LETTERS OF THE FOUNDER
1821 - 1841

LETTER 1

29 January 1821
To the Reverend Brother Vandenbossche in the Poor Boys' School in Grammont

Beloved Brother,
In Audenaard they are going to set up a school for poor children, a little like yours at Grammont; some children will live there and others will go and work there. I have been asked if it would be possible to put this school under the direction of the Brothers of St Joseph and under what conditions. I do not know what to reply in order to accomplish it according to our intentions. What do you think? Would it be possible to start something with one of your Brothers? It seems to me that this might be according to God's intentions. It would be good if you could come and see me before I reply.
In the meantime, assure our Brothers that I love them all in the Lord and, as you know, I am particularly well disposed towards you.
29/1821 Feast of St Francis de Sales.
C.V.C.
My compliments as always.

28 May 1821
To the Reverend Brother Vandenbossche in the Poor Boys' School in Grammont

Beloved Brother,
We have the right to hold religious services in our Church just as the Fathers formerly did. In my name, therefore, ask the Reverend Parish Priest of Deftinge if he will come on the approaching Feast, to water what he planted before Easter: and then, however he wishes, to celebrate religious services on the days convenient to him. The only thing you must be careful about is to schedule the religious services in our Church at different times to those in the Parish Church.
Please assure the Reverend Parish Priest of Deftinge of my respects for his Excellency (???) and receive my normal good wishes.
Affectionately,
Alost 28 May 1821
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

22 March 1822

Monsieur le Superieur
When I returned this evening I received the news that Mr Veervyn (???) had intended to let me know that he would be away longer than he had told me and that he cannot accompany us on our intended visit to the schools this week. This visit will be postponed until Friday week.
Ghent 22 March 1822.
G.C. Van Crombrugghe

3 September 1823
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Ghent 3 September 1823

Dear Father Superior ,
I believe that I feel that the merciful God is giving you and all your confreres great signs of goodness during these days of happiness. I rejoice with you, and I am taking advantage of this occasion to remind you that certain abuses must be uprooted and that you must address yourself to this task with some force.
Over and above that which we already noted on the occasion of our last journey, it must be further noted that:
1. The lists have not been edited according to the Rules, and that this must be done more speedily than other things which have been done with zeal but without the proper spirit ... List of the Church in which each object is clearly noted ... List of books which should be approved by me (you have some forbidden books in your Convent) ... List of furniture etc.
2. During the holidays the above mentioned lists must be made up and sent to me. After that, when I have made any corrections, they are to be written out in the manner which I will explain to you when you come and see me with Brother Stanislas .
Next I order you, Reverend Father Superior, to do everything with zeal during your retreat, and not to concern yourself too deeply or fearfully with matters. You must put charity above all else.
Receive my blessing and be assured of my sincere affection
C.G.V.C.

28 December 1824

Reverend Superior ,
I am sending you the reports with those feelings of satisfaction that I experience when I have done something which should be useful and pleasant for you.
With renewed zeal you and your confreres are going to help me to make use of these various means which we have found to achieve our goals: to protect our growing young people from so many bad and impious principles which threaten our holy religion in our country with a regrettable destruction, by inspiring in them good principles of Christian sentiment! In effect, my beloved Superior, what use would be my efforts and all the means which divine Providence has given us without a sincere and persevering will on your part to lead them to a good end? Be assured, however great the evil might be, and notwithstanding the fierce resistance it offers to any possible cure, your prudence, your zeal and, above all, your trust in God will bring down the blessings of the Lord on your efforts and at the end your work will be crowned with success ... Assure your disciples that they will gather the first fruits of their good conduct, and that the strict observance of what you tell them before God is the best way of becoming His friends and protecting and continuing the Catholic religion in our town, the most precious of all paths.
Receive my good wishes and my blessing at this time of Festival and remain assured of my sincere affection for you all.
Alost 28 December 1824
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

29 January 1929

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Monsieur le Superieur,
I am pleased to be able to inform you that Mr Ildephonse will continue to work for you until at least Easter.
He arrived at Ghent yesterday evening. He had just come from Brussels where he had gone to talk with his brother.
Along with your other Superiors I find that Mr Ildephonse is responsive to a gentle approach.
May God graciously bless our efforts and may his mercy save us from the evils which both our infidelities and those of our Brothers could bring down upon us!
Your devoted father in Jesus Christ.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe.
Ghent 29 January 1825

30 July 1830

Reverend Father Superior
Having heard you and your confreres, and having asked for inspiration from heaven, it seems to me to be necessary to read the following out in Chapter.
I praise God for all the graces which he so mercifully bestows on your community, and encourage many of your confreres to continue to walk conscientiously in the path of their sublime vocation. Truly, I am greatly consoled that several among you are fighting courageously against the devil, the world and the flesh; and that you are working with zeal at the work of the Lord. Thank God!
Nevertheless my satisfaction is not quite complete; there are still some things to correct: silence is not generally respected; fraternal charity is not what it should be among the Brothers of the quiet and merciful Joseph. Some of your Brothers are too concerned with the well-being of their bodies and the accomplishment of their own will, and far too unconcerned about what the Rule demands of all. Take care that on-one continues to neglect the duties of their vocation, reprimand those who do not follow the Rule with zeal, and make them see the great loss that they suffer in interrupting silence, in neglecting the mortification of the senses, in not practising tolerance, in becoming slack about the Rule. They will weep bitterly when the day of Divine justice appears if, instead of a great reward, they have earned punishment! I hope that this fate will not come to any of your Brothers, and that in the future no-one will neglect the means that God has given us.
In order to unburden you a little, Father Superior, I will dispense you from some of the work you have been doing for me outside the Community.
Brother Assistant will help you conscientiously and will uphold the Rule in your absence.
(Here six rules have been rendered illegible.)
Finally I ask of each Brother that he should, at whatever personal cost, work to make the whole Community pleasing to our Divine Master Jesus Christ and to merit even more the intercession of his foster father, St Joseph.
With respect I name myself your most devoted spiritual Father.
Alost 30 July 1828
C.G.V.C. Priest.

10 December 1828
Mr Vandenbossche, Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Ghent 10 December 1828

Reverend Father Superior
At last I can find a moment to concern myself a little with you. First of all you will have realised, I think, that it has been impossible for me to reply to the letters I have received from you and Brother Vincent . Nevertheless it has been pleasant for me to receive the good wishes of you and all your Community, and I thank the Dispenser of all graces from the bottom of my heart.
Encourage yourself and your confreres in that love which we must all show towards our good Saviour and his holy Mother in this time of the great Feast that we are going to celebrate. Let us all thank God together for the many graces he has given us, and let us all with greater resolution aim to serve our heavenly Father more faithfully every day.
Each of you should reflect on what touched you most during the last retreat, and then place your good resolutions at Jesus' crib, in order to receive from our loveable Saviour His blessings and renewed grace to do everything better than ever.
I especially recommend that you live together in friendship and politeness, and that you should be, without exception, gentle and compassionate towards the children; without these four things you will never have a good community and you will never have good disciples; but with these same four qualities you will become a holy community and you will render great service to our Holy Church, especially if humble obedience is added.
Receive my paternal blessing and be assured of the sincere affection with which I am
Your spiritual Father,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon.
Member of the Episcopal Council .
Mr Vanderveken, Brother Augustin's brother, is now Curate at Aalter near Ghent and he lives there with his sister, I believe this will be good news for Brother Augustin

Reverend Father Superior
It has not been possible for me to reply to your letter, but you know what I think.
I have not yet taken any decision concerning the sale of the garden to Mr Monier; we will discuss this later.
I congratulate you on the graces which the Lord has given your Community today on the occasion of First Communions.
On the first of next month I will be at Rooborst with His Excellency. If you need to talk to me, you could come there, or, on the following days, to Zegelsem, Schoorisse, etc. (???) On the Sunday His Excellency will officiate at Renaix and administer Confirmation in the surrounding villages
Assure the Brothers of my affection for them, and of my wishes for their happiness.
Your affectionate servant,
Ghent 18 June 1830
C.G.V.C. Canon

LETTER NUMBER 10

23 August 1830
Reverend Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Reverend Father Superior
The postulant from near Courtrai has been to see me and I approve of him; he speaks good French and has good manners. He will come to you next week to start his noviciate and I will speak to him then with you. I think that it would be prudent to treat him gently, not to leave him to his own devices, and not to praise him too much in front of the other masters for fear of making them jealous.
I have received another letter from Rooborst; I think I shall have to send someone there shortly. It would perhaps be good to reflect on this matter and to ask the Lord to give us what we need in order to be able to start there as soon as possible. Nevertheless it should not be talked about too much because news travels very fast in your town. Teach your Brothers to listen and be silent, otherwise they will never be strong instruments of good in these difficult times. Say especially to the two Brothers who are going there tomorrow to say nothing about it except what everyone can be told. Perhaps it would be better for you to go yourself with Brother Augustin.
My cordial greetings to all your Brothers,
Your most affectionate spiritual Father,
Ghent 23 August 1830
C.G.V.C. Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 11

20 September 1830
To the Reverend Brother Vandenbossche, Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Reverend Brother
May the Lord's work be done, that is all I ask! Cutting off a dead branch can only do good to the tree. I dispense Brother Vincent from all his vows; get rid of him!! The Community will go forward much more easily without this obstacle.
You can come here on Friday and return on Saturday. In the circumstances you cannot leave the Convent for long. Trust in God.
Tell Miss Marie that you will speak to her face to face about all she has written to me.
Your affectionate spiritual Father,
Ghent 20 September 1830
C.G.V.C. Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 12

14 October 1830

Reverend Father Superior
I am enclosing the rosaries that you gave me to bless. I am sure you will be very happy to know that His Excellency our beloved Bishop is showing his regard for the Brothers of Joseph and Mary with new favours. Tomorrow, feast-day of the Holy Mother Teresa, the Institute of the Brothers of Joseph and Mary will be approved and honoured with spiritual favours. The same grace has been given to the Daughters of Mary and Joseph. Rejoice in the Lord for such a great joy, and try together to do all that is possible to become instruments worthy of God's mercy. I hope to come and speak to you shortly in Grammont, or even next week in Rooborst, to talk to you further about the Lord's abundant grace. Meanwhile, encourage yourself and your Confreres to gratitude and trust; truly, having received so many proofs of His love it would be astonishing not to feel these sentiments towards the good God.
Receive my paternal blessing and be assured of my sincere affection for all of you who bear with me the yoke of the Lord.
Your affectionate spiritual Father,
Ghent 14 October 1830
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon.
Be careful in these difficult circumstances.

LETTER NUMBER 13

27 October 1830
To Brother Stanislas

Good Brother
I was very pleased with your letter. I have a genuine affection for your community and it makes me happy to hear good reports on it. I thanked God when I learnt that the Superior's change of mind will help the Brothers make progress in the observation of the Rule which will as a result contribute to the good of religion in general.
For your part, do you best to show the Brothers how they should regard each other and especially their superiors. I am not at all surprised to learn that many of the Brothers were saddened by the departure of Fr Superior. They love him as a Father and he is worthy of their affection.
You must put a stop to the reading of the newspaper. Moinsegneur entirely disapproves of such a practice in Convents. I have given permission for the Brother Superior to read the "Vaderlander" from time to time in order to know a little about what is going on. In this way you also will be able to keep yourself up to date a little. But under no circumstances must a newspaper be read in the presence of the Brothers.
Be assured of my perfect devotion
G.C. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 27 October 1830

LETTER NUMBER 14

. 28 October 1830

Reverend Father Superior
Here is your Prospectus; publish it and send it to the Parish Priests. It is not necessary for the Brothers to go out to distribute the Prospectus.
I hope that you are now used to your new residence, as it is easier to have less work. Putting my confidence in the Lord and in your zeal to start everything well in Rooborst, I hope to see a good Community grow there. Supported by that confidence I will come to see you probably during the week after All Saints in order to bless the house.
Give my compliments to your confreres and, if Brother Francois is still with you, keep him there until I arrive.
Receive my paternal blessing and believe that I am truly,
Your affectionate spiritual Father
28 October 1830
C.G.V.C. Canon

LETTER NUMBER 15

22 January 1831
To the Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Brussels 22 January 1831

Reverend Brother Superior,
This morning I received your letter and those of Brothers Bernard and Stanislas , and I hasten to reply immediately.
First of all the regret that you feel in not being able to speak to me makes me feel that you would happily accept my advice on many things. I regret also that I cannot come to see you; as soon as possible I will do as both of us wish and have a long and broad discussion of our affairs. Whilst waiting for that moment, which will not be long in coming, I will give you some replies to your concerns.
1. Go forward carefully without introducing novelties, and try to act in everything and with everyone in a simple and gentle manner.
2. I cannot change the Rule and therefore the Father Superior can and must visit the Communities and control everything.
3. I cannot permit a priest to be placed in your Community to exercise religious authority.
4. Father Superior has never ceased to be kind to me; every month he sends me the Community accounts and also a report on his temporal concerns. I will bring you all his accounts and we can carefully audit them, month by month and year be year since 1817.
As far as Brothers Jacques and Jean are concerned, don't send them to Rooborst without speaking to me first; Father Superior would rightly find that odd. Without my permission a Brother Superior cannot send anyone from his Convent elsewhere; the Father Superior has this power, the Brother Superior not.
I regret to read in your letter that the Curates are coming to your Convent with less sympathy. What can be the cause of that?
I ask you not to get involved with the ecclesiastics in your town, nor to intervene in the Parish Priest's problems. This priest is known about at Bishop's House and I am not getting involved. Be careful. If you remember how far above you these men are elevated you will not dare to get involved in such matters which do not concern you.
In the hope that I shall shortly be with you, I end this letter by giving you my paternal blessing.
C.G.V.C
Keep this letter until I arrive and remind me to explain it to you in more detail.

LETTER NUMBER 16

22 February 1831
For Brother Stanislas

Dear Brother.
Thanks to your excellent attitude and the unity of purpose you have with your Brothers I left the Convent last week in a spirit of the greatest confidence that everything would be all right and that your religious life would be everything the Rule would wish. It is the Rule which should bring about your happiness here on earth and daily add to the merit which will accompany you to heaven. Therefore study this code of happiness and spiritual prosperity and following your duty observe all the rule requires and avoid everything it forbids. An understanding of your Rule will be of more value to you than grammar or any other temporal knowledge: The former is for this life the latter for eternity.
Make sure you get on well with Br Xavier and do what you can to help him espouse the apostolate of your order so that his failings will not result in the loss of his vocation.
Rest assured in my sincere devotion and do what you can to make God loved by everyone in your Convent.
You affectionate spiritual father
Brussels 22 Feb. 1831.
C.G.V.C. Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 17

12 March 1831
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in Rooborst near Zotteghem.

Reverend Father Superior
I am sending you the first part of your Rule hoping that you will find it acceptable and that through it you will be able better to prepare yourself for the Feast of St Joseph. You should read it first of all alone in order to understand the changes, and then read it to the Brothers. As soon as possible you should read it to the Brother Superior alone and make him see the goodness and favour of God towards you.
I am sorry that the matter of Brother Pierre is so little known about, but let us have trust in God and in the help of our Holy Patron. Write to Grammont in order to Encourage the Brothers in my name to prepare for the Feast of St Joseph.
The day after tomorrow I am leaving for Mouscron and Belleghem in order to set up the Convents there and to preside at the Clothing and Profession. Pray to the Lord and to our Holy Patrons that all will go well.
Receive my paternal blessing and believe me to be
Your affectionate spiritual Father
Ghent 12 March 1831
C.G.V.C. Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 18

24 March 1831
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Rooborst

Reverend Father Superior
It was with great satisfaction that I established the two new Convents at Belleghem and Mouscron. The spirit that I found there gave me much pleasure and I must thank God for it. Help me in this matter.
As I have much to discuss with you, and am passing through Alost on Monday, I would like to see you there. Try to be there on Sunday night or Monday morning.
Waiting for the pleasure of seeing you, I have the pleasure of calling myself
Your very affectionate spiritual Father
C.G.V.C. Canon.
Ghent 24 March 1831

LETTER NUMBER 19

3 May 1831
Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Our Brother Désiré tells me that the parents of your pupils Florin have no more money and that you will not get paid. As this pupils' behaviour is not all that good I advise you to send him away until he can return with the necessary monies.
I thank god for the good news that you have given me about your Convent. The month of Mary will not go by without you receiving new benefits.
As far as Brother Athanase is concerned, it is not the first time that the demon of pride has made him say that he will leave. In the summer holidays he was angry with you for un-necessary reasons, and he made this anger public in a way which did him no credit and which cannot have given a good impression of his virtue.
He knows full well that I have never mentioned sending him away. He knows also that all I have said is that he was behaving like a heathen. It is true that I told him that he was acting like a tyrant. I have to repeat that, because his conduct with several children has been that of a man who recognises no other will, rights or justification save those of his own whims. That is what I have said to him and I am sad to acknowledge that what I said is only too true.
God give him humility! Mary pray for us! Brother Athanase is in danger of losing all because of his pride. Brother Xavier is also full of vanity and he has little knowledge or judgement. I know him well now.
All the above you should read to the Brother Vicar : they are Institute matters.
Send me again the length and breadth of your parlour table. The cover which I have found will cost less than the one I wrote to you about.
Why is it that Brother Bernard has not sent me the Sacristy list as I asked? Why, at least, has he not replied to me? Does he not know that all letters should be replied to, unless they are dishonest or contrary to virtue or honour?
With great confidence I pray for all of you that we may obtain mercy. Give my greetings to the Brother Vicar and believe me to be
Your most affectionate spiritual Father,
3 of the month of Mary,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Read this letter to Brother Albert before you give it to him. Brother Vicar will read it for you.

LETTER NUMBER 20

23 May 1831
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Rooborst near Zotteghem

Reverend Father Superior
Your long silence end the fact that you did not come to see me in Ghent make me fear that you are unwell. May God give us strength and light to praise his Holy Name and to prepare ourselves for perfection! If you are ill, take the precautions and the care that you would for a Brother. If you are well, write to me and let me know the state of the Community. I hope that all will be well prepared for the Feast of Pentecost. I hope to have finished here next week.
I am enclosing a letter from the Brother Superior ; please read it and see what needs to be done. When I speak to you we will take the necessary measures. In the meantime, let us act prudently and examine everything carefully. Do not be afraid: your position puts you above others and for you it is a duty to carry the responsibility.
Receive, with my blessing, the assurance of my affection.
Your most affectionate Father,
Brussels 23 May 1831

LETTER NUMBER 21

14 June 1831
Brother Stanislas.

Dear Brother
The letter I have received from you has pleased me greatly. I see you have a better appreciation of things than you have had up to now. Your writing is so well formed to the extent that I doubted it had been written by you. I compliment you on this progress. Try to make yourself more and more useful to your community by your zeal and your charity. Always be prudent when it comes to superiors. It is so easy to give your neighbour a bad impression and the lessen the salutary authority over the ordinary members of the community. Always show your best side to superiors and take no notice of their weaknesses except with me so as to produce some improvement, if that is possible.
I recommend our postulants to you. Take care of the pupils and collaborate with Brother Xavier and all the other Brothers.
I send you my blessing. Believe me I am
your devoted spiritual Father.
C.G.V.C. Canon.
Brussels 14 June 1831

LETTER NUMBER 22

14 June 1831
Monsieur Pierre Faux at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

My very dear child,
I am pleased to learn that you are settling down in the Convent and that you are striving to receive from God the grace to consecrate yourself in his service. I congratulate you and urge you to be faithful to the Lord's calling. You know that his yoke is light but he wants us to carry it with love. Constantly revitalise your courage by prayer and the reception of the holy . I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you soon and telling you face to face all that I would like to tell you now.
Your devoted
C.G.V.C. Canon
Brussels 14 June 1831.

LETTER NUMBER 23

6 August 1831
To Brother Stanislas at the Convent of the Brothers of Joseph and Mary. Grammont.

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ,
I have read with pleasure the information you have given me about the Convent at Grammont. As a result I realise that the Lord has given you courage while at the same time allowing you to by afflicted by serious mishaps. I am delighted to see how zealous you are for young people and especially for our two postulants. You must realise that you must not avoid anything that you can do for the greater glory of God. Persevere in this attitude and you will amass treasure in heaven. As for the other crosses, try and carry them with the same courage. Pray and help with your advice .. do your best to cover up the faults of superiors so that their weaknesses won't scandalise anyone.
I think that you could quite well be of service later on at Rooborst. But do not speak of this to anyone.
Encourage our young postulants and try to get them to understand just how sacred is the calling they aspire to and how happy is the good religious who loves and keeps his Rule. You cannot speak too much about this because the greatness and the happiness of a soul in a Convent consecrated to God is a source of admiration even to the angels.
I will do my best to get you the translation of the Rule during the holidays.
I have received a copy of Constant's handwriting; it is rather poor. I don't know if it was any better last year. Be so good as to tell him that I was expecting much better and I cannot applaud something which is so imperfect and so bad.
I urge you to nothing other than the glory of God as your sole aim. God is ever worthy of our best efforts in everything. What is the use of all our work if we haven't done it for God? Quid prodest homini si mundum universum lucretur, anima vero sua detrimentum patiatur? I think you understand this text.
Receive my blessing and believe me I am
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 6 August 1831
G.C.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 24

31 January 1832

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
I herewith send you the Rule of the Brother 1st Assistant and that of the 2nd Assistant. I expect you to read them attentively and to explain the other one to Br John . Your special position which means that during the absence of Fr Superior you are in the position of Brother Superior, hence I am sending you the rule of the Brother Superior. Please copy it and keep it carefully. The text I am sending you has been made from the rule of the Mother Superior of the sisters. You will find that there are faults which need correcting.
When I have the pleasure of seeing you we will settle certain other matters and I will talk to you about studies especially the study of physics which I have already mentioned to you.
Here is a letter I wrote to Des Prets (???) of Lessines in reply to a letter I received from him. Be so good as to tell Fr Superior what I have written so that he will be fully informed in the event of Des Prets (???) coming to Grammont he can talk to him about it.
Courage dear Brother, remember the sublime aim of your holy vocation. You are called to work with Jesus Christ for the sanctification of souls. May this thought ever drive you on; it will give you light and strength in every situation in which you might find yourself. What happiness to realise that you are chosen by God to live as a religious, far from the dangers of the world, always in the presence of God and the company of Brothers united in charity. Realise your situation and you will always be filled with courage.
Take care of the novices, especially Br Ambrose whose soul is so precious to the Lord. Tell him I often pray for him that he might form himself according to the merciful plans the Lord has for him.
Receive my blessing and believe that I am
Your devoted spiritual Father.
Ghent 31 January 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 25

1 March 1832
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph and to the Brother Vicar in Grammont.

Reverend Father Superior
I don't yet know what will come of the request made by the Reverend Father Buysse. According to custom the Parish Priest was asked by His Excellency the Bishop to give his advice on the matter. Perhaps you already know what it was.
I approve of what you have done for the Sisters. I will wait before sending a Mother. Don't forget to examine soon the accounts of the Mother who has been dismissed.
I have got hold of two pieces of cloth, but no (###). I shall pay for them. I have borrowed the money for you from someone without interest for four months.
God be thanked that a Forty Hours Devotion has taken place in your town! Which Church it is in is of no consequence. In my opinion it is better in the Parish Church than in any other.
Your most affectionate spiritual Father
March 1832
C.G.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 26

17 March 1832
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Reverend Father Superior
It is a great joy for me to join with you and your whole Community in offering ourselves to the great Patron whom God has given us. We praise the Lord and we thank Him for the many graces that He gave to St Joseph. We willingly honour this foster-father of Jesus, our special protector and the guardian of our country. We would be astonished if God were to show us Joseph's greatness and the multiple graces we have received through him. Have courage and trust in the help of our powerful Patron. Let us celebrate his Feast with faith and wait in hope for everything which we need to live out our holy vocation. Let us love him whom Jesus loved, and follow in the steps of him who educated Jesus and who, in everything, sought God in all honesty.
Renew all your good intentions and, with zeal, start now a life which you can continue according to your vows. Let those whose vocation is not yet certain examine themselves, and let the Superior control the conduct of each one so that it can easily be ascertained who is called to the holy state.
I offer my prayers and the Holy Sacrifice so that we might be heard and that we might serve God in a more perfect way, from now until the end of our lives.
I ask all of you to accept my paternal blessing along with my assurance that I love you a great deal and that I wish to see God in heaven along with all of you in order to praise Him to all eternity and to thank Him for his mercies.
Your spiritual Father,
Ghent 17 March 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 27

2 June 1832
To the Reverend Brother Stanislas, Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in the Convent of St Joseph at Grammont

Reverend Brother Superior,
Having made known to the Father Superior the satisfaction that His Excellency our Bishop gained from everything that His Excellency saw in the Convent, and the joy that I have had in telling you this, I still have one further duty to perform, and this a less agreeable one. Some true friends of Religion and of our Brothers in particular have repeatedly warned me that one of the reasons that so many middle-class children have left your Convent is the persistent filthiness of your Convent; these means that your reputation in this regard remains low. I have been told that the refectories are so dirty, that the small tables in the bedrooms are so filthy that one could not find anything dirtier in a soldiers' barracks etc., etc.
I have to bring your attention to this matter, and ask to look into it yourself without delay, and to take immediate and remorseless steps to remove these shocking faults. You will write to me before Pentecost on this matter, and you will inform me as to the state of your Convent in the area of cleanliness.
You will also let me know if there are any Brothers who are not doing, concerning cleanliness what Mr Walle , or I, or the Rule demand. If there are any such Confreres you must let me know so that I can take action to deal with them. On the first occasion I will inform you as to how long they are to be deprived of their habits. Subsequently, for those who still remain un-corrected, they will have to wear the lay-Brothers' habit.
This matter is important, Reverend Brother Superior; I wish you to examine the Convent immediately and take steps to banish dirt for ever.
Meanwhile I pray the loving Saviour to deign to send you his Holy Spirit so that, with a growing understanding of your sublime vocation, you can live it better and better each day, and that you will receive, in our heavenly home, the reward that has been prepared for you. Let the cleanliness of your Convent and of your Brothers be a model of the purity of your souls and of the home which God has prepared for them.
Receive my paternal blessing and know that I am truly
Your most affectionate spiritual Father
Ghent 2 June 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 28

8 June 1832
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Reverend Brother Superior ,
The good wishes that you sent me in the name of your Community on the occasion of the Feast of Pentecost were very welcome, especially as you added to them your prayers to God. I thank you and your Community for your affection and your zeal for my happiness. For my part, be assured that I pray particularly for you each day, several time a day even. This seems to me to be a sweet duty, to pray for one's Brothers in Christ.
I am also very satisfied to learn that you found the remarks concerning your Convent agreeable. I have concluded from that that you seek God and not your own satisfaction. Continue in the same way and your efforts will be crowned with success.
It is true to say that the uncleanness of your Convent was described to me rather strongly. Be assured, however, that it was done by someone who did not blow the matter up out of proportion. When His Excellency the Bishop was with you, it was clearly noted that certain rooms were closed to us, and we saw only the (???) the study and the Church. It was in this last place that His Excellency showed his satisfaction.
Mr Bermyn has spoken to me about the Convent, immediately after the holidays, and especially concerning what he had heard being said about it. Everything he told me was true and in the best interest of the Convent. Only Brother Augustin , who is somewhat vindictive, could have stirred up the feelings which you incorrectly ascribed to Mr Bermyn. It was not Mr Bermyn who told me what I wrote to you about. Nothing came from him.
In the meantime improve what is good; things will turn out well in the end.
Your most affectionate spiritual Father
Ghent 8 June 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon

LETTER NUMBER 29

16 June 1832

Reverend Father Superior
It will be necessary to send some money to Brother Joseph immediately. Read what he has written to me. The good man does not understand, it seems to me, what impoliteness is; nevertheless we will have to provide the money otherwise he could do something stupid. I hope, in any case, that you will come to Ghent and we can speak about it further. Burn the letter that I am enclosing immediately so that it does not fall into other hands besides yours and mine.
I am writing also to Miss Huysmans at Rooborst about the Sisters' Convent with which she is still occupied.
Shortly, at the beginning of the next month, it would be a good idea for me to go to Maldeghem with you. We will discuss that when you are here.
I hope that the Holy Spirit has bestowed many gifts on us and on our collaborators. With this help we can expect to do much good in the vineyard of the Lord. The light of heaven shows us what we owe to God; it makes us feel the need for gratitude. If we are grateful we obtain new graces, and thus we grow in perfection before the Lord whom we will praise and thank for all eternity in heaven.
Insist once again with the Brothers on prudence, humble gentleness and cleanliness of both themselves and the Convent. More than every they are being watched and the offence they might give will be greater than before their Profession. They should also be prudent with each other, never forgetting the loftiness of their vocation. They cannot use frivolity, or crude phrases and manners, even amongst themselves. If they say or do anything which would shame them before the world they are to be reprimanded. They are religious, they are the ornaments of the Church, they are something holy, to be esteemed. Respect yourself and others will respect you.
Receive my blessing and be assured of my sincere affection,
Your spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 16 June 1832

LETTER NUMBER 30

. 28 June 1832

Reverend Father Superior
I went immediately to Bishops' House to ask for the documents you need. They had forgotten all about the matter. Here is a simple permission for what Mr Buysse wanted. It will suffice for now. Later on Mr Buysse can send his letter again and copy (of a deed) in due form will be sent.
My greetings to Mr Buysse and to all the Brothers.
Your most affectionate spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 28 June 1832
Some time soon please send on to the Dean, on behalf of the Episcopal Secretariat, these lists of the Competition.

LETTER NUMBER 31

. 5 July 1832
To Brother Ambrose at the Brothers of St Joseph, Grammont.

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
As I do not have as often as I would like the opportunity of speaking with you face to face, I have decided to do it by letters. You know what a lively interest I take in your perfection and in your spiritual happiness. You will not be surprised to see that I busy myself with you. Tell me then, my dear Ambrose, how you are since you have had the happiness of receiving the holy habit of a religious. How is your meditation going? How are you getting on with your other religious exercises? To what extent do you feel the love of Jesus Christ growing in you as you get further into the noviciate? Above all it is there, my dear Brother, in the love of Jesus Christ that you will find light and force. Love and you will be a good religious.
Kindly give me the answers to these question and get them to me through Father Superior to whom you will give your sealed letter.
You will see from my efforts to give you all the instruction that will be useful to you that I am sincerely
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 5 July 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 32

5 July 1832-07
To Brother Athanase at the Brothers of St Joseph, Rooborst.

My dear son in Jesus Christ
The concern I have for you is the reason why I want to know in your own words if you are continuing to respond faithfully to the graces which God has given you. tell me simply without elaboration how you are since receiving the religious habit.
How are you getting on with your meditation, with prayer and with your desire for perfection? How zealous are you in following the Rule when it comes to mortification and recollection? Do you try to keep Jesus Christ ever in the depth of your heart and consult him in everything you do?
I await your answers to these questions and I will delight in helping you wherever I can with my advice. Give your sealed letter to Brother Xavier who will send it to me when he writes to me himself.
Good bye, my dear Brother, receive my blessing and the assurance of my sincere devotion. I am
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 5 July 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 33

7 July 1832
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Reverend Brother Superior
As I have do go and Profess one of the Sisters next week, I will arrive in Grammont, God willing, next Tuesday evening.
You will say nothing to the Brothers about my coming. No-one, except those whom I mention in my letter to Sister Constantia, must know I am coming to Grammont. I thought it necessary to warn you so that you could prepare and remarks or questions you would like to discuss. If the Reverend Father Superior is in your Convent, you may inform him also that I am coming. I would be happy if he were not to leave before my arrival. If he is not there, tell him nothing; I will see him before or after my trip to Grammont.
Receive, with my blessing, a renewed assurance that I am sincerely,
Your most affectionate spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon
Ghent 7 July 1832

LETTER NUMBER 34

28 July 1832
To the Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ ,
Thank you for your consideration and for the good wishes you sent on the occasion of my Patronal Feast. The purity of the intentions which inspire you make me hope that the good God will hear your prayers and that I will feel the happy results of them. I desire perfection in order to be more useful to the Church of our divine Master and Model, Jesus Christ.
I am also happy with details you described to me. This is what I have written to Brother Augustin . Read my short note and, having sealed it, give it to him.
If there are continued improvements in the matter of cleanliness this will become known quickly and Mr Buysse, who has so much good will towards your Convent, will take pleasure in informing the public whenever the occasion presents itself.
Courage, my dear Brother, and trust in God. Address yourself, without fear of being forward, to your Master in Heaven; from there will come all the help you could possibly need. As for me, I never let a day go by without commending you to the Lord.
Receive my blessing and believe me to be
Your devoted spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 28 July 182

LETTER NUMBER 35

8 August 1832

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
I have read your Prospectus and I am returning it with some observations.
1. I think you should print the name of the town where the boarding school is. You can print them in French, if you prefer it so; 100 in which you add to "établi" Grammont; 50 on which you put "Rooborst près de Zotteghem"; 50 can remain blank (I know the name of the town for which these will be used); 50 in Flemish for Geraardsbergen; 150 in Flemish for Rooborst bij Zotteghem; 100 will say nothing and the name can be hand-written in for wherever they are needed.
2. In French it would be better, I think, to say deux fois vacance: 1- on Tuesdays and 2- towards the end of the month of August.
Shouldn't there be a "y" in place of a simple "i" in "payer"? I don't have a modern dictionary.
3. In Flemish, p. 2 line 20, shouldn't it be "dan" or "ten zij" in place of "als door de tusschenkomst" etc.
4. Don't put "Boekerij", no-one will understand. Put "Bibliotheek".
You must be careful of punctuation and accents.
You will see that I have hardly touched the Flemish.
"Hunne gebreken afteleeren" sounds funny to me, I don't know why.
I reassure you now of my friendship and ask you to tell Mr Buysse that I am very grateful for all the efforts he makes.
Your devoted spiritual Father
8 August 1832
C.G.V.C

LETTER NUMBER 36

24 August 1832
To Brother Athanase, novice with the Brothers of St Joseph at Rooborst.

Dear Brother
Your letter gave me great pleasure; I see from it that God is testing you and purifying you. Courage my dear child. Redouble your fidelity and make a renewed effort to overcome all the enemies of your soul by humility and the love of God. Call to mind often all that Jesus Christ has done for you and in the light of the infinite gifts you have received from the divine master, inflame your heart with gratitude. You will experience the rebirth of your powers and then nothing will be able to hold back your ardour; you will triumph over the demon and over yourself.
When I see you during the holidays I will explain to you at greater length what you must do to become a true religious, an instrument of mercy in the hands of God. I want you to be happy in the sublime state in which you have been called by the love of Jesus Christ You will be happy when you become holy. Work for your sanctity and you will respond to the expectations of God, of the Church and of your superiors
I will pray especially for you and for the other novices God has destined to become Brothers of St Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother.
Receive my benediction and believe me I am
your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 24 August 1832.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe. Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 37

24 August 1832
To Brother Ambrose, Novice with the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Dear Brother ,
I see how God is withdrawing from you any feeling of devotion. and that he is even leaving you in a place of spiritual abandonment, which is a horrible trial for a soul which sincerely loves its creator. You need courage, my dear Brother. You must redouble you fidelity even in the most ordinary things. If in spite of your great exactitude in all that the Lord tells you, either through the voice of your Superiors or by that of the Rule or even by means of the law of the Gospel, you remain in darkness and coldness, do not become over concerned. It is God who wishes to lift you up above ordinary needs by feeding you with the bread of the strong and in giving you, individually, the help of faith.
If on the other hand you come to realise that you do not live out at all times that fidelity which God has the right to expect from you in so many ways; if when you listen to the voice of your internal feelings or your prejudices or any other voice other than the one which calls you to be gentle and humble of heart because Jesus Christ is gentle and humble of heart, then take yourself in hand and in order to get out of this painful state rouse up your spirit and your heart, renew your courage and go to God through your august Patron and her Holy Spouse. Mary and Joseph will not refuse you their powerful help; you are called to be their adopted son and to fight for Jesus Christ under their banner.
Therefore in one or the other case, have courage, be zealous and redouble your efforts. I will join my prayers to yours and we will come out of this difficult path victorious.
I thank you, my Child, for the observations you have sent me for the greater glory of God and the salvation of our Children. I have noticed that the poor children are going without; however, they are also souls who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and we would be lacking in love for our divine master if we were to neglect these children. I will make it my business to put an end to this evil which pains my heart.
I would love to see you during the holidays so that we can continue with your lessons in the spiritual life. You deserve these lessons and I give them to you with a real pleasure.
In the meantime, I give you my blessing and the assurance that you will always find in me
A spiritual Father who is devoted to you.
Ghent 24 August 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 38

26 September 1832
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Since I still have space available, I will say a little more on the matter of cleanliness. It is good that cleaning and washing have been done. Now, of course, it is a matter of keeping everything clean. Every day the Brother Superior must check that the following are cleaned and washed down: the corridors, the parlour, the refectory, the school, the bedrooms; that the chamberpots and the wash-bowls are cleaned and that the tables the bowls stand on are dry. He will send me a report on this matter within the week to tell me how all this is going. It seems to me that (###) has easily understood many things. Tell him that I trust that our discussions will have good results. He must make sure that each one does his job and he must report to me on this as well. I have been told that Brother Bernard is planning to change something on the Choir-Brothers' habits. Check carefully what this change consists of, for fear that it might be some novelty which will set tongues wagging among the public and even among ecclesiastics. Neither Brother Bernard, nor anyone else may, without my permission, make such changes. Let each seek God and not his own will; thus will all go well in the eyes of God and will please the Superior. Give this to Brother Superior.

