\n-\n
\nI wrote several letters to Your Most Reverend Lordship after my consecration, but all in a hurry. Now I have finally returned to the Seminary, and among my dearest confreres I am benefiting from a moment of liberty to take on one of my most gratifying occupations, which is that of writing to you, giving you our news, and asking you to favor us with yours when you can.\n
\n-\n
\nThe very long trips I have had to undertake to go and receive the Episcopal consecration, to visit our confreres in various Parishes, to return to the state of Missouri, to make a quick stop at St. Louis and Florissant, and finally to return Home, put together, total more than three thousand miles; not only have they not had any negative implications for my health, but they have very much helped to improve it. I did them all in Steamboats, which are ships that run on the power of steam: a mode of travel very speedy, comfortable, and not very expensive; thus, one feels as if one is at Home, well served and treated; they do up to 130 miles or more each day going against the current, and more than double that with it, and for a price so reasonable, that for all the said trips I did not pay more than a hundred scudi.\n
\n-\n
\nI cannot give you the same comforting news of good health regarding each one of us here. -- Signor de Nekere, who has been until now my right arm at the Seminary, fears he has been taken by an attack of Consumption. Since noticing the deterioration of his health, which is ever worsening...
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/b216668d-ee44-4750-977a-84256e6e9e65/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_2","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_014_003_p168","height":4750,"width":3927,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/92248e09-8f6f-429f-9c06-a74c5da9f955/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/tif","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/92248e09-8f6f-429f-9c06-a74c5da9f955","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4750,"width":3927},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_2","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"...I relieved him of every duty, and on doctors’ advice I have resolved to send him to Lower Louisiana, with Signor Cellini, who has promised me to see to his care. A loss such as this is truly incalculable, for, as I have previously informed you, this man abounds with talents, piety, prudence, etc., speaks English, French, and even Italian so that he is able to give lectures to the brothers. Signor Acquaroni has suffered for several years with a malady that now has rendered him unable to continue traveling in this region. One of New Orleans’ best doctors has declared that his native air could be beneficial to him in some way. Therefore, I have given him permission to return to Europe. Signor Tichitoli, a young man of great talent, piety, and zeal, who is now at the Parish of the Assumption, who has traveled with great fruit in the exercise of the Holy Ministry, is likewise in a very poor state of health, can travel little, and suffers a great deal. Someone has advised me to send him on a trip, but I do not know how to determine whether to allow this, hoping he might improve by other means. He brought Signor Potini to me at the Seminary, which leaves only Signor Rosti in the Parish of St. Joseph; he was thinking of keeping him at the Seminary until either Signor Borgna or the Priest that Your Most Reverend Lordship promised me arrives. I have not been able to take comfort in this. Since his arrival, he has been constantly ill and cannot digest food, experiences lengthy fevers, and makes clear that this climate does not suit him, given that over the three years that he spent here before being sent away he had been continuously unwell. I find, therefore, that I am forced to send him back to his Parish, where he enjoyed good health. Two previously robust and strong students, one American, the other Milanese, have, over the course of some months, begun to perceptibly decline, and despite the measures they have taken, they have gone from bad to worse. One of the brothers finds himself in a similar state."}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/92248e09-8f6f-429f-9c06-a74c5da9f955/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_3","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_014_003_p169","height":4780,"width":3943,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/5a338290-dea0-486b-b038-3c36debba85e/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/tif","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/5a338290-dea0-486b-b038-3c36debba85e","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4780,"width":3943},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_3","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"God, may He be always blessed, wishes to test us and punish me. I deserve this and worse.\n\n-\n
\nYou will easily be able to picture for yourself the embarrassment in which these circumstances have put us. I have only a single Priest at the Seminary: Signor Odin, still a Novice: young, full of every quality that can be desired in a good Missionary. During my absence, he has done the work of four men. School, preaching, confessions, invalids: all has fallen on his shoulders. Now I have relieved him of some of that heavy weight. But we cannot carry on much longer. Tomorrow I will ordain two good candidates as Priests, upon whom I have already conferred Orders and Deaconship some days ago, and who have already finished their course of Theology. One of these is our Novice, the other does not belong to the Congregation. I will keep the first at the Seminary, and I will have to send away the second. Because of all this, there is still too much to do. I therefore await Signor Borgna with impatience, along with some others, and hope that at least we will be able to get one more priest here. Currently we have two clerical Postulants. I do not know when I will be able to admit them: because I would like them to do a proper Novitiate. At present the Congregation has three students, all in Theology, and one is still a Novice; while the other two are a Priest and a Deacon. The number of Seminarians is 14, not including our students: the number of young secular scholars is 10 and the number of brothers 9, not including the postulant Faina. Various young men desire to join the ecclesiastical state, but we do not have the means to support them; therefore, it is necessary to proceed cautiously. Monsignor Du Bourg desires a Seminary in Lower Louisiana. It seems that Providence may grant his wish, as he has procured for us a donation of a thousand acres of land in the Bayou la Fourche, Parish of the Assumption. I have seen the situation: it is one of the best that can be had in Louisiana. The land is perfect for the cultivation of sugar and cotton:
