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ANNUS 1549
The Year 1549
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328. Ineunte anno 1549, hic status Societatis erat: duae provinciae dumtaxat erant constitutae, in Portugallia prior altera in Hispania, et duo Provinciales, P. Simon et Antonius Araozius; in India hoc ipso anno P. Franciscus Xaverius Indiae Provincialis creatus est, ut ex patentibus litteris ad eum missis constat; qui in Italia, Sicilia, Germania et Gallia versabantur, ab ipso Patre Ignatio, Generali, regebantur, quamvis in Sicilia P. Jacobus Laynez, ut Visitator, reliquis in ea insula praeerat.
328. In the beginning of 1549, the status of the Society was this: only two provinces were established, the first in Portugal, the second in Spain, and the two Provincials were Fr. Simon and Antonio Araoz. In India during this year Fr. Francis Xavier was named the Provincial of India, as is certain from the official letters sent to him. Those working in Italy, Sicily, Germany and France were governed by Fr. Ignatius, General, although in Sicily Fr. James Laynez, as the Visitor, had authority over the others on the island.
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329. Residebat Societas in viginti duobus locis, scilicet, Romae, ubi domus professa probationis etiam domum complectebatur; Patavii, Bononiae, atque Messinae in Sicilia initia potius Collegiorum quam Collegia erant; Coloniae, Lovanii et Parisiis tantumdem; in Lusitaniae Provincia, Ulyssiponae, nostri ad domus potius quam ad Collegii formulam accedebant; Conimbricae formatum erat Collegium; Regis curiam aliqui sequebantur; sed quia illa saepe Ulyssipone manebat, non distincta residentia censetur: in Hispania residebant nostri Compluti, Salmanticae, Vallisoleti, Valentiae, Gandiae, Caesaraugustae et Barcinonae. In India vero, Goae, Bazaini, Comurini, Malacae, et in Malucis. Pauci tamen in omnibus his locis, praeterquam Romae, Conimbricae, Ulyssiponae, Gandiae, Patavii et Messanae, versabantur. Proprium domicilium Goae solum, in Portugallia utrobique, in Hispania tantum Gandiae, in Italia Romae et Patavii; in Sicilia Messanae; in Gallia et Germania nullum erat; minus utique reditus ulli, praeterquam Conimbricae, Gandiae, Patavii et Messanae.
329. The Society was active in twenty-two places, namely, in Rome, where the professed house also included the house of probation; Padua, Bologna, and in Messina in Sicily were the beginnings of Colleges rather than functioning Colleges; Cologne, Louvain and also Paris; in the Province of Portugal, in Lisbon, ours had a house rather than a formed College; in Coimbra there was an established College; some followed the court of the King; but because it often remained in Lisbon, it is not considered a distinct residence. In Spain ours resided in Alcalá, Salamanca, Valladolid, Valencia, Gandia, Saragossa and Barcelona. But in India, they were in Goa, Bazain, Comorin, Malacca, and in the Malukus. But in all of these places, except in Rome, Coimbra, Lisbon, Gandia, Padua and Messina only a few of ours were occupied. There was a proper domicile only in Goa, several in Portugal, in Spain only in Gandia, in Italy in Rome and Padua; in Sicily Messina; in France and Germany there was none; none of them had a regular income, except Coimbra, Gandia, Padua and Messina.
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330. Hoc ipso anno res Societatis non parum auctae sunt. Romae quidem numerus nostrorum, accedentibus ex Germania et Gallia compluribus, ut Societatem melius cognoscerent et in romana domo probarentur, augebatur; in concionibus autem et lectionibus nostri templi et ministerio confessionis et communionis aliisque consuetis Societati charitatis officiis et fructus crescebat, et bonus Societatis odor apud Summum Pontificem et ecclesiasticos Ecclesiae principes et totam demum hanc almam civitatem. Non tamen ea referre sigillatim sollicitus ero, quia similia fuerunt his, de quibus annis primis plura scripta sunt.
330. In this year the affairs of the Society increased in no small way. The number of ours in Rome increased, because of the arrival of many from Germany and France in order to get to know the Society better, and to be tested in the Roman house. Also the fruit grew in the sermons and lectures in our church and in the ministry of confession and communion and the other usual activities of charity of the Society. Thus there the good odor of the Society increased in the eyes of the Sovereign Pontiff and the ecclesiastical leaders of the Church and the whole fair city. However, I will not mention all of them in detail, because they were similar to the things written about in the previous years.
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331. A multis jam annis nullus ad professionem admissus fuerat praeter P. Franciscum Borgiam, qui, ut retulimus anno proxime elapso, secretam Gandiae professionem emiserat; quamvis P. Natalis superiore anno de hoc admonitus ab Ignatio fuisse dicitur. In die autem Annunciationis Beatissimae Virginis quatuor simul ad professionem quatuor votorum sunt admissi. Romae quidem ab ipso P. Ignatio, post celebratum in ecclesia sacrum, P. Emmanuel Miona, cui ego adjunctus fui; Gandiae vero eodem 25 die Martii P. Jacobus Miron et P. Andreas de Oviedo in manibus Patris Antonii Araoz similem professionem emiserunt.
331. Now for several years no one had been admitted to profession besides Fr. Francis Borgia who, as we reported in the previous year, made his secret profession in Gandia; although Fr. Nadal, in the previous year, is said to have been advised about this. [1. Lege pag. 238, chron. brevs. (Nota ad oram paginae.) Illi paginae respondet hic 306; at non ibi de professione Ducis Gandiae sermo fit, sed in 247, quae hic est 315.
Read page 238 in the brief chronicle. (Note at the top of the page.) Here 306 corresponds to that page, but there is no mention there of the profession of the Duke of Gandia, but it is on 247, which here is 315.] But on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin four together were admitted to profession of the four vows. [2. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, de iis qui Romae [professionem emiserant et de dispensatione, qua ut professionem emitteret, indiguit ipse Polancus, 13 Julii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, about those who made their profession in Rome, and about the dispensation, which Polanco needed in order to make his profession, July 13.] In Rome Fr. Emmanuel Miona’s profession was received by Fr. Ignatius after the celebration of Mass in our church, and I did the same; but at Gandia on the same 25th of March Fr. James Miron and Fr. Andreas de Oviedo made the same profession in the hands of Fr. Antonio Araoz.
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332. Augebatur paulatim et ecclesia nostra, aliquid ei adjungendo, et nostrae etiam habitationis domus; hoc etiam anno cum a Summo Pontifice Paulo III id obtentum esset, ut facultates nostrae Societati convenientes, ad ipsius et commune animarum bonum promovendum, Cardinali Sfondrato negotium hoc est commissum, et quaecumque ex privilegiis aliorum ordinum eo tempore nobis convenire videbantur, eodem ad Summum Pontificem referente, concessa fuerunt, et litteris apostolicis comprehensa. Et quia ante expeditionem confectam graviter Summus Pontifex aegrotare coepit, egregiam operam navavit dominus Thomas Lilius, nunc Episcopus Soranus, ut eo adhuc superstite litteras illas haberemus.
332. Gradually the size of our church was increased, by adding something on to it, and also to the house in which we live. Also during this year, when it was obtained from the Sovereign Pontiff, Paul III, that the faculties useful for our Society should be granted, in order to promote the common good of souls, this matter was handled by Cardinal Sfondrato, and whatever privileges of the other Orders at the time seemed fitting for us to have, the same Cardinal brought the matter to the Sovereign Pontiff; they were granted and confirmed by an Apostolic Letter. [3. Sic in mss., imperfecta verborum syntaxi et obscura sententia. Nec sufficiunt quae in hoc loco scribit Orlandinus, 1. 9, n. 11, ad sensum clare perspiciendum ; qui tamen hic esse videtur, scilicet : concessum Ignatio a Pontifice fuisse ut ex privilegiis Ordinum aliorum quae Societati convenirent ab iis quae non ita convenirent secerneret, illaque approbanda proponeret, et hoc Summo Pontifici proponendi quae Societati privilegia quadrarent negotium Cardinali Sfondrato fuisse ab Ignatio commissum.
Thus in the manuscript; there is faulty syntax and an obscure sentence. And what Orlandinus writes about this place is not sufficient, I, 9, n. 11, in order to grasp clearly the meaning, which seems to be this, namely: it was granted to Ignatius by the Pontiff that of the privilege of the other Orders, which would be suitable for the Society, should be separated from those that were not suitable; he proposed that those be approved, and the commission was given to Cardinal Sfondrato to make this proposal to the Pontiff and to obtain the privileges for the Society.] And before this undertaking was completed, the Sovereign Pontiff became gravely ill, and Lord Thomas Lilius, [4. Alias communiter Giglius, italice del Giglio. Vide Cartas de San Ignacio, passim, sed praesertim, tomo II, p. 318.
Elsewhere it is usually Giglius, or in Italian del Giglio. See Cartas de San Ignacio, passim, but especially vol. II, p. 318.] now the Bishop of Sora, worked diligently so that we would get that letter while the Pope was still living.
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333. Ad Constitutiones etiam, quae ab ipso P. Ignatio conficerentur, vel confectae essent, complurium ex primis patribus, qui superstites erant, scripti consensus venerunt; donec tamen ex diversis locis satis multi Patres convenirent (quod anno proximo jubilaei fieri posse Ignatius cogitabat) Constitutiones non sunt promulgatae.
333. Also for the Constitutions which were being drawn up by Fr. Ignatius, or had already been completed, the written consent of several of the first Fathers, who were still living, was given. However, until a sufficient number of the Fathers could be assembled from various places (which Ignatius thought could happen in the next year of the jubilee), the Constitutions were not promulgated. [5. Vide supra, pag. 71, not. 1
See above, pag. 71, note 1]
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334. Hoc anno, Novembri mense, Paulus tertius, Pontifex Maximus, ex hac vita migraverat; quare Cardinales in Conclave se contulerunt, a quibus subsidia temporalia ad res domui nostrae necessarias subministrari solebant. Placuit etiam divinae Bonitati Patrem Petrum Codacium a laboribus hujus saeculi ad meliorem vitam, ut speramus, transferre. Celebraverat is mane sacrum magna cum pietate ac devotione, et a prandio, dum ad Patris Ignatii cubiculum ascenderet, apoplexia correptus, prope ostium praedicti Patris concidit ac paulo post exspiravit. Corpore erat (quamvis inter magnos labores et sanctae paupertatis usum) obeso, et credendum est quod Deus molestiis diuturni morbi eum diutius detineri noluerit. Jam ab ipso initio Societatis sic rerum temporalium curam hic Pater subierat, ut alii omnes a sollicitudine quaerendi victus, et vestitus, et rerum aliarum, quae ad vitam traducendam sunt necessariae, immunes essent; sed eo magis, si humanam rationem spectes, destituta ejus morte domus nostra videbatur; cum nec esset domi qui ad hoc officium charitatis idoneus videretur, et licet fuisset aliquis, quia mors Patris Codacii repentina fuerat, in magna ignorantia et rerum et personarum versatus esset. Domus interim plena et, ut dictum est, Cardinales inclusi de electione novi Pontificis satis diu deliberaturi videbantur; at Pater Ignatius, qui magno prorsus animo spem omnem in Dei providentia collocaverat, octo vel decem novitios, qui Societatem ingredi cupiebant, domi admisit, et Patrem Pontium Cogordanum, qui natione gallus et lingua parum eloquens erat, procuratorem loco Patris Codacii constituit.
334. In November of this year Paul III, the Sovereign Pontiff, departed from this life; therefore the Cardinals gathered in the Conclave, and some of them were accustomed to provide us with temporal things necessary for the support of our house. It also pleased the divine Goodness to take Fr. Peter Codacius from the troubles of this life to a better life, as we hope. In the morning he celebrated Mass with great piety and devotion, and after lunch as he went up the stairs to the room of Fr. Ignatius, being struck with apoplexy he collapsed near the door of Fr. Ignatius and died after a few minutes. He had a large body (although along with much work and observance of holy poverty) and we believed that God did not want to detain him longer with the vexations of a prolonged illness. Now from the beginning of the Society this Father so took care of the temporal things that all the others were spared the care of providing the food, clothing and other things that are necessary for daily living. Looked at from a human point of view, our house seemed all the more destitute as a result of his death, and there did not seem to be anyone in the house suitable for this office of charity. Still there was one available, but because the death of Fr. Codacius was so sudden, he was left in great ignorance about supplies and persons. Meanwhile, the house was full and, as was said, the Cardinals assembled for the election of the new Pontiff seemed to be about to deliberate for a long time. But Fr. Ignatius, who with total confidence placed all his hope in the divine providence of God, admitted to our house eight or ten novices who wanted to enter the Society, and he appointed Fr. Pontius Congordanus, who was French and not very good at public speaking, as procurator in place of Fr. Codacius. [6. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Domenech, ut pro Petro Codacio tamquam pro fundatore Missas precesque offerant, 11 Maii; idem eidem, de domus Romanae egestate et debitis post Patris Codacii obitum, 14 Decembris; Ignatius custodi Conclavis, de modo quem tenere possent Cardinales in sublevanda domo Romana, hoc anno 49; Obligationes et debita Romanae Domus quo tempore e vivis sublatus est Petrus Codacius, a. 49.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Domenech, that they should offer Masses and prayers for Fr. Peter Codacius as for a founder, May 11; the same to the same, about the extreme poverty and debts of the Roman house after the death of Fr. Codacius, December 14; Ignatius to the guardian of the Conclave, about the way in which the Cardinals could help the Roman house, in this year of 1549; the obligations and debts of the Roman house at the time when Peter Codacius was taken from among the living, in 1549.]
