Writings

[1930]
Just a note to give you our news and ask you to remind Fr Beltrame of the promise he made me to send me a copy of the reports he sent to Verona from Khartoum and the White Nile, except for the last one, which I have. He even promised me this in your presence: I have written to him once, but nec unum verbum. I turn to you that you may use your influence so that I might have these reports which I need at the moment. Please tell Fr Giovanni that however extremely busy he may be, promissio boni viri est obbligatio.

[1931]
I would love to have news of the Institute, both at S. Carlo and at Canterane: I have no luck; no one from the Institute writes to me.

As regards the African girls of the Verona Institute, they are all doing well, even Caltuma, and are truly good. They are afflicted because they no longer receive news from their teachers, aunts, mothers and superiors: what can we do? We all put a brave face on it together, and good day, m’Lord! As for me, my three Institutes are progressing marvellously. On the day of the Assumption I will baptise five 17 to 21 year-old African girls. I have no time to describe to you the precious conquests that are being made every day. The unfortunate Fr Zanoni, who has lost his head, has been speaking against my Institutes in the whole of Venetia, and he has written against me and his companions to the Bishop of Verona, to Propaganda and to the Archbishop and Apostolic Delegate in Egypt. I answered with patience, short words and the facts.

[1932]
Such persecutions have made my Institutes progress by ten years: I received the close friendship and grace of Monsignor our Delegate and the local parish priest. Our Delegate ordered me to found a third Institute. I have three large houses, two of which are paid up for one year and the other for seven; in so little time I have ensured a yearly revenue of 20,000 francs for my Institutes and have provided them with 20,000 francs-worth of furnishings, linen, etc. They have enough to eat and drink, soap, sugar, coffee, oil from Nice and Moravian butter in sufficient supply to last a year and a half. I am large, fat, tall, white and red, not blissful, strong and robust and happier than Napoleon III, etc. Therefore I have reasons to thank God and look forward to his blessings in future. The names of the Institutes are: 1. House of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (male missionaries). 2. House of the Sacred Heart of Mary (Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition). 3. House of the Holy Family (Sister Caterina Valerio, transferred from Verona) which holds a school attended by Muslim girls and heretics of all sorts and has 5 teachers, including Luigia and Domitilla.
Pray for poor Fr Comboni and his Institutes. Here it is 38 degrees, greetings to all the men and women,

Your most affectionate

Fr Daniel Comboni

[1933]
I have delayed answering your respected letter of 13th June, firstly in order to give mature reflection to its content, in accordance with your wise advice, and secondly because I deemed it necessary to respond with facts to the crucial point of finding and arranging a separate house, which cost me so many steps, humiliations, expenses and efforts that, with heaven’s assistance, have been crowned with success. I think that I will be able to give you a complete answer to the four points mentioned in your letter, commenting on a few observations Your Excellency was kind enough to inform me were made by the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide.
[1934]
To begin with, it does not seem to me that the Most Eminent Cardinal Barnabò was too exact in his judgement that my Institute lacks solid foundations. Your Most Reverend Excellency knows full well that it has the same foundations as most new religious Institutions, except for the ownership of property, buildings and land; and that it has the firmest hope that these foundations, planted in the broad bosom of Providence who governs events and time, will prove to be sound. Indeed this hope rests on the paternal protection of Your Most Reverend Excellency whose consent to its very existence and whose firmness and charity in protecting its existence are the surest guarantee of it’s being well-founded.
[1935]
Secondly, you are aware of the quantity and quality of the protection afforded by the government of Her Majesty the Empress of France. Thirdly, its form and the aims it pursues are such that it cannot and must not arouse doubts or fears from any of the other moral entities in loco, which have so far shown benevolent participation. Its aim is absolutely clear: the evangelisation of Africa. So much for external issues.
[1936]
As regards the internal management, the female Institute is supported by the collaboration of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition, whose rule was approved by the Church, whose Protector is the Most Eminent Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda. The male Institute at the moment has four priests of good will and health, who are not lacking in the adequate gifts to fulfil the obligations of their ministry. And in the case that I should die, or that the small Verona Seminary were completely unable to supply suitable replacements, should you deem it appropriate, you could count on the collaboration of the Camillian Order to pursue the Work.
[1937]
Furthermore, my Institute has always had Rules and Timetables complying with the norm of other Institutes, but with those particular features that foster the speciality of its objective. It has started and is carrying on its task in favour of the poor Africans who are a prey to all miseries.
[1938]
As regards its means of sustenance, my Institute has the full support of the most serious and strongest sympathies from the pious Associations approved by the Church for aid to the Catholic Apostolate and from illustrious and powerful benefactors whom I know personally.
1. The Cologne Association for the Redemption of Africans has pledged in writing 5,000 francs a year; verbally 10,000 and in fact, in a year and a half, has contributed 18,300 francs.
2. The Propagation of the Faith of Lyons and Paris, (thanks to Your Excellency’s most efficient intercession), allocated 5000 francs, with the promise to increase the amount as the Work developed.
3. There is hope of support from the Associations of St Ludwig in Munich (it has made two offerings totalling 1,500 francs), of the Immaculate Conception for the East in Vienna (has given 100 francs), of the Holy Sepulchre in Cologne (has given 500 francs), of the Schools of the East in Paris (has given 200 francs), of the Holy Childhood, of St Francis de Sales, and of the Apostolic Societies in Rome, Lyons and Paris, etc., etc.
4. It has the daily Mass intentions of the Missionaries, of whom there are now four.

