Blessed ones of 1888: ...

Contents

Preface - -

Blessed Clement Maria Hofbauer. I. A Glorious Spring-tim^.

II. God helps him Further.

III Us

.4 Contents.

PAGE

Blessed Egidius of St. Joseph. - - 121

I. His Birthplace and Early Youth. - 122

II. In the Convent. _ . « 125

III. The Saint in Public. - - . 128

IV. Strong in Hope and ardent in Love. - 132 V. Genuine Fraternal Charity. - - 135

VI. Humble of Heart. - - - - 139

VII. Egidius, the Perfect Religious. - 141

VIII. A Peaceful Departure. - - - 145

Blessed Josephine Mary of St. Agnes of

Beniganim. 149

I. A Chosen Soul from Youth up. - 149 II. Innocent as the Dove. Glowing with -

Divine Love. - - - - 161

III. The Three Vows. - - - 170

IV. Filled with Love for her Neighbor. - 1 75 V. Faithful unto Death. - - - - 180

Preface

The year 1887 had a peculiar significance for all Catholics, from the fact that it brought with it the golden jubilee of the priesthood of our deeply loved and highly venerated Pontiff, Leo XIII. On that occasion four new stars appeared in the firmament of the Church and sent forth their brilliant, kindly rays into the dark places of the earth. It is of these four servants of God, whom the Vicar of Christ recently enrolled in the calendar of the Blessed, that I now wish to speak to you, my beloved Catholic people. Long ere this they have been in the possession of God^ in the kingdom of His glory, but it is only from the date of their beatification that we are permitted to honor them publicly as His chosen ones. The greatest dignity to which a human being can be elevated is to be honored and venerated as a saint upon the altar of God.

6 Preface.

What is the most vaUant general, the most illustrious orator, the most delightful poet, the most celebrated painter, in comparison with the least of God's saints ? Of course, no saint can really be called insignificant, but many of them may appear so in the sight of the children of this world. The judgment of men is of no account to us, but rather that of the Church, which is governed by the Holy Ghost, the source of all truth and wisdom.

There lived in my large parish a very aged woman, whose days and nights were full of sorrow. A year ago I showed her a picture of the Blessed Clement Hofbauer. Oh! what joy it was! She forgot all her miseries and became quite jubilant, shedding tears of delight. ^' Yes," exclaimed this good squI, ^' that is indeed the saintly Father Hofbauer! " She never wearied talking about him, and relating facts of his wonderful Christian charity, especially for children and for poor sinners. She could remember short prayers which he had taught her and the other children to recite, and yet she had been only one year under his religious training, and was at that time but nine or ten years old. She also told me that Father Hofbauer frequently distrib-

Preface, 7

uted printed prayers, which the children always prized as souvenirs and venerated as precious relics.

During the twenty-five years of my pastorate in Babenhausen, several old people told me: " I made my last general confession to the saintly Father Clement Hofbauer; many other youths did the same; his sermons usually moved his hearers to make general confessions." I am the Benedictine mentioned in Rev. Michael Haringer's Life of Father Hofbauer. I had the happiness of being questioned about the Saint, by our late Holy Father Pius IX., and I have always considered that the sweetest moment of my religious life. I have, therefore, a certain right to relate what I know of this good man.

As to the other three saints, I have merely extracted and translated these little sketches, from French, Italian, and Spanish authors, whom I believe to be thoroughly trustworthy.

Let us animate our fervor by contemplating the ardent love of Our Lord manifested by these holy souls, and glorify God, who is so great in His saints. These blessed souls have added a new glory to their native land by their elevation to the altars of the Church.

8 Preface.

This is especially true of Germany and Austria, where our holy faith has been so long and so grievously persecuted, but where it has been so gloriously crowned by the supernatural courage and constancy of the first German Redemptorist. Thousands, stimulated by the great example of their countryman, remained steadfast, holding firmly to their faith, and bravely battling for it to the end.