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335. Visenda fuit autem divinae Bonitatis eo tempore erga domum romanam providentia, nam Cardinales ex ipso Conclavi copiosam eleemosynam, si bene memini, ducentorum aureorum miserunt. Cum autem eo tempore Joannes Crucius, obsonator domus, ad Basilicam Salvatoris se conferret, et per Colosseum (qui locus desertus est) transiret, vir quidam ad eum accessit, et crumenam illi cum centum fere aureis in manu posuit, et ab eo recessit. Cum domum Joannes rediisset, et quod acciderat narrasset, et aureos acceptos ostendisset, non deerat qui timeret ne, quod accidit cum lemures pecuniam offerunt quae postea in carbones convertitur, hujusmodi metamorphosis illi pecuniae accideret; sed moneta illa aurea et quasi tunc excussa formam non mutavit sed domus necessitatibus ac aeri alieno solvendo subvenit. Post unum vel alterum diem, cum ante lucem ad res necessarias coëmendas idem Joannes pro more se conferret, non procul a templo B. Mariae supra Minervam alius quidam vir se cum eo conjunxit et magnam summam nummorum aureorum (sexaginta vel septuaginta, ut opinor, fuerunt), qui recentes ex cuneo accepti videbantur, illi dedit ac recessit. Sed eodem etiam tempore cum in aperto quodam loco domus, ubi rudera quaedam et concisae chartae in cista quadam erant, ego ipse videre volens num quaedam aliae litterae ibi essent, rudera evolvissem, in quadam alba charta involuta magnum numerum aureorum novorum etiam inveni. Tam multis Bonitas divina per angelos, ut creditur, Patris Petris Codacii diligentiam et in hoc munere peritiam non desiderari voluit. Cumque ego iis de rebus Philippum Archintum, almae Urbis vicarium, alloquerer, ” ne dubites inquit, quod has etiam eleemosynas P. Petrus Codacius domui vestrae procuret; nec ego dubitaverim ejusdem Petri in coelo charjtatem et P. Ignatii in terris fidem ac spem haec subsidia a Dei bonitate impetrasse „. Unde romana domus in dies numero augebatur; quamvis enim alii atque alii in varia loca mitterentur, cum multos vocaret Dominus ad nostrum institutum sequendum, nec alia id temporis esset domus in his Italiae, Galliae et Germaniae regionibus, satis multi in hanc confluebant.
335. However, it is necessary to consider the providence of the divine Goodness at that time toward the Roman house; for, the Cardinals sent from the Conclave itself a very large alms, if I remember correctly, of two hundred gold coins. But at that time when John Crucius, the buyer of food for the house, was going to the Basilica of the Savior, and was passing through the Coliseum (which is a deserted place), a man approached him and put in his hand a pouch with about a hundred gold pieces in it, and then walked away from him. When John returned home, and narrated what had happened, and showed them the gold pieces, there were some who feared lest, what happens when ghosts offer money which afterwards turns into charcoal, will happen to this money in a similar metamorphosis. That golden money did not change its form, but helped to buy the necessities for the house and to pay some debts. After one or two days, when before daylight the same John went out as usual to buy the necessary things, not far from the church of St. Mary above Minerva, another man came up to him and gave him a large sum of gold coins (sixty or seventy, as I recall), which seemed to be recently minted, and then he disappeared. Also at the same time, when in a vacant part of the house, where some pieces of metal and torn paper were in an old chest, I wanted to see whether there were some old letters there, so I removed the metal and I also found a large number of new gold coins, which were wrapped up in white paper. With so many gifts, the divine Goodness through the angels, as is believed, wanted the diligence of Fr. Peter Cordacius and his experience in these matters not to be missed. And when I spoke about these things to Philip Archintus, Vicar of the fair city, he said: “You should not doubt that Fr. Peter Codacius has procured these alms for your house; and I do not doubt that the charity of Peter in heaven and the faith and hope of Fr. Ignatius on earth obtained this assistance from the goodness of God. Hence the Roman house daily increased in numbers; for, although some were sent to various places, since God called many to join our Institute, at that time there was no other house in the regions of Italy, France and Germany that had as many companions as this house.
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336. Duo Collegia, deductis ex Urbe coloniis, hoc anno fuerunt inchoata, unum quidem Panormi, alterum Tyburi; licet autem Ingolstadium aliqui sint missi, et inter alios P. Petrus Ganisius, Sicilia ad hoc evocatus, Collegium tamen illud tunc non est inchoatum. Sed haec Collegia et missiones in causa fuisse videntur, ut de Collegio Pisis inchoando, juxta pollicitationem Ducis Florentiae, Cosmi, Pater Ignatius sollicitus non fuerit, sicut nec aliud Collegium, quod Termentis in Sicilia per litteras ab eodem Patre Ignatio obtinere nitebantur, sunt consequuti. Paulatim hujusmodi onera subeunda, etiam paulatim qui a Domino mittebantur, esse probandos, antequam in opus ministerii mitterentur, P. Ignatius judicabat. Interim de totius Societatis locis ac personis sollicitudinem gerens, Ignatius multa Romae ad eorum utilitatem curabat. Inter alia illud curatum est ut Universitas vel studium generale Messanae auctoritate apostolica et quidem sub Societatis directione erigeretur. Anno quidem proxime elapso, ut dictum est, Summus Pontifex cum magno Signaturae applausu id concesserat. Sed hoc anno Litterae Apostolicae expeditae cum Messanam mitterentur, res magnam habuit difficultatem, tum a Catanensibus tum ab ipsismet Messanensibus ortam, qui sub Rectore nostri Collegii suam Universitatem esse, in qua et jurisperiti et medici futuri erant, parum aequo animo ferebant. Prius quidem Pro-rege Joanne de Vega praesente, Messanenses magistratus id ita constituerant, sed sententiam postea mutaverunt. Admissis autem in consilium P. Jacobo Laynez ac Patre Hieronymo Natali coram Pro-rege, sic hominum animi mutati sunt, ut quod prius nullo modo concoquere poterant, immo erat, qui diceret se potius passurum extrema, magno consensu juratorum et consultorum res est transacta; et Doctor quidam Messanensis, qui magnopere huic Universitatis rationi repugnabat, tanta laetitia fuit perfusus ut vix externis multis in gestibus ac verbis eam explicare posset, et simul orationes Te Deum laudamus dixerunt; et cum magnis laboribus Pro-regis et aliorum nihil prius effectum fuerit, id Dominus cum forte minus exspectabatur, praestitit: sed hoc fuit sub anni finem.
336. During this year two Colleges were started, with the personnel for them taken from the City — one in Palermo, and the other in Tivoli. Although some members were sent to Ingolstadt, and among those Fr. Peter Canisius, after he was brought back from Sicily, still the College was not started at the time. But these Colleges and missions seem to have been the reason why Fr. Ignatius was not solicitous about beginning the College in Pisa according to the offer of Cosmo, the Duke of Florence, just as another College did not open, which the people of Termini in Sicily through their letters tried to obtain from Fr. Ignatius. Fr. Ignatius judged that burdens of this kind should be undertaken gradually, and also that those who were sent by the Lord should be tested gradually, before they were sent to work in some ministry. In the meantime, while taking care of all the places and persons of the whole Society, Ignatius took care of many things in Rome in order to assist them. Among other things, he saw to it that the University or general studies in Messina should be established by Apostolic Authority and under the direction of the Society. In the previous year, as has been said, the Sovereign Pontiff, with the approval of the Signatura, had granted that. But in this year, when the official Apostolic Letter was sent to Messina, the matter encountered a big difficulty, caused both by the people of Catania and by the people in Messina, who did not want their University, in which both lawyers and doctors would be trained, to be under the Rector of our College. Previously, when the Viceroy John de Vega was present, the magistrates of Messina had agreed to that, but afterwards they changed their mind. But when Fr. James Laynez and Fr. Jerome Nadal entered into consultation with the Viceroy, the minds of the men were so changed that what previously they could in no way accept, now there was one who said he would rather suffer death, and so the matter was arranged with the full consent of the officials and consultors. And a certain doctor in Messina, who was very much opposed to the nature of this University, was filled with such joy that he could hardly express it with many gestures and words, and at the same time he said the prayer, Te Deum laudamus. And with the great efforts of the Viceroy nothing was done before, and the Lord granted it, when it was perhaps least expected; but this took place at the end of the year. [7. Quae observanda Tyburi sunt a magistro Michaële de Ochoa, hoc anno 49; aut ad summum initio sequentis, 50; Polancus, ex commissione, Natalem reprehendit quod Canisium secum retinere voluerit, et poenam, quam Ignatius injunxit, declarat, 11 Maii; idem eidem, ut statim Canisium Roma m mittat, 18 Maii; idem eidem, de felici Canisii adventu Romam, 22 Junii.
These observations about Tivoli by Master Michael de Ochos in 1549, or at the beginning of 1550. Polanco, ex commissione, reprehends Nadal because he wanted to keep Canisius with him, and he states the penance which Ignatius imposed on him, May 11; the same to the same, that he should send Canisius to Rome immediately, May 18; the same to the same, about the safe arrival of Canisius in Rome, June 22.]
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337. Sub initium autem tam res spirituales quam litterariae bene, Deo propitio, procedebant; magnus erat in his qui ad Sacramenta accedebant fervor et alacritas; confessiones generales plurimae; renovationes vitae passim; alia de re inter multos non agebatur, quam de peccatis relinquendis, de ratione vitae in melius mutanda; et id sibi persuadebant homines, qui ad nostros accedebant, in posterum bene vivendum et Deo serviendum illis esse. Conciones a nostris frequenti admodum auditorio habebantur; sed a prandio lectio etiam Divi Pauli post vespertinum officium in cathedrali Ecclesia diebus dominicis praelegebatur; diebus autem aliis festis post idem officium vespertinum in templo nostri Collegii Sancti Nicolai de casibus conscientiae et catechismo lectiones habebantur; et in omnibus frequens populus cum magna animi motione aderat; nec tantum apud nostros, sed etiam apud aliorum ordinum religiosos, messis confessionum solito copiosior colligebatur, et antiqui monachi concursum hujusmodi se nunquam vidisse testabantur; et quia confessiones generales, ad quas instituendas homines erant excitati, non poterant quadragesimae tempore audiri, post Pascha rejiciebantur et in aestatem universam eam occupationem duraturam credebant; et omnino nec tempus nec vires nostrorum ut tam multis satisfieret sufficiebant. Sed inter caetera nostros recreabat plurimum scholasticorum in spiritu et litteris profectus; ii enim quotidie in utroque magnos progressus facere cernebantur. Exertitia etiam spiritualia compluribus, tam scholasticis quam aliis, proposita fuerunt et quidem cum magno fructu ab eis confecta. Aliqui etiam in Societatem admissi sunt; aliqui mittebantur ut, per urbem incedentes diebus dominicis et festis, privatis colloquiis aliquos adjuvarent, ex his praesertim, qui ludis et aliis parum honestis exercitationibus vacabant, ut, de rebus ad eorum salutem pertinentibus agendo, ad confessionem et vitae meliorem formam revocarent, et ex eo labore boni aliqui effectus ad Dei gloriam sunt consequuti. Morituros aliquando juvabant et inter caeteros Stiatigos (qui supremus est urbis magistratus) et Pro-reginae frater consobrinus erat, cum ad mortem aegrotaret, Patris Hieronymi Natalis opera (cui etiam sanus confitebatur) cum magna Pro-reginae et aliorum aedificatione usque ad decessum usus est.
337. Now at the beginning of the year, with the help of God, both the spiritual and literary works were progressing. There was great fervor and eagerness in those who received the Sacraments; there were many general confessions; there were renewals of life; among many others there was no other concern but to abandon their sins and to change their life for the better. And the men who approached ours became convinced that in the future they would lead a good life and serve God. Sermons given by ours were held before very large crowds; after Vespers a lecture on St. Paul was given on Sundays in the Cathedral; but on other feast days after Vespers in our church of St. Nicholas lectures were given on some moral questions and on the catechism. And at all these events a large audience was present and it was deeply moved. A harvest of confessions more abundant than usual was gathered not only by ours, but also by the religious of other Orders; an old monk testified that he had never before seen crowds of this size. Because the general confessions, which the people were encouraged to make, could not all be heard during Lent, they were delayed until after Easter, and they believed that they could take care of this during the whole summer. And actually, neither the time nor the strength of ours were sufficient to take care of so many people. But among other things, our scholastics daily were making much progress spiritually and in their studies. Also the Spiritual Exercises were proposed to many students and others, and they gained much fruit from them. Some were admitted into the Society; some were sent so that, while going through the city on Sundays and feast days, they might help others with private conversations, and those especially who were occupied with games and other less honorable activities. They did this so that, by treating things pertaining to their salvation, they might bring them to confession and a better form of life, and as a result of this effort some good effects were obtained for the glory of God. Sometimes they helped those about to die, and among the other Stiatigos (who is the supreme magistrate of the city), and the brother of the Viceroy’s wife; there was also a cousin, and when he was sick to the point of death, Fr. Jerome Nadal (to whom he also confessed when he was healthy) assisted him until his demise, to the great edification of the Viceroy’s wife and of others.
