53. Corrigan to Scalabrini¹¹⁷

         New York, October 1, 1897

Most Reverend and Esteemed Excellency:

Yesterday I found at home your most valued letter of August 12th. I hasten to thank you for the wishes sent on the occasion of my feast-days and I hope that Your Excellency has remembered me at Mass on the feasts of St. Augustine and St. Michael.

            Your Excellency makes allusion to some small clouds which have passed over our sky and feels that I am still the same as before. Allow me to assure you that that small cloud could not, as far as I am concerned, obscure our sky. I knew very well that it was created by a person who unfortunately had little affection for me (and the Secretary says: for me, I remember neither the fact nor the person). Since everything was false, I had to conclude that it would soon vanish like an air bubble. I am now happy to see that Your Excellency’s letter proves that my foresight was correct.

            To date I have not seen Father Strumia. I hope to see him soon also to urge him to look after the finances of St. Joachim Church: it seems that the situation is not developing as I would wish.

            Reverend Father Zaboglio is improving daily. He has already begun to celebrate Mass and in soon he will be perfectly healed.

            With respectful regards and veneration I remain

Your very devoted servant,

Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York