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Cardinal Lawrence Altieri (8)

Mount Argentario

[August 15,] 1737

Feast of the Assumption

Most Eminent and Reverend Cardinal,

With the greatest reverence I read the venerated intention of Your Eminence to reduce to a private oratory the most beautiful and proper church there is in this vicinity. Your Eminence could verify that by having a visitation by a bishop or anyone who would please you more. We cannot agree to this for many reasons. Principally because if it is merely a private oratory, none of the poor shepherds or others who often come to the mountain could satisfy the precept of attending Mass on feast days. And how could we have our own functions and celebrations on the principal solemnities which are forbidden to private oratories?

We have done everything with the permission of Your Eminence, and in your charity you have shown yourself pleased with our work, both in your writing and by word of mouth. The cornerstone was blessed for a church, not for a private oratory, and that with required permission of the interim vicar general, who forms one authority with his Ordinary. Around the end of autumn of last year, while I was there at your feet, Your Eminence wrote to your vicar general that he was to bless this church on a feast day of our choice, and you also so informed me with your own voice.

Now, all the difficulties that have come up have been overcome, and all that Your Eminence has asked to be done has been done. You have been sent the contract agreed to by the Grazi family, which is the richest in Orbetello, to maintain the sacristy and building. So all has been done that could be done to fulfill your commands. It is impossible to do more.

Your Eminence should know that the King of Naples has given with great concern his contribution for the conservation of this church and Retreat so that his soldiers and officials might come to make a retreat, as many desire to do. That would be possible for them, as well for ecclesiastics, but not possible if there is only a private oratory.

On this mountain there are two small hermitages, one of which is Saint Anthony’s. They are public chapels, where any priest can celebrate and administer the sacraments of Confession for both sexes and Communion, as we ourselves have done. And this church, so well designed and devout, should be simply a private oratory?

At the feet of Your Eminence, I will tell you confidentially that when I was in Orbetello, one of the principal officers of the king asked me when the church, which was built with so much zealous cooperation of the king, will be blessed. I tried to answer him, as God inspired me, as best I could, saying that I hoped it would be soon.

But how is it we have not received from the Court of Rome the agreement of the king for the exchange? I, not knowing what to reply, said: "We believe all will go well, for His Eminence, our Pastor, is well disposed to our project." But he replied: "If the royal assent has not been accepted, someone will write the king that in Rome the royal assent has no weight." "Sir," I replied, "it is not necessary to write to the king; the royal assent will have its good effect."

Then he added: "Father Paul, you know who are opposed to this work? Priests and Mendicants who fear that this will take away their alms — all this out of cursed self-interest. All the officials and all the populace know very well, and they know that Cardinal Altieri, as Ordinary, can give the permission for the blessing of the church according to the Council of Trent. If he can, why is he not doing it?"

Your Eminence, I have given you a faithful account of the above, and what was I to reply? I simply say that Your Eminence should never fear that this Retreat would damage your clergy. We will oblige ourselves with a legal document not merely not to seek alms, and we have never done that, but to give back to the citizens of Orbetello the alms they would offer.

Concerning the exchange, if Your Eminence finds a difficulty there, it is not important to enforce it. This property will be rented, and the rent will always be paid a year in advance. For the love of Mary Most Holy, assumed into heaven, grant us permission to bless this church at least as a chapel for hermits, as are all the other rural churches of Christendom.

If Your Eminence believes, as some have informed you that there are no people coming here to hear Mass and go to confession — actually they come from distant places in the salt marches — they have informed you badly and, to speak charitably, the devil has made use of a their false zeal to block the great good to these poor ones who come up the mountain to purify their souls in the most holy Blood of Jesus Christ by means of the sacrament of Penance. The truth is that at the fearful tribunal of the Sovereign Judge, who will with his light illumine the things hidden in darkness, these miserable scoundrels will know, but without any profit, the ruin they have brought to souls.

I tell you this from information I have received from the majority who are in favor of this work of God. I have wanted to lay out to Your Eminence all my feelings after I celebrated the Divine Mysteries to seek light on this most holy day, and so that I will not have to repent at my death for having kept silence and say: "Woe to me for I was silent." Finally, while hoping for the favor here asked and paying you profound reverence, I ask your blessing and prayers, and end by kissing the hem of your purple robe.

Pardon me, Your Eminence. I add that we will oblige ourselves with public contract to always have three priests here — Your Eminence asked for only two — and four lay brothers, even when we are at time of missions.

Your Eminence’s humble, unworthy, obedient servant,

Paul Danei