Year: 1869




The French journals publish the following i'm
portant letter to Father llyacinthe from his Supe-
riOr, the General of the Barefo0ted Carmetes at
Rome. The first OF these letters, dated July %,
appears to have determined the publication OF Father
Hyaclnthe's letter of September 2O:- GNs


ROME, July %, lS69-My Very Reverend Father
Hyacinthe: II have received your letter of the 9th
you delivered at the Peace League / have not hap
PLY, found in that speech the heterOdoX phrase attr
buted to you. 1t must be said however, tnat 1t con-
tains some vague propositions, admitting Of untor-
tunate interpretations, and that such speech does
not come well from monk, The habit Of the Car
melse was certainly there no longer IN its place My
the great interest ! have always taken
in i'm, you From the commencement Of
have earnestly exhored you not TO identify yourself
with questions in dispute among Catholics, and on
which all were not agreed. Because, from the mo-
ment you attach yourself osensby to one side yonr
ministry became more or less unfruitful with the
other. Now, it is patent that you have made no ac
count OF the nmation of your father and superior,
as last year you wrote letter to club in Paris in
which you freely disclosed your opinions in favor OF
with the sentiments OF the Holy Father, the
episcopacy, and the clergy in general l was
you Immediately to enable you to see the false
path you had entered ON, in order to stop you But
in vain, for some months after you authorized from
yourself a periodical review in Genoa to publish
another letter. that has been the cause of so much
yeXation to you and me- Lastly during your last
soJourn at Rome ! made you serious observations
and even rather strong reproaches on the false posi-
ton you were placed in, on account of your lmpru-
dence,. but you had scarcely arrived at Paris,
when You published, under your own signature,
letter deplored by all, even by your friends.


Lately your presence and speech at the Peace
League have caused as great scandal in Catholic
Europe as happened about six years ago, on the
occasion of your speech at meeting in Paris You
have, beyond doubt given some reason for such
denominations by some bold obscure, and impru-
dent phrases.


l have done all that could up to the present to
defend and save you. To-day must think of the
interests and honor of our holy order, which, un-
known to yourself, you compromise.


You write me from Paris Nov. 49, 1863 :-'T avoid
mixing the Paris Convent and the order OF Mount
Carmel with these matters" Let me say 10 you, my
dear father, that this is an Illusion You are a
monk, and bound to your superors by solemn
vows. We have to answer for you before God and
man, and consequently have to take the same mca-
sures Ill your regards as in that of other monks,
when your conduct is prejudicial to your soul and


Already, in France Belgium, and even here, some
of the bishops clergy, ana faithful are blaming the
superiors of our order for not taking certain mea-
sures in your regard and it concluded that there is
authority in our congregation, or that 1t shares in
your opinions and course OF action. do not ceT-
tainly regret the course have followed, up to the
present. in regard 10 you but matters are arrived
such point that would compromise my conscience
and the entire order If do not take more eic8ciOus
measures in this matter than have done in the
Consider therefore, dear and reverend father, that
you are a monk, that you have made solemn VOWS,
and that by the vow OF obedience you are bound
to your superiors by lien as strong as that which
binds the ordinary priest TO his bishop: ! can,
therefore, no longer tolerate your continuing 10
compromise the entire order by your speeches or
writings more than can tolerate our holy habit
appearing at meetings that not in harmony with
our profession as Barefooted Carmelites. There
fore in the interest OF your soul and of our holy
ORDER order you formally, by this present. not in
the future to print any letters or speeches. to speak
outside the churches TO be present at the Chambers
| to take part in the Peace League or any other
meeting which has not gu exclusively Catholic and
| religious object. hope you will obey with docty
| and even with love.


Now, let me speak to you with an open heart, as a
father TO his son. see you entered an extremely
dangerous path, which, despite your present inten
tiOns, may conduct you TO where to-day you may de-
| pore to arrive Arrest yourself then, my dear son
hear the voice OF your father and friend who speaks
| TO you with heart broken with sorrow. With this
view youwould do well 10 retire to of the converts
in the Province OF AYgnon, there to repose yourself
and perform the retreat which dispensed you from
| last year account of your duties. Mediate in
solitude the great truths OF eigion, not preach
them, but for the profit OF your soul ASK light from
heaven, but with q contrite and humble heart Ad
dress yourself to the Holy Vrgn to our father Saint
| Joseph, and TO our seTaphic mother Saint Theresa
| A father can well address these words to his son
although he be great orator. 1t is a very serious
| question for you and for us all. / pray to the
| Saviour that he may deign TO accord you his ligh
| and grace. / recommend myself to your prayers
| and give you my benedlction, and l am your very
| humble servant,


SuperOr-Ccueral,