| Title: | Coogan, Michael (Brother Declan) to Coogan (n. Nolan), Catherine, 1863 |
|---|---|
| ID | 6316 |
| Collection | Carlow-Coogan Letters |
| File | coogan/5 |
| Year | 1863 |
| Sender | Coogan, Michael (Brother Declan) |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | monk/shoemaker |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Mt. Melleray, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford |
| Destination | Ballyloughan, Co. Carlow, Ireland |
| Recipient | Coogan (n. Nolan), Catherine |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 513 |
| Genre | joining the community, monastery life |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Mount Melleray April 7th, 1863 Dear Mother, I'm sure you wonder what delayed me from writing so long but I will tell you, up to this I did not leave the Guest House nor wasn't [?]ed. I got permission to stop [stay] there five days longer than any other person with regard to a Postulant--three days and three nights is the general period they stop. But I was let stop eight and by that mind I had nothing in particular to state but now. I'm going on this evening in the name of God to join the Community hoping with His divine grace and blessing that I'll be able to persevere to the end and bear its austerity, for it's very severe no doubt. We must arise at two o' clock in the morning and go to bed at eight in the summer and seven in winter. But now from this till October there's an hour given for sleep in the middle of the day. So that all amounts to seven hours sleep. Let me say on any account don't cease praying night and day for me for that's the continual advice of both the priest that I went to confession to and any of the monks that can speak to me. For if all the beauties and all the devotion in the world was together they couldn't in any way at all equal this place. There's four masses I think in the morning early and a High Mass then at ten o' clock and about sixteen singing it and then in the evening there's a Benediction at 4 o' clock. And every moment in the day there's nothing but devotion and very little work at any time. I can't say much about the food but I know I won't get as much as I used to get at home anyhow. I'll write before Sunday again and I'll give farther particulars and I'll send a bit of note in it to Father Morris and I'd send it now only the Guest-Master wouldn't let me till I join the Community and that will be tonight, with the blessing of God. Father O’ Bearne enquired for you all and for Peggy and left nothing out. He asked me about the Parish. He's the same with me as if I was a priest, no matter who'd be with him. He tells me himself and the Abbot is old friends and tells me also he'll pray for me in his masses. He's so proud to have me here. I understand from a little [?] Priest that's here that in their turn all the Choir monks does be ordained for to stop in it or in some other place like it. He's the only companion I had up to this. He's from France and I do have more sport with him every day than you could imagine. So don't fret for me at all and don't forget praying for me. No more at present but Rem. no person will read this at all but myself. Yours, MC |
