PEARLS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE FOR OUR LITTLE ONES

New Zealand Tablet, 24 June 1915, Page 49

PEARLS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE FOR OUR LITTLE ONES

' ' By the Rev. M. J. Watson, S.J., : ; -Author of- ‘ .Within the Soul,’ and ‘ The Story of Burke. : v and Wills.’ ** Unless you he converted and become as little children , : & - you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.’— - St. Matt, xviii. 3. •[All Rights Reserved.] -■ XXV.-THE STORY OP STANISLAUS KOSTKA. - ‘ It is good for a man, when he'- hath borne the yoke :- , from his youth.’—Lament 3. 27. ? Stanislaus Kostka was born in the Castle of Kostkow, ;in Poland, in September, 1550. His father, John Kostka, belonged to the highest nobility, and ardently desired that the name which he received from his ances'tors should live to future ages. This wish was granted, for in Stanislaus the family has found its greatest glory, and through him the name of Kostka will live as long as the world shall last. When Stanislaus was baptised in the parish church, his godfather carried him -to the altar, and there, placing him on the ground, prayed that he might grow up in wisdom and grace. During his childhood the boy was the delight of everyone in his father’s house. . His face, sweet and beautiful, glowed with the winning charm of innocence ; and while he was pleasant and kind towards all,- he respected and obeyed perfectly those who were set in authority over him. It was a common saying: ‘ Stanislaus is an angel now, and will be a saint by-an-bye.’ On attaining the use of reason, he gave himself wholly to God, and promised (this promise he kept faithfully) to serve Him devotedly all his life. Detesting whatever might offend his Creator, when he heard talk which was plainly sinful, he changed color, and, if it continued,, he fell into a swoon. Yet he was far from thinking himself better than other people. No one could be humbler, more obliging, more unassumingly bright and gay. Everyone who had the happiness of knowing him, could not help loving him and taking pleasure in his company and conversation. At School. Stanislaus was taught at home by a tutor and made good progress in his studies ; but his parents decided that he should attend a public grammar school, and they sent him and his brother Paul, under the guardianship of their tutor, John Bilinski, to a college which had been opened by the Jesuit Fathers in Vienna. ' Paul Kostka was then fifteen years of age and Stanislaus "fourteen. During this time at school the latter had to suffer much from his brother, who sought to draw him into frequenting theatres, balls, and parties of pleasure, and when he refused, beat and kicked him. This treatment he bore for two years in silence, though a word to his parents would have freed him from it; and, if he were forced to speak, he said: ‘ I was not created for the world’s amusements, but for greater things, for eternity; and only for eternity ♦will I live.’ He was neither a boaster nor a coward. Brave enough to do what he felt was right, no ill-treatment or hardship could force him to be unfaithful to what he considered his duty. To apply to him the words of St. Ambrose, ‘ He did not carry the banner of Christ folded round its staff, so as to hide it from the enemy, and escape danger; but he went courageously to the battle, and held it aloft, unfurled, and floating upon the breeze.’ In December, 1566, Stanislaus fell into a sickness that seemed likely to end in death. The following fact is related by Father Albert Theobulk, S.J., his teacher, ■ who learned it from Stanislaus himself. At the beginning of his illness, the devil suddenly appeared to him under the shape of a huge, black dog, which. leaped upon the bed as if to tear him in pieces. • The sick youth made the Sign of the Cross, and .that drove the apparition away. A second and a third time the

