The Life of Blessed John Berchmans

WHAT I here offer to my readers is neither a completely new Life, nor is it a mere translation. It has followed the old biography too closely to have claim to the title of an original work. But a completely new form has been given to so many portions of it, that it cannot be called a translation. However, it matters little under which head it is classed, if you will please to accept what I have undertaken for the benefit of devout persons, and especially for my brethren in religion, and if this slight effort of my pen turns to the good of souls." This modest notice, which Father Frizon, S.J., put at the head of his Life of Blessed Berchmans, is much more applicable to the present volume. The labours of Father Vanderspeeten have left nothing to be done in the way of original research. The perusal of his Life of Blessed John gives no idea of the profound and wide-spreading study which he brought to bear on his labour of love. I t would be difficult to express the amount of help that learned author has given to the writer. The difference of treatment of sacred biographies, owing to national tastes, has suggested certain additions, especially of biographical notices, not to be found in the original work. These details are due to the kind cooperation of so many, that it is almost invidious to single out any name from the number, but mention must be made of Father Waldack, Father Boero, Father van Lommel, Father Ryan, and Father Morris, while to the Rev. Dr. van Cauwenberge is due the translation from the original Flemish of the letters of the saint. The whole Life is founded on Father Virgilius Cepari's exquisite memoir, and the original Italian has been all through closely followed, the only natural additions to the text being the insertion of the proper names, partly by the help of Father Vanderspeeten, partly from the Acta et Decreta of the process of beatification. The list of students at the English College, Rome, during the time of Berchmans' stay in that city is owing to the kindness of the Rev. Joseph Stevenson, M.A.