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Letter 25 - To the Misses Klein and Schoeffler
Seminary of the Foreign Missions - 20 October 1846
My very dear Friends,
I am writing to you, and yet I almost fear writing to you. I will not talk about myself — another more important matter requires my time. Sufficient for you to know that I am well and that I am very pleased in my new home. Let us get to the main topic: my two dear friends, I have already been twice to see Father Bour in my two weeks here. I spoke of our projects to other persons; and so as not to take upon myself the responsibility for your transaction, I must, yes I have to tell you the whole truth. You will not hold it against me, I hope. Well! All these people told me that it is a very risky undertaking. In each quarter, there are twenty-five boarding schools; of these twentyfive, only four at most are prospering. To open a boarding school in Paris, one needs either to found an establishment, or to take over one already set up. In the first instance, sizable funds are needed as we learned from experience in our boarding schools when we had to draw water from the Seine to the quatrième [fifth floor] so that our small and delicate creatures could douse themselves in the water of this river. This is an example of a requirement in Paris. In the first case, consequently: copious funds. In the second case, there are two kinds of boarding schools which can be taken over: a well-frequented one in which something can be made to happen, or a poorly frequented one in which nothing can be done. These latter occasionally could be purchased inexpensively, but the first always require ample funds. To begin with, lodgings in Paris are so expensive that Father Bauer, who has a very tiny apartment in a very dirty, nasty street, nonetheless pays 400F annually for four rooms on the quatrième [fifth floor]. If one wants to establish a boarding school, it must be located in a well frequented place, which then commands a higher price for lodging. In addition, there is need for a garden; without a rather vast garden, no boarding school is possible. Gardens are rare in Paris, consequently they are very expensive. So that’s the story for Paris. In summary, a great number of boarding schools exist; the bad ones aren’t worth anything and nothing can be done about them; the good ones are prohibitively expensive. First, check your pulse on the matter; meditate on all this before God and before the Blessed Virgin, and then make your decision. Outside of Paris — at Belleville, for example — there is greater chance for success; but here also there is a need for funds, and a sizable amount of them at that. In addition, notice that there are boarding houses in Paris at 400 francs; this is where our young bourgeois ladies go. The larger boarding houses are more expensive but also make greater demands. And then, all these young persons from important families do not go to boarding schools run by lay persons, but rather to religious houses. Note that there are twenty-six boarding schools run by nuns in Paris. I have just this instant finished counting them in my directory. There is, for example, the boarding school called Les Oiseaux 1 [The Birds] which enrolls the best of Paris. To summarize again: first of all, outside of Paris, some chance for success. If you get established well, things will go very well, according to what I have been told. But out of twenty-five, four will succeed, the others will languish.
Now, as to the recommendations. The Fathers here in our seminary can offer no help because they see hardly any people. Moreover, if one asks them for advice, they will not comply; it is more likely that petitioners will rather address their request to a convent rather than to a stranger or a layperson. Besides, they [i.e., the Fathers] do not at all bother with all that; the missions occupy our time, and we leave France to think of China. As for me, sometimes — nay, often — I dream in the direction of Germany. As for Father Bour, he himself will do all he can, but he told me that their [i.e., the Fathers’] influence is worth little at the diocese, so much so that the Vicar General of Paris who had a niece whom he also wanted to place — she a person on whom he had spent much for her education, and a very talented person ... [incomplete -Trans.]. Well!He, the Vicar-General was obliged to beg a pastor in the environs of Paris to employ heras a school teacher. Father Bour will no doubt do all within his power because he certainly sees the advantage of your being here. He would like to see you so much that he could almost tell you to leave your Germany immediately and come settle near him. Accordingly, he will do all that he can among his friends. Every time someone seeks his advice on the matter, he will send you students. But as I told you earlier, his sponsorship is weak. Moreover, he now likes to live apart from the world, to think of God and of his eternal life. If he were still residing in his small town of Velmonte [?- Ed.], then his influence would be much greater. In seeking to place a young person, one seeks the advice of the pastor; but in Paris, it is not well known thatFather Bour is canon-secretary of the archdiocese. Now, I will suggest another strategy, namely: if you were able to get students from the provinces, then that could work better. If the parents of little Mina — or any other person of your acquaintance — could give you ahelping hand, if some German ladies would want to follow you to Paris, these are thingsthat could be done. I would very much like to be able to help you at this moment, but that is currently impossible. I have so much to do on all sides. You know what the missionary must be: aliving library. He must carry everything, his knowledge in his head; others can sometimesmake use of their books, but he, never. To return once more to our boarding-school.Another drawback which is found in the boarding schools of Paris is that the children arestrongly backed by their parents. Look at one of these little brats crossways and immediately she will complain to her mother. If she whines, she is withdrawn: it is even worse than in Germany, be sure of that. I did not believe it, but that is the word I hear from everyone.
