St Stan Illustrated Story

T he Jesuits had a lovely garden near the College, and John must have spent many wonderful moments there in the com- pany of his fellow students. His studies, of course, absorbed most of his time, but there were moments of leisure. Furthermore, filled as he was with deep faith and piety, he worked just as hard at developing his character and training his will. With his pious upbringing, it was only natural for him to join the Sodality of Our Blessed Lady, always so intimately a part of the Jesuit school atmosphere. The sodality meetings and devotions in honor of Our Blessed Lady served to deepen his love of Mary and his reverence for Her Immaculate Conception. The salutary fruits of this training were to be revealed in his later years as a religious. 36