THE SCHOOL OF THE EUCHARIST ESTABLISHED Upon the Miraculous Respects and Acknow­ledgments, which BEASTS, BIRDS, and INSECTS, upon several Occasions, have rendred to the HOLY SACRAMENT of the ALTAR.

Whence Catholicks may increase in Devotion towards this Divine Mystery, and Hereticks find there, their Confusion.

By F. Toussain Bridoul, of the Society of Jesus.

Printed in French at Lille, 1672. And now made English, and published, With a Preface concerning the Testimony of Miracles.

Let us view more particulary what Rational Grounds Catholicks exhibit of their belief of a Corporal presence in the Eucharist, and so of Adoration. Def. of Ador. of the Euch. p. 27. Printed at Oxford, 1687.

LONDON: Printed for Randall Taylor, near Stationers-Hall, 1687.

THE PREFACE TO THE TRANSLATION Concerning the Testimony of MIRACLES.

IF the Doctrine of Transubstantiation wants the Autho­rity of the Holy Scriptures, it cannot be proved to come from Christ and his Apostles, by Tradition, un­less the Fathers of the Primitive Church have con­veyed it in their Writings: If it has had no such Tradition, then the best Church-Authority it has to rest upon, will be that of the Lateran and Tridentine Synods. And if they had no power to make new Articles of Faith, this Doctrine is in no good case to recommend it self. There are but two ways remaining, I think, to put it off; one is to perswade us, that our Learned Protestant Divines have several of them affirmed such things concerning the Real Presence, as do amount to what the Papists mean by Transubstantia­tion; and that they have laid down Principles which will save the Adoration of the Host from being an Idolatrous Wor­ship: And this is lately attempted with great appearance of Gravity, by a certain Oxford Author: But if this will not [Page ii] do, there is yet another way left, and that is to prove Transubstantiation and the Adoration of the Host, by Miracles; which has been undertaken, as by several others, so in par­ticular by that Reverend Jesuit, whose Collection is here Translated.

Our hands, I perceive, are now in about Transubstantia­tion, and the Worship of the Host; and the Divines have gone so far in considering all that can be said for these things, that 'tis pity the Controversy should not be ended all at once; to which I think nothing is wanting but to re­present our Adversaries Appeal to Miracles; and that I sup­pose cannot be more fairly done, than by exposing to our Countrymen what themselves have thought fit to publish in another Language concerning this Argument.

That nothing else remains, is evident by what has been already done on Discourse a­gainst Tran­substant. Doctrine of the Trin. and Tran­substantia­tion compared in a New Dia­logue. 2 parts. Transubst. no Doctrine of the Primitive Fa­thers. our side, upon all the other Arguments, and that, as time will shew more fully, beyond all possi­bility of Fair Reply. I had almost forgot the desperate Defence of Transubstantiation, which our Adversaries have lately made, by fastning it to the Doctrine of the Trinity, being for their parts content that both should sink, if they could not swim together. They are, I hope, convinced by this time, that neither is their Point to be gained so; and that we are able to maintain the Catholick Doctrine of the Trinity, and at the same time to overthrow the Roman Do­ctrine of Transubstantiation. That they cannot retreat for shelter to the Judgment of any Divines of this Church, is now shewn in the Answer to the Oxford Author. In short, It has been See Bellarm. de Sacr. Euch. l. 3. c. 23 and Discourse of Eucharist in Answer to the Book printed at Oxford. p. 4. confessed by eminent men in the Roman Com­munion, that the Scriptures do not oblige us to believe Transubstantiation; and that the Fathers knew nothing of it, has been confessed too by a Historical Treatise of Transubstant. Learned Person of that Church now living, and which is something more, proved also through the First Ten Centuries. Now whether Coun­cils [Page iii] can make an Article of Faith of that Doctrine which is neither to be found in the Holy Scriptures, nor can be de­fended by Testimonies of the Ancient Fathers, but is in truth contrary to both; I am very willing the Representer should determine; A Papist Misrepres. and Repr. p. 33. who tells us, That he is obliged to be­lieve nothing besides that which Christ taught, and his Apo­stles; and if any thing contrary to this should be defined and commanded to be believed, even by ten thousand Councils, he believes it damnable in any one to receive it, and by such De­crees to make Additions to his Creed. A great deal less than this, if it had been said with more sincerity, would have served our turn as well: If Ten thousand Councils will not stir him in such a case, methinks the Fourth Lateran, and the Trent Councils, the one a Western, the other little more than an Italian Synod, should not be able to do what Ten thousand Councils cannot do; as for the Lateran, it is yet a disputable point, as See Peter Walsh's Letter to the Bp. of Lincoln, Sect. 22. some of themselves will have us be­lieve, whether the Council, or rather the Pope only, made the Decrees that bear its name; and for the Tridentine Sy­nod, the World knows how it was from time to time in­fluenced by the Court of Rome; so that when the matter comes to be look'd into, 'tis indeed the Papal Authority that gives to the world this pretended Point of Faith; but because certain Popes have miscarried in the Faith, to the great discredit of St. Peter's Chair, it was necessary that the Popes pleasure should upon all occasions of defining matters of Faith, be a little disguised, by being conveyed to the Church under the venerable name and Formality of a Council.

Transubstantiation then has nothing left to stand upon, but Miracles, which is as much as to say, that it stands upon its last legs: Bellarmine, I find, De Sacr. Euch. l. 3 c. 8. reserved this Argument for the last, to prove the substantial Presence of Christs Body in the Eucharist; I know not whether he thought it the best [Page iv] or no; if he did, I dare undertake to answer what he thought his best Argument, and that by shewing, that 'tis none at all; for if we are to trust the Old Miracles of Christ, and his Apostles, as without all question we ought to do, then we are not to try Doctrines by new Miracles, but ra­ther to try the Miracles by the Old Doctrine.

Which one would think should have been a Rule to all Christians, since our Blessed Saviour has warned us not to trust to Signs and Wonders, Matth. xxiv. 24, 25, 26. no, tho they be Great ones. Be­hold, says he, I have told you before. Which Caution I must confess hath sometimes surprized me with astonishment, when I consider, what the Conclusion is for which accord­ing to our Blessed Lords Prediction, Miracles should be pre­tended; viz. to make us believe a man, when he says, Lo, here is Christ, or there is Christ; For what said our Lord Christ himself? Believe it not, says he, if they shall say un­to you, Behold he is in the Desert, go not forth; Behold he is in the secret Chambers, or in [...]. close Receptacles, believe it not. I dare not say particularly what sort of men are here pointed at exclusively to all others, for this would be to strain beyond my reach: But this I dare say, 'tis not for any body's credit to come within the compass of this Pro­phesie, since it seems 'tis a dangerous sign for men to pretend to new Miracles, which if they who do so, will not see, yet at least I hope others will take notice that 'tis a dangerous thing to hearken to such pretenders. What St. Paul says to the same purpose with our Saviour is so sharply pointed, 2 Thessal. ii. 9, 10, 11. that I had rather others should go to the Bible for the words, and make the Application, than do it my self for them.

But by all means, let it be considered, that this was the way which God took, under both Testaments, to secure his People from Delusions; that is, he warned them not to rely upon Miracles without further inquiry, but to prove the Divinity of Miracles by the established Doctrine. For [Page v] thus did Moses instruct the Israelites, If thtre arise among you a Prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a SIGN or a WONDER, Deut. xiii. 1, 2, 3. And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee saying, Let us go after other Gods (which thou hast not known) and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that Prophet, or that Dreamer of Dreams. For the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul.

So that the Law of Moses, and the Law of Christ being once established, All new Miracles were to be tried by the Old Religion, whether they were of God or no: And warn­ing was given not to give any heed to them if they came to establish a new Doctrine.

Nor do I in this matter say any thing that is New. For St. Austin, amongst others, has observed it long since. De Ʋnitate, Eccl c. 16. Let the Donatists, saies he, demonstrate their Church if they can, not by the sayings and rumours of Africans, not by the Councils of their Bishops, &c. nor by DECEITFƲL SIGNS and WONDERS, because against these we are prepared and forewarned: But in the Prescript of the Law, in the Predictions of the Prophets, in the Psalms, in the Words of our great Pastor himself; in the Preachings and Works of the Evangelists; That is, in all the Canonical Authorities of the Holy Books. And afterward; Let them not say this is true, because Donatus, or Pontius, or any body else has done these and these Wonders, or because some pray and prevail at the memories of our dead men; or because this Brother, and that Sister of ours, saw such a Vision waking, or dreamt such a Dream sleeping. Let these, either Fictions of Lying men, or Illusions of deceit­ful Spirits, be all set aside; for either these things are not true, as they are given out; or if any wonderful things be done by Hereticks, we should be the more cautious; because when our Lord said that Deceivers should arise, who by working [Page vi] some Signs, should, if it were possible, deceive the very Elect, he added vehemently, Behold I have told you before. But perhaps it may be thought, that tho St. Austin would not allow Miracles to be a concluding Argument for the Dona­tists, yet he believed they were an Invincible proof against them. No such matter, I assure ye; for not long after, he proceeds in this manner, For neither do we say that we are to be believed to be in the Church of Christ, because Optatus of Milevis, or Ambrose of Milan, or other Bishops of our Communion without number, have recommended that Church to which we hold; or because it is made known by the Councils of our Collegues, or because so many marvellous Cures have been wrought, so many Prayers heard all over the Earth in those Holy Places which are frequented by our Communion; insomuch, that the Bodies of Martyrs which had lain hid for so many years, were revealed to Ambrose; and upon the ap­proach of them, one that had been Blind many years, and well known to the City of Milan, recovered his sight; or because this man had a dream, and the other taken up in Spirit, was bidden not to go over to the Donatists, or to come away from them. So that St. Austin rejected this way of proof, as In­sufficient on either side; and bids the Donatists prove their Church out of Scripture if they could, and that by plain Testimony of Scripture. For he has these remarkable words hereupon, amongst others, But produce something out of Scripture that does not need an Interpreter, and of which you cannot be convinced that it belongs to another mat­ter, and that you endeavour to wrest it to your own purpose.

Now if any body should be so weak as to fancy, that St. Austin's rejecting this Appeal to Miracles, must needs weak­en the testimony of those Miracles which were wrought by Moses and the Prophets, and by Christ and his Apostles; I must send him back to St. Austin again, who has well e­nough provided against this offence, by laying weight up­on [Page vii] those words of our Saviour, Behold, I have told you be­fore. For certainly we are not bound to reject all Miracles, even those, against which there was no Divine warning before-hand, because we regard not those which God in his goodness hath warned us not to trust to: Which I take to be the true Answer, and shall therefore insist upon it by and by; tho two things may be said not unfit to be consi­dered also.

1. As to the Miracles themselves; The old ones had sometimes the Finger of God in them, something that satis­fied prudent and honest observers, that there could be no sleight or juggle in the Case; and that what was done, ex­ceeded any created power. Exod. viii. 19. This the Magicians did at length confess of the Miracles of Moses before Pharaoh; And of this kind were the Miracles of Christ and his Apo­stles, especially those of Curing Diseases by a word, and Raising from the Dead. To which we may add also, that for the most part they were Miracles of goodness which they wrought, which was another Divine Character upon them. But now the later Miracles, we hear so much talk of, are many of them justly suspected of sleight of hand and combination, of which kind we have heard good store, about the Images of the Blessed Virgin and the Saints: And most of them are so idle and ludicrous, that if there be any Truth in them, a wise man can reckon them to be no better than the illusions of deceitful Spirits, as St. Austin speaks. And to find enough of these, I need not send the Reader any farther than to the Church History of the R. F. Mr. Cressy.

2. The Miracles wrought for the establishment of the Law in the Old Testament, and of the Christian Faith in the New, were not done in a corner, but openly and pub­lickly, and very often in the face of Enemies. Now the [Page viii] Church of Rome still pretends to the Power of Miracles, and indeed we hear of strange things done amongst them; but we see none. Sometimes indeed our Saviour wrought Miracles in a more private way, but then he Matth. xvii. 9. Mark viii. 26. charged those that were concerned, to make no words of what had been done; and that, I think, lest the want of publick Evidence should be objected against the sincerity of the Re­lation. But things are very much altered since our Saviours time. The Miracles said to be done in the Roman Communi­on, are indeed publickly talked of, but they are privately done, if they be done at all; for they are all done amongst themselves. Now what St. Paul said of Tongues, will hold true of other Miracles: 1 Cor. xvi. 22. Greg. in E­vang Hom 29. That they are a sign not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. St. Gregory (and so do many more before him) applies this to every out­ward work as miraculous as that. And this at least must be meant by it, That the principal use of Miracles is to bring over unbelievers to the true Faith: For which Rea­son, the person that is to be convinced this way, should either see the Miracles wrought, or be assured that they were done by such Testimonies, as there lies no reasonable objection against. But for the strange things that are said to be done in the Communion of the Roman Church, we have only their own words for it, and as far as I have ob­served the reports they make of them, they seldom pre­tend that any body sees them but themselves; upon which account, they want that evidence which the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles had, and deserve indeed but little credit. If they do so many Miracles, I cannot understand why they should still be done in Countries, or before Per­sons that are all of one mind, at least all of one side; for thus they do not serve the main end of Divine Miracles, which is to be a Testimony to those that want Conviction: And if this were all, I should have great reason to question [Page ix] whether they were Divine Miracles or not, tho I might be disposed to believe some of the Reports.

If they say, that the Reason why Miracles cannot be done before us, is our unbelief; in as much as St. Matthew reports of our Saviour when he was in his own Country, That he did not many mighty works there, Matt. iii. 58. because of their un­belief. Nothing can be more frivolously alledged; For some mighty works were done there, at that time of which it is said that he did not many. But they do none amongst us, whither great or small Miracles. And besides this, our Saviour had also wrought some mighty works amongst his own Countrymen before this time, as will ap­pear to any one that considers where the Gospel of See Joh. ii. 11. iv. 54. vii. 3, 4. St. John is a supplement to the other Evangelists; so that al­tho our Lord did not think fit to multiply these means of conviction, upon a people so obstinate, that St. Mark saies, He marvelled at their unbelief; Mark vi. 6. yet they had these means of conviction both Then and Formerly. And what is this to us, and to our Case, who have heard, and do hear still of Miracles which they do in the Church of Rome, but neither we nor our Fathers could ever see any of 'em? But as we must believe them because they work Miracles; so we must believe they work Miracles, because they say so.

Now altho these two differences of the Case will go a great way to justify us in receiving the Miracles recorded in the Scriptures, while we reject the pretence of the Church of Rome to Miracles; yet I confess it does not give compleat satisfaction as to the point we are upon. For it may be sometimes a difficult business to distinguish Divine Miracles from others, by the Nature of the work it self. And it may also be asked what we are to do, if God should permit some such things to be done before our eyes, as they say are familiarly done, where they may say [Page x] so safely enough for any bodies contradicting them. I add therefore,

3. There is a great difference to be made between Mira­cles which we are not forewarned against, but rather warned beforehand to regard; and between Miracles that God hath not told us we ought to regard, but on the other hand hath forewarned us against giving any heed to them. That the Jews were obliged to examine all New Revelations by their correspondence with the Old; and that they had been warned not to trust to Miracles at all adventures, we have already observed. But because it was foretold that the Messias should come with Miracles, they could not have had just reason to believe that Jesus was the Christ, if he had not come with the Testimony of Miracles; so that they were necessary. But to deal plainly, they had not been sufficient means of Conviction, if he had not also fulfilled the Law and the Prophets; because the Law and the Prophets were to be fulfilled by him. For by an unquestionable Divine Revelation God had warned the Is­raelites not to trust to mere Miracles. But after it had been foretold, Deut. xviii. 1 [...]. that God would raise up a Prophet from the midst of that people like unto Moses, to whom they should heark­en: After a Law had been given consisting of a vast num­ber of Ordinances, which was to be a shadow of good things to come, and to be fulfilled in Christ: After that from time to time there were predictions of those marks by which he should be known; and amongst other things it was foretold, that he should work Miracles; when, I say, after all, Jesus answered every one of these Characters, and did every way fulfil the Law and the Prophets; this all toge­ther was a demonstration that he was the Christ; and as his Miracles, and the Miracles of his Apostles gave testimo­ny to him, and corroborated all other Divine Testimonies which he had; so they also received strength from other [Page xi] Divine Testimonies in conjunction with them; and in par­ticular, from those very predictions that Christ should be known by Miracles, amongst other things.

