(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bihsop)
Proceedings for the provision of a chaplain for the Third Battalion of the Regiment of Louisiana at Pensacola.
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1795 Aug. 26
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
Luis de Las Casas, the Commander in Chief of the Province of Louisiana and the Floridas in his letter of April 29, 1795, received by Penalver in Havana, made known the permission granted to Father Ramon Villac, O.M.Cap., who was serving as chaplain of the Third Battalion, to return to Spain so that Penalver could provide for this vacancy with a secular priest, if possible, and not a temporary religious one. Desiring that this be settled quickly, Penalver has issued a decree asking that within nine days of its posting in the Cathedral, all secular priests who wish to apply for the chaplaincy appear before the bishop to present their qualifications to be examined by the synod. J(ose)ph M(ari)a de Rivas signs, as pro-secretary, with the bishop, and adds in a note that the edict was posted at the doors of the Cathedral.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Sep. 9
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
The time having elapsed which was stated in the edict, it is to be taken down and the results arrange in order.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Apr. 29
Las Casas, Luis de
Havana, (Cuba)
to Bishop Luis Penalver (y Cardenas
New Orleans, Louisiana)
The permission obtained from his prelate by Father Ramon Bilac, to return to Spain having been presented to Las Casas and understanding that Penalver will shortly go over to his diocese, Las Casas informs Penalver so that he may provide for the vacancy.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Aug. 26
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
All secular priests are notified that, the chaplaincy of the Third Battalion at Pensacola being vacant, those who wish to apply for the chaplaincy are to appear and present their qualifications within nine days from the publication of this edict so that they may be examined by the synod which Penalver will appoint.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Sep. 9
Rivas, J(ose)ph M(ari)a de
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
Rivas certifies that the (above) decree was posted in the Cathedral from August 26 to today without any applicant for the chaplaincy of the Third Battalion presenting himself.
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Sep. 10
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
Since the edict to fill the chaplaincy brought no secular applicant and having no unemployed religious priest to send temporarily, as stated by Las Casas in his letter of March 29, Penalver, continuing to serve that place by the parish priest, decrees that a letter be sent to Las Casas, enclosing this decree, so that for the sake of these soldiers in his charge, the Bishop (of Havana) may institute proceedings in Havana where there is an abundance of priests so that some one may come to this place. Rivas certifies this decree.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Sep. 10
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Luis de las Casas
Havana, (Cuba)
In compliance with Las Casas' letter of March 20, when (Penalver) arrived in this diocese, and after dispatching the first duties, he started proceedings to fill the chaplaincy of the Third Battalion with the result that he posted the enclosed decree, here the (above) decree is quoted. He has nothing more to say except that he has done his utmost.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1795 Dec. 15
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
Another letter is to be sent to (Las Casas) that he may have Father Man(ue)l Garcia, O.F.M. return to serve as chaplain of the First Battalion which he left with a temporary permit.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 2
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
The sending of the preceding letter of December 15 is to be delayed, putting in place in the dossier the one just received from (Las Casas).
D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Dec. 10
Las Casas, Luis de
Havana, (Cuba)
to Bishop Luis Penalver (y Cardenas
New Orleans, Louisiana)
Las Casas sends the attached certificate sent him by the bishop (of Havana) and has sent as chaplain of the third Battalion of Louisiana, Father Antonio Merino, O.F.M. so that Penalver may use him as he sees fit. And that Penalver may know what has taken place in this matter, he also includes a copy of his letter to the bishop and the bishop's answer, leaving the above religious to go to his destination when there is an opportunity.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Nov. 7
Las Casas, Luis de
Havana, (Cuba)
to Bishop Phelipe Josef de Trespalacios
Havana, (Cuba)
A copy.
The Bishop of Louisiana, in reference to the providing of a chaplain
for the Third Battalion of the Infantry of Louisiana, about which Las
Casas wrote, has answered under the date of September 10 that his edict
brought no secular applicant and that he had no unemployed religious
priest to send temporarily. Las Casas informs Trespalacios of this so
that a similar edict might be issued in this city and if this does not
have any results, that Trespalacios may supply some one for this
place.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1795 Dec. 5
Trespalacios, Phelipe Josef de, Bishop of
Havana, (Cuba)
to Luis de las Casas
(Havana, Cuba)
The enclosed document will certify that there has been no applicant for the chaplaincy of the Third Battalion and the title with which Merino will present himself (gives) the faculties which are conferred on him to fill that place.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1795 Dec. 5
(Trespalacios), Phelipe J(ose)ph (de), Bishop of
Havana, (Cuba)
Since no one has appeared for the chaplaincy of the Third Battalion within or beyond the time fixed by the edict, issued in compliance with the letter of the Governor of this island, Trespalacios sends Merino as a temporary chaplain. By this document Merino is given the faculties to fulfill his charge. This is signed by the bishop and sealed; Francisco Fontes signs as secretary who adds below that the bishop appointed as temporary chaplain of the Third Battalion, Father Antonio Merino, O.F.M.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 5
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
A letter is to be sent to the Bishop of Havana asking for the faculties which he had from the Vicar General of the Armies to make the appointment of chaplain of the Third Battalion already sent in favor of Merino on December 15 and for a copy to be filed and a title sent to Merino to obviate any doubts about his administration of the Sacraments.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 5
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Bishop Felipe Jose de Trespalacios
(Havana, Cuba)
A title dated December 15, 1795 sent in favor of Father Antonio Merino, O.F.M. naming him temporary chaplain of the Third Battalion has been presented to (Penalver). This persuades him that Trespalacios has orders from the Vicar General of the Armies to confer faculties, but since (Penalver) does not know about them, he hopes that Trespalacios will send them so that they may be fulfilled.
