Writings

[6153]

While I have made the arrangements to organise my establishments for acclimatisation and training in Cairo according to the wise and provident measures communicated to me verbally by Your Most Reverend Eminence, I appeal to Your Most Reverend Eminence’s excellent kindness to deign to regularise the embarrassingly painful position that afflicts me with regard to my above-mentioned establishments vis à vis the local Ordinary, that is, the Vicar Apostolic of Egypt.

[6154]

I therefore implore Your Most Reverend Eminence to grant those Institutes the favours and the status which the Sacred Congregation has granted the establishment of the Missionaries of Algiers, founded in the Vicariate of Tunis by the distinguished Mgr Lavigerie. All the Institutions founded in Egypt, like those of the Vincentian Fathers and the Missionaries of the African Mission of Lyons, have a regular status; the conduct of my Institutes in Cairo has always been irreproachable in the full strictness of the term. They therefore deserve to have the same status as the other Institutes in Cairo.
In the hope that this plea which I have so often addressed to the Sacred Congregation will be granted, I kiss your Sacred Purple, etc.
Your Most Reverend Eminence’s
most humble, devoted and obedient son


+ Daniel, Bishop and Vicar Apostolic

[6155]

With God’s grace, after suffering a terrible storm between Candia and Alexandria, I reached Cairo 27 hours late.
In Alexandria, I discussed with Mgr Ciurcia those of my affairs which concern him. He would be very pleased were the Sacred Congregation to grant my two establishments in Cairo the privileges and status which have been granted to the establishment of the Missionaries of Algiers, founded by Mgr Lavigerie in the Vicariate of Tunis; indeed he assures me that he wrote to Your Eminence about this a few months ago.

[6156]

I therefore commend the matter to your outstanding charity.
I still appeal to your goodness in visceribus Christi to promptly grant my prayer for the subsidy I requested from you in my special petition in Rome, to compensate for the serious loss I have suffered through Brown’s bankruptcy, and Your Eminence will be please with the abundant fruit this exceptional beneficence will yield in my important and demanding Vicariate.

[6157]

Just as fervently I commend to you that other grace, which I requested of you in Rome, to write to Mgr Ciurcia that Your Eminence would be very happy if the Polish Priest, Fr Vincenzo Jermolinsky were to be returned to my jurisdiction (he belonged to me from 1870 to 1875 and worked so hard in Central Africa, and I lost him through the plotting of my adversaries). He is now assigned to the Copts. This holy priest, who is here in Cairo at the moment, would be glad to receive the obedience from Mgr Ciurcia or Propaganda to return to be under me in Central Africa. But without this manifestation of God’s will, he is staying where he is, because he is truly good and full of self-denial. In the Sudan we have more than 2,000 Copts to convert, and it is an anomaly that he, a Latin-rite Pole, should be following the Coptic rite.

[6158]

Through your kindness, Most Eminent Prince, have compassion on my Vicariate which is the most difficult. For there are few true priests in the world who are dead to the world and to themselves, like Jermolinsky who is well known to Fr Felinski in Rome. He is familiar with my business, knows what I have done for this holy priest who was tested and completed his arduous training under me, knows the difficulties and importance of my mission and would be happy to die in Central Africa. He is a man of extraordinary self-denial. With his love he makes himself adored by the Africans and would certainly convert a whole tribe of them for me. Be kind enough to write to Mgr Ciurcia and order him, or at least suggest to him that it would be doing a pleasure to Your Eminence were he to order Fr Vincenzo Jermolinsky to come with me, or to join me in Khartoum.

[6159]

I lost him because of a real plot in 1875, in which neither the Copts, and even less the Franciscan Fathers were at all involved: indeed I owe everything to Mgr Ciurcia and to Fr Pietro da Taggia, a Franciscan, if in 1870 I acquired this courageous and devout candidate, whom I had thoroughly instructed in Arabic and in the practice of his holy ministry.
I was pleased to meet here the Most Reverend Fr Antonio Morgos, the Apostolic Visitor for the Copts.
I kiss your Holy Purple, and remain
Your Eminence’s most humble, unworthy and obedient son

+ Daniel Comboni,
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic.

