euen now I made mention by some of his other familiar friendes certified of those thinges that happened at his Fathers death much reioycing gaue thankes to God He was wont to recount that he was thus taught by his Father That whatsoeuer man doth apply his mind to in any course of life or busines that he should performe that which he taketh in hand as diligently as he may That wheras this was his Fathers opinion in thinges subject to fortune it was much greater reason that he should stand so affected in Gods cause Neither was he slow in shewing in his deedes themselues how deeply he had imprinted this saying in his mind who did alwayes with inflamed desire contend that he might subject himselfe to the gouernement of reason make good the name and renowne of vertue Christian prudence And that we may giue a tast of some few thinges which euen then were both admired and spoken of concerning him first of all he so vtterly laid downe all care of his kinsfolkes that he seemed euen to haue blotted out of his mind all memory of them Therfore being asked how many brothers he had he was not able to giue any answere before to himselfe he had reckoned their number At another time a certaine Father asking him whether he were any thing trobled with the remembrance of his kindred he denied that he euer had any thought of them but when he was willing to commend them in generall to God and that by the benefit of God he had his cogitations so far forth in his power that there was neuer any thing occurring to his mind vnlesse he were willing therunto CHAP. IV. Of his mortification in the time of his Nouiship the custody of his Nouiship the custody of his senses HE had fortified all his senses with so diliget a guard that hauing both eyes cares he seemed neither to see nor heare and with his body placed vpon earth to be conuersant with his mind in heauen Neuer whilst he was in Religion was he seene to take into his hand any odoriserous thing much lesse any thing that was perfumed as often as in the Hospitalls he attended vpo sicke persons which he often asked leaue to do he applied himselfe to those that were the most loathsome of all others and he so easily endured that filthinesse and stinke that he shewed no signe of loathsomenesse He likewise brought-vnder his sease of touching by inflicting stripes vpo his flesh by wearing haire-cloth vsing often for his daily food nothing but bread and water by imposing vpon himselfe other corporall punishments and vexations All which he did very frequently vse vnlesie in respect of his infirme health he was permitted by his to vse them lesse then he would Neither was any thing more grieuous vnto him then that in this respect he might not follow his owne disposition Once also he did confidently affirme to a certaine Father that those punishments which he now vsed for the repressing of the insolency of his body and mind were nothing in comparison of those which in his former state of life he suffered of his owne accord That this one thing was of great comfort to him for that he knew Religion much to resemble a ship in which they saile no lesse who by the comaund of the Gouernour sit idle then they that sweate in rowing That day which according to the custome of the Church fast was obserued he had obtained of the Maister of the Nouices to abstaine frō all thinges but bread water But the Maister behoulding him when he obserued that he did eate almost nothing that was vpon the table taking him from that to the intent that he might minister some other matter vnto him of ouercomming himselfe sending for him vnto him he commaundeth him to returne to the second table and to eate of whatsoeuer should be set before him He did as it was commaunded him But then a certaine man who obserued it he being gone from thence said in iest Surely brother Aloysius you haue taken vp a handsome kind of fasting you eate once moderately to the intent that you may eate againe vnto whome he answered Quid vis faciam Prophet◠dictum cst Vt iumentum fact us sum apud tc ago semper tecum What would you haue me to doe It is the saying of the Prophet I am become like a brute beast before thee and I alwayes remaine with thee As concerning his sense of hearing he neuer accommodated his cares to them that tould new or vnprofitable thinges Therfore if conueniently he might he turned the speach to some other subiect but if he that spake were one of any account he sufficiently discouered by his silence it selfe the habit of his countenance that those things that were spoken were displeasing to him Wheras in that his freer course of life as we haue declared before he did seuerely moderate his eyes he did discouer amongst the Religious euen much more euident signes of vigilancy The Nouices are wont sometimes euery yeare for recreation-sake to go forth into a certaine vine-yard Often had Aloysius gone to the same when I know not vpon what occasion they were sent to another After he was returned home frō this being asked whether seemed vnto him the pleasanter he said that he did very much merueile at this question for so much as hitherto he did thinke that it had bene the very same which notwithstanding did very much differ from this in the way in lodgings and other thinges Calling to mind at last he acknowledged that in this he saw a Chappell and not the like in the former When he had now for the space of three moneths taken meate in the refectory of the nouices he was yet ignorant of the order which was obserued in the tables Therfore being commaunded by Fa. Minister to bring vnto him a certaine booke which he had left in Fa. Rectours seate he was first to be informed which that place should be and where the Priestes did sit At another time hauing likewise spent three moneths in the nouiship he tould the Maister that he was troubled with a scruple for that not willingly but accidentally casting his eyes vpon a certaine person that sate in his company he beheld what he was in doing That he feared least that might seeme a token of curiosity yea and moreouer which you will more wonder at he added that this was the first scruple that had befallen him concerning the gouernement of his eyes since his first entrance into the Society He seemed altogether to haue lost his taste so voyd was he in perceauing any taste in his meate neither did he any thing care whether it were delicate or vile well seasoned or vnsauory It was his only desire to take the very worst of that which was set before him and whilst he was eating to haue his mind alwayes vpon Diuine matters For but only at that time which he attended to the
