Writings

[6423]

I am informed that the Most Reverend Fr Normand, Superior of the Jesuit Missions in Syria and Egypt will be going to Europe, and certainly to Fiesole and Rome. Should he come to Rome, may I suggest that it would be very
appropriate for Your Eminence to summon him to see you in your study or in the Secretariat, or above, at home; and you should question him privately on the state and the religious condition of Egypt, and also submit to him one by one the views I explained in my last letter n.1 on Egypt. If my suggestions were to prove inexact or untrue, I am ready to sound the retreat, because the private opinions of an individual are nothing in comparison with those of such an able, good and perceptive Jesuit as Fr Normand, and I will say far more vis à vis, that is, in comparison with those of Your Excellency and of Propaganda.

[6424]

But you will see that his opinion will be identical. This ad maiorem Dei Gloriam for the good of Africa.
Today I am leaving Suakin with my evangelical caravan and will be entering the desert. I commend myself to your prayers and in the sweetest Heart of Jesus I am pleased to sign myself
Your Most Reverend Eminence’s
most humble and devoted true servant,

+ Daniel Comboni
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

[6425]

We reached Khartoum from Cairo in 29 days. In Berber the steamer had been awaiting us for many days. We caused everyone amazement. There has never been such a happy journey! All healthy, and we found everyone healthy. Sr Victoria is beside herself with joy. With the exception of the inconvenience that there are no female schools and no sister knows an iota of Arabic, I found the mission in a very good state, great self-denial, a spirit of sacrifice and enormous courage. I have no time; I shall write when I have some. I greet and bless both the Institutes, the Superior, Virginia, to whom I will write in good time because I am drowning in work.

[6426]

Pray a lot and have prayers said. Write to me directly in Kordofan. We will create a magnificent Mission in Nuba: I am taking Fr Bonomi with me who, with Fr Losi, knows Nuba well. Oh! The devil is afraid of us! Central Africa is far better than I imagined and than was reported to Propaganda by the friars, who oppose the good that is not done by them: I mean those friars and priests of Egypt who never saw the Sudan. I am keeping going because I trust only in God and in you who are preparing good students for me. Vale . A thousand greetings to the Cardinal and to Fr Vignola, etc.

[6427]

Faith and Jesus: let the world collapse; Christ will triumph in Central Africa. I am developing my earlier idea of founding an Institute of Sisters in Syria.
The Jesuits find it magnificent and will help me. But Franciscans must not hear about it! This will be later. I will make the Holy Father play all in good time, when I write to him about it. Only the […] will not be happy about it…

[the rest is missing].
[+ Bishop Daniel]

[6428]

I travelled from Cairo to Khartoum in only 29 days with a caravan of 16 of our Institutes’ members. It is almost a miracle! But after God, I must thank the Khedive or sovereign of Egypt who ordered all the governors of the Red Sea, from Nubia and wherever I was passing, to put themselves at my service; which is why I found the camels ready in Suakin, and in Berber the steamer, which had been waiting for me for 11 days; it took us and more than 200 cases on the Nile to Khartoum in only 5 days, where I found Fr Bonomi and the Sisters who were longing to see us. Fr Bonomi is a true Missionary and an able administrator.

[6429]

Here I did not find even a penny of debt; but in Kordofan, yes; however yesterday morning I paid off everything with 2,400 thalers which I counted out in front of them, and thus neither in Europe, nor Egypt nor Central Africa do I or the Work owe a single penny. Then in Cairo I ordered the building of the church; in El Obeid the parish church has already been completed and is the loveliest in all Central Africa; and it has all been paid for. I am in excellent health, as is everyone on the mission. This is the only and the first letter I have written since my arrival in Khartoum. In Verona I did not write even a single letter; I received yours from Limone, and this is the answer to it.

[6430]

I greet and bless Teresa, our relatives, the Rector, Fr Luigi, our friends, and those of Riva. Domenico sends you his greetings. In the desert he wept and said that he was not used to such suffering, and that without drinking wine morning and evening he cannot survive. The two Germans, Fr Giovanni and Fr Giuseppe are true missionaries. Fr Bortolo Rolleri also sends you his greetings; I am glad to have him with me: he is most exemplary: on the other hand, I can stay even with the devil. The mission will go well, despite its enemies’ attacks: but everything must bow to Christ.
Your affectionate son,

+ Daniel,
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic

[6431]

See that the Parish Priest of Montorio sends immediately the two cases of wax I bought, etc.
In addition, please write to the Società Rubattino in Genoa that the two sacks of rice were sent by Brother Grigolini for his niece Teresa. He also sent a sack of rice to Sestri. But I fear that everything was wrongly addressed, because I did not receive the rice in Suakin or Sestri. Order it all to be sent to me; because only in my name are customs duties not charged, either in Egypt or in Suakin.

[6432]

I am drowning in work: everyone comes to the first Pastor, and I cannot dispense myself, especially in what concerns the governance of souls. I beg you through duty of conscience to make those students who have sure vocations study a lot of Arabic. My God! I am very depressed at having to give an account of the Vicariate to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda! Souls are neglected! The Catholic families uncared for, moral miseries have increased!!! In brief, 3 Arabic Sisters (Virginia, Sr Giuseppina and Sr Germana) were doing more for souls than all 15 of the Sisters we have here, including Sr Vittoria and Sr Grigolini.