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338. Sed cum quadragesima instaret, in qua concionandi munus subeundum videbatur, idem P. Hieronymus Natalis, neminem ex aliis onere eo premendum ratus, concionandi quotidie laborem subiit, et interim Patri Andreae Frusio lectionem Divi Pauli suo loco praelegendam reliquit; et uterque suo munere strenue et cum frequenti auditorio functus est; et tanta confluere ad confessiones coepit multitudo ut, quamvis mane satis assisterent, vix eos ecclesia Divi Nicolai capere, praesertim diebus festis, posset. Sed et aliqui viri religiosi procul extra Urbem ad audiendum veniebant, et tam virorum quam foeminarum complurium magna erat nobilitas. Consequuta est autem eorum, qui confiteri volebant, tanta multitudo, ut cum nullo modo eis satisfieri posset, post Pascha ad confessiones generales instituendas rejicerentur. Aegrotabat circa id tempus molesta quadam infirmitate magister Benedictus Palmius, et remediis quibusdam acrioribus acceptis, sic ab ea liberatus est ut in posterum (quamvis familiaris ei prius fuisset) immunis ab ea futurus crederetur. Ipse autem P. Natalis non solum valetudinem retinuit, sed vires corporis et animi auctas in ipso fine quadragesimae expertus est, absolutis cum satisfactione et fructu non vulgari concionum laboribus. Quibus accedebant alii non solum ex cura domestica labores, sed et ex pietatis operibus ad externos pertinentibus; inter quos, ab Inquisitore aliqua commissa exsequi omnino debuit. Sed et alii operari in continuis confessionibus tantum laborarunt, ut sine peculiari Dei auxilio id facere non potuisse viderentur. In Exercitiis spiritualibus aliqui non parum in Domino profecerunt, inter quos nobilis quidam fuit Syracusanus, qui de instituendo Syracusis Collegio agere coepit. Quoddam etiam spirituale damnum insigne, quod illi civitati imminebat et nullo modo evulgari conveniebat, magno cum secreto, Societatis opera, evitatum fuit.
338. But when Lent began, during which the office of preaching was to be exercised, the same Fr. Jerome Nadal, not wanting to force this duty on anyone else, himself assumed the task of preaching daily, and in the meantime he asked Fr. Andreas Frusius to fill in for him in giving the lectures on St. Paul. Both of them performed their functions vigorously and with a large audience. And such a large multitude began to gather for confession that, although in the morning they could handle them, the church of St. Nicholas could hardly hold the crowds, especially on feast days. Also some religious men far outside the City came to listen to him, and many both of the men and of the women were persons of great nobility. The result was that, of those who wanted to go to confession, the number was so great that, since they could in no way take care of them, they put off until after Easter the hearing of general confessions. Around that time Master Benedict Palmius became sick with a serious infirmity, and after he had received some painful remedies, he was so freed from it that in the future (although he had suffered from it before) it was believed that he would be immune to it. But Fr. Nadal not only kept his health, but he felt that the strength of his body and mind had increased by the end of Lent, after he finished his sermons with no little satisfaction and fruit. Added to this were other works not only regarding the care of the house, but also other works of piety pertaining to outsiders; among them were some things required of him by the Inquisitor that he absolutely had to do. Also other priests labored hearing confessions so much that it seemed they could not do it without the special help of God. Regarding the Spiritual Exercises, some made no little progress in the Lord, among them was a certain nobleman from Syracuse, who began to plan for the establishment of a College in Syracuse. Also an extraordinary spiritual damage, which threatened that city and could in no way be made known, was avoided by the help of the Society. [8. Ignatius Natali, ut labori moderationem adhibeat, et de concionibus quadragesimalibus, 18 Januarii; Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Domenech, de orphanorum domibus, 16 Februarii; idem eidem de iisdem, et de Pontificio diplomate quod in gratiam Urbis Messanae habere curabant Cardinales Crescentius et Maffaeus, et P. Ignatius, 20 Julii; magistri Sacri Palatii sententia de rebus Messanensibus, mense Octobri; Ignatius Natali, de Inquisitionis tribunali, mense Maio et Novembri 49.
Ignatius to Nadal, that he exercise moderation in his work and on the Lenten sermons, January 18; Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Domenech, about homes for orphans, February 16; the same to the same about the same thing, and about the Pontifical diplomacy, which Cardinals Crescentius and Maffaens and Fr. Ignatius exercised in favor of the city of Messina, July 20; the opinion of the Master of the Sacred Palace on the matters in Messina, in the month of October; Ignatius to Nadal, on the tribunal of the Inquisition, in the months of May and November 1549.]
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339. In festo Sanctissimi Corporis Christi, frequens admodum ad sacramenta Confessionis et Communionis accessit multitudo, et in processione civitatis generali reliquiae, quae in templo Divi Nicolai erant, et duo illa capita virginum Divae Ursulae et sociarum, quae civitas suis litteris a P. Ignatio praecedenti anno postulaverat et obtinuerat, in ultimo loco et honoratissimo deportatae fuerunt. Ornanda curaverat ea capita et arcam, in qua erant includenda, cum magno decore et non sine sumptu P. Ignatius et per P. Antonium Vinckium, qui loco P. Canisii Messanam destinatus erat, eadem misit; nostri autem expedire ad Dei et Sanctarum Virginum honorem censentes, ut solemni pompa et magna cum veneratione exciperentur, cum Archiepiscopi Vicario curaverunt ut tam ea capita quam aliquae reliquiae, quas Pro-regina domina Leonora in ecclesia Divi Nicolai conservanda dederat, solemni pompa admitterentur. Indicta fuerat auctoritate Vicarii processio et diversorum ordinum religiosi invitati, a juratis etiam in tota civitate res promulgata fuerat; scholasticis etiam Collegii cum facibus cereis procedentibus ab ecclesia quadam portae civitatis vicina et satis a templo Divi Nicolai remota (eo enim conductae fuerant reliquiae) cum summo honore ac splendore, et frequentia cleri et populi, Vicario, juratis et nobilitate Messanensi comitante, et classicis et cantorum concentibus ad nostri Collegii templum perlatae fuerunt; et tunc Missae sacrificium celebratum est; et concio in aliam horam post meridiem dilata, in qua frequenti auditorio de veneratione et invocatione Sanctorum P. Natalis est concionatus, et ea occassione accepta, nullas eleemosynas Collegium accepturum esse nec nomine reliquiarum nec ob alia nostra ministeria, admitti enim juxta institutum nostrum non posse, cum tantum animarum salus et Dei Gloria quaereretur, testatus est. Et non solum populus aedificationis et consolationis multum eo die a Domino accepit, sed et nostri mirum in modum recreati sunt, cum his temporibus tanta cum veneratione ad haereticorum confusionem tantopere honorari a Deo et ejus populo Sanctorum reliquias viderent.
339. On the feast of Corpus Christi a very large crowd came for the sacraments of Confession and Communion, and in a public procession the relics, which were in the church of St. Nicholas, and those two heads of virgins of St. Ursula and her companion, which the city by its letter during the previous year had asked for and obtained from Fr. Ignatius, were carried in the last and most honored place. Fr. Ignatius arranged that the heads and the chest in which they were contained should be adorned with great dignity and honor, and he sent them by Fr. Antonio Vinckius, who was assigned to take the place of Fr. Canisius. But ours thinking it necessary for the honor of God and the holy Virgins, so that they would be received with great solemnity and veneration, arranged with the Vicar of the Archbishop that both those heads and the other relics, which Leonora, the wife of the Viceroy, had given to be preserved in the church of St. Nicholas, should be received with a solemn procession. The procession was proclaimed by the authority of the Vicar; the religious of the various Orders were invited, and the matter was promulgated in the whole city by heralds. Also preceded by the students of the College carrying wax torches and coming from a church near the gate of the city, and quite a distance from the church of St. Nicholas (for that is where the relics were being taken), the relics were carried to the church of our College with great honor and splendor, accompanied by a large crowd of clerics and people, by the Vicar, by the nobility of Messina and by a choir of singers. Then the sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated; the sermon was postponed to a later time after midday, when Fr. Nadal preached to a large audience about the veneration and invocation of the Saints. Next he took the occasion to affirm that no alms would be accepted for the College, neither in the name of the relics nor because of our other ministries, because according to our Institute they could not be accepted, since only the salvation of souls and the glory of God was being sought. And on that day not only did the people receive much edification and consolation from the Lord, but ours were refreshed in a wonderful way, because at this time with such veneration, to the confusion of the heretics, they saw the relics of the Saints so greatly honored by God and his people. [9. Polancus, ex commissione, Rectori Collegii Messanensis, scilicet, Hieronymo Natali, de duobus capitibus virginum et martyrum Coloniensium, 19 Martii 49 (Cf. Cartas de San Ignacio, t. II, pag. 175); idem eidem, de eodem, 5 Januarii; idem eidem, de iis qui reliquias portant, de earum ornatu, de modo in eis publice excipiendis tenendo, 20 Martii; idem eidem, de expensis in ornatu reliquiarum factis, 1 Junii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to the Rector of the College in Messina, that is, Jerome Nadal, about the two heads of the virgins and the martyrs of Cologne, March 19, 1549 (see Cartas de San Ignacio, vol. II, page 175); the same to the same, January 5; the same to the same, on those who are bringing the relics, on their adornment, on the method to be observed in showing them publicly, March 20; the same to the same, on the money to be spent for the adornment of the relics, June 1, 1549.]
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340. Mense Julii maximo terremotu Messanensis civitas fuit concussa, et Paulo ante fulmen, quod in arce ecclesiam destruxerat et aliquot viros occiderat, non parum animos terruerat; unde ad confessionem magna hominum multitude fuit excitata, cui messi colligendae nostri strenue vacarunt. Accidit etiam ut cum duo ex nostris ad sui victoriam (quod Societatis hominibus est usitatum) publice quasdam poenitentiae et humilitatis exercitationes facerent; populus autem, qui de nostris optime sentiebat, aliquam revelationem a Deo ipsis factam credidit et ad flagellum avertendum id factum a nostris interpretabatur; et cum Paulo ante terremotus praecessisset, ecclesia nostra populo impleta fuit, ex quo ad confessionem aliqui accedebant.
340. In the month of July the city of Messina was shaken by a very strong earthquake, and shortly before a flash of lightning, which in the center of the city destroyed a church and killed some people, and it greatly terrified the people. Hence a great multitude of people was moved to go to confession, and ours were very much involved in gathering this harvest. It also happened that, when two of ours did some public acts of penance and humility for the purpose of self-conquest (which is customary for the men of the Society), the people, who had a good opinion of us, believed that a revelation from God was given for them, and they interpreted it to mean that it was done by ours in order to avert some tragedy. And since the earthquake happened shortly before that, our church was filled with people, some of whom went to confession.
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341. Aegrotabat quaedam matrona, cum diu parturiret nec tamen parere posset; et eo res redierat ut medici de ejus salute desperantes eam relinquerent; illa, quae nostrum Collegium devotione peculiari prosequebatur, confessarium ad se mitti petiit. Missus est P. Antonius Vinckius, cui confessa est, et Deo ejus fidei et spei hoc tribuente (ut credimus), statim convaluit, et filium, qui jam in ventre obierat, peperit; unde ejus domus et aliae etiam, quae factum intellexerunt, ex vicinatu, ad confessionem instituendam ad templum nostrum accesserunt. In festo autem Assumptionis B. Virginis tanta fuit confitentium messis ut per octavum etiam negotium nostris facesseret et in consequentibus diebus.
341. A certain respectable lady was in great pain, since she was in labor for a long time, but was not able to give birth; the situation was such that the doctors, not being able to help her, left her alone. She was attached to our College with a special devotion, so she asked that a confessor be sent to her. Fr. Antonio Vinckius was sent to her and she made her confession to him; putting her faith and hope in God (as we believe), she regained her strength immediately and gave birth to the child, who had already died in the womb. And so the members of her house, and also her neighbors, when they heard about this, came to our church to go to confession. But on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin the harvest of those confessing was so great that they kept ours busy during the Octave and in the days following that.
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342. Juvencula quaedam a daemonio obsessa esse ferebatur et res ipsa indicabat; haec vincta et quam multi tenebant circumstantes, ad ecclesiam nostram deducta est. Cum enim ad locum quemdam extra Messanam, ubi liberari aliqui energumeni solebant, frustra eam deduxissent, tandem illis venit in mentem ut ad nostrum templum eam deducerent. Et cum Pater Cornelius Wischaven exorcismis agere cum ea coepisset, rogabat daemon ne se in ignem mitteret; interim tres Missae, quae supererant dicendae, ad ejus sublevationem applicatae fuerunt, et in tertia daemon coram omnibus egressus est cum magno fremitu virginis, quae ut mortua relicta, postmodum vinculis ablatis, sensum et intellectus usum ac voluntatis recuperavit, et confessa est, ac sana domum rediit cum magna sane omnium eorum, qui adstabant, aedificatione et admiratione. Priusquam ad exorcismum ventum est, dum eam alloqueretur Cornelius, sensum recuperaverat et se confiteri velle promiserat; inde ventum est ad exorcismum et spatio fere unius horae liberata confessionem, ut dictum est, instituit.
