the B. Virgin suddainely appeared recommending S. Ignatius to the eternall Father and demonstrating that her owne flesh was there present in the Eucharist in the flesh of her sonne The Books vvhich S Ignatius composed by diuine inspiration CHAPTER V. IT seemeth not impertinent to make mention in this place of certaine books of S. Ignatius written out of doubt by diuine inspiration as things depending and belonging to the Spirit of prophecy For though al the writings and Epistles of S. Ignatius carry with them a more then ordinary relish of diuine wisdome yet some of them in particular haue a more perfect tast of it The first booke he wrot in the first yeare of his Conuersion whilst yet he was ignorant of his Grammer-rules was that of the B. Trinity consisting welneare of eight hundred leaues In which after that glorious vision mentioned in the former Chapter he expresseth this great mistery how soeuer in a homely stile with such admirable variety of similies and exaÌ„ples that all men with whom afterwards he discoursed of that subiect stood in admiration and astonishement of it About the same tyme in like manner whilst he was yet vnlearned by the reuelations of Almighty God and instructions of the B. Virgin he wrot an other booke of Spirituall Exercises in which besides other excellent admonitions he prescribeth with admirable dexterity and methode diuers manners of prayer and contemplation fit for reformation of manners and progresse in vertue he giueth Rules for the Examination of the coÌ„science and rooting out of vice for distinguishing betwixt great and lesse offences for restraining the vnbridled passioÌ„s of the miÌ„d for discerning the motions of the good from them of the bad Spirit for the good choise of a state of life and directing that choise by the rule of Gods will for the expulsion of scruples and in conclusion giueth notable precepts for the discerning of Spirits This was that booke which gained those first Fathers of the Society and amongst them S. Francis Xauerius which hath stored many Monasteryes with famous men coÌ„firmed many Religious persons wauering in their good purposes reclaimed many dissolute people to a reformed discipline and in fine brought infinite multitudes of secular and Ecclesisticall persons through the Christian world to a reformation of their lewd liues and aduancement of their good amongst whom to omit many of lesse remarke one of the cheife is that great light of the Church and patterne of Pastours S. Charles Boromâ—us Cardinall and Arch-Bishop of Millay who drew those first beginnings of his vertuous life from these Excercises of S. Ignatius which all his life tyme after he so reuerenced and esteemed that at first once a yeare afterwards till his dying day twice euery yeare â—e was wont to make vse of them so to stir himselfe vp to vertue and a holy gouernment of his Church and with them lastly he prepared himselfe for his last agony and death No marueile them if euen in the life tyme of S. Ignatius these Exercises were wonderfully admitted by all such as had the charge of reuiewing them confirmed by the Bull of Paulus tertius supreme Pastour of the Church without altering a tittle of them and recommended by him for a worke full of piety and Religion and most profitable and vsefull for the spirituall good of soules by the Auditours of the holy Rote and Cardinalls of the holy â—â—iâ—es acknowledged for things not proceeding from the art or inuention of any man but from some supernaturall light infused from Heauen The third Booke S. Ignatius published which whilst he wrote he was so admirably enlightned and honoured with such glorious celestiall apparitioÌ„s as hath been said was that of his Constitutions of the Society of Iesus diuided into ten parts a worke much larger then any of the rest which euen in the iudgement of some Heretiks into whose hands it often falleth setting a side the doctrine of Faith and Ecclesiasticall ceremonies contained in it is esteemed a rate Peece and a thing surpassing human wisdome being a liuely patterne of a perfect and well gouerned Common-wealth And of many holy and learned men it is held a peece of work deseruing high esteeme for the depth of diuine wisdome contayned in it and for the excellent doctrine full of Christian and Religious perfections and therfore with good cause approued by many Popes The guifts of a glorisied Body miraculously bestovved vppon S. Ignatius in his life tyme. CHAP. 6. AMongst the infallible signes of the true Church of Christ some graue Eclesiasticall writers learnedly and piously recken tâ—e endowments of glorified bodyes in a proportion befitting the state of this life miraculously bestowed vpon some children of the Church famous for their holy liues amongst whom they name B Sâ—â—gnatius It is euident by the testimonyes of many graue witnesses that his body in this life was endowed with the guist of Clarity for his head and face was often seene shining in a glorious maÌ„ner so he was sene by one Isabel Rosella at Bercelona whilst he was hearing a Sermon in the Church amongst the vulgar sort of people so one Iohn Paschall saw him so he was beheld by them of the hospitall whilst he liued amongst them And at Rome by Alexander Petronius by Father Oliuier Manare and Father Levvis Gonzaluo who whensoeuer he came to Saint Ignatius praying in his chamber which he had often occasion to do he euer beheld him shining with most glorious beames And S. Philippus Nerius a man of wonderful holy life and a familiar acquaintance of S. Ignatius was a customed to say that S. Ignatius was a man of that Sanctity that the interiour beauty of his soule shewed it selfe exteriourly in him from whose eyes and countenance he professeth often to haue seene glorious beames and rayes of brightnes to proceed Concerning the guift of Impassibility his seauen dayes fasts without taking any sustinance accompanied either with a violent