result, and Rome had once more a short season of peace. Then came internal discontent and discord, partly caused by the harshness of the Pope. Yet it was his calmness when, alone and unarmed, he stood before the insurgents, that quelled their passions and brought them to their senses Catharine was praying, and the result of the battle and the staying of the insurrection were attributed to her prayers. She lamented to see the church resorting to arms, and slie ilCVv-i %.tdj\.a ILr ji.i|-[^ii>.ivt(_ vjUU Itio.'. m-wDC niuUiULlOllo IlllgJit cease. After the battle of Marino Catharine appeared con- Ni 3sn o± Ur<±'jidibdd LJ Catharine of Siena. 37 Her remon- :hing of the g time, one who are the consolation around them isolation are ihcy seem to It is not as ,'ant of Clod, : time comes ^rtakc labour ;itate. . . )nic forward imcs of i^ros- :rted that if Dn, and that You must of residence seems that ; is only to IS of public id upon the ; of Clement rino was the n of peace. y caused by aness when, rgcnts, that heir senses tie and the ler prayers, ms, and she .tiOiiS ITiiglit )earcd con- «;taiuly in the city. She consulted with the magistrates daily, indeed "' no measure of importance was adopted without her counsel." Citizens in aiuhority visited her. The chiefs of the army sought her advice, and the sick and wounded looked eagerly for her daily visit. Every day she Avent to St. Peter's .0 pray for the city; she spent the nights in prayer. The people in the streets loved to look upon her face lighted with smiles. Yet her body was wasting away, and the end was near. Still she remembered and wrote to her spiritual children at a distance. Her last written prayer for these breathes the ten- derest affection and the most ardent desires for their preserva- tion. An accident seems to have hastened her death, and may have caused the terrible suffering of the last weeks. She accepted the agony as special proof of her Father's love. Her confessions, not to man but to her Lord, when she thought the end approaching, are most touching. In that solemn hour she saw the shortcomings of her life in view of that perfect life which she had placed before her as her model. Then she asked pardon of all around. " My beloved, I have indeed hungered and thirsted for your salvation. . . . Nevertheless, I may liave been wanting to you in many thin-s; not only have I not sot before you the highest example, but in regard to your temporal wants I have not been so faithful and attentive as I ought to have been." We give a portion of her last charge to her spiritual sons and daugliters ; it contains clear and simple directions touching the life of consecration. She told them " that any one who desired to be truiy the servant of God, and wished really to possess Him, must strip his heart of all selfish love of luiman crea- tures, and with a simple and entire heart must approach God • that no soul can arrive at such a state except through the medium' of prayer founded on humility ; that no one should have any confidence m his own works, but acknowledging himself to be nothing should commit himself entirely to the keeping and Icndinff nf r,nA ; tnat in orucr to attain to purity of conscience it is necessary to abstain from all rash judgments 38 Covsccratcd ]Vomcu. and evil speaking against our neighbours; that \vc nuist nciilicr condcnni ncjr despise any creature, even if it be one whom we know to be guilty and vile, bui to bear with him and pray for him, because there is no one, however sinful, who may not amend his life ; that we must exercise a perfect trust in the providence of God, knowing that all thii.gs that haj'pcn to us through this Divine providence sjmng, not from His ill- will to His creatures, but from His infmite love for them." She gave advice and directions to individuals, and turning to her aged mother, said, " Pardon my faults towards yourself, my best beloved, and give me your blessing." The narrator adds : "I would that you had seen with what respect and humility she repeatedly asked the benediction of her aged mother, while that hiolher in return commended herself to the prayers of her daughter, and besought her to obtain for licr the grace not to offend God by the bitterness of her grief. Catharine again i)raycd aloud for us all ; and so tender and humble were her words that we thought our hearts would cleave asunder." After the administration of extreme unction, an accession of illness came on. Satan took advantage of the fevered state of the brain to bring accusations against her; but even in her partial delirium he could not wholly deceive her. Once she smiled and said, " No, never ; never for vain glory, but for the honour of God." Many worldly peoi)le had believed that stie sought her own glory in life : hence the value of this testimony in the hour of death. As the mind became clearer she ceased to answer her accuser, and instead turned to her Lord, repeating fifty or sixty times, " Peccavi, nomine, miserere meV \ and her Lord restored to her the consciousness of His presence. Once again she prayed for those whom God had given her. "I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Sanctify them through Thy truth ; Thy word is truth." Several times she exclaimed, " Oh, precious Saviour ! precious blood ! "■ She then said, •'•' Father, into Thy hands 1 commit my spirit " ; and with her face radiant with reflected Ni d^i I u± ud±jia±b=ia Lj Catharine of Siena. lat \\c must I if it be one jar with him ;r sinful, who perfect trust that ha]'i)cn from His ill- z for them." d turning to yourself, my irrator adds : md humility ged mother, • the prayers ;r the grace ■ Catharine humble were ve asunder." accession of ■ered state of even in her Once she lory, but for believed that •aluc of this :ame clearer rned to her tine, miserere :iousness of : whom God mldest take keep them Thy word is ais Saviour ! I'hy hands I ith refiected glory she passed into His immediate presence, on the evening of the 29th of April, 1380, aged thirty-lliroe years. Some will say of this life, It is too highly coloured ; wc do not believe in it. We can only reply. We believe that the accomp'. ,hed author of the Memoir of Catharine of Siena has, through many dillkultics, carefully sought to recover the true picture. Out of a large mass ot accumulated rubbish she has gu '.ered the fragments, and, as far as was possible, rubbed off the gilding with which mediaeval hands had overlaid the original. She has put together these fragments piece by picfo, and she presents to us a figure which we fmd it good and help- ful to look upon. Further, we have the saint's own writings, and from her