Before leaving Notre-Dame-du-Lac, I had to yield to the pleading of our Brothers and Sisters in Chicago, whose occupations prevented them from coming to Notre Dame. I arrived in Chicago with the Provincial on Saturday, September 12th, about eight o'clock in the evening. . . . In Chicago, as elsewhere, the Brothers and Sisters filled me with consolation. Afterward, I went to visit the Bishop of the diocese and inspected the poorest of the Brothers' schools. I then left for Notre Dame, where I arrived Sunday at midnight. Father Sorin was always with me. I spent the next day, the eve of my departure, outlining the formation of subjects for the three Societies.
Finally, after I had spent the rest of the day and part of the night in concluding my business, I was ready to set out on my journey of three hundred leagues to Philadelphia, and my subsequent return to France. I had assembled the two Communities in the church at Notre-Dame-du-Lac to assist at Mass, receive my farewell, and recite the prayers of the Itinerary. At seven o'clock this sad ceremony was over; all hearts were moved and many tears were shed.
Everyone knelt to receive my last blessing; the religious clung to my neck and lavished upon me the most tender affection. Finally I tore myself away from their embraces to leave for the railroad station in South Bend, where I was to take the train for New York, and then go to the chief city of Pennsylvania where I was to visit a new establishment.
Although we are far away from one another, you will be ever present to me, even to my last sigh, and I shall never forget even the details of my sojourn in your midst. . . . I owe a tribute of gratitude to all those who have accompanied me with their good wishes and prayers during the dangerous and long journey which has brought me so many consolations.
Thus, always inspired by the thought which makes me see in the Salvatorists, Josephites, and Marianites of Holy Cross members of one same family united under one same authority, with common sentiments and interests, -- at least in spiritual things, if not in temporal -- I felt the need and regarded it as a duty to share with you all my joys, for your edification and your example.
© Copyright 2007 by the Archives of the University of Notre Dame.
