one minute His obedience was so rare as you shall hardly find more perfect in these our times For tryall wherof being once bid by his Superiour to goe into the Indies the word was scarcely spoken but he was presently ready to haue put it in execution if the Porter would haue opened the dore And the Rectour demaunding afterwards of him how he thought to haue gone not hauing either prouision or commodity of shiping he answered that he went with great confidence in God whome his Superiour represented and who would prouide him of all things necessary that if he had not found the commodity of a ship relying vpon holy Obedience he would haue aduentured to haue gone vpon the seas He shut a doore through which he had occasion to passe almost cōtinually euery time he passed for the space of many yeares because his Superiour had asked him once why he did notshut it Another time the good Brother being sicke of a vehement ague the Rectour discoursing with him of spirituall matters as his manner was asked him if his head did not trouble him whereū to he answered that it did Thē said the Rectour vnto him Brother talke no more which he so punctually obserued that he spaken or one word all that night thou the infirmamariā did aske him many questions He continuated in the same manner the next day and when the Infirmarian tould him he might well answere because it was a necessary matter he said not without leaue of Father Rectour hereupon the Rectour was called and the Brother began to say If your Reuerence will giue me leaue I will answere the Infirmarian and Phifitian when they aske me any thing The Rectour asked him why he did not answere before Because said he your Reuerence yesterday bad me speake no more He had a great zeale of soules yet alwayes conformable to his estate for by his spirituall talke his modesty and good example he continually preached being Porter of the Colledge of Maiorca for the space of 30. yeares with vertuous reputation at home and edification abroad He hath done admirable things in conuersion of soules stirring vp all those who treated with him to great deuotion and holines of life He was very carefull to pray continually for the conuersion of the whole world and that with so great feruour of mind that he did offer himselfe to endure the paines of hell for all eternity for gayning the soule of one poore Blackmore or slaue if God were pleased therewith And once or twice God did so eleuate him in spirit that he faw and knew all the men women in the world and reuealed vnto him that by those godly desires of his he did merit as much as if he had conuerted all that multitude Concerning his modesty there was no man that euer saw him to haue swarued from the least point of perfection he went with his eyes still fixed on the ground without casting them any way so that for the space of 40. yeares he neuer looked any woman in the face though he vsually gaue wine to the Communicants after receauing the B. Sacrament at Masse He was so giuen to silence that albeit he conuersed all his life both with domesticalls and strāgets yet he is not knowne to haue spoaken the least idle word He delighted much to talke of God and if others did happē to talke of others matters he presently fell a sleepe He spake of spirituall things with so much affection that many persons of this Iland came of purpose to treate with him about their spitituall affaires and to aske his aduise in their doubtes By frequent cōuersation with Almighty God he had attayned to so great and height of spirituall knowledge that he left some Bookes written with his owne hand in which he speaketh so excellently of vertues that he farre surpasseth many learned men writing of the same subiect By reason wherof the Vice-roy of this Iland Bishops Counsellours Magistrats Knights and gentlemen had such an opinion of his wisedome that they would not vndertake any busines of importance without his aduise to whome he gaue great satisfaction by his plaine and pious discourses dismissed them with assured hope of the good successe of their busines which was neuer frustrated if they obserued his counsell His pouerty was so extraordinary that he was neuer content but when he tryed some effects therof He was sorry when the worste things of the house were not giuen him If he found but a pin he would not keepe it without leaue He desired continually to feele some want both in his dyet and apparell lodging and the like It could not be but that he who was so carefull ouer his senses should haue attayned vnto such angelicall purity as Saint Ignatius his Father required in those of the Society both of body and minde And therfore he neuer looked any man in the face but he wept most bitterly for a good while after which he did all his life time for hauing once cast his eye by chance vpon a coach passing by To be briefe by his practise of all sortes of vertue he seemed rather to be an Angell then a man for not only in these later yeares but for 40. yeares together he hath not bene noted to haue done any thing not only not imperfectly or according to his owne humour but so that it might seeme to be done most perfectly in so much that although the whole world and the forces of hell it selfe should haue opposed against him he would not haue ceased to doe that which was most perfect and for the greater glory of God which he had continually in his mouth and much more in his heart He was so punctuall in the obseruation of his Rules that he would rather haue bene cut in peeces then breake the least of them He did so hate singularity that euen in these later yeares wherin he was subiect to infirmitys he could not endure to sit at the table of the Conualescentes or such as were weake and in recouering of their health much lesse to haue any particular thing brought him Many haue conceyued so great an opinion of him that they would willingly haue passed the seas only to haue seene him and many great men both Secular and Ecclesiasticall were wont to come to the Colledge and stay there sometime only to conuerse with him who went away astonished with his readines in answering at the gate satisfying of all which came with his good carriage sweet answers and diligence in his Office Thus going on and mounting by degrees he came at last to that perfection of loue towardes almighty God that if his diuine Maiesty had notin a manner by miracle preserued him he had died through the vehemency of his loue as himselfe hath left written and also deliuered in giuing an account of his conscience to his Superiour which his rule commaundeth twice a yeare And to the end those things may be more assured he hath for
Confraternity arriued to a good quantity sufficient for the reliefe almost of twenty persons Wherevpon he taking the bread and wine home to his house inuited all the poore people round about who flocked thither in great numbers to whom he began to distribute the same with his owne hands and it multiplied so much that it sufficed three hundred persons all being satisfied and praysing God for the great liberality bestowed vpon them and acknowledging the miracle Other Miracles which hee wrought in his life time are innumerable and would fill a great volume to recount them al. But those which haue happened since his death at his holy Body by his intercession to God are sat more in number some few only whereof according to the breuity this place requireth shal be recounted afterwards when we haue said a word or two of his death which happened as followeth In the yeare of our Lord 1170. which was the last of his life whem by diuine Reuelation hee knewe that his death drew neare hee intreated to haue the B. Sacrament brought vnto him which hee receaued with great Reuerence and Deuotion and after made a long and most deuour speech to those of his househould and neighbours present exhorting them to liue Christian-like and in the feare of God and obseruations of his holy Commandements And so with a most sweete and amiable Countenance rich in merites and famous for miracles he quietly and most happely gaue vp his soule to God When the bruite of his happy death was spread abroad the people of Madrid came to see and to touch his holy body whom many held for a Saint for the miracles which they had heard him to haue done but especially those of the villages neere about and of the poorer sort of people that were better acquainted with the manner of his life and had seene and bene present at many miracles which he had wrought Not-with-standing because he was exteriourlie poore his body was buryed in the Churchyearde in an ordinary Graue among all other people where it remained for the speace of 40. yeares of whom all this while little or nothing more was spoken of except it were amongst the meaner sort of people of the adioyning Villages who had byne best acquainted with him when he liued But our Lord who would haue this his Saint honored as well in earth as in heauen at the ende of fourtie yeares reuealed his intention to a pious and venerable Matron of Madrid who had all this time bene very deuour vnto Saint Isidore for the miraculous things she had heard recounted of him by the fornamed Iohn de Vargas wherfore to satisfie her deuotion she dealt seriously with the Pastour of the Village to haue his body translated into the Church and layed in some decent place therof promising to defray all the charges there about The Pastour being a vertuens man and hauing heard much talke of the miracles which he did when he liued made further inquirie thereof and found that hee was in deede a very holy and innocent man and that the Fountaine which was close by the village and very profitable and commodious for all the people for the excellent water there of was mireculously raised out of the ground by his merites he dealt with the Bishop expounded vnto him the Matrons pious request and hauing obtained his licence appointed a certaine day for the remouall of the said body into the Church In the meane time there was a little Vault propared humble and decent at the cost of