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Caritas
2021-08-06/149
Epiphany Sunday - letter continued. 436.
Dear Father Prior
I continue from where I stopped
early this evening to catch post.
I am prived & hear Dom firard
has received such alarming reports, they
were certainly not from me or any of my
subjects. I am asking to say I have
never written to him since he paid me
a visit in '96' I was intending writing
to him to morrow & shall certainly do so
now - I never felt so happy about M. M. M.
& as far as I know my relations with Glenstal
are unchanged. I have always longed since
Dom firard left to talk all these matters over
with you, incuse you would have any difficult
views or plans for Glenstal. I am always
prepared for difficult outlooks from individuals
& could quite understand some not wishing
to take on the extra surden of M. M. M.
with all the responsibilities already attached
to the foundation at Glenstal, as I fully realize,

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only too well, how little help we can give in return for all we receive from you and your Monks. —
Ishall deal solely with M. M. M. from our point of view, having received definite encouragement to go on, hard as the task seems. Fr. Kelly has yet seen in Dutlin for a few days and we discussed all the problems, especially Fr. Vermersch's letter in detail, which gives me courage & definite lines to make a start, he does not minimize the difficulties of such a work, which adding,
"Now, if food will, He can now every defficiently"
I go confidently ahead selverously of it is His Will He will bring the work & a successful issue, if I and my deaphtus (as you so nicely put it), correspond to His praces and inspirations at each step, if it is not His Will the work will fail. I hope Him equally in failure as in success, also, I may never be the one to bring it into seing, Ishall do my very last to try and sow the seed.
From the seguring I want to make one point very clear:— I hope no discre to start as a Diocesan Congregation - All Missionary

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Bishops advise me to aim at tening directly under "Congregation Propaganda de Fede" first have their approbation & then apply to an Irish Bishop.
1) I am enclosing a few letters that deal with the proof of Dom Gerardo's approach to His Excellency, Archbishop Harty, these will give you as much knowledge and information as I have on this matter.
2) Fr Kelly with his knowledge of me, now that Fr Vermersch says it is possible, advises me after having spent a year at Pleustal under your direction and Spectral formation to apply for a dispensation from having to do another noviciate. What would you & Dom Davids opinion see on this point?
The time has come to make a very definite and deliberate start. I stell have the great desire to have myself & the first few provers at least intruded and prepared for their private vows under Benedictine influence. Do you think with the responsibilities I have of trying to establish this work that we can come to some suitable agreement so that for you and
N. M. M.

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My idea would be to get my daughters around me, do all together a years robituate for private vows and then as individuals go in a 2nd Order. When the year was completed I would like to send these I consider suitable for their training as nurses - My idea is also to train one of my daughters to be able to take my place at Glenstab during my absence, which from time to time will be unavoidable during the first few years -
Now the difficulties that present them - serve to me for M. M. M. are: -
a) Accommodation for more than three at a time, this may work out alright, as some will be ready for training moving on to make room for others
b) If we were running the whole of the domestic work, we would need to be a bigger staff than would be employed as seculars, attorneys there would not be sufficient time for a regular life of prayer, Sp. reading conferences. It would also be necessary for them to have a certain amount of time for study, recreation in common & propaganda work, as we are not earning.

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c)
It would mean dismissing Sicular Staff according as we had subjects to take their place, this would be very difficult to do especially if the present staff, Mai Lizzie & Mary are really satisfactory d) Getting in contact with vocations & meeting future subjects.
e) Holiday time. Chat & we be able to remain on at Plenstal? -
I do not see any difficulty at present as regards or position and understanding with His friend, The Arch Leshop of Cashel, you will see by my letter that I clearly mentioned my ultimate aim, he is aware of this and still gave the permission for me to go with my companions to Plenstal, helping in any way we could & receiving in return a spiritual formation on religious principles.
You will also probably see difficulties on your side which we can discuss when we need meet. D. V. I thought it would be helpful for you to have the endorsed before & perhaps you would like to talk things over with Don David & your council.

