The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

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preserved him from the slightest breath of contamination. Never during
the sixty years of his life was he known to look any one not of his own
sex in the face. His every word and action bespoke purity, and inspired
the love thereof. Our saint, so solidly grounded in this virtue, was not
without its only sure foundation,--humility. He delighted in performing
menial offices in the convent, and when the task allotted to him was
finished, he was anxious to fulfil that of others. Hence he also avoided
all posts and honor, as much as was consistent with his vow of
obedience. When he journeyed through Italy as provincial, he would not
make himself known at the inns, where he lodged, lest any distinction
should be paid him. To the same cause may be ascribed his unwillingness
to revisit his native country, his aversion to being in company with the
great, when their spiritual affairs did not require it, his not
accepting the invitations of the viceroy and his consort to the palace;
his calling himself, as he was wont, the greatest sinner in the whole
world, ungrateful to God for his benefits, a worm on the face of the
earth; his custom of frequently kissing the hands of priests; his
unwillingness to declare his opinion in council; his care to break off
every discourse touching upon his birth or connections; his gratitude to
God for enlightening those who disparaged him; his never being
scandalized at the sins of others, how great soever; and finally, his
never evincing the smallest resentment at any insult or injury. He was
studious to conceal and dissemble the great gifts of miracles and
prophecy with which God favored {517} him; ascribing the miracles he
performed to the faith of those in whose behalf they were wrought, or to
the intercession of the saints. Not unfrequently he desired those whom
he restored to health, to take some certain medicine, that the cure
might be attributed to a mere natural remedy; and with regard to his
prophecies, which were numerous, he affected to judge from analogy and
experience. To the numerous penitential austerities enjoined by his
order, he added as many more as an ingenious self-denial could devise.
Silent as long as possible, when he spoke, it was in a low voice.
Bareheaded in all seasons, he wore under his rough and heavy habit
divers hair-shirts and chains, which he was careful to vary to keep the
sense of torment ever fresh. Besides, he used the discipline to a severe
degree; and when, at the age of forty, his superior obliged him to wear
sandals, he placed between them and his feet a quantity of small nails;
but the most tremendous instrument of torture, which he devised against
himself, was a cross about a foot in length, set with rows of sharp
nails, which he fastened tight over his shoulders, so as to open there a
wound which never afterwards closed. In sooth, these things would appear
incredible, did we not remember that St. John Joseph of the Cross had
taken up the instrument of our Lord Jesus's blessed passion, and was
miraculously supported under its weight. If we are not blessed with
equal strength, still we are all capable of enduring much more than is
demanded of us for gaining heaven. Is not the life of a worldling more