Girard0640 - Revision history

Merv at 21:56, 3 August 2017

2017-08-03T21:56:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:56, 4 August 2017
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	=== Notes ===		=== Notes ===
	<references/>		<references/>


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			\|align=center \|[[Girard0639\|'''Previous Letter''']]\|\| align=center \| [[Contents#1847\|'''List of 1847 Letters''']] \|\| align=center \| [[Girard0641\|'''Next letter''']]
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Merv at 22:24, 6 September 2010

2010-09-06T22:24:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:24, 7 September 2010
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	:::::Missionary apostolic,		:::::Missionary apostolic,
	::::::Woodlark, 18th October, 1847 [p.14]		::::::Woodlark, 18th October, 1847 [p.14]
	;[31]: Post Script. Remember me to the Dervaud family and my good cousins Bourguenod and Flottes, to Marion, to Messrs Alunzet, Cavaillé, Atagé, Reynès, Coste, Bernadon and Bounioles. Give my regards to Bishop d’Urgel,<ref> Simó Rojas de Guardiola i Hortoneda, OSB, bishop (1827-1851) of Urgel (Spain), exiled for political reasons from 1835 to 1848.</ref>Send me some devotional books if you can. Goodbye!		;[31]: Post Script. Remember me to the Dervaud family and my good cousins Bourguenod and Flottes, to Marion, to Messrs Alunzet, Cavaillé, Atagé, Reynès, Coste, Bernadon and Bounioles. Give my regards to Bishop d’Urgel,<ref> Simó Rojas de Guardiola i Hortoneda, OSB, bishop (1827-1851) of Urgel (Spain), exiled for political reasons from 1835 to 1848.</ref> Send me some devotional books if you can. Goodbye!
	;[32]: Captain Raballan, who brought us to Woodlark and who is a protégé of Captain Bérard is sending the latter a box of shells and curiosities (I don’t really know exactly what). He has asked me to inform Mr Bérard through you, as intermediary. I would be pleased if you could carry out this commission for me, Goodbye.		;[32]: Captain Raballan, who brought us to Woodlark and who is a protégé of Captain Bérard is sending the latter a box of shells and curiosities (I don’t really know exactly what). He has asked me to inform Mr Bérard through you, as intermediary. I would be pleased if you could carry out this commission for me, Goodbye.

	=== Notes ===		=== Notes ===
	<references/>		<references/>

Merv at 22:23, 6 September 2010

2010-09-06T22:23:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:23, 7 September 2010
Line 59:		Line 59:
	:::::Missionary apostolic,		:::::Missionary apostolic,
	::::::Woodlark, 18th October, 1847 [p.14]		::::::Woodlark, 18th October, 1847 [p.14]
	;[31]: Post Script. Remember me to the Dervaud family and my good cousins Bourguenod and Flottes to Marion, to Messrs Alunzet, Cavaillé ~~etc~~. Give my regards to Bishop d’Urgel. Send me some devotional books if you can. Goodbye!		;[31]: Post Script. Remember me to the Dervaud family and my good cousins Bourguenod and Flottes, to Marion, to Messrs Alunzet, Cavaillé, Atagé, Reynès, Coste, Bernadon and Bounioles. Give my regards to Bishop d’Urgel,<ref> Simó Rojas de Guardiola i Hortoneda, OSB, bishop (1827-1851) of Urgel (Spain), exiled for political reasons from 1835 to 1848.</ref>Send me some devotional books if you can. Goodbye!
	;[32]: Captain Raballan, who brought us to Woodlark and who is a protégé of Captain Bérard is sending the latter a box of shells and curiosities (I don’t really know exactly what). He has asked me to inform Mr Bérard through you, as intermediary. I would be pleased if you could carry out this commission for me, Goodbye.		;[32]: Captain Raballan, who brought us to Woodlark and who is a protégé of Captain Bérard is sending the latter a box of shells and curiosities (I don’t really know exactly what). He has asked me to inform Mr Bérard through you, as intermediary. I would be pleased if you could carry out this commission for me, Goodbye.

