XVI. To Dom Placid Wolter, Archabbot of Beuron

Dom Placid, founder of Beuron Abbey with his brother Dom Maurus, was the first abbot of Maredsous. As such he had received in 1886 the young Irish priest who came to ask for admission to the monastery. (See above, Section VI, the letter Father Marmion wrote to his future Abbot shortly before his entry into religion.)

It seems that Dom Placid, a very well-intentioned but austere monk, did not fully understand the character of this Irishman, so full of ardor, exuberance, and good humor; and Dom Marmion suffered from being misunderstood, but bravely faced thts trial. (See Thibaut, Op. cit., p. 44, and particularly p. 67.)

In 1890, as Archabbot of Beuron, Dom Placid exercised a paternal authority over the whole Beuronese Congregation, and consequently over Mont-César, which was part of it. With an admirable spirit of faith and a remarkable humility, Dom Columba accounts to him, with great simplicity and frankness, for his occupations and the state of Ats soul.

Archabbot Placid Wolter was at this time aged and wll. He died at Beuron in 1908.

Benedicite Mont-César, Louvain. 8 Feb. 1905. Right Rev. and very dear F. Archabbot, I know that we must not fatigue you with unnecessary letters, and

III so I scarcely ever write, as my life is very quiet, and I never have any difficulty with anyone. Yet I feel that you have always retained a very sincere and paternal affection for me, since the day that Our Lord inspired you to accept me as your son in spite of my great unworthiness; and on my side, I have ever guarded a profound veneration for your person, and a childlike affection for your Paternity. You have told me that it is a joy to get a line from me, and so I will just tell you how I am getting on.

For some time past, my soul is in great peace. My temptations have greatly diminished, in fact, almost ceased. God has given me the grace of detachment from creatures; and at the same time I see more and more clearly how weak and unworthy I am in myself, though I have a very great confidence in the merits and in the Blood of J.C. I may be mistaken, but I feel I have but a short time to live; and I try to live in God’s presence, and in the preparation for the account I have to render. This does not make me sad, or prevent me from working, but prevents dissipation.

For the last few weeks I give retreats from time to time; and although I am by no means a preacher, Our Lord blesses my words. I like very much to give a retreat at Jupille; their spirit is so simple, so beautiful, and they are at the same time so simple, and so religiously reserved. I go there, and also to their foundation at Lede, as extraordinary confessor. I was at Woolhampton — the monastery of the English Benedictines of Douai— last August. I was greatly edified by their charity. .. . The Nuns at Princethorpe have begged F. Abbot to allow me to give their annual retreat, and he has consented; so that I shall have an opportunity of judging of the life of Benedictine nuns in England.

Here, at Mont-César, God is visibly blessing us. The holy life, and continual devotion of our dear F. Abbot, could not fail to call down a special protection.

Humbly begging your blessing and prayers, I remain most humbly devoted in J.C. fr. Columba, O.S.B.

LI2

Abbot Marmion in 1913.

Maredsous Abbey in 1961. View from the air.

• Benedicite Louvain. Mont-César, 18 June 1906. Right Rev. and dear F. Archabbot,

On the occasion of my jubilee,’ I received many congratulations and testimonies of affection; but I can say in all sincerity that none were so dear as that which came from you. As years roll on, I see that I have seldom in life found friendship so sincere and so paternal as yours; and on my part there are few whom I love more tenderly, and to whom I am so grateful as to you. God has been so good to me! In die malorum protexit me in abscondito tabernaculi sui? \ had been so wicked, so ungrateful, and He brought me to His own tabernacle; and it was you, dear Father, who opened the door, and bore with my weakness and imperfect beginnings. Protexit me yes, despite my passions. He has, I hope, preserved me by His grace from all grievous sin, for the last 20 years, i.e. since my entry. I feel a great desire to consecrate my remaining years wholly to His service, and through Jove.

