Catholics are already aware that by the laws of Italy the whole property,
real and personal, of all religious orders, both of men and women, was
confiscated in that country. A very small pension, heavily taxed and
not always satisfactorily paid, was allowed to the older members—the
younger ones getting nothing, or next to nothing—perhaps two-pence a day
to live upon. For this the Government took their lands, their funds,
their house property, their Convent buildings, their very churches,
cemeteries and all the furniture, sacred and secular, they possessed.
They were disbanded, prevented from receiving novices, or, as religious
orders, even educating children. Sometimes public feeling forced their
persecutors to give them a few rooms in their old homes, or to huddle
several communities into one large barrack. In cases where a part of
their Convent only was allowed them, the rest was used as Government
offices, or very generally for soldiers’ barracks. It thus became a
kind of living death for these poor religious. They mostly, however,
held together with wonderful tenacity, and as the old inmates died out
the younger ones, with but a few half-pence a day to live on, grew on
in years and weakness and want. Many of these—indeed all the choir
sisters—brought fortunes, which were placed in the common funds of
their several institutions, and so found and taken by the mean-spirited
Freemasons now in power in Italy. The consequence is that these poor
nuns, long absent from the thoughts of relatives, die in great numbers
and in much want. The present work and that on Our Lady of Good Counsel
have been given over by the author for their relief. He has just received
the following letter from Monsignor Kirby, who lays out, with every care
and judgment, all he can get together for the benefit of these suffering
spouses of Christ.
“I received the alms you kindly forwarded from their Lordships
the Bishop of Leeds and the Bishops of Aberdeen and Dunkeld, in
aid of the poor nuns in the Papal States. May God reward them
for their charity.
“But what shall I say, my dear Monsignore, for your own
generous offerings for these suffering Spouses of Jesus Christ?
Through your assistance I have been able to relieve many holy
suffering communities in Frascati, Viterbo, Foligno, Assissi,
Monte Falco, and other localities, not forgetting the nuns you
specially mentioned for relief in Rome. They suffer terrible
privations, but their charity and patience would do honour to
the early Christians. They pray constantly and earnestly for
those who assist them in their bitter need....”
Still more touching descriptions of the destitution of these poor
servants of God may be obtained from the _Divin Salvatore_ of Rome, which
devotes many of its columns to the service of the collection made in
favour of the despoiled nuns.
The following items, taken from a current number of that journal, will
give an idea of the need existing. The Editor says:—
“On the 7th of March we received the following letter from a
venerable religious, who has the care of a parish and of a
monastery:—‘The letters you sent me have arrived, as so many
angels of comfort, with your charity. The Mother Abbess did
not know what to do in the future. She had to withdraw the one
plate of nourishment hitherto given daily to the religious.
My heart is afflicted, because I know that if they have not
food the choir cannot be sustained, and already some of them
are prostrated, from weakness of the stomach, in need of
ordinary food.’ The day after the Prioress of a Dominican
Convent writes:—‘Our misfortunes are at their height, and it
seems that everything conspires against us. The very old and
helpless sisters must be deprived of the lay sisters’ help,
whom we took into the religious life, but who must now leave
us for want of food. The aged will have to die for mere want
of necessaries. We do not ask the Government for anything to
maintain lay sisters, but these are now not even permitted to
us. For charity pray to God that some may be moved to pity us.’
Four days ago a Benedictine Superioress thus commenced her
letter to us:—‘The day before yesterday, having shed many tears
before the Image of Most Holy Mary, beseeching Her to send me
some help, because I had at last arrived at extreme necessity,
your letter arrived with alms. Ah, so great was my joy, that
before opening it I carried it before the sacred Image to
thank Our Lady, and have called the nuns, who did the same.
My Father, believe me, that in order to exist together, we
suffer much want indeed.’ Five days after another Superioress
writes to us:—‘The moment I received your most valued letter,
I exclaimed, Oh, my dear St. Joseph, how much I thank you who
hast given to that good Father the inspiration to help me in my
present agony. I cannot describe to you the sorrowful condition
in which I find myself. As many farthings as you have sent me,
I pray that they may become so many precious graces, which may
fill with benediction the families who give such blessed help
to us poor abandoned religious.’”