LETTER NUMBER 39

4 October 1832
To the Brother Superior of the Brother of St Joseph at Grammont.

My dear Brother
I cannot express the pain I feel which has been caused by the conduct of the one you have written to me about. That is where a faith full of pride leads by means of a spirit of pride. Augustine's resentful character, opposed to Christian simplicity, has led me to fear for him on more than one occasion. Humbly hand this affair over to St Joseph and to our Mother and await with confidence whatever result it pleases the Lord to permit. Our life here below must take us through unpleasantness, that is the way to heaven. Let us not trouble ourselves. Take care to ensure that Augustine's wretched behaviour doesn't lead to scandal either in your house or outside.
I am sincerely
your devoted spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe. Canon.
Ghent 4 October 1832.

LETTER NUMBER 40

27 October 1832
To the Reverend Brother Stanislas in the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Rooborst.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
The zeal which God has given you to work for the education of youth is a source of consolation for me and allows me to believe that you will easily understand the observations I am sending you with the recommendation to make them known to the other Brothers.
Work with ardour to fill yourself with the same sentiments as our divine Master. To the extent that you get to know Jesus Christ you will become more and more aware of the misfortunes of our young people whom you are called to help. Your love for them will grow day by day and you will speak up ceaselessly in their support. Whatever you obtain for your children you will consider a benefaction for yourself. You will patiently put up with their failings so that you will correct them with gentleness. You will share their joy and share in the pain of their suffering. Knowing their weakness you will foresee their needs with that goodness which always finishes by triumphing even with the less fortunate of character.
When you come across these children who have been born of the gospel of Jesus Christ but have fallen into the miserable slavery of the demon, how great will be your compassion? Their state, no matter how deplorable, will not be hopeless if they find in you a prudent and charitable Father. You will bring such a child, just like the father in the Gospel with the son tormented by an evil spirit, to the feet of our divine Saviour. You will show him how wretched he is and lead him to throw himself at the feet of the Saviour in the person of a confessor. You will inspire him with the hope of forgiveness for his sins. This with a clear conscience will make the path to virtue easy as he feels God's love for him..
Go, said Jesus Christ, your son is fully alive. That is the saviour's reply to the father who earnestly begs him to come and cure his child. Let it be by means of the grace of the same Saviour, that you return to their parents full of life the children who have been entrusted to you! You will not have only the children who want for nothing, you will be entrusted with some in a state of grace and others who are spiritually dead. May you make the former stronger in the spiritual life and the latter reborn to the life Jesus came to bring to the world. That will be a sweet recompense for all the efforts that your zeal drives you to do for the young. You will consider all the trials you will be given during your life on earth below as very little in comparison with your reward.
May your faith constantly reinforce your courage and prevent you from falling into the most dangerous trap of the Enemy, sadness and melancholy. This is caused by the wounds to our self pride when we see the failings of these children, and see very little success from our efforts if we do not look upon them with the eye of faith.
I ask the Father of us all to bless these observations and to enable you to find in them light and strength. I ask Him to pass on to you those graces which are so useful to the Church; a lively faith, an unshakeable hope and that love which fills the heart to overflowing and attracts those one has to deal with.
Receive my blessing and the expression of my real devotion
My dear Brother,
Your affectionate spiritual Father
Ghent 27 October 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe. Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 41

16 November 1832
To Brother Ambrose at the Convent at Rooborst.

My dear Brother Ambrose
The lively interest I have in you makes me want to hear your news and to seize this opportunity of writing to you to ask you how you are responding to God's graces. I would love to know the state of your spiritual life and how you are finding the Convent of the Holy Angels. In your reply I want you to enter into some detail in a simple way without affectation.
I am sincerely
Your devoted spiritual Father
C.G.V.C.
Ghent 16 November 1832

LETTER NUMBER 42

26 November 1832
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
The desire to speak with you face to face obliges me to beg you to come and see me next Saturday. I have kept available for you Saturday afternoon and Sunday, except for the hours of the Divine office. You will take care to take the necessary steps to ensure that your absence will not cause any inconvenience to your Convent and you will travel as cheaply as possible without however over tiring yourself.
You will read my letter to your council so that your departure will surprise no one.
While awaiting the pleasure of seeing you, I tell you sincerely I am
Your devoted spiritual Father.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe.
Ghent 26 November 1832.
I think there is in my room in your Convent a briefcase containing business papers. Please look for this briefcase and bring it to me if you can do this easily, otherwise send it to me when the occasion arises. It would be a good idea to come via Rooborst and see if the papers I am telling you about are there if you cannot find them at Grammont. You will also be able to find out if Brother Ambrose received the letter I wrote to him when I wrote to Miss d'Annevoix.
Do not look for transport to Ghent from Grammont; it must not be known at Grammont that you are coming to see me, people will attach too much importance to it. Prudence and silence concerning what your superiors say is indispensably necessary at Grammont.

LETTER NUMBER 43

7 December 1832
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Respected Brother Superior ,
Here is my answer to the proposition made by Mr Deprez of Lessines concerning the purchase of the two plots of land which he occupies. Read my letter so that you know my price, seal the letter and address it. I will see from their reply if I will have to lower the price in order to do business.
I hope that God will bless our efforts so as to bring our house to that state of perfection which will silence malicious gossip and bring the pupils to recognise what happiness it is to be under the direction of Religious whose efforts have only one aim which is the greater glory and the salvation of souls entrusted to their care. I never cease asking for this favour for our Convent of St Joseph; and whilst I realise that my prayers in themselves do not inspire confidence, I cannot stop myself hoping that through the divine mercy and the merits of Jesus Christ our prayers will be finally heard.
Receive my blessing and believe in the devotion of your spiritual Father.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 7 December 1832.

LETTER NUMBER 44

17 December 1832
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior and all the Brothers of St Joseph,
Reading, in these days, the words in which the Apostle Paul exhorts us to be joyful and have good manners, I thought of our Brothers and felt moved to send them a few remarks on the matter. You are called to such an elevated state that interiorly and exteriorly you must be perfectly disposed; without interior disposition you do little for yourselves; without exterior disposition you do little for your neighbour.
Be always of a joyful disposition before the Lord, and may your disposition be known to all, the great Apostle tells us. The joy which God wants you to have is a serenity of soul, with its source in a strong trust in the goodness of the Lord. Through His mercy you can expect forgiveness of your sins, everything you need in order to serve Him, and to be one with Him one day in heaven. Through this attitude of mind your exterior will take on a gentle and friendly mien, which will bring out peace and virtue in the servants of the Lord. It will show everyone that the practice of virtue makes one happy, that it raises religious above all those who seek their happiness on earth; not only in heaven, but also for all the time we spend here on earth.
To obtain this peace and this gentle face, you must necessarily become used to the presence of God: The Lord is very near, the Apostle adds. Yes, the Lord is near us, because it is in Him that we live, in Him that we are. This teaching must serve to remind you that you will do nothing, say nothing and think nothing which is unknown to, or hidden from, God. So take care not to be curt, impolite or garrulous; The Lord is very near. He sees you; he sees what is done in or through you.
You owe friendship to your Confreres; by examples of perfect charity, you owe each other a constant mutual duty of help and solace; you must give everyone examples of perfection. If you are sad, you sadden your Confreres; if you are too garrulous, you distance them from their duties and from God and His sweet dialogue. Through these same faults you give to the world a false idea of Religion and, instead of edifying them you shock them and lead them to evil.
Try, then, always to be genteel, polite and well mannered. Let everyone remark on your good attitude of body and mind: in other words, through everything you do you must help your neighbour, console him and lead him to what is good. Your holy and elevated state demands this of you, always and everywhere.
Prepare with care for the wonderful Feast of the Birth of the good and merciful God. Through the intercession of Mary and Joseph, ask for all you need to give mutual help to each other like holy religious; so that you can be examples of Christian perfection for the children who are entrusted to your care and so that you can encourage all whom you meet. In this way you will be happy here in this world, and you will obtain eternal rest in heaven, where God Himself will be your reward.
I commend myself to your prayers. You know, my dear Brothers, that I need God's help, and that I will willingly pass on to you the gifts I receive from God's goodness. I do not fail in my obligation to pray for you and I ask you never to forget that I am
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 17 December 1832
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon

LETTER NUMBER 45

20 December 1832
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Ghent 20 December 1832
Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I would be most happy to see you on the 7th. of next month to discuss our Confreres and pupils. Would it not be a good idea to write a brief letter to Mr van den Bossche in Ghent, asking him to prepare everything with the man who is in a position of indebtedness, and that you will go and talk with him on the 7th. or 8th. of next month?
The tenant farmer on my land at Lessines has made me an unacceptable proposition.
Be so good as to ask the Parish Priest of Rooborst to say five Requiem Masses for two francs each. You can get the ten francs back from me.
I do not know if Brother Augustin has done what I told him and whether he has followed my advice in gratitude; he has not replied to what I wrote to him.
Let us pray, in these days of mercy, that all goes well in your two Convents. I hope that the good God will give you the satisfaction of finding in your Brothers humility and gentleness, and, in your children, devotion and an eagerness to learn.
Give my good wishes to your (###) and receive, with my blessing, my assurance that I will pray particularly for you all since I am most certainly your affectionate spiritual Father and friend in the Lord Jesus Christ.

C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon

LETTER NUMBER 47

21 December 1832
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in the Convent at Rooborst near Zotteghem

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I have received you letter and see that you are not Grammont. So I am adding, with my new address, a few words to tell you that the letters for Sister Constantia are not urgent and that you can await a suitable occasion.
I take great pleasure in learning from your letter (which came to Ghent via Grammont) that the Brothers are working hard at learning to practice the virtues of their Holy state. As soon as they open their minds to the Holy Spirit and their hearts to Divine Love, nothing which Religion demands of them will be impossible. I thank you as well as the Brothers for all your good wishes.
I have received a second reply from Lessines. They are suggesting fifteen hundred Brabant florins. I shall not bother to reply any more.
Please give my good wishes to our benefactress and assure her that I offer my prayers to the Lord for her.
Your always affectionate spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon
Ghent 21 December 1832

LETTER NUMBER 47

15 January 1833
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in his Convent at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
I am taking the first moment of relaxation to reply to you and to urge you to continue to struggle courageously against the jealous enemy as you are called to do. Constantly reinvigorate your courage and that of your Brothers by remembering what God has done for you, by the hope of the future benefits which will be the reward of your zeal and by a proper use of the sacraments. Storm heaven and we will finish by obtaining that mercy which perhaps our infidelities would have lost for us.
It is your concern to frequently meet with the Brothers and the novices; these especially need to be understood and directed with goodness. Make this your special task so as to avoid these young plants contracting vices which will be difficult to heal later. Finally, my dear Brother, be, as your Rule says, the soul of your community; carry everywhere life and happiness. Rely on my efforts; I will redouble my prayers so as to obtain new graces for you everyday and to obtain for the Church, through your ministry, all the good which it has the right to expect from you.
Assure all the Brothers that I carry them in my heart, that I am sincerely devoted to them and that I ask them in their charity to continue to remember me before God, as you mentioned in your letter.
Good bye my dear Brother, let us ever love one another in Jesus our saviour; let us sacrifice our talents and all that we are in the service of this divine Master and let us count on the help of his grace.
I give you my blessing and I assure you sincerely that I am
your devoted Spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe.
Ghent 15 Jan 1833

LETTER NUMBER 48

28 February 1833

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear and respected Brother Superior
I am sending you the enclosed circular for the Brother Prefects oppermeesters; for you to make a copy for Brother Athanase . You will keep the original and send a copy to our dear Brother Xavier .
You have here the continuation of the instruction I gave to Reverend Father Superior . Give him this text so that he can copy it and add it to what he already has.
I love to believe that all goes well with you. Take care to ensure the Rule is followed exactly and explain carefully to the Brothers who are teaching the circular which I have sent you.
Pray to God for me and rely on my affection and on my zeal to help you.
I am sincerely
your devoted spiritual Father
C.G.V.C.
I pray for renewed favours for our Convents on the Feast of our Patron on the 19th. of next month.

LETTER NUMBER 49

23 March 1833
To the Reverend Brother Superior at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Brother ,
I am certain that you have acted with prudence in the tiresome case of poor Alphonse . Without a doubt is it sad to see a young man endowed with good qualities willingly run the risk of losing a great grace which the Lord offered him, and as a result endanger the salvation of his soul. Nonetheless, what else can we do if our efforts are in vain, if we work without success? We must recommend the unhappy man, who remains unmoved by all we have done for him, to God and protect the others from the effects of such a bad example. It seems to me that this is what you have already done and that from now on Alphonse will only have himself to blame for his misfortune. May God have pity on him and on us all.
I give thanks to the Lord that in the midst of all these trials, he grants you gift of perseverance in your confidence in His goodness and in the protection of our August Patron, the Immaculate Virgin and her chaste Spouse. It seems to me that these sentiments must in the end finally triumph over everything and that a totally consoling success will eventually crown our efforts.
May our misfortune humble us without discouraging us. Let us get down to work seriously eliminating whatever is not pleasing to God and let us daily renew our good intentions. Let us have courage and outwardly show that we are happy in the service of the Master whom we serve and nobody will think that that his yoke is heavy. In this way we preach Jesus Christ by our every word and action.
Pay attention to cleanliness, politeness and in general to whatever is required to enhance the reputation you need to become interments of divine mercy. Let us be careful not put obstacles in God's way of seeing things and preventing his plan of goodness by our negligence.
I have not forgotten you in my prayers on the feast of St Joseph; the Brothers and the sisters are ever in my thoughts, and my heart constantly intercedes for them. May the good God hear my prayers. That is what I ask of him from the bottom of the heart which loves to be sincerely
your devoted spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe.
Ghent 23 March 1833.
Greetings from my heart to all your dear Brothers. Tell them how, united in Jesus Christ our good Master, I take a tender interest in them and how I ardently long to see in them the qualities asked of them by their Rule.

LETTER NUMBER 50

22 April 1833
The Superior of the Boarding School of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Dear Brother
It is getting near the time when I will speak face to face with the postulants and novices. I hope I will have the consolation of finding them well disposed towards one another. Tell them that I ask God to grant them a true sorrow for their sins, a great trust in his mercy and in the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us, and also a great zeal for the glory of the one whom they will take wholeheartedly for their master and their chief.
It would be useful as well as pleasant to receive a letter from each of your aspirants and novices. This letter, in Flemish or French, must be composed by those who are writing to me without any interference by anybody. If you haven't got the opportunity before I leave for Rooborst, you can give me the letters when I get there. I will use them in the discussions I will have with each of your aspirants and novices when I interview them.
Goodbye, dear Brother, I am sincerely your devoted spiritual Father,
C.G.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 51

16 May 1833
To the Reverend Superior of the Convent of The Brothers of St Joseph in Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior
This is a good time to write a few words to you and to recommend that you prepare your Brothers and your Children for the great feast of Pentecost. Place yourself in spirit in the midst of that august group where our Holy Mother is to be found with the Apostles and the disciples, far from the tumult of the world, and waiting for the Spirit which the Saviour promised them. Ask often and in a sense ask continually that our good master send us the Holy Spirit, and prepare your hearts so well that you have nothing to fear from inviting this divine guest to live in your hearts. Say then to Jesus Christ: Send us your Spirit and to the Holy Spirit: Come Holy Spirit live in us. This is my prayer for you and for me. I hope that you will also think of me before God and that by helping one another we will arrive at that perfection God expects of us in order to carry out the work of his mercy of which he expects us to be ministers. Have courage and above all have confidence in Jesus Christ and we will see our efforts crowned with happy success.
I am sincerely
Your devoted spiritual father
C.G.Van Crombrugghe.
16 May 1833

P.S. Are you being careful not to leave the blue scapulars in the choir? They should be left where, in winter, the cloaks are left, that is in the small space near the Church door behind the altar, and you should enter the Church wearing the blue scapular rather than putting it on in the Church. Please inform the Reverend Fr Superior of this so that it can be observed without delay in the Convent of the Holy Angels. There this observation is even more important because there the scapulars are in the open air and often in the sun: they lose more of their colour in a day than in a year of proper use.

LETTER NUMBER 52

30 May 1833
To the Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother in Jesus Christ
I accept with gratitude the good wishes which you have made in your name and in that of your community, and I thank from the bottom of my heart,our divine Master for the graces which he has bestowed on the Concent of St Joseph. I hope you will arrange it so that nothing will impede the course of divine favours, and that you will become the ever more perfect intruments of divine mercy. May the beautiful festivals which have taken place over the last few weeks be for us all a source of light and force where we will find that which the merits of J.C. have put there with such generosity.
Mr Desprets (???) is mistaken if he believes that simple contracts are subject to a higher registration fee than notarised contracts. The fee is the same in both cases, as is the binding nature of the contracts. The principal difference is the higher costs of a notarised contract over a private one. Tell him that the simplest thing is to make out an act of purchase and to send it to me for my signature. After that he will have it registered and the matter is closed. As Mr Desprets would thus enter into possession of both parcels of land, we would not have the right to demand the rent from him beyond the expiration of the lease. It would only be a pro rata sum of rent for the expired part of the year that we could claim.
If however Mr Desprets would prefer a notarised contract, ask the Superior to send me all the relevant forms so that all I have to do is to sign them. It is the same procedure as when he represented me in the sale of the house on the mountain a few years ago in Grammont.
As Mr Desprets has always been punctilious in his payments, if he has problems in paying the rent for the year to date you can excuse him payment as a sign of my great satisfaction at the way in which he has acted with me over the years.
There is the child of a widow whom I have been asked to accept into the Boarding school of the Brothers at a reduced fee. This widow would keep her position with a merchant to whom her husband gave many years of service and the child would go there as soon as he was capable to do so. I thought it best to fix his fees at only 150 francs. Write to me without to delay to let me know where the child should be taken, Grammont or Rooborst. Then,say what he should bring with him and whether it will cost more to have his laundry done at the Brothers (I mean where it is the custom of the Brothers to do this) rather than send it back to Ghent.
I am always sincerely
Your devoted spiritual Father
C.G.V.C.
I am happy to tell you that I will be at home all next week and even the following week.

LETTER NUMBER 53

4 June 1833
To the Reverend Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior
Here is the child I wrote to you about. He will be at the 2nd table. It is essential that he learns quickly so that he can help his mother. 120 francs will be paid plus other small expenses which you wrote to me about. In a few days you will be sent his luggage.
I am sending you a Prospectus from the Sister of Notre Dame in Ghent, which outlines for parents all they should know about day pupils. Wouldn't it be sensible to send a copy to Grammont? It is doubtful as to whether it is known in the town that we have so many resources for the instruction of children. Take your time to examine it and send me your observations on a different sheet of paper to the Prospectus which you will return to me.
I am enclosing a book which I find excellent. Take a good look at it and if you find that it is better than the ones you have, keep it, I will get another for myself. If on the other hand you have something better return the book to me at an opportune moment but do not delay too long.
As ever,
Your devoted Spiritual Father
C.G.V.C.
Ghent 4 June 1833.
I will write to you later as to whether this child is for the 1st table; it appears that I have agreed to this favour for 35 francs a term which will make it 140 francs.

LETTER NUMBER 54

7 June 1833
To the Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior ,
I am returning to you, with my signature, the power of attorney that you sent to me, but too late to complete the business at the time you indicated.
I believe that your Reverend Father Superior will be in Grammont around now; if that is the case, please ask him to bring the money to Melle. From there he should come to see me so that we can discuss various points concerning the history of the Institute. He should bring the diaries he has and which we spoke about during my last trip to Rooborst. It is probable that I will have the pleasure of going to Rooborst myself next Sunday.
The child I sent you can be at the second table, if you agree, and as long as the poor children don't eat at that table. I don't know if your poor children are at the second table, but if that is the case you should put the child at your first table.
Miss La Beguine (???) of Antwerp is very happy with the children she has with you. Try and make sure that the reasons for her happiness remain in force. One should be careful not to be lulled into a false sense of security by praise; the enemy is watching for an opportunity to take you unawares. Good things are said of Brother Antoine; is he careful to teach the youngest pupils their prayers?
Here is the address of the mother of the child I sent you: The Widow Van Vrenhove, 9 Rue de Kommer (???), Ghent.
Tell the Reverend Father Superior to talk to Miss De Clippele about the Sisters' house, but without saying that he is talking on my instructions. They will need either to spend some money or move; where they are is hardly a Convent and one cannot establish there the middle class day school that Grammont needs.
Your most devoted,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 7 June 1833
Tell Mr Buysse that I still do not have the necessary pieces to send him for the adoration.

LETTER NUMBER 55

7 June 1833
To the Superior at of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother.
The book I told you about and which you haven't received has remained in my library; I forgot to send it to you. Here is the title of this work, if you do not know it, tell me when you write to me. In the mean time I will try to obtain a second copy; I enjoy having a little browse in it from time to time.
I have forgotten several times now to say to the Reverend Father Superior, that "Regina Carmelitarum" should not be added to the litany of the Virgin Mary and that the "i" in Regina is long. Will you make this point known in your Convents.
Send on the enclosed letters to their adressees.
I hope that all the Brothers will receive great spiritual benefits from the favour you have been granted to hold a day of adoration in your Church. It is certain that it not up to them alone.
Goodbye, my dear Superior, pray for me and rest assured that I love you too much not to do the same for you.
I am sincerely
your devoted Spiritual Father.
C.G.V.C.
Ghent 23 June 1833.
Here is the name of the book I refered to above: "Manual of Purity of Language, etc." By J.N. Blondin, Paris, 1823.

LETTER NUMBER 56

28 June 1833

Reverend Father Superior ,
We are of the same opinion concerning Mr Vandamme : as long as you have to deal with this man you will be happy. But death causes such strange changes in the world that one often has regrets when it is too late that one did not act more prudently and tie matters up properly whilst there was still time.
Mr Vandamme can do and arrange things during his life just as he does now and will cause us no upset; but I would be happier if he were to find some way of putting our minds completely at rest in the matter of the Convent and its goods after his death.
Would it not be possible for him to give us the right to buy after his death if we pay him now? He could tell us the price or whatever he wants for this payment. In this way he would continue to deal with us during his life as he does now, and, after his death, we will have nothing to fear, knowing already that we can occupy our property without worries.
It would be difficult to separate those things we hold in common; that is why I am suggesting this method of purchase as a means of having all Mr Vandamme's rights.
Talk about it, and try to come to an agreement, or come here un day to deal with the matter as soon as possible after Mr Vandamme's return to Ghent.
Your very affectionate,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 28 June 1833

LETTER NUMBER 57

2 July 1833
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
It seems to me that this young man is fine and will be of value to our Institute. But do you not think he would be better off at Rooborst than at Grammont? It seems that the two novices there are not proving satisfactory to the Superior . Isn't there a danger that the postulant will be shocked by them? Give it some thought.
I hope to be at Leeuwerghem on Saturday with Janssens in order to leave for Rooborst in Miss Huysman's carriage. I have written about it to Miss Huysman.
Instead of the book which I wrote to the Brother Superior about, I am sending him another book in the same genre, but easier to find.
Receive my blessing.
Your very affectionate Spiritual Father
C. G. V. C.
Ghent 2 July 1833

LETTER NUMBER 58

26 July 1833
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in the Convent at Rooborst.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Ghent 26 July 1833

Reverend Father Superior
I have received your letter and it was with satisfaction that I learned that you had remembered me on the day of my Patron Saint. I also do not allow any opportunity to pass by in order to obtain the Lord's blessing on you and on all your Brothers: this mutual way of showing our affection is the most profitable and it will last the longest.
You must take note of the faults you have written to me about and you must take measures to reduce them. You will give me further explanations about it when you come to see me. I will certainly be at home during the first days of the month of the harvest.
Tell the Brother Superiors that I find it necessary to point out to them that it is not necessary for them to give a speech at prize giving; I think it is enough to have a few orations made by the pupils. However, if they think they must say something to the public, make them send it to me in advance so that I might approve it myself. I hope to be present for the prizegiving at Rooborst but not at Grammont.
During the holidays you will be having a retreat. I don't know yet the exact date. Only that it will be during the month of September.
During the holidays you must spend several days at Ghent with the Brother Superior from St Joseph's so that we can settle several matters; look through the documents concerning the Convents, classify them and put them in good order.
Before coming to Ghent you will offer your good services to Miss Huysman and you will tell her that we will start a novena for her with Prince Vanhohenlohe beginning the 6th of August.
If Miss Huysman's health has deteriorated, write to me before you arrive; I will write a short note to her and let her know about the novena I have just spoken to you about.
Pass on my best wishes to the Brother Superior of the Holy Angels and be assured of my sincere affection.
C. G. V. C.

LETTER NUMBER 59

12 August 1833
To Brother Athanase at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Very Dear Brother ,
I was very touched by the signs of your devotion and confidence expressed in your last letter. Thank-you for your good wishes for my happiness. May we both be granted our wish for mutual happiness. We both wish each other all the best in the order of Providence especially in the order of grace.
As for the temptaion you mention; it worries me. This is a formidable demon. You must flee him. It is in flight that we can be certain of victory. Flee from the very thought and go to Mary,your divine Mother with total confidence. Don't give way to self examination,it is too dangerous. Don't look back whenever these temptations make themselves known in whatever form it may be. Be humble. Get up at once and run. That is to say,think,speak or act as if nothing had happened and busy yourself with something else.
My mind is a little more at rest knowing that your moments of petulance are less frequent and that you understand better, in a practical way, that Jesus, your divine Master urges you to follow his example and be gentle and humble not just through your intellect,but in practice and in your heart. You must strive tirelessly to imitate your only Model. Take every opportunity to practice his lovable gentleness and his adorable humility. If you are constantly gentle and humble,the enemy who torments you will have very little strength and his attacks will be in vain. The resemblance you will have to Jesus Christ will terrify the demons you come across.
The Reverend Father Superior will have told you on my behalf to comment during the meeting of Teachers on all the matters which concern the classes or rather on the children and the rapport they have with their Teachers. If the Teachers study their rule properly they will avoid the very things you so rightly complain of. They will seek God and find him both for themselves and their children.
You must put an end to these faults you have written to me about. To do that you will use the conferences and if necessary my authority by refering to me once more.
Count on my affection.
Farewell, my dear child in Jesus Christ: love your holy state and make it enjoyable.
Your devoted spiritual father.
C.G.Van Crombrugghe, Canon
Ghent 12 August 1833

LETTER NUMBER 60

19 October 1833
To the Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
Here at last is the young Frenchman, Mr Macoux . Let us pray to God that you are right to rejoice at his entry into the Convent! It seems to me that we are right to hope.
Take care to make the detailed report I asked you for and that the other reports of the Master of Novices and the Prefect of Studies etc. arrive at the Convent of the Holy Angels at the appointed time.
Please remind Father Superior that, God willing, I shall arrive on Tuesday 3rd November at Leeuwerghem on the coach from Mons.
I ask God in my prayers to give you energy, foresight and the strength you need to properly carry out your task. Receive my blessing and the assurance of my sincere devotion.
Your spiritual Father
C.G.Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 19 October 1833.

LETTER NUMBER 61

22 October 1833
To Brother Athanase at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
I am making use of this timely opportunity to ask you to include in your report on teaching in your Convent an outline of what ought to be taught in every class during this academic year.
I will go through it carefully and if I have any comments I will send them to you.
I hope God will give you an ever growing attraction to his divine love and that your are forming yourself according to the merciful plan God has for you.
I am sincerely
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 22 October 1833
C.G.Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 62

5 November 1833
To the Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
I have received with gratitude the positive information which you have sent to me. I always give the honour entirely to God. We are only his instruments, overwhelmed with happiness to be called to such a glorious destiny. Let us be careful, dear Brother, so that our early success in no way leads us to a dangerous sense of security. Let us march forward, following the voice which guides us wherever the Rule wants us to go and in the way in which he wishes.
I strongly recommend to you orderliness, good form, silence and holy poverty. You know what abundant graces are attached to these religious virtues amongst the Brothers of St Joseph. Remember all you have heard and read about them and you will have all you need to say to encourage your Brothers to acquire these four objectives.
Thank for the gift of pears you sent me. More and more I am aware of your heartfelt goodness and your charity.
For the rest, my dear Brother, keep up your efforts against your own weaknesses as well as those of your Brothers and rely on the powerful help of your divine Master, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Receive my blessing and believe in my devotion with which I will be forever
Your affectionate Spiritual Father
Ghent 5th Nov 1833
C.G.Van Crombrugghe.
P.S. Work with your Reverend Father Superior to find a way of avoiding scandalising the novices by the small faults that the Brothers make and which remain unpunished and over frequent. Next, work with the Superior to find ways of putting into practice acts of humility and gentleness between Brothers. A knowledge of the virtues is not enough: they must be put into practice with religious feeling.

LETTER NUMBER 63

13 November 1833
To Brother Athanase of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother
The report you sent me has been very useful. It has enabled me to evaluate the Teachers and pupils of our Convent of St Joseph. Thanks to your information I am able to conclude that we are making progress, that God is blessing our efforts and that new graces will follow this first success. I will let you have my comments on your plan of studies or on your division of classes and subjects but I seems to me that our previous experience should give us a little help and a little light. For the moment I will limit myself to writing to each Teacher in order to help him overcome the difficulties you have spoken to me about.
First of all, my dear Brother, I will honour my duty towards you and point out that it is important to sanctify your studies and all the duties you are charged with. My sincere affection for you obliges me to enter into some detail and to speak to you about the disposition you ought to try to be in when carrying out your task in order to respond to your Holy vocation.
The principal disposition is the love of God; not a sentimental feeling of love. You cannot make a gift of this love to yourself. It is a gift God gives more often to the weak, rather than to the strong souls he wishes to lead by a purer faith. The love I am talking to you about consists above all in a firm resolve to sacrifice everything to God, and to do everything you do for God. Have no other desire, no other support than that which is given by obedience. Jesus Christ our divine model was sad unto death in the garden and he experienced a total repugnance for the chalice which his Father offered him; so he was far removed from any sentimental feelings. Nonetheless, he said 'may your will be done and not mine". There, my dear Athanase, there you have a splendid example! In our moments of dryness let us say like Jesus Christ and let us rest in peace in the will of the Lord. Furthermore, are we in a position to speak up for ourselves and testify that we have the right to the same joy as those souls who have never abandoned the Bridegroom? Perhaps you have even refused him entry when he knocked at the door of your heart.
Do not let your distractions put you off in any way. God hides himself from you, but this is on account of his love for you. You will realise this later. Let your prayer be simple and more from the heart than from the spirit. Let it be the naive expression of your needs and the feelings you have for God: a poor man always finds a way to make his destitution known.
May your very faults be of value to you: may they teach you to distrust yourself, may they make you humble and compassionate towards the faults of others. Do not let your distrust of yourself diminish your confidence in God, but make let it make you careful and make you flee those occasions where you might fall and to which your duty does not lead you. Often reflect on that fact that if God is jealous for his glory and he 'puts down the proud, he also gives his grace" to the humble. Strive to become humble and then your ministry will be a ministry of mercy and a blessing.
Before leaving you I will not forgo the pleasure of placing before you a passage from St Paul which has struck me every time I have meditated on it: "Thanking the Father who has made it possible for you to join the saints and with them to inherit the light. Because that is what he has done: he has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him we gain our freedom, he forgiveness of our sins." Col 1.12-14.
Read these sacred words again and again and you will find in them a force, a light and a love which human words cannot give. We will understand the cost of souls when we realise what they cost Jesus Christ our divine Saviour.
Goodbye my dear child. I pray to God that he will form you by his hand; that he will be your light, your courage, your prudence, your all, and that you may be his submissive servant ever at the mercy of his holy will.
You know that I am tenderly and sincerely
Your ever devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 13 November 1833
C.G.Van Crombrugghe.
Re-read this letter from time to time. Keep a separate portfolio for the letters which are about your work. Ask for the letter I sent to the Prefect of studies on the spirit which must inspire our teachers; read it to the teachers from time to time. When you write to me put down on a separate sheet what concerns the interior life of Brother Athanase.

