Writings

[6566]

I have been in great doubt as to whether to send you the letter in Arabic that Giorgio sent me from Cairo; and I would hesitate to send it to you so as to spare you the sadness at the thought that Giorgio has become so wicked. But after much thought, I have decided to send it to you herewith. Read it, and you will be convinced that our Rector did well to accompany him personally to Trieste and pack him off to Cairo or Beirut. As I wrote to you in my last letter, if I had been in the Rector’s position, I would have done the same, because you know Giorgio’s character when he is angry, and you can see that from this letter. Giorgio is so unfair to the Rector who loved him so much and is one of his greatest benefactors.

[6567]

But you must stay calm, and pray to the Heart of Jesus for your brother, and you will see that he will be converted; and I will write and recommend him, as I have done today, to devout and zealous people for them to take care of Giorgio.
Courage, be happy, do not let it get you down and trust in God, and in your Father


+ Daniel

[6568]

I take the liberty of presenting myself at the throne of Your Highness to thank you for the high protection you deigned to grant me, with the support of your worthy ministers, to facilitate my journey to the Sudan with my entourage.
While I have the honour of expressing my heartfelt gratitude and perfect devotion to Your Highness, I would like to bring to your attention, sir, a consoling truth which I have observed here, as indeed I was happy to note in Egypt, that since the exaltation of Your Highness there has been significant improvement and real progress in the development of affairs in the Egyptian Sudan.

[6569]

This is mainly due to the admirable wisdom and zeal of His Excellency Rauf Pasha, the Hoccomdar of the Sudan who, inspired by the principles and ideas introduced by Your Highness, is making every effort to accomplish his noble work, despite the scarcity of necessary means and competent personnel he can count on for such a great and laborious undertaking, and despite the enormous difficulties the government of such a huge country inevitably encounters, for it has suffered for centuries under the yoke of the most atrocious slavery and the cruellest barbarity.

[6570]

The Egyptian flag introduced by the great founder of your glorious dynasty and which you, with God’s help, have brightened with a more luminous splendour through your broader ideas of freedom and progress, is the banner of civilisation and humanity and I am convinced that this sacred banner will be the standard of your worthy representative, Rauf Pasha, who will loyally fulfil with all his will and all his zeal, among these people of the Sudan, the humanitarian and difficult mission Your Highness has entrusted to him.

[6571]

Sir, I make wishes and pray to God every day that he will deign to cover your august Khedival family with his protection and that he may grant Your Highness his divine lights and graces for the prosperity of Egypt and for the civilisation of the people of the Sudan.
It is with these sentiments that I have the honour of sending you, sir, the assurance of my deep veneration and of my limitless dedication, while I remain forever respectfully
Your Highness’ most humble, devoted and respectful servant

+ Daniel Comboni
Bishop of Claudiopolis in partibus infedelium
Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa


Translated from the French.

[6572]

The other day I received your letter N. 13 in which you give me the news of the departure of Giorgio for Cairo, and the whole story of the reasons for which you thought it prudent to send him away, and not to inform Virginia of this, waiting for the appropriate moment to tell Virginia.

[6573]

You have acted with true prudence, which is proper for a wise director, and you wisely consulted Fr Vignola, as well as His Eminence and Bacilieri. Moreover, when you follow the advice of Fr Vignola that is enough; even when you decide alone, you have my full esteem, because you act only for the glory of God and for the good of the holy Work.

[6574]

At the same time as your letter N. 13, I received one in Arabic from Giorgio himself in Cairo, in which he tells me of certain things and of his departure from the College in Verona, etc. From the general gist of Giorgio’s letter, anyone with common sense can see that you acted with the greatest prudence, and also with charity. Giorgio’s letter fully justifies your actions with him: you had to remove him from the Institute, and you had to do this immediately, because he really did not respond to the grace of his abjuration: he was good for a few months; but it is certain that he went bad, and merited his immediate expulsion.

