Life of the Rev. Aloysius Gentili, L.L.D., father of charity, and missionary apostolic in England

Front matter

LIFE

OF THE

REV. ALOYSIUS GENTILI, L.LD.

Chapter I. Contents : The Parentage - Country - Birth — And

STUDIES OF ALOYSIUS GENTILI : HE TAKES THE DEGREE OF

DOCTOR IN LAWS - PRACTICES SUCCESSFULLY AT THE BAR

- AND SUBSEQUENTLY ABANDONS ALL FORENSIC PURSUITS.

I. Towards the end of the last century, Joseph Gentili quitted his native place, called Citta Ducale, in the kingdom of Naples, in order to fix his residence at Rome. To this step, he was urged by a benevolent uncle, the Rev. Joseph Marconi, at that time Professor of Divinity in the Roman College, and Missionary Apostolic, — a Clergyman not less distinguished by his ecclesiastical learning than for the reputation of singular virtue, in which he died. The truth of this statement may be attested by not a few conspicuous

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIUS GENTILI.

living personages, to whom he was intimately known. After the usual course of study, with his uncle’s assistance, Joseph Gentili was enabled to adopt the legal profession, and to practise as an attorney. Having thus secured the means of earning a respectable liveli¬ hood, at the proper age, he took to wife Mary Ann Goraccarini, a comely and virtuous young woman of good Roman family. God was pleased to bless their union with a numerous progeny. Of their eight male and two female children, the firstborn was Aloysius, the hero of the following narrative.

II. To these honest and worthy parents, he owed his birth in the metropolis of the Christian world, on the 14th July, 1801, a day consecrated to the memory of the glorious Doctor and Cardinal, Saint Bonaventure. Wherefore, this was added to his other Christian names, viz. Aloysius, Bonaventure, Francis, and Camillus, which, the day after his birth, he received at the baptismal font in the then parochial, but now sup¬ pressed, church of St. Saviour. His first entrance into the world, was accompanied by two events, which seem not undeserving of record. The first was that on the same day, there took place in Rome a solemn function with the attendance of all the clergy, processionally conveying a very ancient and much revered likeness of our Blessed Redeemer to a chapel denomi¬ nated “ ad sancta sanctorum in order to obtain the protection of the Almighty against those evils, with which Europe, and hapless Italy in particular, were threatened by the French armies under their first Consul, Napoleon, in the year 1801, and which appre-

* Ad sancta Sanctorum is the title of a sanctuary on the summit of the Scala Sancta : under its altar were deposited by Pope Leo the Third, some precious relics, in a shrine of cypress wood, with the inscription ad sancta sanctorum.

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIUS GEN TILI.

liensions were, at a later period, unfortunately realized. The second remarkable circumstance is, that this Roman infant in Rome, had for sponsor at his christening a pious and benevolent patrician of Rovcredo, named Francesco Brunatti, who bequeathed at his death a considerable estate, to procure an educational mainten¬ ance in the Athens of the Catholic world, for some of his youthful countrymen, gifted with talents for one or other of the fine arts. At that time, who could have prognosticated that thirty years after, another illus¬ trious patrician of Roveredo,* would form an alliance of intimate friendship with Aloysius Gentili — receive him into the same Religious Society — and be unto him as a father, leader, and master for the remainder of his life?

III. The boy, Aloysius, was sent to school at an early age by his parents, so that when he was little more than sixteen years old, after finishing the usual course of humanities and philosophy, under clerical and secular professors in the Roman College, he obtained matriculation among the students of jurisprudence at the Roman university, called the Sapienza. Let it not be supposed that the tender age of the new aspirant was any hindrance to his progress in learning, on the contrary, his scholastic testimonials'!' aver that, although the youngest in his class, Gentili carried off nearly all the first honours, and that in one year alone he obtained

* The Rev. Antonio Rosmini, Founder of the Institute of Charity.

