\n-\n
\nI have just come to recognize the necessity of having a Superior from Europe for our Seminary, after the unsuccessful trial I made with Mr. Dahmen. With great difficulty I had obtained from him the promise to fulfill the functions of Superior until one should be sent to us. But he never ceased to press me to relieve him of this charge, and what is worse, he did not respond to the expectations of our confrères. Overwhelmed with sorrow, he neglected to carry out the duties entrusted to him; and in consequence, I acceded to his request. I have now obtained the consent of Mr. Timon, who has taken on the charge of the Superiorship of the House until the arrival of the one we are expecting, or of another. I believe it absolutely necessary for the existence of the Seminary and of the Congregation to have a good Superior; otherwise, all will be lost—precisely at the moment when we were about to gather the fruits of so many years of labor, toil, and expense. What a loss for Religion in this country! What a loss for the Diocese! We have at this moment 70 boarding students in the College, 26 seminarians—including 4 from our Congregation—and a great number of other boarders are expected, such that the building will no longer suffice to contain them. The expenses for construction and other extraordinary outlays have caused us to contract some debts, but as I regard the Seminary as the most important establishment of the Diocese, I shall always consider it my duty to aid it in a particular manner. This does not trouble me; but if we do not have a Superior, the Seminary will inevitably fall.
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/744276a5-583f-41e2-bc94-26199ef54292/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_2","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_017_005_p120","height":4814,"width":3924,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/e9f12786-fac3-4ac8-b9b4-54c34d6489fc/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/e9f12786-fac3-4ac8-b9b4-54c34d6489fc","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4814,"width":3924},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_2","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"Why then does Mr. Baccari oppose the departure of Mr. Tornatore? He will undo the work of many years. Here is the state of the Community at the Seminary: Priests: Mr. Timon, Superior; Mr. Odin, Assistant and Director of the College; Mr. Paquin, Treasurer and Second Director of the College; Mr. Doutrelingue, who carries out missions in the French parishes that have no pastor, and with much fruit—his piety and zeal have won him the veneration of the Catholics, though unfortunately he does not yet know English; Mr. Brands, whom I ordained priest only two days ago, teaches both in the Seminary and the College. We have at present two other secular priests who do not belong to the Congregation: Mr. Olivier, an aged missionary of 82 years who has retired here to finish out his days, and Mr. Loisel, a young priest from the Seminary who now teaches in the College.\n\n-\n
\nClerics: Messrs. Lefevere and Van Clostere, who were received in Paris; Mr. Beaupres, received here on December 1, 1829 [OCR had 1929]; and Mr. Shannon, received here on January 1 of this year. The first three are studying Theology; the last is studying the Humanities.\n
\n-\n
\nBrothers: Blanka, tailor; Oliva, stonecutter working on our church; Vanucci, baker; Donati, gardener; Harrington, carpenter; Bosoni, in charge of the linen; Sargiano, of the pantry; Palelli, shoemaker; and McCormick, carpenter. We also have two postulant brothers, who are currently caring for the farm.\n
\n-\n
\nIn addition, we have six other priests in the parishes, that is, within the Diocese of St. Louis: (1) Mr. Dahmen at Ste. Genevieve; (2) Mr. Bouiller, who made his vows on February 27 last, at the Mines, seventy miles from the Seminary. In the Diocese of New Orleans there are: Messrs. Borgna and Permoli, vicars at the parish of New Orleans; Mr. Tichitoli at the Ascension, Donaldsonville; and Mr. Rosti at St. Charles of Grand Coteau.
