stanislaus(圣·斯坦斯洛斯·科斯卡传)-第9节
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December 4th； the feast of the Saint； came and passed。 Stanislaus grew
weaker； his fever increased。 About the middle of the month he had to keep
his bed； and his condition quickly became serious。 Then Bilinski and Paul
forgot their anger against the boy。 They called in the best physicians of the
city； they spared no pains or expense。 The servants； who had always loved
this gentle master； were all kindness and attention。 But despite the efforts
of all； Stanislaus became steadily worse。
He was entirely at peace； not at all afraid。 Yet he felt that death was
coming near。 He prayed whole hours； smiling gladly in talk with our Lord；
with the Blessed Virgin； with his guardian angel。 He was ready； even eager；
to go home。 The evil spirit wondered at this boy of sixteen； who had
fought him off so bravely through his life and who was dying now so
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
fearlessly。
One day； when his people and even the servants had left him for a little
while； Stanislaus saw an enormous black dog with glaring eyes and
hideous foaming jaws rush across the room toward his bed。 The door was
closed。 It was impossible for the beast to have entered the room in any
ordinary way。 Stanislaus had no notion how it could have come there。 But
if he was frightened for the moment； he did not lose his wits。 With an
effort； he sat up in bed and made the sign of the cross。 〃In the name of the
Father； Son and Holy Ghost！〃 he cried aloud。 Instantly the huge； snarling
dog fell to the floor with a thud as if struck by a sword。 But after a few
moments he sprang up again； and first circling the room； came crouching
to the bed； howling as no mortal dog could howl； making ready to spring
at the sick boy。 Again Stanislaus made the sign of the cross。 Again the
terrible dog was stricken to the floor。 A third time he came； only to be
beaten back in the same way。 And then； standing with bristling hair and
horrible cries in the middle of the room； he vanished from sight。 Stanislaus
fell back on the bed； fearfully exhausted； and with tears in his eyes
thanked God for his deliverance。 The shock of this dreadful incident
prostrated him。 He failed more and more。 The doctors； coming several
times a day； shook their heads in despair。
〃We can do no more；〃 they said； 〃the end is now only a question of
time。〃
For seven days and nights Bilinski sat by his bed； snatching only a few
hours' sleep now and then； for he feared that Stanislaus might die any
moment。
Yet in all this long time they had brought no priest to the dying boy。
Every day he begged them earnestly that he might receive the Holy
Viaticum。 But they lied to him。 Bilinski said：
〃You will soon be well。 The doctors will cure you。 Don't think of death
or go frightening yourself。〃
〃I am not afraid；〃 said Stanislaus。 〃But I know I am dying。 Do not let
me die without Holy Communion。〃
But Bilinski still put him off； and tried to tease him jokingly with
charges of cowardice。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
The fact was； Bilinski and Paul were afraid of their Lutheran landlord；
the Senator Kimberker。 His anti…Catholic prejudice was intense。 They
feared he might put them； sick boy and all； out of his house； if they dared
to bring a priest and the Blessed Sacrament into it。
That was a hard trial for Stanislaus。 But he met it as he had met every
difficulty； bravely； hopefully； cheerfully。 He remembered Saint Barbara； of
whom he had asked 'the grace of not dying without the Holy Viaticum。 He
renewed his prayers for her intercession。 He laid his whole case with
confidence before God； and with confidence waited。
Bilinski still sat by his bed； watching anxiously。 The day passed； the
light failed； darkness and night came on。 Stanislaus all the time had lain
quiet； his face smiling as ever； his lips moving in prayer。 Suddenly he
turned to Bilinski； radiant； glowing with joy。 〃Kneel down； kneel down！〃
he said； in a clear but low voice。 〃Two angels of God are bringing the
Blessed Sacrament； and with them comes Saint Barbara！〃
Then； worn out though he was by his long sickness； Stanislaus raised
himself； knelt on the bed； and struck his breast as he three times repeated：
〃Lord； I am not worthy！〃
Then he raised his face； and opening his lips received his sacramental
Lord。 Bilinski looked on with awe and almost terror； unable to say a word。
Stanislaus； when he had received the Blessed Sacrament； lay down again
in bed and began his thanksgiving。
He was more than ever ready for death now。 But still death held off。
All the next day he passed in quiet。 The doctors said：
〃Now is the end。 He may die at any moment。〃
But he was not to die yet。 Toward evening our Lady herself came to
him； carrying in her arms the Infant Jesus。 The sick boy looked up in
wonder and delight。 There was his Mother； smiling at him； and in her arms
the laughing Infant。 The divine Child stretched out His little hands to
Stanislaus； and Stanislaus； sitting up in his bed； took Him into his arms。
What passed in his soul then； what joy filled his heart； we cannot know
until we shall come to heaven and taste for ourselves of that joy。
And the Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus spoke to him and
comforted him。 But Stanislaus was too overcome to say anything。 Only
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
tears streamed down from his eyes as he pressed the Infant Savior to his
breast。
Our Lady said to him：
〃You must end your days in the Society that bears my Son's name。 You
must be a Jesuit。〃
But so soon as he had taken the Infant into his arms； Stanislaus felt
that the fever left him； his strength came back； the blood coursed through
his body with a new sense of vigor and vitality。
Then our Lady received her Child back from his hands； smiled at him
and blessed him； and so vanished from his sight。
Stanislaus called for his clothes； dressed and got up。 Bilinski and Paul
and the doctors were astounded。
〃It cannot be！〃 they cried。
〃But you see that it is；〃 said Stanislaus。 〃I am as well as ever。 Our
Lady and the little Jesus came and cured me。 And now I must go to the
church and thank them。〃
Nor did the fever return。 He was entirely recovered。
The house in which this occurred is now a sanctuary； and in the room
in which Stanislaus had received such favors from God an altar stands；
and above it a statue of the Saint。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER IX
VOCATION
When our Lady came to cure Stanislaus； she told him absolutely that
he must become a Jesuit。 That was not the first idea Stanislaus had had of
his vocation。 Even some months before his illness he had felt himself
drawn to enter the Society of Jesus。 But now； all doubts removed； he made
a vow in thanksgiving to obey our Lady's command。
He went to his confessor； the Jesuit Father Doni； and told him of the
vision of the Blessed Virgin and her order to become a Jesuit。 Father Doni
believed him readily enough； but he said：
〃I can do nothing myself in the matter。 You must go to the Provincial；
for only he can admit you。 But I am afraid there will be difficulties。〃
Stanislaus was not merely afraid； he was quite certain； there would be
difficulties。 However； he assured Father Doni：
〃Even if there be no end of difficulties； still I shall be a Jesuit。 Since
our Lady has commanded me； she will find a way。〃
The Provincial； Father Laurence Maggi； received Stanislaus kindly； of
course； yet with anything but encouragement。 There had been trouble for
the Society shortly before； though in another place； because of some
novices admitted
