stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第12章
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nearly over； though it had been so brief。 He had no long career before him
on this earth； he was going home； and going soon。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER XIV
GOING HOME
When Stanislaus had been a novice nine months； Peter Canisius came
one day to Rome on business。 At this time Stanislaus was living in the
noviciate proper； Sant' Andrea on the Quirinal。 Of course the novices were
all keen to see and hear the great Canisius； the man who had done such
superb work in Germany。 And whatever curiosity they had was satisfied；
for Canisius came to the community at Sant' Andrea and gave a little
sermon or talk。
It was the first of August； the month always most dangerous to health
in Rome。 Just for that reason； perhaps； the old Romans had made the
beginning of that month a time of feasting and boisterous holiday。 And an
old proverb had come down； 〃Ferrare Agosto … Give August a jolly
welcome〃
Canisius took this proverb for his text； but turned it to say； 〃Give every
month a jolly welcome； for it may be your last。〃
After the talk； the novices； according to custom； discussed amongst
themselves what had been said。 It came Stanislaus' turn to speak。 He said：
〃What Father Canisius has just told us is a holy warning for all； of
course。 But for me it is something more； because this month of August is
to be really my last month 'upon earth。〃
To be sure； no one paid special attention to this strange remark。
Novices often say things that will not bear too much analysis。 Particularly
no one would look seriously upon what Stanislaus had said； since he was
at the time in perfect health。
Four days later； the feast of our Lady of the Snows； Stanislaus had
occasion to go with the great theologian； Father Emmanuel de Sa； to the
church of Santa Maria Maggiore。 For there the beautiful feast is kept with
singular ceremony； as that church is the one connected with the origin of
the feast。 Each year； during Vespers on August 5th； a shower of jasmin
leaves sifts down from the high dome of a chapel in Santa Maria Maggiore；
to commemorate the miraculous snow in August which marked out the
spot where the church was to be built。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
As they went along； de Sa turned the talk to the coming feast of the
Assumption of our Blessed Lady。 Stanislaus spoke with delight； as he
always spoke of our Lady。
〃When our Lady entered paradise；〃 he said； 〃I think God made a new
glory for His Mother； and all the saints made a court about her and did
reverence to her as we do to a king。 And I hope；〃 he added； 〃that I shall be
up there myself to enjoy this coming feast。〃
Again his words were not taken at their face value。 Father de Sa
thought he spoke of being in heaven in spirit for the feast。
The practice； now common； was new then； of alloting to each in the
community as special patron some particular saint whose feast occurred
during the month。 Stanislaus had drawn Saint Lawrence for his patron。
The feast of the Saint is celebrated on August 10th。 Stanislaus； who had
clear intimations of his quickly approaching death； and was eager to go to
heaven； asked Saint Lawrence to intercede for him that his home…going
might be on the Feast of the Assumption。 He got permission to practice
some penances in honor of the Saint。 He prepared for the feast with
unusual devotion。 On the morning of the 10th when he went to Holy
Communion； he carried on his breast a letter he had written to our Lady。 It
was such a letter as a boy； away from home； and homesick； might write to
his mother； asking her to bring him home。
After breakfast； Stanislaus； still in entire health； was sent to work in
the kitchen； where he spent the rest of the morning； washing dishes；
carrying wood for the fire； helping the cook generally。
But by evening he was decidedly unwell。 To the fellow…novice who
helped him to bed he said quietly； 〃I am going to die； you know； in a few
days。〃
Claude Acquaviva hurried to him as soon as he learned he was ailing。
Father Fazio； the novice…master； also came。 Stanislaus told each of the
favor he had begged from our Lady； and that he hoped strongly his request
would be granted。
That was on the evening of Wednesday； the 10th。 He appeared to be no
better or worse on Thursday and Friday。 But Friday evening he was moved
from his ordinary room to a quieter place in a higher story of the house。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Those who went with him noted that before he lay down； he knelt on the
