Fuga sæculi. Or The holy hatred of the world Conteyning the liues of 17. holy confessours of Christ, selected out of sundry authors. Written in Italian by the R. Fa. Iohn-Peter Maffæus of the Society of Iesus. And translated into English by H.H.

The history of Theodore, and how he and his Mother entred into the discipline of S. Pachomius.

THeodore once on a festiuall day, beholding the riches, the de∣lights, and the ornaments of his owne house, felt himselfe sud∣•…•…enly to be interiourly moued by the diuine grace, & began to dis∣•…•…ourse with himselfe in this manner, saying: What shall all these •…•…ases, contentments, and momentary pleasures auayle me (Wretch •…•…s I am) if I come to be depriued of the Eternall? Forasmuch as •…•…one for the present can attend to these, and in the future enioy the •…•…thers: and fetching suddenly a great sigh, retyred himselfe into a •…•…ore secret place of the house, where prostrate in teares, he sayd: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Lord, who seest the secrets of harts, thou knowest, I prefer not •…•…ny thing of this life before thy loue: vouchsafe then to illumine •…•…e, so as I may be able to vnderstand thy will; and that perfectly •…•…xecuting the same, I may glorify, and prayse thee foreuer.

After this, refusing the commodityes and the cherishments of •…•…is Mother, he began to giue himselfe seriously to abstinence, and •…•…astings, with other mortifications and asperityes, wherin hauing •…•…xercised himself for some two yeares together, he recollected him∣•…•…elfe in the company of some Seruants of God. One of which, (the •…•…espers being ended) discoursing according to the custome amōgst •…•…hem of spirituall things, he entred in, to speake of the Tabernacle, •…•…nd of the Saencta Sanctorum, of the ancient Law; interpreting the exteriour Tabernacle (as that which was of the manner of manu∣facture) to signify the first people of the Iewes; but that of the Sancta Sanctorum, should figure the vocation of the Gentils, as hauing a more sumptuous and mysticall entry with it; whence in the place of Sacrifices of beasts, and insteed of the Thurible, of the Table, of the Arke, of the Candlesticke, of the Propitiatory, and of all those o∣ther

ancient symbols, for our saluation, hath succeeded the diuine word it selfe: who assuming our human flesh, hath taken vs from the paynes of our sinnes, through the holy light of the Ghospell, and with the satisfaction of his infinite merits.

This said, he confessed he had heard this interpretation from the great Pachomius himselfe, who had lately gathered togeather good number of Monks in the Iland of Tabenna, and gouerned them with merueilous discipline; and I hope (added he) that the mentiō of this Man of God, now made by me, may impetrate for vs some indulgence of our sinnes. The good Monke had scarce finished his discourse, when Theodore was enflamed with the relation made, with an exceeding desire of knowing S. Pachomius by sight, and to giue himselfe wholy to be gouerned by him. In so much, as a ver∣tuous and good Old man, called Pecusius, being come thither from Tabenna, for to visit that Congregation there, was by Theodor intre∣ated at his returne, with great affectiō, he would be pleased to con∣duct him with him to the blessed Pachomius, as he did with a very good will, and being arriued at the holy place, the youth, not being able to conteyne himselfe from teares of Ioy, was receiued by him with a great deale of charity, and numbred with the others; when in a short tyme, he profited so much in all manner of vertues, as S. Pachomius himselfe, did wonder at it.

There was afterwards an occasion presented to make the con∣stancy and feruour of this Nouice more renowned. In reguard the Mother, being now become a widow, and not brooking the ab∣sence of her sonne; came to Tabenna in person, bringing letters frō the Bishops with expresse order to haue him restored her agayne. Heere now, she being receiued by the Nuns, as a guest, she speedily sent the letters to S. Pachomius, vrging the execution therof. When the seruant of Christ, hauing called Theodore to him, said to him in this sort: I vnderstand thy Mother is come to see thee, behold the Letters of the Bishops, which she hath brought me, for that end. Go thy wayes then, and comfort her, especially for the Prelates sakes who haue recommended it to me. Theodore answered. Do you giue me security then, Reuerend Father, that this little edification, which I shall giue vnto others, with such an enteruiew, be not imputed to me, at the day of Iudgment? Forasmuch as if in the tymes before grace, the children of Leui, did quite forsake their Parents, howbeyt most deere vnto them, for to serue the Lord God wholy: how much

rather should I, that haue receyued so great mercy and light from the •…•…ame Lord God, keep my selfe from preferring in any wise the affe∣ction to flesh, before the loue, and seruice of his diuine Maiesty? see∣ing our Sauiour hath sayd openly to vs: He that loues his Father, or Mo∣ther more then me, is not worthy of me. Then S. Pachomius declared him∣selfe better vnto him, with saying: If it seeme not expedient to thee my Sonne, I will not vrge thee to it, but rather confesse the other to be of more perfection; because indeed the Monke is to fly al world∣ly commerce, and be louing, with an ordinate affection, & without passion, all those who through fayth, are members of Christ. And if any would seeme to oppose, that he may not desist from wishing well to his owne bloud, let him note that saying of the Scripture, That euery one becomes the slaue of him, that vanquitheth him.

By this manner of speach, the good Youth, being now con∣firmed more, and more, would by no meanes, shew himselfe to his Mother. And it pleased our Lord, through this austerity of his, that she remained so astonished and moued to deuotion as she deter∣mined likewise herselfe to leaue the world, and with the approba∣tion of S. Pachomius, was receiued into the number of the Seruants of Christ. Whence may be gathered, that things being done to the greater glory of God, howbeit in the beginning sometymes, they may seeme perilous and bitter: yet neuerthelesse through diuine dis∣position, do they produce many tymes most sweet fruites.