In this manner, Xavier had recourse to Ignatius on all occasions, as much as the distance of places would permit; and the orders which he received, were to him inviolable laws. "You shall not suffer any one," so he writ to Gaspar Barzæus, rector of the college of Goa, "to receive the orders of priesthood, who is not sufficiently learned; and who has not given, for the space of many years, sufficient examples of his good life in our Society; because our Father Ignatius has expressly forbidden it." For the same reason he exactly observed the constitutions of the Society. "Make not haste," writes he in the same letter to Barzæus, "to receive children which are too young; and totally reject such sorts of people, whom Father Ignatius would have for ever excluded from our order." But nothing, perhaps, can more clearly discover how perfect the submission of Xavier was, than what his superior himself thought of it. At the time when Xavier died, Ignatius had thoughts of recalling him from the Indies; not doubting, but at the first notice of his orders, this zealous missioner would leave all things out of his obedience. And on this occasion he wrote to him a letter, bearing date the 28th of June, in the year 1553. Behold the passage which concerns the business of which we are speaking: "I add," says Ignatius in his letter, "that having in prospect the salvation of souls, and the greater service of our Lord, I have resolved to command you, in virtue of holy obedience, to return into Portugal with the first opportunity; and I command you this in the name of Christ. But that you may more easily satisfy those, who are desirous of retaining you in the Indies, for the good of those countries, I will present you with my reasons: You know, in the first place, of what weight are the orders of the king of Portugal, for the confirmation of religion in the East, for the propagation of it in, Guinea and Brasil; and you can rightly judge, that a prince so religious as he, will do all things necessary for the advancement of God's honour, and the conversion of people, if one of your ability and experience shall personally instruct him; And besides, it is of great importance, that the holy apostolical see should be informed of the present state of India, by some authentic witness; to the end, that Popes may issue out spiritual supplies, as well to the new as to the ancient Christianity of Asia; without which, neither the one nor the other can subsist, or cannot subsist without much trouble; and nobody is more proper than yourself for this, both in respect of your knowledge in the affairs of the new world, and of your reputation in these parts.
"You know, moreover, of what consequence it is, that the missioners, who are sent to the Indies, should be proper for the end proposed; and it is convenient, on that account, that you come to Portugal and Rome: for not only many more will be desirous of going on those missions, but you will make a better choice of missioners, and will see more clearly to what parts such and such are proper to be sent. You judge yourself of what consideration it is, not to be mistaken in these affairs; and whatsoever relation you can send us, your letters are not sufficient to give us a true notion of what labourers are fitting for the Indies. It is necessary that you, or some one as intelligent as you, should know and practise those who are designed for those countries. Besides what it will be in your power to do for the common benefit of the East, you will warm the zeal of the king of Portugal, in relation to Ethiopia, which has been under consideration for so many years, but nothing yet performed. You will also be of no little use to the affairs of Congo and Brasil, on which you can have no influence in India, for want of commerce betwixt them and you. But if you think your presence may be necessary, for the government of those of the Society who are in the Indies, you may govern them more easily from Portugal, than you can from China or Japan. For what remains, I remit you to the Father, Master Polanque, and recommend myself most cordially to your good prayers, beseeching the Divine Goodness to multiply his favours on you; to the end, that we may understand his most holy will, and that we may perfectly perform it."
Father Polanque, who was secretary to Father Ignatius, and confident to all his purposes, has given testimony, that the intention of the holy founder was to make Xavier general of the Society. The letter of Ignatius found Xavier dead. But we may judge of what he would have done, by what he writ before his death to Ignatius himself, who had testified so earnest a desire to see him: "Your holy charity," says he in his letter, "tells me, that you have an earnest desire to see me once again in this present life: God, who looks into the bottom of my heart, can tell how sensibly that mark of your tenderness has touched me. Truly, whenever that expression of yours returns to my remembrance, and it frequently returns, the tears come dropping from my eyes, and I cannot restrain them; while I revolve that happy thought, that once, yet once again it may be given me to embrace you. I confess, it appears difficult to compass my desires, but all things are possible to holy obedience."
Undoubtedly, if the letter of Ignatius had found Xavier alive, he had soon been seen in Europe; for having offered, of his own free motion, to leave the Indies, Japan, and China, and all the business which he had upon his hands, and having said, that the least beckoning of his superior should be sufficient for it, what would he not have done, when he had received a positive command to abandon all, and repass the seas?
His maxims of obedience shew clearly what his own submission was.
"There is nothing more certain, nor less subject to mistake, than always to be willing to obey. On the contrary, it is dangerous to live in complaisance to our own wills, and without following the motion of our superiors; for though we chance to perform any good action, yet if we never so little deviate from that which is commanded us, we may rest assured, that our action is rather vicious than good.
"The devil, by his malicious suggestions, tempts the greatest part of those who have devoted themselves to God's service: 'What make you there?' he secretly whispers; 'See you not that you do but lose your labour?' Resist that thought with all your strength; for it is capable not only of hindering you in the way to perfection, but also of seducing you from it: and let every one of you persuade himself, that he cannot better serve our Lord, than in that place where he is set by his superior. Be also satisfied, that when the time of God is come, he will inspire your superiors with thoughts of sending you to such places, where your labours shall abundantly succeed. In the mean time, you shall possess your souls in peace. By this means, you will well employ your precious time, though too many do not understand its value, and make great proficiencies in virtue. It is far otherwise with those restless souls, who do no good in those places where they wish to be, because they are not there; and are unprofitable both to themselves and others where they are, because they desire to be otherwhere.
"Perform, with great affection, what your superiors order you, in relation to domestic discipline, and suffer not yourself to be surprised with the suggestions of the evil spirit, who endeavours to persuade you, that some other employment would be fitter for you; his design is, that you should execute that office ill in which you are employed: I entreat you, therefore, by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to consider seriously, how you may overcome those temptations, which give you a distaste of your employment; and to meditate, more on that, than how to engage yourself in such laborious affairs, as are not commanded you. Let no man flatter himself; it is impossible to excel in great matters, before we arrive to excel in less: and it is a gross error, under the pretence of saving souls, to shake off the yoke of obedience, which is light and easy, and to take up a cross, which, without comparison, is more hard and heavy.
"It becomes you to submit your will and judgement to your governors; and to believe that God, will inspire them, in reference to you, with that, which will be most profitable to you. For the rest, beware of asking any thing with importunity, as some have done, who press their superiors with such earnestness, that they even tear from them that which they desire, though the thing which they demand be in itself pernicious; or if it be refused them, complain in public, that their life is odious to them: they perceive not, that their unhappiness proceeds from their neglect of their vow, and their endeavour to appropriate that will to themselves, which they have already consecrated to our Lord. In effect, the more such people live according to their own capricious fancy, the more uneasy and melancholy is their life."
The holy man was so thoroughly persuaded, that the perfection of the Society of Jesus consisted in obedience, that he frequently commanded his brethren, in virtue of their holy obedience, thereby to increase their merit.