Now, my very dear friends, weigh and go over all of this in your mind. Pray God to enlighten you, but especially examine all the advantages and disadvantages in a calm spirit. Then, light will shine. As for me, rest assured that each time I read my breviary,there is a large memento for you. Oh! How I long to see you happy. I have also investigated another area to learn if in giving private lessons, one could not do something. Nothing; absolutely nothing. Paris teems with people who sell their knowledge at a very good price. Perhaps if you were known, that would be effective; but it takes years to become known, and with the years, one ages. I don’t yet know when I will be leaving for the Missions. Tomorrow, there will be the departure of five priests who are leaving for China. At the next departure, which will take place in the spring, it could well occur that God would grant your servant the grace to call him. I would want it, and I would not want it. I would want it if I relied only on my zeal; and I would not want it when I consider my unworthiness. Oh! My good friends; to be a missionary is something impressive — being an apostle! Great God! What a task! Able to deprive oneself of everything, to have a life continuously spent in suffering: this is the life of the missionary; to be continuously under the threat of death, in short. Yes, this is the missionary. Let us not complain, my dear friends, if God also sends us some grief. It is to be found everywhere, in France as in Germany; everywhere, as long as we remain in this land of exile. Therein lies the law of our fallen nature; it will be only on high — yes, on high — that we will be perfectly happy. Let us strive, then, to reach that joyful rest; let us bear our sufferings with patience; let us undergo our purgatory here below. It is better to rest afterthe combat than after relaxation. Come now; have courage! Life is short: thirty, forty yearsof suffering to be followed by an eternity of happiness. Oh! What a destiny. It appears thatMiss Goettig has roused all her people here. Her modesty and discretion are especially admired — rare qualities in our Paris. Father Bour told me that everyone was impressed by her pleasing manners. I regret not having been able to see her in Paris. She had already left by the time I arrived. If a few German ladies come to Paris, send them to me. I would be pleased to listen to them talk about you; then I could perhaps send you a few small things — small, because they would come from a poor hopeful candidate for the missions. I have not yet received the package which you had promised me; I am waiting impatiently.A thousand greetings from Father Bour. In a week or two at the latest, I expect news from you. Tell me what you have decided. Then, if there is something new around here, I will also let you know immediately. Let Hippolyte tell me if he has earned the baccalaureate; next time I will write him a short note. At this moment, I don’t have the time. My address: The Seminary of the Foreign Missions, Rue du Bac, ac, No 120, Paris. In a week, I expect a letter from you. In your leisure time, I suggest that you do something for the infidels; guess what. Well! It could be some kind of church vestment — chasuble or something else — but very simple because each missionary has his small chapel2 which he carries with him: chalice, chasuble, holy ciborium, etc.; he approaches those who truly love him to obtain these objects for him. Otherwise, the house which will supply them.While waiting, goodbye. Perhaps I will be a priest by Christmas. In a month or so, that willhave been decided. I will share the news with you as soon as I can.
Goodbye; I hug you and greet you in Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Your most devoted Schoeffler, deacon-candidate for the Missions.My greetings to whomever is concerned: Mastraka, Hoffer3, Mina, etc., etc. I don’t have time to reread my letter — it must leave today.
1 Noted Parisian institution run by the Canonesses of Saint Augustine or the Sisters of Notre-Dame, founded by Saint Pierre Fourier and Blessed Alix Le Clerc in the XVIIth Century.
2 The purchase of this suitcase-chapel [aka: “a portable altar”] is a real worry for Augustine (see Letters 31, 32). He needs to find the money to buy one. This is the purpose of his repeated request to his family for 200F.
