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56. Quod autem de probationis domo inchoanda agi coeptum erat, primis hujus anni mensibus ad effectum deductum est. Vicinam quamdam Collegio domum huic instituto opportunam conducere nitebantur, sed pio huic operi invidens Satanas multa impedimenta objiciebat. Obtentae quidem fuerant litterae a Pro-rege Joanne de Vega ad nobilem quemdam, cujus ea domus erat; sed non est visum P. Natali eis esse utendum ne vim sibi inferri dominus domus quereretur. Deus tamen aliam commodiorem ac viciniorem domum huic operi providit, et primo die quadragesimae, admissis aliquot no vitiis inter eos, qui ad Societatem adspirabant, domus ea habitari coepta est, quae inter probationis domos primum locum sortita est; sicut et primus praefectus fuit P. Cornelius Vischaven, qui decem vel undecim novitios (totidem enim et non amplius admittendi hoc anno propter rerum temporalium angustias videbantur et omnes cum parentum voluntate admissi sunt), in rebus spiritualibus sic instituit, ut illi quam maxime proficerent et civitati aedificationis plurimum praeberent. Fuerunt autem ei adjuncti duo vel tres ex veteranis, quorum opera in administratione domus uteretur. Quamvis autem haec domus sejuncta erat a Collegio, ita tamen erat conjuncta ut Collegii Rector eo se conferre, ut ad partem ipsius Collegii, posset; nec janitore aut ostio distincto utebatur.
56. Plans were made for the beginning of a house of probation, and in the first months of this year they were brought to fruition. They tried to rent a house near the College which was suitable for this institution, but Satan, being envious, raised many obstacles to prevent this pious work. Indeed a letter was obtained from the Viceroy, John de Vega, to a certain nobleman, who owned the house. But it was the view of Fr. Nadal that the letter should not be used lest the owner of the house complain that pressure is being put on him. However, God provided another house more suitable and closer to this work, and on the first day of Lent, having admitted some novices among those wanting to enter the Society, this house began to be occupied, which was the very first among the houses of probation. Also the first superior was Fr. Cornelius Wischaven, who so formed the ten or eleven novices (for just so many and not more were admitted this year because of the scarcity of material support and they were all admitted with the approval of their parents) that they made great progress and offered much edification to the city. Among them were two or three older men, whose talents were used in the administration of the house. But even though this house was separated from the College, still it was so connected to it that the Rector of the College went there in order to make it a part of the College, so there was no need of a second porter.[1. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Hieronymo Natali, de Messanensi probationis domo ejusque ordine, etc., 25 Januarii et 8 Martii; ne pueros, eorum parentibus repugnantibus, in Societatem accipiat, saltem iis primis annis quibus Societas in Sicilia non satis nota est, 8 Martii de probationis domo, 22 Martii; an et quantum temporis possint novitii studio litterarum incumbere, et de probationis duratione et modo, 4 Octobris. Idem Patri Cornelio Wischaven, de novitiorum regimine, etc., eadem die.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Nadal, on the house of probation in Messina and its order, etc., January 25 and March 8; that he should not accept boys into the Society, it the parents object, at least in the first years during which the Society is not well known in Sicily, March 8; on the house of probation, March 22; whether and how much time the novices should dedicate to the study of the liberal arts, and on the length and the manner of the probation, October 4. The same to Fr. Cornelius Wischaven, on the direction of the novices, etc., on the same day.]
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57. Universitatis negotium diu multumque hoc anno agitatum est, et tandem in consilio pleniori Messanensium fuit constitutum ut reditus quinque millium et quingentorum scutorum ad Universitatis praedictae institutionem applicarentur. Litterae Apostolicae Romae expeditae, Rectori Collegii Universitatis totam Universitatem subjiciebant, et sic possessionem ejus cepit Societas, cum Pro-rex ad exsecutionem suas etiam litteras addidisset. Magnifice cum classicorum et bombardarum sono et magno apparatu Universitas per urbem est promulgata; et postridie lectiones legum et medicinae sunt inchoatae. Sed cum aegre ferrent Messanenses ut professores juris et medicinae nostris subjicerentur, et P. Natalis, consentiente et probante P. Ignatio, de separandis facultatibus egisset, ita ut, uno quidem corpore, quod contineret Theologiae, Philosophiae et humaniorum litterarum lectiones Societati nostrae relicto, aliud corpus ex facultate utriusque juris ac medicinae cum suo Rectore constitueretur, tam gratis animis id Messanenses acceperunt , ut vix satis sibi viderentur posse commendare hoc praedicti P. Natalis inventum et eum amatorem et patrem civitatis vocabant. Cum tamen ad applicationem redituum ventum est, facta dictis minime responderunt; nam quatuor millia aureorum aliis facultatibus assignarunt; Collegio autem nostro, cum quindecim lectorum onus imposuissent, tantum mille et quingentos aureos annui reditus applicabant, et quidem ab officialibus ipsius civitatis solvendos, et ex arbitrio ejusdem civitatis totam hanc dotationem pendere volebant. Cum autem et exigui reditus et conditiones non tolerandae viderentur, facile intellectum est exasperatos esse civium animos contra Pro-regem, cujus esse hoc opus existimabant. Cum autem res ad P. Ignatium esset delata, visum est ei conditiones illas nullo modo ferendas esse; et rationi videbatur consentaneum ut illi reditus aequis partibus in duo illa corpora dividerentur; quod si obtineri non posset major dotatio, ut ad pauciores lectores Societas obligaretur; et si quod optabatur obtineri non posset, ut potius Collegium sicuti erat, quingentis tantum aureis dotatum maneret, quam cum augmento redituum onera illa tam gravia subiret. Quia vero Pro-rex ad expeditionem Africanam sejam parabat, usque ad ipsius reditum res est dilata; et sic paulatim extractum est tempus hujus anni. Nam quibusdam ex magistratibus, juratos vocant, in carcerem conjectis, praeter alios praecedentes juratos, quos in exilium miserat, hujus negotii tractatio difficilis admodum est reddita. Nostri numquam suum assensum praestiterunt; sed juxta Patris Ignatii mentem Pro-regi reservarunt rem integram; qui, cum in Africam proficisceretur, ex quadam insula scripsit ut a civitate quod possent extorquerent, sed nihil ipsi permitterent.
57. In this year the affair of the University was discussed intensely for a long time, and finally in a plenary counsel of the Messina officials it was decided that an income of 5500 ducats would be applied to the institution of the proposed University. The official letter from Rome put the whole University under the authority of the Rector of the College, and so the Society took possession of it, since the Viceroy also added his letter to the final arrangement. The University was announced magnificently throughout the city with the sound of trumpets and cannons; on the next day lectures on the law and medicine were begun. But since the Messina officials bore it ill that the professors of law and medicine were subject to the authority of ours, Fr. Nadal, with the consent and approval of Fr. Ignatius, worked on separating the faculties, so that one part, which contained the lectures on Theology, Philosophy and the liberal arts, was assigned to our Society, while the other part contained the faculty of both law and medicine with its own Rector; the Messina officials accepted this with such pleasure that they could hardly praise enough this solution of Fr. Nadal and they called him the friend and father of the city. But when it came to the distribution of the income, the facts did not correspond to the words; for, four thousand ducats were assigned to the other faculties; but to our College, since they had imposed the burden of fifteen teachers, they assigned an annual income of only 1500 ducats. Also this was to be paid by the officials of the city, and they wanted this whole amount to depend on the judgment of the same city. But when both the small income and the related conditions seemed to be intolerable, it is easy to understand that the citizens were irritated with the Viceroy, because they thought he was responsible for this. Now when this matter was referred to Fr. Ignatius, it seemed to him that these conditions must not be accepted in any way; and it seemed to him to be reasonable that the income should be divided into two equal parts; and if a larger income could not be obtained, that then the Society would be obliged to hire fewer teachers; and if what was desired could not be obtained, that then the College would remain as it was with an income of five hundred ducats, rather than assuming such grave burdens without an increase of income. But because the Viceroy had already left on his trip to Africa, the matter was delayed until his return. And so gradually the time of this year was used up. For certain magistrates, whom they call juratos, had been put in prison, besides other previous juratos, whom he had sent into exile, and so the management of this affair was made most difficult. Ours never gave their assent to this, but according to the mind of Fr. Ignatius they reserved the whole matter for the Viceroy. When he had departed for Africa, he wrote from some island that they should extort from the city what they could, but they did not yield at all. [2. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Hieronymo Natali, de Universitate Messanensi de Sbrando, de iis qui a Societate ad alias religiones transire cuplant, de Bulla in favorem Universitatis Messanensis impetrata, de libris quos Andreas Frusius expetebat, 4 Januarii. Ignatius Sbrando ei animum injiciens ut bene in omnibus sub obedientia precedat, ea dem die. Idem Natali, de articulis seu conditionibus erectionis Universitatis Messanensis, de Collegio nostrorum separatim ab Universitate ergendo, 11 Januarii. Idem eidem articulos pro Universitate propositos non convenire Societatis instituto, et de Collegio et domo separatis erigendis, 25 Januarii. Idem eidem, de collegio et Universitate, de numero et distinctione lectorum tam in theologia, quam in philosophia et humanioribus litteris, de Rectoris et Cancellarii officio, auctoritate, praesidiis, etc., 8 Februarii. Idem eidem, de liberandis e carcere Messanensibus Juratis a Joanne de Vega in carcerem conjectis, 8 Martii. Idem eidem de Universitatis gubernatione quod statutum velit, ut Ignatio in scriptis referat, cujus judicio similia resevantur; item de iis, qui ad gradus in Universitate suscipiendos admittentur, 11 Maii. Idem Joanni de Vega, de reditibus Universitati assignatis, 17 Maii. Idem Patri Hieronymo Natali, de minuendo lectorum numero in Universitate, de Constitutionibus Collegiorum et Universitatum, eadem die. Idem eidem, de controversia cum Messanensibus juratis circa divisionem redituum et numerum lectorum, 28 Junii et 19 Julii. Idem eidem de capitulis seu requisitis ut Societas Universitatis curam suscipiat, et de lectorum numero, 16 Augusti ; ne plures quam octo lectores Universitati concedat, et ut videat an a nostris segregati et independentes omnino sint legum et medicinae professores, aut saltem medicinae, 27 Septembris.- Eidem missa sunt 11 Octobris emendata capitula seu conditiones ad admittendam Universitatis curam necessariae.- Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Natli, de numero lectorum in Universitate, reservandum judicium Ignatio, 15 Novembris.-Patris Natalis litterae ad Ignatium et Polancum.- Vide Etiam annot. In t. I. Praesertim sub nn. 348 et 350.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Nadal, on the University in Messina, on de Sbrando, on those who want to transfer from the Society to another order, on the Bull obtained for the University in Messina, on the books that Andreas Frusius wanted, January 4. Ignatius to Sbrando telling him that he should proceed well in all things under obedience, on the same day. The same to Nadal, on the articles or conditions for the establishment of the University in Messina, on erecting the College of ours separate from the University, January 11. The same to the same — that the articles proposed for the University are not in accord with the Institute of the Society, and on erecting the College and house separately, January 25. The same to the same, on the College and University, on the number and difference of the professors both in Theology and Philosophy and the liberal arts, on the office of Rector and Chancellor, authority, protection, etc., February 8. The same to the same, on freeing from prison the Messina Juratos who had been incarcerated by John de Vega, March 8. The same to the same on the governance which he wants to be established, that he should refer this matter in writing to Ignatius, to whose judgement similar things are reserved; likewise, about those who are permitted to accept degrees in the University, May 11. The same to John de Vega, on the income assigned to the University, May 17. The same to Jerome Nadal, on lowering the number of teachers in the University, on the Constitutions of the Colleges and Universities, on the same day. The same to the same, on the dispute with the Juratos of Messina concerning the division of the income and the number of teachers, June 28 and July 19. The same to the same, on the conditions under which the Society will assume the care of the University, and on the number of teachers, August 16; that he should not accept more than eight teachers at the University, and that he see whether the professors of law and medicine are separated and completely independent from ours, or at least those of medicine, September 27. – To the same were sent on October 11 the amended chapters or conditions necessary for assuming the care of the University. – Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Nadal, on the number of teachers in the University, and that this decision is reserved to Ignatius, November 15. – The letter of Fr. Nadal to Ignatius and Polanco. – See also the note in vol. I, especially under numbers 348 and 350.]
