im ought that was not within
the rules of the exactest decency.

In like manner, he never forgave himself the least miscarriage; and it is
incredible how far the tenderness of his conscience went on all
occasions. In that vessel which carried him from Lisbon to the Indies, a
child, who was of years which are capable of instruction, one day
happened to die suddenly: Xavier immediately inquired if the child had
been usually present at catechism, together with the ship's company? It
was answered in the negative; and at the same moment the man of God,
whose countenance commonly was cheerful, appeared extremely sad. The
viceroy, Alphonso de Sosa, soon observed it; and knowing the cause of his
affliction, asked the Father if he had any former knowledge that the
child came not to catechism? "If I had known it," replied Xavier, "I had
not failed to have brought him thither:" "But, why then," said the
viceroy, "are you thus disquieted for a thing you know not, and of which
you are no ways guilty?" "It is," replied the saint, "because I ought to
upbraid myself with it as a fault, that I was ignorant that any person,
who was embarked with me, wanted to be taught the Christian faith."

A body so chaste, and a mind so pure, could not have been but of one who
was faithfully devoted to the Holy Virgin. The saint honoured and loved
her all his life, with thoughts full of respect and tenderness. It was in
the church of Mont Martre, dedicated to the mother of God, and on the day
of her assumption, that he made his first vows. It was in that of Loretto
that he had his first inspiration, and conceived his first desires of
going to the Indies. He petitioned for nothing of our Lord, but by the
intercession of his mother; and in the exposition which he made of the
Christian doctrine, after addressing himself to Jesus to obtain the grace
of a lively and constant faith, he failed not of addressing himself to
Mary. He concluded all his instructions with the _Salve Regina_; he never
undertook any thing but under her protection; and in all dangers, he had
always recourse to the blessed Virgin as his patroness. For the rest, to
shew that he depended on her, and made his glory of that dependence, he
commonly wore a chaplet about his neck, to the end that Christians might
take delight in seeing the chaplet; and made frequent use of it in the
operation of his miracles.

When he passed whole nights at his devotions in churches, it was almost
always