[6433]

Yesterday a Syrian Catholic died whom no one knew. We just managed to give him absolution. He had rented a slave girl from a Muslim and she was immediately reclaimed by her Muslim owner; but since she is 7 months pregnant by my above-mentioned Catholic, I refused to hand her over to the Muslim, because of the future child’s soul. We are conducting legal proceedings: but I am winning them. If she had formerly been under Sr Germana and Virginia, we should have had a Christian wife.
The post is leaving. I received your welcome letter: I will answer it soon.
Your affectionate

+ Daniel

[6434]

For the first and only time until today, a very large caravan like mine of 16 Europeans what with Sisters, missionaries, catechists and coadjutor brothers has reached Khartoum in only 29 days. We have always taken more than two months and even three or four. This is due firstly to God’s blessing, and then to the extraordinary kindness of the Khedive of Egypt, who ordered all the Pashas and Governors of the province wherever I had to pass to give me the greatest possible help. Even the Most Excellent Baron von Schoeffer, the Austro-Hungarian Minister resident in Egypt did a great deal to help me. In Suakin on the Red Sea, I found 50 camels ready, which I needed to cross the desert which separates the Red Sea from the Nile.

[6435]

Then in Berber I found the steamer ready, sent to transport me, my people and my provisions to Khartoum by Rauf Pasha, Governor General of the Egyptian possessions in the Sudan, and it had been waiting for me for 11 days. Then I was received courteously here by everyone, and especially by Rauf Pasha, who put himself entirely at my service in everything I desired; and he proved this to me with facts, as I shall tell you in my future correspondence, when promises made have become past events, and when events that have occurred until now have been confirmed by the continuation of his lofty protection which has been granted to me.

[6436]

This is not the time to give the Sacred Congregation detailed news of my Vicariate. I would like to examine everything with my own eyes, with total thoroughness and tranquillity and especially with conscience, because one cannot hoodwink Domine Dio. However, from what I have seen so far with my own eyes and have been able to grasp from the recent fresh news I have had from the different Stations in the interior, my Vicariate is going rather better than I myself had expected, or than was reported to the Sacred Congregation and to Your Eminence by ignorant and not particularly kindly relators. For some time now I have been aware that my Vicariate has many enemies who have done much damage both to it and to me, either by sending false information to Rome or by causing my benefactors to cool towards me, as happened especially with the Propagation of the Faith, (which, however, is most benevolent to Central Africa, because it has God’s spirit, great wisdom and charity), falsely misleading them by giving them to understand that Mgr Comboni’s Work does not have much importance , does nothing, etc., etc.

[6437]

However Most Eminent Prince, I fear nobody in the world besides myself, whom I examine every day and commend most fervently to the Heart of Jesus, to Mary and to St Joseph. I know well enough who the enemies of my work are and I have not the slightest fear of them, although they have done and perhaps will still do me harm in Italy, France and Germany; because their lies and ill-advised reports have very short legs, and because God’s works, those works which aim at his glory and the salvation of souls, must pass through the crucible of the Cross, which is the only symbol of salvation and of victory.

[6438]

After 10 years the Sacred Congregation will see what my Work has done in Central Africa, and what has been done by those who without the necessary training, study and preparatory work have rashly thrown themselves into daring undertakings without first sufficiently studying the terrain which is thick with thorns. I would be glad to be wrong: but I do not fear to tell the truth, because I have profoundly studied this subject and have great experience. Moreover, I only explain and always will only explain my ideas subordinately to Propaganda or to the Supreme Pontiff and not to others, for I have at heart only the pure good of the Church and Africa, for which I would give a hundred lives if I had them

[6439]

My relations have been further damaged and my Work in Egypt slandered by 1) those who have made the Egyptian apostolate a true monopoly of their own; 2) those who have never done a thing for Central Africa, notwithstanding their efforts, and slander my Vicariate without knowing anything. Those who live in Egypt can say of Central Africa as much as can be thought by those who live in Paris and Verona. In any case, everything is arranged by God, whom I will always bless.

[6440]

In the meantime in my Vicariate everyone is well at the moment despite the excessive heat, and in general an excellent mood prevails among my missionaries and Sisters (products of my Verona Institute), as well as great self-denial and sacrifice.
I arrived with my caravan in Khartoum on 28th January last. And why have I not yet written a syllable to Your Eminence?…

[6441]

In the first place I was waiting for the outcome of my petitions to Your Eminence in Rome; and so far until today I have heard nothing.
In the second place, I wanted to be properly informed here in Khartoum of two sad bits of news that were given to me as soon as I arrived. In any case relata refero, without taking responsibility for them. One concerns Abyssinia, the other, the mission of Nyanza Victoria on the Equator.