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/5a338290-dea0-486b-b038-3c36debba85e/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_4","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_014_003_p170","height":4685,"width":3767,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/aa44e3fb-6728-4edd-bdbf-66c0ddd1732f/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/tif","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/aa44e3fb-6728-4edd-bdbf-66c0ddd1732f","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4685,"width":3767},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_4","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"with a sufficient number of blacks it could yield enough not only to meet the needs of that Seminary, but also to support this one that we have now. A very enthusiastic Priest has offered four thousand scudi for the erection of the Seminary, with the provision that we house some Orphans there. Given the resolved division of this diocese from the Sacred Congregation, it seems to me that a second Seminary may be indispensable. I am thinking of potentially sending Signor Potini there as Procurator, Signor Borgna could direct the Seminary, Signor Tichitoli would be used for teaching: a Superior would be needed, and some other subjects. In time I could send someone there from here, but I do not have anyone that is suitable for the position of Superior. Your Most Reverend Lordship is, after God, my only hope. Hence, I warmly offer to do everything possible to have you accord us another person. I know in Italy they are scarce, but here we are in extreme need. A Seminary in Lower Louisiana would serve as a center for all of our members that are in those parts. They would take up the Parishes that are demarcated to the Seminary, and they could gather together in House more often. Moreover, giving lessons to the Clergy would do a great good, and in time they could even receive seculars for this purpose and conduct Missions according to our custom. Everything, therefore, favors its establishment.\n\n-\n
\nWe have a very comforting saying. Good is done without noise. I have seen with the highest satisfaction that there has been a notable change in these parts, after Divine Mercy bestowed upon these people a Bishop, who has given them good Shepherds. It is impossible to imagine the sickness that the Religion keeps at bay through the various establishments of Monasteries and Colleges that have been made. The Monastery that we founded last year counts more than fifty between the Sisters and the schoolgirls, to say nothing of the day scholars. The fruit that it then produces is great. The maidens educated here can be...
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\nRegarding the exercise of the Ministry, the Lord continues to bless us: this Parish gives us great comfort. We still have from time to time some conversions of Protestants. A letter a Protestant minister wrote to a Catholic of this Parish recently gave us the opportunity to preach on various points of controversy. We announced them beforehand. A throng of Protestants arrived accompanied by some of their ministers. The sermons made such an impression on them that they could no longer open their mouths; rather, several among them were touched by grace and say they are convinced that only the Catholic Church is the True Church of Jesus Christ, and they plan shortly to reunite with it. These sermons were given by our Novice student in Theology: a young man that shows a marvelous talent for eloquence and who already possesses a perfect understanding of polemic;
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2e3e134a-1a39-43c9-b012-5513a7a1d718/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_6","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_014_003_p172","height":4858,"width":3930,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/6377cda0-c859-479a-a274-e68137366406/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/tif","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/6377cda0-c859-479a-a274-e68137366406","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4858,"width":3930},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_6","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"but what is more, he is altogether humble and devout. His name is Fr. Timon, American by birth, Irish by extraction. I am certain that if we had two or three Priests to send out among the dispersed Catholics, Protestants, and others who do not follow any sect or religion in particular, it would do the greatest good and acquire a large number of souls for God. Messis mutta, operarii autem pausi. I say the same for the savages. I have been asked by a French shopkeeper to send two priests to him: he lives among the savages and belongs to one of the best families in this Country; he has offered to build their House, help it, and support it in every way. He assures me that the savages would receive them with fits of joy, and it could do a great deal of good. But there are no suitable candidates. The American government itself has promised me a pension of 200 scudi a year for each Priest or brother that I send among the savages. It is true that we have some hope of sending Jesuits there. We have a Community of these Fathers in Florissant, composed of two Priests, 6 students, and 3 brothers. They have already begun to receive young savages in their house; they expect others: but their number is not proportionate to the need, and it will maybe be some years before it is possible to send a Missionary to the savages. I am thinking of writing to their Father General and I will likely enclose the letter if I have time to write it before the person to whom I must give letters departs. In this case, I take the liberty of asking Your Most Reverend Lordship to have the goodness to present the letter to him, speaking to him of this business, and of asking him to send some qualified subject for this most precious Mission. You will be able to assure him that I will do everything within my power to render every service to them which they might need, being persuaded that in these parts one could not render a more important service..."