[6575]

Had I been in your place (though I would not have forbidden him to speak Arabic to his sister, who speaking confidentially with him, might have got wind of his perverse intentions or thoughts and corrected him. But in forbidding brother and sister to speak Arabic between themselves, you had the holiest of intentions and will be rewarded by God for it), in your place, I was saying, I would have done the same and sent him home, entrusting the rest to the Lord. Since I wholeheartedly approve entirely of your wise, prudent and most charitable conduct with regard to Giorgio, I offer you my heartfelt thanks for it and I deeply thank the Hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for having assisted you so well in this affair.

[6576]

What fills my heart with affliction is the thought of what will happen when you give the news to Virginia that Giorgio is already in Cairo or Beirut and that he left without seeing her. Long live Noah! You did well to send him away in this way, because you have avoided problems, for I know the oriental character, especially of those who come from the Greek schism: and I repeat that I would have done the same thing. But what will poor Virginia say, who is oriental too, being the sister of Giorgio, and has done and suffered so much to save and convert him? I am certain that if she were to read the letter Giorgio sent me from Cairo, she would approve of your decision to expel him from the Institute. But without knowing the ghastly feelings Giorgio has today with regard to you, his illustrious benefactor, to whom he showed such love and gratitude for several months after his conversion, how will she be able to approve and be happy at the removal of her brother without even having been able to see him? All her passions will be aroused, and who knows what, and she will want to leave the Institute, etc.

[6577]

Virginia stayed nearly 20 years with the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph, which is very praiseworthy in the foreign missions with 60 houses in 4 parts of the world, and she behaved extremely well. During the last four years she spent in Africa, she put up with such insults and injustices that if she had not been basically good and had a virtuous heroism she would have misbehaved, but God helped her. Any other religious in her place would have given up her faith, as I have seen in several cases. In addition, Virginia is still smarting from the humiliation she suffered in Verona (you, my dear Rector, do not have the slightest fault in this, nor do the Cardinal and Fr Vignola who had the holiest of intentions, and in their place, not knowing what I do know, I would have done the same) of being expelled from her community and being forced into the little house like a lay person, etc., etc.

[6578]

This turns her and will turn her against you and the Institute, etc., and then she will show feelings which contrast with the religious spirit and, depressed by so many disappointments past (and having myself been burdened by so many crosses and injustices, as I have been, I can estimate the extent of this) and present, which indeed are serious, she will not be able to give good signs of a vocation, especially as she is very diffident (and in this she is absolutely wrong) ever since she was separated from her community, and she trusts no one. In addition, the system of our Institute, which is a a good one, is quite different from that of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition, to which she adhered from 1860, the time of the massacre in Syria in which she saw her father and eldest brother slaughtered. As a Congregation of missionaries, that of St Joseph is ten times better than ours (which I hope, however, after its formation will perfect itself).

[6579]

It is more active than ours; and in the African mission Virginia did five times more than each of our sisters do here now. I am impatient to know what impression the news of her brother will make on Virginia. She will certainly say that she is going home. This would almost kill me, because I absolutely want to save Virginia’s soul, for she has given so much to my Africa and perhaps she saved my life. Today I crucified my bursar St Joseph, to whom I commended Virginia, her cause, that he may improve her, correct her faults and give her strength and courage to carry the cross and save her own soul.

[6580]

I have sweated and suffered to save whites, blacks, Protestants, Turks, unbelievers, sinners and prostitutes; I have begged for alms from Moscow to Madrid and from Dublin to India to save blacks and whites, to foster vocations in the good and the bad, I did good to people who then spat in my face, and to good young women; I begged for alms and sweated to feed the poor, the unhappy, priests, friars, nuns and bastards (as were the late Sister Marietta Capsi and Fr Falezza’s Augusta); and shall I not sweat and beg for alms for Virginia, who was one of the most valiant and loyal workers in the bitter and difficult vineyard of Africa, and was always good to me? Should I not sweat and beg for alms for Virginia who has suffered so much for my cause, since she and others were persecuted because they refused to rebel against me? Since I am in Africa, just as I work for the blacks and also for so many whites, I shall work for Virginia that she may save her own soul in the way that pleases the Lord.

