Father Fr. Vicente Xaus, Franciscan, residing in the Franciscan Convent
of Gerona, by an extra sacramental commission from Eulalia Forcat,
dwelling in the Hospicio of that city, with the intention to assume the
scapulary of a sister, gives information to the Holy Tribunal, that
Joseph Jalbert, merchant, a resident, as well as the other persons
referred to, in this city of Barcelona, and now residing in the
Callejuela de San Antonio, in a house where a herbseller keeps, uttered
about two years ago, certain insulting language about Ecclesiastics,
both secular and regular, saying they were a set of vagabonds, and that
he would not give them money, with many other things which she has
forgotten. These words were said at the house and in the presence of
Señor Francisco Galup, merchant, living in the Calle de la Merced, and
who can give further information of the facts. At another time, and in
the presence of the abovementioned Eulalia Forcat and Augustina Buxeras,
a resident in the Calle de Basea, besides his accustomed speeches above
described, he took a paper on which was the figure of a Saint, and
rubbed it over his posteriors outside of his clothes. The said Eulalia
also saw him open a book containing many indecent figures.
Furthermore, in the name of the same person, he denounces to the Holy
Tribunal the following matter. Father Fr. Antonio Puig, of Barcelona, a
monk of my seraphic order, and residing in the Grand Convent of
Barcelona, a thing which grieves me exceedingly, hearing the confession
of this person, in which she informed him that she was mortifying
herself with the exercise of the penal discipline, he visited her one
day when she was confined to her bed by indisposition, and speaking of
her penance, she discovered to him a portion of her body where she had
applied it, when the abovementioned Father examined it, and felt it with
his hand, asking her if it pained her where he touched. This business,
God be thanked, proceeded no further.
He furthermore states that the said Father did even worse than this to
the abovementioned Augustina, as he had learned from her own mouth. He
had ascertained from her confession, that she also was practising the
penal exercise, and went to her house one day, where he disciplined her
so violently that she was unable to sit down. She sent for the
abovementioned Eulalia to examine her, fearing that she had received
some wound. The said Eulalia does not recollect that she stated he had
disciplined her twice before, but remembers that she asserted she had
seen a part of the good Father’s body uncovered.
Upon these matters the Holy Tribunal will institute the necessary
proceedings.
P. VICENTE XAUS, _Franciscan_.
Gerona, June 2d, 1807.
P. S. Both the above occurrences happened about two years ago.
Nevertheless a few days after the confession, I remember that the said
Eulalia told me they continued to confess to the same Father.
* * * * *
In the city of Gerona, on the twentieth day of June, one thousand eight
hundred and seven, before Dr Narciso Coll, Presbyter, Inquisitor
Honorary, and Commissary, appointed for this investigation, and me
Joseph Gasull, Presbyter Notary, both sworn to preserve secrecy, and
perform faithfully our duties, appeared voluntarily, and made oath to
declare the truth and preserve secrecy in everything which she knew, and
about which she might be interrogated, a person calling herself Eulalia
Forcat, of the city of Barcelona, aged about thirty years, a nun and
attendant upon the foundlings in the Royal Hospicio of this city.
Questioned, if she knew or conjectured the cause of her being summoned
to appear by the Holy Office.
Answered, that she did not know.
Questioned, if she knew or had heard that any person had said or done
anything which was, or appeared to be, contrary to Our Holy Catholic
Faith and Evangelical Law, or against the just proceedings of the Holy
Office.
Answered, that about two years since, being in this city, and serving as
a domestic in the house of Señor Francisco Galup, merchant, in the Calle
de la Merced, she heard on many occasions, Joseph Jalbert, merchant, a
young man, a native of Puigcerda, and who transacted business in this
house for a year, and then removed with his parents to the Calle de San
Antonio, utter various insulting and abusive words against the Priests,
both secular and regular, disputing often at table with the said Señor
Francisco Galup, respecting matters of religion, declaring that the
Priests were a parcel of useless vagabonds, and that they ought to be
set to work, with other assertions of the same kind, which were uttered
repeatedly in the presence of the deponent and Augustina Buxeras, both
domestics in the house, Señora Maria Galup, Cayetano Galup, and Señor
Francisco Galup. He persisted in this language, notwithstanding they all
checked and rebuked him, in particular the abovementioned Señor
Francisco Galup.
On another occasion the deponent being in company with the aforesaid
Augustina Buxeras, in the kitchen of the house, the abovementioned
Joseph Jalbert took a paper, on which was the figure of a Saint, and
with approbrium to religion passed it behind him over his clothes. And
when they rebuked him in a christian manner, he laughed and left them.
At the same time she saw in the room in which he dwelt, three books,
bound in the French manner, of a small size, and containing very
indecent pictures of men and women. Neither the author of the books nor
the subject were known to her, as they were in French. He kept them in
his possession while he remained in the house, and on his departure took
them with him.
Questioned, what was the age, personal appearance, residence, &c. of the
abovementioned person.
Answered, that he was then about twentyone or twentytwo years old, of a
moderate stature, fleshy, with a face somewhat long, and flaxen hair. He
was unmarried, and engaged in mercantile trade. She believed that he
lived at present in Barcelona.
Questioned, if she knew that any other person had said or done anything
which was or appeared to be contrary to our Holy Faith or against the
just proceedings of the Holy Office.
Answered, No.
The above being read to her she declared that it was faithfully recorded
conformably to her own declaration, and that she had nothing to add or
alter respecting it, as it was the truth. She further stated that she
had not done it out of malice, or ill will against the said Joseph
Jalbert, but solely to discharge her conscience. Secrecy was enjoined
upon her, which she promised; and the deponent, not being able to write,
I, the said Commissary, sign in her name.
NARCISO COLL, _Presbyter, and for
the said Deponent_.