A golden treatise of mentall praier with diuerse spirituall rules and directions, no lesse profitable then necessarie for all sortes of people. First composed by the venerable and blessed father, Fr. Peter de Alcantara, of the Seraphicall Order of S. Francis. Beatified the 18. of Aprill. 1622. Translated into English by G.VV. To vvhich is prefixed a breife relation of the life, and death of the same father vvritten by G.VV. of the same order and obseruance.

CHAP. VI. Of his feruant prayers and raptures, & of his spirit of prophesie. (Book 6)

GOD almightie was alwayes pre∣sent with him, and he with God. His soule was like a fyerie for∣nace, made hott with the fuell of the crosse of CHRIST. It was not in his owne power, to conteine himselfe, but what thinge soeuer he either sawe, or heard, which might delight his beloued IESVS, though it were but a farr of, his heart-stringes would beginne to trēble, and his vitall spirits leaue him, and fre∣quently fall into extasie. He was accou∣stomed for a wholl houre together, to say his prayers with his armes stretched out in manner of a crosse, sightinge and weepinge, till at last he would be besides himselfe, eleuated from the ground, and vnited only to his God. He was often∣times in this manner rapt, when he was in the quire at mattins. But his deuotion was much more augmēted at the aulter, when he celebrated the dreadfull sacri∣fice,

then would riuers of teares gush in aboundance from his venerable eies, that would moue the most stonie and obdu∣rate heart of any of the standers by, vnto compunction. After masse he would withdrawe himselfe into his cell, where he hath beene often heard to haue had greuious conflicts with deuils: who of∣tentimes appearinge in a visible shape, would followe him vp and downe with a terrible furie.

In talkinge of God almightie, his soule would be presently inebriated with diuine sweetnes, and ascendinge by degrees from one word to an other, as, what was God incarnated for me? was God made man for me? was God vested with humane flesh for me? and the like. He would forthwith breake into excla∣mations, and hurryinge himselfe into his cell, would for the space of aboue three howers together, loose the vse of his senses.(a) 1.1 One day, a brother, that was newely made Preist, practisinge in the garden to singe masse, when he heard him singe these wordes of S. IOHNS gospell. (Et Verbum caro factum est.) He was eleuated into the aire two cubits high, and flewe through fower dores with the violence of this motion, at

length settinge himselfe vpon his knees, before the blessed Sacrament for a longe space together remained in extasie.

This therfore vvas ordinarie to the freind of God, that vvhen he heard any thinge of the humanitie of our blessed Sauiour, or any deuout vvord of the ho∣ly Scripture, it vvould cause him raptu∣res. Neither could he help them, though he did striue much against them, espe∣cially in the presence of others, but his heart vvould become like meltinge vvax in the middest of his bovvells. He vvas often in seinge the Crucifix, moued vvith such compassion that his armes a cross vvould be rapt, vvith little cloudes glitteringe about his heade.

He would some times prophesie, to some the loss of honours, to others sud∣den death, to other purgatorie. Which would fall out the verie day and hower he told them.

The first time he sawe S. THERE∣SIA he told her what contradictions and afflictions she suffered from her ghostly Fathers, and other spirituall persons, who would needs perswade her, that she was seduced. And more∣ouer, that she was to suffer much more, in the same kinde. He like wife

forteold what should be successe in the Indies.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Marianut in vita B. Al∣cant. cap. 10.