[6581]

It is true that with her sufferings, certain virtues she possessed have been eroded, I mean her patience and humility (in this last year, I noted in her a lack of patience and some pride in her answers; but this has always been the long-lasting spiritual heritage even in the most choice souls of converts from Protestantism or the schism, and this must be her case). But with the grace of God I have converted so many sinners, heretics and unbelievers; and St Joseph will surely not be able to deny me the graces I have asked him for Virginia, that she may calm down and be saved.

[6582]

I beg you as much as I possibly can, to show every bounty to Virginia, as much, of course, as you can without jeopardising the Institute, and to inform me so that I can do the best I can to help. I would be doing you wrong in telling you not to listen to Giacomo on this, or to any who like him have a good but small soul, and who do not understand, though they claim to understand, that the ways of the Lord are merciful, and Deus charitas est. As an experienced missionary, because I have seen many things in the world, I know what I am doing, and I know something about the greatness of Jesus, Our Lady and my dear Beppo. From the day that I received your letter, and especially Giorgio’s (poor Giorgio! He’s become a real hot-head: I know what is needed for new converts, and we cannot have him in Verona, because everything there is on your shoulders, and you must do what is needed for our Institute, and not for other works), since I received the post from Verona and Cairo I have not slept a wink and I now feel I have a fever.

[6583]

Many people here in Khartoum have asked me for news about Virginia and Sr Germana, and Sr Vittoria herself has expressed the wish that Virginia could come to Khartoum, to revive and improve the work of our Sisters in Khartoum: but I am not at all disposed to this. Do not be afraid of Virginia’s reaction to the news of Giorgio’s departure: on the life and true character of a person we cannot pass a sure judgement in moments of passion, pain and affliction.

[6584]

I am undecided as to whether or not to send Virginia the letter Giorgio sent me in Arabic: it is too nasty: but it fully justifies your wise conduct in sending him away from the Institute. If I decide to send it and you get to know what it says, do not be concerned by it: it is a madman speaking, and in the world you will see plenty more before you die because, as the Holy Father said to me, as long as we do good on earth, we will suffer greatly, because the devil is doing all he can, and circuit quaerens quem devoret; but Christ’s horns are harder than his. Be good to Virginia, and the Lord will help her to rise up and make herself worthy of consolation, and of the heavenly and earthly blessings.

[6585]

On the 15th of this month I had my 50th birthday: my God! We are getting old, and difficulties and crosses are increasing for me. But since all these crosses are sent by God, so I hope in his divine help: O Crux, ave spes unica!
In Khartoum there was a real feast and all the Pashas and Consuls, etc., etc. came to offer me their wishes for another 50 years. The Grand Pasha sent the military band to serenade me, and in the evening he came with all the authorities, Consuls and the Khartoum aristocracy to spend the evening in my drawing room, etc. But see what blessings I have from God! Fr Bortolo, who had gone ahead with the great caravan for two days, returned with a fever and more dead than alive: but he quickly recovered and wants to come with me to Kordofan (especially to see Fr Losi). The Grand Pasha had offered me the steamer to go as far as Tura-el-Khadra, which is a third of the distance from Khartoum to El Obeid; and I had accepted to leave this morning. But since the missionaries told me that Fr Bortolo longed to try to leave for Kordofan, I told the Pasha that I would not be able to leave until next Saturday the 26th so as to take Fr Bortolo with me. So he told me that on Thursday he would have the steamer sent up to the mission, and that I could leave when I wished. On the 16th, the next day, Slatin Bey (who made the dromedaries available to me and Domenico with janissaries and guides), sent another dromedary to the mission for Fr Bortolo, and he is taking care of all the food, provisions, etc.

[6586]

I am in a real mess with money. Only the other day Fr Vaccaro (to whom I gave a good dressing down) wrote to tell me that there are still altogether another 1,300 (one thousand three hundred) thalers of debts in Kordofan. He apologised for his negligence in administration and accounting (he had never reported these debts), and said that all was now in order, etc. Before, he had also written that there were only 1,800 thalers. I had paid 1,900 and more; and now here are another 1,300 thalers (there are 130 people who are maintained, fed and clothed at my expense). Who knows how much more will come to light when I get to Kordofan. Here in Khartoum we don’t even have 50 thalers, and Fr Giulianelli writes hardship. Today, after pulling St Joseph’s beard for Virginia Mansur (whose happiness and sanctification means more to me than money) I pulled it (he is so good) for him to get me out of this financial mess and within 5 months for there not to be a single cent of debt in the Sudan, in Egypt, in Verona or in Europe.

