deuice of many was that he should be paynted adoring the sacred Host vpon his knees His will was inflamed with the delightes and soule-rauishing fauours wherewith he was replenished in receauing those sacred mysteries Neither ought this to seeme strange vnto him who considereth his integrity of mind the exquisite preparation which he was wont to make therunto Togeather with his receauing of one of these bankets he prepared his mind for the receauing of another And besides his other offices of piety which he tooke time for he distributed euery weeke in this maÌ„ner the three first dayes to wit munday twesday wednesday he consecrated to giuing thankes to the three persons of the most holy Trinity seuerally for that last excellent benefit of the Eucharist communicated vnto him In like manner the three dayes following thursday friday and saturday he bestowed vpon praying to thosâ— three Persons seuerally that they would vouchsafe to inable him to come so prepared as was fitting to this heauenly banket the next sunday following Often euery weeke at certaine set-houres he betooke himselfe to the holy Church or the Quire therof and there adored the Blessed Sacrament and spent sometime in offering vp his prayers to God The day before he was to be made partaker therof that only mystery found him discourse in all his speach conuersation in which there clearely shone-forth a certaine diuine and ardent pleasure where with his mind was in the meane while replenished This when it was well perceaued by certaine priestes they did their endeauour that vpon Saturday before at those houres that they had leaue to conferre they might heare him make discourses in exquisite and hidden sentences vpon this inexplicable mystery And they said that they neuer said Masse with more plentifull piety then vpon the Sunday following Questionlesse Aloysius his discourses had moued and set on fire their mindes And this was a thing so ordinary that as often as euen vpon any other day besides Sunday any one had a desire with efficacy and inward gust either to receaue or consecrate the Blessed Eucharist the day before he would apply himselfe vnto him and of set-purpose endeauour to fall into speach of this matter Vpon Saturday in the euening being possessed with these cogitations he betooke himselfe to rest vpon Sunday betimes in the morning so soone as he awaked he reflected vpon the same then a whole houre did he meditate of the admirable coniunction of the soule with God which is accomplished in the Blessed Eucharist This being done he went to the holy Church to heare Masse at which he alwayes kneeled immoueably vpon his knees Hauing receaued the Eucharist he retired himselfe into some corner out of which you might see him after he had prayed longe time being as it were alienated from his senses with some difficulty raising himselfe vpon his feet with a feeble pace to creepe out of the Church But in the meane while he inioyed a cheerful hart ful-fraught with motiues of diuine loue celestiall sweetnesse The other houres before Noone betaking himselfe to holy silence he eyther recited prayers to Almighty God or quietly conteÌ„plated on him or piously read some what committed to writing either by S. Augustine or S. Beraard For this respect therfore he ioyfully went to the House of the Professed Fathers in which he fouÌ„d the discipline of the Nouices to be comitted to Hyeronimus Platus a man in vertue and study of Diuine things in the science of all Christian Philosophy singular witnesse are his bookes then a litle before set forth and also others like vnto them in argument which for so much as in respect of his vntimely death he could not finish to the great detriment of Religious men they neuer saw the light In these with an admirable methode order he set downe a course how to abstract the mind from the deceitfull illusions of fortune how to tame moderate a mans body how to bridle all the motions of the mind and set them in order how to extirpate all vices and vicious habits how to get all vertues necessary for a Religious man both to gouerne himselfe conuerse with others to conclude how with perfect charity to ioyne himselfe with God Hauing now finished but two bookes death bereauing vs of him forced him to leaue his worke vnperfect Therfore this Father as being the most pious and prudent amongst the rest after he perceaued Aloysius to be deliuered ouer to his charge according vnto that opinion which from the very first day of his acquaintance with him he conceaued of him he was very glad Furthermore what from the very beginning his iudgmeÌ„t was of Aloysius is manifest by those letters which with his owne haÌ„d he wrote concerning those thinges that happened at the comming of Aloysius to the Society to a young man of our Society who at that time studied in the Colledge at Naples Of which thinges although before there hath byn made mention notwithstanding to the intent that by the testimony of so worthy a Father they may be confirmed it shall not be from our matter to set downe those letters in this place verbatim He writeth therfore after this manner CHAP. VIII The letters of F. Hieronymus Platus wherby is described Aloysius his vocation to Religion and his vertues Most deare brother in Christ The peace of Christ be with you TRVLY I know not my deere Vitellesco what better I may answere to the letters which of late I receaued from you or more acâ—â—ptable then if I certify you of a certaine No 〈…〉 e of our Society of great fame who fiue dayes since namely vpon S. Catherines day came to our house of S. Andrew The name of this young man is Aloysius Gonzaga He is extracted by the Fathers side from a principall Marques not far from the dominion of Mantua to the Duke wherof he is very neare allied and vpon him as being the eldest of that stock relied the next hope of succession But so soone as it pleased God to chalenge him to