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HERE TELL WE THE HISTORY OF A CERTAIN BROTHER THAT WAS CONVERTED FROM THE PRACTICE OF PHARMACY TO THAT OF RELIGION BY OUR LADY'S GRACE
IT is told in the chronicle of the Order of the Cistercians how that there lived on a time in the Abbey of Clairvaux a certain brother, that was exceeding delicate of body, being full of infirmities that tormented him much. And he, pondering greatly on his maladies and how best to heal them, had become an herbalist of much skill, a wise physician, learned in all diseases of the flesh, and in the preparation of those simples wherewith we poor children seek to cosset and repair our mortal frame. Indeed, this was a man of great scholarship, virtuous also, and of right sober conversation; but because he laboured under much infirmity, being ofttimes tormented with a grievous sickness that kept him many days within his cell, he was tempted to think too greatly on the needs of the body, as what he should eat and what drink, and what cordial were best against the cold. And believing that he might not bear the hardships of religion and the coarse food that holy
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poverty enjoins, he refused the common meat of the refectory, that he might have some choice morsel for his stomach's sake, and searched out vain and curious medicines for the solace of his poor body when he had done better to consider the health of his soul. For when his brethren were engaged in holy meditation, this monk was ever mixing potions or seeking rare simples in the fields; and every new pain that he had, he would devise some new essence to heal it. And so greatly did he labour in the practice of pharmacy, that the Abbot and his brethren held him a very learned physician, and they came oft to him for medicine and for counsel when any pain they had, the which pleased him well.
But our most gentle and merciful Lady, that is the Mother of all them that are dedicate to God, was grieved for this religious that was so careful of his bodily well-being and so negligent in the purging of his spiritual distempers, on the which indeed he pondered not at all. And because of her compassion she desireth to bring all her erring children back to the true path whence they have strayed, she had it in her mind to correct him, that he might learn and understand how that our true health hangs not on our own cares, but altogether on the loving kindness of Almighty God; and how that He cherishes exceeding sweetly all that give themselves entirely to His keeping, and like as a Father doth pity the simple and sinful, keeping them in health and sickness, and mending their grief. For little do the ills of the body trouble
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them that have the promise of eternal life, and small need have we of earthly medicines when we have partaken of the healing potion of His grace. But these things that poor brother knew not, for all his thoughts were set on the gathering of roots and pungent herbs, and the making of unguents and electuaries to comfort his weak body if he could.
And one night, when he had laboured many hours at the distilling of an essence that should be sovereign against disorders of the spleen, the Blessed Virgin caused this monk to fall into a deep sleep there in the midst of the pharmacy where he tended his still. And as he slept thus, it appeared to him that he was brought from this place and set in the choir of the abbey church, and he saw all his brethren seated in their stalls, and the Lord Abbot also, and they were singing the Hour of Lauds. But when he looked upon the faces of his brothers he had great amazement; for it seemed to him that they were full sick and weary, and in great need of refreshment. And he said within himself: " What has chanced? My brethren, that were so hale and hearty, and easily endured all the hardships of the rule, are become miserable and infirm, even as I."
But little time had he to observe them, for behold, there came to the door of the church the sublime and humble Mother of Mercy, even Saint Mary the Virgin, and the light of her presence fell on all that were within
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it. And she carried in her hands a little pyx that was full of the most precious electuary, and all the church was filled with the perfume of it, that was as the scent of apple-blossom in the spring. And as he watched, that sweet Lady came into the choir of the church and passed by the stalls of the brethren one by one: and she stayed before each of the monks that there did make orison, and as they did open their mouths for the singing of the psalm she placed therein, with her pure and venerable hands, a little of the electuary that she carried in the pyx. And each, when he received it, tasted it with joy and thanksgiving, being refreshed with sweet wonder and with health divine, so that his weariness vanished and he felt no more the burden of his mortal frame; for this is that heavenly medicine that shall be for the healing of the servants of God.
Then that brother the herbalist, seeing this thing, was filled with an exceeding joyous expectation; for he said within himself that doubtless he also should receive this celestial medicine, by which his many pains should be relieved and his body made altogether whole. And further he was greatly curious to know the simples wherewith it was made, whether they were such as grow in earthly gardens, and what cunning had been used in the compounding thereof.