342. A young little girl was said to be obsessed by a demon and her actions indicated this; having been bound and held by several men, she was brought to our church. For, since they had brought her in vain to a certain place outside of Messina where those possessed by the devil are wont to be liberated, at length they thought about bringing her to our church. And when Fr. Cornelius Wischaven began to perform an exorcism over her, the demon asked that he not be sent into the fire; meanwhile, the three Masses, which still remained to be said that day, were offered in order to help her, and during the third Mass the demon in the sight of all departed with great growling of the virgin. She seemed to be dead, but after her chains were removed, she recovered the use of her mind and will; then she went to confession, and she returned home healthy to the great edification and admiration of all those who were present. Before the exorcism was done, while Cornelius was talking to her, she had recovered her consciousness and had promised that she wanted to go to confession; then he proceeded to do the exorcism, and having been liberated after a period of about one hour, she did make her confession, as we have said. [10. Vide Cartas y otros escritos del B. P. Pedro Fabro, t. I, pag. 266, not. 7.
See Cartas y otros escritos del B. P. Pedro Fabro, vol. I, p. 266, note 7.]
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343. Septembri mensi epistolam ad Corinthios frequenti cum auditorio P. Andreas Frusius coepit praelegere. Eisdem autem diebus cum noctu domi nostrae gemitus quidam audirentur, et id quidem saepius, nec satis unde egrederentur posset intelligi, venit in mentem nostris quod fortassis aliqua esset anima, quae nostrorum suffragium requireret; et cum Missae sacrificium ad hunc fuisset finem celebratum, nulli amplius gemitus auditi fuerunt. Creditum est animam aliquam purgatorii hoc medio a divina Providentia fuisse liberatam.
343. In September Fr. Andreas Frusius began to lecture on the letter to the Corinthians to a large audience. But during those same days, when at night in our house certain groans were heard, and it happened often, and it could not clearly be known where they were coming from, it occurred to ours that perhaps it was some poor soul, who needed our suffrages. And when the sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated for this purpose, no more groans were heard. It was believed that a soul in purgatory was set free in this way by divine Providence. [11. Polancus, ex commissione, Andreae de Frusis, 18 Januarii.
Polanco, ex commissione, from Andreas de Frusius, January 18.]
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344. Aliqui ad Dei obsequium idonei in Societatem sunt admissi.
344. Some men suitable for the service of God were admitted into the Society. [12. De admittendorum in Societatem requisita aetate et dotibus, Polancus ex commissione, Hieronymo Natali, 5 Januarii; eidem Ignatius de eadem re, 18 Januarii 49.
On the required age and qualities of those to be admitted to the Society, Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Nadal, January 5; Ignatius to Nadal on the same matter, January 18, 1549.]
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345. Monasterium quoddam monialium nostrorum opera adjuvari in rebus spiritualibus optabat (Divae Mariae dell’ alto dicebatur). Consultus P. Ignatius semel eorum audire confessiones juxta nostrum institutum posse respondit, sed utilius ad earum profectum futurum si in spiritualibus Exercitiis ad bonam confessionem instituendam praepararentur. Proposita itaque fuerunt tribus ex primariis monialibus primae hebdomadae exercitia ut illa aliis proponerent; et ita majori cum fructu confessiones, et quidem generales, a magna earum parte auditae fuerunt. Pater autem Cornelius eo labore cum magna ipsarum utilitate perfunctus est. Aliae etiam nobiles matronae, eisdem exercitiis in templo acceptis, multum in Domino profecerunt.
345. A convent of nuns wanted to be helped by ours in spiritual matters (it was called Saint Mary’s). Fr. Ignatius was consulted once about this, and he responded that according to our Institute their confessions could be heard, but that it would be better for their future progress if they were first prepared by the Spiritual Exercises to make a good confession. So the Exercises of the first week were given to three of the excellent nuns so that they could give them to the others; and so the confessions, and also general ones, of most of the nuns were heard with greater results. But Fr. Cornelius performed that task to their great advantage. Also some other noble ladies made the same Exercises in our church and so made much progress in the Lord. [13. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Natali, mittit exemplar Exercitiorum, et Ignatii mentem explicat de iis quibus tradi possunt, 9 Februarii; Ignatius Civitati Messanensi, de mulierum ordinaria cura a Nostris non habenda, 4 Maii; Polancus, ex commissione, Antonio Vinck, de Cornelio Wischaven, 1 Junii; Ignatius Hieronymo Natali, quid in gratiam civitatis et Episcopi circ a monialium curam fieri possit, 22 Junii 49.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Nadal, and he sends him a copy of the Exercises and explains the mind of Ignatius concerning those to whom they can be given, February 9; Ignatius to the City of Messina, about ours not having the ordinary care of women, May 4; Polanco, ex commissione, to Antonio Vinckius, about Cornelius Wischaven, June 1; Ignatius to Jerome Nadal, concerning what he can do in favor of the City and the Bishop regarding the care of nuns, June 22, 1549.]
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346. Magister Benedictus Palmius sub autumnum concionari in templo nostro magno cum fructu coepit, populus enim Irequens ejus concionibus et ad lacrymas et ad vitae mutationem movebatur.
346. In autumn Master Benedict Palmius began to preach with great fruit in our church, for the people were often moved to tears and a change of life by his sermons.
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347. Quod ad litteraria exercitia attinet, ut nostrarum scholarum bonus odor ad aedificationem augeretur, disputationibus aliorum nostri interesse, et ipsi etiam domi suas instituere debuerunt. In omnibus ergo facultatibus, quas Collegium profitebatur, biduo theses per diem integrum defensae fuerunt quae prius et publicatae fuerant et publicis locis affixae; aliqui etiam viri graves et docti fuerunt invitati et nobiles plurimi Quibus praesentibus, selecti adolescentes ex primaria nobilitate Messanensi aliquas orationes habuerunt, et quaestiones in utramque partem movere coeperunt cum auditorum jucunditate. Succedebant deinde qui argumentabantur juxta facultatum ordinem. Assistebat autem cuique ex respondentibus ejus praeceptor, qui et dirigeret argumentorum processum, et declara ret ac responderet quod oportebat in re disputata. Et id tam bene cessit ut per urbem universam ea de re ageretur, et scholastici magnopere ad desiderium studendi et se exercendi inflammarentur, et ad bene pronunciandum, proponendum ac respondendum serio.
347. With regard to the study of the liberal arts, so that the good odor of edification of our students might be increased, our students had to be present at the disputations of others, and they also had their own disputations at home. Therefore in all the programs which the College offered, in the course of two days theses were defended during the whole day, and they were published and made known in public places; some important and learned men were invited to attend and also several nobles. When they were present, select youths from the distinguished nobility of Messina presented some orations, and they began to answer questions concerning the pros and cons of the theses to the great delight of the audience. But his teacher assisted each one of the respondents; he directed the course of the arguments, and he declared and responded when that was necessary in the disputed matter. And it went so well that there was talk about this throughout the whole city that the students were greatly stimulated with the desire of studying and learning, and of speaking well, proposing arguments and responding seriously.
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348. Cum autem apud dominicanos, in provinciali ipsorum capitulo, pro more, octo diebus publice positiones in ipsorum et cathedrali templo defenderentur, invitati nostri ad disputandum fuerunt. P. Hieronymus Natalis cum Patribus Canisio et Frusio eo se contulit; aderat etiam magister Isidorus; et tam prospere successit disputatio (primo autem loco vel inter primos disputarunt) ut Providentia divina id factum videatur, quae et vires et gratiam in disputando sic dedit, ut Collegii existimatio, quod ad litteras attinet, mirum in modum apud populum immo et apud insulam promoveretur. Erant enim illi religiosi totius ordinis in ea provincia celeberrimi; et nihilominus cum applausu, tam doctorum quam indoctorum nostri se gessisse visi sunt, et nunquam melius eo functos officio fuisse, quam tunc, ipse P. Natalis profitetur. Sed illud inter caetera animi causa dicatur, quod P. Canisius de potestate Ecclesiae tam eleganti sermone est argumentatus, ut bonus monachus, qui respondebat, parum intelligere ingenue fassus est; unde et ulterius progredi desiit cum auditorii applausu.
348. But since among the Dominicans, in their provincial chapter and according to their custom, for eight days theses were defended publicly in their church, ours were invited to debate with them. Fr. Jerome Nadal went there with Fathers Canisius and Frusius; Master Isidore was also present; and the disputation turned out so favorably (they disputed in the first place or among the first) that it seems to have been done by divine Providence, which so gave both the power and the grace in disputing that the estimation of the College, in what pertains to the liberal arts, was acclaimed in a wonderful manner among the people and throughout the island. For, the religious of the whole Order were famous in that province; and nevertheless ours seemed to have conducted themselves with the approbation both of the learned and the unlearned, and Fr. Nadal himself said that they had never performed better than they did on that occasion. But among other reasons for this is the fact that Fr. Canisius argued concerning the power of the Church with such an excellent sermon that the good monk, who was to respond, frankly admitted that he understood very little of it; therefore he stopped going any further to the applause of the audience. [14. Polancus, ex commissione, Natali, placuisse Ignatio positiones Philosophiae et Theologiae et disputandi modum, etc., 9 Martii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Nadal that Ignatius was pleased regarding the theses on Philosophy and Theology and the manner of disputing, etc., March 9]
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349. Cum in aliis disputationibus ante has nostri invitati fuissent, ubi P. Natalis, cum Patre Andrea et magistro Isidoro, ac diversorum ordinum religiosi adessent, et contendi de primo loco a quibusdam coepisset, omnes fere auditores disputationem a Patre Natali, ut clerico, inchoari volebant; at ille modeste recusavit, et cum alii contendere pergerent de primatu, surrexit et alta voce, omnibus audientibus, dixit, quod judicabat primis religionibus cedendum esse, et quod ipse nec primus nec secundus disputare volebat; et ita omnes conquieverunt; et aedificationem ac consolationem non mediocrem acceperunt, tam de hac modestia quam de consequenti ejus argumentatione. Disputationes hac in Divi Francisci templo habebantur; et cum inde dominicani quidam Patres recedentes de contentionibus his loquerentur, et Pater Natalis diceret nostros hujusmodi priores locos minime curare, affirmabat vir quidam religiosus ex eis quod Dominus Societatem nostram in regnum illud misisset ut tam in litteris quam in spiritu illud reformaret.
349. Since to other disputations before these ours had been invited, where Fr. Nadal, along with Fr. Andreas and Master Isidore, and the religious of various Orders were present, and there began to be contention by some about the first place, almost all the hearers wanted the disputation to be started by Fr. Nadal, as a cleric; but he modestly refused this, and when others began to argue about the first place, he stood up and said in a loud voice to all that he thought the first place should be given to the religious, and that he did not want to dispute in either the first or the second place; and so everyone became quiet; and they were filled with no small edification and consolation both by his modesty and also by his argumentation which was given later. These disputations were held in the church of St. Francis; now when certain Dominican Fathers were leaving the place and speaking about the arguments, and Fr. Nadal said that ours were not concerned about the first places, one of the religious said that the Lord had sent the Society into that kingdom in order to reform it both in learning and in spiritual matters.
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350. Cum numerosa esset admodum ultima classis, dividi eam oportere P. Natalis judicavit, et novam esse classem adjiciendam, quae inter ultimam et penultimam media esset, ad majorem scholasticorum profectum; et ita in quinque classibus Grammatica legi coepta est, in quorum prima Rhetoricam id temporis magister Benedictus Palmius professus est; et hoc in renovatione studiorum sub autumno. Quo tempore et P. Andreas Frusius dialecticae lectionem (singulis enim annis Philosophiae cursus inchoandus videbatur) suscepit et feliciter, donec successorem habuit, prosequutus est. Nam magister Isidorus hoc secundo anno naturalem Philosophiam prosequebatur; Pater autem Antonius Vinck Durandi Theologiam scholasticam aggressus est; ipse vero P. Natalis tres lectiones diversas, Euclidis, scilicet, in Mathematicis, et in graecis atque hebraicis litteris varios auctores narravit. Ex praescripto autem Patris Ignatii, cum octavo quoque die scribere et quidem exacte deberent, etiam numerum auditorum in singulis classibus ad ipsum referre oportebat. Unde mense Novembri scribit idem P. Natalis in infima schola scholasticos esse septuaginta octo, in penultima quinquaginta sex, in tertia duo supra quadraginta, in quarta, quae et humaniorum litterarum dicebatur, quatuordecim (huic autem praeerat Pater Annibal), in quinta, scilicet, Rhetoricae quindecim vel sexdecim, in dialectica Pater Andreas sexdecim, Isidorus in Philosophia tredecim, Pater Antonius in Theologia scholastica tres tantum habuit (cum nullus fere maturus auditor inter saeculares inveniretur et religiosi nondum ad scholas nostras accedebant), in graeea lectione P. Natalis decem, in hebraica tres vel quatuor, in mathematicis decem vel duodecim. Addebantur etiam lectionibus singulis exercitationes more parisiensi, ut quamdam speciem Universitatis Collegium prae se ferre videretur. Hos inter labores non exiguos, mane et vespere susceptos, Praeceptorum tamen valetudinem Deus conservabat.
