look
forward to home as a place of rest and repose. When I think of the
fears, anxieties, and labors undergone I say to myself--enough for
this time. On the other hand, when I remember the warm and
disinterested friends God has given us on account of these
difficulties, and the happy issue to which His providence has
conducted them, my heart is full of gratitude and joy. To me the
future looks bright, hopeful, full of promise, and I feel confident
in God's providence, and assured of His grace in our regard. I feel
like raising up the cross as our standard and adopting one word as
our motto--CONQUER!

"I have just received the documents for you to give the Papal
benediction at the missions, and will send them. A letter reached
here this week from the Bishop of Burlington, Vt., and it is strongly
in our favor; it concludes by saying that all that we required to
make us a religious Congregation was the special blessing of the Holy
Father."

Again, on April 3: "Monsignor Bedini asked of the Pope the special
benediction that Bishop De Goesbriand suggested, and he replied: 'Did
I not give it to Pere Hecker, and through him to his brethren, when
he was here?' 'But,' answered Monsignor Bedini, 'give them this
benediction this time on the request of the bishop.' And he answered:
'It is well; I do.' So there is a special blessing from the Holy
Father in view of our forming a religious body. Indeed, that is so
well understood here that several have inquired what name we intend
to adopt, etc. Of course to all such questions my answer is: 'I can
say nothing; the future is in God's hands, and we intend to follow
His providence.' . . .

"Good Cardinal Barnabo looks upon us with a paternal regard, and when
I expressed in your name how warmly we returned his affection, and
what a deep gratitude we owed him, he was deeply moved, and replied
that he did not deserve such sentiments, and that he had only done
justice. Since the settlement of our affairs I have let no occasion
pass to express our gratitude to those who have befriended us; and as
for Cardinal Barnabo, Monsignor Bedini, Bishop Connolly, and Doctor
Bernard Smith, Benedictine monk, they should be put at the head of
the list of our spiritual benefactors and remembered in all our
prayers. Now that we are a body, I would advise this to be done at
once. The Holy Father stands No. 1; that is understood.

"How much I have to relate to you on my return! Many things I did not
ve