No wonder therefore that we do not find the whole stress of the Divine Demonstration of the Gospel, laid upon the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles in the New Testament; and that tho our Saviour did appeal to his own works, yet not to them only, but likewise to the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and this rather more than to Miracles. Thus to fix the two doubting Disciples that were going to Emaus, he upbraided them in this manner, O Fools, Luke xxiv. 25 26, 17. and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken; Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his Glory? And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he ex­pounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. This method was indeed suitable to the obligation that people were under, to examine all New Revelations by their correspondence with the Old. And for this Reason, I make no doubt, but that our Saviour in his discourse up­on what Moses and All the Prophets had foretold concern­ing Christ, did not omit to bring to their minds what Mi­racles himself had wrought in the sight of the people, be­cause this would naturally fall under that head of Prophe­cies which foretold that part of his Testimony. But then still it was the Testimony of the old Scriptures, into which the Testimony of his Miracles was in great part resolved: For there he laid the aggravation of their Incredulity, O Fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken.

It was foretold, That when God should come to save them, The eyes of the blind should be opened, Isa. xxxv. 4, 5, 6. the ears of the deaf should be unstopped, the lame man should leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb should sing. To which Predictions, our Saviour seemed to refer in that Answer [Page xii] which he gave to the two Disciples sent by John the Baptist, Go, Matt. xi. 4, 5. says he, and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see; The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up. For besides that there is no great va­riation of the Phrase from the words of the Prophet, there is another mark added, which had nothing in it of Miracle, viz. And the poor have the Gospel preached to them; Isa. lxi. 1. but then it was foretold by the Prophet, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. This was in it self a good mark no less than the other; but both received strength from the Predictions of the Scripture. I make no question, but that many believed in Jesus chiefly for his Works sake, before they had much considered the corre­spondence of his Doctrine to Moses and the Prophets; but it seemeth also, that one reason of their forwardness was this, that they expected according to the Prophets, that he should come with wonderful works: For thus we find in St. John, that the people who believed in him, said, When Christ cometh, Joh. vii. 31. will he do more Miracles than those which this man hath done? In saying of which, they discovered an ex­pectation of a Messias that should work Miracles.

Now when Christ came into the World, to fulfil all that had been foretold of him in the Scriptures, he indeed, and his Apostles after him, wrought such Miracles, as without all question had been sufficient means of Conviction, if God had not thought fit to raise first, and then to answer the expectation of other Testimonies besides Miracles. In a matter of this high concernment to mankind, he was plea­sed to give us Testimony upon Testimony, and not only the Testimony of Miracles added to others, but some such Miracles too, as are in themselves convincing; as that of Raising from the Dead. And we may boldly say, That [Page xiii] God who has given us caution against Signs and Won­ders, never yet suffered so great a temptation to happen, as that any one should be raised from the Dead, in confirmati­on of a false Doctrine; and this, notwithstanding the bold stories of I know not how many, that have been said to be raised from the Dead in the Church of Rome. But now as strong an Argument as this is by it self; yet St. Peter in his first Sermon to the Jews, Acts ii. 22. having observed that Jesus of Nazareth was a man approved of God by Miracles, signs and wonders, which God had done by him in the midst of them, and then proceeding to that most convincing sign of all, viz. the Resurrrection of Jesus from the dead; he did not think fit to lay the whole stress upon the Na­ture of the thing it self, but produced that predi­ction of David concerning it; V. 25. Psal xvi. 10. Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy holy One to see corruption: And from this prediction of the thing he ar­gued industriously, as you may see, to prove that the Testi­mony of the Resurrection was a Divine Testimony; David, Acts ii. 31, 32. says he, seeing this before, spake of the Resurrection of Christ, &c. And then he affirms the Fact, and offers the proof of it; This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are wit­nesses.

The same St. Peter affirming the reality of that miracu­lous testimony which our Lord received in the Holy Mount, made no doubt to prefer the Testimony of the Scripture, before that Testimony; We have not, says he, followed cun­ningly devised fables, 2 Pet. 1.16.17.18. when we made known unto you the coming and power of our Lord Jesus, but were eye-witnesses of his maje­sty; for he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came forth such a voice to him, from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased: and this voice which came from Heaven, we heard when we were with him in the Holy Mount. Now altho this was in it self a [Page xiv] very clear and convincing Testimony, yet St. Peter, who understood these things as well as any that have sat in his Chair, rather refers Christian people to the Testimony of the Scriptures, in those remarkable words; We have also a more sure word of Prophesie, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, V. 19. and the day-star arise in your hearts. Where the Old Testament is called a word of Prophesie, because the great business of those Holy Books was to prepare mankind for the coming of Christ, by all kinds of prediction: and now that Christ was come, if there remained any darkness or doubting in their minds, who had seen or known other Testimonies given to Jesus, they were to take heed to the word of Prophesie, and diligently observe the correspon­dence of the event to all things that had been foretold con­cerning Christ; in doing of which their doubts would by degrees vanish, and at last they would grow to a clear and strong perswasion. And St. Peter therefore calls the word of Prophesie a sure word, because it is in it self the best means to make us sure.

Nor was this forgotten by St. Austin in that Discourse of which I have already cited some part; De unit. Eccl. c. 16. Our Lord Jesus him­self, says he, after he had risen from the dead, and when he exposed his Body to be seen by the eyes, and felt by the hands of his Disciples, lest they should think some Deceit was upon them, thought it more necessary, that they should be confirmed by the Testimonies of the Law, and the Prophets, and the Psalms, shewing that those things which had been foretold so long before, were now fulfilled in Him. I should unreasonably exceed the bounds of such a Preface as I designed at first, if I should bring together those Testimonies of Fathers more Ancient than St. Austin, which run in this strain. But I must make the more hast, because having said thus much on the one side, concerning the Authority which the Miracles of [Page xv] Christ and his Apostles received, from their being foretold, and from all other Testimonies concurring with them; be­fore I come to the other side, viz. in what case Miracles are not to be relied upon, I take my self to be something obli­ged to shew what there is peculiar in the Testimony of Mira­cles, and distinct from other Testimonies and Arguments of the Truth of Christianity, and for which we have infinite reason to bless and to praise God, That our Religion is grounded upon Miracles, as well as upon the correspon­dence of both Testaments, upon Prophecies, and the Di­vine Temper and Design of the Doctrine of our Lord Jesus.

That which I take to be peculiar to the Testimony of Miracles, is, that they make strong Impressions upon the mind more suddenly than any other Arguments: When a thing is done, that is evidently above the course of Nature, it does not only raise Admiration, but sets the thoughts a work concerning the reason and meaning of what is come to pass. Miracles do arrest and fasten the minds of men all at once, and forthwith engage them to consider what God would instruct them in, by these supernatural effects of his Power and Presence: If they do not presently cause belief, yet they dispose the mind to it presently, and fix the atten­tion in order to farther instruction; they make way into our minds whether we will or no; whereas other Argu­ments do not penetrate, till we have made way for them, by comparing one thing with another, and by laying a great many things together, which it is not easy to per­swade men to do first of all, unless they are raised something above the common pitch; and it is probable that many, even of these, had never engaged their abilities in the search of Truth by the examination of other Arguments, if they had not been first awakened by Signs and Wonders, into a concern­ment about Divine Revelations. But for the generality of mankind, it is evident that Miracles are the arguments which [Page xvi] lead them more suddenly and unavoidably than any other; for which reason St. Chrysostom affirmed that the Doctrine of the Cross made Rusticks and ordinary persons become Philosophers: Chrys. in 1 Cor. 2. Hom. 4, 5, 6. For, says he, the demonstration by miraculous Works and Signs, is more manifest than that by Discourses. And he prefers the short way of the Apostles in making Converts, before the tedious methods of the Philosophers in instructing their hearers, not only because Miracles are a Divine Argument adapted to a Divine Revelation; but because also they are adapted to the understanding of all sorts of people, and God would have all men to come to the knowledg of the Truth.

There is this then singular in the Testimony of Miracles, that they rouze the attention of the dullest; and if they do not at once both amaze and convince, yet they engage men to farther consideration, and lead them to all other Arguments that are fit to be inquired into; in saying which, I believe I speak to the sense of all persons that are acquaint­ed with the motives of Faith. When we first read the New Testament, they are the mighty works of Christ and of his Apostles there recorded, that first lay hold upon our minds, and command an earnest attention; other Consi­derations and Arguments come on by degrees. Thus also the Evangelists describe the effect of those Miracles which our Lord did; when he made the Blind to see, and the Dumb to speak, Matth. xii. 22, 23. Mark i. 22. All the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the Son of David? And when he had cast out an unclean spirit in the Synagogue, they were all amazed, in­somuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new Doctrine is this? For with Authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. Which are manifestly the words of men surprized with earnest thoughts of a matter that they were little or nothing concerned about before, and who were [Page xvii] now in the way of considering it farther, if they were not yet fully satisfied: For it is not to be doubted, but that di­vers were overwhelmed by the evidence of his mighty works, and yielded without much farther enquiry: But there were others again, whom the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles had not brought to a full perswasion, but only raised in them a vehement desire of farther satisfaction; and such as these the Jews of Berea seemed to be, Acts xvii. 11. who were more noble than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so.

Thus far have I been carried away by the Argument, be­yond what I first designed; but I hope the Reader has not forgot, that this last Digression concerning the singular Force of Miracles, was upon occasion of the Third Diffe­rence between the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles on the one side, and the latter Miracles that are so much talked on, on the other, viz. That tho there was an admo­nition before-hand, not to trust to Miracles at all adven­tures; yet the Jews were made to expect Miracles from him who should by all other Characters be known to be the Messias: And this we have spoken to already.

Now on the other hand we also are fore-warned in the New Testament, to take heed that we be not deluded by Signs and Wonders; for it is foretold, Matth. xxiv. 24. That some should arise, and shew great Signs and Wonders: And who are they that should do so? Our Saviour tells us, that they are false Prophets; and therefore a man that runs after Miracles, may happen to fall into the hands of Deceivers: Well, but was there any alteration of the state of Religion sore­told, from what Christ and his Apostles left it? Moses, we know, told the Israelites, That God would raise up a Pro­phet like unto him, to whom they should hearken in all things; and they had reason to expect a Prophet that [Page xviii] should make a great alteration in Religion, not by destroying, but by fulfilling the Law: This then I ask, Have we the like reason (or had our Fathers) to expect a Reformation of that state of Religion which Christ and his Apostles left? Was any body to come after the Apostles, and to supply what was wanting in the Faith which they delivered to the Saints? Was it foretold that he or they who should arise to make this Addition to the Doctrine of Christ, should amongst other marks, be known by the power of Miracles? If nothing of this can be shewn, as I am sure nothing of it can, then we are under greater obligations than the Jews were, to beware lest we be deceived by a noise of Miracles, nay though they be really Great Signs and Wonders: And though we have very great reason to rely upon the Mira­cles of Christ and his Apostles, yet we have no reason at all to regard the Miracles of the Church of Rome: For Christ was to come and make an alteration in the Law of Moses; But neither was the Pope nor any body else to come and make an alteration in the Law of Christ. I know indeed, that the Scriptures fore-tell great changes would be made in the Christian World; but they are not for the credit of those that pretend to Miracles; St. Paul saith, that the spi­rit speaketh expresly, that in the latter times some shall de­part from the faith, 1 Tim. iv. 1. giving heed to seducing spirits, &c. And he assureth us, that before the day of Judgment, there shall come a falling away, accompanied with power and signs, and lying wonders. 2 Thess. ii. from v. 3. to v. 12. These predictions I suppose will not be pro­duced to encourage us to trust new Miracles, but they give us some reason to stick to the old Religion, and then the old Miracles will serve our turn; and I think they make it very necessary to examine their Doctrine with a little more care, who pretend to Miracles, than if they pretend­ed to no such thing.

It pleased God to continue the power of Miracles in the Ancient Church for some time after the Apostles; and it may please him, for ought we know, to awaken the world again by Miracles; but whenever this happens, it will not be for the bringing in of new, but for the confirmation of old Doctrines. But as for those that would recommend Doctrines to us which have neither Scripture nor Ancient Tradition for them, their Miracles are so far from proving them to be true, that they do but help to prove them false; because it is foretold, that Deceivers should use this Argu­ment: St. Paul said, That if an Angel from Heaven preach­ed any other Gospel than that which was preached at first, Gal. i. 8, 9. he should be Accursed: Methinks Miracles should not be able to recommend new Doctrine, any more than Angels from Heaven; especially since we are not only forewarned against regarding Angels from Heaven, if they should preach a new Faith, but likewise against regarding Miracles if they should be done in confirmation of it; for as the believing Jews could say upon the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles, Now are those Scriptures fulfilled, which fore­told the Coming of the great Prophet with Miracles; so when we see (if we could see them) the Miracles that are said to be wrought, for a Doctrine that has neither Scripture nor Fathers for it, but both against it, we must needs say, that the Scriptures are thereby fulfilled too, which foretold the coming of Deceivers with Great Signs and Wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness: And therefore now is the time to remember that necessary cau­tion of our Lord, Behold I have told you before.

To conclude therefore, If we have good reason, as most undoubtedly we have, to believe a Doctrine that was con­firmed by the most publick and unquestionable Miracles that ever were wrought, and which had all other concurrent Characters of a Divine Revelation; for such is the Doctrine [Page xx] of the Scriptures; then we have the same reason to reject those latter Miracles that come to prove new Doctrines, because God hath in the Holy Scriptures warned us against them; but there was no reason why the Jews should have rejected the Miracles of Christ too; for they were told that he should come working Miracles, and he had all other Divine Testi­monies, and in all other respects he fulfilled the Scriptures, and answered the Characters of that Prophet, to whom they were to hearken in all things.

I must now confess that I have pursued this Argument with great seriousness, but without any great need for it in this place. One would now imagine that here follows a Collection of Stories most Wonderful and Convincing, and such as might even shake the Faith of a simple man, and almost constrain him to believe Transubstantiation, and to Adore the Host: But I am of opinion that we might have ventur'd the Miracles and the Man together, without a Pre­face; only I was willing to say something not altogether im­pertinent to the Subject of the Book, that the entertainment here offered, might be as profitable to some, as I guess it will be pleasant to most Readers.

The Reverend Father, the Collector, being resolved to send the Hereticks to School to the Beasts, that (as he tells us in his Preface) they may become more wise, and return to their Reason, being taught by the Animals that have none, has also assured us, That this is the last Remedy. I suppose he means the last in the way of Reason, which happens to be true with us; for all other Remedies of this kind, such as they are, have been tried upon us, and found in­effectual: And therefore 'tis now requisite to to try the last, of going to School to the Beasts, that we may return to our Reason, being taught by the Animals that have none. To which School we should not be ashamed to go, since we are sent thither in very good Company, as well of grown [Page xxi] and aged Catholicks, who are sent to enkindle their zeal; as of Catholick Childron, upon whose minds the first Be­lief is to be imprinted, by putting these devout Histories into their hands; which last is a good reason why we should go to this School, and be put into the same Form with the Children, because the First Belief is yet to be Imprint­ed upon our minds too. By all means therefore, let every one go to this School; and that no man who is come thus far, may be altogether Ignorant of the Lessons that he is to learn, I do not care if I give him a sample or two, out of the Liber Festivalis.

There was an Erle of Venys was called Synt Ambrighte, Lib. Festi. de Corpore Chri­sti. that loved the Sacrament in the Auter passing wele, and did hit all the worshippe and reverence that he cowde and mighte; so whan that he lay syke and shulde be dede, he might not receyve the Sacrament for casting; than was he sorry and made Dole, and than he lette make clean his right syde, and to cover it with a fayre clothe of Sendell, and ley Goddis body thereon, And said thus to the Oste, Lord, thou knowiste that I love the with all my hert, and would faine resceive the with my mouthe, and I durste, and thirfor that I may notte. I ley the on that place that is nexte to my herte, and so I shew the all the love of my herte that I can and may, where­for y beseche the good Lord have mercy on me. And even therwith, in sighte of all the people that were aboute hym, his syde openyd, and the Oste wente therin to his syde, and thanne his syde closed agin, and so anon after he dyde.

We Rede, that there was a Jewe that went with a Christen man, a felowe of his, into a Church of Christen people, and herde Masse; and after, when Masse was don, the Jewe seyde to the Christen man, yf I hadde eton as moche as thou hast eton, I shulde not be an hungred, as I trow, in many daies. And thanne seyde Christen man, Forsouthe, quod he, I ete no mete this dey. Than seyde the Jew, I saw the ete a Child, [Page xxii] the which the Preste helde up at the Auter. Thanne come a fayre man that hadde many Children in his armys, and he gave eche Cristen a Childe, soch as the Preste ete.