these so so one as Aloysius had notice of their arriuall he went vnto them to talke of diuine matters accepting also at their hands with a great desire and sense of piety meddalls of Indulgences Agnus-Dei and other such like things belonging to piety But he conceaued the most pleasure by the comming of certaine reuerend Monkes of Cassino of the Order of S. Benedict who whē his life was called in question at Modena yielded vnto him an excellēt testimony of pious sanctity Neither was he lesse inclined towards certaine Reuerend Fathers of the Order of S. Dominicke who in the Sommer time for their recreation came to Castilion with whome in like manner he conferred familiarly of matters touching his soules health Amongst these was the R. Fa. Fr. Claudius Finus of Modena Doctour and reader of Diuinity and a preacher of great fame in Lombardy He both at other times and also a little before his death before the Tribunall of the Bishop of Modena being questioned concerning that matter answered vpon oath in these wordes which in respect of the authority of that man I thought good here to relate CHAP. XVI The testimony of the R. Fa. Claudius Finus Doctour of Diuinity of the Order of S. Dominicke of the sanctity of Aloysius I VVAS well acquainted with the most illustrious Lord Aloysius Gonzaga to whome belonged the inheritance of the title fortunes of the Marques of Castilion not only by sight but also by frequent discourse with him when togeather with my fellowes I retired to Castilion and to other places seated in the dominion of his family For very willingly his mother endeauoured that he should both confer with others and especially with me Verily I departed from him astonished and not without a certaine pleasant gust of mind more inflamed in the loue of vertue in respect of the singular example of sanctity which shined in his manners sententions speach gesture All his familiar speach in a manner tended to a certaine exquisite desire of humble deportmen of himselfe and to the prayse of those who separate themselues from those thinges which to blind mortall men seeme so goodly magnificent Once also he said vnto me There is no cause why we should insolently boast of our ancestours seing that there is no other difference betweene the ashes of Princes and beggars but that those of Princes stincke more grieuously In his tender age he made no shew of childishnes being of notable modesty often with drawing himselfe from company and in the meane while remaining silent musing graue and pious Often he had in his mouth these speaches O how willingly would I burne with as much loue of God as might be worthy of so great a maiesty my very hart melts with griefe when I see christians so vngratefull towards him A token likewise of his modesty and loue of honesty was that his bashfulnesse so full of candour and sincerity that if any one euen in iest and merriment had but vttered any one word differing neuer so little from modesty he would with a decent blushing and with a very modest signe of griefe shew a kind of commiseration of his errour In the meane while whilst he heard any one talking of the preceptes of a more perfect life or relating of any who entred into any Religious Order he seemed to compose his face to greater serenity and to put on another aspect Sometime also he cried out with a sigh Good God how much pleasure is there in those solid ioyes of Heauen seing that we are so much delighted with the speach of them heere vpon earth Sometimes I went with him into the Church There he showing the signes of a mind most humbly and submissely worshipping God did far surpasse being but a child the examples of men of riper yeares and of long experience in the profession of Religion Sometimes being as it were in lamentation other sometimes his eyes being fixed vpon some one of the Saintes pictures he neither gaue eare to those that called him nor spake to them neither would he without interposing some delay yield thē any answere whereby it manifestly appeared his mind was alienated from his senses He did often affirme vnto me that he bare a singular deuotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary that with the only hearing of her name his hart abounded with incredible ioy Truly I knew him not after he had entred into a stricter course of religion notwithstanding I haue heard from diuers very graue men at Milane Brescia Cremona Ferrara Genoa Mantua and else where that he being ioyned to the Society of Iesus liued therin with great opinion of sanctity in the iudgmēt of all men many religious men of great authority do testify that he in like manner dyed in the same sanctity and some were of opinion that it was more safe to commend our selues to his blessed soule then his soule to God Furthermore the same of the miracles prodigies and other benefits which Almighty God worketh for his sake and of the celestiall honour which is had of his Reliques is diuulged far and neere These are the words of that Reuerend Dominican Father CHAP. XVII He goeth with the Marques into Spayne and is made Page of Honour to Iames the Prince And of the life which he lead in the