Yvert07

Yvert to the Bishop of Angoulême, Lyon, 15 October 1840

APM 511.84

Translation, Jessie Munro, 15 March 2005, checked Madeleine le Jeune 2006.

My Lord

I dare to be so bold as to entreat Your Grace to grant me a precious favour. As I am about to leave for Western Oceania to take part in the works of the Marist Missionaries, the Very Rev. Fr Colin, Superior of the order, would like me to bring with me for New Zealand my discharge. There are at present some obstacles preventing me from entering religious life, but as Providence may one day enable them to be lifted, the Superior of the children of Mary respectfully requests you to have this important document sent to me at the earliest possible opportunity. The Blessed Virgin, our good Mother, would no doubt not wish any delay to occur when she has been smoothing away all difficulties.

I was born in the commune of Pleuville, in the arrondissement of Confolens, on 10 June 1796.

I should perhaps send you, my Lord, my baptism certificate as necessary identification, but I do not have it. What is more, I do not know where I could obtain it, having been baptised during the revolution in a chapel near Pleuville, 10 or 15 leagues from the current residence of my family. My parents often spoke to me of my baptism and my godfather and godmother, who now are deceased. I wouldn’t be able to produce any witness to my baptism now. With the deepest respectfulness and obedience, I have the honour to be, Your Grace,

Your very humble and obedient servant,

My given names are Jean François Yvert.