On the feast of St. Mary Magdalene while I was reflecting on the friendship with our Lord I’m obliged to maintain and also on the words He spoke to me about this saint,1 and having insistent desires to imitate her, the Lord granted me a great favor and told me that from now on I should try hard, that I was going to have to serve Him more than I did up to this point. This favor gave me the desire not to die so soon, that I might have time to be occupied in His service, and I was left with strong determination to suffer.