Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/102

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not wish any one to inherit his property. Then he went back to bed. When the doctor came the next day, he found his patient had taken an unexpected turn for the better. On hearing this, the miser was aghast, thinking of what he had done. He did, in fact, recover wonderfully soon, and the money which he had remaining did not last long. In a few weeks’ time he had to beg his bread. Thus he had been his own worst enemy.

LUST

THE TEMPTATION OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

St. Thomas in his youth was bent on embracing the religious state, but his people opposed the idea. They even went so far as to employ a dissolute woman to make an attempt on his virtue. No sooner had she entered his apartment than the holy youth snatched up a red-hot poker and sent her screaming from the room. Kneeling down then he thanked God and renewed his vow of perpetual chastity. Presently he fell into a deep sleep, and in a dream beheld two angels approach and bind him about the loins with a cincture. From that time forth he was free from all impure temptations. Every temptation we reject we are made stronger against the next assault.

ANGER

THE SULTAN WHO WANTED TO PUT HIS OFFICERS TO DEATH

Anger makes a man blind to reason. A Turkish sultan, Bajazet, while carrying on war with the