DePaul University From the SelectedWorks of John E Rybolt January 17, 2016 Congregation of the Mission, Circular Letters. Alfred Louwyck and François Verdier, vicars general, 1916-1919 John E Rybolt This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY International License. Available at: https://works.bepress.com/john_rybolt/83/
Congregation of the Mission, Circular Letters Alfred Louwyck and François Verdier, vicars general, 1916-1919 A Topical Outline by John E. Rybolt, C.M. Introduction Alfred-Alfonse Louwyck (1876 1918) taught at the seminaries of La Rochelle and Amiens before his nomination as novice director and student director in Paris in 1892. He likewise served as the provincial of the province of France (or Île-de-France) from 1901 until his appointment as vicar general. Like Fiat, he was assistant of the house from 1912, virtually its superior, and was elected first assistant and admonitor at the general assembly of 1914. His final council meeting as vicar-general took place on 11 February 1918, and he died unexpectedly within a week, mostly likely from the influenza epidemic. His successor was François-Aubin Verdier (1856 1933). The general assembly of 1914 elected him as an assistant under Villette. He continued under Louwyck until 1918, when Verdier was appointed vicar general on 18 February, an office he filled until his own election in 1919. Circular Letters of Alfred Louwyck 1916, 10 November, (unnumbered, but #1), pp. 1-3 (4 blank), dated Berceau. Death of Villette, 7 November, already announced by telegram. He was superior general for two years and three months. He died at the Berceau, where he had gone to regain his health. Reminds the priests of the obligation to celebrate four masses for the repose of his soul, and the others to pray two rosaries. Louwyck, first assistant general, was surprised to be selected by Villette as vicar general. Verdier, the second assistant, automatically becomes Louwyck s admonitor. 1916, 20 November; 2 pp; typed. Dated by hand, signed. Probably just for provincials. Explains why he was named vicar general and not Cazot: there were not enough votes for Cazot. Also some problem with the date on the note left by Villette, who wrote 1911 instead of 1914, but clearly it was 1914, since Villette was not superior general in 1911. Can we hold a general assembly as required? He asks the input of the provincials about this. 1917, 1 January, #2, pp. 5-16. Many Vincentians are involved in the war. Villette s death and funeral celebrations showed the esteem he enjoyed. Praises Villette for natural and supernatural qualities. Personal 1
reflections on the spirit of Our Lord, in which we must live. Recommends five Vincentian virtues, and cites St. Vincent s letter to Fr. Durand. France: conditions have hardly changed in a year. Fourth-year students are still in Panningen since they could not get permission to come to Paris for the normal course. Apostolic schools are prospering. Those involved in the war have been spared so far. Scarce information about Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Poland. For Turkey and Syria: the confreres are dispersed, working outside the provinces. Persia: Bp. Sontag has helped many to survive the famine. China: The French confreres mobilized in France have been used as interpreters for Chinese workers [in France]. Mexico: Persecution still in force. Some have gone to the Antilles to work. Lists those sent to missions. Asks confreres to be generous in supporting the works that help support Vincentian apostolates: Propagation of the Faith, Holy Infancy, Écoles d Orient, and the Work of St. Francis de Sales. Includes instruction from Card. Merry del Val concerning the proper celebration of Confessions, particularly the seal of the confessional. Includes Necrology for 1916. 1917, 25 January, #3, pp. 17-32. Sends several documents from Cardinal Bisleti, prefect of the Congregation of Seminaries and Universities on teaching the philosophy and theology of Thomas Aquinas. The initial letter is directed specifically to the Congregation of the Mission. This is nothing new in the Congregation, and superiors and provincials should communicate their agreement to the bishops where they have seminaries. Some have resisted sending their men to study in Rome, but our house of studies is doing well. Totals so far: 178 doctorates (97 in theology, 59 in philosophy, 22 in canon law). For those who cannot go to Rome, provision for higher studies should be made in individual provinces. Documents: Motu proprio, 29 June 1914, Doctoris Angelici; presentation of 24 theses taken from Aquinas; analysis of doubts presented; letter to the Institut Catholique of Paris on teachings of Aquinas. 1917, 27 May, unnumbered, 4 pp. In imitation of Villette s practice, he sends words of encouragement to confreres serving in the war. Keep union with God. Fulfill spiritual exercises that can be done. Rely on divine providence. Be the salt of the earth for other soldiers against immorality. Offer consolation to the suffering. Practice self-denial. Concerning finances: we will help as we can, such as by sending mass stipends. 1918, 1 January, #4, pp. 33-45. Only God knows the outcome of this war. We should rely on God. St. Vincent experienced wars in his time, and he encouraged this same confidence in God. Cites various instances from St. Vincent s writings. In France, many bishops are offering us works in their dioceses just as soon as we can accept them. Outside France, the condition is the same. Cites St. Vincent on living amid difficulties. Cites Etienne s circular of 1 January 1871, advising against discouragement. The 2
