The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-11-28
Rose Buds from the Calendar.
WHO ARE THE SAINTS ?"


WHO ARE THE SAINTS ?"
Saint Rose OF Lima, Virgin.
Asia, Europe, and Africa, had been watered
with the blood OF many martyrs, and adorned, du-
| ring many ages, with the shining examples OF in
Vulnerable saints, whilst, by the inscrutable judg-
ments of God, the vast regions Of America lay bar
rem, and, as il were, abandoned till the faith Of
Christ began TO enllghten them, and this saint ap-
peared on that hemisphere like rose amidst
thorns the irst fruits OF its canonized saints. She
was OF Spanish extraction, born at Lima the CAPT.
tai OF Peru, in 1856. She was chrlstened Isabel;
but the figure and color OF her face in the cradle
seeming, In some measure, TO resemble beautiful
infancy her patience in suffering, and her love Of
modification were extraordinary, and whilst yet
child she ate no fruit, and tasted three days a
week, allowing herself on them only bread and
water, and on other days, taking only unsavory
herbs and pulse. When she was grown up, her
garden was planted only with bitter herbs aud In.
terspersed with figures Of crosses. In her exerci-
SEES she took ST. Catherine OF Sienna for her model.
Every incentive OF pride and sensuallty was TO her
an object OF adherence; and, for fear Of taking
any secret satisfaction vanity, she studied to
make those things in which it might insinuate its
poison, painful to her. One day her mother having
put on her head a garland of flowers, she secretly
stuck IN It pin, which prcked her so deep, that
the maid at night could not take off the garland
without some difficulty. Hearing others frequent
y commend her beauty, and fearing lest il should
be an occasion of temptation to any one, whenever
she was To go abroad to any public place, she used
The night before to rub her face and hands with the
bark and powder Of Indian pepper, which is vio-
lent corrosive, in order to dishgure her skin with
little blotches and swellings. A young man hap
penlng one day 10 admire the fneness of the skin
OF her hand, she Immediately ran and thrust both
her hands into hot lime, saying, "Never let my
hands be to any one an occasion Of temptation"
What confusion is this example to those who
make it their study to set themselves Oft by their
dress, to become snares to others We admire
Re naf 49,. f~on
ice, and st. Francis in the snow; these saints
were cruel TO themselves, not to be overcome by
the devil; but Rose Furnishes herself preserve 9TH
ers. Thus did she arm herself against her external
enemies, and against the revolt OF her But
she was aware tha this victory would avail her
little, unless she died to herself by crucfying in
her heart lnordnate settle which is the source
of pride, and all the other passions. This is the
most important and most difficult part of our spirit
ua warfare; for SO long as seflOve reigns in the
affection OF the heart it blasts with its poisonous
influence even virtues themselves; it has SO many
little artful windings, that it easily nsinuates and
DISCUSSES itself everywhere, wears every mask,
and seeks itself even in fasting and prayer Rose
triumphed over this subtle enemy by the most pro.
denial OF her own will. She never departed will
fully from the order of her parents in the least tlte
and gave proofs OF her scrupu0us obedience, and
invncible patience under all pains, labor, and con-
tradictlons, which surprised all that knew her.
st. Gregory Thaumaturgus, Bishop, G.
Theodorus, afterwards called Gregory, and from
his extraord mary miracles, surnamtd Thaumatur-
gus, or Worker of Wonders, was Of Neocnsarea in
Pontus, born OF parents eminent tor their rank and
fortune, but engaged IN the superstitions OF doa-
try; AT fourteen years OF age he lost his father,
and from that time began to discover the vanity OF
the heathenish religion, as his reason grew more
quick and manly, and was improved by education !;
and by this means his lnclinations were insensby
turned towards the belief of the unity of the Deity
and the Christian faith. His mother pursued the
plan begun by his father, IN giving him literary
education, with the intention OF bringing him up TO
the bar and the practice OF oratory. In the study
OF rhetoric he made such surprising progress that
it was easy to foresee he would one day be one
of the greatest orators OF the age. He learned
the Latin tongue, which was necessary qua.
LITIGATION for preferment to great dignltes IN the
Roman empire his masters also persuaded HIM 10
study the Roman laws, an acquaintance with
which they said would be a great advantage TO
him In whatever profession he should aferward
embark His sister being married to the assessor,
or assistant of the governor Of CGsarea in Pales.
tine, she was conducted tLiiher at the public
charge, with such she was disposed to take with
her. Gregory accompanied her upon this occa-
sion, with his brother AthenodOrus, who was af-
terward bishop, and suffered much for the faith
of Jesus Christ. From Cesarea the two brothers
went to Berytus, to attend a famous school Of the
Roman law in that neighborhood After short
stay there, they returned to Cesarea.
The city of Neocasarea was rich, large, and
popolous, but deeply buried in vice, and SO mi
serably addicted TO superstition and dolatry, that
il seemed to be the place where Satan had fixed
his seat, and Christianity had as yet scarce been
able to approach its neighborheOd, though 1t was
in hourishng condition in many parts Of Pontus
st. Gregory, animated with zeal and charity, APP
Piled himself vigorously TO the charge committed
TO him, and God was pleased to confer upon HIM
an extraordinary power OF working miracles OF
some OF which St. Gregory OF Nyssa gives US the
following account AS the saint was returning
from the city to the wilderness, a violent rain
obliged him to take shelter in heathenish temple,
| he m rat IL
oraces and dlvlnatlons delivered there. AT his
entrance he made the sign OF the cross several
times to purify The air, and then spent the night
there with his companion IN prayer, according TO
custom. The next morn ing he pursued his Jour
ney and the ldolatrous priest, performed his loua
superstitons in the temple; but the devils declared
they could stay there no longer, being forced
away by the man who had passed the last night
there. After several vain attempts to bring those
powers back, the priest fastened after the saint,
threatening to carry his complaints against him to
the. magistrates and TO the emperor Gregory,
without the least emotion, told him, that with the
help of God he could drive away, or call the devils
when he pleased. When the idolater saw he dis
regarded all his menaces, and heard that he had
power Of commanding demons at pleasure, his
fury was turned into admiration, and he entreated
the bishop, as a further evidence OF the divine
authority, to bring the demons back again
to the temple The saint complied with
his request, and dismissed him with scrip OF
paper, in which he had written, " Gregory TO
Satan: Enter" This being laid upon the altar,
and the usual oblauon made, the demons gave
their answers as usual. The priest, surprised at
what he saw went alter the holy bishop, and begged
he would give him some account OF that God whom
his gods so readily obeyed. Gregory explained to
him the principles Of the Christian faith and find
ing the prizes, shocked at the doctrine OF the incar-
nation, told him that great truth was not to be en-
forced by words or human reasoning, but by the
wonders OF the divine power. The priest hereupon
pointing to great stone, desired the saint to COM
mand that It should change It's place to another,
which he named ST. Gregory did so, and the
stone obeyed, by the power OF him who promised
his disciples that by faith they shosd be able 10 re-
move mountains. The priest was converted by
this miracle, and forsaking his house, friends, and
relations, resigned.himself up to the instructions OF
divine wisdom.
The people OF Neoc@sarea, hearing of the mira
culous actions Of Gregory, were all ambitious to
see so wonderful man, and received him with
great applause when he first arrived among them