Court. IT was the yeare of Christ 1581. in the Autumne whereof Mary of Austria daughter to the Emperour Charles the V. daughter-in-law to Ferdinand the first wife to Maximiltan the second mother to Rodulph the second who raigneth at this day and sister to Philip the second the Catholike King tooke her iourny out of Bohemia into Spayne To do her honour some Italian Princes that were obliged to that Kingdome amongst these the Marques Ferdinand Father of B. Aloyseus were by that King commaunded to atted her in passage out of Italy into Spayne And whereas his wife Martha at the request of the Empresse accompanied him they tooke likewise as companiōs in their iourny their three children one daughter whose name was Isabell who remaining afterward in Spayne ended her life amongst the principall maids of Honour to Isabella Clara Engema the Infanta of Spayne Aloysius his eldest sonne being now of the age of thirteene yeares and a halfe and Rodulph being somewhat younger then he In this iourny which Aloysius made out of Italy into Spayne he neuer omitted his vsuall custome of daily meditating vpon diuine matters nor to make vse of that ardour of piety Therfore he had alwaies his mind busied in such likes cares It was bruited in the Galley which they went in that they were in some danger of falling into the handes of the Turkes heere he inflamed with a suddaine desire said Vtinam ita casus ferret vt Martyres fieremus I would to God it would so come to passe that we might be made Martyrs Moreouer his mother recounted vnto me that he found amongst those rockes of the Sea a little stone distinguished with certaine markes
which by him were done after his happy departure out of this world It may seeme vnto some not to stand with the decorum of a History for â—e to descend to the relation of certaine small matters as of set-purpose I do in my second booke But for so much as my intention was to help by these my endeauours mens piety and religion and that I did not vndertake to recount the life and manners of any magnanimous Emperour or excellent Statist but those of a Religious man which may seeme worthy of imitation the prayse wherof is either obscured or increased with the least mutation of any addition induced by the example of many who haue obserued the same in relating the acts of Saints and especially by the aduise of some graue and learned men I will of purpose prosecute those thinges which although vnto many they may seeme small yet therin will appeare a certayne excellency and perfection of his sanctity This aduertisment I thought good to giue least any one might impute it to rashnesse If there shall be found any errour in my relatioÌ„ I would haue it attributed vnto my selfe If any thing rightly performed that it should be ascribed to God whom I humbly beseech that he would vouchsafe vs his grace to imitate the admirable actes of this Blessed young man and to obtaine that felicity which we belieue he doth now enioy in heauen And thou most holy and most B. Aloysius who in those fortunate mansions of heauen reapest the rewards of thy labours and in that bright mirrour of the Diuinity in which thou beholdest that of our affaires which it is his pleasure thou shouldest seest my imperfection vouchsafe me thy pardon for so much as with my poore stile I haue vilified thy almost diuine vertues calling to mind that thy propense charity wherwith whilst thou liuedst thou didst imbrace me pray for me to our Lord that I may in such religious sort order my life heere that relying vpon thy help and patr 〈…〉 it may befall me at the last when it shall so seeme good vnto Almighty God to enioy togeather with thee that euerlasting Blisse and Beatitude Amen MOST REMARKABLE testimonies coÌ„cerning B. Aloysius and this History giuen by foure Reuerend and Religious Fathers who had read the same and compared it with the publike Instruments at Brescia The Testimony of the VICAR OF THE INQVIsition of the Order of S. Dominicke I Fr. Siluester Vgolotus Reader of Diuinity of the order of the Friars Preachers Vicar Generall of the holy Office of the Inquiâ—â—â—ion in the Citty and Diocesse of Brescia do testify and vnder my oath affirme that I haue read the life of that B. Prince Lord Aloysius Gonzaga Marques of Castilion and of the Religious Society of IESVS written by the most Reuerend Father Virgilius Ceparius a Deuine and Preacher of the same Society which I haue coÌ„pared with the publike instruments out of which it was drawne and I find that whatsoeuer is recounted of the vertue and sanctity of thâ—s B. young man is all taken from testimonies confirmed by oath and from instruments made by the Paâ—riarchall Archieâ—iscopall and â—piscopall authority of many Citties Moreouer I do verily belieue that not only that which is related in this history but euen much more is very true For when I knew this B. Prince being as yet but of tender age and that I conuersed with him I found by good experience that from his very childhood he was accounted a Saint commended by all as one of an Angelicall life and conuersation of which thing I my selfe could 〈◊〉 many examples And now in this history there is not only any thing repugnant either to sayth or good 〈…〉 ners but it is euen written prudently and with a â—eligious spirit and aboundeth with examples of sanctity Verily I am most confident that it will bring very much spirituall profit not only to religious men out euen to those that are secular as namely to Princes and Lords vnto all which this B. Father hath bâ—ne both a Guide and Example In testimony wherof I haue written and subsâ—ribed these letters Giuen at Brescia in our Couent of S. Dominicke I THE ABOVE NAMED Fr. Siluester whatsoeuer I haue aboue testified affirme it vpon my oath THE READER OF THE BEnedictine Monkes of Cassino I D. Paul Cattaneus Monke of the order of S. Benedict of the congregation of