Kirjahaku

Chapter: I 4 II 15 III 20 IV 29 V 39 VI 48 VII 52 VIII 61 IX 71 X 79 XI 84 XII 88 XIII 96 XIV 106 XV 118 XVI 121 XVII 137 XVIII 148 XIX 159 THE Order of Friar Preachers, founded by Saint Dominic, has drawn recruits from every condition in life. It has attracted to itself young men and maidens, innocent in virginal purity, taught the secrets of penance to thousands of sinners, has drawn into its ranks the learned, who dedicated: their science to the service of God and the ignorant who, desirous of rising to degrees of sanctity, otherwise unattainable, donned the black Scapular of the lay brother, and spent their lives ministering to the bodily and temporal wants of the more learned of the brethren of the Order. And in return, this holy Order, instead of hiding the learning and holiness of its members in an impenetrable seclusion, has given to the world many remarkable examples of science, as well as holiness, in almost every sphere of life. The names of the eminent architects and painters of the Order of Saint Dominic dwell in the memory of every student of history. Philosophers and theologians are as numerous in its annals as the stars in the heavens. Thousands of missionaries have spread the glad tidings of Christ in all lands and to all peoples. Martyrs innumerable have watered the soil with their heart's blood. Where is the land which has not seen the white-robed Dominican searching for souls? And where the country in which they have not died for the faith? How many holy Bishops have been forced from their beloved monasteries by the voice of the Church, which has pressed the mitre on their unwilling brows, as reward for their zeal and learning. And the sons of Saint Dominic have been placed by God on the highest throne in the world, the Chair of Saint Peter. Four Popes have shed lustre on the Dominican Order, while they ruled the Church of God in justice and holiness: Peter of Tarentasia, under the title of Innocent 5th, called Blessed by the annalists of the Order, Nicolas Boccasini, known as Benedict 11th, declared Blessed by the Church, Benedict 13th, a member of the princely family of the Orsini, and Michael Ghislieri, known as Saint Pius the Fifth. The latter was undoubtedly the most remarkable. This great Saint shows us an example of virtues suited for several states of life. He had the austerity of an anchorite, the burning zeal of an apostle, prudential governing powers of a faithful Christian Bishop, the learning of a Cardinal, and that combination of virtues and natural qualities necessary to make him a great and holy Pope. As a Bishop, he never ceased to be a religious. Clothed in the purple of the Roman Cardinalate, he did penance so severe that his rank might be no snare for the humility of his soul; with the tiara on his brow he was as humble as when a novice in his monastery, and yet as bold as a lion when the honor and glory of God called him to defend the Church.

Chapter: I 4 II 10 III 13 IV 18 V 24 VI 29 VII 32 VIII 37 IX 43 X 48 XI 51 XII 54 XIII 59 XIV 65 XV 72 XVI 74 XVII 83 XVIII 89 XIX 95 THE Order of Friar Preachers, founded by Saint Dominic, has drawn recruits from every condition in life. It has attracted to itself young men and maidens, innocent in virginal purity, taught the secrets of penance to thousands of sinners, has drawn into its ranks the learned, who dedicated: their science to the service of God and the ignorant who, desirous of rising to degrees of sanctity, otherwise unattainable, donned the black Scapular of the lay brother, and spent their lives ministering to the bodily and temporal wants of the more learned of the brethren of the Order. And in return, this holy Order, instead of hiding the learning and holiness of its members in an impenetrable seclusion, has given to the world many remarkable examples of science, as well as holiness, in almost every sphere of life. The names of the eminent architects and painters of the Order of Saint Dominic dwell in the memory of every student of history. Philosophers and theologians are as numerous in its annals as the stars in the heavens. Thousands of missionaries have spread the glad tidings of Christ in all lands and to all peoples. Martyrs innumerable have watered the soil with their heart's blood. Where is the land which has not seen the white-robed Dominican searching for souls? And where the country in which they have not died for the faith? How many holy Bishops have been forced from their beloved monasteries by the voice of the Church, which has pressed the mitre on their unwilling brows, as reward for their zeal and learning. And the sons of Saint Dominic have been placed by God on the highest throne in the world, the Chair of Saint Peter. Four Popes have shed lustre on the Dominican Order, while they ruled the Church of God in justice and holiness: Peter of Tarentasia, under the title of Innocent 5th, called Blessed by the annalists of the Order, Nicolas Boccasini, known as Benedict 11th, declared Blessed by the Church, Benedict 13th, a member of the princely family of the Orsini, and Michael Ghislieri, known as Saint Pius the Fifth. The latter was undoubtedly the most remarkable. This great Saint shows us an example of virtues suited for several states of life. He had the austerity of an anchorite, the burning zeal of an apostle, prudential governing powers of a faithful Christian Bishop, the learning of a Cardinal, and that combination of virtues and natural qualities necessary to make him a great and holy Pope. As a Bishop, he never ceased to be a religious. Clothed in the purple of the Roman Cardinalate, he did penance so severe that his rank might be no snare for the humility of his soul; with the tiara on his brow he was as humble as when a novice in his monastery, and yet as bold as a lion when the honor and glory of God called him to defend the Church.