himselfe about some two yeares since when he liued in the Court of Philip the Spanish King he addicted his mind vnto the Society plainely manifested the same vnto his Father the Marques who himselfe likewise remained in that Court He after many trials made of him at last yielded his consent and not long after retourning out of Spayne wrote to Scipio Gonzaga a most Illustrious man of his kindred who at this day is Patriarch of Hierusalem that he would be pleased to deale with our F. Generall and in his name offer his sonne vnto him But for so much as he was the eldest as I said before vpon whome the inheritance was to descend it was requisite that iuridically he should depart with his right to his brother which wheras it could not be done without authority from the Emperour there passed in the interim some certaine moneths Yet neuerthelesse this whole matter being effected when
after he had often humbly petitioned Almighty God after he had refreshed himselfe often with the Blessed Eucharist that it would please him to vouchsafe him his light for the discussing of deliberations of that consequēce supposing this resolution to be inspired into him by God bidding farewell to the world with all secular affaires he determined to be take himselfe to some Religious family where he would by vow obserue besides Virginity which before he had deuoted to Almighty God also Obedience and Euangelicall pouerty But for so much as hauing not as yet passed the thirteenth yeare of his age it was not expedient for him to put his thoughts in execution he neither assigned vnto himselfe any family nor disclosed vnto any one that which he had in his mind But notwithstanding those Fathers hauing discouering somewhat of his intentions became hopefull that he would at last adioyne himselfe to their company In the meane while he least his manners might disagree from the purpose of his mind began more strictly and vigilantly to order the whole course of his life and amongst secular and Court-delicacies to expresse in all vertue the conuersation of Religious men to retire himselfe longer to his chamber not to haue any fire in the winter season kindled or brought into the same where hitherto he was wont to haue some in respect of the tendernesse of his handes which were accustomed to swell and breake with cold in like manner abroad neuer to come neere the fire and if for company of others it was requisite to do otherwise to take that place wherin he might be sensible of no warmenesse to take with signification of a gratefull mind those remedies which were brought him by those of the house to allay the swelling of his hādes but setting them a side to make no vse of them to do all thinges out of a loue to suffer aduersity for Gods sake Moreouer he auoyded all concourse of people much more did he abhorre Comedies late suppers and delicious bankets to which he was oftē inuited but neuer cold be persuaded by his Father sometimes euen stomaking that his so vnusuall desire of solitude Therfore others resorting thither he only remained at home and there spent his time sometimes in holy meditations sometimes in communication of learning or piety with one or other graue and learned man And other sometimes he went to the Capuchin Fathers and to the Barnabites and wheras he could no more be carried away with the pompes pleasures of the world he inioyed their holy discourses Vpon a certaine time his Father tooke him in his cōpany to Millane that he might behould the transportation of all the horses of that prouince wherat it was requisite that he for the discharg of a certaine office which he mannaged should togeather with many other principall men be present Wheras therfore for so much as this was a thing rare and thought very well worthy the seeing there resorted a great concourse of people vnto it Aloysius who least he should incense his Father commaunding this precisely out of his authority could do no otherwise but goe yet made vse of this new art to wit he neuer suffered himselfe to be set in those principall seates from whence the whole pompe might cōmodiously haue byn seen and which is more as far forth as he might he endeauoured either still to sit with his eyes shut or turned some other way To conclude I may very truly affirme that he passed ouer his childhood without euer playing the child For he was neuer found in that age to haue done any thing that might sauour of leuity He neuer handled any dishonest or vnprofitable bookes He was much delighted to read the actes of Saints set downe by Surius and Lippomanus Of profane writers he for the most part read those who write of manners as Seneca Plutarke and Valerius Maximus He made vse of examples taken out of them at such time as he exhorted others to frame the course of their life out of the preceptes of Christ or Philosophy For he sometimes vttered speaches either openly with diuers others or priuately with some one alone so replenished with most wise sentences so elegant so feruent that all being astonished would say that his doctrin did far surpasse the capacity of his age and that it was therfore deriued frō God That in like manner was the cause why his kindred whereas they were not ignorant of his conditions and beheld not without displeasure so much rigour of diet and apparrell and contempt of all thinges which the world commendeth notwithstāding hauing in reuerence his prudence and singular vertue and neuer being so bold as to aske why he did so let him go forward with his course CHAP. XIV Being returned to Castilion with his Father he leadeth his life in great austerity being very much addicted to Prayer AFTER the Marques hauing performed his gouernment of Monte-Ferrato went backe with his whole family to Castilion Aloysius was so far from any relaxation of that zeale of prayer sharp affliction of himselfe that he did so much more straiten it A great maruell it is therfore