the foresaid deuout Matron where his body was appoynted to be layde And when the day appointed came the people there about resorted to the solemnitie according as the Pastour had informed and inuited them All being ready the Pastour with the rest of the Clergy of the Church came in manner of procession to the Churchyard and opening the Graue where his body lay they found it whole and vncorrupt and as fresh and faire as if he had byne dead but the day before it being fourtie years complete after his decease and from the same there proceeded so sweet and fragrant a smell that it rauished all that were present The graue was no sooner opened but all the bels of the steeple began to ring in excellent tune and order of themselues and so continued during the Ceremony and vntill he was translated into the Church and laid in his new Sepulcher to the astonishment of all that heard them at which time also were healed many persons of many sorts of diseases After his body was thus decently laid in the Church very many began to do great reuerence therto and it pleased God to witnesse of what great merit esteeme he would haue this his seruant to be by the many and wonderfull miracles daily wrought at the same by his intercession of some whereof we shall speake a word And first to begin with a continuall miracle which remayneth euen vnto this day the water of the fountaine which he miraculously raised out of the ground hath cured infinite people of all sicknesses and infirmities and is had in very great esteeme by all the inhabitants both of the Citty and Country roūd about where you shall scarcely find a house who hath not some of the said water continually preserued in vialls of glasse or botles ready for all infirmities or suddaine sicknesse that may happen especially agues or blew spots And when oftentimes there happeneth the sicknes of the plague the people find none so presēt or assured remedy as the water of the said fountaine Another miracle that hath very often bene seene testified by thousands of all sorts of people is that the Lampe which hangeth before his sepulcher hath bene oftentimes lighted from heauē without putting any fire therto by the industry of man Nay which is more when there hath wanted oyle in the lampe and the same filled with water the weeke hath burned as cleere and as bright as with oyle Which some curious persons haue desired to proue and they themselues both by putting in water and lightning the weeke because they would not belieue the same without their owne experience The women of Spaine haue a very peculiar deuotion to S. Isidore when they are great with child in labour of Childbyrth because very many haue bene safely deliuered by his intercession and by commending thēselues vnto him in the extremity of their labour at such times as there hath bene little hope of life Those also who be troubled with the Gout haue great deuotion vnto him for that many haue bene holpē being in great extremity and cured of that infirmity by his merits and prayers Vpon a time there was a man who desired to get a relique of the holy Saint whether for himselfe or for another is not certainly knowne This man watching his opportunity and hiding himselfe in the Church till all were gone thence the dores being locked came to the Tombe and making shift to open a
which very much confirmeth the veneratiou of holy Images and pictures In the yeare of our Lord 1603. in Vall dolid a principall Cirty of Spaine one Ferdinand Pretel of Mendoza vpon the 29. day of September had fallen into a single Tertian ague which not many days after came doubling and doubling so long vpō him till at last it was turned into a pestilēt feuer which some call the blacke ague the Spaniards Taberdillo and fot all the Phisicke he tooke in great abundance it brought him at length to so desperate a case that now quite and cleane beinge giuen ouer of the Phisitians he made his confession receiued the Blessed Sacrament and desired that in due time he might haue the Sacramēt of Extreme Vnctiō All which things done the third day of December holding in his hands an Image of S. Ignatius which he had hanging about his necke he called vpon him with a lowd voice and with all his heart commended himselfe vnto him that he might obtaine his health when vpon the sodaine he began to be well and was deliuered from his disease hauing his strength restored him againe in such sort that the thirteenth day of the same moneth he made nine daies iourney frō Valladolid to Valentia through cold and craggy mountaines in the very hart of winter These and multitudes of other miracles being daily seene and wrought throughout Europe together with the Intercession of many Christian Kings and Princes to the sea Apostolike for further declaration of his Sanctity to the world he was by Pope Paul V. beatified in the yeare of Christ 1613. and his feast kept solemne with great deuotion and concourse of people to the Colledges of the Society throughout Christendome And Pope Gregory the XV. being assumpted to the chaire of S. Peter being moued with the foresaid miracles many new ones daily wrought being also thervnto incited at the request of Ferdinand the Emperour of Philip the fourth King of Spaine Lewis the XIII King of France Sigismond King of Polomia the Archdukes of Austria Dukes of Bauaria Sauoy Florence Parma Mantua and others he was Canonized for a Saint in S. Peters Church at Rome vpon the 12. day of March in the yeare of our Lord God 1622. THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS Xauier of the Society of Iesus and Apostle of the Indies taken also out of the authenticall Relation made in Consistory by Cardinall de Monte the 19. of Ianuary 1622. before Pope Gregory the XV. vpon the Acts of his Canonization c. FRANCIS Xauier was borne in that part of Nauarre which belongeth vnto Spaine in the yeare of our Lord 1497. in the Castle of Xauier of noble Parents to wit Iohn Iasse President of the Kings Counsell of the same Prouince and Mary Azpilcueta Lords of the towne of Xauier and other places ther about who hauing piously brought him vp and diligently instructed him in the principles of Christian Doctrine whē he was growne to ripenes of yeares sent him to Paris that he might furnish himselfe with learning in that famous Vniuersity And afterwards when his father was about to send for him home Mary Magdalen Francis his sister who then with great fame of sanctity was Abbesse of the Monastery of the Reformed Nunns at Gandia being by diuine reuelatiō informed of her Fathers present purpose and the future glory of her brother wrote vnto her said Father that he should maintayne Francis still at Paris in his studies by all meanes possible yea though he should be forced to spend all his reuenewes vpon him to that end For that God Almighty had chosen him to be an Apostle of the new found world Francis therfore at Paris comming to be acquainted with Ignatius Loyola who was afterwards founder of the Society of Iesus was with many prayers and teares by the same Ignatius obtayned of our Lord to be his companion in procuring the glory of God And being instructed by him in the spirituall Exercises profited so well therby that as one set on fire with the loue of Euangellicall perfection and setting naught by all the honours and riches of the world he couragiously vndertooke and constantly followed vnder the bauner of the same Ignatius an austere and contemptible kinde of life going a begging to get his victualls giuing himselfe to continuall prayer meditation of heauenly things and afflicting his body with fasting and other workes of pennance Departing from Paris he came into Italy and whilst he expected opportunity to go with his companiōs into the Holy land that they might labour there in conuerting the Turkes as they had made a vow to do he in Venice Bononia and other Citties with rare example of sanctity feruour of spirit by preaching and doing other workes of charity tooke wonderfull great paines in procuring the saluatiō of his neighbours Especially at Venice where after he was made Priest with great example of humility and charity he serued the sicke in the Hospitall being more ready and willing to assist and helpe those whose very sight by reason of their vncurable diseases and loathsome wounds others were not able to abide and that he might get a more glorious victory of himselfe he of tentimes drunke of the same water wherwith their sores had bene washed When there was no more hope of sayling that yeare he and his companiōs as they had agreed before came to Rome that they might offer thēselues to the Pope to be sent whither he would for the spirituall good of their neighbours And while they were leading there an austere life very poore in whorldly commodities but most rich in spirituall exercises and labours taken for the glory of God hauing newly laid the first foundations of the Society of Iesus Iohn King of Portugall being very earnestly bent to the conuersion of the East Indies made humble suit vnto Pope Paul the third that he would send him some of Ignatius his companions who for learning and holines of life were by all mēs report iudged fit for that voyage that they might preach the Ghospel in those most large and vast Prouinces For this exploit Ignatius by the Popes cōmission appointed Francis who hauing receiued of the Pope the dignity and authority of Legate of the Sea Apostolike as one now chosen by God for an Apostle according to his sisters Prophecy tooke in hand his iourney without delay And the signes and tokens of his Sanctity and Apostolicall feruour while he staid in Portugall were such that by the generall voice of all he was called the Apostle which name not only while he liued but after he was dead also he euer kept still In so much that for his sake throughout all Europe Africke Asia and the new found world as far as the Portugalls dominions reach all that are of the Society of Iesus are called Apostles Out of Portugall he tooke ship for the East Indies but could not be perswaded to take any thing to beare his charges except only an old patcht cloake
