stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第14章
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himself such lowly tasks； and he knew； therefore； that he was really
humble。
Then he called the boy to him。 He said：
〃If I admit you into the Society here； your father may still annoy you。
It is better you should go to Rome and become a novice there。 I shall give
you a letter to the Father General； Francis Borgia。 In a few days two of
ours are to go to Rome。 You can go with them。〃
Stanislaus was delighted。 He was come into quiet waters at last。 But
Canisius spoke further：
〃First； however； you must get some decent clothes。 Your old tunic；〃 he
said； with a twinkle in his eye； 〃might do well enough for a noble； but not
for a future Jesuit。〃
So the college tailor made Stanislaus a simple； neat suit of clothes。
And about September 20th he set out for Rome。 He went on foot； of
course； in the company of Jacopo Levanzio； a Genoese； and Fabricius
Reiner； of Li 間 e。
They struck south through Bavaria to the Tyrolese Alps。 By what pass
they crossed the Alps we do not know。 But Stanislaus saw first from afar
the white peaks； with their everlasting snows； shining in the sun。 Then he
went up and up； into cooler and rarer air； where one's lungs expand and
one's step is light and buoyant； but where one gets tired more easily than
in the plains。 High up in the passes he felt the cold of Winter； although it
was as yet early Autumn。
Then he came down the southern slopes of the great mountain…wall
that locks in Italy； and with him came the headwaters of great rivers。 He
came down through bare rocks； then through twisted mountain…pines； then
through green and lovely valleys； and so into the plains of northern Italy。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
He saw the mountain torrents leap and flash； and grow always bigger and
stronger。 He saw them slack their speed and widen their beds in the upland
valleys。 He saw them grow sluggish； tawny with mud； in the plain。
He saw the many spires of Milan's wonderful cathedral as they drew
near the city。 And when they tarried there a little while for rest； he saw the
famous armor made there； hung up for show in little shop… windows。 He
passed great cavalcades of nobles and soldiers； and marvelled at their
straight； slim rapiers； so different from the heavy Polish saber。 He heard
Italian speech for the first time； and tried to get at its meaning through his
Latin。
But he and his companions had not over…much time for observing。
They were traveling pretty swiftly。 From Dillingen to Rome is a matter of
about eight hundred miles。 They left Dillingen September 20th； they
reached Rome October 25th。 That figures out to an average of about
twenty…two miles each day。 Then； if you remember that they had to climb
mountains the first part of the way； that there were delays entering towns；
delays of devotion when they came to great churches； you can see that
many a day they must have equaled or surpassed Stanislaus' thirty miles a
day from Vienna。
But it was pleasanter。 for Stanislaus than his first great tramp。 Now he
had two good companions； with whom he could speak easily and
familiarly of the things nearest his heart。 He had none of the uncertainty
about the result of this journey which he had had about his former journey。
He found shelter and friendship in many Jesuit houses on the way。
As the three went on they lightened the road with pious songs； they
heard Mass and received Holy Communion whenever occasion offered；
they knelt by many a wayside shrine； a crucifix； or statue of our Lady；
scattered everywhere through Catholic Italy。
It did not take the two Jesuits long to appreciate Stanislaus and delight
in his company。 He was so light…hearted； so merry in all the discomforts
and hardships of the long road； so thoroughly and simply good。 They
wondered at his physical endurance； at the ease and buoyancy with which
the lad of seventeen kept up that hard march； day after day。
The grasses of the Campagna were brown and brittle； the trees sere
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
and yellow in the Autumn； when they came to the Eternal City； the center
of the world then as now。 The saintly General Francis Borgia； busy as he
was with the cares of the widespread Society； found time to welcome the
three travelers； and to hear Stanislaus' wonderful story in full。
And this time there was no hesitation or delay。 Stanislaus entered his
name in the book containing the register of the novices； on October 25；
1567。 Three days later he received his cassock and entered at once upon
his noviceship。
There were so many novices in Rome then that no single house of the
Jesuits there could hold them all。 So they were scattered through three
houses； each one spending a part of his two years' noviceship successively
in each house。 Stanislaus went first to the Professed House； then called
Santa Maria della Strada； and afterward the site of the famous Gesu； one
of the notable churches of Rome。 From there he passed in time to the
Roman College； then to the Noviciate proper at Sant' Andrea。
The Society of Jesus was then in its early youth； in the midst of that
first brilliant charge against the ranks of heresy without； and against the
huge sluggish inertia so striking within the Church itself。
He was fellow…novice with Claude Acquaviva； son of the Duke of Atri；
and afterwards one of the greatest Generals of the Society； which he ruled
for thirty years。 With him were also Claude's nephew； Rudolph Acquaviva；
who died a martyr； Torres； a great theologian； Prando； the first philosopher
at the University of Bologna； Fabio de' Fabii； who traced his descent from
the great Roman family of that name； the Pole； Warscewiski； formerly
ambassador to the Sultan and Secretary of State in Poland； who first wrote
a life of Stanislaus； and many more； distinguished for birth； learning；
holiness。
Most of these were a great deal older； too； than Stanislaus。 Many of
them had already made their names familiar to men。 Yet the boy of
seventeen； who came quietly and modestly amongst them； was somehow
soon looked up to by all。 They felt the force of something in him which
made him their superior。 Heaven was wonderfully near him。 He was not
old…fashioned； he was always a boy； unconscious of anything unusual in
himself； not solemn nor impressive nor austere in manner。 All that he did；
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he did with perfect naturalness； for to him the supernatural had become
almost natural。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER XIII
THE NOVICESHIP
Most of us； perhaps； think of the saints as men and women who
accomplished visibly great things。 Saint Paul； Saint Augustine； Saint
Patrick； Saint Theresa； Saint Philip Neri； Saint Francis Xavier： such na
