The life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, of the Company of Jesus

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Preface

TO THE AMERICAN EDITION.

Many words are not required to recommend to the American Catholic public a life of the Angelical youth, St. Aloysius Gonzaga. In a country like this, where every thinking man feels that the education of the rising generation is one of the most important objects that can engage the attention of all, who, from whatever cause, may be interested in the preservation of good morals, Catholics turn instinctively to the blessed Saint, whom the Will of Heaven, expressed by the Vicar of Christ on earth, has designated as the especial protector of youth in these latter days. To him they entrust the young people for whom they know that they will be held responsible at the tribunal of the Most High ; and it is through his intercession, after that of the Mother of God, that they hope that I the Invisible Head of the Church will vouchsafe them I the graces necessary to enable them to succeed in the arduous task of imparting a truly Christian education to those committed to their care.

The present volume is the first of a series of lives of holy persons, now publishing in England, edited by a gentleman fully competent for the important task. A few inaccuracies, which had been allowed to

PREFACE.

creep into the English edition, have been carefully corrected in this reprint. This correction has been rendered the more easy by the fact that the author himself had substantially acknowledged the justice of the remarks, which had been made by his critics.

It will be seen that the author has spared no pains to make his work perfect. On this account, his life of St. Aloysius has special claims on the Catholic public. An extraordinary hero of sanctity, Aloysius is, at the same time, an exemplar which each one may copy, albeit imperfectly, in the regulation of his daily actions. It thus becomes a matter of importance, to know all the details of his short and saintly career ; and these are given in the present volume with an exactness, a grace, and an earnestness, which mark a labor of holy love.

That this publication may conduce to the greater glory of God, the object for which Aloysius ever labored, and the preservation of innocence among those of whom he is the special protector, is the sincere wish and prayer of the American publisher.

ADVERTISEMENT.

II /TORE ample details exist for the life of St. Aloysiua ■^'-^ Gonzaga than for almost any other saint perhaps in the calender. P. Virgilio Cepari, his principal biographer, lived in close intimacy with him at the Roman College for several years, and, having resolved to write his life, he communicated his design to P. Girolamo Piatti. This father, who, as being set over the novices sent to serve masses at the Gesii, had enjoyed much communication with Aloysius previously to P. Cepari's personal intercourse with the holy youth, had exacted from him an account of his life and vocation, as well as of the graces he received in the world ; all which P. Piatti had secretly committed to paper. This manuscript he now handed over to P. Cepari, approving and encouraging his design. By the help of these materials, and with the addition of what he had himself noted or learned from others, Cepari concluded his first biography about two years before the saint's death, but showed it to a very limited number of persons, and that in strict confidence, fearing lest it should reach the ears of the subject himself.

After Aloysius's death, P. Cepari submitted the manuscript to P. Bellarmino, who strongly urged him

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to add to his narrative the last two years of the saint's life. But as he was at that time much occupied, he handed over his papers, with many fresh materials which he had collected, to P. Giovanni Antonio Valtrino, who had just come from Sicily for the purpose of compiling the chronicles of the Company, in order that he might complete the work or make any other use of it he pleased. This father had no personal knowledge of Aloysius, but when he heard the details of his wonderful sanctity at the Roman College, and witnessed the veneration of which he was the object, he felt pressed to give so edifying an example more rapid publication, and not wait to consign the recital to the chronicles which were in process of formation. Accordingly, he wrote a separate life, and this was the second manuscript biography of the saint which was circulated. As Cepari, Piatti, and Valtrino, however, had mainly relied upon Aloysius's own account extracted from him by obedience, or caught and noted down from his lips when led by some pious artifice to speak of himself, much, they were aware, must necessarily be deficient in the statement ; for the holy youth's humility not only veiled from his own eye his sublime perfection,-but made him solicitous to conceal it from others. As far as truth and obedience would permit, Aloysius had, no doubt,, diminished the merit of what he related, as well as omitted much which would have redounded to his praise. Saints' descriptions of themselves must

ADVERTISEMENT. V

always be open to similar charges. For this reason it was therefore extremely desirable to refer to other authentic sources, as well as for the purpose- of insuring accuracy in regard to time, place, and circumstance. The information obtained from Castaglione, Mantua, and other places so swelled the materials- in hand, that it soon became evident that the life must be rewritten. But P. Valtrino's death taking place before he could take any further measure, the task again devolved upon P. Cepari, whom the General of the Company, Claudio Acquaviva, who was most desirous to see the work completed, enjoined to resume his . labour.