Virtue has a universal language. One may not understand the vernacular of the friends of God, — but he can at least understand the language of a holy life. Listen then to the lessons of these saintly lives, and strive to imitate these blessed ones in their practice of the three theological, the four cardinal, and the seven acquired virtues. Choose them for your special patrons and recommend yourselves, and me also, to their holy intercession.

Greeting you in the names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, in the spirit of purest friendship, I now conclude. You and I and all who read this book share in the communion of saints; we all can and must become holy. What is it to be a Christian and not a saint ?

Consider this before you read any further. Rev. H. Koneberg.

L A Glorious Spring-time.

LEMENT MARIA HOFBAUER was born on St. Stephen's day, December 26, 175 1, in the village of Tasswitz, near Znaim, in Moravia. He was baptized the same day by the chaplain of the neighboring monastery of the Premonstratensians at Bruck, and received the name of John. His father, a pious and industrious man, was a butcher, as well as a farmer and vintner. He died at the age of forty-seven, when our Clement was just six years old. His pious mother then led her orphan boy to the foot of a crucifix and, showing him the image of his crucified Lord, said these significant words : " Behold Him who is now your Father ! Strive ever to walk in the way which is most pleasing to Him ! "

These words remained indelibly engraved on the memory of the holy child. ' In later years, he often spoke of his great happiness, in having had such pious, God-fearing parents. He always mentioned his mother with special reverence, since she had trained him with so much love and wisdom. She understood how to ignite m his soul the slumbering sparks of godliness and enkindle them into a mighty fire.

Even as a very young child, he had a singular love for the blessed Mother of God, and one of his greatest joys was to fast on Saturdays in her honor. He. did nothing without the permission of his mother, thus early learning to subdue his self-will. The food which he saved from his own portion, as well as such small pieces of money as were given him, he distributed among poor children. His -mother made it a point never to commend him for this, but, on the contrary, always preserved towards him a stern and grave manner.

From childhood, he was fond of prayer, and prayed well and devoutly. He was especially attracted to the holy Rosary, a devotion afterwards so dear to him, and by which, as a priest, he gained so many victories. He was often heard exhorting his brethren and those of his religious family to pray ; his favorite abiding-place was before the tabernacle. He once heard a relative say : " Let us do this to pass away the time! " The eight-year-old boy gave this wise rejoinder: " If you have nothing else to do, you ought to pray! " Child as he was, he never failed to be loved and respected by all who knew him. All the virtues which we admire in the man, were then to be found in him, as it were, in the bud.

Although his family owned a vineyard, he could never be induced to drink wine. He was already too mortified to indulge in it.

Up to his sixteenth year, he remained at home as his mother's favorite child. Then, he desired to consecrate himself to the religious state, but alas! he lacked the means. Finally, he concluded to learn the trade of a baker. To this end, in March, 1767, he left his mother, in order to apprentice himself in Znaim. He took with him a profound knowledge of his holy religion, a sweetness of disposition, an affability and courtesy which soon gained him the affection of all his associates. The little five-year-old son of his master' became specially attracted to him and wanted to be with him all the time. When serving the customers with bread, in order to lose no time, he would 'bear the child upon one arm^ and the bread basket upon the other, and thus he would hurry through the streets of the town. *^ Look, there goes a second St. Christopher," many would jestingly exclaim, whereat the humble baker's boy would sigh in his heart: *^ O, that I were indeed St. Christopher and might carry my Saviouj- in my hands! "

At the end of three years, Clement came to the monastery of Bruck as a young assistant. The abbot Gregory esteemed him so highly that he appointed him his own attendant, and permitted him during his leisure time to study in the school attached to the monastery. This he did joyfully and with admirable results. But, in the year 1775, the good Abbot Gregory died, and Clement quitted the convent, feeling no call to the Order of St. Norbert. • Since he could no longer pursue his studies, he determined to become a recluse.

