stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第1节
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
FOR GREATER
THINGS： The story of
Saint Stanislaus Kostka
by William T。 Kane； S。J。
PREFACE
Among Christian evidences the heroic virtue and holiness of Catholic
youth must not be overlooked。 Juvenile and adolescent victories of a
conspicuous kind； over the flesh； the world； and the devil； can be found in
no land and in no age； except a Christian land and age； and in no Church
except the Catholic Church。 It is of all excellences the very rarest and most
difficult； this triumphant mastery over human weakness and human pride。
It has defied the life…long strivings of men whom the world recognizes as
beings of superior wisdom and power of will。 The philosophers who have
described it most beautifully and encouraged its pursuit in the most
glowing and impressive terms remain themselves sad examples of human
futility in the struggle to disengage the spirit from the claws of dragging
and unclean influences。 For the forces of evil are infinite in their variety；
insidious beyond the ability of natural sharpness to detect and guard
against； and unsleeping in the pressure of their siege upon the heart of man。
Who will explain how it comes to pass that youth； whose callowness and
inexperience are the mockery of the world； has laid prostrate in single
combat this giant of evil and won fields where the reputations of the
world's wisest and noblest and most tried lie buried？
It is a matter of idle curiosity with us how an unbelieving generation；
ingenious in devising natural explanations （which are most unnatural） of
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
supernatural phenomena； would explain away the wonder of the young
Saint's life which is the subject of the following pages。 It presents to us a
picture of Divine Condescension guiding and inspiring and aiding human
effort； so convincingly clear and transparent in its smallest details and in
its general effect as to seem outside the pale of all possible mutilation and
misinterpretation by malice or skeptical analysis。 Natural reaction against
sinful excess； thwarted ambitions； disappointed hopes； meek conformity
with environment； ecclesiastical manipulation of pliant material； tame
acquiescence in family traditions and arrangements； these and all the other
stock 〃explanations；〃 with which a groveling world seeks to pull down the
Saints to its own dreary level； cannot be invoked to dissipate the mystery
and the glory surrounding Stanislaus。 How did he come so early in life；
and in a nobleman's family； to set such store upon spiritual values？ How
did his tender and immature mind grasp with such swift sureness the one
lesson of all philosophies； that life on its material side is an incident rather
than the sum of human existence and can never satisfy the soul's desires ？
How could this mere boy have developed； so young； an iron will which
wrought that hardest of all laborious tasks； namely； the conformation of
conduct with lofty ideals？ There are supernatural answers to these and
similar questions which might be raised concerning the brief career of St。
Stanislaus。 We know of no merely natural answers。
The lively and energetic style adopted in the present biography may
create a trace of mild surprise in older readers。 Sanctity； it is true； some
one may say； is a very beautiful achievement in a world of poor and； at
best； mediocre performance； but； after all； the business of sanctity is a
serious business。 It calls for grit and endurance； and； as a picture； is only
saved from the sordid by spiritual motives which are unseen。 If all moral
life is a monotonous warfare； the life of a Saint is warfare in the very first
ranks where the trenches are filled with water and the shells fall thickest
and the general discomfort and pettiness are at their maximum。 It is
misleading and not in strict accord with known realities； to paint the
portrait of a Saint in rose color and sunlight； diffusing an iridescent
atmosphere of cheerful gayety and buoyancy。
The criticism is not without some foundation； but youthful readers will
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
not adopt it。 For youth is generous； and age is crabbed。 And because Saints
never become crabbed we are right in concluding that they always remain
youthful。 And； to draw out our conclusion； the lives of Saints； contrary to
the popular belief； are much more interesting to the child than they are to
the man。 It is a pity that Catholic parents do not recognize this outstanding
truth。 No Saint's life is dull to the average intelligent child。 Grown…ups are
dull： they never yield to sublime impulses： they measure； calculate；
practice a hard…and…fast moderation； reduce the splendid possibilities of
life to a drab level of safe actuality； and pursue ideals at a canny and
cautious pace。 Not so the Saints。 They always retained the freshness and
confidence and generous impulses of childhood。 If God spoke to their
inner ear and bade them leap boldly forth into His Infinite Arms； spurning
irretrievably the solid footing of our spinning globe； without hesitation or
question they took the leap。 And every child can see the wisdom of it。 To
the child it is common sense： to his elders it is inspired heroism or
unintelligible hardihood。 We have always entertained a deep… seated
suspicion that there is no child who does not think it easy to be a Saint； so
native is sanctity to Catholic childhood。 Cardinal Newman； we believe；
exhorted us all to make our sacrifices for God while we are young before
the calculating selfishness of old age gets hold of us。
Still it may not be quite clear to the inquiring mind why the desperate
difficulties of sainthood can be truthfully viewed in the light of a
breathless adventure。 Learn； then； the great secret。 The love of God in the
heart is the magical light which touches the dreariness and hardship of
self…thwarting with a splendor of sublime Romance。 You cannot have
holiness without love。 Holiness can be either greater nor less than the love
of God。 Let this love faint or grow cold； there is at once a loss of holiness；
even though it retain all its external gear。 This is a cardinal truth； it is a key
which will solve many a puzzle。 It will explain why fanatics and similar
oddities are not Saints； though secular history sometimes honors them
with the title。
Merely concede that the Saint possesses love for God in an
extraordinary measure and degree； and it is the most comprehensible thing
in the world that he will not only accept all tests of his love readily； but
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
will go forth in search of them with eager alacrity。 First and last and
always the only keen satisfaction of great love； whether human or divine；
is to welcome opportunities of proving itself in some heroic form of
courage and endurance。 Danger； suffering； battling against odds；
discouragement； overwork； pain of mind and body； failure； want of
recognition； rebuffs； contempt and persecution； are no longer the subject
matter of a strong…jawed stoicism or a submissive patience but rather the
quickening bread and wine of an intense and high…keyed life。 This is why
the Saints； be the provocation ever so great； never develop nerves； or
experience those melancholy and humiliating reactions which are the
natural ebb…tide of spiritual energies。 This is why Saints can fast and keep
their temper sweet； can wear hair…shirts without cultivating wry faces； can
be passed by in the distribution of honors without being soured； can pray
all night without robbing the day of its due meed of cheerfulness； can rise
superior to frailties and weaknesses without despi