P. Cepari received the charge as though it came direct from heaven. With indefatigable diligence he now sought out and inquired personally at the mouth of every one who from the cradle to the grave had been in relation with the holy youth. He first visited Florence, in order to obtain every minute detail of Aloysius's life in the world from his governor, Signer Pier Francesco del Turco, who had entered the household of Don Giovanni de' Medici when his saintly charge had joined the company. This gentleman was attached to the court of the Marquis of Castiglione at the time of Aloysius's birth, who was consigned to his care at a very tender age ; and he held this office about the youth's person for eighteen years, quitting rt only when he entered the doors of the Company's house at Rome. From Florence, Cepari passed into

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Lombardy, and repaired to Castiglione, where he spent many days in collecting every particular from the mother of the saint, and from those who had served and attended upon him in the world ; with the bishop's licence, and in order to give greater authenticity to his narrative, he also caused two long processes to be drawn up of his life and manners. From countries which he was unable to visit, such as Spain and France, he solicited and obtained letters from persons who had known or conversed with Aloysius ; ho interested himself also to have examinations instituted and processes formed with all the due solemnities, in various parts of Poland, and before the ecclesiastical tribunals of the patriarch of Venice, of the archbishops of Naples, Milan, Florence, Bologna, Siena, Turin, and also of the bishops of Mantua, Padua, Vicenza, Brescia, Forli, Modena, Reggio, Parma, Piacenza, Mondovi, Ancona, Recanati, and Tivoli. More than once he himself went round all parts of Lombardy where he could hope to glean information or verify more fully the accuracy of any facts related. At last he took up his quarters at Brescia, on account of its proximity to Castiglione, and the facility thus offered for promptly clearing up doubts or solving questions which might arise. From the processes and from the written statements which he had procured, and which were also attested on oath, Cepari then composed his biography, which thus possesses guarantees for veracity and exactness which it would

ADVERTISEMENT. Vll

be scarcely possible to exceed; a(M to which that, previously to its publication, it was strictly examined and compared with the episcopal processes.

Notwithstanding, however, all his diligence, Cepari could only avail himself of what existed in the form of authentic documents previous to the date of the publication of his work in 1606. As yet, no ecclesiastical processes existed, except those drawn up by the authority of the bishops. But the increasing glory of the saint led to the formation of the first processes instituted by apostolic authority in the year 1608, under the pontificate of Paul V. The depositions then made contain, of course, much repetition of what was already embodied in Cepari's work, but they also furnish additional matter of great interest. The present biography is grounded upon Cepari's work, V and the writer can by no means pretend to have exhausted his valuable materials ; but reference has been made to the processes of 1608, as given by the Bollandists, and advantage taken of what might serve to illustrate the text or supply deficiencies. This has been done more especially with respect to the circumstances of the saint's death, for an account of which the father seems exclusively to have relied upon two letters written to him in the year 1604, at his express desire, by P. Fabrini, one of the witnesses of Aloysius's last moments. The two other persons present were P. Guelfucci and the infirmarian. Their depositions appear in the processes, and help to complete the nar-

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rative as well as to elucidate the order of the incidents.

A few notes had been collected by Cepari subsequently to the publication of his work, with a view to their future insertion. But no advantage had been taken of these memoranda until the recent edition of the Life by the Jesuit fathers at Rome, which also contains many valuable additions and carries on the narrative of all that relates to the saint's honour down to the present day. Some hitherto unpublished writings of St. Aloysius form an interesting appendage to the volume.

P. Cepari concludes his advertisement, addressed to the "pious reader," with these words, which the writer desires to adopt and appropriate : — " The defects in this history must be attributed to me ; for the good it may do, may glory be rendered to God, whom may it please to give us grace to imitate the holy example of this youth, and to arrive, through his intercession, at that blessed end which he now enjoys with great glory in Heaven. And thou, most holy and most blessed Luigi, who in the happy abodes of Paradise art now receiving the reward of thy holy labours, and who in the mirror of the Divine Essence seest my imperfection, forgive me if I have presumed to write in unworthy language of thy heroic virtues, and obtain for me, from our common lord, grace to live religiously and virtuously ; so that, favoured by thy aid and protection, I may one day come to enjoy thy company -in eternal blessedness.'

