Our General and Provincial Chapters: Fr. Vincent Grotti.
Upon the demise of Fr. Anthony, Fr. Pius of the Name of Mary, who was then 1st General Consultor, became General. He sent out the usual Convocatory Letter in proper time and the General Chapter met in SS. John & Paul on the 3rd May of this year.
Father Peter Paul of our Lady of Dolours, Fr. Pius' brother was elected General. Of his virtues and life we shall have occasion to speak often incidentally. When we call him the gentlest and most amiable man who ever governed a Religious Order, we do not mean to show any disrespect to others. His very countenance had so much benevolence in it that one could scarcely imagine it possible that he should be ever angry, even in a scriptural sense.
These two brothers, Pius and Peter Paul, were celebrated members of our Congregation. Fr. Pius was the confessor of nearly a third of the Cardinals and grand people of Rome and his brother succeeded him. Fr. Pius was too much given to his spiritual work to be able to attend to anything temporal and Fr. Peter Paul was too amiable to make a good Superior. All loved him and
respected him. He loved and respected all in turn. His tenure of office became a sort of mutual admiration society. He was surrounded, as if by a special providence with a most becoming and suitable set of advisers. If we except the rough stern Fr. Cajetan, the 1st Consultor, all his cabinet, as
we may call it, was composed of the most gentle, amiable and withal, estimable and learned members we could then muster. What Passionist, who visited Rome or wrote to Rome, in those days, can ever forget the sweetness and amiability of FF. Simon, Basil, Paul Joseph and the grand incarnation of gentleness, Father Peter Paul. The taste of our Capitulars was never so choice since. The roughest and crossest man who ever sat in a General's chair was chosen to succeed Peter Paul.
At this Chapter the American Province was canonically erected and a provision made for its government by the FF. John Dominic, Gaudentius and Anthony being made respectively Provincial and first and second Consultors. The Americans were thus made 'sui juris' and managed their own affairs pretty well ever since. Three or four other projects were taken into consideration at this Chapter; namely- a hospice belonging to the English, in Paris, a foundation in Maryville, California and one in Guyaquil, Ecuador. The exitus of all these schemes was left in the hands of the General and his two Consultors. California was tried and turned out a fiasco. Guyaquil was not tried at all. Paris was tried and it succeeded.
The Capitulars were 22 in number. England was represented by FF. Ignatius Paoli, Vincent Grotti and Ignatius Spencer.
The Provincial or home chapter had to be holden now. Ours was ordered by Fr. Ignatius Paoli (who was then in Spain and dated his letter from Madrid) to assemble in the new Retreat in Dublin. The day was not named until after the General Chapter. The 24th August was then fixed. Dublin house not being finished and other complications being in the wind, the place for the Chapter was suddenly changed to Broadway and almost on the eve of its celebration. In Broadway then it took place. Fr. Joseph Pluym, then Provincial in Belgium and afterwards Bishop of Nicopolis and Papal Nuncio in
Constantinople, where he died, was the President of this Chapter. Three of the most prominent members of the Belgium Province came over to visit us and see wherein we and they might agree and differ in the main observances.
Broadway was overcrowded and like the General Chapter of Assisi in the time of Saint Francis, several of the Fathers had to sleep outside the enclosure. There were not driven to the ditches and hollows of rocks; but some poor Samaritan turned the schools into dormitories and they served the twofold capacity of Goldsmith's piece of furniture, " a bed by night a chest of drawers by day".
The ceremonies, usual on such occasions, having been gone through in the Orthodox fashion, the following were turned out as the Superiors for the next three years:
Fr. Ignatius of the Infant Jesus - Provincial;
Fr. Eugene of St. Anthony - 1st Consultor;
Fr. Bernard of the B.V.M. - 2nd Consultor;
Fr. Raymund of St. Aloysius - Master of `Iovices;
Fr. Alphonsus of the B.V.M. - Rector of Highgate;
Fr. Salvian of the V11 Dolours - Rector of Broadway;
Fr. Ignatius of St. Paul (Spencer) - Rector of Sutton;
Fr. Osmund of the Holy Cross - Rector of Dublin.
Shortly after the holding of this Chapter, Fr. Vincent of St. Joseph (Grotti) who entered the Chapter as 1st Consultor and was not elected to any office, left this Province and returned to Rome. He was a man of remarkable talent and power in the way of swaying influence over others, whether lay or clerical. Wherever he gave a mission his name was held in benediction and Bishops vied with priests in recognising his gifts as a giver of retreats or missions. His noble mien, fine 'roman physique,the dark lustrous eyes and the engaging smile made his appearance do duty as sentry to his innermost dispositions. If the search through inner chambers was sometimes disappointing, it was not owing to concealment but to genuine revelation. Italians are famous for being able to hide their dispositions,
Fr. Vincent was remarkable for being the most candid of men. If he disliked a man his frown was little better than a scowl; and if he liked him his caresses and confidences were unbounded. He was a man of extremes. All your good qualities were defective, if he disliked you and your faults leaned to
virtue's side if he held you in esteem. He was zealous and hard-working as a missioner. A certain noble sovererchia seemed to preside over his pastimes and in amusing himself you were made think that he let himself down to your level. He took special delight in having students and novices around
him to whom he related many racy anecdotes. He had many amiable qualities as a religious; but as a superior, he was rather feared than loved. He did a great deal of good, wherever he happened to be, and even his mistakes were made through the best intentions. He gained more attention and respect to the Order than any other member of his period. He was almost adored in Ireland, and he returned every single particle of affection which he received from the Irish. To say he hated the English would perhaps be putting it too strongly; but to say that if Passionists were to find the scene of their labours amongst the English - he did not care for being of their number. He was not sent to Ireland after this Chapter. He was sent to England. His affections were chilled. He felt altogether transplanted in an uncongenial soil. There was no response to his warmth of feeling in cold Saxon hearts. He went to his native country and many a native conscience has blessed the day in which he made his choice. We lost a valuable man and Italy gained a better that she was entitled to just then. Shortly after his return to Italy, Fr. Pius died and he was then elected Procurator General.