floor and prayed a while and made the sign of the cross over the bed；
saying； 〃This is my deathbed。〃
Now they began to believe him and were frightened a little。 So
Stanislaus added； with a smile； 〃I mean； of course； if it so please God。〃 He
continued in about the same condition until Sunday； August 14th。 That day
he said to the laybrother who was taking care of him：
〃Brother； I'm going to die to…night。〃
The brother laughed at him； and said：
〃Nonsense； man！ Why； it would take a greater miracle to die of so
trifling a matter than to be cured of it。〃
But by noon of that day Stanislaus became unconscious。 Father Fazio
was with him at once and administered restoratives。 Very soon Stanislaus
was himself again； bright and smiling as ever。 Father Fazio began to joke
with him。
〃O man of little heart！〃 he said。 〃To give up courage in so slight a
sickness！〃
Stanislaus answered； 〃A man of little heart I admit I am。 But the
sickness； Father； is not so very slight； since I'm going to die of it。〃
And； indeed； he began to fail rapidly。 By evening the death…sweat
stood out upon him； the vital warmth little by little withdrew from hands
and feet to the citadel of his heart。 When the last light of day was gone
from the sky； he made his confession and received the Holy Viaticum。 A
great many of his fellow…novices were present； and some wept。 He was a
good comrade； they did not want to see him depart from them。
Then he received Extreme Unction。 He made the answers to the
prayers himself。 Afterward he confessed again； in order to receive the
plenary indulgence granted for the hour of death。 And after that he talked
for a little time； kindly and cheerfully； to those about him； and bidding
them good…by； turned his mind and his heart to heaven。
Three Fathers stayed with him through the silence of the night； when
the rest had gone to bed。 Most of the time he prayed； either aloud with his
watchers； or silently by himself。 He left messages to his more intimate
friends； and asked the Fathers to beg pardon for any offense he had given。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
During the evening he had begged to be laid on the bare ground； that
he might die as a penitent。 Toward midnight； as he still asked it； they lifted
him on the little mattress of his bed and placed him on it upon the floor。
There he lay； very quiet； whilst midnight tolled from the great churches of
the city。 The Fathers knelt beside him； praying silently with him； or giving
him from time to time the crucifix to kiss。
At length； about three o'clock in the morning； he stopped praying； and
a great joy shone in his face。 He looked about him from side to side； and
seemed with his eyes to ask his companions to join him in reverencing
some one who was present。
Father Ruiz bent over and asked him：
What is it； Stanislaus？
〃Our Lady！〃 he whispered。 〃Our Lady has come； just as in Vienna。〃
Then he seemed to listen to voices they could not hear。 His lips moved
silently； forming inaudible words。 His eyes were bright and joyful。 He
stretched out his arms； fell back； and died with a smile upon his lips。 Our
Lady had come for him； and with her he went home。 Dawn was breaking
on the Feast of the Assumption； 1568。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER XV
AFTERMATH
Stanislaus lacked six or eight weeks of being eighteen years old when
he died。 He had not been a preacher or writer or engaged in any public
work。 Only a handful of people in Rome so much as knew of his existence。
Yet no sooner was he dead than crowds flocked about him as about a dead
saint。
The General； Francis Borgia； ordered the body to be put into a coffin；
which was an unusual thing at that time； and to be buried at the right hand
of the high altar in the church。
Meantime the Lord John Kostka still raged in Poland。 He had written a
most severe letter to Stanislaus shortly after Stanislaus arrived in Rome： a
letter full of threats and anger； to which Stanislaus had replied kindly and
affectionately； explaining to his father that he had to follow God's call at
any cost But the Lord John was not to be so easily put off。 He ordered his
eldest son； Paul； on to Rome； with power to bring back Stanislaus to his
home at Kostkov。
Paul traveled in some state and with no great haste。 He reached Rome
in the middle of September； 1568； to find that God had been beforehand
with him； and that Stanislaus had indeed already gone home； to heaven。
He had been greatly impressed at the time of Stanislaus' flight from
Vienna； by the incidents which seemed to show God's direct guidance and
protection in regard to his brother。 Now； when the Fathers le