Contents

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PART I. W^t Saint lit i\z Mt^xXts

CHAPTER L

LEWIS GONZAGA's BIRTH AND INFANCY:

Introductory remarks. The saint's parents. Their marriage in Spain. Return to Italy. Castle of Castiglione. Birth and Baptism of Prince Lewis. His infant piety. His sweet and gentle disposition. A soldier at four years of age : he fires off a cannon. His delicacy of conscience. His devotional practices. Prognostications of his great sanctity.

CHAPTER 11.

lewis's early boyhood.

Hig mature and serious character. His father's apprehensions. He takes his son to Florence. Lewis's conduct with other children. His first confession. His singular meekness and humility. He makes a vow of virginity. His strict custody of the senses. Letter to his father. Removal to Mantua. His illness, and extraordinary abstinence. Return to Castiglione. His habits of contemplation and abstraction. His ' first attractions towards the Company of Jesus. His active charity . . . page 34

CHAPTER IIL

lewis's mode of life at castiglione.

Interview with St. Charles Borromeo. Lewis receives his first communion at the saint's hands. His devotion to the

X CONTENTS.

Blessed Sacrament. Journey to Casal : perilous passage of a torrent. A review at Milan. Lewis's recreations. His conviction of a call to the religious life. His mortifications and prolonged prayers. Providential escape from fire. His loftiness of spirit. Deposition of P. Claudio Fini. page 55

CHAPTER IV.

LEWIS AT THE COURT OF SPAIN.

Voyage to Spain. An incident on the way, Lewis's application to study. Distracting effects of change. His angelic modesty. Love of poverty and retirement. Marvellous gift of controlling his thoughts. His choice of the Company of Jesus. Disclosure of his purpose to the marchese. His father's indignation and anger. Interview with his son's confessor. Approval of Lewis's vocation by P. Francesco Gonzaga. Lewis retires to the Company's house; returns at his father's command. Renewed discussions. The marchese gives a provisional consent. . . jpage 78

CHAPTER V.

RETURN TO ITALY AND DISAPPOINTED HOPES.

P. Gonzaga accompanies the family homeward. Lewis is sent to several Italian courts. Rebukes a hoary sinner. Is present at a ball. Repeated attempts to shake his resolution. He retires to a grotto retreat. Recalled by his father, he redoubles his penances. The marchese is carried to his son's room : relents at the sight that meets his eyes. Scipione Gonzaga is commissioned to write to the Father General of the Company. A deed prepared by which Lewis may renounce his hereditary rights. . . . . page 102

CHAPTER VL

RENEWED TRIALS AND FINAL SUCCESS.

Lewis is sent to conduct a negotiation at Milan. He displays great ability. Frequents the Jesuits' house. His appearance at a tournament. The marchese tries the effect of entreaties. Lewis is examined by P. Gagliardi in his father's presence. His visit to Mantua. He follows the Spiritual Exercises at the Jesuits' college. His silence, prayer, and fastings. His prescience respecting his brother Francesco- His father denies having given his consent to his joining tne Company. Lewis proposes a compromise j to which the

CONTENTS. XI

marchese reluctantly accedes. Lewis makes a last appeal ; and is successful page 121

CHAPTER VII.

LEWIS JOINS THE COMPANY OF JESUS.

The saint leaves Castiglione. Signing of the deed of renunciation. The parting banquet. Natural affections absorbed in divine charity. Visit to Loreto. Lewis's love of suffering. Arrival at Rome, and reception by the Father General. Interview with the Pope. Scipione Gonzaga's admiration of the holy youth. Leave-taking. The haven reached at last page 143

Part II. Chapter L

lewis's entry into the noviciate.

Entrance into religion a step to a higher state. Lewises more perfect practice of humility and exactness. His period of probation shortened. Subjection to discipline. Interior trials. Death of his father. The saint's conformity with the will of God page\Q2

CHAPTER 11.

THE PERFECT NOVICE.

Object of the noviciate. Aloysius's rigid mortification of the senses. Strict observance of the rules of silence. Perfect repression of curiosity. Exquisite nicety of conscience. The actions of saints both admirable and imitable. The utter absence of scrupulosity in Aloysius. His disregard of human respect. Habit of never justifying himself. Dislike of praise. Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Reverence for superiors. Love of obedience. Complete dominion over himself. Wonderful power of praying without distractions. Chief subjects of his meditations. Continual application of his mind to God. . . . . page 173

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Chapter III

THE saint's visit TO NAPLES, AND CLOSE OF HIS NOVICIATE.