[1939]
5. In a short time it was able to collect, almost without asking, 9,642 francs from private benefactors, the most prominent of which are Her Imperial Majesty and Royal Highness Empress Marianne in Prague, His Highness the Prince Royal of Saxony and his august spouse, Prince Löwenstein (who on 11th April deposited one million at the feet of the Holy Father), Prince Alessandro Torlonia, Baron Havelt, Cardinal Prince Schwartzemberg, the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, the Crown Princess of Portugal, etc., etc., etc.
6. From the French government, which in my two expeditions of 1867 and 1869 allowed me to save more than 11,000 francs in passages and the free shipping of goods; I expect a strong contribution from their oriental fund, as I have been given to hope by several heads of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
7. The Institutes are equipped with household goods, kitchen utensils, linen and religious vestments and objects worth more than 20,000 francs.

[1940]
As regards the house, Your Excellency knows to what lengths I have gone to get it free of charge from His Highness the Viceroy, equipped as I was with valid recommendations. Despite so many obstacles and rejections, and the unfavourable spirit which reigns generally regarding the poor Africans, I have good hopes of availing myself shortly of two houses, either through the generosity of the Egyptian government or with funds that Providence will put into my hands. In any case, hic et nunc the Institutes have two houses paid up for one year and a third house paid up for more than six years. The male House (which we call after the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is more than 800 paces from the Institute entrusted to the Sister of St Joseph (which we call the House of the Sacred Heart of Mary); and is 175 paces away from the School directed by Mother Caterina Valerio T.F. (which we call the House of the Holy Family).
When these Institutes in due course extend their activities towards Central Africa, to which they are specially destined, I hope Your Excellency will let us make use of one of the Houses already existing in this vast Vicariate. To all this I must add that the range of sources of subsidies on which I can seriously count in future is much more vast and more widespread, should the Work develop as it ought.

