Writings

[928]
I hope you will have received the letter I wrote to you ten days ago. I now repeat everything I said, for my feelings are still the same regarding a father to whom I owe everything. I now add that on Thursday I was summoned, through Cardinal Barnabò, by the Holy Father, who received me in his bedroom and I stayed there with him for an hour and ten minutes. I spoke for three quarters of an hour about the new plan for Africa. Then I was allowed to read a most beautiful letter which the little Metilde di Canossa had written to the Pope. Oh what beautiful sentiments were expressed by this angelic young girl. The Holy Father was very pleased with it, and he instructed me to give her his blessing.
[929]
I spoke at length about you, my dear Superior, about the Institute and about the vestment. “How is my dear old Mazza?” said the Holy Father. “Tell him that I love him and bless him with all my heart, etc.”. Then, speaking about the vestment, he told me: “Beautiful, beautiful; I assure you that I have never seen such stupendous work. Since Cardinal Barnabò wore it last summer on the feast of St Philip, and somewhat drenched it with his perspiration, I have ordered it not to be used anymore in the summer so as not to spoil it. I want it to be stored here in the pontifical palace as a precious monument to art. I send my good Mazza a special blessing”. As you see, the Pope is very fond of the Institute and of its Superior.
[930]
As regards Africa, I was delighted to see that my thoughts were kindly received by the Pontiff. “I am happy”, he told me, “that you concern yourself with Africa. Now go to Paris and present the Plan to the Presidency of the Pious Association for the Propagation of the Faith. Then Cardinal Barnabò, according to the help France gives you, will write a circular letter to all the Vicars and Prefects Apostolic in Africa, and I will issue the Decree of approval. I entrust you with studying the way in which all the other Institutions and Societies may be associated with the Plan. I give you my blessing, etc. labora sicut bonus miles Christi”. These words still echo in the very depths of my heart. Fr Rossi, Antonelli’s confessor, Cardinal Barnabò and many others told me that my plan was the only means to plant the Faith in the centre of Africa.
[931]
My beloved Superior, I have no merit. When I came to Rome I would not have even dreamed of the Plan. It is Providence that has guided my mind and my heart. I know that I ought to have consulted my Superior before taking this action. But I knew that in a letter I would have been able to say very little and that any cautious Superior would hold back a long time before giving me his opinion and so I followed the prompting of my heart. I feel I did the right thing. Besides the immense good the plan will bring to Africa and the fact that for many centuries it will regulate the African undertakings, as a corollary it will lead to the fulfilment of your Plan. Indeed, on Friday Cardinal Barnabò assured me that after I have the agreement with Paris, he will decree the creation of two Apostolic Vicariates or Prefectures, and that he will entrust one of these, of my choice, to the Mazza Institute. Since Fr Beltrame generally liked the positions of the Dinkas, Agnarquas, etc. which he explored and described well, I could thus have the Eastern Nile assigned to the Institute. But I will hear your opinion on this. I am certain that with my Plan the Institute will have so many students, and that with its mission supported it will perpetuate itself.
[932]
I have a German letter I received 20 days ago from a member of the Committee in Vienna who tells me: “If you do not come to the rescue of the Mission it will fall”. I made the Committee understand the substance of my intentions by secure means. The Cardinal and Fr Lodovico have shown me their communications with Vienna. I will be speaking to them about this. The General of the Franciscans was quite keen with the Cardinal and the Pope to have absolute jurisdiction over Africa. The Bishop of Egypt was made Pro-Vicar.
[933]
My Plan has dashed their calculations to the ground, and it has forever removed the worst obstacle which prevented our Institute from accomplishing the project worked out in 1849. It is true that Cardinal Barnabò had promised to give the desert tribe proposed by Fr Beltrame. But this was not made up of black Africans, and neither of the two Verona Institutes could have anything to do with it. Moreover, with that system we would not have been entitled to assistance from Vienna. Instead, by virtue of the corollary of my plan, I will have one of the two parts, east or west of the Nile stretching down to the Equator, that is from Aswan to Shellal nearly all the way down to the sources of the Nile, assigned to the Institute. Consider this carefully, my dear Superior, and you will see that I was guided by that God which knows how to draw good from evil, and that under the inspiration of the Blessed Alacoque I acted according to his will and his plan.
[934]
In accordance with his will, I am executing the orders of Cardinal Barnabò. And since I have to present the Plan to several Associations in Germany, France and Spain, I am having a number of copies printed so as to obtain judgements, observations and modifications from the most distinguished men and prelates in Catholic Europe so that next Spring it may be published. You, my Superior, make arrangements to send African men and women and missionaries to Egypt. By next summer two houses for Central Africa dependent on the Mazza Institute should be opening in Cairo.
[935]
I am certain that some of our young priests will join the mission. With the system as it was in the past no new priests would have joined. Furthermore, the Pope openly told me that he would not give his blessing to any Missionary who wanted to establish himself, simply on the spur of the moment, in Central Africa; and that he had made up his mind to extinguish the Vicariate. I hope I have drafted my Plan in a manner that is understandable. Now that the Pope has told me that blessed: labora sicut bonus miles Christi, I am not afraid of anything. I will have the fiercest of obstacles, especially from the friaries, which are not always governed by the spirit of Gospel charity. But I am not afraid of anything. The God of all mercies will erase the mark of malediction which has for so many centuries burdened the sons of Ham.
Remember, my dear Superior, that I love you, and that I do not want to be unworthy of being