Chapter: I 4 II 13 III 22 IV 33 V 42 VI 52 VII 62 IN the sixteenth century Holland and Belgium were unwillingly subject to Spain. Protestantism was professed by large numbers of the inhabitants, and the Protestant leaders, making use of the people's natural enmity towards Spain, a staunch Catholic power, strove to impress upon their minds the idea that in order to be lovers of their own country they must belong to the Protestant party, and that the Catholics must necessarily be the friends of Spain, and enemies of their fatherland. This must be born in mind while reading the following narrative of the sufferings and glorious death of the noble martyrs of Gorcum. There were in all eleven Capuchins, two Premonstratensians, one Dominican, one Regular Canon of Saint Augustine, and four secular priests. Their names were: St. Nicolas Pik, Guardian; St. Jerome de Werder, Vice Guardian; St. Thierry Embden, St. Nicaise Johnson, St Willald, St. Godfrey of Merville, St. Antony of Werden, St. Antony of Hornaer, St. Francis of Roze, all Capuchin priests; St. Peter of Assche, St. Cornelius of Wyck, Capuchin lay brothers; St Leonard Wichel, St. Nicolas Poppel, St Andrew Walter, and St Godfrey van Duynen, secular priests; St John of Oosterwyck, Canon Regular of St. Augustine; St Andrian Becan, and St James Lacop, Premonstratensians, and St John of Cologne, Dominican.

IN the sixteenth century Holland and Belgium were unwillingly subject to Spain. Protestantism was professed by large numbers of the inhabitants, and the Protestant leaders, making use of the people's natural enmity towards Spain, a staunch Catholic power, strove to impress upon their minds the idea that in order to be lovers of their own country they must belong to the Protestant party, and that the Catholics must necessarily be the friends of Spain, and enemies of their fatherland. This must be born in mind while reading the following narrative of the sufferings and glorious death of the noble martyrs of Gorcum. There were in all eleven Capuchins, two Premonstratensians, one Dominican, one Regular Canon of Saint Augustine, and four secular priests. Their names were: St. Nicolas Pik, Guardian; St. Jerome de Werder, Vice Guardian; St. Thierry Embden, St. Nicaise Johnson, St Willald, St. Godfrey of Merville, St. Antony of Werden, St. Antony of Hornaer, St. Francis of Roze, all Capuchin priests; St. Peter of Assche, St. Cornelius of Wyck, Capuchin lay brothers; St Leonard Wichel, St. Nicolas Poppel, St Andrew Walter, and St Godfrey van Duynen, secular priests; St John of Oosterwyck, Canon Regular of St. Augustine; St Andrian Becan, and St James Lacop, Premonstratensians, and St John of Cologne, Dominican.

