Writings

[3104]
Our Sr. Maddalena returned from Jerusalem in perfect health. She is very fit and I am happy to have attained my purpose. She will be a good Sister for Central Africa. Sr Giuseppina is in perfect health. Over the past few days she has been doing the work of two. I am thoroughly acquainted with their physical ailment: Central Africa will be their best medicine.
[3105]
You have heard of Mgr Valerga’s death. The Franciscans have already made their plan. They will propose Mgr Bernardino Trionfetto, Bishop of Terracina, Sezza and Piperno, as the new Patriarch of Jerusalem. He has been Custodian of the Holy Land and General of the Franciscan Order. He is good to the Sisters of St Joseph, but once it has become a fixed principle that the Patriarch should be a Franciscan, all the non-Franciscan Congregations, the missions established by the Patriarch Valerga, the Seminary of Bethgialla and the Chapter and the Sisters of St Joseph will end by being sent away from Jerusalem and from Palestine.
[3106]
If Propaganda appoints a Franciscan, in my opinion, it will be making a first class sacrifice. It seems to me that in the interests of the Congregation of St Joseph, it would not be bad if Sr Caterina in Rome, with her admirable touch, should make this situation known to his Eminence (I tell you this confidentially), and see how the ground lies, etc., etc. You understand me well. The Poor Clares believe they are certain soon to be established in Jerusalem. May it always be done according to the pure will of the good Lord.
[3107]
In Jerusalem my Missionaries talked a great deal to Sr Angelica Feruai who is in Jerusalem and ardently desires to be sent to Central Africa. Sr Maddalena tells me that the Superior, Sr Cipriana, would be happy to let her go. She enjoys Sr Giuseppina’s trust. So, I beg you for the love of God, make her available to me and send her the obedience for Central Africa. It would be another grace for me if you were also to send the obedience to Sr Maria Alfonsina Gattash of Jerusalem. If you were to grant me this grace, I will send the money to Jerusalem; or better, order Sr Cipriana to charge me for the cost of the journey.
[3108]
The African girl Giuseppina, after causing the Sisters great suffering, has run away from us and presented herself to the Franciscans and she is now with the Poor Clares on the orders of Mgr Delegate. I have established that I will never accept African girls from Europe, because they have thousands of demands and are the death of the Sisters. I therefore beg you not to send me any other African girls and tell Fr Biagio that he should look after his African girls himself. I have written to him clearly. With our Arab Sisters, we will produce more results at less expense. I shall be in difficulties if you do not send me the Sisters. Since they have told me that you have consented, I shall leave with Sr Giuseppina, as Superior. She is very able, prudent and good.
[3109]
I shall have to make many sacrifices to pay you, gradually, since it is especially during this first year of my Pro-Vicariate that I shall need a lot of money. It is not appropriate that I should ask the Propagation of the Faith to pay you. I have just received the wonderful sum of 45,000 francs out of which I have nothing left, and it is not right for me to ask for more. But I shall do this: before the end of December I must write to Lyons and send the account for the estimated expenses of the year 1873, and a report of the state of the Mission, its debts, etc. I shall point out to the President the debt of 8,000 francs paid by you and I shall ask him to let you have 5,000 francs. As for the rest, I shall try to pay you in another way. Think that I have two houses in Cairo, I shall have two in Khartoum and two in Kordofan, as well as two in Verona. It all weighs on my shoulders and my pocket. I have no other bursar than St Joseph, who is sometimes deaf and lazy, but I will try to pay you as soon as possible.
[3110]
Do not send any African girls, nor Bedouins, nor anyone except the Sisters: all the Sisters and priests are asking this of you. The harm that this mad Giuseppina has done us is immense. I do not accept any African girl who wants to marry now. When I have made my pastoral visit of the Mission and have seen and thoroughly examined everything with our Sisters and examined the conditions for African girls from Europe who marry, I will write to you of what needs to be done. For the time being it is better that the African girls who want to marry remain in Europe instead of coming to Egypt.
[3111]
As for the Devout Mothers of Africa in Verona, I have no confidence that they will be able to succeed in undertaking a small mission. That lot are very good for the cloister, but for Africa I need soldiers like Sr Giuseppina and Sr Maria Bertholon.
[3112]
My Vicariate is 12 times the size of France and there is room for 30 Congregations, of which the first, and it will always be so, is that of St Joseph of the Apparition, which has shared the first problems and sufferings of the foundation. Then I would never put two Congregations in one Catholic Station. I have had enough experience in this and I have seen many things in Cairo where there are only three Congregations.
[3113]
Sr Giuseppina does not want to accept to be Superior, but do not fear: continue to insist until she accepts. She is now sufficiently mature and full of judgement; the one who needs guidance is Sr Germana who would be a good apostle if she let herself be guided. I hope to succeed with them. Sr Elisabetta is full of self-denial and virtues despite her obstinacy; she will certainly come to Central Africa. I will always keep her in my work. Unfortunately at the present time she has various Sisters and Africans against her, I shall see how to work things out.
[3114]
I beg you to assign for March the one I asked you for 50 days ago, who will be completing her Novitiate. I am sending you 500 francs for her. But I ask you for the two from Jerusalem, whom I mentioned to you. Just remember that it is women and St Joseph alone who will convert Central Africa.
Please accept, Mother, the assurance of all my respect in Our Lord

Daniel Comboni, V. Ap.


Translated from French.

[3115]
I have recently written to our King Enrico V that the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition are the first Apostles of Africa. I spoke to him about the Congregation, and especially to the Queen, who is in Frosledorf. Read the end of the month of December in the Messaggero del S. Cuore and you will see that the Associates of the Apostolate of Prayer are praying for Central Africa this month. Reverend Fr Ramière has written me a lovely letter. All the Sisters are very dedicated: Sr Maria Bertholon is the most capable of being Superior, she is above any praise, as is Sr Giuseppina Tabraui; to my mind and to that of Fr Angelo, Prefect of Tripoli, and of all the Missionaries, Sr Giuseppina will be an incomparable Superior.
[3116]
So send me the obedience for this Sister, as Superior of the Sudan. As for her health, the Sudan will give her 12 more years of life. I have bought a donkey for her and for Sr Maddalena; Sr Germana is very zealous, it is necessary to calm her down, she is an incomparable Sister; please send me her obedience too. I shall not tell you, Reverend Mother, of the importance of the Apostolate of the Sisters in Central Africa. Here hundreds of sick people flock every day to be treated by the Sisters. Sr Germana is now here, and Sr Rosalia is in Tunis.

Daniel Comboni


Translated from French.