CHAPTER XX.
ARCHBISHOP ECCLESTON AND FATHER HERARD.
The new home of the Carmelites, where their school had been opened, was situated on the west side of Aisquith street, between Orleans and Douglas street, where the German Orphan Asylum now stands. It had been blessed by Archbishop Whitfield, and had witnessed the last labors of Rev. W. F. X. O'Brien. These two friends of the Carmelites were both dead, and others had taken their places. The new Archbishop of Baltimore, Most Rev. Samuel Eccleston was solemnly received at the Monastery on the 11th of November, 1834. Fathers Carberry and Gildea were also present. The Archbishop made a short address. He appeared pleased with the ceremony and admired the Te Deum that had been sung.
On the 19th of the same month, the Archbishop dined at the monastery. On that occasion he promised, it seems, to influence Father Deluol, and persuade him to accept the position of extraordinary confessor to the nuns. In this he succeeded, for we find that on the 29th of the same month Father Deluol came to the convent as extraordinary confessor for the first time.
The new Archbishop of Baltimore, Most Rev. Samuel Eccleston, was of English ancestry. His grandfather had settled in Maryland shortly before the Revolution. Samuel was born in Kent County, Maryland, on June 27th 1801, of parents who belonged to the Episcopalian church, in which denomination he himself received his early education. Some
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time after his father's death he entered as a student at St. Mary's College, Baltimore. There he became a member of the Catholic Church. In 1819 he entered the Seminary and was ordained priest by Archbishop Maréchal, on April 24th, 1825. A few months later he went to Europe. He returned home in 1827, was appointed vice-president of St. Mary's College, and, in 1829, president. In 1834, at the early age of thirty-three years, be was made Bishop of Thermia in partibus, and coadjutor of the Archbishop of Baltimore, with the right of succession.1 As we have seen, he was consecrated by Archbishop Whitfield, on September 14th, 1834.
From 1834 to 1844 a strong anti-Catholic spirit pervaded the country;2 riots, mobs and fanatical harangues of bigoted ministers were then the order of the day. About this period the convent was threatened by a mob. Father Gildea took to St. James’ Church the bones of the deceased Sisters, which had been brought from Charles County, but the church being also threatened, they were taken home again and placed under an altar in one of the oratories of the house.
On the 13th of February, 1835, Archbishop Eccleston spent the day at the convent, and examined into the condition of the temporal and spiritual affairs of the house. He renewed the privilege already granted to the Sisters for exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and attached indulgences of forty days to several prayers.
On the 27th of November, 1835, Rev. Mathew Herard came to dwell at the convent as chaplain, and ever afterwards proved himself a great friend and benefactor of the Sisters. He was born at Ampins, in the diocese of Lyons, in 1764. He was educated at the Seminary du St. Esprit, and having been ordained, he embarked for Guiana in 1778. There he exercised his ministry for some time. During the period of the French Revolution, he remained firm in his faith, and refused to take the irreligious oath demanded. In 1793 he
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1Clarke. 2O'Kane Murray.
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was placed on board a vessel, from which he was to be landed somewhere on the coast of the United States. Whilst sailing between Guadeloupe and Montserrat, the ship was captured by a British cruiser and taken to St. Christopher's. After some time he was sent to the Danish island of Santa Cruz, where he did much good, both among Catholics and Protestants. The success that attended his zeal induced Archbishop Carroll to appoint him in 1814 vice-prefect apostolic of the Danish islands, Santa Cruz, St. Thomas and St. John. In 1816 Archbishop Neale appointed him his vicar-general. Several letters of Mr. Herard to the Archbishop of Baltimore, written during his sojourn in the Danish West Indies, are extant in the archives of the archdiocese of Baltimore. He labored with zeal in the West Indies, until he embarked for the United States. Having arrived in Baltimore, and seeing the great poverty of the Carmelite nuns, he began to interest himself in their behalf. He was informed that the convent had no regular chaplain, and that the nuns were consequently debarred from the happiness of assisting daily at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He then offered his services, which the Most Rev. Archbishop gladly accepted, and in 1835 he went to reside at the convent, to say Mass for the Sisters and assist Mr. Gildea whose multifarious duties did not allow him to devote all his attention to the care of the community.
On the 23rd of March of the same year the Archbishop began his first canonical visitation of the convent. He concluded it on the 28th with an interesting exhortation to the Sisters.