350. Since there was a very large number in the last class, Fr. Nadal decided that it should be divided, and that a new class should be added, which would be in the middle between the last and the penultimate class, to provide for greater progress of the students. And so Grammar began to be taught in five classes, in the first of which Master Benedict Palmius at that time taught Rhetoric; and this was at the beginning of the studies in the autumn. At this time also Fr. Andreas Frusius taught Dialectics (for in each year a course in Philosophy was given), and he did it very well, until he had a successor. For in this second year Master Isidore taught natural Philosophy; but Fr. Antonio Vinckius treated the scholastic Theology of Durandus. Fr. Nadal taught three different courses, namely, of Euclid in mathematics, and different authors in the Greek and Hebrew languages. But by an order of Fr. Ignatius, since they were required to write every week and accurately, it was also necessary to report to him the number of students in each class. Hence in November Fr. Nadal writes that there are seventy-eight students in the lowest class, in the penultimate fifty-six, in the third forty-two, in the fourth, which was called humane letters, fourteen (Fr. Annibal was in charge of this one), in the fifth, that is, Rhetoric, fifteen or sixteen; in Dialectics Fr. Andreas had sixteen, Isidore in Philosophy thirteen, but Fr. Antonio had only three in scholastic Theology (since almost no mature person is found among the lay students, and religious were not yet coming to our classes); Fr. Nadal had ten in his Greek class, three or four in Hebrew and ten or twelve in mathematics. Also exercises in the Parisian mode were added to each of the classes so that the College might seem to be more like a University. Among these exacting labors, undertaken from morning until night, God continued to preserver the health of the teachers. [15. Polancus, ex commissione, Petri Hieronymo Domenech, de exemptione Collegii Messanensis, hoc anno 49; Capitoli circa il Collegio di Messina (De iis vide Cartas de San Ignacio, tom. II, pag. 334, not. 6 et 7); idem Hieronymo Natali, de lectoribus Universitatis Messanensis, de alio, qui Canisio substituatur, quaerendo, 5 Januarii; de Isidoro, eadem die; idem eidem, de lectione Scoti, 9 Februarii; idem eidem, de duobus Pontificis jussu in Germaniam mittendis, 23 Februarii; idem Patribus Laynez et Domenech, de Collegio et Universitate Messanensi, eadem die; idem Natali, de magistro Antonio Vinck et ejus socio, 9 et 20 Martii; idem eidem, de Canisio Romam remittendo, 20 Martii; Cardinalis Farnesius Joanni de Vega, de Canisio, medio Martio; idem de eodem juratis et civitati Messanensi, eadem mense; Polancus, ex commissione, de iisdem Hieronymo Domenech, 20 Martii; idem eidem, de substituendo sibi Andrea Frusio in schola theologiae, 8 Junii; idem eidem, de flagellando in schola pueros, 22 Junii; Ignatius et Polancus pluries hoc anno de Sprando et Stephano, qui non in omnibus se bene gessisse videntur; Ignatius de Universitate, Hieronymo Natali; idem Annibali Coudreto, de libris praelegendis, 24 Augusti 49.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Domenech, on the activity of the College in Messina in 1549; to Capitoli concerning the College in Messina (on this see Cartas de San Ignacio, vol. II, page 334, notes 6 and 7; the same to Jerome Nadal, on the teachers at the University in Messina, a question about another man who replaced Canisius, January 3; about Isidore on the same day; the same to the same about Scotus, February 9; the same to the same, about two commands of the Pontiff to be sent to Germany, February 23; the same to Fathers Laynez and Domenech about the College and University in Messina, on the same day; the same to Nadal, about Master Antonio Vinckius and his companion, March 9 and 20; the same to the same, about sending Canisius back to Rome, March 20; Cardinal Farnese to John de Vega, about Canisius, in the middle of March; the same about the officials and city of Messina, in the same month; Polanco, ex commissione, about the same things to Jerome Domenech, March 20; the same to the same, on replacing Andreas Frusius in the school of theology, June 8; the same to the same, on whipping the boys in school, June 22; Ignatius and Polanco often during this year about Sprandus and Stephen, who seem not to have conducted themselves well in all things; Ignatius on the University to Jerome Nadal; the same to Annibal Condreto, on the choice of books to be used, August 24, 1549]
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351. Ante hanc lectionum restaurationem mense Octobri factam, trium dierum publicae disputationes praecesserant omnium earum facultatum, quas erant professuri; quod cum aedificatione spectantium magnisque animis et ardore additis juventuti ad studia capessenda perfectum est. Graviores tamen lectiones dilatae sunt aliquandiu, donec negotium Universitatis, quod tunc nondum erat absolutum, praesente Pro-rege (qui disputationibus simul cum juratis et aliis primoribus Urbis adfuerat et orationes et carmina ad renovationem studiorum pertinentia audierat) absolveretur, ut paulo post est absolutum.
351. Before the beginning of the classes in October, for three days public disputations were held in all the classes that were to be taught; and this was done with edification for the viewers and with great enthusiasm of the students to resume their studies. But the more advanced lectures were delayed for some time, until the business of the University, which then had not yet been completed, should be resolved in the presence of the Viceroy (who was present for the disputations together with the officials and other leading men of the city, and had heard the prayers and songs pertaining to the resuming of studies), so that shortly thereafter it could be completed.
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352. Inter alios fructus, qui nostrorum opera Messanae provenerunt, ille non minimus fuit, quod nostrorum exemplo aliorum ordinis religiosi, et praecipue ordinis Sancti Dominici, ad lectionem casuum conscientiae et Divi Pauli (prout a nostris diebus dominicis et festis fiebat) enarrandas epistolas animum admovere.
352. Among the other fruits, which the works of ours accomplished in Messina, that certainly was not the least, namely, that by the example of ours the religious of other Orders, and especially of the Order of St. Dominic, were moved to attend the lectures on moral theology and the lectures on the letters of St. Paul (which were given by ours on Sundays and feast days).
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353. Mense Septembri sacerdos quidam insignis, qui Peronus dicebatur et magnam doctrinae existimationem ea in civitate habuerat, ex hac vita decedens, cum magnam librorum supellectilem haberet, bonam eorum partem Collegio nostro legavit, quod hujusmodi subsidio non parum egebat.
353. In September an eminent priest, whose name was Peronus and was greatly esteemed in the city for his teaching, departed from this life; he had a large collection of books and bequeathed a large part of them to our College, which had great need of support of this kind.
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354. Quidam pii viri ex his qui frequenter ad Sacramenta suscipienda et conciones ad nostrum templum accedebant, fere sexaginta numero, congregati nostri sacristae opera, studium peculiare impendere charitatis functionibus proximis juvandis, tam pauperibus, qui emendicare erubescebant, quam aliis, qui in custodiis publicis detinebantur, decreverunt, et suam operam offerentes, dirigi a nostris optarunt, quos P. Natalis confirmavit in bono charitatis proposito et spiritualia eis auxilia obtulit.
354. Some pious men, among those who often come to our church to receive the sacraments and hear the sermons, numbering almost sixty and being impressed by our holy works, decided to help others with deeds of charity, both the poor who were ashamed to beg and others who were being held in the government prisons. While offering their help they wanted to be directed by ours, so Fr. Nadal encouraged them in their good proposal of doing charitable works and offered them spiritual assistance.
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355. Cum autem eorum numerus cresceret, qui vel in Societatem nostram erant admissi, vel se admitti postulabant, cogitare coepit Pater Natalis de domo aliqua ad probationem eorum assumenda, quae separata esset a Collegio, et a duobus vel tribus de Societate nostra regeretur, ut postquam ibi unum annum, vel quantum satis esset, habitu proprio retento, in humilitatis , obedientiae et orationis exercitationibus versati essent, ad nostrum Collegium transferri possent; et rem cum quibusdam ex primariis viris contulisset, eamque collaudassent, ad P. Ignatium detulit. Et quamvis hoc anno exsecutionem id non habuerit, quia tamen hujusmodi domorum probationis tum primum mentio fieri facta est, non silentio id praeterire volui.
355. But when the number increased of those who either were admitted into our Society or asked to be admitted, Fr. Nadal began to think about establishing a house for their probation, which would be separate from the College and governed by two or three members of our Society, so that after being there for a year or for as long as was necessary, and wearing a proper habit, they would be trained in exercises of humility, obedience and prayer, and then they could be transferred to our College. And when he had discussed the matter with some important men, and they had praised the idea very much, he referred it to Fr. Ignatius. And although during this year the plan was not implemented, because this was the first time mention was made of such houses, I did not want to pass over the matter in silence. [16. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Natali, de domo probationis Messanae instituenda quid senserit Ignatius et de Superiore tali domui praeficiendo, 6 Julii; idem eidem, de novitiis, 20 Julii 49.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Nadal, on what Ignatius thought about establishing a house of probation in Messina and about providing a Superior for such a house, July 6; the same to the same, about novices, July 20, 1549.]
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356. Cum Episcopus pactensis, regni Siciliae Inquisitor, aliquem nostrorum ad visitationem sibi adjungi per litteras a nostris peteret, mense Julio hujus anni re considerata, visum est id ei non esse denegandum; et P. Andreas Frusius ad id munus cum approbatione electus et ad Inquisitorem missus fuit; et in ipso itinere de quodam sacerdote, qui valde a sua professione recesserat, bene meritus fuit, eum ad saniorem mentem per colloquium ac deinde per confessionem reducendo. Ubi autem ad pactensem Ecclesiam pervenisset, quotidie ad clericos exhortationem aliquam habere coepit; et lectionem quotidie aliquam de rebus ad catechismum pertinentibus, ipso Inquisitore, canonicis et aliis clericis praesentibus, praelegebat. Familiaribus etiam colloquiis et Exercitiis spiritualibus tam paetenses quam alios de familia Episcopi juvare curavit.
356. When the Bishop of Patti, the Inquisitor for the kingdom of Sicily, wrote a letter asking that one of ours join him for a visitation, the matter was considered in the month of July, and it seemed this should not be denied him; so Fr. Andreas was chosen for this task and was sent to the Inquisitor; and on his journey he won the good will of a certain priest, who was not living up to his profession, by bringing him to a healthier state of mind by his conversation and then by hearing his confession. But when he arrived at the diocese in Patti, he began to give a daily exhortation to the clerics; and daily he gave a lecture on things pertaining to the catechism, in the presence of the Viceroy, the canons and the other clergy. And with friendly conversations and the Spiritual Exercises he proceeded to help both the people of Patti and others associated with the Bishop.
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357. Prosequebatur autem Patrem Andream Inquisitor magna dilectione, et illum apud se habere semper cupiebat, immo et Exercitiis spiritualibus ab eodem excoli cum suo Vicario qui nepos ejusdem erat, si negotia visitationis id permisissent, optabat; cum tamen Messanae esset brevi venturus ipse Episcopus, ibi satisfieri posse ejus desiderio videbatur. Ad Societatem nostram valde idem Inquisitor et Episcopus affectus erat, et ex ejus domesticis aliqui interim documenta spiritualia cum magno ipsorum fructu ab eo acceperunt. Quia vero sacerdotes illius dioecesis valde pauperes erant, adeo ut sine labore manuum vitam traducere non possent, in concionibus, quas habebat ad populum idem Pater Andreas, ad seminanda in illis temporalia ut spiritualia meterent, est adhortatus; et ipso Episcopo in id ipsum incumbente et aliqua utiliter constituente, illi incommodo paupertatis congrue prospectum est. Concionabatur in singulis populis, quos Episcopus visitabat, et detentos in custodiis pauperes consolabatur et eorum confessiones audire nitebatur, et demum tam in his quae ad spiritum quam in his quae ad corpus pertinebant, de illis bene meritus est; quidam etiam pauperculus, qui injuste cum magno suae familiae detrimento in carcerem conjectus fuerat, ut liberaretur impetravit.
357. Now the Inquisitor treated Fr. Andreas with great affection, and he wanted to have him always at his side; indeed he wanted to receive the Spiritual Exercises from him, along with his Vicar, who was his nephew, if the affairs of the visitation permitted it. But because the Bishop was going to spend some time in Messina, it seemed that his desire could be satisfied there. The same Inquisitor and Bishop was very well disposed towards our Society, and some of the members of his household received from him spiritual writings from which they derived much fruit. But because the priests of that diocese were very poor, so much so that without manual labor they could not survive, in the sermons which Fr. Andreas addressed to the people, he exhorted them to give up some temporal things so that they would reap the spiritual. And when the Bishop looked into this and decided to help them, it was foreseen that the distress of their poverty would be suitably taken care of. He preached in all the towns that the Bishop visited, and he consoled those held in the prisons and he also heard their confessions. Finally, he helped them both in things pertaining to the spirit and in things pertaining to the body. Also a certain poor man, who had been thrown into prison unjustly to the great loss of his family, through his intercession was set free.
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358. Initio hujus anni Pater Jacobus Laynez non exiguo negotio ab Urbe Neapoli, quam mire suis concionibus demeruerat, in praetoria triremi cum socio Joanne Philippo et duobus aliis, qui Societati adhaeserant, profectus fuerat. Neapolitani autem jam inde ab eo tempore Patrem Alphonsum Salmeronem, cum non possent retinere Patrem Laynez, petere a Patre Ignatio coeperunt. Pervenit autem Laynez in Siciliam decima sexta Januarii prospera admodum navigatione, et Panormi a Pro-rege, Joanne de Vega, cum uxore et (iliis, domino Didaco de Corduba, et Inquisitore magna cum charitate fuit exceptus, statimque ei templum quoddam Panormi, in quo commode posset in quadragesima ejus conciones Pro-rex cum sua domo audire, fuit designatum.
