Arrived in Rome, Goldoni sought a Jesuit to "govern his soul." The Jesuit made allusion to the dangers of his new life. "I have made up my mind to be a martyr for the Holy See," replied Goldoni. "The Holy Father has declared the temporal power necessary to the spiritual. Therefore, fighting and dying for the temporal power, I should indirectly be a martyr for our holy religion." The Jesuit was overcome at hearing these generous sentiments from a youth so superior. Two days after, the Jesuit and Goldoni met "in the tribunal of penitence."
Goldoni soon caught a fever, and in the hospital often confessed. On the Feast of St. John Berchmans[113] he declared that he had obtained from the saint the grace to be with him in Paradise on the day of the Assumption of the Virgin. He reiterated that he should on the day of the Assumption go to heaven to see the Madonna and St. John Berchmans. His good father, called from Modena, arrived in time to bless and pray for his departing Antonio. At the last moment he left him, for it would seem that those around thought that the presence of the earthly father would come between him and the heavenly Father. So he lay, with his lustrous eyes fixed on heaven, as if, says the chaplain, "he was awaiting the appearance of his John Berchmans, who was to present him at the throne of the great Virgin." At seven o'clock on the morning of the Assumption he passed away.
[Footnote 105: Archbishop Manning gave reasons for looking upon the motive here assigned as "a transparent error."]
[Footnote 106: Serie VII. vol iii. p. 264.]
[Footnote 107: Serie VII. vol. iii. pp. 259, 260.]
[Footnote 108: _Friedberg Aktenstücke_, pp. 250-53.]
[Footnote 109: _Neue Folge, Erstes Heft_, pp. 72, 73.]
[Footnote 110: These productions are published by Friedrich--_Tagebuch_, p. 453 ff.]
[Footnote 111: _The Centenary of St. Peter, and the General Council_, p. 90.]
[Footnote 112: _Civiltá_, Serie VII. vol. v. p. 234.]
[Footnote 113: Technically, Berchmans seems to be only a beatified, not a saint.]
Princes, Ministers, and their Confessors--Montalembert's part in the Revival--His Posthumous Work on Spain--Indignation against the New Assumptions--Debate of Clergy in Paris on the Lawfulness of Absolving a Liberal Prince or Minister--Wrath at Rome--True Doctrines taught to Darboy and his Clergy.