L E T T E R S

306to Belgium. For a certain time it has been his fixed idea. He is the same priestyou hear tell of last year who had a beginning of a mental health problem. Thatactually took place nearly a year ago. Fortunately he has come out of it and forfive months he has been living with us. I have not seen any trace of it. He haseven confided to me the nature of his alienation and would attribute it rather tosome quite spiritual influences which he suffered than to simple organicderangement. Moreover, Father Dłuski is not a learned man but a priest of themost fervent piety of the most regular morals and the purest.I am taking the liberty of asking for him a letter for some superior ofthat convent’s order or for some pious Belgian person whowould be kindenough to help him realise his cherished project.He is provided with very fine certificates from bishops and pastorsamong others the bishop of Nevers, of the pastor of St. Roch, of the Abbeyé auBois where he now says Mass. As I have that firm conviction too that you runno danger of compromising yourself by your recommendation of this worthypriest, I am very confident in your inexhaustable kindness for us, our very dearCount, and I ask you for that letter with real insistance, sure of obtaining it ifyou have the means of giving it. In case there would be some particulardifficulties of his entry into a convent of the Franciscans and it would be easierto place him in some other monastery Father Dłuski would be resigned to goahead provided that the rule and the diet were austere. He speaks little French,little German, so he would not be suitable neither for confession nor preaching.He would make an excellent religious under vows, tireless for the churchoffices, very zealous and very capable for any bursar job. Will you, dearCount, take into charitable consideration this matter.Mr. Caesar goes daily to Amiens to make a retreat under the directionof Father Lacroix.(MSS 8627, pp. 736, 737, 738, 739, CRR)