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- 05-05-1936 (Creation)
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four pages. Two typed, two handwritten. Double sided. A5 and A4
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The Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide, whose official title is "sacra congregatio christiano nomini propagando" is the department of the pontifical administration charged with the spread of Catholicism and with the regulation of ecclesiastical affairs in non-Catholic countries. The intrinsic importance of its duties and the extraordinary extent of its authority and of the territory under its jurisdiction have caused the cardinal prefect of Propaganda to be known as the "red pope".
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Biographical history
Pietro Fumasoni Biondi (4 September 1872 – 12 July 1960) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in the Roman Curia from 1933 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1933.
Fumasoni Biondi was born in Rome to the aristocratic Filippo and Gertrude (née Roselli) Fumasoni Biondi; he had a sister who entered the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and became known as Mother Gertrude.[1] After studying at the Pontifical Roman Seminary, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Lucido Parocchi on 17 April 1897. From 1897 to 1916, he was a professor at the Pontifical Urbaniana University and then an official of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith.
On 14 November 1916, Biondi was appointed Apostolic Delegate to the East Indies[2] and Titular Archbishop of Dioclea. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 10 December from Cardinal Domenico Serafini, OSB, with Bishops Joseph Legrand, CSC, and Agostino Zampini, OSA, serving as co-consecrators, in the chapel of the Urbaniana University. In this post, he actively tried to improve relations between the Vatican and the Emperor of Japan.[3] Biondi was later named Apostolic Delegate to Japan on 6 December 1919, Secretary of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith on 14 June 1921 and Apostolic Delegate to the United States on 14 December 1922. In 1927, he declared the Vatican had no interest in the presidential campaign of Al Smith, the Catholic governor of New York.[1]
Pope Pius XI created him Cardinal-Priest of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in the consistory of 13 March 1933, in advance for his appointment as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith three days later, on 16 March. Cardinal Fumasoni Bondi served as papal legate to the National Eucharistic Congress in Teramo on 20 August 1935. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1939 papal conclave, and again in the conclave of 1958.
Biondi died in Rome, at age 87. He is buried in the Campo Verano.
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Sacred congregation for the propagation of the faith. Letter in Italian. Translation included. Letter from Mother Mary Martin included also.
Voices general approval for the idea, but explains the process now involved.
AI CLEANED TEXT
Cleaned Italian Text
SACRA CONGREGAZIONE DE PROPAGANDA FIDE
Protocollo N. 1497/36
Prière de citer ce même numéro dans la réponse.
REV.MO P. BEDA LEBBE, PRIORE DI GLENSTAL.
REV.MO PADRE,
Con pregiata lettera in data 25 marzo u.s., la P.V.R. informava questo S. Dicastero che alcune signorine irlandesi, con a capo la sign.ra MARIA MARTIN, prendendo occasione dalla Istruzione emanata da questo S. Dicastero l'undici febbraio p.p., vorrebbero unirsi in Istituto religioso, esclusivamente dedicato all'opera medico-missionaria nelle terre pagane.
A tale scopo, come V.P. afferma, esse ricevono, da qualche tempo, istruzione e direzione presso cotesto Priorato di Glenstal.
La P.V. raccomanda caldamente tale istituzione, dalla quale è lecito sperare grande utilità per le Missioni.
La Propaganda ha maturamente esaminato la cosa e vede con molto piacere la santa iniziativa della su lodata signorina Martin e delle sue compagne. L'Opera progettata è del tutto nelle vedute della S. Sede ed il Signore certamente benedirà i santi propositi di quante vorranno, con retta intenzione, dedicarvisi.
Tuttavia il nuovo Istituto religioso non potrà subito cominciare come Pontificio. E' necessario che esso si formi come Istituto diocesano, sotto l'autorità e la vigilanza di un Ecc.mo Vescovo. Inoltre, le future Suore dovranno essere opportunamente formate da qualche buona Religiosa di altro Istituto, già approvato dalla S. Sede. Ciò anche per restare in conformità col can. 500, paragr. 3 Cod. Jur. Can.
Voglia quindi la P.V. comunicare tali direttive della Propaganda alle interessate. Frattanto auguro all'iniziativa una felice attuazione ed invoco dal Cielo sulle pie signorine e su quanti daranno all'opera tutte le divine benedizioni.
Con sensi di distinto ossequio mi confermo...
English Translation
SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH
Protocol No. 1497/36
Please cite this same number in the reply.
MOST REV. FR. BEDA LEBBE, PRIOR OF GLENSTAL.
MOST REVEREND FATHER,
With [your] esteemed letter dated March 25th last, Your Most Reverend Paternity informed this Sacred Dicastery that some Irish young ladies, headed by Ms. Maria Martin, taking occasion from the Instruction issued by this Sacred Dicastery on February 11th last, would like to unite in a Religious Institute, exclusively dedicated to medical-missionary work in pagan lands.
To this end, as Your Paternity affirms, they have been receiving, for some time, instruction and direction at your Priory of Glenstal.
Your Paternity warmly recommends this institution, from which it is permissible to hope for great utility for the Missions.
Propaganda [Fide] has maturely examined the matter and views with much pleasure the holy initiative of the aforementioned Miss Martin and her companions. The projected Work is entirely within the views of the Holy See and the Lord will certainly bless the holy resolutions of those who wish, with right intention, to dedicate themselves to it.
However, the new religious Institute cannot immediately begin as Pontifical. It is necessary that it be formed as a Diocesan Institute, under the authority and vigilance of a Most Excellency the Bishop. Furthermore, the future Sisters must be opportunely formed by some good Religious [woman] of another Institute, already approved by the Holy See. This is also to remain in conformity with canon 500, paragraph 3 of the Code of Canon Law.