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/e9f12786-fac3-4ac8-b9b4-54c34d6489fc/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_3","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_017_005_p121","height":4708,"width":3901,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/f4398ea8-ccd6-45d4-b4a6-764d3ddfa757/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/f4398ea8-ccd6-45d4-b4a6-764d3ddfa757","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4708,"width":3901},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_3","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"You know that Mr. De Neckere has been named Bishop of New Orleans. In a few days we shall go down together to Louisiana, and on the fifth Sunday after Easter I will consecrate him in the Cathedral. By this, I shall be relieved of this Diocese and will no longer have such long journeys to make.\n\n-\n
\nIt is very important, Monsieur and most honored Father, that we establish precise regulations for those of our confrères who are in the parishes, on the subject of Poverty. According to what was fixed when we first came into this country, I have more than once reminded these confrères: \n
\n-\n
\n1. That they must not regard themselves as immovable pastors, since the Superior may recall them whenever he judges it good in the Lord (moreover, strictly speaking, there are no parish priests in these dioceses).\n
\n-\n
\n2. That they must not forget they have made a vow of Poverty; they may allow themselves an honest subsistence, but not superfluities, rich furnishings, and the like.\n
\n-\n
\n3. That after setting aside expenses for their honest maintenance, and after making the works of charity proper to a parish, they must leave at the disposal of the Superior whatever remains, to be employed in meeting the needs of the Seminary and of their confrères who, being in poor parishes and missions, would be in need of assistance.\n
\n-\n
\n4. That to this end they should keep a book in which receipts and expenditures are exactly noted, and that this book should be presented to the Superior once or twice a year.\n
\n-\n
\n5. That when two of our priests lived together, I had even taken care to appoint one as Superior and the other as Treasurer; that the Treasurer should spend nothing without the permission of the Superior; and that the Superior should never keep the money himself, but always place it in the hands of the Treasurer.\n
\n-\n
\nI must tell you with regret that I have not, in general, had the satisfaction of being obeyed in this matter.
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/f4398ea8-ccd6-45d4-b4a6-764d3ddfa757/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_4","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_017_005_p122","height":4829,"width":4037,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/a0a7dbbb-7d2a-4df2-85b7-75c9d2507773/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/a0a7dbbb-7d2a-4df2-85b7-75c9d2507773","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4829,"width":4037},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_4","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"The parishes of the Diocese of St. Louis are poor, and barely provide enough to subsist upon. That of St. Charles of Grand Coteau, where Mr. Rosti is, is no richer. But the parish of the Ascension at Donaldsonville and the vicariates of New Orleans give far more than is necessary for a very honest subsistence and to make ordinary alms. One could make very large savings and send them to the Seminary. They regard themselves as masters and dispose of the funds without any permission, as if these savings did not belong to the Congregation. They buy furnishings that are not consonant with the Poverty we profess, undertake good works that are not secundum scientiam, and, I would add, not secundum justitiam. I will give you one example: a church is now being built in a very rich Louisiana parish called St. Michael. Mr. Permoli subscribed for that church 500 piastres, that is more than 2,600 francs; Mr. Borgna, 300 piastres, that is, nearly 1,600 francs—without asking any permission. I could cite many other similar examples. Yet these gentlemen know that we are building a church at the Seminary in a poor region, and that for lack of means the construction is halted. Mr. Borgna has a very generous heart; he lets himself be led into expenses beyond his means: the Montbrun family is entirely at his charge—he pays the costs of education for the young man who is in France; he has just sent credit of 500 piastres to another young man of the same family who lives in the State of Missouri. Is this prudent? Is it just? It seems necessary to inform you of this. I am very attached to Mr. Borgna, but more to my duty. I believe one could first make general regulations, but one must enter into detail, order the removal of useless, costly furnishings, and entrust execution to the Superior you will send, who could not be suspected of prejudice; and if after that reform is not obtained, more severe measures should be taken."}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/a0a7dbbb-7d2a-4df2-85b7-75c9d2507773/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_5","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_017_005_p123","height":4801,"width":3804,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/62692239-ce12-46d6-8667-fc8c508abe00/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/62692239-ce12-46d6-8667-fc8c508abe00","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4801,"width":3804},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_5","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"For it concerns the vow of Poverty, on which the other priests have often made remarks. Mr. Borgna, Mr. Dahmen, and some brothers are not at all in favor of a College; the first even wished that we had entirely left the Barrens to establish ourselves in Louisiana or elsewhere. Mr. Dahmen would like the College to be closed, because, he says, Colleges are not in the spirit of our Institute; moreover, he would like the seminarians who do not pay their pension to be sent away, and that would mean dismissing them all, with no hope of ever having any. Some brothers would prefer not to have Black servants, and yet none among them can cook, do the laundry, etc.\n\n-\n
\nDuring my absences from the Seminary, these projects were shared, discussed, discouragement spread, criticisms were made, etc. I had much to suffer, and if my attachment to the Congregation had been weaker, I would have left them to go to St. Louis and occupy myself with my Diocese. But I did not do it, and I will not.\n
\n-\n
\nAs for the location of our establishment in the Barrens, I did not choose it; but I see every day, more and more, that far from hindering the good and the success of the Seminary, it favors them. It is Providence that has done everything and shown us that it has not abandoned what it began, for the establishment only prospers. We have had debts several times, but they have always been paid; we have never failed, our credit has always held firm, and at present there is less to fear than ever.
