stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 29…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
And you may be sure he felt like doing it。 He was in the right； and
knew he was。 He was high…spirited and utterly without fear。 And yet he
never even defended himself。 lie let Paul bully him and beat him。 He
endured to have himself looked upon as a coward … although you may
observe that all the time he did not budge an inch from the line of conduct
he had chosen。 And why？ Well； for a lot of reasons。
In the first place； he kept saying to himself； 〃What difference does it
make for eternity？ Then； he knew his own high temper and he would not
let himself go； for fear he should commit a sin … and he hated sin with all
his soul。
And then he recalled what our Lord had suffered for him； and he said：
〃If you will give me the courage to stand it； I'll be glad； Lord； to suffer
this much for You。〃
And that last was the reason why； in the midst of this real persecution；
he never lost his cheerfulness。 More than that； he never missed a chance to
do Paul and his friends a good turn。 He said：
〃When men were treating our Lord worst； even killing Him； that was
when He was opening heaven for them。 And I'm sure He would like me to
be kind as He was kind to those who treated Him meanly。〃
He did what he could to avoid annoying Paul。 He kept out of
everybody's way when he wanted to pray。 He used to wait at night till the
others were asleep； for they all slept in one great room together； and then
slip out of bed and on to his knees。 Sometimes his cousins； thinking it a
great joke； would pretend to stumble over him in the half…dark； and kick
him as hard as they could。
And this went on for two years。 He could have stopped the whole
matter with no trouble at all； by simply writing to his father。 But he never
so much as hinted to any one at home of the way Paul and Bilinski and his
cousins treated him。 He was as plucky as he was gentle and forgiving。
Although； for good reasons； he would not quarrel； he had the tenacity of a
bull…dog； he held on to the hard purpose he had formed and nothing could
beat him off。
And that is the very highest sort of courage； the courage that endures；
that has no show or heroics about it。 Again I say； if he had done all this；
29
… Page 30…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
put up with all this； to gain riches； to make a name for himself； the world
would understand and would praise him tremendously。 It is his motive that
leaves the world cold； it is the source and reason of his courage that the
world cannot understand。
Yet he was not obstinate and pig…headed； bound to do as he wished just
because he wished it。 No； he was very sensible and did everything with
reason。 He would not stop saying his prayers when Bilinski and Paul
objected； he would not join in gay dinners and drinking…bouts and
gambling； he would not sit and smile at shady stories or smutty wit。 He
would no？ do anything his conscience forbade。 But he was most ready to
do anything else they wanted。
For instance； he had been used to give his rich clothes away to the
poor； and dress very simply。 Bilinski and Paul insisted on his dressing as
became his rank； and he yielded readily。 Bilinski wanted him to take
dancing lessons； and he took them； and learned to dance very well。 He was
not keen about any of these things； because he reckoned they would not
count for much in eternity。 But neither was he foolish； nor a fanatic； nor
one who saw evil where no evil was。 He was simply a level…headed boy；
who figured out the business of life clearly and convincingly； and who had
the courage of a hero in living up to his convictions。
30
… Page 31…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER VIII
IN DANGER OF DEATH
Two years of loneliness； when his brother and his cousins and his tutor；
who should have been his comrades； were his persecutors； two years in
which he was always under a strain； always having to control his anger； to
be patient and sweet…tempered amidst a thousand vexations； two years；
moreover； in which the bodily exercise he was used to； and which he
needed as every growing boy needs it； was cut down to a minimum； two
such years would have broken the health even of a grown； strong man。
And Stanislaus was not a grown； strong man； but a boy of sixteen。 It is
remarkable that he should have held out so long。 It shows what courage
and goodness and trust in God can do。 But finally； towards the end of
November； 1566； his body and brain could stand it no longer。 He fell sick；
with fever。
He was not a baby。 He did not complain； or even tell any one that he