[6442]

The Austro-Hungarian Consul, Cavaliere Hansal, (with whom I have perfectly settled the complaints he had about Fr Bonomi, a man who is a little harsh but has great self-denial and a spirit of sacrifice and who accompanied me to Nuba, where he was the first Superior), the Christian merchants of Khartoum who do business with Ghalabat and with Abyssinia and three Abyssinian Muslims banished from there told me that the despot King John has enforced a law (motivated by schismatic Coptic priests and by the heretical bishop) by which he obliges all his subjects to profess his heretical Coptic religion, and all others, whether Catholics, Mohammedans etc., must either become heretical Copts or emigrate (1). They told me that there is not even a single Vincentian missionary left in Abyssinia, and far less the Bishop, and that they have all fled to Kheren, that is, outside Abyssinia. They then told me that there is also a certain Naretti from Aosta, Cavaliere of the Crown of Italy, who has excellent relations with the Kassa (King John), and that he is preparing to go to Italy.

[6443]

On my arrival in Khartoum I found a letter here from Fr Livinhac, Superior of the Missionaries of Algiers in Nyanza, written some time before, in which he told me (these are his words) that: “The Governor of the Egyptian Equatorial Provinces informs me of Your Excellency’s desire to have news of us. (Actually I had written two letters begging the Governor General of the Equator, Emin Bey, a Prussian, who gave me proof of friendship, to protect and to do all he could for the missionaries of Algiers, etc.). I thank your Excellency for the interest you deign to have for us, and feel it my duty to satisfy your wishes.

[6444]

We arrived in Rubaga etc., etc., etc. Your Excellency knows by experience the difficulties of beginning a mission among the poor Africans. It is therefore pointless to tell you of our efforts, privations and other trials which are the Missionary’s daily bread, especially in Africa. May the Good Teacher be moved by the sacrifice of so many Missionaries who water this vast continent with their sweat and make the longed-for day of mercy and salvation shine upon them… Uganda is not unhealthy. My confreres ask me to convey their regards to you, etc.”

[6445]

This letter, written by that Superior (certainly a missionary of great value who makes true sacrifices) gives no details. But the above-mentioned Governor of the Equator writes to me from Lado that the Missionaries of Algiers will end up in Uganda as did the Anglicans of the Church Missionary Society, that is, by being forced to leave Victoria Nyanza (we hope not, because Christ sent them there for a purpose). The same Governor then sent this news to Cavaliere Hansal two months ago: 1. That King M’tesa does not look after anyone who does not give him presents; and since the Missionaries of Algiers gave him more presents than the English, he took kindly to them. 2. This king suspects that the foreigners in Uganda have relations with Egypt which he regards with extreme diffidence. 3. The above-mentioned Governor Emin Bey, (Dr Schnitzler, a Prussian) wrote to the Austro-Hungarian Consul Hansal that the poor missionaries of Algiers are going hungry, and that M’tesa’s underlings neither give nor sell them anything to eat.

[6446]

4. Lastly, King M’tesa, having heard from the Protestant missionaries that theirs is the only true religion, and likewise having heard from the missionaries of Algiers that the Catholic faith is the only true one and that the Anglican and Protestant one is false and moreover, no longer receiving an abundance of gifts from the Catholic missionaries as in 1879, issued a decree in which he orders: “no one can change the religion of his fathers” (in 1872 however he became Muslim to please the wealthy and opulent Sheik Khamis Ben Abdullah who gave him many gifts), “and in addition, I order that the French missionaries be given nothing more to eat, etc.”, so that in other words, they suffer hunger and will be forced to leave, etc.

[6447]

This news reached the Austro-Hungarian consul 35 days ago and, he told me yesterday, he passed it on clearly and simply to H.E. Baron Hofmann, the former Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna, and Minister of Finance, etc. (whom the Most Eminent Secretary of State knows well), and who is a geographical authority etc., who, says the consul, at this point will either have had it published in his diaries or in the bulletin of the Geographical Society of Vienna. The same Emin Bey is also a correspondent of almost all the European Geographical Societies, and especially that of Berlin, etc. Relata refero, and I hope in the Heart of Jesus that he will remedy everything, because his Heart also beat for the Equator.

[6448]

I will stay in Khartoum this month, then I will leave for the kingdom of Kordofan, where I will celebrate Pontifical Mass and bless the holy oils in the new parish church of El Obeid, which is roofed with zinc sheets that I sent from Milan, and is the largest in the Vicariate and in Central and Equatorial Africa.

[6449]

Here I am firm and steadfast in my principle of acting first and of speaking later: caepit Jesus facere et docere; and he never imitated those who scheme and chatter, and publish ten before having achieved three. I was dumbfounded to read the last issue of Missions Catholiques of Lyons, in which is presented a sort of Aperçue Générale of Catholic Missions after the providential Encyclical of the Holy Father and in favour of the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood, etc. In this Aperçue, speaking of Africa, all the Institutions in Africa are mentioned, Jesuits, Vincentians, Holy Ghost Fathers, Capuchins, the Seminary of Lyons, and especially the Missionaries of Algiers, their great travels, etc., but there is not even a mention of the Work for the Redemption of Africa of the Vicariate of Central Africa, where we have made the greatest sacrifices and established works of greater prestige and stability for the Catholic religion, in comparison with which the expeditions of the Archbishop of Algiers to date are as nothing.

