To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
BY purity of mind is not only vnderstood innocency of life, but also a right intention of doing all our actions purely for the Glory of God and for no other end.
How great was this purity in Saint Francis? The sole aime of his immense labours was the Glory of God, not seeking any thing else either in his voyages by the most dangerous seas of Europe,
Asia, and Africa, or journies by land I may say through both worlds, or in his most troublesome preach∣ing, but that God should be known praised and glorified. Jn a word, all he suffered (which as Francis Mansilla a great while companion to the Saint, said is not to be con∣ceived how much it was) was only for the Glory of God, never re∣garding any the least privat in∣terest.
The reward of his labours was a most sublime degree of sanctity which he arrived vnto, whereby afterwards he deserved such a Glory in Heaven, and received so many favours here on earth.
And our Saviour to shew how pleasing his labours were to him wrought that continual miracle, that in his Fathers house a Cruci∣fix sweat bloud every time the
Saint was in any difficult enter∣prise or suffering.
Examen yourself, Devout soul, and see what intention you have in all your actions; if to please God only or else for some other privat interest. Jf the first, give God thanks, and stirre your self vp to perseverance; if the second, be sorry and purpose an amend∣ment.
But by purity of body is chiefly vnderstood the vertue of chastity, which retrenches all sensual vn∣lawful pleasures.
He excelled so much in this ver∣tue, that as long as he lived he preserved the lily of his Virginity vnstained, and therefore is gene∣rally painted with one. And which is yet more to be admired, he pre∣served it most pure even living in the world, amongst the deights
and enticements of his own house, in the heat of his young blood, and liberty of the students of the Vniversity of Paris, where he lived, and even in the most licentious and loose manners of the Mahometans and Gentils, with whome he conversed so many years.
God rewarded this his Angelical purity, with the incorruption of his body after his death, and with infinite other miracles. For George Alvarez having buried it in quick lime that he might the easier carrie his bones from Sanciano (the Jsland where he died) to Goa, after three months found it as intire, as if newly buried; and which is more the body being cut bled as fresh as if alive.
This miracle extended it self also to his cloths which were pre∣served
from receiving any harm from the lime, which naturally would have consumed both.
The body also sent out a most fragrant odour, far surpassing any in this world. The carrying the body through Malaca, freed it from a most desperate and infec∣tious plague. And when it was brought to Goa, the miracle of it's incorruption did no lesse con∣tinue, for severall times it bled a fresh, and even to this day (being now above a hundred years) ceases not, the body being as incorrupt as ever. Every one may easily see how he behaveth himself in this vertue, according to his state and condition.
MOst glorious Apostle of the East, most pure in body and soul: I, a most miserable creature, with all humility have recours to you, begging you would by your intercession obtain for me such a pure intention in all my actions, that I may never aime therein at any thing else but the greater glory of God; and such a pure chastity, that neither in thought, much lesse in word or deed, I may ever displease the most pure eyes of our good God. Amen. Through the intercession of SAINT FRANCIS XAVERIVS God grant me purity of mind and body. Amen.