Chapter IX
Of The Admirable Doctrine Taught Her By Our Lord, And Which She Adopted As Her Rule Of Life.
Let us now examine the spiritual edifice of Catherine's perfection, with the grace of Him who is its cornerstone and foundation; and as faithful souls find their life and their strength in the word of God, let us first dwell upon the lessons that she received directly from the beloved Master. In the beginning of her visions, Catherine related to her Confessors, that our Lord appeared to her, while she was meditating and said to her: " Know, my daughter, what you are and what I am; if you learn these two things, you shalt be truly blest: you are what is not, and I am the great I Am; if thy soul is deeply penetrated with this truth, the enemy cannot deceive you and you will avoid all his snares; you will never consent to do any thing against my commandments, and you will acquire without difficulty, grace, truth and peace." In this short and simple doctrine, do we not find the "length, breadth, and height" of which St. Paul speaks to the Christians of Ephesus ? Our Lord also said to her in another apparition: "Daughter think of me and I will think continually on thee." Catherine comprehended this saying to mean, that God commanded her by this, to banish all her own thoughts from her heart, and keep no thoughts but his, without being anxious about herself and her salvation, so that no distraction could enter into it for God knows all, and can do all, and he will watch and provide for the necessities of such as meditate on him and