that he either was not oppressed with some grieuous disease which might vtterly haue ouerthrowne his health now lōg since much impaired or that his parentes in whose sight he did these things had not out of their authority forbidden him For to that spare hard diet which as I said before he vsed at Mantua and neuer after left off he added many other entire fasts as namely he obserued three set-fasts at the least euery weeke That is to say vpon Saturday in honour of the most blessed Virgin-Mother vpon Friday in memory of the passion of Christ our Sauiour vpon which day being only contented with bred and water in the morning with nothing else but three morsells of bred dipped in water and at euening for his hungry resection he liued vpon one only cutting of bread a litle tosted soaked in water To conclude vpon wednesday sometimes he abstained from all thinges except bread and water sometimes he obserued the receaued custome of fasting in the Church There were added vnto these other extraordinary fasts which of his owne accord he imposed vpon himselfe as often as either the time moued him therunto or that he perceaued himselfe drawne by the loue of God and ardour of piety Furthermore he was so moderate in eating that some of his Fathers family maruelling how he was able to maintaine his life determined at vnawares to him to waygh how much meate he tooke at one meale after that by ballance-waight they had examined his bread togeather with his meat they affirmed by oath that his vsuall dinner or supper did not fully amount to one Ounce waight Which waight is so far from supplying the ordinary necessity of nature that we must necessarily confesse that which we haue heard of other Saints that his life was sustained by some diuine assistance without
for so much as it was now diuulged who he was and with what mind he went to Rome he became remarkable to all much comforting themselues to see a young man of that noblenesse of birth and abundance of riches that with more industry endeauoured to be reduced to an humble and needy state then for the most part others do hunt after honours riches The next morning following before his departure he was pleased againe at Masse to be refreshed with the sacred Eucharist and to bestow some time in his prayers That being done he went towards Rome His course of life in his iourney was in a manner this In the morning so soone as he rose out of his bed for one quarter of an houre he prayed in silence afterward he recited the Canonicall prayers which are accustomed to be sounge about the Prime Third Sixt and Ninth Houre with Lewis the priest of whome in this kind of prayer of which hitherto he had no vse he desired to be instructed he said likewise those prayers which we call the Itinerarium then he mounted vpon his horse Many miles he trauailed somewhat remote from all his coÌ„pany sometimes pronouncing the prayers of the daily exercise sometimes others somtimes according to his custome applying himselfe to meditation and contemplation Therefore vpon horse-backe he was no lesse attentiue to offices of piety theÌ„ others that are sequestred in their chambers For this respect his companions who well obserued how much he was delighted with solitude priuacy vpon set-purpose iournied some litle distance from him When it was his pleasure to intertaine talke sending for vnto him Lewis the priest he conferred with him of diuine matters Whilst their horses tooke their baite at noonetide he likewise tooke some small repast afterward saying togeather with the same Priest their Euensong Compline he returned to horse and to the way In the greatest part therof he reuolued in his mind corporall punishments and afflictions vnto which as he was much addicted so his hope was that becoÌ„ming a Religious man he might take his full scope in them sometimes he considered with himselfe the affaires of India and the conuersion of Ethnicks and he was set on fire with hope one day to go by mission from his Superiour into those coasts togeather with others who in great number euery yeare almost passe out of Europe Or to conclude with other such like cogitations he facilitated his way At the euening in his Inne although for so much as it was in the sharpe winter-season he was euen halfe frozen with cold neuerthelesse he neuer warmed himselfe But straight-way retired all alone into his chamber and there drawing forth and setting before his eyes the picture of Christ crucified which he carried with him throwing himselfe at his feet he continually spent two houres with God intermixing so many teares sighes groanes and so great seruour of mind that his men who without doores heard this lamentable noise gazed one vpon another stroken with amazement harty pennance Besides this prayer he daily for a great space togeather chastised himselfe with stripes and then calling into his chamber Lewis the Priest he read the Mattines and Laudes Afterward he sate downe to the table and alwayes abstaining from meates of a more stronger nourishment he supâ—ed very soberly and sparingly He determined to obserue vpon Wednesday Friday Saturday his accustomed fasts but the Priest wheÌ„ he perceaued him to be brokeÌ„ weakned with the labors of his iourny coÌ„maunded him to abstaine from them Vnto whose commaund truly he was then obedient but scarcely was he come to Rome when he betooke him to them againe When he went to sleepe he would nether suffer his bed to be warmed nor his apparrell to be taken of Therfore wheras he was not accustomed to weare stockings of cloth til the time that he tooke vpon him the habit of the Society at Mantua he was very much trobled euery day with drawing them of But once when the priest taking commistration on him helped him he sound his feet and legs almost starued neither euen then wold he make any vse of fire although he very much vrged him therunto CHAP. XXXIV At Rome hauing visited the