36. Corrigan to Scalabrini⁸¹

         New York, May 10, 1891

Your Excellency:

In the magazine Il Catechista Cattolico, April 15, 1891, Your Excellency publishes my letter regarding the Catechetical Congress of Piacenza and the teaching of Christian doctrine in the Archdiocese of New York.⁸² With such a gesture Your excellency wanted to honor me and I think wanted perhaps to oblige me to write a second letter on the cooperation of the Clergy in catechetical teaching. I thank you for the honor and very gladly

keep my promise to write my article. I hope, however, that learned Italians will be understanding and not look too critically at my modest work.

            In America the clergy has serious obligations toward the Catholic people. In our regions the Church is poor like in Apostolic times. The idea of ecclesiastical benefit according to the concept of canon law is not known and perhaps some don’t consider a time when such a discipline would be introduced. The decent support of the clergy is entrusted to the generous donations of the people; works of charity, to the heart of the people; the school, to the sentiment of the people. In a word, everything depends on the conscience of the person educated in a Catholic way. Hence, the consequence is that the people rightly have specific demands and want that the clergy do what is possible to respond to such generosity and that the cult and the sacred ministry be carried out well.

            It is quite easy then to realize how difficult the situation is for a priest in America who is even only suspected of some failure. The people will not very easily accept or trust him. When trust is lacking, everything else is lacking as well.

            Among the many demands of American Catholics, the most dominant is that regarding the education of their children in the principles of Christian doctrine. The clergy, to meet the good will and the legitimate demand of parents, does its best to provide catechetical instruction to the children with such care and extension that it would be impossible to do better.

            Besides the priest assigned explicitly to oversee parochial school and particularly what regards the teaching of catechism, as I explained in my previous letter, besides the pastor of their parish, who two or three times a week visits the schools to examine the students on the truths of the faith, it is directed that on every Sunday boys and girls leave the school two by two accompanied by their teacher and go to the Church to assist Mass. Then, that they regularly return to school where the pastor or another delegated priest gives a longer and deeper catechism lesson.

            Pupils reaching the age of twelve, according to the custom in the Archdiocese, prepare for admission to First Communion. A priest is assigned to prepare them for three months. Three times a week for two hours he instructs and examines them. None is admitted to First Communion without knowing by heart the catechism approved by the Archdiocese. In truth on this point there is a certain severity to better stimulate the pupils to learn Christian doctrine. In fact, it would be a most

grave dishonor not being admitted to first Communion once one has reached the local customary age.

            These days I had the joy to assist at the first Communion and to confer Confirmation to the boys and girls of the Cathedral parish. I know that in Italy the first Communion day is very solemn and moving. In America also, in this missionary region, first Communion is a most gentle ceremony, the most solemn remembrance of Catholic families. I take the liberty of presenting a sketch so that Your Excellency be informed also in this regard.

            On May 9 at eight o’clock in the morning two hundred boys and as many girls left the parochial school preceded by forty children dressed in white with banners and flowers and went in procession to the Cathedral, an example of rare modesty. The boys in dark uniform, a silk red sash across the chest and held by a knot at right side from where it was flowing down to the knee, the girls dressed in white, spotless, with gorgeous white veils descending to the ground. They were a most moving spectacle. Along the streets many crowded to admire what creatures are like when they are close to God. A good part of the passers-by attracted by the sight, followed them into the church to assist at the delicate ceremony and to share in the pure joys that only the Catholic religion can inspire to human heart. Perhaps not a few Protestants on that moment will have seen as more beautiful, more luminous the faith and will have tasted the sweetness of Christian life in the Catholic temple. But what seems to me more notable is the serious interest felt by every family that on that day a boy or a girl has admitted to first Communion. From the day when the admission of the child to first Communion is communicated, the family feels highly honored and makes a duty to thank the pastor or others. Then, it plans that everything proceed well on that day so the child may lack nothing and because the day is of solemn memory for the family. Everyone has to assist the beautiful ceremony in church and they enjoy admiring the devotion of the child that approaches to receive the great Sacrament. That day is a day for flowers, a day of feast, and sometimes it is the day when the devotion of the child reawakens in the bosom of the family the sentiment of religion and virtue. To preserve in the family for good the sweet memory of this day, each of the children admitted to first Communion goes back to the church in the afternoon to put on the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and then goes to a photography office to take a picture to preserve in the family album his portrait so as to remember when adult the day of his first Communion.

This feeling I have always noticed in Christian families has a very weighty importance and an excellent result. It not only shows the vitality of the Catholic faith, but also effectively impresses the heart of the young introducing there the noblest thoughts of reverence and love for the Sacrament.

            I close this information adding that in these days I will have to lay two cornerstones, one for the New York Seminary and one for the new church started by the Piacenza Missionaries.⁸³ One concerns the Americans; the other, your dearest Italy, and mainly Your excellency. May God grant that the work of your children achieve the desired fruit.

            I renew to Your excellency the sentiments of my sincere friendship, and remain

Your Excellency’s very affectionate and devoted servant,

Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York