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No. 6
7/3/10/1
— Dear Christi Passio. —
Appronesse of the Pleased Virgin Mary, Provincial of the Anglo-Hibernian Province of St. Joseph.
To the Very Rev. St. Consultors, Dectors, Superiors, Master of Roomes, and all the Triests, Students and Lay Prothers of the Anglo-Hibernian Province of the Congregation of the Passion.
Sealth and Peace in the Lord.
Having obtained the required permission of the Most Rev. St. General, I have now great pleasure to announce to you the Convocation of the Ninth Provincial Chapter of our Province.
We appoint the Least of St. John the Paptist, 24th day of June, as the date for opening the Chapter, and we destine this Retreat of St. Joseph as the place for holding the said Chapter.
At all times the conversing of a Provincial Chapter must be a subject of deep interest to all true Religious, because it is an event pregnant with results of a vital nature for the good of the Province - the Girl of God, and the spiritual advancement and happiness of the Religious.

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Themselves - But in the present instance, a more than usual importance attaches to the event by reason of preceding circumstances and our present position -
It is not unknown to you, most dear Patherin in Chick (for you have been our participators in some) that it pleased God to send us some heroy crosses - But thanks to the Biscuit Mercy (and we would have you be participators of our fog, we have not been without our consolations -
Not the least unought there crosses, have come from those of the Household - "The plagatis surin in dome crown qui deligebant one" Vae-XII-6 - Those whose vocation have been shipwrecked - those who having first unfully treated, have afterwards turned against our common Mother the Congregation, and abandoned her - But if defections in the ranks have been numerous, there is a manly spirit of devotion, fidelity and love filling the breasts of the Congregation's Stue Chilbren, which has been communaredly intensified - For is this the only good which God has drawn out of evil - It is well known that those who lose the spirit of the Congregation, become infectious to those centres of discontent and disloyalty, drawing around themselves weak but here to be unminned dangers of their vocation - That an element of this dangerous nature was kept alive, was sensibly felt and seen in its bangful effects, yet baffling for years the best efforts of superiors

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to extinguish it, is a notorious fact; thanks to the Divine Weres. Their departure has cleared the moral atmosphere, & has present there reigns harmony, peace, contemptant and mutual confidence amongst the Religious in each Retreat of the Province. May God preserve this Spirit, and bless with a special blessing, those who labour to murture and cherish it.
We cannot divell upon the fate of those who are lost to the Congregation without taking a leson to ourselves - Every tree that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down. "Omnis arbri qua non facit" fructum bonum excidetur. Matt. II. 10. - St. Paul tells us in what consists this fruit which we are to produce, in order to save ourselves from the doom - "Habetis fructum vestrum in sanctificationem." Rom. VI. 22. - You have your fruit unto sanctification - Let us therefore keep on our course, run the good race, fly idleness and frivolity, be earnest, confident - yet fearful - "Let him who thinks himself to stand, take head less he fall." Cor. 10. 12. - In one word, adopt the advice of the Apostle; - "Quafrisptin, magis satigite, ut per bona spura certam vestram vocationem et electionem faciatis." 2 Sep. 1. 10. Wherefore Butham, labour the more, that by good works, you may make sure your calling and election -

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A second source of consolation and a subject of congratulation comes to us from the marsellous fruit, flowing from the labours of our Missionary Fathers. The number of active and efficient Missionaries being increased, the Missions & Petreats given, are far in excess of what we have hereto been able to undertake. Whilst the Divine Pleasing, which in a special manner accompanies the Missionary labours of our poor Congregation in three Countries, has been made manifest in the fruits reaped, & the even increasing calls for the Apostolic labours of our Fathers. In important duty deposing on the Capitulars, will be to give form to a code of Pepulations for Missions and Missionaries in the nations Apostolic labours they are called upon to undertake, in order that in so important and such distinctive duties, there may be complete uniformity in principle and practice. (These Rules as far as can be consistently used by our Fathers in Italy - I invite the Fathers, especially those who have had greater experience on Missions, to send any remarks or suggestions they may deem it useful to make upon our present session of giving Missions & Petreats - This can be done by letter addressed to me, any time previous to the Chapter -