In Devynchire, besyde Exbridge, was a Woman ley sycke, and was nye dede, and sente aftyr a hooly person abowte myd­nyghte, to have her rightes; Than this man in all the haste that he myghte, he arose and wente to Churche, and toke God­dis body in a Box of Yvory, and putte hit into his Bosome, and wente forth toward this Woman. And as he went thourgh a Foreste in a fayr mede that was his next wey, it happid that his Box fill oute of his Bosome to the Grounde, and he wente forthe and wosse hit not, and come to this Woman, and herde her Confession. And than he asked her yf She wolde be Hosiled, and She seyde, ye sere; than he putte his honde in his Bosome, and sought the Box, and when he founde hit noughte, he was full sorry and sadde, and seyde, Dame, I woll go aftyr Goddis body, and come anone agene to yow, and so went forthe sore weping for his simpleness; and so as he come to a Welow Tree, he made therof a Rodde, and strypped hymselfe all nakyd, and so bete hymselfe that the blode ranne downe by his syde, and seyde thus to himself, O thou simple man, why haste thou loste thy Lord God, thy Maker, thy For­mer, and thy Creatour? And when he hadde thus bete hymself, he dede on his clothis and wente forthe. And thanne he was ware of Pilour of fyre that laste from Erthe to Heven, and he was all astoyned therof, yet he blessed, and wente therto, and there ley the Sacrament fallyn oute of the Boxe into the Grasse, and the Pilour schon as bryghte as any Sonne, and lastyd from Goddis Body to Hevyn, and all the Bestys of the Foreste were come aboute Goddys Body, and stode in compass round aboute hit, and all knelid on foure knees, save on blacke Horse that knelyd but on that on knee: Thanne seyde he, yf thow be any Beste that may speke, I charge the in Goddis name here pre­sente in forme brede, tell me why thow kneliste but on thy on [Page xxiii] knee? Thanne seyde he, I am a fende of Hell, and wolle not kneel and y mighte, but y am made agense my will; for hit is wreton, that every knelying of Heven and of Erth shall be to the Lord God. Why art thou like a Horse? And he seyde, to make the people to stele me; and at soche a Town was one hanged for me, and at soche a Town another. Thanne seyde this hooly person, Y commande the by Goddis Flesche and his Blode, that thow goo into Wildernesse, and be ther as thow shalte never discese Christen people more. And anone he wente his wey, he myghte no longer abyde: And thanne this man wente forthe to this woman, and dede her rightes, by the whiche she was savid.

Which last Story is very much to the purpose of the fol­lowing Collection; and is singular in this, that here the Devil is brought in adoring the Host against his will, a­mongst the Beasts that did it without any will at all.

For the Translation of this Book, I think the Gentlemen of the Roman Church have no reason to be offended with it, unless it be for this, that it is done a little out of sea­son. They would I believe have done it themselves in due time: For tho Divine Miracles are usually the first means of Conviction, yet the Church of Rome reserves them for the last; and then tries to make the people believe her Miracles, when they are made to believe every thing else beforehand. But since Miracles are for a sign to them that believe not, why should we not for once put them to the right use, and try how these will work upon our honest Countrymen? For which purpose they are to understand that these are not Old Wives Tales, nor made, however they may happen to be told, in Chimny Corners. The Story of the great Spider at St. Pauls is told by Bellarmine himself: And so is that of St. Anthony of Padua's Mule, De Sacr. Euch. lib. 3. c. 8. which after three days fasting, left his Provender to worship [Page xxiv] the Host. And all of 'em, as the French License tells us, are collected out of Catholick Authors. And there is something the less reason to question the credibility of them, because signs and wonders were to come one day, as we observed before.

But we have now been long enough in the Porch, The School is opened; The Reverend Father invites all persons to enter into it, both old and young, and Catholicks as well as Hereticks. I invite them too, making no doubt, of what the R. Father would fain hope, that some will come out a little wiser than they went in.

THE PREFACE.

THE H. Sacrament of the Altar, instituted in the Church, for the nourishing, inlightning, fortifi­ing and comforting the Faithful, is one of the most Sub­lime and Salutary Mysteries, that is to be found in the Catholick Religion. It stood in need also of a God, for to institute it, and to propose it to us, as the strongest Ar­gument of the Love that he bore towards mankind. Which makes me astonish'd why the Hereticks should conspire with all their might for to extirpate it, conducted, no doubt, by the Devil, who pretend only to take away the belief and the use of it, so to destroy Souls more easily, who cannot subsist long in grace, without the participation of this Divine and Celestial Food. Wherefore without troubling my self to confute these hair-brain'd People, who turn a deaf Ear to all that the Holy Fathers have said about it, and have renounced their reason, I resolved to send them to School to the Beasts, who have showed a particular inclination, not without a Superior conduct, for the Worship and Defence of this Truth. I have put my discourse into an Alphabetical order, to the end that by this last remedy, they may become more wise, and return [Page] to their reason, being taught by the Animals, that have none. If they receive no benefit hereby no more than others, yet I hope it will be serviceable to Catholiques, to enkindle their Zeal, by a more careful frequenting this Bread of strong men: and not only serve the grown and aged persons, who have already a full belief and high esteem for this Divine Sacrament; but also (which is one of my motives hereto) to imprint on the Minds of Children, the first belief, and a wise regard for this Sa­crament, to the end that they may come to it, when they are judged capable to receive it, with more devotion and reverence.

Which is that which I have seen put in practise by good Fathers of Families, who use to put into their Chil­drens Hands, such like Devout Histories, to dispose them to communicate worthily, when they first receive the Sacrament.

It is also most certain, that Histories and Examples, however it comes to pass, have a great advantage to make impressions on the minds of Children, above dis­courses and reasonings, which are above the capacities of youth.

Note. Where the English word for Birds or Beasts, &c. agrees not to the Alphabetical order, I have set the French word in the Margin.

THE School of the Eucharist, Established upon The Miraculous Respects and Acknowledgments which Beasts, Birds, and Insects, upon several occasions, have rendred to the H. Sacrament of the Altar, &c.

A Abeilles, Bees.

1. Bees honour the H. Host divers ways, by lifting it from the Earth, and carrying it in their Hives as it were in Procession.

A Certain Peasant of Auvergne, a Province in France, perceiving that his Bees were likely to die, to prevent this misfortune, was advi­sed, after he had received the Communion, to reserve the Host, and to blow it into one of his Hives. As he tryed to do it, the Host fell on the ground. Behold now a wonder! On a sudden all the Bees came forth out of their Hives, and ranging themselves in good order, lifted the Host up from the ground, and carrying it in upon their wings, placed it among their Combes. After this the man went out about his business, and at his return found that this advise had succeeded ill, for all his Bees were dead. Moreover when he lifted up the Hive, he saw that the Host was turned into a fair Child among the Honey-Combes. Being much asto­nish'd at this change, and seeing that this Infant seemed to be dead, he took it in his hands, intending to bury it privately in the Church; but when he came to do it, he found nothing in his hands, for the Infant was vanish'd and gone. This thing happened in the County of Clermont, which, for this irreverence, was a while after chastised by divers cala­mities, which so dispeopled those parts, that they became like a Wil­derness. Pet. Cluniac. l. 1. c. 1.

2. Bees adore the H. Host, and sing the Divine Praises, dividing themselves into two Quires.

IT is reported of another poor man, that going to visit his Bees, per­ceived them to make a sweet harmony; he stood ravished a while with it, not knowing what it meant. The night following as he went out about some business, and cast his Eyes towards his Bees, he perceiv'd them to rejoyce, and sport themselves, making an admirable me­lody. He first inform'd his Curate of it, and afterwards the Bishop, who after they had consulted about it, advised him to break up the Hive, where they found a Box or Pix made of Wax, but of such whiteness, that it looked like Ivory, and within it the H. Sacrament adored by the Bees, who ranged themselves into two Quires, and sang the praises of their Creator. The Bishop gave order for a goodly Procession, to carry back the H. Host to the Church; and in that place was erected a fair Chappel, which became a place of refuge for the sick and afflicted. When no body knew from whence and by whom that Host had been brought thither, two Thieves of their own accord discovered themselves and confessed, that having stollen a Pix, they had thrown the Host against the Hives. Cantiprat. l. 2. c. 40. sec. 1.

3. Bees erect a compleat Chappel with their Wax.

A Certain Woman as covetous as the former Peasant, having re­ceived the Communion unworthily, carried the Host to her Hives for to enrich her Stock of Bees; and afterwards coming again thither to understand the Success, she perceived that the Bees acknowledging their God in the Sacrament, had with admirable Artifice erected to him a Chappel of Wax, with its Dores, Windows, Bells, and Vestrie, and within it a Chalice where they layd the H. Body of Jesus Christ. She could not long conceal this wonder: The Priest being advertised of it, came thither in Procession, and he himself heard a consort of most har­monious Musick, which the Bees made flying round about the H. Sacra­crament; and having taken it out, he brought it back to the Church full of comfort, certifying that he had seen and heard our Lord acknow­ledged and praised by those little Animals. Caesarius l. 9. c. 8.

4. They revenge the injuries done to the H. Sacrament.

A Peasant, swayed by a Covetous mind, being communicated on Easter-day, received the Host in his Mouth, and afterwards laid it among his Bees, believing that all the Bees of the Neighbourhood would [Page 3] come thitherto work their Wax and Honey. This covetous impious wretch, was not wholly disappointed of his hopes; for all his Neighbours Bees come indeed to his Hives, but not to make honey, but to render there the honours due to the Creator. The issue of their Arrival was, that they melodiously sang to him Songs of praise as they were able; after that they built a little Church with their Wax from the foundations to the roof, divided into 3 Rooms, sustained by Pillars with their Bases and Chapiters. They had there also an Altar, upon which they had laid the pretious Body of Jesus Christ, and flew round about it, continuing their Musique. The Peasant who took notice of all this, though he could not comprehend the meaning of this harmony, yet was right glad to see all his neighbours Bees met together there. When the time came to examine what profit he had made, then it appeared how he was deceiv­ed. For when he would take a view of the quantity of honey and wax, which all these Swarms had made, he found all his hives empty of both; and coming nigh that hive where he had put the H. Sacrament, the Bees issued out furiously by Troops, and surrounding him on all sides, revenged the irreverence done to their Creator, and stung him so se­verely, that they left him in a sad case. This punishment made this mi­serable wretch come to himself; who acknowledging his Error, went to find out his Parish Priest, to confess his fault to him. The Priest dis­coursed the Bishop about it, who advised him to go in procession with all his Parishioners. At his Arrival the Bees testifyed the joy they had by their hummings, they came forth, and raised themselves into the Ayr, making an excellent Melody. When they lifted up the Hive, they found that artful fabrick, where they saw upon the Altar the H. Body of our Lord, which they carried back with reverence and great cere­mony to the Church, singing the praises of the Lord, who should be more honoured and reverenced by men, since he had honour from these little Animals. Vincentius in spec. moral. l. 2. dist. 21. p. 3.

Agneau, Lambe. 1. A Lamb of St. Francis makes signs to a Lady to go to Masse.

ST. Francis had at Rome a Lamb that used to be present at Masse and Divine Service; and when the Saint went from thence, he recom­mended it to a Noble Lady, whom the Lamb awaked amornings by its bleating, when she forgot to go to Masse, and signified to her by signs that she should go to Church. S. Bonav. in vit. S. Francis.

2. A Lamb of St. Coleta kneeled at the Elevation during the Masse.

THE Humility and Sweetness of St. Coleta was such, that the Birds of Heaven were emulous to sing in her presence, and came to feed at her Table: for this quality she accepted a Lamb, which one made a present of to her, as a meek simple Animal, and also because in the old Law it was offered in Sacrifice, representing Jesus Christ the Lamb with­out Spot. She took so much pleasure in this little Animal, that she made it go with her to Church, as the Sheep of St. Francis used to doe) where without making any noise it behaved it self with great modesty and reverence and when the Priest that Officiated came to the conse­cration, the little Lamb bended its knees, without stirring till the Ele­vation was over. Surius ad 6. Martii.

Aragnee, A Spider. 1. A Spider do's not at all impoyson at the Masse: What happened to one of the Cistertion Order, to St. Conrade and St. Norbert.

A Religious person of the Cistertian Order, celebrating the Masse, in the presence of his Abbot Walenus, a Spider fell into the Con­secrated Chalice. Upon his doubting whether he should drink the Con­secrated Wine, his Abbot commanded him to proceed and he in obe­dience took and finished all with great courage, and with fervor and de­votion. At his return being among his Brethren, his finger itched, he rubb'd it, and then a swelling appeared; and after that before them all, this Spider opened the Skin and came out alive, and by the Abbots com­mand was burnt. Henriquez. in fascic. S.S. Cisterc. l. 2. dist. 26.

2. Another instance to the same purpose.

ST. Conrade Bishop of Constance swallowed a Spider, that fell into the consecrated Wine. They that knew what he had done, looked every moment for his death, but it happened, quite otherwise. The Bishop sate down at Table, but eating nothing, one asked him the rea­son, he answered, that he waited for his Host, who would come presently; and leaning his head upon the Table, and opening his mouth, the Spider immediately issued out. This is what our Saviour had said in St. Matthew, That if his Disciples should drink poison, it should not hurt them at all. Surius 26. November. Corbin. lib. 7. c. 2. fol. 497.

3. Another like the former.

ONe day as St. Norbert said Masse in a Chappel underground, a Spi­der fell into the Chalice already consecrated. Norbert, that he might lose nothing of what was there, swallowed it. When the Masse was done, as he was preparing himself for an unaviodable death, he found a great inclination to sneez; and though he look'd upon this as a sign of death, yet he found that to him it was a sign of Life; For this Animal came out alive at his Nostrils. A miraculous Effect, which so increased his faith, that it is a common saying now-a-days; the Faith of Norbert, the Charity of Bernard, and the Humility of Milon Bishop of Teroanne. The Bishop of Bellay in his Life.

4. A Spider revenges an affront done to the H. Sacrament.

THomas of Arundel, being assembled with other Prelates in the Church of St. Paul at London, to labour the conversion of a Taylor, who held that the consecrated Host, was onely bread blessed, and not at all the Body of Jesus Christ; When after many disputes they found him obstinate in his Heresy, he was commanded absolutely to submit him­self, and to adore God with all reverence in the H. Sacrament. Upon the opposition that he made there even as far as to blaspheme, saying, that a Spider rather deserved to be honoured than the H. Sacrament of the Altar. Heaven revenged this saying so outragious against his God: for immediately an old overgrown Spider unloosing it self from the roof of the Church, came down by the guidance of its thread, upon this stinking cursed mouth, where being entred, he was grievously torment­ed, answerably to that in the Proverbs, c. 6. Thou art insnared in the words of thy mouth. After this, all judged him to deserve death, and in conclusion he was condemned to be burnt, which sentence was executed in the pre­sence of the Chancellour of the Kingdom, in the year 1384. Bredek. 1. 30. Tho. Walden l. contr. Joannem Wicklef. & alii.

Asnes, Asses. 1. Asses honour the H. Sacrament, making way for a Priest that carried it.

AN Old and Simple Priest of the Parish of St. James at Colen, carry­ing the Holy Sacrament out of Town to a Sick Person, and going up a very rough Hill, met some loaded Asses, descending towards the Town, which often jostled him, by reason of the narrowness of the way. At length not being able to get before them, and fearing to be over­turned by those Beasts, he spake to them according to his simplicity in [Page 6] this manner: My Asses, what do you mean? do ye not see him whom I carry? go aside and stop, to make more room for your Creator, which I command you in his name. O admirable Obedience! those Asses, which used not to stir but when they are beaten, presently went on one side, where the Hill was more steep without apprehending any danger, or letting fall their load. The Town of Collen remembers this wonder to this day, and mentions it with astonishment. Caesarius l. 4. c. 99.

2. Another such like Story.

IN the 16 Century within the Venetian territories, a Priest carrying the H. Sacrament without Pomp or Train, to a sick person, he met out of the Town Asses going to their Pasture; who perceiving by a certain Sentiment, what it was the Priest carried, they divided themselves into two Companies on each side the way, and fell upon their knees. Where­upon the Priest with his Clerk all amazed, passed between those peace­able Beasts, which then rose up, and, as if they would make a pompous show in honour of their Creator, followed the Priest as far as the Sick mans house, where they stayed at the door, till the Priest came forth, whom they did not leave till he had given them his blessing. Father Simon Rodriguez, one of the first companions of S. Ignatius, who travelled then in this part of Italy, informed himself carefully of this matter, that it happened a little while before our First Fathers came into Italy, and found that all had happened as has been told. P. Orlandin. in his Hist. of the Society. tom. 1. l. 2. n. 27.

