Chapter IX. Of the woman to whom he foretold that her bad husband would become good

38. In those days when the man of God was on his way to Cella di Cortona a noble woman of the fortress called Volusiano heard of it, and hastened to go to him. At length she came to him, wearied with the long journey (for she was very delicate and tender), and when the most holy father saw her tired and panting he pitied her, and said: u What is thy pleasure, lady?" She answered: "Father, that thou wouldst bless me". And he asked: "Art thou married or unmarried?" "Father," she replied, "I have a veiy cruel husband who is an adversary to me in serving Jesus Christ, and my greatest grief is that I cannot perform the good will wherewith the Lord has inspired me, because my husband hinders me; wherefore I beseech thee, holy man, pray for him that God's mercy may soften his heart." The father wondered to see a man's spirit in a woman, the wisdom of the aged in a girl, and moved by pity, said: "Go, blessed daughter, and know that thou shalt soon have consolation of thy husband". And he added: "Tell him on God's behalf and on mine that now is the time of salvation, and afterwards that of justice". Having received this blessing the woman returned home, found her husband and told him these words. Forthwith the Holy Ghost fell upon him and caused him, having been changed from the old into a new man, with all gentleness to answer: "Lady, let us serve God and save our souls in our own house". His wife replied: "It seems to me that continence should be laid in the soul like a foundation and that the other virtues should afterwards be built upon it". "And this," he said, "is as pleasing to me as to thee." Thereafter they led a celibate life for a good many years and happily departed on the same day, one as a morning holocaust, the other as an evening sacrifice.

Happy woman thus to soften her lord unto life! In her is fulfilled the Apostle's saying: "The unbelieving husband hath been saved by the believing wife". But such (to use a common expression) may be counted on one's fingers nowadays.