[1941]
Insofar as I have always yearned for crosses, as healthy and necessary for the growth of holy works, and kind Jesus having always been generous in these despite my unworthiness, I have pleasure in adoring in complete resignation the dispositions of Providence who has allowed our respected Most Eminent Cardinal Prefect with his wit to put a rather heavy brake on my resources, since he let it be known to many that Comboni was crazy, a madman fit to be tied, etc. This rumour spread through Rome, went round Italy and France and may even have reached Germany and cooled or restrained some people, and was a powerful influence in making me refrain from certain steps which, during my last trip to Europe, would certainly have earned one hundred thousand francs.
[1942]
From these facts and hopes it does not appear to me that I should conclude that my Institute lacks sound foundations. Quite a number of other mission establishments have less solid foundations than my Institute, which after all has only existed for 18 months, and in such a short time it has resisted so many and such great storms that if it had not had solid foundations, it would have crumbled long ago.
[1943]
In this context, the Most Eminent Cardinal’s other proposition does not appear altogether exact to me either, namely that through lack of adequate regulations there had been the improprieties that were generally referred to him. The organisation of my Institute, attentis specialibus circumstantiis, was most proper. From the beginning it had most appropriate Rules suited to the place and to the objectives. It had its Timetables for daily activities as well as for times of spiritual practices, for monthly retreats, etc. and these regulations were and still are observed. I have in my possession a handwritten letter from that Zanoni, who was the only perpetrator of those deplored improprieties, in which he declares that the internal and regular organisation of my Institute were unbearable, too strict and for Carthusians.
[1944]
If the lack of regular organisation had been the cause of the improprieties which occurred, they would not have been perpetrated only by an old religious of 49, but much more probably by a young man of 28 and another of 22. But of these two good companions of mine, who could have said or can say a word against their behaviour save the unfortunate Zanoni, who realised himself that he was unworthy of living among them and just under a year ago went away from them in the manner Your Most Reverend Excellency knows about? It was therefore not a lack of regular organisation: it was one of those evil arts with which God allows the devil to test his Works so that they may be strengthened and hell may be vanquished. Judas among the Apostles, Br Elia alongside the Seraphic Patriarch, apostasies in the heart of the Church and the Religious Orders, etc.: can these be said to have happened through lack of regular organisation?
[1945]
It is grievous for me to see that in some way the faults of an individual are being attributed to my Institute in general. Improprieties existed; but in the accuser, not in the accused. I therefore wish His Eminence would see in this a completely different case, as in fact it is; and instead of repeatedly throwing the blame on the Institute, that he should see its real innocence alongside an unworthy treachery which falsely charges others with its own crimes. Nor can the Most Eminent Cardinal Prefect accuse me of imprudence in entrusting Zanoni as I did with the direct supervision of the female Institute. That old man had a white beard and was 49 years old, for over 15 years he had had important responsibilities and had been the Prefect of one of his Order’s houses in Mantua. In my judgement this was a sufficient guarantee that Zanoni could be trusted; and to tell the truth I would have had more trust in him than in myself. But may the Lord be blessed forever, who through this fact was pleased to give me a great lesson which will be most useful in helping me to regulate my actions ever more cautiously in future.
[1946]
Lastly, coming to the explanations Your Most Reverend Excellency was kind enough to ask of me concerning Fr Guardi, the Camillian Order and my two companions Carcereri and Franceschini, to whom the venerable observations and insinuations you had from His Eminence refer, here are the genuine facts. In March 1867, like all the other Orders in Italy, the Ministers of the Sick were suppressed. Fr Carcereri and Fr Franceschini, not wanting to do what some of the others did and return to their own families, asked with two of their companions to be sent to the foreign missions, which they had been wanting to do for some time. Fr Guardi was then the Procurator General and, seconding the wishes of the Provincial, he denied them his consent at that time, advising them to wait and see what would happen.
[1947]
In the meantime the Bishop of Verona, having heard of their intentions, thought he could make use of them for Africa and supported the request they made to the Holy Father through the Sacred Congregation for Bishops and Religious, not without informing His Holiness explicitly and exactly about the refusal these supplicants had received from their General. This request was granted by means of the Pontifical Rescript of 5th July, which placed the said Fathers under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Verona ad quinquennium. Their Superiors were still opposed to their departure however, and tried to recall them several times after their arrival in Egypt. The Most Eminent Cardinal Barnabò himself, urged by Fr Guardi who is a close friend of his, in a letter of 15th September last, insinuated to Carcereri and Franceschini that they should return. In view of so much insistence from the most venerable Cardinal Prefect and from Fr Guardi, who had become the Vicar general of the Camillians, I was gripped by the serious fear that I would lose for Africa, not only these two men who understand the importance of our Work so well, but a few others of the same Order who possess the same gifts and are disposed to engage themselves in the difficult apostolate of Central Africa.
[1948]
That is why I seriously began to meditate and examine with our dear Fr Stanislao ways of reconciling the good of Africa and the interests of my new Work with the Most Eminent Cardinal Prefect’s declarations and Fr Guardi’s reasonable desires. We therefore imagined that, should it please Your Most Reverend Excellency, it would be most appropriate if little by little, either within the walls of the male Institute or not far away, a small Camillian House were created in adiutum to the Institutes for Africans. It could specifically assume the care for the sick with the intention that, when this Work is sufficiently developed, at a later stage, the Order of the Ministers to the Sick could be put in charge of the evangelisation of one of the thousands of African tribes in central Africa. It would then be easy for our Work to allocate a part of its resources.
[1949]
This was the thought, Monsignor, that I intended to mention in one of my latest letters to you. It is a thought we have carefully meditated on and which in our opinion could lead us to a most reasonable and satisfactory solution as well as being laden with great benefits for Africa. That was what we thought: Fr Carcereri mentioned it at the beginning of this year to Fr Guardi: but then nothing more was said or done. That is all. I therefore do not see why Fr Guardi should speak of initiative, for nothing was ever asked of him, and of compromising his Order, for he was never approached officially by anybody, neither on behalf of my Institutes, nor of the Mission.
[1950]
As for Fr Carcereri and Fr Franceschini, neither do they consider themselves as ever having been detached from their Order, indeed basing themselves on their Rescript, they fought with Fr Guardi who was threatening to consider them as such; nor were they, or are they, considered as detached from their Order by me, or by the Bishop of Verona, or by anyone that I know of. I therefore find myself in the same condition as His Eminence of not knowing on what basis or by whom Carcereri and Franceschini are seen as being detached from their Order. I am also in a position to assure Your Excellency that neither the Bishop of Verona nor I have taken any steps in this regard with that illustrious Order.
[1951]
Our lives depend on the grace of God and the protection of Your Most Reverend Excellency. However difficult the enterprise to which we have consecrated ourselves to may be, and which we intend to bring to fruition; however furious the storms we may encounter, with the support of the Lord and Your Excellency, we fear nothing. In the meantime we persist in our prayers. Christ’s treaties are more solid and secure than all the treaties of worldly powers; therefore petite et accipietis is more solid and secure than the Vienna treaty of 1815, than the 1856 Paris treaty, than the 1867 Nikolsburg and Prague treaties and even than the Convention of 15th September 1864, etc. Atqui prayers are being said everywhere for our Work: therefore we will succeed fully in our efforts, non obstantibus mundo et diabolo.
May Your Most Reverend Excellency deign to receive with bounty my heartfelt thanks, also for your most welcome and venerated letter of the 19th. We all humbly implore your pastoral blessing, while in the most profound
veneration and gratitude, I remain,