Your true son

Fr Daniel

[936]
I did not write to you from Rome because I heard from Cardinal Barnabò that the Fr General had informed you of the favourable response from the Vicar Apostolic of Egypt. For now you should therefore go ahead and set up the two Institutes in Egypt, and I shall see that a vast area in Central Africa is assigned to you and convince the Committee in Vienna to assign an annual sum to you. What the Committee wrote to you regarding the agreement with the Mazza Institute, it also wrote to Cardinal Barnabò. But I can assure you that apart from me, no one in my Institute has had any communication with Vienna: I am the only one who has been in touch: they only spoke and wrote to me. I shall see to things with great commitment.
[937]
To Barnabò I presented my thoughts on the way to obtain benefits for Africa. Being pleased with my plan, he ordered me on the Pope’s behalf to go immediately to Paris and then to Vienna. Before six months are up, my good Father, Vienna will have allocated a good yearly sum to your great works. I intend to speak in secret. I have left a note with Propaganda in which I propose to entrust a large part of Africa to the reformed Franciscan Province of Naples called Palma. This I did as soon as I arrived in Naples. Before I left Rome, the Cardinal told me that once the agreement with Propaganda in Paris is made he will assign the hoped-for Mission to Fr Lodovico and his successors. By going slowly one goes far. I will certainly get the Cardinal to support my proposal to Vienna in favour of La Palma, lest they refuse it, which I do not think they will.
[938]
All in all, Fr Lodovico, you know that God’s works are bound to find obstacles in the world: God will help us for our dear Africa. I spent 70 (seventy) minutes with the Pope on Thursday. He encouraged me in my concern for Africa, smiled at my Plan and he commended me by saying: labora sicut bonus miles Christi. Now there is no human power that will make me take one step back. God wants work to be done for Africa. La Palma is like the model which should provide substantial guidelines for all other Institutions. My Plan generally excludes the education of Africans in Europe. But may Fr Lodovico do what God inspires him, first because he is ruled by God, and then because Naples provides exceptional conditions compared with Verona and the rest of Europe. My greetings to the Africans, Fr Francesco and pray for

Your Fr Daniel

[939]
Tomorrow, Wednesday, with the first train in the morning I am leaving Verona to be in Bressanone in the evening. My intention is for us to be able to study together the new plan for Africa which I have presented to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide. The Pope, in four audiences, but especially in the one of 28th October last, encouraged me in my concern for Africa, and left echoing in my ear these consoling words: labora sicut bonus miles Christi. His Eminence Cardinal Barnabò, in agreement with the Pope, is sending me immediately to Lyons and Paris where I am to discuss matters with the Directors of the Association for the Propagation of the Faith. I shall be leaving in a fortnight, but first I want to have a meeting with you in order to develop as a corollary of my Plan the prompt reintegration of the Central African Mission in accordance with the wishes of the Vienna Committee, for the purpose of which I have already discussed certain measures with Barnabò and which will be implemented as soon as I return from Paris.
[940]
Without realising it, the Franciscans and especially the General, thanks to a political manoeuvre which I made at the appropriate time and place, have been reduced to the point of longing for the prompt execution of my negotiations in Paris and to be able to give up half their jurisdiction over Central Africa. All this is to remain between us. We will understand each other better at first hand. God knows how to draw good from evil. It is my intention to involve the able German missionaries in this action and to have Kirchner join me. Give my greetings to His Highness the Bishop from your

