From her very earliest childhood she had besought our Lord to impress the marks of his cross deeply upon her heart, that so she might never forget his infinite love for men; but she had never thought of receiving any outward marks.

Rejected by the world, she prayed more fervently than ever for this end.

On the 28th of August, the feast of St.Augustine, the patron of her order, as she was making this prayer in bed, ravished in ecstasy and her arms stretched forth, she beheld a young man approach her surrounded with light.

It was under this form that her Divine Spouse usually appeared to her, and he now made upon her body with his right hand the mark of a common cross.

From this time there was a mark like a cross upon her bosom, consisting of two bands crossed, about three inches long and one wide.