being vnloaden Philip being now about 8. yeares old got vpon the Asse who by misfortune was cast from his back headlong into a Cellar which thing beinge knowne his parents presently ran with sorrowfull harts to take vp their sonne without hope to find him aliue but when they came to the Cellar they found him safe and soūd to their great astonishment About this Age he was set to schoole who not only profited in learning but in vertue also farre aboue his fellowes And seing he was as it were chosen by the holy Ghost to be a preacher of Gods word he did much delight in visiting and frequenting of churches and hearing of sermons greatly reuerencing the Priests and Preachers of the holy Church Whē he was sixteene yeares of age and somewhat more his Father sent him into Campania to his Vncle Romulus liuing there in the towne of S. Germans at the foote of Mount Cassine who was a very wellthy mā and had no children and who had sent for Philip his nephew vnto Florence to the end to make him his Heyre But after he had stayed there a few dayes fearing to be entangled with the world he left his vncle and all other friends and came to Rome in the yeare 1533. When he was come to the Citty he went vnto the house of one Galeot who was a Cittizen of Florēce with whome he liued diuers yeares in great sanctity leading an austere life contenting himselfe with bread and water once a day and oftentimes he passed three whole dayes without eating any thing at all delighting himselfe only with meditation of heauenly things in the very youth flowre of his age wherein he spent whole dayes and nightes And that he might be the better able to helpe others afterward in spirituall matters he frequēted the schooles and heard Philosophy profiting so well therein that he became equall to any of his fellowes still retayning the innocēcy of his childhood euen in that age of his and amongst so many dissolute students as then he must needs be conuersant withall When he had now ended his Philosophy and also a good part of his Diuinity he began to bid adue vnto the world thought seriously how he might best imploy himselfe in the honour of God and seruice of his neighbours Wherfore he betooke himselfe vnto the Hospitalls where he comforted the ficke serued them with his owne handes assisted them in any thing he could teaching and instructing thē how to make a good Confession and to die happily if it should please God to call them He had alwayes a speciall care neuer to come acquainted or be familiar with wicked persōs He exhorted as many as he saw had good partes to enter into Religion and in this point he happily preuailed with a great nūber who by his persuasion daily renounced the world and became Riligious In so much that S. Ignatius of Loyola who then liued in Rome and had newly instituted the Socity of Iesus and with whomthis holy man was greatly acquainted and conuersant was wont to call him the Bell for that by his good sound and pious voyce he called so many to holy Religion And thus labouring on all sides to gaine soules to God he became a most liuely example of Piety and Deuotion vnto all euen whiles he was yet a lay man In the yeare of Christ 1551. He tooke vpon him holy Orders was made Priest by commandement of his Ghostly Father In saying of his Masse he was so rapt oftentimes that he was seene to remayne in the ayre 2 foote aboue the ground and was smetimes so takē in extasy through the extreme loue and admitation of that Diuine mistery that he knewe not where he was His hart was also so inflamed with the lolue of the Holy Ghost that often times in the very depth of winter and in the greatest cold weather he was forced to apply outwardly some cooling and refrigeratiue thinge vnto his brest It happened on a time that by his reading certaine Epistles of the Indies In which he tooke great delight he was so mooued with compassion towards the Infidels of those vast and remote Coūtreyes for that they were not members of Gods Church that he resolued to goe thither in person with twenty others of his disciples to preach and teach the faith of Christ vnto them for their Conuersion But this busines as all other of moment he first commended seriously to God in his daily prayers and meditations crauing his assistance direction and declaration of his holy will therein At lēgth our Lord put into his mind that concerning this great affaire he should goe and consult and take his direction frō a Monke of S. Bernards Order who then liued in the Monastery of S. Vincentius and Anastasius in Rome a greet seruant of God and much reuerenced for the holines of his life To him S. Philip presently repayred and expounded vnto him his whole intention and desire who presently demaunded some respite to answere him saying that this busines was to be sought from God for answere by earnest prayer and intercession to know his will wherfore ioyning both their prayers together after some houres of recollection the Holy Monke told him that he was not to goe to the Indies for that work was to be done by another but to remayne still in Rome that Rome must be the Indies and the vineyard which God would haue him to manure and cultiuate Adding further that S. Iohn the Euangelist had appeared vnto him and tould him so and that he should gather together many Disciples in Rome whose workes should be very profitable to that Citty With this answere S. Philip was fully satisfied of the will of God concerning that busines and therfore now began to apply himselfe to the helpe of his neighbours by teacing preaching reading of Saints liues hearing Confessions and the like so that in short time he had many followers and worthy Disciples amōgst which Caesar Baronius afterward Cardinall that famous Historiographer was one with whom he laid the foundatiō of his order beginning by little little calling the people together into the Church with a bell at certaine houres of the day wherein after halfe an houre of mētall prayer spēt which euery one made to himselfe yet altogether in one place there were recited publikely te letanies and other prayers commending therin as well the publike as the priuate affaires of the holy Church This order was obserued on Sundayes Tuesdayes Thursdayes and Saturdayes The other three dayes of the weeke to wit Munday Wednesday day and Friday when they met together thy made a discipline whiles the 50. psalme and the Anthymne of Salue Regina or some other Psalme or Hymne was reading hauing exposed before thē only the Image of Christ crucified placed in such order in a lanterne that all the Confraternity might behould the same at once in the darke Which custome weekely obserued doth yet remayne in the said Congregation
with great deuotion and fruite of spirituall profit This was the first beginning and foundation of the Congregation of the Oratory which was erected in S. Hieromes Church in Rome surnamed de Charitate And after a few yeares the same was brought into vse in the Church of S. Iohn Baptist also in Rome belonging to the Florētines at the request and intercession of the Cittizens of Florence and there remayned vntill S. Philip founded a new Church and house of his owne at our Blessed Ladies in Vallicella commonly called the Chiesa nuoua where himselfe liued vntill his dying day And now is greatly in creased spread ouer all Italy France Spayne Germany other Prouinces to the great aduancement of Piety Deuotion in the faithfull His predictions prophesies and foreknowledge of secret thinges being far absent are wonderfull in him both aliue and dead and to set downe an example or two in this place it will not be amisse It happened vpon a time that Cardinall Baronius being then a Disciple of the Blessed Father and a layman came vnto him one euening to Confessiō The Father as soone as he saw him said Goe Caesar goe presently to the Hospitall of S. Spiritus and helpe the sicke I will heare thy Confession afterward Baronius was at this somewhat troubled being now prepared for his Confession and replied that the time of seruing the sicke was now past and that he should loose his labour in going thither as comming at an vnseasonable houre when there was nothing to doe Doe as I bid thee said the holy Father without more adoe Baronius being ready to obay went presently to the Hospitall and when he came to the entrance of the roome where the sicke lay he began to reason with himselfe saying Sure there is some mistery in this matter that our Father commaunds me to come hither at this vnseasonable houre for it was now euen night time of rest and whiles he was thus reasoning with himselfe he espied a sick man with a candle standing lighted at his head ready to giue vp the Ghost to whom he presently went and began to comfort with words of consolation demaunding whether he had confessed his sinnes and receaued the Sacraments of the holy Church who being hardly able to draw his breath answeree noe Then Baronius presently ran to the Chaplaine of the Hospitall and willed him to come quickly heare his Confession The Chaplaine somewhat ashamed of his owne negligence began to excuse it and came with him instantly to the sicke man who made his Confession and presently receaued the holy Sacrament of the Altar and Extreme Vnction and so straight after departed happily this life Baronius returned home came vnto the Father and related the whole story Why so quoth the holy Father hence forward learne to obey more readily and doe what thou art commaunded After that Baronius was made Priest and had a long time preached vnto the people at S. Iohn Florentines Church aforesaid who was also superiour of the Congregation of that house he was exempted from his Office and commanded by the holy Father to write the Ecclesiasticall History of the Church which after many difficulties proposed to the said Father he obeyed his voyce and began the same and afterward very happily deduced it to the 13. hūdred yeare after Christ as may be seene by his twelue Tomes extant euery where Another time it