LETTER NUMBER 64

27 November 1833

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
Here are my observations which I had promised you on the very difficult question of fraternal correction. Read it carefully and try to live it. It seems to me that you can have confidence in what I say and be inspired by it on account of the experience I have acquired and the real devotion you know that I have for you.
Yes, my dear Brother, fraternal correction is something which is very difficult. It is as difficult for the one who gives it as it is for the one who receives. The latter will receive it badly. It will seem to him that it is a sort of insult and he will often get no benefit at all from it unless the necessary care is taken. I would even go further and say that fraternal correction can arouse passions and will be destructive if the unction of gentleness does not remove this sort of acrimony, this unknown force which is always in fraternal correction and which wounds self love. Therefore it is important to have recourse to God before undertaking something as dangerous as this and except for the case which will brook no delay, it should never be undertaken unless one is completely in control of ones self. The surgeon who does not have a steady hand will inflame the wounds and cause the sick man even more suffering, so that in curing one evil he has caused others . In the same way, if you have a troubled spirit, if your heart is not calm, you may find that in correcting someone's small fault you run the risk of exposing him to committing serious and scandalous sins. When we are emotional, a bitter word can escape and this serves only to increase deep felt emotions and a troubled spirit. We then pass from bitterness to anger and from anger to rage. Then even the best of causes is lost.
Here is what St Paul tells us about correction and first of all that correction which is aimed at faults of human weakness, which can even occur unexpectedly people who earnestly desire their perfection.
The Apostle writes to the Galatians c.6. v.1 in these terms: Brothers, if one of you misbehaves, the more spiritual of you who set him right should do so in a spirit of gentleness, not forgetting that you may be tempted yourselves."
So you see, my dear Superior, St Paul assumes that he who does the correcting is a spiritual man, that is to say, a man who follows the path of virtue; a man who does not allow himself to be guided by the impulses of his passions but rather tries to always follow the rules of discretion and wisdom.
Fraternal correction must be done in a "spirit of gentleness and humility", so as to remove from it anything which is unpleasant and open up a pathway to the heart of the one you want to correct.
In fact, you treat sickness of soul differently to the way you treat sickness of the body. In the later you can be violent with sick people but in the former you need their consent to heal . You certainly won't obtain their consent by rudeness. You attract them and win their hearts by using methods of gentleness and goodness.
The wise Fénélon writes: "Every behaviour in which you reprimand with impatience because you are upset by their faults, is a human criticism and not a channel of grace. The love of God is full of attentiveness, support, accommodation and allowance: it is patient and never takes two steps at once."
As for those who are malicious in their sinfulness, St Paul tells us to correct them with severity (Titus 1.13). However he doesn't want us to forget that a servant of God should be gentle, patient and a good teacher. (2 Timothy 2.24).
Never forget, my dear Superior, that the spirit of Jesus we love is represented for us by a the figure of a dove so that we might learn not to have any bitterness and that is by sighs not by shouts that we are to correct our Brothers. "Remind them," says St Augustine, "not by arguing with them but by letting them hear the sighs of your love and by your prayers and your fasts for them."
It would be a terrible mistake to use the same formula for everyone and not take into account different times, places and people: St Paul teaches, "Do not speak harshly to a man older than yourself, but advise him as you would your own father, treat the younger men as Brothers." (1 Timothy 5.1)
If you are severe in your correction, then try to end on a note of goodness, estime or affection. In such a case gentleness will finish what severity will have begun.
As far as possible let your correction be in secret. In general public reprimands have little chance of success. If such a reprimand cannot be avoided then do you best to get the person you are telling to help you in such a way that the reprimand will produce the required edification.
Under no circumstances forget that the aim of correction is not to insult someone, on the contrary it is to make them happy. You will, therefore, avoid at all cost any haughtiness, disdain or rejection. Only use methods motivated by the compassion of a christian heart, a heart which would want the same care, indulgence and charity if ever it were to find itself in the same situation as the person who is the subject of your correction.
No matter who you might have to reprimand, always look into your own heart. This is the advice of the Holy Spirit. "Learn from yourself how to treat others".
Finally, my dear Brother, let the example of our divine Master teach us. Remember how Jesus put up with the faults of his disciples, the crowd and the Pharisees and how he corrected them. It was with goodness that he dealt with indiscreet outbursts of zeal. He gently reproved Thomas's lack of faith. He reacted with severity against those who profaned his Father's house etc. etc. etc.
There you have a few rules which my longing to be of help both you as well as to those divine Providence has entrusted to your care, urges me to share with you. May the Lord bless our efforts and produce the fruit of salvation to the seeds he has made us sow in the fields and which to my great consolation you cultivate with zeal and success.
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 27 November 1833
C.G.Van Crombrugghe Canon.

LETTER NUMBER 65

14 December 1833
To Brother Athanase of the Convent of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Athanase , I willingly use this opportunity provided by Brother Ambrose to write a few words about the division of various subjects to be taught in each class which I gave to the Reverend Father Superior.
First of all, I would like you to check with the Brother Superior that my division is the same as the one you sent me. Then let me know whether or not the two and a half months of experience have backed up your original opinion or whether you now think your plan will need to be modified. What are you doing to verify this?
I would also like to know if the Rule concerning the general order and conduct of pupils is the same in your school as it is in Rooborst.
Finally, I want to be kept up to date with any recent measure which have been taken to improve the instruction and the education of the pupils Providence has entrusted to your care. Tell me about the teachers, their methods and the topics you discuss with them. I only want a few lines on this and only about whatever has been started since the holidays.
My dear Brother, I pray that God will be your light, your force and your reward.
As for you, be a faithful servant and count on the affection of
Your devoted spiritual Father
14 December 1833
C.G. Van Crombrugghe.
In your reply, let me know a little about your knowledge of mathematics, book-keeping, geography, history and Flemish. After you have gained sufficient knowledge of these primary matters, my wish would be for you to devote yourself to the study of physics, astronomy, chemistry and botany. If the good Lord grants you health and leisure, I will at some future date indicate some others sciences to study.

LETTER NUMBER 66

13 January 1834

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
Although your letter is somewhat sombre in tone and I detect in it a spirit which interprets everything too rigorously, I can assure you that I have read it with pleasure and found useful things in it.
First of all I want to thank you for the good wishes you sent me for the new year in your own name and in the name of your Brothers. I also ask God to pour out more and more his blessings on you so that you might become an ever more effective instrument of his merciful plan for you. Form yourself in all the virtues and also in the understanding which is proper to that Holy state to which divine Providence has called you. In this way you will fulfil my hopes and those of the cause of Religion. It is in this way that you will find peace and happiness and store up for yourself treasure in heaven.
The best advice I can give you at this moment to perform with calm and courage whatever each moment asks of you by stirring up in yourself considerations of faith. God rewards all our efforts. If your courage starts to wane say to yourself: 'vidimus stellam", You must keep going; it would be unworthy of your vocation to pull back or to hesitate on the pathway of perfection or duty.
As for anything else, Father Superior has been informed of everything I wish to tell the Brothers of the Convent of St Joseph. He will pass on my views exactly.
Receive once again my dear Brother the assurance of my sincere devotion
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 13 January 1834
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 67

13 January 1834
Brother Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
I would like to believe that the letter Brother Ambrose passed on to you a short while ago has been of some use to you. Since then I have learned that you are having the greatest difficulty in overcoming your temper which belittles a man because it makes him say things which reason would make us blush at. It is my duty to urge you to examine your conscience especially about your intolerance and your temper and to use the small book mentioned in the Rule and to carefully note down your sins against 'gentleness" and 'humility". This will enable your to see if the number of occasions on which you fall is diminishing.
Look up what I have written in my Manual of Christian Youth on anger and its remedies.
Be on your guard, my dear Brother, against pride, that enemy of our hearts, which God abhors and punishes with humiliations.
I pray with all my heart to the Infant Jesus to give you humility of heart and gentleness so that you will not distance yourself from his mercy and make yourself incapable of carrying out God's plans for you.
Receive the assurance of the devotion of
Your spiritual Father
13 January 1834
C.G.Van Crombrugghe.

LETTER NUMBER 68

24 January 1834
To the worthy Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at No. 244, Porte de Mons, Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother ,
I begin by thanking you for your good wishes for the new year and I tell you frankly that you have been frequently in the prayers which I have made to our Mother Mary, to St Joseph and to our good Master. Your youth and the importance of the establishment your are responsible for building up, obliges me to make a special mention of you before God and especially at the Holy sacrifice of the Mass. Admit your powerlessness often before the Lord. Ask with faith and confidence in the one who makes even the speech of children eloquent when it pleases Him, the help you need so as to be able to properly fulfil the duties imposed on you by obedience. So much, my dear Brother, for what concerns you personally.
Take care that those who work with you are diligent in carry out their allotted tasks and be meticulous in insisting that the Rule is carried out to the letter. Let each one rival the others in a desire to win the affection of the pupils by gentleness in the way in which they deal with them. Make sure that your exalted sentiments and manner gain for you the esteem of parents. These, my dear Brother are the wishes of one who cherishes you tenderly and who understands the full weight of the responsibility which rests on you.
I will take care to think about your remarks concerning Brother Alphonse and we will discuss it another time.
I think the number of pupils is satisfactory for the poor pupils who are far too numerous. My concern is that this excess becomes the straw which breaks the authority of the teachers. As a general rule on should start a school, especially a school for the poor, with a small number of pupils. Without this precaution success is rare. Receive, my dear Brother, the assurance of the tender and sincere devotion of
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 24 January 1834.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 69

13 February 1834
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
The details which our Reverend Father Superior gave me in a recent conversation are a source of real joy to me and I have not forgotten to thank God for the graces which he has deigned to pour out on our houses. You will have learned more and more, my dear Brother that good does not come without effort: 'regnum caelorum vim patitur,et violenti rapiunt illud".
Once the Reverend Father Superior gets back home he will explain to you the reasons for the change over between Mr Macoux and a Brother at Rooborst which we believed necessary to make. In the meantime encourage your Postulant and do what you can to make him cheerful and confident. Keep an eye on Brother Athanase , he needs the help of a friend and a Father: give him this help.
If you have the hand-written explanation of the Gospels for Sundays which I lent to one of the Superiors of our Brothers, send it back to me when you have an opportunity. Send the French copy of the 'Rule" and the 'Ceremonial" in the same language to Alost, to our Sisters of Mary. Sister Adelaide is there and needs them to make some changes in style and general lay out.
You will find enclosed some papers. You will give one lot to Mr Godefroy and the others to Reverend Father Superior when he gets back.
I thought it would be best to print your bulletins here. I can supervise the printing and before deciding on the final edition, I will write to you and send you a copy so that you can let me know what you think of it.
Be careful about allowing the Brother scholastics to fast and perform other austerities. Their studies combined with the tiredness that comes from their work does not go well with fasting.
Receive my blessing and believe in the devotion of
Ghent 13 Feb 1834
Your affectionate Spiritual Father
P.S. I had planned to send you at the end of last year some instructions which would have been useful. I don't know what made me forget this plan. I have come across the instructions just as they are, and I believe it could give you some good ideas on the matter. Copy it and get Brother Athanase to read it. Send the original to Rooborst. Brother Athanase should make a copy for his own use. He needs it more than you. Write to the Brother Superior at Rooborst and tell him to make a copy of the text and then send the original back to me.

LETTER NUMBER 70

14 February 1834
To Brother Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother
I have delayed answering your last letter because I wrote to you at the same time as you sent me your letter and it seemed to me that I had made a sort of reply to the things you asked me on several points. I have just learned with real satisfaction that for some little time now you have successfully overcome the serious weaknesses in your character. Father Superior has been no less happy in making this report than I have in receiving it. We thank the Lord for the graces he has poured out in such abundance on our dear Brothers. I am more and more certain that you are destined to be an instrument of mercy in the church of Jesus Christ. Work more and more to respond to God's plan for you by developing humility and gentleness. You know that our divine Master says to you: 'discite a me quia mitis sum et humilis corde".
I approve your programme of studies but I want to see some elements of physics in it. I sent you a small treatise on it consisting of twenty lessons. Brother Superior will remember this work.
As for the other sciences you will study them one by one depending on the progress you have made with what occupies you at the present.
We have taken several opinions concerning Mr Macoux who, it seems, is not getting on well at our Convent in Grammont.
Take care to keep me up to date with the efforts the Teachers are making to carry out the rules laid down for them both in their methods and in the subject matter to be taught. You can also tell me at the same time if the progress of the pupils is what we expected.
I also want you to practice your handwriting, you and all the Brother scholastics.
I finish by renewing, my dear Brother, the good wishes I have sent you in my earlier letters, that I want to see you faithful in your vocation and busy training yourself in the virtues and the understanding which you need to do God's work.
Receive my blessing and rely on the sincere and tender devotion of
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 14 February 1834
C.G.Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 71

18 February 1834
To the worthy Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
I sympathise strongly with the dreadful situation of Mr Diericx ; nonetheless, he is a fruit which is ripe for heaven and I pray to God to purify him to such an extent that when his fine soul will have left his body God can admit him at once to the dwelling of the elect.
Thank for the information you have given me and for the evidence of submission and confidence that you give me. I hope our divine master will aid us powerfully and that the Holy time of penance will obtain favours for us and for our dear Brothers and pupils.
Here is a proof of the Report. You will see that I have made some changes. First of all we will use a half sheet. This will greatly reduce the expense for us and the parcel will be lighter when we have to send it through the post. Each pupil will write a letter into which you will insert the bulletin, then you will post the whole packet.
You will notice amongst the corrections to the Report that I have crossed out Declamation; it seems to me to be open to criticism; we have no intention of producing actors for the theatre. You will also notice that I have had the Reports signed by the Prefect of Studies who will sign himself Brother Athanase. On the other hand the bill will be signed by the Superior who will put Brother Stanislas. A certain number will have the printed heading Grammont, a certain number Rooborst and a third lot Hal.
I have included the advance payments for the Boarding section on the bill in a more general way which is less liable to criticism.
Take care to consider attentively the work I have done. Send it back to me by the carriage of......(???) on Thursday morning. It is in order to proceed quickly that I................(???), by post instead of waiting for tomorrow's train. Add to your letter any comments you think you have for me.
When I send you the final copy I will make a few further comments about how to fill in the Reports and how to write the bills.
Before I finish, I have dear to my heart the matter of cleanliness which I want you to inspect and see if you find everything everywhere as I would want it in the Convent amongst the pupils as well as the Brothers. Don't forget that the holidays are approaching and that the reputation of your Convent is not yet entirely repaired in the matter of cleanliness. I want the Brothers to make an effort to be charitable and polite in front of the pupils so that they will have nothing disparaging to say about the Brothers during the holidays.
I am always your devoted Spiritual Father in Our Lord.
Ghent 18 February 1834
C.G.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 72

21 February 1834
To the Reverend Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
Several of the comments you have made about the Report have been very useful. When I send you the final copy I will send you my reply to the comments you have made.
The printer here in Ghent does not know about the Report for the day pupils and when you and I are in agreement over the final copy, I will send it back to you so that you can have it printed at Grammont. Before the final printing you will would be well advised to send a proof back to me so that I can be certain there are no more mistakes.
When he gets back to your Convent the Father Superior will tell you about the decisions we have thought it best to take about Mr Macoux ! In the mean time treat the young man with charity and politeness. Ask your Brothers to do the same in the interests of the reputation of those who have the honour to bear the name of Brothers of St Joseph and to be Religious from whom people expect perfection.
I am sincerely
Your devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 21 February 1834.
C.G.Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 73

3 March 1843

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
In sending you the reports I am also sending you the comments which I promised you.
First of all I have chosen a half-sized sheet in order to cut down on your expenses and those of the Parents who would have to pay a third more for postage for the small amount of extra information on the original size.
There is nothing unusual about the Superior adding a letter to the report since it is in itself a letter. But the Parents will be reassured to receive a letter from their children.
During my time at Alost we only had a half-size sheet and the pupils wrote a letter to their Parents to be included with the Report. This letter was given to the Superior of the College who put it in with the Report and put both in the post. Understand, my dear Brother, that the example I have just given you, is important. Nearly all the establishments of our sort in Belgium have more or less adopted this practise. I don't know of any who have improved on this model.
Your Report is heavily decorated with ornamental letters. These decorations are not in good taste on a text which is not intended as printer's exhibition piece but rather is intended to give precise information to parents.
The line in capital letters in the report of conduct is in bad taste and breaks both the rules of writing and common sense which require clarity in parallel lists.
I think the actual Report is clear and the titles; Health, Conduct and Written Work are clearly indicated.
The details of the fees contain all this is necessary. The rest can be added by pen.
Avoid crossings out in the report as well as in the bill. Take great care that the handwriting gives no signs of negligence and that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes to be found. For example, never write: "j'ai eu d'empêchement" (I was prevented) but "de l'empêchement." Write "cirage" (wax) and not "sirage". There is the world of difference between "sire" (Sir) and "cire" (wax). Don't write "argent de jeu (games money) no one will understand. Take care to use a dictionary and when you are unsure take care not to indicate to parents that French is not written correctly by the Brothers of St Joseph. Under no circumstances forget that what is written is permanent and can be seen by many people who have little sympathy for Religious. Finally, it would be a good idea if you drew some pencil lines in the Report and the bill. This will help avoid mistakes and other inconveniences which give the impression that you are careless. Let us avoid anything which could give the impression that the Brothers are careless about what they write.
There, my dear Brother Superior, are a few criticism which might appear somewhat harsh if you did not know the great concern I have for you, and if I was not forced to make them because of all the faults I have found in the Reports and the bills and the letters which have come from your Convent.
I have just thought of a few more comments which will be useful. You ask me why there is "en diligence, la?" It is because "place" is feminine.
When one receives the total of the bill, it must be written, after the printed words at the bottom of the bill: The sum of (You write the amount in letters and then add): Total, etc. If the total is not being paid, then you must instead of the word "total" put "on account": these words will make sense in the context of what follows. In the stationery section, if you have provided notebooks, put: "for notebooks". If it is a question of books, pens or other similar things, these should be detailed. In the tailor's section, do the same, listing what the tailor has done, and so on.
If you still have any queries then write to me. I attach a great deal of importance to whatever comes out of the Convents of our Brothers so that they can be read without blushing or getting the impression that they have been rushed.
Once you have carefully considered my letter, have the goodness to send it to the Superior of the Convent of the Holy Angels . The majority of my remarks are intended just as much for him as for you.
Accept my remarks with the same desire to learn from them as I have had to help you by writing them.
Your devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 3 March 1834
C.G.Vam Crombrugghe.
I hope to be shown a few reports which had been filled in and that I will see a proof that you have profited by my comments.

LETTER NUMBER 74

4 March 1834
To the worthy Superior of the house of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
According to what I have just learned from the Reverend Father Superior, it seems that we have every reason to be satisfied with our new house which is being developed under the patronage of our august Mother Mary. However, Father Superior has so very little free time that I have only had a general report. You know, my dear Brother, that my concern for you is so great that I cannot be satisfied with a vague understanding of your concerns. I would just like to ask you for a few details on what you are doing and on the house in general: you know what is of interest to a father and that's what I am asking you to send me.
I recommend that you take proper care of your health. If in your opinion the weariness from teaching and studying does not allow you to fast then speak to Monsieur the Dean so as to get a dispensation, if he thinks it is right. I won't hide my own opinion from you; I suggest that you should not fast given your many occupations and your delicate state of health.
I await, then, your news, my dear Brother. Tell your dear collaborators that I recommend that they have courage and confidence in God. I give you all my blessing and the assurance of my sincere devotion. Pray for me to Mary our Mother.
Your affectionate Spiritual Father
My compliments to Monsieur the Dean.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 75

Letter 75. 1834-03-08
To the worthy Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior ,
I would like to believe that the comments I made to you, in perhaps a little too much detail, about the Reports and the Bills of your pupils, will have been understood and received with gratitude. The good reputation which you must win for the Convent which the Lord has entrusted to your direction, makes it your duty to carefully examine everything that goes out from it, and after all: scripta manent.
A lady from Stekene would like to know about your boarding school. She might send you two of her children. When you have a moment, send me a few copies of the prospectus and I will undertake to send them to this lady.
Please pass on the enclosed to whom it is destined.
I am always very short of information about the state of the Convents of the Brothers. Every two months I receive a fairly detailed account from the Sisters of 1. their expenditure, and 2. the general situation in the Convent and of each sister in particular. This Rule is a common one for the Brothers and the Sisters. If someone bothered to give me this detailed information, I would as a result be able to give you the proper advice and correction and the Brothers would be able to take greater advantage of my desire to see them happy and perfect. Try and discover the reason for this omission. Discuss it with your Reverend Father Superior. You must realise how important it is for me to receive information from the respective Superiors of each Convent at a fixed date. I will also discuss it with the Reverend Father Superior at the earliest opportunity so that I can get this important point carried out without delay.
If our dear Brother Athanase needs to be taught about anger, tell him to read what is written in the Manual of Christian Youth. I hope he will get some real help from reading it, if he reads it attentively and with the right spirit.
Don't take it badly if I remind you of another point, about which I have often written to you for some time now. I am talking about the cleanliness of clothes, hair and hands etc. of the Brothers as well as the furniture and the Convent in general. It is not that I have heard bad reports about cleanliness and general appearance. It is because past failures remain in my memory and I believe it is my duty to warn you to be on your guard and keep your eyes open lest past wounds, whose scars are not yet healed, be reopened.
I am expecting renewed help from our Holy Patron at the time of his feast. Make sure you stir up confidence and zeal in our Brothers. I have never had recourse in vain to St Joseph's protection. Do your best to inspire in the children sentiments of devotion towards the foster father of Jesus, our divine Master.
I finish by giving you the assurance of my true devotion with which I am always in the Lord
Your very affectionate Spiritual Father
Ghent 8 March 1834.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
P.S. The insert I mentioned in my letter has not been put in. I have had another opportunity of sending it.
My compliments to the Master of Novices. I am waiting for information from him about his Novices.
The Sisters will, I think, be sending me at no cost the Prospectuses I asked for. If you have not already sent the French text of the Rule and the Ceremonial to Alost then use the same opportunity to let me have them.

LETTER NUMBER 76

10 March 1834
To Brother Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
I give thanks to God for all the good he allows you to do through your office as a result of the blessings which he pours out on your efforts. You see how we never sow in vain, provided that God is the aim of our projects. To him alone is the glory of our works and to us is the reward they deserve!
In the light of what you tell me about the pupils, it is very painful for me to learn that a blessed instrument of his divine mercy appears to fail to keep anything of the heavenly favours of which he himself is a channel. What a shame to show the way to others and not to go down it yourself! I would be at odds with myself if I did not, while on this matter, express the hurt I feel at such blindness. What! Can it be that the very people Jesus Christ deigns to associate in the work of his heavenly Father in no way share in the spiritual gifts which they are charged to distribute with such extraordinary generosity? What is the use of enriching others if they remain poor themselves? What would it profit a man to gain the whole universe if he were to lose his soul?
Encourage yourself, my dear Brother, and encourage Brother Pierre to profit better from the goodness of the Lord. You should be able to say to yourself each day that you have worked for God and have deserved heaven. What a loss it would be if you were not to act in such a way as to bear witness for yourself!
I hope that my remarks will be accepted with the same sentiments that I feel in my heart in writing them to you and that I will have the consolation of learning that the voice of the Father has been heard by those God has given me for Children. You know how dear to me is the title and the obligations imposed on me as
Your spiritual father
Ghent 10 March 1834.
C.G.V.C.
I am expecting immense help for us all from the intercession of St Joseph. Let us prepare for his feast day with zeal and confidence.

LETTER NUMBER 78

9 March 1834
To Brother Athanase at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph in Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Ghent 23 March 1834

My dear Brother
In the hope of meeting with you and with with our dear Superiors from the Convents of St Joseph and the Holy Angels during Easter week, I want you to read the book which I am herewith sending you so that you will be able to explain it to us.
Your Brother Superior will make sure he brings me his book of expenses so that we can get up to date with the financial situation of your Convent. Warn him on my behalf about this.
The book I am sending you does not belong to me, take care to give it back to me at Rooborst.
In awaiting the pleasure of seeing you again, I repeat the assurance of my sincere devotion and give you my blessing.
Your spiritual Father.
C.G.V.C

LETTER NUMBER 78

11 April 1834
To Brother Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
I hope that my meeting with several of your dear Brothers will have had the intended effect. Some will be relieved by it, others driven to do better and everyone encouraged. You will by now have noted certain measures which I have taken. I hope that the grace of our divine and adorable Saviour will come to our help.
Take care of yourself, dear Brother, and of those your office places under your charge. May the gentleness and the humility of Jesus Christ never abandon us and may peace of heart be the reward of our efforts.
If you notice any other faults do not fail to warn the Reverend Father Superior, whom you have the joy to have amongst you for as long as his numerous occupations allow.
For the rest, my dear Brother, be courageous, be attentive to the presence of God and seek only the glory of the one who has deigned to call you to the holy state in which you are honoured to be and the noble functions with which you are entrusted. This is what I ask for you during the Holy sacrifice of the Mass.
Your devoted spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
11 April 1834

LETTER NUMBER 79

5 May 1834
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at the Brother's School at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I was very pleased with your letter, with the humble and sincere explanation you gave of your return to Rooborst and with the truth you have perceived in my report. In fact, it is an important duty for me to supervise the one who supervises others but is not supervised himself. The Lord, who gives you good will also gives strength of purpose to completely fulfil your duties and so help your subordinates and lead them towards perfection at the same time avoiding anything which could cause irritation.
The secret business which I spoke to you about is not yet settled. Perhaps it will be a few weeks yet before the decision arrives. Finally, you must keep it a close secret. You know how important it is not to let anyone into the secret.
It would be a great consolation for me to learn that there was great silence in our schools at Hal, as well as in the school of the poor and in the middle class school. We cannot flatter ourselves that we will be an advantage for the children, or that we will satisfy the parents, if we do not show a good order and by silence that we understand our profession and carry it out properly. On this matter you must write to me or get others to write to me. Our reputation depends partly on it as well as our merit. I am always impressed at Nonnenbosch at hearing nothing in the schools apart from a lone voice or the ringing of a signal. Nobody sees me when I am observing this. Try and imitate this.
I regularly commend you during this month to our holy Mother so that you become more and more capable of leading the children of Mary. Let us redouble our efforts and try and make our hearts agreeable to the one who has such power with God and who loves to help us in the work of religion.
Farewell, Reverend Father Superior, be zealous and prudent in your work.
Your affectionate spiritual father.
Ghent 15 May 1834
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Pay my respects to the Dean and my cordial greetings to all your confreres.
I think it would be a good idea if the Brother Superior of the Holy Angels could see everything at Nonnenbosch with me. But I must have warning before he comes, I could be absent.
Next week I am going to Mouscron and not the week which I had formerly set aside for this visit.

LETTER NUMBER 80

21 May
To the worthy Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
It is getting near the time when I hope I am going to give your Novices the great consolation they are waiting for. I believe it is my duty to write to you so that you can rouse up both the zeal of Novices in preparing themselves for their Holy Profession and that of your dear Brothers so that they redouble their prayers for the Novices. Experience has taught you how necessary the grace of God is so that you can live up to your high calling. During this season, so appropriate for requesting the gifts of the Spirit, ask, but ask with confidence, for these gifts, and ask our Mother to intercede for you and for all those divine Providence has entrusted to your care.
It with great pleasure that I have noticed how Brother Athanase wants to work seriously to achieve perfection. May it be a source of the Lord's blessing. We will speak about other matters mentioned in your letter when I have the pleasure of seeing you.
Tell Brother Bernard that I am glad to see that our Sisters are embroidering the habit of the Blessed Virgin. I am returning your red ornaments. They are too good for the exchange I spoke to you about.
May the Holy Spirit enlighten you, purify you and make you holy. Amen.
Your devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 21st of the month of Mary C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Send me back, at your earliest opportunity, the book on the method of the Brothers of Christian Schools which I lent you. The person who lent it to me has asked for it back.

LETTER NUMBER 81

7 June 1834-06
To the Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior
To my extreme regret I was unable to visit the Reverend Ladies of Hunneghem. The reason for this was the fatigue caused by the Professions and a slight indisposition which lasted most of Wednesday. I require you to offer my apologies to the Reverend Mother Superior without delay and to assure her of my sincere devotion although my behaviour may have given her a different impression.
I am happy to repeat how pleased I was with your Convent, with our dear Brothers, with your pupils and with the whole house in general. Recommend to those concerned the swift execution of certain points which I thought it best to prescribe. May gentleness, politeness, cleanliness and the spirit of prayer be neglected by no one. May God's blessings never cease to sweeten your labours and always crown our common efforts.
Greet your dear colleagues at the Convent of St Joseph; tell them I will keep for a long time the consoling impression which I received at this visit and I will redouble my efforts to support the good will I came across amongst you. I am more and more
Your ever devoted Spiritual Father.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe Canon
Ghent 7 June 1834.

LETTER NUMBER 82

19 June 1834

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
I will follow the instructions you have sent me on behalf of Mr (???) Godfroy. Our Reverend Father Superior will tell you face to face next Thursday how our first meeting went.
Those who have bought hay from your fields must pay per purchase 3 francs 50 cents plus 10% of the price of the purchase. That is the reply of your Reverend Father Superior who is sending you the list of the last sale.
Good bye my dear Superior, the enclosed was written when I received your letter. Brother Athanase will speak to you about it.
I am always sincerely your ever devoted Spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Rooborst 19 June 1834.
You will also receive at the same time a total of 96 francs the sum total of what is owing to your Convent by Mademoiselle de Rooborst.

LETTER NUMBER 83

19 June 1834
Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My Dear Brother
I have carefully considered the project you have sent me on the use of signals in the classes of our Institute . Here is the result of my reflections on your project. Please read my findings carefully and discuss them with your Reverend Superior. If you can't find anything that needs to be changed in it, make two copies, one for you and the other for our Convent of Our Lady at Hal. You will have to teach the Brothers how to use this method and in order to do this each one will have to read carefully and study my short booklet on it. Next you will have to get some practice in following the rules laid down in it. After the holidays this method must be adopted and used in all our houses. So that I can be certain that the method will be used in the same way everywhere you will have to train the Brothers during the holidays by making them practise it in your presence in front of a group representing a class room of pupils.
Tell your Reverend Brother Superior that I have arranged that the prize giving at Rooborst during the holidays will be, as at Grammont, preceded by a public examination of the classes and there will be no more drama or theatrical pieces in any of our Convents. Our aim is to form good Christians, to teach several languages and a few other sciences that might be useful or necessary. In no way is it our aim to form strolling players or actors.
I repeat here my satisfaction with the conduct and progress of the pupils of the Convent of St Joseph . I am also pleased with the pupils of the Convent of the Holy Angels . Receive, my dear friend, my fatherly blessing and rely on the feelings for you of
Your ever devoted spiritual Father.
From the Convent of the Holy Angels. C.G. Van Crombrugghe
19 June 1834

LETTER NUMBER 84

24 June 1834
To the worthy Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
You have seen how the Vandamme inheritors are changing ground and appear to be considering a deal. Please be so kind as to bring the other papers concerning your business to Mr Godefroy, so that our obliging friend can make copies of the wills, by means of which those who sold it to me have now become the owners. If the copies of the testaments are not there, Mr Godefroy will have the goodness to obtain them. You will send me these copies and the other papers which Mr Godfroy thinks I might need in order to be able to set up at my house a meeting with the aforementioned inheritors. We will have our first meeting next Saturday at Ghent. Ask Mr Godfroy to give you some idea of the line of argument he thinks I ought to follow. Fr Superior will accompany me from Rooborst to Ghent. Therefore, you will send to me at Rooborst the papers and the instructions I need before next Friday. It is not necessary to urge you to pray and to get others to pray to God for a successful outcome to this business. You will yourself carry out this duty, of that I'm sure.
I commend to your special care our your Brothers Désiré and Vincent . Watch over them and try to stop any failures on their part which might discourage them. Help Brother Athanase and strengthen and encourage everyone.
You know, my dear Brother, the extent to which I am ever devoted to you and the extent to which I believe it my duty to be in everything
Your affectionate Spiritual father
C. G. Van Crombrugghe Canon.
Ghent 24 June 1834.

LETTER NUMBER 85

12 July 1834
To the worthy Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Ghent 12 July 1834

Dear and worthy Superior
I commend to your care all those who will be concerned with the exercises of mercy which your house is about to enjoy. May everything lead to the obtaining of abundant graces by the pupils and also by the Teachers. Do what you can to ensure that the Reverend Father Kerkhove is able to praise the cleanliness, the good manners, the spirit of order and submission in all that he will see in the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph. Talk about all this with the Reverend Father Superior and with all the Brothers.
As I was at Alost, I got dear Brother Bernard to ask Brother Athanase to send me the project on the use of signals together with your comments so that I could send it to our Sisters. I want to get their comments on it before insisting on its use. Has Brother Bernard been more involved in his own project (the embroidering of the habit of the Virgin) rather than the work of the Institute? If that is the case then I believe his zeal is not according to the wishes of God.
I am always, my dear Brother, your devoted spiritual Father
C. G. V. C
I will go on sending you the numbers of the Literary and Historical Journal of Liege as soon as I have read them. This revue will be useful for you.

LETTER NUMBER 86

14 August 1834
To Brother Ambrose Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
I begin by offering you my excuses for my long silence. I beg you to believe that you must not deduce from it anything against my devotion to you and to the others. Many occupations are the cause of my silence.
I can see no reason why you should not put up in large letters on the front of your house: Boarding School of the Brothers of St Joseph. You could mention in a newspaper which circulates in your area: Classes begin at the Brothers of St Joseph, Hal on the ... of October - or Boarding School of the Brothers of St Joseph. Classes start again on the ... of October at the Brothers of St Joseph, or something similar but without writing an article in praise of the establishment. People are weary of reading these self congratulatory notices in the newspapers. As for me, I am relying on the help of Mary for our undertaking at Hal.
I hope that measures we are taking to help you, will prove to you, my dear Brother, that we are working seriously on your behalf and on behalf of your promising house. Leave it to us.
I am praying to our august Mother to pour out her abundant blessings on you and on her house at Hal.
Give my best wishes to all the dear Brothers and pay my respects to your worthy Dean.
Your ever affectionate in Jesus Christ.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 87

. 3 October 1834
To Brother Athanase at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
I have been assured that if your Father has really moved house to France you have nothing to worry about military service in Belgium. The law on this will not concern you. So, write to your parents in order to find out what sort of domicile they have in France. If they have registered as wanting to stay for ever in that country, we will avoid all the difficulties of a draft and the consequences which may follow as a result.
I regret that we find ourselves obliged to send Brother Michel to Maldeghem, that upsets my plans. This Brother would have been suitable for your house, you would have found in him a subject capable of following slightly higher studies. Nonetheless, may God's will be done, we had no choice.
Take care that the method that has been adopted for snapping the index finger is introduced and that one is constantly trained for it. Try and find out if as much is being done in our other Convents.
Goodbye my dear Brother, I am yours in the Sacred Heart of our adorable Master Jesus Christ.
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 3 October 1834
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
My respects to the Reverend Father Superior.
It is a rule of the art of letter writing to always re-read letters before closing them. I am saying this to you now because in every instance the letters of the Brothers and Sisters prove the indispensable necessity of the Rule. I ought to have included it in the new edition of the Art of Letterwriting.

LETTER NUMBER 88

5 October 1834
To the Reverend Superior of the House of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
I suppose that you are already well settled into your new post which has been entrusted to you by divine Providence and I think that by now you will have enough free time to listen to me for a moment. The importance of the Convent of Our Lady at Hal means that it is our duty to be very cautious so as to prevent God's work suffering as a result of our lack of zeal and dedication. A scrupulous exactitude both for everything the Rule prescribes and for every point of each particular rule, is of no little importance. It will determine the success of your administration and even of the joint efforts of your dear colleagues. You are too convinced of the truth of this statement for it to be necessary to insist upon it. I rely on both your own experience and the devotion I know you have for your Institute. One point which appears to me indispensable, is that, following what is laid down in the Holy Rule, you take care to send to the Father Superior at the dates which have been fixed, an accurate account of your expenses and income and a short appreciation of each Brother in particular and on the pupils in general. In his turn Father Superior will let me have this information and we will be able to unite our efforts for the general good. I hope you haven't forgotten what I have said about cleanliness. Keep it under control and set an example yourself for your Brothers in everything that concerns you or is for your use.
Dear Brother Ambrose remains your assistant and as such your first councillor. Work with him always in matters which are a little difficult and agree together to establish and preserve charity among the Brothers. Take care that the Rules of politeness are followed at all times everywhere in our Convent of Our Lady. Align everything with religious aims.
I am asking you also to keep me up to date with what has already been organised and to tell me what you can foresee about the number of pupils and what progress they will make. Have you introduced the method of signals by means of the index?
Good bye my dear Brother, my heart is with you in the One who must be our common love.
Your ever devoted Father Superior
Ghent 5 Oct. 1834
C.G. Van Crombrugghe Canon
My compliments to your dear Brothers
It would be a good idea to take out a subscription for the Literary and Historical Journal of Liege. It is published in instalments in a certain number of pages which becomes a large volume each year. In it you will find all sorts of useful facts and information. The subscription is 6 francs a year.
I hope that you have the charity to pray for me from time to time to the Blessed Virgin. Your devotion to our Mother ought to increase day by day. Never forget your Brothers whenever your devotion is strong and your confidence lively.

