Xavier, whose lot fell in the hospital of the incurable, was not
satisfied only with busying himself all day, in dressing sick men's
sores, in making their beds, and doing them more inferior service, but
also passed whole nights in watching by them. But his care and pains were
not confined to the succour of their bodies. Though he was wholly
ignorant of the Italian tongue, he frequently spoke of God to them; and,
above all things, exhorted the greatest libertines to repentance, by
causing them to comprehend, in the best manner he was able, that though
their corporal maladies were incurable, yet the diseases of their souls
were not so; that how enormous soever our offences were, we ought always
to rely on God's mercy; and that a desire of being sincerely converted,
was only requisite in sinners for obtaining the grace of their
conversion.

One of these sick alms-men had an ulcer, which was horrible to the sight,
but the noisomeness of the stench was yet more insupportable; every one
shunned the miserable creature, not enduring so much as to approach him;
and Xavier once found a great repugnance in himself to attend him: but at
the same time, he called to his remembrance a maxim of Ignatius, that we
make no progress in virtue, but by vanquishing ourselves; and that the
occasion of making a great sacrifice, was too precious to be lost. Being
fortified with these thoughts, and encouraged by the example of St
Catharine de Sienna, which came into his mind, he embraced the sick
person, applied his mouth to the ulcer, surmounted his natural loathing,
and sucked out the corruption. At the same moment his repugnance
vanished; and after that, he had no farther trouble in the like cases: of
so great importance it is to us, once to have thoroughly overcome
ourselves.