New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-19
FRANCIS XAVIER,
THE APOSTLE OF THE
yrrou, powerful article The origin aud history q ht
= Jesuits, in the last Edinburgh Reyiew.l

bus, and active, Of gay humor and ardent spirit
The yeung mountaineer listened with thzo5eint
heart the military legends of his Hoxse, and tt
the Inward voice which spoke OF days to eoae
when his illustrious lineage should derive ne"
splendor from his own achievements. but TN
hearts of his parents yearned over the SOD OF ihet
old age; and the enthusiasm which wooid nave
borne him TO the pursuit OF glory In the camp
was diverted by their counsels to the less HAZARDOUS
contest for literary eminence at the University Of
Paris From the embrace OF Aristotle ana his
commentators, he would, however, have beer
prematurely Withdrawn by the failure OF his re.
sources {for the Lords of Xavier were not wealthy,
Il domestic prophecies (his eldest sister,
had not been inspired to reveal his marvellous
career and immortal recompense. For child
destined to have affairs raised TO his name through
cut the Catholic Church. and masses chanted III
his homer till tiae should be longer, every sac
rifice was wisely made; and he was thus enabled
TO struggle on at the College of st. Barbara, I'll
he rad become qualified to earn his own main
tenance as public teacher of Philosophy. His
Chair was crowded by the studious, and his society
courted by the gay, the noble, and the rich. 1t
was courted, also, by one who stood aloof trsm
the thropging multitude; among them, blu. not OF
them. Sordid in dress but of lofty bearing, at
once unimpassioned and intensely earnest, abs,e'
mious Of speech, yet occasionally uttering, IN
deep and most meledious tones words Of strange
significance, 1gnatius Loyola was gradually work
ing over the mind of his young companion spell
which no difference of taste, OF habits, or OF age
was Of powe, to subdue. Potent as 1t was, the
charm was long resisted Hilarity was the native
and Indispensable element OF francis Aavier, ana
in his grave monitor he found an exhaustess topic
OF rnirIh and raillery. Armed with satire, which
was not always playful the light heart of the youth
contcnded, as best it might, aginst the solemn
impressions which he could neither welcome ner
avoid Whether he par,ook Of the frivolities in
which he delighted, OF in the disqusitions in which
he excelled or traced the windings Of the Seine
THROUGH the forest which then lined its banks, lg-
natius was still at hand to discuss with him the
charms of society, of learning, or of nature but
whatever had been the theme, it was still closed
by the same awful Inquiry, VIVA. shall 1t profit
man if he gain the whole world and lose his own
seul?" The world which Xavier had sought to
gain. was indeed already exhibiting to hum It's ac-
customed treachery. 1t had given him amusement
and applause; but with his self-government had
stolen from him his pupils and his emeluments.
Igpatius ecluted both. He became the eu'ogist
OF the genius and the eloquence OF his trend, and'
as he presented to him the scholars attracted oy
these panegyrics, would repeat them in the pres
ence of the delighted teacher; and then, as his
kindlipg eve attested the sense OF conscious and
merit. would check the rising exul-
tatioa by the ever.recurrlng question, What
shall it profit ~ Improvidence squandered these
new resources but nothing could damp the zeal
of Ienatius There he was again, though himself
the poorest of the poor, ministering to the wants
of Xavier, from purse filled by the aims ne had
solici,ed but there again was also the same anva-
rying demand urged in the same rlch though
solemn cadence, /" What shall it profit . In the
unreIaxing grasp of the strong man-at once tsr-
given and assisted, rebuked and beloved by his
stern assGciate--Xayier gradually yielded TO the
fasc1ua1lon He became, like his master, impas-
sive. at least in appearance, all subunary pains
and pleasures and having performed the in:tlatorY
rite of the Spiritual Exercises, exceiied all his
brethren Of the society of Jesus IN the ieryor OF
his devotion and the austerity OF his selt-dlsclPne
Whatever might have been his reward IN another
life his name would have probably LETT no trace In
this worlds records, if John Ill OF Portugal, re-
solving to plant the Christian faith on the Indian
territories which had become subject to the do
1ninion or influence Of his crown had not peuuoned
the Pope to select some fit leader IN this peaceful
crusade On the advice Of Isnatius, the choice
happier selection could not have been made, nor
was summons to toll, to suffering, and to death,
ever so ioyossy received In the visions OF the
night he had often groaned under the incumbent
weight of a wild Indian, of ebon hue and gigantic
stature, seated on his shoulders and ne had often
traversed tempestuous seas, endurlRg shlpwreck
and famine persecution and danger, IN all their
most CHASTITY forms; and as each peril was en-
couutered his painting soul had invoked, Ia stu
greater abundance, the means OF making such
glorious sacrifice for the conversion OF mankind
when the clearer sense and the approaching &C
comnhsbment of these dark intimations were dis
closed to him, passionate sobs attested the rapture
which his tongue could not speak. Light OF heart
and joyful in discourse, he conducted MS fellow
pilgrims from Rome to Lisbon, across the Eyre
nees As he descended their southern slopes
there rose to his sight the towers where ne mac
enioyed the sports OF childhood, and woven th'
day-dreams of youth; where still lived the mother
who for eighteen years had daily watched ant
blessed him, and the sanity sister whose inspired
voice had fore,od his high vocation. 1t was al
too high for the momentary intrusion of the holes
of merely human feelings. He was on his wa,
with ,idings of mercy to fallen werld, and h'
had not one hour TO waste, one parting tear t
bestow on those whem he best loved and most re
vered. and whom in this hfe he could never hop
to NEE, again.
We are not left to conjecture in what light hi
conduct was regarded. j care atte, most illus
trious doc,er, for the Judgement of men, and leas
of all fer their Judgement who decide before the.
hear ard before they understand was his halt
sportive, halfindignant answer to the remon
strances of grave and Mathematical kinsmsn
"a shcewd, thriving, hospitabie, much-respecte'
man. no unlikely candidate for the mitre, and
candidate, too, in his own drowsy way TOR anna
rsn,hine crowns and celestial blessedness,) VIII
very pausiby believed MS nephew mad Mad
sober. he was at least impelled by a force, at tn
srs, sbosk nf which tho united common sense an
responsibility of mankind must needs fall
nisces--,he force of will concentrated on en-