3. Another admirable History of what happened, not to an Asse, but to a man turned into an Asse.

A Certain Knight of Jerusalem, arriving at the Town of Famagusta in Cyprus, with some others of the same Order, as they were busied to provide themselves of things necessary for the finishing their Voyage, this Knight went abroad, and walking along by the Sea side, he accosted a Woman, and asked her whether she had any Eggs to sell. She, that was another Medea in Sorcery, seeing him young, lusty, and a stranger, that the Country people might suspect nothing, desired him to wait a while, and she would furnish him with every thing he want­ed. As she tarried somewhat longer than he would have had her, so her fear lest the Pilot should not leave him ashore, caused her to make more hast: So she brought him the Eggs, and told him, that if the Ship was gone, and he would come back to her, he should be welcome. With this provision he drew towards his Ship, and seeing that his Com­panions [Page 7] were not yet come, he fell to eating his Eggs. As he was eat­ing them, to his admiration, he found himself wholly altered, and that he went as it were out of himself, so that in an hours time he became dumb, and as if he had lost his Brains (so he exprest it after he was well) not knowing whence this happened. Moreover, when it was time to set Sail, he drew towards the Ship to take his place there, but was dri­ven away by great blows of a Staff, since he was changed into an Asse. He suspected now ill dealing, and that this Woman had bewitched him, hearing them call him Asse; notwithstanding though he could not make answer being dumb, yet he made another attempt to get into the Ship, but was treated just as before, being repulsed as an Asse by the stroaks of a good Cudgel. Being thus abandon'd by all, he was forced to go back to that Womans house, whom he served as an Asse, for the pre­servation of his life, the space of 3 years, this Witch making use of him to carry provisions to the House: at 3 years end this poor young man following the Sorceress at a little distance, comming into the Town in shape of an Asse, by good chance, passing by a Church, he heard the Bell ring for the Elevation of the Host; and presently he turned to­wards the Church; but not having the hardiness to go in, fearing to be driven away, he staid without bending his knees and leggs towards the ground, and raising his head, bowed it to adore the H. Sacrament. This being observed by some Merchants of Genoa, and being greatly asto­nish'd, they followed this Asse, which a Woman drove away with a Cudgel, and went after them both as far as to the house. Hereupon, they advertised the Judge of the Town concerning this matter, who caused both the Asse and Woman to be apprehended. She being exa­amined, confessed her crime, and promised the Judge, that if he would suffer her to go home, she would restore the young Knight to his former shape, which she did: As for her, she was afterwards condemned to the fire and burnt for a Witch. Nic. de Laghi p. 244. & Hier. Mengi de arte Exorcisticâ.

B.

Biche, A Hind. 1. Hinds come to Masse on a H. Martyrs day, and make an offering of a young Cheverel.

ST. Athenogenes, a Martyr, under the Emperour Dioclesian, whose feast is kept on the 16th of July, returning to his Monastery, found none there save a Hind (the Monks being before laid in Prison) which he had a long time nourisht. She presenting her self before him and moving his Compassion, he blessed her, and prayed God, that she might [Page 8] never be taken nor fall into the Hunters nets, neither she, nor her young ones: Charging her further, that she and others of them should yearly bring a Cheverel to the Monastery, to perpetuate the memory of this favour and priviledge. All came to pass as the Martyr had required: for every year, after the reading of the Gospel at the time of celebrating the Masse of the H. Martyr, they saw a Hind enter into the Church, and after she had offered a Cherevel to the Saint, went back into the For­rests: It was ordained that this Cheverel should serve for the feasting the Priests that had celebrated the Office on the day of that Feast. Raderus Viridarii SS. p. 1.

Boeufs, Oxen.Oxen adore the H. Sacrament.

CErtain Robbers broke into a Church of a Town called Homel, siez­ing upon a Casket, in which they found nought besides some reli­ques, and the Pix, in which they kept the H. Sacrament. But this booty not turning much to their profit, they left all in the Fields. In the morning before day, a Peasant went out with his Oxen to plow; the Oxen being yoked in the plough, began to draw; but when they were come to the place where the H. Pix lay, they stopt on a suddain; the Peasant, not knowing what was the matter, cryed to them aloud, and push'd them with his Staff to make them go forward, but all in vain. He increased his blows and his noyse to no purpose, onely that he receiv­ed their kicks, they having more regard to the H. Sacrament, than to their Patron. The Peasant in great anger left his plow, to look whether any thing was there which might cause this stop. As he did this, he took notice of that Pix lying at the feet of his beasts, with the Relicks belonging to his Village. Being in a great astonishment, he left the field and his plough, to advertise the Parish-Priest of what he had found. Upon this report the Priest came out in procession with the people to the place where the Host and the H. Relicks lay, which they carried back to the Church with the same devotion; where they put them under a more safe Custody. Caesarius l. 9. 7.

2. Another story to the same purpose.

IN Bavaria not far from Ingolstad, a Peasant who was a simple but devout man, not being able on all Festivals to be present at Masse; because he was obliged to look after his Cattel, put a part of the con­secrated Host, which he had reserved, into a hole made in his Staff, which when he could not go to Church, he always fixed in the ground, [Page 9] and addressed his prayers to it, adoring the H. Sacrament. Now one time, as he saw his beasts run about hither and thither, and would fain stop them, he heedlesly threw down his Staff, where the H. Sacrament was: But presently reflecting upon what he had done, ran in great haste to take it up: As he fell on his knees to do it, he saw that the ground, where his staff was, depressed it self, and so much the more, as he lift up his hand. This wonder troubled him, and still more, when rising up, he saw all the Oxen round about the hollow place, with bended knees adoring our Lord. Upon the sight of these wonders, he ran bitterly weeping to give an account thereof to his Parish-Priest: He addressed himself to the Bishop, who came thither in Procession, and with great reverence and humility took up the Staff, in which was the Holy Sacrament. In memory of this Miracle, he built a Chappel under the Title of Saviour. A world of people came thither and took of the Earth of this hollow place in testimony of their Devotion. R. P. Lucas Pinelli at the end of his Meditat. on the Mystery of the Sacra­ment.

Brebis, A Sheep. 4. A Sheep kneels at the Masse, at the Elevation of the Consecrated Host.

AT St. Mary de Portiuncula one gave S. Francis for an Almes a live Ewe, which he willingly received as a Symbol of innocence and simplicity. He admonished her to live in the Convent without dis­quieting the Friers; when the Friers went to the Quire, this Ewe went into the Church, and kneeled before the Altar of our Lady bleating, as if she would salute her; and at the Elevation of the most H. Sacra­ment at the Masse, she kneeled in token of adoration. S. Bonavent. in vit. S. Francisci.

C.

Cannes, Ducks. 1. Ducks are present at Masse on St. Nicholas day. May 9.

THere is in the Suburbs of Monfort in Brittanie, a Parish Church of St. Nicholas, and at a little distance from thence one may see a Lake not far from a Castle of that Territory. From that Lake, for more than a hundred or 200 years, came forth a Wild Duck; which on St. Nicho­las day, 9th of May came into this Church with a number of Ducklins, and among the people there assembled to the number of three or four [Page 10] thousand persons, chose its way and entred the Church, and abode there some while, without being frighted, and afterwards returned peaceably to its Lake. Some years since it did the same, but more seldom, and not every year. As a Lord of the Country whose name was Dandelot, who was of the New Religion, related this as a contrivance of some Priest; one day dining in this Town of Monfort, this Wild-Dack came thither, as if she had a mind to appear to this man of a false perswasion; who being advertised of it came in Querpo, and running with some of his company to the said Church, he beheld that Duck enter in, and after some while returned quietly thither from whence she came: He fol­lowed her by his Eye as far as to the Lake; after which when any one spoke of this Duck, he said not a word. If these hold their peace the stones will cry out. Le Seur de Argentré in his History of Brittain, l. 1. p. 63, 64. Joh. Bapt. Fulgos. l. de Mirac.

2. Young Ducks defend the Church, and punish Offenders till they make reparation for the wrongs they had done.

IN the Lake of Lagenne in Ireland, one may see young Ducks among those Ducks of S. Coleman, that had been made tame in his time, which were not afraid when men came nigh them. These Ducklins that met together in this Lake about the number of sixteen, constantly when any injury was done to the Church where the H. Sacrament was lodged, or to the Clergy, they forsook this Lake, and flew far away to another, and returned not till satisfaction was given, and reparation made of the wrong done to the Church and Clergy. And during their absence, that the reparation might not be deferred, the Waters of that first Lake which were cleer and chrystaline, became muddy and corrupt, and smelt so ill, that they became neither fit for the use of Men or Beasts. The same Author also reports, that if any should in­jure one of the Birds, for being Protectors and Defenders of the Church, he would not escape long unpunished. He reports that a Kite having caught up in his Tallons one of these Ducklins, perched upon a Tree to devour it; but immediately all his Members became stiffe, so that he could not perceive the prey under his feet. Another time in a Winter Frost, a Fox caught one of these Birds but he had better have let it alone; for in the morning he was found in a Grot nigh to the Lake (venerable for the abode of S. Coleman there) dead and choaked; the Duck that he had in his throat stopping his breath. Nieremberg ex Sylvest. Gyrald. lib. 2. de Mirac. in Europa.

Cerf, A Stag.A Stag traces the Circuit and the place of the Church of Nostre Dame du Puy, at Velay in France.

IN the days of S. George, the first Bishop and Apostle of Velay, a Wo­man of that Country, who had a long time been sick of a Quartan Ague, one day as she was asleep, heard this voice; Betake thy self to the Rock d' Anis, this is the place where I will cure thee: She obey­ing this voice, found there a large and square Stone like an Altar. Be­ing seated there upon it, sleep surprized her, and at the same time the Virgin appeared to her, saying to her at her awaking, Thou shalt be cured, and know that I have chose this place to be honoured there in Ages to come. All which coming to pass as had been foretold her, she made a rehearsal of it to St. George, who went upon this Rock, where he was further assured of the Virgins pleasure by a new Prodigy: for having attained to the top of the Mountain, he saw at the foot of the Rock de Corneille, the place where now our Ladies Church stands, all covered with Snow, though this was on the 11th of July. At the same time a Stag suddenly leapt forward in the Snow, took a round, as it were tracing the circuit and compass of the Church, which was there to be built, and having done this, disappeared from the sight of all that were present. S. George, prostrating himself on the ground, to adore the traces of the Divine Providence, immediately ordained, that following the prints of the Stags feet, the place should be encompassed with a strong hedge, so that it might not be profaned, that since it could not be yet undertaken, it might be deferred to a better season. S. George therefore contented himself with marking out the place for the Church, and other Prelates that succeeded him, had not the hardi­ness to undertake the building, till S. Vossi was establisht Bishop there, who gave beginning to the Church, by reason of the Miracle follow­ing. In his days a Lady of a very noble Family of Polignac, be­ing troubled with the Palsey, was advertised in her sleep by the Virgin, that if she would be healed, she should go up to the Mountain called Puy d' Anis, and there repose her self upon a Stone made in the fashion of an Altar: Being seated upon this Stone, she fell there asleep, till such time as she was awaked by an Angel: At her waking, she saw the Mother of God surrounded with a great company of An­gels and Virgins, and at her feet she lay prostrate; the Virgin advi­sed her to return thanks to her Son for the health that was restored to her, and to let the Bishop know, that it was her pleasure they should build a Church in that place for the invocation of her holy name, and that he should translate thither the Episcopal See of Velay, [Page 12] according to the advice she had given to S. George his Predecessor. This being resolved, S. Vossi went to Rome to get a License from the Pope, where he arrived in the year 224. S. Calixtus who governed then, received him courteously, and agreeing to his requests, gave him an Architect called Scutaire for to manage the work: The Temple was in a short time finisht and erected with great firmness and perfection: When the debate was about consecrating it, the holy Bishop consi­dering that he had no Relicks, he concluded that he would return to Rome with Scutaire for to obtain them of the H. Father. The Evening before they went away, they took leave of the people, and made fast all the Church doors; the day following when they were near the Ri­ver Loize, a quarter of a League from the Town, they met two vene­rable old men. S. Vossi approaching them, demanded of them whither they were going, and what brought them into those quarters: They an­swered, We are Embassadors from the H. Pope of Rome, sent to Bishop Vassi, to bestow on him these two small Caskets full of holy Relicks. The H. Bishop gave them thanks, and intreated them that he might carry them up to the Mountain: They answered, that they had no intention to pass any further, and at parting when they had delivered to them the Relicks with the Breviates, yet further to confirm them in the truth of all they had said, Know, say they, that when you shall arrive at the Church gates, which you have firmly barred, they will open to you of themselves; and you shall find in the Church three hundred and twelve lighted Torches, the Altar anointed and marked with Holy Oyle, and you shall also hear the harmonious Songs of Angels, and perceive a most sweet Odour. Upon this they disappeared; at their return to the Town the people had notice to be ready for a Procession, and the H. Bishop barefoot and in his Pontifical Habits, came with the people to Church, which as soon as they approached, the doors opened of themselves; the Church was lightned with three hundred and twelve Torches, with all the other circumstances marked by the two old men. The Bishop approached to the Altar, which he found anointed with H. Oyl, upon which he placed the Holy Relicks. After they had solemnly sung the Masse of Dedication, he published and declared by the Authority of our H. Father the Pope, that the Episcopal See was from thenceforth translated, from the Old Town of Velay, to the New place, now called d' Anis, and in Latine Anicium, which is one of the most illustrious and ancient Churches of our Lady, that is in Europe. P. Odo Gisse, in his History of our Lady du Puy.

Chenilles, Caterpillars. 3. Caterpillars revenge the injury done to the H. Sacrament.

A Priest exorcising one that was possessed, demanded of the Devil, why a woman whose name was Hardifa, had been so grievously tormented by him; She has well deserved it, replied he, for she hath sowed the most High upon her Coleworts. The Priest not knowing what this meant, and the Devil denying to give him any other answer, he went to that other possessed person called Hardifa, and told her the answer the Devil had made him, which he did not at all understand. I understand it well, says Hardifa, which yet I have never told to any Soul living. You must know then, said she, that being very young, I took upon me to look to the garden, and making no profit of it, because Caterpillars devoured all the herbs, I learnt afterward of a wandring woman, that for to remedy this I must break a consecrated Host in pie­ces, and scatter them upon the herbs, and they would spring up again: I did so, said she, but to my own harm, as you see. Behold here what the Devil meant, when he said; She sowed the most High upon her herbs. Caesarius. l. 9. c. 9.

Cheval, A Horse. 4. A Horse given to a Priest that carried the H. Sacrament to a sick person.

WE will give the first place to a Horse of Ralph Count de Haspurg, and afterwards Emperour. This Prince going a Hunting heard the little Bell ring, as the Priest went with the H. Sacrament to a Sick person. He thereupon turned back to meet the Priest, and being come up to him, he lighted from his horse, and presented him to the Priest, that he might pass over a Ford of the River, himself following on foot. When he had communicated the sick Person, the Priest returned a horseback to his Church, the Prince going all the while a foot. The Priest paying due respects thanked Count Ralph, and offered to return him his horse. God forbid, said the Prince, that I should profane the horse, which God has thus far consecrated by the Service he has done him; My horse, said he, belongs to God, and I give him to the Church. When he had made this donation that the Church might not be burden'd with the necessary charges for his keeping, the Prince setled a certain revenue, to pay for the horses keeping, and he made it perpetual, as well for the providing horse-meat, as for the purchasing another horse, when he should fail, for the Service of the Church. P. Gualterus Paulus in suis de Euch. Rithmis.

5. A Jews Horse pays respect to a Priest, who went with the H. Sacrament to a sick person.

A Priest carrying the H. Sacrament, met a Jew on horseback, who endeavouring to get before, his beast kneeled down bowing to­wards the H. Sacrament. The Jew being in great disorder slackned his Rein, and Spurred him hard. But his horse would not stir till the Priest was gone by. At the same time he heard a voice from Heaven which said, Acknowledge thy Creator, whom thou denyest to be born of the Virgin Mary. The Jew making reflexion upon this foregoing action of his horse, and this divine Voice, was converted and baptized. Prompt. Disc. ex­empl. 32.

6. A Horse signifies to his Master, that he should hear Masse, before he went about his affairs.

A Person that was hard put to it to dispatch certain affairs, was ex­horted by some Clergy-men, because it was Sunday, to hear Masse, before he took his journey; he went indeed to Church to be pre­sent at Masse, but through his earnest desire to dispatch his affairs, he went away before it was ended. He came home and got on horse-back; but when he was upon going, his horse would not stir either for beat­ing or spurring. This unusual obstinacy of his horse, made the Master consider with himself; upon this he alights, returns to Church, and heard a Masse from the beginning to the end. Ater which he got again on horseback, and went without any difficulty about his business, which he dispatched sooner and more successfully, than he thought he should have done. Nicholas de Laghi ex Andr. Ebor. Lusit. de Orat.

7. Horses lose their lives for saving the honour due to the H. Hosts.

THe Marshal of Aumont, having brought the Town of St. Porcien in France under the League, his Souldiers pillaged the Parish Church, from whence they took away the Pix full of Hosts, which they carried to the stable where their horses stood. Where having emptied the Pix, they threw the Hosts mingled with Oates into the Manger to feed their Horses therewith; and as the horses could not retire being tyed to the racks, to prevent the indignity that might happen, suddenly fire descend­ed from Heaven, and killed the horses, without touching any ways the Headstals. Thus the horses lost their Lives to hinder the affront and [Page 15] irreverence, which the Hereticks would have put upon the consecrated Hosts. P. Fodere Hist. de la province de S. Bonavent.

