Magnificat Vol. LVIII, No. 1 15 from the king and left with the bond by which Gabelus promised to return the money to him. In the meantime, Salmanazar died. His son, Sennacherib, heir to his crown, did not have his kindness towards the Hebrews; he detested them. In his hatred, he had a great number of them put to death, with orders to leave their bodies unburied. This disposition of the king was a new reason for Tobias to redouble his good works. Every day he visited the exiles, comforted them as best he could, gave bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked. He was not even afraid to steal the corpses of his tortured compatriots in order to give them a decent burial during the night. Tobias was acquainted with the orders of the bloodthirsty despot and knew the risk he was taking, but nothing could shake his pious courage, and he continued burying the bodies of those who had been slaughtered. Sennacherib was soon informed of this: Tobias was condemned to death and all his possessions were confiscated. Fortunately, the holyman managed to escape and hide with his wife and son. His cruel persecutor soon died, killed in a revolt. Tobias returned to Nineveh, and the new king gave him back his confiscated property and his original freedom. At once he resumed his liberalities. One would think that more than fifty years of a life of good works and virtue were deserving of rewards, but the Lord’s views upon His saints are very different from those of men. After a thousand trials generously sustained, instead of the favors one would expect, He destines new combats for them which enrich their crown by perfecting their virtue. Tobias had been stricken in his possessions and in his freedom, but not in his person; he needed this last trait of resemblance with the ancient patriarchs that he imitated. A great trial One night, the venerable old man had buried the corpse of a poor murdered Israelite. Exhausted by his charitable work, he lay down at the foot of a wall and fell asleep with his face uncovered. While he slept, droppings from a swallow’s nest fell onto his eyes. A white spot soon developed on his eye, and despite all the medical skill of physicians, Tobias completely lost his sight. God allowed this misfortune, just as He had allowed the trials of the holy man Job, in order to give future ages a great example of patience; for in this new affliction, Tobias did not become angrywith the Lord. On the contrary, unshaken in his reverent faith, he gave thanks to Him as in the days of his prosperity. Blind, impoverished by his excessive almsgiving, he often heard his relatives jeering at him, like Job’s friends of old: “You are well rewarded for your prodigality and zeal in burying the dead!” But he was content to answer them, “We are the children of saints, and we await that better life which God will give to those who have served Him with unwavering fidelity.” Even his wife made bitter reproaches against him. Following the example of Job, who was subjected to the same ordeal, Tobias cried out to the God of all consolation: “Thou art just, O Lord, and all Thy judgments are full of equity... Yes, just are Thy judgments, for we have violated Thy holy Law, and we suffer these chastisements. Therefore, do with me according to Thywill, and command my spirit to fly away quickly to the abode of peace, for it is better for me to die than to continue my sorrowful life here on earth.” Last recommendations Having asked the Lord to take him out of this world, Tobias thought only of putting his affairs in order. He called his son to give him his last recommendations. “My son,” he said to him, “listen to my words and engrave them in your heart. When God has received my soul, take care of my burial. Be a respectful son to your mother...
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