Odin, Bishop John Mary, Turin, Italy, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1845 August 6

Odin wanted to write from Lyons but found no time. He spent three weeks there presenting the interests of Texas to the Council of the Association of the Propagation of the Faith . On July 20 Odin officiated at Father Boué 's for the feast of St. Vincent de Paul; they talked much about Louisiana. Blanc's letter of June 11 reached Odin July 29, two days before he left Lyons. Both he and Boué rejoiced to see that Blanc had decided to buy St. Patrick's Church . Odin could not see Mr. Maynis but he immediately talked to Father Desgeorges who promised to refer Blanc's request to the Council. The Cardinal welcomed Odin graciously and granted him several deacons or subdeacons; as for priests he did not want to talk about it. There is not a Community without a chaplain; almost all the small parishes of 600 or 700 have an assistant. Odin has mentioned Blanc's pressing need of priests to the directors of the seminary and they have promised to consider it. The Marist Fathers are solidly established at Lyons. Father Cholleton is the soul of the new Company; there are already several houses in France. The belief is that the persecution of the Jesuits will not have bad results but it is sad to see how many enemies they have even among the clergy. Odin saw Father Stephen Rousselon 's brother and gave him the things he was commissioned to. Odin's stay at Turin will be short; he hopes to leave tomorrow. He would like to be in Rome for the feast of the Assumption. Mr. Choiselat gave Odin the 4000 francs for Cardinal James Philip Fransoni :: V-5-d A.L.S. French 3pp. 4to. 12