Mary Martin writes to Prior, preparing to launch M.M.M. (Medical Missionaries of Mary). She details final obstacles, including retainment of staff, fundraising, spiritual maturity. Postscript concerns reassignment of staff, including Miss O'Rouke and Miss Leyden and M.M.M. moving ahead.
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Caritas
2021-08-06/149
Epiphany Sunday - letter continued. 1935.
Dear Father Prior
I continue from where I stopped
early this evening to catch post.
I am grived & hear Dom firard
has received such alarming reports, they
were certainly not from me or any of my
subjects. I am ashamed to say I have
never written to him since he paid me
a visit in '96' I was intending writing
to him to-morrow & shall certainly do so
now - I never felt so happy about M. M. M.
& as far as I know my relations with Glenstal
are unchanged. I have always longed since
Dom firard left to talk all these matters over
with you, incuse you would have any difficult
views or plans for Glenstal. I am always
prepared for different outlooks from individuals
& could quite understand some not wishing
to take on the extra [f]burden of M. M. M.
with all the responsibilities already attached
to the foundation at Glenstal, as I fully realize,
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only too well, how little help we can give in return for all we receive from you and your Monks. —
Ishall deal solely with M. M. M. from
our point of view, having received definite
encouragement to go on, hard as the task seems.
Fr. Kelly has just been in Dublin for a few
days and we discussed all the problems,
especially Fr. Vermersch's letter in detail,
which gives me courage & definite lives to
make a start, he does not minimize the
difficulties of such a work, wisely adding,
"Now, if God will, He can move every difficulty"
I go confidently ahead believing if it is
His Will He will bring the work & a successful
issue, if I and my daaphtus (as you so nicely
put it), correspond to His paces and inspirations
at each step, if it is not His Will the work
will fail. I love Him equally in failure as
in success, also, I may never be the one
to bring it into being, Ishall do my very
best to try and sow the seed.
From the beginning Iwant to make one point
very clear :--- I have no desire to start as
a Diocesan Congregation - All Missionary
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Bishops advise me to aim at being directly
under "Congregation Propaganda de Fede" first
have their approbation & then apply to an Irish
Bishop.
1) Iam enclosing a few letters that
deal with the period of Dom Gerardo's
approach to His Excellency, Archbishop Harty,
these will give you as much knowledge and
information as Ihave on this matter.
2) Fr Kelly with his knowledge of me,
now that Fr Vermersch says it is possible,
advises me after having spent a “year at Glenstal under your direction and
Spirtual formation to apply for a dispensation
from having to do another noviciate. What would yous & Dom Davids opinion (See on this point? –
The time has come to make a very
definite and deliberate start. Istill have the great desire to have myself & the first
few pioneers at least instructed and prepared
for their private vows under Benedictine influence.
Do you think with the responsibilities I have
of trying to establish this work that we can
come to some suitable agreement so that for you and
M. M. M.
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My idea would be to get my daughters around
me, do all together a years novitiate for
private vows and then as individuals join a
3nd Order. When the year was completed Iwould
like to send these I consider suitable for their
training as nurses - My idea is also to train one of my daughters to be able to take my place at Glenstal during my absence, which
from time to time will be unavoidable
during the first few years -
Now the difficulties that present them-
selves to me for M. M. M. are: -
a) Accommodation for more than three
at a time, this may work out alright,
as some will be ready for training moving
on to make room for others
b) If we were running the whole of
the domestic work, we would need to be a
bigger staff than would be employed as
seculars, otherwise there would not be
sufficient time for a regular life of prayer, Sp. reading conferences. It would also be necessary for them to have a certain amount
of time for study, recreation in common &
propaganda work, as we are not earning.
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c)
It would mean dismissing secular
staff according as we had subjects to
take their place, this would be very
difficult to do especially if the present staff, Mai Lizzie & Mary are really satisfactory
d) Getting in contact with vocations &
meeting future subjects.
e) Holiday time. Shall & we be able to
remain on at Glenstal? -
Ido not see any difficulty at
present as regards or position and
understanding with His Grace, The Archbishop
of Cashel, you will see by my letter that I clearly mentioned my ultimate
aim, he is aware of this and still gave the permission for me to go with my companions to Glenstal, helping in any way we could & receiving in return a spiritual formation on religious principles.