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58. Studia interim nostra usque ad tempus vacationum diligenter continuata sunt; sed cum instante jam autumno, scholastici animadverterent Universitatis negotium differri, qui superiorem cursum philosophiae audiebant sub magistro Isidoro, in logicis et physicis versati, Patavium fere omnes se contulerunt; et ita non est visum expedire ut in studiorum renovatione novus cursus inchoaretur, sed quem inchoaverat P. Andreas Frusius (qui in Italiam ab obedientia revocabatur, ut mox dicetur) ut Magister Isidorus prosequeretur, et si scholastici adessent, theoricam planetarum vel aliquid ex astrologia P. Natalis praelegeret, et aliam lectionem de contractibus. Et sic lectiones Octobri mense, praemissa oratione magistri Benedicti et praesentibus juratis, inchoatae sunt. Judicaverat quidem P. Natalis sibi Romam veniendum esse ut cum P. Ignatio de rebus Universitatis conferret, et id quidem ad P. Ignatium retulerat; sed cum ipsius prudentiae res tota relicta esset, non existimavit opera ea in quae incumbebat deseri posse. Nam praeter gubernationem Collegii et domus probationis curam, et omnium studiorum quae in diversis classibus tractabantur, duas praelegebat ordinarias lectiones, et diebus veneris Christianam doctrinam explicabat. Festis etiam diebus cum P. Andrea Frusio in templo nostro condonabatur; nec interim in cathedrali ecclesia lectiones pomeridianas dominicis diebus omittebat; confessionibus etiam aliquando vacabat ut externis fieret satis; alia etiam pia negotia ei tractanda necessario videbantur, ut quod bene coeptum erat ea in civitate, cum bono ipsius odore augeretur; et sic omnes nostrae spirituales exercitationes cum consequenti fructu potius auctae sunt, quam ulla in parte imminutae.
58. Meanwhile, our studies were continued diligently until the time for vacation. But already at the beginning of autumn the scholastics learned that the matter of the University was delayed. Almost all of those who had attended the philosophy course under Master Isidore, being well versed in logic and physics, moved to Padua. And so it did not seem to be necessary that a new course be started in the renewal of studies, but that the one Fr. Andreas Frusius (who was called back to Italy by obedience, as will be said soon) had started Master Isidore would continue, and if the scholastics were present, Fr. Nadal would lecture on the science of the planets or something from astronomy, and another lecture on contracts. And so the lectures were begun in the month of October, preceded by the prayer of Master Benedict and in the presence of the Juratos. Now Fr. Nadal decided that he should go to Rome in order to confer with Fr. Ignatius about the affairs of the University, and he did indeed report that to Ignatius. But since the whole matter was left to his prudence, he thought that the work he was engaged in could not be abandoned. For, besides the governance of the College and the care of the house of probation, and of all the studies which were being treated in the various classes, he gave two regular lectures, and on Fridays he explained Christian doctrine. Also on feast days with Fr. Andreas Frusius he preached in our church; and in the meantime in the cathedral he gave lectures on Sunday afternoons. Sometimes also he heard confessions in order to help some lay persons. Other pious works also necessarily occupied his time, so that what had been well started in the city might be increased with his good reputation. Thus all of our spiritual works were increased with resulting good fruits, rather than being diminished in any way.
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59. Militibus etiam utilem operam in concionibus Magister Isidorus in castello impendebat, quod confessiones ad quas accedebant et conjugia cum concubinis suis inita testabantur. In triremi etiam, quae sola ibi relicta erat, vincti remiges a nostris adjuti per sacramentum poenitentiae suas conscientias expurgarunt. Ne tamen lectiones omitterentur, ex praescripto visitatoris P. Jacobi Laynez in quadragesima non quotidie sed dominicis et festis tantum diebus est praedicatum, immo et tempore earnis-privii curatum est, ut dissolutiones, quae tunc in usu esse solent, non impedirent quominus multi ad sacramenta confessionis et communionis accederent et concionibus frequenter interessent; quod multum aedificationis civitati praebebat, cum ea, quae in quadragesima fieri solebant, in carnis-privio fieri observarent.
59. Master Isidore also provided some useful assistance with his sermons for the soldiers in the fortress because of the confessions they made and because their unions with concubines were made known. Also in the trireme, which was the only one remaining there, the bound crew of rowers, helped by ours through the sacrament of penance, cleansed their consciences. Nevertheless, so that the lectures would not be omitted, by a directive of the visitor, Fr. James Laynez, there were sermons during Lent not daily but only on Sundays and feast days. Indeed also during the time of carnival care was taken that the frivolities, which then were customary, would not prevent many people from approaching the sacraments of confession and communion, and often they were present at the sermons. This offered much edification to the city, because the things that are wont to be done during Lent, were observed also during the carnival time.
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60. Quidam etiam eo tempore ab immundo spiritu per Dei gratiam liberatus est, a quo quatuor annis vexatus fuerat; nec deerant id temporis qui domi nostrae carnis-privium honestius exigerent, cum tres et quatuor singulis noctibus sponte sua magna cum humilitate pro suis et publicis peccatis flagellis se caederent, cum magna interim charitate inter se et fraterna unione Deo inservientes.
60. At that time also a certain man was freed by the grace of God from an unclean spirit, by whom he had been harassed for four years. And at the time there were not lacking those who in our house acted more nobly during the carnival, since three or four each night voluntarily with great humility scourged themselves for their own sins and for the sins of others, while at the same time maintaining great charity among themselves and fraternal union with God.
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61. Quidam ex nostris fratribus, Petrus scilicet Riera, tam graviter tunc aegrotavit, ut miraculo datum sit, quod illud periculum mortis evaserit, quod humanis viribus haud fieri potuisse videbatur.
61. One of our brothers, Peter Riera, then became so gravely sick that it was given by a miracle that he escaped the danger of death, which seemed to be not at all possible by human means.[3. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Hieronymo Natali, de aegritudine Petri Riera, mense sub finem.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Nadal, on the illness of Peter Riera, towards the end of March.]
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62. Consuetum erat ut octavo quoque die Romam e singulis locis scriberetur, et a P. Ignatio diligenter id exigebatur, cujus litterae, si propter occupationes aliquando nostris plus solito dilatae fuissent, quasi lacte consuetae consolationis privati conquerebantur, et castigationis loco id ferebant.
62. It was a custom that every week the individual places sent a letter to Rome, and this was diligently required by Fr. Ignatius, and these letters, if because of our busy schedule were sent sometimes by us later than usual, they complained about it as if they were deprived of the usual milk of consolation, and they bore it in place of chastisement. [4. De litterarum Romam ex omnibus locis, ubi aliquis de Societate degit et laborat mittendarum, modo, tempore, materia, forma, etc., encyclicae, seu, ut dicebantur, circulares litterae ad omnes et singulas Societatis domos missae, die 8 Februarii.-Polancus, ex commissione, Mtro. Nicolao Launoyo, ut nitidiores, quae ab alias legi intelligique possint, dum aliis scribit, effingere curet litteras, 22 Martii. Idem eidem, ut cum Romam scribit, litteras, non Polanco sed Ignatio inscriptas mittat, 7 Junii.
On the mode, time, matter, form, etc., of the letters which were to be sent to Rome from all places, where a members of the Society lived and worked, were used as the basis of encyclicals or circular letters sent to each and every house of the Society, February 8. – Polanco, ex commissione, to Master Nicholas Launoy, that he should write to Rome every week, February 22. The same to Fr. Jerome Nadal, that, when he writes to others, he should try to write more clearly so that his letters can be easily read and understood by them, March 22. The same to the same, that when he writes to Rome, the letters should be addressed to Ignatius, and not to Polanco, June 7.]
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63. Cum processiones publicae Messanae ter magna cum pompa factae fuissent, in omnibus a nostris cum aedificatione concionatum est, cum eorum opera ad id expeteretur.
63. When public processions were held three times in Messina with great solemnity, in all of them a sermon was given by ours with edification, since that is what they were expected to do.
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64. Cum epistolam ad romanos P. Natalis praelegisset in cathedrali ecclesia aestivo tempore, psalmos Davidis ibidem legere aggressus est, et loco doctrinae Christianae in meditationis modum vitam Christi, prout in Evangelio continetur, auditoribus cum non poenitendo fructu exposuit, et tempore illo, quo a studiis vacandum erat, sphaeram etiam praelegit in Collegio.
64. When Fr. Nadal lectured on the Letter to the Romans in the cathedral during the summer, in the same place he also explained the Psalms of David, and in place of Christian doctrine he explained to the hearers with great fruit how to meditate on the life of Christ, as it is contained in the Gospel, and during the time when there is vacation from studies, he also gave lectures in the College on geography.
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65. Cum aliqui amicitia valde conjuncti magnopere jubilaei gratiam Messanae obtinere posse optassent, per P. Natalem eorum desideria P. Ignatio fuerunt significata, qui cum a Summo Pontifice id obtinuisset, mirum cum quanta actione gratiarum id sanctum munus fuerit exceptum.
65. When some very close friends in Messina very much wanted to be able to receive the grace of the Jubilee, through Fr. Nadal they made their desires known to Fr. Ignatius. When he obtained it for them from the Sovereign Pontiff, it was amazing with what gratitude the holy gift was received.
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66. Cum autem ex Africa victor, Deo juvante, Joannes de Vega Pro-rex, Aphrodisio capta (Africam vulgo vocabant), unde Dragut, pirata insignis, Siciliae et Italiae oras facilius infestare poterat, in Siciliam rediisset, rogavit civitas Messanensis P. Natalem, ut ipsius nomine Pro-regem adiret, ac eum nomine ipsius civitatis de Praesidentis, qui obierat, morte consolaretur, et quod praecipuum erat, ut liberationem quinque juratorum qui damnati et in exilium missi fuerant, impetraret. Panormum ergo se contulit P. Natalis, ubi ante adventum Pro-regis aliquot dies utiliter et magna cum consolatione sua et fructu substitit, ut de rebus ad illius Collegii promotionem ageret. Inde Drepanum, ubi Pro-rex versabatur, nomine civitatis ipsum invisit, et e quinque juratis, trium liberationem omnimodam impetravit et reliquorum in locum viciniorem Messanae et commodiorem translationem; et quia hi duo poenam majorem commeruerant, haec translatio non minus quam aliorum liberatio civitati satisfecit. Cum multis reliquiis Sanctorum, quas illi Domina Isabella, Pro-regis filia, donaverat, Messanam rediit, et multum consolationis civitati attulit. Eo tempore, scilicet adventus, cum magna animorum commotione nostri concionabantur; auditores autem plures erant quam ut eos templum capere posset; ad sacramenta etiam solito frequentius accedebant.
66. When John de Vega returned to Sicily from Africa as a conqueror, with the help of God, and had captured Dragut, the famous den of pirates, which violently attacked the coastal cities of Italy and Sicily, the city of Messina asked Fr. Nadal that he should approach the Viceroy in their name and console him in the name of the city because of the death of the governor, who had died, and as a special favor, he should obtain the freedom of the five Juratos, who had been condemned and sent into exile. Therefore, Fr. Nadal went to Palermo, where before Advent he spent some days usefully and with great consolation so that he could take care of the things pertaining to the establishment of the College. Therefore, in Trapani, where the Viceroy was staying, he visited him in the name of the city, and of the five Juratos he obtained the freedom of three of them and the transfer of the others to a place closer to Messina and more convenient; and because these two deserved a harsher punishment, this move pleased the city no less than the freedom of the others. When he returned to Messina with many relics of the Saints, which the Lady Isabella, the Viceroy’s daughter, had given to him, this also brought much consolation of the city. At that time, namely during Advent, ours were preaching with great effect on the people; also, there were more hearers than the church could hold, and the people received the sacraments more often than usual.
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67. Non omittam quod egit P. Natalis de abstinentia, quae die veneris fit, ad jejunium more Ecclesiae redigendam, quia videbatur in coenularum modo excedi; sed circa id P. Ignatio nihil immutandum esse videbatur.
67. I will not omit mentioning what Fr. Nadal did concerning abstinence, which is required on Fridays, to interpret it as fasting according to the custom of the Church, because there seemed to be excess with regard to small meals; and concerning this it seemed to Fr. Ignatius that nothing should be changed. [5. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Natali, de jejunio diei Veneris, ne quid inducat praeter morem romanae domus, ubi uniuscujusque arbitrio id relictum est, 6 Decembris.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Nadal, on fasting on Fridays, that he should not introduce anything contrary to the custom of the Roman house, where it is left to the judgment of each person, December. 6.]