LETTER NUMBER 89

19 October 1834
To the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

The first part of this letter is missing.

I will answer, dear Brother Athanase , your letter with which I am very pleased in a few words. The addition of a sign with the index finger for the writing lesson seems good to me. You will let the Brothers in the other houses know. I want the difficulties with the art teacher smoothed out; but I don't think is it necessary to pay out for a writing board : there are already plenty of desks in your convent. The tables which are in the Sunday school room could be used for this and perhaps others as well. You could use green or blue spectacles which do not change the dimension of objects. If you haven't got any I will send you some from here.
You don't need an official document for your parents' domicile. It is enough that they tell you that they have had their names taken off the register at Dottignies and have registered in France as having decided to stay there for good. I will write to you at greater length on the state of poor concentration caused by study. You do not see clearly on this matter. In the mean time offer your studies to God as a means of making yourself more acceptable to him and more useful to the Holy Church. That must be the only aim of your efforts to acquire more knowledge. Never forget your final aim in all you do, and remember that your divine Master has told you to learn from Him who is gentle and humble of heart. Good bye then, my dear child, may God ever deign to be in everything, your aim, your counsel, your courage and your all. May you his servant be ever faithful and ever at the mercy of his holy will!
Your ever devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 19 October 1834
C.G.Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 90

23 October 1834

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
I hope that the spectacles I have sent you will be useful to you and help you to keep your sights fixed on your devotion to the service of God. It is in this way, my dear brother, that all your time, your entire body and spirit must be consecrated to the Lord. In this way the distractions caused by study and by the other concerns demanded by your work, are neither dangerous nor sinful. That is the meaning of the words of the author of the life of St Ignatius. Whether you are busy with your studies or your duties, whether you are doing something else for the same reason, you are equally pleasing to the Master and you will receive the reward for every one of your actions at the time of the final reckoning.
May the Lord deign to continue to help you and, you my dear brother, may you faithfully persevere in working for him and with him.
You ever devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 23 October 1834
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 91

20 November 1834
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
Although your letter to me last month was somewhat sombre in tone and that I would rather have received comments on your Brothers which were a little less harshly written, charity being the essential mark of a Superior, I am no less certain that you are actually more please than you are admitting and that the good God will promote both your efforts and ours.
The difficulty you are going through at the moment with your boarders does not discourage me at all. Try and discover if there is anything in you or in one of your colleagues which might be responsible for this shortage of pupils. If you discover the cause then remove it as quickly as you can and thus leave divine Providence unfettered in its merciful activities. If you do not find any obstacle at all, pray and redouble your efforts; the time of trial will pass.
In spite of what I wrote at the beginning do not stop telling me exactly how things are. Fraternal charity must moderate and temper your expressions. Do you remember how, in different circumstances, we managed to improve the austere and uncharitable tone of Brother Ambroise when he also gave a report on the conduct of certain Brothers.
I beg you, my dear friend in Jesus Christ to always have God as the aim of everything you do, say or think. I beg you to love your Brothers in Christ and to commend them to the Holy Mother of God. I hope you will not forget me before our beloved Mother Mary.
Your ever devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 20 Nov. 1834
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon
Add whatever is needed to the enclosed letter and put it in the post or give it to the messenger responsible for letters to the place where this (???) lives. This man owes me a lot of money but pays me nothing.

LETTER NUMBER 92

24 November 1834
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Ghent 24 November 1834

Dear Superior
The information you have just sent me will be very useful to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. When I told you in my last letter that I would have liked to believe that you would have used less strong language when you were making your complaints, I did not want to encourage you to hide anything from me. I was only inviting you to remember that you are a Religious and those you were complaining about are equally the chosen friends of our divine leader Jesus Christ.
I will be careful to see how it would be best to approach the Dean when, in the month of January, the Reverend Father Superior will have explained the whole business to me. The Dean has not mentioned any difficulties to me; he appears well satisfied with all the Brothers.
I agree with you that Brother Liévin needs a lesson in the virtue of humility. I give you a special commission to do so.
I am also writing to the unfortunate Alphonse . I think it will be necessary to make an exception to the Rule and allow him to go to Antwerp. I am trying to inspire in him the suitable and noble sentiments of his lofty vocation. Help me to communicate to your Brothers zeal for their precious duties. Love your Rule and preach by example; then you will be able to make those whom divine Providence has entrusted to your care understand their duty. Frequently go to Mary and urge your Brothers and your pupils to have a tender devotion for this Mother. For the rest, I hope that Mary will have the goodness to extricate the Convent which is specially consecrated to her from its problems. Have courage, my dear Brother, and never doubt that help from on high will always come to aid us.
I am your ever devoted
C. G. V. C.
Rouse up the zeal of your Brothers by taking them individually to one side and speaking to them about the language of the heart and especially about the love of God. I hope Brother Louis would not be indifferent to this.
I urge you to read in common with the Scholastics the seventh book of the "Traité d'Etudes" of Rollin. Reading this will be most useful to all of you. As for what concerns the Superior, you can (???) it. When you write to me, let me know if the Brothers' studies are going well and if you supervise them as they study. If you do not have (###) ask to borrow it from Grammont for a while.

LETTER NUMBER 93

January 9 1835
To Brother Athanase .

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Your letter, my dear Athanase, was a source of great joy to me. My first reaction was to thank the Lord for the favours he has bestowed on you and above all for having made you understand that piety is the most precious possession. Knowledge can be useful for us and make us capable of serving our neighbour; but when it is accompanied by piety it makes us first of all more useful to ourselves and then more capable of serving others. There you are then on the road to becoming a true instrument of God's mercy. I congratulate you and I promise that I will continue to pray for you in order to obtain from God that you will faithfully follow such a happy vocation.
The Reverend Father Superior has told me of his fears for your health and how your zeal for study might be greater than the physical strength the Lord has given you. You are too dear to us, my friend, for us to forget our duty in this matter. I order you to look after yourself and to avoid excessive study. You could run the risk of losing the fruits of your work both for others and for yourself, by going against the plan of Providence and when you have worn yourself out by working beyond your strength, you could end up with a sick body and become a burden rather than a help to the Institute. I recommend that you to take a little food and a little physical exercise from time to time. Finally, you are to make it your duty to be careful and to look after your health in a reasonable way, both for God and for the Institute.
Once again I thank the God of blessings for all favours he bestows on our pupils; these favours give me great pleasure. Let us take care to deserve their continuation by glorifying the One who alone merits it, and by contenting ourselves with the rewards He has promised us.
I will speak with the Reverend Father Superior about the place where you study and about the cost of the several instruments you spoke to me about.
I finish by reminding you about something I have already mentioned in different circumstances, that more and more I feel the need for our Brothers to be gentle and happy with polite manners. Work with all your strength to form yourself in this and to ensure that our Brothers form and accustom themselves to it.
Yours in our Lord Jesus Christ
9 January 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
If the dictionary of history by (???) needs to be rebound, it should be sent to me when an opportunity arises.

LETTER NUMBER 94

10 January 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother Superior
I am very pleased with your last letter, which, in spite of several mistakes which a second reading would have eliminated, is good both in its style as well as the information it contains. I thank you and your dear colleagues from my heart for the good wishes you have formulated for me and the prayers you have addressed to God in my favour. I would like to equally assure you that not a day goes by in which I do not recommend you to the Lord so that we might fulfill the merciful plan of his Providence and achieve our sanctification at the same time that we help others fulfil their respective duties: cui bonus, tibi nequam? Let us hasten, my dear Brother, to correct whatever we find bad in us and without becoming impatient over our woes, let us begin again each day, let us humbly pick ourselves up, and no matter the cost, let us work seriously towards our perfection. Brother Alphonse must understand once and for all that unless he makes an enormous effort he will find it impossible to carry out his duties. He must develop his zeal and learn to love simple and ordinary things, seeing God in everything he does. The more I love my Brothers in Jesus Christ the more I am pained by everything which is an obstacle to their true happiness and to the plans which God in his goodness has for them. I wish my prayers were good enough to obtain for all of you the courage to make yourselves, with the help of grace, everything which the Institute of which you are members asks of you. Apply yourself to becoming pious above everything, but never neglect the duty imposed by your vocation of applying yourslef to knowledge. It is the only way to respond to what the Church expects of you.
In conformity with a custom established in the Institute, each Brother should write at the New Year and tell me something about the progress of the class room teachers and the pupils. No doubt the reason why this custom has not been followed in your house is a forgetfulness caused by so much work.
I repeat here the recommendation I made to Brother Alphonse to get the Brothers to learn by heart the chronological table as well as some other useful things suitable for memorisation and for improving the memory by exercising it. How are the Brothers getting on with their studies in grammar, arithmetic, letterwriting style, history and handwriting? There you have some of the things which arouse my curiosity and I want you to tell me about them when you next write to me.
Good bye, my dear Brother, I am all yours in the One who is the centre of my affections and who always teaches me to want to be more and more
Your devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 10 January 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 95

24 January 1835
To Brother Pierre

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Thank you, dear Brother, for the good wishes you sent me at the New Year and above all for the prayers you have said for me. I have noted with pleasure that two thirds of your pupils have lived up to your hopes for them and that there is a good spirit among them. My the Lord be blessed for the favours he deigns to bestow on us, to Him alone be the glory for our success. Make a constant effort to acquire a polite tone, gentle manners and an air of contentment. It is the surest and most prompt way of winning over the children and leading them to God. Make your special examination of conscience on these points; I think that is what is needed for your peace and your own perfection. It is not that I have received any complaints, but it is the memory of our conversations last summer, which allow me to know what you need.
I note that your writing is not without a few faults, serious enough for me to write to you about them. Your letter "d" is not the same size as the other letters. You write "d" or even "D" and something even still larger. It creates a bad effect and is worth your attention.
I have commended you to God during the ceremonies we have just celebrated. It seems to me, my dear friend, that you have made progress and you will make even more under the direction of your Superior of the Convent of Rooborst. Have courage and count on the goodness of the divine Master whom you serve; rely also on the devotion of
Your affectionate Spiritual Father
Ghent 24 Jan 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 96

31 January 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
You were right to think that the request and the letter of L Maes were agreeable. I have zealously thanked the Lord for these new proofs of the goodness which he deigns to give us. I will see and listen to this young man with pleasure.
It is essential that Brother Athanase gives lessons to the other Brothers. There are no problems at all about this among the Sisters; every day one of them gives lessons to the others.
Indeed, you must be very careful with Brother Alphonse . Especially since the Dean has a lot of sympathy for Alphonse. Isn't it possible to send Alphonse back to the noviciate as a final exercise of prudence? I have also received a message from the Brother Superior at Hal . I will answer him.
You did well to dismiss the rebellious pupil. I want the Brothers to do what they can, so that they are loved by the pupils and that they carry out their duties with greater certitude, for God and for the children. Politeness and gentleness are always essential.
It emerges from the Dean of Hal's letter, which I include here for you, that it is he, the Dean, who must provide a house, at least until a greater number of pupils allows the Brothers to pay their way. Keep the letter.
If the house in the Wijngaertstraat is of no use to the Sisters, you will have to look for yourself and see if a house can be rented. Speak about it with Mother Antonia. From the 1st of March onwards we will have to pay a rent of 150 florins; that is what Miss Marie writes to me. It will be a good thing for people to see that our Sisters are not eating Miss Marie out of house and home or ruining her, as is so often said.
Here is an extract from the civil code to show M. Godfroy that the statute has been complied with, notwithstanding the civil case against Buyscher et al. In the case of your Convent.
I authorise you, in my role as spiritual director of the Institute of the Brothers of St Joseph, to appoint to the position of Brother Assistant, our beloved brother in Christ, Brother Edward = Whom I have thus appointed and appoint by these present letters which you will read, according to the usage of the Ceremonial, to the Community.
Given at Ghent the 31st of January 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe.
I will offer the sacrifice of the Mass especially for the Brothers on the feast of Candlemas. Pray also for me.

LETTER NUMBER 97

4 February 1835
To the Reverend Superior of the Boarding School of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Ghent 4 February 1835
Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
The sad reports which you have been obliged to make to me on our unfortunate Novice have touched my heart and been a real cause of pain. How is that my efforts to diminish his pain at seeing the date of his profession put back have had very little effect on him? When he was with me in November his soul was in a bad state and he needed consolation and help. Why didn't he explain himself with simplicity? Why didn't he open up his heart to me? Did he have no confidence in my paternal feelings towards him? If I could tell him how I feel it seems to me that he would not understand what my heart was saying to him. My dear Superior, be my spokesman, try to open the eyes of this Brother who is standing on the edge of the precipice. While I am waiting for you to (???) this act of charity, I will pray to Jesus Christ our divine Master to soften the heart of this lost sheep. Urge your Brothers to join forces with us, and let us make a final effort to keep the one who is escaping from us and who will be at the mercy of dreadful misfortune.
I have written to the Reverend Father Superior on the same subject. May he find a quick remedy to the evil which threatens our Alphonse !
I am so preoccupied with this thought while writing to you, that I do not have to courage to speak to you about other matters. It is true that it was the Sisters and not the Brothers who had the custom of writing to me at the New Year. I beg you to do all you can to improve the learning of your Brothers.
I think I will accept an offer I have received from Brussels to open a house there for the poor and the lower middle class. I have not yet written to the Reverend Father Superior about this.
May God help you, my dear Superior and give power to the words you speak to our Brother who wants to leave. Count on your devoted spiritual Father
C. G. V. C
My best wishes to all your Brothers.

LETTER NUMBER 98

12 February 1835
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother , the more I ponder the sad results which have come from the departure of the poor Novice , the more it is obvious to me that we must find a prompt, and to some extent decisive, cure for them. I realise that for your house there will be potential, and quite likely, adverse consequences due to whatever hot-headed action Alphonse is quite capable of doing so I think we ought to remove him as soon as we are able to replace him.
After that I thought of a plan which I put before you to think about. Taking into account the end of Alphonse's noviciate, he will be sent to the Mother House, so that he can make his definitive preparation in order to fulfil the role which God will indicate to his Superior, to the Brothers as well as to the Novice. Nobody has the right to shocked by this decision which is in keeping with the rules of a religious community; and no matter what the outcome of this last effort, your Convent will not be exposed to any painful consequences which might come from it. Brother Lawrence , who has taught in the Convent of St Joseph with some success, will go to Hal and you will try and fill the gap which of necessity Alphonse will leave.
Weigh carefully the sad consequences which I foresee, if Alphonse leaves your Convent to return to the world; he could live in Hal, he could blame you and the Brothers etc. etc. etc.
Having carefully examined before God the plan I have just explained to you, make it your business to let me have your thoughts without delay. The Reverend Father Superior, who did not like my plan at first, has let me know this morning that he will now support it.
Good bye, dear Superior, I am always
Your ever devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 12 February 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
My compliments to your Brothers.

LETTER NUMBER 99

6 March 1835
To the Reverend Superior of he Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
You will see from the enclosed letter the decision I have taken. Once you have read my letter to Brother Alphonse , you will seal it and give it to him.
Have confidence in God; pray to St Joseph to help you, and prevent the Convent of Mary from undergoing too many difficult trials. I will add my prayers to yours and I hope we will be heard.
Receive, my dear Friend, the blessing of he who, with God's help, wants to be your friend always,
Your ever devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 6 March 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
My compliments to all your Brothers.

LETTER NUMBER 100

13 March 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Father Superior
My wish is that the day of the feast of our Holy Patron brings many graces upon you and on the entire Institute of the Brothers of St Joseph. May you all become true religious and in this happy quality may you be of great service to the Church, in our dear fatherland.
May the Lord also touch the heart of poor Alphonse ! Has he arrived yet?
I also commend myself to your prayers. Every day I pray for you, because it is with love that I fulfil the duties which fall to me in my role of
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 13 march 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe.

LETTER NUMBER 101

13 March 1835
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother,
The approach of the Feast of our Holy Patron, which is doubly important for you this year, makes me wish to speak of it with you for a moment. St Joseph is not only our special protector but also a great example whom we can follow with confidence. You must therefore study this fine model carefully; remember his admirable chastity, sweetness and humility; the love and respect with which he worked for the Divine Infant entrusted to him. This, my dear Brother, is what you must learn from St Joseph. The children whom the Lord has entrusted to your care are also precious: they are the price of the blood of the divine Jesus born of Mary and that saving God who says that it is to Him that you do everything that you do even to the least of men. Therefore you must not be influenced in any way by anger or petulance; you will speak harshly or show an angry face to Jesus Christ himself. You must pray for humility and gentleness, my dear Brother, through the intercession of our powerful Patron. It seems to me that these are the two virtues which you most need if you are to fulfil the plans of divine mercy in the Institute to which you are called. You must renew and ratify permanently the valuable duties which you have already accepted towards God by frequent acts of humility and kindness which you must ask St Joseph to offer to our Divine Master. I will make it my duty to pray for you to Our Saviour and our Holy Patron so that in the coming month you may become a religious after God's own heart. Pray for me also, my dear friend, so that we may both become good instruments of mercy and that we may faithfully fulfil heaven's plans.
Above all resolve to be kind to your pupils and your dear confreres.
I would like you to come and visit me at the beginning of your holidays. We will have many things to arrange, organise and write and we must see Mr Van Wymelbeke etc. On Easter Wednesday we shall both go to Rooborst for the profession of some novices. Tell your Superior about these arrangements and ask permission for them.
May abundant blessings descend on you, my dear bother, it is the wish of
Your very devoted Spiritual Father
13 March 1835
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 102

30 March 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior .
The good Lord did not allow the children of St Joseph to taste the sadness which threatened with during the time in which they were occupied with great zeal with their Patron. The enclosed letter will console you, Reverend Father and you will thank the Lord with even greater zeal. I will reply today to the son who has returned.
I have not enough time to write to you in greater detail. Receive my blessing and the assurance that I am for ever, with a sincere love
Your affectionate spiritual Father
Ghent 30th March 1835.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 103

1 May 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Here is the little brother of Sister Euphrosine of the convent at Alost. The child comes with the best attitude and the greatest zeal to obtain from you the happiness which his sister has with our sisters. I think you will be very pleased with this child.
I am also sending you objects for Brother Athanase ; leave the box closed until the Brother's return so that he can open it himself.
Let us do our best during this month of Mary. Speak a great deal about fraternal charity, politeness and silence. I was astonished when I learned that at Rooborst the Brothers speak loudly early in the morning, even before Mass. How do you explain that? That it was during the holidays? But the Rule does not make such a distinction in time. I regret that I said nothing about it at the time. Find out if it is true and if silence is neglected. It is be lamentable and must cause a great deal of misfortune.
Your affectionate spiritual Father
The first of the month of Mary 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 104

16 May 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
It was with great sadness that I saw the sad Stephen arrive here to be released from his vows. He says that you urged him to make the vows (of which he was frightened), assuring him that his vows were not as binding as those of the choir Brothers. I refused to release him in spite of his tears and supplications. I let him go back to his own region for two or three weeks before returning here to me. In the mean time, tell me what you understood by his vows and what he understood; if they were perpetual or temporary vows he took. He is a dreamer and stubborn and you ought not to have encouraged him to take vows.
Concerning your two postulants, I am amazed the the Brothers pay so little heed to my decisions and they do not want to know those who are not constantly with them. However, it seems to me that these postulants would learn more French from the children than from the Brothers and even more politeness than from the Brothers. The Brothers must have a greater respect for their Superior and they ought to have a more humble opinion of themselves. In spite of the absurd motives of several Brothers (with little intelligence but a high opinion of themselves), it would perhaps be possible to let these postulants eat with the Brothers.
Concerning the motive that you fear, that the postulants could lose their status, that is too stupid to be refuted.
God be praised that the children return with courage and that L. Maes is content . Persevere in the efforts you are all making to please Mary and to be helpd through her intercession. Ask for humility, obedience, politeness and zeal for your Brothers, according to their holy vocation.
Receive my blessing and believe that I am with affection
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 16 May 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 105

29 May 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Brother Superior ,
Although, generally speaking, I share the Dean's opinion concerning how to obtain the help we will need, I do not agree with him about the actual difficulty you are in. I therefore accept your proposal to go to Brussels with the Superior General and you must arrange the date with him. I have just written to the General about it. No-one, except the two of you, should know about it. Offer the humiliation it will cause to the Lord through the intercession of Mary. For the rest, the numerous trials which we face do not frighten me. We need to pass through this trial by fire in order to become more worthy of the honour of working for a leader crowned with thorns and regarded by men as being crazy. I congratulate you on the inestimable advantage that God is giving you in understanding the mysteries of the inner life. Yes, my dear Brother, it is through privations and humiliations that we arrive at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Let us move forward; the moment is perhaps not too distant when you will see the fruits of you efforts and be able to offer them to our divine Mary.
A notice board might be useful to you. The Sisters at Waeken have a very fine one saying "House of Education" in gold letters on a blue background. They have never used because it never suited them. If you would like this sign you could have it for the cost of its transport.
I would like to believe that Brother Martin will adopt a better form and method: he is docile and pious. You say that he is a holy soul; that gives us great reason for hope.
I approve your plan of study for both yourself and for dear Brother Ambrose . Take special care over cleanliness and politeness.
The Convent of Mary is in the category for which, as you know, I appoint the Superiors. I confirm that I wish you to continue in the position of Superior. You will communicate to the other Brothers of the Convent this decision. The decision must be announced in Chapter, by the most senior Brother after you, if the Father Superior is not present.
Goodbye, my dear Brother; inspire yourself and all your community to bring the month of Mary to a good end and piously to spend the ten days before Pentecost. Repeat often: emitte spiritum tuum et creabuntur. Finally, do not forget to commit to your good Master he whom you know always to be
Your most devoted Spiritual Father,
Ghent 29 of the month of Mary
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 106

29 May 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in the convent of these Brothers at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I was very pleased to learn from your letter that the misguided zeal of several of your Brothers has given way before my comments. It will be a lesson for them and a warning to you to think carefully about what your subordinates say before relying on it. Brother Stephen has not yet returned. His Excellency the Bishop seems very pleased with our Brothers. He is hoping for a great deal from the Institute. He recommends simplicity and the avoidance of all, even the hint of anything, that could put the humility of the Brothers in danger. He is not pleased at having to wear spectacles. I hope that the observations I made verbally to Brother Athanase will not remain without a good result. He is the very Brother that his Excellency mentioned by name when he advised me about simplicity and humility with regard to the Brothers.
The Brother Superior of Hal has told me that the Dean does not approve of going to look for help elsewhere. Nonetheless, the Brother Superior judges it necessary, with our agreement, to go to Brussels with you; Miss Ghesquière told them that she would take you to an important lady. It seems to me that this method is a good one; you need not tell the Dean that you have asked for or received help. The convent at Hal is undergoing serious difficulties; let us have confidence in Mary and carry this burden in her honour. The time for reward will arrive. Next, I am pleased with the sentiments which I found in the letter of Brother Superior. I am going to give him an answer about certain other matters which he has proposed. You will receive news from him about the journey to Brussels, about which I have just written to you.
It would be an advantage to be a little better informed about the occupations and attitudes of the applicant Louis Maes . Brother Athanase, who has still not written to me about the zeal with which he makes use of my reprimands, could let me know what Louis Maes can do and what his capacity for learning is, etc.; and he could take the opportunity of letting me know the state of his humility and his politeness, on which I have urged him with insistence. When does the postulancy and the noviciate begin for our applicants and novices? We will not prolong this time unless it is for good reasons. How is Brother Benedict ?
I hope you have acted prudently in entrusting your money to this person. In Spain they do things in strange ways.
Do all you can to finish the month of Mary well and to spend these days with fervour everywhere in your Convent.
I have been asked the cost of your second table, for a ten year old child.
They will come for my reply on Sunday.
Here is a small book which was left with me for Brother Athanase. You will see that it is expensive.
I recommend to you cleanliness and the supervision of your children, as well as politeness among the Brothers.
My the Lord deign to make you experience, as well as your children with their teachers, his clement blessing. May the merciful Redeemer send down upon us his Holy Spirit so that we can all, as faithful servants, fulfil our duties. These are the ardent wishes of
Your very affectionate spiritual Father
Ghent the 29th of the month of Mary 1835 C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 107

3 June 1835
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Athanase ,
Since receiving your last letter I have redoubled the prayers I have been offering for you for a long time. I had hoped that the month of Mary would not pass without the mother of mercy, who loves you and whom you sincerely desire to love, giving you some new proof of the affection in which she holds you. Your troubled soul is perhaps an effect of Mary's prayers for you. As a soul purchased with the price of the blood of Jesus Christ; this soul, blessed with so many graces has for a long time been attacked by various passions which put in danger of perishing. For a long time, in fact, it has been noted that anger and a spirit of vengeance have tormented you. More than a year ago it was remarked on at Alost that a lack of humility was blinding you to your own faults and to the good qualities of your Brothers. Remember, my Brother, what I said to you on this matter when I saw you at the Convent of our Sisters in Alost about fifteen months ago. I only remind you of this with the sole purpose of helping me to understand, rather than to cause you any pain. So it is that you did not resist the efforts of the enemy as you should have and have had no peace. None of this has been caused by outside influences. What I said to you at Grammont underlines the problems tou had last year and about which we spoke during the October holidays. Everything I said during our discussion at Grammont was said from a heart which truly loved you, which was seeking your happiness and which, no doubt, may have chosen the wrong means. Besides, I have told you, my dear Brother, in which sense I used the terms of which you have complained. If it is necessary, I retract any toher possible meaning, and I assure you that the mouth which said the words was friendly and in no sense hostile. I hope that this declaration will heal your wounds, that it will defeat that clever enemy who so carefully seizes every opportunity which presents itself to accomplish his ends, that it will put you back on the course of your duties. I desire it with my whole heart; I ask it of God through Mary and through our other Patrons. For you, my Brother, do not take it upon yourself to avenge the daults, real or not, of others. God will judge us all, and we all have need of his mercy.
If these lines are not enough to comfort you, come and see me. You could leave one Saturday on the coach from Mons and be back on the Monday morning. In the meantime I continue my prayers for you. You pray too and, through Mary, try and make yourself pleasing to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
No less than ever, I am your devoted Father in Jesus Christ,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 3 June 1835

LETTER NUMBER 108

4 June 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in the convent of these Brothers at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
A place at the second table costs 140 francs with other conditions explained in your Prospectus. The child will be entrusted to you on the 15th of this month.
Another father has asked me for the same concession. But I don't know if there is a free place. Write to me, now or in a short while, to let me know if we can give it to an 8 year old child who learns quickly and according to his father is well behaved. You can get a piano here for 150 francs. On Saturday they will come here for the money. Send the money to me. I would advance you 150 francs but in a few days I have to make a payment. So, I would need, at least by next week, to have back any advance which I might give you.
I thank God for the blessings and graces which he deigns to bestow on our Convent of St Joseph . Let the Brothers send up with humility their gratitude to heaven.
I do not have enough time to reply to the letters which certain Brothers and your postulant Maes have written to me; that will be for later.
I must not omit to send you several words from Brother Athanase's letter which make me ill, because I am aware of the need for erudition among our Brothers. "By making L Maes work as baker etc. we are sacrificing here the future for the present. Already this postulant is not able to keep up during my classes." Look into it and correct whatever can be corrected. It would be a pity to slow down or interrupt L Maes' education because after the holidays we will need to employ him in the classroom.
I do not know what can be the cause of the fact that in our Convent of the Holy Angels we make so little progress with the pupils and have, on the contrary, so many difficulties. Perhaps I will go there myself after Trinity. I do have some reserves about the Superior ; he is not humble enough or perhaps he has not enough order.
Look in to, without delay, Brother Eligius's lessons. His classes could cause a lot of harm to your house. See what is going wrong.
The man selling the piano has just told me that you can try it out for 14 days. If you don't want it you can send it back provided that you pay the carriage. You can send the money later.
I don't know what advice to give you about elections. Are you going to vote, yes or no? The Jesuits can not do it. In fact, it is somewhat distasteful for religious people to have to get involved in such matters. It would be better that, for the sake of one vote you didn't take so much trouble and didn't go to Alost.
I beg the merciful God to send down on you and your spiritual community, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that you can carry out the merciful plans he has for you.
4 June 1835
Having taken a closer look at the matter, Brother Edward will come here and see the piano before we buy it. He can come when his work allows him.

LETTER NUMBER 109

8 June 1835
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I rejoice in the Lord at the sentiments which animate you. Yes, you need to be humiliated; and, if I had not made it a duty for me to render you this service, and even more painful humiliation would have been in store for you. The God who puts down the mighty would have made you feel that he had no need of you, nor of the knowledge which makes you swell with pride, but rather that his favours were for the humble, or for those who seek to become humble by practising gentleness and the duties of charity. May the merciful God bring to completion what he has begun in you; and for you yourself, my dear Brother, do not omit to examine the motive and the means which lead you, in study and in all your activities. Mistrust yourself, ask your Superiors, or even the least of your Brothers, to point out your faults to you. That is the only way to protect yourself from the venom of vanity and from the poison of the self-will of your arrogant and autocratic personality. I will continue to commend you especially to the Lord so that you can better understand that charity which edifies is better than knowledge which leads to vanity if it is deprived of its purity of intention.
Try to make L. Maes understand the need to restrain himself here and there during the summer; if he doesn't he will be of very little use after the holidays. I will speak to him as well.
You will receive three globes and the machines you asked for. Nevertheless, I recommend that you do not give much time to the study of physics; the time has not yet come when this matter should occupy you. The Brothers, your pupils and your character should absorb all your time and energy. This is an essential matter.
Receive my blessing, dear Brother, and know that I wish always to be
Your most devoted spiritual Father
8 June 1835
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
It seems to me that we could keep trying for a while if the efforts of Brother Eloy and the Reverend Father Superior do not succeed.

LETTER NUMBER 110

12 June 1835
To the Reverend Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at the Boarding School at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Very dear Brother ,
The reasons put forward by Miss Ghesquiere are good, and you would do well to follow the advice which she has given you. In the meanwhile, let us put the matter in the hands of Mary and Joseph, but make sure that everything, in your house, is done with order and preciseness and you must yourself give an example of obedience to the Holy Rule. Nothing arbitrary, nothing wavering, nothing irresolute in your government; on the contrary, let there be firmness, constancy and a sincere submission to all which has been laid down for us.
If the good God has allowed this new humiliation in order to make us better fitted to do his work, then His holy name be blessed. If it was our fault, I beg Him to forgive us and I urge you to remedy the fault for the future.
With our Sisters in Alost, there were only day-pupils when I admired the replies of many of their pupils. Take steps, therefore, to make sure that your classes go well, otherwise I can foresee that your day pupils will not be fully attached to the Brothers. I recommend that you examine before God if you and your collaborators have any self-criticism to make either concerning the pupils or yourselves or God.
May the Holy Spirit enlighten, purify and strengthen you throughout the merits of our good Master Jesus Christ. Such is the prayer made often for you by
Your most devoted Spiritual Father,
Ghent 12 June 1835
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
How is Brother Ambroise in his studies, his piety, his conversation with the Brothers and the pupils?
Write soon to the Reverend Father Superior in order to avoid un-necessary journeys for the expedition (courier?) from Brussels.

LETTER NUMBER 111

21 June 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

You are right, my dear Brother; in the same way that the Lord only prohibited the abuse of an oath by these words: All you need say is "yes" if you mean yes, "No" if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one (Matt. 5:37), in the same way he only forbade in our talks and conversations those excesses which are condemned by charity, gentleness and Christian modesty. Just like an oath, an animated, even forceful, expression can be permitted. Nevertheless, with very few exceptions we would do well to hold literally to the tenets of the Gospel. Let us the avoid those turgid expressions which contain exaggeration and emphasis, and which show only too clearly a lack of mortification of the passions. Let us avoid especially that bantering or acerbic tone which is so alien to the character we try to acquire, and which, besides, does not lie well with the air of politeness of which you must give a constant example. The best ornament that a religious can give to his speech is simplicity, truth, and candour. In the world, people transgress uncaringly against this point which Jesus Christ did not judge unworthy to be included in the law, but at the same time they condemn its transgression in holy people, in ecclesiastics and in religious. Whatever the judgement of the world might be, we who believe in the word of the Saviour keep in mind that for every unfounded word men utter they will answer on Judgement day (Matt. 12:36). Remembering this will silence the source of those vain, flattering, barbed, slanderous, arrogant and indiscreet words of which a dissipated soul thinks nothing, but which the true Christian, the sincerely interior man, along with St Bernard, regards as profanations whose least evil result is to dry out the unction of grace and devotion in a soul.
It is not really enough for us, my dear Brother, to keep control of our tongue, to correct its faults and to curb its excesses; we must sanctify our use of it.
Let us sum up here what your Rule teaches you about this matter, and we will see that in order to make the tongue an instrument of our sanctification we must:
1. Always speak willingly of God, of religion, of perfection, etc. etc. If the love of God and of that which brings us close to him is uppermost in our hearts, we will not need study or effort of mind to speak of it often; the tongue becomes quite easily the interpreter of the heart.
2. However pious the basis of your conversation might be, they would be sadly lacking if they were not seasoned with that gentle, modest, simple, candid and well-composed air which spreads unction even on the most petty thing. Flee, therefore, any pretentious or pedantic tone; any arrogance or capriciousness; loquacity as much as taciturnity. Give each, in all simplicity, the opportunity to speak in his turn and as he wishes.
3. The goal of your conversations being a) to praise God, to make Him known or to glorify Him; b) to instruct, to edify, to re-create, to console your neighbour; c) to recover from your own fatigue and to re-animate yourself; avoid any conversation which does not have anything to do with these goals. Such conversation would be, at the least, superfluous and, more than that, reprehensible.
There, my dear Brother, is how the subject, the manner and the goal of your conversations will sanctify your recreation, and how of your conversations will sanctify your recreation, and how you will be justified by your words (Matt. 12:37). Agree with me that this precept is worth meditating on and that we must develop its consequences in a practical manner. It would be vain to try and refine this precept; we would completely exhaust ourselves in trying to equal the words of Jesus Christ. If we are not justified by our words, then we will be condemned by our words. Let us avoid this evil; we can avoid it with the help the very One who pointed out to us both the slippery path and the true path to happiness. Let us ask for this help: you know that I am speaking to you from the abundance of a heart which is totally devoted to you.
Your spiritual Father,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 21 June 1835

LETTER NUMBER 112

23 June 1835
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Your letter, my most dear Brother , has shown me the cause of your lack of progress along the path that the love of God has called you to follow. I am hastening to give you my thoughts so that you can respond without delay to the voice of the God who wishes to give you many favours. When the Lord is minded to bestow extraordinary graces on a soul, he needs to remove that soul from the bustle of the world and lead him into solitude: "there", He says, "I will speak to his heart". Well, my dear child, God has picked you out to receive extraordinary graces; he has withdrawn you from the tumult of the children of the world, he is speaking to you in your solitude. How is it that you do not hear Him? Here is the answer: you are not keeping yourself in reflection and interior silence, and the voice of the Lord goes unheard. Believe me, frivolous conduct is the real cause of all your falls, your pains, of all the reproaches that your divine Master makes against you. Look into your heart, walk before God, and do not leave this tranquillity of soul that the Rule and the Holy Spirit demand. Make a particular examination of this matter and, in just a few days, you will find yourself free of this multitude of difficulties which are damaging you and sometimes scandalising others.
As for the two instruments which God has given you to practice patience with, be careful not to greet them with repugnance. Your victory over self-esteem, over natural exuberance, will perhaps depend on this means which you have to hand. Perhaps the two pupils of whom you speak will do you the signal service of making you not quite so hasty in future and of ensuring that you always have the purest of intentions in all you do.
With my blessing, be assured of my devotion,
Your spiritual Father,
C.G.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 113

24 June 1835
To the Reverend Brother Athanase at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph in Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I do not know if the books which explain the machines are in the parcel. Let me know by means of the Reverend Father Superior; or rather write to me at Rooborst, where the Reverend Father will be joining me next week. I know that our Sisters in Mouscron have some information on using globes.
I am returning the catalogue of your Convent library. You will find I have made several remarks to which you can reply at the same time.
Most devotedly in Jesus Christ,
24 June 1835
C.G.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 114

11 July 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Here you have your piano. I paid 150 francs as we agreed. I am also sending to Brother Athanase a book which teaches the use of globes. Take care that the globes are properly covered up and kept in a clean place. I also need the French text of the Rule of the Mother Superior, which Brother Athanase took away with him, as well as that of the Father Superior. Send them to me when you have the opportunity to Ghent or to Alost, to the Reverend Mother.
God give you consolation and success in the business of your convent. I want to receive a message about what has been done and decided.
Your very affectionate spiritual Father in Christ
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 11th July 1835
Your account with me:
I have in your account
409.20
The sum from Mr Bosschaerts 13.50
I have received from you 237.14
Belonging to you
185.56
Less the piano 150.00
Your balance with me
35.56
Today the 11th of July 1835.
I have just received the letter in which you inform me that the Convent now belongs to the Brothers, for the sum that the Vandamme heirs had proposed themselves. What is the contract and for whom has the sale been formulated? I want to know this before the contract is agreed upon.

