Читать книгу A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer - St. Peter de Alcántara - Страница 14

THE LIFE OF

places, he frequented the sacraments, and con- tinually employed himself in good works : all which did abundantly presage his future sanctity ; but more confirmed it, by that which followed immediately, for he was scarce sixteen years of age, when, before he knew, he began to loath the world, and when the young sparks of his virtues began to break into a tiame of devotion. He opened the doors of his soul to the inspirations of the Holy Ghost: and as he excelled his fellow students in science, so he knew that all *science, was ignorance without the right knowledge of God. Therefore, from that time forward he applied his mind to heavenly wisdom, and busied himself chiefly to know what should be most acceptable to his Sacred Majesty.

About that time, there was a famous and reformed monastery of Franciscans in the province of St. Gabriel, three miles from Valentia, whither he addressed himself, there to bring his good desires to a joyful period. But as he went along towards this place, he came to a great river, called Tiartar, which, without boat, was impossible to be passed over. He seeing this unexpected bar, to stop his happy journey, looked about, hoping to espy some waterman, who might carry him over, but when he could see none to give him any assist

*Quid profuerit ea quae agenda sunt scire eiqui ea ad opus non perducit. D. Chrys. Horn. 13, ad Rom