Animation service
Here you are : » Saint Augustine Schoeffler » Seminary of Nancy
Letter 9 - To the Misses Schoeffler & Klein, Instructors of the Wiesbaden Institute, Germany
(Undated: July 1844)
My very dear German friends,
It was undoubtedly necessary this time, that I have confidence in the goodness of your heart that you would allow me to remain for so long without giving you news about myself. Admittedly, I did have during all that time some kind of remorse of conscience. I did strive, however, to drive them away, but they kept coming back. No matter that I told myself: “but I don’t have the time,” my conscience was not at rest. So, please, my dear friends, forgive a repentant sinner who has recourse to the tenderness and mercy of your heart. I received your surplice – or rather mine, now – and that, before ordination. But imagine my distress when I realized that I could not wear it since, on the one hand, it was too large, and secondly, its shape needed to be altered. Oh, well! I let myself believe that I had it on my back during the entire ordination ceremony. Rest assured that I did not forget either one of you at that time. While waiting, I thank you for this lovely gift, because it is truly magnificent. I noticed that all the seminarians to whom I showed it look at it with envious eyes — yet not seeking to take it from me, because I would have been right there if they had wanted to take from me an item of which I am so fond. If only you could have seen cousin Charlemagne , would-be emperor of 1 Germany; it was he who looked at the surplice and turned it on all sides to see how beautiful it was. I will have it altered during vacation and, on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, I will wear it for the first time. And while waiting to be able to do something in return, I will on that day offer a communion to God for you.Yet another bit of news which will no doubt surprise you: from now on I will consider myself a “Phalsbourgeois” [a native of Phalsbourg - Trans.]. You probably don’t believe me, and yet I’m telling you the honest truth. My father has purchased the house of Mr. Carabin, the baker, near the German gate; I think that at the New Year, we will leave Mittelbronn to go to Phalsbourg. I am very relieved that this change will not take place before vacation because I much prefer to live in the country rather than in thecity. This business will no doubt be the reason why I will be unable to see you this year, in view of the fact that this purchase lowers quite a bit the funds of Father, and thus that he will not be able to provide me with sufficient funds for the trip as he could well have done otherwise. We bought this house for 1300 francs; I don’t believe that my father made an unfavorable transaction. But if the trip cannot be made this year, despite my earnest wishes, it will certainly take place next year. No doubt your public notices in Germany have already told you that France and Spain are at war with the empire of Morocco. There already have been some shots fired — as long as these individuals don’t kidnap my dear uncle André2. You also learned that if you wished to establish a boarding school in France, you would — like colleges — be subject to the university monopoly and to inspections by the university.I hope that all your annoyances have disappeared. If they have not, accept them in the spirit of penance. Offer them to God, and these very annoyances will be something good in your hands. Would that I could at each moment of my life offer you some consolations; I would do so with the greatest pleasure. But near you, there is another consoler ever at your sides; it is Jesus. Pray to him; relate all your distress; as for me, I will pray him to take over for your benefit my role of consoler. He will do it much better than I, because He knows the heart of man. Let us throw ourselves at his feet; then all our suffering will seem like nothing.
Goodbye, my dear friends. I end as I began by signing in the Hebrew language. Even though you aren’t able to read my name, you know full well that I am all yours (Signature in Hebrew)I don’t have time to re-read my epistle. Please forgive me if some matters were omitted. Don’t make me wait for your friendly and hoped-for news as long as I make you wait for mine.
1 Play on words: Charles Maisse.
2 The international events mentioned by Augustine are proof that the seminarians had access to the press. At the Nancy Seminary, it was probably at the time L’Espérance – Courier de Nancy. . . — a religious, political, industrial, commercial and literary publication, edited at Nancy since 1840 by a group of Catholicintellectuals. This is the case concerning Morocco: L’Espérance of 16 July 1844 (no 85).
It was undoubtedly necessary this time, that I have confidence in the goodness of your heart that you would allow me to remain for so long without giving you news about myself. Admittedly, I did have during all that time some kind of remorse of conscience. I did strive, however, to drive them away, but they kept coming back. No matter that I told myself: “but I don’t have the time,” my conscience was not at rest. So, please, my dear friends, forgive a repentant sinner who has recourse to the tenderness and mercy of your heart. I received your surplice – or rather mine, now – and that, before ordination. But imagine my distress when I realized that I could not wear it since, on the one hand, it was too large, and secondly, its shape needed to be altered. Oh, well! I let myself believe that I had it on my back during the entire ordination ceremony. Rest assured that I did not forget either one of you at that time. While waiting, I thank you for this lovely gift, because it is truly magnificent. I noticed that all the seminarians to whom I showed it look at it with envious eyes — yet not seeking to take it from me, because I would have been right there if they had wanted to take from me an item of which I am so fond. If only you could have seen cousin Charlemagne , would-be emperor of 1 Germany; it was he who looked at the surplice and turned it on all sides to see how beautiful it was. I will have it altered during vacation and, on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, I will wear it for the first time. And while waiting to be able to do something in return, I will on that day offer a communion to God for you.Yet another bit of news which will no doubt surprise you: from now on I will consider myself a “Phalsbourgeois” [a native of Phalsbourg - Trans.]. You probably don’t believe me, and yet I’m telling you the honest truth. My father has purchased the house of Mr. Carabin, the baker, near the German gate; I think that at the New Year, we will leave Mittelbronn to go to Phalsbourg. I am very relieved that this change will not take place before vacation because I much prefer to live in the country rather than in thecity. This business will no doubt be the reason why I will be unable to see you this year, in view of the fact that this purchase lowers quite a bit the funds of Father, and thus that he will not be able to provide me with sufficient funds for the trip as he could well have done otherwise. We bought this house for 1300 francs; I don’t believe that my father made an unfavorable transaction. But if the trip cannot be made this year, despite my earnest wishes, it will certainly take place next year. No doubt your public notices in Germany have already told you that France and Spain are at war with the empire of Morocco. There already have been some shots fired — as long as these individuals don’t kidnap my dear uncle André2. You also learned that if you wished to establish a boarding school in France, you would — like colleges — be subject to the university monopoly and to inspections by the university.I hope that all your annoyances have disappeared. If they have not, accept them in the spirit of penance. Offer them to God, and these very annoyances will be something good in your hands. Would that I could at each moment of my life offer you some consolations; I would do so with the greatest pleasure. But near you, there is another consoler ever at your sides; it is Jesus. Pray to him; relate all your distress; as for me, I will pray him to take over for your benefit my role of consoler. He will do it much better than I, because He knows the heart of man. Let us throw ourselves at his feet; then all our suffering will seem like nothing.
Goodbye, my dear friends. I end as I began by signing in the Hebrew language. Even though you aren’t able to read my name, you know full well that I am all yours (Signature in Hebrew)I don’t have time to re-read my epistle. Please forgive me if some matters were omitted. Don’t make me wait for your friendly and hoped-for news as long as I make you wait for mine.
1 Play on words: Charles Maisse.
2 The international events mentioned by Augustine are proof that the seminarians had access to the press. At the Nancy Seminary, it was probably at the time L’Espérance – Courier de Nancy. . . — a religious, political, industrial, commercial and literary publication, edited at Nancy since 1840 by a group of Catholicintellectuals. This is the case concerning Morocco: L’Espérance of 16 July 1844 (no 85).