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIHS GENTILI.

four prizes. During the first year of his legal studies, he was not only promoted among the graduates, approved of by the court (called the Curia Innocenziana), but also named a Solicitor. Finally, in the fourth year, he was declared with applause of the faculty, Doctor of both canon and civil laws. With the serious study of codes and decretals, Gentili assidu¬ ously combined other literary and artistic occupations not less useful than agreeable. For a long time, also, he diligently attended the Archaeological lectures of Professor Nibby. It was the method of this eminent antiquary to conduct his pupils, once a week, to one or other of Rome’s stately ruins, and there, amid material vestiges, and local associations, to descant eloquently upon the monumental grandeur of the past. From these interesting excursions, Gentili was never absent. It is related that, on one occasion, some of his fellowstudents, either through indolence, or fear, excused themselves from following their master into the cata¬ combs, where it is said Scipio’s tomb was found, when Aloysius undauntedly seizing a torch, led the way, and at the same time attentively listened to every word, which fell from the lips of the erudite preceptor. He also ardently paid his court to the muses. In poetry, we opine, that he would have distinguished himself, had he cultivated it professionally. His favourite poet was, of course, Dante ; whose “ Divine Comedy” he could almost recite by heart. Among his own poetical compositions may be specially mentioned an elegy dedicated to the Duke de Montmorencie, at that time ambassador from France to the Holy See ; this poem was occasioned by the death of a young English lady,*

* Miss Bathurst. This noble young lady, not yet out of her teens, was riding in the Ambassador’s company along the banks of the Tyber, when her restive palfrey stumbled and plunged

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIUS GENTILI.

who was drowned in the Tyber, near Torre di Quinzio, 1823. But, having before his departure for upper Italy, as we shall hereafter have occasion to relate, destroyed many of his manuscripts, especially in verse, we have no specimen left of his poetical vein to offer to our readers : but the fact of his having been elected a member of the Roman and Arcadian academies at the early age of nineteen years, may be given as a proof of the literary estimation in which he was held.

IY. From poetry, he knew also how to turn his attention to mechanical science, and the art of design, which he occasionally exercised, according to times and circumstances. When he was yet a child, he delighted in the construction of dolls, and puppet shows, for the purpose of affording some innocent household amuse¬ ment to his parents, friends, and younger brothers. By himself, he could manage to make the stage and scenes, and have the figures well dressed. Everything that he had seen at a public theatre was admirably imitated in miniature. When older and already a student of philosophy, he limited this theatrical pas¬ time to the autumnal vacations. Instead, he used to occupy himself with inventing and fabricating various physical instruments, among which, his family still remember some well formed kaleidoscopes and electrical machines. He displayed similar industry and skill in ornamenting a little altar, that soon took the place of his theatre, which, with all its appurtenances, he disposed of to provide his new oratory with more appropriate decorations. From his mother and aunts he solicited and obtained fine linen, and costly stuffs to make surplices, albs, and other ecclesiastical vestments.

into the river. The horse was rescued ; hut his fair charge perished in a watery grave. If report speak true the body was never found.

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIUS GEXTILI.

In the diminutive sanctuary, he kept an ever burning lamp; and on festal days, he would assemble his little brothers and other boys of their age, in order to form a domestic, yet solemn procession, with cross and banners, &c. The greatest display was, however, reserved for the festival of his oAvn patron saint, Aloysius. The little altar was then adorned as richly as possible, and the antipendium as well as the steps, were tastefully decorated with flowers. He was also one of the number annually chosen to perform this pious oflice, at the magnificent altar of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, in the Church of St. Ignatius, adjoining the Roman College.

Y. Having become a lawyer at the age of twentyone, in oi’der to improve himself in practice as a special pleader at the bar, Gentili obtained a place in the office of the Advocate Galimberti, auditor to one among the judges of that famous tribunal called the “ Rota.” The young lawyers placed under the direc¬ tion of these auditors, are commonly called Segreti di Ruota; in this capacity, Gentili remained two years ; after which, he was soon called to exercise his profes¬ sion as a special advocate. He was not long in acquiring a reputation, which was increased by his successful and triumphant pleading in the two first suits, which he defended in public court. Whereupon several briefs Avere offered to him, especially by persons connected Avith the bar. To an ardent and aspiring young man this success was a dangerous temptation, calculated to flatter his pride and to fill his heart with the vain hope and prospect of a brilliant fortune upon earth. But the supreme Ruler had otherwise decreed. We shall soon see how, by an all-wise providence, Gentili Avas aAvakened from his dream, and became conscious of the magical delusion, with which, the world Avas about to deceive him.