LETTER NUMBER 115

16 July 1835
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph in Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Ghent, 16 July 1835
Dear Brother ,
The difficulties that you are experiencing in your studies would not worry you. I recognise the tender care of our heavenly Father who want to make you understand that we are nothing in ourselves, and that if we wanted to render unto him that which is his he could, at any moment, take back all his gifts. Render unto God what is His, and he will continue to give you light and strength. All to the greater glory of God. This should be our motto.
I am sending back your Programme with my observations. Firstly you can chose the title: I offer three models. It seems to me that the third offers a less cluttered whole. Tell me which one you decide on. I accept your division into two days.
Note that my ### indicate capital letters; ===== small; ----- even smaller like those used on page 3 of Mussely.
The type face which introduces page 3 and which is, I believe, called cursive should never be used for titles: rather it is used to distinguish between what is by the writer and what is a title or an object indicated under the titles. Thus introduction and partie du discours on page 9 are titles and not the writer's notes. These words should be like subtitles, or look like something between that used for the words Grammaire de Mussely and what is written in Flemish van het zeldstandig etc. These Flemish section are sub divisions of titles: Introduction and Parties du discours. The type face must be chosen with care: an experienced eye can pick out the slightest faults, and I can already see that your printer is still not a master of his craft. Reason with him.
You should not be arbitrary about the choice of type faces, even though some would think differently: it seems to me that the divisions should influence the choice of capital letters, whilst, if a title infers a broader idea, then the type face which explains it could be more clear. I would be very happy to receive another proof incorporating what I have just noted.
Your in Our Lord,
C.G.V.C.
Reverend Father Superior, might it not be a good moment to buy Herne's (???) wood? Talk about it with Cousin Albert.

LETTER NUMBER 116

20 July 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
I am very concerned that your Programme has not been corrected. You should have waited, or not asked my advice at all if you were going to ignore it. There are some errors which are so ridiculous that I would not dare circulate this Programme. There are also spelling mistakes, to say nothing of mathematics. The title of the art report makes me blush; and where will the exercises take place? What will people say if they don't see mathematics mentioned?
I seem to remember that the Brother Superior of Rooborst either said or wrote to me that there will be no literary exercise. If that's the case you are not to print the programme.
Tell the Reverend Father Superior what I have just written and, for yourself, learn from this lesson which is taught you from the goodness of my heart.
Your very devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 20 July 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I mistakenly asked you for the Rule of the Mother General: I have found it. I though I had sent it you with some other papers.

LETTER NUMBER 117

3 August 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Very Dear Brother,
I am annoyed that I have had to delay writing to you till today: my many occupations have been the cause. I feel great compassion for your situation and, even if I haven't already told you, I have been commending your soul to Mary and Our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope that our prayers and your efforts, supported by grace, will have made you triumph over the temptations which have been plaguing you. You understand the beauty of the virtue of purity and how great the right of the Lord is to see is in those who are consecrated to him with religious vows. You should have spared no effort to maintain this precious gift. Remember, my dear Brother, that humility joined with a great confidence in God and a tender love for Mary and Joseph are the true guardians of the purity of our souls and our bodies.
Based on these foundations go forward without worry. Forget the temptations by occupying yourself with God and the work he has given you through obedience.
I am all yours in Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your spiritual Father
3 August 1935
C.G.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 118

3 August 1835
To the Reverend Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I should have replied to your letter of the 20th July a long time ago, but various petty circumstances have forced me to delay this satisfaction until today. I congratulate you, my dear Brother, on sorting out of your financial problems. I hope more and more that the Lord will come to your aid: when your heart and mind are more formed by the lessons afforded by trials, Mary our good Mother will help you. Have faith and be humble before God. You will receive incessant signs of God's help.
We cannot send Brothers wherever; I will explain the reasons when I see you in Grammont towards the end of the month.
I authorise the collection for the poor which you asked me about.
Have pity on your novice Martin ; I do not yet despair of seeing him capable of giving classes; time and experience will help him. Give him confidence.
I can't remember if I replied to your last letter: it arrived at a moment when I was busy with many things, and all these other concerns made me forget whether I had written or not. In any case, here is a reply to all your problems.
Prepare yourself well for the Feast of the Assumption, and encourage all your Brothers and pupils to redouble their efforts to obtain the assistance of our heavenly Mother for each of you. Do not forget the Institute in General; I am making you its representative with Mary our greatest Patron.
I hope to see you at Grammont during the week of prize distribution. I hope to arrive at the Convent that Monday. I also need to see Brother Ambrose then, or at least during the holidays.
Be assured, my dear Brother, of my sincere and entire devotion in our kindly master Jesus Christ,
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 3 August 1835
I cannot say when I will be going to Hal. I am often there in spirit.

LETTER NUMBER 119

13 August 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Very Dear Brother,
Your letter cause me joy and much pain. I hastened to ask pardon of God for the evil which has been committed by the wretched pupil you wrote to me about. Mr Van Wymelbeke has just told me that a place at his boarding school at Melle has been asked for for Paul Antheunis. Take care in supervision; how do the pupils respond to the bell? Talk about it again with the Reverend Father Superior who must bear the responsibility.
Your Programme is perfect. The only comment I have made is marked by the numbers 1,2,3. It is true that the same thing happens in the chapter on mathematics, and that one cannot apply the same solution, but I would point out that you have got it and the chapter on Christian instruction in the wrong order. However, so as you think fit: I will not insist on my comments, except for the word "division" which I prefer to "ordre": this is for the sake of uniformity.
For the type face and the printing follow the example of the Programme of Melle which has been printed by a very good printer.
I haven't managed to see the Reverend Father Provincial; he won't be at home till this evening, but in case you need your list of prizes in order to get it printed I am sending it to you and, if I can, I will write tomorrow about the retreat.
With best wishes in Our Lord Jesus Christ. I never forget you in my prayers to the Virgin.
Give my respects to the Reverend Father Superior: I will arrive at Grammont on Tuesday or Wednesday: it is not possible to be sure of the exact day.
Your spiritual Father,
13 August 1835
C.G.V.C.

LETTER NUMBER 120

24 September 1835
To the Very Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be J. M. J.

Reverend Father Superior
I am sending you, herewith enclosed, a few annotations which you must examine with Brother Vicar ; as well as that, I have given some verbal explanations to Brother Athanase .
Here, at last, the moment has arrived - let us thank God for it - when you will be concerned more than ever, even solely, with the general direction of the Institute. You will leave to the Brother Superior the direction of the convent, and in that way you will find the time to direct each convent and in the first place the convent of St Joseph , as the first Superior according to the needs of the Institute, without losing your strength totally. Take care to ensure that the superiors carry out their duties with zeal and religious exactitude, and soon your spirit will be refreshed by the holy discipline of the rules which will reign over your convents.
I have thought it necessary to let Brother Athanase buy certain things for the good of your schools; the Lord will send us the means of paying the costs because it is for his glory that they have been bought.
I think I have made some progress with Brother Athanase's character by reasoning and by making him see that you sometimes make mistakes if you take decisions too hastily.
May the good God bless our efforts more and more for his greater glory and for the happiness of young people whom you must lead to virtue.
I remain for ever your very affectionate spiritual father
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 24th September 1835.

LETTER NUMBER 121

30 September 1835
To the Reverend Brother Ambroise at the Boarding School of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
The last few days will have shown you whether the decisions we have taken concerning your Convent will have the good results we hoped for. Tell me if you are in good spirits and whether your Confreres are sharing your vision for the glory of the Lord. I place great importance on your all being happy and brave in the service of our good Master. Gentleness in your proceedings are essential to make oneself loved by the pupils and other people with whom one has to deal. Humility is equally necessary for our enterprise to be blessed by Heaven. Try to form yourselves for the duties that these various virtues demand of you individually. Avoid any air of sadness or unhappiness. Be careful of your health and for the rest rely on the help of our Mother Mary.
I would like Brother Edward to enclose a letter with yours, telling me what he thinks of his new home and what he hopes to do there. Does he think he will need a piano?
Remind me often to your Brothers, and be sure that I am sincerely in Jesus Christ,
Your devoted Father,
Ghent 30 September,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 122
5 October 1835

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior,
I have just received your letter and have sent the maid to do your errand. In the meantime, I have to say that I am sorry that you did not receive the note I sent to the Reverend Father Superior. You would already have replied to it. I would have hoped to receive at the same time some details about your Convent; about the Novices, about the books I sent; about the Brothers' Rule and that of the Novices; and about the beginning of term. Let me know about all that, and let me know all your plans; you know how much I like that, and I have to add that these letters are indispensable for making up for the Superior's inexperience, just as we noted at the General Chapter . The Reverend Father Superior has received a letter from me, and that is where the note is that I mentioned above. I hope that the Reverend Father Superior is feeling better, now that he only has to deal with his job as Superior. I am sure I do not need to tell you to share his burdens as much as possible.
I am sending you a letter I received from Brother Eloi . Examine the Regulations with Brother Ambroise and tell me what you think; when you send the letter back to me with your comments, tell me also what you think of the Regulations for Hal. Do you think they are well adapted to local needs? I have never heard much about this matter from our Convent of Our Lady .
I pray the good Lord to govern your mind and heart; that He may be your counsellor, your strength, your wisdom, your all. As for you, my dear Brother, be the gentle instrument of his mercy and always at the mercy of the most holy will of that great and good Master.
Say, on my behalf, everything which is most tender in your heart to your dear Novices. Many good wishes also to the Reverend Father Superior.
You know how sincerely I am,
Your most devoted spiritual Father,
Ghent 5 October 1835
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Mr Dankenij (?) says that he is sending you, not a half pint of varnish, but enough to varnish the high altar .
Send this basket to Father; it was used to send me peaches. I have already written to express my gratitude for his thoughtfulness - so it is not necessary to send a letter with the basket.
Send the letter to (???) to the Black Sisters: it will be collected from there.

LETTER NUMBER 123

7 October 1835
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I was pleased with the details you sent me; I found in them all the sentiments that our Brothers must never cease to nourish in their hearts, and there seem also to be signs of success in the enterprise confided to you under the special protection of our august Mother Mary. Work unceasingly to attain an exterior gentleness and make your Brothers used to that polite tone which I recommend with such urgency.
I have already written to the Reverend Father Superior to warn him that he might need to send a Brother in case Baudumont does not arrive.
It would only be in case of utmost necessity, and only at the those times when it is necessary, that I would permit the use of a watch. Consider the matter and, on my behalf, give a dispensation in the case you wrote to me about.
Take care that the Brothers practice their writing and other things which were decided at the last General Chapter. You will carry out a monthly examination at the end of this month.
I will speak with the Reverend Father Superior about the matter of the piano.
Good-bye, my dear Brother; I am most sincerely devoted to you in our good Master and Lord Jesus Christ,
Your spiritual Father,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe.
I thank Brother Edward for the letter he wrote me: I am happy with it. You must encourage your Novice to tell you how he feels. At least twice a week you will give him instruction on the religious state and the duties of the Brothers of St Joseph. Watch him closely and correct him in a kindly manner!
I am sending you two copies of the Privileges which I have drawn up for the Brothers: your will learn from the noviciate the way to distribute them.

LETTER NUMBER 124

18 October 1835
To the Reverend Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
Whilst we wait for Beaudumont to arrive you will have Brother Louis to help things along a bit. It is the only way that I can help you.
Always place yourself and your Convent under the protection of Mary. I pray for you and I will always show that I am truly
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 18 October 1835
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 125

5 November 1835
To Brother Ambrose at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Very dear Brother ,
I thank you for the good wishes you have expressed to me; I pray that the good Lord will repay you for the good feelings that you sustain, and also for the effort that you put into making Him known and loved in your Convent and in your classes.
The study plan, or rather the programme of subjects that you and your dear confreres are planning to study, seems to have been carefully worked out. Every month you will take stock of what you have done; you will keep a note of it, but it is only at the termly written exams that you would need to send me the results.
The information you have given me concerning the novice Laurent will be useful.
I am delighted to know that the Dean continues to hold affection for you.
I thank the Lord for the blessings that he spreads on your classes. Try to make sure that each teacher fulfils his duty with uniform zeal, and that they are always polite, gentle and charitable.
It seems to me that the good Baudumont will make a real effort to align himself with your wishes. He has some education and zeal for souls, but he must be on his guard against a tendency to melancholy. Tell him that I will make it a duty to pray for him, as I try to do for you all.
My compliments, and my wishes for their progress in every direction, to all your dear confreres whom I love most sincerely in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Your most devoted Spiritual Father,
Ghent 5 November 1835
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 126

11 November 1835
To the Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior ,
I am sending you some more ideals of wisdom and application which we have had printed. They are very fine, especially the ones on shiny card. Do not be too lavish with them. I have also had made up some little plain cards which could be distributed weekly. You will receive some soon, along with the rest of the ones I am sending you today. May the good Lord deign to bless our efforts to form the children whom he has entrusted to our care!
Here are another two volumes of a three volume work, the first volume of which I have signed for our brothers at Rooborst. Please send them to Rooborst when you can. In this way the brothers at Rooborst will have the complete set. The "cahier du Moniteur des villes, etc." is also for Rooborst.
I have received a letter from Father Superior and I am replying to it.

Reverend Father Superior
I read your letter with great happiness. God be thanked for all his goodness! I will join my prayers to yours for Brother Bonaventure .
We have not dealt with the business of Audenaerde.
Don't you think that 6000 guilders is enough for the Keutericx house? I think that they will sell it for that. The controller and Keutericx both want to be rid of the house. If they accept that price, we can get the matter settled rapidly through a lawyer; if not, we shall see; 6000 is such a high price that it would never sell in Grammont, according to those who know about these things. Please consider this matter carefully and take advice about it.
You know how sincerely I am
Your very affectionate spiritual Father
11 November 1835
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
I recommend propriety in the Brothers' refectory, both at table and in their manners. I have recently heard about the great cleanliness of the refectory of the Brothers of Charity, which made me think that this virtue needs more insistence with the Brothers of St Joseph.

LETTER NUMBER 127

8 January 1836
To the Reverend Brother Ambrose at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Ghent 8 January 1836

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Your good wishes, my very dear Brother , are very pleasing to me and I want to express my sincere satisfaction. Be assured that I have not forgotten you in the wishes that I have directed to the Lord in favour of the spiritual children whom he has confided to me. Be courageous, kind, patient and, above all, love with all your strength the good Master whom you have undertaken to follow all the days of your life.
I am also very pleased with your writing. Your style improves from day to day. Read the letters of Fénélon; he is an admirable model, not only for sentiments but also for how to express them.
I have had published by Spitaels of Alost a third edition of my "Art Epistolaire". The price is only 1.80 francs although it is more lengthy than the previous editions.
I see with pleasure that you are happy with you dear confreres and also with Baudumont to whom I ask you to say that I applaud his success. His writing is good.
Say also to the novice Laurent that I would like to believe that he is tending more and more to perfection, and that thus he will make himself worthy of divine mercy and of being, one day, elevated to the honour of consecrating himself to the Lord in the holy Vows.
Finally, assure the good Brother Edouard that his good wishes are dear to me; that I love him greatly in Jesus Christ and that I do not forget him in my prayers.
Please say these things privately to each of the three confreres concerned.
I give all, not excepting the dear Lay Brother, my blessing. You know, dear Brother, how sincerely I am devoted to you in Our Lord.
Your Spiritual Father,
C.G.V.C.
Your Reverend and dear Father Superior is here at the moment; he asks me to give you his good wishes. Tomorrow he is going to visit our Convent of St Michael and he hopes to visit that of Our Lady in a couple of weeks. Both of us encourage you to be happy and generous, becoming accustomed to those polite and gentle manners which make one so attractive to the children and to others with whom one has to deal. These qualities underline all others.

LETTER NUMBER 128

16 January 1836
To the Reverend Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Forgive me, my dear Superior , for having delayed till this evening the task of replying to your letter which I received yesterday. It is only due to a lack of free time.
It seems to me that the change which you propose will work out well. I agree, therefore, to your proposal. I pray the good God to bless your efforts, and I ask you to inform me immediately of the result you obtain. This will serve us as a rule and show us the way which we should follow.
I am writing this evening to the Parish Priest of Our Lady of the chapel in Brussels to make him aware of our refusal to accept the offer he made us.
No-one is more sincerely devoted to you in Our Lord Jesus Christ than your Spiritual Father.
16 January 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 129

17 January 1836
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Ghent 17 January 1836
Have no doubt, my dear Brother , that your good wishes have pleased me greatly, and that I have keenly felt the obligation to increase my efforts to support the happy dispositions that the good God has put into the hearts of my spiritual Children. It is a real joy for me to see the grace of God working such miracles in the souls who are entrusted to my care, and to follow you in your work for the glory of our divine Master. May the Lord be praised by our work and may his love succeed in purifying our plans and our most secret intentions. Nothing is more pleasant than the letters that I receive from all quarters and, except for the praises which embarrass me, I will always remain grateful for them through my life.
With all my heart I pray to the good God that he will increasingly give to the studies of the Brothers of St Joseph the success which will make us more qualified to respond to the desires of his mercy. Our humble Institute has even more need of holy men than of wise men; we need to spread far and wide the sweet fragrance of Jesus Christ. Let us be on our guard against increasing the number of those curious minds who are puffed up by knowledge; let us feed ourselves on the words of faith which teach men to renounce themselves and to be poor in their acceptance of the Gospel. In this way we will become instruments in the hands of the Lord, and we will see our efforts in every area crowned by the sweetest success.
It is with no less a joy that I have learned that you yourself are working to acquire the two virtues which Jesus Christ so specially recommends: Discite a me quia mitis sum et humilis corde; and although you still sometimes commit errors in this area I am assured that they are less and less and your humility has increased after each fall. I urge you, my Brother, not to become discouraged; experience will teach you that from your weakness comes an unending source of humility and trust in our merciful Jesus.
Although the reports of their classes are painted in sombre colours and are a little exaggerated, I believe I can see in them reason to hope that our dear Novices will overcome their early difficulties and that you will show them in charity the ways which will lead toward the goal which we have set ourselves.
Pray for me: my heart tells me that I have deserved this favour. I am sincerely,
Your most devoted Father,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 130

19 January 1836
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

The letter which I am sending you, my dear Brother , was already written when I remembered the business of the Spitaels . I think it my duty to show you that I cannot, in all conscience, let the matter drop; because although God, who sometimes draws good from evil itself, might have had the goodness to help us, and to deflect the dreadful consequences which might have ensued, you must understand that it is dangerous to act outside the field of one's duties, and good, to be truly good, must come from all the conditions that good order and your Holy Rule prescribe. As a result, be aware that prudence must direct you at all times, but most particularly when it is a question of dealing with outsiders.
Always your devoted Father,
19 January 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 131

20 January 1836

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I do not need to tell you, my dear Superior, that your good wishes pleased me and that I have redoubled my zeal in calling down upon you the blessings of Heaven; you know my heart and its feelings for you. I am sending you my replies to the New Year letters that I received from your Convent. You should read them before passing the on. You will read of my feelings and the advice that I give to each according to his needs.
I have written to Mr Jouret, but I will not send the letter for a few days so that he can have the time to calm down further and to recognise the correctness of my assertions.
Be punctilious in all of your duties, my dear Brother; do not for a moment lose sight of the tender young plants entrusted to your care. Remind yourself often that they are to bear the fruits of salvation. It is Jesus Christ who has entrusted them to you.
I am also sending you the report which Brother Athanase sent me. The bitter and exaggerated tone that this poor Brother uses pains me. If his report was accurate then you have given me a false impression of the situation of the classes. Happily, however, the exaggeration is tangible. If the Brothers were informed of the content of this report they would certainly lose heart. You will see in my two letters to Brother Athanase how delicately I deal with him who, on the other hand, deals so indelicately with others. We must pray for this poor child. May he come to understand how gentle and humble and humble is our Divine Model.
Tell your pupil Loomans to send the enclosed letter to his sister. It would be good if this young man were to write to me, simply and without seeking fine turns of phrase, to tell me what God is saying in his heart of his vocation. I have changed my mind: I will sent the letter to Miss Loomans myself. Your always most devoted Spiritual Father,
Ghent 20 January 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
My respects to your Reverend Father Superior.

LETTER NUMBER 132

24 January 1836
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior ,
It seems to me that your price of 6000 florins is reasonable and that you should stick to it. Nevertheless, to finish the matter once and for all you could add a further 100 florins. But only do this in an extreme case and in order to end indecision and worry.
I pray God to bring this matter, in which we are striving only for his glory, to a good end. IF we do succeed, the act of purchase should be made up in due form in front of a lawyer. I will be the sole acquisitor. Ask for good advice and inform me as to what has been effected.
I am always most devoted to you in Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Spiritual Father,
Ghent 24 January 1997
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
You should also consider what value to put on the house in the registration papers. I will give my proxy to the Reverend Father Superior to sign the papers. I could only get away from here with extreme difficulty.

LETTER NUMBER 133

20 February 1836
To the reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Ghent 20th February.
Reverend Father Superior
At last I am sending you the chalice, repaired and consecrated. At the same time I am informing you that I have answered the Brother Superior of the Convent of the Holy Angels and said that we will not be sending him Brother Michael , if he cannot be of use to him. I have also made it known to the Brother Superior that he would please me by coming to see me when ever he can find the time to do it. Among other things which I want to deal with, with him, is this; I want to speak to him about the two strange letters which you have seen. I cannot understand his ignorance in such an important matter concerning the morals of the pupils. It is no less astonishing than that of your other Brother who transgresses, so easily, the duty to keep the contents of a letter secret, a duty which is second only to that of the secrecy of the confessional. May God give light and force to these brothers so that they won't commit such serious mistakes again!
I hope that you won't have to wait a long time for the payment for the Sisters' house: we are facing a very high rate of interest, as a result of that purchase. If Mr De Vos doesn't find a way, all we can do is to give class in the room destined to be a parlour. The two rooms next to the street can't be much good to the sisters. They already have to go up to the first floor to find a room to work in; that isn't too much of a difficulty as long as they are young. Be careful not to incur any expenditure other than is inevitable. Tell the Reverend Mother and the Sisters, that you know what I want: no expenses other than those without which the aim of the vocation of the Sisters cannot be fulfilled. I have the impression that we have an expensive piece of property in the new house, and that it will not always be as acceptable as seems to be the case now. May the Lord deign to come and help you!
My greetings to Brother Vicar . Pray for me, I do for you with great love
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 20th February 1836
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Brother Athanase will find a sheet of tokens for the use of our Sisters. This sheet costs 7 centimes. Get him to examine it to see if it is worthwhile having it printed for the Brothers or if he will keep to the tokens of the schools of the Brothers of Christian Instruction. It would be good to see if the little manual on politeness should be re printed and where.
Tell Dewille that I hope he will carry out the promises he made to me. I am praying for him and for all your pupils that they might receive the grace of the Lord. I am praying especially for our postulants and novices that God will deign to bless them.
Something which I forget to settle by word of mouth is that of the accounts. How are they? You have forgotten to draw up my account and I myself forgot to look for it at Grammont. Nonetheless I must know where I stand and if I have anything to receive.
The Brother Superior of Rooborst is here with me. I am pleased that I will be able to speak to him about lots of things.

LETTER NUMBER 134

22 February 1836
To the Reverend Superior of the Boarding School of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
The report that your Reverend Father Superior has sent me concerning your house has caused me much joy and I have not omitted to demonstrate to the good God my rightful gratitude. It is right that we should remember that it is from God that we receive all that is good, and it is to Him alone that belongs all glory.
This morning it struck that you are perhaps attempting to fast, and it seems to me that neither you, nor out dear Brother Edouard , nor even your novice Laurent , should fast: it would be a risk to your health as so are so busy with study and with classes. You must immediately speak to the Dean and ask for his advice and the necessary dispensation. I have said nothing of Baudumont : He is not yet old enough to have to fast. Present my compliments to the Dean when you see him. I hope to see him in Hal during the spring.
Tell all your dear collaborators that I will continue to commend them to the Lord; that I love them all sincerely, and that I encourage them to love our Lord Jesus Christ more and more. I do not think it necessary to commend me to their prayers; I presume you all fulfil your duty towards
Your most devoted Spiritual Father.
Ghent 22 February 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon.
I would like to believe that both your dear brothers and your pupils are applying themselves with courage.

LETTER NUMBER 135

29 February 1836
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I was delighted to learn from your letter that everything is going well. I recommend that you take great care to make sure that the children are content after the holidays and haven't any reason to complain. Also prepare yourself with confidence for the feast of St Joseph.
I am glad that the business of (???) is over. Thank God.
You have made a mistake in the account of Van Snick, you have put 205 florins, but, I think it is only 105 florins.
Someone made the comment to me that the recreations of the Brothers are sometimes coarse and that there is shouting and strident laughter. The Brothers must remember the rules of decorum and religious modesty at all times. The novices will adopt bad habits and so the aim of the Institute will never be obtained.
Show my gratitude to the local clergy for the affection they show to us.
The surplus to be paid for the registering of the purchase of Van Damme's section was only 6,43 centimes (???). When you come to Ghent you must bring the act of registration; something has to be added by the office of registration. It is not urgent.
I will take care of what Brother Athanase has asked of me and I will reply to him when I send him the bonnes notes.
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 29th February 1836
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I like Mr Danssaert's plan. I would wish that the means could be found for it, but I cannot add to the sum I have promised. In the mean time the class could be held in the first parlour and the house, where it is given now, rented out.

LETTER NUMBER 136

26 March 1836
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I thank the God of mercy that he has deigned to bless our Institute of the Brothers of St Joseph. For your part continue to throw yourself at the feet of our Holy Patron, during this month, in order to obtain his powerful help. Don't forget, in the mean time, to stir up your brothers in the fulfilment of all their duties and to be gentle in their dealings with each other, with the pupils and with strangers. Don't forget to point out that some of them have not been sufficiently polite in the houses where they stayed during the holidays, last year. They must always remember that they are members of a Religious Institute which must possess virtue and politeness in order to be able to attain its aim.
The small majority of votes needed to be admitted to profession, which Brother Martin received, suggests that that I must examine this Brother myself very cautiously. I will not let him make his profession now, but I will come just to examine him. If nothing gets in the way, I will be with you at Grammont, Wednesday of Easter week, or perhaps Thursday.
It wouldn't do any harm if I could meet all the Brothers at this moment to speak to them about everything. I think they need it.
The two brothers of our Sisters at Alost, may only go to Alost at the request of the reverend Mother of Alost, and then only for a short time.
I have found that the price of the field for Rooborst is far too expensive, to impose a new debt on the convent of the Holy Angels; especially when this field has no great value for the convent. I would be speaking differently if it were the case of he field situated on the other side of the convent.
The business of the house of the Sisters at Grammont is more serious than you can imagine; they are beginning to experience just what I feared, namely, it is not as good as Sister and friends believed. Get an evaluation on the cost of turning the first floor into a school for the poor. I cannot see clearly in this project for a sewing school. I will understand it better when I am there and speaking face to face. Tell the Reverend Mother to pray that we may be prudent and that we will decide everything according to the will of God.
Tell the novices who have written to me that I am satisfied with their frame of mind but I do not have the time to write to them. In a little while I will speak to them face to face. Brother Désiré must not worry about his eyes, the rest during the holidays and the few little remedies that I will give him, will cure his eyes. He cannot use spectacles yet, they would cause him harm. He must eat more and study less. I will pray especially for him.
Watch over the children and the teachers so that everything goes well and gently for the holidays and that the Brothers and the children will be spoken of with affection during the holidays. See that the children, the Brothers and the Convent are clean.
I hope you will have a devout Holy Week and that you will be able to sing with joy the alleluia of the Resurrection. Also pray for your very affectionate spiritual father.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe, Canon
Ghent 26th of the month of St Joseph 1836.
Have the goodness to pass on my best wishes for Easter to my father and sisters. I cannot write at the moment.

LETTER NUMBER 137

31 March 1836
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I would like to talk with you face to face on various matters; you can see me in Grammont next week: I will be there from Wednesday evening until Saturday.
You can be assured, my dear brother, that I never fail to commend you to the good God during this holy time; in confidence I ask for all the blessings your Convent needs in order to share in the benefits of the resurrection of the divine Saviour.
I would like to think that you do not forget in your own prayers
Your most devoted Spiritual Father,
Ghent 31 March 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 138

17 April 1836
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Brother Vicar ,
Here is my reply for Rooborst, and, for fear that it might not arrive there before your commissionaire does, I am sending it to you. Read it and ask your commissionaire to take it there himself. The birds should have gone before the pupils return to school. Send the letter urgently tomorrow. I attach great importance to the total completion of St Joseph's parlour (for such will be the name of your large parlour) before the First Communions. Once again I commend to you cleanliness in your whole Convent. This point is essential.
Give my greetings to the Reverend Father Superior and believe me to be unreservedly
Your most devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 17 April 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
I have written politely to the Dean of Hal and explained that we are just not in a position to increase the personnel of the Convent of Notre Dame.

LETTER NUMBER 139

29 April 1836
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph. In his absence to the Brother Superior at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Brother Désiré is doing well; he is learning German and studies with zeal.
Here is a letter from Brother Albert . Isn't it advisable to let him do Brother Isidore's class, so that he can do more French? We could perhaps let Brother Vincent do the small class at Grammont, and send Brother Martin to Rooborst. Brother Isidore could come here, and after the holidays Brother Albert could come by himself to Ghent. Think about all this and tell Brother Albert that I will write to him next week. I must, first of all, know what your opinion is.
Here is a strange letter from the Superior at Rooborst . This letter, and also the one written by Mr Van Wymelbeke, makes it clear that he is not capable enough to be placed at Melle. I will reply cautiously to the Brother Superior at Rooborst. Show all this to the Brother Vicar and consult with one another.
I am sending you a few books:
Month of Mary for the boarders
2fr 00
5 small month of Mary for children
1fr 00
Explanatory catechisms
1fr 00
Young friends of God
0fr 75
4fr 75
I am giving a Month of Mary for children to Dewille. I have written his name in it.
I am so busy that I am scarcely able to write these lines.
Receive my blessing and do your best to have a good month of Mary.
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 29th April 1836
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 140

9 May 1836
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph. In his absence to the brother Superior at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Your letter gave me great satisfaction and inspired me to ask, with greater confidence, the help of our dear and merciful Mother Mary for my Brothers and Sisters.
I would like to deal with several matters with your Vicar before you visit; send him, then, to Ghent the day after tomorrow; he can celebrate the feast of the Ascension here with me and Friday morning he will be back at Grammont. It would not be advisable to tell the Brothers where the Vicar is going.
Tell your children who are preparing for their first holy communion that I will recommend them to God in the Holy Sacrifice. First Holy Communion is an apostolate of the greatest importance.
It would be good to learn that the parlour at St Joseph's is entirely in order.
According to the letter of the Brother Superior at Rooborst I will see this Brother this afternoon.
Your very affectionate spiritual father
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent the 9th of the month of Mary 1836

LETTER NUMBER 141

31 May 1836
To Reverend Brother Ambrose at the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Laurent,
I will shortly have the pleasure of coming to the Convent of Our Lady and I hope that I will find in you the necessary attitude to that we can definitively establish the date when you will irrevocably consecrate yourself to the Lord. Redouble you zeal, my dear Brother, cut off everything which would not please the great Master to whom you wish to give yourself. Go to Mary: you know that she can ask for anything from her divine Son; go also to Joseph, he is a certain way of reaching Mary. You will be very strong if you trustfully ask for everything you need to reform your heart, and put virtue where you used unfortunately to allow vice to grow. So have trust; pray, watch, and be persuaded that you will find in me a devoted Spiritual Father,
Ghent 31 of the month of Mary 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 142

31 May 1836

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
The upset which God has allowed in temporarily depriving you of Mr Baudumont will not, I hope, have damaging consequences for your house; you have been sent the only available Brother and, besides, it seems that Mr Baudumont's absence will not be lengthy.
Like all of us, and perhaps better than some of us, you will have celebrated the month of Mary and will have received abundant favours through her intercession. Today I have, in trust and with suitable zeal, made an act, or a renewal, of our consecration to our august Mother. You will, I am sure, have done the same yourself, and I feel that Mary will have already obtained many graces for us. May our humble Institute be useful to the Church by forming many compliant and zealous children for the glory of God! We will be happy if we answer to the expectations of our divine Patroness and of her son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us try to make ourselves more and more worthy of God's goodness in honouring Mary and in loving those virtues which are closest to her heart.
You will see from the enclosed what I think of your Novice. Encourage him to devote himself generously to the needs of the Institute so that he may become a strong and useful member of it.
I am hoping to come and see you soon: if nothing occurs to prevent me, I will be with you, my dear brothers, on the 15 June. Please make a point of telling the Dean. The Reverend Father Superior will also be with you then.
Receive my blessing and be always assured that it is from the bottom of my heart that I call myself, dear Brother,
Your most devoted spiritual Father,
Ghent, 31 of the month of Mary 1836.
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
I would like to hope that Mary has delivered you from the temptation that has beset you for some time. Be gentle and humble and Mary will help you.

