YOUNG GIRL CONDEMNED

In the mission of Itatina, in Peru, under Fr. Samaniego, S.J., there occured an extraordinary event which became known by all the inhabitants of the town and was certified by so many actual witnesses that its veracity could not be doubted.

In the house of a woman of means, there was a young 16-year-old servant girl by the name of Catherine.

As she grew up she became more and more dissolute even though she was often punished by her mistress.

Catherine sinned and went to Confession. However, out of shame, she hid what she was doing.

In August of 1500, she became ill. A priest came to hear her confession, but Catherine made it superficially.

On the night she died the whole house was filled with such a terrible odor that it was necessary to carry her body outdoors.

During this same month, as one of the servants was entering the dining room, she heard three times a call in Catherine's voice. Frightened, she left the room and did not return until she had two others with her with lighted candles.

When they arrived, all three heard Catherine tell the first one that she ought to separate herself from her companions and throw away the candle, because this caused her pain. The phantom gave off an unbelievable stench, the flames were seen flicking out from the place whence the voice came.

Catherine said: "Know that I am damned and that I suffer horribly because I had declared in confession only my slightest faults, accusing myself, for example, of having spoken too much, of having been angry, etc,. while I hid my gravest sins. God orders me to give you this warning so that you may give it to others."

At that moment the Angelus bell was heard from the nearby church and the flaming specter disappeared.

This fact is related by Fr. Francis Benci, the Jesuit, in his Annual Letters of the Company of Jesus (1500-1501, pg. 762).

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