â—assino or of S. Iustinâ— at â—â—dua Reader of Philosophy Cases of Conscience in the Monastery of the SS Faustinus and Iouita at Brescia being sworne do testify that I hauâ— read the life of that Blessed Prince ALOYSIVS GONZAGA Marques of Castilion and afterward Religious of the Society of IESVS written by that most Reuerend F. VIRGILIVS CEPARIVS a Deuine Preacher of the same order and that I haue compared it with all those authenticall instruments and Registers from whence it was drawne and that I haue found whatsoeuer thinges are said therin to be approued by sworne witnesses and those worthy of credit And that it is so far from conteâ—ning any thing contrary to good manners that it is replenished with holy examples and most worthy to be published for the generall profit of the faythfull For out of that very motion of mind and fruit which I my selfe tooke therin I do easily perswade my selfe that it will take no lesse effect with whomesoeuer shall read it And also I my selfe who knewe him many yeares in the world before he gaue himselfe to religion am able to testify that he was by the common consent of all esteemed a holy yong man that he was commended and that many of his admirable actes were ordinarily in the mouthes of men as of one remarkable for Sanctity And when he departed to enter into Religion all the people that were subiect to his dominion strucken with the losse of so great a Prince gaue themselues ouer to lamentations In testimony of which thinges I haue written and subscribed these letters with my owne hand Giuen in the Monastery of S. Faustinus I THE FORSAID D. Paul confirme all these thinges vnder my oath THE PROVINCIAL OF the Capuchins THE life of the B. Prince L Aloysius Gonzaga Marques of Castilion adorned with all vertues and merits religious of the holy Society of IESVS which heerafter is set downe by that very Reuerend F. Virgilius Ceparius Doctour of Diuinity and preacher of the same Society and with great diligence collected out of the testimonies authorities of sworne witnesses as my selfe haue found in particular comparing these with the same and vnder my oath affirme it is altogeather worthy to be published for the glory of God who sheweth himselfe so admirable in his Saints for the example of Christian Princes for the edifiyng of religious and fayth full people This Prince worthy of all glory was borne as I may say holily and whilst he liued was adorned from God with such and so great giftes and benefits that truly I am
capacity He would not haue his Nouices be ouer solicitous to cast themselues into an affected composition either of countenance or body which shortly after their Nouiship they were to put off againe but he procured that they should put on that kind of modesty which they were willing to maintaine all the course of their life in Religion Likewise that they should lay for their foundation solid vertues and despising of themselues He desired that Nouices should reuerence and thinke as truth required of those that were now their ancients in religion as being wont to say that there was as much difference betweene Nouices those that now in Colledges did apply themselues to good artes as betweene those that learne their first A. B. C. and those that haue arriued to the learning of Philosophy I haue beene very well acquainted with many of my fellowes who passed their Nouiship vnder him whome I found all of them to haue a great opinion of his sanctity and their iudgments full-fraught with praise of his manner of gouernment Verily towards euery one he was very charitable mild facill and which is most to be esteemed of he hadled the matter so impartially with them all that euery one of them thought themselues to be only intirely beloued of him neyther could suspect that any one was either more esteemed or more vehemently affected Wherfore he was exceedingly beloued againe and he was an assured refuge to them all in whatsoeuer their necessity He deliuered the course of a Religious life to his Nouices rather by his example then either by his words or exhortation For nothing did he inioyne others which he did not first fulfill himselfe neither did he euer commit that by any one he might be noted to haue declined from any manner of duty how little soeuer it was Many things somewhat miraculous are both spoken and written of him As namely that with his only aspect he put forth a fire in the quenching wherof many men had lost both much labour and water That he had a Diuine instinct in beholding the factes of his subiects that were absent and penetrating into the secrets of their harts and their inward cogitations Of which matter many exāples that fel out at Rome Naples are by very graue Fathers recounted at this day It hath bene now reported from the yeare 1582. that the house of the Nouices being once very much distressed for want of daily victuals he retired into his chamber besought Almighty God to ease the same and chat there came vnto his doore an Angell in the habit of a young man and when hauing sent for the Father he had deliuered into his hands a certaine summe of money which might relieue their present penury that he suddenly vanished out of their sight For respect of these things he was of all held in great estimation of sanctity Therfore at Naples when being vpon his departure out of this life he had receaued his sacred viaticum he endeauoured to abolish out of the minds of those that were present this opinion who in that his last passage had an attentiue eye vpō all his sayings and doings whome they reputed to be in the number of the Saints But how much the more he endeauoured to cōceale the excellency of his vertue by so much the more did his singular modesty and contempt of glory by the shewing of so remarkable an example in his very last farewell giuen to earth and entrance into Heauen discouer it selfe This Father