almost all the disorders with which the faithful become infected. If the blind (says our Saviour) lead the blind, both fall into the pit."
The dispositions and deportment of these aspirants to the double honour of the priesthood and of martyrdom are such as might be looked for in youths docile to the instructions of such a master as this holy Bishop, and have been beautifully described by a priest who was for some time resident among them, M. Magdinier, writing to a friend of his at Lyons, says: "I am quite delighted with being at this dear Seminary. All the students seem to burn with the love of God,and will doubtless hereafter become good and zealous missionaries, as well as confessors and martyrs. Although naturally timid, they have no dread of martyrdom. The relations of several of them have confessed and died for the faith. The father of one is now carrying the canga[1] and the son, I assure you, is a little saint worthy of such a father."
"One day, that I was taking a walk with my dear Seminarists, I began to question them concerning the persecutions, when I learnt that a youth, whose angelic appearance had often attracted my particular notice, had lately had ten near relations suffering for the faith. Two of these have since died in prison six have been banished into Tartary, and his father and another are actually wearing the canga. These particulars he related in the presence of his companions with inconceivable simplicity, and he has since told me in private, that he was quite overjoyed when the above intelligence was sent
- ↑ The canga may be described as a sort of portable pillory, being a square table varying in size and thickness to the weight of from one to two hundred pounds. In the centre is a hole of barely sufficient diameter to fit a person's neck. For the purpose of putting it on, it is divided into two parts through the centre. When thus put on, the parts are put together, and the whole weight of the canga rests upon the patient's shoulders, who, moreover, from the size of the table, is unable to apply his hand to his mouth, but requires to be fed by another person. Being left in this condition day and night, the only mode whereby a little relief and rest can be obtained is, either by getting the canga suspended by cords from the ceiling of the prison, which enables him to sleep in a sitting posture, or, by resting one edge of the canga against the ground and the opposite one against a wall, whereby he may sleep kneeling.