			=== Notes ===
			<references/>

Merv at 09:57, 20 July 2010

2010-07-20T09:57:39Z

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Merv at 09:41, 20 July 2010

2010-07-20T09:41:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:41, 20 July 2010
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	;[2]: Firstly, let me express to you how conscious I have been of the pain endured by mother both on the occasion of her mother’s death and consequently in coping with the treatments required by her father. I have not been insensitive to either one of these two things and I have prayed for the repose of my grandmother’s soul and for the changes in temperament of my grandfather. But I urge mother not to distress herself too much with all that and I congratulate her on the way in which she has conducted herself. I am convinced that there is no suffering so great that it cannot be eased by the knowledge that one has done one’s duty, as she has done; also I think I should remind her of what Mr Guibeau said to me one day on the subject on these same sorts of things, that my grandfather, having dedicated himself to his devotions, would still be able to maintain his extraordinary ideas, God being accustomed to changing hearts but not minds. Finally, I entreat mother to accept that the disrespect that she has suffered will one day be elevated into glory and from here below raise her to the company of saints who have all had to suffer opprobrium and humiliation in following the example of their Heavenly Master, whose own parents said that he had become insane.		;[2]: Firstly, let me express to you how conscious I have been of the pain endured by mother both on the occasion of her mother’s death and consequently in coping with the treatments required by her father. I have not been insensitive to either one of these two things and I have prayed for the repose of my grandmother’s soul and for the changes in temperament of my grandfather. But I urge mother not to distress herself too much with all that and I congratulate her on the way in which she has conducted herself. I am convinced that there is no suffering so great that it cannot be eased by the knowledge that one has done one’s duty, as she has done; also I think I should remind her of what Mr Guibeau said to me one day on the subject on these same sorts of things, that my grandfather, having dedicated himself to his devotions, would still be able to maintain his extraordinary ideas, God being accustomed to changing hearts but not minds. Finally, I entreat mother to accept that the disrespect that she has suffered will one day be elevated into glory and from here below raise her to the company of saints who have all had to suffer opprobrium and humiliation in following the example of their Heavenly Master, whose own parents said that he had become insane.
	;[3]: Secondly, let me thank you for the goods that you have been kind enough to send me. I have received everything except the fabrics from my grandmother’s estate, which have probably been left, mistakenly, at another mission or will perhaps arrive later. I am very grateful to you. If father wishes to continue to send his consignment of wine each year, as he has suggested, I would be very obliged to him. The wine is very necessary for us here, whether for Holy Mass or for our general health, for we have a very strange climate. It rains frequently and we are constantly wearied by fevers. But he should always take advantage of the vessels of the French Society of Oceania because this should be the least expensive means of transportation and everything should arrive without being tampered with. If mother wishes to continue sending me parcels she could include a certain quantity of beads in blue, red and white glass, the size of rosary beads, as well as some smaller ones, such as those with which one makes purses. These latter ones are very prized here. With a string of them five to six inches long, one can acquire seven or eight pounds of yams or taro or a dozen coconuts. As for linen, I have sufficient and even still have some shirts ironed in France. There is no point in sending me stockings as I only wear them on special occasions. If by chance you were thinking of sending some items for the church, I should let you know that artificial flowers do not survive the journey well and that the humidity here immediately attacks the golden plastered statues. Here are some articles that you could send in preference to others. I am suggesting not demanding them of you, I am speaking very frankly, but wish simply to channel your generosity. 1. A Way of the Cross, with large, coloured figures, the colours vivid and distinct. 2. Some coloured pictures, representing the mysteries of religion and the principal aspects of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. This selection of pictures should not be oil paintings: they would be too expensive and would not be any more effective than simple watercolours. 3. Some yellow, red or blue fabrics to make some hangings. 4. Some altar cloths with open-work panels 5. A bell, etc. etc. But until further notice no ornaments or church linen except for albs and rochets and all of this, I repeat, I am not demanding. What is more, rest assured my dear parents that it is not just me who thanks you for your gifts, but also the mission. Every day, morning and evening, we pray for you and then, as well we sometimes say Holy Mass for our benefactors, you being amongst them. I would ask you to pass this on to the good souls who join with you in doing good works. Tell Miss Bouissin and Miss Espinal that I have not forgotten them in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and that their devoted works will be blessed by our savages once they have been converted. I certainly intend, from then on, to have them pray for those who have provided help for them. I have always, up till now, been prevented from offering the Holy sacrifice on Saturdays for the associates of the Propagation of the Faith, but in the future I hope to be able to do so and thus discharge my debt to them, a debt which is very dear to my heart.		