extasie a thing which much impaireth the forces of the body or with a cruelle whipping of his body thrice a day and many howers spent vpon his knees in prayer without any wearines or tiring of his body do euidently shew it The guift of Subtility was miraculously graunted to him when in his life tyme at the selfe same moment or instant of tyme he was perfectly seene in body at Rome and at Coller two places aboue nine hundred miles distant from each other as shal be related in the six teeÌ„th chapter And that he was often in his prayers lifted from the ground was an euident signe in him of the guift of Agility Of the wrtues and supernaturall guifts of S. Ignatius in generall CHAP. 7. BEfore our abridgement of the vertues of S. Ignatius in particular some what is to be said of his supernaturall guifts in generall by which it will appeare that he was raised by the hand of God to thâ—â— rate and eminent degree of Sanctity so to proue a fitter instrument to communicate so
THE GLORY OF THE B. FATHER S. IGNATIVS OF LOYOLA FOVNDER OF THE SOCIETY OF IESVS PRINTED MDC.XXXII At Rouâ—n by John â—ouâ—tuâ—er 1â—33 THE LIFE OF THE B. FATHER S. IGNATIVS OF LOYOLA FOVNDER OF THE SOCIETY OF IESVS AND the glory he atchiued through Gods assistance partly by his owne admirable sanctity confirmed by his miracles and Canonization partly by the wonderfull holy life of S. Francis Xauerius his associate and spirituall child partly by the many commendations of the Society he instituted many wayes diuulged by S. Teresia partly by S. Philip â—â—â—erius his rare testimony of S. Ignatius togeather with the correspondency held betwixt him and the Society partly by the knowne sanctity of S. Charles Borromeus miraculously attained by the vse of S. Ignatius his spirituall Exercises with his affection and esteeme of the Society The heads from whence such things are deriued as this treatise maketh mention of in the selfe-same words and phrases of the Authours 1. The many processes for the Canonization of the SS Ignatius and Xauerius contayning the graue testimonies of six hundred threescore fifteene witnesses concerning the life and vertues of S. Ignatius alone 2. The relations of the Auditours of the holy Rote deliuered in writing to the Pope and gathered out of sundry processes made by autority of his Holines for the Canonization of the Ss. Ignatius Xauerius Teresia Phillip Nerius receaued and approued by the Lords Cardinalls of the holy Rites as they terme them 3. The relations made in the name of the Congregation of Cardinalls of the holy Rites before our holy Father Pope Gregory the fifteenth in a priuate Consistory by the right Honorable Lord Cardinall a Monte Francisco Maria Bishop of Portua printed at Rome this present yeare touching the life sanctity and miracles of the Sâ— Ignatius Xauerius Teresia and Phillip Nerius 4. The memorable things done by the SS Ignatius Xauerius Teresia Phillip Nerius Charles Borromaeus published at Rome Naples Salamanca Venice Madrid Antvverp Collen Ingolstade Dilinge Ausbourg other places by permission of superiours Out of all vvhich heads this treatise vvas compiled at Cracouia printed by Andrew Petriconius vvith licence of Superiours and intituled The glory of the B. Father Saint Ignatius of Loyola Founder of the Society of IESVS Which copy wo follow APPROBATIO Cracouiensis EGo Sebastianus Nucerinus Sanctae Theologiae Doctor Ecclesiae Cathedralis Cracouien Ordinarius Concionator librorum in dioecesi Craco In lucem prodeuÌ„tium Censor fideÌ„ presentibus facio quia opusculum hoc de Gloria S. Ignatii Loyola Fundatoris Societatis Iesu à Patribus eiusdem Societatis prius relectum vidi ac deuoto studio probaui atque vt lucerna haec in candelabro Ecclesiae typo poneretur potestateÌ„ feci Crac. 6. Iulij Anno 1622. Sebastianus Nucerinus THE GLORY OF St. IGNATIVS OF LOYOLA Founder of the Society of IESVS Of the Birth of S. Ignatius and of his Conuersion to a good life CHAPTER I. SAINT Ignatius was borne in that part of Spaine adioyning to the Pyrenan hills which beareth the name of Biscay in the yeare 1461. His Father was Bertrand Iannez Lord of Ognez and Loyola of an ancient noble Family His Mother no way inferiour to her Husband in worth and Nobility was Mary SaÌ„chez descended of noble PareÌ„ts Lords of Balda Both which families in Biscay are of the number of them to which the Spaniards giue the name and title of Great Ones These were the parents from whom S. Ignatius descended who being himself endowed with admirable parts of soule and body hauing been bred a Page some tyme in the Court of King Ferdinand the Catholike desirous now to gaine himselfe a reputation by the warres betooke himself to Don Antonio Manriquez Duke of Naiara and Vice-Roy of Nauarre one who had been anciently allied with the family of Loyolaes began to apply himselfe wholy to the warres But the Castle of Pâ—â—plona the principall Citty of Nauarre the defeÌ„ce of which was coÌ„mitted to the charge of Ignatius chancing to be besieged by the French Army a stone driuen out of the wall by the force of the Artillery wounded him in his left thigh as he was seruing brauely at the head of his troupes and so vtterly broke his right leg that with the blow he fell halfe dead vpon the place which hapned vpon whitson Munday the 26. of May in the yeare 1521. Ignatius being wounded the Fort was taken by the French by whom Ignatius was nobly treated cured of his hurts and sent home But whilst yet he kept his bed demaunding some prophane Bookes to passe his tyme two Bookes were brought vnto him one of the life of Christ the other of his Saints with the perusall of which he found himselfe so touched that to follow the stepps of Christ he resolued to leaue the world and take a iourney to Hierusalem there to confirme the Christians in matters of spirit and to conuert the Infidels to the Faith of Christ The memorable things done by S. Ignatius from the tyme