inaccessible to human respect and possessed great piety. In the days of their trials, he became the protector of the Carmelites in the Netherlands, and rendered to them, especially to those of Brussels, the most important services; he was for them a true father and a most devoted friend. He was known in Flanders, in France, and even in Rome, as the apostle of the persecuted nuns. He was, as we have seen, highly esteemed by Sister Teresa of St. Augustin, Madame Louise de France, daughter of Louis XV.
Portrait of Madame Louise given by Mr. de Villegas d'Estainbourg. It hangs in Baltimore Carmel's Ancestors Hall
He suffered great persecutions for his country and his religion, so that he was frequently even in danger of his life. He was twice expelled from council, and once banished from Brussels. It was at this period that he wrote to a sister that he never lost sight of the presence of God, or if he did, he recalled it by reciting the Gloria Patri. He died at Brussels, July 23d, 1794, after the entry of the French into the city. Mr. de Villegas was a frequent visitor at the English Teresian Convent of Antwerp, and on terms of great friendship with Sister Teresa of Jesus, whose family name was Coudray. This sister informed him that there was in the Convent of Hoogstraeten a nun called Mother Bernardina Mathews, an American, and Prioress of the Monastery, whose two nieces had come from the New World and entered the Monastery of Hoogstraeten, to imbibe the true spirit of the Carmelite Rule, with the intention of returning to their native country, to establish a Convent of the Order. This good man, having heard this, began to take an interest in the work, and devised with Sister Teresa the means to procure sufficient money to put it into execution. Among other plans adopted was that of a collection, which was made in the Carmelite Church. He himself advanced some of the necessary funds, so that at last the required sum was provided. Mr. de Villegas did all in his power to aid the new foundation, so that our American Carmelites consider him as their second founder—Father Charles Neale being the first.
58 Carmel in America
Now the question arose, which of the nuns were best qualified to go with Mother Bernardina Mathews and her two nieces to the new Foundation. The Superior of Antwerp wished that Sister Teresa of Jesus, who had taken so much trouble to bring the affair to a happy conclusion, should be the sub-prioress, but although she was a saintly and talented person, this appointment did not meet with the approbation of Father Charles Neale, who was then Confessor of the community. He preferred Sister Clare Joseph Dickenson, a very exemplary religious whose talents, though not superior, appeared more brilliant than those of Sister Teresa of Jesus.
The Bishop of Antwerp, Mgr. Francis Cornelius De Nelis, willing to promote so desirable an undertaking, immediately conferred with Dr. Carroll, then Prefect-Apostolic of the United States, upon this important subject. Father Carroll having given his consent the matter was settled, and it was decided that Mother Bernardina, her two nieces and Sister Clare Joseph Dickenson should go to America to begin the foundation. Although the nieces of Mother Bernardina had been only three or four years in religion, the Bishop decided that they should accompany Mother Bernardina, as their friends in Maryland were very influential, and they themselves very good religious.
M.de Villegas desired that the title of the Sacred Heart of St. Joseph should be added to that of the monastery to be founded in America. He accordingly wrote to Mother Bernardina as follows: