stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第6节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
accustomed to。 The Fathers and the boys lived together； almost as one big
family。 They ate together in one large dining hall。 There were always some
of the Fathers with the boys in their games； as well as in their studies。 It
was a very pleasant place； and a very good place。
In those early days of Protestantism； Catholics； even Catholic boys；
felt that they were in a fighting situation。 The attacks upon the old faith
woke new courage and devotion in those who remained faithful to the
Church of the ages。 And so； filled with that spirit of loyalty； that new
earnestness which the times called forth； and living under the example of
the simple manly piety of their Jesuit teachers； it is no wonder that the
boys in the College of Vienna were an unusually good set of boys。
They had their regular classes； in languages； mathematics； and such
science as the age knew。 Latin was then the language of all educated
people in Europe； the language of courts； the common meeting ground of
all nations。 Many a time； both in those days and later； a noble proved his
rank and saved himself from mischance by the mere fact that he spoke
Latin。 It was not a dead language then； as it is now。 It was in current use。
20
… Page 21…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Greek was comparatively new in Western schools。 And though from their
beginnings the Jesuits were famous teachers； we can hardly suppose that
in their new and small college at Vienna the boys were much troubled by
the speech of Plato and Demosthenes。
Of their games it is hard to know much at this late day。 Sword…play
and bouts of a soldierly sort were common enough。 These boys were
almost all of noble birth； most of them perhaps looked for…ward to the
army for their profession。 So they held mimic tournaments and played
games in which they hurled lances through suspended rings； they shot
with bows and arrows； and of course they had matches in running；
jumping and wrestling。
We know that Stanislaus did uncommonly well in the schools。 He was
quick； had a good memory； and was too sensible to be lazy。 And though
the writers of his life say nothing about it； we are quite sure that he
excelled in games and sports also。 For one thing； he as a general favorite；
esteemed by all his fellows； and that must mean that he was one with them
in their play。 For another； he was naturally no dreamer or moper； but the
jolliest； cheeriest sort of boy。 And finally； the boy who walked twelve
hundred miles in a few weeks must have been well accustomed to using
his legs。 Try thirty miles a day on foot； day after day； you football players
and baseball players； you trained athletes； and say whether it is the work
of a weakling or of a boy who never played。
But it takes more than success in studies and in games to account for
his great popularity with the other college boys。 Such success may win a
certain admiration and respect； but it does not of itself win friends。 And
Stanislaus had pretty nearly every one for his friend。 To do that requires
other gifts； gifts of character。 Everybody liked him； because he had such
gifts。 He was pious； but not merely pious； much more than pious； he was
good。 That means he was unselfish。 There is only one way to make people
really love you； and that is to love them。 That is what Stanislaus did； he
loved the people he lived with。 He was naturally good hearted； and big
hearted。 He had kept away from petty meannesses。 He had fought down
his natural selfishness。 He had learned not to be always seeking his own
little advantage； not to put himself forward for praise； not to insist on his 〃
21
… Page 22…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
rights；〃 not to boast and carry a high hand with his comrades； not to talk a
lot about himself。 He had learned to forgive little offenses； and big ones；
too； for that matter。 He knew all about how our Lord had suffered and put
up with things and forgiven those who hurt Him。 And he loved our Lord
so much； was so much at home with Him； that almost without effort he
acted as our Lord would want him to act。 He had plenty of spirit； and a
whole world of pluck and daring； but he was not quarrelsome。 Then he
was as cheerful as sunshine； and he made every one else cheerful。 Why；
the boys could not help loving a boy like him。
Sodalities were rare in those days； but the college boys of Vienna had
a sodality； devoted to the honor of our Lady； and under the patronage of
Saint Barbara。 At their meetings； the sodalists in turn had to address their
companions； give a little talk about the Blessed Virgin； or on some virtue；
or the like。
Whenever Stanislaus' turn came； the boys were all expectation。 He was
no older than most of them； indeed； younger perhaps。 But he had an older
head。 He had done more thinking than they； and a deal more praying。 He
had no false shame or babyish timidity。 If he had anything to say； he was
not afraid to say it。 And he certainly had something to say。 It had come to
be as easy for him to talk about our Lady and heaven as for other boys to
talk about their mothers at home。 He had treasured up stories of the
Blessed Virgin's help； with which Catholic Poland was filled。 He spoke
simply； unaffectedly； of our Lady's love for us； of her power； her
willingness to aid us。 And from him； though simply their school mate； the
boys heard these things eagerly。 He seemed well privileged to speak； as
indeed he was。
To talk about pious things； and do it acceptably； is a mighty hard
matter。 You have to know how。 And the first part of knowing how is to be
at home with pious things； to have thought about them； often and long； to
have woven them into your life as Stanislaus had done。
The trouble with us is that we live so far removed from thoughts of
God； of His Mother； that they never cease to be strange to us。 We go
blunderingly about mention of them； or we lack the courage to speak at all。
But why should they be strange or remote？ We are destined to live forever
22
… Page 23…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
in heaven； we are the daily recipients of God's favors； we are sheltered；
protected； every way by our Lady's loving care。
The things that touch us most nearly are the things of the spiritual
world； they are the most thrillingly important； they are the only really
important things。 We are not afraid to talk baseball； or politics； or business。
Why be afraid to talk of God's power； His dominion over us； His love for
us； our duties to Him； the helps He gives us； the reward He holds out to us？
There is only one answer： we don't think enough about these things。 There
is only one remedy： do thing about them； as Saint Stanislaus did。
23
… Page 24…
FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER VI
IN THE HOUSE OF KIMBERKER
The house which the Jesuits in Vienna used for their boarding college
was not theirs。 It belonged to the Emperor Ferdinand I； who had merely
loaned it to them。 Now the Emperor Ferdinand had died on July 25； 1564；
the day before Paul and Stanislaus came to Vienna。 The new Emperor；
Maximilian II； left the house with the Jesuits for a time； but in March；
1565； withdrew it from their use。 Of course； that meant the breaking up of
the boarding…school。 The Fathers still had their own residence； and they
could teach a small number of day scholars。 Many of their pupils went to
their homes when they could no longer live with the Jesuits。 Those who
remained had to take lodgings elsewhere in the city。
It was decided that Paul and Stanislaus should be amongst the latter
number。 At once Bilinski set out with the two to get a house。 In the Platz
Kiemark； a fashionable quarter of the town； there was a splendid mansion；
belonging to a Lutheran noble； the Senator Ki