so deere to God Aloysius with a principall reuerence and loue obserued not only because he was his Superiour for which respect he held him as the Vicar of God but also for so much as he saw him adorned with vertues perfect accomplisht with all the exact rules of religion and looking into his life as into a mirrour he tooke a patterne therby Therfore curiously did he note all his words and deeds and desirous to be corrected and instructed by him he communicated with him all the inward state of his mind And it was very pleasing in like manner to this good Father to conuerse familiarly with Aloysius whose mind he perceaued to be singularly pure most fittly disposed to receaue the discipline of celestiall things and replenished with all vertuous diuine endowments Which vertues truly endowments if he before his death might haue commended to posterity we should not haue bene so ignorant of many other things concerning B. Aloysius CHAP. XIII Aloysius goeth with the same Father to Naples giueth excellent documents of vertue whilst he remaineth there VVHEN as therfore about Autumne in the yeare 1586. this Father being assaulted with a certaine disease did spit bloud and Fa. Generall with hope of recouering his health determined to send him to Naples he asked as it happened Aloysius whether he would go with him to Naples or no vnto whome Aloysius without any further reflecting vpon the matter answered that he would very willingly When afterward the time came that this Father should depart from Rome it was Fa. Generalls pleasure that three Nouices that were the most infirme in their healths he should take a lōg with him to make experience whether by the change of aire they might be bettered in their healths Amongst these was our Aloysius for whose grieuous head-ake a remedy was sought Knowing that he was to go he began to be trobled in mind for that he feared least by simply affirming that he would willingly accompany the Father might imply some certaine determinatiō of the matter for said he Oportebat respondere in Praesidum potestate futurum neque vilum eo inclinantis aut abhorrentis animi signum dare I ought to haue answered that it shold be in the power of my Superiours and not to haue giuen any signe of a mind either inclining or repugnant therunto Although F. Generall was moued not so much with his speach as with respect of his health which he saw so euill disposed Wherfore it seemed good to Aloysius not only for euer after that not to shew any propension to one part or other but also to procure that others should not affirme him to will or not will any thing but with a mind equall to all things to depend vpon his Superiours authority Likewise making knowne to many the scruple which came into his mind he assured them that it was very troblesome vnto him to do any thing according to his owne will But so soone as the iourny was manifestly decreed being questionlesse very ioyfull of such cōpany he said to one of his fellowes Sibi hoc iter gratū futurum quodè P. Piscatoris dictis as factis rationem discere percuperet qua hominibus Societatis iter instituendum esset that this iourny was gratefull vnto him for that he desired very much out of F. Piscators words deeds to learne a course how men of the Society ought to order their iourny They departed from Rome the 26. day of
in the flourishing season of his youth For in regard that his ould-age was likely to be infested with diseases would afford lesse strength for the performance of those things And that for that respect men of principall sanctity in their extreme and decrepit age looke how much they had profited in the pious imployments of their mind so much for the most part they deducted from their corporall punishments but that they neuer altogether left them of If his Superiour for bad him any of his bodily chastisements the losse that he sustained of that fruit he recompensed with some other office of piety as by reading a chapter out of the little booke of the imitation of Christ by going to the Church to worship the Diuine Eucharist or with some other such like Whether he stood or sare or walked he omitted no time wherin he might vexe his body with some molestation And wheras his Superiours when they saw him somewhat debilitated forebad him the vse of all haire-cloth disciplines and extraordinary fasting he inuented some meanes to exercise himselfe which might neyther be repugnant to the will of his Superiours nor oppoâ—ite to his bodily health and those he declared vnto them Of which sort this was one when for his accustomed exercise of speaking out of the pulpit he requested that he might speake in Spanish supposing doublesse that for that respect all would laugh at him And he obtained leaue to do it To conclude you may haue a sufficient scantling euen by this one thing how much he thirsted after his owne vexation for that wheras he had so often executed so many punnishmentes vpon himselfe without hauing any respect to his health very many denounced vnto him that they stood in great feare least when he shold come to the houre of death this sâ—ruple might vexe him and that peraduenture he might pay in the paines of purgatory for this his so euill and vndiscreet intreating of his body Vnto which doubt in his last sicknesse he gaue answere as after I will recount For the repressing of the perturbations of his mind verily he needed no great diligence as which he had long since so subiected to himselfe that he seemed altogeather to be destitute of them He bestowed his greatest industry in driuing away the motions of his mind and if he found himselfe any thing faulty in that kind he did not with ouermuch deiection contristate his mind but throwing himselfe at the feet of God and determining to expiate himselfe by confession he implored peace with him Hauing done that he rested with a secure mind And this he had learned