VI. To study still more profoundly that particular branch of jurisprudence to which he had devoted him¬ self, he made a collection of all the decisions Coram Consalvi, the name of the judge before whom they were argued, when Auditor of the Rota. In this elaborate work, Gentili had arranged every question in chronological order ; giving, besides an index, a summary of the arguments on both sides. This per¬ formance, the result of much labour and research, he intended to publish, if his mind had not been sud¬ denly turned therefrom by an unforeseen metamor¬ phosis. While prosecuting his legal researches, he was induced to court the notice of the beforementioned Auditor, the illustrious Cardinal Consalvi. This emi ¬ nent personage, who subsequently became Pope Pius the Seventh’s secretary of state, was not dilatory in according his favour and patronage to the talented young advocate. The dignity -of judge, to which the latter aspired as a step to higher honours, was promised ; but the death of the Cardinal in the mean time, quashed the lofty designs of both patron and client.

VII. This adverse, or rather providential stroke of fortune, made such an impression on the disappointed Gentili, that he immediately abandoned every thing connected with forensic studies; indeed, so strong became his aversion, that he could not bear to hear the Law mentioned as a subject of conversation. If at dinner, or supper, any question of the kind was mooted by his father, or brothers, who were also engaged in legal business, Aloysius would silently quit the table, and retire alone to his own chamber.

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIUS GENTILI.

CHAPTEE II.

ALOYSIUS GENTILI TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE STUDY

OF MODERN LANGUAGES - OF MUSIC AND OF SONG. HE IS

KNIGHTED - BECOMES A TEACHER OF THE ITALIAN - APPLIES

HIMSELF TO AGRICULTURE.

VIII. The desire so powerful in the human heart, of rising superior to adversity, and of making a brilliant appearance in public, though crushed for a time in this high-spirited young man, soon recovered its wonted strength in a different direction. The ex-advocate determined upon applying himself strenuously to the acquisition of the principal modern languages, hoping thereby to enter upon a new career of glory and profit. For this purpose, he secluded himself from all his friends and acquaintances. The domestics were required to give to every visitor who made any enquiry about him the following answer: that Signor Gentili junior was too busily engaged to be disturbed by anybody. Even his nearest relations saw but little of him, except at meal times. Studying indefatigably for almost twelve months the English, French, and Spanish, with¬ out the aid of any master, he kept to his chamber and his books. His parents and brothers, by whom he was tenderly beloved, were grieved beyond measure, as they feared this strange and laborious application could only be the cause or effect of some mental derangement. At the end of the year, however, thinking himself sufficiently versed in the beforementioned languages, especially the English, he began to reappear in public, to visit company, especially of foreigners — preferring the society of the latter, who abound in Eome, for the purpose of exercising himself in the pronunciation of those languages which he had learned in solitude. His diurnal and nocturnal application as a linguist had been so assiduous, that foreigners were astonished at his proficiency in their respective idioms, and were it not for his inaccurate accent, they could hardly have credited him to be an untravelled Italian.

IX. In order to increase his accomplishments, besides his polyglotic studies, he began to cultivate a taste for music. He could already play tolerably well upon the guitar, when he took a fancy to a piano forte. This instrument, without consultation, he soon pur¬ chased: it was no sooner conveyed to his apartment than he commenced a musical overture, while the discordant sounds elicited by the untutored musician, excited the jeers and laughter of all the inmates of the house. However, naturally adventurous and per¬ severing, he was not to be deterred by any difficulty, and henceforth, he seemed to breathe for nothing but music, which, both vocally and instrumentally, he resolved to cultivate under the direction of the best masters. At that time, the celebrated Eossini was composing in Eome some of his musical pieces, and Gentili everywhere was enthusiastic in their praise. He also assisted the Marquis Muti Papazurri, in establishing the philarmonical Academy. In this society of amateurs, he became at first a chorister, but the president having observed that he was in possession of a good bass voice, induced him to become one of the leading solo singers : at his first appearance in this capa5 city he was received by his auditors with most flattering applause. At this assembly, which took place in the Sinibaldi palace, the Austrian Ambassador, Count Appony, and the Fiench Ambassador, Viscount Chateaubriand,

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOTSIUS GENTILI.

Avere present, besides several other diplomatists and noble personages, both foreign and native, who afterwards personally congratulated with the novel dilettante. Shortly after, he was invited to sing at their concerts by the beforementioned Ambassadors. Similar compli¬ ments were also paid him at other evening parties, especially by the English.