I am very busy here at Louvain. God blesses my work, because I do all in obedience, and in absolute dependence on His Will and grace. I am giving the annual retreat at Ampleforth in September. I will not have the consolation of seeing you at the general Chapter, as the F. Abbot does not think we could both be absent under present circumstances. I seldom have the opportunity of knowing any of our Monasteries; but I leave that in God’s keeping. In any case, it would be a great consolation for me to see you again, before we separate for eternity.

I remain with profound gratitude and filial affection, your respectfully devoted son in J. C. f. Columba, O.S.B.

• The 25th anniversary of his ordination. *“Tn the day of evils, he hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle” (Ps. 26:5).

Benedicite Louvain. Mont-César, 7 Jan. 1907. Right Rev. and very dear F. Archabbot,

I have the habit of sending you a line every year at this epoch to thank you for all you have done for me, and to give you an account of myself. You are good enough to tell me that this annual letter gives you pleasure; and for me, it is a consolation to send you at least a line, as I have seldom, or never, the pleasure of seeing you, or in fact, any of our abbots. As since my entry, I have been in Beuron but once, and never in any other of our German monasteries. Next Sunday, 10 Feb., I celebrate the 20th anniversary of my clothing as a novice; and God alone knows all the graces I have received since then. His mercies are above all His works. In return for much sin and ingratitude, He gave me a sublime vocation. And despite my many infidelities and faults, He has, I hope, preserved me from all mortal sin since my entry; and given me the grace of holy perseverance. I am extremely happy in my vocation, and appreciate it daily more and more.

I can do very little for the advancement of our Community, but I feel that humble obedience and observance of my rule may bring down blessings on us. Our numbers are still very limited, but the spirit is good. We have before our eyes daily a model of regularity and generous forgetfulness of self in the person of our Abbot.

The classes are given with zeal; and in our last examinations I was greatly pleased at the great progress of our students. . . . The death of Dom Pius de Hemptinne? was a great trial for me. He has been here my pupil and spiritual child for years; and I had a great admiration for that beautiful, virgin-soul. He had such splendid qualities of head and heart that he would have been a great Monk later on; and God knows best, and took him to Himself.

I should be most grateful if you would give me the faculty of anticipating Matins, Lauds at 2 o’clock, as I have from time to time to give retreats, and it is there a great convenience.

• January 27, 1907. See A Disciple of Dom Marmion, Dom Pius de Hemptinne, by John de Hemptinne (London, Sands, 1935).

Humbly asking your blessing, I remain with humble affection, your grateful and devoted child in J.C. £. Columba Marmion, O.S.B.

Benedicite Mont-César, Louvain. 19 Feb. 1908. Right Rev. and dear Father Archabbot,

I write every year at this epoch to ask paternal blessing, and to thank you for all you have done for me. I am a little late, as I have had rather a heavy attack of influenza; and I am only just recovering. I humbly beg you to pray for me; and to offer me and the work which I try to do, to God, in order that through your hands He may accept it.

I am very happy in my vocation, though I am able to do very little. I try to do it in the spirit of obedience, and hope God will accept it, and show me mercy. Our Community here is very united, and I am sure very pleasing to God; as they observe their rule and live in peace, and are all fully occupied. We have no vocations at present; but if we are faithful, God will serve them in His good time.

As regards my occupations, I have a good many little things to do. Then I try to help Father Abbot, though very inefficiently, as I am often told; but I try to do my best, and I hope God will be satisfied.

Father Abbot-Primate kindly gave me an opportunity of seeing Fort-Augustus, by getting me invited to give their annual retreat. It is a most beautiful place, and if well governed, ought to be a centre of light and grace for the whole of Scotland. I got a line of introduction from the Marchioness of Bute to the Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.

His Lordship was most kind, giving me hospitality in his residence at Oban for three days. I had, during that time, the opportunity of seeing Iona, the former home of St. Columba... .

I shall be 50 next April, and I feel I have not very long to live; and so I recommend myself very humbly to your prayers, as I never forget you in mine.

I remain, with profound respect, your humbly devoted child in J.C.