On the 14th of April, Mother Angela of St. Teresa, Mary Ann Mudd, was canonically elected Prioress. The Archbishop himself presided at the election.
Thus far one of the apartments of the convent had been used as a chapel. Father Herard, considering how much a chapel and choir were needed, and at the same time how limited were the means of the good Sisters, generously offered $3000 towards the building of a chapel. As that sum was not suffi-
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cient for the purpose, he interested some ladies of the city in the matter, and, with their assistance, opened a fair in order to raise the necessary funds. His exertions met with the entire approbation of the Archbishop. Under his auspices, the zeal and labors of the ladies were crowned with success far beyond their expectation. By means of the fair they raised the sum of $3,500. The work of the chapel was then begun, thanks to the joint efforts of Rev. Messrs. Herard and Gildea. The corner-stone was laid on the 16th of July, 1836.
It appears from a letter of the Carmelites of the Rue Cassini in Paris, dated November 7th, 1836, that the American nuns in their poverty had appealed to their sisters in France for aid. The reply to this appeal states that the convents in France were also in the greatest distress. Nevertheless they did what was in their power, they collected for their American sisters the sum of two hundred francs, of which fifty were given by the Bishop of Numidia, coadjutor of the Archbishop of Rheims, fifty by the Carmelites of Rheims, fifty by those of Douai, twenty-five by the Carmelites of Rouen in Normandy, and twenty-five by the convent of the Rue Cassini. Thus the good French Sisters, although very poor themselves, came to the aid of the daughters of their Holy Mother, St. Teresa, across the Atlantic.
At the time this letter was written, Mother Raphael, with whom we have already been acquainted, and who had been in the novitiate with Madame Louise de France, was still living at the Rue Cassini. She was then 91 years old, but still so vigorous that she was able to observe the fasts of the Church and her order, and could even then do the finest needlework.
During the revolution of 1830 the nuns of the Rue Cassini were in great danger. It was said that the day and hour appointed for their massacre and the burning of their convent had been determined upon. The Prioress having heard this, had a number of small pieces of paper, on which were written the words: Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us, pasted on all the doors of the house. The danger was thus
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averted, for not one of the infuriated populace approached the convent.
In the same year the Carmelites of Riom in Auvergne, having heard from Bishop Flaget, who had paid a visit to his native country, that there were also Carmelites in America, wrote an affectionate letter to Baltimore.
On May 8th, 1837, the new chapel was blessed, together with the choir and other newly erected parts of the building. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by Bishop Fenwick, of Boston, at the request of the Archbishop, and the Blessed Sacrament was placed in the tabernacle of the choir. The Bishop of Charleston, the celebrated Dr. England, delivered the discourse. There were present at this ceremony, Archbishop Eceleston, Dr. Rosati, Bishop of St. Louis, and Fathers Deluol, Herard, Gildea, L'Homme and several other clergymen. After the ceremony, dinner was served in the schoolroom. The preparations for the repast had been made under the direction of Mrs. Hunter and Miss Rebecca Hillen.
Father Herard remained in Baltimore but a short time after this event. On June 20th he left for New York, whence he wrote the following letter:
To the Reverend Mother Superioress of the Carmelite Nuns
at Baltimore, June 30, 1837.
Reverend Mother,
I presume that before this letter reaches you, you shall have been informed of my departure for France, by the very Reverend Dr. Deluol, to whom I have made known the motives that have induced me to take so sudden a determination, although quite contrary to my expectation and at the very moment I was preparing to start for Montreal, in Low Canada, as you know that it had been my firm intention to go thither before I left Baltimore. I dare say that you must have been much astonished on hearing of my leaving so suddenly this country—for France, after having contributed, to the best of my power, towards the building of your nice church and of a decent Lodging for me to live in.— On account of your present circumstances, I am truly sorry to be obliged, at least for a time indefinite to separate from Mount Car-
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mel's church. In the meantime I do heartily pray to God to procure you a clergyman who might be more useful to the spiritual good of your community than I have been during my stay there. But now all reflections are useless—May God be pleased to grant to you everything that may contribute both to the spiritual and temporal advantages of your community. I am truly forced to go to my native country where my relations and friends are waiting for me, and where also my presence seems to be necessary for a particular establishment which, if it can be finished, shall be very useful for the Christian good of the people and which consequently may very much contribute to the glory of God—Though far from Mount Carmel, I will never forget you, and if you think proper to authorize me to speak in your favor to the Religious Communities I may have an opportunity of visiting, and also to the good and generous lay people I may meet, with all my heart I will endeavor to obtain some temporal assistance in order to enable you to pay all your debts.