Churches of greatest same hauing saluted the Pope and Cardinals he is adioyned to the Society of Iesvs AT Rome when in the house of Scipio Gonzaga that most illustrious Patriarch he had lighted from his horse and a litle rested himselfe after his iourny from thence he betooke himself to the house of the professed Fathers of the Society of Iesvs where he submitteth himself at the knees of F. Clandius Aquauina the Generall who had descended into a garden to meete him professeth himselfe vnto him both a child and a subiect so piously and submissely that it seemed impossible to raise him vp againe from the ground Going from thence he betakes him to salute certaine Cardinals and chiefly Farnesius Alexandrinus de Est Medices who at this day is the great Duke of Florence of all which he is intertained with singular beneuolence and courtesy and especially of Cardinal Farnesius Medices who were very earnest with him to remaine with them at their houses Hauing saluted all those Cardinals whom out of due respect he cold not pretermit he went to the seauen most famous Churches of that Citty to other places remarkable for sanctity to offer vp his prayers with incredible piety Through those wayes which lead from one Church to another he either meditated diuine matters in silence or song sacred Hymnes but in the very Churches themselues by a thousand meanes adoring Almighty God he declared a mind pious deuout to his Diuine maiesty Hauing visited these Churches he went to Sixtus V. the Pope that he might craue his benediction and deliuer vnto him letters from his Father the Marques He had scarcely entred into the Popes Anti-chamber when he was inuironed with a troope of Courtiers whome the report already dispersed of his intention had gathered togeather euen as it were to behould some prodigy Being admitted to the Pope after according to the custome he had kissed his feet he deliuereth the letters from his Father The pope asketh him many things concerning his intention of entring into Religion and chiefly whether he had sufficiently foreseene that laborious course of life So soone as he answered that he had long since premeditated and considered all thinges the Pope commending his resolution and courage of mind bestowing his blessing vpon him dismissed him That same day which was Saturday either for that the day before for deuotion-sake he had eaten nothing but bread water or for that this selfe-same day that he had admittance to the Pope he had remained fasting till 3. houres before night or for some other cause comming home he began to find some indisposition in himselfe and therfore to feare least that might proue a new impediment vnto him But this sicknesse proceeded no
this good young man was in hope shortly to land at his wished hauen his Father was his only obstacle who either out of his vehement loue toward him or out of the hope which he reposed in him or as he now writeth to F. Generall for that he thought his age as yet vnripe for the vndertaking of so great a matter suffered not himselfe to be persuaded to giue consent for his going and purposed to haue delayed him some yeares more But here the singular constancy and feruorous mind of this young man discouered themselues For although he honoured his Father with inexplicable obedience not withstanding he sought infinite wayes to solicite him and incline his mind and when he could not obtaine at his hands this his good and iust suite verily he sent vnto F. Generall his most ardent letters wherby he besought his fauour that he might come vnto him without euer taking leaue of his Father VVhen the Generall denied this the matter was deserred euen til this time But now by what art I know not truly hauing doubtlesse at last obtained leaue in Ecclesiasticad habit accompanied with about some ten horse-men he came to Rome His arriuall was so published whersoeuer he made his iournies and euen at Rome those few dayes that he remained in the house of Scipio Gonzaga it was already bruted abrode that he came to enter into Society that when about the same time he went to the Popes Holinesse that by his benediction he might be fortified for the prosecution of his intended enterprise his intention being noised throughout the Court he was enuironed with a ring of such kind of persons who for so much as their chiefest cares and ambitions infinitely differed from his came to gaze vpon him like some monster To conclude the next day after being munday which as I said was dedicated to S. Catherine he betooke him to S. Andrewes the same Patriarch accompanying him who remained there that he might diue with Fa. Generall But now belieue me of such quality are his endowments that noblenesse of birth which of late you vnderstood how illustrious it was is but the meanest of all his graces He is of so excellent a wit that although he hath not as yet attained the eighteenth yeare of his age and hath bene so long conuersant in Princes Courts notwithstanding he is rarely-well read hoth in Logick and Naturall Philosophy But so prudent and considerate is he in all his speaches that I speake seriously he maketh vs ad adonished Therof let this one thing seru you for aâ— argumâ—nt that the Marques his Father had now already made vse of him in the businesse belonging to his family and in his epistle wherby he recommendeth him to Fa. Generall he affirmâ—th that he bestoweth vpon him that then which he neuer had any thing dearer or of more hope at any time But in good-sadnesse all these are nothing in respect of his vertue and sanctity For verily he confesseth that eueÌ„ from about the eight yeare of his age he began to feare God sufficient proofes therof are the vâ—hement motions of piety wherwith he is agitated For in time of prayer he aboundeth with continuall teares and almost alwayes he hath his mind recollected and attentiue which is both apparent by his countenance also by his