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Stories of the saints for children, by M.F.S.
Stories of the saints for children by MFS Author:Mary Seymour Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: S. Jlnthonj) of j|EAR the cathedral in Lisbon there was a handsome mansion, where a noble soldier lived who had fought very bravely for the liberty of hi... more »s country. This -was the father of the little Ferdinand, afterwards called Anthony of Padua. From a baby this child's good mother tried to plant in his heart a great love to God, and her constant prayer was that he might become a priest. As soon as he was old enough, little Ferdinand was sent to school to the priests at the cathedral, and he grew very fond of prayer, often getting up in the night to be present when they said the Divine Office. Every one noticed the thoughtful face and modest behaviour of this boy, and his parents soon felt sure that God had called him to His own service; so at the age of fifteen he went to the canons of S. Vincent, where he received the habit of a religious. But while he was there, Ferdinand saw his friends so often that he began to desire to be more separated from them, lest they should take any of his thoughts or love from God, so he went to his superior and begged to- be allowed to go to another convent. At first the prior refused to let him go, but Ferdinand pleaded so hard that he obtained leave to make this change, and bid farewell to his native place. The monks at the Holy Cross were those who received him next; and as Ferdinand advanced in the love of God, and grew more holy and humble, it was plain that he had done well to come amongst them. His love to his brothers was so great, that although his greatest joy was to be present at holy Mass, he would give it up quite willingly to help any of them in the commonest work of the house if his superior bid him go; and nomatter where he was, or what he might be doing, when he heard the bell at the Elevation he would adore Jesus ...« less