For Greater Things: The Story of Saint Stanislaus KostkaKane, William T. (William Terence)
Religion
For Greater Things: The Story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka
Kane, William T. (William Terence)
Kostka, Stanislas, Saint, 1550-1568
The house which the Jesuits in Vienna used for their boarding
college was not theirs. It belonged to the Emperor Ferdinand I, who
had merely loaned it to them. Now the Emperor Ferdinand had died on
July 25, 1564, the day before Paul and Stanislaus came to Vienna.
The new Emperor, Maximilian II, left the house with the Jesuits for
a time; but in March, 1565, withdrew it from their use. Of course,
that meant the breaking up of the boarding-school. The Fathers still
had their own residence, and they could teach a small number of day
scholars. Many of their pupils went to their homes when they could
no longer live with the Jesuits. Those who remained had to take
lodgings elsewhere in the city.
It was decided that Paul and Stanislaus should be amongst the latter
number. At once Bilinski set out with the two to get a house. In
the Platz Kiemark, a fashionable quarter of the town, there was a
splendid mansion, belonging to a Lutheran noble, the Senator
Kimberker.
It took Paul's fancy immensely. On inquiry, they found that
Kimberker used less than half of the house, for it was a huge
building with many rooms, and that he was more than willing to rent
the unused rooms to the young Poles. Stanislaus felt a little ill
at ease over living with a Lutheran. But Bilinski and Paul pooh-
poohed at his fears, and had their own way in the matter.
So in a few days they moved in, and fitted up a couple of the vacant
rooms. Stanislaus was to live more than two years in this house,
two years filled with a great deal of annoyance and pain, and yet
blessed in wonderful ways. His difficulties began almost at once,
and they were no slight difficulties. Of course, he and Paul went
daily for classes to the Jesuits' house, and met daily the few boys
who continued their studies in Vienna. But the old companionship,
the old life of the boys in common, was gone. Only two or three of
his best friends remained, and these were scattered through the
city. He saw them for a little while after classes, he might now and
then go out with them on a holiday. But for the most part he was
thrown back upon the company of his tutor and his elder brother.
Both Paul and Bilinski liked a good time." They were far removed
from the authority of home. Bilinski, who was in charge, was only a
few years older than Paul; and whilst a good fellow in the main, was
little able, or perhaps little willing, to put much check upon him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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