Good Reading: letter from J. Cooreman, S.J. to William Byles (in English)

Bishop's House

Aug. 28, 1912

My dear Mr. Byles,

 

Last mail brought me the obituary card of your dear Rev. Brother; I have prayed for him, but to tell the truth, I am much more inclined to ask him to pray for me, to get through his intercession strength always to perform my Duty as he performed his. He died a Martyr of charity, performing the most perfect act of love of God and of his neighbor. "Majorem caritatem nemo habet, ut animam tuam ponat quis pro amicis suis." Ergo, how should his soul not have gone straight to heaven.

I wrote to you immediately after the news reached me. I hope you received my letter.

Now, as I turn the page, I come to another subject. I have still to congratulate you on your marriage. The first information I had of the happy event was when I read in some paper that His Holiness the Pope had given you & your wife his blessing. A marriage blessed in heaven by a martyr-brother, & on earth by the Vicar of Christ, is sure to be a happy one & deserves our hearty congratulations. So, my dear Mr. Byles, most heartily "Proficiat," as we say in Belgium.

Our Bishop for whom I have to act since April 14th, when he sailed for Europe, a few hours before the catastrophe of the "Titanic," will be back in Colombo only on Nov. 3rd. I have sent him the obituary card which you kindly forwarded to His Lordship. It will travel by the same boat as this hasty note. I shall be glad when His Lordship returns, as it is not a joke to do the work of two people in a climate like this. The noble example of your departed brother helps one to perform his duty more courageously.

With kindest regards & all best wishes to Mrs. Byles & your dear self, believe me

 

Very Sincerely Yours

J. Cooreman, S.J.

Vic. Gen.

Letter from William Byles to His Mother-in-law (in English)

Bernards' Inn

Bernardsville, N.J.

April 21, 1912

 

My dear Mamma,

Here we are at Bernardsville...went to St. Vincent's Hospital, when we met first some young boys and afterwards some girls who had been on the Titanic. There were a large number of the survivors there, being fitted out with clothes used for relief. Whilst we were there the Cardinal came in and we had the privilege of a few minutes with him in the corridor. He spoke very nicely of Roussel and of all the good he must have done on board. The survivors told us there were two priests on board - Father Byles, an English priest, and a german priest. They saw him on deck every day, so that evidently Roussel was at least fairly well. On Sunday afternoon Roussel had Rosary and prayers and preached a sermon on the new life they were to enter into in America, and the dangers to their Faith they had to guard against - his last sermon.

After the accident Roussel appeared on deck in full clothes and moved about among the crowd from group to group giving absolution (without confessions) and starting all the Catholics on the Rosary. One girl said the sailors wanted to put him into a lifeboat, but he refused, and went on with his work. The passengers were all together on the higher decks - First, Second and Third all mixed up, so all participated in his ministrations. Can you see all those poor people saying the Rosary, and Our Lady at the other end of the Rosary pulling some of them into lifeboats, and others to hear the happy command "Enter thou into the Joy of the Lord."?

From St. Vincent's we went to the Chelsea Hotel, where we met Mr. & Mrs. Bean, who had only been married a month, and were both saved together. They knew little, but they gave us the address of Roussel's cabin companion. If he has been saved we may hear more from him.

We meant to call on Father Clifford enroute, but the chauffer lost his way. I had a little conversation with him on the telephone. He is going to have a public Mass for Roussel on Wednesday.

Goodbye, Mamma, and many, many thanks for giving me Katherine. She shall always be my greatest treasure - a pearl of great price. Pray for us every day that we may join Roussel and May, where they are now all together.

Yours affectionately,

William

Good Reading: letter from Fr. Thomas R. D. Byles to his Brother William Byles (in English) - II

February 13, 1912

My Dear W.

   I am not at all sure that the English form of marriage is the same as is used in America. If not it might be better to get what you want in America. Is her name Isabella Katherine? I want to have this accurate. Of course the difference between the English would only be slight - the words in England are the clauses beginning, "I N., take thee N. to my wedded (wife/husband) --

   Perhaps it is worth mentioning to you that the Cardinal has notified his intention of celebrating his elevation to the Sacred College by leading 2 pilgrimages; one to Lourdes on May 30, and one to Rome in October. Possibly you would like to take in the former. I suppose it will occupy about 8 days.

Ever yrs.
T. Rs. D. B.

Good Reading: letter from Fr. Thomas R. D. Byles to his Brother William Byles (in English) - I

Sept 14, 1894

 

My Dear Winter:

 

I am staying on in Germany after taking departure of the others in the hopes of getting a tutorship here for a few months. I think it is w. doubtful if I shall succeed; if not I shall go home probably in a week or two. I have been staying here at a Benedictine Convent for the last week & have had a very pleasant time. I think this is the finest country I have seen. The Danube here flows through a valley and precipitous cliffs on each side, clothed halfway up in beech & fir, & the other half is perpendicular limestone rock. Just at Beuron the valley widens & forms an amphitheater round the Abbey. This Abbey has only been founded 30 years, but it has acquired a great reputation, especially for Art, & it has already several branches in different lands; one in England. You probably know that Willie began his Jesuit Novitiate last Saturday (Sept. 8). He started from home a fortnight ago, reaching London on the 2nd so as to have a few days there beforehand. His address for the next 2 yrs. will be Monroe House, Roehampton, London, S.W. The other left for home the following Sat. (Sept 1) & got to Stoke last Friday. They had a bad crossing & had to sleep in the Hall. I hope to enter some Religious Order early in next year, but I want to wait a little, partly because I have not yet found out which Order I am best fitted for, & partly because my doctor tells me that by next February, if I have not recurrence, I may consider myself quite cured of my fits, & till that is safe it would probably be difficult to find any Order willing to accept me. Hilda received your letter on the day they started for England, but unfortunately I had not time to learn what news it contained; I hope however to receive from home either the letter itself or the substance of the contents. I wish I could impart to you something of the bliss of knowing with certainty what God has revealed for our support & help. It is a happiness which grows more & more every day & which affords a truly marvelous & altogther supernatural support in all temptation, & against all evil. It is however beyond my power to impart this -- the most I can do is to pray God to give to all I love this wonderfully great Gift which I have received: and I trust you also pray continually that God will show you more of His Truth. It is the duty of everyone who does not possess a complete Revelation. And above all, avoid shallow judgments of Catholicism. Be scrupulously honest. Prereis (e.g.) no suff-t ground for saying (as to often said) that Catholicism was a good Religion for the Middle Ages, but a bad one now. Some circumstances have changed, but human nature has not changed to that extent. I remain ever,

Your Loving Brother,

Thomas Roussel