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Scope and Contents Blanc's letter of October 29 was received in San Antonio the evening before Odin left there to return to Galveston. Odin hardly knows what to reply to the request of Cardinal Barnabè about the vows of the Visitation Sisters . At the time of their founding these Sisters made only simple vows. At the advice of Cardinal de Marquemort of Lyons. St. Francis de Sales commented, contrary to his first plan, to make this congregation a religious order. After confirmation by Pope Paul V their vows...

Scope and Contents Yesterday Odin replied to Blanc's letter of October 29; he has just received the one of the twentieth of this month. He will not repeat what he said about the vows of the Visitation Sisters. Odin contracted a severe cold at San Antonio on All Saints Day. He would like to make a trip to New Orleans; it would be difficult to leave before Christmas. If the young man leaving the seminary at St. Louis wants to come here, Odin will gladly accept him. He has 4 young men studying under Father...

Scope and Contents Odin thanks Blanc for carrying out his little commissions. They have received the wine sent by Gandolfo and Company. Odin sends an order on Philip? Rotchford for $54.50, the amount of the bill. Odin could not set out last week for the Brazos, Santiago. The boat came during the night and left while they were asleep. The captain has promised to take Odin on his next trip. According to the advice Blanc gave, Odin would like to give up this trip but it is so urgent that he does not dare. By...

Scope and Contents Odin returned to Galveston yesterday. Blanc's letter of October 14 came back by the same boat. He hopes to come to New Orleans for the council. He has thought of questions it would be useful to submit to the council but has found none not already settled is preceding councils. The division of the diocese of Galveston would be desirable because of the immensity of the state but he doubts that it would be practicable. There is no other important town in the state except San Antonio . If this...

Scope and Contents Odin has just received Blanc's letter of the 10th? and understands how urgent it is to get a successor for Natchez . Propaganda will not hesitate to conform to Blanc's views. The three names proposed seem very suitable. Perhaps Father John de Blieck, S.J., if there was hope of getting him, would be more useful than the two first. Natchez needs an active man not afraid of the fatigue and privations of journeys. Fathers Edward Purcell and James M. Lancaster are accustomed to a sedentary life;...

Scope and Contents Odin sends New Year's greetings and his gratitude for all of Blanc's kindness. Odin is going to send Father Rousselon $50 for Blanc to add to the amount received for Dr. Levi Silliman Ives . If Blanc does not think this is enough, he could add $25. Odin is drawn into much expense for a mission which has no other resources except the Propagation of the Faith. It would take 4 or 5 years to pay the debts. The establishment of the Ursulines of San Antonio cost almost 11,000 piastres; that of the...

Scope and Contents The trip from New Orleans to Galveston was pleasant enough. The Sisters Ursulines ? thank Blanc for making it possible to begin the building which they need so much. They will make the necessary preparations. Yesterday Odin received a letter from the new Bishop Thaddeus Amat ? of Monterey; he seems to want to be on good terms with his neighbor Texas and invited Odin to pay him a little visit. Perhaps Odin could go next summer. Bishop John Timon had spoken to him about odin. Archbishop John...

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Odin presents Mr. Johnson and his wife, two of their good Catholics of Texas and Odin's best friends in this country. Johnson will bring a roll, the plan of the new Ursuline convent they plan to build. Blanc is to give it to Mother St. Seraphine Ray, R.U. :: VI-1-g A.L.S. French 1p. 8vo.

Scope and Contents This letter will be brought by Father Michael Sheehan whom Odin has given permission to make the trip to New Orleans: Sheehan has succeeded with much difficulty in having a church built at Austin, the capital of the state and he wishes to acquire a bell, candlesticks, and other articles he cannot find here. Sheehan, besides the mission at Austin, has charge of visiting the military posts of Austin on the frontiers of the country. The soldiers have been the greatest benefactors of the church...

Scope and Contents Father Peter F. Parisot, O.M.I. has just arrived and Odin has learned that Blanc is back in New Orleans. Odin did not write during Blanc's pastoral visits. Odin thanks Blanc for the permission he gave to Parisot and to Father Peter Marie Lacour to make a little collection in Louisiana. Small though the help of these collections might be, they are precious in a country deprived of all resources. The seminary or St. Mary's college is about finished. The plasterers will begin in a few weeks....

