stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第11节
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and be hanged to you！〃 … that was the gist of it； only a trifle more
ornamental。
〃Don't forget！ 〃 said Stanislaus。 〃 Send word to father。 I'm certainly
going away。〃
Paul was waxing eloquent again； but Stanislaus turned on his heel and
walked away。 Nor did the bullying big brother venture to follow him。 He
contented himself with calling him hard names which he could not hear；
and muttering savagely to himself for some time。 But； naturally； he did not
believe at all that Stanislaus was really going to run away9 He looked
upon the words as an empty threat。
And so it was all over。 Stanislaus sighed a sigh of relief。 There was
nothing ahead of him now save the road to Augsburg。 He said his prayers
tranquilly and went to bed。
Morning came； or the dawn that precedes the morning。 Stanislaus got
up； selected his finest suit of clothes； and dressed。 His first care was to
write the letter for Paul and his father。 This he put between the leaves of a
book。
The servants； of course； even in the primitive housekeeping of the
Kostkas； slept in another room than the big common apartment of their
masters。 Stanislaus went to the bed of one of them； named Pacifici； who
was rather particularly devoted to him； and who afterwards became a
Franciscan。 He shook Pacifici and woke him。 The servant rubbed his eyes
sleepily； then gazed in astonishment at the brilliant figure standing in the
half…light beside his bed。 What was the Lord Stanislaus doing； dressed in
this unusual finery； at such an unearthly hour！
〃Listen；〃 said Stanislaus； 〃I am going out for the day。 I have received
an invitation which I must accept。 I am going now。 If Bilinski or the Lord
Paul ask for me； tell them that。〃
〃I will； your grace； I will；〃 said Pacifici。 But he was almost too
astonished to speak。
Stanislaus left the room and the house。 He walked quickly to the Jesuit
church； where he heard Mass and received Holy Communion。 At Mass he
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
met a young Hungarian； with whom he had been very intimate。 He
beckoned him aside and whispered：
〃Wait for me a minute。 I just want to say a word to Father Antoni。〃
Then he hurried away； but was back shortly at his friend's side； eyes
dancing； lips smiling； hand outstretched。
〃I have just bid Father Antoni good…by；〃 he said； with a little
excitement。 〃I am running away。 I am going to Augsburg' to ask admission
into the Society of Jesus。 I told Paul yesterday that I should not stay with
him； and I have written a letter and put it in a book。 Do not tell any one
what I tell you now。 But after a few days； please go and point out the letter
to Paul。〃
His friend listened with wonder。 Going away！' Going to Augsburg！
〃But how？〃 he asked。 〃Not on foot？〃
〃On foot； to be sure；〃 answered Stanislaus gayly。 〃Do you think I have
a horse secreted about me？ Or could I take one of ours and wake the
house？〃
〃And you will be a Jesuit； and teach； and never ride a good horse again；
and give up your people and your place in the world！〃
〃I shall be a Jesuit； if I can；〃 said Stanislaus。 〃As for what I shall give
up； well； I'd have to give it up when death came； wouldn't I？ And since
God wants it； I'd sooner give it up now。〃
But he had not much time for talk。 Day was growing； he must be off。
He got his friend's promise about the letter； bade him good…by heartily and
cheerily； and turned his face towards the Augsburg road。 What happened
else that day we have already seen； and how Paul and Bilinski followed
him； and how he got away； and how he did walk； bravely； gayly； in less
than two weeks the four hundred miles to Augsburg。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER XI
AT DILLIGEN
It was well on in the afternoon of August 30th or 31st when Stanislaus
arrived at Augsburg。 The town was strange to him。 He had to ask his way
to the Jesuit house。
〃I want to see Father Canisius；〃 he told the porter at the door。 〃I have a
letter of introduction to him。〃
The porter was very sorry； but Father Canisius was not in Augsburg。
Stanislaus' heart fell。 Not in Augsburg！ His four hundred miles on foot for
nothing！ It was a terrible disappointment。
〃Wait a moment；〃 said the porter； 〃until I call one of the Fathers。〃
As Stanislaus waited； he kept asking himself； 〃What shall I do？ What
shall I do now？〃 And for a little while he could not think clearly。 He felt
almost sick。 But he was not the kind to be discouraged long； and before
the porter returned with the Father he had made up his mind。
〃Since Canisius is not in Augsburg； well； I'll go to whatever place he is
in。
The Father who came was all regrets。 Canisius had gone to Dillingen。
But would not Stanislaus come in； and at least rest a few days before
seeking him further？ No； Stanislaus was going on … at once。
〃How far is it？〃 he asked。 〃And can you point me out the road？〃
〃It is about thirty…five miles；〃 the Father answered。 〃But you can't go
on this evening。 You must be dreadfully tired。〃
Yes； he was tired； but not so tired that he could not go to Dillingen。
It is only a little way； after all；〃 he said； smiling as he always smiled。
But he stopped to eat something with the Jesuits； both because he was
hungry； and because it would be discourteous to refuse all their kind
offers。
One of the lay…brothers had to go on business to Dillingen； so he
hastened to accompany Stanislaus。 It is from his testimony that we know
what happened on the way。
Before the sun had quite set； he was on the road once more。 He slept in
a field that night。 He was up early the next morning； and stepped out
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
bravely； fasting； and hoping for a chance to go to Holy Communion。
The evening before； he had left Augsburg a good many miles behind。
A few miles more in the early morning brought him to a little village。
From some distance he saw the spire of its church。 He hastened his steps；
lest Mass should be over before he reached the place。
When he came to the church； he saw through its open door a scattered
little congregation at their prayers。 He entered quickly； sank to his knees；
and dropping his face between his hands began to pray。 But somehow the
place felt strange。 After a bit he looked about him； and saw with
astonishment that he was in a Lutheran church。 The Lutheran heresy was
still young and kept up many Catholic practices。 It was easy to be
deceived。
He felt a little shocked。 He had been preparing to receive Holy
Communion； and now he should have to go without。 But as he looked
about； the church to his eyes glowed with light。 Out of the light came a
troop of blessed angels and drew near to him。 He was frightened； delighted；
all at once。 Then he saw that one of the angels bore with deep reverence
the Blessed Sacrament； and that God had granted his desire for Holy
Communion。 He received It with quiet joy； but simply； humbly； for he
knew that this miracle of Its coming to him was as nothing to the miracle
that there should be any Blessed Sacrament at all。 Since God had stooped
to leave us His Flesh and Blood； the manner in which He gave It was of
quite secondary importance。
It would have astounded us to be in his place in the little Lutheran
church that morning。 We try to fancy how we should feel； if we too saw a
host of angels approach us。 Yet every day we may avail ourselves of that
more wonderful miracle； before which even visions of angels pale … the
miracle of having God Himself for our Meat and Drink。
That day brought him to Dillingen and Peter Canisius； the 〃Watch…dog
of Germany；〃 as he was called； for his vigilance against heresy。 Canisius
read the letter of Father Antoni； and listened to Stanislaus' story。 It was all