means to accomplish this: seeking the Kingdom of God, confidence in God, humility, fidelity to the rule. France: Many confreres were mobilized. Those in China serve as interpreters for the Chinese workers in France. Many were sent as professors in France and Algeria. Victims: 7 priests, 12 seminarians, 5 brothers. Of the priests, three died on the battlefield; the rest died from infection after caring for the sick. Very few students in our houses of formation. Belgium, Germany, Austria, Poland: closed to us. Syria, Constantinople: a great fire devastated Thessalonika, and our school and the Sisters house were destroyed, but not our church or residence. Ireland, Spain, Italy: going well; also USA. Ireland: Many confreres are military chaplains. Naples: has accepted refugees and wounded in Via Vergini. Colombia: the apostolic prefecture of Arauca has been assigned to the CM, 1917. Mexico: still suffering from abolition of communities and confiscation of ecclesiastical properties. Only Mexican nationals can function as priests. The Spanish confreres there will be expelled shortly. China: Civil disturbances affect our works. Mentions new Code of Canon Law. This work will be studied. Includes usual list of those sent on mission, encouragement to support funding agencies, and the necrology. 1918, 17 February Announces illness of Louwyck. Circular Letters of François Verdier 1918, 18 February, #1, pp. 1-3 Announces Louwyck s death, 17 February, after a short illness of several days. The final blow was a heart attack. He was comforted by the sacraments of the Church, and blessed the community. Reminds the confreres of the usual prayers: four masses by the priests of the mother house; two communions and two rosaries by the others or the Office of the Dead. For those elsewhere, two masses by the priests; one communion and one rosary, or the Office of the Dead by the others. Verdier has taken over automatically as the first assistant. Asks for prayers. 1918, 18 March, to soldiers, printed, 4 pp. You are "the most interesting part of the Congregation," [i.e., the part that interests us the most]. Keep essential rules, sacrifice for them. Maintain the spiritual exercises. Give good example: maintain "tenue, allure, gravité, sérieux" (behavior, demeanor, gravity, seriousness). Appoints supervisors for each province at war, and these men, either local superiors or others, are to look after the soldiers. Worries about prisoners of war. 1918, 24 April, to visitors. Should we have recourse to Rome to have an official decision about our canonical situation following the publication of the Code of Canon Law? 1918, 13 May, to several visitors. 3
Asks help for expenses caused by cost of living and the support of apostolic schools. 1918, 23 May; typed, signed, unpaged, 5 pp. How to fill up the council, now reduced after deaths of Villette and Louwyck, from five to three. Had recourse to Holy See. [Text in Latin]. Petition: Verdier, formerly first assistant and not vicar general, (until this letter). He can have consultors, but not new assistants. Asks to be vicar general. Response: Agreed, even if new vicar general [Verdier] should die. Therefore names Cazot, substitute for third assistant; and Delanghe, substitute for fourth assistant, until a general assembly can be held. 1918, 19 July, #2, pp. 5-12. Recalls the disasters of the recent past: deaths of Fiat, Villette, and Louwyck; the war. The problem is that it is difficult now to hold a general assembly, and, besides, there are only three members of the general council left. To solve the problems, Verdier had recourse to the pope. In addition, the constitutions did not foresee a lengthy term for a vicar general. For this reason, he asked the pope to confirm the powers of the vicar general. Gives text of Latin petition. Rescript sent back 7 May, granting or confirming all the points of the request. Consulting the provincials on naming new substitute assistants was impossible, given war conditions, but he was permitted. Hence, he named Emile Cazot and Alphonse Delanghe, for the third and fourth assistants. Philippe Meugniot is first; and Augustin Veneziani is second assistant. Meugniot is also admonitor. Louis Planson replaces Cazot as general procurator. Ricciardelli remains as procurator in Rome. 1918, 27 November, (unnumbered), pp. 1-7. For provincial directors of the Daughters of Charity. Refers to new Code of Canon Law and its obligation to visit the houses of the Sisters at least once every five years. Cites reasons to encourage these visits, including St. Vincent s examples and words of Bonnet in 1712. Verdier himself will make the visit of the Sisters mother house in Paris and the Rome house, which depends directly on Paris. He is sending a questionnaire to help guide the visits. 1919, 1 January, #3, pp. 13-28. Peace has arrived; God has heard the petitions. Many countries have suffered, directly or indirectly. The Church has no reason to oppose a League of Nations, a peaceful City of the future. Much restoration has to happen, but it will take time, particularly in the Middle East. Personal restoration has to happen too, at least for certain confreres who have not been living out their obligations completely, particularly those in the armed forces. The returnees should be put back to work in duties they can perform. Other should help and pray for them. The new Code of Canon Law will be an issue for us for a long time. It has been hard to begin this study because of war conditions. The major question: Are we religious or not? We wanted to ask the Holy See to solve this for us. Instead, we will wait for the general assembly. The date has not been decided yet; it is too soon. 4
For the question of temporary and/or perpetual vows and those ready to make them, each provincial can decide what is best for the moment. Hard to report on the provinces because of the war. Persia: many good confreres had to leave for mobilization. Four confreres were murdered there: Bishop Sontag, Frs. Dinka, l Hôtelier, Miraziz. Many others died, much higher than the normal average. War and plague were the cause [influenza]. Includes the normal list of those sent on mission; support for fund-raising organizations. Includes updated necrology, with entries from 1915 through 1918. 1919, 1 February, to soldiers They are about to be released; sends his welcome; wants them to make a retreat after their return. 1919, 10 February, to province of Belgium-Holland M. Henri Heudre is name visitor, replacing the late Alphonse Vandamme. 1919, 2 April, #4, pp. 29-32. The time has come to schedule a general assembly, before winter. Therefore, 27 September 1919. Prepare for it by prayer, and the domestic and provincial assemblies. Be sure that no problems arise with priests who are unable to attend. Foresee these and resolve the issues. Adds notes about the qualities of a superior general: virtues of St. Vincent, not too advanced in age or in poor health, great prudence, even in the social order. Proposes prayer practices for the success of the assembly: the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus to be said for a week before September 27, its scheduled opening. 5