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第18章

stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第18章

小说: stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传) 字数: 每页4000字

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     Bilinski; too;  the  tutor of Stanislaus;  showed  in   after life the  fruit   of 

Stanislaus'   prayers。   He   became   Canon   of   Pultowa   and   Plock   and   lived 

holily。 It was his privilege to bear testimony to many events in the life of 

Stanislaus; and he was a very valuable witness in the 〃processes〃 for his 

pupil's   beatification。   When   death   came;   Stanislaus   appeared   to   him   in 

vision; consoling and encouraging him; and he died in great peace。 

     All this time the people of Poland had been eager in their devotion to 

the    Blessed    Stanislaus。     Many     cures   and    miracles    had    been   wrought 

through   his   intercession。   In   1621;   under   the   Polish   king;   Sigismund   III; 

and    again    in  1676;    under    Yan    Sobieski;    the   Poles    won    pronounced 

victories     over   Turkish    armies    which     far  outnumbered       their  own;    and 

attributed these preternatural successes to the prayers of Stanislaus。 

     The     whole     nation;    through    its   kings;   repeatedly     petitioned     that 

Stanislaus might be declared their Patron。 This was at first refused; as only 

canonized saints were given the title of Patron of a nation。 But Clement x 

granted the request in 1671; setting aside the decree which forbade it。 

     The   Church   is   slow   in   declaring   any   one   a   saint。   It   was   not   until 

December 13; 1726; one hundred and fifty…eight years after the death of 

Stanislaus; that Benedict XIII solemnly celebrated his canonization in the 

Basilica of St。 Peter。 It was a double ceremony; for it was also the occasion 

of the canonization of Saint Aloysius; who had been born in March of the 

same year in which Stanislaus died。 

     *    *   *    *    *    *   *    *    * 

     This little account has not done justice to the life of Stanislaus Kostka; 

and; indeed; it is very hard to do justice to it。 He was a most human and 

lovable boy; but he was besides a wonderful; bright being that eludes the 

grip of our common minds。 He was   a citizen of heaven; who lived here 

amongst   us;   kindly  and   companionable   indeed;  during   eighteen   years   of 

exile。 To try to describe him is like trying to describe a star in the far sky 

of night。 

     That love for God; of which we speak so brokenly; which at its best in 

us   is   so   small   and   cold;   was   the   soul   of   his   soul;   the   inner   core   and 

substance of his life。 Here; in the misty country of faith; he had something 



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                 FOR GREATER THINGS: The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka 



of that radiant and rapturous union with God which all of us; as we hope; 

shall one day have in heaven。 

     All the sweet and strong twining of our hearts about father and mother 

and   relatives   and   dear   friends;   all   that   binds   us   in   affection   to   those   we 

love   in   life;   was   multiplied   and   made   many   times   stronger   in   his   rare 

nature   and   lifted   up   by   God's   grace   to   fix   itself   upon   God;   the   infinite 

Goodness; the supreme Beauty。 

     God was not a mere Name or a Power to him; not even the mere Lord 

and Master of all: God was his friend; his dearest intimate; his sure; strong; 

patient;    loving    counselor;    whose     presence    was    with   him;   waking     and 

sleeping; whose interests were nearest his heart; whose commands it was a 

delight to obey; whose slightest wish and beckoning was eagerly watched 

for and joyously followed。 

     To catch the secret and true meaning of his life; one must feel how that 

love    for   God    thrilled   through     him;   was    his。   courage    in   action;   his 

endurance   in   suffering;   his   sweetness   and   kindness   in   all   dealings   with 

other men。 It was his life。 And when we have said and realized that; we 

have come nearest to knowing who and what really was Stanislaus Kostka。 



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