BA A E L S J JO HN PTI ST F R N Z I N . , CA RDINAL PRIEST OF THE TITLE B IFA E AND A LEXI . A S S . ON C US D D BY THE SKETCH AN A STU Y. REVEREND NICHOLA S WALSH S . J . , “ ' ' ’ E o su m Vz a t V n fas i Vita m m g , e e , a ; ne o w f ’ ’ — m s r N . x iv 6 P a r m z . ad l e p e me. JOA PU BL I SHE D B Y M H G I L L A N D S ON . D U BL I N 1 8 . 9 5 P R E F A C E A B R I E F Cardinal F ranz e lin sketch of the late , Written in L atin and prefixed to his posthumous w o rk o n a the Church , and more detailed one B o nav e nia written in I talian by Father , suggested the thought and desire to write this little book . These were no doubt strengthened o f by great admiration the man , personally known to me ; an admiration against which , however, I have honestly tried to protect N myself. or have I willingly allowed it to influence me unduly . Besides , I felt convinced F ranz e lin that , whilst Cardinal would live for a all time , in his works , as great theologian , his memory as a singularly holy man would die out with those who knew him . The sketch suggested the study which is interwoven with it . The life of Cardinal F ranz e lin may be truly called an ordinary life . First , because it was a life such as every man is bound to lead . H e sought early the will of God in his regard , and 8 PREFACE did it to the end with earnestness and exact ness , in patience , and not without suffering . Secondly , because it was neither relieved nor glorified by those extraordinary gifts o r ’ ck amsmamwhich mark the lives of many who I t have not perhaps a saintlier record . - illustrates fully the well known axiom , that “ perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things , but in doing ordinary things extra ordinarily well . H is life is , in all its main f o . points , imitable and worthy imitation The short notices of the Roman and German Colleges are introduced as a very poor and humble tribute to the memory of St . I gnatius these two works being, after the foundation of his order, the greatest , the most enduring , and the most fruitful of his life ; a fact o f which many are ignorant . M oreover , within their walls Cardinal F ranz e lin was trained and formed as student and Professor of Theology , his name will always be associated with them , his fame is theirs , and both were largely bene fite d and greatly honoured by his labour , his learning , and his holiness . I am conscious that “ the study may give occasion to some severe , perhaps justly severe u criticism , sho ld any one think it deserving of PREFACE 9 I t e notice . may be fairly said that I hav introduced nothing into the study but the most trite and commonplace truths , with which nearly n every o e is familiar . But I may be permitted to say in excuse , that these truths are the truths of God , reflected from H im to us in H oly Scripture , in the teaching of H is Church , and in the writings of the most eminent masters of the spiritual life ; truths tested and in great part proved true by the study and experience ’ “ o f of man s life . They are those things which the householder brings forth of his treasure o ld — o ld G o d new and , because they are of , “ ” - the same yesterday , to day , and for ever ; new , because they are always powerful for doing ’ God s work in all men wh o reduce them to i practice ntheir souls and lives . H e would be a very original character, dangerously so , who would endeavour to invent or find sounder o r truths , more helpful principles , better means to an end , than those of God . Familiar they are , but are they always made practical even by those who know and believe in them ? I t is no t to be feared ; for if they were , we would no t o f have so many failures in every walk life . Are there not sinners who have the catechism r by heart, and who are conve sant with holiness I O PREFACE in theory P Men of great authority tell us that there is no t a small danger in being familiar G o d do no t with the truths of , if we bring them o f home, and prove and keep them true , first I t all , in ourselves . cannot , therefore , be a perfectly useless labour to call attention again to and again those important truths , and , above all , to what I may call their practical aspects , o r to give a book suited to spiritual reading , lightened and made somewhat interesting , o f perhaps , under the guise a biographical sketch , to the young ecclesiastic and religious . N or would the study have been added on to the sketch but fo r a great sympathy with and a great interest in such students . I publish it with much fear and many mis givings , believing that serious defects must mar the first venture of a very inexperienced hand . I know that my readers will be kind and c o n siderate , and I hope I shall be able to bear criticism , should it be deemed deserving of such , consoling myself with the hope that as “ ” a sketch it may interest a few , and as a “ ” study may do harm to none . N . W . I L M L TOW N PAR K , Feast o S t a avier 1 8 r nci s X . f . F , 94 C O N T E N T S CHA P. I B I RTH A N D B OY HOOD . Y I I . VOCATI ON TO THE SOC I ET O F JESU S I I I THE N OVI TI A TE . I V THE SCHO L AST I CATE . V S CHO L AS T I CATE I N ROMAN CO L L EGE . VI P R R . OFESS O VI I . P ROFE S S OR O F THEO L OGY R D RD I N VI I I . C EATE CA AL I X CARD I N A L - . X L S S I K S A D D . A T C N E S N EATH I CARDI NAL F RANZE L N, S J. C H A P T E R I B I R T H A N D B O Y HO O D T HE R E is no country in Europe , perhaps in the world , which leaves such delightful memories in the mind of the tourist as the I talian Tyrol . The railway traveller, as he runs by the Brenner Pass , from Munich to Verona, gets ’ - a bird s eye view of it, and catches many glimpses of its surpassing beauty ; whilst few things cou ld be more enjoyable than to rest for some days in its cities , and make excursions amongst its mountains . I t is a land of varied and widely contrasting loveliness and grandeur valleys of emerald verdure , rich and fruitful ; hills clothed with the vine and chestnut ; leafy wood and lordly forest ; and towering above 1 3 I 4 CARDI NAL F R A N Z E L I N all , the stern , rugged mountain peak , covered o f with eternal snow , often weird form , and not without its legend . Along the level railway line you have cities such as Brixen , Botzen , I nns riick ca ital ic tu r p , the p , and Trent , all p e s u e l q y placed , interesting to visit , and pleasant o u to linger in . I f y ascend from the plain to wander through the mountains , you pass many a crucifix and shrine with picture o r stat u e of the Blessed Virgin ; yo u receive a word of polite o u and pious salutation from everyone y meet , and come across villages securely nestling in the hollows , each with its devotional church , and pious people . This land is owned by a fo r race eminent its simplicity , industry , bravery , and patriotism . Though of free and inde p e nd - ent spirit , their whole hearted loyalty to the o f and H ouse H apsburg is historic , reads like s a romance . Thi fidelity has often brought u pon them great suffering , borne , however, with heroic patience , and relieved by great glory . They have upheld and preserved it in u - desperate str ggles , which rival in self devotion and courage those o f the Swiss against the o r same dynasty , of the Greeks against the Persians . The Tyrolese , in those moun tain villages , suggest Arcadia , or Paradise BI R TH A N D BO YHOOD 1 5 before the fall . They lead lives of simple faith and childlike innocence , difficult of belief to l those who have not ived amongst them , and who are in constant contact with the world outside . A lde in I n one of these villages , called or l F ranz e lin A tino , near Trent , j ohn Baptist was A r l 1 8 1 6 1 th i .