happened that the Parents of a yong Gentleman desirous to promote their sone caused him to be made Priest at the age of 17. yeares by reason that there was a great inheritance fallen vnto the second Heyre of that family which yet could not be possessed by him vnlesse he were a Priest So his Parents concealing his age both from the Bishop and the young man himselfe and all others he was made Priest tooke possession of the Inheritance Presently after it chanced that Thomas so he was called came to Rome and hearing of the great fame of S. Philip Nerius he was brought vnto him to salute him So soone as the holy man saw him he said You are a Priest Syr is it not so Yea quoth the other I am without doubt by the grace of God You say true said Saint Philip and then he could him his age truly and how all had happened by his friends meanes and for what cause neuer seeing knowing or hearing of the man before that houre Afterward S. Philip was demaunded of those that stood by heard these thinges how he knew that the was a Priest He said that he did see the face of the yonge man to shine in the same manner that all others who be signed with the Character of true Priesthood do vse to doe It happened also that a noble Roman yong youth who was giuen greatly to the pleasures of the world was by another like youth and friend of his who was very deuout brought vnto S. Philip vnder colour to see and salute him When he came his friend could the holy Father that he had brought vnto him a Penitent The Noble yonge man began to be angry thinking that the other had mocked him for that he had noe cogitation of Confession Yet in presence of S. Philip for feare and reuerence of his person hee asswaged his choler And presently kneeled downe vnto him saying that he would confesse and so began but with intention to deceaue the Father by not confessing his sinnes truly as he should The Father by diuine reuelation knew his intention and so let him make an end When he seemed to haue done the Father exhorted him that if he had committed any other sinnes he should confesse thē The other replied and said that he had confessed all Thē S. Philip stood vp and imbraching him said You say not true my Sōne for you haue made but a faigned Confession of your sinnes Now therfore I aduise you in the name of God that you confesse them wholy that you may be made worthy of pardon and forgiuenes Which words so pierced the hart of the noble yong man that repeating againe his Confession he made it wholy and perfect of all his sinnes euen from his childhood and moreouer cōmitted himselfe to be wholy gouerned and directed for the rest of his life to the holy Father Who profited so well in spirit vnder so great a Maister that within a while after he became a Religious man and entred into the order of Saint Francis wherin he happily continued and made a holy end His name was Raphael Lupus The miracles which it pleased God to worke of his seruant both aliue dead are almost innumerable In the yeare of Christ 1552. one Mauritius Anerius a Roman fell dangerously sick who being forsaken of the Phisitiās as desperate prepared himselfe to die and had now receaued the holy Sacraments of the Altar and Extreme Vnction expecting a happy houre Saint Philip hearing thereof went in the euening to visit him who found his wife and
difficulty to bury him which at last they found meanes to doe in a woodden Coffin in an humble graue at the foote of the High Altar But wheÌ„ Cardinall Pamphilius had vnderstood thereof he was much displeased therwith that a man so famous and illustrious for miracles both aliue dead should be laid in so humble a place therfore dealt seriously with the Fathers of the same Congregation to remoue him who consulting the busines with Cardinall Medices he was taken vp and put into a newfaire Coffin which the said Cardinall had caused to be made and placed in a more decent place at one side of the High Altar with an Arch made ouer the body wherat miracles were wrought so frequently that the walls about were presently hung with votiue Tables and such a most sweet smell as it were of Roses and violets was daily felt to proceed from his body as was wonderfull After some yeares that the holy Body had laine in this place and so many miracles were daily wrought therat a noble cittizen of Florence who had obtained a Sonne by the prayers of S. Philip caused a most sumptuous and gorgeous chappell to be erected neere to the right side of the high altar wherto his body was translated there remaineth to this day and is reuerenced with great deuotion of the whole Christian world He was canonized for a Saint the 12. day of March by Pope Gregory the fifteeÌ„th in the yeares of our Lord 1622. THE ADMIRABLE LIFE of S. Charles Borromeus Archbishop of Milan and Cardinall WritteÌ„ in Italian by Doctour Guissano of the Order of Oblates of S. Ambrose in Milan and translated in to English SAINT Charles was borne in the yeare of our Lord 1538 the 2. day of October Paul the 3. being Pope Charles the 5. being Emperour His father was called Gilbert Borromeus his mother Margaret de Medices sister germane to Pope Pius the 4. not inferior to other Lords of MilaÌ„ eyther for religioÌ„ or for antiquity of their family and nobility Our Lord entending to decl are that he had designed this child for the honor and increase of the Catholike Church it pleased his diuine Maiesty to honour his birth with a strange and wonderfull signe For in the same momeÌ„t wherin he was borne there appeared ouer his mothers bed chamber a light like vnto the beames of the sunne and as long as a crosbow can well carry which was attentiuely considered by sundry persons that beheld the same foretelling by this vnusuall light the spleÌ„dor and heroicall acts as also the holy and irreprehensible conuersation of S. Charles Many were the arguments which he gaue of his future sanctity being yet a little child as to erect and adorne litle Altars before which he made his prayer and other like exercises of deuotion And it is almost incredible how much this little soule tooke delight and contentment therin Which being coÌ„sidered by his Parents seemed to presage no other thing of him but that he was especially called of God to an Ecclesiasticall estate for which cause they clothed him in the habit of a Cleark which he receiued whore the same so inyfully as it seemed they had in this fully accomplished his desire His vertues increased in him together with his yeares wher of he gaue most rare testimony studying in the Vniuersity of Padua where neuer any heard word to issue from his mouth which sauoured not of vertue and edification he was exceeding patient sweet peaceable modest and huÌ„ble so that none euer saw him arrogaÌ„t neuer in any choler neuer addicted to pleasures or any youth full leuity During his studies he had for maister and conductor one Alciatus who was Cardinall vnder whome he made so great profit that at the age of 22. yeares he was with the generall applause of all adorned with the title of Doctor Pius the 4. Vncle to Charles being made Pope in the yeare 1559. he â—ent for him vnto Rome and created him Cardinall Archbishop of MilaÌ„ giuing him charge not only of affaires concerning the gouernment of that Sea but also honored him with suÌ„dry titles of most rich and wealthy dignities Being placed therein although he were set in the highest degree of honor yet he neuer omitted to instruct and teach by his wholsome examples the Prouinces as well neere at hand as far off pursuing the affaires of his charge faithfully with singular prudence to the incredible contentment of euery one Amongst many affaires of importance which were effected and brought to happy end by his labour and industry one that of chiefest moment was the concluding and finishing of the Councell of Trent the which Pope Paul the 3. had begun in the yeare 1537. to withstand and suppresse the wicked heresies of Luther Caluin Zuinglius and other seducers but could not haue it ended for sundry difficulties which occured wherof Pope Pius the 4. hauing once againe vndertakeÌ„ the pursuite he gaue the first chiefest charge therof vnto his nephew Charles as to one most zealous in this affaire wherein he trauelled with such solicitude vigilancy and feruour of courage as none but himselfe could so well haue effected a busines so intricate as that was The Councell being ended himselfe was the first who his Vncle holding yet the soueraigne Sea put in practise the execution of those decrees in his owne bishoprick of Milan and other Bishops moued therto by his exemple did the like by meanes wherof many kingdomes and Prouinces in Christendome increased incredibly in the seruice of God and in Catholike piety but the greatest fruite remained in the Church of MilaÌ„ where this holy Pastour desirous to reforme his cleargy and people began first with his own person then with his house and family dismissing out of his seruice all such persons as seemed to him lesse profitable to his desine to the nuÌ„ber of no lesse then fourescore yet first recoÌ„pensing them all well retaining the Cleargy men of who me he hoped for good exemple and assistance in that which concerned the reformation of his Church of Milan The Catholike Church hath receaued an immortall benefit by the meanes of this holy man for none so much watched and solicited as he to bring into vse the ancient custome to hold Prouinciall and Diocesan councells according to the decree of the councell of Trent For in the space of â— yeares that he resided in Milan he held six Prouinciall councells and eleuen Sinodes of the diocese wherin he instructed his subiects with so many documents and good exaÌ„ples that the new order of the Church of MilaÌ„ did illustrate all especially the adioyning seas For proofe of his zeale charity and liberality we may looke vpon the many Churches Chappels Altars which he eyther builded or repaired as also sundry Colledges and Seminaries which he erected for the education and instruction of youth who should afterwards trauell in the vineyard of Iesus Christ In Milan he built a