[6450]

I know who it was who sought to demolish my work and the efforts of my missionaries in the eyes of those pious, zealous and truly wise benefactors, and it is my duty of conscience to defend the interests of my Work which until now has been functioning and progressing far better and more soundly than that of Mgr Lavigerie, as regards Interior Africa. Time, and the perspicacity of the Holy See, that is of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda will see to the fruition of it all.
I kiss…
Your most devoted son

+ D. Comboni

(1) The salvation of Abyssinia and of the Gallas is in Egypt.

[6451]

When I passed through Cairo, I obtained the most remarkable favours from the authorities and especially from His Highness the Khedive.
Equipped with ample recommendations, I left this splendid capital with 15 people and, via the Red Sea, we travelled, to our great surprise, on a government steamer which the Khedive had ordered to be put at our disposal to take us to Khartoum; this steamer waited for us for eleven days. While on former occasions the journey from Cairo to Khartoum lasted two or three months, this time it only took us 29 days. The Consul and the Governor of the Sudan, H.E. Rauf Pasha, gave us a very cordial welcome.

[6452]

In a few days I shall be leaving Khartoum for the important Station of Jebel Nuba with 28 members of the Mission. I shall celebrate Easter in El Obeid, in the new parish church which is the largest in Central Africa, which cost Fr Marzano so many efforts to build.
They have written to me from Kordofan that they are suffering terribly from lack of water; the missionaries are forced to buy some every day for three scudos.

+ Daniel Comboni

Translated from French.

[6453]

I have received many letters from you; but I was and am so busy that I could not write. Mirabile dictu! Progress. Since the post goes by steamer and train to Korosko (on the border of the great Atmur Desert), your last letter of 15th January, n. 9, arrived from Verona on the 10th of this month, in only 26 days. Today I am beginning our correspondence, that is, after thanking the God of Mercies every day for obtaining for Central Africa the collaboration of the sons of St Gasp. Bertoni, which is so efficient and prompt. Generally and in the Vicariate, both the missionaries and the Sisters recognise God’s special love for Africa in this fact and in the overall stable, flourishing and prosperous character of our difficult and holy mission for Central Africa. It has powerful enemies; but since we are doing our duty, we shall win through.

[6454]

They are trying (through amour-propre) to break us in France, in Germany, in the East and in Rome: but they will not manage because Deus est pro nobis. With silence, patience and my vigilant prudence (and of course, with the Lord’s help) our enemies will give up. What is more, as well as enemies, I have powerful friends.
From what I think I see, things are starting to go well. It was necessary for me (servus semper inutilis sum) to come to the Vicariate and to Egypt. With regard to the Sisters, given that we lack the Arabic element, we are more backward than formerly, not only because of having no Arabic Sisters, but also because of their ability: the Sisters of St Giuseppe were more able than ours, both in the mission and the houses, and outside them.

[6455]

It is necessary for at least the Superior, or one of the Sisters of each house, to speak French and even more, Arabic. In this we are really backward, (we need to found houses of Sisters in Syria and in France and will do so if God gives us life, because in Egypt and here we are not Verona, Trent or Milan, but in a cosmopolitan world). However, I do not lose heart. For example, here in Khartoum in the Eastern families and in those of Syria and Egypt, the Sister was everything, she knew the problems, she settled them, especially those concerning women, and attracted the little girls to school; but now neither Sr Victoria nor the others know them at all. And the others are not aware of their defects, etc. So I had, and still have to visit all of them, etc. and I must find a remedy for their deficiencies.

[6456]

Then here, as to peace, obedience, and dependence, I am and we are much better than before, that is, we get on better with our sisters from Verona than with those of S. Giuseppe. So courage, let us forge ahead, and the time will come for ours too when they acquire the ability of the French ones. But for goodness sake, take few servants, and accept many educated women (it does not matter if they are older than 26), but, as you said to me in your last letter, serious women, good and with a critical sense… in brief, true women!!!
Since Fr Giulianelli never reads journals, neither Civiltà Cattolica nor Unità Cattolica because he says they are not spiritual reading (?!!!), then just send both Unità Cattolica and the other journals which are usually sent to Cairo directly to me in El Obeid (Kordofan); please also inform Fr Bussinello about this regarding Verona Fidelis.

[6457]

After the Holy Father’s Encyclical (you did very well to speak of it in our Annals n.23), please beg in visceribus Christi our most Eminent Cardinal Bishop to write a good Circular Letter to the Veronese on the Propagation of the Faith (which has given us so many thousand gold Napoleons), on the Holy Childhood and on the Work of the Schools of the East ( which in truth give us very few). For more than 14 years I have been begging His Eminence, etc… but now there is the Pope’s invitation, and after having been implored also by Lyons, I think he shall do it. One must have faith in God that even his poor faithful will devote themselves to the Propagation of the Faith; tell him this on my behalf.

[6458]

I totally approve of your plan for little Elvira, to claim the dowry etc. from her inventa tandem mother and aunt. Sr Amalia and Sr Francesca tell me that she is very good at white embroidery and sewing. Only she is frail and small: but transeat; do what suits you best.