A half hour's distance from his birth-place is the village of Miihlfrauen. The beautiful church at this place possesses a miraculous image of Our Saviour's flagellation at the pillar, which is visited by many, even up to the present time. Near the church is a mag-

BL Cle^nent Maria Hofbauer, 1 5

nificent forest, in which Clement built himself a hermitage, with a little garden attached. There he established himself and spent many happy hours. Pilgrims to the adjacent shrine gladly visited him and were edified by his piety and his salutary admonitions. Sometimes he would distribute Httle crosses among them, dragging on his own shoulders a very heavy cross, that they might visit the miraculous image in the church in a true spirit of penance. He produced a powerful impression upon all who came in contact with him.

II. God helps him further.

At the end of a year, Clement had to renounce his blessed and agreeable solitude. The enlightened government, under the rule of the Emperor Joseph II., having decided that the life of a hermit is useless, all hermitages were abolished. This was a severe blow to our holy youth.

i\fter a short stay in Budweis, in Moravia, where he learned the Bohemian language, the providence of God led him to Vienna. Here he worked in a bakery known as '^ The Iron Fear.'* This house was directly opposite to the Ursuline Convent, in whose church, a few years later, Clement so often and so joyfully distributed the Bread of Life.

Before long, our good young baker concluded to make a pilgrimage to Rome. To accomplish this, he induced his fellow-workman, Peter Kunzmann, to accompany him. They put together a little money, and sold some of their clothing, which, according, to the custom of that place, was adorned with silver buttons.

The entire journey was accomplished on foot. They prayed aloud and sang pious canticles all along the roads and in the towns and villages. The scorn and insults of wicked men did not concern them in the least. They went their way, happy and in Christian contentment, until they, at length, reached the Eternal City. Refreshed anew, they then returned to Vienna.

Clement had been in Rome, yet he had not seen the Pope. This happiness was his, when Pope Pius VI. arrived at the Imperial City on the blue Danube, on the 226. of March, 1782. The insulting treatment which the Supreme Head of the Church then endured stirred up the Catholic heart of Clement. He resolved, with Kunzmaan, to undertake a second pilgrimage to the tomb of the Prince of the apostles, and to live in Italy the life of a hermit. His master endeavored to prevent this ; he even offered the youth his daughter in marriage, — an offer which decided him so much the more quickly to start off on his pilgrimage. In the Autumn of 1782 the two friends travelled for the second time over the Alps, not unfrequently passing the night under the open sky.

After praying to their hearts' content in Rome, they betook themselves, in the beginning of the year 1783, to Tivoli, in order to carry out their cherished plan. They received the habit of the Eremites at the hands of the saintly Bishop of Tivoli, Barnabas Chiaramonti, of the Order of St. Benedict. This prelate was afterward chosen Pope, under the name of Pius VII. In religion Hofbauer received the name of Clement of Ancyra ; Kunzmann, that of Emmanuel.

Their hermitage was very delightful. Out of a dark olive grove, there rises up a magnificent church. Close to this, they established their dwelling, with a pretty little garden in front, and a spring of fresh water. The church possesses, as a highly-prized treasure, an old Grecian portrait of our Blessed Lady, before which the peasantry love to pray for a good harvest. It is exposed in the Cathedral of Tivoli every year, from May until the feast of the Assumption.

Hofbauer here led a mortified but happy life, for which he often yearned in later years. His sole food was some bread and the fruits from his little garden, whilst fresh water was his drink. He would fain have passed his entire life in this calm retreat, but Almighty God destined him for other and greater things. His intimate communion with heaven in the silence of his hermitage was but the school for his later activity. All great men, yes, even Our Saviour Himself, have prepared themselves for their mission by a retreat of longer or shorter duration. Moses and Elias, St. Paul and St. Benedict, Ignatius of Loyola and many other illustrious servants of God, were lovers of that solitude, whence they passed to the accomplishment of heroic deeds.

At the end of six months, the Spirit of God urged the two brother-hermits to return to Vienna, where they continued their studies. Two sisters, who had often seen them serving

Mass, and to whom their piety had appeared remarkable, supplied them with the necessary means. Divine Providence had permitted Clement to do them a favor which had secured for him and his friend the kindly interest of those pious ladies. But he did not stay long in Vienna. The irreligion among the professors forced him to leave there at the end of a year.

