Writings

[5901]

I beg you with your great kindness to send me by normal post two or three copies of the leaflets you usually send to the aspirants of the S. Calocero Missions before they join the Milan seminary. Please send them straight away.
I thank you for your extremely kind letter with the publishing dates and the subscriptions to Missioni Cattoliche, Osservatore Cattolico, Leonardo da Vinci, Popolo Cattolico and The Tablet, all of which I would like hic et nunc to be sent to me in Verona. I receive the Osservatore, Popolo and Leonardo da Vi n c i ; but I do not get Missioni or The Tablet.
For this purpose, I send you the sum indicated in your note, and I add 100 lire for Fr Giacomo for the Map of Africa, as we agreed. If you need any more, I will send it.

[5902]

In a few days the new Superior of the African Institutes in Verona will be installed. He is Fr Sembianti, a priest from the apostolic Missionaries in obsequium Episcoporum (Fr Bertoni’s Verona foundation). He is a devout and holy man whom I want to bring to Milan before I leave for Africa to meet you, Monsignor, so that he can consult you when necessary about my Institutes in order to run them well. I have also informed the Father General, Vignola, successor to Bertoni and Marani and he was very pleased, as was Cardinal di Canossa. I therefore implore you in future to be kind enough to listen to him and to help him with your wise advice and sound experience.

[5903]

I bless all your students, and give my best wishes to Fr Giacomo, the spiritual director, and to all, even to that good man just back and recovering in the breathing machine, and the doctor.
Yours most affectionately in the Lord

+ Daniel Comboni
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic

[5904]

A thousand pardons for my delay in writing to you. I received your very kind letters on 31st December but my still shaky health, the miserable cold, the very serious commitments of a huge global correspondence, having to run twelve establishments spread over 4 or 6 thousand miles, grave concern for the support of my difficult and important mission and ceaseless work; all these things have prevented me from writing and from leaving Verona. But rest assured that I never forget you and your worthy and most noble family who dwell with me in the sweet Heart of Jesus, to whom I always pray for you and who will live forever.

[5905]

Today and for many weeks I have had more vividly than ever in my mind your daughter-in-law Donna Anna, sister of the young Prince Giovanni Borghese who, according to the letter I received from Dr Pellegrino Matteucci and what I read last night in L’Osservatore Romano, is on the point of setting out for Central Africa, Khartoum, Kordofan, Darfur, Waday, Baghermi, Bornù, etc., etc. Matteucci has asked me to give him a letter of recommendation for the whole of this enormous journey and I am prepared to do so, especially because of his noble companion.

[5906]

However, having reflected and pondered before God and my conscience about the young Prince’s bold step, I cannot find peace of mind without expressing my views to someone who has authority over the young Prince, given that I am the most competent judge of such journeys in my vast mission. I do not have the honour of enjoying close personal relations with the illustrious Borghese house, which I greatly venerate, love and admire for its faith and nobility, for having given Popes, Cardinals and Bishops to the Church and for bringing such honour to Religion and Society in all ages. If my excellent friend Mgr Manetti, former Archbishop of Sardia were alive, I should have written to him and he would have introduced me to Prince Marcantonio, etc; but he has gone to heaven.

[5907]

I have already written this morning to Dr Matteucci who told me he was leaving on 7th February, giving him those salutary pieces of advice that my experience and heart suggested and which I will explain below. But since I do not have direct and more intimate relations with that illustrious and worthy family, I open my heart to you, most noble Marchesa, and I do this for the good of that boy, for love and veneration of the Borgheses’sublime name. You can understand that I would be failing in my duty and in my heart if I did not take this step; I would also be lacking in veneration and gratitude to you and to the most beloved noble Gerini family if I did not open my heart on such an important matter.

[5908]

Please bear in mind that I want neither the young Prince nor Matteucci (to whom, however, I wrote clearly this morning) to know that I am taking this step. Apart from these two, please use this letter as you think best and even show it to the distinguished Borghese parents and relatives.
Last September, Dr Matteucci came to me in Verona and told me of his plan to travel with the young Prince to the Waday empire via Tripoli and Marzuk, etc…
“No” I replied immediately, “Neither you nor Borghese should make that journey via Tripoli and Marzuk. Not you, because you are not yet expert in travelling in Central Africa and this is one of the most gruelling journeys. Not Borghese, because I will never believe that his parents could let a young son, inexperienced in even the easiest of journeys, venture out to Waday on his first trip”. Then I told him that nearly all the travellers to Waday (going via Tripoli) had been unsuccessful; they all died or were massacred, etc., except for Dr Nachtigal who after 5 years of hardships reached Kordofan and was welcomed by my Sisters, missionaries and myself in Khartoum. I advised him rather to go via Nubia, Khartoum and Kordofan where I and my missions can take care of him and help and protect him in a thousand ways. It is pointless for me to explain here how the Lord providentially averted this journey to Waday via Tripoli and Fezzan; it was averted and we can thank the Lord, because it is certain that neither Matteucci nor the young Prince would ever have seen Europe again.

