The life which we are now about to offer the public, will undoubtedly be acknowledged to be one of the most remarkable that has appeared in our century. A poor, simple seamstress chosen as the mediator between the anger of a justly offended God and the sins of a guilty, ungrateful people: — the heavenly ambassadress to one of the mighty courts of the world:— the recipient of the most astonishing revelations:— and all this in our days! Is it possible that visions, ecstasies and revelations are the lot of mortals of the nineteenth century? Do these not rather belong to the days of the prophets, of the apostles? Sit Nomen Domini benedictum! May the Name of the Lord be blessed! His arm is not shortened, nor his holy spirit mute in our day more than in times gone by. The life of this generous spouse of Christ is only one of the many proofs that his Church is now, as it ever has been, holy: holy in her doctrine, holy in her ministers and holy in her children.

In obedience to her superiors, Sister Mary St. Peter writes her own life, the charm of which lies in its childlike simplicity. Her humility and her obedience shine forth in every line, producing the most wonderful fruits of generosity and zeal for the salvation of souls. What a heroic mission was hers! To establish Reparation in the Church; to vindicate the honor due to the most Holy Name of God. And with what admirable generosity, untiring zeal and devotedness without reserve, has she not delivered herself to the Spirit of the Most High, to be a docile instrument in his hand for the glory of his Name, and the consolation of his Holy Face!

It is to you, O children of Erin, whom the iron heart of the usurper has driven from your green hills and fertile valleys, to you who have braved the perils of the deep, the dreary exile in the midst of a strange people, to you who, in the midst of trials and dangers, of difficulties and hardships whose name is legion, you who have gloriously surmounted every obstacle and have succeeded in planting the faith from ocean to ocean, from the ice-bound shores of the Canadas, to the zephyr-fanned plains of Mexico, it is to you to uphold the glory of the Name of the Most High; to teach your children to honor this most Holy Name, to perform all things in the name of God, the hallowed expression of your ancestors: In the Name of God. It is to you, the Irish American people, worthy children of a St. Patrick and a St. Bridget, to you is this little book affectionately dedicated. May its perusal produce fruit a hundred fold to the glory of the most Holy Name of God!

May 1, 1884.

PROTEST OF THE TRANSLATOR.

In obedience to the decrees of Urban VIII, of holy memory, we protest that we do not intend to attribute any other than purely human authority to all the miracles, revelations, graces and incidents contained in this book, neither to the titles holy or blessed applied to the servants of God not yet canonized, except in cases where these have been confirmed by the Holy Roman Catholic Church and by the Holy Apostolic See; therefore, to their judgment we submit all that is written in this book.

The proceeds of the sale of this book are destined for a charitable purpose.

Promises Made by Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sr. Mary St. Peter in favor of those who honor his most Holy Face.

“By my Holy Face you will work marvels.”

“You will obtain from my Holy Face the salvation of a multitude of sinners.”

“If you could comprehend how agreeable the sight of my Holy Face is to my Heavenly Father!”

“According to the care you take to repair my countenance disfigured by blasphemy, so shall I be animated in the same degree to transform your soul which has been disfigured by sin; I will imprint thereon my own image, and I will render it as beautiful as when it came forth from the baptismal font.”

“My adorable Face is the seal of the Divinity, having the power to imprint itself on the souls of those who apply it to their persons.”

“As in an earthly kingdom, the subjects can procure all they desire by being provided with a piece of money stamped with the effigy of the monarch, so also shall you be able to obtain all that you desire in the kingdom of heaven, on presenting the impress of my sacred humanity, which is my Holy Face.”