Restoring Carmel in England

  

From Carmelite Quotes:

The Servant of God Hermann Cohen was invited by Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman of Westminster to help restore religious life in England after centuries of absence, and in 1862 traveled to Rome to seek permission for the foundation, where the pope gave him a striking blessing, saying: “I send you to convert England as, in the sixth century, one of my predecessors also blessed and sent the monk Augustine, the former apostle of that country.” Cohen then departed from Paris for England on August 5, 1862.

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What a joy it is, my Lords and Gentlemen, for a Religious of the Order of Mary to stand before you and say: there is hope for us now, for not only does the Faith grow daily in England, but the gentle sway of Mary and the subduing power of her sweet devotion spreads over “that land” well known of yore as “Mary’s Dowry.”

I insist upon this progress as being of the highest importance; for devotion guards Faith as the advanced rampart defends the citadel: a breach once made in the outer walls, and the fortress is quickly in the hands of the enemy.

We may date, then, the happy change we have signalized, from the time when His Eminence began to guide the Catholic movement; and now we can say, that if on the one hand, Apostolic labor in England costs the Priest much sweat of the brow; on the other, it presents him with refreshing draughts of consolation.

Oh! that the name of Jesus, healing the people, might be the bond of peace between citizens, and of peace between all races of peoples! That the Blessed Virgin Mary might soon number all the children of England among the offspring of her love! (Read more.)