thoughts and counsels we are assured that one who could thus pourtray the heights and depths, the needs and the consolations, of spiritual life must have passed throu-h deep and difficult cxijerienccs, needing the strongest faiiii, and the most constant watching, and the attitude of unceasing prayer. And as we close the book wc feel that wc liave seen wliat are the elements rccjuired to make up a consecrated life, and we ask, " What one is, why may not millions be ? " For the commonest, most obscure life, may be crowned with heavenly glory, if only the redeemed child who lives it be faithful in all known duties, smaller and larger, unwearied in watching, instant in prayer. Upon such an one, no less than upon the more prominent s:iiiit, will the sentence be pronounced : " Wei! done, good and Iviithful servant ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." n Nl 3Sn Ul Udl'JIdXbdd "yinr.iv.s .tBocr/VD/NG/ivr///- uvrk of tub LOKDr SUSANNA WESLEY and AMELIA SFEVEKING. There arc briers bcsctling erery path^ That call for patient care ; 7here is a eross in erery lot, And an earnest tieed for prnyer ; B} y Io7oly heart that leans on Ihee "■■ ^I'-^ppy anyiohere. A. T-. Warino, " That which is of importance in the sight of God is not the position, but the disposition. . . . Thus Scripture contents itself with pointing out the works of those holy women whom it sets forth as models to their sex, without explaining their social and domestic relations, so that we are often obliged to imagine them. That Eunice was both a wife and ? mother, in order to give to the apostle the most valued of his fellow-labourers ; that Pris- cilla, we are allowed to suppose, was a wife without being a mother, that she might follow her husband from place to place in the service of the gospel ; that Phebe appears to have been neither wife nor mother, that she might be at liberty to carry her activity from church to church ; and that with regard to Dorcas we are not able to form any conjecture : these things in the Scripture are of secondary importance, it is sufficient that there was in each of these a faithful heart."—" IJ^cf/m/i, her Mission ajid her Life" by Adoiphe Monod, Nl asn Ul Ud±JldXbda LJ II.l od is not the nure contents 3men whom it ig their social ed to imagine n order to give ^rs ; that Pris- )eing a mother, ) place in the e been neither ry her activity •cas we are not nipture are of ■as in each of i her Life," by SUSANNA WESLEY, Born 1670. Died 1742, AND AMELIA WILIIELMINA SIEVEKING, Born 1794. Died 1859. THERE has sometimes been a question whether the single or the married life of a woman affords the greatest cp])ortunity for usefulness. A good deal may be said on both sides, witi\out perhaps any definite decision being come to. It is sometimes easier to answer a difficult question by means of ilkistration than in any other way, and two biograpiiies I have been reading seem to me to throw considerable light on the question of the married life and the single. Not, certainly, by way of deciding definitely which has the greatest capacity for usefulness ; but proving very clearly that according as either life is lived in loyal and loving obedience to the revealed law of duty, will its capacities for usefulness be quite infinite. These lives of which I have spoken, so different in outward circumstance, so similar in spirit, and both so abundantly- productive of good, were those of the wife of a poor clergyman in Lincolnshire, and of a single lady of limited means and few external attractions, in the city of Hamburg. ' I'.xtractetl from the Frkr.ds' Quarterly Exat'iine> i Paper, entitled "The Married Life and the Single," by Hannah M. Wighum. By per mijsion of the Author. 44 Consecrated Women. '1 he first of these was Susaxna Wksli: v ; and if it is true, as has so often I)ecn said, tliat great men liavo ahiiost always remarkable mothers, may we not believe that many of the excellencies of tl:e founder, and of the sweet singer, of Wesleyan Methodism may be traced to a lowly origin^n' the heart of their mother? Certainly no one can read her bio- graphy, and doubt that her diligent training, her excellent sense and her i)rayerful, watchful life, influenced greatly the lives and characters of her sons, and through them who shall say how wide that influence has been ! Susanna Wesley was the wife of a clergyman, whose income never exceeded ^200 a year. They were married about the year 1700, and had nineteen children, of whom ten died in their infancy; yet with the nine left it might be supposed the mere struggle for subsistence and the cares attending on such a family would have proved an excuse for some neglect of their mental training on the part of the mother. ]Jut before we inquire if such an excuse were needed, let us consider some of the circumstances that surrounded her. Her husband was an excellent but eccentric man, too much engaged in the duties of his pastoral office, r- . ^x literary pursuits, to give very much assistance in the ea- 1; . iucation of the children. The i)arish of Epworth, where the greater part of their lives was spent, is situated in a part of Lincolnshire known as The Island ; at that period the resort of a peculiarly wild and lawless ])opulation, upon wiiom the learning and scholarship of Samuel Wesley produced little effect, though his earnestness and fliithfulness through many years of thankless toil probably prepared the ground for a noble harvest in the future. His parsonage was twice burnt (it was believed by incendiaries, in revenge for some difference of opinion in political matters) ; and on another occasion the good man was taken off to prison' by some powerful adversary, for a small debt which a little forbearance would have enabled him to pay. These troubles as may be supposed, fell heavily on the noble wife and mother' Ni 3sn ui udijidxbdd LJ ind if it is true, J almost al\va)3 It many of the r'cct singer, of ■ly origin in the 1 read her bio- excellent sense, :Iy the lives and ) shall say how , whose income Tied about the m ten died in e suj)posed the ending on such :)me neglect of Jiut before we consider some nan, too much vi: -.n literary i; . iucation of t of their lives known as The \r\y wild and scholarship of lis earnestness i toil probably 2 future. His ncendiaries, in Lical matters) ; I off to prison, which a little ncse trouDics, e and mother. Stisanna Wesley and A. IF. Sicz'iking. 