Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. IN THE NOVITIATE. 1567--1568. The life of the novices in the Society of Jesus, and, indeed, in almost any Religious Order, is made up of a regular succession of duties. Many of these may seem insignificant and even trivial to those who only read of them, and who do not consider either the intention with which they are all performed, or the continual action on the soul of obedience which enforces them. For this reason it is hardly possible to convey by description a fair idea of the daily routine of life on which Stanislaus Kostka entered when he went to live at Sant' Andrea. But, as it happens, the order of the day is still in existence and has been followed faithfully in all substantial respects since his time. It was drawn up by the holy General, St. Francis Borgia, who admitted him into the Society. This was transcribed by our Saint, and the MS. was preserved as a precious treasure in the relic chapel of the Jesuit Church of SS. Peter and Paul at Cracow. An authentic copy was made of it for the processes.1 It may be well to set out in a few paragraphs the main features of the regulations under which so many happy souls have been trained to perfection. The time of rising is not fixed in this copy of the rules: it must have been very early, and nearly seven hours after the retiring to bed for the night. The novices were roused by a bell, after which they had half an hour allowed for dressing, during which they were to say some short prayers, for covering up their beds, and other such duties. They might spend what they had to spare of this time as a preparation for their meditation, in spiritual reading, or prayer, according to the direction of the Master of Novices, and to the method laid down in the Additions, or at all...