593 chapter 6: the victim of the mystical temple some holy discourse that has been heard or read. For countless people are saved and become very holy when they obey this rule. Thus the Angel, by his mission, gently and very graciously led the most Holy Virgin to give her consent to the Divine Incarnation. Thus Teresa59 made remarkable spiritual progress and accomplished admirable things thanks to the advice of devout and learned men. So also, the most wise and holy Father Augustine was converted to the orthodox faith and holiness of morals by Ambrose’s sermons and just one sentence from a letter of St. Paul.60 Thus, when Anthony the Great heard the words of the Lord: “If you wish to be perfect, go, and sell all that you have and give it to the poor” (Mt 19:21),61 these words turned him into a poor hermit and a true follower of Christ. So, when John Colombini was relieving his impatient hunger with spiritual food, that is, by reading The Life of Saint Mary, named from Egypt, he was himself converted.62 Therefore, a Christian should continually be watching closely for such inspirations and putting them firmly into practice. I would however advise that he does it with the approval of prudent men, even though the saints I have mentioned made no use of such. For neither that famous sinner Mary consulted anyone 59 This refers to St. Teresa of Avila (d. 1582), canonized in the year 1622. The author was able to gain knowledge of her life and works from reading her writings in a partial Polish edition prepared by Seb. Nucerin and the Carmelite priests, Krakow, 2 vols., 1664. 60 Cf. Augustine, Confessions, Bk. V, Chs. 12-14; VIII, Ch. 12. 61 This quotation, with two words added to the text of the Latin Vulgate, (see textual annotations), is taken from The Life of St. Anthony Written by St. Athanasius, in: LH, A Second Reading in Memory of St. Antony, Abbot (January 17). Also, the reading in Mark 10:21 and in Luke 18:22 is somewhat different. 62 We are concerned here with Giovanni Colombini (d. 1367). One day, driven by hunger, he went to refresh himself earlier than usual and received from his wife a book to read (the said Life of Saint Mary of Egypt) until his food was ready to eat. “Giovanni Colombini, a rich merchant and an authoritative citizen of Sienna was married to Bigia Cerretani (1342). He was invited by her to read the Life of St. Mary the Egyptian (1355) and was so inspired by God to charity until (in about 1364) he gave all his belongings to the hospital of St. Mary della Scala and the nuns of St. Bonda in Sienna ... And so he gave himself to an intense life of penitence and apostolate, gathering the disciples called Jesuates.” Chiari Alberto, Colombini, Giovanni, the Blessed: ECat III, 2006.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==