CHAPTER II -For Greater Things

In Vienna, a sense of unease enveloped Stanislaus Kostka’s brother, Paul, and their tutor, Bilinski, when Stanislaus failed to return home. Having resided in the city for three years under the guardianship of Bilinski, Stanislaus’s sudden absence on that day sparked concern. Their afternoon inquiries among friends and acquaintances bore no fruit, leading them to suspect that Stanislaus had fled, a suspicion born from their intimate knowledge of his character and recent conversations hinting at his desire to escape.

Their fears centered around Augsburg, motivated by Stanislaus’s uttered intentions and his admiration for Peter Canisius, the Provincial of the German Jesuits residing there. Determined to retrieve him, Paul, Bilinski, and Senator Kimberker, their host and a Lutheran confidant, planned an immediate pursuit but were forced to delay until dawn due to the nightfall. With a servant and a swift carriage, they ventured towards Augsburg, pressing their coachman to hasten their journey. Upon reaching an inn where Stanislaus had briefly stayed, their queries met with strategic silence from a cautious landlord, offering them no leads.

Despite the setback, the pursuit continued until a potential sighting of Stanislaus redirected their efforts. A boy in humble attire caught their attention, briefly stirring their hopes, but the carriage sped on, the figure dismissed as a peasant. Yet, Paul’s intuition suggested otherwise, leading to a fervent but futile attempt to investigate the lane the boy had taken. Unnaturally resisting horses and an overwhelming sense of dread convinced them of a divine intervention, ceasing their chase and turning back to Vienna.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to his pursuers, Stanislaus navigated away from the road via a stream, evading capture with resilient determination. His journey, marked by the generosity of strangers and unwavering faith, continued toward Augsburg, reflecting his heroic spirit motivated by divine love. His venture encapsulates not just a flight from familial constraints but a profound commitment to his spiritual calling, a testament to his enduring legacy as a figure of faith and dedication.