Saint Pius the Fifth, Pope Chapter: I 5 II 11 III 14 IV 19 V 25 VI 30 VII 32 VIII 37 IX 42 X 47 XI 50 XII 52 XIII 56 XIV 61 XV 67 XVI 69 XVII 77 XVIII 83 XIX 89 Saint John of Gorcum, Martyr Chapter: I 93 II 98 III 103 IV 110 V 115 VI 121 VII 127 Blessed Peter Gonzalez, Confessor 131 Blessed Augustine of Nocera, Bishop 150 Blessed Francis de Posadas, Confessor 169 Blessed Benedict the Eleventh, Pope 176 Blessed Simon Ballachi, Lay Brother 188 Blessed Albert of Bergamo, Tertiary 195 Blessed James of Bevagna, Confessor 199 Blessed Ambrose of Sienna, Confessor 214 St Pius the Fifth May 5 Chapter I THE Order of Friar Preachers, founded by Saint Dominic, has drawn recruits from every condition in life. It has attracted to itself young men and maidens, innocent in virginal purity, taught the secrets of penance to thousands of sinners, has drawn into its ranks the learned, who dedicated: their science to the service of God and the ignorant who, desirous of rising to degrees of sanctity, otherwise unattainable, donned the black Scapular of the lay brother, and spent their lives ministering to the bodily and temporal wants of the more learned of the brethren of the Order. And in return, this holy Order, instead of hiding the learning and holiness of its members in an impenetrable seclusion, has given to the world many remarkable examples of science, as well as holiness, in almost every sphere of life. The names of the eminent architects and painters of the Order of Saint Dominic dwell in the memory of every student of history. Philosophers and theologians are as numerous in its annals as the stars in the heavens. Thousands of missionaries have spread the glad tidings of Christ in all lands and to all peoples. Martyrs innumerable have watered the soil with their heart's blood. Where is the land which has not seen the white-robed Dominican searching for souls? And where the country in which they have not died for the faith? How many holy Bishops have been forced from their beloved monasteries by the voice of the Church, which has pressed the mitre on their unwilling brows, as reward for their zeal and learning. And the sons of Saint Dominic have been placed by God on the highest throne in the world, the Chair of Saint Peter. Four Popes have shed lustre on the Dominican Order, while they ruled the Church of God in justice and holiness: Peter of Tarentasia, under the title of Innocent 5th, called Blessed by the annalists of the Order, Nicolas Boccasini, known as Benedict 11th, declared Blessed by the Church, Benedict 13th, a member of the princely family of the Orsini, and Michael Ghislieri, known as Saint Pius the Fifth. The latter was undoubtedly the most remarkable. This great Saint shows us an example of virtues suited for several states of life. He had the austerity of an anchorite, the burning zeal of an apostle, prudential governing powers of a faithful Christian Bishop, the learning of a Cardinal, and that combination of virtues and natural qualities necessary to make him a great and holy Pope. As a Bishop, he never ceased to be a religious. Clothed in the purple of the Roman Cardinalate, he did penance so severe that his rank might be no snare for the humility of his soul; with the tiara on his brow he was as humble as when a novice in his monastery, and yet as bold as a lion when the honor and glory of God called him to defend the Church.

Saint Pius the Fifth, Pope Chapter: I 5 II 10 III 13 IV 17 V 22 VI 26 VII 28 VIII 32 IX 36 X 40 XI 42 XII 44 XIII 48 XIV 52 XV 57 XVI 59 XVII 66 XVIII 71 XIX 76 Saint John of Gorcum, Martyr Chapter: I 80 II 85 III 89 IV 95 V 99 VI 104 VII 109 Blessed Peter Gonzalez, Confessor 112 Blessed Augustine of Nocera, Bishop 128 Blessed Francis de Posadas, Confessor 144 Blessed Benedict the Eleventh, Pope 150 Blessed Simon Ballachi, Lay Brother 160 Blessed Albert of Bergamo, Tertiary 166 Blessed James of Bevagna, Confessor 170 Blessed Ambrose of Sienna, Confessor 183 St Pius the Fifth May 5 Chapter I THE Order of Friar Preachers, founded by Saint Dominic, has drawn recruits from every condition in life. It has attracted to itself young men and maidens, innocent in virginal purity, taught the secrets of penance to thousands of sinners, has drawn into its ranks the learned, who dedicated: their science to the service of God and the ignorant who, desirous of rising to degrees of sanctity, otherwise unattainable, donned the black Scapular of the lay brother, and spent their lives ministering to the bodily and temporal wants of the more learned of the brethren of the Order. And in return, this holy Order, instead of hiding the learning and holiness of its members in an impenetrable seclusion, has given to the world many remarkable examples of science, as well as holiness, in almost every sphere of life. The names of the eminent architects and painters of the Order of Saint Dominic dwell in the memory of every student of history. Philosophers and theologians are as numerous in its annals as the stars in the heavens. Thousands of missionaries have spread the glad tidings of Christ in all lands and to all peoples. Martyrs innumerable have watered the soil with their heart's blood. Where is the land which has not seen the white-robed Dominican searching for souls? And where the country in which they have not died for the faith? How many holy Bishops have been forced from their beloved monasteries by the voice of the Church, which has pressed the mitre on their unwilling brows, as reward for their zeal and learning. And the sons of Saint Dominic have been placed by God on the highest throne in the world, the Chair of Saint Peter. Four Popes have shed lustre on the Dominican Order, while they ruled the Church of God in justice and holiness: Peter of Tarentasia, under the title of Innocent 5th, called Blessed by the annalists of the Order, Nicolas Boccasini, known as Benedict 11th, declared Blessed by the Church, Benedict 13th, a member of the princely family of the Orsini, and Michael Ghislieri, known as Saint Pius the Fifth. The latter was undoubtedly the most remarkable. This great Saint shows us an example of virtues suited for several states of life. He had the austerity of an anchorite, the burning zeal of an apostle, prudential governing powers of a faithful Christian Bishop, the learning of a Cardinal, and that combination of virtues and natural qualities necessary to make him a great and holy Pope. As a Bishop, he never ceased to be a religious. Clothed in the purple of the Roman Cardinalate, he did penance so severe that his rank might be no snare for the humility of his soul; with the tiara on his brow he was as humble as when a novice in his monastery, and yet as bold as a lion when the honor and glory of God called him to defend the Church.