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68. In monasteriis monialium et in compitis viarum publicarum conciones vel exhortationes habitae sunt et tantopere aucta est communicantium frequentia, ut non jam eis in fine sacrorum, sicut prius, posset satisfieri, sed in altari separato sacerdos, qui ad hoc unum vacaret, est constitutus, et vulgo reformatam esse magna ex parte civitatem illam propter morum in multis mutationem dicebant.
68. In the convents of nuns and in the crossroads of the public streets sermons or exhortations were given, and the number of communicants increased so much that now they could not be taken care of at the end of the Mass, as before, but another priest was placed at a second altar to help in giving communion, and they said generally that the city, for the most part, was reformed because of the moral change produced in many of the people.[6. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Natali, de Abbatissa monasterii Sanctae Mariae dell’Alto, 22 Februarii. Idem eadem die eidem Abbatissae. Idem Natali, de eadem Abbatissa, 17 Maii et 20 Septembris.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Nadal, on the Abbess of the monastery of Saint Mary dell’Alto, February 22. The same on the same day to the same Abbess. The same to Nadal, on the same Abbess, May 17 and September 20.]
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69. Praeter castellum illud, quod in brachio Caribdis, sub titulo Sti. Salvatoris, situm est, ubi septuaginta milites hispani cum suis familiis versantur et ubi concionibus magistri Isidori ad reformationem insignem milites adducti sunt, in alio etiam castello idem pietatis opus praestitum est.
69. Besides the fortress which is located on the peninsula Caribdis, and is called St. Savior, where seventy Spanish soldiers live with their families, and where the soldiers were brought to excellent reformation through the sermons of Master Isidore, also in another fortress the same work of piety was accomplished.
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70. In civitate restitutiones multae factae sunt; ex statu peccati mortalis et periculis eorum multi educti fuerunt; quod cum religiosus quidam ordinis capuccinorum ita se habere comperisset, ad Collegium venit, Deo gratias agens ex animo qui Societatem in spiritu et veritate incedentem in Siciliam adduxisset; aliqui obsessi a malis spiritibus adjuti sunt, et in hujusmodi afflictione constitutos ad nostros fere semper deferebant.
70. Many restitutions were made in the city; many were delivered from the state of mortal sin and from their dangers; when a religious of the Order of Capuchins realized he was in this situation, he came to our College, and from his heart he gave thanks to God that he had brought the Society to Sicily, which promotes spirituality and truth. Some people obsessed with evil spirits were helped, and those burdened with this affliction were almost always brought to our priests.
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71. Numerus nostrorum ad triginta hoc anno Messanae ascendebat, decem illis novitiis, de quibus supra, computatis, qui velut flos scholarum in eisdem satis cogniti fuerant, et in spiritu et constantia et animi consolatione viam Domini incedebant.
71. This year the number of ours in Messina increased to thirty. Ten of them were novices, and they were well known there as the cream of the crop, because they were following the way of the Lord in spirit, constancy and holy consolation. [7. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Hieronymo Natali de Magistris Juvenali et Petro Bressano ad Sacerdotium promovendis, 11 Januarii; de Joanne Baptista Bressano, seu Passarino, Isidoro Bellini et Stephano Baroëllo, 7 junii. Idem Joanni Baptistae Bressano, ne syndicus velit appellari, et Poenitentiam agat de commissis adversus Natalem, eadem die. Idem Hieronymo Natali, de iis qui Roma Messanam post aestatem mittendi sunt, 23 Augusti; de duobus Roma Messanam missis, 30 Augusti, et 6 Septembris; de instaurandis Messanae studiis, earumque ordine et lectorum tum antiquorum tum novarum distributione et laboribus, 20 Septembris. Idem Stephano Baroëllo et Joanni Baptistae Passarino ut sub obedientia sint Patris Natalis, 4 Octobris. Idem Patri Natali, de Stephano et Joanne Baptista, eadem die.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Nadal, on promoting Masters Juvenall and Peter Bressano to the priesthood, January 11; on John Baptist Bressano or Passarino, Isidore Bellini and Stephen Baroello, June 7. The same to John Baptist Bressano, that he should not wish to be called a syndic, and that he should do penance for his offenses against Nadal, on the same day. The same to Jerome Nadal, on those who are to be sent to Rome from Messina after the summer, August 23; on two men to be sent from Rome to Messina, August 30 and September 6; on beginning the studies in Messina, and on the order, distribution and work of both the old and new teachers, September 20. The same to Stephen Baroëllo and John Baptist Passarino that they are under obedience to Fr. Nadal, October 4. The same to Fr. Nadal, on Stephen and John Baptist, on the same day.]
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72. Episcopus papiensis, haereticae pravitatis Inquisitor, ad P. Natalem scripserat ut aliqua ad sanctum illum officium pertinentia exsequeretur; at quia criminaliter procedendum erat, non id munus acceptavit P. Natalis, cui rescripsit Inquisitor admirari se significans quod hujusmodi munus ad haereses exstirpandas pertinens recusaret, nec ulla privilegia valida fore in his quae ad officium illud pertinent detrectanda affirmabat. Sed tamen propter eum charitatis affectum, quo Societatem complectebatur, excusationem in aliis admisit; in libris tamen videndis, an haeretici essent necne, operam nostrorum se etiam tunc desiderare nec juste negari posse significavit. Itaque in suspectis hujusmodi libris examinandis Inquisitori gratificatum est, et nostrorum judicio multi libri sine cujusquam infamia combusti sunt, qui in librariorum officinis inveniebantur. Dedit etiam illis auctoritatem Inquisitor eos omnes absolvendi, qui suspectos hujusmodi libros habuissent; nec fructus exiguus ex concessionis hujus usu consecutus credebatur.
72. Bishop Papiensis, the Inquisitor of heretical perversity, wrote to Fr. Nadal that he should carry out certain things pertaining to that holy office; but because it involved accusing people of crimes, Fr. Nadal refused to accept this task. The Inquisitor wrote back to him saying he was amazed that he refused to accept this task of rooting out heresies, and he said that no privileges would be valid for those who refused to do the things pertaining to this office. But because of the love he had for the Society, he accepted this refusal from him. However, with regard to examining books, to find out whether or not they are heretical, he said that he wanted the help of ours and that this could not justly be refused. Therefore, the Inquisitor was pleased with the examination of these kinds of suspect books, and by the judgment of ours many books, which were found on the shelves of the libraries, were burned without the disgrace of anyone. The Inquisitor also gave them the power of absolving all those who possessed these suspect books; and it was believed that no small fruit resulted from the use of this faculty. [8. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Hieronymo Natali, quid in obsequium Episcopi Papiensis, Siciliae Inquisitoris, Praestari a nostris possit, 22 Martii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Nadal, on what could be done by ours in obedience to Bishop Papiensis, the Inquisitor of Sicily, March 22.]
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73. Postulaverat idem Episcopus Inquisitor ut P. Andreas Frusius, sicut anno praeterito, ita et hoc ipsi donaretur, ut ejus opera in visitanda dioecesi uti posset; et vigesima quinta die Martii, instante jam hebdomada Sancta, eo missus est; et tam utilem operam Episcopo et ejus dioecesi navavit. Et ut summa cum hilaritate ab eo exceptus fuerat, ita cum ejus dolore non exiguo duodecima die Aprilis iter Messanam versus suscepit. Et mirum est paucis illis diebus quantopere animarum negotium promoverit; nam et suis litteris Episcopus insignem fructum collectum esse testatur. Erat civitas pactensis a publicis usurariis sic vexata, ut plurimi cives, usuris intolerandis gravati, relicta civitate, in montibus et speluncis errarent; et curavit P. Andreas ut omnes usurarii confiterentur; et ad restitutionem juxta Episcopi arbitrium cum obligati essent, super centum et quinquaginta familiae in civitatem cum magna omnium aedificatione redierunt.
73. The same Bishop Inquisitor asked that Fr. Andreas Frusius, as in the previous year, be assigned to him also in this year, so that he could use his assistance in the visitation of the diocese. And on the twenty-fifth day of March, near the beginning of Holy Week, he was sent there; and he offered very helpful assistance to the Bishop and his diocese. And just as he was received by him with great joy, so also to his great sorrow he departed on the twelfth day of April for Messina. And it is astonishing how much help for souls he provided during those few days; for, by his own letter the Bishop testifies that outstanding fruit was produced. The city contracts were so abused by public usurers that many citizens, burdened with intolerable interest payments, abandoned the city and lived in the mountains and caves. And Fr. Andreas saw to it that all the usurers went to confession; and since, according to the judgment of the Bishop, they were obligated to make restitution, more than a hundred and fifty families returned to the city to the great edification of all.
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74. Sub aestatis finem cum Dominus Andreas Lipomanus, Prior Trinitatis, praesentiam P. Andreae Frusii Venetiis expeteret, P. Ignatius eum ex Sicilia revocavit; et quamvis cives Messanenses minarent ejus recessum Universitatis fundationi non parum incommodi allaturum, nihilominus sexta die Septembris Romam missus est, ubi die decima septima Octobris in manibus P. Ignatii solemnem quatuor votorum professionem emisit.
74. At the end of summer, when Lord Andreas Lipomanus, the Prior of Trinity, desired the presence of Fr. Andreas Frusius in Venice, Fr. Ignatius recalled him from Sicily. And although the citizens of Messina warned that his departure would bring no small injury to the foundation of the University, nevertheless on the sixth of September he was sent to Rome, where on the seventeenth of October he made his solemn profession of the four vows in the hands of Fr. Ignatius. [9. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, amplius quam per unum annum Andream Frusium in Sicilia manere non posse, 22 Februarii. Idem Hieronymo Natali ut Andream Frusium quam primum Venetias dimittat, 16 Augusti.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, saying that Fr. Frusius could not remain in Sicily for more than one year, February 22. The same to Jerome Nadal that he send Fr. Andreas Frusius to Venice as soon as possible, August 16.]
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75. Panormi hoc anno res Collegii nostri magna incrementa ceperunt. Scholasticorum numerus ad trecentos et octoginta ascendebat; quamvis in superioribus classibus rhetorices et logices pauciores essent quam in aliis classibus, in quibus, quo inferiores, eo frequentiores numero auditores erant. Id autem nostros inter labores magnos multum consolabatur quod egregie hi scholastici in litteris proficiebant. Erant qui tres et quatuor annos scholas triverant, quin tamen fundamenta grammatices solida jecissent; nunc autem fatebantur ipsi quod his paucis mensibus, quibus ad novum Collegium venerant, plus quam toto reliquo tempore profecissent, ordini docendi et diligentiae praeceptorum et in primis auxilio Dei acceptum id ferentes. In moribus autem eos progressus fecerunt ut tam magistri quam confessarii non parum Dei bonitatem erga illos admirarentur, qui videbantur ideo praecipue ad Collegium accedere ut de vita mutanda serio cogitarent et, Deo propitio, a suis moribus malis ac peccatis consuetis recederent. Singulis mensibus omnes confitebantur, aliqui decimoquinto quoque die; quotidie Missae sacrificio intererant, et diebus dominicis etiam concioni; a prandio vero multi eorum ad suos praeceptores accedebant, qui de rebus spiritualibus et ad virtutem pertinentibus cum eis agebant. Sed prae caeteris lectio P. Laynez, quam diebus veneris in scholis eis praelegebat de rebus ad eos pertinentibus, ad eorum profectum in moribus et etiam in litteris faciebat.
75. This year in Palermo the affairs of our College experienced a large increase. The number of students rose to three hundred and eighty; although in the advanced classes of rhetoric and logic there were fewer students than in the other classes, still the lower the classes were the greater the number was of the students. However, this very much consoled ours in the midst of their great labors — that these students were making outstanding progress in the study of literature. There were those who had attended schools for three or four years, but had not established a solid foundation in grammar; but now they admitted that, in these few months during which they attended the new College, they made more progress than they did during the previous years, in the manner of teaching and the diligence of the teachers. Also in their moral life they made such progress that both the teachers and the confessors were astonished at the great goodness of God towards them, who seemed therefore especially to have come to the College in order to think seriously about a change of life and, with the help of God, to give up their bad habits and usual sins. Each month all went to confession, and some did it twice a month. Daily they were present at the sacrifice of the Mass, and on Sundays also at the sermon. After lunch many of them went to see their teachers, who dealt with them about spiritual things and the practice of virtue. In addition, the lecture of Fr. Laynez, which he delivered for them on Fridays about things pertaining to them, contributed to their progress in the moral life and also in learning. [10. Ignatius Joanni de Vega, Siciliae Pro-regi, de Pontificis Bullis in favorem Universitatis Panormi erigendae, 29 Martii.-Panormi civitas Hieronymo Natali, de Collegio Panormi erigendo et quid in eo a Societate praestari debeat, 14 Aprilis.