[5909]

At the beginning of December, in fact in November, Matteucci came to Verona and asked me to accept him as doctor because, with the mission’s protection, he would be able to make his journey with the Prince to Waday via Khartoum. I gave my consent, telling him that I would protect and help him because, given our influence in Central Africa, we are in a position to command respect and protection for our protégés. I consented also because as far as the Darfur empire the young Prince would be under our supervision and we could protect him in any event and use our powerful influence to have him respected and if necessary return, should there be any danger. I also agreed because I had hoped to be able to set off myself last December in which case I would have had them under my supervision as far as the capital of Kordofan and would thus have been able to study the young Prince to judge carefully whether or not it was appropriate for him to continue the journey to the Waday.
But I was not able to leave in December and even now I do not know when I shall leave.

[5910]

Now if the departure from Rome in February is decided, after thoroughly consulting the Lord and the Heart of Jesus who is also the patron of Central Africa to which I consecrated it as you will see on page 31 of fascicle n.7
which I am sending you, I consider it prudent to suggest and advise them not to undertake the journey now, but to postpone it to next September or October, for the following reasons:
1. Should he leave now, the young Prince would not reach the desert before April, a season in which the desert is on fire (April, May, June). I have crossed it three times in this season and, although I am acclimatised, I suffered. Instead, crossing the desert in winter is like going on a hunt.
2. Should they leave now, they would find themselves in the immense lands of Kordofan and Darfur during the rainy season, which is an extremely dangerous time for us missionaries who are used to the effort and to Africa; but for the young Prince, who has never travelled in Africa and has not been acclimatised in Cairo or Nubia, it could be fatal. Instead, by leaving in September or October, all these obstacles and dangers could be avoided.
3. Should he leave now, I can only protect him through my missionaries and my Vicar and with powerful recommendations; but if he leaves in September he will do a large part of the journey with me and if anyone has a safe and indestructible position in the Sudan it is I, who can really help him among all those Pashas with love, concern and conscientiousness. My missionaries have love, concern and conscientiousness, but I am the only one to have a strong influence and authority also with the great figures, and my presence there counts more than that of my missionaries. In addition, the few words that I could have in private with the Khedive of Egypt would be advantageous to the young Prince.

[5911]

For the moment I will not cite other reasons so as not to be too lengthy; I could give you others in person. But Matteucci and the young Prince will say: “How on earth can we turn back, now that we have decided and now that people are talking in the papers in Italy and elsewhere?”
I answer. Let the two travellers leave Rome even immediately; and let them go even as far as Wadi Halfa in Nubia, because between Wadi Halfa and Cairo the climate and the journey are healthier than between Florence, Rome and Naples. But in Monia, in Wadi Halfa, they will already feel enough heat between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to want to turn back. Reaching Wadi Halfa will give them a plausible reason for saying that the season is too advanced and for turning back, and for the young Prince to go to Suez, Jerusalem, Damascus, Beirut, Damascus, Vienna, etc. and then return to spend the summer with his family in Italy. This journey will already make it easier for him and enable him to undertake the second great journey mentioned above with greater safety and pleasure.

[5912]

The journey from Khartoum to Kordofan or from Suakin to Berber made in the wrong season is more difficult than going from Florence to Australia or Japan. If they were to leave in September, however, I could be of great help to them because I would be in the Sudan.
Seeing this long letter which comes from my heart and my good conscience I am already tempted not to send it to you because it is too long and boring; but events are pressing, so I shall send it nevertheless. I ask you, most venerable Marchesa, to excuse me a thousand times for this great inconvenience; but I feel that I should be seriously failing you, your consort the Marchese, your dear son the young Marchese Antonio and your worshipful daughter Anna, the sister of the young Prince, were I not to send this letter. Therefore, in any case, please grant me your generous and merciful forgiveness, while in the sweet Hearts of Jesus and Mary I declare that I have done this for a good purpose, and remain with veneration and gratitude
Your most devoted and obedient true servant,

+ Bishop Daniel Comboni,
Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

[5913]