BLESSED JAMES OF ULM THE Order of Preachers, which is justly famous for so many illustrious theologians and apostolic preachers who have united learning to sanctity, has been no less remarkable for the holiness of its more humble members, the lay brothers of the Order, who, although not learned in the things of this world, have yet been models of all religious virtues. Amongst them, the Blessed James of Ulm holds a distinguished place. He was born in the year 1407 at Ulm, a wealthy city in the South of Germany. He was the second son of Theodore, a merchant of that town, who was very pious and noted for his charity to the poor. He lived to an honorable old age, "without losing, '' as Blessed James loved to say, "a single tooth from his head" on account of his abstinence and regularity of his life. James was educated piously, and in his youth was employed in mechanical arts, but more especially in that of making stained glass windows, for which his countrymen have long been famous. He remained in the bosom of his family until he was twenty-five years old, when the desire to visit the tombs of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul determined him to undertake a journey to Rome. On setting out he knelt down and asked the blessing of his beloved father, who gave it to him in these words, "Go, my son, call your Creator to mind during the whole of the road, and choose rather to die than sin in His sight. When you are at the holy places think of me, an old man who begot you. Return as soon as possible for you are my joy, my crown, and the staff of my old age. May the merciful Creator bless you, my dearest son, and make you a partaker of His eternal happiness." This beautiful exhortation was not made in vain, for when he and some companIons, who were also bound for the Eternal City, began their journey, James said to them, "Let each of us my friends, search his conscience lest this journey be spoilt by any sin, that we may with a clear conscience gain the indulgences granted to pilgrims;" and the whole of the time they were on the road he kept himself always occupied with some holy work, praying or meditating, sometimes saying verses out of the psalms, sometimes reciting the Lord's prayer. They arrived in Rome about the beginning of Lent. He spent the penitential season in visiting the churches, and prepared himself to celebrate the feast of Easter by a general confession of his whole life. When Easter was over, having come to the bottom of his purse, he went to Naples to seek some means of subsistence. Being well-made and handsome, a noble lady of that town, who had many servants, having seen him, wished to take him into her service, but the virtuous young man, fearing some danger for his soul declined, choosing poverty rather than put himself wilfully in the occasions of sin.

BLESSED AUGUSTINE OF NOCERA August 8th THIS holy Bishop was born at Trau, a small seaport in Dalmatia, on the shores of the Adriatic. Dalmatia was dependent on the kingdom of Hungary at the time when Blessed Augustine came into this world. His father, Nicolas de Caczioth, was one of the most honorable and influential men of the town, and much respected for his virtuous life. His mother, Droslawa, was a daughter of the ancient house of the Draseovics, of Sign, a town near Trau. She was no less pious than her husband. They were blessed by God with a numerous family. The exact date of Augustine's birth has not been recorded, but is supposed to have been about the year 1259. All the ancient lives state that he was born in the same year that Bela, King of Hungary, took refuge in Trau, from the fury of the Tartars. Those fearful scourges of Christianity ravaged Hungary twice in the thirteenth century, in 1241, and again in 1259, and it was during this second invasion that it is supposed Augustine was born, for he was still young when he entered the Dominican Order in 1277 or 1278. The contagion of the world had not tar- nished the brightness of his innocence, when he asked to be admitted as a novice about the age of eighteen. He gave great satisfaction in the novitiate, and after his profession began his studies, in which he advanced so rapidly that his superiors sent him to Bologna in Italy, and afterwards to Paris to study. He set out for France in the year 1286, on foot according to the general custom of those days. He was accompanied by a young novice, Jacopo Orsini, nephew to the Cardinal of the same name. Jacopo was no less distinguished for his rare virtues than for his high rank. The students had not been many days on the road when they were attacked by two hired ruffians, who threw themselves upon them, and speedily killed Jacopo. They were the emissaries of the Counts of Casanatense, the deadly enemies of the Orsini. Blessed Augustine was wounded, and left for dead in the snow for it was in the middle of winter. Happily, a gentleman of the neighborhood, Augustine Pagan de Petra, a staunch friend of the Dominican Fathers, happened to pass that way, and found the two novices lying upon the snow, to all appearances dead. He took them to his castle of Rebec, where Augustine revived, and after seeing his murdered companion buried in the neighboring Dominican Convent at Pavia, continued his journey alone. Arrived at Paris, Blessed Augustine resumed his studies, and gave the same satisfaction that he had already given in Italy and Hungary. He cultivated a very special devotion to the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and sought so to model his life upon his that some of his ancient biographers have called him a disciple of that holy doctor.