Your Most Reverend Excellency’s
most humble, devoted and unworthy son

Fr Daniel Comboni

[1952]
Last December, when I was in Paris, I had the good fortune to explain to you in a short report the importance of my Institutes in Egypt in training good missionaries for the conversion of inner Africa. I also presented to you a letter of recommendation from Mgr Ciurcia, Archbishop of Irenopolis and Vicar Apostolic of Egypt, Superior of the vast Vicariate of Central Africa, for the purpose of asking the Society of the Holy Childhood to come to the aid of a Work on which there is no doubt that the conversion of so many of the black peoples in Central Africa depends.
[1953]
You had the kindness to give me hope of substantial help at the next general allocation of the Society’s donations, since we also always save many infidel children, especially of the black race, from eternal death, who are cast off, abandoned and fall ill; but to date, Monsignor, I have not received anything. I am therefore renewing my humble request and I beg you to come immediately to the aid of my three houses which I founded, with enormous sacrifices, in the short space of 18 months. You will understand that it is above all the foundations which need vast resources so that in Central Africa we can begin to go to the rescue of the most unhappy and neglected peoples on earth as soon as possible, with those we have trained in Egypt.
[1954]
I have twice had the opportunity to explain to you the outreach, importance and history of the Mission in Central Africa which was founded by Gregory XVI. I now limit myself to saying a word to you about my Institutes in Egypt which are destined to train African Missionaries of both sexes who will subsequently become apostles in their own lands in the heart of Africa.
The first Institute for male Missionaries is called the House of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It consists of four Missionaries, one layman and three Africans. They are concerned with everything to do with the priestly ministry and above all with the instruction of the African students and catechumens. They are also responsible for the spiritual direction of the other two Institutes.

[1955]
The second is for African women Teachers and is called the House of the Sacred Heart of Mary. I called upon the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition to direct it. It consists of three Sisters and 17 African teachers. Its aim is to train good female teachers for the education and apostolate of African women in Central Africa. Adjacent to this building is the infirmary, a small hospital for sick African women and abandoned children.

[1956]
The third is called the House of the Holy Family, because it is located about 25 steps from the Sacred Grotto where the Holy Family, exiled in Egypt, stayed for seven years. Two cloistered Sisters from the third Order, whom I brought from Verona after the suppression of the religious Orders in Italy, live in it with five African teachers who teach in Arabic, Italian, French and Dinka. The school is attended by heretics and infidels and is famous because there are African girls who teach there.
[1957]
Monsignor, you understand that to build three houses, to provide them with all they need and to maintain more than fifty individuals requires a great deal of money. Only think that these three houses are the nucleus of the apostolate of Central Africa! This mission is the most difficult and important one in the Catholic world, given that the Gospel has never reached these peoples which exceed one hundred million infidels. I speak to you with full knowledge of the matter because I was one of the Missionaries who penetrated this territory, after a continuous journey for six months as far as the 4th degree of latitude. Only six of us survived out of 39 Missionaries, of whom I am the only one still working; 33 died in those torrid lands. After twelve years of the most arduous apostolate, I turn to you to ask for substantial help, since I am in dire straits. I know you do not help only China but also poor Africa. With tears in my eyes I beseech you to help me. God will reward your zeal and the pious Associations will be blessed by a host of saved souls.
Monsignor, please accept the assurance of my highest esteem and receive the expression of my gratitude with which I remain ever
Your most devoted servant,

Fr Daniel Comboni

Apostolic Missionary of Central Africa
Superior of the Institutes for Africans in Egypt


Translated from French.