Ignatius to John de Vega, the Viceroy of Sicily, on the Pontifical Bull in favor of erecting the University in Palermo, March 29. – The city of Palermo to Jerome Nadal, on establishing the College in Palermo and what must be provided for it by the Society, April 14.]
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76. Concionabatur praeterea P. Laynez diebus dominicis in templo quodam ex praecipuis ejus urbis, et tam Pro-rex quam alii nobiles viri et populares plurimi cum magna satisfactione et admiratione eum audiebant; et expetebant quidem auditores ut ibidem in quadragesima etiam concionaretur; sed quia procul erat templum a palatio Pro-regis ac totius curiae, idem templum, in quo praecedente quadragesima hoc munus praestiterat electum est.
76. Moreover, on Sundays Fr. Laynez preached in one of the principal churches of the city, and both the Viceroy and other noblemen and many people listened to him with great pleasure and admiration. Indeed, the hearers wanted him to preach in the same church also during Lent; but because the church was far away from the palace of the Viceroy and the whole court, the same church was chosen for this in which he had performed this ministry during the previous Lent.
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77. In custodiis publicis, praeter confessiones plurimorum, curatum est ut viginti ex eis, qui propter debita detinebantur, conquisitis a Pro-rege et ab aliis eleemosynis, liberarentur; et quia multi ex eis aegrotabant et aliqui etiam moriebantur, et periculum erat ne alios maligna eorum febris inficeret, magno labore nostri obtinuerunt ut ad xenodochium curandi educerentur, qui hac ratione vitam se retinere fatebantur. Quia tamen, licet custodiae adhiberentur, periculum erat ne fugam aliqui arriperent ad xenodochia educti, et si in ipso carcere relinquerentur, eorum multis mors, cum aegrotarent, imminebat, Julianus frater noster belga, praeter alias spirituales consolationes verbi Dei et Sacramentorum et corporales etiam eleemosynas, quas ex palatio ad eos deferebat, coepit quasdam habitatiunculas in hujusmodi hominum detentorum usum aedificare. Sed dum inter eos, charitatem aegrotantibus impendens, versatur, morbum ipse contraxit, ex quo vitam temporalem cum aeterna, ut speratur, commutavit. Nec solum in custodia detenti, sed fere totum palatium Pro-regis et alii plurimi, quibus notus erat, ejus decessum graviter tulerunt; odorem enim optimum ejus pietas late sparserat; sed placuit divinae bonitati, postquam omnia Sacramenta suscepisset, ejus labores in aeternam quietem commutare. Verum eodem fortassis adjuvante, prosecutus est Pro-rex quod ille inchoaverat; habitatiunculas pro infirmis satis commodas cum lectis aliisque rebus necessariis parare jussit, et duos, qui aegrotantes curarent, adhibuit; ac denique ut medicamenta et si quid praeterea opus esset, ipsis suppeditaretur constituit; et ut pium id opus diutius permaneret, evocatis ad se notariis publicis eos hortatus est Pro-rex ut hanc provinciam curationis eorum, qui in custodia detinerentur, susciperent, et ad P. Jacobum Laynez et Hieronymum Domenech eos misit ut ipsorum consilio hoc pium opus promoverent. Quod cum fecissent et instructionem accepissent, dictus est a notariis, qui supra quinquaginta Panormi erant, dies et locus, ubi congregarentur, constitutiones ediderunt et juxta illas ministros, ut suo quisque officio in hoc opere pio fungeretur, elegerunt; pecuniam etiam non exiguam ad id ipsum contulerunt; unde ipsi curam et laborem hunc pium inter se dividentes, carceres invisebant, et multos, soluta pro eis pecunia, vel impetrata a creditoribus venia, liberarunt; et in posterum fructus non exiguus ex hac instituta confraternitate sperabatur. Ipsi etiam notarii ad vitam et actiones suas reformandas, ad crebrius ad Sacramentum poenitentiae accedendum et eleemosynas largius erogandas excitati, non parum proficere ad commune bonum coeperunt; et sua ad id etiam statuta confecerunt.
77. In the public jails, besides hearing the confessions of many prisoners, he arranged that twenty of them, who were detained because of their debts, were set free after getting the necessary alms from the Viceroy and from other persons. And because many of them were sick and some were also dying, and there was the danger that their contagious fever would infect others, with great effort ours obtained that they were taken to the hospital to be cared for, because for this reason they said they could save their lives. However, because they were still prisoners, there was the danger that, when they were brought to the hospital, some would try to flee, and if they were left in the jail, since they were sick, death would overtake many of them, our Belgian Brother Julian besides the other spiritual consolations of the word of God and of the Sacraments and the alms he brought to them from the palace, began to build some small dwellings for the use of these imprisoned men. But while he was practicing, among other things, charity towards the sick, he contracted a disease with which he exchanged, as is hoped, his temporal life for eternal life. But not only those detained in jail, but almost the whole court of the Viceroy and many others, who knew him, were very sad at his passing; for, his piety had spread far and wide his good reputation; but it pleased the Divine Goodness, after he had received all the Sacraments, to exchange his labors for eternal rest. But perhaps with the same person, the Viceroy continued what he had started. He gave the order to prepare small dwellings for the sick that were quite suitable with beds and the other necessary things, and he assigned two men to care for the sick; and finally he also arranged that medicines and whatever else was necessary should be provided for them. And in order that this pious work might continue, having called to himself public notaries, the Viceroy exhorted them to assume responsibility for the care of those who were detained in jail, and he sent them to Fr. James Laynez and Jerome Domenech so that with their advice they could promote this pious work. When they had done this and received their instruction, it was determined by the notaries, of whom there were more than fifty in Palermo, the day and the place, where they would gather together. Then they published rules and according to them they chose ministers, so that each one would carry out his duty in this pious work. They also designated no small amount of money for this project; and so by dividing up this pious work among themselves, they visited the jails, and they freed many men, either by paying the money for them or by obtaining forgiveness from the creditors. And for the future no small fruit was hoped for from this newly established confraternity. Also the notaries themselves, having been motivated to reform their own life and actions, to receive more often the sacrament of penance and to be more generous in giving alms, began to contribute considerably to the common good; and they also enacted rules for this purpose.
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78. In triremibus, quae Panormi tunc erant, aliqui ex nostris suis concionibus omnes fere Christianos etiam remiges, qui in eis versabantur, ad confessionem bene instituendam permoverunt, et sacerdotes deinde, tam ipse P. Laynez quam alii, suam operam eorum audiendis confessionibus diligenter praestiterunt. Erat autem eis poenitentiae sacramentum pernecessarium; cum aliqui decem, quindecim et viginti jam annos hoc sacramento caruissent, aliqui numquam ad id accessissent, ut uno ore homines illi faterentur quod Dominus eos visitasset et animas ipsorum perditas recuperasset.
78. In the triremes, which were then in Palermo, some of ours by their sermons move almost all the Christians, including the rowers, who were on board, to make a good confession, and then the priests, both Fr. Laynez and others, gave their assistance in hearing the confessions. They were very much in need of confessions, because some of the men had not gone to confession for ten, fifteen and twenty years, and some of them had never received the sacrament, so that with one voice those men confessed that the Lord had visited them and regained their lost souls.
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79. Curatum est etiam ut puerorum orphanorum opus pro-moveretur, ac stabiliretur. Nulla enim hominum congregatio vel confraternitas eorum curam susceperat. In concione ergo frequenti, cui Pro rex et tota civitas intererat, litteras apostolicas ad eos pertinentes P. Laynez promulgavit et tam pium opus serio commendavit. Deinde ex praescripto Pro-regis duo viri primarii reliquos nobiles panormitanos sunt allocuti, ut congregationi, quae de his curam haberet, sua nomina darent; et paucis diebus super quinquaginta non vulgaris auctoritatis viri in congregationis alvo descripti fuerunt, et constitutiones conditae sunt, et officiales creati, qui coeptum opus conservare et augere niterentur.
79. Provision was also made that the care of orphan boys should be promoted and made permanent. For no congregation or confraternity of people had undertaken their care. Therefore in frequent sermons, at which the Viceroy and the whole city were present, Fr. Laynez quoted the Apostolic Letter pertaining to them and he strongly recommended such a pious work. Then at the direction of the Viceroy two important men spoke to the other nobles in Palermo that they should give their name to a congregation that would take care of this. And in a few days more than fifty men of great authority formed a new congregation; constitutions were written and officials were appointed, who endeavored to preserve and increase the work that had been begun. [11. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Domenech, de Pontificis bulla in favorem domus orphanorum Panormitanae, 22 Februarii. Idem Patri Laynez de eadem Bulla, 17 Maii. Idem eidem, de litteris Cardinalis Farnesii et de informatione ad Cadrinalem Maffaeum, eadem die.- Cardinalis Farnesius Patri Laynez, 26 Aprilis.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Domenech, on the Bull of the Pontiff approving the house of orphans in Palermo, February 22; the same to Fr. Laynez on the same Bull, May 17. The same to the same, on the letter of Cardinal Farnese and on information for Cardinal Maffaeus, on the same day. – Cardinal Farnese to Fr. Laynez, April 26.]
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80. Initio quadragesimae, cum cordi esset Pro-regi scholarum incoeptarum progressus, ut juventus fundamenta pietatis ac virtutis simul cum eruditione firma jaceret, voluit sua praesentia eas cohonestare. Initio ergo quadragesimae comitatus a praetore et juratis duobus, marchionibus Terraenovae et de Girasso et aliis nobilibus, quos barones vocant, ad Collegium se contulit, et classes singulas adivit, et quae in illis exercitia fierent stans parumper animadvertit. In prima quidem classe rhetorices sedit et lectionem ac brevem orationem habitam audivit; et cum recitarentur carmina quaedam et disputationes haberentur inter discipulos, tam hujus quam aliarum classium, omnia cum magna laetitiae significatione audivit, multumque non scholasticos solum sed eorum parentes ac civitatem ipsam ad hoc institutum Collegii augendum et fructum ex eo capessendum excitavit; aedes etiam Collegii, immo et singula cubicula, lustravit; sponte sua deinde de stabiliendis Collegii reditibus et emenda domo, quae conductitia erat, rationem inire coepit. Cum tamen expeditionem in Africam intento admodum animo et cura tractaret, ad reditum usque suum fundationis hujus negotium distulit.
80. At the beginning of Lent, when the Viceroy was concerned about the progress of the new students, so that the young men would lay down a solid foundation of piety and virtue along with their learning, he wanted to encourage them with his own presence. Therefore at the beginning of Lent, accompanied by the magistrate and two Juratos, the Marchionesses Terranova and de Girasso, and other nobles, whom they call Barons, he visited the College and entered the various classes, and standing there for a little while he followed the exercises that were taking place. In the first class of rhetoric he sat down and he listened to the lecture and the brief oration that was given. And when certain poems were recited and disputations were held among the students, both in this and in other classes he listened to everything with a clear sign of satisfaction, and he strongly urged not only the students but also their parents and the city itself to help the College and to derive fruit from it. He also examined the building of the College, and in fact each room; then on his own initiative he began to think about stabilizing the income of the College and of buying the house, which had been rented. However, since he was very occupied with the expedition to Africa, he delayed this business of the foundation until his return. [12. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Domenech, de reditibus Panormitano Collegio assignandis, 3 Maii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Domenech, on the income assigned for the College in Palermo, May 3]
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81. Hac quadragesima Pro-regi ac nobilitati, qui eum comitabatur, sicuti et aliis auditoribus in suis concionibus P. Jacobus Laynez multum in Domino satisfecit, sed intermittendae fuerunt abeo conciones sub finem quadragesimae, cum Domina Leonora, Pro-regina, in gravissimum morbum incidisset; quae, cum mortis periculum immineret, tam P. Hieronymum quam ipsum P. Jacobum Laynez sibi omnino assistere voluit, quod et fecerunt; et ipsa die Dominica Palmarum placuit divinae bonitati eam ad meliorem vitam transferre. Talis enim fuit ejus mors qualis et vita fuerat, plena fide, devotione, charitate et humilitate ac mundi contemptu, amore et cura filiorum et domus, ac praecipue sui mariti, cui se etiam valde reverentem exhibuit. Latissime etiam patuit ejus charitas et misericordia erga pauperes, afflictos et peccatores. In extrema illa aegritudine multa patientissime toleravit, et omnibus sacramentis Ecclesiae cum fame sancta et devotione acceptis, et semper praeter maritum ac liberos et domesticos (qui omnes eam ad bene moriendum pro virili parte adjuvabant) viros etiam spirituales prope se usque ad ultimum spiritum habuit, magno sui desiderio ac doloris sensu ac testimonio praeclaro suae virtutis ac bonorum operum in tota civitate ac provincia relicto, animam efflavit, ut merito cogitandum sit, quod in ipso die Palmarum Pro-reginam Siciliae ad coeleste regnum promovere Dominus voluisset. Plurima Missarum sacrificia juxta ipsius preces et in Sicilia et Romae pro ipsius anima sunt a Societate oblata, et tam in mariti quam liberorum animis observatum est post ejus mortem quod magnos progressus in pietate et mundi contemptu fecerint.
