XII. To Dom Gerald van Caloen, Abbot of Olinda

Dom Gerald van Caloen, member of a noble Belgian family, was the first postulant to seek admission to the Abbey of Maredsous, on the very day of its foundation. Twenty years later, when the few surviving monks in Brazil had asked for help from their brethren of the Beuronese Congregation, Dom Gerald was chosen to organize the revival of these unhappy monasteries ruined by persecution. He began with Olinda Abbey, of which he became first, prior, then in 1897, abbot. He had brought with him several companions from Maredsous, and others followed later. At one time there was even * John 15:5.

• Ps. 50:19. ’ The end of this letter is missing. a possibility that Dom Marmion himself might be sent to Brazil. But divine Providence had other plans for him.

Dom Gerald van Caloen had a strong and adventurous character and he was successful in his enterprise. In 1906, when abbot of Rio de Janeiro, he was appointed bishop with jurisdiction over the Indians of the Rio Branco. He returned finally to Europe only in 19109, and died there on January 16, 1932.

The first of the letters that follow was written at the time when Dom van Caloen was prior of the Abbey of Olinda. These letters should be compared with the one written in July of the same year, 1896, to Father Dwyer.

These four letters were recently found among the archives of the Abbey of Saint-André, and have been kindly loaned to us by Dom Nicolas Huyghebaert.

• Benedicite Maredsous, May 8, | 1896] Very rev. & dear Fr. Prior,

Please accept my most heartfelt sympathy, & the promise of my fervent prayers for the repose of the soul of your dear father. I had not the honor of knowing the baron personally; but as we are all brothers in J.C., I shall now look on him as one of my parents, & intercede for him with my own. For us who have left all things to assure our eternal happiness, our great consolation is to see our parents die happily in order that we may be sure to meet them again in our Father’s home, never to be separated from them for all eternity. RELE. |

Although I do not write often, it is not that I lack interest in your work at Olinda; on the contrary, I have your success very much at heart; & if Providence has destined me to labour here in a more modest sphere, I envy those who have been thought worthy to devote their lives to such a glorious cause; & I try to aid you by my prayers, since I may not do so by my presence.

Thank God, we have every mark of the divine blessing here at present. I have never seen such fervour & such union. Our novitiate *

1 . . . . Dom Marmion was zelator, 1.e., assistant to the master of novices.

SI is not numerous, but the elements are excellent. Besides, two excellent postulants are coming to us, & have been already accepted. Fr. John [Felix de Hemptinne]? is really a model novice, & a most enthusiastic admirer of the monastic life; in fact, he finds it difficult to understand that his former companions, — Joseph del Marmol,* Ch [. . .], etc. —, can remain in the world, which to him seems so unworthy of them. I am sorry that what I said about publishing his mss. hurt Dom Willibrord.* It was said in pure fun. He ought to know me well enough to see that I was not serious.

Please tell Dom Feuillen that I spent a week with the Canon de Wouters, & that we have become great friends; though of course he can never reconcile himself to Dom Feuillen’s departure.’ The Canon told me all about your voyage to Jerusalem, all his difficulties, etc. He is a most interesting man; & I spent some very pleasant hours with him. Please present my most affectionate & fraternal greetings to all the dear brethren, & believe me with much respect, yours most devotedly in Corde Jesu

~ fr. Columba OSB:

• Benedicite Maredsous, May 10. Right Rev. & dear F. Abbot,

It was very good of you to think of writing to me. I take a very sincere interest in the success of our workers at Olinda; & I daily pray our dear Lord to give you all His divine peace & joy & to console you all in the midst of the privations & sufferings attached to your present position. As for myself, you know me sufficiently to be assured that if my superiors thought I could be of any service at Olinda, they would encounter neither opposition nor the slightest hesitation on my part to obey. On the contrary I should regard their order as an indication of God’s will; & should devote any energy or talents I have to your work. But I would not, for any thing, make

• Later he became prefect, then vicar-apostolic in Upper Katanga.

*In fact, Joseph del Marmol entered Maredsous some months later and became a monk under the name of Dom Boniface. He was for more than thirty years a missionary in Katanga.

*Dom Willibrord van Heteren, monk of Maredsous, sent to Brazil. *Dom Feuillen Lhermitte, monk of Maredsous, sent to Brazil. any move in this matter myself, lest I might be going against God’s designs in my regard. I am more & more persuaded that a monk’s perfection is expressed in the words of St. Francis de Sales ne rien désirer, ne rien demander, ne rien refuser.\ 1 would even think it a certain presumption on my part to ask to be sent, as I am more & more conscious that there is so much weakness in me, both physical and moral, that I should very probably be more of a burden than a help to you.