[6160]

I hope you are in Verona. We had a very heavy sea. There were waves in comparison with which those you saw in Sestri were like oil. Exhausted by the rapidity and complications of the journey to Verona, Sestri, Milan, Rome, Naples, etc. etc., I was seasick and vomited several times. Thirty hours before reaching Alexandria, the captain was forced to turn the steamer into the wind, that is, virtually to turn back, in the direction of Tunis. We arrived at last! I am longing to hear from you. Yesterday I ordained a priest and a Deacon, and on the 8th, another priest. It seems to me that I have got a lovely expedition together. I hope you will spend the Christmas holidays in Verona. In short, we are working for the purest glory of God and to save the most neglected souls in the world. God will be with us. Pray, and know that God will bless you. In a few days, I shall be baptising two adult Africans; I shall give one of them the name of Luigi.
Please send 30 Francs to our Eustachio in Milan, which I will repay you later. Give Teresa my greetings, and pray for
Your affectionate son

+ Bishop Daniel

[6161]

I hope that Propaganda will grant me some small sums of money. If affirmative, I have asked Mgr Masotti, the Secretary, to send them to you; will you please then send about ¾ of the said amount to Giulianelli, and keep the rest.
I am still worn out by the journey; because I really suffered. It was a serious business after Candia; we were forced to return part of the way, and to stop for II hours. But thanks be to God, we survived! I have been horribly tired for so many days, especially from the pace of work in Rome and Naples, and I paid the sea the usual tribute. Yesterday I ordained Fr Dichtl a priest, and Fr Giuseppe a Deacon.

[6162]

We shall be leaving Suez on about the 20th. I have left all the new Verona Sisters in Cairo and also three laymen.
Please send me at least another dozen of your photographs. I gave the last one to the Most Reverend Father Superior of the Jesuits in Cairo whom I look forward to putting in touch with you, in accordance with my aims.
I bless everyone, including my Father, etc.
Most affectionately,

+ Bishop Daniel

[6163]

I am very grateful for the two letters I have just received from you, dated 25th and 27th November, with a mandate for the 6,025 francs which had been promised to me six months ago by a priest of Amiens, with the obligation to celebrate 3,000 Masses, a large number of which have been celebrated. A pious lady, whose name I don’t know, gave me the donation so that my Missionaries and I should celebrate 3,000 Masses.
I will be leaving from Suez on the 20th of this month with a caravan of 14 people and I shall leave the Reverend Fr Francesco Giulianelli, Apostolic Missionary, here in Cairo. From now on, please send money and donations for the Vicariate of Central Africa to him.

[6164]

Mr President, I beg you to take this difficult and laborious Mission to heart and to set aside for me a sum of money larger than last year’s, because I am in financial straits. For the love of God, send me an abundant sum quickly out of the next allocation of funds.
Worse fevers afflicted me in Verona, I still feel the consequences of the terrible sufferings of 1878–79, and I do not sleep more than three hours in 24, but in spite of this I feel great vigour and, having organised my Institutes in Verona, obliged to resume my work in Central Africa.
I do not accept any Missionary who is not prepared to die immediately. I have immense trust in the forthcoming Canonisation of a great number of African Saints, who will contribute to the conversion of all Africa.
I commend my Mission to your prayers as well as
Your most devoted servant

+ Daniel Comboni
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic


Translated from French.

[6165]

I cannot write, because I am busy night and day. This morning I received your much appreciated letters: but how can I answer them if I am to be involved all day today in very serious business with the Most Reverend Apostolic Visitor of the Copts, etc., whereas I had set the day aside to write? Yet if we are to leave Suez on the 20th, we must all work like donkeys; and then I have to prepare my serious affairs with the Khedive, who is receiving me tomorrow morning at 11.00 a.m. in private audience. Therefore just as I commend myself to God, so you should put total trust in the Heart of Jesus which will direct you well, both in Sestri and in Verona. To teach only catechism does not seem to me to be sufficient work for Sestri, consideratis conditionibus regionis illius: but all you can do will be acceptable to God.