[6587]

Come, have a little patience, and have sound and true faith in St Joseph, and do not worry even for a second about money and material means; which come under the haec adiicentur vobis. You only need to attend, as you admirably do (and this is a great comfort to me) to the regnum Dei et iustitiam eius.
Please give my regards to the Cardinal, the V. Rev. Fr Vignola and Fr Benciolini, to whose prayers I commend myself, to the Stigmatine Fathers, Fr Luciano, and to my dear Mgr Bacilieri, and pray for
Your most afflicted Bishop

+ Daniel

Today, we have taxed St Joseph 60,000 francs by next August.

[6588]

Yesterday I received your letter N. 14 in which you let me know you have now told Virginia of Giorgio’s departure without her even having been able to say goodbye to him. Yesterday morning I also received a letter from Virginia, in which she tells me of her sorrow and her impressions about what happened. The outcome of all this is exactly what I predicted. It is a fact that Virginia was deprived of a brother about whom she cried for six years because he was not Catholic, and he was removed from her without her having been able to give him even a word of advice or correction. As I told you in my last letter, you did well to remove him to avoid bad consequences, etc., and also because this was the opinion of our most wise and holy Superior Fr Vignola, who is the angel of the African work in Verona and for whom Jesus has prepared the prize of his real Apostles. I highly disapprove of the answers Virginia gave you, her pride, her imprudence and the faults she has committed; but in view of the prior causes of her diffidence, her natural sorrow at the unexpected departure of a dear brother, and the moment of passion which is always dangerous even for the great saints alive today, I have compassion for Virginia and for anyone else who might be in the same position.

[6589]

However, having heard the judgement you have made of Virginia on the basis of that encounter, and having heard what Virginia says of her position in the Verona Institute, I am convinced that it would be best for her to leave Verona and I am convinced that her departure would be useful to the Verona Institute and to Virginia herself. If Virginia were in Khartoum under Sr Vittoria in the field of action, or in Kordofan under Sr Amalia (I cannot say about Sr Teresa Grigolini, because I have neither seen her nor heard from her) I am sure she would be the delight of either Sr Vittoria, who would like her in Khartoum and has repeatedly asked me for her, and of the oriental population in Khartoum which has also asked for her several times, or of Sr Amalia who has told me a thousand times that she would be happy to have her as a companion and to teach Arabic. But I am not yet prepared to do this. So where will Virginia go? Certainly, in due course, she must and will want to visit Beirut; but at the moment I do not want her to do so. I first want her to take a cure in Europe, because she must be very oppressed, spends some nights in tears, and knew much diffidence, and in a life system really different from ours for the 18 years she spent with the Congregation of St Joseph.

[6590]

Although this cross as well as others weighs heavily on my spirit, and I haven’t slept for six nights, I am worn out, tired (and to add to it all yesterday the doctor saw Fr Bortolo and I think he will have difficulty in getting his strength up to return to Cairo), disheartened and pained also because in Cairo things are bad, and Fr Giulianelli told me that he was unable to obtain funds from Verona (and it appears that the postulant from Padova cannot go to Sestri: she seemed a valid candidate. I would like you to tell her to write to me), nevertheless my faith in St Joseph is firm, effective and certain and it will give me an appropriate suggestion as to how to assure Virginia the position God wants for her.

[6591]

I have thought of asking Countess da Robiano and the Foundress of Perpetual Adoration to receive Virginia for a few months in Rome, at least until she can have medical treatment in the Summer: and then to be able to decide on her future. Under the watchful eyes of those holy women religious, Virginia will be able to work for the poor churches in this exemplary convent, hear the opinions of a most elevated and able person whom I often consult myself and have consulted on her account, kiss the feet of the Holy Father and the tomb of St Peter. I shall write to this able Superior General by the next post before I leave for Kordofan: and if this Superior cannot give me satisfaction, I shall write to the Genoese Foundress in Piacenza.