45 The second conflagration took place in the night ; the family were aroused from their slumbers by the cry of " Fire ! " but, after great exertions, it was believed all the living treasures were safe. Suddenly, however, it was found that one lovely little boy, of about six, was sleeping alone in a room which had not been entered. The father endeavoured to force his way to it, but was met by volumes of smoke and hissing flames; the staircase fell, and thus all access from within was cut off, and the father, in his agony, knelt down to commend the soul of his child to God. Meanwhile, the little one had been awakened by a red gleam on the walls, and, after attempting ■ 1 vain to escape by the door, he ran to the window, where the little white figure was espied by some kind people who had Uhered below. " (}o for a ladder ! " cried one. " There is no time," answered his neighbour ; " but mount on my shoulder and open the casement." It was done, and the child borne safely from the very jaws of the fire into his parents' arms. \\\\\ might they kneel down and thank God when they saw their children all safe about them ; and well might this son, in ;iricr years, when his fame as John Wesley was world-wide, describe himsei: as literally, as well as spiritually, '-'a brand plucked from the burning." Thus wave after wave of trouble swept over the heads of this noble pair, but the anchor of their faith held fast. It was some time before their parsonage was rebuilt, and the family, which had been perforce dispersed, was re-collected. M length, however, this was accomplished, though it was fuund that^ some good had been lost by the children during the dispersion ; and something like quiet settled down around ihem, not undisturbed certainly, for now occurred the episode of the I':pworth ghost, too well known to need descrijlion here. Notwithstanding "old Jeffrey's" movements, however the work of training and education went steadily on. Mrs. Wesley was almost the sole instructress of her daughtersj and of her sons also, with the exception of the classical lessons given to both by their father, until the sons were ready fur 46 Consecrated IVomen. college. Ilcr methods were peculiar, and might not be necessary or possible in all instances, though eminently success- ful in this. Strict discipline was of course of the first ntiportan ce among such a number, in so limited a space, and when so little help of any kind was to be had. For instance, no child was permitted to cry aloud after the age of one year ; and strict rules as to food and sleep, etc., were enacted. Perfect honesty, uprightness, and truthfulness were enforced ; reverence for their superiors, and just, as well as kindly feeling among themselves, and courtesy towards those of a humbler class ot life, were strictly inculcated. Regular school hours and lessons were observed, and, as an instance of Mrs. Wesley's indefatigable zeal and industry, it is told that, not satisfied with any manual of religious instruction within her reach, she prepared one herself for the use of her children, showing a wonderful mastery of thought and reasoning, and leading to an intelligent appreciation of the foundation and requirements of their faith. Her own T,ractice was to spend two hours daily in private and special prayer and communion with her God. Here we have one of the secrets of her strength, and of the calmness ot soul which enabled her to accomplish her daily work. She trained her children to a similar habit suited to their years ; sending them two and two to their chambers at a certain hour for Bible reading and prayer, the eldest with the youngest m charge, and so on. She also made a point of having a special reh- cious conversation with at least one of them every day, taking Them in regular course ; and by this means, and afterwards through correspondence, she maintained unbroken the bonds of confidence between her children and herself, keeping open as it were the pathway between their hearts and her own along which travelled many a loving word of counsel, ot warning, wtuuu ■, or of cheer. Few things perhaps arc more touch- iiYAy beautiful than to see how her sons, as young and strong men, applied to her for help and advice in their spiritual embarrassments and ditlicuities, how ihcy poured out tneir Nl 3Sf 1 oi udiJia-Lbda LJ Susanna Wesley and A. IT. Sicvckuig. 47 ;ht not be ntly success- \ importance nd when so ice, no child e year ; and cd. Perfect d ; reverence cling among bier class of :ved, and, as md industry, | , of religious I ;rsclf for the I -y of thought I )preciation of | 1. Her own | e and special | : have one of | of soul which I 2 trained her 1 irs ; sending \ tain hour for 1 jest in charge, I special reli- ry day, taking nd afterwards :en the bonds keeping open and her own, if counsel, ot ; more touch- mg and strong tlK;r spiritual OUl LiiCU rs troubles into her willing ear, and were animated by her words and the unspeakable yearnings of her soul for their welfare. Nor was this excellent woman unmindful of the condition of her poorer neighbours. Wiien her husband was absent on Church affairs in London, and service in the church was held only once on the Sunday, she made it a practice to invite a few of the people about, to join in her family reading with her children in the kitchen of the parsonage. This became so popular that her room was soon crowded, and she was almost startled at her own work. She read to them the best sermons she could find in her husband's library, and at length the people begged they might remain during the family worship, which she also conducted during the absence of her husband. Some exaggerated account of all this reached the cars of the worthy man, and he wrote in great alarm ; but she was so con- vinced that she was doing rightly and usefully that she said m reply, after explaining how simple the whole thing was, that if he still wished her to abstain he must command her to do so, and then she should think it her duty to submit. Thus, amid labour and prayer, wifely submission and family love, life passed away in this remote parsonage among the fens ot Lincolnshire; till at length, one by one, the sons left their home, some of the daughters married, and the father was laid down to rest in the quiet churchyard that surrounded the scene of his life-long labours. Then Mrs. Wesley went forth, still in outward poverty, and found a home with one or other of her children, until her turn too came to " go across the river." She continued to be their best eavthly guide and counsellor, and was soothed in return by their devoted love and filial care. She had the happiness of believing that all her children (though to them, as to herself, life had anything but a thornless path to offer) were conscious heirs of a better and more en- during inheritance. Some of them she saw prominently and extensively useful