Cheure, She-goat. 8. A Shee-goat brings up an Infant devoted to the H. Sacrament.

IN Poland an Infant was lost, its parents being ignorant what became of it, for the space of three years; the Father and Mother greatly afflicted at this mishap, had recourse to Heaven, to help them to some news of it. After all they made a vow, that if they could learn where it was, they would go a Pilgrimage to the H. Sacrament of Posnanie. After this the Child was found in a Forrest, and told them, that all that time, it had been fed by a Wild Shee-goat, which had also taken care to defend it against the Nights cold. Traterus apud Bzovium. Tom. 5. p. 205. in fine.

Chiens, Dogs. 9. Dogs revenge the injury done to the H. Hosts.

OPtatus Milevitan writes thus in his second Book against Parmenion, that the Donatist-Hereticks, had given the H. Host to Dogs, but that their own Dogs, instead of touching the H. Sacrament, to revenge the injury done to their Creator, fell upon their Masters, and tore them in pieces.

10. A Dog punished by Heaven, for making a noise during the Masse.

IN the Life of Bl. Dalmace Monerio, of the Order of St. Dominick, it is reported, that this Father, in an Embassy of his to the Convent of Castellon, observed that a Lady called Villeneufue came to hear Masse at this Convents Church, accompanied with a little Dog, which made a great noise, with little Bells that hang round his neck. He intreated the Lady not to bring the Dog thither any more, which she promised. One day having shut up her little Dog in a Chamber, she came to Masse at the same Church: In her absence, through the carelesness of a Servant that opened the Chamber door, the Dog slipping out, went strait to Church to find again his Lady; as soon as he was entred, he fell a barking and making a great noise, to the disturbing of the Priests Devotion who was saying Masse. Whereupon Bl. Dalmace lifting up his Eyes, prayed God not to suffer that Beast further to interrupt his Devo­tion. Behold a strange Prodigy! at that instant there appeared in the Church a great Dog with black and rugged Hair, seen by none either before or after, which seized so furiously on the Collar and Bells of this [Page 16] little Dog, that he lay overturned for dead on the ground, and the Bells he had round his neck, were never seen, the least parcel of them any more. Of such importance is silence for the right celebration of the H. Sacrifice; as S. Ambrose reports, that a certain H. Priest commanded the Frogs that croaked a little way from the Church, to hold their peace du­ring the Divine Office, and they obeyed. Lib. 3. de Instit. Extract from the Life of B. Dalmace by Nic. Eymeric. Jac. Bleda. Mirac. 153. p. 296.

A Dog respects and adores the H. Sacrament, and punishes the Blasphemy of his Master.

NIcholas de Laghi, in his Book of the Miracles of the H. Sacrament says, that a Jew blaspheming the H. Sacrament, dared to say in the presence of many Christians, that if they would give it to his Dog, that he would eat it up without shewing any regard to their God. The Chri­stians being very angry at this outragious speech, and confiding in the Divine Providence; had a mind to bring it to tryal. Presently one spreads a Napkin on the Table, upon which they laid many Hosts, though there was onely one among them all that was consecrated. The hungry Dog being put upon the same Table, set himself to eat them all up; but coming to that which had been consecrated, without touching it, he kneeled down before it, and afterwards fell with rage upon his Master, catching him so closely by his Nose, that he took it quite away with his Teeth. Jac. de Voragine in the Feast of Corpus Christi. De Laghi tract. d. 1. 9. c. 96. The same which S. Matthew warns such like Blasphemers, saying, Give not that which is holy to Dogs, lest they turn again and rent you, c. 7.

A Peasant being delivered from mischievous Dogs, devoted himself to the H. Sacrament.

A Peasant of Poland, going one Sunday in the Forrest, set himself to work, without regard to the holiness of the day and to cut down a great Tree: While he was at work, there chanced to come thither a youth that was akin to him, with whom he took his repast, to recruit his strength. Mean while he observed a Gum upon a Tree hard by, and set this Lad upon the Tree to gather it. The Tree about which the Peasant had taken such pains, and now bended towards the ground, came down at the same time and fell upon the Lad, & kill'd him stark dead. The Man sadly frighted with this accident, ran to the Village to get counsel and help; but in his way, behold, two black Dogs and very furious met him, and ran after him to fall upon him. He made the sign of the Cross for his defence, and vowed to undertake a Pilgrimage to the H. Sacrament [Page 17] of Posnanie, so he might but escape. As he thought them to be infernal Dogs, as indeed they were, so he perceived them suddenly to toss up and down furiously, and to say to him with a Mans voice, If thou hadst not defended thy self with those Arms, there had been an end of thy life, both body and soul. The Peasant right glad to see himself out of danger, took care to bury the youth, and afterwards performed his vow, and repaired to Posnanie, there to return thanks to God, and to adore the H. Sacrament. Treterus apud Bzovium. Tom. 5.

An Infant was born with a Head like a Greyhound, whose Father was hunting without regarding to say Masse.

A Gentleman of the Low-Countrys used to go a hunting at all times, without any regard to the Masse or Divine Offices, for which he had been often blamed by his wife, who was a virtuous woman. Among many Children that she bore him, she had one born whose Head was like that of a Greyhound. The Mother and other women with her that beheld this, were all so confounded, that they thought it best to bury it privately, without making any noise. Upon this her husband returns home, and knowing his wife was brought a-bed, ask'd to see the Child. Upon the sad silence they all kept, without making him any answer, he was enraged, and threatned, having drawn his Sword, to kill them all, if they would not show it to him. His wife undertook to pacifie him, and telling him all that had past, afterwards taking up the Infant out of the ground, gave him a sight of it, and then said to him; Behold the fruit that is come of your not regarding the H. Sacrifice of the Masse, nor Sun­days more than other working-days. The husband was hereupon so much ashamed, that he changed his course of life, and from that time forward, he had such an esteem of the Masse and Divine Offices, that it made him frequent it daily, to the great edification of his Family, and all under his charge. Joh. Herold. a. discip. Serm. 22. Nic. de Laghi, trac. 6. dist. 12. c. 121. p. 259.

The admirable vigilancy and devoires of a Dog, in in honour of the H. Sacrament.

THE History of the Dog of Lisbon, is counted a prodigy: It is report­ed by F. Nieremberg almost in these words. In Lisbon, says, he, nigh to S. Justina dwelt a Confectioner, who kept a middlesiz'd Dog, whose Hair was marked with white Spots. It was two years ago (as he goes on) that he took up a Custom to follow the Holy Sacrament, when it was carried to sick persons; they did not mind it till several months after, as neither several other circumstances which begot admiration. First, at [Page 18] all times when they tolled the Church-Bell to give men notice of the honour which is to be paid to the Sacrament, on a sudden this Dog went out of the house, after that he returned: When the sign was given that the Priest was going abroad with the H. Sacrament, he hastily returned to the Church, and stayed till he saw them come forth with the H. Eu­charist under a Canopy, then jumping towards the Children that march­ed before with the Cymbal, he went and came to this side and that side, as if he would set in order the procession that was made for Jesus Christ. The Dog is gentle and peaceable in his conditions, being accustomed to live among men, but yet at such times, he neither obeys nor owns any person, no not his Master, if he should chance to call him. In this manner he goes along to the sick persons house, waits at the door or in the street; afterwards brings back our Lord to the Church, and stays there till he be again placed in the Tabernacle. One night hearing the Bell for carrying out the Sacrament, he would go away, as his Custom was, and finding the house-door shut, he came to his Masters Chamber, and went round his bed, barking lovingly, that some body would open the door; which not being done, he found a Servant that was yet awake, after he had fawned on him, running round him, he pluckt him by the Coat, and drew him to the Gate, which when he had it open, he went streight to Church, and the H. Sacrament being brought back, he return­ed home. Another time accompanying the H. Sacrament, he met a Ped­lar sleeping by a fountain, and taking his Asse by the Halter, he ran bark­ing at him, and never ceased till he had waked him, and saw him kneel and adore the H. Sacrament. Another time, following the H. Sacrament, he met a Country-woman upon an Asse, immediately he fell a barking a-loud, and leapt upon the woman, who being frighted, no body giving her notice, she alighted and adored the H. Eucharist, and the Dog with­out making a noise pursued his way, leaving her in peace. Another time following the H. Sacrament, he met a Gentleman of Quality, who not seeming as if he would alight, he thereupon set upon him barking furi­ously, till be had done so, and had adored Jesus Christ. Nevertheless the horse gave him a kick, which hurt the Dogs foot, which the Gentle­man commanded his Servant to take care of, but he would not be catch'd, but followed the H. Sacrament limping and holding one foot up; but when he came home, he let them of the house look after his hurt foot, and it was quickly healed. The same Father reports many other respects this Dog had shown, to constrain men to honour God in the H. Sa­crament; and though some endeavoured to withdraw him from such re­spects, yet he continued them. The Dog was then alive at Lisbon, when the Reverend Father wrote his History in the year 1635. P. Nieremberg in historia Naturae.

Colombes, Pigeons.Several Holy Priests have been honoured by Pigeons, while they said Masse.

SEveral have seen Pigeons often perch upon the heads of such as have celebrated the H. Sacrifice of the Masse. It happened so to St. Kentigerne in Ireland, to St. Cunibert, to B. Anselme of the Cistercian Order, to B. Chri­stopher companion of St. Francis. So it also happened to Pope Gregory IX. when he said Masse in the desert of Camaldoli, which was a presage, that he would come to be Pope. The same happened to Pope Marcel­lus II. while he said Masse in the Church of our Lady of Loretta, a mark of the Soveraign dignity to which he was called by Heaven, and was af­terwards confirmed to him by the Mother of God, whilst he said Masse at the same Altar. Tursellin. l. 3. c. 20. historiae Lauretanae.

A Pigeon brings a H. Host, to communicate one newly Converted to the Faith.

THe H. Martyrs Faustinus and Jovita, having baptized at Milan a Souldier named Secundus, as they were about to give him the Com­munion, according to the usage of the Church, having no bread at all wherewith to consecrate, a Pigeon flew into the Prison with an Host in her Bill, and having assured them it had been consecrated, being sent thi­ther by Heaven, they therewith communicated the new-made Christian. Surius in vita. SS. M. M. Faustini & Jovitae.

Pigeons informed the Eastern Bishops concerning the Holiness of the Sacrifice, and of the Pope that celebrated.

ABout the year 1145, in the days of Pope Lucius, or as others of Pope Eugenius, Embassadors above a 1000. in number from the Armeni­an Bishops, and from their Metropolitan whom they call Catholick, that is to say Universal, came to find the Pope at Rome, to submit themselves to his Obedience, and to take from him the most perfect form, which he should judge they ought to observe in the most holy Sacrifice of the Masse. The Pope received them very courteously, and invited them to come to see him officiate on a solemn day that drew neer. The Legats who were also Bishops, and had made a journey of 18 months, failed not to open all the Eyes of their souls and bodies, to observe this Pontifical Masse. After the consecration, they saw a great light, like a globe of the Suns Rays to fall down upon the Head of the Pope, and to encompass it like a Crown, and two Pigeons also flying up and descending, without being able to discover any hole in the Church, through which that light and those Pigeons might come in; And when the Communion was over, [Page 20] all disappeared: Thus our Lord would honour his Vicar in the presence of these Armenian Legats, that so, being ravish'd with the Sanctity of his Vicar, and the wonders of so holy a Sacrifice, they might submit them­selves more easily to the Successors of St. Peter. Corbin. mirac. 740. Pa­neg. 174. p. 460.

A Pigeon sucks the Blood consecrated by a wicked Priest, and restores it to the Priest, after he had confessed his Sin.

IN the year 1200. at Leon in Spain, a Priest, tho' he had defiled himself with a woman, yet dared to approach to the Altar, on the holy night of the Nativity of our Lord, without confessing himself beforehand. At the first and second Masse, before he had consecrated, and said the Pater-noster, on a sudden a Pigeon flew with great swiftness towards the Priest, and putting its Bill into the Chalice, suck'd out all the Blood, and with her wings took up the Hosts out of the Priests hands and flew away. The Priest being frighted and concerned in this accident that was repeated, took care not to passe to a third Masse, without confessing him­self, and repenting of his Sin. In the sequel, as he was celebrating the third time, and came to the Pater, the Pigeon returned, and putting her Bill into the Chalice, cast up again all the Wine she had sucked, and let fall the two Hosts she had carried away, at the foot of the Chalice. This ex­traordinary wonder, teaches Priests a good Lesson, how they ought to be disposed, when they are to celebrate, and approach the Altar. Fr. James Bleda, in his Treatise of the Fraternity of the H. Sacrament, Mi­racle 222. who says that he had taken it out of the Spanish Chronicles of Peter Michael Carbonel.

S. Edmund was communicated by a Pigeon.

ST. Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury, after he had applied his mind se­riously to consider the Argument of the H. Trinity, on purpose to prepare himself for a publick Dispute, which was to be held upon this Mystery, retiring himself late to take his rest, he thought that in the night time a Pigeon brought to him the H. Sacrament, and that he received it. On the day of disputation, he came into the Assembly, and discoursed in so high a manner upon this Subject, that all that were present were greatly astonished and edified. Bleda 1. Mirac. 127. p. 227. ex sum.

A Pigeon marks out the outside lines, and form of a Chappel of our Ladies.

A Gentlewoman of Bononia called Ricoiola Galoni, with her Husband, had made a vow to build a Chappel to the Virgin upon a Moun­tain nigh to that Town; they had only digg'd for the foundations, when the Masons perceived a Pigeon, that turned round about them, and [Page 21] seemed to mark a certain space with little sticks which she had gathered together hither and thither, and this by the space of two days. The No­velty of the thing made them look upon it as extraordinary; so that the report of it having run abroad, many came thither from Bononia. The Bishop came over thither with his Clergy, and had the pleasure to see with his own Eyes this Pigeon, how busie she was in making this round, without being concerned at the great number of persons that observed her. He presently judged that the H. Virgin had sent it to trace the boundaries of the Chappel which Ricciola had projected. Wherefore he advised her to cause it to be built round in the same place that the Pi­geon had marked; which she did with such diligence, that on the first day of September following, it was ready for Consecration: The frequent Miracles that were done, sufficiently testified, that the H. Virgin had chose that place for to be honoured there. Sigonius in Episcopis Bononi­ensibus; Leander in descript. Italiae.

Ravens, Crows, Choughs, and other Birds of prey, Corbeux, Ravens. Corneilles, Crows. Choüettes, Choughs. assembled ordinarily nigh to Ravenna, on S. Apollinarius's day, during the Divine Office, that was said there.

A Great number of Ravens, Crows, Choughs, & other such like birds, flockt together yearly from all parts of Italy near the Town of Ra­venna, at the Feast of S. Apollinarius, first Bishop of this Town, for to make an extraordinary concourse to this solemnity, during the time of celebra­ting the Office in the presence of the H. Sacrament. The people of Raven­na, for an acknowledgment of the respect they shewed to their Apostle, had in readiness the dead body of a Horse, upon which these Birds made their repast, before their return to the place from whence they came. Some attribute this marvel to a miracle that had been wrought by the H. Bishop; and it might happen that this sort of Birds, might have been banish'd and driven away, because they defiled the Church with their dung, and hindred the Divine Office at Masse and other times by their doleful and troublesome noise, and for this reason some believe that the City took its name from these Birds. Niremberg. de mirac. naturae, l. 1. c. 4. p. 389.

D.

A Dragon is made tame by the vertue of the H. Masse.

ST. Paul Bishop of Leon, of the Country of Ireland, being intreated by the Inhabitants of a Sea-Town, to deliver them from a Dragon that ruined their Country, and hindred them from going freely abroad [Page 22] the fields, he assured them of the Divine help, upon condition that they repented, and renounced their Superstitions. Which when they had done, he appointed his Nephew to prepare an Altar at which he might say Masse. When Masse was done, he went out of the Church, and being filled with divine confidence, he with a loud voice summoned this Sa­vage beast to make his appearance, without doing hurt to any one. Im­mediately the Dragon appeared with open mouth and rolling Eyes sparkling with choler, and went streight towards the Saint, casting him­self at his feet. St. Paul, cast a stole round his neck, and fixing his staff in the ground, he there bound the Dragon without any resistance, or mak­ing any motion to get away from him, as if he had been tamed and made as gentle as a Lamb. Colganus in vita S. Jaonez. 2. Martii, pag. 442. n. 8.

Dragons revenge the injuries done to the H. Eucharist.