Affectionate friend

Fr Daniel

[941]
I hope you have received my two letters from Rome. In the first I gave you a short report, in the second I conveyed the idea of a new project for the conversion of Africa. You will be surprised that I should always be travelling and that I am now in Bressanone. But you must know that Africa and the poor black people have taken possession of my heart. It lives for them alone, especially since the Representative of Jesus Christ, the Holy Father, has encouraged me to work for Africa. For this reason you will also forgive me if I leave my few Africans, who remain in good care however, to labour for the benefit of their entire people.
[942]
According to the latest news the Central African Mission is almost completely extinct. At the moment in Khartoum there remains only one Father and a Franciscan Brother. The White Nile has been completely abandoned and the Shellal mission station has been evacuated. The presidency of the Association of Mary in Vienna, which has laboured with so much zeal and with so many sacrifices to support the Mission in Central Africa, is trying by every possible means to restore its efficiency. Propaganda itself in Rome was inclined to abandon this mission completely for the moment because it could not be effectively run by European missionaries. As soon as I arrived in Rome and spoke of the new plan I had conceived in Cologne and developed in my mind on the journey between Cologne and Mainz, the Cardinal ordered me to put these ideas down in writing and in my plan to unite and make use of all those who are working for Africa.
[943]
The Plan has pleased the Pope and Cardinal Barnabò, but when it is put into effect it is likely to meet with innumerable obstacles. Many classes and institutions lack the spirit of the love of Jesus Christ, especially because of politics.
[944]
The Work must be catholic, not just Spanish, French, German or Italian. All Catholics must help the poor Africans, because one nation alone would not succeed in succouring the whole African race. Catholic institutions, such as that of the venerable Olivieri, the Mazza Institute, the work of Fr Lodovico or the Society of Lyons, etc. have doubtless done a great deal of good for individual Africans. Yet, up till now, a beginning has still to be made on planting Catholicism in Africa and ensuring that it lasts. By our plan we hope to be able to open a way for the Catholic faith among all the tribes in the whole territory occupied by Africans. To attain this end, it seems to me that all the initiatives already existing will have to be brought together, and that their supporters will have to keep their eyes fixed firmly on their noble aim and so set aside all their own individual interests.
[945]
You can understand what a splendid future is prepared for your Society of Cologne, for in a certain way it gave birth to the idea of the new project, since it was after discussions with the Presidential Committee that I had the thought of the Plan. From Rome I have sent you a draft of the Plan, to which I added a list of the Vicariates and Prefectures Apostolic which are scattered around Africa. I expounded at greater length on the founding of four quasi-universities and quite a number of schools of fine art all over the great African peninsula, and finally on the great mission of the Central Committee that we shall found in a large European city.
[946]
From Lyons, where I am now going, I will send you the whole Plan, as it is now, and I beg you, before my arrival in Cologne, to read and examine it with the honourable members of the Presidential council and other prudent men.
[947]
Here in Bressanone, I am staying with the tireless Dr Mitterrutzner, who has been such a worthy supporter of the African mission. He approves of my plan and considers it necessary for the improvement of the situation of the coastal missions and in order to penetrate from all sides into the African interior. I hope that the first success of my efforts to reopen the mission stations which have been destroyed will, in a few months’ time, be a fait accompli. I am discussing precisely this with Mitterrutzner, who will deal on my behalf with the Society of Mary in Vienna, while I, as requested by Cardinal Barnabò, will submit the Plan to the directors of the Propagation of the Faith in Lyons and Paris. From Paris I shall proceed to Cologne. In my journey through Piedmont I want to inform myself of every aspect of the venerable Olivieri’s death and the consequences of his death, to be able to tell you about it in Cologne.
[948]
Now allow me to thank the Society of Cologne again for the great help I received in Verona for my Africans. You cannot imagine the far-reaching effect of this generosity. I would therefore like to try to give you a small idea, so that you and the members may know how worthy they are before God.
[949]
Our Institutes have to maintain 600 children, 200 boys and 400 girls, including the African boys and girls. We have no income, if one excludes a small plot of land and a few houses, the rent from which would provide maintenance for a dozen persons at most. Our reverend founder Fr Mazza has given the Institute everything he owned and does not want money to be discussed because, as he always says, Providence alone is the foundation and the support of his Institute. He is a miracle of confidence, conformity and self-denial. For 12 years, during which the Veneto and Lombardy regions were robbed of their wine and their silk, which were the greatest riches of this land, charity has dwindled and, while Providence provides our daily bread, we do not know whether we will have something for the morrow. You can therefore easily understand how the food for the children is often very scarce.
[950]
Fr Mazza once provided all the clothing. For the past few years the means for this have been lacking. The European girls still have their father and mother, uncles and aunts, a tutor or a protector who send them presents. But there was no one to think of the African girls (who, as you know, have been in the Institute since long before the African boys), except the women teachers in the Institute who frequently gave the girls their food. Fr Mazza saw all this and suffered indescribably, without being able to find a remedy. Since my return from Africa I have worked hard to help the poor African girls and gave them all my stipends and what I earned from preaching. Finally Providence allowed me to hear about the Society of Cologne: I asked it for help and it was granted. Since that time things have been going well for my Africans. They are clothed and learn without concern, without doubting the help of Providence. Clothing, heating, firewood, cloth, bread twice a day, drinks, meat three times a week, paper, books, medicine, better food for the sick, everything they need is bought with the money I have received from Cologne. But the frightening illness they all caught, which kept them bedridden for a whole year and which killed three of them, this time severely dented the finances. Without Cologne’s help I would not have known how to manage and as time went by many would have died.
[951]
The Society of Cologne is therefore the true protector and good father of the African girls of Verona. Do you now recognise the great merits of your Society? For all this may God bless the Presidency, the members and the benefactors. May God thank them, because I am too unworthy to thank them according to their merit. Now even the last healthy one, Michele Ladoh, has fallen ill. He is a victim of charity, because he became too tired in the service of his sick brothers. I have great fears for his life. The good youth does not yet know what sin is. The African girls are in good health. Their progress is following my last year’s Plan; the prizes were the same as then. Now they are waiting to be able to go soon to Africa, to bear the light of the Catholic faith to their fellow nationals. I hope their earnest desires may soon be granted.