Father Pescatore. Aloysius accompanies him to Naples. The esteem in which he was held in the college. His illness and edifying patience. Return to Rome. His appearance in the public schools. He desires to humiliate himself. His intellectual acuteness. Minute conscientiousness and ingenuousness. Holy indifference and self-spoilation. He makes his religious profession, and receives minor orders. Letter to his mother jpage 199

Chapter IV. The First Years Of His Religious Profession

The saint's ripeness for heaven. His reluctance to avail himself of exemptions. Delight in humiliations. Habitual austerities. Sympathy with suffering. Zeal for souls. Effects of his example and conversation. . . . jpage 216

Chapter V. Aloysius's Mission Of Peace To Castiglione

Cause of dispute between the saint's brother and the Duke of Mantua. Aloysius is sent for. His departure from Rome. Incident at starting. Veneration shown him on the way. His equanimity. Reception at Castiglione. Meeting of mother and son. Jlis lowliness of demeanour. Spiritual conversation. Visit to Castle Goffredo. Delay at Mantua. Discourse to the fathers of the Jesuit college. Interview with Duke Vincenzo. Reconciliation of the disputants.

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Chapter VI. Aloysius's Conduct In The Affair Of His Brother's Marriage

Project of a family alliance. Ridolfo's private marriage. Scandal thereupon. Alloysius's remonstrances. His brother defers explanation. The saint takes leave of his family and goes to Milan. The truth disclosed, Aloysius's letter to his brother. The latter consents to a public declaration. The saint preaches at Castiglione. Family joy and reconciliation. Aloysius returns to Milan. Writes thence a letter of advice to Ridolfo. Falls ill. The infirmarian Fra. Salombrini.

CONTENTS. XUl

Chapter VII. Aloysius^s Life At The College Of Brera, And Return To Rome

His love of humiliation. True refinement of heart. Instance of his humility. Some of his recorded sayings. His perseverance in little things. His rare spiritual gifts. He receives a divine intimation of the shortness of his life. His tenderness to the sick. He sets out for Rome. Preaches at Siena. Passage of a dangerous ford. His perfect abstraction. Testimonies to his consummate sanctity. His longing desire for death. Letter to his mother. , jpage 265

CHAPTER YIII.

ALOYSIUS'S LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH.

Epidemic at Rome. Aloysius obtains leave to serve the fever-stricken. His devoted charity. He takes the infection Receives the last Sacraments. The fever abates : joy at Castiglione. Extract from a letter to his mother. His behaviour on his death bed. He is visited by Cardinals della Rovere and Scipione Gonzaga. Parting interview with P. Corbinelli. Death of the father and his appearance to Aloysius. The saint's desire to escape Purgatory. Vision and revelation of the day of his departure. Last letter to his mother. His special preparation for death. He again ask for the Viaticum : his request at length accorded. Takes leave of the fathers and brethren. His last moments. Sentiments inspired by his death. . . jpage 284

PART III. ®6^ ^amt m ^tdihzxt

CHAPTER L

TESTIMONIES TO ALOYSIUS'S SANCTITY. HIS BEATIFICATION.

Eagerness for his relics. Scene around his bier. Testimonies to his saintliness rendered by the Father General; the dowager duchess of Mantua ; Italian and other European princes; his brethren in the Company; especially Cardinal Bellarmine. St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi has a vision of

Xir. CONTENTS.

him iu glory. Death of Ridolfo. The saint's appearance to his mother. First steps towards his public veneration. Synod held at Mantua. Observance of his anniversary at Brescia and Castiglione. Francesco's interview with Clement VIII. Solemn translation of his relics. His picture suspended at his tomb by Papal permission. Demonstration at the Roman College. His Beatification. Festal celebration at Mantua. page 316

CHAPTER II.

THE saint's CAX0NIZATI0N-.

Aloysius's three nieces ; their vocation to the religious state and holy lives. He appears to their mother. Incorruption of their remains. Increasing devotion to the saint. Judgments of the Congregation of Rites, and of the Tribunal of the Rota. Ratification by the Pope. Celebration of the saint's festival at Castiglione. His canonization delayed. The holy body again removed. The saint is canonized by Benedict XIII. Devotion to him encouraged by all the Popes. jpage 343

CHAPTER III.

THE saint's miracles.