[6592]

Sr Vittoria is pestering me to send Virginia to Cairo to help those poor wretches: but I am afraid that this will not please you, since you might fear that contact with Virginia could make those Sisters suffer. As for me, I have no fear, because when Virginia exercises charity, she is truly religious. I would like Virginia to visit the parish priest of S. Luca and his nieces, Fr Bonomi’s sisters, as well as Teresina and her brother, Fr Giovanni Bertanza at Rovereto, who in a long letter yesterday asked for news of her, and also my cousin Marietta, my cousin Pietro’s wife. If this were to be denied her, it would be treating her really as a wicked woman. But in all this I trust you. In no way do I oppose your will, because if for the conversion of Africa I get ten points, you, my dear Rector, get one hundred.

[6593]

The only thing I do not want when Virginia leaves Verona, and I implore you in visceribus Christi, is for Giacomo and Stefano ever, ever to know anything about what happened to Virginia, because they are peasants and they think like peasants and do not understand a thing, although they are good Christians. Also yesterday, Fr Giulianelli told me that he had received 2,000 francs from Vienna but that he cannot send me a cent, because he must pay for the wine; and he tells me he is immediately sending me 3,000 litres of wine!!!!!
Neither I nor Fr Rolleri ever told him to buy so much wine. My order was for one thousand litres for Cairo and the whole Vicariate. Pray for your

+ Daniel

[6594]

Postscriptum. Today, I have decided to let Domenico Polinari from Montorio leave for Cairo and Europe. He is the gardener of Khartoum and the veteran of Central Africa since the Vicariate has been under my jurisdiction. He is indefatigable, does the work of ten people and is unbeatable in his morals, piety and as a lay missionary. I am letting him go because otherwise, with all his efforts, I fear he might die on me. He will come back to Khartoum in October. Since he is from Montorio, and was given to me by the parish priest Grego, be careful that this priest does not seduce him to stay at home. I think that even with all his skills he would not succeed, because Domenico is solid and he is a man, even if he is a bit eccentric in his work, but he is a wilful man, etc., etc. Grego wrote twice to Fr Luigi inviting him to abandon Africa and resume his post as Curate in Montorio. But when one really trusts God, justice triumphs.

[6595]

I promised Virginia her dowry if she moves to another Institute, and I did this in conscience and with the advice of a most competent man. I shall of course continue to ask for subsidies for her, as I did already last spring. If Virginia had not thought that I was the founder and owner of an African Sisters Institute, of which her own Sisters had spoken highly, as did the first 5, and if she had not been sure that I would accept her, she might not have abandoned her own Congregation. Therefore it is my absolute duty in conscience to think of her, and not to abandon her until she is in the same position as when she first came to Africa under my jurisdiction. God certainly does not want her to stay in Verona: we will find her another place with the help of St Joseph, who I hope has already heard my prayers. The ways of God’s Providence are loving and ineffable. Our Institute in Verona will thus be less bothered and I will see to providing you with a new Arabic teacher. Domenico Polinari will be bound to tell you that a Sister of St Joseph is worth 3 of ours, though these are more obedient. Gabriele, who was sent to us by Mgr Marinoni is a pearl, a saint: Oh that I could have 30 like him! Have courage and faith in God.

+ Daniel, Bishop

[6596]

Please pay the Most Illustrious Count Gloria, Consul of Italy in Cairo the sum of 24 Megid thalers immediately. Prepare them and take them to him right away, as soon as you can. I command you immediately to send the pedal sewing machine that was ordered by Sr Amalia.
Since I no longer know what to do about money (because you, having received nearly 19,000 francs, have never sent me a cent, and here I have so far paid 15,000 francs of debts, when we only had six or seven thousand) so go immediately to Mr Holz with my enclosed letter and ask him to send me 6,000 francs at once via Manueliadis et Leontidis, and sign the letter of obligation on my behalf.
You were wrong to send so much wine: you know that we have no money.