Scope and Contents Odin is going to give a retreat for his clergy. Father Gilbert Raymond has promised to direct it. Will it be possible for Blanc to give Raymond a leave of several days for this? When Blanc writes to Father Stephen Rousselon he is to ask him to bring the articles of which Odin gave him a list. Odin has the money to reimburse him for his small purchases. Odin received a letter from San Antonio which greatly disturbs him. Mother St. Patrick, R.U. has just been attacked by typhoid fever. The...

Scope and Contents Blanc has been so kind to Father Joseph Anstaett and Texas that Odin cannot refuse the request Blanc has addressed to him. So Blanc may give Anstaett Father F. Zeller 's post until his return from Europe so as to be at New Orleans at the beginning of July. Anstaett has never had the yellow fever and Odin fears an attack if he spends the entire summer in New Orleans. It will be difficult to replace him at Victoria but Odin will send a priest there from time to time. Father Louis Claude Marie...

Scope and Contents The young missionaries who are to arrive from France have finished their course in theology. Odin intends to ordain them soon and have them study English and Spanish. Blanc is to send them to Galveston when the boat which brought them from Havre arrives at New Orleans. He thinks they will have money enough to pay their passage here. Father Denavit advanced them 2600 francs on Odin's account. Father Louis Claude Marie Chambodut is on a trip along the Red River. There are many isolated...

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This will be brought by Father Dominic Mesens, O.M.C. who is going to Europe to bring some new priests of his order. Blanc is to authorize him to say Mass during his short stay in New Orleans. He wishes to go by a sailing vessel; Odin thinks there would be one every day for Havre. If Blanc has need of some Belgian missionaries, he could perhaps get some for him. He has many acquaintances in that country. :: VI-1-j A.L.S. French 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Odin has been back in Galveston since of 20th. During the summer he visited a good part of the Rio Grande Valley. However the flood prevented him from going everywhere. The number of Catholics is growing considerably. The Mexican revolutions have forced many families to take refuge in Texas. At Laredo, Odin lost his mule. The only carriage horse he could find was a little mettlesome; he overturned the carriage while crossing a deep brook. Odin came out of it with a black eye. From...

Scope and Contents Odin sends his New Year's greetings. On January 6, his priests will meet here for the retreat. Because of the difficulty of obtaining an outside priest, Odin will direct the exercises himself. He would need to go to New Orleans but could not set out until near the end of January. For a long time he had promised Father Louis Claude Marie Chambodut several months of vacation; he plans to visit his native country. They will probably leave together; if Blanc has any commissions in Europe,...

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They have just closed their retreat; Odin was edified by the 16 who attended. Father Bernard? O'Reilly showed Odin the letter Blanc wrote to him. O'Reilly's debts on his church are so urgent that he should make some effort to honor them. Odin asks Blanc to permit O'Reilly to collect at New Orleans. If the Propagation of the Faith does not come to Odin's aid he will never be able to pay his pressing debts. :: VI-1-l A.L.S. French 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents A Miss Rosalie Michel of Father Caretta's parish, married about 10 years ago Manuel Raga ? of the same parish. The marriage was performed by a justice of the peace. Rosalie said that Caretta was away then and that the nearest priests were at New Orleans. After 4 or 5 years she obtained a divorce. She has been here for several days and has had offers which she is accepting. Does Blanc think the first marriage valid or not? Father Savelli knew her and Odin is sending Blanc a few lines for...

Scope and Contents Odin has completed his pastoral visit for this year. He has been away from Galveston for 7 months and 10 days, covered 2105 miles, confirmed 11,000 persons. He has traveled in places overrun with Indians and never was in danger. On arriving here he learned of the erection of the new archbishopric and rejoices; he will try never to grieve his metropolitan. He is alone at Galveston; the parish has been without a pastor for 5 weeks. Father Mariano Maller, C.M. has dealt a terrible blow to...

Scope and Contents This will be brought by Mr. Kennedy, administrator of Mr. McIntee 's estate. Bishop John Baptist Lamy arrived here yesterday and is going to continue on his way tonight. Odin would like to keep him at least a week but he seems anxious to get to San Antonio. If Father Antonio Severino Borrajo comes through New Orleans again, Blanc is to tell him that his trip is to be paid by Lamy. He has already cost Odin's poor mission of Texas enough, not to expose Odin further to new expenses with his...

