the viands of which he stinted himself. An equally lively and respectful
zeal induced him to come to the aid of such priests as were in want;
he took particular care to provide for the decoration of the altars,
in order the better to assist at the divine service. He bought the
finest linen, and distributed it to the poor country churches to be
employed at the sacrifice of the mass; and when this august sacrifice
was about to be celebrated, if anything was wanting, or if the altar
was not properly found in everything requisite, he would offer himself
to the officers of the church, in order to supply what was required
either from his purse or by his personal assistance.

But all these good works did not come up to what he had figured to
himself as requisite for perfection. He could have wished to withdraw
into some distant country, there to practise voluntary poverty, which
had already inflamed his heart. At first he resolved to go to Rome,
to visit the tomb of St. Peter, moved by that grand devotion which God
has often inspired in His saints, and which has been so frequent since
the fourth century. He also proposed to himself to solicit from the
Almighty, by the intercession of the Prince of the Apostles, the grace
to carry out the resolution he had come to of leading an Apostolic
life. After having recited his prayer in this holy place, he noticed
that in the crowd of people some made but a slender offering, while
others made no donation whatever. "What then," said he, "is devotion
grown so cold? How is it that men do not offer all they have, and do
not even offer themselves on a spot where the ashes of the Prince of
the Apostles repose? How does it happen that they do not decorate with
all possible magnificence this Peter, on whom Jesus Christ has founded
His Church?" He contributed to the best of his power, leaving a
considerable sum for that purpose; and what he had wished was
subsequently executed. The Sovereign Pontiffs, and in particular Sixtus