Would Your Paternity therefore communicate these directives of the Propaganda to the interested parties. Meanwhile, I wish the initiative a happy implementation and I invoke from Heaven upon the pious young ladies and upon all those who will give to the work, all divine blessings.
With sentiments of distinct homage, I remain...
Right Rev. Fr. Bede Lebbe, Prior of Glenstal.
Right Rev. Father,
In your esteemed letter of 25th March inst., your Rev. informed this S. Congregation that some Irish girls, under the direction of Miss Marie Martin, taking opportunity of the Instruction of this S. Congregation in date of 11th February, would like to gather in a religious Congregation, exclusively devoted to medical missionary work in pagan countries.
In that intention, as stated by your Rev., they have received from some time instruction and direction in the aforesaid Priory of Glenstal. Your Rev. warmly recommends such institution, from which a great utility can be expected for the Missions.
The Propaganda examined thoroughly the subject, and is glad to see the saint [holy] initiative of the above praised Miss Martin and her companions. The contemplated work is absolutely within the views of the Holy See, and the Lord will surely bless the good purpose of those who will intend to dedicate themselves to it with right intention.
The new Institution however cannot begin immediately as a Pontifical Institute. It must be formed as a Diocesan Institute, under authority and supervision of a Bishop. Moreover, the future Sisters will have to be timely trained by some good Nun of another institute, already approved by the H. See—and that, in order to keep in conformity with Can. 500, par. 3 of the Code of Can. Law.
Will your Rev. be so kind to communicate those directions to whom it concerns. In the meanwhile, I wish to the initiative a happy realization, and I invoke from Heaven the divine blessings on those pious girls and all who will help the work.
With best regards.
ORIGINAL OCR
SACRA CONCREGAYIONE
DE PROPAGANDA FIDE
PAorobouoN. 1497/36
HeNHORE (HAS, QAESG HIS THEH I MA TEDOIMORG.
Ozpne ds cter ce mamne aumere dans la sepouse,
REYMO P. BEDA LERLY, PRIORE DI GLENSTAL.
REYMO PADRG,
Con pregiata lettera in data 25 marzo u.s', la P.Y.R.informava
questo S.Dicastero che alcune signorine irlandesi, con a capo la si-
Sn.Ra MAHIA MARTIN, prendendo occasione dalla 1struzione emanata da 1e future Suore dovranno essere opportunamente formate da qualche buona
Religiosa di altro 1stituto, gia approvate dalla S.Sede. Cio anche
per testare in conformita col can. 500,paragr.3 Cod.Jur.Can.
Woglia quindi la P.V. comunicare tali direttive della Propa.
ganda alle interessate. Frattanto auguro all'iniziativa una felice
attuazione ed invoco dal Cielo sulle pie signorine e su quanti da-
RiHHo
rannofalliopera tutte le divine bencdizioni.
Con sensi di distinto ossequio mi confermo
questo S.Dicastero l'undici febbraio p.p.,vorrebbere unirsi in 1sti-
tuto religioso, esclusivamente dedicato all'opera medico-missionaria
nelle terre pagane.
A tale scopo, come V.P.afferma, esse ricevono, da qualche tempo,
1struzione e direzione presso cotesto Priorato di Glenstal.
La P.V.raccomanda caldamente tale istituzione, dalla quale e
lecito sperare grande utilita per le Missioni.
La Propaganda ha maturamente esaminato la cosa e vede con molto.
piacere la santa iniziativa dclla su Lodata signorina Martin e delle
sue compagne. L'Opera progettata e del tutto nelle vedute della S .Sede
ed il Signore certamente benedira i santi propositi di qaante vorranno,
con retta intenzione, dedicarvisi.
Tuttavia il nuovo 1stituto religioso non potra subito cominciare
come Pontificio. E' necessario che esso si formi come 1stituto dio-
cesano, sotto l'autorita e la vigilanza di un Eccmo Vescovo. inoltre,
Hight Rev.Br Bede Lebbe,Prior of Glenstal.
Right Rev. Pather,
In your esteemed letter of 25th march inst., your Kev.
informed this S.Congregation that some Irish girls, under the
direction of miss Marie Martin, taking oppottunity of the In.
Atruction of this S.Congregation in date of 11th february,
would like to gather in a religious Congregation, exclusive-
Ay devoted to medical missionary work in pagan couptries.
In that intentionsas stated by your Rev.,they have received
from some time instruction and direction in the aforesaid
he new Ihatitution however cennot begin immadiately as a
Pontifical Institute. 1t must be formed as a Diocesap IRstitu.
te,under ahthority and supervision of a Sishop. Moreower, the
future Sisters will have to be timely trained by some good
Nur of another institute, already apcoved by the H.See - and
that, in order to Keep in conformity with Can.500, par.& of
the Gode of Can.Law.
Wild your Rev.be so kind to communicate those directions to
whom it concerns. In the meanwhile, I wish to the intitiative
A Happv realization, and I neny Crom Heaven the divine bless.
ins on those sione sirls ard all whe rill hebp the worE
Fith best resards. Kam
Briory of Glenstal.
Hour Kev.warrdy recommands such institution, Crom which a
sreat utidity can be expected for the Missions.
The Eropaganda examined thourhughly the subiect, and is
rlad to see the saint initiative of the above praised Mise
Mariin and her companiors. The contemplated work is absolute,
1y within the views of the Holy See, and the Lord wiii sure.
1y bless the good porpose of those who will intend to dedica,
te themse,ves to it with risht intention.