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/62692239-ce12-46d6-8667-fc8c508abe00/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_6","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_017_005_p124","height":4818,"width":3708,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/ee0b0c77-d8f4-46d4-9095-d559eaa686c9/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/ee0b0c77-d8f4-46d4-9095-d559eaa686c9","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4818,"width":3708},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_6","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"We have 70 boarders, and if our facilities were larger, we could have 100.\n\n-\n
\nAs for the College, our Rules do not forbid us to have one; there are such institutions in Italy, in France, and elsewhere. All the more reason we may have one here; without it we would never have a Seminary. It is in the Colleges that vocations are awakened, that young men prepare themselves for the Seminary; it is by means of the Colleges that we are able to support the Seminarians, since not one of their parents would pay the pension. Moreover, as the Seminarians advance in their studies, they make themselves useful to the House, teaching in the College, and thereby offering some compensation to the House.\n
\n-\n
\nAll the Seminaries in the United States operate in this way. Every Bishop would consider himself fortunate to have such a system. Besides, what good is accomplished in these Colleges, where Catholic youth are raised in the practice of their religion, which they would scarcely know if they were sent to Protestant schools! And Protestant children, losing the prejudices instilled in them against Catholics, priests, and the Church, acquire sentiments of esteem and respect for people they have come to know well; some even become Catholic with their parents’ permission, and those who do not will always remain friends of the Catholic clergy.\n
\n-\n
\nIf St. Vincent had forbidden us to have Colleges, and if he were still living among us, would he have any difficulty, in view of the particular circumstances in which we find ourselves, in making an exception for America? Would he permit the destruction of the College? Must we resolve that henceforth no seminarians will be admitted unless they pay a pension? From what I have explained above, you see, most honored Sir and Father, that not all the Seminarians are a burden to the House; at present, of the 19 seminarians who do not belong to the Congregation, twelve are teaching.
"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/ee0b0c77-d8f4-46d4-9095-d559eaa686c9/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_7","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"CMC0565_02_017_005_p125","height":4842,"width":3837,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/e6687177-ba6e-4ff0-b702-2e29ba74caf4/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/e6687177-ba6e-4ff0-b702-2e29ba74caf4","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":2048,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":4842,"width":3837},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/depaul/iiif/bfb028bd-7a47-45eb-9a31-f3f300e16522/canvas/_7","metadata":[{"label":"Translations","value":"Without this, our confrères would not suffice. All the expenses incurred by my predecessor and by myself for the Seminary, all the aid received from Europe, and that given by the clergy of the Diocese, have been undertaken with the good in view that the Seminary would accomplish for the Diocese and for Religion—by raising priests from the country, providing them the means to learn languages, and preparing them for the exercise of the Ministry, both for the local clergy and for priests who would come from Europe to devote themselves to these Missions. Must we seek our own interests? Do we have any other interests than those of Religion? St. Vincent de Paul, when he sent Missionaries to Madagascar and other foreign lands, did he wish that only one house be established, such as we have in Europe?\n\n-\n
\nFinally, regarding the black servants, assuredly, if one could have enough brothers, and brothers who were willing to do everything and devote themselves entirely to laboring, washing the laundry, milking the cows, cooking, and performing all other household duties—one could do without blacks. But this is not the case with us, nor with other Communities located in regions where there are negroes; for one does not find whites willing to submit themselves to the lowest household tasks. And sometimes even this spirit of republican pride infects those who, by their profession and vocation, should cherish dependence, submission, and humility.\n
\n-\n
\nI beg your pardon for this hasty scribbling. I commend myself to your prayers and to those of all our confrères, to whom I offer my affectionate respects. I will write shortly to Mr. Étienne.\n
\n-\n
\nI am sincerely,\n
\nMonsieur and most Honored Father,\n
\nYour very humble and obedient servant,\n
\nJoseph B. of St. Louis
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