city and the most astonishing depth of thought,
and they foreshadowed, as it were, the vast and sublime spectacle which
later was unfolded, when it became evident that the past, the present,
and the future, together with all that pertained to the sanctification,
profanation, and judgment of souls, formed before and within her an
allegorical and historical drama, for which the different events of the
ecclesiastical year furnished subjects, and which it divided into
scenes, so closely linked together were all the prayers and sufferings
which she offered in sacrifice for the Church militant.

On the 22nd of October 1818 Sailer came to see her, and having
remarked that she was lodging at the back of a public house, and that
men were playing at nine-pins under her window, said in the playful yet
thoughtful manner which was peculiar to him: 'See, see; all things are as
they should be--the invalid nun, the spouse of our Lord, is lodging in a
publichouse above the ground where men are playing at nine-pins, like
the soul of man in his body.' His interview with Anne Catherine was most
affecting; it was indeed beautiful to behold these two souls, who were
both on fire with the love of Jesus, and conducted by grace through
such different paths, meet thus at the foot of the Cross, the visible
stamp of which was borne by one of them. On Friday, the 23rd of
October, Sailer remained alone with her during nearly the whole of the
day; he saw blood flow from her head, her hands, and her feet, and he
was able to bestow upon her great consolation in her interior trials.
He most earnestly recommended her to tell everything without reserve to
the writer of these pages, and he came to an understanding upon the
subject with her ordinary director. He heard her confession, gave her
the Holy Communion on Saturday, the 24th, and then continued his
journey to the Count de Stolberg's. On his return, at the beginning of
November, he again passed a day with her. He remained her friend until
death, prayed constantly for her, and asked her prayers whenever he
found himself in trying of difficult positions. The writer of these
pages remained until January. He returned in May 1819, and continued to
watch Anne Catherine almost uninterruptedly until her death.

The saintly maiden continually besought the Almighty to remove the
exterior stigmas, on account of the trouble and fatigue which they
occasioned, and her prayer was granted at the end of seven years.