;[3]: Secondly, let me thank you for the goods that you have been kind enough to send me. I have received everything except the fabrics from my grandmother’s estate, which have probably been left, mistakenly, at another mission or will perhaps arrive later. I am very grateful to you. If father wishes to continue to send his consignment of wine each year, as he has suggested, I would be very obliged to him. The wine is very necessary for us here, whether for Holy Mass or for our general health, for we have a very strange climate. It rains frequently and we are constantly wearied by fevers. But he should always take advantage of the vessels of the French Society of Oceania because this should be the least expensive means of transportation and everything should arrive without being tampered with. If mother wishes to continue sending me parcels she could include a certain quantity of beads in blue, red and white glass, the size of rosary beads, as well as some smaller ones, such as those with which one makes purses. These latter ones are very prized here. With a string of them five to six inches long, one can acquire seven or eight pounds of yams or taro or a dozen coconuts. As for linen, I have sufficient and even still have some shirts ironed in France. There is no point in sending me stockings as I only wear them on special occasions. If by chance you were thinking of sending some items for the church, I should let you know that artificial flowers do not survive the journey well and that the humidity here immediately attacks the golden plastered statues. Here are some articles that you could send in preference to others. I am suggesting not demanding them of you, I am speaking very frankly, but wish simply to channel your generosity. 1. A Way of the Cross, with large, coloured figures, the colours vivid and distinct. 2. Some coloured pictures, representing the mysteries of religion and the principal aspects of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. This selection of pictures should not be oil paintings: they would be too expensive and would not be any more effective than simple watercolours. 3. Some yellow, red or blue fabrics to make some hangings. 4. Some altar cloths with open-work panels 5. A bell, etc. etc. But until further notice no ornaments or church linen except for albs and rochets and all of this, I repeat, I am not demanding. What is more, rest assured my dear parents that it is not just me who thanks you for your gifts, but also the mission. Every day, morning and evening, we pray for you and then, as well we sometimes say Holy Mass for our benefactors, you being amongst them. I would ask you to pass this on to the good souls who join with you in doing good works. Tell Miss Bouissin and Miss Espinal that I have not forgotten them in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and that their devoted works will be blessed by our savages once they have been converted. I certainly intend, from then on, to have them pray for those who have provided help for them. I have always, up till now, been prevented from offering the Holy sacrifice on Saturdays for the associates of the Propagation of the Faith, but in the future I hope to be able to do so and thus discharge my debt to them, a debt which is very dear to my heart.
	;[4]: The Good Lord must have indeed inspired you to become active in the work of the French Society of Oceania! It is a truly apostolic undertaking which is the crowning glory of all the works carried out by French charities. You cannot imagine the good that the Society can do, whether in the missions invaded by the Protestants, or the missions which are still entirely savage. In the former the Catholics are represented in [p.3] such a poor light and the French people so maligned that we really have an absolute need to be visited by ships which contradict the impression given by these malicious people. So, the Protestants, continually supported by English ships spread the word that the Papists (this is how they label us) are people without principles who have been driven out of their country, or that there, they have not enough to live on, that they only have pathetic little ships and that the King sends them in advance of his armies. You can understand that after such remarks, with the arrival of a handsome ship which honours the missionaries and distributes trinkets to the locals, these latter are absolutely astonished to see the contrary of what they have been told and turn their backs on the slanderers. As for the savages, as they are naturally only driven by fear or curiosity, it is good, it is even essential that they see ships come to visit us from time to time. That maintains their sense of respect and expectation. Besides that, as the example ordinarily set by ship’s crews is not very edifying, the sight of the sailors of the type the French Society aims to employ can only produce a positive effect. No need to tell you that the efforts to enable us to bypass England will be a great saving of money for the missions, as you will be convinced by the following figures: by way of England my passage from France to San Cristobal cost more than three thousand francs and by the ''Arche d’Alliance'' Bishop Collomb paid fifteen hundred francs……. By way of England, wine costs twenty-five sous a bottle and I am sure that by sending it from France we could get it for nine or ten sous. After all, there is every advantage for a missionary in travelling on a ship with good Christian companions when you think of the cost of being obliged, as I was, to hide away to recite one’s breviary, one’s rosary and one’s prayers before and after a meal? No, I will never be able to forget the consolation that I felt aboard the ''Arche d’Alliance'' on my crossing from New Caledonia to San Cristobal. Really it seemed paradise to me, who had had a taste of English ships. Not