Mary Martin to Father Prior. On the rule of St. Benedict.

TEXT

Feb. 1936
Dear Father Prior
How am I to thank you
for your letter of yesterday
corrections etc. My intention as
you say was just to give a
few principle + then to direct
them to the Rule of
St. Benedict
on the matter of Humility
Obedience Silence etc as I
want them to be grounded in
+His Spirit. I shall now improve

• make thing
  a little more

4.
you will be very
welcome here on Thursday
if that proves the best day for you
Miss O' Rourke will be down by the
early morning train on Monday
unless any thing unforseen turns
up. I hope she will be a great
source of joy as well as help to
she little staff at Glenstal.
Will you please till Lizzie I look
forward to her next letter I hope
it will come soon
Spiritually + physically I am going
through a time of great depression
I am treing though failing often
to accept all in a spirit of love
y + Faith with no other desire
but His holy Will for me The getting up
get out to get the air exhaus me
greatly so am not allowed to do much
write, etc.
definite now that I know your
wishes I thank you with all
my heart for every thing + the
arrangements you have made all
I hope is that it is in no way
over burdenng you or Dom David
how that you are short +
staff. of course both Miss Leyden
Miss t Rourke understand the
extra conference will only he given
it + when convenient to you
by Dom David I have already
instructed Miss L. + O' R that you are
their Superiors during my absence
now I shall explain the matter very
to Miss O' Rourke For health they
fully

Should seek your permission
to
Consult Matron during my absence
if they are not feeling well I
have also asked them to be very
simple child. like with you in all
Matters pertaining
to The Manage
ment of the house. work +
exterior permissions. And for all
Things relating to their religious
life spiritual reading, mortifications
etc to obey Dom David
I am greatly grieved to hear
of your new cross + pray
much
or you + that things will not
prove too serious_
look
forward with joy
your visit
when it is convenient

Short note of thanks for help with Constitutions.

Letter From Rev. Colman O' Driscoll in St. Augustine's Priory, Limerick regarding a question the Prior asked him about boys taking vacation on All Saints.

Letter thanking the prior for his welcome, and discussing various pious subjects.

Note requesting the school prospectus for a friend.

TEXT
Dear Father Prior,
This is just a hurried line to ask you to send me a few prospectuses of Glenstal School when you next write.

A married schoolgirl friend of mine has two boys at school at Ampleforth the 3rd is at Wicklow and will probably leave this summer. She spoke to me of Glenstal but understood it was a preparatory school.

I understand they are considering sending this boy to an Irish school. I shall be seeing her again on Tuesday afternoon; she is to come and see me.

I wonder, will it be Dublin or Galway that will see you next week?

Has Father John heard anything more from Clerys? It is such a long time ago, they find it hard to trace it.

Mother returned the steamer with a letter from Dom Columba for an order of ten cups. If he has heard nothing more from them, I shall arrange for it to be deducted from the bill and settle things up with them.
Remember me to all.
yours in Jesus,
Sr. Mary

On a letter received from the Nuncio.

TEXT

Caritas
Glenstal Priory
Murroe
July 1936

My dear Father,

When I next meet Dom David, I hope to have news of you.

All is very quiet here, going as peacefully as befits a monastery. The Clerk of the Weather has never stopped weeping since you left, so the two guests—Vincent and Miss Moynagh—are experiencing very bad weather.

I received a very kind letter from His Excellency in response to mine. He had written to Dom Dominic but had received no reply.

I am, of course, very glad to know that Father Prior at Glenstal approves of the decision you have reached regarding the foundation and erection of a medical society or mission. There may be an opportunity for him to discuss the whole matter upon his return from Belgium. Meanwhile, I am still awaiting a reply from Rome regarding the questions I sent on your behalf.

Rest assured that he will be more than happy to assist you in any way he can. Beaucotte joins me in sending you our best wishes until we meet again.

Will you write to me from London? I shall be in Dublin to meet you. I wrote today to Father Whitney to inform him of our decision.

We are moving forward with the work as a lay society at home, as it will likely be through his vicariate that we proceed first.

Last night, I could not help but think how strange it all is—going back to Calabar. If the mission is established there, it will be exactly as the instruction from the Pope to Bishop Thanahai in 1893. When I was placed in the novitiate in Africa, I wonder if I failed Him by returning home. I would not have done so except for my vow of obedience.

I spoke to Father John today regarding the painting and the roof, as there had been no progress. I also mentioned the trimming of the trees around the house, as they block air from reaching the pantries and light from entering the dormitory.

I hope you are getting some rest and that the Holy Spirit enlightens you for the future of your work here. I now see so clearly what my task must be—to sacrifice everything and accomplish His will, focusing on the essentials and not allowing my energy to be drained by external concerns until we are firmly established as a society. Then, we can embrace much more.

I have received a blessing from God in the form of very humble but solid souls to build upon. They remind me of Christ’s chosen few at the beginning of the Apostolic School, and I trust He will send me more as I move forward in His will—those with the necessary qualifications as well.

I shall write again as soon as I have more news. I wish I could do more for you now, but nothing can be decided in your absence.

I pray for you often, dear Father, in gratitude for all you have done for us, the poor children of Mary. Each night, we offer a special prayer for you.

Come back well for God's work, and take care of yourself as much as possible. You have hard years ahead, but nothing is too difficult for those who love.

Your unworthy child in God,
Marie Martin

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.

A list of the rules of the order. No signature. No date. Possibly an attachment to one of the letters in the file.

