Goodbye Maduré - 1865-1878 - Part 2
M. de la Passion thanked Emilie on March 8th. She also told Emilie about the visit of Mgr. Canoz to the Trichinopoly Reparatrixes, done at the express order of Rome, during which he didn’t appear to be very enthusiastic about the Reparatrixes and refused to name Fr. Cabos superior of the three convents. She also wrote about a recent invitation of Mgr. Joseph Bardou, apostolic vicar of Coimbatore. He offered the SMRs a house and apostolic ministry in Ootacamund, in a place that offered several advantages. Emilie didn’t waste much time before agreeing to this foundation outside of Maduré which would reassure the sisters of Emilie’s support. This community opened on January 23,1875 with the name of “Nazareth”.
The Office of the Propaganda Fides ordered Fr. Cabos to go to Rome. On March 11, 1875, Emilie wrote to the sisters announcing his arrival in Rome. Her first impression was positive but a few days later she wrote: “I would prefer that he was calmer, approaching the issues with more patience, which doesn’t mean without energy, but with some “je ne sais quoi” that would be more pleasing to Our Lord.”
Emilie was always concerned about the sisters so in August 1875 she wrote to them: “I need a letter from each of you telling me clearly: we want to stay here, or we want to leave. This way Fr. Cabos cannot say that I am dangerously exposing your souls and that I am making you lose your vocation”
The sisters replied with a collective letter written from August 29 to September 12: “We think that the interest of the Society asks that we shall remain no matter the cost.”
Emilie and the General Council decided to name as Provincial M. of the Saint Sacrément hoping that she would be accepted and supported by the sisters.
Emilie wrote to M. de la Passion: “Your time as provincial has ended and cannot be renewed. M. de Saint Sacrément, who was chosen unanimously, will replace you; so, my dear daughter, from this moment your responsibilities as provincial are transferred to her, she will be in charge of the mission. You remain as superior of Ootacamund, and M. de Sainte Veronique will continue to be your assistant.”
Emilie had hoped that acceptance of M. de Saint Sacrément would help the transition. However, this would not be the case, particularly by the community of Ootacamund. M. de la Passion seemed to accept the new provincial while at the same time she said that it was a terrible choice. Even Mgr. Bardou, apostolic vicar of Coimbatore wrote to Emilie complaining.
Emilie wrote a very strong letter to the community of Ootacamund. Here are the last three paragraphs:
“Your souls, my dear daughters are in despair which tells me they fear to be lost; I say to all of you that with those sentiments and thoughts, those actions, you are very close to perdition. Humble yourselves profoundly, accept humbly all that the provincial decides, if you don’t like it, you are all free to leave, but to go back to your families, not to the congregation from which you have separated yourselves by your insubordination. I wish and desire of all of you if you wish to remain in the Congregation humbly obey the Provincial.
Because Jesus pardons always, I will also pardon you with the condition that you will be true and humble religious and not persons that will cause the destruction of the mission.
I bless you in the name of Jesus, hoping that this blessing, in the name of the Divine Master, will help you to embrace the truth and the religious obedience that you have totally forgotten in those circumstances, which causes me great pain in my soul and in my heart.
Your Mother Marie de Jésus S.M.R.
Rome, March 11, 1876”
A few days later Emilie decided to send M. de Sainte Anne as a support for M. du Ste. Sacrément. At the same time, she asked M. de la Passion to go to Rome – but the doctor said she was too weak to travel.
On April 1st a common letter informed the sisters about the dissatisfaction of Pius IX and Cardinal Franchi because of receiving so many letters and telegrams expressing unjustified complaints.
M. de Sainte Anne, general counselor, and M. de Ste. Veronique Giuliani arrived in Trichinopoly on May 22, 1876. On the 26 M. de Ste. Anne wrote to Emilie sharing her assessment of the situation: She expected a schism centered in Ootacamund, with the support of Mgr. Bardou; Reparatrixes in other communities would probably join them.
*In the end twenty sisters, that is two thirds of the sisters in India, left the congregation in the month of May, and gathered in Ootacamund around M. de la Passion.
Pope Pius IX had asked that the Reparatrixes be given at least one year to continue their ministry in Trichinopoly and Tuticorin (they had to give up Adeikalabouram in October 1876 for lack of personnel). A few sisters arrived in India since only 12 were left after the scission. Marie de Ste. Anne stayed in India until February 17, 1877. She visited the communities, encouraged the sisters, and kept in touch with the Jesuits.
We can be proud of our sisters as we read the Annual Letter of 1876-1877 (We can also perceive their strict dependence on the priests.):
In Trichinopoly there were 10 sisters engaged in the following areas:
Orphanage of Ste. Anne for girls, regardless of caste: they learn to read, write, count, and sew.
Hospital where they take care of the sick. They also receive abandoned babies, young women in danger of abuse, etc.
Secondary School for young women. Three or four Reparatrixes teach, following the official programs, to 32 borders and 16 externs who also receive religious instruction. A priest comes every 2 weeks for confessions.
General Retreats given to groups of women.
Catechesis to 150-200 little girls.
Preparation for First Communion to 100 children.
In Tuticorin 8 sisters shared the following apostolates:
School: only 10 girls, Christians or not, at the beginning of 1877.
Orphanage of de Immaculate Conception opened very recently: only 6 girls.
Several retreats given every year.
Catechesis for girls on Sunday afternoon in the parish.
Four “congregations” or groups:
Holy Family: 70 mothers.
Daughters of Mary: 24 young women.
Holy Angels: 23 children who have received their First Communion.
Sainte Enfance: 30 young children.
We are to prepare for confession the women and youngsters the Priests send to us, but we are not supposed to attract them.
Signed by M. de Sainte Ann and Mgr. Canoz.
Concepción González Cánovas, smr
conce_gonzalez@comcast.net
Sources:
The Life of Mother Mary of Jesus. Emilia d’Oultremont Baroness d’Hooghvorst, 1818-1878; Peter Suau, SJ. 1913.
Présentation Historique de la Société de Marie Réparatrice (1818-1953). Henri de Gensac, SJ. Rome, 1992. Text and photos.