LETTER NUMBER 143

3 June 1836
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior ,
Here is the copy of the piece you asked for. I will comment in passing that your copyist makes frequent writing errors. Mr Van Wymelbeke had more speakers than is the case here and he says that the piece is too long, especially towards the end. Examine it, rework it and then send it to me so that I can have the final word.
Enclosed is my letter to your poor Brother Athanase . He has poured out on me all the bile which was suffocating his heart. If only he could get rid of it entirely! I bear him no grudge; his unseemly, even insolent tone was without parallel for me. I will put up with anything in order to appease the wrath of God. I act like those hit in the face by the pus of a bursting abscess: far from being angered by it they rejoice in the relief that it provides to the patient. As for his questioning of his vocation, I have nothing to say. Should a man who has made vows be questioning whether he should keep them? His is quite simply the language of an apostate. Pray, me dear brother, pray; God is almighty and his mercy surpasses his other attributes.
Share all this with the Reverend Father Superior, but note that he needs mental rest; I found him very tired.
Your devoted Father in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ghent 3 June 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 144

9 June 1836
To the Reverend Father Superior, and in his absence to the Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Send me, without delay, the act of purchase by Louis Van Damme, which has been registered in the land registry office at Ghent. But ask the advice of Mr Bogaert, because I do not know, either the gentleman who wrote so politely to me, or your responsibility in this matter. I am also replying politely, but the Brother Superior must also add a letter or enclose my letter to explain why the act (deeds?) have been sent to Grammont and not to Ghent where this act is not to be found. Be careful to send me this act which has been registered.
At the same time I am sending you the privileges which I was asked for a long time ago, and which have now been printed.
Give me, at Hal, the note of the amount you have received from Ms Clippele and the amount you have paid for the hire of the house.
Your affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 9 June 1836

LETTER NUMBER 145

22 June 1836

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior ,
I find I have to return to you the note from Spitaels so that you can examine it more closely. The six copies which you should have received were addressed to me and I received them. This, clearly, was a mistake on your part and one which has prevented me from finishing the matter more speedily.
Please ask the Reverend Father Superior for the date of the payment that Miss De Clippele made to him on my behalf. It pains me to have to indicate two serious omissions in accounting.
Read the enclosed before sending it on. You can use what I have to say about finances when this Brother asks you again to make new purchases of books, cards etc. Someone outside your Convent has noted that you make expenditures, in this area, which are not really necessary, and that you buy things which houses in better financial circumstances that yours easily manage without. Let us not give food for criticism, but rather let us moderate it with wise and sound conduct.
It is quite possible that I will come and see you next month. I need to talk with you before the General Chapter.
Take care that supervision is done with great care and that the Brothers give everywhere an example of religious moderation.
I did not forget you, nor any of your Brothers, yesterday.
Your most devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 22 June 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 146

27 June 1836

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior ,
I will mention to Spitaels the error or which you have made me aware. At Grammont you must have printed a Programme of your literary exercises. It seems to me that it would be pointless to go to the same expense for Rooborst. Before finalising the Programme you should submit it to me.
You are quite right to be cautious with our poor convalescent. Let us trust in God rather than in ourselves, but let us not be weak. Pride will take advantage of it.
I would be happy to see you next week at Rooborst; I think I will be there tomorrow week (Tuesday). We have much to discuss.
Encourage Brother Albert and assure him that I will use every means to allow him to complete his studies so that he can be useful to the Institute.
I do not know how Brother Désiré can have been hurtful to him.
Please say to the Reverend Father Superior that in a few days a young man from St Gilles, in the Waesland, will arrive to try his vocation. The young man is not very gifted mentally. He has spent several years at boarding school; as an only son he will come into some money, and he belongs to a good family. His name is Maes . I think that Brother Edouard has already spoken to you about him; they are, or rather their parents are, neighbours. I have also held out hope to a young man from Wetteren that he might be accepted as a lay brother; he also is a man of some wealth.
In looking forward to seeing you and the Reverend Father Superior at Rooborst, I will finish by assuring you that I am always
Your most devoted Father in Jesus Christ.
Ghent 27 June 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
I am enclosing my bill for Miss Marie Clippele. Please read it with your Father Superior and when he has completely understood he will send it on either to the Very Reverend Mother of our Sisters or to Miss Clippele, whatever he thinks best. If on the other hand it is thought best that I should send the bill directly he will tell me at Rooborst.
I have changed my mind: I am enclosing an accompanying letter so that you can send the bill direct. Send the attached copy to the Very Reverend Mother General, explaining it by means of the copy I am sending to Miss Clippele and which is clearer than the other one written by Brother Désiré.

LETTER NUMBER 147

7 July 1836
To the Reverend Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I was extremely satisfied with my last journey to Hal, and this satisfaction is for me an indication of the success with which the good God will crown the efforts of our dear Brothers at the Convent of Our Lady. Ensure, my dear friend, that my prediction comes true.
It is necessary to remind your dear Novices that preparation for the immediate future should be occupying them greatly and that they should, to that end, redouble their care and effort to obtain the protection of Mary.
Have you followed those young people I spoke to you about? It seemed to me that we good achieve something good with them.
Mr Baudumont will perhaps not be necessary to you when Brother Martin is there. Tell me about this, and also what the Dean's reply was to your expression of friendship and politeness.
Please send to me directly from Brussels one hundred sheets of that large, fine quality writing paper at twelve centimes. It is for our Sisters at Mouscron. See if it is cheaper to send it direct or through me. There are times when I need to avoid the carriage charges.
I would like to believe that your dear Brothers Edouard and Livin are progressing at the same pace along the path to perfection and that you only have to imitate each other to arrive with joy and certainty at the perfection to which you are called by the Lord.
I assure you of my prayers, dear Brother; do not forget me in ours, and believe that I will always be
Your devoted spiritual Father.
Ghent 7 July 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 148

10 July 1836
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Superior ,
In the hope of avoiding anyone making an un-necessary effort I am hastening to tell you that I cannot come to Rooborst this week and that I am obliged to postpone the journey till next week.
Following my action in the matter of the poor Etienne , I am going to write to Wetteren to allow the postulant from there to come to Rooborst.
I have not yet been able to gather together the information that Brother Athanase wants. As for the works which he suggest can be used to explain the Gospels, he is wrong. They are lectures, or sermons, or long moral reflections on Scriptural texts. For the moment he can make do with the book that the Brothers of the Christian Schools have had printed . I sent you a large number of copies in Flemish. I cannot remember the title at all. The work is published in Brussels, and I subscribed for a fair number of copies.
Supervise your pupils carefully: it is a critical moment for their morals and for the feelings they will maintain towards the Brothers. Your supervision should be continual but never severe. You are the friends, the fathers and never the jailers or tyrants of those who are committed to your care. Do not cease to make this understood by your collaborators. Through severity one can produce hypocrites; through gentle persuasion one can make real Christians. You are called to form disciples of a God of gentleness and of peace.
Receive the blessing of
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ,
Ghent 10 July 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
You must always re-read your letters. Your last few were full of errors.

LETTER NUMBER 149

11 July 1836
To the Reverend Brother Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I have just learned that you are planning to go to Rooborst on Wednesday. I hasten to tell you that I will only arrive on Thursday by the coach from (???) because of the elections.
I do not see the need for both you and the Reverend Father Superior to be absent at the same time. One can come after the other. I plan to stay there until the following Tuesday.
Yours in Our Lord,
Ghent 11 July 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Brother Désiré has gone to his mother's funeral. I don't think I have told Rooborst that I am coming. Please have someone waiting at the roadside for the coach, either you, the Reverend Father Superior or the Brother Superior of Rooborst .

LETTER NUMBER 150

11 August 1836

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
It would seem a good idea that you and the Reverend Father Superior should be more informed about what is to happen at the General Chapter so that you can, more than the ordinary Brothers, describe the process in advance. I am, therefore, sending you the Chapter agenda and I encourage you to read it carefully with the Reverend Father Superior. It should not be read to the other Brothers; they will find out at the right time and place. Nevertheless you can talk about it and even explain how things are done at a Chapter. The Noviciate being at your house, your Novice Master will, as you can see, attend along with the Reverend Father Superior and yourself at the session where I will be present to deal with the special matters of the Institute. Brother Jean should, thus, be warned so that he can prepare himself.
I wish to take this opportunity to encourage you, and more so the Reverend Father Superior, to look once again at the matter of Brother Isidore . I am a bit worried about it, and we must remove from the pupil's mind anything which could leave a negative opinion in so grave a matter. Supervision is a matter of great importance. Be careful to be everywhere always, most especially at the end of the school year.
You would have been very happy, I think, at the measures I have taken to make it easier for you to pay off your debt arrears. Prepare carefully to explain the situation clearly at the Chapter.
I pray the good God to enlighten you, to lead you by his grace and to be your consolation, just as one day he will be your reward. Pray also for
Your most devoted spiritual Father,
Ghent 11 August 1836
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 151

12 October 1836
To the Reverend Brother Ambrose at the Convent of the Brothers of St. Joseph, Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
As I am so anxious that our beloved Institute should reach the goal to which God calls it I am writing to you again to learn of the first results from the General Chapter. They should be noticeable already and you should have no difficulty in giving me evidence if, in your Convent, we are likely to make the progress we have a right to expect.
Give me the following information.
1: The date of each Brother's return and whether the rules about travelling have been observed.
2: The date the pupils return and the date lessons begin.
3: What classes you have and how many pupils are in each.
4: Is each teacher punctilious in observing the decrees of the Chapter.
Enlighten me as you think fit about the state of things in the House in general and that of your dear confreres in particular.
Next week I expect to be at the Mother House. Write to me there.
I am sure you have entrusted everything to our Mother Mary. For my part I am trying to obtain the resources we need so much. This is my principal duty which I am very anxious to fulfil: do help me with your prayers to our great Patroness.
Tell the Brethren how much I am concerned for them and how earnestly I wish that they will live up to what God wants of them. The future of the Institute is in their hands.
With my blessing, I remain your devoted and father in Jesus Christ,
C.G. Van Crombrugge.
Ghent October 12 1836.

LETTER NUMBER 152

20 October 1836
To the Superior of the Convent of the Brothers of St. Joseph, Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
Thank you very much for your letter. I give thanks to the Lord for the graces he shows you. I ask you all to trust more and more in his divine plans.
I am happy to grant permission for the two things you ask about your classes. As for lowering the boarding fees which you have written about to Father Superior, you may do this if it does not create an unfavourable opinion of your boarding school. You must take care not to do anything which might lessen the respect you are owed.
Be assured of my friendship and my devotion,
C.G. Van Crombrugge.
Grammont October 20 1836
Reverend Father Superior will have the pleasure of visiting you next week.

LETTER NUMBER 153

26 October 1836
To Brother Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I thought, dear Brother , that I had more notes about the General Chapter than I actually have. You must yourself have noted what was done or decreed. You can easily put all that together in a single account. I would like you to do this by the beginning of January, so that when you come here it will need only the final touches.
I ask you again to be zealous in teaching our good Brother Benoit and the other Brothers in St. Joseph's Convent. Brother Albert still hasn't an English teacher. We are making enquiries. Meanwhile he uses an English grammar book and revises what he knows of history etc. He is a good religious, modest and pious. With God's help we will enable him to do very well. Let us pray that God helps us all to be worthy instruments of his mercy in the Institute of our great Patron, St. Joseph.
Receive my blessing, dear Brother. You know how sincerely I am
Your very devoted Father in Jesus Christ
C.G.V.C
October 28 1836

LETTER NUMBER 154

19 November 1836
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Brothers of St. Joseph, Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I was very happy to hear that God continues to bless your work and that you all do your best to carry out God's merciful plans. The Reverend Father Superior is very content. Let us redouble our zeal and charity in order to merit continuing heavenly blessings.
The Prince de Hohenloe will begin a novena on the 25th of this month in which we will share. 1: Ask God to grant your Convent the grace He knows you most need. 2: Each Brother can add a private intention for himself or some-one else. We will pray with the Prince about 9 a.m. each day of the novena and each day make several acts of devotion in honour of the holy name of Jesus. May we have faith and trust.
I hope each Brother is carrying out my ideas about study and the points which I made to each one in particular. Give them
my good wishes and receive my blessing with the assurance that I will always be,
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ,
C.G. Van Crombrugge.
Ghent 19 November 1836

LETTER NUMBER 155

23 November 1836
To Brother Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother ,
I have been unable to get you the seal you want. My nephew Henri has lost his diploma and I can't find another. The diplomas printed in Paris will come but I don't know when. As soon as they are available in Ghent, you will receive some without delay. Be patient a little longer.
You will have seen that Mr Delamartine's "Travel in the Orient" and other works are now on that Index It is a lesson for us and a warning to be cautious of these fashionable works before they receive the approval of the Catholic public, or even of the Church in certain circumstances.
I suggest that you practise moderation in intellectual studies. You will understand later that health is a priceless gift and without it learning is not very useful. Health is helpful in character forming. Character affects happiness more than knowledge; men are to be recommended more for their heart than for their intelligence. Allow yourself, dear Brother, the relaxation that nature needs. At the correct moment give yourself to the quiet recreation allowed for in the Holy Rule. To sum up: do everything for God and you will do everything methodically at the right time and place and in moderation. What is the point of a work not done for God, of the learning you have acquired if you have to die before using it? Let's work with moderation as God would want. The time will come when you will better understand what I have said. See the knowledge does not come to late to be beneficial.
You know with what sincerity I can call myself
Your devoted spiritual Father
C.G. Van Crombrugge.
Ghent November 23 1836.

LETTER NUMBER 156

12 December 1836
To Brother Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother Athanase,
Please let me have a clear account of what each brother in Grammont is studying now. During and after the Chapter we neglected to examine the Brethren. This could have as a consequence that each one might now follow his own taste or whim during the winter term.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
C.G. Van Crombrugge.
12 December 1836.

LETTER NUMBER 157

29 December 1836
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I am sending you several letters with the request to return them.
My best wishes, on the occasion of all the beautiful festivals that we are celebrating, are as you know, that the Lord deign make you and the whole Institute share in the gifts which his mercy distributes to his Church. We have really received a great deal during the year which is drawing to a close; let us send up our thanks to heaven with zeal, and ask our friends and helpers up there, to offer our prayers and our sentiments to God. Mary and Joseph will willingly speak up for us. Next year will be one of great importance for the Josephite family of the children of Joseph and Mary . We must do all that we can to obtain, in a special way, a blessing for this new year. You know how much humble confidence can achieve. Constantly rouse your Brothers to carry out zealously their duties so that no one hampers the action of divine mercy. Let each one take note of what he must correct, and then set to work with courage to obtain grace.
Receive my blessing for you and for your subordinates, our dear Brothers.
Brother Albert joins me in sending his best wishes. I am very pleased and edified by the good Brother.
You know, Reverend Father Superior, with what sincerity I call myself and I am
Your affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 29th December 1836
C. G. Vam Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 158

7 January 1837
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Brothers of St. Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph
My dear Brother ,
I was very pleased to receive the letters from you and your Brethren. May Our Lord grant our wishes during this festive season and we will make substantial progress on the path to perfection to which mercy has called us. Study the childhood of Jesus and we will learn all we need to know to fulfil the aims to which Providence has called us.
Accept this letter as my reply to all those you sent me. I am unable to answer the Brothers individually at this time.
I am trying to find the means to do what you ask. Take strength from my zeal to contribute to the welfare of you all at the Convent of our beloved Mother of God.
I am always pleased to declare myself,
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ,
Ghent 7 January 1837
C.G. Van Crombrugge.

LETTER NUMBER 159

10 January 1837
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Brothers of St. Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
Reverend Father Superior is here and we have decided to send you Reverend Brother Vicar next week. You will be able to decide together what you should do in the family matter you describe.
With kind regards from myself and Father Superior to you and all the Brethren.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
C.G. Van Crombrugge.
Ghent January 1O 1837
My compliments to all your good Brothers.

LETTER NUMBER 160

10 January 1837
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother ,
I have so many things to see to this January, that I haven't time to study sufficiently the various subjects I must discuss with you. I am not clear about the project of which you informed me through Father Superior. You must postpone this and all the others until I see you. It won't be long. Father Superior will explain how busy I am.
Receive, my dear Brother, the assurance of my sincere devotion,
Your spiritual Father,
C.G. Van Crombrugge.
January 11 1837.

LETTER NUMBER 161

19 February 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph. In his absence to the Reverend Brother Superior at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Father Superior ,
I am sending you the bond for the Convent of the Sisters of Mary at Alost. You will also receive that of the Institute of the same Sisters, the total value being 2,663,94; the two together make 8070,27 which you had given to the Reverend Mother of Alost.
Keep this letter and send the Reverend Mother the IOU that she gave you in order to avoid any difficulties of double use.
I am happy to use this occasion to state again, to you and to the Brother Superior , my satisfaction at the various improvements which I have noted at the Convent of St Joseph, and also to urge you both to zealously correct the faults I indicated. What I said to Brother Pierre , about his loud voice during silent times, should make you understand that there is not enough respect for this exercise, and that you must enlighten the Brothers' consciences and show them that these are transgression that they must acknowledge in confession. Take note also of what I have said about cleanliness, decency and the supervision of children.
Take care also that the young Brothers and the Novices who, because of their age, are not obliged to fast do not be silly and avoid having breakfast.
Don't forget to talk now and then to the Brothers and to instruct and encourage, according to the needs of each.
May the Lord Jesus, our beloved Master, deign to strengthen and bless all your efforts.
Your affectionate spiritual Father,
Ghent 19 February 1837
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
I forgot to point out that the "i in the word Regina in the Litany of Our Lady is a long "i", and should not be pronounced as a short one.
Early tomorrow, Tuesday, send the enclosed letter to the Reverend Mother of the Black Sisters. Sister Catherine should come to Ghent the same day.

LETTER NUMBER 162

19 February 1837
To Brother Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
I have acquired three collections of minerals. The first contains 127 pieces, the second 38 and the third 51. I have more than 34 samples of rocks and 164 shells. It is very expensive (about 400 francs) but I think it will be useful for the work of the Children of Mary and Joseph. Train yourself, dear Brother, with zeal and prudence. Above all study your religious duties, and everything else in the light of your vocation. Do all that you can to ensure that everything is so well organised at Grammont that your departure will not cause any problems. Try to leave some happy memories with your dear Brothers and with the pupils, especially when it comes to the matter of charity.
The moment when I will see you again is getting near. Prepare yourself for it with courage and do a little revision of your mineralogy.
With all my heart, I ask God to deign to give you his love. It is the greatest gift he can give you; prepare your heart for it and also pray for
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ,
Ghent 19 February 1837.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I also recommend that in your conferences you insist on the necessity of having a paternal manner towards the pupils in class and everywhere so that they love and respect their teachers.
I also want you to make a catalogue of the library in the Convent of St Joseph before you leave this house.

LETTER NUMBER 163

1 March 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior.

Praised be J. M. J.

Reverend Father Superior
I am very pleased to see from your letter that you are cured. Nonetheless, on this point, I do not have complete confidence in you: I am commending you to Brother Vicar who, together with the doctor, must decide, without delay, what food you must eat and what life style you must follow to obtain, as soon as possible, a complete cure. You must simply obey and follow everything, including fasting.
I have specially commended you, as well as our entire family of St Joseph, to this powerful Patron and good Father. During this month we must do our best to honour St Joseph, doing everything in a spirit of religion to honour our Holy Father, with our Holy Mother and the child Jesus. This work and this duty must not make us afraid, we will be helped by grace if the good will is there. May all the Brothers, during this month, like good children perform their duties most faithfully, and make every sacrifice in order to show their love for our Holy Father and so be helped in all our undertakings.
The way to get an exemption from military service, indicated by Br Isidore's father, is useless. The only thing left to do is to get a replacement. There is talk of an association to provide replacements and take on all the other responsibilities. I will look at it more closely.
The money you receive from the family of Sister Henrica must be sent to Ghent. It belongs to the Institute of Sisters.
Receive my blessing and the assurance of my affection.
Your spiritual father
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent the 1st of the month of St Joseph 1837
I am sending you a novena from Prince Hohenlohe.

LETTER NUMBER 164

3 March 1837-03-03
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
It seems to me that there is no better means, at this time, of ending the difficulties of military service, than to try a change of number. It is necessary to write to Antwerp or go there in person to get this change of number. Discuss this with Brother Vicar and take, without delay, the steps you decide upon. The way suggested by Br Isidore's father cannot completely satisfy us; it could lead to a deferment of the call up but not an exemption. The method of association which I mentioned to you is not yet sufficiently well known, therefore we cannot rely on it with any certitude, at least for this year.
Let us submit ourselves to the will of the Lord and that won't do us too much harm. God knows our intentions and He will not abandon us. I have a great hope that through our Holy Father, Joseph we will receive great graces during this month.
I recommend that you look after your health and also that of the Brothers and the children. Don't be small minded when it comes to the matter of fasting, but be a child of the Church, simple and obedient to sound motives.
My greetings to the Brother Vicar and my blessing for you and all your Brothers and pupils.
Please pass on the enclosed book.
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 3rd March 1837.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 165

6 March 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I have considered the proposition of the Reverend Parish Priest of Tourneppe, and really I see many difficulties in it. Is it possible for a Brother to makes an hour's journey every day in winter? Is it possible every day, even in Summer? Moreover, is it in keeping with the Rule which forbids going out alone. Please consider these questions. It seems to me that the answer will be easy to find.
Here is he certificate of the Church, as requested by you and by the father of our Brother Isidore . May the Lord deign to give us his powerful support in this business and in our many other needs. We must hope that St Joseph's intercession will be felt with force; this month will be a month of grace. May each Brother do his best to honour our Holy Patron and thus deserve the help of the foster father of Jesus for himself and for all our Institute.
Weren't my letters to Brother Athanase and Brother Pierre agreeable to them? I haven't received any answer. I don't want to complain but simply to point out that the rules of politeness are not always respected by our Brothers. Act carefully in this matter.
I forgot to let you know that the Parish of Zarlardinge will not be represented at the Concours.
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 6th March
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Today twenty years ago the Institute of Sisters was founded.

LETTER NUMBER 166

7 March 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brother of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
It seems to me that the candidate, Janssens , will be capable of service for the Institute, in time and with zeal. He has knowledge in some areas which could be useful later, but there are others which are lacking, which at the moment are much more needed. Taking everything into consideration, it seems to me that he can be accepted. He wants to stay at once. He has no job or home and it will be difficult for him to accept the delay you propose to me; the time is too short and too long to begin something or to find lodging.
I approve of setting up a small dispensary with the furniture you bought a few years ago. By this means, Mr Janssens could make up a few small remedies for our convents and our boarding schools. That would supply a good income each year. He could also bring a few books, dealing with the subjects he studied for six months, such as pharmacy, chemistry, botany etc.
You have already received my reply to your two letters.
I hope your two postulants are persevering. Help then by talking with them from time to time. The painter and designer from Antwerp, as well as the thin young man from the same town, keep an eye on them.
Wouldn't it be a good idea not to allow Dewille and Van Maerke to go on holiday so as to avoid unnecessary expenditure? You must do all you can to reduce the cost of your pupils, I tell you this for those two as well as for many others.
Note that your chapel of the Congregation, which is built in a sort of style which is not Gothic, must not have windows in that style; everything must harmonise. The door is not a gothic door etc. Don't forget to explain this to those who are decorating the chapel.
Your affectionate spiritual father
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 7th of the month of St Joseph 1837.

LETTER NUMBER 167

23 March 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior ,
I am please to learnt hat the reason why I have refused what was hoped for and asked for so lightly has been easily understood. I am very happy not to have approved the proposition made by the Brother Superior. It is a new caveat for me that I must carefully consider what is proposed by the Brothers.
I am also happy to learn that you are persevering in your duty of talking to the Brothers, You will do much good in this way.
In order to arrange everything during the holidays, for the greater good of the Institute, I am asking you to be in Ghent on the evening of next Thursday. Brother Xavier and Brother Ambrose will be here too. You will be able to give a reply to Brother Athanase and others. I will not be in the town during Easter Week. I wish for the Brothers to occupy themselves during the holidays with reading and meditation on the duties and privileges of their holy vows. I have a serious reason for saying this.
Young Dewille and Van Marke will not go on holiday.
Bring me some Prospectuses. I have been asked for them.
I never forget to pray for you and your confreres, novices and postulants during these days of mercy. Receive my good wishes for the graces which I ask for on behalf of all of you from Jesus Christ at his passion and resurrection. Brother Albert asks me to give you his good wishes. This good Brother is full of zeal and good will. He will be of great service.
Receive my blessing, and count always on the love which I will always have for you, being in truth
Your affectionate spiritual Father,
C.G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent, 23 of the month of St Joseph 1837.
Take care of the children who are leaving and also of the luggage of those going on holiday. All must be in good order and the parents will see that there is good order in your house.

LETTER NUMBER 168

24 March 1837
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Brothers of St Joseph at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
As there are a number of small matters I have to sort out with you, I want you to come to Ghent, next Thursday, the 30th of the month. You will take the afternoon coach from Brussels and you will be here with me by the evening. If you go via Grammont, you can arrange with your Reverend Father Superior to arrive in Ghent on the appointed day. You must not get here before then as you will not find me at all.
A thousand sincere greetings to your dear Brothers. I beg the Lord, through the intercession of our Holy Father St Joseph, to share with all of you the merits of his passion and his resurrection. I delight in telling you again of my complete devotion
Your affectionate Father in Jesus Christ,
Ghent 24th of the month of St Joseph 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 169

12 April 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I forgot to give you an explanation of the business of our contract for the purchase of Maldeghem. It seems to me that there is nothing more for us to do than to pay for the registration, on condition that we get the sum of the advance which remains in the hands of Mr Andries. I see in the journal de Liège, that Mr Vanden Poel died on the 28th of January. The time for registration only lasts until the 28th of this month, and about 250fr are required. Would it not be a good idea for you to come and see me or at least, write to me about this business ?
You are already aware of the unpleasant consequences of Brother Xavier's imprudence.
I hope that God will take pity on us. Let us continue to pray with confidence and prepare everything so as to begin the enterprise for the glory of God, in spite of the difficulties.
Order Brother Superior to make sure that silence is kept at once in our schools; may gentleness and good manners always be kept and may the Brothers let it be understood, by their behaviour, that they understand the nobility of their vocation.
I hope that Brother Benedict will carry out, with zeal, the role of Head Master, Prefect of Studies, and that on my next visit I will be well pleased with the Brothers as well as with the pupils.
May the good Jesus give you his holy help and his sweet consolation. These are the wishes of
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 12th April 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
The letters of the Brother Superior at Grammont are still full of faults; they an indication of his learning and his attention.
Brother Albert has left for his Convent with great courage. He will be very useful to you. Speak with him from time to time and show him a strong and paternal confidence. He will be a good religious for you and an instrument capable of serving God's religion.
I think that you can make ends meet with the income from pupils.
Write and tell me what you think of the contract for Maldeghem.
Knowing how important it is that you speak to the brothers and that the novices are formed according to the Rule, I cannot fail to urge you once more never to neglect this great duty. If Brother John is busy, you must get another brother to do this work. If you are the cause of unfortunate attitudes among the members of the family for which you are responsible, God will call you to account for the imperfections of Brothers and Novices.
Give my greeting to Brother John and tell him that I commend the novices to him and also the Rule of the Brother Superior. I am told that the Brother Superior is luke warm in his government and sometimes negligent in his appearance .

LETTER NUMBER 170

16 April 1837
To the Very Reverend Father Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Your last two letters were most pleasant. I thank the Lord for the good sentiments he has inspired in you, and I rejoice, with you, in the zeal that you are experiencing to accomplish the will of God in everything. To satisfy your request, I order you to read for nine consecutive days the Lord's Prayer with an Ave, in honour of the Holy Angels and those who, by your inattention, have suffered a spiritual loss.
Constantly encourage our good Brother John and make him see how important it is that the novices are not neglected and that the Brother Superior's chapter is done in time.
I think that your reasons concerning Brother Xavier at Hal are well-founded. You can, therefore, impose the burden on him however you see fit.
Please tell Brother Albert that I am very happy with his expression of gratitude. He can be quite happy, I know that he prays for me and that he works to please God. Let us be content with the means and the possibilities for mutual help that the Lord gives us.
It would be a great consolation for me if Brother Benoit were to fulfil his function with zeal. The teaching Brothers must co-operate in order to win over the pupils and to lead them to God. Insist on politeness and gentleness. This summer will be good for our reputation if each member of our religious family completes his duties. I pray the giver of all perfection to remember us.
Brother Athanase is well. I hope that we can be useful to each other in friendship.
Receive, Reverend Father, the blessings and good wishes of your
Most affectionate spiritual Father
Ghent 16 April 1837
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 171

30 April 1837
To the Superior of the Brothers of St Joseph at Rooborst

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
I thank God for the blessings he has deigned to bestow on the Convent of Our Lady at Hal and on you in particular. Be grateful, my dear Brother, and fear nothing more than ingratitude. Give glory to the Lord for all that you have had the happiness of achieving, with the help of his grace, in the positions in which obedience has placed you. I willingly join with you in asking heaven to continue with the favours which you have enjoyed, thanks to God's mercy. I hope you will try to make a holy use of God's grace, and you will make the gifts you have received ascend again to their source.
Work prudently to eliminate the abuses you have found and give preference to the use of methods of gentleness and persuasion. Watch yourself carefully to ensure that a somewhat serious countenance never becomes an obstacle to the good you must do. Often call to mind Jesus, gentle and humble. This beautiful image will show you what you must do to imitate your perfect model.
It is obvious that Brother Désiré's request cannot be granted: our Brothers do not go out alone and to find a companion for him to be absent for more than a year would be very difficult, except for holiday time.
Whenever you have some free time, you will make the journey to Alost, to see how books should be kept in Convents, especially those which deal with the Rights and possessions of the Institute. This book is for the use of the Superior General.
I hope that the month of our celestial Mother will pass as you would have wished it and that the Lord Jesus will grant new favours, as a reward for what we will have done to honour his Mother.
Receive my blessing, my very dear Brother, and believe in the devotion of
Your Father in Jesus Christ,
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 30 April 1837
I am sending you 18 small Month of Mary booklets at 15 centimes = 2,70
We will take part in a Novena for Prince de Hohenlohe; this Novena will begin on the 4th of May and finish on the 12th.
I hope to come and see you in a few weeks.

LETTER NUMBER 172

14 April 1837
To the Very Reverend Father Superior of the Congregation of the Josephites at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior .
As always I received with great pleasure the good wishes you offer me with such a willing heart. I thank you, as well as your dear confreres, and I pray to the Holy Spirit that it might please him to listen to our sincere vows and send us his holy graces, so that being illuminated and strengthened, we might fulfil to perfection, all our duties, for the good of our neighbour and for our spiritual and even temporal happiness. Let us have great confidence and let us count on what we need to reach this end.
On Tuesday I leave here for Malines and Wednesday evening I hope to be at Hal. Brother Athanase will accompany me. I am well pleased with this Brother. Next week I am thinking of going to Bruges and Maldeghem, and as soon as possible, at the beginning of June, to Rooborst and Grammont.
Tell Brother Albert that I am very pleased with his zeal and that I allow him to take Latin and Greek lessons every day. However, let him take care that study does not damage his health nor diminish his devotion; we have greater need of holy than learned brothers. Let him undertake his studies with prudence and do not let him reduce his moments of recreation. I do not have the time to write to him directly.
Assure all your Brothers that I pray for them with zeal during these days. I feel my affection for them continually growing. You have known already for a long time, dear Father Superior how sincerely I am
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 14th of the month of Mary 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 173

28 June 1837

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
You are quite right to tell me that the case you are writing to me about is serious and that it means you have to take it to your Superior. You have dealt with the whole affair well, and if the Professor has nothing to blame himself for, everything is in order on our side. However, take a careful look at the behaviour of the professor and if has done anything blameworthy, tell him to be more careful.
Next, try and get to know the poor young man little better. If you find that he is in the slightest way prone to this fatal conduct, ask his sister to come to Rooborst. Without going into the whole business again explain your anxiety to her as to what might happen as a result of an uncontrollable temper such as her brother has. Ask her to keep at home with his Mother this child who is prey to such dangerous temptations. Be polite and charitable in your dealings with this person.
I will take this opportunity to repeat again my advice that you should have a more open and gentle countenance. It is indispensable. You have a sad and melancholy air about you. You must have an air of satisfaction which inspires confidence.
Wait for the reply of Mr De Backer's parents before doing anything final. I expect to see you in a fortnight's time on Sunday or Monday at Rooborst.
Here is my circular. Use it as you ought and comply with it in every detail.
I ask God, my dear Brother, to grant you his help and the graces you need for yourself and your children.
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 28 June 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Once you have finished with my circular you will send it to Grammont. Brother Athanase will be with you on Saturday; he will take it away with him.

LETTER NUMBER 174

13 July 1837
To the Reverend Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Rooborst

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
Next Sunday, God willing, I will have the pleasure of seeing you. Collect me off the Grammont coach as it passes the Fox in the afternoon. If, however, the weather is bad I shall have to deprive myself of the consolation of seeing you. In that case you should not go and wait for me. I hope, nonetheless, that we will meet: the weather seems settled.
I am always sincerely
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 13 July 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 175

23 March 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Very Reverend Father
I am sending you several prospectuses for Melle. You can show them to the Brothers and with prudence, to other friends.
As Mr Wier has not been to see me, I cannot tell you the subject of the retreat.
It is certain that we are not envisaging any changes for our Reverend friend who took breakfast with us on Friday.
Monsieur Engels told me that the town authorities at Grammont appear to want two teachers for the French school at the College.
In Ghent it is said that Mr Rottiers will go to Saint-Nicholas at the beginning of the holidays.
I hope that you will arrange, command and have your orders carried out with more authority and judgement. Your will is good, but I find it sometimes a little insipid in the execution of the duties of your sublime state. Pray and be zealous and open towards me, so that I can lead you according to God's will. I give you my blessing and I call upon the help of your Holy Patron for you and your subordinates.
Your very affectionate spiritual father
Ghent 23rd July 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I will write to you as soon as possible on the matter of the arrival of the Brothers at Melle .

LETTER NUMBER 176

31 July 1837
To the Reverend Father Superior of Messieurs les Josephites in his Convent of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I have just offered the Holy Sacrifice to God for you and for your spiritual family. May the Lord deign to give you light and strength to spend each day, according to your duties and according to wish of your celestial Master, in the service of Holy religion. All your subjects are to understand properly how necessary obedience is to attain perfection; and you, have courage, so that as a father and also as a superior, you can lead your children in the way of self denial.
These are the wishes I have especially for you, Reverend Father Superior, on the occasion of the feast of your Patron Saint. You know how sincere are the sentiments of
Your Father in Jesus Christ
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 31st July 1837

LETTER NUMBER 177

1 August 1837
To Mr Ambrose, Josephite at the Boarding School for young men at Melle.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
Yesterday, when passing by your Boarding School, I was distressed to see that the walls needed painting. This run down appearance is disastrous, it must have already done some damage. I have heard some gossip about this. Make it your business to get the workmen to repair and repaint everything which is offensive to the eyes of passers-by. The roof of the archery gallery and all that surrounds it needs to be restored. Once again, loose no time in removing the cause of this disastrous gossip.
I have just received a charming letter from the Novice, Marie Charlotte ; tell her excellent Parents. She has just been admitted to Profession by a unanimous vote. I will take care to let my brother and sister know the day of this solemnity once it is fixed.
I am in our Lord Jesus Christ
Your ever devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 1 August 1837
C. G. Van. Crombrugghe
My compliments to your honoured guests.