behauiour Those that are of the same house with him declare that he applieth himselfe to meditation foure or fiue times in the day and that he doth as often in the night but they haue no certainty what partitioÌ„ he maketh of his time for that now a good while since he would suffer no one to help him to bed but being shut vp in his chamber according to the proportion of his ardour and piety he gaue himselfe ouer to the offices of a deuout mind towards God But least you should thinke me too apt to amplify these matters concerning him let this which I shall tell you serue for all which is that with once only meeting with him he did so much oblige vnto him Fa. Andreas Spinola and woon him into so great an admiration of his towardlinesse vertue that he discoursing with me afterward of him thought me whome you see what esteeme I make of him to haue bene somewhat too coole in his commeÌ„dation Notwithstanding one and the selfe-sanie is the opinion which F. Generall and we all who are heere at Rome Millan or Mantua where he liued for a certaine time do hould of him Surely I am doubtfull whether I should say that which remaineth to be said least as it doth mine so it may diminish your comfort Notwithstanding to the intent that I may excite you to pray for him I will not conceale it Know therfore that he neither wanteth naturall nor celestiall gifts his health only excepted which is so weake that euen his very aspect striketh feare into vs. Moreouer one or two dayes before he entred into the Society he began to haue some infirmity in his brest He alledgeth this to haue bene the cause therof wherby you may take knowledge of his loue to piety He sayth that he had entertained this custome that euery Friday he would liue with bread and water only that wheras he had obserued the same euen the next friday before and after that the day following going to the Pallace to the intent that he might haue accesse to the Popes Holinesse whose secte according to custome he came to kisse hauing continued the within three houres of night fasting was exceedingly weakened How soeuer the matter goeth if he 〈◊〉 of any cure by commauna from Fa. Generall whatsoeuer alligent and careful prouidence may effect shall be applyed And already they haue set in hand with it And perhaps perhaps said Iâ—â— nay verily without all doubt he shall recouer better being teÌ„pered by the carefull moderation of the Society then if he should be exhausted by that vnbridesed and headlong kind of seruour Therfore pray vnto God for him and make no question but if he spare him 〈◊〉 you shall see him in time to come flourish with humarable exploytes both for the glory of God and renowne of the Society All the se things although many I haue omitted that might haue bene holsome for example in such sort haue I related to many that I might communicate likewise to you this comfort which for the time hath bene truly so great vnto vs all that there is in a manner no talke of any thing else Neuerthelesse vpon this condition that you requite this ioy which I haue brought vnto you with your prayers to God that he make me worthy of the sacred friendship and imitation of so many excellent men as he vouchsafeth daily to call to this holy Society that he may as it were with so many iewels garnish the same God blesse you From Rome the third of the Kalends of Nouember 1585. Your brother in Christ and your seruant Hieronymus Platus When this Father wrote these letters he was not
in the quiet enduring of that paine neither did he euer after so much as once stir These Fathers when they saw him neither able to speake nor moue they deliuer into his hand hauing first giuen him their blessing the hallowed candle which he in testimony of perseuering still in the practise of his holy fayth laid fast hould of and with that in his hand seemed to vtter the most holy Name of IESVS and at the last somewhat mouing his lips betweene the second and third houre of the night with admirable tranquility rendred his blessed soule to his creatour Wherein he obtained that fauour which he so much had desired that he might dye within the octaue of the most holy Eucharist to the honour of which he was allwayes extraordinarily deuout or vpon Friday in token of his pious mind towards Christs passion Therfore when the eighth day after the feast of the sacred Eucharist was ended and the Friday morning now begun that very night which is interposed betweene the 20. and 21. of Iune when he had liued 23. yeares 3. moneths and eleauen dayes he changed this mortall for that euerlasting happy life And iust so many yeares and moneths old was S. Lewis the sonne of Charles the 2. the French King of the order of S. Francis and afterward Bishop of Tolosa whome this our Blessed Aloysius resembled in very many vertues CHAP. XXXIV Of the obsequies buriall and those things which happened to the body of B. Aloysius VERILY those same two priestes seeme to haue receaued a great benefit from Almighty God who were present at his death that out of so great a number which with so ardent desires made sute for that fauour they should especially be chosen to see a young man of so great sanctity happily passing towards heauen which was to them so much the more comfortable for that before his departure he had promised to commend them whilst they were liuing vnto Almighty God Fa. Minister was possessed with a certaine quiet rest and celestiall sweetnesse his companion was surprised with a certaine vnusuall ardour holsome griefe and with a desire of honouring God according to the instructions of B. Aloysius Which mind of his abounding with many teares he retained not only many moneths but eueÌ„ many yeares if not so vehement as when his griefe was fresh and greene yet still more or lesse according as occasion required But for so much as his piety incited him to teare away for himselfe some of this Blessed youÌ„gmans reliques