81. In this Lent Fr. James Laynez in the Lord was very pleasing to the Viceroy and the nobility, who accompanied him, and the other hearers of his sermons, but the sermons had to be interrupted by him towards the end of Lent, since Lady Elenora, the Viceroy’s wife, became very ill; when the danger of death was imminent, she wanted both Fr. Jerome and Fr. James Laynez to help her, and that is what they did. Then on Palm Sunday it pleased the Divine Goodness to transfer her to a better life. For, her death was just like her life — full of faith, devotion, charity and humility and contempt of the world, love and the care of her children and home, and especially of her husband, for whom she also showed great reverence. Her charity and mercy towards the poor, the afflicted and sinners also extended far and wide. In her last illness she endured many things patiently, and after having received all the sacraments of the Church with holy desire and devotion, she always had, besides her husband and children and domestics (all of whom helped her to die well as best they could), also spiritual men near to her until her last breath. With a brilliant testimony of her virtue and of her good works in the whole city and province, she breathed forth her soul, and as can rightly be thought, on the day of the Palms God wanted to raise up to the heavenly kingdom the wife of the Viceroy of Sicily. Many sacrifices of the Mass according to her request were offered by the Society for her soul in Sicily and in Rome, and after her death it was observed both in the souls of her husband and children that they made great progress in piety and contempt of the world. [13. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, de iis quae Collegio Panormitano reliquisse in testamento dicebatur Pro-regina Siciliae, 3 Maii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, about the things which the wife of the Viceroy of Sicily is said to have left in her will to the College in Palermo.]
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82. Voluit Pro-rex ut in monasterio Sancti Dominici, quo se receperat ob sanctos hos dies et ob mortem uxoris, sibi et filiae, Dominae Isabellae, quam penes se habebat, P. Jacobus Laynez et Hieronymus, etiam noctibus ibidem dormiendo, deinde ad multam noctem perseverando, adessent. Ibidem P. Laynez ea hebdomada et in festis Paschae concionatus est. In mensa autem et compluribus horis diei ac noctis ex eorum colloquiis magnam consolationem capiebat; et cum post festum Paschae in arcis palatium migrasset, ibidem etiam P. Jacobum, cum ageretur de testamento D. Leonorae implendo secum retinere voluit. Filii etiam, Dominus Ferdinandus et Alvarus de Vega multum consolationis ab eisdem Patribus acceperunt. Tertius etiam, Suerus, in Collegium nostrum se contulit, et ibidem aliquot dies in spiritualibus exercitiis versatus est.
82. The Viceroy desired that in the monastery of St. Dominic, where he went because of these holy days and because of the death of his wife, that Fr. James Laynez and Jerome should be with him and his daughter, Lady Isabella, whom he had with him; he wanted them to sleep there and to be with him during much of the night. There Fr. Laynez preached during Holy Week and on the feast of Easter. But at table and during many hours of the day and night the Viceroy derived much consolation from the conversations; and when after the feast of Easter he had returned to the palace of the fortress, there also he wanted to keep with him Fr. James, while he worked to fulfill the last will and testament of Lady Eleanor. His sons also, Lord Ferdinand and Alvarus de Vega enjoyed much consolation from the same Fathers. The third son also, Suerus, went to our College, and there he spent several days making the Spiritual Exercises.
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83. Debuit etiam P. Ignatius consolatorias ad Pro-regem et filiam litteras mittere, quae non tam ut officiosae sed ut multum doctrinae et consolationis spiritualis habentes ab eis accipiebantur, et magni fiebant. Crevit in Pro-rege amor erga Societatem post uxoris obitum, et de ea augenda ad commune bonum non tantum in Sicilia sed in Africa etiam cogitabat. Reliquit suam voluntatem contestatam Pro-regina ut Collegium Panormitanum succederet ut haeres in omnibus bonis Regentis, Ludovici Sanchez, defuncti, et ut domus (de quibus superius facta mentio) venderentur et ex pretio earum reditus emerentur.
83. Fr. Ignatius sent a letter of consolation to the Viceroy and to his daughter, and it was received by them not so much as an act of courtesy, but as being full of doctrine and spiritual consolation, and they were very pleased with it. After the death of his wife, love towards the Society increased in the Viceroy, and he thought about increasing it for the common good not only in Sicily, but also in Africa. The Viceroy’s wife left in her will that the College in Palermo should be named as the heir of all the possessions of the Regent, Luis Sanchez, who had died, and that the houses (already mentioned above) should be sold and from their price the income increased. [14. Ignatii ad Pro-regem Siciliae ejusque filiam ; Elisabetham, litteras habes in Cartas de San Ignacio, t. II, a pàg. 217 ad 224. Eadem die, 12 Aprilis, ad omnes Societatis domos missae sunt litterae ut suffragia a sociis singulis fierent pro anima Eleonorae de Osorio, Siciliae Pro-reginae.
Ignatius to the Viceroy of Sicily and his daughter, Elizabeth, which you will find in Cartas de San Ignacio, vol. II, pages 217-224. On the same day, April 12, letters were sent to all the houses of the Society so that suffrages would be made by each member of the Society for the soul of Eleanor de Osorio, wife of the Viceroy of Sicily.]
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84. Die mercurii post Pascha exequiae Pro-reginae celebratae sunt, in quibus rogarunt P. Jacobum Laynez ut concionem funebrem haberet; in qua peculiaris ei gratia Dei, forte per ipsam Pro-reginam impetrata, affluxit; sic enim de morte in genere et in particulari de illius morte et de praeparatione ad bene moriendum dixit, ut cum magna aedificatione et lacrymis uberrimis auditorum fuerit auditus; et eamdem concionem sibi et filiae repeti voluit Pro-rex, quae populo fuerat praedicata.
84. On Wednesday after Easter the funeral was held for the Viceroy’s wife, and they asked Fr. James Laynez to give the funeral oration, and in it the special grace of God, perhaps obtained by the Viceroy’s wife herself, abounded; for, he so spoke about death in general, and in particular about her death and preparation for dying well that it was heard with great edification and many tears of the audience. And the Viceroy wanted the same sermon to be repeated for himself and his daughter, which had been preached to the people. [15. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, de suffragiis a Societate factis pro anima Dominae Eleonorae, Siciliae Pro-reginae, et de iis, quae facienda adhuc expetit Dominus Esquivel, e Pro-reginae ministris ; item Ignatium paratum esse votis defunctae Pro-reginae obsequi erga Dominam de Araujo, Praecipuam ex ejusdem Pro-reginae pedissequis, 28 Junii. Ignatius Dominae Mariae de Araujo, ne monialium, quas muratas vocant, ingredi monasterium velit, 13 Septembris.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, on the suffrages made by the Society for the soul of Lady Eleanor, wife of the Viceroy, and about those which Lord Esquivel, a minister of the Viceroy’s wife, still wanted to be made; likewise that Ignatius was ready to follow the will of the deceased wife of the Viceroy towards Lady de Araujo, especially concerning the servants of the same Lady, June 28. Ignatius to Lady Mary de Araujo that he did not want the women called muratos to enter the convent of nuns, September 13.]
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85. Quidam etiam ex nostris, Franciscus Sambechus nomine, paulo post cum magna sua consolatione et animi gaudio ex hac vita decessit. Cum enim paulo ante verba illa repeteret: beati mortui, qui in Domino moriuntur, et PP. Laynez et Do- menech, de praeparatione ad mortem cum illo agentes, interrogassent, libentiusne esset aliquamdiu in hac vita mansurus an ad paradisum iturus, cum hilaritate respondit: ad paradisum, ad paradisum. Magnam in aegritudine molesta patientiam et cum voluntate Dei conformitatem semper exhibuit, adeo ut de illo dici possit, ut Superior ejus scribebat: non murmur resonat, non quaerimonia, sed corde tacito mens bene conscia conservat patientiam. Nona die Aprilis ex hac vita decessit.
85. One of ours, Francis Sambechus, a little later departed from this life with great consolation and joy. For when, shortly before, he was repeating the words: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, and Fathers Laynez and Domenech, while preparing him for death, had asked him whether he would willingly remain in this life for a longer time or he was going to go to paradise, he responded with joy: to paradise, to paradise. In his difficult sickness he always showed great patience and conformity with the will of God, so that it could be said of him, as his Superior wrote: no murmur is heard, nor any complaints, and with a peaceful heart his clear mind preserves patience. He departed from this life on the ninth of April.
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86. Resumpsit P. Laynez praedicationem Christianae doctrinae ad scholasticos, quibus quadragesimae tempore P. Hieronymus Domenech, ne praedicationum aut lectionum fructu privarentur, post primum sacrum absolutum, antequam lectiones inchoarent, concionatus est. In xenodochiis cum fructu etiam nostri versati sunt.
86. Fr. Laynez resumed the preaching of Christian doctrine to the students, to whom during Lent Fr. Jerome Domenech, so that they would not be deprived of the fruit of preaching and lectures, had given some sermons before the beginning of the school year. Also ours were working in the hospitals with fruitful results.
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87. Hoc tempore cum Pro-rex aliquos religiosos, qui facinorosi fuerant, capi curasset, et quod eorum superiores nec ministros ad judicandum admodum idoneos, nec quod puniendi zelum haberent existimaret, ut stimulum eis adderet, injunxit ut ad se referrent qua punitione eos mulctassent. Quia vero jurisdictionem ecclesiasticam ea in parte laedi P. Hieronymus judicavit, praeter emendationis propositum ab eo exegit ut a Summo Pontifice de praeteritis absolutionem peteret; et ita P. Ignatio scripsit Pro-rex, ut Summo Pontifici pro ea gratia ac benedictione supplicaret.
87. At this time when the Viceroy seized some religious who were guilty of shameless deeds, and he thought that their Superiors were not ready to judge them nor had the will to punish them, in order to give them an incentive, he commanded that they report to him what punishment they imposed on them. But because in this matter Fr. Jerome judged that ecclesiastical jurisdiction was violated, in addition to the proposed correction he required from him that he seek from the Sovereign Pontiff absolution for past offenses; and so the Viceroy wrote to Fr. Ignatius that he ask the Sovereign Pontiff for this grace and blessing. [16. Ignatius Joanni de Vega, Siciliae Pro-regi, quid cum Pontifice egerit ad ejus absolutionem a censuris obtinendam et ut in posterum ei licaet in monachorum et clericorum reformationem, servatis servandis, incumbere, 29 Martii. Polancus, ex commissione, Hieronymo Domenech, de tribus, quae a Pontifice in favorem Joannis de Vega impetravit Ignatius, eadem die. Idem Patri Laynez, quid in causa de violata clericorum exemptione sit actum, 12 Aprilis. Idem eidem, Cardinalis Farnesii quaerimoniae adversus Pro-regem, 17 Maii.
Ignatius to John de Vega, Viceroy of Sicily, on what he accomplished with the Pontiff in order to obtain his absolution from censures, and that in the future he is allowed to get involved in the reform of monks and clerics in accordance with the laws of the Church, March 29. Polanco, ex commissione, to Jerome Domenech, on the three things which Ignatius obtained from the Pontiff for John de Vega, on the same day. The same to Fr. Laynez, on what was done in the case of the violated exemption of clerics, April 12. The same to the same, on the complaints of Cardinal Farnese against the Viceroy, May 17.]
