ng at Goa, his
ordinary retirement, after dinner, was into the clock-house of the
church, to avoid the interruption of any person; and there, during the
space of two hours, he had a close communication with his God. But
because he was not always master of himself on those occasions, so as to
regulate his time, and that he was sometimes obliged to leave his
privacy, he commanded a young man of the seminary of Sainte Foy, whose
name was Andrew, to come and give him notice when the two hours, to which
he was limited, were expired. One day, when the Father was to speak with
the viceroy, Andrew, being come to advertise him, found him seated on a
little chair, his hands across his breast, and his eyes fixed on heaven.
When he had looked on him a while attentively, he at length called him;
but finding that the Father answered not, he spoke yet louder, and made
a noise. All this was to no purpose, Xavier continued immovable; and
Andrew went his way, having some scruple to disturb the quiet of a man,
who had the appearance of an angel, and seemed to enjoy the pleasures of
the souls in paradise, He returned, nevertheless, about two hours after,
and found him still in the same posture. The young man fearing that he
should not comply with duty, if, coming the second time, he should not
make himself be heard, began to pull the Father, and to jog him. Xavier
at length returning to himself, was in a wonder at the first, that two
hours should so soon be slipped away; but coming to know, that he had
remained in that place beyond four hours, he went out with Andrew, to go
to the palace of the viceroy. He had scarcely set his foot over the
threshold, when he seemed to be ravished in spirit once again. After he
had made some turns, without well knowing whither he went, he returned as
night was beginning to come on, and said to his attendant, "My son, we
will take another time to see the governor; it is the will of God, that
this present day should be wholly his."

Another time, walking through the streets of the same city, his thoughts
were so wholly taken up with God, that he perceived not a furious
elephant, who, being broken loose, caused a general terror, and every man
made haste out of his way. It was in vain to cry out to the Father, that
he might avoid him; he heard nothing, and the enraged beast passed very
near him without his knowledge.

In his voyages at sea, he continued earnestly in prayer, from midnight
even to sun-rising, a