X. As I am not writing a panegyrical but an historical narrative of Gentili’s life, I must not omit here to mention one of those human weaknesses, which usually prevail among men who are ambitious and high-minded in the world’s estimation. Owing to his frequent intercourse with persons of noble birth and rank from all countries, he felt humbled and mortified at appearing among them without a title. Wherefore, to remedy this defect, he procured an introduction to Duke Sforza Cesarini, who had the privilege of creating Counts palatine, and Knights of the order of the Golden Spur.* Some time after, the Duke spontane¬ ously offered to the new candidate, the wished-for honour of knighthood, as a pledge of friendship, and as a reward for distinguished merit. Both these tokens were doubtless insignificant and paltry, if we look at them in a philosophical point of view. But are not all other distinctions conferred by the world quite as ridiculous and trivial ? Be this as it may, the young Cavalier was proud of his new dignity, and deeming himself inferior to few others in rank, he now began to assume a loftier bearing in the circles of fashion, and in the coteries of high life.

* la the year 1539, Pope Paul the Third conceded these privileges to Alexander and Paul Sforza, Dukes of Milan, and their descendants. The Papal Bull has among others the following clause: Nec non quoscumque Milites aureatos et Comites Palatines consimili facultate legitimandi.

XI. About this time, he was requested by some foreigners of his acquaintance, to give them lessons in the Italian language. Aware how advantageous this occupation would be to improve his own knowledge, as well as to extend his connections, he, at length, con¬ sented to do so, at first gratuitously, to his friends. But the rapid progress which they made, induced him to become a professional teacher ; and the friends whom he had already obliged, soon brought him a large number of distinguished pupils, especially from among the English residents of the city. His abilities as an Italian master, he exercised for nearly two years in Rome. The summer seasons, however, were passed at Naples, where the air is usually less sultry and more agreeable than at Rome.

At the end of two years, he found that the profits of his lectures amounted to two thousand dollars. With this sum he purchased a fine vineyard and some other land, situated on Monte Mario, near the Vatican. Having thus become a landlord, he turned his atten¬ tion to farming. In order to unite theory with prac¬ tice, he began to enrich his library with works on agriculture, and to study its science with his wonted ardour and application. Grieved at seeing this healthy, honest, and useful employment, once so highly appreci¬ ated by the ancient Romans, now so much neg¬ lected and despised by the moderns, he resolved to make an effort to restore credit to the art of husbandry by his own example. Wherefore, soon after his land purchase, he bought a pair of oxen, and in imitation of Cincinnatus and Cato, he followed the plough, instruct¬ ing the rustics present in the true classical method of tilling the ground, and at the same time eulogising the excellencies, advantages, and happiness of their mode of life. But, as might have been easily foreseen, in a

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIUS GENTILI.

person delicately bred, bis bodily strength was not equal to the vigour of his mind ; and on being over¬ taken by fever, his medical advisers obliged him to give up his ploughing exercise for the less laborious task of scribbling with his pen.

XII. From what has hitherto been narrated it must not be inferred, with all his youthful impetuosity, that Gentili was either irreligious or dissolute ; on the con¬ trary, all the testimonials concerning his behaviour from childhood to manhood, bear witness to his con¬ stant Christian piety and irreproachable manners. He not only abhorred and shunned every mean and shameful vice, but also faithfully performed all those religious duties becoming his station in life. We have already observed, how as a child his inclinations tended towards sacred and ecclesiastical things. As a student in the Roman college, he was one of the youths chosen to foi m the pious sodality of St. Aloysius-del-Giardino, so called on account of its members assembling for recrea¬ tion on holidays, in a garden belonging to the college. Here it may not be unworthy of remark, that it being the customYor some’pious clergyman to take under his charge ten of the boys as soon as they arrived, Gentili’s decade was superintended by the Abate Mastai Ferretti — the now happily reigning Supreme Pontiff, Pius the Ninth. When he left the college for the university, he became a member there of another association, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin. Of this pious congre¬ gation the then prefect was Monsignor Ostini, who was subsequently made a Cardinal of holy Church. But, certainly not the less important testimonial is that of his confessor, the Rev. J ohn Marini, who attests, that Gentili usually approached the sacraments once a fortnight. Another no light proof of attachment to his creed, is the following circumstance : In his intercourse with foreigners as a professor of languages, he often had to converse with Protestants, especially Anglicans; on these occasions, considering that he was not a theolo¬ gian, he prudently abstained from commencing a con¬ troversial debate; still, when he was provoked by Pro¬ testants themselves, he did not decline the discussion, but displayed great learning, fervour, and zeal in defending his religion. More than once he had to con¬ tend with ministers and bishops of the Anglican Church, who, after a long and warm dispute, when pressed hard by their opponent’s cogent erudition and logical acumen, would finish by saying, that “ they were satisfied with their own religion.” “ And with mine, I am also perfectly contented,” would be the final reply of the Catholic champion. It is remembered, however, by his brothers, that after these religious disputes, he sometimes returned home in a state of violent agitation. By these preludes it would seem, that Providence pre¬ pared him for those more obstinate and numerous com¬ bats he was afterwards to sustain with Anglican errors in their native home.

