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〃Lord； I am not worthy！〃
Then he raised his face； and opening his lips received his sacramental
Lord。 Bilinski looked on with awe and almost terror； unable to say a word。
Stanislaus； when he had received the Blessed Sacrament； lay down again
in bed and began his thanksgiving。
He was more than ever ready for death now。 But still death held off。
All the next day he passed in quiet。 The doctors said：
〃Now is the end。 He may die at any moment。〃
But he was not to die yet。 Toward evening our Lady herself came to
him； carrying in her arms the Infant Jesus。 The sick boy looked up in
wonder and delight。 There was his Mother； smiling at him； and in her arms
the laughing Infant。 The divine Child stretched out His little hands to
Stanislaus； and Stanislaus； sitting up in his bed； took Him into his arms。
What passed in his soul then； what joy filled his heart； we cannot know
until we shall come to heaven and taste for ourselves of that joy。
And the Blessed Virgin and the Child Jesus spoke to him and
comforted him。 But Stanislaus was too overcome to say anything。 Only
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tears streamed down from his eyes as he pressed the Infant Savior to his
breast。
Our Lady said to him：
〃You must end your days in the Society that bears my Son's name。 You
must be a Jesuit。〃
But so soon as he had taken the Infant into his arms； Stanislaus felt
that the fever left him； his strength came back； the blood coursed through
his body with a new sense of vigor and vitality。
Then our Lady received her Child back from his hands； smiled at him
and blessed him； and so vanished from his sight。
Stanislaus called for his clothes； dressed and got up。 Bilinski and Paul
and the doctors were astounded。
〃It cannot be！〃 they cried。
〃But you see that it is；〃 said Stanislaus。 〃I am as well as ever。 Our
Lady and the little Jesus came and cured me。 And now I must go to the
church and thank them。〃
Nor did the fever return。 He was entirely recovered。
The house in which this occurred is now a sanctuary； and in the room
in which Stanislaus had received such favors from God an altar stands；
and above it a statue of the Saint。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER IX
VOCATION
When our Lady came to cure Stanislaus； she told him absolutely that
he must become a Jesuit。 That was not the first idea Stanislaus had had of
his vocation。 Even some months before his illness he had felt himself
drawn to enter the Society of Jesus。 But now； all doubts removed； he made
a vow in thanksgiving to obey our Lady's command。
He went to his confessor； the Jesuit Father Doni； and told him of the
vision of the Blessed Virgin and her order to become a Jesuit。 Father Doni
believed him readily enough； but he said：
〃I can do nothing myself in the matter。 You must go to the Provincial；
for only he can admit you。 But I am afraid there will be difficulties。〃
Stanislaus was not merely afraid； he was quite certain； there would be
difficulties。 However； he assured Father Doni：
〃Even if there be no end of difficulties； still I shall be a Jesuit。 Since
our Lady has commanded me； she will find a way。〃
The Provincial； Father Laurence Maggi； received Stanislaus kindly； of
course； yet with anything but encouragement。 There had been trouble for
the Society shortly before； though in another place； because of some
novices admitted without their parents' consent。 The Provincial did not
wish to risk having a like disturbance brought about his own ears。
〃But the Blessed Virgin will take care of the whole business； Father；〃
said Stanislaus。 〃She will quiet any opposition my father may make。〃
Well； the Provincial was willing to believe that too。 But he knew that
God wants us to use our own common sense and not to act rashly and then
rely upon Him； or upon our Lady's intercession with Him； to get us out of
scrapes。 So he had to give the only answer which prudence could give； to
all Stanislaus' petitions。
〃You must either get your father's permission； or you must wait until
you are of age and your own master。〃
Now； Stanislaus was quite certain his father would not hear for a
moment of his becoming a Jesuit。 On the other hand； he did not want to
wait four or five years until he should come of age。 He had that peculiar
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
courage； which many people cannot understand at all； the courage to be
afraid。 He was very much afraid； afraid to trifle with God's grace； afraid
lest if he did not take the favor now when it was offered him； it might not
be offered another time。
He thought of another means of persuading the Provincial。 The
Apostolic Legate of Pope Saint Pius V to the court of the Emperor at
Vienna was Cardinal Commendoni。 This Cardinal had been Nuncio； and
afterwards Legate； to Poland； and had come from Poland only a year or so
before。 He was well acquainted with the Lord John Kostka and with
Stanislaus。 When he came to Vienna； Paul and Stanislaus had visited him；
and Stanislaus had made the Cardinal； as he did most people； his friend。
So he went to Cardinal Commendoni。 He figured hopefully that； as the
Cardinal was the Pope's representative； he could easily impose his will on
the Jesuit Provincial； and of course he would do so as his friend。
Commendoni welcomed the boy； listened to him attentively； marvelled
at his unaffected goodness and at the heavenly favors shown him。
Stanislaus told him of the distressing obstinacy of the Provincial。
〃But how about your father？〃 the Cardinal asked。
〃Oh； my father is more hopeless than the Provincial；〃 Stanislaus
answered。 〃If I so much as mentioned the matter to him； he would bring
me back to Poland； and I should have no chance at all。〃
As Commendoni knew the Lord John pretty well； he said nothing to
that。 But he thought to himself that Stanislaus was fairly accurate in his
forecast。
After a moment's thought； he said：
〃You certainly have a right to follow your vocation。 God's will comes
before e