You will also probably see difficulties
on your side which we can discuss when we next meet. D. V. Ithought it
would be helpful for you to have the enclosed before & perhaps you would like to talk things over with Don David & your council.
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Like you I hate money question, my desire
would always be to give generously wherever I
could help but now I am faced with great
responsibilities as God’s instrument of being a Mother
to M. M. M. & circumstances having changed
slightly at least for a year I felt found to
ask you for a little more help. As you ask me
I shall draw up a project that we can discuss,
perhaps you will do one also from what you
Think just. It is really impossible for me in
one way, as I can never balance spiritual
graces & privileges with material natures,
you see for that reason my utter poverty spiritually
& materialistic
As you see, none of these difficulties are very
dis & can mostly be overcome by coming to
a definite understanding and agreement for the time
being, say one year at least. A time may
come when it will be absolutely necessary to have a house in Dublin -
My real difficulty is a matter of conscience
& a question that causes me much thought. -
I think you know how much I love the work of God
at Glenstal, my longing to see you will established
in Ireland with a good College - My one fear
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is having the responsibility of M. M. M. as to do
Will for me, will I do justice in the position
I hold for Glenstal. I have prayed much over
this, I see it is perhaps possible if I were more
obedient to Drs, especially in the matter of manual
work, I must use my more intellectual gifts for
His Glory governing powers etc, and also to preserve
the very limited physical strength at my
disposal. I know I failed badly in this
last year, circumstances practically made
it impossible to do otherwise now I feel sound
in conscience to have Glenstal so staffed that
I shall be free for the administrative work of
M.M.M. & in the position I hold at Glenstal.
I also see the great advantage my position offers
me at Glenstal where I shall be trying to live
& learning to deal in all these questions of
government & administration from the Religions
spirit & attitude, a thing I have had no
practical experience in. I have had novitiate
after novitiate in the hidden life of manual
work since I gave God my life. Now I must
become more generous, giving myself in a way I
find hardest, shoulder the cross bravely although
I am absolutely incapable, I trust for also lately
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and see in Glenstal for my own formation under your direction, a wonderful opportunity under exceptional privileges and favourable circumstances of being trained in all these matters, Lat. Whether I shall do justice for Glenstal is The Question, I keep asking myself. Certainly conditions are more favourable now &
you will have such a good knowledge of
everything it will really take little of your
time to express your wishes to me once or
twice a week & then for me to carry them
out accordingly. I still hope it is practical
to continue the two Lat such a decision rest with you -
I also enclose items of Clereys bill & marked with & the things I got for the College etc. Things marked M were for our use in sitting-room. I enclose also a cheque of balance for Laundry bills - Hope this is all in order & that you will be able to understand.
I am sorry this missed the post to-day Lat could not get to finish it till too late for post - I hope it will not weary you, it is well you have a whole month to read it. "
[Postscript Ends]
He is showing a very sense and paternal interest in M.M.M. - as soon as I am able he wishes to see me and discuss possibilities of being directly under P. de Fiole - & one relationship at present with the Lec. Lere
Pray much for me–I never forget you all–
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Wishing you a very successful turn & a
great spirit of love & union among the
Staff.
I am still confined to bed & have to
Leave the mysteries again for lip toe, it is
not healed yet. It will be cured in God’s
own time & when I have learned all the
lessons God means me to learn
Remember me to all the Monks
Your unworthy cover patient & shedent
child in Jesus & Mary
Sr Mary
[Postscript Begins]
Hope you have good news from your niece &
that she is very happy.
I also hope all the staff turned up
Miss Leyden did not come here, so I
take it she went direct to you –
After this few days of prayer, reflection &
consultation with Fr. Kelly & Miss Reyder I shall
probably get Miss O’Rourke to resign, as
I feel she would le the one to gain most from your
instructions & be the greatest help to you & Miss L.
during my attence -
It puts a big responsibility on to me but
As His Excellency the Nuucio says in a work such as God asks me to
form we must be ready to take big risks–when I have heard from
you I intend putting my plan before Him, if he agrees to it I shall go ahead
