[152] Documenti su S. Caterina da Genova, University of Genoa Library, gives a note by Angelo L. Giovo, based on the Book of the Acts of the Protectors of the Hospital: “1506, Marzo, 16mo. Si vede che detta Catarinetta Adorna haveva cura dell’ Hospitale, ricevendo li figli esposti e li pegni per essi.”
[153] From Dre. Ferretto’s copy of the original in the Archivio di Stato.
[154] The clause in this Will which says, “And Testatrix, knowing that the said Giuliano her husband, left to a certain female Religious £150: Therefore she herewith annuls the said legacy, in virtue of the power given her for this purpose,” reads, at first sight, like a harsh, unjust act. But it follows upon a similar annulation of the legacy to the Hospital; and we may be quite sure that Catherine, who had now loved and served this Institution for thirty-three years, would not treat it unjustly. And in the Will of 1509 Catherine explains that the former legacy has been annulled, “in consideration of the satisfaction or settlement (solutio) already effected by Testatrix herself with regard to the said legacy.”
[155] Documenti: extracts by Giovo from “Acts of the Protectors.”
[156] From Dre. Ferretto’s copy of the original in the Archivio di Stato, Genoa.
[157] From Dre. Ferretto’s careful copy of the original in the Archivio di Stato, Genoa.
[158] In the printed Vita a passage occurs on p. 10b, describing the interior heat which accompanied her great fasts (1476-1499). But the passage is wanting in the MSS., and is no doubt only a gloss to explain how, at those times, she came to drink water mixed with vinegar.
[159] “Operazione”: Vita, pp. 106c, 117b, 121b, 143b, 148b, 149c. “Assalto”: pp. 138b, c (3); 139a; 143, b, c (3); 144a (2); 148a. “Assedio”: p. 118b. “Saetta”: pp. 141a, 145a. “Ferita”: p. 141a, c (2). “Raggio”: pp. 133b, 157c. “Scintilla”: pp. 132a, 148b. The “ferita” occurs already (as a “dolce ferita”) in the account of her Conversion, pp. 4, 5; and “saetta,” “ferita,” “raggio” and “scintilla,” appear very often in her own sayings.
[160] The passage in Vita, p. 10b, which declares that she “felt” (tasted) something sweet within her, upon drinking that salt and sour water during her long fasts, is wanting in the MSS., and is itself an interesting attempt to materialize her saying, on p. 11b, as to the “other thing” (i.e. the love of God), that she was “feeling” (tasting) within herself.
[161] Vita, p. 8a.