Girard0341

25 July 1844 - Father Joseph-André Chevron to Abbé Claude Blanc, Tonga

According to the original letter, APM 208 OC (Tonga), Chevron.

Editorial Description

A sheet of “Bath” paper, measuring 227 × 180 mm, folded to form four pages, of which three are written; the fourth contains only the address and Poupinel’s annotation. The recipient, Abbé Claude-Joseph-Damien Blanc (1805–1875), a priest of the diocese of Belley and an apostolic missionary, spent two years among the Marists, probably from 1841 to 1843, but did not enter the novitiate. He preached a mission at Sainte-Colombe-lès-Vienne with Father Ducharne and, during the winter of 1842–1843, another mission at Saint-Just-sur-Loire with Fathers Humbert, Convers and Dominget (Mayet, Mémoires 1, 213m, 825m; 3, 101; Tableau du clergé du diocèse de Belley depuis sa fondation, 1823, Archives of the Bishopric of Belley, p. 14). Chevron calls Abbé Blanc “my fellow countryman” in another letter (cf. doc. 414, § 15), since both were from Nantua (Ain).

Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, October 2026.

[p. 4] [Address:] Monsieur l'abbé Blanc ¤ at the Marist Fathers' house ¤ Lyon

[In Poupinel's hand:] Central Oceania ¤ Tonga, 25 July 1844 ¤ Father Chevron

Text

[p. 1]

Jesus Mary Joseph

Tonga, 25 July 1844.

My dear Abbé Blanc,

[1]

I received your letter in due course and was unable to reply by the ship which brought Bishop Douarre here, not even having had time to write to my parents, as you have doubtless learned. I have also been so busy and preoccupied since the arrival of Bishop Bataillon that I can only send you a little greeting in haste.

It is useless to give you any news or details of the mission, since you will doubtless receive fuller accounts in the letters addressed to Father Superior and to my parents. I can therefore do nothing other than ask you to remember the poor missionary.

Here prayer is our greatest support and the foremost of all the means of success. Faith has always been a gift of God, but here it seems to be doubly so, inasmuch as, among these poor natives, one must remove terrible, thick blindfolds from before their eyes before the light of faith can shine upon them.

Pray then, my dear friend, pray very much. You are a missionary, they say; well then, [p. 2] try from time to time to interest your listeners in our missions. Encourage them to pray to the Father of Lights to enlighten these unfortunate people, who seem to have energy only for fleeing from the divine torch which is held out to them.

How many things I have to tell you, my dear friend, how many things I have to tell you! How I should like to see all those dear confrères, those old friends, and to interest them in our needs, especially our spiritual needs.

Blessed be God! A little while longer and we shall see one another in heaven. Our course will be very swift; may it be devoted entirely to the greater glory of Our Lord and of his divine Mother.

[3]

The Bishop is leaving Father Calinon here. I think that sadness will have great difficulty in finding its way in, for although Father Calinon is naturally serious, I hope that he will eventually brighten up a little.

I shall entrust you, my dear friend, with my respectful greetings and affection for all our Fathers, particularly Father Gouchon, Father Maîtrepierre, Father Poupinel, etc., etc.

Monsieur Perrier, Monsieur Poncet, all the Messieurs Humbert, all the abbés of Nantua, who once, I think three or four years ago, wrote me a letter to which I had not had time to reply at the time. They are Abbé Malfroid, Abbé Collet and Abbé Pinard.

Do not forget Abbé Bourlod, Abbé Chapel, Monsieur Perrodin and Monsieur Ducret. I am tempted to write down the names of all our old friends. I beg you to convey a thousand greetings from me to them all, especially Abbé Cabanet, Abbé Denis, Jayr; I am obliged to stop.

[4]

Here, as everywhere, we have abundant opportunities for gaining merit; may nothing be lacking on our part in resignation and purity of intention.

No longer sustained by the good example of those numerous confrères in France, by those beautiful ceremonies and retreats, one sometimes becomes very spiritually dry here. But blessed be God, his mercies are great.

Father Grange, who is here with me, is pestering me to remind you of him. The poor Father has indeed had much to suffer, not yet being accustomed to a way of life so new to a European priest.

We try to drive away melancholy, and in the midst of our hardships we still manage to enjoy a good laugh.

[p. 3]

[5]

Farewell, my dear friend, farewell until we meet in heaven. I hope that I shall soon be waiting for you at our meeting place, trusting in the mercy of God and the help of your prayers.

Entirely yours,

Joseph Chevron