Page:Impressions of Spain in 1866.djvu/86

66 convent, now converted into a college, is Don Jose Martin, a very holy man, though quite young, and revered by the whole country as a saint. He is a wonderM preacher, and by his austere and penitential life works miracles in bringing souls to God. His manner is singularly gentle, simple, and humble. He kindly came to escort the party through the catacombs, and to show them the relics. The sites of the different martyrdoms have been converted into small cha- pels or oratories : in one, where the victim perished by fire, his ashes still remain. Little leaden tablets mark the different spots. Here also is the great wooden cross of St. John of the Cross, from the foot of which he preached a sermon on the * Love of God ' dming his visit to Granada, which is said to have converted upwards of 3,000 people. * I always come here to pray for a few minutes before preaching,' said simply Don Jose Martin, * so that a portion of his spirit may rest upon me.' After spending some time in this sanctuary, the party reluctantly retraced their steps, and returned to the town, where they had promised to visit the great hospital of San Juan de Dios. It is a mag- nificent establishment, entirely under the care of the Spanish sisters of charity of St. Vincent de Paul, with a ’patio' or quadrangle in the centre,