Letter to Fr. Ryan S.J.

ReadAboutContentsHelp
Letter from M. Michael Corcoran, Loreto Convent, Rathfarnham to Fr. Ryan S.J., Australia. This letter, refers to the 1916 Rising in Dublin, where three Loreto houses were surrounded by ‘fighters and two of Ours had narrow escapes from stray bullets.’ A member of the community at 53 Stephen’s Green, was awoken at 11.30 p.m. ‘by the crash of a bullet through her window pane. It struck the wall opposite and fell on her bed.’ She did not alert the rest of the community, ‘assuming, it maybe supposed, that a second stray bullet would not come the same way.’ She fears what will ‘become of our poor country’, and although she hopes peace will soon be restored, ‘many fear disaffection among the Irish regiments.’ The three houses in Dublin ‘were in great danger, but all Ours kept up their courage wonderfully, and kept at the back of the houses to avoid bullets.....The house on the north side had not enough to eat for a short time.’

Pages

p. [1]
Indexed

p. [1]

Loreto Convent, Rathfarnham, 14.5.1916.

Dear Father,

Some letters out of this country were censored during the late troubles but Sister Margaret wishes you to know some things about her. During the last retreat for superiors she had to speak to Fr. Fagan about her promise regarding the Rules. He encouraged her greatly and advised her to pray for trials. "splinters of the Cross" he called them, never to be let pass a day without a few. Her ordinary confessor did not approve of her making that petition and recommended instead the abandoning of self to God to let Him do as He pleases with her and all belonging to and relating to her. That is just what she feels drawn to, so she makes that offering now and then, especially at Mass.

Your saying that her letters helped you reminded her of the fable of the mouse helping the lion. Do you remember it? The lion spared the mouse, and the mouse gnawed a net in which, later, the lion had been caught. The mouse was grateful, so is Sister M.

That is enough about S.Margaret for the present.

We all got on very well during the late rising, but we were very anxious. Three of our houses were surrounded by fighters and two of Ours had narrow escapes from stray bullets. An account has gone to Mary's Mount, if the censor let it pass, and the people there will surely tell you about us. In 53 Stephen's Green one of the nuns was awakened at 11,30 p.m. by the crash of a bullet through her window pane. It struck the wall opposite and fell on her bed. She got up to feel, as she said, if she were alive, and then went

Last edit about 6 years ago by John B Howard
p. [2]
Indexed

p. [2]

back to bed where she kept on praying till morning. She thought it best not to alarm the, others, assuming, it may be supposed, that a second stray bullet would not come the same way. What will be come of our poor country now? By the time you get this matters may have settled down, but many fear disaffection among the Irish regiments. God grant peace may be restored soon, It is not easy to say, "Thanks be to God" for such troubles. The worst part for us out here was to be in suspense concerning the three houses in Dub lin, all of which were in great danger, but all Ours kept up their courage wonderfully, and kept at the back of the houses to avoid bullets. Not a pane of glass was broken in one, and only one page in each of the other houses. The house on the north side had not enough to eat for a short time.

Hoping you may get more vocations as time goes on, and that the new members may be the making of saints.

I remain, dear Father, Yours very gratefully in J.C. Mary Michael, IBVM.

Last edit about 6 years ago by John B Howard
Displaying all 2 pages