[1958]
Please speak in “Terre Sainte” about the prize-giving of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It was really magnificent. Write a beautiful article, but do not say it was I who wrote to you; It is still early days for me, and it is necessary to be rather careful here in Egypt. Here is a summary: “The 23rd of August was one of the loveliest days for the capital of Egypt and its Catholics. Anyone walking in the streets of Cairo would have encountered an extraordinary crowd of every kind of person coming not only from the vast neighbourhoods of the city but also from the outskirts: Bulai, Old
Cairo, Scubra, etc. The destination of this extraordinary throng was the great institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, where the most distinguished young people of Egypt and the European colony were taking part in the annual display of the school’s achievements.

[1959]
Here, where the scholars of Greece used to come to acquire their knowledge in the ancient temples and to consult their laws, here where the remains of so many age-old monuments still proclaim the immense development of the artistic genius of the ancients, but where today, for many centuries, the most deplorable ignorance achieved under the rules of the Koran prevails, here as I said, to listen to the most splendid performances displayed in the most distinguished manner and with admirable spontaneity and moreover simultaneously in three or four languages, Arabic, French, Turkish, Italian, English, Greek and Hebrew; to encounter a true, ingenious, free, noble and characteristic activity; to listen to concerts of musical choirs with piano and stringed and wind instruments, some of the first masters of the art played with a sureness, spontaneity and highly accurate precision; to see exhibited to the eyes of all, painted pictures and the most attractive drawings, geographical maps and some of the most beautiful and rare samples of calligraphy of every kind, copies and originals, zoological, botanical and mineralogical collections; delightful architectural designs and a thousand other products of a genius which is difficult to describe; all done by gifted school children, divided into five classes and eleven forms, and by children from the free school divided into two classes and five forms, all aged between six and fifteen years, it was a spectacle which astonished and beguiled not only the orientals but also the Europeans.
[1960]
We joyfully hail this age in which the love of knowledge is awakening in Egypt and we attended with deep emotion. The admirable zeal of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, whose headmaster is the incomparable Br Ildefonso, absolutely deserved this solemn approval from all classes of citizens, the heads of all the Institutes in the capital, the Bishops, and distinguished persons, both civil and military and Europeans. This marvellous prize-giving was presided over by the worthy representative of France in Cairo, Signor Franco, and the consuls of England, Belgium, Persia, Greece, Spain and Prussia, etc. also attended, as well as many authorities of the Egyptian Government such as Their Excellencies, Haffiche Pasha, Arekf Pasha, Hussein Bey, the Prefect of Police, and many other dignitaries from the Viceroy’s household and the Government.
[1961]
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is one of the most important elements of the Catholic apostolate and the Christian and European civilisation in Egypt. Here all the progress of European studies is learned and admired. The future will demonstrate all the good done by these generous Sons of the Venerable De La Salle who already exerts an influence and is spreading civilisation throughout the world with his 1,300 houses. But the Institute of the Brothers has already borne abundant fruit in Egypt. Many of those who honourably concluded their education here now hold important posts in the regime and all the offices of the various government departments make use of them.
[1962]
We are glad to offer our most deserved and sincerest praise to these true initiators of Egypt’s moral and intellectual civilisation, and rejoice with them. France, the generous protectress and promoter of European civilisation is well rewarded by the Brothers, because through them she is extending her influence in the East. She deserves it, for wherever there is a Catholic and humanitarian cause, France is always present. However the Brothers serve the Church’s cause above all by the admirable example they give the people with their holy life and regularity, and the sublime maxims of morality and spirituality which they impress upon the hearts of their pupils, etc."
[1963]
My dear friend, with these suggestions you may write a most beautiful article in “Terre Sainte”. I assure you that such a marvellous and dignified prize-giving as this one in Cairo has rarely been seen in Europe or even in Paris. I have experienced both great suffering and great joy. The Bishop of Verona does not write except rarely; I do not know why, but here we enjoy the deep esteem of the Apostolic Delegate and of everyone. Please give my regards to your wife, your children, and the Fathers of La Salette, etc.
Your friend for ever,

Fr Daniel Comboni


Translated from French.