Scope and Contents Odin has just received Blanc's letter of the 8th and learns with pleasure of the nomination for Natchez and the approval of the decrees. Odin hopes that Blanc will find in his desk the copies of the letter written to the Pope and to the Cardinal Prefect. Bishop Martin was to write the latter; he could not and Blanc asked Odin to write it. After the Council, Blanc asked for copies. Odin had them transcribed; when he returned to Galveston he sent them to Blanc who acknowledged receipt of them....

Scope and Contents Odin received Blanc's letter of May 23. It seems to Odin that the Congregation of Propaganda does not have the intention of obliging Blanc to insert the decree of the Council of St. Louis in the body of their own decrees but to indicate what step they could follow in ecclesiastical judgments. Odin's opinion would be to insert them not in the body of the New Orleans decrees but as an appendix. Odin believes that Blanc's secretary has copied the St. Louis decree wrongly; the Council of Trent...

Scope and Contents Their crossing was short and very pleasant. The volunteers, come to increase their number on the field of battle, behaved very well. Odin found the people of Galveston quite quiet. They complain much about the hard times and speak seriously about the necessity of invading Mexico. There are almost 2000 men at Corpus Christi; 500 are about to leave Galveston to join them and they expect 1000 or 1500 from New Orleans and Mobile. Shortages are felt especially in the West and corn is so scarce...

Scope and Contents There is nothing new in Texas affairs since Odin's last letter except a rumor that 1200 Mexican's are approaching San Antonio. It is believed to be a false report. He has also just been told that Mr. McMullen, one of their best Catholics of that town has been massacred with his wife and six orphans. He hopes this is also false. They are continuing preparations for an expedition against Mexico but when it will take place they do not know. Misery is at its peak especially in the West. Odin has...

Scope and Contents Odin received Blanc's letter from New York and the enclosed papers. The members of the Texan Congress met at Houston the 27th of last month. The militia is organizing but it is probable that there will be no serious move. The treasurer does not have a sou and the president senses the absurdity of undertaking a war without resources. Also, spirits are calmer and those who seemed strongest for invading Mexico are beginning to see it would be foolhardy. The volunteers from the United States are...

Scope and Contents Odin is back in Galveston after an absence of 5 weeks. He has just spent a month at Houston and 10 days along the Brazos. On July 18 he opened the chapel at Houston; it is a small building 50 by 25 feet and suitable to the present situation. When the people are better off he will have it plastered. A Protestant gave Odin 6 acres of land on the Brazos for a church. There are about 95 Catholics around there, originally from Kentucky and very fond of their religion. They have promised to build...

Scope and Contents Mr. Peacock will give Blanc this letter with a little package for Mother Ste. Seraphine Ray, R . U. ; it is the plan of their house Ursulines . Odin returned last Saturday from Houston where he installed Fathers John Lynch, C.M. and James Fitzgerald, the two priests who arrived after Odin left New Orleans. Father Philip Dowley, C.M. did him a great favor in sending these young missionaries. Lynch preaches very well; what pleases Odin especially is his good spirit and humility. Fitzgerald is...

Scope and Contents He has just received Blanc's letter of the 7th. Just before that he received one from Castroville which plunged him into sadness. Father Matthew Chazelle died September 1. His devotion endeared him to everyone and Odin had placed great hopes in his zeal. Odin wrote to Father Peter Ogé and told him he would say the 15 masses. They will gladly take the 800 intentions left by Father Anthony Resch . The letter Blanc forwarded for the Archbishop contained the bulls for the erection of the see of...

Scope and Contents Odin received Blanc's letter. The news of the erection of the new archbishopric distresses him. Their town has suffered greatly; they have lost over a hundred people. All at the house have been ill except Father John Brands, C.M. . The death of Father Bartholomew Rollando, C.M. on the 11th was very edifying. Blanc is to have it put in the Propagateur; Odin feels too weak to write to Father Perché. The Sisters have not had a single case of fever. On the address side of the letter in Blanc's...

Scope and Contents Their crossing from New Orleans to Galveston was prompt and favorable. The Ursulines Welcomed the new Sisters with joy. They are now in a position to do justice to the most exacting parents. But the deplorable state of their little town does not permit them to count on a flourishing school. Perhaps the country will furnish some pupils. Odin's young Spaniard received minor orders yesterday; today Odin ordained him a subdeacon. All have begun the study of English. He found Father James Millar...