XIII. It was a deeply rooted religious sentiment that enabled Gentili to overcome that insensate but common prejudice or silly dread of what the world will say. Although he was very punctilious on the score of honour, he had the moral courage to decline a duel to which he was challenged by some offended friend. With the cause of the quarrel I am not acquainted, but this much is known, that yielding to the fear of God, who condemns such an impious mode of settling a dispute, rather than to the fear of man, Gentili indig¬ nantly refused to fight, and preferred to meet the world’s look of contempt and scorn with equal scorn and contempt.

Thus, although, from the before-mentioned circumstances it may be sufficiently inferred that Gentili, upon tlie wliole, was a good, pious, and moral young man; yet was he still far from that degree of Christian sanc¬ tity and perfection to which a merciful God had designed to raise him.

CHAPTEE III.

AFTER THE FAILURE OF A MATRIMONIAL PROJECT, GENTILI ABANDONS A SECULAR FOR AN ECCLESIASTICAL STATE OF

LIFE - HIS WEAK HEALTH PREVENTS HIS ADMISSION AMONGST

THE JESUITS.

XIV. Gentili had now reached the twenty-seventh year of his age. He was tall and well made in person, without being corpulent, of noble appearance and dig¬ nified bearing. His hair was shiningly black, and his complexion fair, though somewhat pale, with blue piercing eyes — his voice also was sonorous and agree¬ able. Besides the advantage of a prepossessing exterior, he was gifted with a retentive memory, a clear under¬ standing, a lively imagination, and a natural eloquence. In addition to his accomplishments in jurisprudence literature, and other liberal arts and sciences, he was doctor, advocate, professor, and knight. At the same time he was in good pecuniary circumstances, and in communication with a large circle of aristocratic friends and acquaintance. Indeed, he had apparently tri¬ umphed over his first reverse of fortune, and the brightest hopes now seemed to shine upon his path. One thing only might appear to be wanting to complete his felicity upon this earth, and that was, to find a consort of congenial disposition, with whom he could share or rather, increase his happiness. In this design, he was no doubt encouraged by his parents, considering that he was the eldest son and the main-stay of the family. In fact, in his memoirs I find, that he had fallen in love with a young English lady of noble birth and large fortune. Flattering himself that the affec¬ tion was mutual, and that her parents entertained a high esteem of his own qualifications, he frankly made known to them his wishes, and asked their consent to the marriage. But, contrary to his expectations, they answered, that he was welcome to visit their house as a friend, but without making any pretensions to the hand of their daughter. In fine, to sever all hopes on both sides, the young lady was immediately sent to England. This last disagreeable information was not made known to her lover until his next visit, which he came to make, not without hope of producing some change in his favour.

XY. It would be difficult, peradventure, to describe the tumult of affections which agitated the heart of the disconsolate Gentili on hearing this unanticipated piece of news, but we may form some notion thereof from the consequences which ensued. In the first place, he became utterly disenchanted with all earthly pursuits, and felt in himself a perfect conversion to the love of divine and celestial things. The worldling and the sceptic who have no faith in an all-wise disposer of events, and are ignorant of that divine omnipotent power which, descending from on high, penetrates and transforms, as it were, the old into a new man, usually attribute to an ignoble motive any sudden change in a Christian from vice to virtue — from disorder to regu¬ larity — or they ascribe its cause to the vexation of disap¬ pointment, or to a melancholy dejection of mind. But they do not observe how comparatively few there are among the discontented and unfortunate who take occa¬ sion from adversity to ameliorate their moral conduct according to the rules of evangelical perfection. Chris¬ tian philosophy, on the other hand, indicates that reverses of fortune become causes or occasions of moral improvement in man, only when directed to this end by the previous influence of Divine Grace, which illumines and aids the sorrow-stricken sufferer to profit by the bitter yet wholesome experience. In this case, the contempt of worldly goods does not proceed from despair of ever enjoying them again, or from any scornful spite against the inconstancy of fortune, but from an interior conviction, that there is a higher and nobler happiness to be found, viz. : the Supreme Infi¬ nite Good, which is God. Then, far from leading a life of dulness and gloom, the penitent finds and enjoys true felicity. It seems incredible and incomprehensible to those, who have not passed through the ordeal, how the tears of repentance can be sweeter than the faults that made them flow, and superior even to every carnal delight. They do not understand how the pleasures so highly prized by themselves can be sincerely despised by the votaries of the Cross, who do so, nevertheless, just as aged philosophers contemn the toys and pastimes of childhood.