III. He becomes a Redemptorist

After recommending the matter earnestly to God, Hofbauer determined to return once more to Rome. He thought to himself: ^' God will help me still further." Having won over to his design his friend Thaddeus Hlibl, whom he had found only a short time before, under rather peculiar circumstances, and who was also assisted by the pious ladies before-mentioned, they forthwith set out on their journey. In Cremona they were attacked by a large black dog. When Hofbauer saw how frightened Jliibl was, he said: " Let us recite the Psalm, Qui habitat in adjutorio Altissijni. My mother taught me this psalm. Any one who recites it with contrition is secure from every danger." The animal really became quiet and gentle and, at length, disappeared.

After a fatiguing journey, they arrived in Rome, and took up their abode in the neighborhood of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, in which the manger of Our Lord is preserved. They determined to go next day to that church whose bells first summoned them in the morning. In this way, led by God, they came to the church of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, whose members are called Redemptorists. The founder of this Order was the saintly Doctor of the Church, Alphonsus Liguori, who at that time was still living. Neither Hofbauer nor his companion, up to this hour, had ever heard of the Redemptorists. What they saw and heard in this church made such a powerful impression upon Hofbauer, that he asked to be admitted to the Order, which request was granted, although he was already thirtyeight years old and his studies were not completed.

Hiibl soon after followed his example, although, in the beginning, he felt no attraction thereto. But Almighty God so willed it.

Contrary to all rules, the great zeal of the new novices caused their time of probation to be shortened, and they were soon ordained. St. Alphonsus rejoiced over these two German priests, foreseeing that they would, one day, do great things for the Order, in their fatherland. Hofbauer offered himself, together with Hubl, to, go as a missionary to the North. There was no field for them in Vienna, They went forth on foot, during the severe winter of 1786, towards Warsaw. On the way, Clement met his old friend Emmanuel Kunzmann, who was just about starting on a pilgrimage to Cologne on the Rhine, where he proposed sojourning as a hermit. He immediately joined the other two, and became the first lay-brother of the Order, outside of Italy. In Znaim, they stopped at the house of a professor. Clement made such a wonderful impression upon this man and his family, that they never permitted the bed in which he had slept to be touched until after his death. The letter of thanks which Hofbauer wrote to them and the little picture of Loreto which he gave to them were ever afterwards preserved in the family as relics. Some one saw them in 1864, and was given to understand that remarkable happiness and good fortune had attended that family from the time they received Father Hofbauer's letter.

In Warsaw, which at that time numbered one hundred and twenty-four thousand souls, (its population is now over three hundred thousand,) the good Father had to contend with the bitterest want and poverty. His confidence in God and his love for souls, however, surmounted all obstacles. He established an orphan asylum for boys and girls, and an elementary school for the children of poor laborers, who already (1795) numbered about four hundred. Such love as his was never before seen, and it had the effect of disabusing the Poles of their prejudices, and of bringing to him distinguished followers, some of whom were able to preach in the Polish language. In one year^ in the church of St. Benno, which he had found almost deserted^ forty-eight thousand holy communions were made^ and in 1807 this number was increased to one hundred and foicr thousand ! What glorious results! — In addition to all this. Father Hofbauer exerted himself to have good books and papers circulated amongst the Poles, who were greatly in need of such holy helps ; and he also established a house in which he prepared poor boys for the priesthood, and first of all for his own Congregation, for whose honor and extension he burned with a holy zeal and love.

" If one could but gather up the money that I gave away in Warsaw, a sack would not contain it all," he would sometimes say. Giving away to others with a prodigal generosity, he reserved for himself barely what was necessary. *^ Give and it shall be given to you^ are sisters," he used to say; " if the priest have but a little piece of bread, in order to do his duty, he should give the half of it to God." Those are glorious maxims!

