Benedictine

Nicholas Maurus Hodgson. Autograph Letter Signed 'Maurus Hodgson Sec. Cap. Gen.' on behalf of the 'First English Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation' to Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman expressing praise and support.

14062 — 'J. M. B. St Laurence's Ampleforth'. 21 July 1854. 2pp. 4to. Bifolium. Very good on lightly-aged paper. Docketted by Wiseman on reverse of second leaf: 'Benedictine Chapter 1854'. The letter begins: 'My Lord Cardinal The First General Chapter of the English Benedictine Congregation since the Restoration of the Hierarchy having arrived at the conclusion of its deliberations we have thought it incumbent upon us not to separate without forwarding to Your Eminence the assurance of our profound and sincere respect.' Hodgson reports that the Benedictines praise 'the earnest and unceasing efforts which Your Eminence has displayed in forwarding the glorious work of the advancement of Religion in this island so dear from the history of the past to the Children of St Benedict. From its earliest conversion under our Saxon ancestors through the prosperous and brilliant days of its religious influence in the midst too of its sorrows and struggles and its persecutions even unto death we have formed a portion of the Curch adn have considered ourselves identified with its existence. And now that more hopeful days have dawned upon her and she has been successful in extending her conquests and enlarging her boundaries and gaining a greater freedom in her sphere of action we cannot but rejoice at these glorious results'. He continues in the same vein before congratulating Wiseman adding that 'we must not withhold our sympathy that any abandonment of duty on the part of those who ought to be cooperating with Your Eminence should be to you a source of anxiety or affliction'. Hodgson concludes by stating that they will increase their prayers and 'Begging your Eminence's blessing upon the English Benedictine Congregation'. From the Wiseman papers. 'J. M. B. | St Laurence's, Ampleforth'. 21 July 1854. unknown