to a degree that has not often been equalled, and at her peaceful falling asleep she had the joy of believing that throur-h the riches of redeeming love, she would be per- 48 Consecrated Woniciu mittcd to rejoin or to welcome every one of her nlnelceu children in the belter world to which she was hastening. Of the life of Amelia Wilhf.lmina Sieveking (which, in its outward circumstances, forms so great a contrast to that of Mrs. Wesley) I shall only record a few of the more i)rominent features, which will introduce an extract or two from her ad- mirable letters. The perusal of the whole biography is an enjoyment of no common kind. She was born at Hamburg in the year 1794, and seems to have been connected through hfe with an influential and cultured circle. Her parents died while she was very young, and she sufiered from a feeling of loneliness and want of sympathy, and also from a sense of her deficiency in external accomplishments and attractions. Her two brothers were her chief playmates. The elder remained her faithful friend through life ; the younger, to whom she was almost passionately attached, and whose nobility of character and enthusiastic devotion to the true and the good justified his sister's affection, just as life was opening before him in a long vista of brilliance and usefulness, was called " up higher " to that better wodd on which his eye was steadily fixed ; leav- ing a blank in Amelias heart that was nevor wholly filled, r.iit, instead of giving way to the hopelessness of grief, -he raised to his memory the holiest of all monuments, in a re- newed ded'cation of soul and life to the objects for which it had been his desire to live. She writes to an intimate friend of this beloved brother : ««What I say to his most intimate friends is, that what he pro- mised to the world, and could not fulfil, they must now carry out, so that his spirit may not have passed wholly away from among us. Let a noble and sacred covenant be thus made over his grave. I would fain hold out my hand to all who were near to his heart, and bid them join with me i . this bond."' 3'erhaps in this baptism of sorrow into a purer and nobler consecration we may read the fulfilment of her own later Ni 3sn 01 a3rjid±sda lj n Susanna IVrs/cy and A. TV. Sicvcking. 49 ninelccu IS- icb, in its lliat of )romincnt 11 lier ad- )1iy is an unburg in rough life Mils died feeling of ISC of her )ns. Her remained m slie was f character d justified 1 him in a ip higher " ved ; Icav- olly filled. grief, she :?, in a re- r wliich it i brother: lat he pro- now carry away from thus made to all who me i . this md nobler own later bclit'f : " The Eternal Love can never take away without i:;i:iii(; in return, and giving something fairer and higher than has been taken." r.y degrees the craving of her heart for love, or rather for some object on which to pour out the pent-up treasures of her heart, found relief in the work of teaching young girls, which she undertook as her life's task. It was with her wholly a work of love; though by no means in affluent circumstances, she always refused, whether wisely or not, to accept pecuniary compensation for her labours. It was her plan to receive a class of ten or twelve girls ot her own rank, and carry them forward in their studies till the age for confirmation; and then, after a very short recess, commence with another set. This teaching and intercourse with young bright spirits were the joy and delight of her life, and, next to the Divine influence which sprang up as a well of water unto eternal life in her soul, were probably the means of preserving the youth and freshness of her inner being ; and this her labour of love was the last earthly work in which she engaged. Through all she maintained the subjective principle, and thus writes : ** When I consider what is the thing most needed to enable us to educate others well, it seems to mc to be that u terposcs with a softening influence amidst the hard con- traruties and passionate agiuuions of this world, and brings heaven down to earth, making a paradise within the heart if it cannot always succe-«d in doing so in the outward world, rha the Eternal Love may make us all, from the princess on the hrone to the lowest peasant girl, evermore truly instru- ments^ of blessing ,n His h.nd is the deepest wish of my It was her most earnest desire that the life and character of woman saould be redeemed from vanity, frivolity, and self seeking, and to see her taking her proper place vv'lh a holy and happy dignity, a place at once lowly and lofty, in the foot minister This aspiration and endeavour included all of every class, but her interest and sympathy were perhaps the strongest on behalf of those who, like herself, had not thi close tics of wifehood and motherhood to draw out their tcndorest affections. She made a single life beautiful, and longed to see it universally beautiful and happy, -if Providence" she writes to her brother and sister-in-law, who ..ere settled in England, 'if Providence grant you a daughter, let her learn early that the essential conditions of a woman's happiness are no o her than faith, and charity, and hope; and ifl do n't ve to sec her blooming youth, let this be my legacy to her the solemn assurance that a single state also may be glorified It will easily be believed that her heart was peculiarly alive t^ the enjoyments of social life and of elevatin.^ friendships l^^^ fuHuwmg extract irom a letter will show how deathless Ni 3sn Oi a3i'jiaiydd u c did not to mingle >nimon to he variety »f luiniblc magic in- lard con- nd brings ; heart, if rd world, incess on ily instru- li of my character and self h a holy the foot- but to d all of haps the the close cnderest d to see cc," she :ttled in er learn ness are do not ' to her, glorified ition of •ly alive idships. pathless Susanna IVcsLy and A. JV. Sicvd-in^, 53 she felt tliese tics to be. " One reason, among others, which makes the prospect of heaven so precious to me, is that I con- fidently anticipate the resumption there of all these passing relations here, to our mutual and ever-growing profit and blessedness. Thus every parting brings that meeting more vividly before my eyes, and what lies there in the future is for me so closely intertwined with what is round me here and now that I can scarcely look on any tie once formed as really broken." And now, at the risk of being too lengthy, I must allude again to one feature of her mind and clerner . of her work which perhaps amongst us is hardly suflkiently valued. If "order" be "Heaven's first law," she also recognised it, necessity in doing I leaven's work of goodwill