LETTER NUMBER 178

2 October 1837
To Mr Athanase, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
As I didn't have to time to speak to you during my last trip, I am obliged to write you a few lines to ask for the notes and all that you have from the last General Chapter. I readily understand that you haven't the time to edit or arrange what you were given at Grammont. Send it all to me, just as you find it and, if possible, I will see what I can do with it.
I take this opportunity to congratulate you both on your journey with Mr Van Niewenburg and on the changes you have made to your method of arranging the class lists and of dealing with your pupils. I know well enough not to doubt it that the spirit among the pupils of the upper classes is quieter and you will win over everyone by gentleness, by a well balanced character and by giving them the same amount of work as Mr Debal used to give them, as well as by keeping to, slavishly I would say, the well tried methods of Melle. I both pray for and ask for the prayers of others for you. I hope that St Louis de Gonzague, together with our other patron saints, will turn away the storm and remove from over our College, of which he is the special Protector, the impending dangers which threaten it. Be courageous, pray a lot, beware of yourself, fear any innovation and you will have the joy of seeing the re-establishment of harmony, as well as the confidence of the pupils in their new teachers, who certainly deserve it. This will happen on condition that this aim is not deprived of the help of prudence (which modesty should inspire in them). You can by means of that zeal which I would define as blind and foolhardy, destroy what is good by trying to do better.
You know what a lively interest I have in your happiness and in the success of your generous efforts.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
2 October 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 179

21 October 1837
To Mr Albert, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
I always agree with pleasure to any proposal which leads you find a way of becoming more useful to the cause of our young people, provided that my permissions in no way damage the individual welfare of our dear Brothers. Following this principle, I agree to let you spend time on music, on condition, that this new occupation does not endanger your health or the other studies which your zeal drives you to do a little excessively. There, my dear friend, is my answer to your letter of yesterday. You will find in it the sentiments which you know are those of
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 20 October 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 180

22 October 1837
To Mr Ambrose, Prefect of Studies at the Boarding School at Melle.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
As far as I can see God wants you to be more generous in spirit and have a greater confidence in him. As I have told you before, you must be suspicious of anything which is able to make you harden your heart. Anything which diminishes the confidence you ought to have Him to whom all is possible, is obviously bad.
Another point which I haven't had the time to discuss with you, is the necessity of meeting often with the excellent Mr Valentyns, daily even, to discuss the pupils and everything that surrounds them. As Prefect of the Boarding School you need to have frequent recourse to this venerable mentor. Mr Superior must be dealt with tactfully. Except for extraordinary matters, you will have to see to all the needs of your pupils. Study the character of each one of them very carefully and work together with your dear Brother Albert to avoid mistakes which can be caused by an insufficient knowledge of classroom subjects. You must watch over yourself as well as over your pupils because you have a tendency to melancholy which makes you gloomy, tetchy and which means you have a spirit of impatience which is totally contrary to humility, to supernatural obedience and to that air of gentleness which is recommended to all those whose task is to lead children to the love of religion. See your Superiors through the eyes of faith and behave towards them as you ought, not for natural reasons but because of the role Jesus Christ has entrusted to them and for the sake of Jesus Christ himself. There, my dear Brother, is a teaching which every Christian has to understand and follow, and which a religious should have constantly even more in his heart than in his spirit. Live this teaching then, my dear friend, and you will find in it a source of peace and spiritual merit.
I am cross at having to ask for the return of my alarm clock. I cannot do without it. As I had to get up early in the morning one day recently, and having nobody to awaken me, I was anxious throughout the night and constantly woke up. Insomnia makes it much harder to work during the day.
Receive, my dear Brother, the sincere assurance of my keen devotion.
Your Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 22 October 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I am keeping the promise I made to you and I am praying specially for you. Our good and powerful Master will not fail to come to your help. Have confidence in him.
Show esteem and even affection for the former Professors ; they deserve this from you and can be a powerful source of help for you. Do not listen either to the voices of timidity or to those of prejudice. This advice is of the greatest importance. Believe me.

LETTER NUMBER 181

30 November 1837
To Mr Albert, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I have carried out the tasks, my dear Brother , in conformity with the wishes you expressed to me. I have savoured the reasons put forward in favour of the suppression of the words Prefect of and the words have been eliminated.
I know nothing about our dear Brother Ambrose's absence and I do not know the reasons for it.
Take care, my dear friend, to keep a careful eye on the novices. You will understand how important a good education is for those whom divine Providence has deigned to call to perpetuate the children of Mary and Joseph. If you can pass on to them the generous sentiments of love, they will become good religious. Make sure they take some exercise every day and that they take a long walk at least twice a week. But they must be accompanied by a Confrere on these walks.
If I can find the time amidst all my work, I will come and see you next week.
Here are the Manuals of Christian Youth. You will only get 6 of them because I suspect that it is not this volume that you want.
My compliments to your dear Brothers and the Novices. You know, my dear Brother, the extent to which I am sincerely
Your ever devoted father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 30 Nov. 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Practise your handwriting. Make your characters more masculine. I get the impression that the handwriting of most of our Brothers is small and rather like that of school children. Don't let my example be an excuse for you. I have never succeeded in writing well although I have not neglected to try and improve it.
At my next at my next visit which, I think, will be next Thursday, don't forget to let me see the handwriting and a few written exercises of the novices.

LETTER NUMBER 182

8 December 1837
To Mr Albert, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Brother
It seems to me that the Dutch postulant will be risking his vocation by giving way to the desires of his parents. According to what he has told me, the attacks that would be made on his affections would be very strong and could make openings which the enemy would not fail to use to make himself master of his heart. Let him meditate carefully on these comments, kneeling at the foot of the tabernacle. However, it is up to him to take a decision about the solidity of his motives as well as the arguments we put forward to sustain his courage. In the final analysis, it is his business and requires a good deal of thought on his part.
I will take this opportunity of reminding Mr Superior that his book must be in order; the time has come to get the bills and the Reports ready for the pupils. In three or four weeks these documents must have been sent out. If I go to Melle next week it would give me pleasure to see that my comments on this matter have born fruit. Pass this letter on to the Superior. Since these matters concern you both, so must my letters.
I am awaiting the results of our observations about the Novices. In reply to a phrase in the Superior's letter, I insist on the necessity of forbidding all communication between Novices and the Brothers, except for rare cases where the Superior believes it necessary at that time to make an exception to the general rule. I would ask the Superior to understand that this matter is of the greatest importance for the Novices.
I will pray for your dear Superior tomorrow during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He knows, and I know that he knows, that there are a number of reasons why he should obtain from me the help of my ministry.
Good bye, my dear Brother, receive the blessing of
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 8 October 1837.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Your letter was without a date. Try and avoid these mistakes; they make my task more difficult to carry out.
I have already advanced for the carriage of letters addressed to your Dutch Postulant:
0,60
0,60
1,20
2,40
I have received a letter from your little sister. I am very pleased with her handwriting. Take care of your own handwriting; stop using steel nibs and make your writing larger. Avoid modelling yourself on me; on this point, as in many others, you would not do well to imitate me. Do what I tell you without looking at what I do.

LETTER NUMBER 183

21 December 1837
To Mr Athanase, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear brother
I never cease thinking about the Boarding School at Melle and commending it to God. The information I have gathered leads me to hope that the present difficulties are an effect of divine mercy. Several among you are lacking the true basis of the attitude needed to be instruments of heavenly mercy. May this feeling of powerless and our unworthiness before God eventually obtain for us humility and trust in grace, together with a wise and prudent mistrust of ourselves.
Let us not be discouraged, my dear Brother, but let us humble ourselves and should the hand of God deign to sustain us and help us out of our problem, let us give real thanks to His goodness for it and attribute to Him alone honour and glory, who is the source of every good and our success: soli Deo honor et gloria!
Get on well with your confreres and especially with Mr Valentyns. This good friend will take pity on you. Once he is certain of your good will and your humble submissiveness, he will support you in front of the pupils. He will realise that you are not always in the wrong as some would have us believe.
Once again, have courage and be generous. Tell God that you renounce any honour which future success might bring you: non nobis, domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam! To this I add with all my heart: Amen. Amen.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 21 October 1837
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 184

29 December 1837
To Mr Albert, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be J. M. J.

My dear Brother
Before speaking about the novices, I will say a word in reply to your letter of Sunday. The main recommendation I have to make to you at this time is that you frequently conjure up in your mind the image of the child Jesus. This image will inspire in you thoughts and feelings worthy of your sublime vocation. Next, be generous towards God and towards men even though you have vexations to cope with.
The novices who sent me their exercise books have done better than is usual. I congratulate then for this little extra effort and I regard them as the fruit of resolutions inspired by the Feast of Christmas. Encourage these dear children. The demon is so jealous of the favours which God is preparing for them that he seeks to injure them by every means his long experience suggests to him. May the mistakes made during this year of 1837 be cried over and forgotten before 1838 begins. The holy sacraments and prayer will produce this marvel and obtain this grace. Speak in these terms to the Novices.
Insist 1: that each Novice takes care with his exercise books and writes for at least half an hour in a separate exercise book, solely in order to learn to write properly.
2: that at the same time they all also do some memorising, and that I am informed as to how each one recites his lesson.
As for you, dear Brother, you also should practice your handwriting every day. I will look at your exercise book when I have the pleasure to seeking you out at Melle.
I do not have to time to go on about this any more. Pray, be vigilant and have confidence in God. I will do all I can to help you.
Discreetly tell those Novices who have not done well, to have courage. Don't let on that I have received sad news about them. I think the best thing I can do at this moment is to pretend and ward off the storm, by means of the help of Mary and Joseph whose power before Jesus Christ we are all aware of.
Goodbye, my dear Brother; once again, have confidence, be cheerful in spite of difficulties.
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 29 October 1837
C. G. V. C.

LETTER NUMBER 185

12 January 1838
To Brother Peter

Praised be J. M. J.

Dear Brother
All though I do not have the time, I am making it my duty to write a few lines to you to express the satisfaction which your letter gave me. I see that you appreciate my feelings and you want to be a true religious. I give thanks to God who bestows these happy dispositions on you and I entreat you, my dear Brother in Jesus Christ, to make use of this powerful help of grace. What happiness to find you at last on a right road to happiness! Oh! Be true to the star and you will become an instrument of mercy in the humble family of St Joseph.
I am also pleased with your style and your handwriting.
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
12 Jan 1838
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 186

20 January 1838
Mr Albert, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother
I am relieved that the business of the little sister is not as annoying as paternal affection had presented it to us. It is as you have observed, yet another proof that Parents are not always the most balanced of judges when it comes to their own children.
It would be a good idea, in any eventuality, for you to make your self capable of teaching a few extra subjects like physics, mineralogy, commerce. I think you have both the time and the means to do it and if ever the need arises we would be happy to not be caught out without anyone. However, do it discreetly, without giving rise to any annoying suspicions. Brother Athanase's health is not strong; that alone could be a reason why we will have to get another teacher.
Practise your handwriting. Don't write so small and when you write letters don't leave such a large space between the lines as you have done in this last letter you have addressed to me.
I pray to the divine Saviour to form in you all the virtues which your divine vocation demands. I also give you, my dear Brother, my blessing.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 20 January 1838
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 187

10 February 1838

Praised be J. M. J.

Dear Brother
I thank God for the graces he has deigned to bestow on the house of Melle and for the blessing he gave to the words I spoke to the pupils. I will try to get to the examinations in March. May I yet again be the witness of further success.
The admission of a fault is the beginning of reparation. Go a little further, my Brother, and finish the good work which the grace of the Saviour has begun in you. Make amends for your fault to your Superior, and God, moved by your repentance, will help you correct this quick temperedness which has already caused you so many sighs and tears. Nothing which has been organised in common can be changed on one's own authority. You understand better than the others the need for that. There are cases, nonetheless, and I am sure yours is one of them, where it is better to modify what has been laid down than to hold out against all opposition. But, without pretending to decide for or against anyone in this business, the circumstances of which are unknown to me, I am limiting myself to urging you to keep nothing in your heart, nothing against your Brother nor anything against your Superior. What he said in hastiness is a fault which he will acknowledge to the proper authority, but be careful not to take it into your own hands to avenge the mistakes of others. Before God detest whatever you have said to destroy stability and try to reconcile yourself to Mary and Joseph. For my part, you know that such a thought cannot have been communicated to anybody. I consider it an unfortunate mishap that in such cases I have to deal with the hypothetical in a theoretical way. Examine what you owe to God and you will find that you will have to hurry to repair that which passion has torn from you. As for me, I tell you frankly that I wouldn't stop at some humiliation, before a fallible Superior like myself; and I wouldn't want to hold on to a source of pain and anxiety of spirit, knowing what an easy remedy divine mercy has given us. Let us go forward with courage. Speak with your Superior and you will be healed; no more will be thought about the matter save to commend you to God. I give you my blessing and I beseech our good Master to add to it the unction of his grace which will heal the wounds of your heart. You know the heart these words come from, it is that of a Father who loves you sincerely and who wants to prove it at every opportunity.
10 February 1838
C. G. V. C.

LETTER NUMBER 188

26 February 1838
To Mr Albert

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
You know my heart and you will have guessed what pain it has experienced through the loss our Reverend Sisters have just experienced in the person of Dame Aloijse, that perfect example of religious virtues. The will of God, the happiness the faithful bride of the Lord and the power she exercises there in our favour on the heart of the divine Spouse: these are the thoughts that console me and help to me support with resignation the blow which the heavenly hand of the Father has given us. I bless this hand which strikes us through mercy and which itself applies the remedy which it judges appropriate.
I have not understood, my dear Brother, what you mean by this phrase: "I only kept quiet to keep the others silent." If you have a visit from Brother Vicar this week, you will speak with him and with your Superior about the changes you hope to make amongst the lay Brothers. One of these days a postulant for the lay Brotherhood will arrive at your door. He is a tailor by trade and he will be suitable to fulfil a number of duties such as porter, keeper of the laundry, or other jobs you might need doing. Inform your Superior and Brother John about this.
It is good to see that you are practising your handwriting: you certainly need it. Work hard at it. I want your Superior to adopt a handwriting that is less weak. He writes like a school child and even a careless schoolchild. I have been obliged to tell him this rather unflattering truth. It is the honour which is due to his position as Superior which makes me do it in spite of myself. If his writing does not improve I shall have to forbid him all communication in writing with the pupils' Parents. You can tell him this, if you think it is appropriate, either directly or by means of Brother Vicar. While waiting for you to improve your handwriting, Brother Ambrose will have to write in the case which I have just mentioned. The addresses written in the handwriting of the Superior make me blush, and I would be ashamed to say that they come from the Superior of our Boarding School at Melle. I write badly but at least I am careful in certain things which show sufficiently that it is neither by carelessness nor through bad taste and lack of education that I do not do better.
May the Lord bless your efforts and those of your dear Brothers so that the enemy is overcome and good triumphs in the Boarding School to the glory of Religion. Such are the wishes that are always being made by
Your ever devoted father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 26 February 1838
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I have written a few words to Henry Duville. I want him to reply to them and above all I want him to reply in a way that will give me some pleasure. I do not know how César is getting on. Has he also lost sight of what he owes to God and to his teachers?
If the Brother Vicar comes to Ghent, I would like him to bring with him Frederick Van Maercke. Perhaps I would have the happiness of saving this child who risks being lost as well as Mr Dewille.

LETTER NUMBER 189

3 March 1838-03-03
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Congregation of Messieurs les Josephites at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
Together with your Vicar, Mr Stanislas, I have thought about some of the difficulties which are to be found in the accounts. We know who we have to deal with and the courteousness of my brother in law allows us to make our reflections in all sincerity. We can all make mistakes, but neither my brother Van Wymelbeke nor we on our side, will knowingly make a mistake against the virtue of justice.
On the matter of the first note of the account, I must ask my brother to look through the old inventory of furniture in order to find out if all the furniture on that list must have been taken on by us. It could be that certain articles are listed in the inventory by oversight or have been bought later by my brother in compensation for what he owed.
You will have to check the second note yourself. I myself cannot make any comment on it.
As for the third note: Among the comments of your Vicar, the one on the 200 francs is irrefutable. It is a real mistake by the scribe. It seems to me that this article has no basis in truth and cannot be defended in justice.
You must know what note 4 means.
It is also true that it will only be in October 1838 that you will have to pay the interest of 1521 fr, and perhaps only for 12 months instead of 13.
I know that you have to act with justice and that you only have responsibility for the possessions the Church entrusts to you, nonetheless, you should not be afraid; such an attitude would be damaging for the health of the body and the works of the Spirit. Make your comments to my brother Van Wymelbeke; they will be accepted if they are justified.
Receive the assurance of my sentiments of sincere affection which I always have for you,
Your general spiritual director.
Ghent 3 March 1838
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 190

1 May 1838

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
I had to consider the business of M. Van Wymelbeke, before I could give you a clear reply on this subject.
You can order a quantity of wine for the Holy Sacrifice and have it sent to Melle. Your Convent and that of Rooborst will take what they need from there.
Using polite sentiments and following Mr Van Wymelbeke's polite manner of writing, you will write to him as follows: After having studied more closely and more deeply the matter of the 200 francs which you have written to us about, it is now clear to us that we owe you nothing. In fact, Monsieur, as you have commented yourself, there aren't any conditions which permit the imposition of charges for the past. Next, we have to pay the teachers, like yourself, their salaries and their supplements; we also have to pay the employees for the services they have given us. But it is certain that, neither during this school year nor in any other year, should we twice pay the wages of the domestics or the salary of the teachers. Yet according to your argument we will pay twice. If we made an agreement not to pay anything to the domestics and teachers for eight months, for the reason that you would have paid them for us, then we would owe you 400 frs because you would have paid them for us. Thus we could owe you 400 frs for the reason that you would have paid them for us. It is certain that you didn't pay 400 frs, or 200 frs to Mr de Champs , on the similar occasion when you took over the boarding school from him, and that for the same reason, because you did not want to pay twice.
These comments will convince you that we owe you nothing and that we could not owe you this money because of the wages of the domestics or the salary and supplement of your teachers. However I am signing your bill because we will find 200 frs in the payment for the wine which we must pay. Would you please deliver it to Melle.
With God's grace, dear Father Superior, we have started here the month of our Holy Mother with zeal. We have celebrated with pleasure the anniversary of the institution of our religious family. All goes reasonably well in our Convent of St Aloysius.
Receive the blessing of
Your affectionate spiritual father
Ghent the 1st of the month of Mary 1858.
C. G. Van. Crombrugghe
You do not say if you have received my project for the legal documents. You have also forgotten to send me at Melle the papers concerning the situation with regard to our Convent of St Joseph .
Check and see if the bill you are going to sign and send to Bruges amounts to a sum equivalent to your debts with Mr Van Wymelbeke, in adding on the 200 frs which, according to me, you do not owe.
The "ephemerides of universal history" etc. sent by the Brother Vicar are no good and contain many falsehoods. Among others look at page 101 in Volume 1. Brother Vicar must write at once to say that the book must not be read and the Convents where he sent them must not pay for them. There you have a lesson about being more prudent.

LETTER NUMBER 191

13 February 1839
To Mr Albert, Housemaster at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I find in your letter, my dear Brother , some solid opinions based on the truth which have convinced me of the necessity of sorting out a way of adapting not only the Boarding School of Melle but all our houses to the needs of the present times. I support with all my heart the project to work ceaselessly at the formation of a special commercial class. I am aware of what we lack at the moment and I hope to make my way to you by the 7.00 am coach next Tuesday, so that we can thoroughly examine the matter. Get ready for this and work with your dear Confreres so that you can give me some clear opinions and put me in a position to take, if possible, a final decision.
Your concern, my dear friend, both for your Institute and for your particular house, is a cause of great consolation for me. Keep going along this road. Feed these heartfelt sentiments, they are a happy omen of success in your career. God will bless this zeal; try to deserve it by the purity of your outlook and the humility of your interior dispositions.
I am without reserve in Our Lord Jesus Christ
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 13 February 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 192

8 March 1839
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
I want you, in collaboration with your dear Confreres, to work a little on the information you have been given about commercial schools, and to prepare yourself to give me some clear ideas about the matter when I come to see you next week. I have asked at Hal about the titles of the elementary book, or the books themselves if we can get them ourselves. I was satisfied with the examination of the commercial classes last Monday, and I have no more worries in this respect. Yes, we are able to do what the interest of the house of Melle demands: a school or rather a special class for commerce will be easy to set up there. Nonetheless, let us proceed prudently, and while waiting let us do all that depends on us to ensure our pupils are happy and that they attach themselves to us and our methods.
All the best in our Lord Jesus Christ
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 8 March 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I recommend to you, my dear Brother, the Novena which begins on the 10th of this month.

LETTER NUMBER 193

10 March 1839
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Josephite Religious at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

How glad I am, my dear Superior , that I have had the opportunity of seeing your prospectus!
This document is hardly suitable to give an advantageous idea of your House. The text has faults both from a grammatical as well as a logical point of view. I cannot imagine how, if I had seen it, I would have let you print it as it is. It seems to me that you neglected to let me see it; I believe that I am incapable of approving such a work.
1: I know that you correct mistakes; but ask Mr Michael if you correct the mistakes of children. You correct children of their mistakes, you destroy the mistakes, you make them disappear. What is a corrected mistake? Isn't it, in popular terms, something that no longer exists?
2: After: polite and comfortable, put: "a paternal supervision watches over them everywhere, and when it comes to the correction of children, methods of gentleness and persuasion are preferred".
3: Because religion is the very foundation of your teaching, it goes without saying that you teach the catechism. Furthermore, I think there are other reasons why you can leave out this particular detail. However, I do not formally oppose it if you believe you have reasons for keeping it.
4: I have put 304 francs to avoid the 3 francs for desk, locker etc. Note that you must print the boarding fees.
5: You cannot put Superior of the Josephites because this Superior is not the Superior of the Boarding School but of the Institute of the Josephites.
For the rest, try and understand my corrections and send me a second draft.
Shortage of time has made me go fast and that is the cause of my bad handwriting. I will not harp on about my astonishment at seeing such a poor prospectus. It saddens me but I am none the less
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 10th of the month of our Patron St Joseph.
I do not know if it is not better to say Boarding School St Joseph. You do not say: College of St Barbe, of St Louis, but: College St Barbe, St Louis etc.
No border around the prospectus.

LETTER NUMBER 194

13 March 1839
To the Superior of the Boarding School of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
I see from a letter from Hal that your Reverend Father Superior has arrived there. I conclude from this that he did not receive the letter I wrote yesterday in time to stop Brother Jacques' departure for Melle. Open that letter and follow its instructions. In order to avoid further problems, it is necessary for Br Athanase to have left the Boarding School of St Louis before Brother Jacques arrives there. The dispatch of a new cook will have to wait until the holidays.
I have told you to show me again the proof of the prospectus, and glancing through the pages you have just sent me, I find a fault which will offend your modesty, just as it offends the truth, by its generality. It is only a certain number, a portion of the useful or necessary sciences that are taught in your school: therefore you need a "de". Cross out the "s" in every copy. The words: "their conduct" a little lower down, do not please me at all but it is too late! It is exactly the same comment for the turn of phrase: "...et (???) leur sont donnés" etc. My excuse is the little time you have left me to review the work.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 13th of the month of St Joseph 1839

LETTER NUMBER 195

16 March 1839
To the Superior of the Boarding School of St Joseph at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
It is only today that I received your letter of the 14th. Although I have a lot of work to do I am sending the corrected draft back to you.
The words that I have pointed out as erroneous are as I said; some are a single mistakes, others a double mistake. I dare to say that I am a competent judge, for, without any vanity, I can tell you that I know the French language better that those you have been able to consult at Grammont. As for the word "their" which I asked the advice of your Brother Michel about in order to explain to you its value, not because I did not know, it was a real and big mistake. You can never use it in French in the way I have indicated, whatever Mr Mul might say. Furthermore you do not say "there are two holidays". You could write: "there are two (???) holiday". Mr Michel will tell you the same as I do, because the French never say it. As for the use of "y" in "payent", I have followed the Dictionary of the Academy which I consulted when I drew up the prospectus for Melle, almost two years ago.
Point out to the printer that the lines on the second page don't go in the same direction as those on the first page.
You will check the proof again; I do not have the time at the moment to look over it a second time. Send me at the same time a prospectus for Rooborst. I regret that in it they have put among the list of subjects taught, literature, that is a rather ridiculous boasting.
Ever yours in Our Lord
Your Spiritual Father
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 16th of the month of St Joseph 1839

LETTER NUMBER 196

18 May 1839
To Mr Athanase, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear brother in Jesus Christ
I did not have the time to write to you yesterday or today. However, before the day ends I want to say two words to you. Mary is the refuge of sinners, she has never abandoned anyone who had recourse to her. Go to this Mother of mercy and the avenging hand of God will be held back before it strikes you. I join my prayers with yours, my dear Child, and I think I can already see confidence being born again in your soul. May Jesus who died for you, deign to send you his Spirit of power, and soon your enemies will be routed.
Ever yours in Jesus, Mary and Joseph
18th of the month of Mary 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 197

2 June 1839
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Josephites at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother Superior
Experience has proved that the preparatory work for the General Chapter leaves something to be desired because the many occupations at the end of the school year don't allow the teachers to give the time needed for this work. We have decided it would be a good idea to advance by a month the meetings of the Religious in which the material to be submitted to the Chapter is prepared. And also those of the Teachers in which the programmes to be used in the following school year are worked out.
Therefore, my dear Brother, consult with your council to sort out ways of getting the best results out of the particular meetings.
To this effect:
1: You will examine and prepare what is within the competence of the Superior alone and those matters where you share responsibility for together with your council.
2: You will hold a Community meeting of your religious before the 6th of June so as to let them have your views and you tell them, for their part, to prepare what they believe is necessary to enlighten the Chapter about the interests of the Institute in general and to advance the work of the perfection of each of its members. You will then arrange for a second meeting which must take place before the 14th of the same month. In this meeting the final decisions will be taken. The outcome of this meeting must be recorded with care and clarity.
3: You will also call meetings, as often as you find necessary, of all the teachers to draw up a draft literary programme for the next year and to discuss whatever they believe to be in the interests of instruction and education and should be submitted to the Chapter.
Your work, together with that of the meetings mentioned above must be sent to me before the 18th of the same month.
You will communicate this circular to all your colleagues at the first meeting.
I ask the Holy Spirit to shed his light on you and on the work of your meetings.
Your affectionate Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 2nd June 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
After some thought, we have decided that it is a good idea to print the programme of your literary exercises. You will carry out the necessary preparations. When I come and see you we will decide the other matters you have written to me about.

LETTER NUMBER 198

25 July 1839
To Mr Ambrose at the Boarding School in Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
As I wish to use only well put together and wise methods to publicise our plan for special commercial courses, I would be pleased to know where, to whom and in what number you have sent out supplements to your Prospectus.
I would like to believe that everything continues on a good footing at Melle and we can hope for a successful outcome to a school year in which annoying mistakes have been made. I never stop asking God for the graces you need to reach this aim.
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 25 July 1839
G. C. Van Crombrugghe
Also tell me to whom you have sent notices about our Institute.
I have learned that there is an error of judgement and even of delicacy in certain batches of supplements that have been sent out.
It would be good to ask Mr le Brasseur of Antwerp to put a supplement in the Précurseur of Antwerp and to pay the cost which you will re-imburse. Here, in the Mercurius we pay 15 francs for 3 insertions.

LETTER NUMBER 199

27 July 1839
To Mr Ambrose at the Boarding School in Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I am very pleased with your letter, my dear Brother , and I would have already answered it if my many occupations had not prevented me. The problem I spoke to you about is that some supplements have been sent in envelopes or in letters and not with a band around them which has doubled the cost of carriage for some of them. I also want to know how many copies you have sent to each person so that I can judge if more should be sent. Please add to your list what I have asked for in this matter and tell me how many supplements you have left over: perhaps I will see you on Wednesday, you can give me the information then.
Yours as ever in Our Lord Jesus Christ
Ghent 27 July 1839
G. C. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 200

13 August 1839
To Mr Ambrose at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
Please tell me to whom you have sent Programmes in our town of Ghent: if you added any supplements to them and if you have sent any prospectuses to Holland.
I would like to believe that my last circular which had been forgotten at Melle until my last visit, will have been communicated to your dear colleagues.
Your devoted father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 13 August 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
We will need some supplements for Ghent.

LETTER NUMBER 201

29 August 1839
To Mr Athanase, Josephite Religious at the Boarding School at Rooborst.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Although I have spent very little time at home since your departure, dear Brother , I have found there a certain emptiness which I will have to get used to. Your presence made my recreations and meal times, I say it with pleasure, very pleasant. However, used to privations of this nature, I hope to set myself once again to what God asks. You are not the only one to feel our separation, and I understand that that is all right. Let us resign ourselves, and we will be yet more suitable to fulfil the merciful plans which our good Master has for us. May God's good pleasure be accomplished!
I thank you, my dear Brother, for the details you sent me, they will be very useful to us. I understand more and more the value of sending several of our subjects to the prize givings in our boarding schools so that they can look at everything in the spirit of a wise critic who reveals the good and the bad.
I like to believe that your stay at Rooborst will bring about the healing of the evil which still appears from time to time and that after the retreat you will make a perfect return to health both on the moral as well as the physical plane. Collaborate with grace, my dear son in Jesus Christ and to our mutual joy we will see each other again in ten days time. Receive the blessing of
Your devoted Spiritual Father
Ghent 19 August 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
My compliments to Mr Laurent and all your Brothers at the Convent of the Holy Angels.

LETTER NUMBER 202

29 October 1839
To Mr Athanase.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I have only a few minutes, my dear Brother , and I want to thank you for the short letter you sent me, to congratulate you on the good humour in which grace has placed you, and to commend moderation to you. Someone you know, who is a competent judge and who wishes you well, told me that you are not yet cured, that your health is in your hands and that this year will decide your life. You must scrupulously avoid everything which gets you hot tempered etc. etc.
Therefore, my dear friend, you must be restrained in everything: study, discussions etc., all that must be done calmly. Feed your spirit and your heart with objects of piety and leave everything else to your superiors, so as to avoid exposing yourself imprudently.
It is already several days since the Superior of Melle took everything you left in your room to Ghent. He will send to you whatever your successors at Melle can do without.
I must finish, but I want to do so in repeating that I am sincerely
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 27 September 1839
C. G. V. C.

LETTER NUMBER 203

7 October 1839
To Mr Albert, Prefect of classes at the Boarding School at Melle.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I am enchanted to see the zeal you put into your new job, my dear Brother , it is the way to succeed in it and to contribute powerfully in making the house of Melle flourish. Speak without delay to the Superior and tell him from me not to delay any more to tell Mr De Mol of our decision about the English class.
Here is a packet of books that I have been sent from Paris. Look, with Mr Bernadin , for the ones that are for Melle and make a note that I paid 8 frs custom duty on them.
May God deign to bless our efforts and may all our Brothers be zealous in their rivalry to respond to the plans of divine Providence. Such are the wishes of
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 7 October 1839
C. C. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 204

7 October 1939
To Mr Ambrose at the Boarding School at Melle.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
It is with great pleasure that I learn that order is established in a satisfactory way in the Boarding school and that the pupils are happy. May God be praised! Place your confidence in this powerful God and mistrust yourself. That, my dear friend, must be the source of your tranquillity and of the success which I expect from your efforts.
Would you be so kind as to send me 500 francs. If you have no other opportunity then make use of the one which the Reverend Father Superior will provide: he will be with you on Friday, I think.
Receive my blessing, my dear Brother, and believe in the devotion of
Your Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 7 October 1839.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 205

13 October 1839
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I have learned with pleasure, dear Brother , that things are going well with you. I give thanks to the Lord and I make it my duty to congratulate you. May this success bring you to realise and may it give you the conviction, that everything is possible with that grace which is obtained through humble obedience. Continue with moderation, mistrusting yourself and putting your confidence in God. Avoid everything which leads you to sadness. That is your chief enemy. Arm yourself, each morning, with thoughts on charity, on your own needs were it not for God's mercy and on the presence of God who sees and hears you. In this you will find a real cure against yourself and against the enemy of the children entrusted to your care. Read and re read the treatise on joy which I recommended to you and which will always be of use to you.
All the best in Our Lord Jesus Christ
Ghent 13 October 1839
C.G.Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 206

13 October 1839
To Mr Albert

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
If our Reverend Father Superior has properly understood, I have to conclude that the failure to speak to Mr De Mol about our resolutions has not yet been made good. These recommendations must be renewed.
It seems to me that Mr Bernardin has been given too much to do. Couldn't the shop be left to Mr Ambrose? In any case, Mr Bernardin must have more time for himself. Mr Lambert could be given the job of looking after the shop. Examine all this carefully with the Superior. Keep making sure that our subjects are training themselves by their studies. This is your responsibility. Make sure you carry it out with care and attention.
I have learned with pleasure, my dear Brother, that the classes and the supervisions are going well. May God be praised! Do everything in your power to ensure that this good beginning might continue.
Fulfil your role as second Assistant zealously. Everything in the refectory, at recreation and everywhere you preside should be conducted in a religious way. That is an important way of ensuring blessings from heaven on our works.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 13 October 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 207

14 October 1839
To Mr Athanase, religious in the Convent of the Josephites at Grammont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

It is a real source of joy for me, my dear Brother , to receive good news from you. The news I have just received is excellent, not because it leaves nothing to be desired, but because it proves that you are using the failures which at other times would have slowed you down or even set you back for your spiritual advancement
It appears, in fact, that an error was made over geography in the programme for the chapter. It has been noticed already at Melle. I don't know if the privileges have been suppressed; I think it was felt enough to decide that the printed papers which carried the names Brothers be suppressed. I want any other queries to be submitted to me. I will try to decide in which way they will present the fewest difficulties.
I am involved with the history of Mr de Gerlache. But as the Institute is short of money and that I myself have forbidden any expenditure which is not indispensable, I think you are going to have to mortify yourself for some time yet as far as this book is concerned.
Receive, my dear Bother, the assurance of my entire devotion
Your Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 14 October 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Anniversary of the day when I became a child of the Church 50 years ago.

LETTER NUMBER 208

6 November 1839
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Your good wishes, my dear Brother , are always very agreeable, and I receive them with even greater pleasure, because I believe in the sincerity of the heart which has formulated them. Ah yes! May we celebrate for a long time here below, the feast of our best friends, our models, by imitating above all the fine example they have left us! You have no need of any new assurances on my part, to know that in those important moments when we especially seek favours for our friends, you are not forgotten in my prayers. Your needs and the good that you can do, apart from any other reason, are a powerful reason to make me pray for you. You can, therefore, in all your needs, count on a special memento on the principal feasts, and on all the help you feel you want to receive from my zeal. You are right to fear relapses, but these fears must not find their origin in a sort of defiance which is contrary to the infinite goodness of God. At the right moment let us mistrust ourselves but may this wise and laudable mistrust increase in us, the confidence we must have in the omnipotence of the Lord our Father in heaven, and in the tenderness of Mary who is our Mother and whose goodness we have already experienced so many times.
I think it could be useful for you to share with me what you have discovered within you during your monthly retreat. I will tell you now that if you have noticed the beginning of a relapse, it is urgent that you seek out the cause of it in order to be in time to prevent the consequences, of which you already know the dangers or at least to renew your courage if your cooling down has no characteristic reason. Repeat to yourself often these words of the Gospel euge serve, courage my friend, look at the crowns which are awaiting you. Each day we are presented with a new one. There is not one of our actions from the moment we get up to the time we go to bed which does not assure us yet more grace; and each one of the graces indicates the glory to come in heaven.
If nothing interferes with my plans, I count on having the pleasure of telling you once again face to face that I really am always
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 6 November 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 209

1839-11-22
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
Although I am extremely busy and hardly know where to begin to start on what is the most urgent, I am setting aside a few moments to tell you that I cannot see you during the next few days. At the moment I am overloaded with work and since I intend to send for you in a few weeks, it seems to me that, there not being enough time to make it on foot, the expense of your journey, would not be in keeping either with the spirit of poverty itself, nor with the financial situation of the Institute at this moment. For the sake of utility you will therefore have to offer to God the sacrifice of your desire to come to Ghent before the time comes.
I will take care to send you the things you left behind here and I will pray to God, my dear Brother, to help you by his grace to overcome the obstacles which repeated infidelities have placed on the path to your perfection and which hinder the enjoyment of the sweetness promised by the service of Jesus Christ. The first efforts will be costly, but little by little the difficulties will disappear and the sweet peace of the soul will enable you to experience a greater happiness than can ever be provided by creatures.
Receive my blessing and the assurance of my devotion
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 22 November 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 210

9 December 1839
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
I did not notice any coldness at all on your part towards me during my last visit to your Convent. I knew that you were working very hard to overcome the waves of moodiness which in the past have been a cause of concern to me. I knew that you were learning to obey and to moderate these unrestrained desires, which keep you so far behind on the road to perfection and these dispositions give me so much pleasure that a little more or a little less evidence of submission or friendship would not have been capable of making an impression on me. Do not torment yourself so easily with the memory or the actual feeling of a sensation which we all know only lives in the less solid part of a man. It is the work which makes the workman appreciated. In a short time we will speak face to face.
I have seen with joy that the exams backed up our hope that the classes are going all right in general, in spite of the changes we were forced to make. I hope that God will pour out his blessing on the efforts of the Teachers and their pupils.
During my last visit, I noticed at Melle that we had made a mistake in putting in the Reglement that each class will have an exercise book in which would be written the homework which had been well done. It should have said that it was each House. The number of classes together with the accessories would be much to great. A single book would be enough for 25 to 50 years, that's all that is needed.
Your health always worries me a little, my dear friend, I believe it is necessary to forbid you to give any individual lessons at all no matter to whom; give your general lessons with moderation and make your pupils do the talking even in an arithmetic class in order to spare you the weariness of speaking yourself. In this way your novena will produce its effect without giving the impression of testing God.
Goodbye, my dear Brother: believe in the sincere devotion of
Your Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 9 December 1839
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Your handwriting is too small, too thin. Take more care with it.