[1964]
We are impatient to receive your precious script, because we have been starved of it for two months. Mgr Delegate is staying in Damascus for a month to recover his health. We had a suffocating heat-wave throughout the summer. In our rooms it was between 40 and 45 degrees: on the ground and at our door, from 60 to 66 between midday and 3.00 p.m. Our dear Fr Bortolo suffered greatly; but he is better now. If I had fifty such missionaries, half Africa would be converted. Contrary to my expectations and his external appearance, he has the eminent qualities proper to a true missionary. May God long preserve him for our edification and for Africa’s good!
[1965]
Fr Zanoni wrote to me offering to return. He let me know that he has a project to found a new Institute according to our Plan in another location, and he offers himself to me body and soul. We are positively certain that he said he would not tell his idea to anyone, not even the Bishop of Verona. He opened his heart only to Signora Margherita Tommasi, who on the other hand, forgetting what happened between me and herself, in agreement with Zanoni, would like to work for the Work. I have adopted the system of abstention approved by Your Excellency and will never write to Zanoni; and I, with my companions, would be of the opinion that it would be better not to become involved in any way at all with Tommasi, who would only bring discredit to the Work with her rashness and loquacity, and jeopardise its dignity. It would take twice the amount of funds she collects for the Work to keep her and she would live off the Work, abusing her mandate as fund raiser to provide for her own needs. If she chances to present herself to Your Excellency for this purpose, ask her specifically to mention the places, countries and persons from whom she collected funds last year, since it is the duty of a good administration to account for everything. You will see that she will fail to do so.
[1966]
Our three houses are making good progress. Mgr Delegato wrote to me that he had again written a favourable report about us to the Cardinal; and since I had prepared a report for him on our Houses before he left for Syria, he wrote to me again, ordering me to make another copy to send to Propaganda. Monsignor, let us trust in that God who wants our Work to be born at the foot of the Cross. On the day of St Gaetano, the Duke of Modena wrote me a lovely letter in his own hand and included a fine letter of credit on the Austrian Bank for the sum of 500 francs. Let us trust in God.
[1967]
We pray and beg your fatherly heart to send us, with Fr Angelo of Pirano, the teacher Angela Degani who will be trained as a missionary in Africa by Mother Valerio. I have no more paper left to explain to Your Excellency the need and usefulness of this. Fr Carcereri, Mother Caterina and myself beg you in Visceribus Christi to grant our request, and to send us Angela Degani. We have many matters to conclude at the time of the Council. We are preparing ourselves for it with prayers and crosses which are two extremely precious things. Many respects to Marchese Ottavio, to Fr Vincenzo, toMgr. the V. G., from your most humble and devoted Son,

Fr Daniel Comboni

Receive the most respectful regards from us all, and we ask you for your holy Blessing.
The other day I baptised an infidel girl, in articulo mortis: just two hours ago, Carcereri baptised another.

[1968]
Perhaps Your Excellency is doing the sacred retreat of the Holy Exercises; and I have no doubt that you will pray for your children in Africa. Just as the Lord is lavish with his blessings, he is likewise generous with his crosses which are necessary as a means to achieve his Works. I write to you with only one eye, because the other, affected by Egyptian eye infection, is hurting.
[1969]
Remember to recommend to the pious clergy of Verona that they pray fervently for us when you are meditating during the Holy Exercises in the Seminary. We shall do likewise. The omnipotence of prayer is our strength. Although only 40 days ago the society of Cologne sent me 5,000 francs, nevertheless on the day of St Gaetano (when His Highness the Duke of Modena wrote me a lovely letter enclosing a small letter of credit on the Rothschild Bank in Paris)
I wrote to the President asking him to send me another 5,000 because, together with other funds, I want to purchase a small house at a good price. This is the answer signed by the President, and by all the members of the illustrious Society:
“Cologne, 19 August 1869
(Translation from French)
Very Reverend Father,

