The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-03-19


in the depth of his soul Of that which NO true
Christian can deny, that o man has no rear
superiority over others, bnt In devotion 70
their good, dreaded distinction, and sought 70
avoid it. He did not wish to escape from the
obliR cation to serve his neghbor; his iie was
but one scene of such services; but ne dld not
esteem himself worthy Of 80 high and responsl-
i595' Ii when Clement VIII. offered him the
arohbishopric of Milan, he refused 1t without
hesitation, but was finally obliged to yield to
the express command of the pope.
Such demonstrations are neither diincuit nor
rare; it 10 no greater effort for hypocrisy TO as
sume them, than for raillery to deride them
But are they not also the natnra! expression OF
wise and virtuous feellngl Inc nie IS 1ie seSs in
the world had assumed the expression OF
virtuous sentiments yet the sentiments them,
selves will always command our respect ana
yeperation, when their gcnuineness is evinced
Inv a life of disinterestedness and self sacrifice.
Frederick, as archbishop, was careful to
reserve for himself only that which was barely
necessary of bis time and his wealth he said,
as ali the world says, that the ecclesiastical
revenues are the patrimony OF the poor; ana
ve shall see how he put this maxim in prac-
tice. He caused an estimate to be made of the
sum necessary for his expenses, and for those
employed in his service: finding it to be 600
seouins, he ordered that amount to be taken
from his patrimonial revenues for the supply
of his table. He exercised such minute econ
omy with regard to himself, that he did not
relp uish any article of dress until it was en-
tirely worn out F; but he Joined to these habits
of extreme simplicity, an exquisite neatness,
which was remarkable in this age OF luxury
and uncleanliness. He did more: in order that
nothing should be lost from the Fragments OF
| his frugal table, he assigned them to hospital
! for the poor, and q servant came every day to
| gather the remnants for that purpose. From
| the attention which he paid to such minutin,
| we might form contracted idea of his mind
| as being incapable of elevating itself to more
| extensive designs, were it not tor the AmDro
| sian library, whieh remains monument of his
| liberality and magnifcence. To furnish it
| with books and manuscripts, besides those
which he had already collected, he sent eight
| of the most skillful and learned men to make
| purchases of them in France, Spain, Germany,
| italy, Flanders, Greece, Lebanon and Jerusa-
| lem. He succeeded in collecting 80 900 printed
| volumes, and IA 600 N auuscripts. He joined to
| the library q college of doctors: these doctors
| were nine in number, and supported by him as
| long as he lived; after his death the ordinary
| revenues not being sufficient for the expense
| they were reduced to two. Their duty con-
| sisted in the cultiv alton of the various branches
of human knowledge, theology, history, bellies
lettres, ecclesiastical antiquities and Oriental
| languages. Each one was obliged to publish
some work on the subject to which he had
particularly applied himself. He added to this
| q college, which he called 1rilingue [three
| languages), for the study of the Greek, Latin
and Italian languages and a college of pupils,
who were instructed in these languages to be-
come professors in their turn. He united to
these also printing establishment for the
Oriental languages, for Hebrew, Chaldee,
Arabic, Persian and Armenian; gallery OF
pictures, and another of statues and q school
for the three principal arts of design. For the
latter, he was at no loss to find professors; but
this not the case with regard to the
Eastern languages which were at this time
but little cultivated in Europe. In the orders
which he left for the government and regula
tiops of the library, we perceive a perpetual
attention to utility, admirable in itself, ant
much in advance of the ordinary ideas of his
time. He prescribed to the librarian the cul
tvation of regular correspondence with thu
learned men of Europo, to keep himsel
: acquainted with the state of science, and t.
. procure every new and important work ; ht
/ also charged him to point out to young student
the books necessary for them, and, whether
natives or foreigners, to afford them every
/ possible facility in making use of those of thu
! library. There is history of the Ambrosiar
-! librarian after the death of Frederick, in which
! all the excellent regulations are infinitely de
] tailed. Other libraries existed in Italy, bu
with little benefit to the studious: the book
J, were carefully concealed from view in thei
j cases, and inaccessible to all, except on rar
. OCCASIONS, and with the utmost difficulty.
/ book might then be seen, but not studied. 1t i
? uaeless TO inquire what were the fruits o
these estabiishments OF Borromeo' but We mus
D e1mire the generosity, judgment and benevo
, lence of the man who conld undertake AM
: execute such things, in the midst of the igDo
3 rance, inertness and generalindiference WI ic
! eurEOuuueu Nun. anu III AbG0nClOu 10 puOllC
I ! he was not unmindfnl of private benevolence
' indeed, his whole life was 9 perpetual aims
giving; on the occasion of the famine Of W hic
+ our history has spoken, We may have to relst
i more than one instance of his wisdom an
r generosity.
j The inexhaustible charity Of the man shon
IS much in his private charities. in hi
/, splendid and magnificent pubic establish
i. | ments already recorded. On one occasion n
{ saved young lady from being immured in
convent against her wish. Her selfish fatbe
d pretended he could not marry her suitabl
# without portion of 1000 crowns. The bisho
J., | advanced the money.
o Easy of access, lie made it a principle to II
d ceive the poor who applied to him with kindn
u and stfectlcu. And on this point be wasoblige
e to dispute with the nobility, who wished I
It keep him to their standard of action One da!
= whilst visiting among the mountaneers, an
is instructng some poor children, Frederick b.
,r slowed caresses on them. A nobleman wh
Is was present, warned him to be careful, as tt
a children were dirty and disgusting, "Tbes
e souls are committed to my care; these chilo
If cren may never see me again aud are you II
10 willing that should embrace them 7"
% He, however, seldom felt Indignation al
ger he was admired for a placability
70 sweetness of manner nearly Imperturbable