[6459]

Fr Luigi Bonomi is a true gentleman. He is rough and rustic in treating outsiders and our people, if you like: but he has the self-denial of a Trappist, and is a true missionary devoid of pride and pretence, and obedient to everyone. It is he who does everything here, catechetical instruction for the boys and the girls, Doctrine on Sundays, prayers (always in Arabic) in the church in the mornings and evenings, etc.

[6460]

One by one, I have questioned the Sisters here as to whom I could appoint as Vicar General in my absence: and they all answered me that the only person, more able than anyone else, was Fr Luigi, who did not want to accept. Even today if I could appoint a Vicar General, the only and most able one would be Fr Bonomi. It seems that Fr Rolleri has also improved, for I see that he treats him with great respect; yet Fr Luigi at table and everywhere else, put Fr Bortolo in the first place after me. However in Verona, especially by certain holy m… Fr Luigi Bonomi (although he was a hard-working Curate) is considered as he was in 1873, and the learning and the great work he has done in seven years is not at all taken into account, just as some members of the Mazza Institute in that diocese judged me when I was a theology student, and had no idea of how much I might learn in 26 years as priest and bishop.

[6461]

Yet a letter was written to Propaganda from Verona (without asking me, the most competent and immediate judge appointed by God) saying that Fr Bonomi is incapable of being Vicar General; thus the Sacred Congregation ordered me to choose a new Vicar General (and a certain Fr Grego had emerged to be my Vicar General!!!). It is true that in Central Africa we are all supposed to be donkeys, and I the head donkey: but you will allow that as caput asinorum, I could not do better than to choose from among my donkeys someone to be Vicar General who would be less of a donkey than the others. It was not remarked that Africa is the most difficult mission in the world, and that among the wise in Europe and Verona, there is no one to be found who will agree to come and die in Africa.

[6462]

Although the sponsors of a Grieff waste no time in judging me and spitting out opinions, nonetheless these opinion-spitters do not feel like coming to Africa and dying for Christ.
Then there is also the most absurd action of the holy madman Fr Losi (I put up with him, and – if only I had a hundred like him! – because with narrow and flighty mind he combines apostolic zeal and truly saint-like piety, and self-denial equal to that of Fr Bonomi) who on 21st October 1880, wrote from Jebel Nuba to the Most Eminent Cardinal di Canossa (who had the kindness to send me the letter, which I have here on my table) the precise words of this passage:

[6463]

1. “Having left Jebel Nuba for Kordofan to make the usual provisions, I did not find a penny etc. The Priests of El Obeid assure me that Mgr Comboni has not sent even a piastre for three years; there is an enormous debt with the procurator, they are still trying to manage with great difficulty, or accepting commissions, etc.”.
Fr Losi’s solemn lie and calumny is proved false by the very letters which Fr Losi wrote from Khartoum to Fr Luigi, in which he thanks him for the money and provisions received through my orders, etc. Then I said nothing about this to Fr Bortolo, who until now has been acting as my administrator (and he is good, conscientious but less stingy than Fr Bonomi). I made him responsible for searching the registers of Khartoum, of Kordofan and of Jebel Nuba for all the expenses paid for these missions from 21st October 1877 to 21st October 1880 (the three years when Fr Losi was responsible); and up to now for El Obeid and Jebel Nuba alone there have been many thousands of thalers.

[6464]

In addition, Fr Bortolo has in hand a telegram dated the 7th of last month, sent by the Superior of Kordofan, in which he thanks him for the 700 thalers he received, and then for the thousands of thalers I sent to Kordofan, etc. etc. Then when Fr Bortolo has got hold of everything in Kordofan, he will let me know how much Kordofan and Jebel Nuba received; and when I have in my hands the statement of accounts signed by Fr Bortolo, I shall show it to him and put before his eyes the letter from his Fr Losi (who wanted me to make him Vicar General) written in his own hand to our Most Eminent Bishop and Father; and then I shall hear whether he approves of the solemn lie and slander of Fr Losi who wrote to Verona that Mgr Comboni has not even sent a piastre to El Obeid for three years!!!!! Since Fr Losi has written bad things to Rome about me several times, there is no doubt that he has also written this; but none of it matters to me.

[6465]

Blessed be Jesus and his most Sacred Heart, to whom I have almost always prayed in the morning after Mass, using the dear and beautiful prayer of the Gratiarum actionis: “Ignosco, et dimitto ex toto corde omnibus inimicis meis (of which I am unworthy), omnibus me calumniantibus, omnibus mihi detrahentibus (even if they are holy men…) omnibus quocumque modo mihi nocentibus, vel volentibus mala”. Even after all that, also subjecting me to his lies, slander and snubs, I would like to have at least a hundred like Fr Losi in the Mission, because he has so many other apostolic virtues for our challenging mission.