of his conuersion till his death CHAPTER II. SAint Ignatius now cured of his hurts bids adieu to his PareÌ„ts all worldly distractions notwithstanding the strong opposition of his Brother and being to serue from thence-forth vnder the colours of Christ tooke his iourney to the Monastery of the Benedictin Monks of Mont-serrata where making a generall confession of his sinnes a thing in those dayes almost out of vse offering vp his sword and dagger with which he serued the world in the Church of that Monastery he watched that whole night being the Eue of the Saluation of our B. Lady before the Altar of that sacred Virgin bare-headed clad in a course long Cassacke girt with a Cord dedicating himselfe there to the seruice of God in the yeare 1522. from wheÌ„ce he departed continuing to yeild worthy fruits of pennance in the Hospital of Manresa and in a Caue neare the Riuer which washeth the feilds therabouts and arriued at last at Rome in the yeare 1523. where hauing had the blessing of Pope AdriaÌ„ the 4. he trauelled foreward towards Hierusalem But not being able for the imminent daunger and feare of the Turks to remayne there and employ his endeauours in the gaining of soules he returned into Spaine where that he might the better assist his neighbour in affayres of spirit being now thirty yeares of age he put himself to the Grammer-schole at Bercelona spending afterwards at Alcala a yeare and a halfe in the studies of Philosophy and Diuinity and lastly in the space of almost eight yeares made a repetition of these studies at Paris liuing vpon Almes in coÌ„tinuall works of Charity Humility and Pennance where by the example of his holy life by his prayers spirituall discourses he gained to himselfe Nine other Companions and amoÌ„ght them S. Francis Xauerius Men famous for their vertues discretion and learning And togeather with them made a vowe that their course of
propriety of the persons and this in a way of vnderstanding so plaine so perfect and so beyond the iudgement of the senses that as he himselfe confesseth in a little treatise found after his death of his owne hand writing it had been impossible for him in many yeares study to haue attained the like knowledge And in an other booke he left writtē that he though it impossible in this life to arriue to a more perfect knowledge and vnderstanding of mysteries then Almighty God in a certaine vision had been pleased to reueale to him Which often reuelations intermingled with a kind of vnspeakeable delectation were wont to possesse his vnderstanding not for a short space but often-tymes for many dayes togeather so that whether-soeuer he went whether he were in his chamber in the Refectory whether at home or abroad they euer accompanied and as it were watched with him with the vehemency of which he was often so trāsported and did so loose himselfe that he seemed in spirit euer to be in Heauen in body only vpon Earth Moreover the very first yeare after his conuersion whilst he liued at Manresa the principall points of the Society he was to Institute and such things especially by which the Society differeth from other Orders were reuealed to him by Almighty God as he himselfe acknowledged to Father Iames Laynez one of the first of his Society and other graue Fathers who when they demaunded of him for what cause he ordained some things in the Society differing from the customes of other Orders he yeelding them a particular reason for each thing they demaunded in conclusion was wont to place the force of all his reasons in those admirable inspirations miraculously bestowed vpon him at Manresa and the recollection he made there in which Almighty God sealed and imprinted in his mind most manifest and euident notions of all these things At his departure out of Spaine giuing some good precepts to one Iohn Pascall at that tyme but a youth for the rest of his life to come and being asked of the youth what would become of him take hart child quoth he when thou growest elder thou shalt marty and haue thy share of many troubles which shall hinder thee from beīg trāsported with pleasures or being slack in imploring the assistance of God And so it fell out It was miraculously reuealed to him that one of his companiōs taken with a solitary life casting with himselfe how to forsake the Society was affrighted by Gods permission with an ill Spirit One Peter Ferrus a Patauian borne liyng sick past human hope of recouery was certainely foretould by S. Ignatius that by the helpe of the Mother of God he should shortly recouer the night following the sick man expecting with deuotion what would become of him the Mother of God accompained with a glorious traine of Virgins presented her selfe to him and by giuing him her picture restored him his health The day following Ignatius returning with a countenance more cherefull thē ordinary not being ignorant of what had passed found Peter recouered and said vnto him Did not I tell thee that the Mother of God would recouer thee The death of Agnes Paschalis who ended her dayes most holily at Bercelona was miraculously reuealed to him at Rome so that the letters of Antony Araozius one who was present at that widdowes death brought him afterwards no newes of it At Antvverp long before the founding of the Society of IESVS he foretould one Peter Quadratus a Spaniard that he should one day be the founder of a Colledge of the Society and so it fell out for he afterwards with Francis Manionia his wife foūded the Colledge of Medina del Campo He foretould one Simon Rodriguez that infallibly he should recouer and escape that sicknes It was miraculously discouered to S. Ignatius that a certaine person not long before admitted into the Society being so molested with an office imposed vpon him that he could not take his rest or sleep in the night tyme therfore began to thinke of returning back into the world the Saint commaunded the party to be called to