358. At the beginning of this year Fr. James Laynez, with no little difficulty, departed from the city of Naples, which in a wonderful way appreciated his sermons, in an imperial trireme, along with his companion John Philip [17. Cassino.
Cassino.] and two other members of the Society. So beginning at that time the Neapolitans began to ask Fr. Ignatius for Fr. Alphonse Salmeron, because they could not keep Fr. Laynez. Fr. Laynez arrived in Sicily on the sixteenth of January after a very pleasant voyage, and he was received in Palermo with great charity by the Viceroy, John de Vega, with his wife and children, by Lord Didacus de Corduba and by the Inquisitor. Immediately he was designated for a certain church in Palermo in which the Viceroy and his family could suitably listen to his sermons during Lent. [18. Ignatius Abbati Evangelistae, Neapolim, gratias agens de bene excepto Patre Laynez, 18 Januarii 49; idem Patri Laynez, 30 Martii; idem Andreae Lipomano, de valetudine Patris Laynez, etc., 6 Aprilis; idem Hieronymo Domenech, de cura adhibenda ne iterum Laynez in aegritudinem recidat, 13 Aprilis; Ignatius Joanni Philippo Cassino, de ejus ad patrem patrisque ad eum litteris, 27 Aprilis; Polancus, ex commissione, de studiis quibus incumbat oportet Joannes Philippus Cassinus, 22 Junii.
Ignatius to Abbot Evangelist, in Naples, thanking him for the fine reception of Fr. Laynez, January 18, 1549; the same to Andreas Lipomanus about the health of Fr. Laynez, etc., April 6; the same to Jerome Domenech, about the care to be taken so that Laynez does not become sick again, April 13; Ignatius to John Philip Cassino, about his letter to his father and his father’s letter to him, April 27; Polanco, ex commissione, about the studies that John Philip Cassino must do, June 22, 1549.]
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359. Interim Gubernatorem Montis-regalis (quae civitas tantum tribus milliaribus Panormo distat) et alias ejus civitatis personas convenire coepit, et ut satisfieret Cardinali Farnesio, qui Visitatorem eum cum ampla auctoritate in suo Archiepiscopatu instituerat, et interim dum quadragesima accedebat, cum ipso Gubernatore Montem-regalem se contulit, ubi diebus festis populo, profestis autem monachis, et sacerdotibus, ac monialibus etiam seorsum, quae ad profectum ipsorum pertinebant, praedicare constituit, docere etiam catechismum et per spiritualia Exercitia aliquos juvare; et interim quae ad visitationem pertinebant, acceptis cum dexteritate informationibus, tractare cogitabat.
359. Meanwhile, he began to meet with the Governor of Monreale (the city is only three miles from Palermo) and other persons of the city, and in order to satisfy Cardinal Farnese, who had appointed his as Visitor in his Archdiocese with full authority. And in the meantime since Lent was approaching, he went to Monreale with the Governor where he decided to preach about things pertaining to their spiritual progress to the people on feast days, and on other days to the monks and priests, and separately to the nuns; he also began to preach about the catechism and to help others with the Spiritual Exercises. Also during this time, having received much information about the diocese, he was thinking about how to handle the things pertaining to the visitation. [19. Laynez Ignatio, de visitatione Dioecesis Montis-regalis, etc., 1 Maii; Ignatius Patri Laynez, de iis quae a Cardinali Farnesio expetebantur, ll Maii; idem eidem, de informationibus capiendis, 12 Junii; Polancus, ex commissione, eidem, de Suffraganeo Montis-regalis, 31 Augusti; idem eidem, plura de visitation, 26 Octobris.
Laynez to Ignatius on the visitation of the diocese of Monreale, etc., May 1; Ignatius to Fr. Laynez about the things desired by Cardinal Farnese, May 11; the same to the same, about gathering information, June 12; Polanco, ex commissione, to the same, about the Suffragan of Monreale, August 31; the same to the same, more about the visitation, October 26, 1549.]
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360. Aegrotaverat non mediocriter Pater Hieronymus Domenech anno proxime elapso Panormi, sed sub initium hujus anni, vires aliquo modo recuperans, quibusdam pietatis operibus pro more suo vacabat, ac praecipue pacem quamdam inter nobiles aliquos viros, qui graviter et cum magno periculo suo et aliorum dissidebant, conficiendam curavit. Audierat etiam Pro-regis ac ejus uxoris et filiae confessiones; sed dum parum suae valetudini consulit, in morbum recidit; et cum jam, facultate a Patre Ignatio impetrata Valentiam ad quaedam pia negotia expedienda se conferendi, et Pro-rex ipse id permitteret, et in navigium sarcinas deferri jussisset, visum est tandem Pro-regi, donec confirmaretur valetudo illius, non esse eum labori navigationis committendum, et ita etiam hoc anno in Sicilia substitit.
360. In the previous year, when he was in Palermo, Fr. Jerome Domenech was very sick, but at the beginning of this year, recovering his strength to some extent, in his usual way he kept busy with some works of piety, and he was able to establish peace among some nobles, who were seriously contending with each other to their great danger and that of others. He also heard the confessions of the Viceroy and of his wife and daughter. But while he paid little attention to his health, he fell sick again; and since he had already obtained permission from Fr. Ignatius to go to Valencia in order to take care of some necessary business, and the Viceroy approved of this, and he had ordered his baggage to be placed on the ship, then it seemed to the Viceroy that he should not be allowed to undergo the difficulties of the sailing until he had regained his health, and so he remained in Sicily during this year.
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361. Coepit concionari Panormi Pater Jacobus Laynez dominica Septuagesimae, et id etiam fecit in die Cathedrae Sancti Petri, praesentibus Pro-rege, Inquisitore et frequentiae nobili auditorio, et quidem, uti solebat, cum magna et satisfactione et approbatione. Rediit tamen Montem-regalem ut quod coeperat prosequeretur, donec jam quadragesima imminente Panormum, ibidem mansurus, petiit.
361. On Septuagesima Sunday Fr. Laynez began to preach in Palermo, and he did it in the cathedral church of St. Peter in the presence of the Viceroy, the Inquisitor and a large and noble audience and, as he usually does, he did it with great satisfaction and approbation. However, he returned to Monreale to continue what he had begun until the beginning of Lent when he went to Palermo and was going to stay there.
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362. Interim P. Hieronymus Domenech cum Pro-regina de Collegio Panormi instituendo agere coepit, ut quemadmodum Pro-rex Messanae, ita ipsa Panormi hoc ipsum opus promoveret. Coepit illa, ut erat insignis pietatis et valde strenua, rem magno affectu tractare, et erat inter nobiles, cum quibus illa rem tractabat, qui privatis sumptibus diceret se Collegium erecturum, si civitas id facere detrectasset.
362. In the meantime, Fr. Jerome Domenech began to work with the wife of the Viceroy about establishing a College in Palermo, so that just as the Viceroy had done this for Messina, so she would do the same thing in Palermo. Since she was a strong woman of outstanding piety, she began to handle this matter with great determination, and there was among the nobles, with whom she discussed the matter, one who said he would build a College with his own private funds, if the city did not prevent it. [20. Hieronymus Domenech Ignatio, Panormi, 6 Decembris 48; Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Domenech Panormum, 5 Januarii 49; domina Eleonora Osorio, Siciliae Pro-regina, Ignatio, ineunte Decembri 48; idem Hieronymo Domenech, de domino Didaco de Corduba, 9 Februarii; idem eidem, de Collegio Panormi erigendo, ne desperet, 2 Martii; idem Patri Laynez, ne quidquam in particulari, quoad personas praesertim, pro Collegio polliceantur, 11 Maii; idem eidem, ne curam animarum cum Collegio suscipiant, eadem die; idem civitati Panormitanae, 1 Junii; Ignatius Pro-regí et Pro-reginae, eadem die; Polancus, ex commissione, de mittendis ad studia Panormi Septembri mense inchoanda, eadem die ; idem Patri Laynez de eisdem, et quid dicent Pontifici, cum, Panormum jamjam abituri, ad ejus pedem osculandum accedant, 6 Julii; idem eidem de Universitate Messanensi, eadem die; idem Hieronymo Natali, quare Societas Universitatem per se sola regere velit, motiva duodecim, eadem die.
Jerome Domenech to Ignatius, from Palermo, December 6, 1548; Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Domenech in Palermo, January 5, 1549; Lady Eleanor Osorio, wife of the Viceroy of Sicily, to Ignatius at the beginning of December 1548; the same to Jerome Domenech about Lord Didacus de Corduba; the same to the same, on founding the College in Palermo, that he should not give up, March 2; the same to Fr. Laynez, that they should not promise anything in particular for the College, especially with regard to persons, May 11; the same to the same, that they should not assume the care of souls along with the College, on the same day; the same to the city of Palermo, June 1; Ignatius to the Viceroy and his wife on the same day; Polanco, ex commissione, on sending students to study in Palermo, beginning in September, on the same day; the same to Fr. Laynez about the same matter, and what they will say to the Pontiff when, upon leaving Palermo, they approach him to kiss his feet, July 6; the same to the same on the University in Messina, on the same day; the same to Jerome Nadal, why the Society wants to govern the University by itself, giving twelve reasons, on the same day. ]
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363. Aggressus interim est conciones quadragesimae Pater Jacobus Laynez et quamvis primo quadragesimae die se debilem experiretur, voluit tamen concionari, ut etiam secundo; sed tertio, id facturus, cum nocte praecedenti laborare fluxu coepisset, nihilominus ut concionaretur in ecclesiam venit; at febris interim eum est adorta, et frigida quidem, quae, dum Pro-rex et ejus uxor et civitatis primores sacrum audiunt ante concionem fieri solitum, ita crevit ut ea simul cum fluxu permolesto non solum concionem prohiberet, sed ne pedibus quidem subsistere permitteret. Pater ergo Hieronymus Domenech de repentino morbo Pro-regem et alios admonens, sollicitos eos de Patris Laynez aegritudine fecit, et cum medici eum inviserent, sic uno die vires ejus tam febris quam fluxus prostravit, ut de ejus vita valde dubitare inciperent; et ad domum Gubernatoris Montis-regalis deductus, voluntati Dei se totum permittens, hilari animo quod Ipsi placuisset exspectabat; et pro miraculo habitum est quod repente, sicut eum invaserat, ita et reliquit tam febris quam fluxus, et coepit appetitum edendi et vires recuperare. Medici tamen ne recideret, concionandi laborem prohibuerunt; quare Pater Hieronymus Domenech, ejus loco, Pro-rege id petente, conciones prosequutus est. Laynez autem brevi et ad esum piscium quadragesimae et ad conciones rediit; sed secunda concione, quae fuit ipso die Annunciationis, acerbissimo dolore colico per sex vel septem horas vexatus et admodum debilis redditus, ad aliquot dies denuo abstinere a concionando debuit. In illa tamen, die Annunciationis facta, commendavit auditoribus ut hospitali incurabilium, magnam penuriam patienti, subvenirent; sequenti die Pro-regina eo se contulit et, cum ita esse, rem oculis perlustrando, intellexisset, coepit ipsa eleemosynam decem aureorum conferre, Pro-rex misit quinquaginta, et ex reditibus regiis centum. Commisit etiam uni ex liliis suis ut simul cum duobus aliis nobilibus viris eleemosynam pro eo hospitali a civibus panormitanis quaereret; itaque hospitalis necessitati praesenti, quingentis aureis collectis, commode prospectum est. Alteri etiam ex filiis commisit ut in subsidium conversarum ac puerorum orphanorum eleemosynam etiam undecumque quaereret, et sic pro aliis monasteriis ac locis piis ope indigentibus. Optimo ergo exemplo toti urbi exhibito, cum magno Dei honore et pauperum consolatione, domibus piis a Patre Laynez commendatis subventum est.
363. Also at that time Fr. James Laynez was preaching during Lent, and although on the first day of Lent he felt weak, still he wanted to preach and he also did it on the second day; but on the third day, when he was about to preach, since during the previous night he began to suffer from some bleeding, nevertheless he came to the church to preach. But since in the meantime the fever increased, along with chills, which, while the Viceroy and his wife and the official of the city were attending the Mass, increased to such an extent that the fever along with the serious bleeding not only prevented him from preaching, but it did not allow him even to stand on his feet. Therefore, Fr. Jerome Domenech warned the Viceroy and the others about the sudden illness and he made them aware of the illness of Fr. Laynez. When the doctors came to see him, both the fever and the bleeding had so drained his strength in one day that they began to have serious doubts about his life. And having been brought to the house of the Governor of Monreale, committing himself totally to the will of God, with a cheerful heart he waited for whatever was pleasing to Him. And it was considered to be a miracle that immediately, just as the fever had attacked him, so both the fever and the bleeding left him; he began to ask for some food and so he regained his strength. However, the doctors forbade him to continue preaching, lest he have a relapse. Therefore, Fr. Jerome Domenech, at the request of the Viceroy gave the sermons in his place. But Laynez soon returned to eating some fish during Lent and to giving his sermons. But during his second sermon, which was on the day of the Annunciation, he came down with a sharp pain in his bowels for six or seven hours, and became so weak that he had to stop preaching for several days. However, on the day of the Annunciation he recommended to his audience that they help the hospital for incurables, which was suffering from great want of the things necessary. On the next day the wife of the Viceroy went there and when she saw with her own eyes that that was the situation, she made a donation of ten gold pieces; the Viceroy sent fifty and a hundred from the royal income. He also directed one of his sons together with two other noble youths to seek some donations for the hospital from the citizens of Palermo. Therefore the present need of the hospital was provided for admirably by the collection of about five hundred gold pieces. He also directed another of his sons to seek donations everywhere for the support of the converted women and the orphans, and so for other convents and pious places in need of help. Therefore by his excellent example made clear to the whole city, for the great honor of God and consolation of the poor, assistance was brought to pious houses because of the recommendation of Fr. Laynez.