[6466]

Fr Losi also said to His Eminence in his letter of 21st October 1880, “I hear how Your Most Reverend Eminence has deigned to take into consideration my humble petition to you to have assigned to our poor Mgr. Comboni a Vicar General who will bring order to the spiritual and material concerns of the mission. They add that since Your Most Reverend Eminence needed to summon Rev. Fr Bortolo Rolleri to Rome (most suitable to regularise in particular the spiritual interests by preaching in Italian and Arabic!!!!); should this be the case (that he come to Africa as Vicar General), thanking you most warmly for your immense charity, may I be permitted to let you know of the general satisfaction expressed (this is a tall one, as I have in hand letters to the contrary… and you know it was I who prayed and did all in my power to have Fr Bortolo come to Africa), since of all the missionaries Fr Rolleri enjoys the greatest esteem, and prudence, etc., etc.”.

[6467]

I do not stop to comment on this passage and all that is true etc. in these letters from Fr Losi, who also wrote to Propaganda and wrote worse things; just as he wrote to the Austrian Consul in Khartoum, against the Superior, etc., which is why the Consul wrote to Vienna, and the publicity via the Austrian Embassy spread to Rome through Propaganda, which is why I have had to suffer a great deal; but let them write whatever they like, I shall always defend truth, innocence and justice.

[6468]

From this you may see how good our sweet Jesus is, allowing me to suffer at the hands of those I love. But I shall yet save Fr Losi for the African Mission, I will defend the innocence of Fr Luigi and I will see to it that he enjoys the esteem at Rome that he deserves, in my humble opinion and judgement. Ah! If only Fr Losi, Fr Luigi and I succeed in meeting in heaven (and far more if, as I hope, Fr Bortolo Rolleri will be there, who… [here four lines have been crossed-out and are illegible]… and raised), we shall have much to laugh at in the interesting comedies we performed here on earth. O, dear Heaven! as Sr Vittoria always says! But enough, I have really gone too far off track.

[6469]

Fr Grego writes fire and brimstone against me to Fr Luigi, who read out the letter to me, and it says “it is lucky that among the Bishops there is only one Comboni! If there were more than one, poor world! Poor Church!… he had the nerve, to be rid of a problem, to tell me that I am not called to the Mission, that I am not cut out for Africa, etc., etc.”. In the meantime he did not have the two cases of candles sent; or if he did, they have not arrived, while in Suakin I found all the cases which Giacomo had sent via Genoa. So please reclaim them from the merchant of Montorio, or from Fr Grego (to whom please give my greetings).

[6470]

It is a grace of God that Grego should have stayed at home. The rascal then wrote to Fr Bonomi, begging him and imploring him to leave Africa and go home, and extricate himself from the claws of… , everyone wants him, all his friends are claiming him back for his own good (especially those who know Mgr Comboni). But Fr Luigi answered them with a pointed letter, which will prevent Grego from being brave enough to make any more such insinuations.

[6471]

The two letters included in an envelope and sent from Beirut to Virginia were not for Alessandro nor for her: one was for Giorgio, written by his brother Abdullah, and the other was for me, written by Alessandro’s father and thanking me for what I had done for his son; I will translate the one to Giorgio in my free time. Alessandro writes to me from Beirut thanking me… begging me always to be his father, and saying that he will always go to Catholic churches. He tells me that Luigia is tired, does not feel right at home and that she would like to return to Cairo… I will write to her comforting her and urging her to help her mother for the time being (but what can one do when the mind is not always the same!); she was the cross of Virginia, who always had heroic patience; and Luigia, despite her mind, has character and discernment in her opinions… Pray the Lord, and say nothing to Virginia, who has suffered quite enough and more than she deserves.

[6472]

I beg you to be kind enough to take as long as necessary to draft the Rules of both the African Institutes of Verona, and then to submit them to the judgement of Fr Vignola and send them on to me. I will see about having them examined by the Jesuits and consulting Rome. I will then see to the rest: but if you wait for the changes from Africa, Judgement Day will come because I have no time to compile rules; while instead, you should look at those of Verona: at a quick glance I see the modifications to be made, attenta experientia africana. For the rest, most and indeed all save a few small things, it should be the one that is observed in Verona and in Africa. So therefore take up the Cross and draft the Rule and Constitutions.

[6473]

Then in the Rule for the women, completely change the organisation (in Verona, to get the work going, rules were made for one house), and establish the Superior General with two Assistants, Provincials and Superiors from the various houses in Europe, Africa and Asia, a Superior and a General Bursar of the Mother House, etc.
When you have more or less completed it, and have submitted it to the loftiest judgement etc., as well as that of the missionaries, I hope the result will be a true work of God. Oh! How happy I would be if the Stigmatine Father from Parma who knows several languages would come! You know that the Superior and all the Stigmatines share in the merits of the hardships etc. of the missionaries and Sisters of Africa. The holiest Sister we have is the Sacristan in Khartoum, Sr Maria Giuseppa: Oh! She is a true saint. The most virtuous and holy missionary is Francesco Pimazzoni, to whom I shall be giving the Tonsure and the four Minor Orders on Sunday. He is studying the Roman Catechism in Latin. Fr Dichtl and Fr Giuseppe Ohrwalder are and will turn out be two first rate missionaries in self-denial, virtues, devotion, prayer, activity and the total sacrifice of their lives.

