's
death. Several other monks of St. Romuald's monastery met with the same
cruel treatment in Sclavonia, whither they were sent by the pope to
preach the gospel.

St. Romuald built many other monasteries, and continued three years at
one he founded near Parenzo, one year in the community to settle it, and
two in a neighboring cell. Here he labored some time under a spiritual
dryness, not being able to shed one tear; but he ceased not to continue
his devotions with greater fervor. At last being in his cell, at those
words of the psalmist; _I will give thee understanding, and will
instruct thee_, he was suddenly visited by God with an extraordinary
light and spirit of compunction, which from that time never left him. By
a supernatural light, the fruit of prayer, he understood the holy
scriptures, and wrote an exposition of the {374} psalms full of
admirable unction. He often foretold things to come, and gave directions
full of heavenly wisdom to all who came to consult him, especially to
his religious, who frequently came to ask his advice how to advance in
virtue, and how to resist temptations; he always sent them back to their
cells full of an extraordinary cheerfulness. Through his continual
weeping he thought others had a like gift, and often said to his monks:
"Do not weep too much; for it prejudices the sight and the head." It was
his desire, whenever he could conveniently avoid it, not to say mass
before a number of people, because he could not refrain from tears in
offering that august sacrifice. The contemplation of the Divinity often
transported him out of himself; melting in tears, and burning with love,
he would cry out: "Dear Jesus! my dear Jesus! my unspeakable desire! my
joy! joy of the angels! sweetness of the saints!" and the like, which he
was heard to speak with a jubilation which cannot be expressed. To
propagate the honor of God, he resolved, by the advice of the bishop of
Pola and others, to exchange his remote desert, for one where he could
better advance his holy institute. The bishop of Paienzo forbade any
boat to carry him off, desiring earnestly to detain him; but the bishop
of Pola sent one to fetch him. He miraculously calmed a storm at sea,
and landed safe at Capreola. Coming to Bifurcum, he found the monks'
cells too magnificent, and would lodge in none but that of one Peter, a
man of extraordinary austerity, who never would live in a cell larger
than four cubits. This Peter admired the sain