a coarse word, not an argument. Everything was calm and peaceful. Whilst, from London to Sydney I was only able to say Holy Mass seven or eight times, that is to say less than twice a month, there on the ''Arche d’Alliance'' I recited it every day as comfortably, as peacefully as on shore. The good Mr Marceau and the doctor never missed attending or taking communion. That is not all. The crew were organised as a community. At seven in the morning prayers were celebrated and everyone attended. In the evening at six o’clock it was the same thing and as well one of us presented a familiar story from the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before our arrival in New Caledonia		;[4]: The Good Lord must have indeed inspired you to become active in the work of the French Society of Oceania! It is a truly apostolic undertaking which is the crowning glory of all the works carried out by French charities. You cannot imagine the good that the Society can do, whether in the missions invaded by the Protestants, or the missions which are still entirely savage. In the former the Catholics are represented in [p.3] such a poor light and the French people so maligned that we really have an absolute need to be visited by ships which contradict the impression given by these malicious people. So, the Protestants, continually supported by English ships spread the word that the Papists (this is how they label us) are people without principles who have been driven out of their country, or that there, they have not enough to live on, that they only have pathetic little ships and that the King sends them in advance of his armies. You can understand that after such remarks, with the arrival of a handsome ship which honours the missionaries and distributes trinkets to the locals, these latter are absolutely astonished to see the contrary of what they have been told and turn their backs on the slanderers. As for the savages, as they are naturally only driven by fear or curiosity, it is good, it is even essential that they see ships come to visit us from time to time. That maintains their sense of respect and expectation. Besides that, as the example ordinarily set by ship’s crews is not very edifying, the sight of the sailors of the type the French Society aims to employ can only produce a positive effect. No need to tell you that the efforts to enable us to bypass England will be a great saving of money for the missions, as you will be convinced by the following figures: by way of England my passage from France to San Cristobal cost more than three thousand francs and by the ''Arche d’Alliance'' Bishop Collomb paid fifteen hundred francs……. By way of England, wine costs twenty-five sous a bottle and I am sure that by sending it from France we could get it for nine or ten sous. After all, there is every advantage for a missionary in travelling on a ship with good Christian companions when you think of the cost of being obliged, as I was, to hide away to recite one’s breviary, one’s rosary and one’s prayers before and after a meal? No, I will never be able to forget the consolation that I felt aboard the ''Arche d’Alliance'' on my crossing from New Caledonia to San Cristobal. Really it seemed paradise to me, who had had a taste of English ships. Not a coarse word, not an argument. Everything was calm and peaceful. Whilst, from London to Sydney I was only able to say Holy Mass seven or eight times, that is to say less than twice a month, there on the ''Arche d’Alliance'' I recited it every day as comfortably, as peacefully as on shore. The good Mr Marceau and the doctor never missed attending or taking communion. That is not all. The crew were organised as a community. At seven in the morning prayers were celebrated and everyone attended. In the evening at six o’clock it was the same thing and as well one of us presented a familiar story from the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before our arrival in New Caledonia [p.4] the Reverend Fathers Collomb and Crey offered a retreat and everyone was eager to follow the various exercises. After prayers, we went up onto the poop deck and there, while some natives who came from Wallis sang their rosary, we recited ours which we followed up with the singing of the litanies of the Holy Virgin and of the Ave Maris Stella.
	[p.4] the Reverend Fathers Collomb and Crey offered a retreat and everyone was eager to follow the various exercises. After prayers, we went up onto the poop deck and there, while some natives who came from Wallis sang their rosary, we recited ours which we followed up with the singing of the litanies of the Holy Virgin and of the Ave Maris Stella.
	;[5]: You perhaps do not understand, my dear parents, why one can attach as much importance as I do to a few hymns and public prayers. It is simply that you have never been deprived of the beautiful and touching ceremonies of our religion and that, as he who has never been ill does not appreciate the gift of good health, you cannot fully understand privations that you have never experienced. But if you had passed a long period of time without public worship, with no other spiritual support than prayer and the sacrament, ah! you would feel your heart soar at the first notes of a hymn and perhaps a few gentle tears would betray your emotion. Man is not just a spirit, he has senses which like to be satisfied and God, who understands our nature has, not without purpose, established a religion with solemn rites and majestic ceremonies. Even in heaven our happiness will not be solely spiritual adoration, our eyes will see marvellous things and our ears will hear sublime melodies…..Sunday was celebrated suitably aboard the Arche d’Alliance. At six o’clock there was a first Mass for the communicants and later a High Mass was sung, followed by the blessing of the very Holy Sacrament and of a third Mass to partake of Holy Communion. In the evening there were vespers and a sermon and everything else as per usual. It was aboard the