Girard0326 - Revision history

Merv at 00:17, 11 August 2026

2026-08-11T00:17:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 11 August 2026
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	''One sheet forming four pages, two of which are written; the third was left blank, and the fourth bears only the address and Poupinel’s annotation.''		''One sheet forming four pages, two of which are written; the third was left blank, and the fourth bears only the address and Poupinel’s annotation.''

	''Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, August 2026. ''		''Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, August 2026. See Below for Brian Quin's translation of the same letter''

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	===Notes===		===Notes===
	<references />		<references />




	==Antoine Garin to Jean-Claude Colin, Kaipara, 25 April & 2 June 1844==		==Antoine Garin to Jean-Claude Colin, Kaipara, 25 April & 2 June 1844==

Merv at 00:14, 11 August 2026

2026-08-11T00:14:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:14, 11 August 2026
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			==25 April and 2 June 1844 — Father Antoine Garin to Father Jean-Claude Colin, Kaipara==

			''According to the original sent copy, APM Z 208.''

			''One sheet forming four pages, two of which are written; the third was left blank, and the fourth bears only the address and Poupinel’s annotation.''

			''Translated by Merv Duffy and ChatGPT, August 2026. ''

			[p. 4]

			''[Address:] To the Very Reverend Father Colin.''

			''[In Poupinel’s hand:] New Zealand — Kaipara, 25 April 1844 — Father Garin.''

			[p. 1]

			:Kaipara, Hata Rohario, 25 April,
			:Feast of Saint Mark, 1844.

			:My Very Reverend Father and most worthy Superior General,

			;[1]: You may have learned that seven or eight months ago I left Kororareka to exercise the sacred ministry at the Kaipara station. If I consult my own preference, I certainly prefer this new position to the former one; but when I consider it in relation to the spiritual welfare of my soul, I recognise for myself that my former position was preferable. At Kororareka, in fact, I could benefit from the example of my confrères and advance more readily in virtue by following in their footsteps. Here, however, I have no model other than myself, and you may judge what I can accomplish with such a model. I need to be admonished and encouraged, yet I alone am my own monitor and corrector. Thanks be to Divine Providence, however, for I recognise that the good God gives His graces in proportion to our needs. I remember writing to you once from Kororareka that the sight of the natives’ nakedness made a strong impression upon me and that, as in France, I found myself subject to powerful temptations. But since I was sent out among the natives and called to live with them, I have found myself completely changed. I am now as insensible as I was formerly impressionable. The sight which formerly aroused concupiscence within me now repels me; I find it distasteful. Sleeping in Māori ''kainga'', mixed indiscriminately with the natives, once gave rise to improper imaginings within me. Now even persons of the opposite sex are like logs of wood to me. This leads me to say that Providence watches over me and apportions its favours according to our needs. Nevertheless, I do not feel entirely secure.<ref name="ms-a">Manuscript note: ''entièrement'' (“entirely”) is preceded by an added ''et'' (“and”).</ref> After a great fire, when it was thought that the flames had been completely extinguished, they have often been seen to flare up again and cause a new conflagration.

			;[2]: The isolation and variety of occupations<ref name="ms-b">The words ''et la diversité des occupations'' (“and the variety of occupations”) were written above the line.</ref> in which I find myself are causing considerable relaxation in several points of my religious rule. Apart from that, I am very content in my new position. I greatly enjoy this way of life: visiting the natives, sleeping in their homes, putting my own house in order, etc., etc. These are my principal occupations. Although I have no Brother—and I very much desire one—I find myself very happy and peaceful with two young natives who obey me and love me. I also have a European with me. Were it not necessary, I would prefer not to have him, although he is a trustworthy man and a man of faith. [p. 2]

			;[3]: 2 June 1844. Several weeks have passed since I began this letter.<ref name="ms-c">The source edition gives the manuscript note: ''il s’est pr pr''.</ref> During that interval, I learned that you intended to write to each of us individually. I cannot sufficiently bless Providence for furnishing us with so many means of salvation. I admit that, for my part, I greatly need them. I am often troubled when I see myself tending toward laxity; but when I learn that our dear confrères in France—and you above all, my Very Reverend Father—are concerning yourselves with the salvation of each one of us individually, I regain confidence. Yes, write to us and give us salutary advice, so that we may be helped to discharge our duties as good religious and holy missionaries.