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88. Rediit ex curia Imperatoris Caroli et praeter alia, quae ex sententia Pro-regis Caesarea Majestas concesserat, primam abbatiam, quae vacasset, cujus reditus ad quingentos vel sexcentos ducatos ascenderet, Collegio Panormitano donavit. Quia tamen Imperator respondit privatis litteris Pro-regis se ejus informationi fidem adhibuisse, de Societate tamen nostra qualis esset, aliunde se informationem non habere, existimatum est non esse quidem oblitum Imperatorem, sed a quibusdam ejus ministris, qui, cum esset in Germania, non admodum aequos se praebuerant P. Nicolao Bobadilla, eam dubitationem profectam esse; et sponte sua Pro-rex dixit velle se Imperatorem plenius de Societatis nostrae rebus informare; unde confirmationem Societatis authenticam ad Imperatorem misit, ac supplicavit ut a Summo Pontifice et Cardinali Burgensi, Ducis Albani fratre, et a Rege Romanorum Ferdinando et a Principe Philippo, filio suo, informationem peteret; et quam utilis Societas futura esset, non solum in regno Siciliae, sed etiam in Africa et Asia et ubique gentium significavit; unde quod daemon ad imminuendum Societatis progressum tenta verat, ad eum promovendum convertere Pro-rex adnisus est.
88. He returned from the court of the Emperor Charles, and among other things, which in the view of the Viceroy the Imperial Majesty granted was first of all an abbey, which was not occupied, whose income was in the range of five hundred to six hundred ducats, and he gave it to the College in Palermo. But because the Emperor responded to the private letter of the Viceroy that he put faith in his information, but about the nature of our Society he did not have information from any other source, it was thought that the Emperor had not forgotten, but that this doubt came from some of his ministers who, when he was in Germany, were not very friendly to Fr. Nicholas Bobadilla. And on his own account the Viceroy said that he wanted to inform the Emperor more in detail about the nature of our Society. Therefore, he sent the official confirmation of our Society to the Emperor, and urged him to seek information from the Sovereign Pontiff and from Cardinal Burgos, brother of the Duke of Albani, and from Ferdinand, the King of the Romans, and from Prince Philip, his own son. And he pointed out how useful the Society would be not only in the kingdom of Sicily, but also in Africa and Asia and everywhere else. And what the devil tried to do to lessen the progress of the Society, the Viceroy strove to change into its advancement.
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89. Conversarum coenobium egestate premebatur, et ad eas sublevandas et meretricibus viam ad salutem aperiendam, haec ratio inita est. Publico edicto hoc genus foeminarum prohibebatur ne pallia (quo genere amictus foeminae uti solent Panormi) gestarent, scilicet, ut ea ratione ab honestis foeminis secernerentur. Illae autem sine pallio incedere erubescentes, nec in publicum ire volentes, nec communionibus nec sacris intererant. Accedebat etiam aliud incommodum, quod pauperculae, licet honestae, mulieres, cum non haberent unde sibi pallia compararent, meretrices a multis habebantur; ut utrisque ergo ac simul monasterio conversarum consuleretur, curatum est ut alio edicto publico promulgaretur ut meretrices illae, quae cuperent sibi usum pallii concedi, sese primo die sabbati cujuslibet mensis ad templum quoddam conferrent, ubi concionem ad conversionem earum applicatam audirent, et nomina sua adnotari curarent, et singulae duos regales singulis mensi bus in eleemosynam conversarum erogarent. Primo ergo sabbato Maii quatuor matronae primariae civitatis, et cum eis P. Jacobus Laynez et Hieronymus Domenech, adhibito ecclesiae sacerdote et notario, convenerunt. Accessere eodem die septuaginta meretrices et magno cum silentio et multis cum lacrymis concionem audiere, et suas eleemosynas obtulere. Aliquae autem ex eis quotidie a turpitudine vitae suae reduci ad honestatem coeperunt. Nec solum ad conversarum usum, sed etiam ad paupercularum ex eis dotem, ut matrimonio conjungi possent, per eleemosynas prospiciebatur. Signum nihilominus quoddam instituta congregatio his peccatricibus foeminis addidit, ut a matronis honestis distinguerentur.
89. The convent of converted women suffered from great poverty, and in order to help them and to open the way to salvation for prostitutes, the following plan was initiated. By a public edict this kind of women was forbidden to wear a veil (the women in Palermo are accustomed to wear this type of garment), so that in this way they could be distinguished from honorable women. Being ashamed to go out without a veil, and not wanting to appear in public, they did not attend church or receive the sacraments. There was also another disadvantage in the fact that poor, but upright women, since they did not have the money to buy a veil, were considered by many to be prostitutes. In order to take care of both kinds of women and also the convent of converted women, it was decided that, with another public edict it would be promulgated that the prostitutes, who desired that the use of the veil should be granted to them, should go to a church on the first Saturday of each month, where they would hear a sermon directed to their conversion, where they would have their names written down, and where each one every month would pay a certain amount of money as an alms for the converted women. Therefore, on the first Saturday of May four important ladies of the city, and with them Fathers James Laynez and Jerome Domenech, had a meeting with the priest of the church and a notary. On the same day seventy prostitutes came; they listened to the sermon with great silence and many tears, and they offered their alms. Now some of them daily began to change from the turpitude of their life to an upright way of living. By these alms provision was made not only for the use of the converted women, but also for dowries for poor women so that they could enter into a marriage. Nevertheless, the established congregation added a certain sign for these sinful women so that they could be distinguished from honorable women.
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90. Fama Collegii Panormitani per alias vicinas civitates pervagata est; unde Catanenses cives (qui sua in civitate primariam Siciliae Academiam habent) et Termenses ac Colinionenses Pro-regi supplicarunt ut initium aliquod Collegii in eorum civitatibus institui curaret. Novem autem aut decem ex nostris suis sumptibus alere et de necessariis prospicere volebant. Sed non poterat occupata multis in locis Societas, et in Sicilia nondum solidam habens dotationem Messanae et Panormi, nova haec onera subire. Quamvis erga Panormitanum civitas satis affecta videretur, et, ut in quadragesima, ita sub finem Maii novi praetores et jurati scholas nostras inviserant et exercitationibus scholasticorum interfuerant, et ultimo assidentes orationem auscultarunt, in qua Magister Joannes Rogerius de magistratibus deque fructu studiorum disseruit, qua illi ad summam manum huic operi imponendam excitati fuerunt. Addebat et praetor aliud esse fructum hunc oculis videre, aliud ex aliorum relatu audire, nec posse in meliorem usum aliquam suorum vectigallium partem converti, quam ad Collegium hoc stabiliendum.
90. The good reputation of the College in Palermo became known in the neighboring cities; the citizens of Catania (who have the primary Academy of Sicily in their city) and of Termini beseeched the Viceroy that he would see to it that the beginning of such a College would be established in their cities. They wanted to support at their expense nine or ten of our member and to provide them with everything necessary. But because the Society was busy in many places, and did not yet have a solid endowment in Messina and Palermo, it could not undertake these new burdens. Although the city seemed to be sufficiently dedicated to the College in Palermo, and, as in Lent, so at the end of May the new magistrates and Juratos visited our schools and were present at the exercises of our students, and also listened to the oration in which Master John Rogerius spoke about the teachers and the fruit of studies, as a result of which they were moved to give it their full support. The magistrate added that it is one thing to see this fruit with one’s eyes, and something else to hear about it from someone else, and that some of his money could not be put to better use than to give it for the stability of this College. [17. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, de collegio in urbe Termini erigendo quid fieri possit aut saltem promitti, 7 Junii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, on what could be done or promised regarding the establishment of a College in the city of Termini, June 7.]
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91. Cum Pro-rex et Episcopus Mazarensis rogassent P. Jacobum, ut episcopatum Mazarae inviseret, non detrectavit laborem; sed quia aberat P. Hieronymus, usque ad ipsius reditum rem differendam existimavit.
91. When the Viceroy and the Bishop of Mazara asked Fr. James to visit the diocese of Mazara, he did not refuse the task, but because Fr. Jerome was absent, he thought the matter should be delayed until his return. [18. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, de mittendis qui per varia Siciliae loca discurrentes, confessiones audiant, concionentur, etc., mense Martio.- Joannes de Vega, Siciliae Pro-rex, Ignatio, de Patribus Laynez et Domenech, 24 Januarii.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, on sending those who would hear confessions and preach in the various places in Sicily, etc., in the month of March. – John de Vega, Viceroy of Sicily, to Ignatius on Fathers Laynez and Domenech, January 24.]
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92. Egerunt et nostri de captivorum redemptione et multi ex primariis et copiosis viris ad tam pium opus animati sunt et pecuniam ad id conferre coeperunt eo animo ut singulis annis prosequerentur.
92. Also ours worked for the redemption of captives and many of the leading and wealthy men were so moved to embrace this pious work and began generously to donate money for it that it was carried out each year.
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93. Cum expeditio in Africam praepararetur, multi nobiles et alii milites ad confessionis Sacramentum accedebant, et cum is annus jubilaei esset, et contra infideles expeditio haec susciperetur, visum est P. Jacobo Laynez multum eam juvari posse, si Summus Pontifex his, qui peccata confiterentur in exercitu vel antequam ad illum se conferrent, jubilaei indulgentiam concederet; et cum ea de re aliquid cum Pro-rege contulisset, valde eam ille probavit. Non solum enim ea ratione morientium animis consulebatur, sed ad fortiter et intrepide pugnandum milites excitabantur. Scripsit ergo ad P. Ignatium Pro-rex rogavitque ut suo nomine Pontifici supplicaret ut qui eo in bello occuparentur, nec Romam venire possent, jubilaei gratiam et indultum etiam consequerentur. Obtinuit illud P. Ignatius et ejus concessionis testimonium manu sua subscriptum et sigillo Societatis obsignatum duplici exemplo in Africam, quo jam exercitus se contulerat, transmisit.
93. Since the expedition to Africa was being prepared, many noblemen and other soldiers received the Sacrament of confession, and since it was a Jubilee Year, and the expedition was directed against infidels, it seemed to Fr. Laynez that it could be helped very much, if the Sovereign Pontiff granted the indulgence of the Jubilee to those in the army who confessed their sins or before they committed themselves to it; and when he spoke to the Viceroy about this, he was very much in favor of it. For, not only did it provide assistance to the souls of the dying, but also because of it the soldiers were motivated to fight bravely and intrepidly. Therefore, the Viceroy wrote to Fr. Ignatius and he asked that in his name he would humbly ask that those who are engaged in the war, and could not come to Rome, might also obtain the grace and indulgence of the Jubilee. Fr. Ignatius did obtain it, and he sent the document of this concession, written by his own hand and verified with the seal of the Society, in two copies to Africa where the army had already gone.
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94. Erat Joannes de Vega, Siciliae Pro-rex, ab Imperatore Carolo omnium expeditionum, quae in Africa fierent, generalis Dux constitutus. Cum autem hoc anno classis Caesarea, cui triremes etiam Pontificiae ac equitum melitensium et Ducis Florentiae adjunctae fuerant, ad Dragutum, piratam insignem et oras maritimas Christianorum infestantem, esset egressa, impetus ventorum eam ad quamdam Africae civitatem, quae monasterium dicitur, detulit; quam occupavit et aliam non procul distantem, quae Africa, olim Aphrodisius, dicitur, capi posse intellexerunt. Inter divinationes autem suas hoc habebant saraceni quod, Aphrodisio capta, Africae provinciae in manus Christianorum essent venturae. Cum ergo Pro-rex Joannes de Vega ad expugnationem hujus urbis iturus esset, P. Jacobum Laynez est allocutus et an se comitari vellet in ea expeditione intelligere ab eo voluit. Significavit ei, prout res erat, P. Laynez Summum Pontificem, rogatu Ducissae Florentiae sibi injunxisse ut sequenti autumno Florentiam se conferret. Addidit etiam quod molestum sibi esset futurum ei bello interesse, ubi aliud nihil quam obedire avaritiae Christianos milites cum scandalo infidelium et sine occasione evangelii Christi promulgandi, esset inspecturus; alioqui se promptissimum, immo et valde propensum, ad hanc profectionem in Africam fore. Cum autem Pro-rex reditum ante autumnum, ut Florentiam ire posset, promitteret, et multa in malis impediendis et bonis ad Dei gloriam promovendis ab eo fieri posse assereret, affirmans etiam quod gratum esset futurum P. Ignatio, quodque in tali necessitate et ad opus tam pium posset eum ipse jubere, acquievit libenter P. Laynez; cum praesertim a P. Ignatio injunctum ipsi esset ut, quamdiu in Sicilia nostri forent, Pro-regi obedirent.