Arche d’Alliance that I sang High Mass. Oh! How intense my emotions were when, on a sea scattered with islands still unconverted, I sang the first words of the Creed: I believe in one God! How intense it was when, surrounded by seas which, until today had been traversed only by crews driven by avarice or ambition, I intoned this wonderful invitation of the introduction: Lift up your hearts! How uplifting it was when, finally, holding in my unworthy hands the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world, I blessed these thousands of islands, still untamed, amongst which we are sailing. If the French Society of Oceania prospers, those who have contributed to it will have greatly benefited the missions and I do not doubt that if we had only half as much money to spend the missionaries would be obliged, much more than they now are, to have to deal with the English, who fleece us and, not content with that, cause us a thousand difficulties with the savages by going even so far as to supply them with guns. [p.5]		;[5]: You perhaps do not understand, my dear parents, why one can attach as much importance as I do to a few hymns and public prayers. It is simply that you have never been deprived of the beautiful and touching ceremonies of our religion and that, as he who has never been ill does not appreciate the gift of good health, you cannot fully understand privations that you have never experienced. But if you had passed a long period of time without public worship, with no other spiritual support than prayer and the sacrament, ah! you would feel your heart soar at the first notes of a hymn and perhaps a few gentle tears would betray your emotion. Man is not just a spirit, he has senses which like to be satisfied and God, who understands our nature has, not without purpose, established a religion with solemn rites and majestic ceremonies. Even in heaven our happiness will not be solely spiritual adoration, our eyes will see marvellous things and our ears will hear sublime melodies…..Sunday was celebrated suitably aboard the Arche d’Alliance. At six o’clock there was a first Mass for the communicants and later a High Mass was sung, followed by the blessing of the very Holy Sacrament and of a third Mass to partake of Holy Communion. In the evening there were vespers and a sermon and everything else as per usual. It was aboard the Arche d’Alliance that I sang High Mass. Oh! How intense my emotions were when, on a sea scattered with islands still unconverted, I sang the first words of the Creed: I believe in one God! How intense it was when, surrounded by seas which, until today had been traversed only by crews driven by avarice or ambition, I intoned this wonderful invitation of the introduction: Lift up your hearts! How uplifting it was when, finally, holding in my unworthy hands the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world, I blessed these thousands of islands, still untamed, amongst which we are sailing. If the French Society of Oceania prospers, those who have contributed to it will have greatly benefited the missions and I do not doubt that if we had only half as much money to spend the missionaries would be obliged, much more than they now are, to have to deal with the English, who fleece us and, not content with that, cause us a thousand difficulties with the savages by going even so far as to supply them with guns. [p.5]
	;[6]: Let me finish replying to your letters. The sentiments of faith that you have expressed to me, my very dear parents, brought tears to my eyes. Father realises that a soul at peace is the ultimate treasure. His only ambition is to see his two daughters and young Ernest grow in virtue and piety. Mother realises that God has poured balm on her wounds. What more could I wish? My dear parents, continue to evaluate things in this way. No, nothing that happens is important. The pleasures and pains of this life are nothing, for they hardly last an hour; what is important is to ensure our eternal life. It is for that that I have come to the ends of the earth and please God, let this not be in vain. As for what you tell me about Henry, the little twins and Earnest, I can only praise the Lord and ask him to continue his goodness to us. I am writing, by this same mail, to Marie and Amelia; for Ernest, tell him, please that I thank him for his letter and that I will write to him when he has made his first communion.		;[6]: Let me finish replying to your letters. The sentiments of faith that you have expressed to me, my very dear parents, brought tears to my eyes. Father realises that a soul at peace is the ultimate treasure. His only ambition is to see his two daughters and young Ernest grow in virtue and piety. Mother realises that God has poured balm on her wounds. What more could I wish? My dear parents, continue to evaluate things in this way. No, nothing that happens is important. The pleasures and pains of this life are nothing, for they hardly last an hour; what is important is to ensure our eternal life. It is for that that I have come to the ends of the earth and please God, let this not be in vain. As for what you tell me about Henry, the little twins and Earnest, I can only praise the Lord and ask him to continue his goodness to us. I am writing, by this same mail, to Marie and Amelia; for Ernest, tell him, please that I thank him for his letter and that I will write to him when he has made his first communion.

Merv at 09:40, 20 July 2010

2010-07-20T09:40:22Z

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Merv: New page: ==15 July, 1 September, 18 October 1847. – Letter from Xavier Montrouzier to his parents== ''Translated by Mary Williamson, July 2010'' ''Based on the document sent, APM ONC 208 M...

2010-07-20T09:36:30Z

New page: ==15 July, 1 September, 18 October 1847. – Letter from Xavier Montrouzier to his parents== ''Translated by Mary Williamson, July 2010'' ''Based on the document sent, APM ONC 208 M...

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