him in the night tyme out of his bed discouering to him by little and little his most secret cōcealed thoughts with an admirable dexterity quieted his troubled mind The like charitable offices with the like insight he performed to many others who not being able through their ignorance to make knowne their diseases he discouered the nature causes of them prescribing remedies for them He foretould one Stephen Baroellus lying dangerously sick that he should not dye of that disease who presently after recouered to the admiration of all mē His Companions at Venice finding strong opposition by many powerfull enemyes and being halfe resolued to let their busines dye informed S. Ignatius of the danger they flood in who returned answer wishing them they should not forsake the cause of Christ for by his assistance they should bring their busines to their desired issuë which promise did not faile them for within eight dayes after a sentence was giuen to their aduantage almost by the vniforme consent of the Senate a thing esteemed no small miracle by men of vnderstanding that two strange and vnkown Fathers of the Society and they of the Spanish nation should be able to contest with the fauour and riches of the most eminent Cittizens of that Citty He foretould Don Fracisco de Borgia whilst he was yet Duke of Gandia and F. Iames Laynez that they should one day be Generalls of the Society of Iesus He discouered to Michael Arrouira whilst he was yet a youth the most inward secrets of his hart about a marriage he then intended with many miseries that were to befall him I omit other examples of his spirit of prophecy too long to be mentioned in this short abridgement The manifold and often visions of S. Ignatius CHAP. IV. FOR as much as celestiall visions haue a dependency of the Spirit of prophecy this is a fit place to make mention of them not that the Sanctity of Gods seruants is diriued from them seeing it may be is often tymes found without them but because they are also certaine ornaments of Sanctity therfore some rehearsall is to be made of them for with these also in as eminent a degree as may be attayned in this life Blessed S. Ignatius was plentifully stored The frist vision he had was of S. Peter the Apostle who restored him to health when the Phisicians had giuen him ouer for it pleased his Diuine Maiesty to haue him restored to health by the cheife Pastour vnder Christ and Prince of his Church whom in a manner proportionable to his diuine prouidence he had chosen for a speciall Champion enlarger of the same Lying awake one night sick in his Fathers house the B. Virgin Mary appeared to him with her little Infant IESVS in a bright and glorious māner not shewīg her selfe slightly but remayning long in his
wrote to him he did it with reuerence vpon his knees and in his Reliquary he wore the name of S. Ignatius cut out of a letter of his to him as the relique of some great Saint whilst yet he was aliue He suffered himselfe to be guided like a child by S. Ignatius depending wholy of him and euer cherishing in his brest an admirable opinion of his sanctity which vpon all occasions he desired to expresse VVhich words saith S. Chrisostome in the like subiect hom 1. ad populum do sufficiently demonstrate and speake all his vertues for the iudgments of Saints goe not either by fauour or disfauour but are to be held vnquestionable The B. Virgin S. Teresia added much to the glory of S. Ignatius CHAP. XIX IF the glory of the Father be the wise child as holy writ expresseth the B. Virgin S. Teresia that glorious Foundresse of the Disealced Carmelites a woman so famous for her admirable and heroicall vertues who by those eminent degrees of Contemplation arriued to so fast a freindship with Christ renowned for her writings of mysticall Diuinity glorious for her patience and sufferance of labours one so higly esteemed through the Christian world for her reformation of the Carmelytes an elect spouse of Christ who through her vehemency of diuine loue was often surprised with extasies a woman famous for that fiery Cherubins dart piercing her brest one inflamed with an vnquencheable desire and thirst of soules adorned with the flower of pure Virginity glorious ouer the Christian world for her celestiall visions her spirit of prophecy her manifold guift of cures in her life tyme and after this sacred Virgin I say added much to the glory of S. Ignatius as one who acknowledged herselfe a child of his Society making vse of the Fathers of it for her confessions and the whole manage of her spirituall affayres and miraculously came to the knowledge of many things in praise of the Society leauing testimonyes of it both by word and writing and particularly in her Lise written by her selfe by the commaund of a certayne great Diuine of the Order of S. Dominick Out of which Life translated afterwards into Italian printed at Rome in the yeare 1601. and dedicated to Pope Clement the eight by the Arch-Bishop of Auignion I will here relate some passages translated word by word into Latin In the 5. Chapter and 47. page of the said life S. Teresia writeth thus I Remained in this blindnes aboue 17. yeares as I remeÌ„ber til a certaine learned Father of the Order or S. Dominick opened my eyes in some things and they of the Society of Iesus possessed me intyrely with such feares to wâ— that certaine sinnes were not to be esteemed trâ—fles which some ignorant Ghostly Fathers had taught her to be no sinns aggrauating my ill conceaued principles as I will relate hereafter c. In the 23. Chapter and 236. page of the same life S. Teresia writeht thus VVHen the Fathers of the Society of Iesus arriued here to whom I not knowing any of them found my selfe much addicted only because I had vnderstood as well of their insight into matters of Spirit as of their maÌ„ner of Praier but I found not worth in my selfe to discourse with them nor strength enough to obey