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Saint Francis of Assisi,
1541 Golden Gate Avenue,
Los Angeles, California.
March 23rd.
P.S. I picked up the
enclosed pictures in Fr.
Berchman's room, and
thought you might like to
have them.
F.C.
Very Reverend and dear Father Provincial:
I wrote to you about the beginning of January in regard to the Ordo and the Oraphic Mass Association, but I presume my letter was lost. About the Ordo - I asked for the list of Jubilees and the dates for Necrologies, and also for the FACULTAS of having the Ordo printed. However, Father Stanislaus, "motu proprio" sent on the list of Jubilees and also the dates for necrologies of Fr. Camillus and Brother Anthony. I would be grateful if you would send me the permission to have the Ordo printed and also the dates for the Necrology of Father Berchmans (he died on March 12th). As I will have the Ordo finished in a short time, and as there is danger in delay, I will presume your permission to send on the Ordo to the Printer as soon as I have it ready, and I will insert the date of your permission as soon as the proofs arrive. I am trying to make a duplicate copy - which is almost as hard as making out the original. It is the most difficult Ordo I have made out in my twelve years experience, as Easter falls on April 25th and brings about so many transfers of general and local feasts. I do not know when Easter will come so late again, but I do know that it will not happen up to the year two thousand A.D. - and when I am no longer heard of.
I will send you the next Report on the Seraphic Mass Association in the first weeks of April. I have at least two hundred dollars on hand at present. On October 9th, 1941, I forwarded five hundred dollars to Most Rev. Father Paul's account in the bank of Detroit. V. Rev. Fr. Salesius (Def. and S.M.A. Delegate) of the Calvary Paul and told him that I had sent on the money. And in letter of November 24th 1941 (which I received only a short time ago) Father Paul says:- "Thank you very much for your letter of October 14th 1941. Please to write to F. Provincial Dublin that we will be very content to hear of him the definitive settlement of the Masses for bavarian province. Other intentions of Masses he will send to the matter of ANALECTA CURIA he can send via Los Angeles - Detroit. The matter of ANALECTA ORDINIS I said to our F. Archivist. It will be impossible to send." We have not received the Analecta here for over a year.
Father Thomas is not well at present and has been in hospital for a couple of weeks. The Doctor is afraid of pneumonia and there was some suggestion that he be sent to a sanatorium. He had been getting on pretty well and was able to be up occasionally. Father Berchmans died quite suddenly. He was up and down as usual. I took him to the hospital on Wednesday, March 11th, about noon. We were over to see him as late as seven o'clock on the evening of Thursday, March 12th. That same evening he went to the bath room about twenty minutes to nine, then he came back and got into bed, threw back his head, and all was over. He was a grand man and was a great example here in this day and age, and I miss him very much.
Life is quite normal here at present and all business is going along as usual.
Hoping you are keeping well and that all the brethren are getting enough to eat.
Damian called here some time ago. I talked to him and gave him a meal. I do not think there is any hope that he will ever return. I believe Fabian is becoming versed in the art of plumbing. Father Joseph was here for a triduum to the Third Order Edmund, Finnian, Fergus and Leopold were here for Fr. Berchman's funeral.
Kind regards and good wishes,
Very sincerely yours,
H. Gornelius O. J. M. Cap.
Aug. 21. 4. 42