LIGHT FROM THE LOWLY.

Series IX.

ST. GUY, SACRISTAN.

I.

ST. GUY, commonly called the poor man of Anderlecht, was born in the country, near Brussels, of mean parents, but both very virtuous, and consequently content and happy in their station. They were not able to give their son a school education, nor did they on that account repine, but redoubled their diligence in instructing him early in the rudiments of the Christian doctrine, and in all the maxims of our holy religion, often repeating to him the lesson which old Tobias gave his son: "We shall be rich enough if we fear God." But their own example was the most powerful, constant instruction, and inspired him more strongly than words could do with the Christian spirit of humility, meekness and piety, and with a fear of God, animated by charity, which is fruitful in all manner of good works. Guy was from his cradle serious, obedient, mild, patient, docile, and an

enemy to the least sloth. He conceived the highest sense of all religious duties, and was inured, both by his parents' care and by his own fervour, to the practice of them. The meanness of his condition much delighted him as soon as he was of an age to know its value. He rejoiced to see himself placed in a state which Christ had chosen for Himself. This conformity to his Divine Master, who lived and died in extreme poverty, and the humiliation inseparable from his condition, were very pleasing to him, and it was his chief care to make use of the advantages it afforded him for the exercise of all heroic virtues. He showed to the rich and the great ones of the world all possible respect, but never envied or coveted their fortunes, and sighed sincerely to see men in all states so eagerly wedded to the goods of the earth, which they so much overrate. When he met with poor persons who grieved to see themselves such, he exhorted them not to lose by murmuring, impatience, and unprofitable desires, the treasures which God put into their hands. The painful labour, hardships, inconveniences, and humiliations to which his condition exposed him he looked upon as its most precious advantages, being sensible that the poverty which the Redeemer chose was not such a one as even worldlings would desire, abounding with all the necessaries and comforts of life, but a poverty which is accompanied by continual privations, sufferings, and denials of the gratifiIcation of the senses. The great curse which Christ denounces against riches regards the inordinate pleasure that is sought in the abundance of earthly goods, and in the delights of sense.

St. Austin says that God ranks among the reprobate, not only those who shall have received their comfort on earth, but also those who shall have grieved to be deprived of it. This was the misfortune which Guy dreaded. In order to preserve himself from it, he never ceased to beg

of God the grace to love the happy state of poverty in which Divine Providence had placed him, and to bear all its hardships with joy and perfect resignation, in a spirit of penance, without which all the tribulations of the world are of no advantage for heaven. His heart used to burn when he heard of the deeds of the solitary followers of an Arsenius, or an Anthony, who dedicated themselves to the cultivation of all virtues. He grieved that he did not live in those times, and now found himself without direction or rule for leading such a life. But the Lord accepts and rewards good wishes, when acts are impossible: and as Guy did not drop his plans and desires of a solitary life, he was daily purifying himself more and more from all earthly affection, in order, as far as he was concerned, to oppose no obstacle to the fulfilment of his aspirations. The Lord took compassion on him, and at last put him in the way of realising his intentions.

About half a mile from Brussels, in a village called Laken, there is a sanctuary consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, celebrated for the miracles with which the Lord blesses the followers of the Immaculate Queen. Guy, having heard of the wonders which the sovereign Empress of heaven wrought in this holy temple, went on a pilgrimage to it, to implore the protection of his loving Mother. The priest in charge of the church was struck by the modesty, devotion, and pious bearing of the servant of God, and invited him to take charge of the sanctuary in the capacity of sacristan. Guy was delighted with the proposal, and did not allow such a chance to escape of imitating the habits of the solitaries of the desert. His business was to sweep the church, dress the altars, fold up the vestments, take care of the linen and other movables used in the service of God, ring the bell for Mass and vespers, and provide flowers and other decorations which were used in the church: all which he

performed with the utmost exactness and veneration, which the most profound sense of religion can inspire. The neatness and good order that appeared in everything under his direction edified all that came to that church; for, out of a true spirit of religion, the servant of God looked upon nothing as small which belonged to the service of the Lord, or to the decency of his house. His religious silence, modesty, and recollection in the church seemed to say to others, "This is the house of God: tremble you that approach His sanctuary." During his employments, he walked always in the divine presence, praying in his heart. When they were done, he refreshed his soul at the foot of the altar in fervent exercises of devotion; and often passed whole nights in prayer. He chastised his body by rigorous fasts, and endeavoured, by constant compunction and the severity of his penance, to appease the anger of his Judge at the last day. Had it been reasonable to form a judgment of the enormity of his sins by the humble sentiments he entertained of himself, and by the penitential tears he shed, he would have passed for the most grievous sinner on the face of the earth; whereas, the sins he so grievously bewailed were only the lightest faults of inadvertence, such as the just fall into, and which only his great purity of heart could have discerned, and magnified in his eyes. To wipe away those daily stains (through the merits of Christ's passion applied to his soul) he lived in constant compunction, learning every day to become more watchful over himself in all his words and actions, and in all the motions of his heart. By humility and meekness he was sweet and courteous to all, showing that true virtue is amiable to men, and that nothing so much civilises the human soul. Out of his small salary he found a great deal for the poor: and for their sake he always lived himself in the greatest poverty, and often begged to procure them relief. He bitterly bewailed his slightest