them c. And againe in the same Chapter page 239. the speaketh thus IT was for my greater good that I came to know and deale with men so holy as they of the Society of Iesus It is here by the way to be noted that one Antony Kerbeke an Augustin Friar in his Latin version of the life of S. Teresia published at MeÌ„ts the yeare 1603. and printed by Iohn Albin hath omitted this almost all things els written by S. Teresia in praise of the Society But what his drift was in it it is hard to iudge And in the 244. page I Was afflicted suspecting my owne misery that they of the houshould should see me deale with persons of such Sanctity as they of the Society I seemed to haue the greater obligation not to become so miserable and to depriue my self of my idle recreations And againe page 246. in the end of the Chapter S. Teresia writeth BLessed be God who gaue me grace howsoeuer vnperfectly to obey my ghostly Fathers who for the most part were those blessed men of the Society of Iesus and my soule afterwards began to perceaue a manifest amendment as now I will relate In the 24. Chapter and 249. page she writeth thus of the Society I Dwelt not farre from them reioysing much that I could haue often communication with them for my only knowing of the holines of their conuersation was the cause of that great proficience I discouered in my soule In the 33. Chapter and 364. page writing of a certaine iourney she made with licence of her Prouinciall I Was much comformed when I vnderstood that in that place there was a House of the Society of Iesus In the 38. Chapter and 421. page she writheth thus of the Society SAint Teresia here in her originall manuscript expresseth the name of the Society and reported the same by word of mouth witnesse Ribera in his life of S. Teresia printed at Rome in the 4. Booke 5. Chapter and 207 page which life the Reuerend Father Friar John a Iesu Maria discalced Carmelite in his abridgement of S. Teresia's life printed at Rome in the yeare 1609. and dedicated to Pope Paul the first stileth a history most worthy to be credited in his 1. Book 1. Chapter and 4. page thus say S. Teresia writeth of the Society I saw admirable things of some Religious persons of a certayne Order and of the whole Order in generall I oftentymes saw them in Heauen with white banners in their hands and at other tymes I had the like visions full of admiration In which respect I hould the said Order in great veneration as one who haue long conuersed with them and perceaue their liues to be conformable to that which Almighty God hath reuealed to me of them The same is to be read in the life of S. Teresia pag. 303. published in Latin by Martin Martinez and printed at Collen by Iohn Kinckius in the yeare 1620. And in the same Chapter in the page 430. of her life S. Teresia writeth thus FInding my selfe thus much afflicted in soule and body in a certaine Church of the Society of Iesus where I was hearing the Masse which one of the Fathers said for a Brother of the Society lately deceased I saw him enter into Heauen with great glory and by a particular fauour accompany the Maiesty of our Lord. In the 39. Chapter and 447 page towards the end BEing saith she in a Church of a certaine Colledge of the Society whilst the Brothers of that Colledge were receauing the B. Sacrament I saw a precious garment or as the Italian translation stileth it Pallio hang ouer their heads and this I saw twice but when other
people communicated I saw no such thing In the. 40. Chapter and 455. page of her life she speketh thus of the said Society of Iesus witnesse Ribera in her life writen by him in his 4. Booke and 5. Chapiter BEing vpon a tyme at my prayers with great recollection peace and quietnes I seemed to my selfe to be placed neare God and inuironed with Angels where I besought his diuine Maiesty for the good of the Church And it was reuealed to me what profit should accrew to the Church by a certayne Religious Order in the later dayes together with the fortitude with which that Order should vphold the Church And Ribera in the place aboue mentioned expresseth these words spoken then by Christ to S. Teresia to haue been vnderstood of the Society of Iesus as Martin Martinez translateth them pag 307. Oh if thou didst know what supplies those men shall bring to the decaying Church in after ages c. Which vision she saith she often had And howbeit in that life of S. Teresia which goeth about in print the name of the Society is not particularly expressed yet in the originall life and in all written copies I haue seen of it the name of the Society is particularly vsed And these words of our Sauiour she repeateth againe in the 40. Chapter howsoeuer not expressing the name of the Society which as I said is apparent and receaued from the mouth of S. Theresia her selfe So Martinez The said S. Teresia hearing one day the Masse of F. Balthazar Aluarez of the Society of Iesus her Ghostly Father saw him crowned with a Crowne of wonderfull brightnes all the tyme his Masse endured as Lewis de la Puente recounteth in the life of F. Aluarez c. 6. § 1. pag. 69. It was reuealed to S. Teresia that the said F. Aluarez her Ghostly Father should be saued and our Sauiour shewed her an eminent place in Heauen which he was to enioy adding that he was at that present arriued to so high a degree of perfection in this world as was not exceeded by any man then aliue that according to that degree his seate in Heauen was prepared that he was gon beyond the perfection of all creatures then vpon the earth and yet then the Church of God was well stored with men of rare Sanctity as well in the Society as out of it This reuelation S. Teresia discouered to F. Baltazar himselfe and other Fathers of the Society and to some of her owne Monastery other Religious persons who reported it as a truth infallible She noted it also in her secret Notes which fell afterwards into the hands of Diego