Towards the conclusion of the year 1819, the blood first flowed less
frequently from her wounds, and then ceased altogether. On the 25th of
December, scabs fell from her feet and hands, and there only remained
white scars, which became red on certain days, but the pain she
suffered was undiminished in the slightest degree. The mark of the
cross, and the wound on her right side, were often to be seen as
before, but not at any stated times. On certain days she always had the
most painful sensations around her head, as though a crown of thorns
were being pressed upon it. On these occasions she could not lean her
head against anything, nor even rest it on her hand, but had to remain
for long hours, sometimes even for whole nights, sitting up in her bed,
supported by cushions, whilst her pallid face, and the irrepressible
groans of pain which escaped her, made her like an awful living
representation of suffering. After she had been in this state, blood
invariably flowed more or less copiously from around her head.
Sometimes her head-dress only was soaked with it, but sometimes the
blood would flow down her face and neck. On Good Friday, April 19th,
1819, all her wounds re-opened and bled, and closed again on the
following days. A most rigorous inquiry into her state was made by some
doctors and naturalists. For that end she was placed alone in a strange
house, where she remained from the 7th to the 29th of August; but this
examination appears to have produced no particular effects in any way.
She was brought back to her own dwelling on the 29th of August, and
from that time until she died she was left in peace, save that she was
occasionally annoyed by private disputes and public insults. On this
subject Overberg wrote her the following words: 'What have you had to
suffer personally of which you can complain? I am addressing a soul
desirous of nothing so much as to become more and more like to her
divine Spouse. Have you not been treated far more gently than was your
adorable Spouse? Should it not be a subject of rejoicing to you,
according to the spirit, to have been assisted to resemble him more
closely, and thus to be more pleasing in his eyes? You had suffered
much with Jesus, but hitherto insults had been for the most part spared
you. With the crown of thorns you had not worn the purple mantle and
the robe of scorn, much less had you yet heard, Away with him! Crucify
him! Crucify him! I cannot doubt but that these sentim