The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-02-06
JUVENILE COLUMN.
THE VISION OF THE SCHOLAR.

q teenth century, there was a scholar nv TIN
name of Albert de Groot, native O
o Lawlngen, town of Swabia, now falle1
into decay. Albert was remarkable fol
MS stupidity and dullness of intellect, anl
h was at once the object of ridicule of his
companions and the victim of his teachers
In aGdltlOn to his mental defects, he was
tlmid and shy, and without any power OF
speech to defend himself against the taunts
and Jeers of his school mates, Even his
dlmunitive size for|one of his age, did not
escape the keenness Of their satire
Albert was not insensible to their rail-
!ery, and more than once would have
listened to the temptation of despair, had
not been for the care of his virtuous
I mother, and the ardent pety with which
she had inspired his youthful mind, and
MS tender and lively devotion to the
Blessed Virgin. If he felt it hard to en-
dure the jeers and ridictle of his compan-
IONS, yet, when he considered that he had
neither readiness, memory nor intelligence,
ne thought within himself that probably
ne deserved all their reproaches; and that
| the career of science, which he so ardently
desired, was not his vocation. Deeply in
fluenced by this conviction, at the age of
sixteen he applied for admission into the
dominican Order, thinking that, if he did
not shine among the brilliant men who
were Its glory, yet at least he might the
better save his soul. The General of the
Order, who was of his own country, gave
nm kind welcome, and received him into
the convent to complete his studies.
But alas he found in the cloister the
same sorrows he had sought to avoid. His
slow wit and dull intellect could take in
nothing; and though he found more
charity among the novices than among the
turbulent students of the University, vet |
he saw clearly that he was looked upon as |
the lowest in the house. His piety and hu- |
mlllty for a long time supported him his
courage did not fail he looked forward
with hope to the day when his perseverance
would surmount all obstacles and break
the bonds which held him captive He
took the habit, and became monk, but
still his backwardness as a scholar con-
tlnued. After two years of patience, he
began to be discouraged; lie thought he
had been mistaken; that perhaps he had
Hlelded to an impulse of pride in enter
to the people, andto proclaim to the world
ne faith OF Christ; and which consequence
~ ought to be distinguished for science as q
well as for virtue; and considering that he =.
should never be able to master either logic i
Dr. eloquence, he resolved to fly from the
Concealing the matter from every 9
human being, he conded the subject of his
departure to the Blessed Virgin, his conso-
alton in all his trials. On the night fixed
or his departure he prayed longer than
usual, then, after waiting till all the con- ,
'"nt was asleep, he went from his cell. =
lining without noise the walls of the gar
len, and fixed ladder against them. But
before he assembled he knclt again and k
prayed to God not to condemn the step he ;:
vas taking, for that. nevertheless. he would Jt
erve Him, and belong to Him, and to Him
lone.
AS he was about to rise, he beheld four ~
laJestic ladies advancing towards him.
hey were surrounded by Il heavenly
tdiance, while their dignity, tempered
'itil sweetness and serenity, inspired him #
,nfl,. e A..
laced themselves before the ladder, as if ri
D prevent him from ascending. The
llrd, drawing near, asked him kindly why ne
e thus departed, and how he could desert
is convent and throw himself without a
ulde into the dangers of a wicked world :.
lbert, without rising from the ground, /
leaded as an excuse his obstinate incapa-
ty, which resisted all the efforts of his
IS
It is" said the lady, because on seek
tne mere human strength of your own -, ,t
tellect the light which comes only from VII
cd: Behold your Mother" pointing to Ir
e fourth lady, "your amable protectress,
no loves You tenderly, ask her for the
1T OF knowledge; implore her with conf
nee, our lntercessi"n shall second YOU"
he scholar recognized In the fourth lady
e Immaculate Queen of Heaven, and.
nding his face to the ground lie asked
+ in all the frrvor of his heart for the
int of science, as heretofore he had only
aged for the graccs which tended to sal I
ton. rea,
Science, my son." answered the amiable Dep
rgin, g is full of dangers but your ceiv
lyer shall not be rejected. In philosophy, W
itch you SO much DESIRE beware of pride: on d
not your heart be pulled up. Long Safe
Ill you possess the giIt of science, and / be c
'mlse you, as a reward of your picty, So
It Its light shall be withdrawn from YOU
moment 1T becomes dangerous to YOU"
he vision disappeared, but Albert re-
lned for an hour on his knees thanking
d, and in pouring fourth the most fervcrt
'otlons. to the Queen of Angels, who had
kindly intcrposed in his behalf. He then
loved the ladder and retired to his cell
he next morning the whole convent was 4
prised at the extraordinary change that
come to Albert; in his class he aston
ed both the teacher and scholars. His NH
ner heaviness had given way to the
st lively and subtle intelligence; he
erstood everything; the most difficult
blems were solved with clearness
astonished all. So rapidly did he ad-
ce in his studies, especially in philoso-
, that in one year he passed all his COM
ions, and even eclipsed his teachers
1 his learning, and he ever remained in
sslbie to the seductions of the world
vain glory
he scholar who had obtained this extra
nary gift of knowledge as the reward
is. tender devotion to the Blessed Vir-
was the celebrated Albertus Magnus,
was so distinguished during TIE
eenth century. For fifty years he as eeis