reuerence withheld him that he wold not lay violent hold of any thing that belonged to his body but made sure for the latchets of his shoos the pennes wherwith he was wont to write and other things of the like kind and preserueth them euen at this very time that I write this The Infirmarians when they came to wash and take charge of his body lifting vp before the same priestes the sheetes of his bed found that brasen Crucifix which as we haue said before he had continually held close to his brest for three dayes togeather When they stripped his body naked they found a very thick hardned skinne vpon his knees which his perpetuall custome of kneeling vpon his bare knees from his childhood had settled vpon them of which some cutting of some little peeces keepe to this day as a pious monument One of the Infirmarians by the instigation of some that had him in great honour attempting to cut some little peece of his flesh straight repenting himselfe of his enterprise tooke only away some little part of his skinne with which he recounteth that a sicke person being by his aduise touched was restored to his health When he had but euen newly giuen vp his last breath one of those Fathers which were present certified some of those who whilst he liued were his most intimate friendes that this our Angell was soared vp to Heauen Who being inkindled with feruorous piety threw themselues out of their beds partly for that they thought him already entertained in those happy dwellings of the Heauenly citizens they began to inuocate him partly they offered vp their prayers for him which in the Name of friendship he had requested of them before his death The next morning being the 21. of Iune so soone as euer the rising-bell was but scaicely rung the chamber where that sacred body was placed was full of company and all falling vpon their knees either inuocated God for his soule or which was the far greater part of them made intercession to him for their owne Moreouer happy were they that cold but first lay hold of with a pious affection his shoos his shirt his shooties and other his garments His nailes his haire some parts of his flesh were cut of From thence his body was brought into the publike chappell of the Colledge all the houres before noone it was frequented by very many especially of those young men of his acquaintance who before were not only afrayd to touch but euen to be hould a dead body went to the beare redoubling this word Sanctus Sanctus stroue to imbrace and kisse those sacred reliques That very morning all the Masses both in the Colledge and in other houses of the Society in that Citty were said for his soule although it was done by most more to continue that custome of the Society then for that they thought he had any need of them It is hard for them that were not eye-witnesses of this thing to coÌ„ceaue in their mindes how much his departure moued the minds of all those that liued in that Colledge For no one was willing to speake of any thing but his vertue and sanctity whilst ech one declared seuerally what soeuer singular example they had obserued in him But far more frequent was he in their harts then in their mouthes euery one reuoluing in his mind of how inestimable a iewell they were depriued what a losse that day they had sustained of his holy society About an houre before sun set when the Dirige funerall praiers were to be said the sacred body was brought out of the chappell into the great â—all where the Fathers all the other fellows were assembled There euery one of them euen the priests themselues by turnes before it was carried forth kissed his haÌ„d Which kind of veneratioÌ„ being wont to be exhibited only vnto priestes was attributed to the sanctimony of this young man who was initiated only in the Ordines minores This office being performed his funerall went forward with a long traine to the sacred Church of the Colledge called that of the Annunciata there the funerall prayers were celebrated according to the custome After which there was so great a concourse of young men who were Students there and of other people who encompassed the hearse to worship take vnto themselues of those holy reliques that the Fathers being not now able to withstand them were constrained to shut the
was present when Aloysius his funerall Rites were performed he giueth particular testimony of some thinges that happened therin For he sayth in this manner Most Illustrious and Excellent Lady At this very instant do I rest doubtfull whether I should coÌ„passionate your griefe or congratulate Aloysius that Blessed Fathers happy departure to a far better kind of life For I cannot sufficiently discerne whether should make a greater impression in a mothers mind this your particuler losse of him or that his inestimable and most plentifull gaine Velily I grieue that we are bereft of the aspect of so eminent a man and that you must be liable to a griefe then which I make a question whether any can be greater for that in this his last sicknesse you had no oportunity to see him no not so much as once in the last closing vp of his life But him surely I congratulate as hauing with his excellent offices of sanctity whilst he liued merited heauen whither by the constant opinion of all he did rather fly then goe so remarkable a feeling of his accomplished vertue did he leaue behind him both to Rome and the whole world besides Therfore being a young man not passing 23. yeares of age he arriued to that degree of perfection that if he had liued til Nöe his age he could not haue hoped for a higher Vpon Thursday in the euening about the second houre of the night he rendred vp his soule to God and yesterday in the afternoone in the Colledge Church of the Society of IESVS which is called that of the Annunciata his funerall was solemnized at the performance wherof I was present Neither will I spare to relate this that there was not