Cheque sent from Yorkshire insurance company. In reference to damage to clothes. Addressed to the Prior.

...

TEXT
My dear Father in Christ,

What a joy it was to have you with us for one of our last days. I hope you were not too exhausted, that your mind is more at ease. I feel so keenly for you in all your suffering and can do so little to help.

We are, as you can imagine, very busy. Yesterday was a day of parting. Miss Murphy took to Cork. Miss Nichols to England I could not manage the Mass and I feel developed a heavy cold. It was impossible to manage it owing to --- ---- ---- my heart to you at the Mass. He understands all and sees my weakness.

I shall write fully from the boat. T…

In union, love, prayer always in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. The Crucifix is ever a reminder and such a beautiful one. Many, many thanks Remember me to all at Glenstal. Your grateful child
Marie

...

Letter to Father Prior from Mary Martin regarding the cancelled visit of Father David. Though the date is marked 1935 in the letter by someone else afterwards, it is most likely 1934 because of the context.

TEXT

• Leeson St
  Caritas
  Dublin
  Dear Father Prior
  Many thanks for your
  letter + Post card only received
  this Morning Naturally I
  was disappointed when Dom
  David did not turn up
  Yesterday but on the other
  hand they, at least these
  things T.P. do not effect me
  much now We had arranged
  to have no visitors so as
  to be well strong for his
  visit. now I have it still
  to look forward to + I hope
  in two weeks time
  A pare
  my toes healed enough to be
  able to go home but God alone
  kwows these things for certain.
  D.Quinlan returned on Sunday
  he came yesterday + the St
  have decided it is better
  to take of the tops of the 1st
  toe + part of the big toe
  this little separation ￡ will
  probably be done on either
  Thursday or Friday next if
  My rheumatism chases us
  Last Friday I got rather an
  acute attack of Rheumatism
  which has left me rather
  more weak + tried. To-day
  I am better but slept badly
  I know once more you will
  all pray for me that in all
  recovery
• that the sickness will
  not go further afield. the
  boys keep well_ I hope Matron
  will see light soon about Rose
• that Fr John has her
  insured + the card stamped
  up to date in case she has
  to go to hospital or is
  unable to work for some
  time.
  All the cards should
  be kept stamped up to
  date.
  Ask Matron
  to write
  if there is any thing.
  she needs
  from Dublin
  to help her for Rose
  I am also sorry to hear the
  boys are not eating well
  I remember at breakfast they
  used to eat a very good
  plate of porridge ( which must
  be made thick) I plenty of known
  Sugar + Milk a cup of tea
  Bacon + Egg but hardly any
  bread + butter
  For dinner the smaller boys
  eat little but they all used
  to eat a very big
  plenty of bread + butter +
  Jam Supper was another
  meat they did not eat much
  at but then they have a
  glass of milk.
  forgot to
  tell Matron Frank Mc Cann
  used to have a glass
  Milk at 11 am if he is
  inclined to loose weight
  They all should eat well
  now especially if there are
  colds going about the
  house
  I regretted very much having
  to send you this further burden
  Miss claims I may
  confess honestly all the suffering
  of my accident is nothing
  compared to the first few
  months but it all had to be
  to bring things right for Glenstal
  Both Srs say I am going
  on slowly + surely. I am
  naving Beers treatment now
  for my toes + start infectio
  to.morrow. I am not suffering
  so much now + with a
  pill I sometimes get 3 to 4
  hours sleep. so am feeling
  better.
  I believe Our Lord will
  let me grow here apart from
  you all in the spirit of
  St. Benedict I read +
  study his Rule + Christ the
  Life of the Monk + pray +
  May become more + more
  Christlike.
• Davids visit gave me
  great joy for which I thank
  you . Mother + my sister were
  charmed with the News _
  His Excellency The Nuncio
  ts coming to see me to.morrow
  thanking you again I shall
  allways remain your grateful
• unworthy child in Jesus + Mary
  Sr Mary
  ( S. Tell Fr. David I shall
  arrange as he directs for
  Nun to meet Sister
  M. M

Letter commenting on an upheavel in Glenstal, and expressing sadness at no longer having the Benedictine influence over her life.

