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something； by giving something。 God had given him everything； he would
give God everything： that was the whole of his life。 And with that
generosity went a fine common sense。 He was not rash or headlong； acting
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
first and thinking afterward。 He reckoned things out calmly and sensibly；
and then went ahead with a pluck and determination that nothing in the
world could stop。
God asked a fearfully hard thing of him； to leave his people； his home；
to set out afoot on an enormous journey； to undergo no end of hardships
and humiliations； to live in a strange land； among strange people。 And he
did it； did it smilingly； joyfully； with a simple； quiet bravery seldom if ever
matched by any other boy in the world。
The one thing that staggers us is his reason for doing it； his great love
for God。 And that is because we have not got； what we could easily get；
his secret。 He prayed； he kept close in thought to God always。 God and
heaven and our Lady were as familiar to his mind as the sun and the earth
and the air are to our mind's。 The earth to him was only the antechamber
of heaven。 He looked upon life as one looks upon a little delay at a railway
station before the train leaves； the only important thing is to catch the
train。
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
CHAPTER III
EARLY DAYS
Bilinski and Paul Kostka went back to Vienna； much troubled at heart。
They really loved Stanislaus； for one thing； though they had been pretty
rough with him。 And for another； they had to face the anger of the Lord
John Kostka； when he should hear of Stanislaus' flight。
Shortly after they had got back； a young friend of the runaway came to
them and said：
〃If you look between the leaves of such…and…such a book； you will find
a letter which Stanislaus left for you。〃
They looked and found the letter。 It was very simple and
straightforward； a genuine boy's letter。 He had run away； he said； because
he had to。 He was called to enter the Society of Jesus。 He had to do what
God wanted of him。 He knew they would prevent him if they could。 And
so he just went。 He left them messages of affectionate regard； and begged
them to forward his letter to his father。
Bilinski sent this letter on at once。 Paul also wrote； as did Kimberker
and even the servant who had gone with them in the carriage。 Each tried to
shift the blame from himself； told of the strange behavior of the horses；
explained that everything possible had been done to overtake the fugitive。
And when their letters came； there was high wrath in Kostkov。 The
Lord John raved and swore。 He blamed everybody； but most of all
Stanislaus and the tricky Jesuits who； he said； were back of the whole
scheme。 He wrote to Cardinal Osius that he would not rest until he had
broken up the Jesuit college in Pultowa and driven every schemer of them
out of Poland。 As for Stanislaus； he would follow him across the world； if
need were； and drag him back to Kostkov in chains。
He was a great lord； the Lord John。 He loved his second son；
Stanislaus； most dearly； and he loved dearly the honor of his house； which
he thought that son had stained by hi& conduct。 A son of his in beggar's
garb； tramping the highways of Europe； begging his bread from door to
door！ It nearly broke his heart。
He had princely blood in his veins； he was a Senator of Poland； he
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
might even become a king。 His dearest hopes were in Stanislaus； his
second son。 Paul； the eldest； was wild and unsteady。 And though there
were two other sons and a daughter； none gave such promise as Stanislaus。
So that the Lord John looked chiefly to him to carry on the great name and
make it more glorious still。 No wonder he raged！
Stanislaus had figured all that out beforehand。 It hurt him too； hurt
terribly。 But what can one do when God calls？ God had made all the
Kostkas； given them name and rank。 God was the Lord of Lords。 It was
heart…breaking to Stanislaus to leave his father in anger。 Yet he trusted that
since that was God's will … well； God would find a way to bring peace out
of all this trouble。 He put all his fears and heartache away from him； and
went out to do what God wanted。
He had always done that； even when he was a little tad in the rough
castle at Kostkov。 God had taught him； God had helped him wonderfully。
But more wonderful still to our eyes is the way the boy listened to God's
teaching and obeyed it。
We think things come easy to the saints。 We read or hear of wonders in
their lives； which are evidently God's doing； and we say：
〃Of course the saint was good and holy。 But it was all done for him。
God made everything smooth。 The saint was never in my boots for a
minute。〃
And all the time we forget the things which the saint himself did； the
superb efforts he had to make。
So Stanislaus began to pray as soon as he well began to speak。 Do you
think he would not sooner have kept on with his play？ Do you think he did
not naturally hate the effort just as any boy naturally hates effort？
He lived amongst rough men； men used to the ways of camps and the
speech of soldiers。 Yet he not merely kept his own lips〃 clean； but he
shrank； as from a blow； from every coarse or indecent speech in others。 He
did not go around correcting people。 He was too sensible for that。 He was
not a prig or a prude。 But he knew； as we know； that vile speech is hateful
to God； and； as so many of us do not do； he set his face against it。
Did that cost him no effort？ Had he no human respect to fight against？
Think of how many times you may have grinned； cowardly； at a gross
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FOR GREATER THINGS： The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
remark or shady story of a comrade … because you were not fighter enough
to resent it！ And then give this Stanislaus； who did resent； credit for his
stouter courage； his more manly spirit。
His biographers tell us that he was simply' free from temptations
against purity。 That does not mean what many may think it means： that he
was physically unlike other boys； that he had no animal desires； that he
had nothing to fight against。 It means that he was such a magnificent
fighter that he had won the battle almost from the start。 It means that he
was not content； as so many of us are； with merely pushing a temptation a
little aside； and then looking around in surprise to find it still there。 He was
like a skillful boxer； who wards off every blow of his adversary； so that he
goes through the contest absolutely untouched。 He watched； as we are too
lazy to watch； he kept out of danger； where we foolishly run into it； he did
not wait until temptation had set upon him and nearly battered him down
before he began to resist； he saw it coming afar off； just as we can if we
look out； and he met it with a rush that sent it again beyond reach or even
sight。
OF COURSE he was the same as other boys； OF COURSE he had the
same inclinations； the same promptings of the animal man； but with them
he had more daring； more force and energy of will to cooperate with God's
grace。
You always find it that way。 The things the saints seem to do with ease
are terrifically hard things； huge battles； regular slugging fights。 The ease；
if there be any； is not in the things they did； but in the men who did them。
You have seen skilled pianists sit down at their instruments and run off
into brisk flowing music what looks like a hopeless jumble of notes。 You
may have seen an artist sketch in； whilst chatting idly； a swift； striking
portrait。 Well； all really good men are artists too； artists in fighting。 And
Stanislaus was one of the cleverest and strongest artists of the lot。
He began early； just as the musician Mozart did； just as the