ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AND FRIAR ROMANUS.
WE are about to treat of facts concerning which our fathers never had any hesitation, because they had faith. Nowadays, the truths which are above the material sight have been so roughly handled that they are much diminished for us. And if the goodness of God had not allowed some rays of the mysteries which He reserves for Himself to escape, if some gleams of magnetism and the world of spirits occupying the air around us had not a little embarrassed those of our literati who make a merit of not believing, we would hardly dare, in spite of the grave authorities on which they rest, to represent here some apparitions of souls departed from this world. We shall venture to do so, nevertheless.
One day, when St. Thomas Aquinas was praying in the Church of the Friars, Preachers, at Naples, the pious friar Romanus, whom he had left in Paris, where he replaced him in the chair of Theology, suddenly appeared beside him. Thomas, seeing him, said:
"I am glad of thine arrival. But how long hast thou been here?"
Romanus answered: "I am now out of this world. Nevertheless, I am permitted to come to thee, because of thy merit."
The Saint, alarmed at this reply, after a moment's recollection, said to the apparition: "I adjure thee, by Our Lord Jesus Christ, tell me simply if my works are pleasing to God!"
Romanus replied: "Persevere in the way in which thou art, and believe that what thou doest is agreeable unto God."
Thomas then asked him in what state he found himself.
"I enjoy eternal life," answered Romanus. "Nevertheless, for having carelessly executed one clause of a will which the Bishop of Paris gave me in charge, I underwent for fifteen days the pains of Purgatory."
St. Thomas again said: "You remind me that we often discussed the question whether the knowledge acquired in this life remain in the soul after death. I pray you give me the solution thereof."
Romanus made answer: "Ask me not that. As for me, I am content with seeing my God."
"Seest thou him face to face?" went on Thomas.
"Just as we have been taught," replied Romanus, "and as I see thee."
With these words he left St. Thomas greatly consoled.