to man on earth. In the government of her Society the utmost regularity was observed, strict and well considered laws were introduced, labour undertaken was required to be punctually performed ; and while much individual responsibility and freedom of action were acknowledged, the whole proceeded as the harmonious develoinnent of one great and noble thought. I have given but a feeble sketch of the beautifully rounded and proportioned life of this noble woman, a life which grew like a perfc t flower from a deep and living root, and ex- panded in aii atmosphere of humility and love to a grace seldom attained in this imperfect world. After a gradual and gentle decline of her huppy, active, and most productive life on earth, she gently passed to the presence of the Master whom she loved, doubtless to hear from His gracious lips the "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord ! " I think that none can rise from the perusal of the two biographies, of which I have given but slight glimpses, without feeling how beautiful and influential a thing a woman's life may become, and how glorious her "mission" may be, whether surrounded by the cares and anxieties of family life 54 Consecrated IVomcn. or in comparative isolation and loneliness. I may perhaps conclude in the words of another lady, whose noble talents and lovely character made a single life most honourable. Fredcrica Bremer says : " Write above the cradle of every little girl, ' Behold the handmaid of the Lord,' and inscribe the words in her heart during the time of her education, and her life will become good and noble whatever her talents may be ; and, whatever her sphere of action may become, she will not live merely for a narrow and selfish aim." Ni asn 01 aarjiaiiidd lj ly jjcrhaps blc talents lonourable. e of every id inscribe :ation, and alents may le, she will i In 4 ENDURING AS SEEING HIM WIIC IS INVISIBLE, FRAU TRUDEL. " Ye weep for those who lueep ? "she said-^ • • • » . " Go, weep for those whose hearts have bled. What time their eyes were dry ! Whom sadder can I say 1 '^—she said. E. B. Brown I Nd. i'-'-'-able grief ; take co ra I or 17 T ''''■''''' ^' ^^^ '"^^^ su-eetncss of bein- hvcdht h '' >V^°"^°'*^t'0" is found ! If tl,c thyself to be desp; t of , pHvi "n"-^' '"'" '"^' '-^"^^^ "«' loving last, of loving ahvt of b i f '''' ' °'^°^''"^" ^'•^^' ^'^ injustice that thou ha ecdvV^ ?'"'' '1''' '''' ^°'^'"«^ ^^^ thcc a help-„,eet for hi„ 'f ^' '' ^^''" ''^'^ ^'^' S^^'ved -the heart that thou seekcsish^irho ^/^^'"^-humble thyself-go by tl^y love - r,ut shou 1 L ;t^:/-"':r'^ ^" ;^-^- conquered -'<--^on,plish, even to tl,e en thv , L '" "' '''' '"J"'^'^'^ ' ^hc God vvhon> thou love ,„ Iho ",'' ''°'"'"* ^^'>' "P^" iicreafter make thcc JA'' '.'''■'"''"' ^^'^'' '''"^ ^^'^° ^^ill Ado/phcMoiioi ^^""'y ^''<^^ ''•s now this cross' w cnced. f )r tlic ' I'V sorn balance( ap])rcci;i whitli b with rei; knoweth meddle by dcati: JUit ther because hand. ( tion wli: oulwaid, rooted ai of heart the same Often th( the less heart is scious of tlms hid( Ni gsn 01 Q3iomibdd lj • . thou f the most J! Iftlic , allow not ng first, of ■V the path tlncss and as grieved lysclf— go conquered injustice ; ■^cly upon who will s cross" rii. FRAU TRUDEL. Born 1772. Died 1840, WE often hear it repeated that this or that person lias passed through the deepest sorrow that can be experi- enced. Such expressions seeiu always unjust to other mourners for the weight of suffering and the extent of desolation caused hy sorrow on different hearts and temperaments cannot be bahinced. Neither can those who look on from the outside appreciate the alleviations, many of them subtle and impalpable which bring help and soothing to different hearts. It is true with regard to the deep undercurrents of life that "the heirt knoweth Its own bitterness, and a stranger doth not inter- meddle with his joy." It is generally the bereavements caused by death which are designated as the severest trials of earth Hit there are other trials which are often all the more bitter* because not at once recognised as coming direct from God's hand. Of these, we will only touch upon the trial of separa- tion which IS appropriate to this history. Sometimes it is outwaid, and between those who are bound together by deeply rooted and most tender affection ; sometimes it is a separation of heart between those who have to live on, side by side in tlie same home, apparently on terms of the closest intimacy. Often the agony is never seen of men, but the suffering is none he less terrible; rather more so, because the poor broken heart is continually being jostled by those who are uncon- oe;ous of us condition. When it happens that the sorrow is thus hidden, or when it is one which, involving the reputation 17 "^ '1 y f IS 58 Consecrated Women. of another, is too delicate to be spoken of and is equally beyond the reach of the expression of iiiiman sympathy, the loneliness IS at tunes intense. Upon such suffering there arc two results cither of which may follow. The weary heart may turn back upon Itself and become cold and withered, or it may be re- stored under heavenly consolation and become sanctified to the highest uses. Ixx other words, the base metal tried in the crucible IS found to be useless, or by an alchemy unknown to this world IS transmuted into pure gold capable of reflecting the image of the Refiner, and of bearing any future heat brought to bear upon it. Such was the result of a " living martyrdom " m the noble woman who is the subject of the following sketch. It IS entitled " The Christian Mother," and is by her daughter Dorothea, who thus narrates the life story.i My mother frequently related to me the incidents of her early history. She was born in the year 1772, and in the twelfth year of her age was left an orphan under very painful circumstances : her mother dying suddenly after the birth of her eleventh child, and her father (a man of most violent temper, who had never learnt to control his passion) shortly after putting an end to his miserable existence. This last event so deeply impressed the girl that she could never think of her father without tears. Our mother remained with her grandparents for the nex^ four years of her life, and during this period her education was not neglected. When she had attained the age of sixteen her grandfather died, and in the following year his wife followed him. The death of the latter was a heavy calamity for the poor girl, as this relative had be n a most loving godmother to her, making up, in a large measure, for the absence of that maternal care of which she nad been deprived by the loss of her own mother. This good grandmother had faithfully ful- > Extracted from "The Life uf Faith." by Dorothea Trudcl. Ly p.