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St. William

"HAVING lost his father and mother in his infancy, he was brought up by his friends in great sentiments of piety. At fifteen years of age, out of an earnest desire of leading a penitential life, he left Piedmont, his native country, and made an austere pilgrimage to Compostella in Spain, to the famous church of St. James the Apostle. He performed this pilgrimage, clothed with only one garment, wearing a double iron girdle, and walking barefoot; and suffered severe cold and heat, hunger and thirst, with great danger of his life. Returning into Italy, he proposed to make another pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem; but was hindered by various impediments permitted to fall in his way by divine Providence, who called him to higher and more holy exercises of piety. He spent two years in a desert mountain, and lived in perpetual contemplation, and rigorous austerities Having here restored sight to a blind man, the fame of this miracle rendered it impossible for him to remain in obscurity; and accordingly he changed his habitation, and built a monastery on the summit of a mountain, called Monte Vergine. Here he collected some religious men to live with him, and instructed them in the gospel rules and counsels, and also in ascetic practices. Thus was laid the foundation of the religious congregation of Monte Vergine. Other monasteries of the same religious institute were afterwards erected. The sanc tity of the holy man became every day more brilliant, and attracted more and more persons to him. He foretold the day of his death to the king of Naples and others, and slept in the Lord on the 25th of June, 1142.

Order and good discipline are necessary, not only for religious houses, but likewise for all other families. Where these are neglected, there unavoidably follows a proportioned decay of Christianity. So that, without rash judgment, it may be concluded that those families which are not orderly, are not virtuous, or at least will not long be so. If you have the care of a family, consider your charge, and forget not that the eternal welfare of those under your care much depends on your example and management." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother