O'Connor, Michael, Bp. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Bishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1846 September 17

Father Joseph O'Mealy showed him the letter which he received from Purcell a few days ago. O'Connor assures Purcell that he regards O'Mealy as very necessary now. He sees no one whom he can put in his place, and further he has every hope for success in building up an excellent institution. In regard to Father Francis M. Serenbetz he wishes to say that Serenbetz gave an explanation of the "Office" affair. It appears that a former bishop of his diocese gave a general dispensation from the breviary and that since few priests of the diocese say it. A few years ago Serenbetz and others formed the design of introducing it again and actually went to work to learn to say the office!!!!! It is not to be expected that he would say it in traveling. The only breviary he had was a Benedictine totum. So far from being opposed to the Office he really admires it. One of the Redemptorists got him a Roman Breviary which he probably uses. O'Connor says he merely gives the facts. II-4-j - A.L.S. - lp. - 8vo - {4}