nd that regularly. From thence it came almost to a
proverb amongst the seamen, "That nothing was to be feared in the night,
because Father Francis watched the vessel; and the tempests durst not
trouble them, while he held conversation with God."

A man of Manapar, at whose house he lodged, and who observed him at
divers hours of the night, found him always on his knees before a
crucifix, and frequently beheld the chamber enlightened by the rays which
darted from his countenance.

While he was sojourning among Christians, the small repose he gave to
nature was commonly in the church; to the end he might be near the
blessed sacrament, before which he prayed all the remainder of the night.
But in countries where yet there were no churches built, he passed the
night in the open air; and nothing so much elevated his soul to God as
the view of heaven, spangled over, and sowed, as it were, with stars; and
this we have from his own relation.

The Pope had permitted him, in consideration of his employments and
apostolical labours, to say a breviary which was shorter than the Roman,
and had but three lessons: it was called the "Office of the Cross," and
was easily granted in those times to such who were overburdened with much
business. But Xavier never made use of this permission, what affairs
soever he was pressed withal, for the service of Almighty God: on the
contrary, before the beginning of every canonical hour, he always said
the hymn of _Veni, Creator Spiritus_; and it was observed, that while he
said it, his countenance was enlightened, as if the Holy Ghost, whom
he invoked, was visibly descended on him.

He daily celebrated the sacrifice of the mass with the same reverence and
the same devotion with which he had said it the first time, and most
ordinarily performed it at break of day. Those heavenly sweets which
overflowed his soul at the altar, spread their mild inundations even over
the assistants; and Antonio Andrada reported of himself, that, being then
a young soldier, he found such an inward satisfaction when he served the
Father, in serving at mass, that, in that consideration, he sought the
occasions of performing the clerk's office.

In the midst of his conversations with secular men, the saint was often
called aside of God, by certain sudden illuminations which obliged him to
retire; and when afterwards they sought him, he was found before the holy
sacrament, in some lonely place, engulphed in deep meditati