felt unwell。 He kept to his feet for weeks； trying to go on as usual with his
work and his prayers。 The feast of Saint Barbara； who had been the
patroness of the boys' sodality in Vienna； was drawing near。 Stanislaus
prepared for it with particular care and devotion。 Saint Barbara was the
patroness of a happy death and her clients always besought of her the
special grace of receiving the Holy Viaticum when dying。
December 4th； the feast of the Saint； came and passed。 Stanislaus grew
weaker； his fever increased。 About the middle of the month he had to keep
his bed； and his condition quickly became serious。 Then Bilinski and Paul
forgot their anger against the boy。 They called in the best physicians of the
city； they spared no pains or expense。 The servants； who had always loved
this gentle master； were all kindness and attention。 But despite the efforts
of all； Stanislaus became steadily worse。
He was entirely at peace； not at all afraid。 Yet he felt that death was
coming near。 He prayed whole hours； smiling gladly in talk with our Lord；
with the Blessed Virgin； with his guardian angel。 He was ready； even eager；
to go home。 The evil spirit wondered at this boy of sixteen； who had
fought him off so bravely through his life and who was dying now so
31
… Page 32…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
fearlessly。
One day； when his people and even the servants had left him for a little
while； Stanislaus saw an enormous black dog with glaring eyes and
hideous foaming jaws rush across the room toward his bed。 The door was
closed。 It was impossible for the beast to have entered the room in any
ordinary way。 Stanislaus had no notion how it could have come there。 But
if he was frightened for the moment； he did not lose his wits。 With an
effort； he sat up in bed and made the sign of the cross。 〃In the name of the
Father； Son and Holy Ghost！〃 he cried aloud。 Instantly the huge； snarling
dog fell to the floor with a thud as if struck by a sword。 But after a few
moments he sprang up again； and first circling the room； came crouching
to the bed； howling as no mortal dog could howl； making ready to spring
at the sick boy。 Again Stanislaus made the sign of the cross。 Again the
terrible dog was stricken to the floor。 A third time he came； only to be
beaten back in the same way。 And then； standing with bristling hair and
horrible cries in the middle of the room； he vanished from sight。 Stanislaus
fell back on the bed； fearfully exhausted； and with tears in his eyes
thanked God for his deliverance。 The shock of this dreadful incident
prostrated him。 He failed more and more。 The doctors； coming several
times a day； shook their heads in despair。
〃We can do no more；〃 they said； 〃the end is now only a question of
time。〃
For seven days and nights Bilinski sat by his bed； snatching only a few
hours' sleep now and then； for he feared that Stanislaus might die any
moment。
Yet in all this long time they had brought no priest to the dying boy。
Every day he begged them earnestly that he might receive the Holy
Viaticum。 But they lied to him。 Bilinski said：
〃You will soon be well。 The doctors will cure you。 Don't think of death
or go frightening yourself。〃
〃I am not afraid；〃 said Stanislaus。 〃But I know I am dying。 Do not let
me die without Holy Communion。〃
But Bilinski still put him off； and tried to tease him jokingly with
charges of cowardice。
32
… Page 33…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
The fact was； Bilinski and Paul were afraid of their Lutheran landlord；
the Senator Kimberker。 His anti…Catholic prejudice was intense。 They
feared he might put them； sick boy and all； out of his house； if they dared
to bring a priest and the Blessed Sacrament into it。
That was a hard trial for Stanislaus。 But he met it as he had met every
difficulty； bravely； hopefully； cheerfully。 He remembered Saint Barbara； of
whom he had asked 'the grace of not dying without the Holy Viaticum。 He
renewed his prayers for her intercession。 He laid his whole case with
confidence before God； and with confidence waited。
Bilinski still sat by his bed； watching anxiously。 The day passed； the
light failed； darkness and night came on。 Stanislaus all the time had lain
quiet； his face smiling as ever； his lips moving in prayer。 Suddenly he
turned to Bilinski； radiant； glowing with joy。 〃Kneel down； kneel down！〃
he said； in a clear but low voice。 〃Two angels of God are bringing the
Blessed Sacrament； and with them comes Saint Barbara！〃
Then； worn out though he was by his long sickness； Stanislaus raised
himself； knelt on the bed； and struck his breast as he three times repeated：
〃Lord； I am not worthy！〃
Then he raised his face； and opening his lips receive
