CHAPTER IX -For Greater Things

In Chapter IX, “Vocation,” of “For Greater Things: The Story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka,” Stanislaus Kostka feels assured in his call to join the Society of Jesus following a miraculous vision and cure attributed to the Virgin Mary. Determined to follow her directive, Stanislaus consults with Father Doni, a Jesuit priest, about joining the order. Aware of potential hurdles, especially needing his father’s consent or reaching the age of independence, Stanislaus faces resistance when he seeks approval from the Jesuit Provincial, Father Laurence Maggi. Despite Stanislaus’ faith in divine intervention, Father Maggi remains prudent, citing recent troubles from enlisting novices without parental permission and emphasizing the importance of either acquiring his father’s consent or waiting until legal adulthood.

Undeterred, Stanislaus devises another plan to gain admittance into the Jesuit order without waiting for years or confronting his father, who he knows would oppose his decision. He turns to Cardinal Commendoni, the Pope’s legate in Vienna with whom he had previously established a rapport. Stanislaus hopes that, given the Cardinal’s position and their friendship, Commendoni could influence Father Maggi. Although the Cardinal sympathizes with Stanislaus’ fervor and recognizes the validity of his vocation over familial objections, his intervention does not sway the Provincial. With the Cardinal also dissuaded by the Provincial’s caution against admitting Stanislaus without his father’s permission, the situation appears to be at a dead end.

However, Stanislaus’ unique courage—fueled by a deep fear of wasting a divine calling—prevents him from succumbing to despair over these setbacks. Despite facing significant obstacles and disappointments, including the resistance of his own family and the wary Jesuit leadership, Stanislaus’ resolve to pursue his religious vocation only strengthens. His story showcases a profound faith in his spiritual journey and an unshakable belief that divine will would eventually clear the path to his entering the Jesuit order, regardless of the daunting challenges ahead.