satisfy doubts and answere all obiections She had an extraordinary guift in healing of the sick of all infirmities by her prayers and working other miracles so vsually as I may say familiarly as it seemed our Lord neuer denied her any thing that she requested of him The aged weake body of this holy woman almost spent and worne out with continuall trauell frō one Monastery to another being now at Burgos and foreseing her end approaching which she had prophesied 8. yeares before hastened towards Auila where she was borne desiring to end her daies therein her first owne House But reposing as she trauelled at the house of the Duchesse of Alua she was enforced there to make stay partly by her importunity as also by reason of a feuer she had which continued with her increased so incessantly that at the end of three dayes hauing receaued all the rites of the Holy Catholike Church recommended her selfe to God with many deuout prayers and giuen many holesome precepts and admonitions to those that were present to their great cōfort edification with a ioyfull and peaceable serenity of mind she sweetly yeelded vp her soule to her beloued spouse Sauiour vpon the 4. day of October being the feast of S. Francis in the 68. yeare of her age 47. of her being religious It pleased our Lord to shew the holines of this Saint by some signes at her death by many miracles after For at the instant of her death a certaine Religious woman saw two starres to descend vpon her Cell Another sister saw a bright starre shinning ouer her Monastery another starre at the window of the chamber where she died A Religious man in Valladolid saw at the instant of her death the heauens open and a glorious way prepared wherby a soule ascended The prioresse of Segouia smelt in her Cell a most sweet odour at the instāt of her death with an extraordinary light Another Prioresse in Paris saw our Sauiour ascend to heauen with great glory many Angells with him Another sister saw a white doue to ascend frō her mouth All her Conuent at the instant saw a great light and felt a very sweet smell fillinge the house as also from her habit and all things that she had touched The body of this holy Saint lying faire fresh and liuely as though she had bene yet liuing a certaine Religious mā came and touched with her handes his head and eyes and presently recouered of two infirmities which he had in those parts Another Religious woman kissing her seete recouered her smelling which she had lost And that night after her death she appeared to diuers Religious persons After that her body had bene by many and with great deuotiō visited she was with great sollemnity due reuerence enterred Her habit and all things that she vsed be kept still in Alua with great reuerence for holy Reliques and many miracles haue bene wrought by them This holy Saint appeared to diuers after her death and first to one Mother Antonetta in Granada she wing her the glory that she was in and encouraging her in her vertuous course of life Also to a Religious woman in Auila she appeared in great glory She appeared also in Segouia with a sweet odour in the midest of the Quier with a rich crowne on her head And to the Earle of Osorne to the Bishop and diuers others there The miracles after her death were many As the miraculous incorruptiō of her body The pleasant odour and sweetnes therof filling the place where it was kept as also of her habit cloathes and all things she had touched By which being religiously kept many of sundry infirmities were healed Also there was a pretious oyle or liquor that distilled continually from her body and frō euery small part therof though separated a sunder whereby many miracles were done as appeareth by one of her hāds that was carried by the Prouinciall of her Order to Lisbone and by one of her fingers at Malaga Also a linnē cloth died with her bloud continued pure and fresh wherby many miracles were done in diuers places and in diuers manners Don Aluarez de mendoza Bishop of Alua hauing in his life time built a faire chappell with a Tombe therin for himselfe an by a fore-contract with the Prouinciall of her Order another by it for this holy Saint and hearing now of her death and buriall made suite iointly with the people of the towne to the Prouinciall for her body which not being obtayned she was translated to Auila in the moneth of Nouēber 1585. with great sollemnity and ioy But the Duke of Alua and Ferdinand of Toledo Prior of S. Ihons made suit to Pope Sixtus V. for her returne to Alua where she died which he graunted and so with greater ioy and applause she was brought back to Alua the 23. of August 1586. where she remayneth and God by meanes of this his seruāt doth worke many miracles euen to this present as is daily seene by those that be deuout vnto her and frequent her sepulcher the which hath bene adorned enriched with many great guiftes and pretious Iewells of many of the greatest Princes and Religious Bishops and Persons of Spaine and Christendome And after all due diligence and examinations of her life and miracles made as in such cases appertayneth she was Canonized for a Saint by Pope Gregory the XV. vpō the 12. of March 1622. But her feast is celebrated vpon the 4. day of October To rehearse the manifold exāples in euery of her seuerall vertues the frequent apparitions of our Blessed Sauiour and other Saints her visiōs raptes and miracles accordinge to the truth thereof and her desert I should neuer be able to say inough all the aforesaid thinges being so certaine and so well knowne in Spaine as they be yet fresh in memory and many are yet liuing that knew her well and were present and eye witnesses to all that which is here writtē of her And he that shall read her life written by herselfe at the commaūd of her Ghostly Father trāslated lately into English and also her life writtē by Brother Ihon of S. Ierome and Brother Ihon of Iesus Maria of her owne Order from whence this is extracted may be there further satisfied with examples in euery kind these things being heere only touched for breuity sake as a taste out of aboundance God graunt that we following her heauenly documents instructions imitating hervertuous life may by her intercession merit to come to that heauenly glory which she with her deerespouse Iesus now enioyeth Amen THE LIFE AND VERTVES OF Blessed Lewis Gonzaga of the Society of Iesus taken out of his history written at large by Virgilius Ceparius of the same Order BLESSED Lewis Gonzaga was borne in that part of France which lyeth beyōd the Alpes at the Chastle of Castilion in the Diocese of Brixia in the yeare of our Lord 1568. of Ferdinand Prince of
the Empire and Marques of the aboue named Castilion and of Martha Tana-Sanrenia no lesse Noble as the Inhabitāts about the Alpes can testify and vertuous as appeareth in that euen from the first day of her mariage she began to pray like another Anne not for feare of barrennes but for the glory of God that it would please our Lord to send her a sonne that in some Religion might wholy dedicate himselfe to his holy seruice And so it seemed that God Almighty therfore vouchsafed to sēd her this Samuel permitting him to haue a dangerous entrance into this world that he might the sooner marke him for his owne with the character of Baptisme which by the Phisitians aduise was giuē him before he was halfe come forth of his mothers wombe but the danger of this passage at lenght by theintercession of our B. Lady was taken away although for a space there remayned some feare and doubt whether he were aliue or dead For he lay still without mouing for the space of an houre whē to shew that he was aliue he gaue one little cry only so gaue ouer and neuer vsed to cry any more as other children are wont to doe a presage doubtlesse of his future behauiour and conditions which were alwayes most gentle mild and courteous After his mother had brought him vp in all piety and feare of God vnto the age of fiue yeares or thereabout his Father desiring to traine vp his sonne in warlike affaires frō his very cradle tooke him away with him to a towne called Casall the greater in the Territory of Milan where whensoeuer he mustered his souldiers he made him march before them in light armour with a little speare vpon his shoulder From hence the Marques his Father being to march with his army to Tunis a Citty in Afrike sent Lewis backe to Castilion where growing now towards seauen yeares of age at which time children begin to haue discretion to discerne betweene good bad he withdrew himselfe by little and little from the conuersation of souldiers and began to apply himselfe to the seruice of God saying euery day at home vpon his knees the prayers which are The Daily Exercise together with the seauen Penitentiall psalmes and the office of our Blessed Lady with so great feruour and care that he neuer omitted the same were he neuer so sicke and was wont to call that the time of his conuersion When the Marques came home and saw his sonnes warlike audacity changed into a pious and prudent modesty he reioyced exceedingly to see how wise and discret an heire he should haue to succeed him in the gouernement of his subiects But Lewis his intentions were leuelled at a farre higher marke which he was not afraid now and then to signify vnto his mother who albeit she desired nothing more then that one of her sonnes should become a Religious man yet was she halfe afraid to heare her eldest sonne and heire talke of taking that course of life much more to persuade him to it Not long after the Marques vpon some occasion going to visit the Duke of Florence tooke both Lewis and his younger brother with him and there set them both to schoole to the end that in that Great Dukes court they might not only learne good manners but other sciences also Lewis at the age of nine yeares being left there by his father began to exercise himselfe in all kinde of vertues especially of Chastity and purity wherof out of the great deuotion he had conceaued towards