Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1858

pg 326       conditions in which this dear Brother was left until a certain 
             feeling of pity caused his superior to recall him, regardless of 
             consequences.  It is hardly necessary to add that this was the end 
             of our schools in the diocese.  Sympathy was to be sought 
             elsewhere.
                  The Brothers' institute was in itself an enterprise full of 
             difficulties and very doubtful in a country where there are 
             nothing but obstacles in the way of a young man possessed of the 
             necessary talents to perform his duty and to come up to what is 
             expected of him.  Mgr. Hughes himself, being consulted on this 
             subject by F. Sorin fifteen years ago, did not believe in the 
             possibility of success.  One of the reasons given by his was this:
             If you have subjects possessed of ability, they will want to 
             become priests.  All the difficulties pointed out by the 
             illustrious Bishop of New York have been met with in turn, and 
             often all together.
                  Real vocations are rare, and, so far from being encouraged, 
             they are rather held in check, either because of the indifference 
             of a great number of directors, or from their desire to keep in 
             their own house or in their neighborhood the few young men of