D. Daniel


Translated from the German.

[952]
My journey from Turin to Lyons was most trying because of the snowfalls which hampered our progress. I was accompanied by Prince Sartorinsky, who left me at Culoz. From Susa, on a coach drawn by 22 horses, we climbed Mont Cenis. After ascending for 6 hours, when the snows impeded our progress, we mounted sleighs, each of which was drawn by 14 horses. I do not have time to describe this night scene, which was the complete opposite of the desert of Africa. After incredible efforts to get through the enormous drifts and ravines, at 2.00 a.m. we reached the summit and were courteously given hospitality by the St Bernard Hermits, who were also respected by Napoleon I. They warmed us up and fed us a tasty soup of beans, turnips and lentils, and bread and chèvrin, a most exquisite fresh goat cheese. At dawn we got on the sleighs again and after 22 hours through freezing snows we reached St Michel, where we caught the train again which took us through Chambéry and the whole of the Savoy, past the most delightful lake of Borgex, and we were in Lyons by 4.oo p.m.. I will say nothing of the outcome of my business because I know nothing yet; and there will also be delays because of Cardinal Barnabò’s illness, for I want him alone of those in Rome to correspond with Lyons and Paris.
[953]
You will have received six copies of my plan, printed by Canon Ortalda, or rather by me, following his advice. You will receive another ten copies from my Father. I would like you to give one to Tregnaghi and one to Martinati, and to have it read by Garbini. But what is most pressing for me, is that there should be prayers to God and Mary for this, for its successful outcome. Therefore, please send a copy to Fr Perez begging him to convince the members of the Society of St Philip to pray; one copy to the Stigmatines, one to Fr Mich. Falezza, one to the Rector of La Scala, to the parish priest of S. Stefano; well, to those who pray: send one to our priests in S. Giorgio, and give them my greetings. And Farinato? Ah, I am fed up with him! The money does not matter to me, but what annoys me is the deceit. I am sorry because I like him, but I no longer trust him. I will send him the number of times pasta, beans, etc. were bought, which was not more than once or twice amonth. The rest was just bread once every two days; but enough: this bores me.
[954]
When I had the beans from the French monks on Mont Cenis, it occurred to me that I had to pay Farinato for beans and pasta which were never eaten. But enough… Tell Hans to write to me. Give my greetings to the Superior, and tell him that I think of him constantly and that I want his ideas to be put into practice as regards Africa, and that he should pray and have prayers said for the success of the enterprise. My regards to Fr Beltrame, in fact to all our brother priests and young men. Make our community pray for the success of my African business. I will write many things: but now I am going to bed. After Christmas the Senate will deal with the question of military service for seminarians, and that monster of a suppression. I have not missed a single session of the Senate and was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with Manzoni who was accompanied by the parish priest of S. Michele. Give my greetings to the Urbani ladies; also to my two Protestants, and tell them to write to me: go and see them. May my porter take good care of my castle, as he does with the piano, not like his bedroom. My respects to the Bishop,

