New Horarium: Attempt to build in London: Foundation Stone of St. Paul'sRetreat, Dublin.
On the 31st December of the expiring year, our evening recreation was prolonged by a whole hour. We (the writer was then a novice) wondered what was going to happen and prepared ourselves for the worst - being sent home or summarily abolished - when an announcement was made that our Norarium was changed. Before this time we kept continental hours.
We arose at 1 a.m. for Matins and at 5 for Prime and Tierce. As our Holy Rule requires five hours' sleep before our rest is broken, we were obliged to go to bed at 8 o'clock. 8 o'clock in England and Ireland! 8 o'clock when grandees are going to dinner and labourers are washed and shaved after their day's work and their tea, and just ready to go and hear a sermon or make their confession!
At eight o'clock nobody could see a Passionist. He was just gone to bed! What was he doing? Was he on the spree? In bed at 8 o'clock! And yet some ancient spinster Fathers of ours would retain this custom. Father Ignatius Paoli abolished it and persuaded Rome to let us keep our eyes open until nine p.m. and shut until 2 a.m.
This seems a slight matter - but it is nothing of the kind if we examine into the manner in which it was accomplished. We cannot do better than transcribe the document which was read to us after our prolonged recreation.
J.X.P.
Ignatius of the Infant Jesus, of the Anglo-Hibernian Province of St. Joseph, Provincial, to all the Rev. Fathers and beloved brethren of the Province, health in the Lord.
From the moment of our appointment to the direction of this Province, we perceived in our houses a want of uniformity in the observance of our Holy Rules, resulting from the variety of duties which we are called upon to fulfil in favour of the people - especially in the performance of evening services and hearing confessions.
Some religious suggested to us that we might remedy this want of uniformity and allow more time to the confessions of those who frequent the Sacraments in our churches, if only the time of going to rest at night were fixed at 9 o'clock. We paid attention to this representation and for six or eight months have reflected upon it and repeatedly offered our prayer in order to know the will of our God in an affair of such importance. It was also remarked by some of the Fathers that, taking into account the climate of their countries, our occupations among the people and the constitution of our people the time to be spent at Matins ought to be reduced to an hour. All these things having been reflected on we came to the resolution of framing a new Horarium , a copy of which we herewith enclose. This Horarium has been
examined in Rome by the Fathers General and his Consultors. It has not been, as yet, approved of, but we are allowed to make a trial of it for a few months, after which time everyone of the religious is permitted to make any reasonable remarks which he thinks proper. If, at the end of that period, the greater part of the religious, and especially the Superiors are satisfied with it, it will be sanctioned by Rome.
We desire the practise of the new regulation to begin with the New Year but if there be any local difficulty, we allow ten days extra, during which time objections to its acceptance may be sent to us by anyone whatsoever."
Given at St. Joseph's Retreat, Highgate London.
this 30th day of December, 1858.
Ignatius of the Infant Jesus, Provincial.
This letter contains the essence of religious management.
The misfortunes of most superiors and provincials oftentimes is that, being in office only for three years they think they are commissioned to arrange everything according to their own ideas. Here we see a message from Rome itself. It is to get a fair trial and each religious from the first priest to the last laybrother can give his opinion on its working. Opinions were given freely and candidly before the time of trial expired and the only alteration introduced was the lengthening of the time for matins to one hour and a quarter. When the custom we follow now in carrying out our Rule came to be approved, it was the wish of every member in the Province that it should be so. The same modification was adopted in the United States later on and continues to suit our circumstances much better that the "early to bed early to rise" of the continental system. Arrangements brought in, in this manner, like our first modification under Pius VII, always remain and are a source of much satisfaction and happiness. Rude changes, spasmodic fits of piety, screwing the Rule down to its hardest feature, flourishes of authority, corrections delivered in scourge fashion, never thrive and the Superior who gives them never dies until he regrets his foolhardiness or is made to regret it by the conduct of his brethren.
The system of religious life like that of every corporate body must grow to perfection, more by traditions and customs than by codes of rules Every healthy constitution is a thing of growth, not a things to be built like a conventicle or formulated on paper simply, like the tariffs of some country turnpike.
When the actual practice of any approved Rule in the Church has gone on and grown for a certain time, it acquires a certain consistency which is not easy of dilution. To jerk a limb that has grown crooked or a tree that is become gnarled back at once into straightness and symmetry, by force of paper rules would look absurd. It is just as absurd to try and torture a system of living back into an old shape when it has grown for years into its present one.
We read of Relaxations and Reformations in religious orders. Every reformation of the Benedictine and Franciscan order, became a new order or congregation. It might be grafted on the old stock but it did not look like it. In corporate bodies, if defects creep in, they must be removed gradually, imperceptibly almost and with gentle caution. Wrenching will never succeed in producing ought than a gaping fissure, a disjointed member or a thorough wreck.
An attempt was made , in May of this year, to build some sort of a large chapel in Highgate. Just as we were about to do so, there occured a strike amongst the builders and so a stop was put to the proceedings for more than a year. It was well, as the first intended would have been altogether too small. The present church is small enough now, but it was considered a very large affair some twenty years back.
There was a difficulty about raising the necessary funds which was overcome in an unlooked for way, by Fr. Ignatius have his pension restored to him and this gave the Superiors courage to venture upon a larger undertaking.
The need of a regular house was felt in Dublin. From the moment we got possession of Mount Argus it was understood that we should build a proper Church and House there in course of time.
On the 13th June, they year the foundation stone was laid. The plans were prepared by J.J. McCarthy and great expectations filled all parties concerned. Never was work begun with such eclat. It was not the solemn ceremony, the number of ecclesiastics, the matutinal columns in the newspapers, and the general satisfaction of all; no, but it was the enthusiasm which filled the people. Rich and poor vied with each other in their contributions and it would be hard to tell whether the pennies or the pounds did most to finish that fine granite building, which was blessed in a few years time as St. Paul's Retreat. The stone was laid by the Right Rev.Dr. Whelan, Bishop of Bombay, and the Sermon was preached by Dr. Anderdon, D.D..
The contract was signed for £12,000; but after some time the contractor ceased to carry on the work, we became our own builders and the whole edifice must have cost three times the sum first stipulated in the agreement.
Two classes were formed of the students. The theology class was sent to London and the philosophy class to Sutton. The six students of Theology were taught by Fr. Ignatius Paoli, the Provincial, and the 4 philosophers read with Fr. Joseph Carroll. Three priests were ordained this year also and general signs of life were manifested in different directions.
Missions and retreats were given by different Fathers in such variety of places as the following: St. Anthony's, Liverpool; St. Paul's, Dublin; Castlepollard; Lorrha; Maynooth (retreat to the Dublin clergy by Father Vincent Grotti); Cloughbawn; Blackrock; Cabra; Blanchardstown; Newry; South Shields; Taunton; Birr and Dundalk.
Other external works were also performed. It is customary - or because at that time with us to assist the priests in our neighbourhood, by preaching charity sermons, assisting them in the confessional, taking charge of their flocks whilst they themselves enjoy their well-earned vacations. Of such matters there is no record kept as they are simple works of charity which prosper better for heaven and earth when least dilated upon.