our Blessed Lady he made a vow to keepe the same perpetually before an Image of hers which the whole Citty hath in great deuotion He heard Masse euery day and besides masse vpon holy dayes he alwayes was present at Euensong And although he knew not yet how to meditate yet the neuer let passe the dayly Exercise and other Offices which we haHe spoken of before rising to say them euery morning as soone as it was day Heere finally he began to wayne himselfe from all kinde of pleasures and pastimes eschewing all conuersation that might giue him occasion to speake the least idle word for he had now begun to frequent the Sacrament of Pennance with much feruour And so euer after he was wont to call Florence the mother of his piety and deuotion Two yeares being now past in Florence Lewis and his brother taking their leaue of the great Duke with Order from the Marques went to liue at Mantua where he came to take so great delight in abstinence and fasting which was for a time prescribed him for the health of his body that afterwardes to the great domage of the same he could not be dissuaded from vsing still the same medicine for the good of his soule Here now as he began to thinke with himselfe how he might make all his inheritance ouer to his Brother and take vpon himselfe an Ecclesiasticall kind of life being called home from the heates of Mantua at the age of twelue yeares he receiued of our Lord the gift of prayer and contemplation and by aduise of Saint Charles Borromeus Cardinall then visiting that Diocesse he began to frequent the holy Communion with exceeding great deuotion But his stomacke now with praying and fasting was growne so weake that he was scarce able to disgest any meate at all Wherfore his Father sent for him to Montserrat to see if by any meanes he could draw him a little from that austerity that he might recouer his health But Lewis there for the space of halfe a yeare could take pleasure in nothing but in his former exercises vsing for his pastime only to visit holy places and Monasteries flying from the conuersation of all but Religious mē by whose examples he was so efficaciously moued that he fully purposed to take vpon him some Religious habit or other although being not yet full thirteene yeares old he had not yet determined of what Order he would be In the meane time being returned home againe with his Father to Castilion he went forward exceedingly in all kind of vertues especially in extraordinary abstinence and mortification From hence not long after as he trauailed into Spaine in company of his Father and other noble Italians he neuer omitted his accustomed contemplations and holy Exercises But he so behaued himselfe for the space of two yeares and more that he liued in the King of Spaines Court that no Prouerbe was so much in the mouthes of the chiefest Coutiers as that the yonger Marques of Castilion seemed not to be made of flesh and bloud Such progresse had he made in the contempt of all worldly honours and pleasures Heere how Lewis being at the age of fifteene yeares and an halfe began to feele in himselfe so ardent a desire of forsaking the world that after many dayes commending the matter to God Almighty in his prayers it pleased his diuine Maiesty by a voyce from heauen to giue him a particular vocation to the Society
of Iesus Which thing his Ghostly Father vnderstanding approued his good intention so that it might be put in execution with the Marques his Fathers leaue Wherevpon Lewis hauing first told his Mother who with a ioyfull hart soone offered vp her Samuel to gods holy seruice without delay went vnto his Father and with all humility and reuerence declared his mind vnto him At which the Marques was so enraged that he bad him either get him gone and talke no more to him of any such matter or he would cause him to be whipt presently To whome Lewis very modestly answered Would to God I might receaue such a benefit as to suffer that for his sake and so departed from him And after a long triall by which he was vndoubtedly confirmed it was from God and seeing his Father still remayned inexorable he going one day to the Colledge of the Society as at other times he was wont to doe to visit the Fathers he desired his younger brother and the rest of his acquaintance that were with him to goe their wayes home and leaue him for that he did not meane to stir one foot out of that place Now the Marques his Father seeing the firme resolution of his Sonne with much a doe persuaded him not to enter into Religion in Spaine but to stay till they returned home into Italy and that there he should haue his owne will accomplished As soone as they were arriued in Italy Lewis claimeth promise of his Father but he thinking by that and other delayes to make his vocation at length wax cold answered that he could by no meanes condescend vnto his request before that he and his brother had saluted all the Princes of Italy Which Lewis hauing performed returning home found his Father more obstinate against him then euer he was before In so much that after he had indeuoured all he could by meanes of diuers graue Bishops and Prelates to dissuaded him from that course of life finding at last to be true which a certaine Cardinall whom amongst others the Marques had sent vnto him afterwards confessed Diaboli partes apurl hunc Adolescentem agendas mibi imposuerunt Eas quia necesse erat quanto potui studio ingenio sustinui Verum nec hilum profeci stat immotus percelli nequit They made me play the deuills part and tempt this yong man with all the wiles and allurementes which I could possibly invent But I preuayled nothing He stands altogether immoueable and inuincible he cannot be daunied After I say that the Marques saw the matter came to that passe hauing sent for Lewis and examined him by himselfe with an angry countenance sharp words as he lay in bed sicke of the goute he biddeth him get him out of his sight But hearing that his words had made him leaue the house recollect himselfe in a Monastery of Franciscans he sent for him home againe and did so bitterly reprehend him for it that Lewis euery day as one in great anguish and trouble of mind to see his Father so to crosse his holy intentions casting himselfe downe prostrate before a Crucifix with many teares and cruell disciplines began to act such a bloudy Tragedy vpon himselfe as those which beheld him thorough the chinkes of his doore could not endure so pittifull a sight In so much that the Marques himselfe not belieuing others report being brought vnto the doore in his bed and seeing it mith his owne eyes was so amazed and moued to pitty that without any more resistance he wrote vnto Scipio Gonzaga then Patriarch of Hierusalem to offer his Sonne vnto Father Claudius Aquauiua Generall of the Society of Iesus who willingly accepted of him and after admitted him by a letter which was the answere to one that Lewis had familiarly before written vnto him to thanke him for so great a benefit But this was not the end of Lewis his persecution for the Marques not content with employing him for nine monethes after about certaine affaires at Milan which Lewis by reason of his Fathers sicknes and to giue him the greatest satifaction he could with no lesse speed then prudence dispatched not content I say with this when the writings and all were come with letters patents from the Emeperour so that Lewis seemed to haue nothing else to doe but by deliuering the writtings to his brother to desinherit himselfe and so depart in peace he came to Millane and raysed another tempest against him so much the more terrible by how much he himselfe besides many others did sundry tymes more earnestly plead his owne cause before him with such speeches as we may imagine the passionate affection of a Father ouerflowing with tender loue towards such a sonne could affoard But seeing all his labour to be in vaine he caused himselfe to be carried in a chaire into the house of the Society of Iesus and there sending for a graue Father of account in that Citty he declared the matter vnto him concluding that he was determined to stand to his iudgement vpon condition that he would there in his presence examine his sonnes vocation and vrge him with all the reasons he could deuise to auert him from his purpose To be short Lewis was called and the Father in all sincerity and with all seuerity set vpon him and did the best he could But Lewis gaue so good satisfaction to all the doubts and difficulties which were opposed against him that the Father after great admiration burst forth into this verdict Aequum postulas Domine Aloysi aequum postulas néque dubium ess potest quin sit vt dicis Mihi quidem stimulos admouists neque vllum praeterta quaerendi locum reliquisti Which is as much as to say as that there could be no more doubt but Lewis his petition was iust and reasonable The Marques also being for this time fully persuaded to grant the same returned home to Castilion and Lewis presently all thinges being put in good order followed him and after he had with an vndaunted courage passed one brunt more of his Fathers fury at last taking his leaue of Cast lion all the people with many teares lamenting their owne losse and exceeding sory for that they were not whorthy of so good and gracious a Lord he departed with his Father to Mantua where in presence of other Noble men that were to be witnesses of the deede hauing renounced his title of Marques and cast from him all other ornaments and toakens of that dignity he went immediatly and the same day put on the habit of the Society which he had before prepared and brought ready with him And hauing spent a whole day in taking leaue of his father and mother the next morning he tooke his ioyfull iourney towardes Rome He was scarce lighted from his horse in Rome when going immediatly to the house of the professed Fathers he cast himselfe downe prostrate at the Generals feete professing and acknowledging to be his Subiect Then with his