^ nubsion of the rubhbhcis, Morgan and Scott. ^ ^ Ni 3sn 01 udijiMXbdd LJ Fran Triidcl. 59 liially beyond llic loneliness 1 two results, ay turn back t may be re- sanctified to 1 tried in the ' unknown to of reflcctinij heat brought martyrdom '* •wing sketch, her daughter ients of her and in the very painful the birth of nost violent sion) shortly I'his last never think or the next ucation was sixteen her fe followed aity for the odmother to nee of that ' the loss of lithfully ful- iel. Ey per- tlllcrl her tiust; and in addition to counsel and watchful ovcr.-,igIit had borne her charge in the arms of earnest and believing prayer before the throne of grace. Many readers will acknowledge the efficacy of these prayers, and recognise their answer in the guidance and upholding so remarkably afforded to our mother during her life history. The granddaughter was prepared by her relative for the bereavement that awaited her; the evening before her death she called the sorrowing girl to her side, and said : " This night I am going to my heavenly home; at midnight my Saviour will come to fetch me." She expired at the hour she had thus foretold. The orphan girl, now cast upon her own resources, earned her living by spinning ; at the same time, with self sacrificing love, and from a feeling of sympathy with their position, she undertook the charge of a family of children, who like herself had been deprived by death of the blessing of maternal care. These little ones loved her most sincerely, and they would of'cn in after years dwell with affectionate remembrance upon the self denying love and care exhibited towards them. ^\■hen she was about four- and- twenty years of age she received proposals of marric^te '-om my father. The utter unselfislmess of her nature and that self denying love to her neighbour, in willing obedience to the Master's word " Thou Shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," which she at all times displayed, attracted the notice and admiration of the one who sought her hand, and who, though not himself of religious tendencies, was fully capable of recognising the beauty of her character and the excellence of her life. Nor was there wanting considerable attractiveness of personal appearance to complete the charm. My father's father was a very godly man, and on hearing of ns son's desire to marry my mother, he told him that although '•-• 6"^'-'^> rv.Cvive tnia, liic uujccc or nis choice, as his daughter, yet that, unless he would alter his course of life and adapt himself to hers, he should prohibit the union; and this 6o Consccraicd IVovi en. 'i^uZfr,™:'"' ""°" ^ ^^ ^" 0' ^-=- '» Ws proposed "ithnnf pu^sfcrif ■'^'^'Tr''"'" '°^'-- '° "-Lord beyond mere" J" ' "'"^ "' f °' "^ ■""' ''^''S'"^'' of joy, ' '' '' """ >'°""S ™"P'« his blessing with tears fear "thlrS/ was tt "'{r"'"","" '"""^^ """ "^ -"e. presentimcn llyheaWufolT .'" 'T" '■"^''='"''' " »'•«' life might possiblv 1 1 ; "^r 7 ^?" "'•■" " "■""''l'^'' '<" i" thatsircouTd e^all h Vro°r;;' f"',""'/" '""^ ^'^ ™' f"' The^,. f„r,r 1 promise she had solemnly nipde Jhese forebodings were, alas ! too fully reilirerl T, • f"l for a child to have to relate e s.ot f " l"'"' ^^ufl-erings; but to God's glory beh s oke' { \'"°*"'» and-twcnty yea-s I knm>, i?/ i ' ' ''"""S ""e seven- l-yerfu, Lthefcou dte so .teXl ^"d""'"' "T ""' circumstances nor fin.v cT, ^'^ccrlul and quiet under all culties, a,::^ "bear „,f :,,h-r:t' ," "" ""■''^' °^ ^"«- gentle sp.ir^ n ' Sfn,, ..S thl ^ T' ""^ ,'-^^^ '- prominent feature of »; fot ^ c nr ter 1,"" ^'1 *" " the injustice tint wn/.li , ' '"'' ='"^ ^ore all .rcatmLtthtttlCpefu'prher"™^'^ '''^' ^"^ '"^ '" light than USU4 I S^X::'.'" "^ '-advantageous "How can you talk thus to us, mother? Tf t i ^ husband I should behave very d Lremi! o 1 "^ '"'^ ^ lum too well. Instead of S. him If \ ' ^'" '''''' pray about them." ^ '"" ""^ ^^'^ ^^"^^ >'0" only n^y'c^iir^^lru'nrr/^P'!,; ■'^^'^'' -'-"e. omy ..ai, .0 my husband is my ple;;;u;el .hro^gM lim TUfS fto" trust a] own w; childre: li(.'licvc well as behalf, to pray < ast int to God " \Vh could tl those d: iie happ living wi We V livclihoc very pi: mother's life, we of dome: Xotwi iiiij^atien rotif ; an ing evide our food little vari licalthy a : many of I iionictime ' luy iries i ' would in were pen i gulden w( [over and ^vants. There \ Ni T'^^^ 01 aaiomibda lj ) his proposeti ^e to the Lord nan, cleh'ghted sing with tears with a secret isband, a sad aiibled lot in did not feel y mode. '• It is pain- f" a mother's ng the seven- rd a murmur nd how our et under all idst of diffi- and joyful- lacked her vhich was a ;lie bore all md the ill he extreme, ^t aj)pcared 'ine circum- Ivantageous Jad such a ; you treat you only only w'ait, iubmission learnt to /^rau Triidel. gj trust alone in God If I had been permitted to have all my I oun way throiigh h/e, I might not have been able to give my i . hjldrcn to God so entirely as I can now. If you will nol c eve that the Saviour serids us blessings through trials, as ucll as through ease and comfort, I shall be troubled on your 1 du-ilf, even as I am on account of my husband. My duty is to pray that this rod which now smites us may not itself be .ast into the fire at last But for this rod I will gi.e thanks to (jod all my life long." "What," said I, "thankful for such a heavy trial ?" How could this be? It was to me quite incomprehensible ; for in i>ose days I could not conceive how any one could possibly .e happy in the midst of suffering. Thus my mother was a living wonder before my eyes. We were eleven children 'in family, and as our means of h\ehhoodwere extremely limited we were brought up in a very plain manner; however, by the infiuence of our dear mothers example, and powerfully affected by her prayerful e we learned to be so contented w^ith our lot that in spite of domestic troubles our youth was really a happy time ^otwlthstanding our father's frequent painful outbursts of ^ ..npatience, peace might be justly said to dwell under our ^ roof; and the order and quietude of our home were a stand- ^^^;;^'''^'^''^?