TEXT

Medical Missionaries of Mary
Rosemount, Booterstown, Co. Dublin

Sunday 20th 1938

My dear Father Prior,

It was good to hear your voice again on the phone. How I should have liked to have seen you, but I know this was impossible owing to the feast tomorrow.

We can all be united in prayer and i say suffering, for I do not think there is anyone in authority who has not a great deal of this. One great thing about suffering is that it leads us to God.

It would be difficult for me to express how much I miss the influence of St. Benedict's Fathers, but I suppose this must all be in God's plan.

Father O'Driscoll has been extremely kind to me. Is it not a strange thing how they Augustinians will be working in ?? Nigeria

I very nearly went down to the boat to see Father Abbot and you, but I feared I might have been in the way, as I would have been, as things turned out.

I am sorry to hear you are going to have another domestic upheaval. If Dom Mathias is in charge of this department, I think it is better for me to keep out of things and let him get his own staff.

If it were you who were in charge, I would do anything to help you get someone.

Say a Low Mass please Father, for both our intentions.

Your devoted and ever-grateful child,
Sr. Mary

... from writing rooms in Grafton Street

from LIzzie to Mary Martin

...

From Mary Martin to Father Prior mentioning two possible vocations.

TEXT

Caritas
Dear Father Prior
It was good to see you
again + better still to hear
the Doctor found nothing seriously
wrong .
I have The permission ( with
a promise not to kneel or
stand from me) to attend
the ceremonies to-morrow +
Friday. Thank God even though
it means resting afterwards

• do not want to trouble
  you now all I want to let
  MONKSTOWN
  Spy Wednesday

you know
is that Miss O' Rourke
your direction
will takes cooks
place whenever you wish to
give .er a few days holidays
It might be well for Miss O Rour
to have a few days with Cook
before she goes if you think
well of it_ I told Miss O'Rourke
to arrange all with you.
It was very good of you to
arrange for Miss Clery to stay
hope she will be much impressed
by the ceremonies at Glenstal

• also with the life + spirit
  my two daughters_
  Two likely vocation may
  down for the day on Monday.

Discussions about two nurses. Mary Martin to Prior.

TEXT

Caritas
[March] 1936

Dear Father Prior,

I think I have two good Nurses willing, quite suitable for the position of nurse at Glenstal.

If It is convenient, and my room is not needed I intended returning tomorrow, Thursday, by the 6.20pm train. Then I could talk over the matter with you before deciding definitely deciding.

The brighter and younger of the two Miss McKenna asks ￡80a year. The other, Miss Cole, will come for £60 with the understanding of a rise in salary as the school increases. Miss Cole does not have such a good smart appearance, but she is a good nurse. I imagine she would be very easy to work with; she is 46 years.

Miss McKenna is 35 years old, a good nurse, and recommended to me by S. O'Reilly. I have asked them to send on their references to Glenstal and have promised to give them an answer on Friday.

Miss McKenna’s home is in Co. Limerick. She would like to have one day a month and 1/2 day a week free. I think she would take an interest in the growth of the college and improvements, as well as being kind and bright with the boys. Neither has had college experience, but I fear this is very hard to get.

You will be pleased to hear that Miss O'Rourke has decided to join our work, but she will not be free to come until November. Benedict sent her through St. Bernard—it was only yesterday she decided.

Miss Farrelly has also decided to join us, but to please her mother, she may have to first go into hospital for training.

I long to talk over our future work with you. The time is ripe now in Dublin for Vocations; we must organize something for them.

I think they have oblates of St. Benedict in Holland, that would suit our work and at the same time perhaps, be able to always continue looking after Glenstal.

In many ways, it seems I should be in Dublin for this, by (????) for the Missions. But on the other hand, more will be done by prayer, and perhaps a few days here in September before it closes. Miss O'Rourke will be able to help me.

Now, I thank you all for your prayers, as I am convinced it was them that got these two for M.M.M.

I did not hear from Father David about Br. Conrad, so I have done nothing more until I hear.

Sister Baptist sympathizes very much with your cross ,gives the same advice as I—Sr. Quinlan, if the parents are poor, and the best thing is to get him into the county home, then from there to a sanatorium.

I suppose you speak English very well by this

Please remember me to all the Fathers.

May I ask you to ask Fr John to wire me if it is convenient for me to go back tomorrow?

Your obedient child,
Marie Martin