CErtain Inhabitants of a Town in Italy having received the Commu­nion on an Easter-day, through great irreverence spent the rest of the day in sports and lascivious dancings. The Divine vengeance followed them quickly after. For among their punishments God sent a Deluge of Water upon their Land, which overwhelmed all their Harvest of Corn, and drowned all their Meadows; from whence came forth Dragons that encumbred their ways when they were dryed, so that none could walk into the Field without fear of his Life. The Country lying wholly de­solate, a Holy person, moved with compassion, prayed to God earnest­ly, to turn away his wrath, or at least to tell him the cause of it. Upon this an Angel appeared to him, and asked him this Question, If any person should be so daring, as to lay hands upon the Emperours Son, and by wicked Treachery and Treason cast him into a dark and stinking Dungeon, what punishment would this insolent person deserve? The good man answered, That he deserved to be put to death and quarter­ed: But, added the Angel, What if another should take the Pix, in which the H. Host is kept, and before a great number of people, should cast it into a sink full of filth and nastiness, what punishment was due to this sacrilegious person? The H. man reply'd, That he ought to be burnt as Hereticks are. Upon this the Angel said; The Inhabitants of this place have put the Son of God into a stinking obscure Prison; and, which is more, they have cast the H. Pix, that is, their heart, into a dunghill of all sorts of uncleanness and vanities, for which crimes they have merited these and greater Chastisements. When the people un­derstood this, they set themselves to repent of their sins, that they might be delivered from these punishments. In Spec. Exempl. tit. Eu­char. Ex. 13.

E.

The Elephants at Goa, come in the Procession of the H. Sacrament.

I Find the Elephants also do honour to their Creator in the H. Eucharist As this is a Creature braving and desirous of glory, they are wont at Goa, a capital City of the East Indies, to introduce them in a solemn Pro­cession they make in honour of the H. Sacrament, on Corpus Christi day. The young ones march first, after follow the older Elephants all magnifi­cently cloathed, carrying the Crosse and Armes of Portugal, painted in their natural colours on the head, and their whole Body; each of them carries Men on his Back, one five or six Trumpeters, others as many Musi­tians, whose loud Eccho's are heard during the Procession. This vast Ani­mal, which is easily chafed at other times, at this time marches with a gate so peaceable, but accompanied with such gravity, that he seems to appland himself and swell as men are wont to do, in this Pomp and Magnificence: All Men and all Animals render this homage to their Creator. Quantum potes, tantum aude. Nieremberg. in Hist. naturae, l. 9. c. 88.

The Ermine serves for a subject, to honour the H. Sacrament.

NIgh to Mariemburg in Prussia, a Carpenter being in company with a quarelsome person in the same Lodging, and being forced to defend himself, he grievously wounded this impertinent fellow. For this he was cast in Prison, and afterwards having learnt the wounded man was like to dye, he sought all ways to get his Liberty. And calling to mind the Mira­cles which the H. Sacrament of Posnanie wrought in high Poland, he promi­sed to take a Journey thither, if Heaven would bring him out of the danger wherein he now was. Presently after he had made this Vow, he saw an Ermine creep along the wall of the Tower, to a certain place; which he look'd upon as a good token of his Deliverance. He went to that place without delay, and found Tools there, fit to open a breach for him to escape Prison. In conclusion, going to work with them, the Stones were loosened and tumbled down without much difficulty, Heaven seeming to cooperate with his just desire. When the passage was opened thrô which 2 men might go, he hastily sprang out of Prison. Afterward he went out of the Town, without being discovered, althô the Magistrates had sent a Messenger after­wards to apprehend him: So he arrived safely at Posnanie, where he declared this Miracle, and performed the Vow he had made to go thither, to render his thanks to God. Traterus apud Bzovium. tom. 15,

F.

A Falcon teaches us the reverence and decency due to places, where the H. Sacrament lies, and is kept.

IT is reported of a Falcon, which in the days of S. Brigit the Virgin, made its abode continually in a Towre of a Church, that for the reverence owing to the place where the H. Sacrament is kept, he would not suffer the company of any female there, but at breeding time it retired afar off from thence to the Mountains, and having satisfied nature returned again to its ancient abode; leaving a good example of the decency that is owing to Churches and Holy places. Nieremb. in hist. Nat. l. 12. c. 38.

Fourmis. Ants.Ants by the Punishment that befell them, shew the reve­rence due to Altars, and to the H. Sacrament.

IN a Church of one of our Colledges in Portugal, on the day of a great Feast, the Sexton had set Pots with fine Posies of Flowers, round the Tabernacle where the H. Sacrament reposes: In the night a troop of Pis­mires, which had their retreat not far from the Altar, drawn by the sweet smell of these flowers, came neer to the Tabernacle, to forrage for Provi­sion: but this their irreverence was immediately chastized, for the day fol­lowing the Sexton lifting up the Tapestry that covered the Altar, he found them all dead neer the Tabernacle. Ex Literis ann: prov. Lusitaniae.

Gelines. Henns.G.

Henns honour the H. Sacrament.

BL. Ida of Lovain, before she entred into the Cistertian Order, had used to feed Henns and other tame Foules; and after she was a professed Nun, she had so great devotion to the H. Sacrifice of the Masse, that she brought thither all her Henns and other Poultry, which followed her at her call, and in the Church, as far as they were able, humbled themselves, and kept themselves before the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar without making any noise, to the admiration of all the people there present. Corbin in his Panegyrick on the H. Sacrament, Miracle 741. p. 504.

A Hen revenges the injury done to the H. Eucharist.

IN the year 1561. at Nimegen, a Town of Gelderland, two Libertine Here­ticks, stopping at an Alehouse the second day of the Feast of Easter, made a challenge, which could soonest swallow his Egge. One of them hearing [Page 25] the Bell which uses to be carried when the Priest goes with the H. Sacra­ment to a sick Person, said, that he would sooner swallow his Egge, than the sick Person his God or Idol, for so he called the H. Sacrament in con­tempt; but this he did to his own hurt: for the Egg stopt in his throat, and he being seized with fear, took a Tallow-candle, to make it pass down to the bottom of his Stomach, but all in vain: for the Tallow stopt in the passage, without his being able to bring up any thing save onely the wicke, and in this estate, he fell down dead, with a face as black as an Ethiopian, and his throat spoyled by a divine Punishment. Also the Egg that had stopt, having made a bunch between the flesh and the skin, appeared not in the throat, but on the other side of his neck. This Miracle happened on the 8th of April in the year above mention'd. Bredembachius. l. 7. c. 60. Sacr. Collat.

Grenoville. A Frog.Frogs give respect to the H. Sacrament.

DƲ Ferrier remarks in the Life of S. Lindanus the Abbot, that the said Saint hearing one day a number of Frogs croaking with troublesome noise in a Marsh nigh to the Church, and disturbing the Priest, and those that were present at Masse; he went and smote those waters with his Staff; upon which, all the Froggs were still, and after that time were never heard to croak more. In the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy on the 3. of July. p. 204.

H.

Hirondelle, A Swallow. Swallows. The Honour paid by this sort of Birds.

THe Bl. Father Francis ò Fabiano, of the Order of S. Francis, who was a very devout Person, Praying one day before the H. Sacrament, and considering the great Love Christ Jesus bore towards us in his Death and Passion, and on the other side, turning his Eyes upon mens ingratitude, who think so little of it, as if these benefits did not concern them; the Swallows that had made their nests round about the Church, began to chatter so troublesomely, that they interrupted the quiet, which Meditation and Con­templation do's require; and they continuing their chirping noise, he com­manded them to withdraw, and to return no more to that place: they obeyed readily this his command; and it was observ'd that all that year, not one Swallow appeared any more in that place. Wading. l. 3. ad. an. 1322.

Another History of the same kind.

FAther Peter Regalatus, of the same Order, a Priest of Eminent vertue, and a Superiour of the House of Aquila in Spain. He being a Person given much to Prayer, his example drew many other Religious Persons to imitate [Page 26] him, so that, if they were not otherwise hindred, one might find them in the Church before the H. Sacrament, praying. But as Prayer requires great quiet and recollection to find there and tast the Spirit of God, they found themselves deprived thereof by the troublesome noyse of Swallows, that had their nests round the Church, and made their complaint of it to their Superior. The Holy man willing to give some Satisfaction to the devout Priers, lifting up his hand and raising his voice, he commanded these Birds to be gone from the Church, and not to return thither any more, and or­dered them to signifye the same command to the rest of their company. Oh admirable event! after this time not one Swallow dared to make a nest about the Church, without receiving a sure payment for its disobedience. In the Memoires prepared for his Canonization, it is reported, that one or two Swallows flying about in the Church, fell down dead upon the Pavement. Wading. Tom. 5. ad an. 1448. n. 9.

Jument. A Mare.J.

Jumens. Mares adore the H. Sacrament.

IN the year 1317, and the 25th of July, in a place called Vivieres, nigh to the Town of Fumay, in the County of Looz; the Vicar of the fore­named place, was required to carry the Sacrament to a Sick person. He went thither, and being arrived at the House, he layd down the Box (or Pix) in which the Host was, upon a Table, to go and hear the Confession of the Dying Person. Mean while some of the house, not duly considera­tive, came round the Pix, opened it, and there touched the Host with very great irreverence, and after shut it up again. The Priest after he had disposed his Penitent, took up the Pix, and came back to him to Com­municate him. Upon the opening of it, he perceived that the Host had issued out blood, and was stained with it, and stuck to the Linnen that was within. This sight cast him into a great fright, so that he durst not com­municate his Sick man, but having comforted him, and respited the Com­munion to another time, he carried back the Pix and the Host to the Church. The Parish Priest knowing what had passed, commanded his Vi­car to carry the Host to the Monastery of Herkenorode to consult with a venerable and knowing Priest, who lived there: he did so; but as he was upon the rode to accomplish it, the Mares, Asses and other Beasts that passed in the Fields where he went, paid their acknowledgments to their Creator, adoring him with bended knees; and the Vicar arriving at the Church of the Monastery, two Bells in the Steeple, rang of their own accord, the Beasts and other animate things, bearing more respect to the H. Sacra­ment, [Page 27] than Men had done. At his arrival they Sung the Mass of the 1st. of August, (S. Petri ad vincula) the Priest that celebrated knowing no­thing of what had past, yet went back a little from the Altar, to adore the H. Sacrament with a low bowing of his head. Whilst he did thus, our Lord appeared to him in a humane form, with a certain Crown upon his head: which was not seen by any but himself: at the same time one possessed was delivered from the evil Spirit, and since that time the H. Sacrament has not ceased, nor now ceases to produce some miraculous Effects. Bened. Conan. in histor. Euchar. l. d. c. 82. ex Chrysost. Henriquez in Menol. Cisterc. ad 29 Julii.

Mares and Oxen passing through a Marsh, adore our Lord in the H. Eucharist.

IN the year 1399, a Woman and her Daughter that served a Jew at Pos­nanie in higher Poland, engaged themselves for a great Summ of Money, to deliver consecrated Hosts to the Jews. To effect this, on the day of the Virgins Assumption, they lay hid in the Church of the F. F. Dominicans, and when the Friers were gone to Dinner, the Daughter being upon the watch, the Mother went towards the Tabernacle, and thô the first and second time of her approach she fell backwards, being repuls'd by a divine force, yet she came on the third time and opened it: she took out of the Pix three Hosts which they delivered to the miserable Jews, after they of this Sect had assembled together in a Cellar under-ground, they threw them down contemptuously upon a Table, and after they had uttered many Blasphe­mies, they stabb'd them with a Dagger, from whence issued out great quan­tity of Blood, and the first mans face was so covered therewith, that he could never wipe it away, but by the flames of his Punishment; the Cellar also was all full of Blood, which they could not neither any ways get off. The Jews being frighted with these wonders, charged two among them, to hide these Hosts in the Marishes out of the Town: During this journey many Miracles happened.

On Sunday the Octave of the Assumption, a Neat-herd and his Son; led the Mares and Oxen they had the charge of, to these Marishes; the Father left his Son there, whilst he went to be present at the Divine offices. This youth named Paul, saw these three Hosts lifted up in the Air, and fly like Butterflies, which the Mares that passed there, adored kneeling; and the Father at his return saw the same, his Oxen kneeling also down to adore their Creator.

The Neat-herd returning to the Town, reported to the Magistrate that which he had seen, but instead of being believed; he was thrown in Prison for a Fool; where he crying to Heaven for succour, the Prison gates opened [Page 28] of themselves, and he went out, and presented himself again before the Magistrate, who having observed, that he was no man of tricks, made their report of it to the Bishop, who went thither with great Pomp and Procession; the Hosts were gathered up by a Priest at the Bishops command, and search being made the hardened Jews were burnt, and their Goods confiscated. Ʋladislaus King of Poland caused a Church to be built in that place, under the Title of the Body of Jesus Christ, where God wrought Miracles of all sorts: among which they reckoned 36 raised from the dead, and from the beginning of these Miracles, to the year 1604, their number arrived to 382. This History was written by Tho. Treterus, Almoner to Cardinal Rosius, and afterward Canon and Sacrist of Varme in Poland. Bzovius reports this history in his 5th Tome in the year above noted.

A Woman appeared in form of a Mare, for her negligence in frequenting the Communion.

A Magician not being able by his Charms to corrupt the Chastity of a Woman, in favour of a young Man, who hired him thereto, he be­witched her, in such sort, that she was seen by her Husband and by all o­thers in the shape of a Mare: She was brought to S. Macarius who took a­way the Charm with Holy-Water, and told her, that this misfortune had happened to her, for having omitted to frequent the Communion, which she had abstained from for several Weeks. Palladius in S. Maca [...]ius life, where that excellent Sentence of the Council of Nice is brought, viz. ‘We excite and exhort the faithful to their Combat, and that they may not be left naked, we put on and arm them with the protection of the Body and Blood of the Lord: And since the Eucharist is most profitable for the defence of those that receive it, we desiring their Security against the Adversary, let us arm them with the defence of our Lords whol­some Viande, which the Council calls Munimentum dominicae salubritatis.’

Lapins Conies.L.

Conies adore the H. Sacrament.

IN the year 1412. one John Vanlangarsterden came to lodge at Herental in Brabant, and went out every day secretly to catch a Prize: one day en­tring in company into the Church of Vectrelesande, he carried away from thence the Chalice with the Pix, wherein there were five consecrated Hosts. As he was thinking to return to Herental with his booty, and was upon the Rode thither, he was much surprized, finding that he could not advance forward, do what he could, and at the same time knew not whether he [Page 29] went. This wandring, made him inwardly reflect and think that this hap­pened to him for his sin. Hereupon he resolved to throw the stollen Hosts into the River, and going to put this in execution, he found himself stopt short, without being able to stir from the place, where he was. He being then hard by a Coney-Warren, that he might rid himself of those Hosts, he threw and hid them in a Coney-burrough. After which he found himself at liberty to return to his Lodging; where the Provost of Herental, upon the noise that ran up and down of the Robbery, caused him to be arrest­ed; and putting him to the rack, it was not long ere he confessed the steal­ing of the Chalice and the Pix, without saying any thing of the Hosts. But when the Sentence was pass'd on him to dye, his Confessor pressed him to tell what was become of the Hosts, and yet he would not say a word about it, till he was just going to be thrown off the Ladder; then he freely confessed the whole Fact, and discover'd the place where he had put the Hosts. Upon which he was brought down the Ladder, and led to the Warren, a number of People accompanying him, and he showed the hole where he had cast them. But not finding them there, one casting his Eyes about, saw them laid orderly upon the Grass, and round about the Conies kneeling, adored with all respect their Creator. It was eight days since this was done, and yet among all the Snows and Raines and other Injuries of the Air which happen in the Month of February, they found the Host entire and not at all endammaged: the very Elements and Beasts owning their Creator, whilst the Hereticks deny and blaspheme him. The Criminal was brought back to the Place of Execution, and was burnt, for expiation of his enormous Crime. Upon the noise of this great Miracle, Antony Duke of Brabant with the Princess Elizabeth his Wife, came to the Place with a world of followers, to testify their Piety towards the H. Sacrament. A Chappel was built over the Coney-borrough, where the Hosts had been thrown, which is to be seen to this day under the Altar. Great Devotion continued always, and does to this day towards this place, but the Hosts have been lost by the fury of our new Iconolasts and Calvinists. August: Wickman in Brab. Mariana. P. Rivero in append. ad solenne sapientiae convivium.

Linx ou chere savage. A Shamois or wild Goat.A Shamois, or wild Goat, serves to honour the H. Sacrament, in the deliverance of the Emperor Maximilian I.