^^---^^^Vr^^. Although food was necessarily inexpensive and simple, and very ttle varied in kind from day to day, yet we lee quit s ..thy as the generality of children, and more robu't than •nany of those who were our neighbours. It would happen son.etimes that our mother would refer to the comparalive .u> mes enjoyed by other families, but when doing so she H-ould invariably bid us be thankful for all the mere es we Zir^"'''""^ '" '''''''• ' ^''''''' "°^ ^^'^ than two gulden were spent upon our Christmas and New Year's treats lover and above the ordinary provision made for our doilJ , wants. -f There were times when we had not a farthing left in the W 62 Consecrated Women. house. None but God knew of our condition, and He who feedcth tlic young ravens when they cry was not unmindful of the petitions of His faitlifiil cliild. He ever helped us in our time of need. It is on this account that our mother's favourite motto, " Pray, but do not beg," has been so im- pressed upon our minds. In the course of this discipline, many striking deliverance.^', were .iiibided us, and every one around could bear wi'jR-ss that we were not allowed to suffer want. When our distress waxed ^(^ our mother would say • "Children, it i,; written, They tliat put l-ieir trust in the Lord shall never be confounded." Once one of us in childish despair «;. laimed : ^'O mother, I do believe you would say nothing if we all had to tun. beggars." Full of ronnuing trust she answered: "That can never hajjpen, for God's -vord i.s oidL/ than we are, and it says He ' will satisfy the poor with i-rcad,' and Ihat ' there is no want to them that fear Him'; and David further tells us, 'I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righte- ous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.' Children, pray and work, then you will never suffer want; and do not forget that little verse, " • Wh.itever fjood you would enjoy Must all come down from God.' " If we had only known how rightly to appreciate our privileges, we should have understood our Bible when very young, and should have learned in early years to acknowledge the almighty Guide who so wonderfully helped us. As we were so poor, of course but little money could be spared for buying us necessary clothing. Thus, for example, every year until we were confirmed we had only one pair of new shoes ; we were very lively children, and active on our feet, yet these shoes always lasted us the time. We used to believe that the shoemaker made them of particularly good leather; but when our fortunes improved so that we could afford to spend more, we found out that our shoes were made of the same leather as other people's. ber Fran Triidcl. 63 , and He who not unmindful r hd[)C(l us in t our mother's IS been so im- this discii)linc, nnd every one llowed to suffer lier would say : it in the Lord us in childish ^'ou would say hat can never and it says He :rc is no want Is us, *I have :cn the rightc- drcn, pray and lot forget that ppreciate our le when very » acknowledge s. ney could be for example, ' one pair of ictive on our We used to icularly good lat we could 25 Wcfc made I I..1V0 mem,oncd that we knew the Bible very well ; it was e only .00k we had. We learned to read by it, 'a„d" slofcs wore soon so dear .0 us that we loved to peruse them over and over aga.n This was of great benefit to us • mor" .antcularly aswe had few educational advantages, non^ of is he.ng able to remam long at sehool. The Bible was unspeak a y preoous to our n.other. During the week she waf too b-y for readu,g, but she prayed continually whilst in the midst of her daily occupations. We had early to begin helping our mother in her household and other duttes. I was not nine years old when I 1 .do ,t all d,ay at work. The thought of recreation hardly ever moThe ;^^t "" 'l-t ""' '°"S; but when we couIdTe out uno the fresh air like other children, we were as invnl as posstble for the peaceful atmosphere 'oTo 7 ho ;^hZe seemed to follow us and make us doubly happy Our mother would never allow us to indulge in the gossio nd scandal of the village; no idle words were ever head from her hps. She did not talk much at .any time it w s her example wluch ruled us, and her spirit of prayer semed .ke an electrtc cord of peace among us noisy children. I fclt compelled to subm.t myself to her kind control, and wa pos fve y m many instances unable to act as t^y self-wfl would have d.ctated. When she w.arned, or e2or ed or adnsed, she did it all in the power of the Lord which dweU m her, and her words penetrated the heart like arro^ She , averTstI ? '"'"'^ '" «°d- ""^ "- «n,embrance of he 1 on "Lanoie 7 "'TTj "'""''"'^ °' "" ^-1"- hv A Tn . „ ™^ '''"''''■«» ^^ ■"'ss'ig in the last 1— tobehoid the .orkt:;;=k]sts;rrs b.f!'i™ii"" "'^ >:™"S^^' «f her children, I can remem- 64 Consecrated J Tom en. able instance may here be recorded, relating to our mother's pious sistcr-m-law, who so fliithfully stood by us. Our aunt was so 111 that every one believed her end was quickly ap- proaching. She was quite prepared for this, but desired first to partake of the Lord's Supper. This was accomplished, and hardly a (piarter of an hour afterwards everything earthly seemed to fade away from her, so that, as she herself told us she could sec into heaven. Yet she lay in full consciousness,' and recognised all who came near. On the arrival of evenins they brought a light into the room, when she exclaimed : What do you think? there is a brightness surrounding us, such as I have never witnessed before; and I see crowds of blessed children. Oh that you too could behold these things '" Our mother thought to herself, when this foretaste of heaven is over my sister will die. She sank on her knees and earnestly entreated God to prolong the life of this loved one, at least until our mother's eldest child should be able to be some support At midnight the sick one suddenly turned towards my mother, saying : " Now I must return into this dark valley of death, I must stay awhile longer with you." She survived yet fifteen years, and until the eldest child was able to contribute her share towards the maintenance of the family 'Ihis dear relation, our aunt, lived entirely to the Lord • in- stead of working for herself her constant desire was to help us and rather than that we should suffer want she would deny herself anything. Some years before her death she even sold all her clothes to provide us with necessaries. Just as self- sacnnc.ngly did she net in the famine of 1770 : she was then barely eighteen years old, and yet she provided for the sup- port of her father and his family, working day and night to make both ends meet, and seeking in every way to cheer the life of her desponding parent. " Father," she would say, « be comforted, for I will never let any of you suffer, even if I have to starve for it." And in reality she ate for years nothing but potatoes and cold milk, while slie prepared other things fo- her fother. * ^Ve into t with Christ consic assistc self sa suflicii were 1 sician. that ti out th helpcc Eve doctor uas no telling to rem the lea especia my eye Ouci friL^ht. L;rcatly inoiher is one Jesus, • not s]x about il Not was tak told hin it and 1 child h: of your whilst y NI3SnOiQ3rjldl^dd Lj Frau Trildcl. 