. The reformation of the barefooted Trinitarians, still
much more severe, was set on foot in Spain, in 1594, by John Baptist
of the Conception, who suffered many persecutions in the
undertaking, and died in 1613, in great reputation for sanctity and
miracles, the examination of which has been commenced in order to
his beatification.
2. Hom. de Eila et Vidua Sarept. pp. 33, 338, ed. Montf.

{382}

ST. STEPHEN OF GRANDMONT, ABBOT.

His life was written by Stephen de Liciaco, fourth prior of Grandmont,
in 1141: but this work seems now lost. Gerard Ithier, seventh prior, and
his abridger, fell into several anachronisms and mistakes, which are to
be corrected by the remarks of Dom Martenne, who has given us a new and
accurate edition of this life, and other pieces relating to it, Ver.
Scriptorum Ampliff. Collectio, t. 6, p. 1043. See also Dom Rivet, Hist.
Litter. de la France, t. 10, p. 410. Gallia Christ. Nova, t. 2, p. 646.

A.D. 1124.

ST. STEPHEN was son of the virtuous viscount of Thiers, the first
nobleman of Auvergne. From his infancy he gave presages of an uncommon
sanctity. Milo, a pious priest, at that time dean of the church of
Paris, was appointed his tutor, and being made bishop of Beneventum in
1074, kept the saint with him, continued to instruct him in sacred
learning, and in the maxims of Christian perfection, and ordained him
deacon. After his death in 1076, Stephen pursued his studies in Rome
during four years. All this time he seemed to himself continually
solicited by an interior voice to seek a sanctuary for his soul in holy
solitude, considering the dangers of the pastoral charge, the
obligations of leading a penitential life, and the happiness of the
exercises of holy retirement. He desired to imitate the rigorous
institute of a certain monastery which he had seen in Calabria, and
obtained leave of pope Gregory VII. to embrace an eremitical life. He
therefore returned to the castle of Thiers, the seat of his late
parents, to settle his affairs. He had always been their favorite child,
and regarded by them as the blessing bestowed on their prayers and
fasts, by which they had begged him of God. Being both exceeding pious,
they had rejoiced to see him so virtuously inclined; but they being now
dead, his other friends vehemently opposed his design of renouncing the
world. Stephen left them privately, and travelling through many deserts,
arrived at Muret, a desolate, barren mount