ABSTRACT
During these troubles Gregory XI. died, and at the election of his successor, Urban VI.> the schism in the church resulting in. the election of an Anti-Pope ensued. Urban was as harsh and unbending as his predecessor had been yielding, and Catherine's letters to him abound in gentle warnings and earnest advice to temper zeal with charity. He prized her advice so highly that he summoned her to Rome, the troubles in Florence being now appeased. She never saw Siena again. On her arrival in Rome, she was desired to come to the Consistory, and speak before the assembled. cardinals on the schism and present troubles. " She spoke learnedly and at some length, exhorting all to constancy and firmness." By her efforts mainly, the fidelity of Siena, Florence, Peru gin, .Bologna, and Venice was secured. At the Pope's command, she summoned many saintly and learned men to come to Rome to support bim with their counsels. The castle of St. Angelo still held out against him; she presented herself before the commandant> and, by her earnestness, succeeded in inducing
him to avoid further bloodshed, by surrendeIing. On the occasion of an insurrection against the Pope, she laboured for three days among the malcontents, and it was mainly by her efforts that peace was restored. At this time it may almost be paid that she ruled in Rome. Every morning she repaired to the Capitol, where the gonfaloniers of the republic awaited her. No measure ofimpod:ance was adopted without her counsels. Urban bestowed upon her the fullest powers and authority to act for the good of the Church. Prominent citizens waited at her door every day fot a bIief interview, and for words of advice on matters of difficulty, private and publio. The chiefs of the army sought her counsels, and the sick and the prisoners sighed for the return of the day and hour which brought her to their bedside, or to theil' cell. Every day she went to St. Peter's to offer up her prayers for the people; every evening she retired to her own room to pray and to intercede, through the long night.