Iepesio Bishop of Tarazona who set forth her life in Spanish in the yeare 1606. and dedicated it to Pope Paul the fifth amongst which Notes he finding this reuelation imparted it to others as Lewis de la Puente writeth in the life of F. Aluarez § 2. pag. 124. and 126. The said S. Teresia being demaunded by one of her NuÌ„ns whether she thought it would any way auaile her to be directed by F. Aluarez replied that it were a great mercy of Almighty God to her for quoth she he is one to whom my soule oweth more then to all others in this world and who hath more assisted â—â—d directed me in the way of perfection So writeth Lewis de la Puente in the life of F. Aluarez cap. 11. in the beginning of the page 117. The same S. Teresia appearing many yeares after her death to a certaine seruaÌ„t of God of approued vertue credit and one particularly deuoted to herselfe and comforting her in her afflictions amoÌ„gst other things vttered these words And I my selfe quoth she am a child of the Society and had one of that Order for my Ghostly Father whom now I see and honour in Heauen Which she vnderstood of F. Aluarez for though she had other Ghostly Fathers also of the Society yet he remained longest so and with great industry assisted her to put in execution those her aspiring thoughts and of whom she boasted that he had been her Ghostly Father and Master Se Lewis de la Puente in the life of F. Aluarez cap. 58. § 1. page 607. The same S. Teresia knew by reuelation of the death of fourty Fathers and Brothers of the Society martyred by the heretikes in their iourney to Brasill and as soone as they were put to death reuealed it to F. Aluarez her Ghostly Father that she had seene theÌ„ with crownes of Martyrdome in Heauen As Diego Iepesio Bishop of Tarazona writeth in the life of S. Theresia lib. 3. cap. 7. pag. 152. The same S. Theresia saw the soule of F. Gutierez of the Society of Iesus who died in France for the faith by the miseryes sustained in prison carried in triumph into Heauen with a Laurell of Martyrdome as is to be read in the life of F. Suarez printed at Lions 1620. in the begining of his first Tome de Graâ—â—a But they of the Society who haue either been Ghostly Fathers of S. Teresia or els at her intreaty haue had the examination of her spirit or reuelations and haue approued them are these following as they are mencioned by the writers or translatours of S. Teresia's life B. Francis Borgia F. Antony Araoz F. Giles Gonzalez F. Balthazar Aluarez F Martin Gutiers F. Salagar F. Ripalda F. Paul Hernandez F. Rodorignez Aluarez F. Santander F. Francis Ribera F. Henriquez F. Bartholmew Perez others singularly expert in matters of spirit whose names the Reader may find in the abridgment of the life of B. Mother Teresia set forth at Rome by the Rd. Father Friar Iohn discalced Carmelite in his 1. booke 1. chapter and 8. page and 1. booke 10. chapter and 51. page and 4. booke 4. and 5. chapters 227. 231 pag. And in Ribera 4. booke 7. Chapter and 316. page of his Roman edition in Italian And in the 8. page of the Italian abridgemeÌ„t published at Rome this present yeare And in the preface of Cosmo Gacci annexed to the Italian life of S. Tertsia And in the Epistle dedicatory of the said life printed in Latin at Collen by Iohn Kinckius And that S. Teresia drew those first beginnings of her more tender and entire freindship with Almighty God from the aduise and couÌ„sel of a Ghostly Father of hers of the Society the R. Father Iohn a Iesus Maria discalced Carmelite witnesseth in his abridgement of her life lib. 1. c. 10. pag. 51. in these words About that time saith he her Ghâ—stly Father deceased at Abâ—â—a a thing which much afflicted her because she coÌ„ceaued she should hardly find another to succeed him so answerable to her desire Yet she chose another of the same Society who discouering that out of a noblenes of disposition in her she would not suffer herselfe to be behind hand with any person who bore her any affection in the way of freind-ship in such things nouerthelesse as lesned not her affection to heauenly
subiects counselled her vtterly to retrench and renounce all such freindships a thing which appeared some what rigorous in her eye when she reflected vpon the ingratitude if it But the Father vrged that she would haue recours to prayer enioyning her for some dayes the hymne of the holy Ghost for obtayning light in that particular which she seriously vndertocks and praying some what long for that intention vpon a certayne day she was surprised with a suddaine extasie which till that tyme was a thing vnvsuall with her and being welneare depriued of her senses she heard these words within the center of her soule It is my will that now thou hould freindship with Angels not with men VVhich words added so strong a resolution to her brest that in a moment she ouercame herselfe in that which for many yeares to geather by great industry and much importunity she could not conquer in herselfe From this tyme forward our mercifull God began to speake to her and often conuerse with her Thus he Of the glory deriued to S. Ignatius from S. Philip Nerius CHAPTER XX. BEfore we treat of the meanes by which S. Philip Nerius increased the glory of S. Ignatius we will breifely touch who and how eminent a man this S. Philip was He was therfore the Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory which as it hath begotten many famous meÌ„ so amoÌ„gst others it produced that renowned writer of Ecclesiasticall Annales Caesar Baronius and Thomas Bazius author of the two Tomes of the maker of the Church whose spirituall Master and Father B. S. Philp was amongst all other Christian vertues in which he was eminent he euer preserued his virginity vntouched besides which he had a miraculous guift bestowed vpon him of discerning in chast persons the perfume of chastity and in others the ranknes and stench of vnchastity He was famous for