19. Of the wine miraculously placed in her cup

A certain poor woman afflicted with the falling sickness was begging a drink from door to door. And when from horror of her infirmity all avoided her and shut their doors, the virgin, com passionate and shunning no one in misery, learning of her sad case, gave word that the beggar, who was near her house, should be called to her and brought in. Coming in then to the virgin, she begged the alms of a drink. Then the sick virgin, pitying the poor beggar, since she had nothing better at hand to give her, bade her take the cup of wine standing on a shelf and drink it. "Take that cup, child," she said, "and drink what wine is in it." And when, having emptied this, the thirsty woman asked for still more, the virgin answered that she knew not what other drink there would be in the house. But that she might not go away sad and unsatisfied, she gave her a penny to buy a drink therewith at a ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM tavern. After this, as evening drew on, the virgin's lips became parched with thirst. She therefore asked her father, who was living at that time, to hand her a little wine to refresh the dryness of her thirst. He answered, "Certainly," and taking the aforesaid cup to fulfil his daughter's request, at once he spilled over himself the wine which by God's will had been placed therein. And so for the little which she had graciously given to the poor woman in her need, she received from God wine of a much better sort and in greater quantity. And when the father told his daughter this, she in wonder gave thanks to God from her heart. And this wine was red and so well tempered, that it was not necessary to mingle water with it, as she was wont to do with the other. And this wine lasted from the feast of St. Remigius1 until the feast of the Con ception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.2 At which time she received a visit from a certain good matron named Catherine Simons, who was accustomed from a special devotion to supply her with wine. She, not knowing the mystery of 1 October ist. 2 December 8th.

ST. LYDWINE of SCHIEDAM the wine given by God, wishing to provide some better and fresh, as thinking this wine spoilt from being there too long, poured it all out, and thus she no longer enjoyed that heavenly favour. Nevertheless the virgin told her friend, the aforenamed Catherine, before she poured out the wine, that this wine was quite suitable and sufficient for her, and that she had never tasted the like before. This sign of grace was wrought for her in the year of the Lord one thousand and four hundred and twelve, while she still drank half a pint of wine a week.