After my arrival at Paris, I will pay a visit to the good Carmelites of La Rue Cassini who wrote and sent you some gold—I will also visit the Grand Convent de la rue Vaugirard and strongly speak to the Superioress in your favor.—But neglect not to write to me immediately after the reception of this letter and forward your letter to N. York that it may come to France by the next packet from Havre. Rev'd Mother, you and all the nuns pray for me, at all times, and particularly during my sea voyage which commences to-morrow, 1st July—Believe me with a very great respect and veneration. Your most humble servant,
MATTHIEU HERARD.
Mr. Herard, having arrived in France, continued to interest himself in favor of the Carmelites; he went from city to city endeavoring to collect money for them. We here insert a letter from the French Carmelites at Riom in Auvergne, in which mention is made of him:
J. M. J. T.
February 14th, 1838.
Reverend Mother & dearly beloved Sisters,
Providence having permitted that our first letter should have come safely to hand, we hope that this one may also be received in due time, especially as we have confided it to the care of the worthy Mr. Herard, who since his arrival in France has inter-
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ested himself to provide for your wants, with a truly paternal solicitude. The exertions of this holy missionary well deserve our esteem and our gratitude, as we cannot but consider as done to ourselves the services which he has rendered to your community. We are extremely sorry that it is not in our power to give you any help, for the enumeration of your wants has greatly moved us: but we are ourselves very poor, and depend for a portion of our subsistence on the charity of benevolent souls, whom God in His goodness sends to our assistance when we most require it. All that we can do, and we do it willingly, is to offer you a chasuble for your chapel: the gift is very small, but I repeat it, my dearly beloved Sisters, were we able to make you an abundant offering, we have the good will to do so and it is for our hearts a great sacrifice to be obliged to renounce so sweet a satisfaction.
Although separated by an immense ocean, we are no less children of the same family. Our holy Mother Teresa of Jesus watches undoubtedly over you in a special manner, and deigns to cast an eye upon you from her place in Heaven, where her charity and her ardent zeal for the propagation of the faith in those countries which you inhabit are so efficacious before the throne of her Divine Master. May this divine Saviour rejoice in all our hearts according to the adorable designs of his most holy will.
It would be a great satisfaction, Dearly B. Sisters, were we to receive from you details concerning your situation: we are fully convinced that it is with difficulty and not without great mortification that you can put in practice our holy rule in a climate which cannot but contribute to increase its austerity.
We beg of you to write by the first favorable opportunity and it matters not whether your letter be written in French or in English, we can easily have it translated by some person who understands both languages.
We beseech our Common Master to shower down upon you his most abundant blessings, may we all be animated with the spirit of our holy Mother, in the observance of our rule which was so dear to her heart and to re-establish which, it cost her so many labours and contradictions.
We are highly gratified when we think that there exist Carmelites, and that we have Sisters who serve God faithfully in a clime so distant from ours. May the love of God increase in an infinite degree in those regions, where his holy name has been so long unknown.—This shows us that the charity of Jesus Christ embraces all men; and, in effect, however isolated a poor soul may be, it has nevertheless been make to the likeness of God, redeemed by the most precious blood of His Divine Son and from
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that moment it becomes the object of the cares and solicitude of the God of Mercy who inspires so many zealous missionaries with sufficient courage to go to the help of those souls who are continually exposed to eternal death . . . . . . .
Your devoted sisters in Jesus Christ,
Monastery of the Carmelites at Riom, Feb. 1, 1838.
After the departure of Mr. Herard, Rev. Mr. Williamson came to say Mass for the community. The Carmelites were also under great obligations to the Sulpitians, who constantly rendered them spiritual aid. From time to time, on great festivals, Father Deluol would celebrate High Mass in their chapel, at which the seminarians would sing. For many years the Ordo, for the recitation of the Divine Office, according to the Carmelite rubrics, was arranged by the Sulpitians. They also encouraged and aided the Sisters very much with their school, instructing the teachers to enable them better to perform their duties. One of these Sulpitians, who thus assisted the Sisters at the period of which we are writing, was Rev. Mr. Chanche,1 afterwards Bishop of Natchez.