Instances of his miraculous power unnumbered. His favours to his own kindred and dependents ; and to members of the Company. The saint appears to Giuseppe Spinelli^ in company with Blessed John Berchmans, and heals him. Heappears also to Nicoli Luigi Celestiui, and restores him to health. Instances of his appearance in company with other saints. His graciousness to his clients. Great devotion to him in the Valtelline : its first origin. Miraculous oil from his lamp at Sasso. Multiplication of flour, oil, nuts, &c. His kind patronage of children, and patience with their faults. His assistance of youth in their studies. Fruits of his early triduo. His solicitude for souls. His care of the poor. Conversion of a Turkish woman. A recent miracle. Concluding remarks jpage 352

Indulgenced Prayer to the Saint. . . pag^ 393

CHAPTER I. Lewis Gonzaga's Bikth and Infancy

The life of St. Aloy&ius is not an eventful one, if the outward vicissitudes of our earthly pilgrimage are to be taken as the measure of eventfulness. It was, moreover, a short life, and what men might call an incomplete life, even as respected the vocation to follow which he had made the sacrifice of all his worldly prospects. For he saw but the opening of his twenty-third summer, and died before attaining to the priesthood. But if we look to the interior life, the true life of all Christians — if we turn our eyes to that stage upon which the great drama of our existence is enacted — then the life of this youth becomes one of surpassing interest ; and such is the light in which every devout Catholic has always regarded it. When acts of perfection, acts done for God, and not mere days and years, are considered as the measure of extension, then also does it expand into a long life ; and if the entire fulfilment of the Divine purpose of grace towards the soul be taken into account, then, too, does it come before us as a complete life. To him may truly be applied the words of the wise, man, — ''Consummatis in Irevi^ explevit tempora multa'' ^^ Being made perfect in a short »pace, he fulfilled a long time." (Wis. iv. 13.) It pleased God, who in him designed to furnish a perfect model to youth, to finish His work in a few days, and call away his servant to receive his crown before he had passed beyond the threshhold of a more advanced period of life ; so that he should for ever be imaged forth to us in all the charm and grace of life's early spring, and as such be recommended as a more familiar pattern and patron of adolescence, no less than of boyhood.

The Gonzagas were amongst those princely families of Italy which have furnished rulers to its little independent states, and with which crowned heads have not disdained to seek alliance in marriage. The elder branch had reigned at Mantua for two centuries at the period to which our story refers, but even in the tenth century nobles of the same ancient stock had exercised sovereignty over many Lombard towns. The father of our saint, Ferrante Gonzaga, was by inheritance Marquis of Castiglione della Stiviere in Lombardy, and by birth, as were all the Gonzagas, a prince of the Holy Roman Empire. His mother was a Spanish lady of high extraction. The marquis had spent his life chiefly in camps, in the Imperial service, and his tastes and pursuits were in consequence thoroughly military. Secular ambition occupied a large place in his heart, and he does not appear to have turned his thoughts towards marriage until his first youth was passed. On the whole, judged by an ordinary standard, he appears to have been an estimable man and a good Catholic. If his tastes and views were in a large degree worldly, he was capable, to a certain extent, of appreciating something higher, and was evidently desirous of meeting with qualifications of a superior order in his future consort. We may argue thus much at least from his choice. The lady upon whom it fell deserves a somewhat more extended notice.

Philip II. at this time ruled Spain, and was also sovereign of the Low Countries, king of Naples, and duke of Milan. After the death of Mary Tudor, queen of England, his second wife, he married Elisabeth of Yalois (usually called Isabella in Spanish history), the daughter of Henry II. of France and Catherine of Medicis. On leaving France the princess had brought with her as her lady of honour. Donna Marta Tana, daughter of the Baron de Santena, lord of Chieri in Piedmont, a nobleman of high lineage, possessing independent fiefs which owned vassalage to the Emperor alone, and of Donna Anna della Rovere, daughter of the duke of Urbino. They were attached to the household of Catherine of Medicis, and their daughter had thus grow^n up on terms of the most affectionate friendship and confidence with the young princess Elisabeth. Marta was worthy of the love and esteem in which she. was held, and formed the chief consolation of her royal mistress in the not very enviable position she held in a court distracted by the moody jealousies of the heir to the throne, the unhappy Carlos, and his dissensions with his father.

