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holiness without love。 Holiness can be either greater nor less than the love
of God。 Let this love faint or grow cold； there is at once a loss of holiness；
even though it retain all its external gear。 This is a cardinal truth； it is a key
which will solve many a puzzle。 It will explain why fanatics and similar
oddities are not Saints； though secular history sometimes honors them
with the title。
Merely concede that the Saint possesses love for God in an
extraordinary measure and degree； and it is the most comprehensible thing
in the world that he will not only accept all tests of his love readily； but
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
will go forth in search of them with eager alacrity。 First and last and
always the only keen satisfaction of great love； whether human or divine；
is to welcome opportunities of proving itself in some heroic form of
courage and endurance。 Danger； suffering； battling against odds；
discouragement； overwork； pain of mind and body； failure； want of
recognition； rebuffs； contempt and persecution； are no longer the subject
matter of a strong…jawed stoicism or a submissive patience but rather the
quickening bread and wine of an intense and high…keyed life。 This is why
the Saints； be the provocation ever so great； never develop nerves； or
experience those melancholy and humiliating reactions which are the
natural ebb…tide of spiritual energies。 This is why Saints can fast and keep
their temper sweet； can wear hair…shirts without cultivating wry faces； can
be passed by in the distribution of honors without being soured； can pray
all night without robbing the day of its due meed of cheerfulness； can rise
superior to frailties and weaknesses without despising those who cannot；
can be serious without being testy and morose； can live for years in a cell
or a desert or a convent…close without perishing of ennui or being
devoured by restlessness； and can mingle with life； where all its currents
meet； without losing their heads or swerving a hairbreadth from the
straight line of a most uncommon and most impressive kind of common
sense。
Unless we keep before our eyes this mainspring of a Saint's life； that
life will be as enigmatical to us as it is to the world。 Jesus balked at no test
of the love which He bore towards us： nay； He devised tests passing all
human imagining。 Let Him make trial of our love for Him！ We are
unhappy till He does！ And with this daring spirit in his heart every Saint
enters upon a career of Romance in its sweetest and highest form。 And； we
submit； to recur to the literary style of the following biography； Romance
is light…hearted； light…stepping； cheerful； with the starlight on its face and
in its eyes。
James J。 Daly； S。J。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER I
ON THE ROAD
Mid…August in Vienna； the year 1567： when Shakespeare was still a
little boy； twenty years before Philip II fitted out the Spanish Armada；
forty years before the first English colony settled in America。 The sun had
just well risen； the gates of Vienna had been opened but a few hours。
Through the great western gate； which cast its long shadow on the road to
Augsburg； came a strange…looking boy。
He lacked but a month or two of seventeen years； was some five feet
two or three inches in height； had an oval face of remarkable beauty and
liveliness； jet black hair； and eyes in which merriment dwelt as in its home。
He was dressed as became a noble of the time； and in apparel of unusual
splendor and costliness； plumed bonnet； slashed velvet doublet； tight
silken hose； jeweled dagger at his girdle。
But it was odd to see so brilliant a figure on foot in the dusty highway；
still more odd that be carried a rough bundle slung on a staff over his and
that； peasant fashion； he munched at a loaf of bread as he trudged the road。
By no means stalwart…looking； still he swung along with an easy stride
and a confident strength that many a stouter man might envy。 He was
bound for Augsburg； 400 miles to the west； and he set himself thirty miles
a day as his rate of travel。
He wore splendid clothes； because he was Stanislaus； the son of John
Kostka； Lord of Kostkov； Senator； and Castellan of Zakroczym in the
Duchy of Mazovia； Poland。 He ate his rough breakfast； like a peasant； on
the road； because he had just been to Mass and received Holy Communion
at the Jesuit church in Vienna。 He carried a bundle on his staff； because he
laughed merrily at fine clothes and had in the bundle a coarse tunic and a
stout pair of brogans； which he meant to put on as soon as he got well out
of the city。 And his face and his eyes shone with joy； because he loved
God most wonderfully and was as happy a boy as ever moved through this
dull world。
Every age has its adventurers： men who for fame； or for place； or for
money； cross wide seas； fight brave battles； endure great hardships。 The
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age in which Stanislaus lived was filled with them。 All the world reads
with delight the story of such men。 And every decent boy who reads feels
himself； if only for the moment； their fellow in spirit； eager to do what
they did and as bravely as they did。
But was there ever adventure finer than this； ever spirit more gayly
daring？ Stanislaus Kostka； son of a noble house； a boy in years； starting
without a copper in his pocket to cross half of Europe afoot！ And for what？
Not to have men say what a brave chap he was； not to win a name； or rank；
or money： but because God would be pleased by his doing it； because God
called him to do something which he could not do in Vienna。
He felt he had a vocation to be a Jesuit。 He knew his father would not
consent。 He took six months to think it over； to pray for light； to make sure
it was no mere whim or fancy of his own； but the very voice of God。 And
when he felt sure； he left a letter for his brother Paul and his tutor； Bilinski；
with whom he had been stu