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364. Dum autem Pater Laynez vacabat, Pater Hieronymus Domenech ejus loco Pro-regi et juratis concionatus est. Cum tamen ex auditoribus Patris Laynez non pauci peroptarent ut ad suas conciones rediret, cum primum commode potuit, tertio eas aggressus est.
364. But while Fr. Laynez was resting, Fr. Jerome Domenech preached in his place to the Viceroy and the officials. But since many of the hearers of Fr. Laynez very much wanted him to return to giving his sermons, as soon as he was able to do it, he began to give them for the third time. [21. Ignatius Hieronymo Domenech, de cura habenda valetudinis Patris Laynez ejusque laboribus moderandis, 13 Aprilis; idem Patri Laynez Ignatio, 6 et 12 Junii; Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, plura, 29 Junii, idem eidem, de locis ubi concionari eum in Sicillia operteret, 13 Julii 49.
Ignatius to Jerome Domenech on the care to be taken for the health of Fr. Laynez and of moderating his labors, April 15; the same to Fr. Laynez, that he should not travel during the summer, nor should he go to Messina, May 11; Laynez to Ignatius, June 6 and 12; Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, about many things, June 29; the same to the same, about the places in Sicily where he should preach, July 13, 1549.]
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365. Cum autem eo die quo Evangelium Magdalenae legitur, jussu Pro-regis peccatrices publicae ad conciones ipsius vocatae fuissent et etiam consequentibus interessent, ex illis multae ad Dominum conversae fuerunt. De sexdecim ex eis id constabat, quas domina Eleonora Pro-regina pro solita sua charitate amanter domi recipiebat, et partem earum, curatis dotibus, in matrimonio collocandas, alias in monasterium Conversarum deducendas curavit, alias domi retinuit.
365. But since on the day on which the Gospel about Magdalen is read, by command of the Viceroy public sinners were summoned to his sermons, and they were also present at the following ones, many of the women were converted to the Lord. That was certain regarding sixteen of them, whom Lady Eleanor, the Viceroy’s wife, according to her usual charity kindly received in her home, and for some of them, after getting a dowry for them, she found a husband; others she had placed in the convent for converted women, while she kept the others at home.
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366. Erant autem novem, quae, Pro-regina rogante et comitante, monasterium ingressae sunt, ibi tamdiu mansurae juxta Pro-reginae promissionem, donec in matrimonio possent collocari; hae statim ac ad monasterium deductae fuerunt, contestatae sunt quod esse religiosae volebant. Accidit autem ut secundo die hebdomadae sanctae, simul cum monialibus, completorii officio interessent; sed quia ridebant et parum quiete ibidem versabantur, moniales jusserunt eas choro recedere. Finito completorio et ingressis in obscurum quemdam locum ad flagellationem, quam disciplinam vocant, monialibus, hora noctis fere secunda, una conversarum, quae a choro et disciplinae loco ejecta fuerat, quaeque duriorem caeteris se praebebat, aegre ferens quod ejecta fuisset, prope portam substitit, quae aliquantulum aperta mansit. Illa ergo curiose agens, quamvis obscurus esset locus, introspicere tamen voluit. Accidit autem, ut creditum est, divinitus, ut splendor quidam coruscaret, sub quo tam moniales quam earum disciplinas videret; simul autem cum hoc externo aspectu cor ejus interius ita Dominus tetigit, ut magna cum compunctione et simul consolatione diceret se velle religiosam fieri. Hoc inter suas socias dicebat, et cum earum una id non crederet, nec forte moniales, statim capitis velamen projecit, et inaures ab auribus sustulit, rogavitque ut capillos suos tonderent et monachali habitu ipsam induerent. Cum altera ex sociis id videret, eodem spiritu incitata tantumdem fecit; tres aliae statim eam secutae sunt; moniales autem suis se vestibus exuentes eas induerunt, et magno fletu devotionis excitato, coram imagine B. Virginis orare illae coeperunt, et moniales cum animi laetitia magna Te Deum laudamus cecinerunt. Et cum Pro-reginae rem signifteassent et, capillos abscissos mittentes, vestes monachales novis conversis petiissent, eas illa libentissime conficiendas curavit. Pro-rex vero, ut ea de re clarius constaret, judicem cum notario ad monasterium misit, qui publicum actum conficerent, cui etiam voluit Patres Lavnez et Hieronymum interesse, quod cum magna animi et consolatione et tranquillitate viderunt; et duae aliae easdem imitatae sunt; itaque ex novem duae solae matrimonio collocandae ibi manserunt.
366. There were also nine women who, at the request of Lady Eleanor and with her assistance, entered the convent, and were to remain there, according to the promise of Lady Eleanor, until a marriage could be arranged for them. As soon as they were taken to the convent they claimed that they wanted to be religious. But it happened on the second day of Holy Week they were present with the nuns for the office of Compline; but because they were laughing and did not observe silence there, the nuns ordered them to leave the choir. When Compline was finished and the nuns retired to a dark place to scourge themselves, which they call the discipline, about the second hour of the night one of the converted women, who had been ejected from the choir, and who had shown herself to be more difficult than the others, unhappy because she had been ejected, stood next to the door, which remained slightly opened. Therefore, being very curious, although the place was dark, she wanted to look into it. But it happened, as is believed, by the power of God that a certain brightness filled the place, so that she could see both the nuns and their disciplines. But together with this external view, at the same time the Lord so touched her heart that she said with great compunction and consolation that she wanted to become a nun. She said this to her companions, and when one of them did not believe it, and perhaps neither did the nuns, immediately she removed the veil from her head, and removed the earrings from her ears, and asked that they cut off her hair and clothe her in a nun’s habit. When another of her companions saw this, moved by the same spirit she did the same thing; three others immediately followed her; but the nuns, taking off their own clothes, put them on them, and stirred by a great feeling of devotion, they began to pray before a statue of the Blessed Virgin, and the nuns with a great sense of joy sang the Te Deum laudamus. And when they told the Viceroy’s wife about this, they sent her the cut hair, and asked her to provide nuns’ clothing for the new converts, which she willingly proceeded to do. But the Viceroy, so that he could be more certain about this matter, sent a judge with a notary to the convent, and he called together a public hearing, at which he also wanted Father Laynez and Jerome to be present, which they witnessed with great consolation and tranquility; and two others imitated the same thing. Therefore, of the nine women, only two remained to be placed in marriages. [22. Litterae historicae hujus anni 49, ad omnes Societatis domos missae.
Based on the historical letters of 1549 sent to all the houses of the Society.]
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367. Quod ad Collegium Societatis attinet, rem urgebat Pro-regina, et cum in publico consilio civitatis die Martis Sancti res fuisset proposita, omnes illi, qui triginta numero erant, nemine dissentiente, opus Collegii amplexi sunt, et hanc suam voluntatem et Pro-regi et nostris significarunt; reliquum erat tamen et de loco et aliis de rebus particularibus certi aliquid constituere. Scripsit autem praetor et jurati civitatis Panormi ad P. Ignatium 13 die Maii, significando animi sui desiderium ut doctrinae et institutionis, quae a nostris Collegiis proficisci solita erat, participes fierent, eum rogando ut aliquos de nostra Societate ad hoc opus instituendum pro sua charitate mitteret, se autem domum idoneam et quae necessaria essent ad victum et vestitum esse subministraturos. Nobiles etiam multi nostros primo quoque tempore eo mitti ad juventutis erudiendae curam assumendam vehementer expetebant.
367. In what pertains to the College of the Society, the Viceroy’s wife was urging the matter, and when in a public meeting of the city on Holy Tuesday the matter was proposed, all of them, who were thirty in number, with no one dissenting, embraced the work of the College, and they made their decision known to the Viceroy and to ours; but it remained to establish certainty about the location of the College and other particular details. The mayor and the officials of the city of Palermo wrote to Ignatius on May 13, manifesting their desire to become partakers of the teaching and instruction, which were accustomed to be offered by our Colleges. They asked him that, in his charity, he would send some members of our Society in order to begin this work, and that they would provide a suitable building and the things necessary for food and clothing. Also many nobles strongly expressed their desire that ours would be sent as soon as possible in order to take over the task of educating their youth. [23. Civitas Panormitana Ignatio, 13 Maii; Ignatius Civitati Panormitanae, 1 Junii; Eleonora, Vice-regina Siciliae, Ignatio, hoc anno 49; Joannes de Vega Summo Pontifici, Paulo III, pro Collegio Panormitano, hoc anno 49.
The City of Palermo to Ignatius, May 13; Ignatius to the City of Palermo, June 1; Eleanor, wife of the Viceroy, to Ignatius, during this year of 1549; John de Vega to the Sovereign Pontiff, Paul III, in favor of the College in Palermo, in the year 1549.]
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368. Fuit autem domus a nostris electa, quae et habitationem commodam et classes ad studiorum commoditatem et ecclesiam satis vicinam habebant. Inivit autem civitas, Pro-rege adjuvante, rationem opportunam ad domum comparandam et in nostrum usum aedificandam et quingentos aureos annui reditus coemendos. Quamvis enim Imperatori Carolo V civitas supplicaverat ut aliquam abbatiam (sunt autem plurimae in eo regno, non solum disciplina religiosa sed monachis etiam destitutae, quae in commendam, ut dicitur, dari solebant) ad Collegii dotationem concederet, dixit Pro-rex non esse illi fundamento innitendum, sed reditus praedictos ab ipsa Societate emendos, et, si Imperator quod optabatur concederet, abbatiae reditus ad augmentum operis cessuros. Missum est etiam viaticum, et Pro regis litterae ad Summum Pontificem missae sunt et aliae ad eumdem Patrem nostrum Ignatium; quia tamen aestivo tempore non videbatur expedire ut nostril Roma mit terentur, praesertim in Siciliam, usque ad Septembris initium nostrorum missio dilata est.
368. However, there was a house chosen by ours, which had a suitable dwelling, and space for classes and quite close to a church. But the city, with the help of the Viceroy, began a project to provide ours with a house and to give it an annual income of five hundred gold crowns. For although the city humbly besought Emperor Charles V that he would concede the donation of an Abbey (there are many of them in the kingdom lacking not only religious discipline, but even monks which, as it is said, are given “as a favor”) to the College, the Viceroy said that it should not rely on that foundation, but that the necessary income should come from the Society, [24. Sic, sed error est manifestus pro civitate.
Sic; but this is an obvious error for the City.] and, if the Emperor were to grant their request, the income from the Abbey would contribute to the growth of the work. Money for the journey was also sent, and the letter of the Viceroy was sent to the Sovereign Pontiff and another to our Father Ignatius; but because it did not seem to be expedient that ours should be sent from Rome during the summer, especially to Sicily, the sending of ours was delayed until the beginning of September. [25. Polancus, ex commissione, domino Andelot, de concessione ab Imperatore in favorem Collegiorum Panormitani et Messanensi facta, 11 Maii ; Li Jurati della nobile città di Palermo, Ignatio, 13 Maii 49.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Lord Andelot, on the concession to be made by the Emperor in favor of the Colleges in Palermo and Messina, May 11; the officials of the noble city of Palermo to Ignatius, May 13, 1549.]
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369. Inter eos ex nostris, qui in Sicilia versabantur, frater laicus erat, nomine Julianus, natione Flander, Messanae in Societatem admissus, qui cum P. Hieronymum Domenech comitaretur, aliis etiam pietatis operibus diligenter vacabat, ac praesertim in ministerio distribuendarum eleemosynarum Pro-regis. Curavit etiam haud exiguo cum labore ut, quoniam nostri pauci erant Panormi et occupati, nec proinde poterant confessiones eorum, qui in custodiis publicis detinebantur, audire, ex diversis monasteriis confessarii ad carceres mitterentur, in quibus super trecentos confessionis et communionis Sacramentis reficiendos curavit, quod insolitum quidem erat Panormi. Et quia ex illis multi in casus reservatos inciderant, eleemosynam etiam conquisivit ut diplomata quaedam, quibus facultas eis concederetur ad obtinendam absolutionem, impetrare valerent.
369. Among those of ours who were in Sicily, there was a lay brother by the name of Julian, a native of Flanders. He was admitted into the Society at Messina and accompanied Fr. Jerome Domenech; he was very much involved in other works of piety, and especially in the ministry of distributing the alms given by the Viceroy. Also he brought it about with no little effort that, since ours were few in number and very busy in Palermo, and so they could not hear the confession of those who were being held in the public prisons, from various monasteries confessors were sent to the prisons. There he saw to it that over three hundred men were refreshed by the sacraments of confession and communion, which was something very unusual for Palermo. And because many of them had committed sins that are called “reserved,” he took the necessary means in order to obtain the faculties for them so that they could absolve from those sins.
