[1] ‘Sora’ in this place does not mean ‘sister’; it is an expression in Roman vernacular for which we have no equivalent, and is applied to respectable persons of the lower class who do not aspire to be called ‘Signora,’ ‘Mrs.,’ or ‘Miss,’ as with us. ‘Sor’ or ‘Ser’ is the masculine equivalent; we had it in use at p. 194. [↑]
[2] The word used was ‘candida,’ and not ‘bianca,’ as expressive of purest white. [↑]
[3] ‘Sant’ Antonio ed il Santo Bambino.’ [↑]
[4] I believe St. Anthony was never in Rome; but his genial winning character made him so popular that the people speak of him as one of themselves. [↑]
[5] St. Anthony’s date is 1195–1231; so the idea of making his observer a Protestant, and a smoker to boot, is very quaint, and is an instance of how chronological order gets confused by tradition. [↑]
[6] ‘Fraticello’; ‘good little friar.’ An affectionate way of speaking of Franciscans often used. [↑]
[7] ‘Magàri!’ a very strong form of ‘indeed.’ [↑]
ST. MARGARET OF CORTONA.
St. Margaret wasn’t always a saint, you must know: in her youth she was very much the reverse. She had a very cruel stepmother, who worried her to death,[1] and gave her work she was unequal to do.