[1970]
We received your letter containing very interesting reports about your holy Work. The bounty of divine Providence today gathered all the members of our Committee in an extraordinary session to deliberate and discuss the proposals you sent us. We well understand that it would be very important to have a house for your Institutes, instead of paying such large sums in rent. Until now we have fully trusted in your admirable zeal and your great wisdom: we shall also put into your hands the responsibility for the extraordinary expenses you are about to make.
[1971]
We are convinced that you are conscientiously acting in the interest of our Work, and for this reason we have decided to grant you the sum of 10,000 francs (500 gold Napoleons) entirely for your own use, which you will receive from our banker, A. Schaffhausen in Cologne. Mgr Meurin of the Society of Jesus, the Bishop of Bombay in India who visited you in Cairo, gave us extremely good news of your Institutes in a very eloquent address given at the Burgergesellschaft” last Sunday. This good news cannot but increase our interest in your holy Work and encourage us to help you as much as we can. We inform you that Her Majesty the Empress of France is leaving for Egypt, etc., etc.
Please accept the assurance of our full respect, and believe in the sincere devotion to you of all the members of the Committee of the Society of Cologne for the conversion of poor Africans".
(The signatures of the president and all the members follow).

[1972]
Monsignor, 10,000 francs with the declarations of such a beautiful letter from these gentlemen who promised to give me only 5,000 francs a year and instead in 21 months have lavished 28,300 francs upon me is not a slap in the face! Another member of this same Society sent me in an English letter a summary of the above-mentioned Bishop’s speech about the Plan and the Work and poor Fr Daniel: I blushed over the praise uttered by that Jesuit Bishop, because I am profoundly convinced that I do not deserve it and that I am the most useless servant on earth: but I am skipping that for financial reasons. Money is a great temptation of our Lord Jesus Christ!!
[1973]
The Bishop himself, together with another, spoke in these same tones at the plenary session of the Council at the Propagation of the Faith in Lyons; and later I shall copy the letter of that president for you. Abbé Negrelli wrote to me from Reichstadt that Mgr Bragato has prepared my petitions, to seize the right moment with Their Majesties.
[1974]
Our good Missionaries are in excellent health. Fr Carcereri beneath the African sun has never been ill for even an hour. The House of the Sacred Heart of Mary is flourishing but two Sisters there have been seriously ill. A good Cairo doctor no longer comes because he was given only 20 francs a visit. He is an Italian from Pisa. Instead, my rather good Turkish doctor who has been coming almost every day for nearly a year and a half, never wants anything in payment but my friendship. He prays to Mohammed for us every day, and says that there are no men on earth like us. But these good Muslims are few and far between. Givemy respects to Marchese Ottavio and all your noble family, to Mgr. the V. G., Perbellini and Fr Vincenzo; commend us to the prayers of the Rector of the Seminary, the Very Reverend Fr Dorigotti. Itwas invaluable to us to read the letter from the Superior of the Canossians in China; we ought to found a prayer league.
I kiss your sacred ring, and declare myself in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Your Most Reverend Excellency’s most humble and obedient son,

Fr Daniel Comboni

Mother Caterina and the House of the Holy Family are flourishing.

[1975]
On this day sacred to honouring the motherly sorrows of the Immaculate Virgin, remembering those that you suffer every day for the holiest of causes, we are very glad to be united with all classes of persons who from every part of
the Catholic world are also prepared to witness their filial affection to you on the most propitious occasion of the Ecumenical Council, not the least of the splendid events of your glorious Pontificate. From these inhospitable sands, we reiterate to you the comfort of that tribute of filial love and boundless faith which brought us just a few months ago to celebrate with the noble Catholic youth of Italy the solemn 50th anniversary of your holy priesthood, and to console you for the many sorrows which so many of our ill-advised brethren are causing you, proclaiming our tenderest and most determined devotion to the cause you represent and so courageously support.

[1976]
Sent so far off by divine will and by your sacred word, far from feeling any lessening of that affection and veneration which in our homeland we are proud to profess to you, on the contrary we can affirm that every day you become more holy to us, a more astonishing miracle and a stronger love. In the melancholy solitude that surrounds us, your name is the sweetest of our memories, your image our most pleasing companion, and your vicissitudes the most frequent subject of our conversation. Every day we pray for you, speak of you, think of you and suffer with you. Nor does nightfall ever surprise us without us hearing our pupils utter a sigh and a prayer for you.
[1977]
Adored Pontiff and King, may Heaven preserve you for long years for the Church’s glory, in defence of justice, as a consolation to society, a support for the good and the prosperity of the Catholic Missions, since you are the epitome
of poor humanity’s spiritual and social concerns. Even involuntarily the whole world looks up to you, and in your presence, all men these days either tremble or hope. Never has the Catholic Pontificate stirred such interest in the world as through you, and never has the Roman Pontiff played God’s roles on earth as widely as yourself. We would like you to be able to see the desired outcome of that great Work, to which certainly in supreme wisdom you have set your hand: the solemn Ecumenical Council; and to enjoy with you the salutary effects which we too expect from it: the conversion of so many who have been led astray, and the re-ordering of our disturbed society. In presenting you as a tribute and an aid to this intention the small but sincere offering of 25 Italian lire, we all declare from this moment our perfect obedience of will and intellect to the decisions of the Council, and are ready to teach them and to defend them even with our blood and death as God’s true revelations.