[6597]

From now on, I command you not to order any more wine from Santino until further notice from me. With the money you will receive, pay Holz and send the rest to the Sudan. For Cairo, use your own wits as best you can. The urgent need is now in the Sudan. I will ask Verona for financial aid for Cairo. If Fr Bortolo gets better, he will leave for Cairo. Have courage, complete faith in the Heart of Jesus and I bless you.

(+ Bishop Daniel)

[6598]

Our Fr Losi believes that Europe, which is chasing priests and friars from their own monasteries, has a will to deal with the slave snatchers and traders in Jebel Nuba.
But with the Khedive of Egypt and the Governor General of the Sudan, I have gained so much influence and I have made such pacts with the Governor General Rauf Pasha, that on my next visit to the Jebel Nuba I shall sort out those thieves and assassins, or I shall have them handed over to the authorities to be prosecuted. Let us trust in God alone, who died for the Africans, and let us pray and have prayers said for Africa to bow down before Christ… Just think of the advice I am given by Fr Losi, to depend on Fr Bortolo, or Fr Batta, and nothing on the judgement of the Chief… It does not matter…

[6599]

I would like to have a hundred priests like Fr Losi, because he also has great qualities as a missionary. What is necessary, is that the Arabic language be studied in Verona, both by the Sisters and by the men: this language is of prime necessity and it is also a vocational criterion for aspirants. Those who have a vocation should seek to acquire this most necessary means which, after piety and morality, is the prime instrument. I preach this and will always do so.

+ Daniel, Bishop

[6600]

I write little because I am still tired from the journey. It was over 50 degrees on the trip. Our caravan with the Sisters led by Fr Bonomi took 17 days from Khartoum to Kordofan. I took only four and a half days by dromedary, but running non-stop. I have come here with the full powers of the government, which gives me greater strength to deal with the errant slave-trading tribes which move around in the Nuba territory, and to begin a proper mission. Since you must be informed of everything, so that you may have at least a pale idea of this important mission, I will have a copy made, and sent to you, of the translation of the letter of recommendation from the Grand Pasha of the Sudan to the Pasha of the Kordofan, that I should be helped in everything. And so on for everything, little by little.

[6601]

Today, I do not have time to write to the Mother Superior and Virginia. Here, I found the Sisters quite well, and Fr Leone from Nuba and Fr Antonio from Malbes, and a superb church roofed in zinc, the largest and most beautiful in Central Africa. We have our tribulations, but we have our consolations: but what crosses! and I more than anyone else, because everything rests on my shoulders. Charity is so uncommon in the world! My respects to the Cardinal.

+ Daniel, Bishop

[…] suffocating heat! But Beppo is there.

[6602]

The caravan of Sisters and missionaries led by Fr Bonomi got here from Khartoum in 17 days: I came here by steamer and dromedary at full speed in 5 days, and I am as strong as a lion. Here I found a church roofed in zinc (which I had sent here from France when I was in Limone) which is the largest and the most beautiful in the whole of Central America. I found a debt of 3,400 thalers here and today I managed to pay it all, because Beppo is a good administrator. We spend money here only on water, three to four thalers a day.

[6603]

I have been given full powers by the Turkish government to bring to heel the chief thieves of human flesh, woe betide anyone who dares to oppose me. Christ’s horns are harder than the devil’s. The heat is excessive. July in Verona seems like Spring. I managed to stay at full speed for as much as three hours at a stretch on the dromedary, which travels faster than a horse: I feel well and am losing no time. The Catholic church in El-Obeid is the marvel of these villages, especially the columns: and many millionaires of this capital (who have hundreds of thousands in cash) came to get the plan to build themselves residences in the same style.

[6604]

My greetings to Teresa and all the relatives. The missionaries send you their regards, as does Teresina Grigolini, Provincial Superior of Central Africa, who is a real gendarme of Christ. Pray always and write often to
your most loving son

+ Bishop Daniel

The most faithful Domenico came with me. He is all torn and sore and bleeding on his backside from the ride and will take a fortnight to recover. I prefer to travel like this so as not to waste time. I am now convinced that I am not yet at all rickety. Write to me.

+ Bishop Daniel