nd take up what he should find there. The poor Brother ragged himself to the place indicated, and found a loaf of xquisite whiteness, which, by the saint's orders, he ate, nd felt his strength restored. Having asked him if he were evived, Dominic bade him take the remains of the loaf back o the place where he found it; and this done, they connued their journey. As they went on, the marvel of the ing seemed to strike the Brother for the first time. "Who ut the loaf there?" he said; "I was surely beside myself take it so quietly! Holy Father, tell me whence did at loaf come?" "Then," says the old writer, Gerard e Frachet, who has related this story, "this true lover of mility replied: My son, did you not eat as much as ou needed?' And he said, 'Yes.' 'Since, then,' replied e saint, you have eaten enough, give thanks to God, and ouble not yourself about the rest.' 66 999 This story was related to the brethren by Brother John mself after he returned into Spain, at a later period. In ite of his seeming delicacy, he had a brave heart, and companied some of the friars into Morocco, where they ent to preach the faith and where, we are assured, he made holy end. And now Dominic was once more on that soil of Italy W of Apostolic Notary, and is described by Taegius as "a man endowed with every virtue, possessed of rare prudence, zealous for the faith, and perfect in the observance of regular discipline." In the course of a familiar conversation held among some of the brethren, one of them is reported to have said that were it possible to exchange his soul for that of another, the one he would choose would be the soul of Brother Amizo. Dominic esteemed him highly, and kept him near his own person. Becoming thus very intimately acquainted with the holy founder, he was chosen as one of the witnesses who gave their testimony to his sanctity. Though he does not add any important particulars to those given by the other witnesses, yet his words are worthy of notice as bearing evidence with how close and loving an eye he had studied the character which he thus portrays. "Master Dominic," he says, "was a most humble, mild, good, patient, and pacific man; sober and modest, full of wisdom in all his acts and all his words; he delighted in consoling his neighbours and specially his brethren, and he was most zealous for regular discipline. As an ardent lover of poverty, he desired that it should be observed by the brethren in their food and clothing, their convents and churches, and even in the vestments used in the Divine worship. During his life he was specially solicitous that they should not make use of silk either at the altar or elsewhere, and that neither gold nor silver should be used except for the chalices." Amizo eventually became prior of the great convent of St. Eustorgio, founded in his native city, and in that capacity had the happiness of witnessing the heroic virtues and intrepid death of St. Peter Martyr. It was he who collected the evidence and drew up the procès-verbal regarding the saint's martyrdom, presented to the commissioners appointed by Pope Innocent IV., to inquire into the circumstances of that event, a document used in the process of canonization, and still preserved. there had been give ear the Roman Ga and that a small co he year following. more probable conject of their reception into Some writers represent that so far back as the year 1217 4 Father Michel Pio, Prog. in Italia, 86. saw lying in the st were deformed and Bron stooped down to s sole him with kind re had been given to the saint a little house in Milan r the Roman Gate, afterwards called St. Domenichino, I that a small community had been sent to reside here year following. If such had been the case, it is most probable that he should have taken up his residence with canons rather than with his own brethren. But it may e be observed once for all that the chronology of these ian foundations is most confused, owing to the contracory statements to be found in the records of the different vents. The most that can be aimed at is to give the e probable conjectures, and those which involve the least ount of contradiction, and appear supported by the best norities. In most cases, as has been observed before, confusion has arisen from convents claiming as the e of their foundation that of some early visit of the saint he city where a foundation was afterwards made. And confusion often extends to the history of the brethren mselves, concerning whom it is sometimes hopeless to ertain with any certainty either the place or precise date heir reception into the Order. This remark applies to history of one who may nevertheless be safely numbered ng St. Dominic's Milanese novices, Brother Giacomo on, who was without doubt one of the religious who took in the foundation of the first convent in this city. He a man of great learning and sanctity, and his life was trated by miracles. As he was some years later discharging the duties ector in the convent of Genoa, he heard a voice as heaven which said to him, "Arise,, and pass the and go into the East. There you will do great s for My glory, and gain many souls." Asking perion from his Superiors to obey this Divine command, on took with him one companion, and set out for In the first town which he entered in that country aw lying in the street a poor cripple, both of whose were deformed and contracted. In his compassion, n stooped down to speak to the poor sufferer, seeking to le him with kind words; and chancing to touch one. ce. CLOISTERS C REG It will be remembered on his journey into Spa to be his vicar in Italy df Bologna as his resid such responsibility of in the religious life wo part of any ordinary m df prudence. But of S said that, like his great d God. He possessed of the discernment of s le over other souls, instruments who were 1 From the day when th |