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they knelt by many a wayside shrine； a crucifix； or statue of our Lady；
scattered everywhere through Catholic Italy。
It did not take the two Jesuits long to appreciate Stanislaus and delight
in his company。 He was so light…hearted； so merry in all the discomforts
and hardships of the long road； so thoroughly and simply good。 They
wondered at his physical endurance； at the ease and buoyancy with which
the lad of seventeen kept up that hard march； day after day。
The grasses of the Campagna were brown and brittle； the trees sere
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and yellow in the Autumn； when they came to the Eternal City； the center
of the world then as now。 The saintly General Francis Borgia； busy as he
was with the cares of the widespread Society； found time to welcome the
three travelers； and to hear Stanislaus' wonderful story in full。
And this time there was no hesitation or delay。 Stanislaus entered his
name in the book containing the register of the novices； on October 25；
1567。 Three days later he received his cassock and entered at once upon
his noviceship。
There were so many novices in Rome then that no single house of the
Jesuits there could hold them all。 So they were scattered through three
houses； each one spending a part of his two years' noviceship successively
in each house。 Stanislaus went first to the Professed House； then called
Santa Maria della Strada； and afterward the site of the famous Gesu； one
of the notable churches of Rome。 From there he passed in time to the
Roman College； then to the Noviciate proper at Sant' Andrea。
The Society of Jesus was then in its early youth； in the midst of that
first brilliant charge against the ranks of heresy without； and against the
huge sluggish inertia so striking within the Church itself。
He was fellow…novice with Claude Acquaviva； son of the Duke of Atri；
and afterwards one of the greatest Generals of the Society； which he ruled
for thirty years。 With him were also Claude's nephew； Rudolph Acquaviva；
who died a martyr； Torres； a great theologian； Prando； the first philosopher
at the University of Bologna； Fabio de' Fabii； who traced his descent from
the great Roman family of that name； the Pole； Warscewiski； formerly
ambassador to the Sultan and Secretary of State in Poland； who first wrote
a life of Stanislaus； and many more； distinguished for birth； learning；
holiness。
Most of these were a great deal older； too； than Stanislaus。 Many of
them had already made their names familiar to men。 Yet the boy of
seventeen； who came quietly and modestly amongst them； was somehow
soon looked up to by all。 They felt the force of something in him which
made him their superior。 Heaven was wonderfully near him。 He was not
old…fashioned； he was always a boy； unconscious of anything unusual in
himself； not solemn nor impressive nor austere in manner。 All that he did；
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he did with perfect naturalness； for to him the supernatural had become
almost natural。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER XIII
THE NOVICESHIP
Most of us； perhaps； think of the saints as men and women who
accomplished visibly great things。 Saint Paul； Saint Augustine； Saint
Patrick； Saint Theresa； Saint Philip Neri； Saint Francis Xavier： such names
as these come first to our minds when we think of 〃a saint。〃 Yet the fact is
that the greater number of saints are men and women who never did
anything that the world would consider great or striking。 Saint Joseph was
of that sort。 Even the Blessed Virgin lived and died in obscurity； made no
stir in the world。
Sanctity is measured not so much by what one does as by how one
does all things。 Externally a saint may not differ at all from other people。 It
is his soul that is different。
And so； a visitor to the Professed House in Rome in 1567； meeting
Stanislaus Kostka； would see a handsome； pleasant…looking Polish boy of
seventeen； with his sleeves rolled up above his elbows； with an apron over
his cassock； carrying wood for the kitchen fires； washing dishes； serving at
table； sweeping corridors and rooms。
He got up at half past four； or five o'clock； every morning。 He spent
half an hour in meditation； in thinking over some incident in our Lord's
life or some great truth； as that death is near to each of us； that this life is
only the vestibule of eternity； that our whole business in life is to do what
God wants us to do； or the like。
After that came Mass and； once or twice a week； Holy Communion
and his thanksgiving。 Then breakfast； taken in silence。 He read in a
spiritual book for half an hour or so after breakfast； then went to the
kitchen or the dining hall or the scullery； where he set to work under the
orders of the cook。
In the course of the morning there might be a talk or instruction from
the priest in charge of the novices。 There surely would be one or more
visits to the chapel。 When the hour for dinner came； Stanislaus probably
served at table； taking his own meal later。 After dinner there was an hour
for recreation； when the novices walked and chatted in the garden or about
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the house。
The afternoon； like the morning； was taken up with lowly work； with
prayer； and a little reading or instruction。 Toward evening； he again spent
half an hour in meditation。 Then came the evening meal； another hour of
recreation； a little reading in preparation for next morning's meditation；
and examination of conscience as to how the day had been spent； and then
bed。
Two or three days a week； this routine was broken。 Sometimes the
novices walked out into the country to a villa； where they had games and
ate their dinner。 At other times they left their work to go with one of the
Fathers to some church or other； upon business。
It was a quiet； humble life； full of peace； near to God； hidden away
from men。 In this life the novices had to continue for two years； before
they took upon themselves the obligation of vows； and before they began
the long studies that prepare a Jesuit for his work。 During those two years
they tested their vocation； making sure that God really called them to that
life； and they tested their own wills to see if they were ready to endure
what such a life demanded of them。
Stanislaus did just what the other novices did； did nothing out of the
ordinary。 Yet； of course； he was different from the others； he was a saint。
What was the difference？ Just this： they did things more or less well； he
did things perfectly。 If he prayed； he put his whole mind and soul into his
prayer。 If he worked； he obeyed orders absolutely； because in doing so he
was obeying God。
There is in the Jesuit noviciate at Angers a series of paintings
portraying incidents in the life of Stanislaus。 In one he is shown carrying
on his arm two or three bits of wood towards the kitchen。 Underneath is
written； 〃He will err if he carry more。〃
The painting commemorates an occasion when Stanislaus and Claude
Acquaviva were put by the cook to carry wood and told to carry only two
or three pieces at a time。 Acquaviva； when the two came to the wood…pile；
said laughingly：
〃Does the cook think we are babies？ Why； we can each carry twenty or
thirty of such little pieces of wood。〃
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〃To be sure we can；〃 Stanislaus answered。 〃But do you think God
wants us to carry twenty or thirty pieces now？ The cook said two or three；
and the cook just at present takes the place of God to command us。〃