IV. In Germany.

In the midst of a blessed and truly great religious activity, which was crowned with the most successful results. Father Hofbauer was called away by the command of holy obedience. He was under orders to transplant a shoot of his beloved Congregation into Germany. Not far from Constance, of which at that time Freiherr of Wessenberg was Vicar-general, our Saint got possession of an old castle, which was in ruins. Together with Hiibl he began his career here, as preacher and father-confessor ; and so attractive was his manner, that soon a large concourse followed him to Thabor. Thereupon Satan, the enemy of everything good, waxed wroth and excited the jealousy and envy of the surrounding clergy. An action at law was brought against Fathers Hofbauer and Hiibl. The former did not lose his peace of soul, but the proceedings, alas! forced him to be frequently absent from home. At one time, he travelled to France, in the interests of his Congregation, but in vain. In order to have his students ordained priests, he went with them to Rome, and on the journey back he made a pilgrimage to Loreto. Then he had to return to Warsaw, where he was received with great jubilation. Here he received news of the distress which his spiritual sons of Thabor were suffering. He hastened to their relief. The journey was long and fatiguing. On the way, he prayed before the miraculous image of Altotting, where, in later years, the labors of the Redemptorists were crowned with such blessed and glorious results.

In Thabor, he continued his work. Many a time he preached three and four times on a Sunday; and he was indefatigable in the

BL Clement Maria Hof batter, 25

hearing of confessions. The reputation of the Fathers was spreading far and wide, and they received an invitation, which Father Hofbauer accepted, to go to Triberg in the Schwarzwald, or the Black Forest. Shortlyafter his first sermon in this place, there arose an interest in the neglected pilgrimages, which were resumed.

This, sad to say, again aroused the envy of some of the surrounding clergy and, after three months, Father Clement shook the dust J of that place from his feet, and went forth to other parts. On this occasion Wessenberg showed plainly that he was an enemy to Rome, and that he disliked our Saint and his spiritual views. He was, indeed, bitterly opposed to him. (To the present time. Father Hofbauer is held in the tenderest remembrance in that locality, which is more than can be said of Wessenberg and his favorites.) The two princes of the church, Herman Von Vicari and Lothar Von Kiibel, wrote to Rome that Hofbauer still continues to live in the memory of the people and that the Pastor of Tribejg, although not too well disposed towards our Saint, had testified in his records, that Father Clement was known among the faithful people there as " The Holy Father.'' In the year 1802, he came for the first time to Thabor, and in 1805^ he left Triberg for Babenhausen. This place is in the Diocese of Augsburg, and is the seat of the Princes of Fugger. The prince at that time was Anselm, who was favorably disposed towards the pious Father and his companions, but the pastor, Strohmaier, knew how to throw many obstacles in the path of the good missionaries. Pastor Wagner of Weinried, a little village near Babenhausen, thought better of their great zeal ; here and in the immense church of Kirchhaslach, which was much frequented by pilgrims, Father Hofbauer was able to find and develop a field for his zeal. He soon enjoyed the entire confidence of the place. Here, also, these noble souls had many annoyances and malice of all sorts to combat, and they frequently suffered from hunger. But they bore it all with calmness and resignation, yes, even with a certain joy. The Ireroic example of Father Clement daily animated his companions to renewed efforts. The writer was Pastor in Babenhausen from 1861- 64, and many of the old people there have narrated to him facts bearing testimc ^y to the power which Father Hofbauer exercised over men's hearts ; and of how he softened the obduracy of sinners and even brought young people to make general confessions by his plain and simple, but, at the same time, tender and impressive sermons. This time of grace and mercy, however, did not continue long for this locality.

V. Clement is Imprisoned*

New tribulations befell this holy man and his little family. When I attempt to write of them, I am reminded of what Diogenes said of the early Christians. We may appropriately apply his language to these persecuted men : " They do not differ from the rest of mankind, either in national characteristics or in outward appearance. They conform to the laws, but in a marvellous way ; and their manner of life, though hidden from the world, is most remarkable. They are as exiles in their own land. They take an interest in everything as citizens, but they endure all things as aliens ; every foreign country is a fatherland to them. They are on this earth, but they are not of it, having their conversation in heaven. They obey the laws of the constituted authorities; by their lives they overcome all things. They love every one and yet are persecuted by many. One knows them not, and yet undertakes to condemn them/'

The Bishop gave the Fathers permission to have service in the Hospital of Babenhausen. The multitude of people in attendance thereat was so great, that the enemies of the good cause never rested until this permission was withdrawn. Even the Prince himself, well-disposed as he was, shared, for a time, the general misconception. Finally, in the year 1806, he lost his princely power, and was no longer able to defend the Fathers.

