Writings

[3031]
Returning from Naples and Bari I found your dearest letter of 19th June. My thoughts immediately went to the late Fr Pietro, your inseparable and incomparable brother, they went to our dearest and most worthy Grigolin, with whom we spent such lovely times together inter pocula et gaudium. May God’s will always be done.
[3032]
The Holy See has entrusted to the Verona Institute for African missions the most vast, arduous and difficult mission in the universe, Central Africa, placing my most unworthy self at its head with the title of Pro-Vicar Apostolic. It is larger than the whole of Europe and has more than sixty million infidels. Yesterday the Holy Father ordered me to leave as soon as possible for an Apostolic Visitation and to found houses for both sexes: for over 15 years the sacrament of Confirmation has not been administered and there have been no reports to the Holy See. Messis multa, operarii pauci. Pray and have prayers said for me.
[3033]
I send you two photographs of me, one for you and one for our excellent Grigolin. In 10 days I shall be in Verona. My 4 explorers, after an 82-day journey from Cairo, reached Kordofan where they have taken a large house with a garden, which I shall pay for.
Give my regards to all those I know in S. Martino and the good family where I had a drink with Mgr Giuliani, and pray for

Your most affectionate Disciple

Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

[3034]
I am about to leave at last: tomorrow I shall reach Florence, the day after tomorrow Piacenza and Thursday, Verona. After much running about (since Fr Boerio and Mgr Bartolini knew little) I found Avvocato Morani and was able to find out what point we had reached in the cause of your venerable Aunt. I spoke about it passionately to the Pope, in Fr Pietro’s presence. In November a General Congregation is to be held, not on her Writings, but about her. I am taking the printed summary with me. From what I could see, it is a question of finance, in order to enable the cause go ahead. All the saints have worked striking miracles; but none (since Urban VIII) has yet worked the miracle of being canonised or letting himself be canonised without money. However everyone, starting with the Pope, is magnificently favourable to this Cause.
[3035]
To reply to your question whether I have the right to be called Monsignor, etc., I answer cum rubore that Propaganda officials told me that the episcopal accoutrements (besides the jurisdiction) of the dignity of an ordinary and the Head of a Vicariate are due to me. Therefore, in part, the clothes, the ring, etc. All the Bishops to whom I have spoken, Cardinal Monaco, Mgr Giacobini, and all those who are really familiar with Missionary matters, many Roman Cardinals and Prelates, the author of the Acta S. Sedis, etc., call me Monsignor. The documents and faculties I received from Propaganda give me the title due to Bishops (R. P. D. Daniel) R.do Patri D.no Comboni. In brief, almost everyone tells me I am due the titles of Ordinaries. Giacobini our minute-writer says I am a real Roman Prelate. Only two excellent Roman Canon Lawyers say that perhaps I have no right to the title of Monsignor, since there is no decree that prescribes this title for a Pro-Vicar. There are only 5 Pro-Vicars in the whole world.
[3036]
My predecessor Knoblecher who succeeded Ryllo had pontifical vestments and was called Monsignor, and all the Augustinian Fathers of Naples (where Knoblecher died) who have showed me his tomb, told me about the ceremonies which took place at his death, and that he was laid out for three days in vestments. Whereas, the last Pro-Vicar Apostolic Kirchner had no distinction in the few months that he was Pro-Vicar. When Propaganda writes to a Bishop Vicar Apostolic it says Reverend Fr Leone Meurin Bishop, etc. Vicar Apostolic, etc. Writing to a Pro-Vicar and to me it writes Most Reverend Mr D. Comboni etc., Pro-Vicar.
[3037]
Now what do I do? I accept it all. I am in no way opposed to anyone calling me Monsignor; and neither am I opposed, indeed it pleases me, to be called Reverend, or Fr Daniel etc., by anyone. I think instead of the gravest, the most tremendous task imposed on me by the Holy See. Except for the long vestments, the little collar and the ri-


N.B. the last part of this letter is missing (after page 4).

[3038]
I take this opportunity to offer you my most cordial respects and to tell you that before I left Verona, when I gave your greetings to Mgr Canossa Bishop of Verona in accordance with your letter to Fr Pio, Monsignor commanded me to tell you that on your way from Milan to Venice you should stop in Verona and stay in the episcopal residence and that he would be glad to spend some time with you whom he so deeply esteems and loves. I must say also that I am very glad to have Fr Pio with me. He made an excellent impression on everyone in Verona and in Germany. I had him examined by famous doctors, and they diagnosed that he will certainly recover when he is back in his own land. Here in Vienna then he was seen with the greatest interest by all, and I think that he will also make a great and excellent impression on His Apostolic Majesty, whom I am taking him to see tomorrow at 10 o’clock. But I am hoping that he will be the cornerstone of the observant Benedictine Order which we will implant in my vast Vicariate, and that after the successful outcome of the undertaking, that you will prepare other Benedictines for me, who will come to civilise unfortunate Africa.
[3039]
Yes, that Holy Order which has civilised the world must achieve its Work in Central Africa. There, with the help of God, I shall prepare houses and land, and at the same time financial means, and then you must absolutely designate for it some candidates who have grown up in the shadow of the Sacro Speco to spread their holy spirit in the excessively unfortunate Africa. What may seem a fantasy to you now, in a few years will be feasible and will be put into practice. I long for this every day. Central Africa is vast, and you can do what you want in those countries more easily than in our unfortunate Italy, where there are more enemies to fight than among the blacks in Africa. Fr Pio is very well. He travelled with me night and day. His vomiting has become rarer and diligent treatment will restore him perfectly. I thank you as a brother for having given him to me. Pray for me, who am happy to declare myself
Your most devoted son,

Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

[3040]
First of all I ask you to forgive me for having delayed somewhat in writing to you after my departure from Rome. The care I had to devote to arranging things well in Europe for Africa’s benefit and the tasks I had in Cairo after an absence of more than two years did not allow me to fulfil my duty.
[3041]
Already in Rome I feared that the scandal caused by the Government of the Sublime Gate of expelling from Constantinople the legitimate Patriarch of the Armenians, Mgr Hassun, would have influenced the spirit of the Government and the Muslims in Egypt, and that they would either now or later have some consequences on the apostolate of Central Africa. I was not mistaken with regard to Egypt, since I noticed here in Cairo that the Muslims have paid attention to what happened in Constantinople, although here they have not yet reached the point of any hostile act against the Catholic Church.
[3042]
His Highness the Khedive who first surrounded himself with the French, is now beginning to surround himself with Prussians, and is drifting with the wind which prevails in Europe today. Therefore for the good of Africa, I judged it timely to go to Vienna and pay my respects to His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, to warmly recommend to him the Vicariate of Central Africa whose protector he has been since 1851, with the firm conviction that given his great personal influence on the Khedive, which considerably increased on the occasion of His Majesty’s visit to Egypt for the opening of the Suez Canal, that he could help me to reach my goal of doing the greatest good for Africa. His Apostolic Majesty received me in a long private audience, showed a keen interest in the mission and promised me his widest protection. This had a powerful influence in my favour on the Foreign Minister. Encouraged by the official communications of the Apostolic Nuncio with regard to the Vicariate, he wrote immediately to the Imperial Royal Austro-Hungarian Consulate of Egypt, where I found people well disposed to help me obtain from the Egyptian Government a Firman of protection to be used in all the Egyptian possessions in Central Africa.
[3043]
My second aim in undertaking the journey to Vienna was to establish an agreement with the distinguished Committee of the Society of Vienna known as the Marian Society, and give it a beautiful explanation of its special mandate to help the Roman Catholic Apostolic Mission of Central Africa with all its energies, and to motivate it fully to support the just and right desires of Propaganda and of the Pro-Vicar Apostolic. I was pleased to find the distinguished Vice President, Baron Spens, the heart and soul of the Marian Society, entirely Roman and Papist, who has ceased to be Cesareo (always having been a good Catholic however), since the Austrian Government abandoned its paths to fall victim to modern liberalism. I subsequently recognised that all the members of the distinguished Committee were really stirred by true zeal to make the Society prosper for the benefit of the Holy Mission.
[3044]
From 1851 to 1867 the Marian Society, whose most energetic collaborator was old Baron Spens, raised more than a million florins for Central Africa, that is, the lovely sum of five hundred thousand Roman Scudi. Today it is reduced to the minimum.
[3045]
Here in Cairo then, I found the Institutes for Africans in a reasonable condition. I will give an exact account to Your Most Reverend Eminence of their Rule. I have not yet been able to greet the most venerable Monsignor Apostolic Delegate, who was in Syria; and he is now at the Stations of the Suez Canal.
[3046]
I am preparing things for the departure to Central Africa, and with the next steamer I shall submit to you the plan of this important journey, and for the Pastoral Visitation of the Vicariate recommended to me by Your Most Reverend Eminence’s wisdom and solicitude.
As I thank you warmly for all you have deigned to do for poor Africa, I renew my attestations of perfect obedience and devotion to you, with which I have the honour to declare myself
Your Most Reverend Eminence’s most humble, obedient and respectful servant


Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

[3047]
At the present time I am preparing the expedition for Khartoum and for Kordofan, where I shall be going in order to make a pastoral visit to the Vicariate of Central Africa. The caravan will leave in the month of November. I have unshakeable confidence in the success of this undertaking blessed by the Holy See and in that of Pius IX, our Holy Pontiff, who grants us a special blessing.

Daniel Comboni


Translated from French.