65 our mother's 3. Our aunt IS quickly ap- : desired first nplishcfl, and thing earthly rscif told us, onsciousness, \\ of evening ; exclaimed : rounding us, >ee crowds of hcsc things!" foretaste of n her knees, •f this loved I be able to Jenly turned rn into this lyou." She I was able to ic family, e Lord ; in- 5 to help us, would deny e even sold fust as self- le was then or the sup- id night to 3 cheer the Id say, " be m if I have nothing but thlii igs w We can now see God's gracious care in bringing my mother into this family, where father and daughter were of one heart niih her. They helped one another on in patience and Christian meekness, and often observed that they should not consider themselves well off if they had no cross. My aunt assisted our mother in our education with her usual love and self sacruice, and at the same time they earned between them sutlicient to support the family. When any of us were ill we ucre brought in prayer before the feet of the heavenly Phy- sician. Our mother had no cure except prayer; and though at that tune we did not understand, yet since that we have found out that It was the healing hand of the Saviour alone that lielped and restored us. Even when I had the small-pox and became blind, no doctor was sent for and no one was told of it. Our f\ther uas not at home ; and when our mother asked him to come telling him how ill I was, he would not believe it, and preferred to remain with his friends. Our mother however was not in the least vexed or excited; she prayed for him, for all of us c specially for her sick child ; and before my father came home liiy eyes were reopened. Once again one of my brothers had a fit brought on through triL;ht. It was a most violent and painful attack, and we were greatly alarmed. This time also our father was out, and our niuiher said to us : "I know this fearful illness, my children it IS one of the heaviest trials which could have occurred ; but Jesus, who cured that lunatic boy, can heal our child. ' Do not speak of the attack to any one, we will go only to Jesus about it." And then she prayed with us. Not long after a second fit came on, and again our father was taking his pleasure at the public-house. This time mother tuM him what had happened in his absence, but he laughed at It and said, " I don't believe it ; you were fri-htened at the child having bad dreams." His wife replied : " For the sak^ of your unbelief 1 hope that the child wiH have another attack whilst you are at home, so that you may witness it yourself; F '> 3 3 J 66 Consecrated Women. llicn you will believe; I pray God, however, that this may be the last time." It cnnie to pass about a week after that another most dreadful fit came on ; the boy threw himself about in fearful convulsions; on this occasion the father was present, and he was con^ inced of the mti:re of the attack and alarmed at what ■^ saw IJut the mother's prayer was heard, for the disease never showed itself again till thirty-four years had elapsed, and alter both parents were dead ; at that tiiue we ourselves knew the power of appealing to the Divine Helper, who remains ever willing to cure. /' . ■ ' ^^■^'^''' niade quite ashamed through the simplicity of the faith that, instead of seeking to judge for itself, let the J.ord order everything. Once in a time of „reat need a clergy- man became acquainted with the poverty of our circumstances uhich we had supposed to be known alone to God. He said to our eldest sister, who was now a great support to the family " How can you be so foolish, both mother and children, and et thi.igs go on so easily? Vour mother ought not to allow her husband to have his own way in everything ; she ought to bring a charge agamst him in the court for neglect and cruelty " The girl answered him: " W. never hear mo; Iier complain of my father's conduct, and .he does not expect us to do so cither; she tJls us God will permit n-uhing tha; 3 not meant to d(. us g.)(. 1 ; so whatever He allow, u c are not to t.ke as from our earthly father, but as what is sent us by our hea-. uily FaMier Jf God were to pcn.iit us for a lime to be witl, ut a r to she;:er us^ He would be sure to open a door for us in . e other ^p' ce, whetc, with Hb blessing, we might live. Mother says, ' long a you pray, you need never betr.'" The clergyman answered : "I cam^ot agrce^vith you there Cod pernutted Napoleon to do many things wliich were noi right ; nd on whai can your mother rely ? " "On God -.xi^x.^;^ said my s'^tcr "she never tells us how » 1 ■ ■-■nins to the first Nap.,, icon's i; a.iyn of Germany. Ni 3sn 01 ojiuiai^dd jL Fran TriidoL at this may be another most lout in fearful ■csent, and he firmed at what )r the disease 1 elapsed, and ursclves knew ; remains ever the simplicity itself, let the need a clergy- ircumstances, od. He said :o the family: children, and not to alluw she ought to and cruelty." complain of us to do so IS not meant take as from i ciily Father, uta rr to us in ^., .iO ve. Mother fi you there, ch were not tells us how ^7 lany. Cod is goin;' iK-lp, but she is always certain His aid wiiJ < unic at the i; iu time." " I'.iit," said he, " wc must be governed by reason " '• Nothing is said in the l!,ble about reason," replied n,y ^tcr; "but it is written, 'lie that beiievcth shall nut be f onfounded. * \Vhen this conversation was related to our motlier she said to us : ' Oh, children, follow my example, ti: i not to man for ■ icli., but to God; the person who seeks counsel of men, Nsho -.nis on an arm of flesh and putteth not his confidence in ; -od, must be unhai.py. You will experience," cont.nued she, • il-at they who always get help just at the ri^'it time are those V. ho never study circumstances, but who look in steadfast faith to (..od, expecting Ilim to act for and aid them; That same clergyman found out by experience that our mothers -ust was rightly grounded, for from that time our great distress ceased; and two years later he confessed that the •saving hand of the Lord was stietched out on our beh -K Just about this period our mother's faith was wonderfully strengthened and crowned by most blessed experiences of Gods faithfulness. We lived several years quite alone ,vith her, my father being abroad. On going away he sola one of our two cows, and took the proceeds with him. A rich neighbour d.rcctlv offered to lend us money enough to buy another; this kind pioposal we grate- fully accepted._ Although ve did not understan