18. What then did this great soul, worthy
offspring of the greatest, and what was the medicine for her disorder,
for we have now come to the great secret? Despairing of all other
aid, she betook herself to the Physician of all, and awaiting the
silent hours of night, during a slight intermission of the disease, she
approached the altar with faith, and, calling upon Him Who is honoured
thereon, with a mighty cry, and every kind of invocation, calling to
mind all His former works of power, and well she knew those both of
ancient and of later days, at last she ventured on an act of pious and
splendid effrontery: she imitated the woman whose fountain of
blood was dried up by the hem of Christ’s garment. S. Matt. ix. 20. What did she do? Resting her
head with another cry upon the altar, and with a wealth of tears, as
she who once bedewed the feet of Christ, S. Luke vii. 38.
and declaring that she would not loose her hold until she was made
whole, she then applied her medicine to her whole body, viz., such a
portion of the antitypes Antitypes, i.e.
the reserved Sacrament. of the Precious
Body and Blood as she treasured in her hand, mingling therewith her
tears, and, O the wonder, she went away feeling at once that she was
saved, and with the lightness of health in body, soul, and mind, having
received, as the reward of her hope, that which she hoped for, and
having gained bodily by means of spiritual strength. Great though
these things be, they are not untrue. Believe them all of you,
whether sick or sound, that ye may either keep or regain your
health. And that my story is no mere boastfulness is plain from
the silence in which she kept, while alive, what I have revealed.
Nor should I now have published it, be well assured, had I not feared
that so great a marvel would have been utterly hidden from the faithful
and unbelieving of these and later days.