The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-03-16
Tho Contrast.

Rather more than three hundred years age
n rich Spanish gentleman lived IN Valladolid
| where the court was then held. He was In
name, of course. Catholic, but his life badly
agreed with his faith. He looked upon life NJ
| o time given him to spend In amusement and
p pleas and he move. gave serious thought
| 1t SO happened that, when he was about In
the prime of life, the renowned Father Fater,
OF the Society of Jesus, (now "Blessed") arriv-
before him, and many of. the first gentlemen of
the Court were eager to press around him, and
to listen to the holy words that fell from his
llps. And soon it was arranged that Father
Faber should give the Spiritual Exercises of
5. lgnat;us to large number Of these gentle
men.
All this came to the ears.of rich friend.
And as it was quito la mode now to go and
visit Father Faber and seek spiritual counsel
from him, he made up his mind he, too, would
20 and oven get leave to joiu in the Spiritual
Exercises.
He accordingly set off on his visit, and call
cd upon Father Faber. After a little couver-
sason Father Faber saw that he was not quite
the man to enter as yet the Spiritual Exercises
and so he told him that he would do we'll to
put them off for time, but that mean " bile he
should attend we'll to his ordinary duties as q
Christian. and SO prepare himself to make u
to consent to this; but, not to go away
empty-handed, he begged him to give hi M some
spiritual advice or counsel before he left
no ho'y Edsuer uSIeeu " w 30, IL ITO "cuiu
promise to carry ont faithfully what no should
tell him to do. THO gentleman promised this,
and then Father Faher said to him-"As often
you can remember to do 3d. repeat to your
self these words-"Christ poor and I rich
Christ hungry ard 1 filled with lnNuries!
Christ naked and richly clothed! Christ in
torments and in pleasures"' Turn these con-
trasts over in your mind often, or at leaet re-
peat them with yonr lips" The gentleman
promised he would do this, ana with simple
adieu took his leave. AS he was walking home
SO much of this Father Faber 7 They call him
most spiritual man, and here he gives such
simple advice. ! am not much of spiritual
man, certainly, but believe I could give u
better counsel than that" His thoughts ran
on in this way, and he returned home thinking
very little of Father Faber.
However, he kept his prom Sc. He repeated
the words vocaly from time to time, but moro
in jest than with any intention of getting good
for his soul.
So things went on for five or six days. At
the end of that time it 30 happened that he
had invited o largo company to u most magnif-
cent banquet. Every delicacy was there the
choicest and rarest wines. Noluxury was for
gotten. In the midst of this rich brnquet, the
"Christ poor and / rich Christ on the Cross
and at this luxurious table! Christ in tor
ments and in delicacies! Christ fasting and
feastngr ~ But this time he did not say the
words in jest. His heart touched. At
first there were some attempts to throw the
words away, but they returned again and
again, and each time with more force. And at
last he enti:ely surrended himself to the grace
which was working in his soul.
And as it 10 written of Joseph when his
heart was yearning to make himself known to
his brethren-"Joseph could not refrain himself
before many that stood by; achereupon he COM
manded that all should 80 out, and no stranger DC
present at their knouing one another. And he
lifted up his roice cih accepting :" this gen.
tIeman, not being able to refrain himself lon
ger, got up from the table and left the BAN
quoting hall, then went to his chamber and
threw himself before his crucifx; and there 1
alone, "where no stranger was present, at his
now knowing Jesus Christ, he lifted up his
voice with weeping" He spent there good
part of the night, pouring out his soul in deep
contriton to his crucified G I'd.
Early next morning he started off to visit
once more his sanity adviser. And when
he saw him he told him, amidst sobs aud tears |
how those words he had bid him repeat had
been to him like SO many arrows piercing his
heart, and he begged him to tell him what
he must now do. Tie sanity Father embraced
him, hmself shedding tears of Joy, and told him
that be must now love what lie hated, and
hate what he loved. Soon after he put this
through tho Spiritual Exercises of S. |
fgnatius.
And Valladoid was surprised to see ever
after in this genttemau man leading self
denying, holy life.
Members of the Association, we can all turn
these contrasts over in our minds and get as
much good for our souls as this good gentle
man did. Lex FIDEIIs
Messenger Of tie Sacred Heart.