The Demands of Rome: Her Own Story of Thirty-One Years as a Sister of Charity in the Order of the Sisters of Charity of Providence of the Roman Catholic ChurchSchoffen, Elizabeth
Religion
The Demands of Rome: Her Own Story of Thirty-One Years as a Sister of Charity in the Order of the Sisters of Charity of Providence of the Roman Catholic Church
Schoffen, Elizabeth
Ex-nuns -- United States -- Biography; Monastic and religious life of women
You see they have determined together--our people having
yielded to Canadian "todiers"--to show me that I am to take in
silence as much, or as little, as it is theirs to demand. It
belongs absolutely to them to subdue me in whatever way they
please, to make me see and accept as right the one and only way
they see it, and taking upon themselves to refuse me the right
of speaking to our own archbishop. This is one of the reasons
why I am out of Portland. They are uneasy as what I may say to
you. They cannot see it in any other light than that I am
telling wrong things and having a bad influence, hence it is
better for me to be where there will be no such occasion. What
a shame to have to talk of such narrow, childish treatment and
small things, but, truths just the same which can make one's
life very hard to live.
I also enclose a short letter from Mother Wilfrid, one of our
Western sisters General Assistant Councilor. Letter dated
February 11, 1910, which is only a little over a year ago now.
I found it amongst my things after my letter dated August 17,
1911, was written. I cannot make use of it. It will show that I
am not imagining things so terribly in mind, and it is positive
proof that I am handled on reports, the nature of which and the
numbers of years in gathering I am not permitted to know. They
have the advantage of me by my vow of obedience. Your Grace, I
leave everything to your wisdom and discretion. I do not want
you to do anything hasty or by persuasion, which might be
regrettable, though I do think they need to be taught the
lesson that they are not God Almighty, even though power be
entrusted them. I do not say on the minute--but in your own
good time and judgment. Mother Nazareth is terribly frightened,
and says I will regret going to you.
Our people's talk is that Archbishop Bruchasie is the only
ecclesiastical head above our superiors. It is that with them,
or pine away out of life seems to be the only alternative
permissible. I could address myself to him and then be ordered
to go and sit in some dark corner in Montreal the remainder of
my days, like poor Sister Paul of the Sacred Heart is doing,
and like sickly Sister Gabriel was told that the sheriff would
be called to take her to Montreal if she would not go by their
orders.
Your Grace, it is a comfort and a miracle to me to be able to
tell these things to you, because I know that you can have much
good come out of all it now, and more for the future sisters of
the country. I am sorry to have to bother you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account