At that tinie Father Hofbauer wrote to Rome: "We know not into whose hands this region will fall. We have so many enemies here, that we have great need of genuine and sincere friends. We are living in the most intense anxiety.'* On August 5th, 1806, the Principality of Babenhausen became Bavarian. This was the down-fall of our Saint's House. The people had hitherto yielded a ready obedience to the call of grace. Now, when a rich harvest was confidently expected, a tempest arose and destroyed all the fruit.

Father Hofbauer returned to Warsaw, whence sad news had come, and appointed Rev. P. Posserat in his place. Soon after, an order was issued, commanding the missionaries to leave Babenhausen within two months; they then went to Switzerland^ where many tribulations were in store for them.

In Vienna Father Clement met his colleague Hiibl, who was there awaiting him. When he arrived at Warsaw he found the French masters of the city, and his own peopld in sore distress. Comic songs were composed, and ribald writings distributed among the people, in which the good religious were maligned and caricatured. Even on the boards of the theatres the actors appeared as mock Redemptorists, clad in the habit of the Order, and always filling the roles of villains and debauched wretches. They went so far, indeed, as to travesty, on the stage, the holy mysteries of religion. They slandered the priests of St. Benno in the taverns, and reviled those who frequented their churches. Yes, the good Fathers were even attacked and beaten with clubs. Their enemies denounced them to the King of Prussia (for Warsaw, as is well-known^ belonged, from 1795 until the opening of the Congress of Vienna, to the kingdom of Prussia). Of the sufferings which Father Hofbauer, at that time, endured, he himself tells us, that " they are known to no man, and that they will not be made manifest until the day of judgment." In addition to all this, our good Father lost, by death, his most faithful friend, Hiibl. In a spirit of prophecy, he exclaimed : " The shield is broken ! God alone knows what may happen to us now ! '*

And, indeed, the bitterest fate of all now befell the Fathers. Religious societies were abolished, and the missionaries were transported as criminals to the fortress of Kiistrin. Although here, it is true, treated quite civilly, they were, nevertheless, regarded as prisoners. Our Saint never, for a moment, lost his serenity. As he set great value upon hymns, he often sang, in his enforced solitude^ the sacred song :

" Now, O heaven ! hear my prayer ! Open wide thy gates, that I

May, from here ascending thither, To God's throne mount up on high !

May my pure petition offer

To the Lord of earth and sky ! '* We may apply to him and his brethren St. Paul's words in writing to the Hebrews, (xi.,

The holy patience of the imprisoned Fathers made so favorable' an impression upon the Protestants, that they were ordered to be separated from each other. They were not suffered to remain in the same house. After being released, our Saint carried his pilgrim's staff towards Vienna.

VI. In the Imperial City on the Danube.

It was hard for the people to understand why so many difficulties should beset a man like Father Hofbauer. Thousands and thousands of them would have been wiUing to corroborate what was said of this illustrious man by a spiritual woman, (eye-witness of his wonderful works), at the time of the process of his beatification: "The venerable priest," says this ninety-year-old foundress, who is still spiritually young, " seems to hover constantly before my vision. He diffused around him, by his noble, valuable life, and, at the same time, by his great simplicity, a holy peace and the sweetest consolations of charity. His speech was always simple; he never made use of studied phrases, yet his words showed great profundity of thought, and immediately inspired confidence. The love of Jesus, of which his heart was full, shone forth in all his actions, but without a trace of singularity or affectation. From his cheerful countenance radiated the purity of his soul, and that blessed tranquillity which is one of the fruits of holy joy.