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A third and important event, is a source of great rationality and thanksgiving, viz. The foundation & success of the "Humato" in Pt. Tule Retrieved Dublin. The great and unexpected difficulties that beet this work at its commencement, are not unknown to you. If these were not indications of its being God's work, we have but had manifest good in the results attained up to the present. some having already been prepared and drafted into the Rovitists, and nearly as large a number as we can accommodate are at present studying and preparing themselves for the Roviship. We cannot over estimate the important results for the Province, that we may now confidently hope for, from this preparatory School.
To revise the Rules and Regulations, and give permanent form to this new institution amongst us, will be another of the important tasks just before the forthcoming Chapter.
The Election of Superiors is undoubtedly the most momentous and principal work of the Chapter, since so much defends upon those who are chosen by God to assume responsibilities such as are introduced in the various Offices of Superiors amongst us.
Read I, therefore, Most dear Brethren in Christ, wroge upon you, that it is not only the duty, but the

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interest - I all, to take much to heart the issue of the coming Chapter - Is make light of - much more to self - sneer all, and turn into redicule, one of God's Institutions, and, of the Church's bedinances, for the salvation of souls, and our Sanctification, would clearly manifest a corrupt heart, and an evil and wrethed spirit, from which, May God deliver us all -
Is beseech the Mighty by our prayers, to fulfil in the coming Assembly, the promise made unto us by Jesus Christ, - "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt. XVIII. 20 - and to implore the Holy Spirit promised unto us - to be with the assembled Fathers, to enlighten, guide and direct them in all their deliberations and decisions - is clearly the duty of every faithful loving child of the Congregation -
As such then, faithful and loving Children, I exhort all to pray, and to pray fervently, and without fainting, that the Divine Wisdom may direct the Councils - the Divine Light of the Holy Spirit guide the Elections, and the promised presence of Jesus Christ guide to a happy result the deliberations of our coming Ninth Provincial Assembly - Desideres the private prayers which we all

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from each. We prescribe that from the date of the reception of this letter, until the 1st day of June, the Peligious shall receive during the time of afternoon meditation the following prayers:-
Sirse Latin, Aves and Glorias, in honour of St. Michael, St. Joseph and St. Eust of the Chock, with the respective Antiphone and prayers -
And from the 1st day of June until the 21st. the "Sene Creator," with Antiphon and prayer, and the "Letans of the St. J. M." with Antiphon and prayer "Concede," shall be added to, and precede precede the above prescribed prayers.
On the days of the Medium preceding the Chupter, as well as on the day of the Spring of the same, the Clerk and Law of the Masses shall receive Holy Communion -
We remind the Pectors to bring their "Littere Patentes," and the Pectors & Sectioners to bring to the Chupter the following documents: -
1. Certificate of the faithful exhibition of Masses signed by all the Patents of the House, except the Pector or Superior.2. Certificate of the faithful Reping of the Archibishop, signed by Pector or Superior, and

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Ucan -
3. In Inventory of House, Church & Sacrificy furniture.4. A correct financial statement of the Retired, Big. Income and Expenditure since last Chapter.5. A faithful statement of the debts of the Retired, showing monies borrowed at interest - the precentage paid - monies without interest - all outstanding debts and current Bills to date, including Rents, Taxes &c.
Finally, money in hand or Damt at the time of leaving Office -
The Capitular Fathers and Superiors of Houses are required to be here not later than the evening of the 20th of June, so as to assist at the initiation and preliminary meetings -
In conclusion, I implore God to pour down upon you in this acceptable Season and at all times, the abundance of His grace, and an increase in every virtue and peace and

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happiness
Your Humble Servant.
and Brother in Church.
Alphonsus of the 30. M.
C. P. - Nov.
Given at St. Joseph's Patriarch.
Highgate Hill. London. R.
Fount of the Patriarchal St. Joseph's.
March 19th - 1881.