[6166]

For the past week I have been nagging Sr Francesca to fill in in Cairo until I send a new Superior up from the Sudan. But it is impossible, she doesn’t seem to want to accept, and both my prressure on her and my prayers have been numerous: nevertheless she refuses firmly, because she says: 1) that she is too young; 2) that she hasn’t the ability, 3) that it might give rise to jealousy and worry among all the others who are older and, she says, more able than herself; 4) that she is quite foreign to giving orders and that she is always happy to obey and would always be so, even if she were older, etc. What should I do?… Put Faustina in charge of those who are better instructed than she is, etc., etc.?… I chanted the chorus about being a stop-gap to Faustina, but she refused, saying that the Piedmontese are more able than she, with the result that she would be afraid. Furthermore, Sr Vittoria wrote that in view of the fevers in Kordofan, she was obliged to send Sr Eulalia and another sister there.

[6167]

Bringing only three acclimatised Sisters to Africa (because I had decided to leave Sr Amalia in Cairo as the Superior and also guardian angel of the two Piedmontese), I am not bringing people to help wash up and cook (and Sr Amalia and the others do not know even a word of Arabic). In short, I suggested speculatively taking 6 Sisters with me, with Amalia and the two Piedmontese: this was approved; but I have not yet decided on it, although it seems that Amalia thinks this is what I have decided. In any case, pray the Lord to enlighten me, because up to now I can see no better solution than to take the Piedmontese with Amalia (all six of them), also because I was assured that there really is no Catholic girls’ school in the whole Vicariate.

[6168]

Give my father my greetings, and tell him to pray for me, and give my regards to the Superior and to Virginia, on whom I greatly depend, especially for Arabic.
Give my respects to the Cardinal; Fr Losi is mad to say that money was never sent: he is mad. Fr Giuliano in Cairo paid a bill of exchange from the Kordofan for 109 pounds Sterling which is not much. But I shall go and see for myself. It is wretched to have to deal with mad saints without a head on their shoulders. I think they kept him on a shoe-string; but I will bring the best of the provisions to Nuba, in spite of Fr Fraccaro. I am really pleased with the two Germans whom I ordained priests. The Jesuits have told me they have nothing but praise for them. All three laymen from Verona are staying in Cairo, the Tuscan, Battista, Domenico, etc.
To Fr Luciano, etc.
Yours most affectionately

+ Bishop Daniel

[6169]

I have received your dear letter. With regard to Fr Tagliaferro, the task is one that needs patience: play for time (let him say and write whatever he wants) until it is possible to have him go to Verona and speak to our Most Eminent Father, who is a master at moving hearts and also minds, and knows how to bend the iron will of Fr Angelo (with which the most Reverend Authority is ready to co-operate) and tell him something like this: “Mgr Comboni has full trust in you (Fr Angelo); but we are convinced that from one moment to the next, the brothers, that is the layman, may turn the Sisters and Missionaries out of the premises. Mgr Comboni has taken steps to act, after your promises to donate premises”.

[6170]

“But all the lawyers are unanimous in believing that the donation is non-existent if you do not make it legally, it is only in the air; and Mgr Comboni cannot act in his own way and develop the work in Sestri if it is not on a legal basis, because he could be turned out from one day to the next, etc., etc.”. On the other hand, let us suppose that Fr Tagliaferro were immediately to make a real donation: we should be caught up in having to establish a work of some importance. We must therefore steer a middle course.