Your affectionate Fr Daniel

[955]
Please write to me about everything that concerns the Institute: do not limit yourself to one side alone, but three, four, etc. Nobody else writes to me: therefore do not fail me, tell me so many things. I am staying at the Seminary for the African Missions in Lyons: Mgr Planque is the Superior and he is so kind to me. I will have immense difficulties to begin with and more to follow: but God’s work is like that. Have many prayers said to the Lord, and take heart.

[956]
After leaving Rome I went to Verona, where my Superior Fr Mazza, having read and studied the summary of the Plan for the Conversion of Africa, was most pleased with it, and the good old man seemed rejuvenated by the hope of soon seeing something stable being done for the good of interior Africa. To tell the truth, it seems tome that the substance of the Plan should produce the effect Your Eminence desires, in other words, to unite and keep alive and flourishing the resources and institutions which already exist for the good of Africa: which, without my labouring the point, you will clearly gather from the Plan.
[957]
This Plan was read and studied by many distinguished persons, and by a few Bishops, among whom was the Bishop of Verona. It was approved by all and I was encouraged to dedicate my whole life to putting it into effect. Indeed, I feel I have all the strength required, with the support of God’s grace, to vanquish unscathed all the obstacles which this great work will doubtless encounter. But the approval and the encouragement of others has no impact at all on me and is of no avail, if all this does not come from Your Most Reverend Eminence, who in this matter is the direct mouthpiece of God’s will. You will forgive me if I make so bold as to repeat what the Holy Father had to say to me on the evening of the 29th last:
[958]
“I am so pleased that you concern yourself with Africa, and I bless your efforts and intentions. I will discuss it with the Most Eminent Cardinal Prefect General: consult with him and follow his instructions, because Cardinal Barnabò is very acute, and you will do good to Africa, I hope”. To save myself the overwhelming task of so much writing and copying, I had a few copies of the Plan printed, which I now send to Your Eminence so that you may know every detail. Remove and tear out anything in the Plan you do not like, because whatever does not please Your Most Reverend Eminence will never, ever please me; and approve what you believe is right. For you well know that I and all those who will participate in the work (and there are several already, among whom I firmly hope to have the able Kirchner), will never be able to do anything and take an initiative without a specific approval and encouragement from Your Most Reverend Eminence.
[959]
If the pleasure and the will of the Church are made manifest, we shall have money, personnel and valid co-operation, and everything; and the Plan will be off to a good start. Otherwise, my efforts and those of others will be worth less than nothing. I entrust myself to the arms of Your Most Reverend Eminence, who will direct things in such a way that the Work will have a prosperous beginning, for its aim is to cancel out the tremendous anathema which has hung for so many centuries over the wretched sons of Ham, and to gradually plant the faith soundly in the vast regions of Central Africa, on which the light of the Gospel has never shone.
[960]
Following Your Most Reverend Eminence’s orders I introduced myself to the Council of the Pious Association for the Propagation of the Faith in Lyons, and without even being given the time to present my request, I received this answer: “We have no jurisdiction whatsoever: our association is purely Catholic. We offer assistance, without any consideration of nationality and within the limits of our resources, to all Missions and foreign Institutions that are approved by Propaganda and recommended by it to us. We have never given so much as a cent to a Mission which has not first been recommended by Propaganda. No recommendation, not even from the Emperor, can cause us to alter our system, which is the basis of our activities. We only know the orders from Rome and our resources, which we grant in accordance with Rome’s approval.
[961]
We only write to Propaganda to answer its venerable requests, and we only communicate with the Foreign Missions to assign our subsidies to their respective Directors. If Propaganda recommends your works and your Institutes in Africa we will agree to help them, as we do all the other Missions and as we have done in Tripoli for an Institution for Central Africa”. Everything I heard, observed and saw in this Pious Association of Lyons, and in the persons dedicated to it, breathes holiness, Catholicity, integrity. It is an essentially Catholic association and its members, devoid of any spirit of partiality and independence, are most able at running it. Your Most Reverend Eminence knew well what answer I was going to receive in Lyons.
[962]
I am therefore most satisfied. Everything depends on the recommendation from Propaganda. I am certain, therefore, that if it is decreed by Your Eminence, once the Plan is gradually implemented on the coasts of Africa, the Associations of Paris and Lyons will grant the same assistance they give the other Missions. This is why my present efforts must be directed towards beginning the Work; and I am positive about its effect, when we shall have Your Most Reverend Eminence’s encouragement. In the meantime, I shall remain in Lyons awaiting your venerable orders and instructions, which will be the foundation of my actions for the African Cause and the norm by which I will have to regulate my dealings with the Spanish priest sent to Rome by the Bishop of Amiens, as Your Eminence mentioned. I implore Your Eminence to ask for a special blessing for me from the Holy Father, for whom I would like to give my life a thousand times. Kissing the sacred Purple, with filial reverence and respect, I remain

