Father Moreau's Reaction to Unrest at Notre Dame among the Sisters

January 29, 1863. Letter of Blessed Basil Moreau regarding the unrest among the Sisters at St. Mary's, Notre Dame, during the General Visit by Father Charles Moreau. This letter was lost for many year and was not used (or apparently seen) by the Cattas when they wrote the two volume life of Father Basil Moreau. The bishop (John Henry Luers) referred to in the letter would the same bishop who a few years hence would counsel the Sisters at Notre Dame to break away from the mother house in France. The letter is reprinted here from Priceless Sprit by Sister M. Georgia Costin, CSC. The letter has been edited by George Klawitter, CSC.

Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix, Le Mans

January 29, 1863

My dear daughters in Jesus Christ,

If you have not received an answer to your kind wishes of the New Year any sooner, it is because I was waiting to know the result of the regular visit in our houses in America in order to give you a correct idea of the moral state of your Society on the foreign missions, but seeing that Rev. Father Charles [Moreau, nephew of Basil Moreau] is detained at Notre Dame or elsewhere in Indiana by difficulties, I must say that inasmuch as your establishments in France, in Canada, New York, in New Orleans and in Bengal console me by their devotedness, obedience, and attachment to the Mother House, and regularity, those of Indiana afflict me by acts which I am certain pain you as much as me.

Know then, as I am compelled to say the sad truth that after having brought all sorts of difficulties in the way of the Visitor from the beginning of his visit, the Sisters of St. Mary's of the Im. Conception, with some from the other houses of the province, have written to the Ordinary [Bishop Luers] of the diocese that the Visit, which had hardly begun, had brought trouble to the establishment; that they had received from France only unfit subjects (without regard for the devotedness of Mary of the Cenacle, and M. of the Savior, who do not deserve such accusations); that they had lived 20 years without rules (as if they did not have them from the beginning, with the repeated command of having them translated into English, which translation, being done, was not distributed; that the Visits from France had never produced any good (as if they had forgotten the many thanks they had returned to me for the advantages they had derived from mine, etc., etc. In a word they ask not to be visited, as if they had not already complained that the Visit was not terminated.

I pass over many other calumnies with which it is useless to entertian you, toi say that the Visit shall be continues, -- that I love to hope this scandal will cease, and to recommend to you to pray for it. I command all the Sist5ers of Indiana who still acknowledge me for their superior to inform me of it without delya, and I tell the others before hand that if they do not re-enter under obedience at the receipt of this letter they shall cease to reside at Notre Dame at the end of February next, and an order shall be given to prevent our religious there to render them any service, moreover they shall not have any share before God in the temportal goods, but will only receive dowry or a part of it; they will make arrangements with those who have directed them in their ways, and shall at once leave the marks of their profession.

And the present circular letter shall be sent to all the houses in the Congregation, in French and in English, either directly or through the Visitor who will modify it according to his own wisdom.

Given at Our Lady of Holy Cross, Mans, the day, month, and year as above.

Moreau

P.S. Whoever has taken part in the acts mentioned above have trampled under foot the sacred engagemnt of their profession regarding dependence on the Mother House, and all those who for the time being shall correspond with anyone besides the ordinary, the General Superioress, and myself or the Visitor, until the convlusion of the Visit will be considered as separated from the Society.

The tomb of Blessed Basil Moreau in the Holy Cross mother church, Le Mans, France.

Return to Documents main page.

Return to Holy Cross History main menu.