[6474]

Fr Bort. Rolleri and I are getting on very well. It seems that he is changing, since he seems to be finding things far better than he imagined. I am his confessor and he is mine. To begin with he charged me with sins which I in full conscience (between ourselves) had not committed, and he gave me a penance, which I did, but for sins of which I am really not guilty, nor have ever dreamed of committing. For example (one of twenty), he claims that I have squandered sums which should have been used for buying Africans (someone for example, gives me 15 francs to buy an African, and with 15 francs I absolutely have to buy him). For example, it is a sin never to do one’s meditation. In my past life on rare occasions I did not do it, but for a long time now I have always done it, even in the desert, not once have I missed it, ever, even when I was seriously ill or went without sleeping a single hour in 40 days. It now seems that he has relaxed. Moreover he is a devout and holy priest (extremely stubborn), exact and scrupulous in fulfilling his duties of devotion, and above all (as we often used to say to each other), in reciting the Divine Office and Mass, etc. and also in shunning even venial sins (except for spreading distorted views about many people, which he does not consider as a sin, for if he thought it was he would not do it as he fears God), etc., etc.

[6475]

In brief, since God has disposed that Rolleri come to the Sudan (and our Most Eminent Cardinal has the merit of having given him a shock and even persuading him to stay with me although he thought I was the devil, ad fovendam – the Cardinal appropriately told him – charitatem as St Ignatius said); for this reason I was saying, God disposes that Rolleri should come to the Sudan although he opposed me for 5 years. I judged that the loving Jesus has thus disposed also for my spiritual benefit, because as Rolleri is austere, pig-headed, and subtle and harsh and especially in judging me, since I am with him, tolerate and suffer him, it is a favourable opportunity for me to show patience, to be attentive to myself and to correct my serious faults, gossiping, and sins. This is why, of course, heeding the inspiration of Jesus who is all love and charity, I have chosen the rigid Rolleri as my confessor, adviser and, (up to a certain point) close friend. Consequently I will be more certain to make fewer blunders, not in governing the Vicariate (about which I know more than him and he has short-sighted views), but in the things of conscience and asceticism and soul, in my personal conduct and vis à vis the missionaries.

[6476]

To tell the truth I find it profitable. It seems to me I was right; I spare no sin, however small it may be, and after I have confessed my faults and defects, he tells me other things about my failings and about Mass, about saying too much about secrets, being in too much of a hurry after the elevation and in the Last Gospel or in the daily Hours, in beginning the verse of the psalm before the others have finished the previous one, about talking too much or praising myself (although I am convinced of being less than nothing), or other small things which all together make an enormous mountain. All in all, I am also content in knowing that I am getting on with Fr Bortolo, who for ten days has been saying that he never intends to return to Cairo or to Europe (except in the case of health or at my orders).

[6477]

In any case, he runs the administration well and conscientiously, and I can trust him. Of course, since he does not know any of our Catholics or Africans or their needs, I always keep a few thalers for my secret alms, because I know the country and the cases where they are useful for the souls of others. Fr Bortolo really loves the mission; and he is useful both for the administration and as confessor of the missionaries and, if they wish, of the Sisters, etc., etc. But for exercising the external ministry, serving as parish priest or for converting the unbelieving or heretical, or spoilt European fornicators or unbelievers he is more trouble than he is worth, has no tact and does not know how to deal with people. I therefore think he is useful to the mission for the reasons I gave you; but never to be Vicar General or a Parish Priest.

[6478]

I have gone on too long; enough: forgive me for being side-tracked. The progress of the two Institutes in Khartoum, thanks to Fr Bonomi’s activity and perseverance, is going as well as any well-ordered Institute in Europe as regards their spiritual development: community prayer in the morning, community Mass at 6.00, prayers after lunch, the Rosary before dinner, and prayers with spiritual reading after 9.00 p.m. All the boys and girls know the prayers well and many of them are able to serve as head or leader instead of the missionary. I am satisfied, and so it seems is Fr Bortolo, that Sr Vittoria, who is not really up to much in Arabic, intervenes and makes herself understood and is a courageous Sister with a true apostolic spirit: she is a little harsh (perhaps she learned this from Fr Luigi), the girls do not like her much and long for Sr Teresa Grigolini for whom they are full of praise (I don’t know what happened to the two sacks of rice sent from Grigolini in Genoa to Rubattino, nor what happened to the one sent to Sestri, for which I sent the receipt).

[6479]

I warned her she should make charity prevail and that infidels and souls are not converted without charity, however holy a Sister may be; and she promised to correct herself. Then the others are docile, obedient and hardworking but lack instruction. However, Sr Vittoria is a true and perfect missionary: natural, and with a great spirit of piety and courage. She is the only one of the former Sisters who has some idea of how to deal with the world and outsiders, which is essential for a woman missionary, else no one will be converted. However, it will be hard for us to find among our Sisters some who can deal with the authorities and the Pashas and Consuls, as could a Sister Giuseppina Tabraui, or a Sister Germana and a Virginia Mansur, who converted many and kept faith and piety alive among the Orientals; they do not even come to church except now when I am here, and formerly used always to come. However I hope that gradually, with the Lord’s grace, everything will be managed, if what I prescribe is done.