On 28th January I received your venerable letter in which you express your desire to talk to me both about the Irish priest O’Connor (whose Bishop of Adelaide I know is now in Rome), and other interesting matters. Since any desire of Your Most Reverend Eminence’s is a venerable order for all missionaries, I shall do everything I can to come either at the end of this week or by next week; especially because I have succeeded, with the help of Cardinal di Canossa, in ensuring for my African Institute in Verona a pious and able Rector in the person of Fr Giuseppe Sembianti. With him I am revising the Rule with all the changes suggested by the practical experience of the last few years, together with the wise criticism of the venerable Consultant of Propaganda, Fr Isidoro da Boscomare of the Reformed Friars Minor.
My caravan which left Suez last November has already reached Khartoum safely.
As I kiss the Sacred Purple, I remain with deepest respect
Your Most Reverend Eminence’s most humble, devoted and obedient son

+ Daniel Comboni
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic

[5914]

CONDITIONS
according to which the Superior General of the Congregation of Apostolic Missionaries at the service of Bishops, agrees to grant some members of his Congregation to assume the duties of Rector of the Institutes of the Missions of Africa in Verona.
1. The appointment is only temporary, and for as long as the circumstances of the Congregation of which he is Superior will allow.
2. The maintenance of the male and female Institutes is entirely at the expense of Mgr Comboni, who will deposit with the Rector at least 2,000 lire as an advance. The community accounts will be reviewed every six months, without the Congregation being required to advance the slightest amount.
3. Only the mission or service staff or those deemed necessary by the Rector will have lodgings in the male and female Institutes.

[5915]

4. Admission to the Institutes of individuals aspiring to the mission will be decided by the Rector on the basis of the information he will have gathered. In the same way, the Rector will decide on the dismissal of those who show insufficient proof of their vocation.
5. The discipline imposed by the Rector will follow no other rule than that which is to be compiled and submitted to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide.
6. The Verona Institutes will only send to the Mission in Africa those men and women whom the Rector deems mature enough for a life of such sacrifice.
7. The Mission will be responsible for the maintenance of the Rector and, if necessary, of any other confreres or lay brothers.
8. The Rector will direct the Work of the Good Shepherd with the help of whoever he deems fit.

[5916]

9. The Rector will accept the power of attorney from Mgr Comboni for the temporal goods belonging to him, and for the resources, donations and other matters that concern him during his absence from Verona.
10. The Rector will inform Mgr Comboni from time to time of the spirit, progress and hopes of the African Institutes in Verona; after the schools open in September, he will send a brief report on these matters, as well as a brief report on the administrative situation.
11 . The Rector will be able to send to the Beirut theological university in Syria directed by the Jesuit Fathers those candidates, seminarians or priests, who are of proven vocation, of academic distinction and of sound judgement and prudence.
12. The Rector will have jurisdiction over any such houses of the African Institutes as may need to be opened, with the consent of the Cardinal Bishop of Verona, to increase the number of good vocations for the apostolate in Central Africa.

[5917]

As soon as I reached Rome on Saturday morning, I took the Curia letters to the Secretariat of Briefs at Anima, delivered them into the hands of Adami and gave Cardinal Bilio his own, etc. I visited Cardinal Bartolini, who is not too well and is moving house at his doctor’s orders, and gave him my anti-fever pills because he has had a tertian fever for ten months; but he still goes to the Vatican and yesterday morning I saw him there at the sermon with the Pope, where with the most eminent prelates and many Bishops I too listened to the sermon of the Very Reverend Fr Eusebio da Monte Santo, the Apostolic Preacher. For the 33 canonised Bishops of Verona it appears that only six of the second readings can be approved; for the others, readings taken from St Zeno could be proposed. The reason why Mgr Caprara has not yet finished his work for the Venerable Marchesa is in fact Morani (who had two deaths in his family), who has not finished his work.

[5918]

He gave in only one part in August, and the other part has not yet been submitted. Without seeing the whole work, Mgr Caprara cannot formulate his requests. So I rushed to Morani to urge him to finish it, and he promised to do so; but I will not let him be until he does it and gives the work in. The hat will be made right away; Giomini did not know whether to have it in red or black, but since I have never seen Your Eminence wear red in Verona, I told him to make it beaver black, as per the note you gave me. But I will write of all this soon.

[5919]

Now I am concerned about the St Joseph affair, which is going very badly. We must avert a nasty sentence, and (I say this between us exactly as I heard it from competent individuals in the Congregation for Rites) we must remedy the mistakes made by the excellent Fr Falezza and the late lamented Cardinal Barili who, as Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Indulgences, approved the indulgences invalidly in 1874, shortly before he died, with a decree that is obreptitious and subreptitious, etc. Your Most Reverend Eminence is not involved in this, indeed the sentiments expressed in your last letter on the matter were admired with pleasure: here everyone is quite amazed that this devout priest could have gathered around a disapproved scapular not only the faithful of the Diocese of Verona but also those of other dioceses; they are amazed that the Sacred Congregation for Indulgences granted indulgences without prior consultation with the Sacred Congregation for Rites on a matter which concerns this Congregation.

