He writes to the Fathers, March 27:  “The seven months passed here in Rome seem to me an age; and have taxed me to that extent that I look forward to home as a place of rest and repose.  When I think of the fears, anxieties, and labors undergone I say to myself—­enough for this time.  On the other hand, when I remember the warm and disinterested friends God has given us on account of these difficulties, and the happy issue to which His providence has conducted them, my heart is full of gratitude and joy.  To me the future looks bright, hopeful, full of promise, and I feel confident in God’s providence, and assured of His grace in our regard.  I feel like raising up the cross as our standard and adopting one word as our motto—­CONQUER!

“I have just received the documents for you to give the Papal benediction at the missions, and will send them.  A letter reached here this week from the Bishop of Burlington, Vt., and it is strongly in our favor; it concludes by saying that all that we required to make us a religious Congregation was the special blessing of the Holy Father.”

Again, on April 3:  “Monsignor Bedini asked of the Pope the special benediction that Bishop De Goesbriand suggested, and he replied:  ’Did I not give it to Pere Hecker, and through him to his brethren, when he was here?’ ‘But,’ answered Monsignor Bedini, ’give them this benediction this time on the request of the bishop.’  And he answered:  ‘It is well; I do.’  So there is a special blessing from the Holy Father in view of our forming a religious body.  Indeed, that is so well understood here that several have inquired what name we intend to adopt, etc.  Of course to all such questions my answer is:  ’I can say nothing; the future is in God’s hands, and we intend to follow His providence.’ . . .

“Good Cardinal Barnabo looks upon us with a paternal regard, and when I expressed in your name how warmly we returned his affection, and what a deep gratitude we owed him, he was deeply moved, and replied that he did not deserve such sentiments, and that he had only done justice.  Since the settlement of our affairs I have let no occasion pass to express our gratitude to those who have befriended us; and as for Cardinal Barnabo, Monsignor Bedini, Bishop Connolly, and Doctor Bernard Smith, Benedictine monk, they should be put at the head of the list of our spiritual benefactors and remembered in all our prayers.  Now that we are a body, I would advise this to be done at once.  The Holy Father stands No. 1; that is understood.

“How much I have to relate to you on my return!  Many things I did not venture to write down on paper, and many I can communicate to no one else but you.  How great is my desire to see you!—­it seems that I have no other.

“I have taken passage for Marseilles on Tuesday after Easter, the 6th of April, and intend to take passage on the Vanderbilt, which leaves Havre on the 28th. . . .  I saw the General on Tuesday of this week, to take leave of him.  After some conversation we left in good feeling, promising to pray pro invicem. God bless him!”