[6171]

I will keep up his morale with letters; but do not be discouraged, and prepare a good female teacher with a diploma. God’s works are never established without serious difficulties because, were everything to go smoothly, we would always have as our enemy the devil, who has not lost the talent he had as an angel: so go ahead, and cheer up. It is in the great interest of the Work to have two houses in Sestri; even to ensure the Mother Superior’s health, etc., etc. Central Africa needs Sestri, and the devil’s horns and those of Fr Tagliaferro (whom we shall certainly bring into good ways) are not as strong as … the… and the head of Christ. How would I have managed, had I feared the devil (who uses both the good and the bad) to found and to achieve the African Mission which was made possible for the Holy See only under my governance? Let them say what they like in Verona, the Pope and the most powerful and best missionaries of the Orient are convinced that it was the steadfast firmness of that sinful old bodger Comboni; now I am just about beginning to realise it myself, and that, with the help of the fervent prayers of the whole world and the heroism of my most persecuted collaborators, I have managed (servus inutilis sum) not to let this arduous mission collapse.

[6172]

I now see clearly as the O of the Otto, that it is Jesus Christ who guides us, and the powerful hand of the spirit of the holy Founder Bertoni came to the rescue at the most favourable moment to prop up my work, so charitably sustained by our beloved Most Eminent Cardinal di Canossa (without whom I should barely have managed to be curate at the Scala). Therefore, my dear Father, courage, go ahead, do not be dismayed: sustained by the Heart of Jesus (to whom I am dedicating the church that I now want to build here in Cairo between the male and female Institutes, the foundation stone of which I shall lay next Christmas, and for which everything is already excavated), by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, by our dear bursar Beppo, by the wisdom and advice of our venerable Superior General Fr Piero, and under the mantle of our Most Eminent Bishops, we shall succeed in everything. The whole universe does not frighten me. It is a matter of the interests of Jesus and of the Church, and we will succeed in becoming stones not to be despised in the foundation of the great edifice of the African Church, which is the most laborious, but most glorious and humanitarian work hic et nunc of the Catholic Church. I fully trust in that God who has put us where we are; let us bear the Cross which is the instrument that breaks the horns of the devil and of the insane world, and continue onwards.

[6173]

I am expecting the Most Reverend Superior of the Jesuits in Syria, Fr Normand, to come to confer with me. He is also in charge of the Jesuits in Egypt. I have asked the Superior of the Jesuits in Cairo and also the Jesuit Fr Villeneuve to be as it were patrons and supervisors of our houses in Cairo. I have given them your name and address. In their own good time they will be in touch with one another. In the meantime, to keep the Jesuits (from whom we can benefit) on our side, I will ask Monsignor the Archbishop and Apostolic Delegate of Egypt whether a Jesuit can come and give the monthly retreat, and also the annual one, in our two Institutes. I then gave Fr Villeneuve all my faculties to confess inside my Institutes and to confess my subjects, and without telling Mgr Ciurcia any of this, I will say that in quantum potest, he should do likewise.

[6174]

I have ordered Fr Giulianelli and Faustina (stop-gap until a permanent Mother superior arrives, and she can do it because she has the two Sisters of Sestri as well as an angel of a postulant who came recommended by the Ursulines of Vienna, all of whom, I am sure, will obey Faustina) to communicate with you and with our Superior of Verona as regards the good functioning of these two Institutes, since while they must discuss and refer their progress to me in the Sudan, I would like them to depend upon you and upon the Superior in omnibus. You will do all you can (especially to ensure that everything runs smoothly here), and God will ask no more of you, while I shall assume full responsibility for your actions with regard to the Cairo Institutes. However, for practical matters, you will be able to consult Fr Villeneuve. So too … it is my absolute wish that the Rules of both the male and female Institutes be compiled as soon as possible, (and this is presumably what Rome seriously wants).

[6175]

So take heart, and to work. After you have done it, send them to me, but via Fr Villeneuve (who must examine them and have them examined by experienced Jesuits), who will then forward them to me in the Sudan. However, after you have got them together, before sending them to Egypt submit them to the mature judgement of the Most Reverend Fr Pietro Vignola. It is in our interest that within a year or sooner, we be able to print a Rule (for the sole use of the missionaries and Sisters) and give them each a printed copy so that they may meditate on it during their trial period and promise to be bound by it in order to become members of the mission. It would be better if you were to work on it immediately and quickly, because later you will have less time since it is certain that God will send us many candidates of both sexes.