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370. Aliqui in Societatem sunt admissi, inter quos duo juvenes qui Pro-reginae inserviebant.
370. Some were admitted into the Society, among whom were two youths who had served the wife of the Viceroy.
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371. Prosequebantur interim Patres Laynez et Hieronymus Domenech consueta pietatis opera, quibus adjecit etiam Pater Laynez praedicationem in publicis custodiis de rebus quae ad eorum statum peculiari modo pertinebant. Cum autem ubi Pro-regis erat palatium, custodia hujusmodi hominum publica esset, Pro-regina non solum audiebat conciones sed eisdem diebus, quibus P. Laynez concionabatur, eleemosynam ibi detentis largiebatur, ut spiritualem simul et corporalem refectionem acciperent.
371. Meanwhile, Father Laynez and Jerome Domenech continued doing their usual works of piety, to which Fr. Laynez also added preaching in the public prisons about things that pertained in a special way to their situation. But since where the palace of the Viceroy was there was also a public prison for men of this kind, the wife of the Viceroy not only heard his sermons, but on the days when Fr. Laynez preached she gave alms there to the prisoners, so that they might receive bodily assistance along with the spiritual.
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372. Rogatus ab Inquisitore, cum actus Inquisitionis celebraretur, Pro-rege ejusque uxore praesentibus eorumque tota domo, cum fructu concionatus est.
372. Having been asked by the Inquisitor, when a meeting of the Inquisition was held, he preached with fruit in the presence of the Viceroy and his wife and his whole house.
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373. Curavit Romae P. Ignatius, Pro-rege Siciliae id petente, ut Litterae Apostolicae in forma Brevis ad reformanda in Silicia monialium monasteria mitterentur. Siciliam ergo cum perlatae essent admodum opportune, adhibita Pro-regis auctoritate, magnus inde reformationis fructus est consequutus.
373. At the request of the Viceroy of Sicily, in Rome Fr. Ignatius arranged that an Apostolic Letter in the form of a Brief was sent in order to reform the convents of nuns in Sicily. Therefore when the Letter arrived in Sicily at the opportune moment, and the Viceroy also exercised his own authority in the matter, as a result a great fruit of reformation took place.
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374. Cum Conversarum domus arcta satis esset et, aucto monialium numero (nam, praeter eas, quae dictae sunt, aliae ad idem institutum suscipiendum accesserunt, et una inter caeteras insignis, quae magnarum adversus Deum offensarum causa fuerat), incommode habitarent, curavit Pater Hieronymus Domenech ut aedificium ex eleemosynis augeretur. Ut autem hospitali incurabilium in posterum consuleretur, hac ratione curatum est; calendis Maii Pro-regina primarias Panormi matronas ad se vocari jussit, ex quibus Societas quaedam confecta est hac lege, ut singulis mensibus earum singulae certam quamdam eleemosynam in incurabilium sublevationem conferret. Voluit autem ut P. Jacobus Laynez, concione apud eas habita, rem proponeret et ut singulis mensibus congregarentur, et foeminas in hospitali incurabilium decumbentes inviserent, hortaretur; et id saltem est obtentum ut ad eleemosynas dandas convenirent. Pecunia apud Pro-reginam cum alia ex illis matronis deponebatur, quam jam ex eo die conferre coeperunt. Consequenti vero mense, cum aliam exhortationem idem Pater fecisset, non solum eleemosynas solverunt, sed multae ipsarum ad integrum annum eas simul dederunt.
374. Since the house for converted women was quite small and, given the increase in the number of nuns (for, besides those already mentioned, others had been accepted into the same place, and there was one well-known among the others, who was the cause of many offenses against God), they were living in difficult circumstances, Fr. Jerome Domenech arranged that through some donations the building should be expanded. But that the hospital for the incurables might be provided for in the future, he took the following measures: On May 1 the Viceroy’s wife ordered the important women of Palermo to come to see her; from among them a Society was formed with this purpose — that every month each one of them would give a certain alms for the care of the incurables. Now she desired that Fr. James Laynez, when giving a sermon to these women, should propose this matter and that they should meet together once a month, and he should exhort the women to visit the patients lying in the hospital for the incurables. And at least he was able to obtain that they agreed to give the alms. The money for the plan of the Viceroy’s wife was to be given to one of the women, which they began to do beginning that very day. But in the following month, when the same Father had given them another sermon, not only did they contribute the alms, but many of them gave it for the whole year all at once.
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375. Crebro Pro-rex ad confessionem et communionem accedebat, ejusque exemplum alios ad imitationem merito invitabat.
375. The Viceroy often went to confession and communion, and his example rightly invited others to imitate him.
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376. Clausura in monasteriis monialium, Patre Hieronymo id curante et Pro-rege favente, juxta Concilii decretum et religiosum monialium institutum effecta est, et paulatim ad integram earum reformationem procedebatur.
376. At the urging of Fr. Jerome and with the approval of the Viceroy, the rule of cloister was established in the convents of nuns according to the decree of the Council of Trent and the Constitutions of religious nuns, and gradually progress was made towards their complete reformation.
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377. Parabantur interim supellectilia, quae ad usum futuri Collegii necessaria futura erant, ut tanto commodius nostri domo ipsis jam parata exciperentur.
377. In the meantime the furnishings, which would be necessary for the use of the future College, were acquired, so that ours would be received more fittingly in the house already prepared for them. [26. Ludovicus de Mendoza Patri Laynez, mense Augusto.
Luis de Mendoza to Fr. Laynez, in the month of August.]
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378. Post quadragesimam, quamvis festis diebus ac dominicis P. Jacobus Laynez Panormi concionaretur, Montem-regalem tamen ad reliquos dies se conferebat et serio negotium sibi visitationis a Cardinali Farnesio commissum prosequebatur ; et cum magnae essent inter monachos et clericos controversiae et valde antiquae, ad eas componendas miram adhibuit diligentiam, et etiam reconditas scripturas, quae in archivio magni monasterii servabantur, ut majore cum luce procederet, legere voluit; et ita de rebus omnibus ad Cardinalem perscripsit et eam rationem ineundae concordiae excogitavit quae merito admitti deberi visa est. Referebat Cardinalis Bernardinus Maffaeus quod paucis illis diebus, scilicet, ante quadragesimam, quibus Pater Laynez in Monte-regali fuerat, plus effecerat, quam quatuor annis fieri ab aliis potuerat. Cum autem post Pascha eo rediisset, accepto a Cardinali Farnesio, Archiepiscopo Montis-regalis, responso et iis mediis, quae suggesserat, approbatis, ad perficiendum opus coeptum manum admovit. Et cum Monasterium Monialium reformatione magna indigeret, et quae aliis praeerat abbatissa, nobilissima quidem esset, sed nec exemplo vitae nec gubernationis prudentia, reformationis negotium promoveret, immo eam omnino impediret, effectum est ut ex eo monasterio in aliud Panormum egrederetur, et curatum cum ea ut officio suo renunciaret. Id cum conscientia rerum suarum initio facere vellet, sed postea, muliebri inconstantia vel ambitione, se velle renunciare negaret, informationem capere de rebus ejus Pater Laynez coepit; quae, cum hujusmodi esset ut etiam moniales, quae ei favevant, ad magnum ejus dedecus redundaturam (praeter justam depositionem) intelligerent, ut renunciaret ei suaserunt; et ita suo abbatissae officio cum summo monasterii commodo et populi aedificatione se abdicavit. Interim dum illa Panormi agebat Pater Laynez, universi monasterii confessiones audivit, et exhortationibus nonnullis ad eas habitis, moniales ad omnem reformationem disposuit. Igitur in die Pentecostes multis cum lacrymis et devotione Sanctissimae Eucharistiae Sacramentum (quod undecim annis proxime elapsis tali die non fecerant) acceperunt, et cum magna animi consolatione ad omnia, quae ipsarum institutum exigebat, paratas se exhibuerunt.
378. After Lent, although Fr. Laynez in Palermo preached on Sundays and feast days, still he went to Monreale on the other days and he pursued the business of the visitation given to him by Cardinal Farnese. And since there were great and very ancient controversies between the monks and the clerics, he had to use great prudence in order to resolve them; so he also wanted to read secret documents which were kept in the archives of the large monastery, so that he could proceed with greater understanding of the situation. And so he notified the Cardinal about all these things and he devised a way of establishing concord, which seemed to be the right thing to do. Cardinal Bernardine Maffaeus reported that in those few days, that is, the days before Lent when Fr. Laynez was in Monreale, he did more than could be done by others in four years. When he returned there after Lent, having been received by Cardinal Farnese, the Archbishop of Monreale, his response and the means that he had suggested were approved, and so he moved to complete the work that had already been begun. And since the convent of nuns needed a major reformation, and since the Abbess in charge was of a noble family, but neither by her example nor by her way of governing pushed forward the necessity of reformation, and actually completely opposed it, it was brought about that she departed from the convent and went to another one in Palermo, and she was induced to renounce her office. In the beginning she wanted to do this with full awareness of her own position, but afterwards, because of feminine inconstancy or ambition, she denied that she wanted to renounce her office, and Fr. Laynez began to get information about this change. But this matter was of such a nature that even the nuns, who supported her, understood that it would redound to her great shame (besides a just deposition), and persuaded her to resign. And so she abdicated her office of Abbess to the great satisfaction of the convent and the edification of the people. In the interim, while Fr. Laynez was handling these things in Palermo, he heard the confessions of the whole convent, and after giving some exhortations, he disposed the nuns to accept a complete reformation. Therefore, on the day of Pentecost, with many tears and much devotion, they received the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (which they had not done on this day for eleven years), and with great consolation of soul they showed themselves ready to do everything that their Institute required of them. [27. Cardinalis Farnesius Patri Laynez, ei committens reformationem monasterii Montis-regalis, 30 Martii; idem eidem, de visitatione dioecesis, 30 Julii.
Cardinal Farnese to Fr. Laynez, committing to him the reformation of the convent in Monreale, March 30; the same to the same, on the visitation of the diocese, July 30.]
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379. Cum etiam in aestate Pro-rex cum sua domo Montem-regalem (quae civitas temperiem habet coeli commodam, cum tamen Panormi molesti sint aestus) se contulisset, et nostros ibidem manere oporteret, coepit in cathedrali Ecclesia Pater Laynez diebus dominicis et festis concionari, et profestis diebus aliquot in hebdomada Ecclesiastem interpretari, ut eis curialibus, qui ad eam lectionem ipsum erant adhortati, mundi hujus vanitatem ostenderet. Pater Hieronymus etiam post meridiem Christianae doctrinae lectionem suscepit, quam ter in hebdomada in monasterio monialium, ad eorum et populi confluentis utilitatem, est prosequutus. Et quidem utriusque labor cum fructu egregio conjunctus fuit. Aliis etiam pietatis operibus uterque operam dedit.
379. Also when in the summer the Viceroy with his household moved to Monreale (a city that has a pleasant climate, while the summer in Palermo is annoying), and it was necessary for ours to remain there, Fr. Laynez began to preach in the cathedral on Sundays and feast days, and on some of the weekdays he gave lectures on the book of Ecclesiastes, in order to make known to the members of the court, who had been exhorted to attend the lectures, the vanity of this world. Fr. Jerome gave a lecture on Christian doctrine in the afternoon, which he continued to do three times a week in the nuns’ convent, for their benefit and that of the local people. In fact, the work of both of them was accompanied with outstanding fruit. Both of them also undertook other works of piety.
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380. Interim et Litteras Apostolicas et alia, quae expetierat a Cardinali Farnesio, ad monasterii primarii monachorum, et ad clericorum ac populi utilitatem, et ad suffraganei mutationem, et eleemosynas ad clericorum sublevationem, orphanorum, hospitalis, et in universum omnium pauperum Montis-regalis accepit; et ea ratione in spiritualibus et temporalibus de omnibus P. Laynez per benignitatem Cardinalis bene mereri, ut optabat, potuit. Pro-rex enim magnopere de iis, quae providerat Cardinalis, laetatus suam ad omnia auctoritatem et brachium est pollicitus. Et optimus est odor de Cardinalis optima mente et liberalitate consequutus. Alia etiam quae suggesserat Cardinali Pater Laynez, brevi se missurum promisit. Inter alia scripserat de aliquibus e nostra Societate ad docendos juvenes et populum in spiritu juvandum a P. Ignatio petendos, sed id aliquandiu dilatum est.
380. Meanwhile he received an Apostolic Letter and the other things he wanted to get from Cardinal Farnese, for the utility of the main monastery of monks and for the priests and people, and for the improvement of the diocese; he also received the alms for the support of the clergy, of the orphans, of the hospital and in general for all the poor in Monreale; and for this reason Fr. Laynez through the good will of the Cardinal was able to help all of them both spiritually and temporally, just as he desired to do. The Viceroy was very happy about the things which the Cardinal provided, and he also promised his authority and power for all of it. The result was an excellent public opinion about the goodwill and generosity of the Cardinal. Also the other things that Fr. Laynez had suggested to the Cardinal he promised to do in the near future. Among other things, he wrote about asking Fr. Ignatius for some members of our Society to teach the youth and to help the people spiritually, but this was delayed for a time.
