stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第15节
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Father Fazio； the novice…master； also came。 Stanislaus told each of the
favor he had begged from our Lady； and that he hoped strongly his request
would be granted。
That was on the evening of Wednesday； the 10th。 He appeared to be no
better or worse on Thursday and Friday。 But Friday evening he was moved
from his ordinary room to a quieter place in a higher story of the house。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Those who went with him noted that before he lay down； he knelt on the
floor and prayed a while and made the sign of the cross over the bed；
saying； 〃This is my deathbed。〃
Now they began to believe him and were frightened a little。 So
Stanislaus added； with a smile； 〃I mean； of course； if it so please God。〃 He
continued in about the same condition until Sunday； August 14th。 That day
he said to the laybrother who was taking care of him：
〃Brother； I'm going to die to…night。〃
The brother laughed at him； and said：
〃Nonsense； man！ Why； it would take a greater miracle to die of so
trifling a matter than to be cured of it。〃
But by noon of that day Stanislaus became unconscious。 Father Fazio
was with him at once and administered restoratives。 Very soon Stanislaus
was himself again； bright and smiling as ever。 Father Fazio began to joke
with him。
〃O man of little heart！〃 he said。 〃To give up courage in so slight a
sickness！〃
Stanislaus answered； 〃A man of little heart I admit I am。 But the
sickness； Father； is not so very slight； since I'm going to die of it。〃
And； indeed； he began to fail rapidly。 By evening the death…sweat
stood out upon him； the vital warmth little by little withdrew from hands
and feet to the citadel of his heart。 When the last light of day was gone
from the sky； he made his confession and received the Holy Viaticum。 A
great many of his fellow…novices were present； and some wept。 He was a
good comrade； they did not want to see him depart from them。
Then he received Extreme Unction。 He made the answers to the
prayers himself。 Afterward he confessed again； in order to receive the
plenary indulgence granted for the hour of death。 And after that he talked
for a little time； kindly and cheerfully； to those about him； and bidding
them good…by； turned his mind and his heart to heaven。
Three Fathers stayed with him through the silence of the night； when
the rest had gone to bed。 Most of the time he prayed； either aloud with his
watchers； or silently by himself。 He left messages to his more intimate
friends； and asked the Fathers to beg pardon for any offense he had given。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
During the evening he had begged to be laid on the bare ground； that
he might die as a penitent。 Toward midnight； as he still asked it； they lifted
him on the little mattress of his bed and placed him on it upon the floor。
There he lay； very quiet； whilst midnight tolled from the great churches of
the city。 The Fathers knelt beside him； praying silently with him； or giving
him from time to time the crucifix to kiss。
At length； about three o'clock in the morning； he stopped praying； and
a great joy shone in his face。 He looked about him from side to side； and
seemed with his eyes to ask his companions to join him in reverencing
some one who was present。
Father Ruiz bent over and asked him：
What is it； Stanislaus？
〃Our Lady！〃 he whispered。 〃Our Lady has come； just as in Vienna。〃
Then he seemed to listen to voices they could not hear。 His lips moved
silently； forming inaudible words。 His eyes were bright and joyful。 He
stretched out his arms； fell back； and died with a smile upon his lips。 Our
Lady had come for him； and with her he went home。 Dawn was breaking
on the Feast of the Assumption； 1568。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER XV
AFTERMATH
Stanislaus lacked six or eight weeks of being eighteen years old when
he died。 He had not been a preacher or writer or engaged in any public
work。 Only a handful of people in Rome so much as knew of his existence。
Yet no sooner was he dead than crowds flocked about him as about a dead
saint。
The General； Francis Borgia； ordered the body to be put into a coffin；
which was an unusual thing at that time； and to be buried at the right hand
of the high altar in the church。
Meantime the Lord John Kostka still raged in Poland。 He had written a
most severe letter to Stanislaus shortly after Stanislaus arrived in Rome： a
letter full of threats and anger； to which Stanislaus had replied kindly and
affectionately； explaining to his father that he had to follow God's call at
any cost But the Lord John was not to be so easily put off。 He ordered his
eldest son； Paul； on to Rome； with power to bring back Stanislaus to his
home at Kostkov。
Paul traveled in some state and with no great haste。 He reached Rome
in the middle of September； 1568； to find that God had been beforehand
with him； and that Stanislaus had indeed already gone home； to heaven。
He had been greatly impressed at the time of Stanislaus' flight from
Vienna； by the incidents which seemed to show God's direct guidance and
protection in regard to his brother。 Now； when the Fathers led him to the
still new tomb of Stanislaus； he broke down utterly and cried like a child。
He stayed a time beside the tomb； and when he came forth he was a
different Paul。
Every one was talking with admiration of Stanislaus and of the
marvels that had surrounded his life and death。 Paul hurried back to
Poland with his story； at once sad and joyful。 The heart of the old
Castellan was moved。 He had lost a son； but he had gained a saint。
A year later appeared two short Lives of Stanislaus； one in Polish by
Father Warscewiski； his fellow…novice； another in Latin。 All through
Poland the devotion to the young novice spread rapidly。 Soon authoritative
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
〃processes〃 toward his beatification were drawn up under the care of the
bishops of various places in which Stanislaus had spent his short years。
Thirty…six years after his death； Pope Clement VIII issued a brief
（February 18； 1604） in which he declared Stanislaus 〃Blessed〃 and granted
indulgences on the anniversary of his death。
But long before this the Lord John had died； and his youngest son；
Albert； struck by sudden congestion of the lungs before his father's body
was laid to rest； died also； and was buried in the same grave with him。
Of the four sons only Paul was left。 From the day he stood by the tomb
of Stanislaus； he had changed entirely。 Bitter remembrance of his
harshness and brutality to the dead saint was with him always and urged
him to a life of penance and prayer。 He never married； but passed his days
largely at the castle of Kostkov in retirement with his widowed mother。
He busied himself in constant works of charity； spending his great
fortune in helping the poor and in establishing hospitals and building
churches。 He wore himself out in prayer and labor and fasting。 Men
marveled at him； and many sneered at him； as he had once sneered at
Stanislaus。
But those long； hard years were not unhappy for him。 He and his
mother； Margaret Kostka； had learned Stanislaus' secret of happiness； and
lived in spirit in that bright home to which Stanislaus had gone。
Then Margaret died； and Paul was alone。 He had wished to withdraw
from the world altogether。 But he felt unworthy to ask admission into a
religious order。 However； realizing at length that his death could not be far
distant； and that he could at worst be a burden for only a very short time；
he wrote to