94. John de Vega, the Viceroy of Sicily, was named by the Emperor Charles as the commanding general of all the expeditions that were to be made in Africa. But since in this year the imperial fleet, to which were attached also the Pontifical triremes and the knights of Malta and those of the Duke of Florence, set out for Dragut, a well-known port of pirates who were attacking the coastal towns of Christians, the force of the winds drove them to a certain city of Africa, which is called monasterium. He occupied it and knew that another city not far away, which in Africa formerly was called Aphrodisius, could be seized. Now the Saracens had this among their prophecies, namely, that if Aphrodisius were captured, the provinces of Africa would fall into the hands of the Christians. Therefore, when Viceroy John de Vega was going to capture this city, he spoke to Fr. Laynez and he wanted to find out from him whether he was willing to accompany him on this undertaking against the enemy. Fr. Laynez made his situation known to him and that the Sovereign Pontiff, at the request of the Duchess of Florence, had commanded him to go to Florence in the following autumn. He also added that it would be troublesome for him to be present at the war, where he would see nothing other than Christian soldiers giving it to avarice with scandal to the infidels and without any opportunity of making known the gospel of Christ. Otherwise, he said that he would be ready, and in fact very inclined to depart for Africa. But when the Viceroy promised that he could return before autumn so that he could go to Florence, and said that he could do many things to hinder evils and to promote good things for the glory of God, and he also said it would be pleasing to Fr. Ignatius and that in such a necessity he could be of great help to him in this pious work, Fr. Laynez willingly acquiesced. He did this especially because he had been directed by Fr. Ignatius that, as long as ours were laboring in Sicily, they should be obedient to the Viceroy. [19. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez, ne nimium facilem se ad iter in Africam suscipiendum praebeat, cui obstat Pontificis voluntas eum in Urbem e Sicilia evocans, 12 Aprilis. Idem eidem de ejusdem profectione in Africam, 26 Aprilis. Idem Hieronymo Domenech, de iis quos in Africam mitti rogat Siciliae Pro-rex, 20 Septembris. -Patris Laynez litterae ad Ignatium et Polancum.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, that he should not show himself to be too eager for the trip to Africa, since the Pontiff wanted to call him back from Sicily to the City, April 12. The same to the same, on the trip to Africa, April 26. The same to Jerome Domenech about those whom the Viceroy of Sicily is asking to be sent to Africa, September 20. – Letter of Fr. Laynez to Ignatius and Polanco.]
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95. Mense igitur Junii cum classe profectus est et ipsa in navigatione de exercitu bene mereri coepit; nam quodam in loco, ubi multi congregabantur, quomodo se gerere in bello Christianus miles deberet instruxit, et in tempestate, quam passi sunt, tam in animandis quam in adjuvandis in spiritu militibus magno animo se exercuit. Sed et ejus socius, Martinus de Zomoza, Pro-regem ipsum, tempestate jactatum prope oram Africae, ut in terram egrederetur utilem operam praestitit.
95. Therefore in the month of June he departed with the fleet and in the navigation he began to be well received by the army; for, in one place, where many men were assembled, he taught them how a Christian soldier should conduct himself in war, and in the storm, which they experienced, he conducted himself with courage both in animating and in helping the soldiers spiritually. And also his companion, Martin de Zornoza, offered assistance to the Viceroy himself, when he was tossed about by a storm near the coast of Africa, so that he could land safely.
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96. Postquam autem in Africam classis descendisset et Aphrodisium obsidere atque oppugnare coepissent, et multo majus praesidium et dificiliorem, quam excogitaverant, expugnationem invenissent, coeperunt non pauci partim vulnerati, partim aegrotantes, ejus opera indigere, et tam in morientibus juvandis quam in male habentibus curandis perutilem operam praestitit; et inter labores maximos cum ex quatuor religiosis capuccinis duo vita functi essent et alii duo aegrotantes Siciliam rediissent, ipse tamen cum socio, pene solus relictus, hospitalis curam sustinuit; nec solum in confessionibus et aliis ad spiritualem profectum pertinentibus utilem operam praestitit, sed etiam infirmarii officio, catapocia et clysteres per se ipsum exhibendo, et Marthae et Mariae fungi officiis debuit. Id autem inter hos labores eum consolabatur, quod multos ad viam salutis reduci per Dei gratiam videbat. Ipse etiam Pro-rex, et Dominus Garcia de Toledo, et Dominus Alvarus de Vega ipsi inter alios confitebantur. Cum autem magnopere protracta obsidione, numerus aegrotantium et vulneratorum crevisset, voluit Pro-rex eum hoc labore levare, et fere centum et octoginta in Siciliam deferri ut curarentur jussit: et tum confessionibus audiendis et juvandis morituris ad tempus vacavit, qui duodecim vel quindecim vel viginti annis non erant confessi, et tamen per Dei gratiam ad salutis sperandae statum eo tempore reducti sunt, ex quibus aliqui monachi erant apostatae. Curavit autem ut qui ex his vixerunt, ad bonum statum se reducerent, qui autem moriebantur cum contritione et bono proposito faciendi quod debebant, in gratia Dei morerentur. Non tamen diu a priori sollicitudine corporum curandorum immunis fuit; placuit enim Deo ut ministri a Pro-rege in hospitali constituti quo aegrotis inservirent, in morbum ipsi inciderent, et aliunde etiam aegrotantibus ex vulnere aut morbo hospitale impleretur; unde ad priorem sollicitudinem P. Laynez cum socio rediit.
96. Now after the fleet arrived in Africa and began to besiege and attack Aphrodisius, and they found the capture of the fortress to be much more difficult that they has expected, not a few men, some wounded and some sick, began to need his help, and he offered much assistance both in helping the dying and in caring for those who were ailing. And among his great labors, when of the four Franciscans two died and the other two became sick and returned to Sicily, he was left almost alone with his companion and assumed care of the hospital. He offered much help not only in hearing confessions and doing other things related to spiritual growth, but he also had to perform the tasks both of Martha and Mary by taking on the office of infirmarian and by administering medicines and enemas. But he received much consolation in these labors, because he saw many men by the grace of God to be brought back to the way of salvation. Even the Viceroy himself, and Lord Garcia de Toledo, and Lord Alvarus de Vega, among others, acknowledged this. But because the siege continued for a long time and the number of the sick and wounded increased, the Viceroy wanted to relieve him of this labor, and he ordered that about a hundred and eighty men should be returned to Sicily so that they could be cared for there. Then he had time to hear confessions and to help the dying, many of whom had not gone to confession for twelve or fifteen or even twenty years. However, by the grace of God at the time they were restored to the state of hoping for salvation, and some of them were apostate monks. He took care also to see to it that those who lived were brought to a good state of soul, and that those who were dying would die in the grace of God with contrition and with a good intention of doing what they should do. However, he was not free for a long time from his former solicitude of caring for their bodies; for it pleased God that the ministers, placed in the hospital by the Viceroy to care for the sick, themselves became sick, and also from other places the hospital was filled with those sick from wounds or a disease; hence Fr. Laynez with his companion returned to his former care for them.
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97. Pervenit interea ad castra Pro-regis testimonium Patris Ignatii de gratia jubilaei exercitui concessa, quod cum classicis et tubis per tota castra fuit promulgatum. Voluit etiam Pro-rex ut ipse P. Laynez de eodem jubilaeo condonaretur. Fuit autem ea indulgentia cum summa animorum laetitia ac devotione a militibus excepta, et ad confessiones milites tam frequentes accedebant ut aliquando usque ad sex noctis horas P. Jacobus Laynez in confessionibus hujusmodi esset occupatus; omnes enim majores et minores hac frui indulgentia expetierunt, et plurimi vitam in melius mutaverunt ac bonis desideriis ac intentionibus animati ad oppugnationem urbis se praepararunt; ex quibus non pauci in tanta spirituali necessitate erant prius constituti, ut vix aliud quam Christianorum nomen se habere ostenderent. Pax inter multos conciliata est, et restitutiones multae factae.
97. Meanwhile, the document from Fr. Ignatius about the grace of the Jubilee granted to the army arrived in the camp of the Viceroy, and it was announced throughout the camp with trumpets and shouts. Also the Viceroy wanted Fr. Laynez to preach about the same Jubilee. Now this indulgence was received by the soldiers with great joy and devotion, and so many soldiers came for confession that sometimes Fr. Laynez was busy hearing confessions until midnight. For all, both officers and men, wanted to receive this indulgence, and many changed their life for the better, and they prepared themselves for the attack on the city, animated by good desires and intentions. Before that, not a few of them were in such spiritual necessity that they showed themselves to be hardly anything other than Christians in name only. Peace was established among many, and also many restitutions were made.
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98. Itaque inter has occupationes et alias, quas in hospitali habebat cum centum et quinquaginta aegrotantibus, ut ad cibum vel somnum capiendum vix tempus suppeteret, tamen divina bonitas in ipso et socio Martino non solum sanitatem sed etiam vires corporis conservavit, cum non solum alii religiosi et infirmarii, verum etiam pharmacopolae, chirurgi et reliqui omnes hospitalis ministri in morbum incidissent. Et prorsus peculiari Dei providentiae haec conservatio adscribenda erat cum, praeter aestum et laborem, hospitalis foetor esset gravissimus. Oportebat insuper uti noctibus etiam surgerent ad medicinas dandas et alia aegrotantium auxilia et ut quae necessaria erant a Pro-rege ipsemet Laynez obtineret. Unde milites, qui ex Africa redierunt, non cessabant ejus charitatem commendare dicendo eum esse virum sanctum et quod nunquam ei similem hominem vidissent qui talem aegrotantibus charitatem ostenderet; miraculo etiam ejus conservatam valetudinem adscribebant.
98. Therefore, among these and other tasks which he had in the hospital with a hundred and fifty patients, he hardly had time to eat and get some sleep, but the Divine Goodness preserved in him and in his companion, Martin, not only good health but also strength of body, since not only the other religious and nurses, but also the pharmacists and surgeons and other workers in the hospital became sick. And this preservation was attributed to the special providence of God since, besides the heat and the work, the hospital had a very bad smell. Moreover, it was necessary at night also to get up in order to provide medicines and other helps for the sick, and the things that were necessary Fr. Laynez himself obtained from the Viceroy. Hence the soldiers who returned from Africa did not cease praising his charity, by saying that he is a holy man and that they had never seen anyone like him, who showed such charity for the sick; they also attributed his continual good health to a miracle.
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99. Post peractas ergo confessiones et praedicationem Patris Laynez, quae milites multum animavit, terra marique Aphrodisium fuit oppugnatum et 10 Septembris, Deo propitio, expugnatum fuit; et die 14, quae prius moschea fuerat saracenorum, benedicta fuit; solemnis missa fuit ibi dicta et P. Jacobus concionatus ibidem est cum magna auditorum consolatione , et quinque saraceni baptizati, ex quibus quatuor aetate pueri, quintus vir erat et vulneratus, qui eodem die mortuus est. Et ex hac oppugnatione magnus sperabatur fructus, non solum securitatis in maritimis oris Christianorum sed etiam in fidei et justitiae dilatatione.
99. Therefore, after the already mentioned confessions and preaching of Fr. Laynez, which very much encouraged the soldiers, Aphrodisius was attacked by land and by sea and was captured, with the help of God, on September 10; and on the 14th, what previously had been a Saracen Mosque was blessed, and then a solemn Mass was said there and Fr. James preached to the great consolation of the audience; five Saracens were baptized, four of whom were boys, while the fifth was a wounded man who died on the same day. Great fruit was hoped for from this victory, not only of security for the maritime coasts of Christians, but also for the spread of faith and justice.
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100. Inde rediens P. Laynez in Siciliam et aliis bene constitutis ad Societatis et commune bonum, Romam se contulit; ubi, sicut prius dictum est, in adventu condonari potuit; nam usque ad initium sequentis anni profectio in urbem Florentiae dilata est.
100. Returning from there to Sicily, and when other things had been settled for the common good of the society, Fr. Laynez went to Rome. There, as was said previously, he was able to preach during Advent; for his departure for the city of Florence was delayed until the beginning of the following year. [20. Ignatius Joanni de Vega, Siciliae Pro-regi, Patrem Laynez a Pontifice Romam evocari, sed satius fore si Romam post aestivos colares venire permittatur, 29 Martii. Idem eadem die Pro-reginae Siciliae. Idem Hieronymo Domenech, de litteris Prioris Andreae Lipomani ad Pro-regem, 17 Maii. Idem Pro-regi Siciliae, de adventu Patris Laynez in Urbem, 22 Novembris. Eidem Pro-regi Pater Laynez, eadem die, et Gandiae Dux.
