CHAP. XI. His Almes.

BUt not only to the Souls of others, but even to their Corporal necessities was He helpfull to a •reat degree. For visiting the Poor he supplied •hem not with money alone, but all other necessa∣•ies for preserving of health; which thing he of•en •id unsought to, and many times fore knowing Page  132 their extreamities by a Divine instinct, aboundant∣ly furnished them with all requisites.

He relieved some unasked as oft as they needed: which he knew by supernaturall Revelation: so he gave Anton. Fantinius 16. Crowns without asking: and maintained a Nobleman with Diet and Clothes for a long time together, being reduced to extream misery. He distributed not slight but liberall Alms, both in money and other things; for when a prime Lady sent him a rich sute of furniture for a present, he sold it straight, and gave it all to the Poor.

Yea he relieved not private Persons, but whole Families with his Charity: for he kept a poor woman and 4 children with the Grand-mother four years to∣gether, sometimes sending them twenty Crowns at a time, more or lesse toward their maintenance.

He provided both apparrell and victualls for the Wife of Vincentius vulgarly called Miniator, or the Limner, of whom hereafter; she was a woman of rare Vertue, and among other her Acts of devotion confessed every day, who had lately lost her Hus∣band, the care of 6 Sons lying upon her hand: be∣sides he bought all necessaries for her Daughter▪ who was then devoting her self to a Religious life.

Further, he maintained at his own charge th• family of Gabrielia of Cortona, a woman of admira∣ble worth, and raised a portion for her Daughte• then marriagable at his own cost; and bestowed he• in wedlock.

And though he opened his Bowels in bounty thu• to all, yet did he shew himself most liberall in re∣lieving Maids. He distributed among the Necee• of Joh. Animuccio, being in extream want, abou• 600 Crowns, besides diet. Two Florentine Maid• Page  133 living at Rome to the perill of their Chastity, after their Parents death, he supplied with all things fitting; till a competent dowry being liberally as∣signed either of them, he sent them home into their Country to spend their days in a Monastery: he alloted them fourscore Crowns apiece to live in a Nunnery and serve God. Three other poor young Maids he gave in Marriage appointing them porti∣ons: and on one of their Husbands besides a por∣tion he bestowed a 100 Crowns: Beyond all this he undertook the charge of twenty Virgins; which a certain Widow without his knowlege had got to∣gether, when they were ready to sterve; these he kept and brought up, till each of them in time were conveniently and handsomely disposed of. Briefly, the Tables made for his Canonization do amply testifie, that by his care and direction almost an innumerable company of Maids were provided for: besides that he is by the testimony of divers averred to be the Author of the Nunnery of S. Ka∣therine de Rosa. And how should it come to pass, think we, that almost forty years after his death, we should behold in this City such Troopes of Holy Virgins warring under the Colours of Blessed Philip, were it not for his sake and merits, who while he lived, was a Patron, and Protector, to so many of them?

He went twice a week to all the Prisons, carrying them money, and when he was unfurnished some∣times for such contributions, he would put others, who were richer, upon the office. In like manner he perswaded divers Lawyers and Prelates with much importunity to undertake the Patronage of priso∣ners causes, or at least to favour them when by o∣thers undertaken: he was also very liberall to Page  134 those who, as it is in the Gospel, could not dig, and were a shamed to beg: for he full well knew, how heavy and sad a condition it is for one formerly rich and Noble to be brought to poverty and indi∣gence.

He apportion'd a monethly allowance to certain Religious Houses beside the Almes he dispensed every day. Nay more he kept the particular names, of Religious places hanging at his Chamber door, and many times sent them money.

It was his custome, if he saw any pregnant youths that for want of subsistence were forced to quit their studies, not only to find them food and ray∣ment, but buy them books too, such as were necssary for attaining liberall Arts and Sciences. Of these two so acquitted them in the profession of Learning, that for their deserts they were advanced to the dignity of Cardinals. And Antony Gallonius affirms no indigent Person ever came to him that went a way empty-handed. yea some were of opinion that He was many times furnished with money from a∣bove, some extraordinary way.

This so prodigious bounty, or profuseness ra∣ther, God was pleased to approve by most evident miracles. For going one night to carry bread to an honourable but poor man, whilest yet among the Laity, for hast to avoid a Coach that was in full speed, he fell head-long into a deep pit, when an Angel catching him by the hair of the head miracu∣lously preserved him.

About the same time an Angel met him in the likeness of a poor man, desiring an alms; to whom He offered willingly all the money he had; when the Angel seeing his good will, refusing the money told him I came but to try what you would do: and straight vanished out of fight.

For this his Charity to the poor, and care of saving souls, he was generally termed, The Father of souls and Bodies. And many after his death re∣counting with themselves the charitable Acts done by him in his life, their hearts melting in them at the remembrance thereof, could not but weep: and divers did frequently and openly affirm, Posterity would never have his equall for liberality and munifi∣cence.

Therfore Cardinal Robert Bellarmin a man re∣nowned as well for Learning, as vertue and holi∣ness, whom the H. Congregation of Rites commissio∣ned to see him entred in the Calender of Saints, perusing the evidence of publique Testimonies, and seeing such a Catologue of Charities, did not stick honourably to entitle him a Second Iohn The Almo∣ner.

A woman named Mary going to S. Peters Church that day the B. S. Francisca of Rome was Registred among the Saints, and calling to mind the Alms she had received of the H. man in his life time, the tears running down, And when, saith she, shall my Father Philip be reckoned among the Saints too? for if S. Francis carried faggots on her head about the streets to warm the Poor and needy nigh frozen with cold; my Father Philip hath come to me a hundred times laden with bread and other kind of victuals to keep me from famishing. This woman, the Good man instructed in Mentall Prayer, by teaching her to meditate largely, and dilate on the first words of the Lords Prayer; Pater Noster.

Nor was He only mercifull and compassionate, but exceeding thankfull and free.

Yet although He shewed such exemplary charity to the Poor he could not endure to have them go begging about the Church: therefore sometimes would he rise from his Chair where he took Con∣fessions, and make them wait at the Church-doors: as likewise he was very carefull there should be no noise to hinder the worship of God, or disturb that silence that ought to be in the Church.