Your Most Reverend Eminence’s
most humble, respectful and devoted servant

Fr Daniel Comboni

[963]
I had already prepared a detailed letter for the Superior and I was already writing an even longer one to him, when I received your letter of the 1st of this month and, to tell you the truth, I no longer have the strength or courage to write. So I am putting off sending the letter to the Superior, as he would certainly not deign to read it; and I am also refraining from writing to my dear Rector, because I just do not have the moral strength. Instead, I leave the two letters to Canossa and Pompei open: read them both, and also to the dear ones in the Institute who are fond of me, then seal them and send them to their destinations. (We shall do the accounts with Farinato when I return. It is pointless for him to go to Tregnaghi, because he will not give him anything, as it would be making a debt I would not recognise). When I get to Paris I will write you a letter with more detailed news. I trust in God and the Blessed Virgin. I asked for money in the Superior’s name?
[964]
I received money from Giovanelli, and failed to give it to the Superior? You know, dear Rector, that a source gives me money for the Africans, and you know that in conscience I must distribute it to them: he would never have sent anything to the Superior, and I was never told to give it to the Superior; I was the one who asked, I travelled and found what was needed; and I must decide what I must do. The Superior has no right at all apart from ordering me not to get involved on behalf of the Africans; and if that were the case, I would have to obey if those were his orders. But over the money he has no rights: I alone must distribute it in accordance with the instructions received. I could give you a thousand more arguments, but I just don’t have the moral strength to write.
[965]
Although the good old man is being a tyrant rather than a father with me at the moment, the reason I am so dejected is because said good old man is suffering on my account, and so is suffering for nothing, for no reason. I feel more than ever what a grace it is to be a Catholic, and the faith is the only thing which gives me the strength to suffer for love for Christ. Without the faith, a heart not strengthened by Christ would certainly give way. I will answer your dear letter in detail later. I am really depressed. It is about time the Superior stopped, or this will be the result. There are times when I need encouragement, more than to be scolded. The Superior ought to have told me something about this when I was in Verona. I can see they wait for me to be out of the way before influencing him against me. But whether near or far, I am always the same and I feel things with the same strength wherever I am in the world. The Superior will never be able to reproach me for things which would deserve my being expelled from the Institute.
[966]
Dear Rector, write to me poste restante in Paris, where I will be more at peace to write, and pray for me. From my father you will have received 10 copies, one of which is for Fr Vertua. Give my affectionate greeting to the Superior, to our dear Foundation members and priests of the 4 years, clerics and young men, and to the women teachers, especially to Cavattoni. Accept my warmest thanks and affection

