IX. To a young priest

Abbaye de St. Benoit, Maredsous, par St Gérard, Belgium. | November, 1889] My dear Frank,’ I have been for a long time anxious to write to you to congratulate you on the priceless grace God has bestowed on you in calling you to PAUL @lot aah ho acy AM OL POtOy *Ps. 36:5. * One of his former pupils at Clonliffe, now studying in Rome, as Dom Marmion had done. See Thibaut, op. cit., pp. 4o f. the priesthood. I could not tell you how happy I felt when I heard you and John Waters were ordained.— You know, John was one of my spiritual children, in whom I take a special interest.— A priest can do so much for God if, in offering the H. Sacrifice, he unites the oblation of himself, his life, his love, all he has, with that of the divine Victim. He can obtain priceless graces for all mankind, can stay the anger of God, and gain powerful aid for the Church, not to speak of the great merit he gains for himself. Let us try to be faithful and loving towards Our dear Lord. It is in the heart of the priest He expects to repose, when He is outraged by sinners; and also, He so often finds even there but coldness and ingratitude.

I must thank you from my heart for your great kindness to my poor sister.* Poor thing, she is a stranger in the diocese of Waterford. She is almost without friends since my departure; and her little foundation has to struggle against very great difficulties and trials. And your kindness procured them a real joy, as the things of God are their only happiness. I hope, later on, when you have time, you will pay them a visit. It would be such a pleasure.

Talking of visits, I fully expect you will pass by here. It is scarcely out of your way; and the monastery is really worth a visit. Need I say, how great a happiness it would be to see you.— Of course, all this applies to John Waters too.—As for myself I am extremely happy, and enjoy excellent health. I had an attack of influenza; but it is now passed away. I get letters regularly from Tom Waters. I could not tell you how happy I am to get a line from my old Alma Mater.* She is prospering; and I believe there is a very good spirit there now, D.G.

Have you ever seen Mgr. Kirby of the Collegio Irlandese? You know he ordained me. I have always retained a great veneration for him, as I regard him as a real saint; but I fear he looks on me as a kind of apostate, for having left the secular mission. However, I heard the words: Magister adest et vocat te® and I should obey. I

• The ordination took place on November 1, 1889 — which allows us to fix the date of this letter.

• Sister (now Mother) Columba, who had just undertaken the foundation of Dunmore Convent of Mercy, near Waterford. See references to her in preceding letters.

*T.e., Cloncliffe. ° «The Master is there and calls thee” (John 11:28). should be glad to get some details about the Prop. and Coll. Irlandese, the classes, etc.; as I always look back on Rome as one of the happiest epochs of my life.

The Pope, when Bishop of Perugia, published a little pamphlet: La pratica dell’umilita.® F. Abbot gave me leave to ask you for it; if you can get it for me, I should be very grateful. I want you also to find out for me, if the faculty I received from the Prop. to substitute the 15 mysteries of the Rosary for the Office in case of illness, etc., ceases by my becoming a Benedictine. I was ill lately, and dispensed from the Office, but was so glad to be able to say the Rosary in nomine Ecclesiae.

I recommend myself earnestly to your prayers, especially on the feast of St. Benedict. I will ask you and John Waters to give me a special memento in your Mass on that day in memory of old Ces 2. ee

Write to me soon and give all the news of Rome you can. One of my brethren is making his studies in Rome. He is in the new college of St. Anselm Piazza Scossa Cavalli, near Castel St. Angelo. Frére Pietro is his name. If you come across him, tell him you know me.

Believe me, your affect. friend in J.C. fr. Columba Marmion, O.S.B.