St. Alexius or Alexis is a perfect model of the most generous
contempt of the world. He was the only son of a rich senator of Rome,
born and educated in that capital, in the fifth century. From the
charitable example of his pious parents he learned, from his tender
years, that the riches which are given away to the poor, remain
with us for ever; and that alms-deeds are a treasure transferred to
heaven, with the interest of an immense reward. And whilst yet a
child, not content to give all he could, he left nothing unattempted
to compass or solicit the relief of all whom he saw in distress.
But the manner in which he dealt about his liberal alms was still a
greater proof of the noble sentiments of virtue with which his soul
was fired; for by this he showed that he thought himself most obliged
to those who received his charity, and regarded them as his greatest
benefactors. The more he enlarged his views of eternity, and raised
his thoughts and desires to the bright scene of immortal bliss, the
more did he daily despise all earthly toys; for, when once the soul
is thus upon the wing, and soars upwards, how does the glory of this
world lessen in her eye! and how does she contemn the empty pageantry
of all that worldlings call great!
Fearing lest the fascination, or at least the distraction of
temporal honors might at length divide or draw his heart too much
from those only noble and great objects, he entertained thoughts of
renouncing the advantages of his birth, and retiring from the more
dangerous part of the world. Having, in compliance with the will of
his parents, married a rich and virtuous lady, he on the very day
of the nuptials, making use of the liberty which the laws of God
and his Church give a person before the marriage be consummated, of
preferring a more perfect state, secretly withdrew, in order to break
all the ties which held him in the world. In disguise he travelled
into a distant country, embraced extreme poverty, and resided in a
hut adjoining to a church dedicated to the Mother of God. Being,
after some time there, discovered to be a stranger of distinction,
he returned home, and being received as a poor pilgrim, lived some
time unknown in his father’s house, bearing the contumely and ill
treatment of the servants with invincible patience and silence. A
little before he died, he by a letter discovered himself to his
parents. He flourished in the reign of the emperor Honorius, Innocent
the first being bishop of Rome; and is honored in the calendars of
the Latins, Greeks, Syrians, Maronites, and Armenians. His interment
was celebrated with the greatest pomp by the whole city of Rome, on
the Aventin hill. His body was found there in 1216, in the ancient
church of St. Boniface, whilst Honorius III. sat in St. Peter’s
chair, and at this day is the most precious treasure of a sumptuous
church on the same spot, which bears his name jointly with that of
St. Boniface, gives title to a cardinal, and is in the hands of the
Hieronymites.
* * * * *
The extraordinary paths in which the Holy Ghost is pleased sometimes
to conduct certain privileged souls are rather to be admired
than imitated. If it cost them so much to seek humiliations, how
diligently ought we to make a good use of those at least which
providence sends us! It is only by humbling ourselves on all
occasions that we can walk in the path of true humility, and root out
of our hearts all secret pride. The poison of this vice infects all
states and conditions: it often lurks undiscovered in the foldings
of the heart even after a man has got the mastery over all his other
passions. Pride always remains even for the most perfect principally
to fight against; and unless we watch continually against it, nothing
will remain sound or untainted in our lives; this vice will creep
even into our best actions, infect the whole circle of our lives, and
become a main spring of all the motions of our heart; and what is the
height of our misfortune, the deeper its wounds are, the more is the
soul stupified by its venom, and the less capable is she of feeling
her most grievous disease and spiritual death. St. John Climacus
writes,[187] that when a young novice was rebuked for his pride, he
said: “Pardon me, father, I am not proud.” To whom the experienced
director replied: “And how could you give me a surer proof of your
pride than by not seeing it yourself?”