[6480]

Mgr Stegagnini (whom I beg you to greet on my behalf, with Mgr Rector, Fr Casella, etc.) told me more than once that he had various books for me from the Girelli sisters of Brescia. He had said he would bring them home for me but did not bring them, nor did I go and fetch them. Do me the favour of fetching them and wrapping them well, then at the first opportunity, send them to me. They are St Joseph, the Heart of Jesus, etc. of the pious and most learned Girelli.
I have now arranged everything concerning the concubine of that Catholic who died seven days ago, both with the Turkish Government and with the owner of the concubine of the above-mentioned Catholic of Aleppo who had rented her for a Megid and a half a month (6 francs and 37 centimes). She is several months pregnant as Madame Ginevra, a good Catholic, told me; and since in accordance with the Turkish laws in force the poor pregnant African should return to her Muslim owner, to save her and her little one, I took it upon myself to pay the monthly rent, and the Government and the owner were satisfied.

[6481]

Then I had the girl delivered to Sr Victoria; having questioned her, after a quarter of an hour’s conversation, I found that she is happy and content to stay with the Church and become a Christian. Since there are no Sisters who can instruct her, Fr Luigi and I must arrange to do so ourselves. Yesterday I became acquainted with 29 traders of Aleppo in Syria, eleven of whom live in concubinage. Almost none of them were known to the Church except a few, to Fr Luigi; and very few come to church with their families. So pray the Lord that I can instruct our Sisters well and teach them to be missionaries as I did the Sisters of St Joseph, with whom I found the undertaking easier, because they knew Arabic. If Arabic is not studied in Verona, let no more studying be done; our 15 Sisters from here (if one excludes the two Piedmontese, who have almost forgotten it) will no longer learn it: it is impossible; meaning enough to be able to instruct a female catechumen.
Enough.

[6482]

Fr Bellini, Professor at the High School of Desenzano has returned the 200 lire, as per the enclosed note.
I leave it to you to judge whether or not to accept the Roman Pietro Giuseppe Franceschini as per the enclosed letter. Fr Dichtl will see that you have the report of our magnificent journey from Cairo to Khartoum within a week. I will see that you receive other things for n.24 of the next issue of the Annals.

[6483]

In general, put away any sum of money that you receive in Verona on my behalf or for the mission and do not send it to anyone, or to Giulianelli, unless you have an order from me; but let me know immediately by letter. All the money of the Work, both of Verona and of Africa belongs to the Work and therefore it must be spent only in accordance with my orders, because I alone know all the needs, and how and where to spend it, and I alone am responsible. Since I have the honour to have you as my General Procurator, I would like the money to be deposited with you. Thus you did well to keep the 200 francs of Madame la Contesse d’Erceville of Paris. We have Greek wine, and write to the countess that you have done everything she asked and that we will do the same, and that we will always pray for her, her husband and her family and for the Apostolic Work of France whose President she is. I shall write to her and to Madame de Villeneuve.
I was disturbed by visits, the post is leaving, and I have written very many letters. I shall write to the Superior by the next post, and will finish answering your letters, of which the last is n.9.

[6484]

Many regards to the Most Eminent Bishop, to Fr Vignola; I bless both Institutes and I commend Virginia to you. I attach the greatest importance to her for the good of the Mission, because I know her better than anyone else and am the most competent judge of the true interests of Africa and our harsh apostolate. She is an Arab and has the Arab faults: but she and Sr Germana of Aleppo (who is now in Jerusalem) alone are worth more than all fifteen of our Verona Sisters whom we have in the Sudan: this is my opinion and also that of some of the missionaries here, and of the Catholic Arabs of Khartoum of the 5 oriental rites. As I see it, I would pay no attention to certain small things which are asked of Virginia, who was a professed Sister and active for many years, and to demand that she does not speak Arabic with her brother, etc!!! I consider these things ridiculous and utterly unimportant. What? Is it impossible to know the character, degree of virtue and vocation of an aspirant without going into these petty details which, given certain circumstances, could harm many souls?

[6485]

You who are a gentleman do as you see fit, and Virginia will also be equal to these tests. However, had you been a missionary in Africa as I have, they would not be of much concern to you. Excuse my frankness. These things are also arranged by God, because God is all love and God will also turn this to account for the good of souls, of Virginia, and of Africa for which she has laboured so hard, and suffered.

[6486]

I thoroughly commend our excellent Mother Superior of Verona to you. I would like the Superiors of Africa to tell her about everything, the mission, the sisters and African needs. In the same way as I have done until now and will do even more, I have ordered all the missionaries to write to you, indeed I have given your photograph to almost all of them, ordering them to pray for you so that God will help you for the sake of Africa. I hope that it will not be long before you become thoroughly familiar with Central Africa and the character of the Work which is what matters most, and will train missionaries and sisters for us who are truly holy, without false piety, because in Africa one needs
direct but bold and generous souls who know how to suffer and die for Christ and for the Africans. Vale. In Corde Jesu.

+ Bishop Daniel