I am writing to you, and yet I almost fear writing to you. I will not talk about myself — another more important matter requires my time. Sufficient for you to know that I am well and that I am very pleased in my new home. Let us get to the main topic: my two dear friends, I have already been twice to see Father Bour in my two weeks here. I spoke of our projects to other persons; and so as not to take upon myself the responsibility for your transaction, I must, yes I have to tell you the whole truth. You will not hold it against me, I hope. Well! All these people told me that it is a very risky undertaking. In each quarter, there are twenty-five boarding schools; of these twentyfive, only four at most are prospering. To open a boarding school in Paris, one needs either to found an establishment, or to take over one already set up. In the first instance, sizable funds are needed as we learned from experience in our boarding schools when we had to draw water from the Seine to the quatrième [fifth floor] so that our small and delicate creatures could douse themselves in the water of this river. This is an example of a requirement in Paris. In the first case, consequently: copious funds. In the second case, there are two kinds of boarding schools which can be taken over: a well-frequented one in which something can be made to happen, or a poorly frequented one in which nothing can be done. These latter occasionally could be purchased inexpensively, but the first always require ample funds. To begin with, lodgings in Paris are so expensive that Father Bauer, who has a very tiny apartment in a very dirty, nasty street, nonetheless pays 400F annually for four rooms on the quatrième [fifth floor]. If one wants to establish a boarding school, it must be located in a well frequented place, which then commands a higher price for lodging. In addition, there is need for a garden; without a rather vast garden, no boarding school is possible. Gardens are rare in Paris, consequently they are very expensive. So that’s the story for Paris. In summary, a great number of boarding schools exist; the bad ones aren’t worth anything and nothing can be done about them; the good ones are prohibitively expensive. First, check your pulse on the matter; meditate on all this before God and before the Blessed Virgin, and then make your decision. Outside of Paris — at Belleville, for example — there is greater chance for success; but here also there is a need for funds, and a sizable amount of them at that. In addition, notice that there are boarding houses in Paris at 400 francs; this is where our young bourgeois ladies go. The larger boarding houses are more expensive but also make greater demands. And then, all these young persons from important families do not go to boarding schools run by lay persons, but rather to religious houses. Note that there are twenty-six boarding schools run by nuns in Paris. I have just this instant finished counting them in my directory. There is, for example, the boarding school called Les Oiseaux 1 [The Birds] which enrolls the best of Paris. To summarize again: first of all, outside of Paris, some chance for success. If you get established well, things will go very well, according to what I have been told. But out of twenty-five, four will succeed, the others will languish.
Now, as to the recommendations. The Fathers here in our seminary can offer no help because they see hardly any people. Moreover, if one asks them for advice, they will not comply; it is more likely that petitioners will rather address their request to a convent rather than to a stranger or a layperson. Besides, they [i.e., the Fathers] do not at all bother with all that; the missions occupy our time, and we leave France to think of China. As for me, sometimes — nay, often — I dream in the direction of Germany. As for Father Bour, he himself will do all he can, but he told me that their [i.e., the Fathers’] influence is worth little at the diocese, so much so that the Vicar General of Paris who had a niece whom he also wanted to place — she a person on whom he had spent much for her education, and a very talented person ... [incomplete -Trans.]. Well!He, the Vicar-General was obliged to beg a pastor in the environs of Paris to employ heras a school teacher. Father Bour will no doubt do all within his power because he certainly sees the advantage of your being here. He would like to see you so much that he could almost tell you to leave your Germany immediately and come settle near him. Accordingly, he will do all that he can among his friends. Every time someone seeks his advice on the matter, he will send you students. But as I told you earlier, his sponsorship is weak. Moreover, he now likes to live apart from the world, to think of God and of his eternal life. If he were still residing in his small town of Velmonte [?- Ed.], then his influence would be much greater. In seeking to place a young person, one seeks the advice of the pastor; but in Paris, it is not well known thatFather Bour is canon-secretary of the archdiocese. Now, I will suggest another strategy, namely: if you were able to get students from the provinces, then that could work better. If the parents of little Mina — or any other person of your acquaintance — could give you ahelping hand, if some German ladies would want to follow you to Paris, these are thingsthat could be done. I would very much like to be able to help you at this moment, but that is currently impossible. I have so much to do on all sides. You know what the missionary must be: aliving library. He must carry everything, his knowledge in his head; others can sometimesmake use of their books, but he, never. To return once more to our boarding-school.Another drawback which is found in the boarding schools of Paris is that the children arestrongly backed by their parents. Look at one of these little brats crossways and immediately she will complain to her mother. If she whines, she is withdrawn: it is even worse than in Germany, be sure of that. I did not believe it, but that is the word I hear from everyone.
