June 7, 1892 – To General Superior Sr. M. Edward, from Monsignor O’Bryan, Rome, Italy

20 Via Sistina, Rome
June 7, 1892
Dear Mother Edward,

Your telegram arrived this morning at 7.15. It required no answer by wire. At the Propaganda, I hear that the death of Bp. O’Reilly suspends all contentious matter. The first act is over. The second cannot commence only with a new Bishop.

A few weeks ago, Propaganda wrote to the late Bishop that the matter should be arranged amicably. A vote of the Sisters should be taken by the Bishop, not by a priest, much less by a Confessor, and then it would be considered at Rome.

The great difficulty in your case is that your Constitutions are not approved of in Rome. It weakens, if it does not destroy, my former arguments regarding internal jurisdiction, and each house would fall as a separate Institute under the control of the Diocese.

Try to win your Sisters over to unity and weed out while you may, the malcontents. The future of your case is far off, for Bishops are not nominated in a day.

Yours Faithfully,
Henry O'Bryen
Source: 407-409-A, General Secretary Fonds, Annals of the Congregation/Generalate series, Volume 1861-1892, p. 322, Archives, Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul.
Catherine McKinley’s Letters

This letter is part of a large database of correspondence written by and to Catherine McKinley, who is considered one of the founders of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul. As a Sister of Providence she was known by her religious name Mother Mary Edward.

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