[6176]

Dichtl is a very good candidate and so is Fr Giuseppe; they have the true spirit of dying for the Africans. Giulianelli is an excellent administrator, but as Superior, although he has improved a little, he is not much good. As administrator (he was the number two employee of the Pope in Finance) Giulianelli is a jewel; in keeping the records and sending me the report, I would like you too to follow his system which seems to me perfect and very simple. I have therefore told him to send you a model of it, which he will do after my departure.

[6177]

The Sisters of Cairo and especially Sr Amalia, do not know even one word of Arabic and were astonished to see that the sisters Casella and Benamati understand everything. The same can be said of the Sisters of Central Africa, where to the great disappointment of the indigenous traders, they have no school, but our Sisters are held in very high esteem by the locals.

[6178]

Last Saturday I was given a splendid reception by the Khedive of Egypt, who showed himself favourable to everything. He assured me:
1. that he would give a special recommendation for me and for the mission to the Hoccomdar or Governor General of the Sudan. Egyptian Sudan, according to the geography book now printed which is taught by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, is 5 times the size of all France, because France (according to the said Work: Cours spécial de Géographie pour l’enseignement primaire Supérieur des Ecoles de France) covers about 500,000 square kilometres, while Egypt and its dependencies cover 22,500,000 sq. kms. So you see the importance of this recommendation.
2. He told me that he would telegraph the Governor General to send a steamship to take me from Khartoum to Berber.

[6179]

3. He ordered Riaz Pasha and Blum Pasha at the Ministry of Finance in Cairo (who came to visit me) to deposit my money with the Imperial Royal Austro-Hungarian Consul in the Egyptian treasury, and to have me paid in Khartoum by the Mudiria. This was necessary in order to avoid the troubles and problems I have had with letters of credit from those Barabbases of traders in the Sudan. He also told me to write to him whenever I wished, and that he knows and is convinced that I am a champion of African civilisation. He very much appreciated my Historical Outline of African Discoveries. Then all the Pashas, Ministers of the Interior and of War, etc., received me enthusiastically.
We will leave from Suez on the 30th of this month. There are sixteen of us: and Fr Pimazzoni (who is an angel and told me that he did not feel it was right for him to do the schools in Beirut, etc.) will accompany me; I will give him the cassock and the tonsure in Berber, and with Fr Losi and Fr Luigi supervising his studies, I hope to have a first class priest in a few years’ time.

[6180]

I am still undecided about Fr Rosignoli. There are no serious shortcomings; Fr Giulianelli, instructed by Fr Pennacchi, perhaps treated him too sternly; he insists on coming to the Sudan and promises … but we shall see. The Jesuit Father de Villleneuve says that the greatest fault of my Institute in Cairo is the individuals’lack of charity: and to what he said I add their lack of humility. He says that the pivot of Christian perfection is diligite alterutrum: this brings love of working for others, etc. He does not think much of Giulianelli or of Rolleri for, he says, they are devout but selfish. He advised me to bolster my authority, as the essential basis of everything. I therefore begged him to write me a few points on the proper conduct to adopt with my subjects, and he will. God is very good.

[6181]

Then to speak frankly and the pure truth, this is my opinion on these Jesuits. Fr Villeneuve is most learned and an eminently thoughtful man, but a bit of an eccentric. However we will be able to make good use of his excellent qualities and of the love and zeal he has for me and for our Work. The Superior of Cairo is more prudent and solid, but more timid in acting than Fr Villeneuve: thus it is right that the Rules to be submitted to the latter should also be revised by the former. Then there is a German Jesuit Father who is a pearl.

