A Golden Treatise of Mental Prayer by St. Peter Alacantara

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CHAPTER II. OF HIS NATURAL GIFTS, AND OF HIS PRUDENCE AND MORTIFICATION OF HIS EYES.

He was an elected vessel, beautified with all the jewels of virtues, and as his mind was replenished with supernatural gifts, so his body wanted not its natural graces. He was of a spare body, but comely, he had a grave and modest look, his eyes were sparkling tokens of the fire of divine love, which was in his soul invisible to the eye. There was not one member in that man which was not subordinate to the rule of reason. His speech was meek and humble, his conversation angelical. He had an excellent natural wit, joined with a happy memory: he had likewise a singular good judgment (as appeared in his government) he was courageous in going through with business, which did tend to the honor of Almighty God, and the good of religion; he was grateful to all, giving to every one their due respect: he was dexterous in his actions, modest in correcting: and a peace-maker, reconciling those who upon any occasion, had been at jars.

In his sermons he was hot, but moving: in hearing of confessions he was a helper, a counsellor, and a comforter: in his ordinary speech he was not fawning, nor biting, and his conversation without any pertinacity: and to conclude all in a few words: he was a man of another world, of whom we may justly say as Alexander Halensis said of St. Bonaventure, that he was a man, in whom Adam seemed not to have sinned. He was a reformer, Prelate, Master, and pattern of perfection, of the Seraphical Order of our Holy Father St. Francis, who through so many provinces and remote kingdoms, illustrated this sacred institution; as another Apostle pre-ordained by Almighty God for this happy end.