Stuk 2023-01-27/486 - Lebbe to Martin - meeting with Bishop Shanahan

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How attentive is the Loving Providence! Overcrowded train compartment is a badly fitted place for reflection, and I landed last night at Boher without any definite idea about the talks we had with Bishop Shanahan and Mgr Bearzotti. But, on arriving, I found that my letter of Friday was probably still on the way, for nobody... say no trap was there — and I had a lovely walk in the calm, mild night, under a milky sky, which gave light enough to find the way, and kept altogether the dear recollection of the resting nature. I had so an hour and a half to pray and think, and the conclusion is that the idea of Mgr Bearzotti is perhaps the best.

Some ten years ago, as I suppose Fr Gerard told you, a congregation of Benedictine Oblates was founded at Maredsous, for the purpose of ensuring a religious staff to the both Schools (Secondary, and Artcrafts). We met opposition in Rome, who refused to authorize a new congregation, and imposed to our Sisters obligation to join an old one; they went first to make novitiate with the Oblates of Heverle (suburb of Louvain), after some years, a new foundation was made by Heverle in Maredsous, and they sent a Superioress of theirs, and also a Mistress of novices, and our Sisters made henceforth their novitiate in Maredsous, under the authority, of course, of those two, but the actual direction was totally in the hands of the Fr Director. And, last year, the new foundation, having already a good number of perpetual professed, was separated from Heverle, and erected as a special congregation, under His Grace the Bishop of Namur.

I am sure we could go on similar lines, and without the same difficulties, as the Holy See invites the existant Orders — say S. Benedict's — to form special separated branches for the new Medical work in Missions.

So, I would send an address of thanksgiving, as I told you, but, by the hands of Dom Pierre Bastien, a renowned Canonist, and our Procurator in Rome. The address would mention that some Irish Girls, longing for some time for such work, and preparing themselves in the spirit of S. Benedict, and under guidance of his sons, ask for the Blessing of the Holy Father, and are ready to follow the lines traced in the recent Act of the S.C. de Propaganda Fide.

In the same time, I shall write to Maredsous, and ask for a complete exposition of what was done to obtain approval; and altogether, for kind communication of the Rules, as we use to call them Constitutions, because the Rule is that of S. Benedict, adapted by the foresaid Constitutions.

I shall write also to an American Abbot, my old friend, and ask him for very particulars about the so numerous houses of Benedictine Nuns, who live a very busy life in Schools and Colleges, Academies of Art and Hospital over the whole of United States. Their Constitutions would be a great help on resolving many problems, as by instances the question of Divine Office.

For the Constitutions of America and Maredsous, I write immediately. For D. Pierre Bastien, I expect the advice of His Excellency the Nuncio. But better I think to avoid long delays, and, as soon as you can give me a word about, I write to Rome, to know how Fr Bastien will understand the whole business. I know him personally (he is a monk of Maredsous) and acted always very friendly with Him. Then we shall draft the address — may the Holy Ghost inspire us.

Just to-day, I see a little magazine, published by a new society of Missionaries — the inspiration of whom came from my brother — on Medical aid begun in An Kuo, the town where was founded the first monastery of men and of women founded by my brother, at the request of his Chinese Bishop. I should send it, but it is written in French. If it can help you, I will have it translated into English and sent over.

The boys received me, not only well, but heartily, and expressed me already two or three times, that it was far better when I am here... Were it possible to give them all what I have in the heart, but has to pass by the mouth, and is met by the horrible barrier of the language!

Your daughters delighted to hear that things are going ahead, and that your regretted absence means good work for M.M.M.

Dear Christopher was not the last to say his pleasure to have me again. He is in "great trouble" about his weekly letter. "Miss Martin is in Dublin, and I don't know where to find the address of Mummy." Of course he thinks he had it, but the trouble is to know where he put it.

Graces and happiness must be bought by crosses. I found here a letter of Archbishop Harty, recalling Fr Ryan immediately. He must be on duty on Saturday next, and His Grace wants him to be in Thurles a few days previously, to take instruction from his predecessor in the College. This is a bad stroke. Pray Our Dear Lord to give me light and help, and to love Him every day more, and more sincerely — since to those who love God all helps to good.

Best remembrances to your dear mother, and our so kind — and [patient?] — last "chauffeur".

