Girard0273

15 October 1843 - Bishop Pompallier to his father-in-law (Jean-Marie Solichon), Bay of Islands

Summary

A letter from M.Solichon had told Pompallier of his mother’s death and the death of his brother Laurent, and the illness of his sister Fanny (since dead, as Pompallier had been told through another.) Pompallier tries to console Solichon by reminding him of the great truths of Christian faith. Quotes St Paul’s words to the Romans on those who love God, he turns everything to their good. (8:28).

From the copy. APM Pompallier family dossier. A sheet forming four written pages.

Translated by Merv Duffy, February 2025.

Text of the Letter

[p. 1]

Jesus, Mary, Joseph

New Zealand, Bay of Islands, October 15, 1843

My very dear father-in-law,

[1]

May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you. Consolations of faith—your letter of July 14, 1842, which informed me of the death of my beloved mother, that of my brother Laurent, and the illness of my sister Fanny, whose death, alas, I also learned of on the very day I received your letter. And finally, the tribulations that have come upon you as a result of these losses. These are indeed heavy crosses for you, dear father-in-law; I feel them all here with a filial heart. Your letter revealed to me a soul entirely plunged into bitterness and seemingly without consolation.

Let us therefore seek together some solace for our afflictions. Poor life here below—how short and full of suffering it is! It is only truly good in the sense that both its joys and its sorrows can and must help us to merit an eternal and blessed life in heaven! Since the death of our Savior on the cross, the death of the true children of the Church is a deliverance from the dangers of the soul, the end of a voyage filled with perils, the preservation of God's friendship forever, and the triumphant entry into the true homeland, into the beloved family of the elect! It is not death that is an evil, but rather dying poorly—that is the greatest of all evils.

Let us live each day as if each day we were to die, and by this, we shall see each other again in heaven; we shall see each other again soon, for even the longest life is still very short when compared to eternity! May those in the family who have had the blessing of arriving there first pray for those who are to follow them, and may we, who still remain on earth, pray with fervent charity for those who may still have to satisfy the justice of God in purgatory!

[2]

Toni’s letter, which recounted to me the edifying details of my dear mother’s final moments, brought me an ineffable consolation. Her life of faith and piety, her devotion to Mary, had already inspired in me a gentle confidence that she had died in the arms of the Lord. But the regular presence of her zealous pastor, the administration of all the sacraments of the Church that she received, the clarity of mind that allowed her to join those present in the prayers of extreme unction, and the peace with which she drew her last breath—these are the marks of one of God’s elect and are among the dearest memories of my heart.

How I would wish to have similar details about the deaths of Laurent and Fanny! In the meantime, their faith and religious devotion reassure me.

When I received your letter, dear father-in-law, along with those from Toni a few months ago, I had just returned from several long missionary journeys that I had undertaken in the south of New Zealand and in the tropical islands to the north. Your letters, which brought me both sorrowful and salvific news, acted as a remedy to my soul.

The next day, at the parish Mass I celebrated—a Mass attended by many native catechumens and neophytes, as well as a number of European Catholics residing in this Bay—I shared with these dear souls the reason for my sorrow and my consolation, the duty of prayer I had to fulfill for the repose of my mother’s soul and those of our relatives. I exhorted them to join their prayers with mine, delivering an instruction in both English and Māori on the brevity of life and the consequences of a good death.

At the end of the instruction, the entire congregation knelt, and together we recited prayers for my mother and my family. From that day on, in addition to the special Masses I have offered for the same intention, there has not been a single Mass where I have not commended their dear souls to God.

Upon seeing the date of my mother’s passing, I sought to remember where I had been and what I was doing on that very day here in Oceania. I realized that I was on the island of Wallis, completing the baptisms and confirmations of the remarkable people of that mission. That same day, I had the great consolation of witnessing the king and the rest of the royal family of that land—who had not yet received the grace of baptism—finally join the community of the new neophytes. I had, as I said, the great joy of counting them among the faithful.

May my dear mother and our departed relatives have looked down from heaven and contemplated such a moving spectacle of salvation!

[3]

My very dear father-in-law, I trust that the difficulties in which you found yourself have now passed, and that God, our good Father, who afflicts His most beloved friends only to console them and enrich them with heavenly gifts, has arranged everything in His wisdom for your peace and happiness. All things work together for good for those who love Him.

Having learned of the death of Father Champagnat, who had been entrusted with my financial affairs, I have written to Father Colin, the Superior General of the Society of Mary, regarding this matter. Please acknowledge the person whom he designates as my new representative.

Write to me often.

Your devoted and affectionate

Jean-Baptiste-François Pompallier, Bishop

[4]

Postscript. In your letter, you mention that you hope to see me again soon in France. It is true that there had been some discussion of my making a journey to Rome for the benefit of these missions, which so desperately need more labourers and resources. However, one of our vicars has gone in my place.

The spiritual battles of the faith are unceasing in Oceania; the conquest of souls is more fiercely contested by heresy than by unbelief. But heresy cannot stand against the legitimate ministry of the Church, with which Jesus Christ has promised to remain

[in the margin]

every day until the end of the world.

As for me, I must be about my Heavenly Father’s business. I do not know whether He wills that I make a journey to Europe—one day, from heaven to heaven.

+

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