Page:Goffinesdevoutin00goffuoft.djvu/21



EONAED GOFFINE  was  born  at  Cologne  in  the  year  1648, and was  received  as  a  Premonstratensian  monk  on  the 18th of  July,  1669,  at  Steinfeld,  in  the  duchy  of  Juelich,  in  a convent  which  was  afterwards  secularized. For many  years he had  charge  of  the  parishes  of  Oberstein  and  Coesfeld,  which he served  with  praiseworthy  zeal. Everywhere he  kept  the  example  of  his  Lord  and  Master  before  his  eyes. As we  read  in the  Acts  (i.  1),  "Jesus  began  to  do,  and  to  teach,"  so  his greatest care  was,  first  to  correct  himself  and  then  to  teach others. Being persuaded  that  public  instruction  and  the  exercises  of  the  divine  service  should  be  accompanied  by  Christian instruction at  home,  he  wrote  at  Coesfeld,  Westphalia,  a  book of instruction  and  devotion,  which,  under  the  title  of  "A Manual,"  he  caused  to  be  published  in  the  year  1690. In this work his  aim  was  to  instruct  thoroughly,  in  regard  to  their  sublime  vocation,  not  only  his  own  parishioners,  but  also  all  Christians  desirous  of  salvation ;  to  convince  them  of  the  superstition and errors  of  the  world ;  to  fill  them  with  a  lively  faith,  with sweet hope  of  the  goods  of  eternity,  and  with  a  holy  love  for God and  heavenly  things. As his  whole  conduct  showed  that the spirit  of  God  was  with  him,  so  even  they  who  opposed  his religion could  not  withhold  from  him  their  respect. He died August 11,  1719,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age. His memory remains in  benediction.