AFTER the death of Villa, the Abate Wrba was appointed our confessor, on
occasion of the Abate Paulowich receiving a bishopric. He was a
Moravian, professor of the gospel at Brünn, and an able pupil of the
Sublime Institute of Vienna. This was founded by the celebrated Frinl,
then chaplain to the court. The members of the congregation are all
priests, who, though already masters of theology, prosecute their studies
under the Institution with the severest discipline. The views of the
founder were admirable, being directed to the continual and general
dissemination of true and profound science, among the Catholic clergy of
Germany. His plans were for the most part successful, and are yet in
extensive operation.
Being resident at Brünn, Wrba could devote more of his time to our
society than Paulowich. He was a second father Battista, with the
exception that he was not permitted to lend us any books. We held long
discussions, from which I reaped great advantage, and real consolation.
He was taken ill in 1829, and being subsequently called to other duties,
he was unable to visit us more. We were much hurt, but we obtained as
his successor the Abate Ziak, another learned and worthy divine. Indeed,
among the whole German ecclesiastics we met with, not one showed the
least disposition to pry into our political sentiments; not one but was
worthy of the holy task he had undertaken, and imbued at once with the
most edifying faith and enlarged wisdom.
They were all highly respectable, and inspired us with respect for the
general Catholic clergy.
The Abate Ziak, both by precept and example, taught me to support my
sufferings with calmness and resignation. He was afflicted with
continual defluxions in his teeth, his throat, and his ears, and was,
nevertheless, always calm and cheerful.
Maroncelli derived great benefit from exercise and open air; the
eruptions, by degrees, disappeared; and both Munari and myself
experienced equal advantage.