leaue he went to visite the holy places to salute his friends and other Princes there and to receiue the Popes benediction All which being dispatched vpon Saint Catherine the Virgin and martyrs day at the age of seauenteene yeares eight monethes and six dayes he entred into the Nouiciate of the Society of Iesus at S. Andrews in Rome with as great ioy and iubily of heart as if he had entred into a paradise of all delights and pleasures giuing immortall thankes to God for bringing him out of Aegypt into that Land of Promise flowing with milke and hony Heere now Lewis hauing passed thorough all kind of exorcises in Humility and Obedience with great admiration of all almost the space of a yeare was sent to Naples to recouer his health and to make an end of the course of Philosophy which he had begun at Milan But after halfe a yeare finding by experience that that place nor ayre agreede with his health he was called backe againe to Rome and sent vnto the Romane Colledge where he defended his Philosophy publikly with great applause and so proceeded to heare his higher courses of diuinity After he had liued now two yeares in the Society vpon Saint Catherines day being the day on which first he entred he also made the three vowes of Pouerty Chastity and Obedience as the custome is For albeit he had not spent all this time in the Nouiciate yet God by his holy grace did so supply in his soule the want of that time which the infirmity of his bodye tooke from him that wheresoeuer he liued all his life after he remayned still as it were a Nouice The next yeare vpon the eight abd twentith day of Ianuary he began to take Ecclesiasticall Orders and by the 26. of Frebruary he had receaued one after another vpon seuerall dayes all those which are called the Minores or inferiour Orders The yeare following he was sent to Castilion and Mantua to compose certaine contentions and debates betweene his Brother the Marques his Father being now deceased and the Duke of Mantua which if he had not by the great authority which for his sanctity he alwayes had amongst them taken vp and decided would haue cost much bloudshed on both sides The next yeare he withdrew himselfe with order from his Superiours to Milan where it pleased God to reueale vnto him that the houre of his death approached with which reuelation he returned ioyfully to Rome with his thoughts so fixed on heauen so dead to the world and to all worldly thinges that he appeared rather as one dead then liuing his only sight stirred vp deuotion in others and his very wordes incited his hearers to the loue of God In fine he was in the estimation of all aliuely patterne of all perfection In the yeare 1591. the Citty of Rome was sorely visited with a mortality by reason of the multitude of poore people that were inforced by a former famine to repaire thither for to begge their sustenance at which time the Generall and others of the Society inforcinge themselues to the ayde and succour of the poore besides the large almes that they daily procured for them they laboured the foundation of an Hospitall to relieue and cure the sicke which were in great number visited with sundry dangerous and infectious diseases where those of the Society attended them with great diligence and charity of which number Lewis by much importunity obtained of his Superiours to be one where he serued the sicke with wonderfull deuotion humility and charity exercising himselfe euer most willingly about those that were the most loathsome and dangerously infected In this imployment he together with many others of the Society got that infection wherof afterwards he died which he feeling and knowing that our Lord was pleased to doe him that fauour to deliuer him from the prison of his body and to take him to rest he reioyced exceedingly giuing God most humble and harty thanks for so great a benefit and the more for calling him in such an age and before he was Priest whereby he esteemed himselfe secure of rendring accompt either for the vnprofitable expence of many yeares or the abuse of so great a dignity He made a generall Confession and hauing receaued his Viaticum and Extreme Vnction he attended the houre of his death neuerthelesse it pleased our Lord that the seauenth day of his sicknesse the fury of it ceased and there remayned only a gentle feuer which held him three monthes in all which time he neuer willingly entertayned discourse of any thing but of heauen and heauenly thinges in so much that we may say as it were he had sent his hart before him He being by little and little sore weakened by the feuer it pleased our Lord to reueale vnto him the howre of his decease wherupon with great signes of ioy he said Te Deum laudamus and tould those that were about him that he should dye on the Octaue of the feast of the Blessed Sacrament notwithstanding on Corpus Christi day as also during the Octaue he seemed so well to recouer that on the Octaue day they said vnto him That he should rather thinke of his recouery then of his death that day since there appeared no danger at all To whome he quietly answered The day is not yet past I shall assuredly dye this night The euening being come the Prouinciall came to visit him who demaunded of him how he did Lewis answered I goe Father Whither said the Prouinciall To heauen answered Lewis I trust by the great mercy of God if my sinnes doe not hinder me Pope Gregory the fourteenth hearing that he was in the Agony of death sent vnto him his benediction with a plenary Indulgence of all his sinnes and drawing towards his end he desired earnestly to take a discipline or at least by reason of his owne weakenes that one might be giuen him vpon his backe which being denyed he humbly beseeched leaue of Father Prouinciall that he might dye vpon the ground so great was his feruour and desire of suffering euen then when his sicknesse had rendred him almost incapable of sufferinge In briefe after that he had taken leaue of the Fathers and Brothers of the Colledge with many teares he entred into long and sweet interiour Colloquies with our Lord kissing often a Crucifix which he held in his handes with his eyes sixed thereon and often calling vpon the holy name of Iesus he rendred his soule to rest on Thursday at night being the Octaue of the B. Sacrament the one twentith of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1591. and in the three and twentith yeare of his age three monthes and eleauen daies after he had bene of the Society fiue yeares and almost seauen monthes He was interred in the Chutch of the Annuntiation in the Roman Colledge with so great concourse of people not only of those of the Society and Schollers but also from the Court and Citty of
Rome that not without great difficulty could his body be buried euery one striuing to kisse his handes and for some relique of him some cutting his haire others his garments others euen his fingers ends He was put into a Coffin and laid in the Chappell of the Crucifix and from thence in the yeare of our Lord 1598. he was remoued to a more eminent place of the same Church finally the thirteenth day of May in the yeare 1605. he was solemnely translated with musicke and lights into the great Chappell of our Blessed Lady in the same Church and there placed in the wall neere the right side of the Altar This translation was caused by reason of the many miracles that it pleased out Lord to worke by him in diuers places and the multitude of people that came dayly to his Tombe to offer vp theire vowes which exceedingly increased the deuotion of the people and the concourse to his B. Reliques which was a thing so celebrated at Rome that Pope Paul the fifth in the month of SepteÌ„ber 1607. gaue order that an inquisition might be made of his life and miracles for his Canonization Among the many miracles that haue bene wrought by the intercessioÌ„ of Blessed Lewis there be forty and foure approued and recorded which he hath done in the State of CastilioÌ„ his owne proper Countrey and patrimony where his Image is placed on an Altar with twelue lamps before it continually burning besides the other innumerable lights which the people daily offer vnto his honour and before the same are hanged on the walles more then three hundred votiue Tablets offered in remembrance and for deuotion of his miracles Our Lord in diuers other places hath likewise shewed forth his wonders by the meanes of this blessed Saint rendring health to diuers dangerously sicke of feuers and other diseases restoring the blind to sight the deafe to hearing helping of women in the perill of child-birth with many others which are all at large recorded in the Booke of his life out of which I will only rehearse briefly these few that follow In the yeare 1593. his mother being in danger of her life hauing receaued the holy Sacraments of CommunioÌ„ and Extreme Vnction her sonne appeared resplendent and glorious vnto her with the comfort of whose presence she presently began to amend and in few dayes recouered her perfect health which was the first miracle that it pleased God to worke by him after his death The Duke of Mantua comming to Rome in the yeare 1605. visited with great deuotion the tombe of his Cosen Lewis and had there giuen him by his Brother Francis Gonzaga theÌ„ Embassadour for the Emperour a relique of his with which returning by Florence to Mantua he was taken with a grieuous paine in his knee which had long sorely vexed him to which applying this holy Relique of B. Lewis he was presently cured the which was testified by his owne letter written backe to Rome to the Marques his Brother He had likewise the guift of Prophesy foretould vnto his mother that his Brother Francis who was the youngest of his Brothers should be the Rayser vp and glory of their House which proued true as likewise diuers other things which he foretould Who seeth not in this life and admireth not the bounty and liberality of our Lord who had so filled with his grace this Blessed young man whome he made choiceof euen from his mothers wombe to render glorious both in heauen and earth How great spirit in so young