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Like you I have money question, my disire would always be to give generously wherever I could help but now I am faced with peat responsibilities as fools instrument of being a Nothur to M. M. M. & circumstances having changed slightly at least for a year I felt found to ask you for a little more help. As you ask me I shall draw up a project that we can discuss, perhaps you will do one also from what you think good. It is really impossible for me in one way, as I can never balance spiritual graces & privileges with material nature, you see for that reason my utter poverty spiritually & materialistic
As you see, none of these difficulties are very less & can mostly be reversed by coming to a definite understanding and agreement for the time being, say one year at least. A time may come when it will be absolutely necessary to have a house in India -
My real deficiency is a matter of conscience & a question that causes me much thought. - I think you know how much I love the work of fool at Flewstad, my longing to see you will establish in Ireland with a good college - My one few

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is having the responsibility of the the as for do
Will for me, will I do yustice in the position
Thold for flenstal. I have prayed much over
this, I see it is perhaps possible if I were more
obedient to Drs, especially in the matter of manual
work, I must use my more intellectual gifts for
this flory governing powers etc, and also to preserve
the very limited physical strength at my
disposal. I know I failed lady in this
last year, circumstances practically made
it impossible to do otherwise now I feel sound
in ensemble to have flenstal so staffed that
I shall be free for the administrative work of
the the & in the position I told at flenstal.
I also see the great advantage my position offers
me at flenstal where I shall be trying to live
& learning to deal in all these questions of
government & administration from the Religions
spirit & attitude, a thing I have had no
practical experience in. I have had northern
after northern in the hidden life of manual
work since I have got my life. Now I must
become more juniors, giving myself in a way I
find hardest, shoulder the cross track although
I am absolutely incapable, I trust for also little

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As is showing a very sense of patiential milestones in h.m.m. - we were soon as to see me & clearly possessibles of their society & our relationship at present with it - I never forgot you all
and see in fleustal for my own formation under your direction, a wonderful opportunity under exceptional privileges and favourable circumstances of seing trained in all these nature, Lat. The Third I shall do yustice for fleustal is The Question, I keep asking myself. Certainly conditions are more favourable now & you will have such a good knowledge of everything it will really take little of your time to express your wishes to me once or twice a week & then for me to carry them out accordingly. I still hope it is practical to continue the two Lat such a decision not with you -
I also enclose items of Clereps fill & marked with & the things I got for the College etc. Things marked H were for our use in setting room. I enclose also a cheque of balance for Laundry fills - Hope this is all in record & that you will be able to understand.
I am sorry this missed the post to-day Lat could not get to finish it till too late for post - I hope it will not weary you, it is well you have a whole month to read it. "
As is showing a very sense of patiential milestones in h.m.m. - we were soon as to see me & clearly possessibles of their society & our relationship at present with it - I never forgot you all

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Wishing you a very successful turn & a
great spirit of live & union among the
Staff.
I am still confined to lead & have to
have the mysterious again for life too, it is
not healed yet. It will be cured in fools
own time & when I have learned all the
lessons fool means me to learn
Remember me to all the Monks
Your unworthy cover patient & shedent
child in Jesus & Mary
St Mary
Shope you have good news from your neie &
that she is very happy.
I also hope all the staff turned up
Miss Legaler did not come here, so I
take it she went direct to you.
After this few days of prayer, reflection &
consultation with F. Kelly & Miss Reyder I shall
probably get Miss G' Nourke to resign, as
I feel she would le the one to gain most from your
instructions & le the greatest help to you & Miss L.
Along my attence -
Dr. Mr. Reckling the Nuncie weeps
form my intimate patterning myself in
the search of the things besides them,
and when I have learned from
you you will well do a long
experience of the good work in the
work which as fool asks me to
keep responsible on to me that
they have no bad purpose in a work which as fool asks me to