Page:PracticeOfChristianAndReligiousPerfectionV1.djvu/14



The celebrated  father,  Alphonsus  Rodriguez,  to  whom  all  devout Christians, as  well  as  the  members  of  the  different  religious orders of  the  Church,  are  so  deeply  indebted  for  the  rich  treasures which he  has  bequeathed  to  them  in  his  ascetic  writings,  was born at  Valladolid,  in  Spain. He commenced  his  studies  at Salamanca ;  and  there,  after  having  attained  his  degree  in  the School of  Philosophy,  he  was  moved  by  the  apostolic  preaching of Father  John  Ramirez,  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  and,  at  the  age of nineteen,  embraced  the  religious  state  in  that  society. During his noviceship,  and  in  the  course  of  his  theological  studies,  he acquired  so  high  a  reputation  for  virtue,  that  scarcely  was  he ordained  priest  when  he  was  intrusted  with  the  care  of  the  young religious to  train  them  up  in  the  spirit  of  their  vocation — an employment  which  is  considered  of  the  utmost  importance  in  the society. Amongst those  who  had  the  happiness  of  being  under him as  master  of  novices,  was  the  celebrated  doctor,  Father Francis Suarez,  who  used  frequently  to  congratulate  himself  on having  been  the  disciple  of  one  so  renowned  in  spiritual  life. He was  next  appointed  Rector  of  Monterei,  where  he  afterwards remained ;  and,  during  the  space  of  twelve  years,  delivered  lectures in  Moral  Theology  with  such  celebrity  that  many  were anxious to  obtain  copies  of  his  writings. To the  important duties of  the  theological  chair,  his  zeal  associated  still  greater labours in  his  endeavours  to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the city in  which  he  dwelt,  and  of  the  neighbouring  country,  by preaching,  catechising,  and  absolving  sinners. From Monterei he was  removed  to  Valladolid,  to  fill  the  office  of  domestic  casuist in  the  house  of  the  professed  fathers ;  thence  he  was  summoned to  Montilla  to  instruct  the  novices,  and  continued  to  perform this  duty  for  more  than  thirty  years. He was  afterwards deputed to  Rome  to  attend  the  Fifth  General  Congregation,  where he gave  illustrious  proofs  of  his  sanctity,  prudence,  and  knowledge of  the  rules  and  constitutions  of  the  society. From Rome he returned  to  Spain,  and  became  Spiritual  Father  in  the  college of Cordova. It was  during  his  sojourn  here,  that,  having  prin-