An abridgement of the life of S. Francis Xaverius of the Society of Iesus, new apostle of India and Japony together with some few of the innumerable authentical miracles wrought by him of late years / by W.B.

The cure of a Pestilent Feuer, and the miraculous restoring of natural strength and forces, obtained by honoring a litle picture, which had touched the Relicks of S. Francis Xauerius at Me∣chlin, approued for a miracle by the most Reuerend the Vicar General of the vacant Bishoprick of Bolduke.

I Ʋdocus Houbraken Canon of the Ca∣thedral Church of Anwerp, and Vi∣car General of the vacant Diocess of Bolduke, To all that shall see these, Health in our Lord.

Amongst the vndoubted signes of the true Church are miracles, which are sometimes wont to be wrought, as well for the conuersion of Infidels to the faith, as also for the confirma∣tion of the faithful in the same faith: for these miracles was singularly famous, both in his life, and after his death, S. Francis Xauerius of the Society of JESƲS, the glorious Apostle of In∣dia and Iapony, who, as we haue vnderstood, has extended to our subjects his miraculous and benefical arm, [a litle peece whereof is ex∣posed to publick veneration at Mechlin in the Church of the Society of JESƲS.] Which that it may more manifestly appear, by these our present letters we testify, that we haue parti∣cularly examined, and caused to be examined the cure of a malignant feuer, and the sudden restoring of strength and forces, which by his means a certain yong woman in our Diocess

of Bolduke obtained in the manner following.

When in the year 1662. the plague was at Breda, N. N. a farmers wife of the territory of Bolduke assisted her brother who was there sick of it: she being return'd home fell sick of a contagious feuer, and infected her husband, two sons, and her daugter Catharin being two and twenty years old. First of all the mother, and afterwards the father being taken away by this pestilential malady, and the two bro∣thers also infested with the same, Catharin, from the six and twentith of Iuly to the three and twentith of August, was so exhausted with the continual burnings of the same pest, as that she lost at length not only her natural forces, but also her vnderstanding, in such sort as there being no remedy for her in hu∣man art, a skilful surgeon auouched that there was no hopes of her life, who amongst diuers others, both with his hand and oath confirmed this our narration. Their friends & neighbors vndoubtedly perswaded themselues that this house was infected with the plague; whereupō there was none who would afford comfort & necessary assistance to the sick parties. Not∣withstanding their good Pastor, confiding through the merits and intercession of S. Fran∣cis Xauerius both to be preserued himself from infection, and also to free the sick from theyr infirmity, did not desert those who were de∣serted by all their friends. Hauing therefore late in the euening administred to Catharin the Holy Sacrament of Extreme Vnction, retur∣ning again the same euening, he brought with

him a picture of S. Francis Xauerius, which had touched his Holy Relicks famous for mi∣racles at Mechlin, and presenting it to Catha∣rin, who was in a manner just a dying, by the hands of her brother, he incited them all to put their confidence in the intercession of that Blessed Saint to God for them. Catharin had now layne four or fiue dayes, without being able to moue herself: the picture being offe∣red her, she took it and kist it with a great confidence, the Pastor hauing exhorted her to contiue that her Deuotion all night, he retur∣ned home. The next day early in the morning, without any bodies help or knowledge, Ca∣tharin rose out of her bed, and put on her clothes herself, and walked about the house: nay euen that very day, she would haue gon out into the field to get forrage for the cat∣tel, had not her brothers hindred her. The day after she indeed went abroad, when in the mean time, the Pastor being come to visit her, expecting to finde her in her bed, either dead or dying, he sees her come in at the door loa∣ded with a great basket of forrage, which she had gathered in the field. The good man was wholly astonished at this vnexspected miracu∣lous change, but withall reprehended her im∣prudence, for so rashly exposing herself to the open air, and danger of a relapse, being but immediately recouered of so dangerous a ma∣lady. The maid hauing heard him with respect due to his person, confidently replied, Sir, be not solicitous for me, I am out of danger, the Saint has perfectly cured me, and restored me my

strength euer since yesterday morning.

All these things hauing been declared to vs by a legal Instrument, to which, the Reuerend Pastor, Catharin herself, and the surgeon, her two brothers, and others of her kindred and neighbors had subscribed with oath, we first approued a Commissary in those parts, an ho∣nest and vnderstanding man, who after he had examined all things in our name, and had again, interposing the fidelity of an oath, receiued knowledge of the same things from Catharin, confirmed all with his own seal. Afterwards we our selues, here at Anwerp, examined the foresaid Catharin, in the presence of her Pas∣tor conscious of all that had passed, and we found vnder the same Religion of an oath, that all had so happened. Which things being manifest, moreouer, there hauing been sent vnto vs in writing, the judgements of most skilful Physitians, who had been consulted about this matter, to wit of Tungers, and Brussels, & especially of two famous Professors and Doctors of Physick, & also of two others of the famous vniuersity of Louain, who vna∣nimously agreed, that this restauration of for∣ces and strength in so short a space of time could not be obtained by any power of nature; to the end that we might do nothing but le∣gally, and according to the Decrees of the Councel of Trent, we haue consulted learned men and skilful Diuines, and haue again in presence and with them heard the foresaid Ca∣tharin, and finally all things hauing been ma∣turely, and as in the presence of God consi∣dered,

after a long and often repeated exami∣nation, we thought it was fitting that we should decree, and by these presents we haue decreed, that the cure of the said Catha∣rin may be esteemed and published as miracu∣lous, and wrought by God, and obtained through the merits of S. Francis Xauerius, and we do publish it, and testify, that we esteem it as such: beseeching God the Author of all things, that as he has been pleased to gather to his Church the nations of the Indies, by the preaching and miracles of S. Francis Xaue∣rius while he liued, so he would now vouch∣safe in these parts, by the miracles and inter∣cession of the same Saint, to conserue & con∣firm his faithful people in the same Church, & graciously to gather those vnto her, who are by any error whatsoeuer separated from her. In confirmation of all these things, I haue subscribed these presents with my own hand, & ordered them to be signed with the seal of our vicarship, vpon the 19. of the Month of March, in the year of our Lord 1664.

JVDOCƲS HOVBRAKEN.

✚ The place of the Seal.

Notes

• An Dom 1662.