only great honour exhibited to his reliques by the Fathers of the Society themselues but euen the people who were present for veneration sake cut his garments neither ought I to be accounted vaine if I should add more also wherof I hope you shall be certified and perhaps euen by the Fathers themselues who better know the matter There is truly as yet no miracle of his published either for that there is none or for that if there be it is hitherto concealed but neuerthelesse his veneration is celebrated publikely as if it were of some holy man that had shined with miracles And this day which is Saturday about 3. hours before sun-set I am tould that very many Illustrious men request some one thing or other of his which he made vse of in his life time These merily are the causes which make me doubtfull whether or no we ought to grieue for his end There is some one who hath begun to set dowâ—â— his life in writing and so soone as it is finished is to giue a coppy therof to a certaine Cardinall He as at the news of his death he was very much stroken with griefe so was the same very much â—â—tigated vpon the hearing of this his so great honour Wherfore the same Cardinall for both respectes very earnestly desireth some one thing or other â—f this most happy Father This also I thinke good to certify you of what Aloysius the very next weeke before this when we visited him did with great ioy foretell his owne death and gaue vnto me two letters which eight dayes since J directed vnto you he intreating me that I would do my best endeauour that they might certainely be deliuered for so much as these would be the last that he should write to you Most Exc. Lady and to his brother the Marques To conclude this did I resolue how soeuer to impart vnto you by my letters to the intent that by this meanes J might both speake vnto you and comfort you with which solace maintaine your selfe so long till as I desire some other may write vnto you more at large of 〈◊〉 thinges In the meane white set a limit I pray you to your griefe recommend vnto this blessed Father no one of whose prayers can be in vaine the peace and quiet of your most Excellent family From Rome this 22. of June the yeare 1591. And by these letters which hitherto we haue alleadged we may easily coniecture with how great a Name of sanctity he flourished at that time when he departed out of this life CHAP. II. The notable testimony which Robert Bellarmine that most renowned Cardinall gaue of B. Aloysius VNTO the letters of these graue men which confirme the diuulged fame of his most excellent vertue I will now annexe the testimony of Robert Bellarmine that most Illustrious Cardinall so often commended in this my history of his interiour vertues For he who had long time in the Roman Colledge gouerned this B. young mans coÌ„science and had well experienced with how great endowments his mind was enriched by God at my request vnder his owne hand hath set down in writing whatsoeuer things he could call to mind of him and sent it vnto me to the Colledge of the Professed at Rome from his house that he had in the pallace of the Vatican And although euen the single testimony of any one Cardinall such is the high estimation of that dignity be of it selfe in the Roman Court of Iudicature of sufficient authority and credit as Panormiâ—anus and other learned in the law haue confirmed and verily for my owne satisfaction I would neuer require any more then the hand-writing of such a man remarkable all the world ouer for excellency of learning integrity of life notwithstanding to the intent that I might confirme this truth and cleare ech one from any the least scruple herin I haue preuailed so far with this most Illustrious Cardinall that he himselfe made open profession therof before the Notary of the Apostolicall chamber and by oath confirmed the same And it was in this manner verbatim Right Reuerend Fa. I will truly very willingly conde seenâ— to you in all that which you require at my hands supposing that it is to the glory of God that those his giftes which he bestoweth vpon his seruants should not be concealed from the knowledge of men I haue often taken the particular confessions of our most sweet and holy brother Aloysius Gonzaga and one generall one in like manner which contained the particulars of his whole life and he tooke great contentment to sorue me at Masse to conuerse with me and discourse of Diuine matters Out of those his confessions and that his conuersation I do verily persuade my selfe that I may very truly affirme these thinges which follow First that he did neuer admitte any mortall sinne which truly for the whole course of his life from the very first seauenth yeare of his age I am certainely assured of of those first seauen yeares wherin he had neither that knowledge of God which afterward he had nor consequently could not follow it in his life I only goâ— by probable coniecture For neither is it likely that a child either of so tender age or designed for so great purity
Neither was he euer after as he himselfe affirmed vnto me and others for the adding to the glory of this Beatus vexed with those kind of torments Laelius Guidiâ—â—ionus a gentleman of Luca fell into a malignant feuer at Rome the same was accompanied with a very sharpe paine in his head and perpetuall want of sleep disquiet languishing of his pulse imbecillity of his strength mournefull sighs and those fetched from the very botome of his hart which he thought he felt pricked with a thousand needles with the small pox also which when they had but scarcely broken forth seemed to threaten the striking in againe his hearing some what impayred his â—oyce low faint great difficulty of breathing All which wheras neither inward nor outward remedies did mitigate being held for desperate of the Phisitians making his confession and receauing the Eucharist he prepareth himselfe for death