of that Maister of the Nouices whom we haue spoken of For he was wont commonly to counsell all that it was a fit remedy against such sinnes which in our common course of life do steale vpon vs and which was both acceptable to God and a confusion to the Diuell to professe our basenesse before God lifting vp for some little time our mind towards heauen with these or such like words En mi Domine quam fragilis sum miserabilis quam procliuis adlapsum Ignosce mi Domine gratiam concede ne idem peccatuÌ„ iterum peccem See my Lord how fraile and miserable I am how prone to fall Pardon me my Lord and vouchsafe me thy grace that I fall not againe into this sinne and after this to quiet our selues This therefore did Aloysius obserue he said moreouer that to be too much afflicted for such like sinnes as these was a signe that a man had no true vnderstanding of himselfe For he that knoweth himselfe could not be ignorant that his garden of it selfe was only apt to bring forth thornes and briars He imployed all his solicitude in searching out the origene and head of his desires and cogitations till such time as he had discouered whether he was guilty of any fault or no to the intent that he might disclose it to the priest But when he had once examined out the matter he laid aside all care In his confessions he was cleare short nothing anxious and as F. Robert Bellarmine who was his Confessarius affirmed by the assistance of that Diuine light that was infused into him and the sharpenesse of his wit he did so narrowly surucy euery secret corner of his mind that he was euen as well able to expresse how farre he proceeded in euery cogitation or desire or action so expresly and distinctly as if he had euen seene all things with his eyes He loued very much to be publikely reprehended in the presence of his companions and for that cause he of his owne accord vsed to notifie to his Superiors his faults in a peece of paper But at the last when insteed of rebuke he perceaued prayse to be attributed vnto him by them who found no fault in those thinges which he condemned in himselfe he put on a mind to desire those reprehensions no more for that he said that they were rather a losse then a gaine vnto him CHAP. XX. What he thought of the Spirituall Exercises of Bl. Fa. Ignatius how he exercised himselfe in them THE spirituall Exercises of B. Fa. Ignatius he did not only much esteeme for the respect that they yielded a most effectuall meanes to draw the mindes of men out of the filth of sinne to the loue of an honest life but for so much as they were most apt to reuiue those raked-vp fires of piety and the spirit of God in the minds of Religious men Therfore euery yeare at what time according to the custome they might keep their longest vacations from the schooles to the intent that he might apply himselfe to them he intreated leaue for the space of some few dayes to be retired And for so much as those Exercises are distributed into foure weekes he framed vnto himselfe certaine sentences and precepts in Latin agreeing with the arguments which are treated of in euery one of them and the scope which is aymed at But wheras all his notes which truly belonged to piety where presently taken away so soone as he was dead I could find none almost but these that belong to the first weeke For the Exercises of the first weeke Inscrutable are the iudgments of God who knoweth whether he haue yet forgiuen me the offences that I committed in the world The pillars of heaueÌ„ haue fallen were broken who will promise me perseuerance The whole world lieth buried now in the depth of wickednesse who shall appease the anger of our omnipotent God Most Religious and Ecclesiasticall men forget their vocation how shall God suffer any longer so great detriment of his Kingdome The faythfull with great repidity all the dayes of their life as it were steale Gods glory from him and who shall restore it Wee be to poore secular men who deferre their pennance euen till the point of death woe also to Religious men who euentd that moment haue slept in their vocation With these kind of
into the Nouiship of the Society of IESVS He in his very first entrance into a more holy life began most grieuously to be solicited to admit wicked cogitations against God the Bl. Virgin and other Saints which truly when he was most intent to the meditation of sacred things his prayers and whilest he enioyed celestiall comforts would arise and disturbe his mind with great conflicts putting him suddainly out of all sense of piety Often did he beseech Almighty God to help him often did he implore the aide of the Virgin Mother often the assistance of other Saints But for so much as perhaps they had rather haue this benefit ascribed to B. Aloysius his intercession whome with so deuout a mind he had alwaies serued his prayers deserued not to be heard Being now for the space of two moneths infested with these troublesome suggestions of the Diuell when once by breake of day he was according to his custome tempted with the same in his prayers it came into his mind to beseech Almighty God to help him by the mediation of B. Aloysius Gonzaga whom he had read in his life to haue assisted others in the like danger He offered vp vnto him his prayers and besought him earnestly that he would free him from this trouble And without delay he sensibly found his brest filled not only with hope but euen confidence togeather with a certaine cheerfulnesse so far forth as if all that his deiection of mind had bene taken away Neither was he deceaued in his opinion for from thence forward he was alwayes free from the same This thing he himselfe to the intent that he might propagate the glory of B. Aloysius did of his owne accord relate vnto others and vnder his oath publickly professed A certaine pious man dwelling in the Countrey beyond the Alpes had passed very many