			;[4]: Please commend me in a particular manner to the Reverend Fathers and dear Brothers of the Society, so that the Blessed Virgin may preserve me in the religious spirit, so that I may not fall into laxity, and, above all, so that I may not fall into mortal sin. May those who pray for me also remember to pray for the flock entrusted to me.

			;[5]: Please accept, my Very Reverend Father, the assurances of the sincere affection and respect with which I have the honour to remain,

			:::Your wholly devoted and most obedient servant,

			:::::Garin
			:::::Apostolic Missionary

			===Notes===
			<references />

	==Antoine Garin to Jean-Claude Colin, Kaipara, 25 April & 2 June 1844==		==Antoine Garin to Jean-Claude Colin, Kaipara, 25 April & 2 June 1844==

Merv: Initial text

2007-09-24T05:12:16Z

Initial text

New page

==Antoine Garin to Jean-Claude Colin, Kaipara, 25 April & 2 June 1844==

''Translated by Fr Brian Quin SM, September 2005''

'''[[APM]] Z 208 25 April 1844'''
Kaipara, Hato Rohario [Holy Rosary]

25 April, Feast of St Mark 1844

Very Reverend Father, and very worthy Superior General,

Perhaps you already know that seven or eight months ago I left Kororareka to carry on the sacred ministry at the Kaipara mission station. If I looked to my own liking, certainly I would prefer this station to the first, but in considering it in terms of the spiritual good of my soul, I can see, without any help, that the first position was preferable. At Kororareka, indeed, I could profit from the example of my confrères, and advance more easily in virtue by following in their steps, but here I have no other model but myself, and in deciding what I can do with such a model, I need to be warned, stimulated, and I am quite alone in being my own monitor and examiner, but thanks be given to Divine Providence, I am aware that the good God gives his graces in accord with our needs. I recall that once I wrote to you from Kororareka that I was experiencing strong feelings at the sight of the nakedness of the natives, and that, as in France, I was subject to strong temptations; but since I have been thrown among the natives, and have been called to live with them, I find myself entirely changed: where I was formerly impressionable I am now toughened; what formerly aroused concupiscence in me, on catching my eye, now [''repagne'' – repels?] me, I find it distasteful; to sleep in Maori villages [''Kainga'' Maoris] in a jumble with the natives was for me an occasion for evil fancies, now even women are for me like logs of wood; which makes me believe that Providence is watching over me, and is proportioning its favours according to my needs. However I am not entirely complacent; often after a peat fire, when the fire was thought to be entirely put out, blazing flames have reignited and produced a new fire.

The isolation I find myself in, and the variety of my work bring about a great slackening in various points of my Rule. Apart from that I am very happy with my new position. I like this sort of life very much; visiting the natives, sleeping among them, putting my house into order – those are my main occupations. Although I have no Brothers [with me] (I would like one very much) I am very happy and content with two young natives who obey me and love me. I also have a European man, and if it was not out of necessity, I would prefer not to have him, even if he was a man of faith and worthy of trust.
[''p''2] 2 June 1844. Since I began this letter several weeks have gone by. In the meantime I have been told that you intend to write to everyone individually [''vous devrez nous écrire à tous en particulier'']. I cannot bless Providence enough for providing us with so many means for salvation. I admit that I really need them; often I become anxious in seeing myself getting slack, and when I hear that our beloved confrères in France and you especially, Very Reverend Father, are concerning yourselves with the salvation of each person individually, I gain new heart. Yes, write to us and give us salutary advice to help us carry out our tasks as good religious and holy missionaries.

Commend me, I beg you, in particular, to the Reverend Fathers and beloved Brothers of the Society, so that the Blessed Virgin may keep me in the religious spirit, so that I do not fall into laxity, and especially that I do not fall into mortal sin. May those who pray for me not forget to pray as well for the flock entrusted to me.

Receive, Very Reverend Father, the signs of the sincere affection and respect with which I have the honour to be
::Your totally devoted and very obedient servant
:::Garin miss[ionary] ap[ostolic]