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read the letter of Father Antoni； and listened to Stanislaus' story。 It was all
quite wonderful。 As the boy talked； Canisius looked at him and studied
him： not quite seventeen； lively； handsome； full of spirit and daring； quick
in speech； eager； affectionate； pious。
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You might call Canisius a man of war； an old veteran。 His hair had
grown gray in battles of the soul； in fighting back heresy； in strengthening
weak hearts through that age of trial。 He knew the value of enthusiasm；
but he knew its weakness； too。
〃A very taking lad；〃 he thought to himself。 〃He flashes like a rapier。
But will his metal stand hard use？〃
It was the thought of common sense。 He did not mistrust Stanislaus。
But； on the other hand； what did he know about him？ He had not much to
go by as yet； only Antoni's letter； and the boy's engaging presence。 He
would take no definite step about admitting Stanislaus into the Society
until he did know more。
〃Yon want to be a Jesuit？〃 he said； with thoughtful brows。 〃When？〃
It was on Stanislaus' tongue to say； 〃Now； at once。〃 But he hesitated a
moment； and said instead； 〃As soon as you think fit。〃
You are a stranger to us； you know；〃 Canisius went on； smiling a little；
but pleasantly。 〃And before we admit men amongst us； we need to know
that they have something more than a mere desire to join us。。 That takes
time to find out。 Are you willing to stop in the college here for a while？〃
Stanislaus answered promptly； 〃Of course I am。〃
〃Not as a student；〃 said Canisius。 〃But as a servant？〃
〃As anything you want；〃 Stanislaus agreed。
〃Well； come with me；〃 Canisius said； and he led the way to the
kitchen。
〃Here's a new cook；〃 he said to the brother in charge。 〃At least； he may
have in him the makings of a cook。 Can you give him something to do？〃
It was not a very encouraging reception； although it was not so bad as
it may sound； condensed as it is in these pages。 Neither was it meant to be
encouraging。 It was meant to test。
Stanislaus was as cheerful as a lark。 He rolled up his sleeves； smiled at
the brother； and waited orders。 The brother smiled back； and said：
〃First； I think you will have something to eat。 Then we shall see about
work。〃
The Jesuit college at Dillingen； Saint Jerome's； was a big place and
numbered many students。 Many students mean many cooks and servers at
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
table and servants about the house。 Stanislaus took his place amongst a
score of such。 He washed dishes； helped prepare food； swept； scrubbed …
whatever he was told to do。 He ate with the servants； took his recreations
with them。 And he went about it all as simply and naturally as if he had
been doing nothing else all his life。
His jolliness and kindness won him friends on all sides； as they had
always done。 He kept up his prayers； you may be sure； ran in to visit our
Lord in the Blessed Sacrament whenever he was free to do so； made all he
did into a prayer。 And of course that irritated some of the other servants；
just as it had irritated his brother Paul。 And so he had no lack of teasing
and petty insults。 But he just smiled his way through them and kept on。
He was perfectly happy； entirely confident that he was doing God's
will。 As for the work； he chuckled to himself at the idea that Canisius
thought this a test！ He would willingly do a thousand times harder things
than that for Almighty God。 And after all； he said； it really was not so hard。
Many a better man than he had to work much harder； at much more
unpleasant tasks。 And what would it matter in eternity； if he scrubbed pots
and pans and floors and windows all his life？ The only thing that mattered
was to please God； and just now this sort of work was what pleased God。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER XII
THE ROAD TO ROME
Canisius kept Stanislaus at his work in the kitchen and about the house
for a couple of weeks。 He noted his cheerfulness； his love of prayer； his
readiness to do any sort of work； and best of all； his simplicity； his entire
lack of pose。 He saw that this Senator's son made no virtue of taking on
himself such lowly tasks； and he knew； therefore； that he was really
humble。
Then he called the boy to him。 He said：
〃If I admit you into the Society here； your father may still annoy you。
It is better you should go to Rome and become a novice there。 I shall give
you a letter to the Father General； Francis Borgia。 In a few days two of
ours are to go to Rome。 You can go with them。〃
Stanislaus was delighted。 He was come into quiet waters at last。 But
Canisius spoke further：
〃First； however； you must get some decent clothes。 Your old tunic；〃 he
said； with a twinkle in his eye； 〃might do well enough for a noble； but not
for a future Jesuit。〃
So the college tailor made Stanislaus a simple； neat suit of clothes。
And about September 20th he set out for Rome。 He went on foot； of
course； in the company of Jacopo Levanzio； a Genoese； and Fabricius
Reiner； of Li 間 e。
They struck south through Bavaria to the Tyrolese Alps。 By what pass
they crossed the Alps we do not know。 But Stanislaus saw first from afar
the white peaks； with their everlasting snows； shining in the sun。 Then he
went up and up； into cooler and rarer air； where one's lungs expand and
one's step is light and buoyant； but where one gets tired more easily than
in the plains。 High up in the passes he felt the cold of Winter； although it
was as yet early Autumn。
Then he came down the southern slopes of the great mountain…wall
that locks in Italy； and with him came the headwaters of great rivers。 He
came down through bare rocks； then through twisted mountain…pines； then
through green and lovely valleys； and so into the plains of northern Italy。
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He saw the mountain torrents leap and flash； and grow always bigger and
stronger。 He saw them slack their speed and widen their beds in the upland
valleys。 He saw them grow sluggish； tawny with mud； in the plain。
He saw the many spires of Milan's wonderful cathedral as they drew
near the city。 And when they tarried there a little while for rest； he saw the
famous armor made there； hung up for show in little shop… windows。 He
passed great cavalcades of nobles and soldiers； and marvelled at their
straight； slim rapiers； so different from the heavy Polish saber。 He heard
Italian speech for the first time； and tried to get at its meaning through his
Latin。
But he and his companions had not over…much time for observing。
They were traveling pretty swiftly。 From Dillingen to Rome is a matter of
about eight hundred miles。 They left Dillingen September 20th； they
reached Rome October 25th。 That figures out to an average of about
twenty…two miles each day。 Then； if you remember that they had to climb
mountains the first part of the way； that there were delays entering towns；
delays of devotion when they came to great churches； you can see that
many a day they must have equaled or surpassed Stanislaus' thirty miles a
day from Vienna。
But it was pleasanter。 for Stanislaus than his first great tramp。 Now he
had two good companions； with whom he could speak easily and
familiarly of the things nearest his heart。 He had none of the uncertainty
about the result of this journey which he had had about his former journey。
He found shelter and friendship in many Jesuit houses on the way。
As the three went on they lightened the road with pious songs； they
heard Mass and received Holy Communion whenever occasion offered；
they knelt by many a wayside shrine； a crucifix； or statue of our Lady；
scattered everywhere through Catholi