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THE CORONATION 489
minded men against the preachers of the Gospel.
The
angels often visited them in visible shapes, conversing
with them and consoling them in the name of the most
blessed Mary. At other times they performed the same
office interiorly without manifesting themselves; some
times they freed them from prison; sometimes they
warned them of dangers and snares; sometimes they
accompanied them on their way or carried them from
one place to another where they were to preach,
or informed them of what they were to do ac
cording to the circumstances peculiar to certain places
or peoples. Of all these things they also kept their
blessed Lady informed; for She took care of all of them
and labored with them more than all of them together.
It is not possible to enumerate the cares, solicitudes and
diligent doings of this kindest Mother for
;
not a day or
a night passed, in which She did not perform many mira
cles for the Apostles and for the Church. Besides all
this She wrote to them many times, animating them with
heavenly exhortations and doctrines, and filling them with
consolation and strength.
568. But what is more wonderful : She not only com
muned with them by means of her angels and by letters,
but She appeared to them Herself, whenever they called
upon Her or when they were in some tribulation or ne
cessity. Although (besides appearing to the Evangel
ists, concerning which I have already spoken), She ap
peared to many of the Apostles, I will here speak only
of her apparitions to saint Peter, who, as head of the
Church, stood in greater need of the counsels and as
sistance of the most blessed Mary. Hence to him She sent
her angels more frequently, and the saint sent those,
which were assigned to him as pontiff of the Church,
and he wrote to Her and communicated with Her oftener
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