Item 2021-09-17/194 - Provisional Constitutions

Three A4 pages, double-sided.

To Father Prior from Mary Martin regarding the finalising of constitutions.

TEXT

My dear Father Prior,

I was not able to arrange a meeting with His Excellency so as to return by the early train today so as to call at Tipperary on my return journey, so I wired asking permission to remain over until tomorrow, Saturday. I shall only see His Excellency this evening at 5 PM. He sounded disappointed on the phone that I had no news from Cork.

Yesterday, until late hours at night, I had a long talk with Fr. Whitney. He says I should remain in Cork and go out to see His Grace again. It is the personal touch that does things best. I shall consult His Excellency on this point and, if necessary, and all is well at Glenstal, I could go straight on tomorrow.

It is essential to have a draft of the provisional Constitutions to present to the Bishop if he accepts us, so as to prevent any fear of interference in this matter from him. Also, to have it definite about the question of the nun. This is their great concern, as they see a distant spirit in M.M.M., and to safeguard this, they consider it necessary for me to obtain a dispensation.

To have a principal house in Cork, where both I and the nun should be. The nun would act as Novice Mistress, with I in charge. We would keep Glenstal as it is, having the members, when they first come, go there for some months before going to the house of formation, leaving a reliable candidate there for me to keep constant supervision and intercourse from Cork, coming frequently to see them so much.

I saw by my letters this morning that you had not returned to Glenstal on Wednesday night as you had hoped.

Remember me kindly to Dom David. I am not writing to him as I know you will give him all the news. I hope God will hear our prayer very soon and give us an answer from the bishops, and all the grace we need to accomplish His work.

If possible, I would like to have a unit ready even 3 or 4 to take over the Leper Settlement next year, October 1937. The question is getting more urgent each day.

Yesterday, I heard news that fills me with great joy if it is true—that a congregation of Benedictines is to have a Province in Nigeria (whatever congregation the Secretary of Bishop Heinsley belongs.

What another touch of the tenderness and loving care of Our Father in heaven! What a consolation this will be to us all. I pray it is true, and I shall ask His Excellency this afternoon.

I also wrote to Dom Rupert to let me know all he can about the Missionary Benedictines in London. I heard yesterday that His Grace has cancer, but I would not wish this to spread. We might pray for him.

I hope I shall receive great light this afternoon. Pray much for your ever-grateful and obedient child of God.

Sr Mary.

Just received wire. Very Many thanks. I shall be back by the late train from Tipperary unless I find bus more convenient. Ask my children to pray much for success tomorrow.

As the Constitutions (provisional) are all-important, I am sending you the copy back in case you have time to get anything down.

Now that His Excellency cannot see me till this evening, I intend to spend all day studying and making notes on the English ones I have. But when I return, we shall have to get together and have things definite. If you do not have the time personally, perhaps Dom David could manage to do it with me. We could give our conference time to it.

The question of medical help is getting more and more urgent. The Holy Rosary Nuns are taking on the work, but the priests from the Mission tell me it is very unsatisfactory owing to their formation. They have lately received two Lady Doctors into the Novitiate. Of course, they have no difficulty in obtaining subjects, as they have the Dominican Nuns and Holy Ghost Fathers helping them. I am glad they are helping, even though the work they can do is limited. They can assist in the great need.

Yesterday, I also had a visit from one of the sisters attached to the Catholic African Missionary Society. She was very pleased to hear of the work being started and has promised to pray and do all she can to help us. She said her Bishop O'Rourke would be deeply interested in the work.

I was expecting news of Amyer this morning from Miss O' Loughlin, but none came, so I take it that all goes well with him. It is well that he should rest, as his pulse is fast and irregular. As I hear, he has a bad heart, and this explains the tiredness you noticed.