Ignatius to John de Vega, the Viceroy of Sicily, that Fr. Laynez was being called to Rome by the Pontiff, but it would be sufficient if he were permitted to come to Rome after the summer heat, March 29. The same on the same day to the wife of the Viceroy of Sicily. The same to Jerome Domenech, on the letter of Prior Andreas Lipomanus to the Viceroy, May 17. The same to the Viceroy of Sicily, on the arrival of Fr. Laynez in the City, November 22. Fr. Laynez to the same Viceroy, on the same day, and the Duke of Gandia.]
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101. Interea Panormi scholasticae exercitationes non intermissae sunt, et ultima classis, quae magna multitudine laborabat, in duas divisa fuit, et sub instaurationem studiorum initio Novembris alia etiam schola dividenda esse propter causam similem visa est; et sic satisfactum fuit et civium et Pro-regis voluntati qui numerum praeceptorum augeri expetebant. Sed, cum singuli tantum praeceptores singulis classibus praeessent, nec supernumerarii essent aliqui, qui, praeceptoribus in morbum incidentibus, eorum vices supplerent, docuit experientia sufficienter utilitati scholasticorum non consuli; nam hoc ipso anno cum unus et alter praeceptorum aegrotarent, ipse P. Nicolaus, Collegii caput, locum unius debuit supplere, ac demum necessarium esse plures aliquos ad similes eventus habere est intellectum.
101. Meanwhile, in Palermo the student exercises were not interrupted, and the last class, which was functioning with a large group, was divided into two parts; and with the start of studies at the beginning of November another class had to be divided for a similar reason. And so the will of both the citizens and the Viceroy was satisfied, since they wanted the number of teachers to be increased. But, since only one teacher presided over each class, and there were no extra teachers who could take the place of other teachers when they got sick, experience taught sufficiently that the welfare of the students had not been considered. For, during this year, when one or two teachers got sick, Fr. Nicholas himself, the head of the College, had to take the place of one of them, and finally it was understood that it was necessary to have several others for similar situations. [21. Polancus, ex commissione, Panormum Patri Hieronymo Domenech, de mittendo post aestatem Roma Magistro Joanne et alils scholasticis, de lectionibus theologiae Magistri Nicolai Launoyi, 18 Januarii. Idem Patri Laynez, non posse Pelletarium in Siciliam mitti nisi ejus loco in Italiam Andreas Frusius venerit, mense Martio. Idem eidem, de augendo lectorum numero, quibusdam Roma proximo autumno mittendis, Panormi, 7 Junii. Idem Hieronymo Domenech, de Universitate et de iis qui Roma mittendi sub autumnum erunt, 16 et 23 Augusti.- Instructio data Stephano Baroëllo in Siciliam Roma proficiscenti, hoc anno 1550.-Patris Natalis litterae ad Ignatium.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr Jerome Domenech in Palermo, on sending Master John and other scholastics from Rome after the summer, and on the theology lectures of Master Nicholas Launoy, January 18. The same to Fr. Laynez, that it is not possible for Pelletarius to be sent to Sicily, unless Fr. Andreas Frusius comes to take his place in Italy, in the month of March. The same to the same, on increasing the number of teachers, and that some will be sent to Palermo from Rome in autumn, June 7. The same to Jerome Domenech, on the University and on those who are to be sent to Rome in autumn, August 16 and 23. – Instruction given to Stephen Baroëllo on his departure from Rome to Sicily, in this year 1550. – Letter of Fr. Nadal to Ignatius.]
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102. Nostri numero viginti tunc erant; et scholastici positiones singulis dominicis diebus defendebant disputationis gratia, et feriatis etiam diebus epistolas et carmina affigebant, et alias hujusmodi scholasticas exercitationes ad nostrorum profectum domi habebant. Quia vero non pauci juvenes in Societatem admitti optabant, domum probationis, sicut et messanenses, non tamen eodem successu inchoarunt; omnes enim novitii usque ad unum brevi dilapsi sunt; quod ex duplici causa provenisse est animadversum; prima, quod non esset qui curam eorum peculiarem gereret et ea spirituali exercitatione in hujusmodi rebus praeditus qua oportebat, eis praeesset; alia, quod in studiis illi perseverabant, quamvis in initio novitiatus versarentur, nec solidum in abnegatione suorum affectuum fundamentum faciebant, unde cum aliqua humilitatis exercitia eis injungebantur, prae affectu quo ad studia rapiebantur, non ferebant. Aliquis tamen ex his rediit et cum magna aedificatione in Societate ut egregius operarius vineae Domini perseverat.
102. Then there were twenty of ours; and the students defended their theses each Sunday in a disputation; on weekdays they wrote letters and memorized poems and performed other scholastic exercises at home for the progress of our members. But because not a few young men wanted to be admitted into the Society, they started a house of probation, as in Messina, but not with the same success. For, all the novices with one exception departed after a short time; it was noted that there were two reasons for this. First, because there was no one to take special care of them, that is, no director who was in charge of their spiritual direction. Secondly, because they were continuing in their studies, even though they were in the beginning of their novitiate, and they did not make a solid foundation in the abnegation of their affections. Hence, when some exercises of humility were imposed on them, because of their attachment to studies, they could not accept it. However, one of these did return, and with great edification he persevered in the Society as an outstanding worker in the vineyard of the Lord. [22. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Laynez de mittendis Romam scholasticis et parando viatico, cum poterunt, pro iis qui eorum loco Roma in Siciliam mittere oportebit, 26 Aprilis. Idem Hieronymo Domenech, de tribus Roma Panormum missis, 30 Augusti, 6 et 13 Septembris. Idem eidem de inchoanda Panormi probationis domo, 13 Septembris. Idem Nicolae Launoyo, eum reprehendens quod non rationem scripserit eorum, qui post paucos probationis menses, propositum ingrediendi Societatem abjecerunt, et ut reliquos in abnegatione prius quam in studio exercendos curet, 20 Decembris.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Laynez, on sending scholastics to Rome, and providing the money, when they can, for those who will be sent from Rome to Sicily to take their place, April 26. The same to Jerome Domenech, on the three sent from Rome to Palermo, August 30, September 6 and 13. The same to the same, on opening a house of probation in Palermo, September 13. The same to Nicholas Launoy, reprimanding him because he did not write about the reason why those who, after a few months of probation, abandoned their desire of entering the Society, and that he should see to it that the others must be trained in self-abnegation before they begin their studies, December 20.]
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103. In spiritualibus exercitationibus concionum exercebant se quidem nostri, non solum Panormi sed etiam Monteregali et in exiguo illo templo quod Misericordiae dicebatur; aliis etiam in monasteriis ac piis locis id ipsum praestabant. Quia tamen templum proprium non habebant, nec Collegio vicinum, et illud ipsum, in quo sacrificia Missarum offerebant, perexiguum et male materiatum erat, hoc ministerium praedicandi non magno cum fructu civitatis exercebatur; quamvis aliqui ad illud templum Misericordiae confessionis et communionis gratia, accederent; immo nec innotuerat publice civitati Collegium nostrum in aliorum quam in scholasticorum commoda per praedicationem et Sacramentorum ministerium incumbere. Ideo ut communi bono consuleretur, de templo Divi Antonii, quod egregium erat et in optimo civitatis loco situm, et Capitulo cathedralis ecclesiae subditum, ad usum concionum ac Sacramentorum ministerium obtinendum agi coepit, et alia domus, non quidem commodior priore ad nostrorum habitationem, sed ad bene merendum de proximis opportunior, quod templo D. Antonii esset vicina, accepta est; et Pro-rex sua auctoritate utrumque facile reddidit, cum alioqui difficile fuisset.
103. Indeed ours exercised themselves in the spiritual task of preaching, not only in Palermo but also in Monreale in the small church, which is called Misericordia; they also did the same thing in other monasteries and pious places. But because they did not have their own church, and were not near the College, and the one in which the sacrifice of the Mass was offered was very small and in poor condition, this ministry of preaching was not exercised with great fruit for the city, although some people did come to the church of Misericordia for confession and communion. Indeed it did not become known to the city that our College was dedicated to other things besides teaching of students through preaching and the administration of the Sacraments. Therefore in consideration for the common good, he began to arrange the use of the church of St. Anthony, which was excellent and located in the best place in the city and was under the control of the chapter of the cathedral — and it was to be used for sermons and the administration of the Sacraments. And another house was obtained; it was not larger than our previous dwelling, but it was better suited in order to help others, because it was near to the church of St. Anthony. The Viceroy by his authority made both of these things easy to obtain, since otherwise it would have been difficult. [23. Polancus, ex commisione, Patri Hieronymo Domenech Panormum, de iis quae Monteregali praestanda sunt, 18 Januarii. Cardinalis Farnesius Patri Laynez de visitandis, mense Aprili. Polancus, ex commissione, Patri Hieronymo Domenech, de ministeriis Panormi exercendis, et ut se ad concionandum accingant Magistri Nicolaus Lanoyus, Michael Botellus, Petrus (Bressanus?) et Paulus d’Achillis, 13 Septembris et 20 Decembris.
Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Domenech in Palermo, on what should be done in Monreale, January 18. Cardinal Farnese to Fr. Laynez on visiting in the name and authority of the Cardinal two places especially in the diocese of Monreale, in the month of April. Polanco, ex commissione, to Fr. Jerome Domenech, about the ministries to be exercised in Palermo, and that Masters Nicholas Launoy, Michael Botellus, Peter (Bressanus?) and Paul Achilles should prepare themselves for preaching, September 13 and December 20.]
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104. Migrarunt ergo sub tempus Adventus in hanc domum, et Petrus Ribadeneira in templo Sancti Antonii cum auditorio satis frequenti, in festis autem Natalitiis multo frequentiori, concionatus est; et quamvis suas lectiones non intermitteret, cum satisfactione et fructu eo munere perfunctus est, et Societatis institutum ac vocationem populo declaravit. Nam Patris Jacobi Laynez et etiam P. Hieronymi conciones, cum potius Pro-regi et ejus curiae quam populo sese accommodare debuerint et interruptae fuerunt, ut dictum est, et extraordinariae, non ita in vulgus instituti nostri ratio innotuerat. Aliqui etiam ex nostris praeterquam in xenodochiis, in plateis et aliis opportunis locis exhortationes habendo, aliquos pisces in retem evangelicam adducere conati sunt; nec sine fructu hunc laborem subierunt; unde sub anni finem plurimi utriusque sexus homines ad sacramentum confessionis in aedem D. Antonii accesserunt; ubi cum alias paucissimi pastori confiteri soliti essent, jam quinque sacerdotes nostri satis occupati compluribus diebus in audiendis confessionibus fuerint; et duo mercatores, quorum alter insignis erat, magnam vitae mutationem fecerunt; nam cum plures annos confessionis et communionis sacramentum intermisissent, cum magno odio veteris vitae Dei servitio se dedere serio coeperunt, et alios ad ipsum invitarunt; quidam etiam vir illustris per confessionem ad pacem cum capitali inimico ineundam adductus est.
104. Therefore during Advent they moved into this house, and Peter Ribadeneyra preached in the church of St. Anthony with a large audience, but on the feasts of Christmas to a much larger congregation. And although he did not interrupt his lectures, he performed that task with satisfaction and fruit, and he explained to the people the Institute and vocation of the Society. For, the sermons of Fr. James Laynez and also those of Fr. Jerome, which had to be accommodated to the Viceroy and his court rather than to the people, were interrupted, as was said, and were extraordinary, and so in these the nature of our Institute was not made known to the common people. Also some of ours, besides speaking in the hospitals, in the streets and in other suitable places, tried to lead some fish into the evangelical net; and they did not undertake this work without some fruit; hence by the end of the year many people of both sexes received the sacrament of confession in the church of St. Anthony. There when previously very few were accustomed to confess to the pastor, now five of our priests were busy for many days in hearing the confessions. And two merchants, of whom one was very eminent, made a big change of life; for, since they had neglected the sacraments of confession and communion for many years, they began seriously to dedicate themselves, with a great hatred of their former life, to the service of God, and they invited others to do the same thing. Also a certain illustrious man through his confession was led to establish peace with his deadly enemy.
