AUTHOR OF
“ITALIAN YESTERDAYS,” “A DIPLOMATIST’S WIFE IN JAPAN,”
“A DIPLOMATIST’S WIFE IN MANY LANDS,”
“FURTHER REMINISCENCES OF A DIPLOMATIST’S
WIFE,” ETC., ETC.
WITH SIXTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS IN PHOTOGRAVURE
LONDON
HUTCHINSON & CO.
PATERNOSTER ROW
1915
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I SAINTS OF THE CHURCH
A Friend in Rome—A story of two ways of loving—Aglaë and Boniface—Become Christians—A new life—Boniface endures terrible tortures—Martyrdom—Death of Aglaë—Church of St. Boniface—Alexis, the pilgrim—His travels—Return to Rome—A ragged beggar—His death and burial in St. Boniface’s Church—St. Alexis’ Monastery—Trials of the Church after Constantine—Rome’s lowest ebb—Growth of the spiritual city—Benedict the Blessed, and Scholastica [pp. 1-15]
CHAPTER II FOUNDER OF MONASTICISM
Norcia in the Sabines—A matrona—The twins, Benedict and Scholastica—Benedict goes to Rome—Conversion of Placidus—Benedict’s retirement to La Mentorella—Life in a cave—Temptations—Visit of St. Francis—Benedict’s ministering—Real founder of monastic life—Growth of his order—Placidus and Maurus—St. Benedict’s personality and conversions—His ideal of the religious life—His greatest miracles—His sister, Scholastica—The last day together—His ascension [pp. 16-38]