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us regimine pastoris unus grex continet, uniusque te custode ovilis septa concludunt. Per Dominum.

separate those, who are all one flock under the guidance of one shepherd, and are enclosed in one fold under thy protection. Through the same Lord.

On this day is commemorated the great martyr Theodore of Amasea, a conscript soldier, who was burnt alive. His praises have been celebrated by St. Gregory of Nyssa; he is honoured in Rome at the foot of the Palatine, and had three churches dedicated to his name in Constantinople. Let us say with the Latin Church:

PRAYER.

Deus, qui nos beati Theodori Martyris tui confessione gloriosa circumdas et protegis præsta nobis ex ejus imitatione proficere, et oratione fulciri. Per Dominum.

O God, who dost encompass and protect us by the glorious confession of blessed Theodore thy Martyr; grant us by his example to improve, and by his prayer to be supported. Through our Lord.

NOVEMBER 10.

SAINT ANDREW AVELLINO.

CONFESSOR.

In the sixteenth century, in reply to the reproach of exhaustion hurled against the Church, the Holy Ghost raised from her soil an abundant harvest of sanctity. Andrew was one of his most worthy cooperators in the work of holy reformation and supernatural renaissance, which then took place. Eternal Wisdom had as usual suffered Satan to go before, for his own greater shame, cloaking his evil works under the grand names of renaissance and reform.

It was nine years since St. Cajetan had departed this world, leaving it strengthened by his labours and all embalmed with the fragrance of his virtues; the former Bishop of Theate, his companion and collaborator in founding the first Regular Clerks, was now governing the Church under the name of Paul IV.; when in 1556 God bestowed upon the Theatines, in the person of our Saint, an heir to the supernatural gifts, the heroic sanctity, and the zeal for the sanctuary, that had characterized their father. Andrew was the friend and support of the great Bishop of Milan, St. Charles Borromeo, whose glory in heaven he went to share on this day. His pious writings are still used in the Church. He himself

formed some admirable disciples, such as Laurence Scupoli, author of the well-known work so prized by the Bishop of Geneva, the Spiritual Combat.1

Nothing need be added to the following history of his life.

Andreas Avellinus, dictus antea Lancellottus, apud Castrum Novum Lucania pagum natus, inter ipsa infantiæ primordia, futuræ sanctitatis non obscura præbuit indicia. Adolescens ad litteras addiscendas paterna e domo egressus, lubricam illius ætatis semitam inter bonarum artium studia ita peregit, ut sapientiæ initium, quod est timor Domini, ob oculos potissimum habere numquam prætermiserit. Cum egregia proinde forma eximium castitatis studium conjunxit, quo impudicas sæpe mulierum insidias elusit, interdum etiam apertam vim propulsavit. Clericali militiae jampridem adscriptus, Neapolim se contulit, ut legalibus disciplinis vacaret, ibique jurisprudentiæ lauream adeptus, atque interea ad sacerdotalem dignitatem evectus, causarum patrocinia in foro dumtaxat ecclesiastico, proque privatis quibusdam personis, jux

ta sacrorum canonum sanc

tiones agere cœpit. Verum

Andrew Avellino, formerly called Lancelot, was born at Castro Nuovo in Lucania; and, while still an infant, gave evident signs of future holiness. He left his father's house to study the liberal arts; in the pursuit of which he passed so blamelessly through the slippery age of youth, as ever to keep before his eyes the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Of a comely appearance, he was so great a lover of holy purity that he was able to escape snares laid for his chastity by shameless women, and even to repel open attacks. After being made a cleric, he went to Naples to study law, and there took his degree. Meanwhile he was promoted to the priesthood; after which he began to plead, but only in the ecclesiastical court and for private individuals, in accordance with the prescriptions of Canon Law. Once, however, when pleading a cause, a slight untruth escaped him; and happening soon after, in reading

1 It is clear and very practical. Yes, my daughter, the Spiritual Combat is a great book, and a book dear to me. I have carried it in my pocket for at least eighteen years, and I never read it without profit. S. FRANCIS DE SALES, Spiritual Letters.

