The Life of the Venerable Servant of God, Fabrizio Dall' Aste, Founder of the Congregation of the Oratory of Forli; And of the Venerable Servant of Go - Marciano

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 Excerpt: ...man. He recited matins with him, and then the canonical hours, and then again vespers. He spent several hours with him almost every day, to learn from his mouth the lessons which he needed for his soul's profit, and to be instructed in the several acts and virtues of St. Philip. In fact, he literally put into practice what the Holy Spirit counsels in Ecclesiasticus, "If thou seest a wise man, wait diligently upon him, and let thy feet wear away the steps of his door." F. Pietro, perceiving in his disciple the happiest dispositions for attaining an eminent perfection, applied himself with all love and diligence to cultivate and increase them. In imitation of that great master of mortification, St. Philip, he conducted Mariano by a path of secret, though most searching mortification, opposing everything which sprang from his private opinion, detaching him from those means, which his disciple judged most useful or necessary for advancing in the spiritual life, inciting him to undertake something, and then when he was in the midst of it, causing him to drop or interrupt it; and, lastly, keeping his will no less than his intellect in the continual exercise of Christian mortification. Such was the opinion which Mariano had formed of his beloved master, and such his dependance upon him, that he never did or undertook anything without first consulting him, and then guiding himself wholly by his advice. Mariano would have desired to add to the interior mortification, which was the primary aim of F. Consolini, the exterior exercises of haircloths, chain-girdles, disciplines, and other instruments of penance. But F. Pietro was very reserved in permitting him the use of them, he even frequently refused them to him; and smiling at the ardour with which...