D.S. Draft (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 5
Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
By virtue of a letter from the Captain General of these Provinces, dated April 29, 1795, Penalver proceeded on his arrival to appoint a chaplain for the Third Battalion at Pensacola. No one having responded to his call, due to the scarcity of priests it was necessary for some one to offer to come from Havana. Father Ant(oni)o Merino, O.F.M. offered, as the Captain General told in the paper of December 10, 1795. Satisfied by the letter of the Bishop of Havana, Penalver appointed Merino chaplain giving him the faculties to discharge his duties.
D.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 9
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Baron (Francisco Luis Hector) de Carondelet
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
(Las Casas) on December 10 sent (Penalver) two copies, and Penalver answers that since he can find no basis for the Bishop of Havana interfering in territory not in his diocese, he has decided to keep the papers sent him and to send another to Merino who will present it to Carondelet so that on his arrival at Pensacola he may be received and exercise his ministry.
D.S. (Spanish)
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1795 Nov. 24
Las Casas, Luis, de
Havana, (Cuba)
to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
When Las Casas received Penalver's letter of September 10, he informed the bishop of this diocese, asking him to provide a chaplain for the Third Battalion, and the bishop answered on November 8 as follows: "You notified me yesterday that on September 10, 1795 the Bishop of Louisiana informed you that having posted an edict to provide for the chaplaincy of the Third Battalion of Louisiana and no one having presented himself, you asked me to issue a similar edict in this city, in which there is an abundance of secular priests, and if this had no results you hoped that I could assign a religious priest as a temporary chaplain. I gave the order for the edict and if there are no results, I will appoint a temporary one." Las Casas sends this for Penalver's information.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 9
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
(This) is to be added to the dossier. (Written in the margin at the beginning of the above letter).
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 13
Carondelet, (Francisco Hector Luis), Baron de
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
In Penalver's letter of the 9th, Carondelet has received the title of the chaplain of the Third Battalion in favor of Father Antonio Merino, O.F.M. Knowing what Penalver said about the copies he had received from Las Casas, Carondelet will act accordingly.
L.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jan. 14
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
This is to be added to the dossier. (Written in the margin at the beginning of the above letter).
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1796 Jun. 2
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Bishop Felipe Jose de Trespalacios
(Havana, Cuba)
On January 5 a letter was sent to Trespalacios. The letter is to be quoted here. On Penalver's return from Natchez Father Merino presented himself and as Penalver had not had an answer from Trespalacios, probably because his letter or Trespalacios' went astray, Penalver asks for an answer.
L.S. Draft (Spanish)
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1797 Jun. 22
(Penalver y Cardenas, Luis), Bishop of
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
A copy of the letter sent to Carondelet and his answer are to be added (to the case).
A.D.S. (Spanish)
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1797 Jun. 19
(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana
to Baron (Francisco Hector Luis) de Carondelet
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
On May 31, Vicente Folch, Governor of Pensacola, and Sergeant Juan Gautier, Commandant of the Third Battalion informed (Penalver) that Father Antonio Merion, O.F.M., as chaplain, refused to go with the troops to the barracks on the grounds of an illness, considered here as tuberculosis, asking the governor to relieve him by some other priest so that the battalion would not lack Mass and the Sacraments. (Merino) was applied for in Havana by the Captain General of Cuba which was of this province on December 10, 1795 when he was advised no provision could be made for a chaplain. In his letter of December 4, 1796, (Merino) told him three times that it was impossible for him to fill the post so it seems best to exempt him. For the present, faculties will be given to the pastor, the one priest in the district, to say two Masses, one in the barracks and the other afterwards in the parish church. In Havana, where the same edict was given, no one presented himself and even the king's proclamation of the necessity was not sufficient. Therefore, it has been necessary to admit some strangers and emigrants.
L.S. Copy (Spanish)
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1797 Jun. 22
Carondelet, (Francisco Hector Luis), Baron de
New Orleans, (Louisiana)
to Bishop Luis Penalver y Cardenas
(New Orleans, Louisiana)
Carondelet thanks Penalver for the zeal shown in trying to provide a chaplain for the garrison at Pensacola because of the illness of Father Antonio Merino. It seems to Carondelet that what Penalver asks--to give him his release--is fitting. This is his answer to Penalver's letter of June 19, 1797.
L.S. (Spanish)
V-1-a D.S., L.S., A.D.S. and Copies (Spanish) 29pp. 4to. (9
8vo.)
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