LETTER NUMBER 211

13 January 1840
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

I am satisfied, my dear Brother , by your explanations, and I give you permission to write to Mr (???); nonetheless weigh your words carefully: this good man could take advantage of you or of us if we give him the chance.
For the rest, try to grow in wisdom before God, and even before men, in the sight of God. Don't give way to your passions, they are the worst counsellors. Faith, reason, your Rule; these are your guides. Do everything in moderation: opportet sapere ad sobrietatem.
May Jesus enlighten you and grant you knowledge and the art of communication. I am always
Your devoted your devoted father in Christ.
Ghent 13 January 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 212

22 January 1840
To Mr Ambrose at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
The month of January dedicated to specially honouring our beloved Saviour in our Institute has filled my mind with the qualities which the divine model offers for our imitation. More and more I have come to understand that gentleness and humility are two virtues which Jesus Christ commends especially to all those called to walk in his footsteps and to work with him for the sanctification of souls. I have often thought of you my dear Brother, and it seems to me that if you manage to add to the other good qualities you have received from God, holy humility and inestimable gentleness, you will provide many incontestable services to the young people of Melle and to the entire Institute of the Children of Joseph and Mary, whose reputation depends a great deal on this house. For some time now I have not received any direct complaint about you, but knowing your character and the antipathy you feel for the constant practise of humility, I thought it best to write to you and beg you not to neglect any means which will enable you to gain during this month, a complete victory over yourself in such an important matter. I join my efforts to yours to obtain from Jesus, gentle and humble, that you triumph over yourself and that finally you have the great happiness being like our Master and our example par excellence. I entreat you my dear Brother, to give me the consolation of seeing you work courageously in the direction I have just indicated; you will increase the affection which you know I have for you.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 22 Jan 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Please pass on to Mr Bruno the note which I enclose here. It is from Mr ( ???) and I found it in a book which he sent me at the moment when Mr Albert made the journey from Namur.
I will perhaps go to Melle in a few days.

LETTER NUMBER 213

29 January 1840
Mr Ambrose at the Boarding school at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
The writing paper which you obtained for me last year has been completely used up, I have no more and need to replenish my supply again. You remember the comment I made and the sort of paper I need. Be so kind as to busy yourself with this a little matter so that next Monday, when I shall be with you, we can take a decision about this. Also take whatever steps are necessary in another matter so that you can tell me how much you can pay me of what you owe me.
Prepare yourself well for the feast of Candlemas. It is an very important day each and every one of our religious.
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 29 January 1840.
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 214

10 February 1840
To Mr Albert, Professor at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear son
I see no reason for refusing Mr Kervyn the opportunity of speaking with you. Therefore come to Ghent as soon as you have the opportunity.
Your ever devoted in Our Lord,
10th February
C. G. V. C.

LETTER NUMBER 215

29 March 1840
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
The job to be done at the Convent of the Holy Angels will, I hope provide me with the opportunity of meeting you at Ghent. You know, from experience, the genuine pleasure I get from the visits of my dear Brothers in Jesus Christ when they come to see me for praiseworthy motives. You will know later when you can come, I do have a few short visits to make but they are not fixed to specific days.
As for the journey to Brussels, that cannot take place. You will have to offer it up.
I would love to believe that you have spent the whole month of our Holy Patron in an attitude which will gain new favours for you. You will not have failed to redouble your efforts to overcome your moodiness resulting in unfairness and bad temper which lead you to commit so many faults and have cost you so many tears. I myself pray especially for you that you might obtain a victory over these enemies of your body and soul. What happiness if our wishes are granted and if our dear Athanase became gentle and humble! I continue to ask for it for you; continue to deserve it and believe me
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 29th of the month of St Joseph 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe.

LETTER NUMBER 216

9 May 1840
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
The purchase of physics equipment for Rooborst will not take place; next Tuesday and even Monday evening, I will be busy with a matter which will take up all my time; it is therefore impossible for me to have the satisfaction which I promised myself of your presence at my house. We will both make the sacrifice, you of coming to Ghent, me of meeting and talking with you during these holidays. I am thinking of going to Grammont shortly, there we will talk at our ease if we can actually make it. In the mean time, my dear Brother, make good use of the beautiful month of Mary and pray for me. I promise to commend you often to our august Mother.
You know how much I am devoted to you.
Melle 9th of the Month of Mary 1840
C.G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 217

22 May 1840
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother
The business of the tragi-comical entry of our French postulant was as a matter of fact something to provide us with a moment of hilarity. It was one of those episodes which was a pleasant distraction from our somewhat monotonous occupations. In fact there was neither a scratch nor loss of sleep at night nor loss of money? I believe the captive has completely recovered from his fright.
I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you at Grammont the day after the Feast of the Trinity. In the mean time I am always
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Rooborst 22nd of the month of Mary 1840
C. G. Van. Crombrugghe.

LETTER NUMBER 218

17 June 1840
To Mr Ambrose

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph
17 June 1840

The extreme delicacy of our position, and your good will, my dear Brother , in fulfilling your duties with dignity, make me want to do my best to help you. It occurred to me today while praying to God, that as well as the help of my prayers which I give you with all my heart, there is nothing more useful you could receive from me at this moment than instruction on gentleness which I have written down in my Manual of Youth. I instruct you to read every day for the next nine days Chapter V, art 2; starting at No 4 on page 103 as far as ways of retaining gentleness on page 115. Read as much of it as you find useful and imagine that in this text the Lord is speaking to you through my mouth. I will redouble my efforts to make you understand what I have learned from experience in these matters, may you have the force and the courage to put these lessons in to practice. I would like to believe that this practise, together with a greater confidence in the help of Mary, St Joseph, the Holy Guardian Angels, and St Louis de Gonzague you will be able to triumph over yourself and over all the difficulties brought about by the faults of others.
Yours in Our Lord
C. G. V. C.

LETTER 219

12 July 1840
To Mr Albert, Teacher at the Boarding School in Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Brother in Jesus Christ
Your comments are not without some foundation. We will discuss them face to face. However, in some ways the unlimited freedom of the right to teach will make any efforts to oppose it difficult. There remains hardly any other way of preventing the effects of what you call a monopoly, than to do as well and above all to do better than the formidable opponents, or rather competitors, who are appearing.
I hope to see you on Monday week.
Every best wish in Our Lord
Ghent 12 July 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Your messenger did not come and pick up the newspaper. I will bring you the draft of the programme on my visit to Melle.

LETTER NUMBER 220

5 August 1840

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother in Jesus Christ
Here is your article which I have looked through; Once you have re read it you will perhaps improve it further.
The more I think about yesterday's play, the more I would modify the assassination. Although it is only simulated it still remains a little barbaric. Try and make this passage a little less harsh. I think you ought to take out the firing of the gun. The scatterbrain is scatterbrained enough to imagine that he has killed his valet without having heard the murderous shot. Seeing him fall he will believe that he has fired the pistol which he believed to be loaded.
Just a few more weeks of work and active supervision which may well avert evil and you will be released from all your weariness in a holy solitude. May the Holy Angels and our Patron saints help you and may God bless your efforts.
Your ever devoted Spiritual father
Ghent 5 August 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 221

29 August 1840
Mr Albert , Teacher at the Boarding School at Melle.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

I believe, my dear friend, that you will have to be satisfied with an easy retreat and a sort of rest in union with God. Get rid of all earthy thoughts and only be concerned with your heavenly Master and all that concerns your spiritual obligations. Look after your body wisely for the sake of the service of the Lord, which you long to take up again with greater fervour and fidelity than you have up to the present. For your spiritual reading, read what is most relevant to your holy vocation. On Thursday begin the Rule for Teachers and then for your evening meditation meditate on each chapter. Put your resolutions in writing; faced with the faults you have given into during the course of this year, humble yourself and prepare your confession with a great confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ. Don't get up until six o'clock and as far as possible carry out your spiritual exercises in the fresh air. Don't drink any coffee and eat something from time to time. Speak very little so that you can enter into a holy recollection which you need so badly and which in a way will be a physical and a spiritual remedy for the present and the future. It is a sort of dissipation which you have not sufficiently taken note of and which lies behind most of your faults and failings which you have bewailed before the God. I hope that these simple cures will restore you and that I will find you in good form at both levels when I see you at Grammont. Do not reply by letter, we will talk at our ease in eight days time.
I will make it my pleasant duty to commend you to God during this time, pray also a little for
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 29 August 1840
C G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 222

17 September 1840
To Mr Athanase

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Athanase , it is not possible to allow what you are asking for. The Superior of Brussels arrives here tomorrow and he will only leave for his Convent next Monday. I have told the Reverend Father Superior that Tuesday is the day we will begin the organisation of the house in Brussels and that it is only on that day that he must send those Confreres who are not yet there.
Thank you for writing out the acts of the Chapter which you have from the notes you have. Ask the Superior of Grammont to send the exercise book to Melle and the work will be completed.
I urge you, my dear Brother, to openly put yourself into the hands of Providence; you will carry out the good which we have the right to expect from you and you will have the peace of soul which surpasses all other temporal delights.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Melle 17th September 1840
C. G. V. C.

LETTER NUMBER 223

13 October 1840
To the Reverend Father Superior of the Institute of the Josephites. In his absence to the Superior of the Boarding School at Grammont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Reverend Father Superior
We have the greatest of reasons for thanking God for the help he has given us in his goodness, at Melle. The parents, the children, Mr Valentyns and the teachers are all very happy with the actual state of things. The reading and the explanation of the "Reglement" (Reglement des Professeur) have had excellent results; the Electors and the Censors are animated by a zeal better than you could wish for. And so you see, Reverend Father Superior, we should praise the Lord and entrust ourselves to his goodness as much for Melle as for Hal. I hope it is the same for Rooborst, Grammont and Brussels, but things in Brussels are not going as well as in our other Convents. If time had permitted I would have taken advantage of the good weather to go to Rooborst. If the good weather continues, I could still make this journey one of these days.
The Parish Priest of Kerksken has sent his young man to Melle; he writes to the Superior - I do not know on what basis - that I have given permission. I did not give my permission for this young man to be accepted at Melle but I promised to write in his favour to Grammont. Do what you can. Perhaps it may well produce a zealous Josephite, this young boy who has a good attitude for study and for our Institute, unless his eyes or other reasons become a hindrance.
The enclosed letter, which I have just received from Tirlemont enables us to see that our venture is going well, thanks to God.
I have heard nothing from Maldeghem. We must await the reaction to your proposition and to your letter with the copies of the obligations.
Receive my blessing and say good day on my behalf to your beloved Confreres in wishing for them the Lord's blessing and a faithful submission to all our decisions.
Your affectionate spiritual father
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 13 October, last day of my 51st year.
I don't think I will go so soon to Tirlemont. I must first of all go to Bruges, Alost and Mouscron.
Keep the letter from Tirlemont. Send me at once the letter His Eminence the Cardinal wrote to me about Tirlemont. I have to check something in that letter for use tomorrow.

LETTER NUMBER 224

13 October 1840
The Superior of the Boarding School of the Josephites at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
The news which I have just received from you is the cause of great consolation for me. I thank our divine Master from the bottom of my heart for the blessings which he has daigned to bestow on our efforts, and I pray that he will accept our feelings of sincere gratitude. To God alone be all honour and all glory. We have only too well learned from experience that we can do nothing by ourselves and that often we make a mess of the Lord's work. Let us always retain a conviction of our own powerlessness and that true humility will save us from the attacks of pride which are a natural result of impatience and discouragement.
I also have great pleasure in informing you that at Melle our success has surpassed our hope, the finger of God is clearly visible there. From the outset, the Superior has secured the confidence of the parents and the affection of the pupils and the generous collaboration of his dear colleagues appears to be given to him without restriction.. You see, my dear son in Jesus Christ we have every reason to praise God and to entrust ourselves to his merciful Providence. Let confidence in God and our Patron Saints and a mistrust of ourselves, be henceforth our motto.
You owe a great deal to the Dean and to other worthy Priests who support you so zealously. Take care to keep that in mind and make sure your Brothers are always aware of it.
I strongly recommend economising and a real religious simplicity. Make sure that classes are promptly carried out in every detail according to our Rules and that each teacher follows the directions we have laid down for him. It is the means of assuring that you stay on the right road which, happily, you have set off on.
Here is a note for Mr Alphonse . The other teachers will propose to you a project relative to their particular studies. Mr Bernard can only study what is appropriate for his class and Mr Victor could perhaps study something extra.
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 13 October 1840
C. G. Van Combrugghe
Tomorrow I will be 51. That means it will be the 51st anniversary of my Baptism

LETTER NUMBER 225

3 November 1840
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Josephites at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
Thank you for the good wishes you sent me on the occasion of the festival we have just celebrated. I have not forgotten you before God; I understand the need for assistance from Heaven to enable you to carry out worthily the many duties of your office. Courage based on faith in the grace promised by Jesus and a sincere mistrust of yourself based on Christian humility, that is what I ask especially for you through he intercession of our Patron Saints.
You have perhaps already received the assistance you asked me for. We have done all in our power, to obtain for you the two most capable subjects able to carry out your plans. I want you to succeed in making all your dear Confreres understand that God asks generosity of everyone in giving up their own way of seeing things; the duties of religious obedience are very far reaching and the sincere practice of this duty attracts the most abundant blessings. May you all understand this.
We are filled with gratitude for the honourable Dean. It is above all up to you, my dear friend, to always express our sentiments in conformity with the feelings we have as a result of his benefactions. Please be zealous in taking note of your attitude in this matter and may all your religious conscientiously imitate you in your respect for our benefactors.
I like to think that all of you, such as you are, compete in your zeal to respond to the plans of divine Providence and to win the confidence of parents, the affection of the clergy and the approval of your Superiors
I am ever sincerely
Your devoted father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 3 November 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I commend to the prayers of your community my niece, Madame Henri Van Crombrugghe, who died last Friday.

LETTER NUMBER 226

9 November 1840
To Mr Albert, Teacher at the Boarding School in Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My very dear Brother in Jesus Christ
I have not got the faintest idea how to obtain for you the enlightenment you ask for on political economy. It is certainly true that the principles of justice are not always respected by economists, nor even by all today's merchants. It is perhaps necessary for me to confer with you when I have the propositions which appear dangerous or difficult before me. If we do not succeed in understanding everything we can refer to those who know this subject well.
As for the innate ideas, the systems conflict with one another and it will also be necessary to deal with this matter face to face. Tomorrow I leave for Tirlemont, if it is possible for me to stop at Melle on my return on Friday night or Saturday morning, we will chat about all that. If I cannot find the time this week we will see to it next week. In awaiting the pleasure of seeing you, I repeat the assurance of my perfect devotion.
Your father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 9 November 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 227

1840-11-19
To the Superior of the Boarding School of the Josephites at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
I share your position with all the vivacity you know I have. It is a sad a vexing event, this accident you have written to me about. I realise the consequences it could have for a house which has just started. But since there is no fault on our part, we have every reason to think that God will help us, surrounded as we are buy such powerful protectors in his presence.
There must have been very serious reasons which prevented the Reverend Father Superior from sending you the help he had promised you. Nonetheless, I have just written to him again and I add your letter to mine, so that he can understand your situation better.
Take care, my dear Brother in Jesus Christ, not to lose calm or gentleness in your conduct because of difficult events which occur in spite of our care and supervision: you must arm yourself with courage and often humble yourself in order to obtain help from on high without which we cannot do very much.
My compliments to your dear colleagues of whom in God I have a pleasant memory and who will do good, if they preserve the good will I have found in them.
Your ever devoted spiritual father
Ghent 19 November 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 228

26 November 1840
To The Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
You are right to believe that you need have no fear of bothering me with your letters. On the contrary, I love to take every opportunity of proving to you that I am, and want to be, your Father in Jesus Christ. I have thought about the proposition you have made to me about replacing Mr Bernard by Mr Charles . It seems to me that it is quite impossible to do this now. It would be superfluous to sort out now all the reasons which oppose it. As for the youth of your Teachers, you are exaggerating this argument. Apart from Mr Victor , all your other subjects are neither that young nor lacking in experience. The custom of speaking French which reigns in your house will be very useful to Mr Bernard , and if care was taken during several months to correct one another, as used to be done in your house when I was with you on my last visit, it would not be necessary to improve by much any faults which were capable of ruining a class of beginners.
I have every reason to believe that you have already received the help from Grammont which I sought there for you. I know that they are very hard pressed to meet the needs of several houses; but your Reverend Father Superior led me to believe that he had sent you Brother Felix , etc.
Receive, my dear son in Jesus Christ, my blessing and the repeated assurance of my sincere devotion.
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 26 November 1840
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
My compliments to your Brothers. Everything is going well at Melle; Mr Valentyns is very pleased. Praise God with us for it.

LETTER NUMBER 229

Date Unknown 1840

Dear Brother Athanase
I praise God with all my heart for what he has deigned to do in favour of he Convent of St Joseph. Let us be grateful and the blessings will not disappear at all.
You will have noticed that amongst the last lot of books which were sent, some of them were for Rooborst. You will receive the natural history which I still have at Alost.
Ask the Reverend Father Superior for an explanation about the franc that has been added to the accounts. There must be a reason for asking for it, furthermore it must be explained in such a way as not to give rise to the suspicion that you are trying to produce, an apothecary's account, as they say.
Always proceed with gentleness and humility, my dear Brother, work zealously at God's undertaking, either by forming yourself, or by working to form others who have been entrusted to you. Be the faithful servant who keeps back nothing which belongs to the Master and you can rely on his generosity. Goodbye, I am always your ever devoted spiritual Father.
C. G. V. C.
As soon as you have sent me your parents' reply, I will go and speak with the Governor here about your case.

LETTER NUMBER 230

10 January 1841
To The Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
The expression of the feelings which my children in Jesus Christ have for me, is all the more precious because I am convinced that it is sincere. Therefore, I thank you for the good wishes which you have sent me, in your name and that of your dear Confreres. I pray to God that he will hear the requests which, here and there, we make to him for the good of our religious family, and for each of our members in particular. May we be faithful to the voice of grace, and heavenly blessings will not stop accompanying our work.
I am very pleased with the details you have given me about your house. Try to give glory to God for all the good he lets you perform; more than happy to be an instrument of his mercy. We cannot be too careful to avoid attributing to ourselves anything that belongs to God alone. I like to believe that your charitable warnings will finally win the day against the fickleness of our Sister Alphonse, and that our subjects in the Convent of St Stanislas will compete with each other in their zeal to respond to God's plan for each of them.
I cannot see any serious obstacles to the proposals you spoke to me about concerning the writing lessons.
Be so kind as to agree to the request of Mr Severe and send him the addresses to the College of Roulers where he is a pupil.
We have good reason to fear that Mr Lambert will not reach profession. The complication will cause us a lot of embarrassment at Melle with German lessons. The Reverend Father Superior and his council are busy considering my proposal to get Mr Victor to study this language. Mr Bonaventure will go and replace him at Tirlemont and Mr Edmond will go to Hal. All that is still a secret; if the plan is carried out, you will be told about it in a few days time.
Receive, my dear Brother, my blessing and always believe in the sincere devotion of
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 10 January 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Wish the Dean and his curates a Happy New Year for me.

LETTER NUMBER 231

14 January 1841
To Mr Albert, teacher at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Mr Albert
The "primary school echo" contains some good things; but it is a very dangerous work. It is not Catholic. Look and see what Father Sabbatin says on page 577; he does not dare pronounce the word Catholic. On the other hand look at how on page 607 the Calvinist Dauthier heaps false accusations, lies and insults on Catholicism.
Read, as well, the letter from the Jew in Brussels 624; it is interesting from another view point, perhaps it will be useful to you in connection with the method it speaks about.
Also, read the books which are indicated, or rather read the titles of these works. Sometimes there is something of value in them
When you get someone to read a particular chapter of the Echo, be careful to say that the entire work may not be read.
Yours as ever
C. G. V. C.
14th January 1841

LETTER NUMBER 232

25 January 1841
To the Superior of the Boarding School at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
After very careful thought, we have decided that Mr Edmond will go to your house and replace Mr Victor . I harbour the hope that these changes will be a powerful help to us in preventing the problems which, as you know, certain subjects threaten us with.
The Superior of Melle will inform you of a few little difficulties which concern Mr Edmond.
I am always
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 25 January 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Your Reverend Father Superior has asked me to send you his compliments.

LETTER NUMBER 233

3 February 1841
To the Superior of the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

The inconveniences you are experiencing, my dear Superior , lead me to believe that the dormitory may be largely responsible for your indisposition. You will sleep in my room.
I think that the Englishman at Tirlemont could be called back to your house. Get some one to write to the Reverend Father Superior, or write yourself in my name, to say that the aforementioned subject is sent to you at once.
Yours as ever in Jesus Christ
Your devoted spiritual Father
Ghent 3 February 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 234

7 February 1841
The Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
The attitude of our poor Athanase is becoming more and more alarming and I believe I must make one last effort with our Patron Saints. Be so good as to tell your dear Confreres that I am asking them to recite the Litany of St Joseph and the Sub tuum praesidium, once a day for seven days for my intention. Don't tell them my aim nor anything which could lead them to suspect the unfortunate state of our dear Brother. Monsignor, the Bishop, to whom I have spoken of this sad business, in no way wants to grant the dispensations that Athanase has asked us for. He says that vows are sacred things and a dispensation can only be given for very serious reasons, that it is up to whoever finds difficulties in keeping his vows to remove those difficulties by a humble submission to the duties entered into etc. etc.
Mr Victor is settling into his new job; I expect as much from Mr Edmond . Tomorrow I am going to Grammont; if you have some important matters to communicate to me, you would be advised to get in touch with the mother house, where I will be with the Reverend Father Superior and his council until Thursday.
Receive my blessing for you, my dear friend, and for all your community! You know how I am your devoted
Father in Our Lord Jesus Christ
Ghent 7th February 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 235

27 February 1841
To Mr Albert, teacher at the Boarding School at Melle

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

It seems to me that your strength is taking its time to return, my dear Brother , and that unless you follow the regime that has been prescribed for you, it will yet be a long time before you have the dispositions you need for study and for the functions you fulfil. Avoid stress, take some food especially some soup several times a day and often take a walk in the garden. If you accept our advice, I dare to assure you it will only take a few weeks to over come the obstacles you have put in the way of your recovery. My nephew, Prosper, who came back from Louvain with a sickness just like yours, went back yesterday moreorless returned to health. I admit that he followed the orders of the doctor closely.
If you haven't got the materials you need to edit the title of the Chapter of 1840, you will have to ask for them at Grammont, specifying exactly what you are looking for.
Receive, my dear friend, the assurance of my perfect devotion.
Your father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 27 February 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ask the Superior to send me a few prospectuses for the course on commerce. I am herewith returning to him several of his circulars. I am mistaken, I am not making the return I have just spoken of, instead of a pile of copies I have only three.

LETTER NUMBER 236

25 March 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Mr Superior
We can do nothing better for our College than to act with a great deal of prudence and place the interests of our house in the hands of our Holy Protectors. I was pleased to learn that the feast of St Joseph was celebrated with zeal. Continue to honour our august Patron with confidence throughout the whole of this month. You will certainly derive spiritual and temporal advantages from it both for yourself and for those God has entrusted to you.
I am truly saddened to learn that Mr Alphonse does not make better use of the gifts the Lord bestows on him and that he still hesitates between nature and grace. You will go to Melle, the Monday after the end of Easter, 18th of next month, before noon, for the meeting of Superiors. Bring Mr Alphonse with you. Take care to send to Reverend Father Superior, before Easter, the usual half yearly report, and bring to Melle all you need to keep us up to date with the financial affairs of your Convent. You will only be away for a few days so that your Convent will not suffer at all from your absence. I will delay speaking to you about your proposals concerning personnel until the meeting at Melle.
Count always, my dear Superior, on the devotion of
Your Father in Jesus Christ
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
Ghent 25th of the month of our Holy Patron 1841
Give my compliments to your dear Brothers and tell them that I have frequently commended them to God during this month through the intercession of St Joseph.

LETTER NUMBER 237

5 April 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
It is on the 19th of this month that the meeting of Superiors, to which you are invited with Mr Alphonse , will take place at Melle. It will be advisable to delay the proposal to have a lithograph of your house made until the time of this meeting of Superiors. Furthermore, you cannot carry out your project until the plants have added their finery to the scene you want to have copied.
I thank God for the blessings he pours out on your establishment. I like to believe that the graces you have once more drawn down during these holy days on yourself and your pupils, will add to the happy dispositions we have already noticed and for which we praise God from the bottom of our heart. Receive, my dear Superior, my good wishes for the feast of Easter and be the interpreter of my feelings with the Parish Priests.
I am always sincerely
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 5 April 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 238

1841-04-09
To Mr Bonaventure, Teacher at the Josephite Boarding School at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

There can be no debate, my dear friend , you must comply with the order to appear before the military service council. If you have no other reason than that of your state to put forward, you will not have others to present, that goes without saying; but you would be advised to consult with people who can give you good advice. You will use the Bishop of Ghent's declaration. I would like to believe that this document will be enough for the moment. Go to Antwerp on the 12th, if that's possible, so that you will have time to visit those who have been recommended to you as capable of helping you deal with this business.
Give my compliments to your aunt the beguine, and to your sister, and ask on my behalf for their prayers to obtain from God a good outcome to the business which has made you make this journey.
Yours in Our Lord Jesus Christ
Ghent 9th April 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
My respects to your Superior.

LETTER NUMBER 239

30 April 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
I got back from Malines yesterday. His Eminence the Cardinal led me to hope that he will visit you next Monday, and I am rushing to let you know so that you can take the necessary steps. However, it is not entirely certain you will have this honour. His Eminence has told your Mayor of his strong wish that the College might not be damaging to your establishment. I have also understood, but this is for you alone, that you cannot communicate anything to the local clergy, which would inform them either about the less than perfect dispositions of your colleagues, or of their lack of learning. It is to me or to the Reverend Father Superior that you must pass on that sort of information and never elsewhere.
I would like to believe that Mr Laurent will not remain unmoved by the charitable remarks that you have made to him in particular. But you will readily understand that the position he has had for several years, makes it necessary for us to treat him with extreme prudence. You will make a lot of progress by using gentleness and goodness. It is true that a Lady from Eenaeme or Oudenard paid the subscription to the Vlamink, and that for the sake of Mr Laurent. I don't think it is appropriate that this generosity continues, as you will see from what is enclosed. You would do well to take out a subscription to a good journal, the Brussels Journal for example, either with the Dean or with another clergyman.
Do what you can to see that the month of Mary is a month of happiness for your house. Let your Brothers know of my wishes in this matter.
Your ever devoted father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 30th April 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
I have just seen Fr Valentyns. The beginning of term was all that you could wish for at Melle. Pupils have had to be turned away. Three of them have been put in the infirmary. Deo gratias!

LETTER NUMBER 240

14 May 1841
To Mr Bonaventure, Teacher at the Josephite Boarding School at Hal.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Bonaventure
On returning home, I found a letter from your aunt telling me that your petition is rejected and you have to go to the castle of Antwerp tomorrow 15th.... It seems to me that the best thing to do is to go immediately to the Governor of Antwerp to explain your case to him and show him the attestation from the Bishop of Ghent. The Governor will show you, I think with pleasure, the steps to take. You can even beg him, in my name, to do everything possible to spare you the annoying consequences of your parents' forgetfulness in failing to enrol you at the proper time.
Yours as ever
Ghent 14th May 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe, canon.

LETTER NUMBER 241

24 May 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
I am waiting in vain for your prospectus; therefore I am writing to you before getting them, so as to be able to give you my opinion on the play you have proposed to me for your prize giving. Mr Bonaventure has told me that he has read the play and it appeared suitable to him. However, you will read it carefully again, and if you find that it is in order, you can use it.
My many occupations do not allow me to fix the date of my visit to you. In a short while you will have that of the Reverend Father Superior accompanied by his Vicar .
I will not fail to commend you specially to God, during this month of blessings.
All the best in Our Lord Jesus Christ
Ghent 24th of the month of Mary 1841.C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 242

18 June 1841
To Mr Bonaventure, Teacher at the Josephite Boarding School at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear son in Jesus Christ
The vast amount of work that I have had since your departure from Ghent have made me defer the reply which I owe you until this moment. God has given us, during the course of your vexations, renewed proof of his special protection. I am absolutely delighted by the happy outcome of my efforts. With you and with your aunt and your sister I thank the Lord for it. Your sister wrote to me to express the joy which the successful outcome of the matter has given her as well as your aunt. It only remains for me to recommend you to give God daily proof of your gratitude and to apply yourself to study, especially Latin, with greater zeal than ever. Be a worthy child of Mary and Joseph. Form your heart and your spirit according to the vow of the Institute. Take care of your accent, your external appearance and show yourself to be generous in carrying out all your duties. I make it my duty to frequently commend you to the Lord in my prayers. May your fidelity to grace, keep you ever disposed to receive the effects of the care offered you by Providence. Count also on the devotion I have for you
Your Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 18 June 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
My compliments to your Superior.

LETTER NUMBER 243

24 June 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear Superior
I have just received your letter and I hasten to reply that the matter must be kept secret until you have further information. Try and discover the author and to do that do not be frightened of suspicion. Suspicion can lead you to happy results. But keep your suspicions to yourself, at least for the time being.
It will be difficult to make further requests in the matter of the changes which I have proposed. We cannot abandon ourselves to caprices nor constantly change according to the views of each particular Superior. This must be clear to you.
I am sending your letter to Grammont. You have done well in writing to me; a journey would not have helped enlighten you any more that that which I send you by letter.
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 24 June 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 244

3 July 0000
To Mr Albert, Teacher at the Boarding School at Melle.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Prefect
Be so good as to review the Prospectus once more. Apart from the subjects which are taught which, I think, still need to be simplified a little, there is, amongst other things which spoil a prospectus for an establishment for young people, this ridiculous way of naming brushes which young ladies have found worthy of their jokes. It is more than enough to say: brushes, combs etc.
If you did not get the papers yesterday, it not us you have to blame. It is that at St George one has forgotten to give to Vincke the commissions that have been placed there.
Your ever devoted in Jesus Christ
3 July
C. G. V. C.

LETTER NUMBER 245

6 July 1841
To the Superior at the Josephite Institution at Tirlemont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
I have not answered your letter of yesterday because Mr Isidore should have told you that tomorrow I would be at Tirlemont. An extraordinary council meeting at the Bishop's palace will prevent me from leaving Ghent tomorrow. It will therefore be Tuesday morning that we will meet. Please tell Mr Isidore to use the time before my arrival in such a way that on Tuesday we can begin the inspection of the classes at once. I want this inspection to be properly conducted this time.
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 6 July 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 246

17 July 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
The business of Mr Edmond obliges me to write to you at once although I am very tired. Tell this Confrere to add in the words that have been left out of the attestation and to send this document to his father, so as to stop the consequences of the Minister's order.
I have learned that it appears that His Eminence will send a priest to the College of Tirlemont, but under certain conditions which will save our house. Pass that on to our excellent friend the Dean.
Yours as ever in Our Lord
Ghent 17 July 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe.

LETTER NUMBER 247

19 July 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont.

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
The young man you have sent me appears to be suitable for us. You will give him a few more explanations. He will go to Rooborst after you have told his parents the result of his request.
Yours as ever in Our Lord
Ghent 19th July 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 248

19 July 1841
To Mr Bonaventure, Teacher at the Josephite Boarding School at Hal

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

My dear son in Jesus Christ
Frequent absences have prevented me from answering your letter of the 11th; and although I have no free time today, I feel that I owe you a few lines. First of all, my dear friend, I confess that it was with great pleasure that I took the steps you thank me for. I hope that your waiting will in the end meet with success.
(NB: 3 lines have been crossed out here)
As for the rest I am very happy with your letter.
Give my compliments to your Superior and believe in the devotion of
Your spiritual Father
Ghent 19th July 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 249

26 July 1841
To The Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
I have not had the time to speak with you about your house since I left you. You saw well enough that I was not satisfied by the attitude of your colleagues; charity, application, generosity left a lot to be desired. I have not failed to comment on it and it would please me to know that you have made use of my observations to obtain an improvement in these three areas. You already know that we have doubts about the vocation and the aptitude of several of your subjects. Neglect nothing to stimulate zeal amongst your teachers and to make them realise that they will all be examined on what they have studied and on what they ought to have taught. However, only use methods of gentleness and charity. Take exact notes of everything so that we can act on them later in knowing all the circumstances. Check up regularly on what is going on in the study room with Mr Laurent and the novices. Time is such a precious commodity that we cannot waste it without being blameworthy before God, before the Institute and even before the parents who have entrusted their children to us. Finally, reflect on the fact that you are called to a high level of perfection; what would not be very serious for lay people, could be for favoured people like yourself. Pray a great deal yourself and inculcate, as much as you can, the spirit of prayer in all those around you, teachers and pupils. I will make it my duty to help you by commending you specially to God during the Holy sacrifice of the Mass; I feel that your house is specially in need of help from on high. Pray also for
Your devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 26 July 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe

LETTER NUMBER 250

7 August 1841
To the Superior of the Josephite Boarding School at Tirlemont

Praised be Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dear Superior
If the attestation issued by Mgr the Bishop of Ghent has not made the Minister go back on his decision against Mr Blykaerts, we can do nothing in favour of this young man and I think he should leave your house as a matter of urgency. He should make his requests himself for fear that they come and take him from you by force which would be an annoying business for you all.
I have been unable reply to you earlier; I am just back from Rooborst where all is as one would wish.
Your ever devoted Father in Jesus Christ
Ghent 7th August 1841
C. G. Van Crombrugghe
You will have to take Mr Edmond's class yourself while he is away.