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 Griefe which S. Pachomius tooke for the lapsed: Togeather with this Discretion, and Patience in all occasions. Chap. 9.

FRom these, and other such like successes, looke how much con∣solation S. Pachomius tooke in our Lord; so much griefe and sorrow felt he for the ill proceeding of some, who tyred with la∣bour, & to much giuen to carnall prudence, would neuer throughly renounce themselues, nor be desployed of the old man. The holy Man would seeke to help such by all meanes possible, but in vayne. Because they, partly not knowing how to deny their proper will; partly affrighted with the difficulty of vertue, and with the exam∣ples of the pennances and Mortifications which they saw in others; finally being vanquished by the spirit of pusillanimity, and vayne feare, did suffer themselues to be caryed from the port, into the dā∣gerous tempests of the world: Yet this departure of theirs was not

altogether vnprofitable to others, since the field of our Lord hee•…•…∣pon, being purged from weeds and cockle, became continually more pleasant and fruitfull. And besides, from thence might be ga∣thered, how that euen as the austerity of the Monasticall life do•…•… not hurt Seculars, if they wil but help themselues with it, in some part; so neyther the aduice, good carriage, nor the Prayers of o∣thers do benefit Monkes, if they resolue not to shake of quite, very manfully all manner of Slouth and Cowardise.

But to conserue, and to promote Men of good disposition, one of the principall industryes of this great Louer of the Crosse, was, not to permit, that in the treating of his person, should be vsed par∣ticularityes with him, of any sort whatsoeuer, as we shall see by the ensuing acts. He being gone on a tyme, in company of some Mon•…•… to reaping in an Iland called Threa (where euery one had built him a houell to retyre himselfe to, in due tymes) the good Father, whe∣ther it were, through age, or with ouermuch worke, fell sick of a feuer, and Theodore, in his cold fit, being ready to couer him with▪ Shepheards mantle wouen with hayre, S. Pachomius would by n•…•… meanes suffer it, but willed him to take it away sudenly, and to co∣uer him only with a Mat, as the custome was to do with others; which done, Theodore brings him a handful of dates, exhorting him to refresh himselfe with them: Whereat the good Father, with teares in his eyes, replyed.

Why, Theodore, because we haue power ouer the labours of our Brethren, and to vs the care belonges to prouide and distribute the portions among them; should we therefore at our pleasure, and without any regard be treating of our selues in this sort, or be ta∣king of any thing superfluous, or out of tyme, and comon custome? And where should our holy Feare be then, if we should do so? For tell me; Brother, haue you runne through al the houels, & certifyed yourselfe, that there is no other sick body, more necessitous then I▪ deceiue not your self so, Theodore, iniquity is abominable in the sight of God, not only in great, but euen also in smaller matters. If others then, with diuine help, can patiently suffer afflictions, and dis∣commodityes; why should not I seeme to suffer the same? And with this answere, he sent the Disciple a way exceedingly edifyed and instructed. S. Pachomius likewise had obteyned of our Lord, together with the discretion of spirits, that same likewise of the Infirmityes, so as he could very well distinguish, which proceeded from natural

causes, and which from the operation of the Enemy; who many •…•…ymes, for to •…•…hinder the diuine seruice, is wont to alter the humours of human bodyes, and to cause indispositions in them. Wherupon S. Pachomius being assayled on a tyme in the Monastery with a most grieuous feuer; it seemed to him very requisit, to cause him thereby increase his abstinence (since by this meanes for fiue •…•…ontinuall dayes, he remayned without eating and drinking) but •…•…et slackt not a whit to rise in the meane tyme vnto Prayer. Wher∣with, being cured, he went with the rest into the Refectory, giuing •…•…hankes to the Eternall Goodnes.

But yet with all this rigour, which he vsed with him selfe, let •…•…o man thinke, he was hard or mercyles towards others, but rather (as hath been sayd aboue) was he wonderfull tender, and compas∣•…•…ionate to all, and afforded all possible succours to relieue their ne∣•…•…essityes. Besides that, as farre as reason of gouernement would per∣mit, setting all arrogancy a part, he would be shewing himselfe e∣quall, or rather inferiour to all. In so much, as being weauing on a •…•…yme, and controuled by a child with saying, Father, you worke not •…•…ight, for lo, our maister weaues not in that manner; he arose vp sudenly from his seate, and whereas another would eyther haue see∣med, as if he had not heard him, or haue chastised his little modesty: The holy Old Man with a cheerefull countenance, approching to the Maister, and quietly taking instruction from him, went sudenly to execute the same, with singular humility, and with the great edi∣fication of as many as were present. With these and such like things not only particular and profane men; being now inuited at last, but euen whole congregations likewise of other Monks, came to ioyne, and submit themselues to S. Pachomius, to whome with equall cha∣rity, he afforded Rules, and Superiours.