cum aliquando inter causam agendam leve ei mendacium excidisset, mox vero fortuita sacrarum Scripturarum lectione in illa verba incidisset: Os, quod mentitur, occidit animam; tanto ejus culpæ dolore ac poenitentia correptus est, ut statim ab ejusmodi vitæ instituto sibi recedendum esse duxerit. Itaque, abdicatis forensibus curis, se totum divino cultui sacrisque ministeriis mancipavit. Cumque ecclesiasticæ virtutis exemplis emineret, sanctimonialium regimini a tunc exsistente archiepiscopo Neapolitano præfectus fuit. Quo in munere cum pravorum hominum odia subiisset, primo quidem intentatæ sibi necis periculum declinavit; mox vero per sicarium tribus in facie acceptis vulneribus, injuriæ atrocitatem æquo animo pertulit. Tum perfectioris vitæ desiderio flagrans, ut inter Clericos regulares adscriberetur, suppliciter postulavit, votique compos factus, ob ingentem, quo æstuabat, crucis amorem, ut sibi Andreæ nomen imponeretur, precibus impetravit.

Arctioris itaque vitæ curriculum alacri studio ingressus, in eas maxime virtutis exercitationes incubuit, ad quas sese arduis etiam emissis votis obstrinxit, altero scilicet suæ ipsius voluntati jugiter obsistendi,

the Holy Scripture, to come upon these words: The mouth that belieth killeth the soul, he conceived so great a sorrow and repentance for his fault, that he determined at once to abandon that kind of life.

He therefore left the bar, and devoted himself entirely to the divine service and the sacred ministry. As he was eminent in priestly virtues, the Archbishop of Naples confided to him the direction of certain nuns. In discharging this office he incurred the hatred of some evil men, who attempted his life. He escaped their first assault; but soon afterwards one of the assassins gave him three wounds in the face: an injury which he bore unmoved. Desirous of a more perfect life, he humbly begged to be admitted among the Regular Clerks; and on obtaining his request, he asked to be called by the name of Andrew, on account of his ardent love of the Cross.

He earnestly devoted himself to the stricter manner of life he had embraced, and to the practice of the virtues, going so far as to bind himself thereto by two most difficult vows, viz; never to do his own will, and ever to ad

altero vero in via christianæ perfectionis semper ulterius progrediendi. Regularis disciplinæ cultor assiduus, et in ea promovenda, cum aliis præesset, studiosissimus fuit. Quidquid ab instituti sui officii et regulæ præscripto supererat temporis, orationi et animarum saluti tribuebat. In confessionibus excipiendis mira ejus pietas et prudentia enituit: vicos et oppida Neapoli finitima evangelicis ministeriis magno cum animarum lucro frequens lustrabat. Quam ardentem erga proximos sancti viri caritatem signis etiam Dominus illustravit. Cum enim intempesta nocte ab audita ægri confessione domum rediret, ac pluvia ventorumque vis prælucentem facem exstinxisset, non solum ipse cum sociis inter effusissimos imbres nihil madefactus est; verum etiam, inusitato splendore e suo corpore mirabiliter emicante, sociis inter densissimas tenebras iter monstravit. Abstinentia et patientia, nec non abjectione atque odio sui summopere præstitit. Necem fratris filio illatam imperturbato animo tulit, ac suos ab omni ulciscendi cupiditate compescuit, imo etiam pro interfectoribus opem et misericordiam judicum imploravit.

vance in Christian perfection. He had the greatest respect for religious discipline, and zealously promoted it when he was superior. Whatever time remained over after the discharge of his duties and the prescriptions of the rule, he devoted to prayer and the salvation of souls. He was noted for his piety and prudence in hearing Confessions. He frequently visited the towns and villages near Naples, exercising the apostolic ministry with profit to souls. Our Lord was pleased to show by miracles how great was this holy man's love of his neighbour. As he was once returning home late at night from hearing a sick man's confession, a violent storm of wind and rain put out the light that was carried before him; but neither he nor his companions were wet by the pouring rain; and moreover a wonderful light shining from his body enabled them to find their way through the darkness. His abstinence and patience were extraordinary, as also his humility and hatred of self. He bore the assassination of his nephew with unruffled tranquillity, withheld his family from seeking revenge, and even implored the judges to grant mercy and protection to the murderers.

Pluribus in locis ClericoHe propagated the Order of rum regularium Ordinem the Regular Clerks in many

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