Your Fr Daniel

[967]
So far I have not achieved anything for Africa. These are difficult matters which demand breadth of vision, resources and courage, and special help from God. Cardinal Barnabò ordered me to inspect all the African establishments in France, that is everything sacred and profane that has to do with Africa, and especially in Lyons, where the African Missions’ Seminary is based. I was welcomed there courteously by the Superior, Mgr Planque, a man of great qualities and highly esteemed in the whole of France. Who would have believed it? God disposed that by falling into his hands, I fell into the hands of a saint, but a bitter enemy. For the holiest of reasons, he demolished my Plan, and what is more, ran to the members of the Central Council of the Association for the Propagation of the Faith and to Cardinal de Bonald to warn them to oppose it. Unwittingly, not realising the cause of such behaviour on the part of a holy and able man, I had many discussions with him. He assured me that it was a frivolous Plan, harmful to the African Missions, a plan that would never be accepted or supported financially, a plan to which he would always be opposed.
[968]
I consulted many members of the Council, many old Missionaries, a few Bishops and the Cardinal Archbishop of Lyons. They all knew about my Plan. Finally I found the answer to this enigma, which is quite simple. The Seminary for the African Missions was founded by Bishop Bresillac, ex-Vicar Apostolic of Comboïtur in the Indies, and entrusted to Mgr Planque, who is Vicar Apostolic of Dahomey in West Africa. The Plan of Planque and the late Bishop (who died half-way with all his Missionaries) includes the project of penetrating Central Africa from the West. My Plan opposes the idea of rushing into the centre, as other Missions have done, and instead establishes the principle of the regeneration of Africa by Africa.
[969]
This is why Signor Planque maintains that my plan va tarir (will dry up) vocations, because it states that Europeans die in Africa. He has therefore told the Council that one does not die in Africa, as is clear from the Galla Mission. So he is opposed to the substance of the plan. He equally denies that Africans are fit to become catechists, teachers, artists, and least of all Priests; and he has founded a College for Africans in Cadiz to make them artists and priests. As for the Committee, he says it is cumbersome and complicated, etc. I suppose he is right, but I still want to found it, a simple one of course, but I want to found one. Signor Planque assured me that he would write to Propaganda about this. So, all in all, in Lyons this man (whom Cardinal Barnabò would like me to bring into step with all the others), is the arch enemy. That is why I conceived the idea of leaving Lyons and setting up my centre of operations in Paris.
[970]
In the meantime, I wrote to Mgr Massaia in Paris, and he replied immediately. In this way I was able to meet Count d’Ercules, founder of the Pious Association of the Propagation of the Faith (and I got to know him thanks to the recommendation of some of my Ladies, for whom I shall bear an eternal friendship, because the Catholic woman is all), a venerable and holy old man. I gained his friendship and wrote down in French for him the substance of my plan. He invited me to lunch, where, to my great surprise, the president of the Central Council was invited. I made a point of talking a great deal about Africa, about what I have seen and what others have observed. They found me well-informed about African matters. I was amused to feel I was being interrogated on all the subjects raised by Signor Planque, and repeatedly so; for my part, without showing that I was informed about Planque’s opinions as expressed to the Council, with absolute calm and moderation, as though it were a topic brought up in casual table-talk, I answered each of their questions.
[971]
I believe I have made the best impression on the minds of those good old men; all the more because I repeated several times, and they realised I am convinced of this, that I do not want to undertake anything without the approval of the Church, and that whatever displeases the Church displeases me too; and if the Pope does not like it je vais déchirer mon plan (I will tear up my plan). Count d’Ercules then gave the President a printed copy of my Plan saying: M. Comboni’s Plan is a great Plan, he has been to Central Africa, he saw his comrades die, he knows much about the spirit of Africa. I then added that I was pleased that the President should know it, because in due course he would be receiving instructions from Rome about it; and I thus solved my Lyons problem, establishing a correspondence with Count d’Ercules, unknown to M. Planque. This circumstance and this happy encounter will be very useful to me in due course. In any case at Mgr Massaia’s invitation I came to Paris, where I have been for four days. Today we are going on to Versailles, where we shall stay for a week, and then we shall return to Paris. I hope this bishop, a veteran of Africa, will be very useful to me. I want to proceed very slowly, to think, to consult, because this is no laughing matter. I am staying with the Capuchins, together with Mgr Massaia, a Capuchin who wants me always with him, and who has a heart a big as the whole of the Eastern Nile, of which he is the most zealous Apostle.
[972]
