The life of B. Father Ignatius of Loyola, authour, and founder of the Society of Iesus. Translated out of Spanish into English, by W.M. of the same Society.

Of certaine beames of Glory seene about B. F. Ignatius Head; & how he was indued with the gift of Prophecy.

CHAP. XVII.

NOT only the soule of this Seruant of our Lord was illustrated with the visitatiōs, and fauours which we haue mentioned: but part of that ful∣nes, which the soule receiued, redounded likewise to his bo∣dy. Whereupon many tymes, diuers looking vpon him, did see his countenance resplen∣dent, and casting forth bright beames; as it happened in Bar∣celona to Elizabeth Rosell,

whē the B. Father sate among the children on the steps of the Altar, as we haue said: and to Iohn Paschall, the sonne of Agnes Paschall, who kept him in his house a long tyme, in the same Citty of Barce∣lona: and in Loyola, when he went from Paris, and lyued in the Hospitall, others did see the same. And at Rome the B. Father Philip Nereus, a man of knowne sanctity, & the foun∣der of the Oratory of those ve¦nerable Priests of our Blessed Lady De Nauicula, which hath done so much good in that Citty (with whome I was ve∣ry wel acquainted) was a most deuout child of our B. Father Ignatius, and came to him for counsell in all his doubts, and

perplexityes: and when he was sad, did feele his heart lightned, and reioyced with only seeing him, & was wont to recount that he had many tymes seene him with a light about his head, which did cast bright beames from it. This B. Father deceased the 26. day of May in the yeare 1595 and vpon his day and memory, his Children make a great feast.

2. But that is more notable, which happened to Alexander Petronius, a famous & much esteemed Phisitian of Rome, and a great friend of our B. Father, who being once grie∣uously sicke, Father Ignatius went to visit him, and entred into the sick mans chamber, which was very darke, all the

windowes being shut; and at his entrance it was repleni∣shed with a new light, which Alexander did see, and de∣maunded of his wife, what light that was; and presently he felt himselfe well, attribu∣ting this benefit to the Blessed Fathers presence. And though he dissembled the matter at that tyme, passing it ouer in silence; yet after the B. Fathers departure to a better life, he did publishe, and manifest it with great admiration, and e∣steeme of his Holynesse. In o∣other places likewise he was seene with this supernaturall light and splendor, and in Bar∣celona Iohn Paschall often be∣held him in prayer eleuated in the ayre, a foote & more aboue

the ground, speaking with God, and saying: O my God, O my Lord, O that men knew thee.

3. Our Lord likewise im∣parted vnto him the gift of Prophecy, so that being illu∣strated with a Diuine light, he foretold many things long be∣fore they fell out. At the tyme that he departed from Manre∣sa towards Ierusalem, Iohn Paschall aforesaid who then was but a youth about eigh∣tene Yeares old, would haue accompanied him; but the Fa∣ther willed him to returne, & assist his Mother; further tel∣ling him, that he should mar∣ry, & haue children, togeather with many troubles, and mo∣lestations counselling him to

beare them with patience and the like: all which came to passe, as the Father had fore∣told.

4. Being in Flanders, whi∣ther he went sometymes from Paris to aske almes for his su∣stenance (as hath been said before) dyning one day at Ant∣werp with certaine merchants who had inuited him, he cast his eyes vpon one of them, who was somewhat far off, a young man, called Peter Qua∣dratus, borne in Medina del Campo. And beholding him at∣tentiuely, he bad him come neerer, for being to be so great a benefactor of the Religion of the Society of Iesus, it was fit∣ting, that they should present∣ly come acquainted, and take

notice one of another: adding that he had great reason to thanke God, because he would vouchsafe to vse him, making him the founder of a Colledge of the Society (this being so long before the Society it self, began) all which was veri∣fyed. For many yeares after Peter Quadratus, and Don̄a Francisca Manjona his wife founded the Colledg, which the Society hath at this present in Medina del Campo.

5. When the Father went from Vincenza to Bassana, to visit Father Symon, who was very sick, and in danger, ha∣uing in his company Father Faber, leauing him vpon the way, he went a litle aside to pray for Father Symon, and in

his prayer was certifyed, that he should not die of that sick∣nes, as he told Father Faber at his returne. And comming to the place, where the sicke man was, he imbraced him saying: Feare not, Brother Sy∣mon, you shall not dye at this tyme; & with these words he presently recouered, as the same F. Symon often testifyed, and Father Faber related it to Father Laynes, who remay∣ned sicke at Vincenza, of whom I knew it.

6. Likewise in Bassana one of the Fathers began to doubt of his vocation, and whether it were not better to remayne in the cōpany of an Hermite, who liued a very Holy life, gi∣uing himselfe to contempla∣tion,

then to follow the B. Father, and imploy himselfe in helping the soules of his neighbours. And going one day to consult this doubt with the Hermite himselfe, he had great visions, and was much terrifyed in the way: and com∣ming in that feare, and out of breath, into the lodging, where Father Ignatius was, he with the light of Heauen kno∣wing what he had in his breast, said vnto him; Modicae sidei quare dubitasti? Man of of litle faith why didst thou doubt? And he was confirmed with these words, & perseue∣red vntill death in his voca∣tion.

