The Holy life of Philip Nerius founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. To which is annexed a relation written by S. Augustine of the miracles in his dayes, wrought many of them in or near the city wherein he resided and well-known to him. And a relation of sundry miracles wrought at the monastery of Port-Royall in Paris, A.D. 1656. publikcly [sic] attested by many witnesses. / Translated out of a French copie published at Paris. 1656.

CHAP. IV His Gift of Tears.

ADd to this, that the heart of Philip pierced with the Love of Christ became so exceeding soft, that when any ones discourse tended either to grief or pity, he could not hold breaking forth into Tears. He would so bitterly bewaill offences com∣mited against God, and the offenders, that by re∣port of Cardinal Frederic Borromeo, you might have seen him weep like a Child corrected by his Parents.

A Young Noble man had for shame concealed some sins of his in Confession, Philip observed it; and looking earnestly on him lets fall a showre of tears; whereby he procured of God for his Penitent such hearty sorrow for sin, that he likewise burst out in∣to tears very plentifully: they both wept, were both silent; neither of them left weeping for a good space, at length the young man fals down on his knees, detects all the foul corners of his consci∣ence to him; whom the B. Father affectionately embracing, and accepting his Confession, dismissed, assoiled of his faults, and satisfied in his mind. But Philip, being of a most mild temper, had not wept e∣nough; till hying to his chamber, he there let lose the reins to his sorrows, to the full. After which the young man discovered to his former con∣fessor the sins of his whole life; and within few days comes and tels Philip, how he had disclosed all: to whom the Father answered, Though I heard not the Confession of your life, yet be sure, I exactly know all and every of the faults you have ever committed.

Nay more then that, I tell you, now you carry a good face with you: (which kind of expression the H. man used when he saw any of his reclaimed:) he re∣plied, I beseech you, Father, that you would obtain sin∣cere contrition for me by your prayers to God; and had scarse spoke the word, but he was immediately struck from heaven with so profound a grief, as he said, he never felt a greater in all his life.

The Good man one time went to a Noble mans Mannour with Caesar Baronius, Joh. Franc. Bordi∣nus, Thomas Bozzius, and others. In the afternoon, about the time when usually the sermons begin in the Church, Philip on the sudden enjoyned Bozzi∣us to preach to them ex tempore, that those who were there might not be wholly without benefit of the word of God. He did, when straight Philip ad∣ding somewhat in confirmation of what he had said, as he was speaking, there fell on him such a trem∣bling all his body over, and such aboundance of tears and sobs came from him, that he was fain to break off his discourse. This used to happen al∣most as often as he spake of spirituall matters.

A certain Prelate surprized him once on the sud∣den, as he was reading the Lives of Saints, weeping excessively; who asking him, Father, what doth this weeping m••an? he jestingly answered, May not I grieve, who am an Orphan bereft of both my Parents? at which the Prelate smiled, and he both handsome∣ly and wisely smothered the cause of his sorrow∣ing. Another time Angelus Victorius a Physician, one, whom the Father loved, took him reading and crying over the lives of the Saints, when de∣manding the reason of his heaviness, I lament saith, he, that this Saint, whose story is in my hands, renounced the world, whereas I have never yet done the least good:

and added, what, O Angelus, If thou shouldest see me beaten with cudgels thorow the City? Thou wouldest say, spare, O spare that Good Philip, who professed so great Sanctity. Nay rather lay on, Executioner, lay on soundly: and as he uttered these words the tears trickled down his cheeks.

If he but read, or spake at any time of the Pas∣sion of our Lord, presently the tears ran down. Once in Holy week he read the Passion of Christ at Mass, as the custom is; when perceiving himself Rapt, he strove by all means to divert his thoughts another way; but coming to the Sacred History of Christs Death, unable to contain any longer, he gave scope to his sighs and grones, all that were present wondring and weeping together with him. Yea very often upon the hearing one word only of the Passion, he would melt into tears: otherwhiles wax pale, either hearing or speaking of that My∣stery. Sometimes he could hardly breathe, other times he trembled every joint: So that he was a∣bout to forbear preaching publikely; and being ask∣ed, Why? his answer was, Because he had not such ready parts: yet he abstained not formerly, for that the number of Preachers being but small, what nature was defective in, God supplied.

He went to dinner once to the Refectory of S. Pra∣xede, erected by S. Carlo Borromeo, and with him the Cardinal of Vercellae, a most holy and learned person: and when, according to their custome after meals, the Spiritual Conferences began, each one be∣ing to answer in order, Philip, on occasion offered, beginning to treat of the Love of Christ, the Tears and Sighs broke in so fast upon him, that his voyce being stop'd, he stood stone-still without moving.

When he was once very sick, they gave him Cock-

broth to drink, but taking the Porrenger in his hand, he wept exceedingly; saying, Thou, ô my Sa∣viour, hangedst on the Tree, and am I served in my bed, amidst so many delights, so many conveniences, so great attendance? which as he repeated again and again, such a flood of Tears followed, that he was not able to drink.

When he administred the H. Communion to his Penitents, the Tears fell in such plenty, that he was often forced to desert the employment.

At Divine Service he was so affected with the Melody of Church-Musick, that he many times cried all the while. Being once in the Q••ire among the Friers at S. Maries supra Minervam, he wept so, that he wet all the forepart of his cloathes

Last of all he was so inclined to grief, that on all occasions of Piety he would shed Tears: and it was reckoned for a Miracle, that by continual weeping he lost not his fight, which he retained perfect to fourscore years of age, without using Spectacles; though he had divers pairs by him, to preserve and refresh his sight, as he said, which after his death were affirmed to have done many strange Cures, be∣ing used in diseases.

Among others, Lucia Marzana, a Recluse in the Monastery of S. Lucia in silice, in the City, being much troubled with the Head-ach, applying but the H. mans Spectacles to the place affected, fell into a gentle slumber, and when she rose, her pai•• was gone.