flowers, so she has collected from the
holy scriptures and other good books, chosen rules and maxims of
virtue.

MARCH XXIII.

ST. ALPHONSUS TURIBIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF LIMA,

CONFESSOR.

From his life by F. Cyprian de Herrera, dedicated to pope Clement X.,
and the acts of his canonization.

A.D. 1606.

ST. TORIBIO, or TIIRIBIUS ALPHONSUS MOGROBEJO, was second son to the
lord of Mogrobejo, and born in the kingdom of Leon, on the 16th of
November, in 1538. From his infancy he discovered a strong inclination
to piety; and, in his childhood, it was his delight, at times of
recreation, to erect and adorn altars, and to serve the poor. He
trembled at the very shadow of sin. One day, seeing a poor pedler-woman
angry because she had lost something out of her pack, he most movingly
entreated and exhorted her, that she would not offend God by passion;
and, in order to appease her, gave her the value of her loss, which he
had begged of his mother for that purpose. He was very devout to the
Blessed Virgin, said every day her Office and Rosary, and fasted every
Saturday in her honor. While at school, he usually gave part of his
slender dinner to the poor, and was so much addicted to fasting, that
his superiors were obliged, by strict commands, to compel him to
moderate his austerities. He began his higher studies at Valladolid, but
completed them at Salamanca. He was introduced early to the notice of
king Philip II., honored by him with several dignities, and made
president or chief judge at Granada. This office he discharged during
five years with so much integrity, prudence, and virtue, that the eyes
of the whole kingdom were fixed on him, and his life in the world {646}
was a holy noviceship to the pastoral charge. The pressing necessities
of the infant church of Peru required a prelate who inherited, in a
distinguished manner, the spirit of the apostles; and the archbishopric
of Lima falling vacant, Turibius was unanimously judged the person of
all others the best qualified to be an apostle of so large a country,
and to remedy the scandals which obstructed the conversion of the
infidels. The king readily nominated him to that dignity, and all
parties concerned applauded the choice. Turibius was thunderstruck at
this unexpected news, and had no sooner received the message, but he
cast himself on the ground at the foot of his crucifix, praying with
many tears that God would deliver him from so heavy a burden, which