[1978]
By this same act we humbly to beg you to have especially recommended in this solemn circumstance, together with the interests and needs of all the other Missions, those of the Missions of our all too unhappy Africa, since these are now incomparably the greatest and unfortunately the most desperate. Yet among the Africans, O Holy Father, there are sheep who belong to your flock, even among the blacks there are hearts who can love you, even among the Africans – and it is also sweet to be able to promise it from our experience – God has prepared great consolations for the Church and for you his Vicar. The hour of salvation for this doubly unfortunate nation seems to have sounded. The pitiful cry of its age-old misfortunes has already found a response in your paternal heart; and we hope that a spark of your charity for Africa will be shared by the pastors of the Catholic world, thereby promising us a crowd of zealous apostles and an effective and peaceful co-operation among Christian people, and to verify the prophetic word of the one who, moved by the Holy Spirit, predicted the salvation of the Africans, say: “coram illo procident Aethiopes”.
[1979]
This is the wish of the Missionaries, of the Sisters and the Teachers, who are in charge of education at our Institutes and the girls’ School in Old Cairo, as they present you with four new adult neophytes who, today itself, having been snatched from the shadows of infidelity and regenerated by the waters of Baptism, are making their first Communion for you. And it is also the hope that our catechumens place at your feet as they yearn for the moment when they can call you their Father. Your holy Blessing on these ardent desires of our heart will ensure that not the least of the precious pearls of your glorious crown will be the redemption of Africa.

Fr Daniel Comboni


[The signatures of the members of the Institutes follow].

[1980]
Thanks be to the Lord that the heat has passed, and we are in a perfect Autumn. Already in our rooms the temperature reaches only 27 or 28 degrees Réaumur, and this temperature is only between midday and 3.00 p.m. However we feel the weight of the long silence of our most venerable father and Superior and Bishop and Pastor, who has left us for three months without the slightest news, and without having anyone write to us. I took the opportunity of 4 solemn baptisms which I administered in our chapel at the Sacred Heart of Mary to two idolatrous African girls over 20 years of age, a Muslim woman of 25 and a young African boy of 15 on Sunday last, the Feast of the Seven Sorrows and the Plenary Indulgence of the Good Shepherd (in spite of our beloved Cardinal Barnabò who wrote to Lyons that our Work had only 40 days of indulgence in Verona). As I was saying, I took the opportunity of this moving ceremony and several First Communions of others who had previously been converted, to present His Holiness Pius IX as a tribute and a contribution to the Ecumenical Council, with an address and a small but loving offering from our three Institutes for the Regeneration of Africa, and I sent it all to our venerable Fr Margotti because, if he sees fit, he will publish it in the Unità Cattolica. The Baptismal ceremony lasted three hours, everyone was in tears. I cannot express how especially the three female converts hungered and thirsted for Baptism.
[1981]
At the Gospel I gave them a sermon in Arabic, and I also made exhortations in Arabic before and after communion. Among the others present was a Muslim girl who immediately asked to become Christian; but she was subsequently prevented from doing so by her parents: she attends our school. The following Monday, I accepted at the Institute a 27-year old pagan African woman who had been seeking us for more than two months, encouraged by the impression one of our converted girls made on her last year; she is now in Upper Egypt.
[1982]
You see, Monsignor and our most beloved Father, that we “have pecked some small successes” as they say in Verona: but we will peck some more when we have obtained the three hundred thousand francs, that we will wring out of America. The Empress Caroline of Salzburg is sending me 150 florins through the Society of Cologne; but that daft M. Girard is sending everyone except me clothing and religious items; he sends them to those who have no need of them, like the Armenians; and not long ago he sent several cases of chasubles and linen to an unfrocked priest in Alexandria, who is selling them at rock-bottom prices on the street, to pay the shipping costs. But I have made him understand in a letter that I have just written to him. Send us your blessing, and please greet Marchese Ottavio for us. You have greetings from everyone and from


Your Fr Daniel