Memoirs of an ex-Capuchin, or, Scenes of modern monastic life

Front matter

CIE made o Hib. 6? oe teeeves Kid he e :

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Knee Cen | ME E M O I ec F PR GE ie Gy Gee: " ; OF \ » » Y ye | ;

Part Second. The Victims Become Tormentors

Intrigues preceding a Convent Election ... «.. 222 Election of a Provincial in the Convent of U——... 241 MME MISSION 6.5 +22. 200 ose soe eee one eee 256 MMEArY LOVETtY -.. cee sts ces ee nee tee OU Abstinence and Fasting Geto denl teeta cevue owe 275

The "Macdalena i505 7 ss see eae uilace) eee The SacredgQariiy (0.0) ec eae?) set eas) Father F—— wee) leew woe ee he Picea tory Of a Convert’: ier icy. Bese (isos oes Kind action of the Magdalena ... ... sa. Game Two JOUIMCYS 250° see: see bse, Sas see eee ae Disorders at the Mission, and my consequent return t0-My Own PTOvInCe | e.. .s eas ee My new destination, and events that bring about my CONVERSION 6.5 veces see see | oss seen

ERRATA.

Page 95, line 5, for the “two” natural, read, the ‘‘too’’ natural. » 106, ,, 10, ,, ‘‘symtoms,” read, ‘“‘symptoms.” » 169, ,, 20, ,, ‘‘habilament,” read, ‘* habiliment.”

293 307 321 335 341 350

376 398

» 204, ,, 26, ,, ‘I killed her when abandoning her; I saw her,” read, “I killed her when, abandoning her, I saw her.’’ » 224, 5, 19, ,, ‘‘pecularity,” read, ‘‘ peculiarity.” 3 250, 9 9, 5, “greatest” zest, read, *‘ greater” zest:

» 241, ,, 6, ,, “electioa of the provincial of A—,” read, “election of a provincial in the conyent of U—.”

» 260, ,, 6, ,, on the throne “elected” on the basis, read, on the throne ‘‘ erected ” on the basis. oy OO, 5.29, 1s900Le, araonr, Tead, ardour.

My Dear Friend,

I have been so deeply interested by your narration of many facts connected with your extraordinary life, as a friar, among friars, that I have been unable to resist the temptation of committing them to paper. It appears to me that these facts are eminently calculated to interest the public, and that the publication of them must be conducive to the advancement of truth. I am, therefore, induced to request you to continue the narrative, which I should be happy to publish, in the form of memoirs of your life, connected with the Capuchins and their institutions. I propose, in my narration, to adhere scrupulously to the facts with which you may favour me, only endeavouring to impart to them the colouring, and invest them with the artifices of style, requisite to render them attractive to the general reader.

Begging you to give my proposition your serious attention, and oblige me with a reply, at your earliest convenience, I am, with every sentiment of esteem,

Your very affectionate friend, GIROLAMO VOLPE.

My Dear Friend, Accept my thanks for your welcome letter, containing a proposition which cannot fail of being agreeable to me. I have frequently been advised, by persons distinguished both by piety and social position, to undertake the work which you have already, in part, executed. My reason for abstaining hitherto from publishing the events of my monastic life has been that I feared my narrative, if written by myself, would lose the desirable characteristics of impartiality and unbiassed judgment. Your offer completely removes my scruples, and I not only most willingly grant the permission you ask, but thank you very sincerely for undertaking the task. Under the blessing of God, it will, I hope, be the means of opening the eyes of many Catholics to the errors of their religion, and inducing them to embrace the pure doctrine of the gospel, as well as undeceiving others who may be on the point of embracing these errors. I give you the entire narrative, with the most scrupulous fidelity, leaving the rest in your hands.

Praying God, who knows the purity of our intentions, to sanctify our undertaking to the spiritual advantage of many,

I am, my dear friend, Yours very affectionately, VINCENZO CRESPI.