But lo! when that holy Virgin came to the place where he stood, she offered him not the electuary wherewith he had seen his brethren
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fed, but would have passed him by. And he, being greatly disappointed, and full of dread lest he should miss his portion, caught her robe as she passed him, and cried, saying:
" Dear Lady, sweet Saint Mary, will you not give me some of this precious medicine? My brothers, that are hale of body, have received it; but I, dear Virgin, need it more than they can do, for I am a right sickly man, full of distempers, that can scarce bear the infirmities wherewith I am distressed."
But the Blessed Virgin looked on him exceedingly sternly and repulsed him, saying: "Medice, cura teipsum! What need have you of our medicines? For you are a very wise physician, that thinks of no other thing than the compounding of simples for the healing of your pains. It were a sorry matter if you, that ponder incessantly what meat you may have, and what herbs are best to remedy your fever or your flux, could not care for your health alone. But these your brothers, that think first on God and His worship, are in other case, for they have thrown all their cares upon my Lord and Son; and they that so do are become my children, and I cherish them and give them all things whereof they stand in need, as well for the healing of the body as for the refreshment of the soul."
When he heard these words, that monk was filled with exceeding contrition and amazement, and he abased himself right humbly before the Queen of Angels, and promised that henceforth
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he would devote himself altogether to God: thinking no more of himself, what he should eat and drink, or what herbs should take against his maladies, but casting all his care upon that Father and giving himself entirely into His hand.
And when she heard this promise, the heart of that glorious Lady, who is truly the refuge and protector of all Christians but the special helper of her servants that have chosen the religious life, was moved towards him; and she accepted his penitence with courtesy, and blessed him, and gave him from out her little pyx a portion of the electuary that he desired. And when this infirm and sickly brother tasted that heavenly medicine, straitway great comfort and healing entered into him ; so that forgetting all the ills of his poor body, he began to praise God with a loud voice, for his heart was so greatly uplifted with love and thanksgiving that he could think of no other thing.
And as he was in the midst of these lauds that he said, he awoke out of his vision; and he found that he was no longer in the choir of the church, but in the pharmacy wherein he had that evening undertaken to make an essence that should be sovereign against disorders of the spleen. And the still was there, and the vessels, wherein the said essence should be prepared; but now he looked on them with disgust, as good monks should on fond deceits, for he had tasted of that celestial medicine which puts away from them that do partake of it all care for the prosperity of the flesh. And lo!
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he, that in spite of all his care and learning had ever been infirm and subject to maladies most grievous, was now altogether renewed with health and strength ; and abjuring all herbs and drugs, forthwith he cast out from his cell his jars and phials, and the potions and powders that he had therein, and seeking no more to feed upon delicates for his stomach's sake, he willingly accepted the coarse and common food wherewith his brethren were fed. And joining with them in the service of God and in well-doing, he was endowed with health and strength both of body and soul; and he prospered exceedingly in wisdom and in love divine, and had great peace.
Now there be many monks, my brethren, that, though they have chosen the religious life, yet seem more to be pupils in the school of Æsculapius than in that of Jesu Christ. These, forgetting how that it is the duty of every religious man to love God above all else, to minister to His glory, and to perfect themselves in spiritual things, would ever be seeking the health of their mortal flesh, caring little what canker there may be in the immortal soul so long as the body gives not pain. All the summer do these foolish brethren wander in the fields, leaving their convent where their rule doth bid them be, that they may seek out vile and nauseous herbs and roots to heal the maladies that they think they have. And when winter comes, no other care do they have but in the drying preparation and commixture of
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these simples, that they may partake thereof and also give of them to their brethren, the which, having their minds set on heavenly mysteries, desire them not at all; for they know that God will have care of their bodies no less than of their souls. Thus these fond physicians, knowing not that true and effective medicine wherewith Our Lady heals her faithful children, do search out and invent strange and dangerous potions, trusting their own wit, the which can help them not at all. Let all such brothers therefore read and mark the ensample herein writ, that they may be taught thereby to put more confidence in God than in Galen, to hope more in the Queen of the Heavens, than in the herbs of the field.