LienzoS Pascual

"THIS saint was born of poor but pious parents, in a small town in the kingdom of Arragon. From his tender years he gave many indications of future sanctity. His parents were too poor to afford to send him to school; but he carried a book with him into the fields, where he kept sheep, and begged those whom he met to teach him the letters. Thus in a short time he learned to read. He would never look into books of mere amusement; but the lives of the saints, and above all, meditations on the life of Christ, were his chief delight. Some of his companions were addicted to swearing, quarrelling, and fighting; nor were they to be reclaimed by his gentle rebukes. He therefore determined to leave them; and after some time spent in prayer and austerities to learn the will of God, he resolved to enter a religious order. He was admitted as a lay brother into an austere convent of bare-foot reformed Franciscans. Though his rule was severe, he added to its rigour, but always with simplicity of heart, without the least attachment to his own will. He had never more than one habit, and that always threadbare. He walked without sandals in the snows, and in the roughest roads. He accommodated himself to all places and seasons; and was always content, cheerful, mild, affable, and full of respect for all. He thought himself honoured, if employed in any painful and low office to serve any one. He had a great devotion to the Mother of God, whose intercession he never ceased to implore, that he might be preserved from sin. The Blessed Sacrament was the object of his tender devotion; as also the passion of our Saviour. He died near Valentia on the 17th of May, in 1592, being fifty-two years old.