# The Practice Of Christian And Religious Perfection/Volume 1/Life Of Alphonsus Rodriguez

LIFE OF ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ.
The celebrated father, Alphonsus Rodriguez, to whom all devout Christians, as well as the members of the different religious orders of the Church, are so deeply indebted for the rich treasures which he has bequeathed to them in his ascetic writings, was born at Valladolid, in Spain. He commenced his studies at Salamanca ; and there, after having attained his degree in the School of Philosophy, he was moved by the apostolic preaching of Father John Ramirez, of the Society of Jesus, and, at the age of nineteen, embraced the religious state in that society. During his noviceship, and in the course of his theological studies, he acquired so high a reputation for virtue, that scarcely was he ordained priest when he was intrusted with the care of the young religious to train them up in the spirit of their vocation — an employment which is considered of the utmost importance in the society. Amongst those who had the happiness of being under him as master of novices, was the celebrated doctor, Father Francis Suarez, who used frequently to congratulate himself on having been the disciple of one so renowned in spiritual life. He was next appointed Rector of Monterei, where he afterwards remained ; and, during the space of twelve years, delivered lectures in Moral Theology with such celebrity that many were anxious to obtain copies of his writings. To the important duties of the theological chair, his zeal associated still greater labours in his endeavours to promote the spiritual welfare of the city in which he dwelt, and of the neighbouring country, by preaching, catechising, and absolving sinners. From Monterei he was removed to Valladolid, to fill the office of domestic casuist in the house of the professed fathers ; thence he was summoned to Montilla to instruct the novices, and continued to perform this duty for more than thirty years. He was afterwards deputed to Rome to attend the Fifth General Congregation, where he gave illustrious proofs of his sanctity, prudence, and knowledge of the rules and constitutions of the society. From Rome he returned to Spain, and became Spiritual Father in the college of Cordova. It was during his sojourn here, that, having prin​cipally in view to promote the advancement in solid virtue of the entire body of the society, he wrote those admirable Treatises on Christian Perfection, to which the Holy Ghost has imparted such unction, that, read again and again, they never tire. Having gone to Seville, in the year 1606, to assist at a provincial congregation, he was ordered by his superiors to remain there, and was placed once more over the novices. He continued at Seville till his death, devoting his leisure moments to the revisal of his writings previous to their publication. Unceasing labour had by this time greatly impaired his strength ; and, during the last two years of his life, he became so decrepid, that he was no longer able to support himself on his limbs to celebrate the holy sacrifice of the mass ; but the saintly old man received daily from the hands of another the adorable sacrament of the eucharist. At last, loaded with years and merits, he slept in the Lord, at the advanced age of ninety, in the 70th year of his religious life, and 46 years after his solemn profession. He expired on the 21st of February, 1616.
He was a man who never failed to illustrate in his own person, and by his own example, those lessons of virtue and sublime perfection which he inculcated in his works. His union with God was most intimate; he found a heaven in his cell, and seldom left it unless at the call of charity or obedience. During the last years of his life, being released from those obstacles which are inseparable from offices of authority over others, he used to devote four hours each day to prayer. He took no pleasure in walking about the garden attached to the college ; his delight was to remain alone with God. He was the first at every public duty, most punctual in the least little observances of religious life, and a strenuous assertor of evangelical poverty. Even in the last stage of his long life, he would admit of no singularity in his diet ; and when he happened to be helped to something likely to gratify his palate, he would contrive to spoil its flavour with water. To the very last, he never omitted to crawl to the church to hear the confessions of the people, and, in his turn, threw himself daily at the feet of his own confessor to obtain absolution himself. It was a most edifying sight to behold this venerable man, at the age of ninety, with the most profound sentiments of humility, stooping to kiss the feet of his religious brethren, as though he was the last and lowest amongst them, and only fit to be trampled under foot by all around him.