the guift of Prophecy he arriued to the knowledge of many things concealed farre from him and such as were the most intimate secrets of mens harts he foretould things to come he was vsually comforted with the apparitions of Christ and of his Angells and Saints He appeared to many in his life tyme releeuing them in their afflictions he cured sick persons without number and recouered men gasping at deaths dore he restored one dead man to life in his life tyme another after his owne decease to omit many other glorious miracles wrought by him he was seene raised from the ground in the tyme of his Masses and other deuotions he reclaimed many men from their sinefull to a vertuous and religious life he was euer held in great veneration of all men In conclusion he ended his dayes at Rome full of merites the 26. day of May the yeare of our Lord 1595. in the 80. yeare of his age This eminent man was a familiar acquaintance of S. Ignatius at whose hands he sought long before his institution of the Congregation of the Oratory to haue beene admitted into the Society as his familiar freinds the two Cardinalls Cusane and Bellarmine to whom he himselfe had often tould it bore witnesse of him after his decease but he receaued a deniall from S. Ignatius as a man designed by the prouidence of God for some other Institution beneficiall to the Church howbeit he was euer a tender louer of the Society as wel in the life tyme of S. Ignatius as after of whom as Gallonin amongst other sworne witnesses testifieth in the 15. page of his life published at Rome in Latin S. Philip was wont to say that S. Ignatius was a man of that sanctity that the interiour beauty of his soule shewed it selfe in him exteriourly professing to haue often seene rayes of brightnes to proceed from his eyes and countenancd which thing as well the Auditours of the holy Rote as Cardinalls of the holy Rites vnderstood to be an euideÌ„t token of his sanctity No merueile then if S. Philip being an eyewitnes of the sanctity of S Ignatius was wont to haue recourse to him for counsell in his doubts and was comforted with the only sight of him when he was afflicted in mind and that after the death of S. Ignatius he euer cherished that freindship begun with the Society Besides when he changed his place of habitation froÌ„ S. Hierom. to a place neare the Church of S. Maria in Valicella for many yeares after as long as he continued Gernerall of the Congregation of the Oratory he vsed for his Ghostly Father F. Iohn Baptista Perusco of the Society of Iesus a man of holy life and well versed in affaires of spirit And afterwards hauing resigned his Office of Generall to Cesar Baronius one of the same Congregation and begun to vse him for his Ghostly Father which was two yeares before his death beiÌ„g then worne out with yeares vnable to betake himselfe to F. Perusco dwelling farre from him he was often accustomed notwithstanding at certaine tymes of the yeare to addresse himselfe to him and by a Generall Confession to giue him an account of his conscience Of the glâ—ry accrewing to S. Ignatius by S. Charles Borromeus CHAP. XXI THat matchlesse example of Sanctity S. Charles Borromeus Cardinal and Arch-Bishop of Milan was not the least cause of S. Ignatius his glory of whom he euer bore a pious memory after his decease by the vse of his booke of Spirituall Exercises arriued to that emineÌ„t degree of sanctity notorious to the whole world and as much as he could conueniently perpetually made vse of his Society as appeareth by many conuinâ—ing arguments out of the memorable things done by S. Charles published by certaine domesticall Prelats of his Iohn Peter Guissano Grattarolio and others In the yeare 1562. S. Charles being to receyue holy Orders and desiring worthily to prepare himself to offer vp his first Sacrifice of the Masse to Almighty God he made choise for that purpose of the house of the professed Fathers of the Society at 〈◊〉 where he prepared himselfe with the Spirituall Exercise of S. Ignatius Founder of the said Society So writeth M. Aurelio Graitarolio in his Italian Booke of the successes of the veneration of S. Charles and in an Oration made vpon his anniuersary day before an other Cardinall Borromeus the Clergy and people of Millan the yeare 1601. The same S. Charles when he had with great pompe ceremony celebrated his first Masse in publike to satisfy the deuotion of the people that he might more freely comply with his owne priuate deuotion he would celebrate his second Masse the next day in the house of the professed Fathers of the Society and that in a priuate Chappell S. Ignatius was woÌ„t to vse where he watched that whole night Se Sachinus in his history of the Society part 2. lib. 7. n. 11. In the yeare 1562. In the first beginning of his Priest hood he began also with more then ordinary austerity and frequent prayers to dedicate himselfe to the exercises of vertue In
studies being ended and all other respects set aside they would take their iourney to Hierusalem and wholy apply themselues there to the gaining of soules but if within a yeares space they should light vpon no commodity of shipping or should not be permitted to remayne at Hierusalem that then their vowe being dispeÌ„sed with they should repaire to Rome offering their seruice to his Holines for the spirituall good of their neighbours But he himselfe hauing contracted a grieuous payne in his stomacke by his continuall laborious watchings and studies and hauing with the rest of his Companions after a strict examen demaunded by themselues and graunted them been honoured with the degree of Doctor in that Vniuersity at last by the counsell of his CoÌ„panions and aduise of Phisitians he returned to his natiue Country Where after the working of many miracles when he had recouered his health he tooke his iourney towards Venice whether the rest of his CompanioÌ„s by agreement were likewise to