[3048]
You have not forgotten the Work of the Regeneration of Central Africa, which I had the consolation to discuss with you during the Council and in view of which the Institute for African Missions was founded in Verona. This Work is dedicated to the Divine Hearts of Jesus and Mary whose very powerful protection will help us, I hope, to establish the Catholic Faith lastingly in the immense regions of Central Africa. This great undertaking has barely been started. The Holy See has entrusted to my Institute the Vicariate Apostolic of Central Africa which extends to the north from Egypt to Tripoli and to the south, as far as the 12th degree of Latitude South. It is the biggest diocese in the world, since it is larger than the whole of Europe.
[3049]
It includes more than 80 million infidels and perhaps one cannot even count as many as 200 Catholics. Appointed as Pro-Vicar Apostolic in charge of this immense flock, it is to you, reverend Father and to your Associates, that I have turned for help in leading these unfortunate peoples lying in the shadow of death back to the paths of life. It is necessary that the Divine Heart of Jesus leads all these lost sheep back to the flock of salvation. To obtain this miracle I suggest beginning my Mission with a solemn consecration of my entire Vicariate to this infinitely merciful Heart. I intend to carry out this plan as soon as I have arrived in Khartoum or in Kordofan. But so that our tribute will be better accepted by the Heart of Jesus, I would like to offer it in union with the Associates of the Apostolate of Prayer. I therefore insistently beseech you to make a good draft of the act of consecration, inspired by all your zeal for the glory of the Heart of Jesus.
[3050]
If you grant my prayer, and if your Associates obtain from the Holy Heart of Jesus, through the intercession of the Sacred Hearts of Mary and Joseph, the blessings that alone can make our work fruitful, it will be a pleasure for me to send you the reports of the Mission’s successes.
“Africa or Death!” will be my war cry to the end of my life. So come to my aid, my dearest Father, and believe me in the divine Hearts which are our common hope

Your most devoted Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa


Translated from French.

[3051]
In the hope that Your Eminence will have received my last letter from this capital, I now come to explain and submit to you the way in which I intend to implement the next expedition to Central Africa, since negotiations are already going ahead for a Firman of protection which His Highness the Khedive is about to grant me.
[3052]
First of all, I must tell you in advance that in Khartoum there is the old Station with a big garden. On one side of it stands the Missionaries’ vast dwelling, and on the other, is the one known as the Casolani House, because the Missionaries from Casolani to Gostner lived there (from 1846 to 1855). In the latter there are currently about thirty African girls without any suitable headmistress. Likewise in El Obeid in Kordofan we have a vast garden, in which four small houses are scattered around, one of which houses the four explorers with a few African boys while in another there are a few African women catechumens, one of whom is an old woman with almost no teeth, who is acting as Mother Superior.
[3053]
Both in Khartoum and in Kordofan, Christians of various sects as well as Muslims are asking insistently for schools to be opened.
Having pondered at length on all these circumstances and warmly implored the Lord to guide me in such important matters, I am convinced that it would be necessary right away to select a few candidates from among those who are in the two Institutes in Cairo, who are the most able and ready to be posted to Khartoum, which is equipped with what is needed. After having established and adequately started up the two houses there, I would proceed to Kordofan with two priests and two lay brothers to set up that Station properly and also to prepare a house for women so as to bring Sisters and women teachers in due course.

[3054]
I think it would therefore be appropriate to choose from the preparatory Institutes in Cairo:
1. Five priests who are already acclimatised and 3 European catechists and pious craftsmen.
2. Four Sisters and seven or eight African women teachers.
I will embark the small male family on a dhow or a ship with reasonably comfortable cabins. I will embark the female family on another more
comfortable dhow The two boats will sail close to each other throughout, from Cairo to Aswan, from Shellal to Korosko, and from Berber to Khartoum.

[3055]
The following is the way we shall complete the journey through the Desert of Korosko to Berber (from Aswan to Shellal it only takes two hours). The camels will be divided into two small caravans, ten minutes apart. The male caravan will lead the way, then the female one which will be followed at a certain distance by two Hhabirs, or government guides, obtained from the great Chief of the Desert. At night then the small Catholic caravans will be sheltered beneath two large tents, which we are now preparing. I am therefore of the opinion that in this way we will make this journey in a manner which is proper from all points of view and completely safe.
[3056]
Under the administration of my Predecessors Knoblecher and Kirchner meat was always eaten on Saturdays, when they had it, because they lacked oil. From the faculties which the Sacred Congregation deigned to grant me, there is no indult to eat meat on Saturdays. My Predecessors must of course have been granted the permission with a specific document. Indeed, in those times I am told that the Sacred Congregation dispensed them from eating no meat on Fridays, because there is no oil in Central Africa and in the White Nile regions butter is not made. Therefore to appease my conscience (since the custom cannot have the force of law in a young Church), I implore Your Eminence to obtain a special indult for me from the Sacred Congregation on the assurance that I will use it with caution and prudence.
[3057]
Last week I was in Alexandria to pay my respects to Monsignor Ciurcia, who gave me the inventory of Shellal. He is not in good health, although there is a slight improvement. We pray to the Lord that he may deign to preserve for such a difficult and thorny office this distinguished Prelate, for whom it would be hard to find a successor equal to him.
Trusting that I shall soon have the honour of receiving your venerable letters, I kiss your Sacred Purple and declare myself with the deepest veneration

Your Most Reverend Eminence’s most humble and devoted son

Daniel Comboni Pro-Vicar Apostolic