We are doing very nicely here. Our novitiate is filled with fervent novices, full of talent & zeal for perfection; & the theological studies under the guidance of D. Urban? are really very complete & quite up to the mark. The house at Louvain ® is going up. I think it is Father Abbot’s intention, when the present wing is finished, to send our theological students there;* & thus separate our scholastics from the novices, which I consider a measure of the very highest importance. Please tell F. Prior that I was at Braine-le-Comte again this year, & that M. le Chanoine & I spoke a great deal about him. He never speaks of D. Prior but with the greatest affection & veneration. Tell him I have become quite a missionary now, & preach sometimes four times in one day. I remain with profound respect, yrs sincerely

& affectionately in J.C. f. Columba O.S.B.

• Benedicite Maredsous. Nov. 11, 1897 Right Rev. & Very dear Father Abbot,

Please excuse my delay in answering your very kind letter. I thought it better to wait till all had been settled, & now I send this by the two Fathers who are leaving us & taking my place.’ Before receiving your Paternity’s letter, I had known that there was question of my going to Olinda; & I immediately went to our Father Prior

*“Desire nothing, ask for nothing, refuse nothing.”

• Dom Urbain Baltus.

• House belonging to Maredsous at Louvain for graduates of the abbey school who were students at the University.

*Early ideas for what actually became the Abbey of Mont-César in 1899.

*Dom Maur Desrumaux and Brother Mayeul de Caigny, a novice. Dom Maur is mentioned farther on in this letter. The second was already a priest. He was later to found the Benedictine abbey in Trinidad.

& begged him to tell Father Abbot at Beuron that I placed myself absolutely in his hands to dispose of me as he pleased. Had it been decided that I was to go, I should have been very happy to be with you; but, as you are aware, my superiors judged that I was not fit for such a mission; & that it was better for me to try to serve God modestly here at home. I must confess I am sure that this decision of my superiors is but the expression of God’s will in my regard. For, past & present experience make me feel how weak & unprovided I am with the necessary virtue to overcome the difficulties & dangers one meets in such missions.

I feel the greatest interest in your work in Brazil, & I daily pray God to bless you & to console your Paternity in the midst of the crosses & trials with which you have to contend. Dom Maur will be a most useful monk at Olinda: he is so obedient & unpretending that God is sure to bless all he takes in hand; & God’s blessing is everything: Nist Dominus aedificaverit domum, etc.’ I have known the R. Fr. Mayeul, as I was his zelatur up to quite lately. I have a very high opinion of him. He is very talented, & has.a great deal of positive knowledge; besides this he is very virtuous & aims at high perfection. If treated with kindness & confidence, you can do what you please with him.

God is blessing our community in a wonderful manner. We have received quite a number of excellent vocations, & I have never seen a greater spirit of union & fervour in the monastery. I am convinced that this blessing comes from the obedience our superiors have shown to the wishes of the Holy Father in giving up some of our best subjects for the interests of the Church in Brazil & Rome.

I suppose your Paternity is aware that I am no longer zelator. Dom Urban has taken my place.* There are such a number of young postulants, & I have become almost as stout as Dom Feuillen, so that it was necessary to find someone weighing a few los less & consequently with more “go” in him.

Respectful & affectionate regards to D. Prior, D. Maur & all the brethren.

Most sincerely & respectfully yours, f. Columba O.S.B.

? “Unless the Lord build the house . . .” (Ps. 126:1).

• Benedicite Regina Coeli [January?, 1902] Right Rev. & dear F. Abbot,

Our dear F. Prior told me that you have just celebrated the 25th anniversary of your ordination.’ As you have always had the goodness to treat me with great kindness, I thought that a line from me to testify my respectful & very sincere friendship for your Paternity might give you pleasure. I shall pray fervently, & obtain the prayers of the dear Carmelite sisters,” whose spiritual father I am, for your Paternity, that God may fill you more & more with the gifts of His grace; & bless all you are doing for His glory. I take, as you know, a most lively interest in all that concerns you & your labours.

Here, D.G., God is blessing us most abundanily. We live in the most perfect peace, & the greatest joy & union. Having said that, I have said all; for you know that if God is with us, all the rest shall be added. We live quietly amongst ourselves, very rarely going out, & yet although here for so short a time, our little community is respected, & has already begun to exercise its influence.

D. Wandrille paid us a visit. I had a long talk with him. He made a good impression; for the life he is leading has done a great work in his soul, has taught him the reality of life. I believe he will be a useful instrument for God’s glory.

I sincerely hope you are satished with the state in which you found your dear community, particularly the studies. It is so very important for our mission in Brazil that our Fathers should be known as holy & learned men.

With great respect & sincere affection, your unworthy fr. Columba O.S.B.

• This undated letter must have been written shortly after the Jubilee in question. Dom Gerald van Caloen was ordained priest on December 23, 1876.

?Dom Marmion was at the time chaplain to the Carmelite nuns of Louvain.

*Dom Wandrille Herpierre, monk of Maredsous, was sent to Brazil in 1899.