[6182]

As soon as you receive money from Eternal Rome (this poor Apostolic Visitor for the Copts who was promised a sum of money by Propaganda, decided in the Congregation on 15th October, has not received it yet), that is, from Monsignor the Secretary of Propaganda, send it immediately to Fr Giulianelli according to the instructions I gave you in my last letter. I could say a lot more, but I must go out and the post is leaving. As for financial means in Verona, do not trouble about it, Beppo will be there to help you in need. Many respects to the Most Eminent Cardinal, to Fr Vignola, to the Stigmatines and to
the Institutes, to whom I warmly wish a happy Christmas and New Year, and pray and have prayers said always for the infimo servorum
Most affectionately in the Lord,

+ Daniel Comboni
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic

I have a small bill to settle in Rome with the tailor Giomini (who also worked for the Cardinal) who will send you my card.

[6183]

Although I have been working very hard (and I work for God), yet I can say I have rested my old bones and have now recovered my strength. The journey from Verona to Cairo was an immense effort for mind and body: I am now well rested.

[6184]

The sovereign of Egypt received me splendidly, and granted me many favours which reduce the expenses of the journey, as well as powerful protection of the Work in his possessions in Central Africa, which cover an area 5 times as big as France. At Christmas I will solemnly baptise two adult Africans, a male and a female, and I shall bless the foundation stone of the new Church which I have planned to build in Cairo in the little square between our male and female Institutes. St Joseph will see to paying for it. Meanwhile the square is full of new materials brought here for the new building. Pray for this work. On the 30th 16 of us will be leaving from Suez, that is, one Bishop, 4 priests, 6 Sisters and the rest are catechists.

[6185]

Write me a long letter, and visit and encourage Virginia, who is a great help to my Work. The Cairo Sisters do not know a word of Arabic: they were amazed to see that the two new ones I brought from Malcesine understand everything in Arabic. Pray that Virgina becomes holy and is happy. Give my greetings to Teresa, my relatives, and be in Verona as much as you can with our worthy Rector. The banker Brown wrote to me asking me to forgive him for his lack of prudence in leaving Rome without letting me know and without paying me, and says that he can pay me up to five hundred francs, but no more, because his lack of caution and judgement have ruined him. Peace has been made.
I bless you; pray for
Your most affectionate son

+ Daniel,
Bishop and Vicar Apostolic

[6186]

I am very sorry not to have been able to spend at least an hour with you in Rome because of my hurry to leave in order to profit from the passage on 27th November of the French Mail Steamers that were leaving from Naples at midday. In fact when I arrived in Naples in the morning, I barely had time to conclude my affairs with the French consul and with the steamship Agencies, before embarking my caravan for Egypt. My first duty is to get to my Vicariate as quickly as possible.

[6187]

Moreover, with regard to the Brown affair, I have entrusted everything to you, who had the extreme kindness to accept this burdensome charge (for which I am infinitely grateful), and I feel quite at ease about it. No more bankers in this world, even should they be saints of paradise. The only banker who has retained my full trust is my dear bursar St Joseph to whom I have recommended this matter, and and that of a good subsidy from Propaganda; indeed, I have cornered this holy and excellent bursar St Joseph so that Propaganda will help me; and long live Noah!

[6188]

If St Joseph will not hear me, I have threatened to turn to his wife; and since I have done a good novena to her (ordering my Sisters to say it) for the Immaculate Conception, and a triduum for the Expectation of the Birth, (18th of this month), I am certain she will hear me; and my Bursar Beppino must have a little self esteem so as not to allow recourse to women for financial business, which is a matter for men. In the meantime, please recommend me to our dear friend Fr Zitelli so that he will help me for this purpose in Propaganda.

[6189]

I have looked in my suitcases and I have found only the papers which I enclose herewith. But already from the records of Brown which Cavalier Luigioni is keeping (to whom I pray you will give my distinguished respects), it will be seen that I have more or less 20,000 lire to my credit.
Brown wrote to me from Malta that he is leaving (without telling me for where) and that he has committed an act of lost of iudgment !!! [sic, in English] running away and disappointing so many ecclesiastics!! In the meantime I pay you my respects, and pray for
Your most affectionate

+ Bishop Daniel Comboni