yeares in Religion seruice of God secured from all lust-full tentations when by Gods permission with so great violence he began to be infested by an impâ—re spirit that he was compelled all the whole yeare to maintaine battaile and combat with dishonest thoughts and imaginations with vnchast incitements and sensuall prouocations neither in the meane while had he any comfort or rest He treated his poore body with hunger stripes haire-cloth and other asperities both of diet and clothing It auailed him nothing ofteÌ„ would he withdraw himselfe from the table often from the company of men being constrayned to be wayle and bemoane his owne infelicity There throwing himselfe prostrate in the very dust he perseuered with humble prayers daily to petition Almighty God for mercy finally finding no remedy whereby truly he could hope for any comfort and perceauing his lustfull desires to be nothing lesâ—e inkindled he was assaulted likewise violently with that execrable opinion of imagining that neither God nor any of his Saints tooke regard of our affaires who being daily wearied with his importunate prayers yielded notwithstanding no comfort or reliefe to his vnfortunate state In conclusion when he had so lingred out the whole yeare in this difficult conflict that he found no succour at all he remembred himselfe of the holy and innocent life of B. Aloysius Gonzaga of which amongst other thinges he had heard this especially that through a singular benefit of God he had his body free from all vnchast motions and his mind from all euen the least shaddow of sinne Therfore he determined to haue recourse vnto him as his last refuge him he besought as earnestly as he might finally he hung about his neck his reliques which by chance he had in his custody scarcely had they touched him when vpon the suddaine he was exempted from the fury of all those cogitations and there was rendred vnto him a very pleasing and quiet state of mind and two yeares are now past since that being freed from all those manner of tentations he ascribeth this so great a benefit to B. Aloysius and by his assistance continueth it Of all these thinges by publike authority a Writing was made a Donary-offering of siluer was sent to his tombe at Rome I could rehearse others of like kind which I haue vnderstood from very credible testimonies who do constantly affirme that wheras formerly they had bene plunged habitually in a vice much opposite to chastity after they began to make sute for Gods help by the mediation of this his seruant either by honouring his sepulcher or carrying about them his reliques or picture or determining to do some pious thing in honour of him or choosing him for their aduocate and patron those vncleane ardours being as it were extinguished they neuer after polluted their integrity with any such like blemish But for so much as it is my purpose to prosecute in this booke those things only which I found recommended to publike monuments and that I cannot declare these things without drawing some note vpon them vnto whome they happened I do willingly omit them This only will I add that if that saying of B. Aloysius be true as very true it is which in his life time he maintayned that the Saints of heaueÌ„ do chiefly professe their helpe and assistance to vs mortall men in acquiring those vertues with which they in their life time were adorned seing that he did with so vnusuall a prayse flourish not only in purity and chastity but euen in very many other vertues as heertofore we haue declared without all doubt being now receaued into heauen he will most willingly be exceeding propitious vnto them who haue recourse vnto him with a desire to obtaine or preserue those vertues And by these that haue bene related in this chapter we may easily coniecture that almighty God who eueÌ„ now before his acts are as yet published hath by his prayers 〈◊〉 to the intent that he may set forth the honour of his name done so many admirable matters and vouchsafed so many fauours will for his sake performe euen many more both in number and in dignity more remarkable after that his life shall be put in print and that his fame and veneration shall more increase with the people as â—â—therto we see it doth A MEDITATION OF THE HOLâ— Angels and of those especially who are deputed to the Custody of men Written by B. Aloysius Gonzaga VVE haue said in the course it selfe of this our History that B. Aloysius committed to writing his meditation of the Blessed Angels at the request of Fa. Vincentius Bruno who for so much as he was not ignorant how much he honoured those celestiall Wightes and how singularly deuout he was vnto them imposed that taske vpon him To the intent that to the good of others there might remaine monuments of those so notable and sublime conceipts I thought good to place heere this meditation so that togeather with his life it might be read by all And thus it was THE GOSPELL Matth. 18. There came vnto IESVS his disciples saying whom doest thou thinke to be the greater in