The visit of the king's nephews, the Archdukes Rudolph and Ernest of Austria, sons of the Emperor Maximilian II. and Maria, the daughter of Charles v., was the occasion of the presence at Madrid of many German and Italian nobles who came in their train. Foremost amongst the latter ranked Don Ferrante Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglione, himself, as we have seen, on his mother's side of noble Spanish extraction ; and it was thus at the Court of Madrid that he became acquainted with the high merits of his future spouse. Donna Marta. Having resolv^ to seek her in marriage, his first step was to allow the project he entertained to reach the royal ears, and he was fortunate enough to find his views favourably regarded in that quarter. The queen herself undertook to become a suitor in his behalf. In one of those hours of privacy which formed Elisabeth's sweetest recreation, she gently and lovingly broke to her dear Marta her own and the king's desire for her union with Don Ferrante. There was nothing in the proposed alliance calculated to be very attractive in the eyes of a young maiden. True, it was, as the world would say, a very great match; for, although Donna Marta came of noble lineage, her proposed husband was a kind of petty sovereign in his own land. But, on the other hand, Marta was in the bloom of early youth, and Ferrante was hovering on the confines of middle age ; and what was even of more importance than the discrepancy in years, there was that which existed in disposition between the pious, retiring, humble girl — for such, though reared in courts, was Marta de Santena— and the mail-coated baron, who esteemed the upholding of the honour and interests of his ancient and lordly family the great active business of life. Ferrante, indeed, was an honourable man, attached to his faith, and zealous in his own way for God's glorj^. Had it been otherwise, we may conceive that not all the favour of royalty could have led Marta to lend an ear to his proposals. As it was, she asked for time to reflect and refer the matter to God. For this end she caused many masses to be offered; to these she added her own fervent prayer for guidance together with abundant alms to the poor ; she consulted also her spiritual director ; and finally decided on accepting the offer which had been made to her.

Pius V. had granted a jubilee to the Christian world, which had just been published in Spain; and Marta, with her intended spouse, seized the opportunity to hallow their betrothal by uniting it with this devotion. Upon the morning of the feast of St. John the Baptist, in the year 1566, they communicated, in order to gain the Indulgence, and forthwith concluded the antenuptial contract. Philip richly endowed the affianced bride and presented her with costly jewels, to which his royal consort added magnificent presents in testimony of her own personal afiection. But Marta's mind, so far from being dazzled with her brilliant prospects, was more than ever fixed upon God and holy things; and she herself in after years told P. Cepari that on the day of her betrothal she felt herself moved internally to devote her whole future life to the more perfect service of God. On the wedding-day we again find the marchese and his intended bride preparing themselves by confession and communion for the worthy reception of the sacrament of matrimony ; and thus was this marriage concluded in a truly Catholic spirit. It has been noticed that it was the first marriage celebrated in Spain with all the formalities prescribed by the Council of Trent.

Having obtained the sovereign's assent, Gonzaga now left Spain for Italy, distinguished by many testimonies of royal favour, Philip having appointed him his chamberlain and conferred other honours and emoluments upon him. He was impatient to reach his own dominions and present his young wife to his vassals. They took up their residence in the rock castle of Castiglione, the ancestral abode of Ferrante's race. It adjoined the town, in which also the marchese possessed a palace. He had his own private chapel and chaplain within the fortress ; nevertheless, the noble couple regularly attended all the services of religion in the parish church. As the sound of the bells summoned the faithful on the numerous festival days to the sacred offices, the lord and lady of the. place descended with their household from the old feudal castle, while their vassals, moved at once by precept and example, congregated to meet them. Business, amusement, all was forsaken in an instant when the chime rang out ; houses were closed, and young and old, high and low, rich and poor, descended together'to the house of God. Faithful to her resolve, and freed from the trammels of a court, the marchesa added to her public devotions long hours of prayer in her private oratory, and the active exercise of works of mercy amongst her dependents. The constant subject of her petitions was a son whom God might deign to accept for His service. For this she besought the Lord with many tears. Often was she heard to say, that, for a mother, there could be no joy comparable to that of seeing her son wholly consecrated to God ; but it was chiefly to God Himself, and to His saints, that she gave utterance to these aspirations; for the marchese was far from sharing her views and feelings in this respect. He, too, ardently desired a "son as the complement of his happiness; but -it was much more as the heir of his name, of his honours, and of his little states, than as an heir of glory, and of those high places in God's kingdom which are the prize of heroic sanctity. Not that the lord of Castiglione thought meanly or otherwise than reverently either of priests or monks, or of Christian perfection;