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

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1861

pg 453                         Ecclesiastical House of Retreat

                  On the 25th of the month of September the corner stone was 
             blessed by Mgr. Luers, Bishop of Fort Wayne, surrounded by all the 
             clergy of the diocese, who had just ended their ecclesiastical 
             retreat, preached by the Rev. F. Smarius at Notre Dame.  This 
             undertaking had received the encouragement of the Holy Father as 
             far back as 1852, but it had to be deferred for want of funds, 
             etc.
                  On his return to Rome in the month of January, F. Sorin was 
             questioned on the progress of the work.  The Holy Father himself 
             was pleased to start the list of subscribers and sent 2000fr. to 
             F. Sorin, who was thus placed under the obligation of beginning as 
             soon as possible.  Other offerings for this purpose were made, and 
             before leaving Europe F. Sorin had received 5000fr. for the 
             Missioners' Home.  The document in which the Holy Father was 
             pleased to recommend the work was soon subscribed to by fourteen 
             Bishops, and a number of priests hastened to show their sympathy 
             for the work.