Evening star., 1911-06-11
MODERN ST. BENEDICT
UNKNOWN FOR YEARS
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
BRUSSELS, June ., 1911
THE recent death of NJ. Charles de
Courcelles in Rome, which has just
been announced here, was the close of a
remarkable career of asceticism, for a
parallel to which one must look back for
several centuries. NJ. de Courcelles was
a member of distinguished and wealthy
family of this city-his brother is a prom
inent member of the second chamber of
deputies. He had a private income of
1850 a year, but 1t was found at his
death that he had actually lived on the
hundredth part-$75 annually-and given
the rest away to the institutions OF the
church. For fifteen years he had been
living in Rome the life of a common
mendicant. in imitation of st. Benedict,
whom he chose as his example.
AT twenty-five he was the leader of
one of the gayest coteries in the Little
Paris the capital of Belgium, where he
was known by the title of lie Petit
Parisien." on account of his elegant taste
In dress and his polished manners. Sud-
denly renouncing the world, the first sign
of which to his friends was his absti-
nence from meat, and lea wing his world
ly affairs in the hands of his relatives,
he made pilgrimage to Rome On foot
disguised as mendicant like his ex-
emplar. ST. Benedict, who like himself
deliberately adopted that profession, beg
y
This was sol!. s.lmes refused him by
peasantry who are no longer accustomed
TO those relics OF a more devout age
pilgrims; in which case he purchased
food, but he always slept in the open on
the ground.
On his arrival at Rome he rented a
small room in one of the, most obscure
parts Of the city for s. month. 1t
contained no furniture. and he was ac-
customed to lie on the floor at night
without removing his clothes. and to go
entirely without fire. He ate but one
egg and small loaf Of bread. This was
consumed always away from his lodg-
ing In the early morning. either on the
steps or some nearby church or on the
public benches. His drink was always
water scooped up from some public fOln-
tain In his hands. as the worthy st. Ben
edict drank. He was not of particular
ly strong constitution and was sometimes
overcome by weakness brought on by
the rigors of his life. and on these oc-
casions he allowed himself little cheap
wine as a reyiver.
His asceticism is believed in fact to
have gradually killed him, as he died be-
fore quite reaching the age of forty. His
object in coming to Rome was to see the
vast number of churches of the Roman
Catholic faith 1t contains and to give
himself up entirely TO a life Of religious
contemplation and devotion. Arising
every morning at daybreak he would go
forth, and. after eating his single meal
seek some shrine. His day was passed
In the churches. and he only sought his
miserable lodging at night when the last
public service was over No sign Of his
mission as a pilgrim was permitted to
obtrude as Is not the case with many de-
votees. but rather the opposite. Cour-
ceiles preferred to appeal simply as a
common beggar like his pattern, st. Ben
edict. in order TO bring down upon him
the conturlely of the mass OF the people
Appearing as SUCH OF course, aims were
occasionally bestowed upon him-which
he accepted, SO as not to excite sus-
picion.
He succeeded in keeping up an impen-
etrable secrecy even In a city crowded
with strangers. This was only pene-
trated by nephew, who went to Rome
some two years ago TO try to find him.
and who recognized him on the street
after several weeks search, followed him
to his lodging and afterward by care
full shadowing and inquiry developed the
facts as here stated At his lodging the
family from whom he rented never learn
ed his real name. No letter or visitor
respondeHce with the world consisted of
one or two letters yearly from his
brother in Brussels. who sent him his in
come and forwarded at his request two
shirts annually These letters were mark
ed Post Restante." His nephew was
finally sent 10 inquire into his strange
way Of life. and from that time up to his
death Ills family alone knew of him.
His nephew on one occasion succeeded
in obtaining a. snapshot Of him in the
street He wore an old overcoat. but
| toned to the chin. and shoes through
which his naked feet could be seen plain
| ly Among the facts learned about him
by the nephew was that he had not worn
stockings or socks since the beginning of
his life OF penance. He varied his life In
Rome by several pilgrimages to Pales-
| tine on foot. He also visited in this man
ner the leading shrines of France and
Spain. At his death it was found that
| he had bestowed upon the church up
ward OF $4,000.