[5920]

As a result they are planning to abolish everything, etc., etc. Having heard from Fr Cirino, whom I met at the Briefs, that the matter of the Scapular of St Joseph is so threatening, I checked everything myself and saw that it is very true. The fact is that:
1. It is true that in 1868 the Sacred Congregation for Rites did not approve the scapular and the blessing formula in any way, with the response: negative in omnibus.
2. The Decree of the Sacred Congregation for Indulgences by which in 1874 it granted indulgences to the non-approved scapular is obreptious and subreptious, because there was no mention in the petition that was made of the resolution issued by the Sacred Congregation for Rites in 1868: negative in omnibus.
3. Therefore the indulgences are null and void, and the so-called 4,000 members of the scapular enrolled by Fr Falezza did not acquire the indulgences they thought they were acquiring.

[5921]

4. The scapular designed by Fr Falezza is heretical, a prelate of the Congregation of Rites told me. They showed it to me and I was dumbfounded.
5. People are amazed at how this non-approved scapular could possibly have been presented, not only in the Diocese of Verona, but abroad, as far as Bavaria.
On these grounds there would already have been a decree of prohibition, even harshly worded, if Fr Falezza’s error had not been accompanied by the mistake of the late Cardinal Barili, who was ill and approved the indulgences, that is, obtained the indulgences from the Holy Father Pius IX without consulting the Congregation for Rites.
Now it is a matter of saving the Holy See’s face. This is why, concerned as I am for the honour of St Joseph whom I have to keep quiet and generous, I would like to make amends. I would like him to be honoured as much as possible, but in a way that pleases the Holy See and the Supreme Pontiff.

[5922]

Therefore, taking advantage of Rome’s usual slowness, etc. yesterday and today I went to see competent people about this. I see that if Fr Falezza wastes no time and acts immediately, getting help from the parish priest of S. Nicolò or from the Filippini, etc., and sends me in Rome within a week or at least ten days the petition to the Holy Father formulated according to the outline I enclose, approved and commended by Your Most Reverend Eminence (Your Eminence only needs to add a letter of recommendation, mentioning in the beginning that you approved the simple scapular); if, as I say, within a week Fr Falezza sends me the said petition to the Holy Father with the model of the scapular of St Joseph with or without the Child with the lily, and of a single colour on both sides, the matter could be settled. The sentence could be suspended for the time being, and if I set to work on the matter of the new petition from Fr Falezza commended by his Bishop, I hope gradually to have it forgotten and to have the new scapular approved with the original indulgences, and so to put everything right.

[5923]

But all this must be done now while I am in Rome. Once we have the scapular for Verona, I have already taken advice and measures to ensure that eventually it may be approved for the universal Church.
With good reason, I do not give Fr Falezza too many explanations. He must blindly make the petition on the basis of the enclosed plan, and St Joseph will bless him. I submit my letter to Fr Falezza to Your Eminence’s wise judgement.
I kiss etc.
Your most devoted son

+ Daniel,
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic

[5924]

I am staying in this hotel with other Bishops because it is close to Propaganda Fide. This morning in the Vatican there was a Consistory at which 42 Bishops were appointed. Five new Cardinals also received their hats. With Pope Leo XIII, we were 37 Cardinals and 70 Bishops. There were also many Princes and nearly all the ambassadors and ministers accredited to the Holy See. It was a marvellous sight; all peace, love, concord, respect, obedience and tranquillity; and the certainty that God’s cause will triumph. Tomorrow I am lunching with Prince Borghese. Father, mother, Princes and Princesses have given me a most grandiose welcome, commending to me their two sons, Prince Camillo and Prince Giovanni who is going to Khartoum and Kordofan with Matteucci. A magnificent sweat, I hope.

[5925]

Please write to Virginia (without telling her I asked you to), because she was very sad about your departure from Verona. She left everything to help my Work. Tell her that you always pray for her (and you should pray), and that you hope to go and see her soon.
This is her address:
“To Signorina Virginia Mansur
Institute of the Devout Mothers of Africa
S. Maria in Organo
Verona.”

[5926]

Please give my greetings to Pietro, and receive from him the sorbus tree he has given me which can absorb water from a depth of 40 metres, and thank him so much for me; I hope to see it soon.
I am very well: please write to me often here at my address and pray for me.
The Holy See wishes to establish a new mission in Africa and has called me to Rome to define the territory, the borders and the way to succeed in this new enterprise. So I have plenty of work. The Princess greets you warmly. Give my greetings to Teresa, all the relatives in Limone and Riva, the Rector and Fr Luigi, and tell me what you said to Furbasso and what he answered about his daughter. The man does not know God’s grace.
Your most affectionate son

+ Daniel, Bishop