On the 16th of July, 1837, Sister Mary of the Incarnation, Miss Catharine Hackett, after due probation, was admitted to her holy profession, in the twenty-fifth year of her age. Miss Hackett was born in Limerick, Ireland, of Thomas Hackett and Mary Fitzgerald. Like St. Teresa, she lost her mother at an early age, but God preserved to her a kind and watchful father. She possessed much personal beauty, which was enhanced by her piety and the innocence of her character. When she was about sixteen years old, a regiment of soldiers was quartered in the town where she lived, and as her father was obliged to be absent a great part of the time, and she
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1John Joseph Mary Chanche was born at Baltimore, October 4th, 1795, of parents who had emigrated from Santo Domingo. He was ordained June 5th, 1819. In 1841 he was appointed Bishop of Natchez, and consecrated on March 14th, of that year. He died July 22d, 1852. He was the first Bishop of Natchez.—(Clarke, vol. II.)
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had no other protector, he feared lest her virtue might be endangered. For this reason he determined to sacrifice his natural affections and send her to America, where he hoped she would be safe. She landed, an entire stranger, in the city of New York; but the Providence of God was watching over her and directed her to the Sisters of Charity, who took her under their care. After some years she was received into the Carmelite community as a lay Sister.
On the 21st of December, 1837, the Reverend Francis Neale, S. J., brother of Archbishop Leonard Neale, and of Father Charles Neale, departed this life. He was the extraordinary confessor of the nuns, from a short time before the death of his brother Charles, until the Carmelites left Charles County. He continued, however, until his death, to enjoy the faculty of hearing their confessions and directing them, and was always a kind friend to the Community. He resided during a part of his life at St. Thomas Manor, in Charles County, and there his mortal remains now lie, in the little rustic graveyard, before the time-honored church, on the spot where he exercised the sacred ministry.
On January 3rd, 1838, Sister Frances of Divine Providence, Mary Furry, died an edifying death. She received with much fervor and peace of soul the Last Sacraments, to the great consolation of her sisters. Her last words were: "Sweet Jesus, assist me." She was in her 67th year, and in the 46th of her religious profession. She had given many beautiful examples of charity and humility.
Father Dzierozynski, S. J., who then resided at Frederick, on hearing of her death, wrote the following letter:
FREDERICK, ST. IGNATIUS, Jan. 22nd, 1838.
Dear & venerable Mother in Christ,
I am thankful for the information you had the goodness to give me of the death of good Sister Frances—Although I think she stands not in need of our prayers on account of her holy and exemplary life—still I have said two Masses for her happy repose
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& recommended her to the prayers of my Novices, & to the prayers, & Sacrifices of the Community at the other house, living with Fr Mr Elroy—& especially of' Revd Father Young.—It was indeed edifying to us to hear of the account of the last moments of that good & holy Sister, whose family name you did not please to mention to me, but Fr. McSherry, who now is with us, has told me. We have every reason to hope that Almighty God has already rewarded her for the zeal & piety which she evinced during her long life in Religion—And tho' the Dear Sisters of Mt. Carmel may feel afflicted on being bereaved of her as a living example in the Community, they will not be I hope, deprived of her now better prayers—& be sure, Dear Revd Mother, you will find that your loss will be a gain to you—You have already begun to increase in number, & St. Teresa will not permit the number of her good Children to be diminished. I informed Roger of his Aunt's request. He was grateful for her affection, & will pray for her entire & speedy recovery.—We salute & wish the same, for all your sick, praying for them. . . .
My best wishes to your holy Community as also of Frs. McSherry, McEIroy, Young—Smith.
Revd Dear Mother,
Respectf'ully yours,
FRANCIS DZIEROZYNSKI.
During the month of May, 1838, the exercises of the month of Mary were held in the Carmelite chapel by Rev. M. Williamson. Each day a reflection was read and a little discourse delivered. This was the first time that this devotion had been publicly performed in the diocese.1
On October 15th, 1838, the Feast of St. Teresa, the Archbishop celebrated a Pontifical Mass at the Chapel, and gave the Papal Blessing. Fathers Deluol, Williamson, and Verot were present.
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1 Probably the first time in the country.