Now, my very dear friends, weigh and go over all of this in your mind. Pray God to enlighten you, but especially examine all the advantages and disadvantages in a calm spirit. Then, light will shine. As for me, rest assured that each time I read my breviary,there is a large memento for you. Oh! How I long to see you happy. I have also investigated another area to learn if in giving private lessons, one could not do something. Nothing; absolutely nothing. Paris teems with people who sell their knowledge at a very good price. Perhaps if you were known, that would be effective; but it takes years to become known, and with the years, one ages. I don’t yet know when I will be leaving for the Missions. Tomorrow, there will be the departure of five priests who are leaving for China. At the next departure, which will take place in the spring, it could well occur that God would grant your servant the grace to call him. I would want it, and I would not want it. I would want it if I relied only on my zeal; and I would not want it when I consider my unworthiness. Oh! My good friends; to be a missionary is something impressive — being an apostle! Great God! What a task! Able to deprive oneself of everything, to have a life continuously spent in suffering: this is the life of the missionary; to be continuously under the threat of death, in short. Yes, this is the missionary. Let us not complain, my dear friends, if God also sends us some grief. It is to be found everywhere, in France as in Germany; everywhere, as long as we remain in this land of exile. Therein lies the law of our fallen nature; it will be only on high — yes, on high — that we will be perfectly happy. Let us strive, then, to reach that joyful rest; let us bear our sufferings with patience; let us undergo our purgatory here below. It is better to rest afterthe combat than after relaxation. Come now; have courage! Life is short: thirty, forty yearsof suffering to be followed by an eternity of happiness. Oh! What a destiny. It appears thatMiss Goettig has roused all her people here. Her modesty and discretion are especially admired — rare qualities in our Paris. Father Bour told me that everyone was impressed by her pleasing manners. I regret not having been able to see her in Paris. She had already left by the time I arrived. If a few German ladies come to Paris, send them to me. I would be pleased to listen to them talk about you; then I could perhaps send you a few small things — small, because they would come from a poor hopeful candidate for the missions. I have not yet received the package which you had promised me; I am waiting impatiently.A thousand greetings from Father Bour. In a week or two at the latest, I expect news from you. Tell me what you have decided. Then, if there is something new around here, I will also let you know immediately. Let Hippolyte tell me if he has earned the baccalaureate; next time I will write him a short note. At this moment, I don’t have the time. My address: The Seminary of the Foreign Missions, Rue du Bac, ac, No 120, Paris. In a week, I expect a letter from you. In your leisure time, I suggest that you do something for the infidels; guess what. Well! It could be some kind of church vestment — chasuble or something else — but very simple because each missionary has his small chapel2 which he carries with him: chalice, chasuble, holy ciborium, etc.; he approaches those who truly love him to obtain these objects for him. Otherwise, the house which will supply them.While waiting, goodbye. Perhaps I will be a priest by Christmas. In a month or so, that willhave been decided. I will share the news with you as soon as I can.
Goodbye; I hug you and greet you in Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Your most devoted Schoeffler, deacon-candidate for the Missions.My greetings to whomever is concerned: Mastraka, Hoffer3, Mina, etc., etc. I don’t have time to reread my letter — it must leave today.
1 Noted Parisian institution run by the Canonesses of Saint Augustine or the Sisters of Notre-Dame, founded by Saint Pierre Fourier and Blessed Alix Le Clerc in the XVIIth Century.
2 The purchase of this suitcase-chapel [aka: “a portable altar”] is a real worry for Augustine (see Letters 31, 32). He needs to find the money to buy one. This is the purpose of his repeated request to his family for 200F.
3 Louis Hoffer spent some time at Wiesbaden before entering the Seminary of Nancy, on 4 November, which Augustine himself would have liked to do anew.