XYI. But, from this digression let us return to our narrative. Gentili’s conversion was not a mere transient feeling of disgust with the world, which irreligious men express when frustrated in their ambitious schemes. For no sooner had the parental guardians of his beloved announced that she had departed from the shores of Italy, than a veil seemed, as it were, to fall from his eyes, and thus he was enabled to see things in a new light. He became deeply convinced of the vanity of temporal, as well as the importance of eternal interests; and now lie resolved to renounce the world from this time forward, in real earnest. As the inspi¬ ration was divine, so the resolution was efficacious and persevering. On his return home, his pictorial and musical exercises were forthwith suspended; he dis¬ solved his professional engagements, withdrew from all connections with public society, took leave of his dearest friends, deprived himself of all vain superflu¬ ities, and keeping aloof as much as possible from external concerns, he shut himself up in an interior solitude, where he seemed to breathe nothing but love divine, and, doubtless, often repeating the well-known ejaculation: “Deus meus et omnia.”— My God and my all. The perfections of the Deity — devotion to God’s blessed mother — the zeal of the apostles in preaching the gospel — the fortitude of the martyrs in shedding their blood for the faith — the penitential retirement of holy hermits, and the saintly joys of a perfectly Christian life— formed the topics of his conversation, as well as the subjects of his thoughts and desires. He now con¬ centrated his studies almost exclusively on the bible and other books of piety. The interior fervour, which burned within, was not long in outwardly manifesting itself. Instead of visits to profane societies, academical meetings, and theatrical shows, he devoted his leisure hours to religious conferences with the most exemplary ecclesiastics, to attendance upon the sick in the public hospitals, and to other works of mercy. For the better direction of his devotional ardour, in the year 1828, he became a member of the celebrated oratory founded by Father Caravita, whose rules of Christian virtue he faithfully followed. He would join the brethren in their practice of publicly singing the Eosary and the Litany through the streets of Rome, when they process

LIFE OF THE REV. ALOYSIUS GENTILI.

sionally left tlie oratory in the evening to return to their own homes. Moreover, to subdue false shame and human respect, when passing before a church in the day¬ time, in the presence of persons passing by, he would throw himself on his knees at the door of God’s house, and offer up a short prayer.

XVII. This extraordinary change in Gentili’s deportment attracted the attention of not a few out of the many to whom he was known, and various were the opinions to which it gave rise. His parents and friends thought at first, that it might be only the transitory effect of blighted hope or sudden contradiction. They, therefore, resorted to every means of diverting him from his present ideas, and tried to bring him back to his former sociable and merry mode of living. Others turned him into ridicule, as a man who had lost his wits ; to this notion, indeed, certain extravagancies and devo¬ tional singularities, resulting from the first fervid impulses of his altered convictions, gave some pretext. To the first, however, he gave answer, that he did not yield to any sadness or affliction ; that, on the contrary, he never before enjoyed such sweet contentment and peace of mind. He, moreover, entreated them to abandon the broad road of a sinful, mundane, fashion of life, and to walk in the narrow path of virtue, — to devote themselves wholly to the service of God and the salvation of their souls. In such a method alone could they find true wisdom and supreme felicity; all else was nought but illusion, vanity, and affliction of spirit. Of those who derided his conduct, he took no further notice than to pity theirs, being well aware, in accord¬ ance with St. Paul’s advice, how necessary it is to become a fool in the eyes of the world, in order to become wise unto salvation. “ Stultus fiat ut sit sapiens.” (1 Cor. iii.)