AI CLEANED TEXT:

A proposed disposition of the chapters for the Rule of M.M.M. Prologue: Dealing with the spirit and aim. Part A: 1. Of the composition (or constitution) of the religious family. 2. Of the doctors and nurses. 3. Of the virtue of humility. 4. Of the virtue of charity. 5. Of the professional duties. 6. How the sisters must take care of things. 7. Of the society's work. 8. How they live in common. 9. Of the clothes. 10. Of the food. 11. Of mortification. 12. Of the care of the sick in the community. 13. Of the virtue of obedience. 14. Of the reverence in the things of God. 15. Of prayer and sacraments. 16. Of the confessors. 17. Of the sacristan. 18. Of the interactions with outsiders. 19. Of the relations with ecclesiastic authority. 20. Of the virtue of chastity. 21. Of silence. 22. Of the parlor. 23. Of correspondence. 24. Of the porter. Part B: 25. How those who desire to join the society are admitted. 26. Of the probation (postulancy and novitiate). 27. Of the profession. 28. Of the vows. 29. Of dismissal. 30. Of the care of the dead. 31. On what extent the present rule obligates. Part C: Constitutions. 1. The government of the society. Appendix: Prescriptions of the canon law concerning religious, which the Sisters of M.M.M. must always remember. Note: Each chapter would lay down the principles and the spirit, followed by practical applications or measures, which could be enumerated under numbers and make the articles of the Rule. I think it would be good to print at the front of the Rule the instructions.

ORIGINAL OCR:

A proposed dis osition of The chapters for the Aule of M.M.M.
PRoLOGUm dlaling with the spirit and aim.
LA) Ch.1 of the comocsition (or constitution) of the religious family.
2 of the Doctors and of the Murses.
3 of the virtue of Humility.
of the wirtue of charity.
of the professional duties.
how che sisters must take care of things,
7 of the Society's work.
1)
S how they live in common.
of the clothes
1o of the food
11 of mertification
12 of the care of the sick in community
13 of the virtue of obedience.
1d of the reverence in things of God
15 of prayer and sacramentS
16 of the confessors
17 of the sacristan
1e of the intercourse with the oulsidere
1C)
19 of the relations with the ecclesiastic authority
20 of the virtue of Chastity
21 of silence
22 of the parlour
23 of correspondence
24 of the portner.
1D)
25 how are admitted those who desire to soin the society
26 of the probation (postulancy and noviciate)
27 of the profession
28 of the vows
29 of dismissal
30 of the care of the dead.
31 on what extent the present rule obliges.
Sart second. rhe constitutions.
Ithe Government of the society)
ApendiE.
Prescriptions of the canon Law concerning religious,and which the
Sicters of M.M.M. aust slmays remember.
N.B. Hach chapter would lay domn the princibles and the spirit, then shoul
come the practical applications,or measures - which could be enumerate
under numbers,and make the Harticle-s of the Rule,
think it would be good to print in front of the Aule the instructio

Postcard from Fr. David including address of Msgr. Prof P. Groenen, in Holland.

From Patrick Joseph Whitney, founder of the St. Patricks Society for foreign missions.
He advises that his diocese is in dire need of a medical missionary order as the Protestants have a much larger presence.

AI CLEANED TEXT

Miss Marie Martin, during the last three or four years, collected a group of girls around her, secured for them the very best spiritual training, and is having them also trained to take over medical work in the pagan missions.

Any group of such girls sent out by her to the Vicariate of Calabar will be very welcome, especially for the following reasons:

Each year, thousands of Christian mothers die for want of proper attention;

Thousands of children die;
Protestant medical missions are there in large numbers.

The following statistics show the state of medical missions in our Vicariate at Calabar:

CATHOLICS

Hospital at Anua, two lay nurses, no Doctor.

PROTESTANTS

A Leper Settlement at Itu complete with doctor.
A General Hospital at Itu.
A Maternity Hospital midway between Anua and Oron, with two nurses.
A General Hospital at Etinan (19 miles from Anua).
Maternity Hospital at Oron.
Maternity Hospital at Ikot Ekpene.
A Leper Asylum at Etinan, and they are almost certain to have the Government Hospital at Ikot Ekpene handed over to them.

For the above reasons, the Society of St Patrick will be very glad to welcome these workers into their vineyard.

ORIGINAL OCR

Miss Marie Martip,during the last three or four years,colected a
group of girls around her,secured for them the wery best spiritual trainiRE,
And is having them also trained to take over medical worle ip the pagan missiol
I
Ary group of such girls sent out by her to the Vicariate of Calabar
will be very welcome, especially for the foliowing reasons. -
I
Hach year,thoudands of Christian methers die for wapt of proner
attention:
rhousands of chiddren die,
I
Drotestapt medical miasions are thers in large numberst,
The foldowing statistics show the state of medical missions in our vic.
Ariate at Calabar: s AeDMAMCASE
Msa
I
CATMOLICS
DROrMSTANrS DreAt
5
I
I
A Leper Settlement at Itu xomolete with
Mdoctor.,
5
R
A General Bospital at 1tu. .Me
A materbity Hospital Mimay betmeer ADua and
CCron,with twb nusses. AMedA
S
Hospital at Aruo, imo lay
A Seneral Mospital at Mtenan (19 miles from
purses, ao Doctor.
Anua).
Hatormity HosBitAl at Gron.
2
Maternity Hospital at (Kot,Mpene.
A Leper Asylu at Etenan,ard they are almoet
certain to have the Governmept Mospital
At IKot,Ekpene,handed over to them.
For the above reasons, the Society of St Patrick mili be very mad to
Helcome thcse orkere inte their vinevard.