repaire and in that Citty was preferred to the dignity of Preisthood But the yeare aboue mentioned being now expired and their embarquing for Palestin cut off by reason of the warres broken fort betwixt the Turke and the Venetians he with his Companions came to Rome in the yeare 1537. At Rome he presented his seruice to his Holines for the gaining of his neighbour The Pope approued the pious resolutions of these Fathers reclaming many soules by the industry of S. Ignatius and his spirituall exercises and placed two of Ignatius his Companions in the Roman Vniuersity commonly knowne by the name of Sapientia there to read the publike lectures of Scripture and schoole Diuinity Meane while S. Ignatius instituted the Society of IESVS for the defence and propagation of the Faith and the gaining of soules and procured to haue it ratified by the Sea Apostolike in the yeare 1540. in which Society besides the three vowes common to it with other Orders he added a fourth vowe by which promise is made to obey his Holines in vndertaking iourneyes to the Turks and Infidels for the gaining of soules without demaunding any stipend or prouision for that iourney Which done he composed the Constitutions of the Society directed by admirable Diuine inspiratioÌ„s as shall hereafter be declared And being himself by the vniforme consent of his Companions chosen General of the Order after he had gouerned it with an admirable reputation of wisdome and sanctity for the space of fifteene yeares three monethes and nine dayes and dispersed welneare a thousand of his Society in almost a hundred seuerall Colledges ouer the whole world not only in Italy Spaine France and Germany but euen in the East and vvest Indies Iaponia Brasil Ethiopia Persia infinite multitudes of people being conuerted by him and his to the true Faith and good life hauing instituted many â—â—â—gs for the good of tâ—â—â—oly Church brought to a câ—stome the often frequenting of Sermons Lectures Masses Confession and Communion in Rome first and afterwards in other places of the world hauing by these meanes discouered the subtility of the Diuell and set a new lustre vpon the face of the Church he ended his dayes of a gentle ague full of merites strengthned with the Popes blessing and the Sacraments according to the rites of the Church and gaue vp his Ghost most peaceably into the hands of his Creatour inuoking the name of IESVS in the yeare 1556. the last day of Iuly the 65. yeare of his age famous for his holy life and miracles as wel in his life tyme as after his decease and for other rare endowments of which we now treate The gift of Prophecy in S. Ignatius most perfect CHAP. III. BEcause the gift of Prophecy in comparison of supernaturall vertues is esteemed one of the ordinary or meanest ornaments of Sanctity and therfore to be attained without grace or Gods frieÌ„dship from thence I thought good to begin the prayses of S. Ignatius And for as much as by the Spirit of Prophecy many things not subiect to our senses are discouered and things yet to come are infallibly foretould the secrets of mens harts are layd open and which is more admirable rare the very secrets of Almighty God surpassing human vnderstanding are perfectly vnderstood all these things were in S. Ignatius in as eminent degree The very first yeare immediately after his conuersion Almighty God began admirably to enlighten his vnderstanding for going for deuotion sake to visit a Church of S. Paul the Apostle without the Towne of Manresa resting himselfe in his iourney neare the Riuer Rubricate which ruÌ„nes through that Towne vpon a suddaine a certaine diuine light shined so cleare vpon him that by that without the helpe of any Master he perfectly vnderstood many things not only of the mysteries of Christian beliefe but of the most subtile questions and opinions of Philosophy as perfectly as if they had been presented to his view in some curious looking glasse mysteryes which other me after long reading and paynes hardly comprehend In which celestiall vision he remayned a long space not without infinite comfort and consolation of mynd Ar other tymes also by certayne secret signes and mysticall examples the order that great workeman obserued in the Frame of this world was represented vnto him which mysteryes as in themselues they surpasse the forces of human vnderstanding so S. Ignatius afterwards affirmed that it was a thing not possible to ghesse at them much lesse to expresse and make them vnderstood to life And of this kind about the same tyme he miraculously came to to the knowledge many other things By which diuine fauours he was so far forth confirmed in Faith that though no other monuments had been extant of Christian Religion yet by these only mysteryes miraculously reuealed to him he would haue been most ready to giue his life for the Catholike truth In which respect S. Ignatius may well apply to him selfe those words of S. Paul For neither haue I receaued it from men neither haue I learned it but by the reuelation of Christ Iesus Which extraordinary manner of faith infused in S. Ignatius whilst yet he was vnlearned as well the Auditours of the holy Rote as the Cardinalls of the holy Rites particularly noted in their relations to his Holines His course of studies being ended at Venice in his retirement to Vicenza and in his iourney to Rome he often receaued so many diuine reuelations and so absolute and perfect content and consolation that he seemed not only to be restored againe but to be restored with aduantage to the state in which he had formerly found himselfe at Manresa which place for the singular fauours shewed him there by Almighty God he was wont in a religious merriment to stile his primatiue Church At such tyme as he composed the Constitutions of the Society amongst other things he principally receaued reuelations of the mystery of the B. Trinity of the diuine Essence of the distinction