ABout the year 1470. the Emperor Maximilian hunting this sort of Game, one day upon the Mountains by the City of Inspruch, as he pur­sued one of them, being carried on with an earnest desire to seize it, he ran so high upon the point of one of those Mountains before he was aware, that he saw himself in a condition never to get off, without apparent danger [Page 30] of falling into an horrid precipice, which he had before his Eyes, so that seeing himself lost, after he had continued there two whole days, he called to his followers, who all in tears viewed him below, not being able to suc­cour him, that they should go and intreat the neighbouring Parish Priest to bring the H. Sacrament of the Altar, that before he dyed he might have at least the satisfaction to see it and adore it, since he could not receive it, in the extremity to which he was reduced. They presently did so, and he having devoutly adored the H. Eucharist, he saw immediately a young Shep­herd by him, who removing the flint Stones with his Crooke, to plain as it were the way for him, said to him have a good heart Prince, and fol­low me; He being thus incouraged, began to descend the Hill with him, and presently was brought to his followers, who while they were consi­dering this Shepherd, and speaking of the great reward he deserved for his good Service, he was vanished and they saw him no more. Upon this they believed him to be an Angel, and with great joy conducted their young Master to the Palace of the Emperor Frederick 4th his Father, who immediately went to return publick thanks to God for so miraculous a Deliverance. S. Romuald in thesaur. chron. ad. an. cit. ex Pighio in suo Hercule prod.

Loup. A Wolf.A Wolf, in consideration of the Communion received, quits his Prey, so doing homage to the H. Sa­crament.

A Devout Convert of a Monastery of the Cistertians, who had the charge of the Muttons and Sheep, having one day devoutly received the Com­munion, went thence to his Flock, to look whether any disorder had hap­pened there. Who then saw a Wolf returning to the Wood loaded with one of his Sheep: the good Frier fell upon his knees, and looking up to Heaven made this Prayer. O Jesus the good Shepherd, the Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the World, whom I tho' unworthy have this day received, I recommend this Sheep to thee, do thou look to it which has been put under my keeping; for my part, I see it safe in your hand, but I can no ways save it. Behold a strange thing! upon this prayer, this ravenous Beast immediately leaves his Prey, without hurting or touching it. The devout Frier, after he had rendred his thanksgiving, brought back the Sheep to the Flock, with great Joy. P. Major. in Spec. ex hist. Euchar. ex 20.

A Man and his Wife being transformed into a Wolf by force of an im­precation, desire to receive the communion, which was done to the Woman, being at the point of death.

A Priest of Ireland travelling from the Province of Ʋlster towards Me­dia, was forced to pass a whole Night in a Forrest. As his Boy that went with him had lighted a fire under a thick Tree, they perceived a Wolf to draw towards them, and being come up to them, spake to them thus; Be well assured and fear nothing, since there is no cause for it. They however could not help being afraid at the sight of a Wolf, and hear­ing him speak like a man, whereupon the Priest conjured him in the name of the H. Trinity not to do them harm, and to do declare what he was, and of what country, appearing in the likeness of a Wolf: Thereupon he said to him, that he was of a certain race of Men called Ossirians (Ossiri­enses) from whence every seven years, by force of an imprecation made by S. Noel the Abbot, two from among them, a Male and a Female, were constrained to leave their Country, and losing the outward shape of a Man, to live under the hide and shape of a Wolf. After which term of years, if they survived, two others were brought into the same condition, and they returned back to their Country, and resumed their first form. I have not far from this place, added he, a she Mate that lies very sick, whom I intreat you in Charity to go see her and comfort her. The Priest following the Wolf some time, perceived at length a She-Wolf in the thicket of a great Tree complaining like a Woman. As soon as she saw the Priest she salut­ed him, and courteously gave him thanks for his visit, praising God for having obtained this comfort, in the extream danger, wherein she found her self: after this she pray'd him to do her the kindness, that she might receive the Communion at his hands, that so she might die more conten­tedly. The Priest having told her, that he had never an Host about him to do it withal, the Wolf that was gone a little aside, returned and show'd him a little book, wherein he had some consecrated Hosts; and then was importunate with him, that he would not disappoint his wife of this last and important Consolation; and to take away from him all doubt, making use of his foot instead of a hand, he thrust back the Skin that covered her, from the head to the Navel, and then he saw her in the shape of an old Woman. At length, tho' with some apprehension, the Priest communi­cated the sick she-Wolf, which pressed him to it with all possible earnest­ness. All being over, the Wolf brought the Priest back to his fire, stay'd with him all night, and in the morning brought him out of the Forrest, and show'd him a shorter and safer way for him to take, to arrive at the place, whither he was to go. Nieremberg. de naturis Mirac. in Eu­rop. l. 2. c. 42.

A Wolf abusing the Beasts of S. Isidore, thereupon dyed, by virtue of the H. Sacrament.

S. Isidore Patron of the City of Madrid, and by his Calling a Labourer, praying before the H. Sacrament, and hearing Mass in S. Magdalen's Church, some Boys came to tell him, that a Wolf was abusing one of his Beasts; to whom he replyed, My Children go in peace, and went on with his Prayer in the same place. When Prayer was done, he went to the place which those Children gave him notice of, and there he found the Wolf lying dead before his Beast, that remained alive. Upon this won­derful accident, he returned to the Church, to render his thanks to God for it. Bleda. mirac. 245. p. 153.

M.

Mouche. A Fly.A Fly satisfies for the irreverence she had commit­ted toward the H. Sacrament by being burnt.

S. Annon Arch-Bishop of Colen, a Prelat of admirable devotion, celebra­ting the H. Sacrifice of the Masse; as he had broken the Host, and let fall one piece of it into the Chalice, holding the other piece in his hand, he fell upon considering its greatness, compared with his own unworthi­ness and baseness. Mean while, by the artifice of the Devil, a Fly spotted with various colours came flying about, and with one wheeling of her Wing and a stroke of her Teeth, carried away a piece of the Host: The S. when he perceived it, resented it with great sorrow, and abundance of tears more than ordinary, fearing that this mishap came by his own fault, through the long pause he made while he was in meditation and contem­plation; and his apprehension of it was so great, that he turned pale like a dead Person. But God who knew the heart of the Saint, did not suffer him to lye long in this affliction; for he constrained this Fly to bring back the same parcel of the Host, and put it under the Patine; and when it at­tempted to fly away, was there stopt inmovably, as deserving to be burnt. In fine, S. Annon made it be taken up and burnt, for the indignity it had committed. And thus it is that God proves and comforts his Servants.

Surius ad 4. Decemb. Novarini. in agno Eucharist. n. 802.

Another such like Story.

A Certain Priest celebrating the Eucharist in the presence of the Bi­shop, as he was come to the fraction of the Bread, a Fly came flying with great eagerness round the Chalice, as if she would force her entrance into it, the Priest, not having his hands at Liberty, made use of his mouth, [Page 33] and blowed against the Fly, which not desisting hereupon, he made a sign to the Deacon who presented the Pax to the Bishop, to drive it away. Then the Fly mounting up higher, and stopping a little, on a suddain fell down dead at the foot of the Chalice, as a punishment for the trouble she had giv­en them, during the Sacrifice. Caesarius l. 9. c. 10.

Another like Punishment of another Fly.

ABout the year 1545. as one sung the Conventual Mass, in a Monastery of the Celestines, the Priest that celebrated, perceived at the Commu­nion, that a Fly was got into the Chalice, he endeavoured to catch it and to take it out, but all in vain; but seeing she was disturbed, of her own ac­cord she flew away. As the Priest after dinner was thanking God, that he had escaped this mischance; the same Fly, came to settle upon the Arm of the V. F. Frier John Bardoul [...]t, and tho' he shook his arm, yet she continu­ed fixed. Then thinking of what had happened at Masse, he seized her be­ing as yet wet with the Sacred Blood, after this he carried her into the Vestry, where she received the Penalty of her rashness, according as it is commanded by the Canons. Gon. in hist. ejus l. 2. c. 126.

A Mule adores the Sacrament.

S. Anthony of Padua disputing one day with one of the most obstinate Hereticks, that denyed the truth of the H. Sacrament, the Saint drove him to such a plunge, that he stood mute, yet so it was, that not being willing to confess that he was wholly convinced, he desired that the Saint would prove this truth by some Miracle. S. Anthony accepted the condi­tion, and said he would work it upon his Mule. Upon this the Heretick kept her shut up three days without eating or drinking. The third day the Saint having said Masse, took up the H. Host with great reverence, and made them bring forth the hungry Mule; to which he spake in these termes. In the name of the Lord, whom I, tho' unworthy hold in my hands, I command thee without delay to come and do reverence to thy Creator, and confound the Malice of Hereticks, making every one under­stand the Truth of this most high Sacrament, which we Priests handle at the Altar, and that all Creatures are subject to their Creator. Whilst the Saint made this discourse, the Heretick sifted out Oats to his Mule to make him eat; but the Beast, having more understanding than his Master, without minding the Oats, kneeled and prostrated it self before the H. Sacrament, adoring and honouring it as its Creator and Lord. This Miracle comforted all the faithful, and enraged the Hereticks, except him who had disputed with the Saint, who was converted to the Catholick Faith. Wadingus in a [...]n. Minorum.

A Mule serves for an Occasion to honour the H. Sacrament.

IN the year 1453. on Thursday the 6th of June, this following Miracle happen'd. A War being raised in Piedmont, between the Savoyards and the French, about certain Merchants Goods, that had been detained at Ju­igtie; and the heat of the War increasing, the Place was taken and left to pillage. A Souldier entred into the Church and carried away thence the Tabernacle of the H. Sacrament, where he had a consecrated Host; and having hid it in a Pack, marched towards Turin. When he arrived there at the Gate of Suse, the Mule that carried the Goods and the Booty, fell down to the ground, neer the Church of S. Sylvester. The Pack, where the Hosts were, opened of it self, and the Host came forth, and flew up into the Air, accompanied with Splendors and casting forth Rays like the Sun: This wonder having been seen by a venerable Person, called Bar­tholomew Loconi, he went presently to give notice of it to the Bishop of Turin, who was at that time the Reverend Lewis Nomagnano, who came thi­ther without delay, with the Cross and the Clergy. Being come to the place, he and all that were present kneeled down on the ground, and whilst the Tabernacle lay on the Earth, the Host alone remained hanging in the Air, brightly shining. Whereupon the Bishop made them bring the Chalice, and standing with it devoutly under the Sacred Host, it came down into it; which he carried with great Respect and Solemnity to the Cathe­dral Church; where there was set up for it a rich and artificial Taberna­cle, which continued till the building of a new Dome, for to perpetuate the memory of the Fact. There was also built a Chappel of the H. Sacra­ment, in the foresaid Church of S. Sylvester, where this Miracle is to be seen painted, and he erected a devout Fraternity also of the H. Sacrament.

Nic. de Laghi tract. 1. dist. 9. cap. 93.

A Mule by Dying acknowledges the Verity of the H. Sacrament.

A Little Town in Spain called Aroca, containing about a thousand Peo­ple, being besieged by an infinite number of Saracens, the Inha­bitants resolved to defend themselves, but so as they would first receive the Communion and hear Masse. The affair was pressing, and therefore they committed the business of communicating to six of the chief of them. The Priest put on his H. Vestments to celebrate, and consecrated the Hosts; but a little before the Communion, news came that an Assault was made by the Enemies; which obliged these Communicants to run armed to the Walk, and God accepting the will for the deed, did so favour these devo­ted of his, that they defeated the Enemies, some being slain, and the rest [Page 35] put to flight. After which, these six returned to the Church, with the Peo­ple, to receive the Communion. But the Corporal (or Cloath) being un­folded, the six Hosts were found all bloody and sticking to the Linnen, so that they could not separate them. Moreover the Enemies, to revenge their disgrace, returning in greater numbers, gave a second Assault. The advise given was, that the Priest should also go to the Fight, bearing the H. Corporal and these six bloody Hostes, as well thereby to encourage the Citizens, as for to terrify the Enemies; and it succeeded so well, that God gave the victory to the Christians. After this, they deliberated, whi­ther they should carry this parcel of H. Reliques, so as to be safely kept and honoured. The Lot being thrice cast, it fell upon the Town of Aroca. A Mule having been taken among the Spoiles of the Enemy, they set the H. Hosts upon her back, letting her go whither she would, the Clergy and People following her with lighted Torches. In the way they offered to her Straw, Hay, and Grass, all which she refused, thô she was very hungry, as not having eaten a long while, and went on straight to the Town of Aro­ca. Coming into a Church nigh the Hospital, she fell on her knees on the ground, and being disburdned of this pretious load, she dyed; it being undecent, that she which had served in so worthy an Employment, for the Glory of God, should serve any Man after that. There was another wonder in this matter, viz. That after three hundred years, this most H. parcel of Reliques, continues in the same beauty, and lively colour, as if the thing had but newly happened; and all the People of the neighbouring Provinces come to behold it, as a very great Wonder. Illercas in Hist. Pontifical. Grenade. Corbin. Mirac. 90.

O.

Oiseau. A Bird.A Bird brings S. Boniface and the Company with him, their Dinner, after he had celebrated Mass.

S. Boniface the Apostle of Germany, being one Night detained in the Fields, was constrained to lodge in a Tent, which he caused to be carried with him for such occasions. He passed the night in Prayer, and as he prayed, a coelestial Light surrounded him on all sides, and in this Light S. Michael appeared, encouraging the Servant of God to labour greatly for the Salvation and Conversion of Soules. In the morning giving over his praying, he would celebrate the Masse, to honour the memory of this Arch­angel; the Sacrifice being ended, he commanded to make ready a Dinner in the same place. And when his Steward told him that he had nothing to set on the Table: How! reply'd the great Apostle, he that fed his People 40 years in the Wilderness, has he nothing wherewith to feed his poor Servant, and his Attendants? then he again commanded them to spread the [Page 36] Table: and having said this, behold he saw a great Bird descend from Heaven, and fly towards him, holding in her beake a Fish, sufficient to feed, that day, all the company. When the Fish was ready dressed, it was set on the Table, and after all had liberally satisfyed nature, at the conclusion of the day, the H. Apostle commanded to gather up the remains, and to cast them into the River, that so the Fishes that live in the water might partake of that which came out of the water. In vita S. Bonifacii.

A fine Bird came to cheer a Monk with her melodious Singing, after he had received the Communion, as if she invited him to Heaven.

A Monk of the Carthusian Order, drawing towards Death, after he had received the Communion; a Bird decked with fine feathers, en­tered at his Window into the Chamber, where in presence of all the Friers, that assisted the dying man, she fell a singing so melodiously, that it seemed to them all that they were solaced with the joys of Paradise: Some that were there indeavoured to make her void the Chamber, but in vain; for she would neither fly out nor cease singing, till the Servant of God had yielded his Soul, which when it went out of his Body, the Bird quit­ted the Chamber, for to accompany it and conduct it to Heaven. Pet. Sutor. in Chron. Cartus. l. 5. c. 33.

Ours. A Bear.A Bear serves for a subject to honour the H. Sacrament.

A Person named Stanislas, an Inhabitant of the Town of Fuchol in Po­land, used to go a Hunting with a long Harquebuss. Being entred the Forest, he saw a Beast called Gallus Auritus, which leaping from one bough to another, led the man on to a certain place full of tufts of wild Trees, where there was no Pathway. Mean while he was sur­prised with a showre of Rain, which to avoyd, he rested himself a­gainst a Tree, where he fell asleep. Whilst he slept, he heard a Voice that said to him, Make a Vow to the H. Body of Jesus Christ, who is honour'd at Posnanie, and thou shalt be saved to day from sudden Death. His weariness keeping him asleep, he heard the same Voice again; upon which awaking, he recommended himself to God, and made a Vow to go to the H. Sacrament at Posnanie, yet apprehending no dan­ger. But pursuing his way, he met a great and very furious Bear, against which he discharged his Harquebuss, and layd the Bear on the ground: whil'st he was bending the Cock to discharge a second shot, it through negligence slipt and went off, and the Bullet carried away [Page 37] the little finger of his right hand, and struck off his hat, which it tore also in peices. Hereupon finding himself delivered from two dangers the same day, by vertue of his Vow, without further delay he began his Journey to accomplish it, and arrived at Posnanie on Saturday in the Octave of the Feast of All Saints, in the year 1530. Treterus apud Bzovium ad ann. 1399. Pag. 206. Col. 2.

P.

Passereau. A Sparrow.Sparrows by their Obedience and their Death, testify their regard to the H. Sacrament.

JOhn Herolt, a Dominican, reports that Sparrows having used to build their Nests in a Church dedicated to S. Vincent the Martyr, not onely defiled it with their dung and ordure, but also disturbed the divine Office. It being a very hard thing to drive them away, the Bishop of the place brought an Excommunication against them, threatning death to them, if they returned thither any more. After the Sentence was passed, all these Sparrows quitted this Church: it was also observed, that if any brought one of these Birds into the Church, it immediately dyed. Serm. 79. de tempore.

Partridges chastise the Hunter, who had taken them, for having been defective in attending Masse, and flew away, tho they were put into the Pot.

IN the Diocess of Casal in Piedmont, a Hunter minding more to take his Pleasure in that Sport, than to hear Masse on the Martyr S. Defen­dent's Day, took indeed some Partridges; but as they were put into the Pot to boyl them, they came out and flew away alive: leaving the Hunter in the dark, and deprived of the Contentment of filling his Belly, with the loss also of the Merit he might have gained, by being present at the H. Sacrifice of the Masse. Bollandus in actis SS. Januarii ad 2 diem.