' \ demon appeared, - but Stanislaus made J, the s’ holy Sign on .each occasion, and the 1 monster vanished. v; . From - that- moment jhe grew worse, and soon everyone thought -he had but a short time live. : He was - not at all afraid to die, but he desired ardently to receive 0: the last ■ rites of the - Church, especially Holy Communion. The Lutheran, however, in whose house he lodged, 7 would not suffer a priest to cross the’ threshold; C> Then, as he lay ; hovering between ;;life and death, ; and hungering keenly for the ■ Bread of Angels, "something - very - wonderful happened. Bilinski had Sat up seven days and nights expecting the young lad to die at any moment,and one night Stanislaus suddenly shook him and said: On your knees ! On your knees ! ' See, St.Barbara is coming into the room, with two angels, who are bringing me Holy Communion.’ The boy got up and fell upon his knees; three times he repeated the ‘ Domine, non sum dignus,’ and saying ‘ Deus cordis mei!’ (‘God of my heart’) he-opened his mouth and presented his tongue, most devoutly and humbly. ‘And I,’ Bilinski used to add, remained stupefied as though out of myself with amazement.’ About, a year after this .occurrence, Stanislaus was speaking in Rome with - a Jesuit laybrother, and stated that-St. Barbara had visited him in the manner here described. . ' While the sick youth was making earnest preparations for. death, another marvellous event occurred. The Blessed Virgin, holding her Divine Infant in her arms, appeared to him, and approaching him with-, a smile, set the Child Jesus on the’ bed, where He embraced Stanislaus. The Holy Mother told the sick boy that he should enter the Society of Jesus, and thenshe disappeared. These details, with the fact that he found himself suddenly cured, Stanislaus confided ; to two of his friends, Father Nicholas Doni and Father Warscewizki, who, after the death of the holy youth, made them publicly known. The Novitiate in Rome Finding that the Jesuit Fathers in Austria were afraid to receive him among their novices on account of the, opposition of his family, he determined to travel on foot, to Rome and apply for admission to the Father General of the Society, St. Francis Borgia. lie made the journey in company with two Jesuits who were going to Italy. The three wayfarers supported themselves on alms and had to cross the Alps and the Apennines. At last, travel-stained and weary, they entered Rome on . October 25, 1567. After being affectionately received by Father Francis Borgia, St. Stanislaus was, to his great joy, admitted, to the novitiate. lie there led a life redolent of holiness, and so inflamed was he with Divine love that he used to cast, upon his breast the water of the garden fountain to lessen the heat that consumed him and even at times brought on a fit of fainting. He foretold the time of his death, and said he hoped to be in heaven to witness our Lady’s glory on the approaching Feast of her Assumption (August 15, 1568). Three days before the • feast he became ill. He grew worse rapidly, and on August 14 he received with tender devotion the Viaticum and Extreme Unction. lie asked repeatedly to be laid on the ground that he might die in the practice of penance. At last, a pallet was arranged on the floor, and he was transferred to it. His fellownovices, in tears, knelt around him. He begged pardon, for his faults, and thanked all for their kindness to hin and their love. When asked if .he were prepared tc quit this life, he answered with joy : ‘ My heart is ready, : O God, my heart is ready.’ ’ The dawn of the Assumption was at hand. He interrupted suddenly, the prayer he was uttering aloud. A look of wonder and delight .filled his eyes, and his lips parted in a radiant smile. He said that our Lady and angels were present, and then, with the glowing smile still lighting up his face, his spirit passed peacefully into eternity. When he § died, he had not completed his eighteenth year. p He ... was cononised with Saint Aloysius, on the 31st January, 1726, by Pope Benedict XIII., and innumerable miracles were wrought after his death by his intercession before the throne" of God. The 13th November

, v'V- ® V ■ “ ■ ■ . ■ ■ : ; V- > -v-v- /■■■:- was appointed for his feast. Saint Stanislaus, pray' for us.. '•-®: V: y '-:J • ■ >%_ ■■ : v ;m /. ' ", , - Prayer ' : .to be Said Often. ":fy May my soul die.the death of the just and may my last end be like unto theirs. f ; - ; - v y Hymn. .* .. '•! ■ . ’ ■ 1 y ' .Oh ! who will give me wings, : : r - ‘ ; . Wings > like a dove. ' ~® „ . To fly beyond earth’s bounds ♦ ' •* To those blest regions, where shall cease . 4 • All storm and stress, and where increase . Of joy abounds, ' y And endless peace ? ■ . O ! who will give me wings? Oh ! who will give me wings, ; _ Wings like'a dove, % . That I may swiftly fly ' * ¥ ‘ From night and death to life and day, To bliss that passeth not away? : Sweetly to die, ■’’* 1 •■v ' . And rest for aye? f l Oh !. who will give me wings ? ' — M. J. Watson, S.J.