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    434 Results in the "Biography & Memoir" category


    • Chapter XII-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XII – For Greater Things begins with a pivotal decision: Peter Canisius, seeing both Stanislaus’s maturity and the looming threat of further interference from his family, recommends that the young aspirant continue his journey to Rome. There, far from the reach of his disapproving relatives, he would be safe to pursue his calling within the Jesuit Novitiate. He is promised a letter of introduction to the Father General, Francis Borgia, and is assigned two companions already traveling in that…
    • Chapter XIII-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XIII – For Greater Things presents a quiet yet powerful portrait of Saint Stanislaus Kostka during his time as a novice at the Professed House in Rome. At just seventeen, he embraced a routine that many might see as mundane—carrying wood, washing dishes, serving food—yet he approached each task as though it were a divine appointment. While others might seek holiness in miracles or preaching, Stanislaus found it in silent obedience and the smallest duties. His day began early, filled with…
    • Chapter XIV-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XIV – For Greater Things begins as Stanislaus Kostka, though just a novice of nine months, moves closer to the moment he long sensed was coming. Despite showing no visible signs of illness, he quietly reveals to a few that August will be his last month on earth. His confidence in this is not based on health but on deep spiritual insight, which he shares shortly after a powerful sermon by Peter Canisius. At the time, those around him pay little attention to his words, assuming they are part of his…
    • Chapter VIII-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter VIII – For Greater Things recounts a period of intense physical suffering and spiritual triumph for Stanislaus Kostka. At sixteen, after nearly two years of emotional neglect and mistreatment in Vienna, his body finally began to break under the constant pressure. A fever in late November 1566 marked the beginning of a serious illness. Though physically weakened, his spirit never wavered. With the feast of Saint Barbara drawing near, Stanislaus focused his prayers on receiving the grace of a happy…
    • Chapter IX-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter IX – For Greater Things brings us to a crucial turning point in Stanislaus Kostka’s journey—his determined response to what he believes is a divine calling. Following a miraculous vision and healing attributed to the Virgin Mary, Stanislaus feels compelled to join the Society of Jesus. Convinced this is no passing inspiration but a command from heaven, he seeks out Father Doni, a Jesuit priest, to explore the next steps. Though Father Doni listens with sympathy, he knows that joining the…
    • Chapter X-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter X – For Greater Things recounts a decisive moment in Stanislaus Kostka’s life when inner strength triumphs over fear. No longer able to endure the cruelty of his brother Paul, Stanislaus reaches a breaking point. Unlike earlier times, when he would absorb the blows in silence, he now chooses to act—not in anger, but with clarity and purpose. Determined to escape the toxic environment, he quietly arranges for his journey, obtaining a coarse peasant’s tunic and sturdy shoes to blend in as he…
    • Chapter XI-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XI – For Greater Things opens as Stanislaus Kostka, after walking nearly four hundred miles with aching feet and a prayerful heart, arrives in Augsburg, only to find that the man he seeks—Peter Canisius—is no longer there. Though disheartened by the news, he refuses to rest. With unwavering determination, he learns that Canisius has relocated to Dillingen, thirty-five more miles down the road. The Jesuits at Augsburg offer him food and rest, yet Stanislaus gently declines, eager to complete…
    • Chapter XV-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter XV – For Greater Things captures the lasting influence of Stanislaus Kostka, whose brief yet extraordinary life stirred the spiritual imagination of Europe. Just weeks before reaching his eighteenth birthday, he passed away, and the news of his death spread quickly across Rome. Despite his obscurity in life—having held no public office, authored no theological texts, nor delivered great sermons—his sanctity was immediately evident to those who encountered him. The reverence he received after…
    • Chapter I-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter I – For Greater Things opens with a striking image of Stanislaus Kostka, a seventeen-year-old nobleman, quietly slipping through the western gate of Vienna in August 1567. Though clothed in garments befitting his high birth, his steps are directed not toward a royal court or military glory, but toward Augsburg, where he hopes to follow a divine call. The contrast between his noble attire and his humble bread meal reveals a young man committed to shedding privilege in favor of a deeper purpose.…
    • Chapter II-For Greater Things Cover
      by LovelyMay Chapter II – For Greater Things begins with a growing tension in Vienna, as Paul Kostka and John Bilinski realize that Stanislaus had not returned home. They were familiar with his quiet but resolute nature, and his recent talk about leaving for Augsburg weighed heavily on their minds. The realization struck that this was not a mere absence—it was an escape. His admiration for Peter Canisius, the Jesuit provincial, and his open longing to join the Society of Jesus had not gone unnoticed. Though they…
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