May the blessing of God rest on you, and foster the saint work you associate me to,

ORIGINAL OCR

Hom attentiwe is the Koving Providence ( Owescrowed traip compartiment
is a bad fitted Slace to rSSexion, and I landed last pight at Boher without
Any definite idea about the taiks we had with Bishop shanaham and Mgr Bear-
7otti. But,on arriving, I found that my letter of Mriday was probablw atii
1p way,for aobody. ..say no trap was thete - aad E had a Movely walte ip the
calr,mild sight,under a milky sky,which gave light enough to find the way,
And Kept altogether the dear recollection of the reating nature. I had so
Am hour and a half to pray and think, and the conclusion. is that the idea oR
Mgc Rearotti is perhaps the best.
Some ten years ago, as I supbose Er Gerard told you,a co gregation of Ben
Sdictine Oblates was founded at Haredsous, for the purpose of enaurimg a re)d
igious staff to the both Schools (Gecondary,and Artcrafts). we met opbosition
In Rome, who refused to authorize a new corregatior, and imposed to our Gis-
ter obligatiop to joit ap o1d one,they went forst to make nowitiate with the
Abdates of Heverle (suburb of Kouvaind, after some years,a nem Coudatior waR
made by Hewerle in Maredsous, and they sent a Superioress of theirs,and also
A Mistress of novices, and our Sisters made henceforth their nowitiate ip Me
redaous,under the authority,of course of those two, but the actua) direction
Me totaddy is the hands of the Fr Director. And,last wvear, the re fouadato
Havirg already a gaod number of perpetual profesRes, was GeparateS FTOm Hevon
Ae,and erected as s ssecial congregation,under His Grace the Bishos of Hamu
I am sure we could go op similar lines,and without the same difficultier,
As the Holy See ivites the existant Orders - say S.Benedict's - to Eori spo
cial separated branches Cor tho pow Modical worl iD Misaions
Ao, E would send ap adress ot tharkegiving, as f told you, but, Hy tho
hands of Bom Pierre Bastien. o renomb Csnorist,and our Brocurator ir Rome.
the address wonld mentione that some Mrish Girls,(onging for aometies for
Aucb work. and preparing themselves in the spirit of S.Benedict,and under
puidance of hie sons,ask Cor the Blessing of the Koly Father,and are readr
to foldow the libes traced ip the recent Act of the S.C.de Propagands wide.
In the same time, T shail write to Maredsous,and ask for a completo expo-
Sitiop of what was dome to obtaip approwal s and altogether,Cor kind comurM.
catio o6 the Rhles a we use to cal them C hstitutions, Hecause the Role 10
that of O.Benedict,adapted by the foresaid Constitutions.
3 shald write also to ap Americap Abbot, my cld friend,and ask him for r
Ery particulars ahont the so numerous douses of Benddictine Nuns,who (ive al
wery busy 1ife ip Achools and Coldeges,Academies of Art and Hospital owor
the whole of United States. Their Consitutions would be a great help om rosol
wing many probleme,as by instances the question of Sivine office.
Mor the Constitutions of America and Haredsous, M write immediatoly. for
D.Pierre Bastien,I expect the advice of His Mxcellence the Mur tio. But betten

I thipk to avoid Mong delavs, and,as soon as you cap give me a word ab.
Sut, I write to Home, to tnow how Fr Basticon will understand the whoMe
business. I Enor him personaly Jhe is a monk of Maredsous) ard acted al
Hays verw Eriendly with Him.1 Then we shall draft the address - mway the
Holw Chast inspire us.
Juat to day, I see a (ittie magazine, published by a new society of
Miscionaries - the ispitatiop of whom came from my rother - op Medic-
Al aid begup ip Ap kuo, the tomo where was founded the first monastorw
of mem and ot women founded by may brother,at the reduest of his Chinese
Bishop. ( shonld send it,but it is writtep ip french. 15 it car help
Nou, I widd have if translated into english and sent over.
3he boye received me,not only well,but heartily,and expresaed me al-
readw two or three tines, that is was far better wher I am here ...i Mero
At possible to give the a11 what I have ib the heart, Sut has to paso
My the mouth, and is Meot by the horrible barrier of the languaget
Your daughters delighted to hear that thipge are going ahead, and tia
Mour regretted alsence mesns goed work for M.M.M.
Dear Christopher was not the last to say his plcasure to hawe me ag
Ain. He is ir "great trouble' about his weetly letter. "iiae Martip ic
in Sublin, and Edont know where to find the address of MumMy O5 CourRe
Re thirdta Me Had if, bat the taomlde is to dom whera dae out id
Gracss and haopineas muet be Hought by crosses. ( Cound here a Jetten
oE Archbichop Harty,recalding Mr Ryap immediately. He must be oa duty ro
Paturdny next, and His Grace wants hdm to be ir Thurles a fer davs prowe
Aouslw, to take instruction from his predecessor in the Coldege. mhis ia
5 had atroke. Araw our dear Mord to giwe me light and help, and to 1owo
himm every day more, and more sincerely - since to those who Lowe Codsalg
Helps to good.
Lact "chauffeug
Hest remembrances to your dear mother, and our so kind - and pee
Mav the bleasing of God rast on you,and foster the sait worE
sou asasciate me to,