age what recollection in so many troubles what mortifications in the miedest of pleasures and delightes what humility in greatnesse what misprise of all worldly thinges and earnest seeking after heauenly To what greater degree of perfection can a soule ariue in this life beyond the preseruatioÌ„ of the grace receaued in Baptisme theÌ„ not to feele in their body the tentations of the flesh not to suffer in prayer distractioÌ„s of thoughts and to liue on earth as an Angell in heauen All which vertues are apparaÌ„t to haue bene eminent in this blessed young maÌ„ whose life we all ought to imitate to the end that imitating his vertues we may be also made partakers of his rewards and merits He was Beatified by Pope Paul the fifth by whome leaue was also grauÌ„ted to say masse of him His feast is kept by the Fathers of the Society of Iesus with great solemnity plenary Indulgence and in the Diocesse of Mantua is for the most part kept holy THE LIFE AND VERTVES of B. Stanislaus Kostka of the Society of Iesus abridged out of his life written by Peter Rybadeneira and others of the same Society BLESSED Stanislaus was borne in the Kingdome of Polonia in the yeare of our Lord 1550. in a Castle of his ancestours called Kostkouo His Fathers name was Iohn Kostka his mothers Margaret Keysban both Illustrious and of the principall houses of that Kingdome but much illustrated by this that neuer any of that house was tainted with heresy Out of their family haue issued diuers Lords Palatines Electors Senators Captaines Bishops and other of great dignity in that kingdome God blest them with diuers children and amongst others with this Stanislaus who hauing laudably passed his infancy at home was â—â—â—t by his Father being the but thitteene yeares of age together with another of his Brothers elder then he to Vienna in Austria where the Emperour Maximilian at that time kept his Court for to study there in the Colledge of the Fathers of the Society of Iesus which was at that time very famous for the education of youth StaÌ„nislaus studied so diligently there being of an excellent wit that he surpassed all the rest of his School-fellowes of whome for his gentlenes modesty he was generally beloued Euery morning before he went to schoole and euery euening after he came from schoole he vsed to make his prayers in the Church of the Society He auoyded all ill company all conuersation with Libertines or any other thing that had not the odour of deuotion With all diligence he was a great louer of silence and neuer spake but what he had first well weighed considered He was modestly cheerfull and cheerfully modest affable He conuersed most willingly with those that were simple and sincere he was very compassionate and succoured to his power all those that were in neede or extremity he was euer the first vp of his school-fellowes in the morning he contented not himselfe with hearing one masse daily nor on feasts with fewer then all he could possibly heare He went meanely cladde and for all the cold season which in those parts is very bitter in the winter he neuer wore gloues nor would euer vse the helpe of any seruant vnlesse when he was commaunded by his maister or brother Almost all his Orations and Declamations that he made in the exercise of Eloquence were in the praise of the glorious Virgin Mary to whome he was singularly
these ten yeares past by order of his Superiours giuen the account of his conscience in writing He had great coniunction with the Angells and Saints with whome he conuersed both in heauen and earth and especially with 24. of the more principall amongst whome he deuided the 24. houres to treate and recommend himselfe vnto them wherin he neuer fayled though in the night and in his sleepe awaking duly at the beginning of euery houre to performe his accustomed deuouotion which diligence of his our Sauiour recompensed by discouering vnto him his glory wherin he saw more perfectly and knew all 〈◊〉 B◠in Heauen their names and all particulers as if he had conuersed with them all his life time From his very infancy he bare so extraordinary and tender deuotion towards the Blessed Virgin at whose hands he receiued many fauours that one time discoursing and recreating as it were with her he said O Queene of heauen I loue thee more then my selfe I loue thee more then thou louest me The motherly affection of the Blessed Virgin could hould no longer but appearing presently she made answere vnto him No no Alphōsus it is not so I loue the more then thou louest me His familiarity with the Blessed Virgin and her Sōne was such as is wont to be betweene friends one to another or as of a little child with his father and mother and indeed he esteemed them for such who affoarded him often their corporall presence he spake vnto them but once especially when they entred into his heart with such deuotion sweetnes that he caused the same effectinall those that did heare him whome he exhorted wholy to forget themselues only to delight in his sweet Louers Iesus and Mary for so he was wont to call them because they would be carefull both of body and soule For 40. yeares together he dayly said the Office of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Lady to which mystery he was much deuoted and the Blessed Virgin one day tould him that she was very much pleased with his deuotion which he did exhort all the Society dayly to practise telling them that one of the principall reasons of the Institution of the Society was to preach and defend the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Lady And this he said with so great affection that he neuer vsed the like feruour therby assuring them that he spake it nor of himselfe but had recaued it by reuelation from heauen The continuall vse of his beades as was found after his death had caused an extraordinary hardnes in his fingars ends I omit an infinite number of things which might be said of his rare vertues of his admirable lights and diuine fauours remitting the Reader to the history of his life which without doubt is one of the most rare and perfect amongst the liues of those Saintes which haue receaued extraordinary fauours from almighty God and will briefly recount his last sicknes death and buriall though from the very beginning of the 47. yeares which he liued in the Colledge of Maiorca our Lord exercised him in all sortes of paines as well diuers persecutiōs of the diuell which vexed him for many yeares as corporall infirmities grieuous sicknes wherwith he visited him from time to time yet he seemeth to haue made choice of the last 7. yeares wherin besides those infirmities which ordinarily accompany old age he began to be extremely troubled with the stone which caused him to keepe his bed continually and the three last monethes of his life to lye only vpon one side being not able to turne himselfe He spent all his time in prayer begging earnestly of almighty God not that he would mitigate or take away his paines but rather he would augment them and lay vpon him others more grieuous His ordinary complaints in his sicknes were that there was too much care had of him who desired rather altogether to be forgot or detested as a carion or dead beast Whē the Rectour once bad him take a few conserues of sweetmeates to comforte him he answered Belieue me Father those sweet things are paines vnto me and these paines sweetnes which he vsually also answered to those who asked him how he did By reason of great familiarity and conuersation with his Father and mother Iesus Mary he spake vnto them with great affection those wordes which he had learned of our Sauiour himselfe O Iesus and Mary my only comforts grant me that I may suffer and die for your loue and that I may be wholy yours and not mine owne Once when he could scarcely speake the Infirmarian asking what troubled him he answered Nothing but selfe loue Some few dayes before his happy death he was taken with such a vehement ague that renewing all his paines it seemed God would take him away within one houre in which time he did nothing but repeate these wordes Yet more good Lord yet more Therfore he receaued the B. Sacrament which for many yeares he had receaued twice a weeke for his Viaticum with his accustomed deuotiō as also the Sacrament of Extreme Vnction still begging of God with inuincible patience to increase his paines He bare such extraordinary respect to the Fathers that whē he could scarce stirre his armes yet he would alwayes when any came to him pull off his night cap. Vpon Saturday in the euening being the 29. of October almighty God performing that which he had promised him before he fell into an extasy much like to those which he had diuers times the yeare before in which he perseuered the three last dayes of his life And although his sicknes had disfigured his body yet after his extasy he became as beautifull as an Angell and as red as a Rose which were certaine proofes of the great flame which burned in his brest brake out by those exteriour signes and exclamations which he vttered from time to time O sweet Iesus O my deare mother and the like About ten a clocke in the night hauing giuen some signe of death approaching all the house came vnto him they oftē repeating the name of Iesus and giuing him a Crucifix to adore he presently opened his eyes which for three dayes before he had kept shut and looking vpon the Crucifix they perceaued thē to be more quicke and liuely then when he was in best health And with this kissing the feete of the Crucifix and saying O sweet Iesus he gaue vp the Ghost the Eue of All-Saints about midnight in the yeare of our Lord 1617. The rare vertue of this holy Brother was in such esteeme that not only those of this Prouince but also those of Italy Cast le And alusia Portugall and the Indies haue sent to Maiorca with earnest intreaty for some of his Reliques Many wrote vnto him cōmending themselues to his prayers only to haue his name written with his owne hand as graue Ecclesiasticall and Secular men Gētlemen of great note Grandies of Spaine