contemplate the office of thy faythfull guardian who conducteth thy soule after that hauing performed her long and perilous pilgrimage she shall be cleare purged from all spot ioyned to her heauenly spouse by the celestiall Paraâ—â—â—ph and adorned with many guiftes and diuine graces all cheerfull and exhilerated to heauen to that supernall Hierusalem our mother and there with great ioy and exultation of all the Angels and Saints of Paradise of whom she had long since bene expected shall present her before the face of her celestiall Father that from his Diuine handâ— she may receaue her crowne of glory and of that felicity which from before all eternity was prepared for her and for which we poore wretches do groane and sigh in this vale of teares O a thousand times happy soule who after she hath bene faythfull to her Creatour and hath obeyed the good Counsels of her Angell-keeper after the laudable spending of the yeares of her life shal by the same Angell be brought into those eternall taberâ—â—cles of the iust There shall the true marâ—iâ—ge of the lambe be celebrated with 〈◊〉 rely beloued spouse there shall be complete ioy perfect peace and rest without end But thou ô my soule that throughout the whole course of thy life hast bene no otherwise imployed then in offending thy Creatour and contristating thy good Angell-guardian what comfort shall he haue to bring thee before the face of thy Father and thou with what couÌ„tenance darest thou appeare in his presence Alas ô my God and therfore shall I despaire No verily For seing that thy mercy is inexhaustible and that in the person of that good Father in the Gospell thou didest with so great charity rece aue thy penitent sonne I am altogether confident that I if grieuing and doing pennance for my life past I shall returne vnto thee my Father that I shall not be cast-off but receaued of thee my most mercifull Father if not as an obedient yet at least as a penitent child But now what retribution are we able to make to our Lord for such so great benefits receaued from his Maiesty For whatsoeuer we are indebted to the blessed spirits by whose industry all thesâ— benefits haue befallen vs all that do we owe to our Creatour who hath commaunded his Angells to keep vs in all our wayes Psal 90. Although in like manner to the Angell-Guardians themselues we owe very great thankes for their immense charity and the remonstrance of their most faythfull ministery towards vs. And first of all thou owest honour worship and reuerence to that Angell who continually assisteth thee taking good heed that in his sight thou do not any thing which thou would est not do in the presence of any man that is thy Superiour And 〈◊〉 be to thee if this holy Angell offended with thy finnes and negligences shall onâ—â— thinke thee vnworthy of his presence Angelicall visitation Besides these things there are many vortues which are pleasing to the holy Angells and which they desire to see in our soules and worthily ought we to bestow all diligence in the obtaining of them These are sobriety chastity voluntary pouerty frequent sighs ioyned with deâ—ouâ— teares and seruent prayer but aboue all vnion peace and brotherly charity these are the vertues which principally the Angells of peace require of vs. O my soule ô thou that art the beautifull image of thy Creatour would to God thou diddest but know thy owne dignity how much thou art beloued of God and how much esteemed of his Angells no doubt but not to offer iniury any more to him who so much hath honoured thee and not to contristrate thy most faythfull guardian thou wouldest no more so easily contaminate thy selfe with the dregs and filth of sinne For if so great ioy be in heauen foâ— the conuersion of one only sinner thinke with how much griefe thy good Angell is afflicted when he seeth thee by sinne spoyled of the grace of God For if he were possessed of either life or bloud most willingly wouâ—â— he in imitation of our Lord powre it forthâ— for thy saluation Bring to passe therforâ— that thou maiest chiefly be adorned with those Vertues which exhilerate the Angells and glorify thy Creatour that by these 〈◊〉 of most pretious merits thou maist correspondent to the Angelicall veâ—tues 〈◊〉 fruite answerable to the reward of Angels 〈…〉 THE COLLOOVV Thou shalt pray to our Lord God that as he after so admirable an order distributeth the offices and ministeries of his Angels for mans sake so would he likewise vouchsafe so graunt vnto thee that by alâ— those blessed spirits which are daily assistingâ— and seruing his Diuine Maiesty in heauenâ— thy life may euermore be preserued and 〈◊〉 â—ended from thy cruell enemies And thâ—â— as he hath to them granted that so copi 〈…〉 gift of grace so would he by their 〈◊〉 ers also grant thee grace to imitate the iâ— humility charity purity that leading vpâ—â— earth an Angelicall life thou maiest deserue one day to be made like to the Angells 〈◊〉 heauen and togeather with them enioy 〈◊〉 nally the wished glorious vision of God DOCVMENTS 1. OVR Lord sayth that vnlesse we be made as little ones we shall not enter into heauen for as he sayth in another plate Taliâ—menim est regnâ—â— caelorum Motâ—â—â— 19 of such is the Kingdome of Heaue Wherfore if we will be â—aued it behooueth vs to haue the properties of little children and to practise such manners as they in that their small age vse Little children are simple void of malice and deceit they are pure both in mind and body they set light by either honour or disgrace they put no iniury vpon any one and when any is offered them they reuenge it not they contend not with any one they giue place vnto all finally they are in awe of their betters and easily submit themselues vnto them And these are the ChristiaÌ„ vertues which Christ himselfe professed and taught others to imitate when he said Discite a me quia mitis sum humilis corâ—â— Matth. 11. Learne of me because I am mild and humble of hart in which two vertues all the forsaiâ— properties are contained 2. Moreouer our Lord said Qui humiliauerit se sicut paruulus iste erit maior inregno celorum Matth. 18. He that shall humble himselfe like this little child shall be the greater in the kingdome of heauen Very well therfore said the Apostle that the wisedome of the flesh was an enemy and contrary to the wisedome of God for in the world they are thought to be the greatest who diligently vphould the state and degree of their honour and estimation whome God maketh no account of at all But on the contrary part they that haue no regard at all of their honour and endeauour to humble themselues euen vnder the feet of all others these are truly great in the sight of God and shall be likewise in heauen more great then