Poissons. Fishes.Fishes honour the H. Sacrament.

THe Curate of Alboraya in the Kingdome of Valentia in Spain, carrying the H. Sacrament to a sick Person of Almacora, which is a dependant joyned to that Curacy; as he passed over a Brook, such a Torrent of wa­ters came down upon him, that to save himself he let fall the Custode (or Box) in which were two Hosts. Returning to Alboraya, he told the Inhabi­tants [Page 38] of what had happened to him. In the morning early, one ran with all speed to the place, where this misfortune happened, but he found only the Custode without the Hosts. Certain Fishermen passing along the Sea side, whether to gather Wood, or to catch Fish, told him they had seen two great Fishes, each of them carrying an Hoste in its mouth. The Curate being advertised of it, returned to the Sea side, habited in his Surplice and Stole, with the Chalice in his hand. Upon the sight of this wonder, he prostrated himself before the Fishes, which rendred themselves to him with the Hosts, which he received and layd them in the Chalice, with great re­verence. In memory of which, the Chalice is to be seen at Alboraya, and the Custode at Almacora. And to prevent such inconveniences, in the year 1352, this Town before joyned, was separated from the principal Parish, after many debates and contests between these two places. This whole History is painted at the great Altar of Almacora, erected under the Title of the most Holy Sacrament. James Bleda, in his Book of the Fraternity of the H Sa­crament erected at the Minerva in Rome. Mirac. 18. pag. 89.

Another respect, rendred by a Fish to the H. Host.

WHilst the Heresy of the Albigenses infected all the Province of Narbonna in France, an Heretick perswaded a certain Fisher­man, that if he would thrive in his Calling, he should go to the Com­munion, and from thence bring away the Host, and make a Fish eat it, which he did. Twenty years after, when this Heresy was extinct, this Fisherman seeing that the Feast of our Lords Body was celebrated with so much solemnity, he repented of the Sin he had committed, and con­fessed it to his Curate, who told him that this was a reserved case, and that he ought to acquaint the Bishop with it. The Fisherman, in great wrath said, If I must do this, I swear by God, I will never go to Con­fession more. Hereupon the Curate for to pacify him, said, that he him­self would go find out the Bishop, and get leave of him that he might absolve him. Easter Day came, and the Fisherman had a desire to commu­nicate with his Neighbours, which yet he did not, following the advice of his Priest. Mean while the Fisherman bewailing his disgrace, went sor­rowfully towards the River where he had committed this Sacriledge: as he looked this way and that way, behold he spied on the other side of the River a Fish, holding in his mouth an Host, which came towards him, but not daring to touch it, he went to give notice of it to the Priest: and both comming to that same place, the Fish appeared no more. Hereat conceiving great displeasure, a little after, the Fish appeared again a­bove water, with the Host in her mouth as before, and being come up to them, the Priest with all respect took up the Fish with the Host. [Page 39] He kept a moiety of it for the Parish, and sent the other part to the Cathedral Church. Id. Bleda 1. Mirac. 104. p. 191. Lanuza in suis Sermonibus.

A Whale, a Fish of the greater kind, lent his Back to say Masse upon, on Easter-Day.

SƲrius reports that S. Malo being upon the Sea on a Easter Day, prayed the good God, to afford him the means to celebrate the Masse, and to those that accompanied him to hear it. When he had thus prayed, one perceived a little Island, which appeared in the midst of the Sea: they went down upon it, to the number of a Hundred and eighty Persons; they set up an Altar, on which S. Malo said Masse, and gave the Com­munion to a great number. After which retiring to their Ship, they perceived that this Island, or rather the Fish sunk to the bottom, having lent his Back, as God would have it, to satisfie the Saints desire.

Surius in Vita S. Maclonii.

Pourceau. Swine.Swine adore the H. Sacrament.

A Certain Woman not being able to believe that God was in the Sa­crament, was tempted by the Devil, to take some proof from thence to satisfie her fansie, and althô her Confessor, and also Albert Bishop of Perusia had exhorted her to yield to the publick belief, ap­proved by so many knowing and vertuous Persons, without desiring to be instructed and confirmed herein by a Miracle, notwithstanding after all, she was led away by her fancy to make the Trial. She went therefore one day to the Communion, and having taken the Host out of her mouth, she went and threw it into the Hogs-trough, which upon the Noise she made ran greedily to their trough: but being alltogether, instead of opening their mouth to swallow the Host, they kneeled down to adore it. The unhap­py Woman stopt not here; but put the Host upon the Spit to roast it at the fire. As she turned the Spit, she saw drops of Blood that distilled from the Host: notwithstanding she continued stubbornly in her false Opinion, and being afraid to be apprehended and put to death, if what she had done should be discovered; she digged a hole in the ground and there buried the Host, that it might be spoken of no more. But she perceiving that the Blood bubled out of the Earth, and ran in abundance like a Spring, the hardness of her heart was softned: so that her understanding being inlightned in this Truth, and repenting of her unbelief, she went to find out the foresaid Bishop of Perouse, who having [Page 40] heard her confession, imposed a Penance on her to perform, during her whole life. Henr. Instit. p. 1. Serm. 9. Biga salutis in festo Corp. Christi Prompt. Discip. Exem. 33. l. E.

R.

Renard. A Fox.A Fox quits the Hen he had carried away, by vertue of the H. Sacrament.

S. Gregory the Pope tells us, that S. Boniface, whilst he was a young Child, standing at the Dore of his Lodging; he perceived a Fox running away with a Hen in his mouth. Immediately away he went to the Church, and placing himself before the H. Sacrament, he made this Prayer to it. Lord I beseech thee be pleased to preserve the Pullen which my Mother feeds in her back-yard, for the sustenance of her little Family. Having done this, he returned to his Lodging, where this Fox appeared again with the Hen in his mouth, and laying down the Hen, fell down dead at the feet of this Child. S. Gregor. Dialog. l. 1.

Rossignol. A Nightingale.A Nightingale advertises a Devout Frier to prepare for his Voyage to Heaven, for his having a par­ticular Inclination to attend Masses.

THe Bl. John de Rieti, a most excellent Augustinian Frier, had a par­ticular devotion to attend on as many Masses as he could pos­sibly, for the reverence he bore to the H. Sacrament of the Altar and confidence he had in it. See now the recompence which our Lord made him; a few days before his last Sickness, a Nightingale came every day to sing her warbling Notes under his Window. Being asked, what was the meaning of this, he answer'd, that this was the Spouse that invited him to the Banquet of the Lamb. Also, a few days after, attending at Masse, he saw an extraordinary Light, which continued all the time of the Sacrifice, which he took for a Star that was to conduct him to Heaven. At length, he fell sick, and having been armed by receiving the Sacraments, and having repeated those words of the Apostle, I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, he left the Earth that he might partake of the Banquet, of the Lamb, to which he was invited.

Simplician de S. Martin, in the History of famous Men of the Order of the Hermits of S. Augustine.

S.

A Scorpion taken and swallowed down at Masse, hurts not the Priest at all that did it.

THe Bl. Francis de Fabriano, a Franciscan Frier, celebrating Masse one day, as he was come to the Communion, and took off the Cover of the Chalice, he perceived there a little Scorpion: he might have kept himself from all danger, observing the Rules prescribed in such cases, but calling to mind the Saying of Jesus Christ to his Disciples, if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; banishing all fear, and overcoming all horror, he courage­ously swallowed the consecrated Wine with this little Animal in it. When he was gone back from the Altar and had offered his thanksgivings, he made them call a Chirurgeon. When he came into the Convent, Bl. Francis was praying in that Church and repeat­ing these words, My help is of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth. When notice was given him that the Surgeon was come, he went into his Cell, and there presented to him his right Arm to let him Blood; and out of it, by a strange wonder, the Scorpion came out alive with the Blood, without doing the H. man any harm, or put­ting him to peine. Waddingus tom. 3. ad ann. 1312. n. 7. Nic. de Lag tr. 6. c. 13.

Sanglier. A wild Boar.A Wild Boar shows what respect is due to Altars, the Sacred Mansions of the H. Sacrament.

IN the year 1032. Sanchy the Aged, King of Navarr and Ca­stille, going a hunting, at the place where sometime stood the Town of Palence, he there pursued a wild Boar, which tiring after a long chase, cast it self into Sanctuary among the Ruines of the Church of S. Antony the Martyr, and there stood unmoved against the Altar, as in a place of safety, and having ordinarily the guard of Angels; the King entring on a sudden, lifted up his Sword to wound it, but when he thought to discharge his blow at it, his Arm became stiff, so that he could not use it. Whereupon he acknowledged his fault, since Churches where God uses to dwell in the H. Eucharist, ought to serve for an Asylum and a refuge to Men and Beasts, according to the Divine Oracle, Psal. 35. Thou Lord shalt save both men and beasts. Immediately he asked Pardon of [Page 42] God and the H. Martyr; and immediately by a Miracle he recovered the use of his Arm; teaching all, what respect is due to holy Places, altho ruined, since Beasts may there find their safety. This Prodigy gave an occasion to King Sanchy, not onely to repair the Church of S. Antonin, but also to cause the Town of Palence to be rebuilded.

Roder. Tolet. l. 6. Regum Hispan. c. 6. Rod. Sancius, c. 25.

Sauterelles. Locusts or Grashoppers.Locusts or Grashoppers acknowledge the vertue of the Eucharist, and of the H. Sacrifice, by their Death.

SƲrius reports in the Life of S. Theodore, 22d of April, that the H. Abbot was pressed by the Inhabitants of Neran, that he would help them against the Armies of Locusts, that had invested like a thick mist, all the Fields of that Territory, and went on brouzing and consuming all the Herbs and Fruits of the ground. The H. Abbot was perswaded by their instant intreaties, and comming upon the place, he said Masse. The day following, he sent again the Peo­ple into the Fields, commanding them to stop at a certain place, for to implore the divine aid; mean while he took up in his hands some of these Locusts, and found them dead. Hereupon he gave God thanks, and said to the People, My Children return to the Churches, and you shall see the Miracles of the divine Goodness. All the People being come thither, S. Theodore celebrated the H. Sacrifice of the Masse, and the day following, they found in the Field an innu­merable company of Locusts, all lying dead; which instead of depopu­lating the Fields, served to manure and enrich them.

Souris. A Mouse.Mice, by a certain cognisance, yield respect to the H. Sacrament.

CEsarius tells us, that the Sacrist of the Abbey of Eberbac, having found certain Hosts marred and crack'd mixed among others, he cast them under a Window neer to the Altar; and some days after, he observed, that the Mice had nibled and eaten all that which was round the Host (not what was Printed with Letters) and it was held for a great Wonder, that these little Animals, so greedy of such stuff, had spared them, in testimony of certain respect, and onely because they had been appointed for the use of the Sacrifice of the Masse.

Lib. 9. c. 11. about the year 1222.

T.

Taureau. A Bull.A Bull acknowledges our Lord, under the Species of the Sacrament, deposing its fierceness, to be present at the Masse.

IN the Town of Brosa in Spain, may be seen an admirable Prodigy, which has been seen many years ago, and may still be seen every year, on the Vespers and day of S. Mark the Evangelist. In this place is a Fraternity under the Title of S. Mark, to which Heaven has given this Priviledge following. viz. That at the Feast of this H. Evangelist, this Congregation makes choice of one of their Company, whom they send into the Fields, where he demands of the Neat-heard that looks to the Cattle, which of his Bulls is the most fierce and furious. When he has learnt this, he commands this Bull, in the name of S. Mark, to follow him, which like a tame Lamb follows him to the Village, and is present at Vespers on the Eve of this Feast; after which, he returns to the Mea­dows, and the next day he presents himself on the same manner at Masse, where the true Lamb of God is sacrificed; after this he marches in pro­cession in the same Posture, and suffers the Boys and Girles to touch him, and put Wreaths of Flowers about his Neck. This Feast and Cere­mony being over, he is sent back to the Herd, and resumes immediately his wonted and natural fierceness, and from that time People must have a care of him. P. Bibero in append. Solemnis sapientiae convivii.

U.

Vache. A Cow.A Cow revenges an Injury done to the H. Sacrament.

IN the year 1650. in a Town of the Province of Austria, called in La­tin Ʋnguarinum; on an Easter Eve when they were busy in a Processi­on, according to the Custome of the Country, carrying the H. Sacra­ment in great Pomp, amidst Acclamations, many Vollies of Guns shot off, and the noyse of Kettle-drums, Trumpets and Tabours, an old Mi­nister's Wife, fell into a rage, through despite to see the honour they gave to God in the H. Eucharist, and cryed out furiously with full mouth; Behold, says she, the Papists have again raised their Christ, whom they put to death three days agoe. This Blasphemy was immediately pun­ish'd; for a Cow, that came no body knew from whence, and followed this Fury, on a suddain being as it were pricked forward by an extraor­dinary [Page 44] indignation, ran furiously against this Heretick; and having pushed and gored her back with her horns, rush'd her down so wound­ed, that she expired a few hours after, to be presented before him whom she had blasphemed, who is the Judge of Quick and Dead. P. Na­dasi in literis annuis ad an. Cit. prov. Austriae par. 3.

Vers. Wormes.Wormes are found dead, for having eaten up the Flowers designed for the honour of the H. Sacrament.

IN the Convent of S. Catherine in the Province of Valentia, a Lay-Brother called Assensius, one of great Faith and Devotion towards the H. Sacrament of the Altar, lookt to a little Garden of Flowers he had, which he made use of to spread before the H. Eucharist. On the Eve of Corpus Christi day, he went into his Garden to look on his Flowers, which he saw there growing very fresh and in great num­bers, of which he was extreamly glad: but in the Morning going in to gather them, he perceived a number of Wormes all round about which had eaten them up and consumed them. In this streight, he ran hastily to the H. Sacrament, and after he had adored it, he ear­nestly beseeched it to deliver him from his Sorrows, by restoring the Flowers he had reserved, for the honour of his most H. Body. In confidence that our Lord had heard his Prayer, he returned to his Garden, and found it all smiling with fresh and fair Flowers, and those little Vermin lying dead, to enrich the Ground. This great Devotion which he had testified all his life time towards the H. Eu­charist, obtained for him the happiness to expire and render his Soul to his Creator, in the presence of the most Glorious Virgin Mother, of her dear Son our Lord, and of his seraphick Father S. Francis, on the H. Night of Christmass. Franc. Gouraga de brig. & rog. Seraph. Rel. S. Franc. 3. p. in prov. Valent. con. 12.

Wormes revenge the Injury done to the H. Sacrament.

A Thunderbolt having by God's Providence, fallen upon Apollo's Temple in Daphne, the building was beat down and lay in Ashes. Julian the Apostate attributing this burning to the Zeal of the Christians, commanded that all the H. Vessels of Gold and Silver of great Value, in the great Church built by Constantin, should be brought into the Emperour's Exchequer as forfeited. Among those Persons that were most ready to execute this Order, was Julian, this Emperour's Uncle, who governed the Empire of the East; who [Page 45] was suddenly struck with a Malady, that held him for forty days ly­ing along on the ground, without Speech or Sense. The cause of this sudden Malady was attributed to what he had done in seizing upon the H. Vessels, as Pixes, Chalices and such others, which he had bro­ken in pieces, and had made them up for a Seat to sit on. He recovered indeed his Senses, but it was to feel extraordinary Tor­ments in his Bowels, where strange Ulcers bred with so much cor­ruption, that all the Flesh ran into Wormes, which tho' they endea­vour'd by applications to allure as it were and draw them forth, yet instead of that, they went further inward, and fastened themselves to the live Flesh, and never ceased to torment him, till he had vomited out his Soul, at his infamous and noysome mouth. Niceph. Cal­list. in hist. Eccles. l. 10. c. 29.

Vipers honour the H. Sacrament, by quitting those whom they had afflicted.

IN the year 1651. at Breste, a Town in Poland, a great Lady was molested for some while with so strange a Witchery, that she vo­mited live Vipers and Froggs, which caused horrour to all those that heard her speak of it, and to her self who was afflicted thereby with very great torment. She advised with our Fathers about it, and from them she learnt, that there was not a more soveraign and effectual Reme­dy against such Witcheries, than to approach the H. Eucharist with a great Faith and Confidence. She made use of this advice with such success, that at length she found her self released and quit of this Witchcraft, and restored to that health and quiet, which she enjoyed before this Misfortune. Ex Literis annuis Poloniae, 1651. 5. Nadasi.

FINIS.

The LICENSE,

THese Histories taken out of Catholick Au­thors, and containing nothing contrary to Faith or good Manners, may be made publick,

Given at Lille. June 20. 1672.
R. Du Laury, Provost of S. Peters.

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