Letter 20-To his brothers and sisters, nephew and nieces. (1)

J. X. P.
St. Paul's Retreat, Mount Argus, Dublin, Ireland.
15th July, 1887.

My dear brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces,
I am writing to let you and all the family know that I am still keeping well. I am glad to know that you are all well too. The Masses for the Holy Souls in purgatory, for which you sent ten florins, will be said immediately. Please forgive me for taking such a long time to reply to your letters. My reason for not replying sooner is that I am kept very busy here in the monastery; there are other reasons, too, such as the following.

I am an old man now and am afraid of death. I pray daily that through the powerful intercession of his mother, God in his mercy will grant me a happy death. Sixty members of the Passionist order have died in Ireland and England since I came over here from Belgium; I see now just how necessary prayer is in order to practise all the virtues in their perfection. The lives of the saints show us that prayer was always their chief occupation. Yes, King David, a man burdened with the responsibilities of a great kingdom, tells us that it was prayer which inflamed his heart with such great love of God and heavenly things; we can admire this in his psalms.

How greatly has God loved men! He did not spare his only Son but abandoned him to death, even death on the cross. Jesus Christ urges us to pray; but how? Ask, seek and knock. It is for this reason that the Lord has said: "Watch and pray; lest you fall into temptation." Let us listen to the words of Thomas a Kempis: "My son, in this life you will never be completely free or without fear, but as long as you live, make sure you are spiritually armed, because you are living in the midst of enemies who are attacking from every side." "The struggle is continual," says St. Bonaventure; it is for this reason that we must pray during our whole life.

My congratulations to the parish priest, Father Gobbels, on the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. Please tell him that I send my best wishes for his happiness and I wish him every blessing. I wish to pray, to pray for his intentions; I hope he will pray for mine too.

My love and best wishes to you all, dear brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces. I commend myself to the prayers, of all (including my niece, Sister Mary Germana, at Maastricht). I pray for you every day and remember you all during Holy Mass, especially the two young students. Give my regards to the rest of the family, to the curate, and to all our friends. My superiors send you their good wishes.

May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless and protect you all. Amen.
I remain in the sweet hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Your loving brother,
Fr. Charles of St. Andrew, Passionist.

Letter 20-Notes
1. Summ. p. 380, L. 67.