}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/6377cda0-c859-479a-a274-e68137366406/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_7","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_014_003_p173","height":4843,"width":3916,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/645a735f-6be4-4176-bead-27b9136d29c8/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/tif","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/645a735f-6be4-4176-bead-27b9136d29c8","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4843,"width":3916},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_7","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"...to the Religion than of procuring for it Workers of such merit, which one finds in the sons of St. Ignatius, for whom I bear the same affection and esteem as our father St. Vincent did. I would believe that I had anchored the Religion in St. Louis if I were to see a College of Jesuits there. \n\n-\n
\nThe thought of one day having such a Community in the Diocese considerably lightens the terrible weight of the Bishophood; thank God I can flatter myself that I was not deluded in hoping for this, seeing as there are some already there, and I predict there will be others. Your Lordship knows that in the same village of Florissant there is a Community of Sisters of the Sacred Heart, arrived from France, who are doing a lot of good.\n
\n-\n
\nAs for the construction of our Church, nothing has yet been done. The inhabitants, however, greatly desire to take part in the work themselves, and they promise me they will cut the stones, cart them, make lime, prepare the boards, etc. But the money for all this is wanting. I do not yet have any hope of being able to get any from them or from anyone else. Our parishes are poor: it has only been a few years since money was so scarce in this Country that even those who are richer have a lack of it, and almost all are in debt. I do not know if the letter I sent with a petition to the reigning Supreme Pontiff reached him. If my wishes are not thwarted by this, we could build it, otherwise I cannot even think of it at least for now, even though we may be in extreme need of it: since the Parish grows ever more numerous. The hut that now serves as the Church is just able to hold two thirds of the Catholic population, and on Protestant pageant days there are as many people outside the Church as inside it. The Choir is so small that we cannot move to hold Ceremonies. Now that the Throne is there, however small it may be, we are even more distressed. The Pontifical Mass...
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/645a735f-6be4-4176-bead-27b9136d29c8/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_8","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_014_003_p174","height":4864,"width":3891,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/d4745466-a817-490d-8316-0fb13fe93aa7/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/tif","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/d4745466-a817-490d-8316-0fb13fe93aa7","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4864,"width":3891},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/2f768d5f-ec5b-441d-a34e-3f2dfd44f771/canvas/_8","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"cannot be celebrated with the majesty appropriate to it, according to the Episcopal rulebook. During the days of Pentecost and the ascension, we have made do as we could. I have already administered Confirmation to eighty youngsters of our Parish. In the month of September I will go around to the others, but I tell you sincerely that I do not have the courage to leave the House: there are only Novices, and when Signor Potini leaves with Signor de Neckere there will be no one qualified to hear the confessions of the brothers who only speak Italian. \n\n-\n
\nI do not know if Signor Borgna will bring what I requested of him. We will need some trim to make chasubles as well as tassels and Damask of different colors. We do not have what is needed to cover the throne. I hope that Your Most Reverend Lordship will forgive me for making so many tiresome requests. The generosity that you have always shown us greatly encourages me, notwithstanding my fear that I have sometimes exhausted it. \n
\n-\n
\nOur people, thanks to God, work fruitfully. But their number decreases. May God be blessed and may it please Him to increase them in proportion to the needs, which are many. May it please God also to deign to fortify my weakness and grant me the Episcopal spirit, which I unfortunately lack and with which even a small number of collaborators could do wonders. I recommend myself to the prayers of Your Most Reverend Lordship and those of our confreres. Through our singing we pray every day for you, and for all our benefactors, both temporal and spiritual. Kindly enjoy my respects as well as those of this entire family, all our confreres, Priests, clerics, and students. If you ever have the opportunity to go to the Quirinale, please kiss the feet of the Supreme Pontiff for me and entreat him to bestow his Apostolic Benediction upon me. We have read in the public papers of the alarming news of his health, and we have not neglected to pray to the Lord to preserve so great a Pope...\n\n\n
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\nYour Most Reverend Lordship’s\n
\nMost Humble and Obedient Servant\n
\nJoseph Bishop of Tenagra and humble members of the Congregation of the Mission
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