7. In the yeare 1541. Ste∣phen Baroelus an Italian, en∣tred

into the Society at Rome, and not long after fell dange∣rously sicke, whereupon the Phisitians hauing in a manner giuen him ouer, our Blessed Father went to S. Peter de Monte aureo to say Masse for him. I did accompany him that day (as I vsed to do many other tymes) and I serued him at Masse: which being ended, and after he had giuē thankes, he said to me: Stephen shall not dye at this tyme. And he pre∣sently recouered, and went afterward to Portugall, and returned back againe to Italy and liued many yeares, and fi∣nally made an holy end in the Society.

8. Doctour Arrouira a very Honorable Cittizen of

Barcelona, who a few yeares since came to Madrid for Em∣bassadour of that Citty, to King Philip the second, who is now in glory, tould me that being in Rome, he had much acquaintance, and familiarity with the Blessed Father, and that one day comming from Ara Caeli, he met him in the street with a letter in his hand, which was giuen him from Don Frācisco de Borgia, Duke of Gandia, who at that tyme was marryed, and Viceroy of Catalun̄a, and that speaking of that letter, which he had re∣ceyued, he said: Little would you thinke, that this Noble man, who hath written this letter, shall come to Rome, to be the head of our Religion. Which was fulfil∣led

afterward, when the Dut∣chesse his wife being dead, the Duke entred into the Society, and hauing byn many yeares Cōmissary Generall in Spaine, in the yeare 15••5. vpon the day of the Visitation of our Blessed Lady, the second of Iuly, he was chosen to be the third Generall.

9. And th•• same Doctor Michaell Arrouira affirmed, that he being then a young man, and in doubt what state of life to choose, afterward he determined to marry: and be∣fore he told the Father his reso¦lution (for he kept it secret) the Father himselfe said vnto him. I know well inough, that you are resolued to marry; O how you will bewayle it, and in what troubles

will you see your selfe! All which fell out in that manner and this which he reported to me, he also affirmed vpon his oath, as a witnes before the Bishop of Barcelona. When Agnes Pas∣chal dyed, they sent him word of her death to Rome, that he might commend her to God: and he answered, that before the receipt of the letter, he knew, that she was depar∣ted, and in heauen.

10 Father Laynes being in Venice, procuring that that Common Wealth would put vs in possession of the Priory of S. Mary Magdalen in the Citty of Padua (which Pope Paui the third had vnited to the Colledge of the Society there) found very great difficulties,

and potent aduersaryes: in so much, that he in a manner des∣payred of that busines: wher∣upon he wrote to the Blessed Father, requesting him to say a Masse, that God would giue him good successe, which he expected not by humane meanes. The Father said the Masse vpon the Natiuity of our Lady, and wrote to Father Laynes in these words: I haue done that which you desired: be of good courage, and take no care for this busines; for you may well ac∣count it ended according to your desire. As the Father wrote, so it came to passe; for vpon the octaue of the same Natiuity of our B. Lady, the Counsell met which in Venice is called Pre∣gai, and in a manner all the Se∣nators

with one accord agreed that we should haue the posses∣sion giuen vs, to the great ad∣miration of those, who had experience in the gouerment of that Common Wealth. He likewise told the same Father Laynes, that he should succeed him in the office of Generall, and so he did.

11. In the yeare 1555. sending the Fathers Hierome of Nadall, and Lewys Gonsa∣lez de Camera to Spayne, he willed them to ship themselue presently at Genua, for with out doubt, they should haue a prosperous nauigation; and so they had, though it were in winter. The German Colledg being in extreme necessity, and without hope of remedy,

in so much that the Cardinalls who had care of it, were so dis∣mayed, that they counselled the blessed Father not to weary himselfe in so disperat a matter: he answered, that he would not giue it ouer, and that the tyme would come, in which that Colledge should be suffici∣ently prouided, and stored of all necessaryes. And so it was. For the Holynesse of Pope Gregory the XIII. endowed, & founded it liberally, so that now it hath completly all things needfull.

12. The like succeded in the prouision of the Roman Colledg of the Society, which being in great want, and not knowing by any humane means, from whence or how

to be prouided, the Father be∣tooke himselfe to prayer, and after told certayne Fathers, that there was no care to be ta∣ken for that busines: and that within a few moneths, our Lord would prouide for it, as he did, & sometymes as it were miraculously, vntill the same Pope Gregory the XIII. of holy memory, founded it. He foretold other things like to these, before they happened: all which were fulfilled, as he said, and I omit them for bre∣uity

Notes

• The Fa∣thers head, & counte∣nāce be∣come resple∣dent.
• He had the gift of Pro∣phecy.