‘For my part,’ I said, ’I look upon the decision as providential, as I sought no personal triumph over the General, but entertain every sentiment of charity towards him, and every one of my former religious brethren.’  This remark appeared to move the Pope, and I continued:  ‘I thought of your Holiness’ decision in the holy Mass of this morning, when in the Gospel our Lord reminds us not to decide according to the appearances of things, but render a just judgment; and such is the one you have given, and for our part we trust that you will receive in the future consolation and joy [from our conduct].’  ‘As you petitioned,’ he said, ’with the other Fathers as one of the Congregation, in giving you dispensation I considered you a member of the Congregation.’  ‘So I understood it,’ was my reply; ’and as a [private] person I felt no inclination to defend my character, but as a priest I felt it to be my duty; and in this regard your Holiness has done all that I have desired.’  ’But you intend to remain,’ he inquired, ‘together in community?’ ’Most assuredly, your Holiness; our intention is to live and work as we have hitherto done.  But there are many [spiritual] privileges attached to the work of the missions very necessary to their success, and which we would gladly participate in.’  ‘Well, well,’ he answered, ’organize, begin your work, and then demand them, and I will grant them to you.  The Americans, however, are very much engrossed in material pursuits.’  ‘True, Holy Father,’ I replied, ’but the faith is there.  We five missionaries are Americans, and were like the others, but you see the grace of God has withdrawn us from these things and moved us to consecrate ourselves wholly to God and His Church, and we hope it will do the same for many of our countrymen.  And once our countrymen are Catholics, we hope they will do great things for God’s Church and His glory, for they have enthusiasm.’  ‘Yes, yes,’ he rejoined, ‘it would be a great consolation to me.’  I asked him if he would grant me a plenary indulgence for my brethren and my friends in the United States.  ‘Well,’ he said, ‘but I must have a rescript.’  ’I have one with me which perhaps will do,’ I answered.  Looking over it, he made some alterations and signed it.  I knelt down at his feet and begged him to give me a large blessing before my departure, in order that I might become a great missionary in the United States—­which he gave me most cordially, and I retired.

“His manner was very affectionate, and in the course of the conversation he called me ’caro mio’ and ’figlio mio’ several times.  We could not desire to leave a more favorable impression than exists here in regard to us and our part in the recent transaction, and we have the sympathy of the Pope and the Propaganda.  Rome will withhold nothing from us if we prove worthy of its confidence, and will hail our success with true joy.  I look upon this settlement of our difficulties as the work of Divine Providence, and my prayer is that it may make me humble, modest, and renew my desire to consecrate myself wholly to God’s designs.”