What do you want me to tell you of Paris? We are in another world, dear Rector; in the future I shall fill a few pages about Paris. The city of worldly pleasures, the city of eminently Catholic works, seductive to the followers of the world and of God. For four days I have been in a blessed state, because I have found so many dear persons here in Paris, including Mgr Spaccapietra, Archbishop of Smyrna, Mgr Sohier, Vicar Apostolic of Northern Cochin-China, etc., Baron Gros, Ambassador to China, etc., etc. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus received me with enthusiasm. Marchesa Canossa Durazzo’s sister received from my hands the little envelope I had from Marquis Ottavio; she conferred with the 100 or more Sacred Heart Sisters, all noble, and they have adopted Africa as the object of their most fervent prayers.
[973]
I said Mass for them, and the Foundress will order all the houses in Europe under her authority to pray each day for the carrying out of my Plan. The same goes for the Institute of Mary Reparatrix. When I have time I will dedicate a few pages to the 190 Institutes for women in France, not known in Italy, which devote themselves to pious and charitable works. Among others there is the Bon Secours, which is an institution spread all over France whose nuns are scattered singly in families to manage le ménage et soigner la vieillesse. There is even one at Count d’Ercules’ house in Lyons: they sit at table with the family, etc. and make vows and are dressed like Hospital nuns. But enough, because I realise that I am wandering off to Emmaus. I would have too much to say, and enough.
[974]
I say nothing of my relations with the Superior; I only say that in all these matters philosophy is required, the philosophy of the Gospel. Before heaven and earth I declare that nothing of which I am accused is true. I have never received anything from Giovanelli that I did not give to the Superior. After 1862, which was the last year in which he sent money to the Superior through me, I did not receive even a cent from Giovanelli, either for me or for the Superior. I have never asked for money in the name of the Superior, absolutely never. I have asked for some money for the Africans from people who lived far away, when, as Vice-Rector, I did not know how to clothe or look after them; and I received some money, given to me for the Africans; and in this case I carefully spent this for the Africans, because it was requested by me, never on behalf of Fr Mazza; and I did not give him the money, because it was given specifically for the African girls. I did this in all conscience and I will always act in this way as long as I go on accepting money. I have always acted scrupulously and with great care in this matter. If the Superior is otherwise convinced, then may God’s will be done; I will pray for him to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. There is nothing else I can do. I am very, very fond of him, but I am just a little annoyed by the way he has proceeded, because it might damage my work.
[975]
I assure you, dear Rector, that I am scandalised by certain saints. But God is good. The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary are my great comfort and the pivot of my philosophy.
[976]
I am a sinner and full of faults: but there is God’s forgiveness and help. The way the Superior proceeds is such that it might very well send someone who is not quite steady off the rails. If I had killed a priest, this is not the way to convert and bring a stray back to the right path. I will always love him and be eternally grateful to him; because if I am now in a position to do some good, I owe this to the dear old man. But he needs to reject everything so as to open his eyes wide to avoid evil befalling me, my work, him and our Institutes. Our good old man has magnanimous and gigantic views, suited to real progress; but unfortunately he does not have the manner, he does not have prudence; and he could be heading for trouble, of the kind I am just about to have, if he goes on at this rate. For the time being I am not writing to him; I am living as if nothing had happened. But I do not think that I am cretinous enough not to see the consequences. Enough. I am praying for our beloved Institutes; and may Verona pray for me; the Centre of our relations is God.
[977]
Give my very, very warmest greetings to the Superior, the Bishop, Fr Beltrame, Fr Tomba, Fr Brighenti, Fr Fochesato, my doorman (from whom I shall strictly demand household accounts, and if he has done his duty, I will let him share the 12 birds I will have delivered by Fransele), the little half priest, and all our dearest priests, clerics and youths, etc., etc. Let them all pray to the Lord for the poor Parisian. And remember to write at more length and about everything, because the news of the queen of the Adige becomes more important than ever on the banks of the Seine. When you can go to Canterane give my regards to my two Protestants and Hans.
[978]
Regarding the French woman, I have written to the Bishop of Geneva that he should make some enquiries about the De La Pierre woman’s sister. He answered me kindly that he would do everything possible. In secret, of course. On this journey, I hope to draw the sister too into the bosom of the Catholic Church. But I have just begun. I will speak to no one but you, dear Rector; and the others will only know when the matter will be over and done with. The Bishop of Geneva is my friend, and in Rome he came to know about the Dresden affair. He wrote to me that cet Apostolat caché attire toutes mes sympathies etc.

Your affectionate Fr Daniel

In this whole journey I have only received one letter from you in Lyons.