Excerpt: The Order of Friar Preachers founded by Saint Dominic, his fellow countryman, offered him all he sought. He, therefore, went to the monastery at Palencia, recently built, the home of many holy men. There he received the habit, and began a life of penance, prayer, and apostolic labors. He seems to have been about the age of thirty, when he entered the Dominican Order. The year of his novitiate was a year of tears, shed for the sins of his youth, the memory of which was never absent from his mind; but the wonderful mercy God had shown him in his conversion was an earnest of the happiness of heaven he was so eagerly striving to attain. When he thought of the danger he had run of losing his soul he trembled - but the sweet memory of his conversion always re-assured him. He was one of the most fervent novices; one of the most mortified; was most edifying in conversation, and above all was distinguished for his exact observance of the rule; very prayerful and devout, more especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to the most holy Sacrament of the altar. He also became remarkable for his love of holy purity, the fruitful parent of all Christian virtues. He had turned his back upon the world and its delights, but the world was not content to lose him. Some of his friends, who pretended to be full of zeal for his welfare, went to see him and talked to him in this strain: "You have taken a very serious step, and as it seems to us, with but scant reflection, whereas it is a step which requires years of thought and prayer." Others said: "You have been brought up in luxury, and probably will not be able to observe the long fasts and observances of the rule you have embraced. Would it not have been better to have begun your penance more moderately?" Many suggested that he had thrown away the talent God had given him; that he would have been very useful among the secular priests of the diocese, on account of his rank, but that in the Dominican cloister his life would be hidden and of no particular use to any one; that as Dean of the Cathedral perhaps God had destined him for a great work; and in fine, all the usual arguments pious, but imperfect souls borrow from the maxims of the world when they see any one trying to lead a more perfect life than themselves. But the novice, happy in his life of penance and prayer, saw through all these specious arguments, and happily persevered in the course he had begun.

Excerpt: The Most Holy Virgin appeared to him one night in a dream, holding several rosaries in her hand, and sweetly invited him to select one of them: no doubt to reward him for his faithfulness in reciting the rosary, and to encourage him more and more to love that beautiful devotion. His angel guardian made himself visible to him frequently under the form of a beautiful child, clothed in the habit of Saint Dominic. Francis knew that his mother had vowed that he should enter the Order of that holy saint, and he desired nothing more than to do so. But his father having died, his mother remarried. Her second husband was a man of strange character, and would not hear of it. Instead of allowing him to learn Latin, he apprenticed him to a workman, who treated him with great cruelty; but Francis put his trust in God, and bore all this ill-treatment meekly. Other misfortunes soon fell upon him. The devil seeing the patient youth become holier and holier, began to persecute him, hoping to wear out his endurance, and to entice him into some sin. Under the form of a black-a-moor he appeared to him, and tried to snatch the rosary from his neck, where he always carried it. The holy youth held it with one hand, while he made the saving sign of the cross with the other saying to the devil: "Look at the cross "And the arch-fiend immediately took flight. Having thus learnt how formidable the Rosary is to the devil, he always carried two with him: one round his neck and the other in his pocket. The devil, not being able to harm his soul, revenged himself upon his body by striking and maltreating him; God permitting this to test his patience and humility. Some persons having noticed how Francis was tormented, fearing that he might be possessed, took him to be examined by a learned priest, who after he had questioned him said: "Tell his parents that he ought to be set to study, that he may become a religious, and then all this will cease." His mother was only too willing that he should do so, but his stepfather refused to receive him at home. One of the Dominican Fathers of Saint Paul's monastery came to his aid and offered him a part of his own cell. He gladly accepted this offer, and began to study Latin grammar with the children, although he was 17 years of age, rejoicing in the contempt heaped upon him on account of his ignorance. He soon surpassed them, and showed that he was possessed of great aptitude for study, and endowed with natural quickness of mind. His mother, having become a widow a second time, he returned to his home. He cherished his mother, served her with such tender love that she often said to her friends: "My son is a saint; he bathes my feet, he makes my bed, obeys me in all things, and gives me every mark of love." How different his conduct from that of young men of our time They accept every service from their parents, but give nothing in return. In his old age he once said: "If God is so merciful to me it is on account of the good will with which I always obeyed my mother." And when he was nominated Bishop several times he said: "I attribute these marks of honor to God alone, who wishes perhaps to reward me for the ardent desire I always had to honor my mother.