In the meane while he is visited by some of the Fathers of the Society of IESVS who declaring the sanctity of B. Aloysius the benefits and admirable thinges which by his mediation Almighty God had performed promised that they would bring vnto him some part of his reliques He being excited with zeale towards him and expectation of his reliques began to be as confidently persuaded of his owne recouery as if he had already receaued some pledge therof froÌ„ Almighty God supposing that the reliques being but once hung at his â—eek he should be cured presently The next morning he of his owne accord requested to haue them The same day they being brought he did with feruent deuotion receaue them when he had with them made vpon himselfe the signe of the crosse imploring with all the affection that he might the patronage of that Beatus he hangeth them about his necke Immediatly his malady is appeased The Phisitians in the euening found the man well eased The cruell fitte which they thought would haue depriued him of his life did afterward wholy forsake him his torments ceased his rest returned in the night he slept soundly after he waked he found himselfe free and light-some The Phisitians the next morning returning vnto him found not in him so much as the least footstep of the feuer which caused them more to wonder there remained euen no dregs of so difficult a disease in him The whole matter was by authority of the Magistrates registred and placed in a painted tablet at the sepulcher of B. Aloysius CHAP. V. A Religions Virgin at Florence by the Reliques of B. Aloysius is cured of a very trouble some Canker THE yeare 1599. when certaine Religious women who liue in Florence at S. Mary de Angâ—lis had read the life of Blessed Aloysius as it was at first set downe by me they obtained some little peece of his bones which to this houre they keepe with singular piety and honour There was in that Monastery amongst the younger Virgins which being newly consecrated vnto God are held in more strict discipline then the rest one who was called Angela Catharina Carlinia who for foure whole yeares was tormented with a great griefe ouer all her left side from the crowne of her head to the very sole of her foote but especially her shoulders and armes were vexed with that payne Doubtlesse that humour or distillation oppressed her from which she feared some great mischiefe might grow vnto her as afterward it came to passe For in the yeare 1600. in the moneth of Ianuary by night being waked out of her sleepe with a vehement distillation and cough vnder her left pap she found as it were a certaine heauy burden to lye vpon her with a sharpe paine and the part affected after a certaine sort gnawne when she felt it with her haÌ„d she found a thing as hard as marble of the bignesse of an egge which afterward was discouered to be a Canker Hardly and with great griefe did she moue any part of her body she went bowing her head but nothing was more bitterly painfull vnto her then to lift vp her armes In the night she could by no meanes lye on that side and if by chaunce she turned herselfe vpon it in her sleepe transfixed with paine she presently awaked Oftetimes she was able to take no sleepe and whilst she was eating so great was her trouble that scarcely durst she take that which sufficed nature Neuerthelesse partly out of modest bashfullnesse partely out of a desire to suffer some aduersity for Gods sake ten whole weekes she intertained this new torment in secresy But when she began to take the spirituall Exercises of S. Ignatius which the holy Virgins of that Monastery are accustomed euery yeare to doe wheras in the middest of them her disease increased she was moued in conscience to conceale it no longer Therfore she discloseth to Maria Pacifica Tonalia the gouernesse of her and the rest of the young Virgins there the whole matter who communicating the same with Euangelista lucundia and with Maria Magdalena de Pazzi Mistresse of the Nouices they presently visit the sicke womans griefe and by their handling therof discouer that it was a Canker which in like manner not very long before had occasioned the death of a certaine other Virgin of the same Monastery Her mistresse reposing no confidence in naturall remedies betaketh herselfe to implore the helpe of God and finding in her prayers a certaine instinct that by way of fauour she should request of B. Aloysius to recommend this matter vnto God she exhorteth likewise the Virgin to do the same Moreouer so soone as she vnderstood how much was attributed to the sanctity of B. Aloysius for three dayes one after another she with those Reliques which I spake of before signed her with the signe of the crosse And the first time all the paine went away wherewith her flesh was outwardly tormented the other incommodities of her disease remayning Therfore they determine to commit the same to the charge of the Phisitians and to cure that by other remedies Now they had certainely resolued the very next morning to set in hand with the medicinall cure therof when this Virgin enflamed with a desire to see the glory of IESVS-Christ amplified with the honour of B. Aloysius applieth herselfe with great ardour of mind to beseech him that he would not suffer that day to passe which was the 8. of Aprill being Saturday in Albis as they call it without vouchsasing her this fauour that is to say that she might be made partaker of her health not through humane helpes but by his recommendation And after that all the whole day in her sacred meditations she had implored that benefit at last towards the euening respecting only the honour of God and his holy seruant she retireth herselfe secretly into her closet to her prayers There whilst she reiterateth that her sute remaineth constanly fixed therin she sensibly perceaued her mind to be replenished with confidence and certaine hope to obtaine that which