CHAPTER XXII

THE REV. JAMES RAZZINI VISITS THE INDIAN MISSIONS OF THE 
ROCKY MOUNTAINS. BRIEF OF HIS HOLINESS, PIUS IX.

In 1873, the Very Rev. P. Beckx, the Father -General of the Society of Jesus, bestowed on the missionaries in the Rocky Mountains a mark of his special affection. He appointed Father James Razzini to visit this part of the Lord's vineyard, with a view to encourage the missionaries and to devise, after a personal inspection of the field, such means as might best conduce to the furtherance of the work. He visited first the Missions in Idaho and Washington, and reached St. Ignatius by the close of July. He was favorably impressed with the country and with the work of the Fathers, and soon after his return to Europe our missionaries in the Rocky Mountains were comforted by encouraging words from the Father-General himself. New laborers were also sent to their assistance at the suggestion of Father Razzini.

This favor bestowed by the Father-General on the Indian Missions was followed two years later by another, a most special one, conferred on the Indians and Missions of St. Ignatius by His Holiness, our Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IX.

Having been told by the Fathers how the Great Chief of the Black Robes, the vicar of Christ on earth, was the object of persecution at the hands of the revolutionists of Europe and in particular of Italy, the Indians conceived the idea of conveying to the Holy Father an expression of their sympathy, their loyalty and devotion to him and to his teachings. They accompanied their letter with presents of skins and curios. The Holy Father was delighted at this manifestation of fidelity and love from this rude children of the forest, and deigned to express his ratification and pleasure by addressing to them under date of March 8, 1875, a brief, of which the following is a faithful translation:

BELOVED SONS, HEALTH AND APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION..

While reading your letter we seemed to be carried back to the Apostolic times of the Church, when faith and charity were so flourishing, as to unite the faithful in one heart and one soul. Nothing, indeed, could have given us greater pleasure, intensely grieved as we are every day by the defection of many, who, infatuated by the love of novelties in things and opinions, turn their attention from the truth, and fond of fables, to in search of teachers for their itching ears. But if these unhappy mortals wander away from the path of truth, you in very deed do seek after and follow it, clinging with so much fidelity and affection unto this Chair of Truth, whence the light of the Gospel goes forth to you. Yet the falling away of some among your brethren from their vocation, which you deplore, shows that you also are subject to temptations. But it is necessary that it should be so, since man's life upon earth is a warfare, and the fidelity of the just is not proven, except by the ordeal of temptation. Be firm, therefore, in the faith which you have received, and turn the very temptation into a source of profit and merit, a task which certainly will not be difficult for you, if with a willing ear, you listen to the teaching and faithfully follow the advise of your missionaries, who are united with our Apostolic Vicar, and through him also with us, by the closest bond of faith and charity. The constancy maintained by you, despite the example of erring brethren, renders the manifestations of your good will the more acceptable to us, and makes truly precious those gifts, the fruit of your industry, which you were pleased to send us, in token of your filial affection.

We have been especially delighted with the help of your prayers, which, in union with the supplications of all the faithful, can alone obtain that Divine aid so much needed by the Church, everywhere harassed by persecution, and not less demanded by the disturbed condition of the nations throughout genealogists. Continue, therefore, in your prayers, beloved sons, that you may escape the dangers of perversion; pray perseveringly for us and the whole Catholic community; that propitiated by your supplications and those of all his people, the most merciful God may, at last, grant us peace in these our days of so much trouble. We implore in your behalf the manifold gifts of the Holy Ghost, in token of which and as a mark of out paternal love, we most affectionately impart to you all, beloved sons, and to each missionary in particular, our Apostolic Benediction.

Given at Rome, near St. Peter's on the 8^th day of March, 1875; in the twenty-ninth year of our Pontificate. PIUS PP. IX.

Page 171

Words fail to express the joy of these poor people when they were told that the Holy Father had received their letter and little presents, and had answered them and sent them his blessings. Runners were at once dispatched in every direction to broadcast the good tidings, and gather the Indians at the Mission, for the day on which the great Kaimin, or epistle, the Apostolic Brief, would be read to them from the altar. They hastened to St. Ignatius in large numbers. The Papal Brief was read in Flat Head, Kootenay, and English, the words of the Holy Father being listened to with profound reverence and breathless attention and sinking deep into their hearts. The event was one never to be forgotten, and may be said to have marked a new era for our work among the Indians.

Four years later another event of importance took place. Archbishop Charles J. Seghers visited the place in the summer of 1879, and on August 3, he conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on one hundred and six people, and two days after on seven more. We find a number of priests doing honor to the Archbishop on the occasion; they were the Rev. L. Conrardi, of the secular clergy, and the following Jesuit Fathers: J. Giorda, J. M. Cataldo, L. Van Gorp, P. Tosi, J. Bandini. A. Paroldi, and S. Lattanzi.

His Grace visited the Mission in July, 1882, and on this second visit forty more neophytes received Confirmation at his hands the last day of the month, the feast of St. Ignatius.

We cannot forbear mentioning a little occurrence that filled the genial soul of the Archbishop with mirth on this latter occasion. While examining some Indians for Confirmation with the help of Father Cataldo, His Grace noticed in the group before him an elderly Kalispel, whom he felt sure he had confirmed on a previous occasion. "But you, my son, have received the Holy Ghost already," said the Archbishop to the Indian. "Yes, Great black Robe," answered the Indian, "But I lost him. He got drowned crossing the river." The poor fellow was far from jesting or being irreverent; he only expressed himself as he knew best. The Archbishop was wont to give a little medal to each Indian he confirmed, as a remembrance of Confirmation, and the old many had lost his wile swimming across the Rend d'Oreille River. He wanted another medal.