The Fondeville Notebook (4)

Bétharram was visited by its new Bishop, Monsignor Lacroix, during the holidays of 1838. He gave his approval to the way of life they had adopted, and confirmed and increased old powers [...]. This year, 1838, saw a primary school open in Betharram...

Mr. Garicoïts had brought together in Betharram some children from Lestelle, in the year 1835. They were taught to read and write; they served Mass. But as academic zeal was awakened, they had to arm themselves with the law. Mr. Eliçabide, who had renounced the priesthood and had taken his Teaching Diploma, had opened a private school in Bordeaux. Mr. Garicoïts had had him as a pupil of philosophy in 1829 and he called him gladly. The region, happy about the news of a primary school in Betharram, did not fail to send its children. Up to 120 of them were counted during the years 1838 and 1839. [...]

It was at this time, in 1838, that Betharram opened its doors to the deacon Mr Didace Barbe. [...] In 1838 he was received into the priesthood and he asked to enter the community of Betharram. It was clear that Our Lady wanted to raise up Betharram to continue to stretch out and make her “beautiful Branch” flourish by calling such a pious person, as learned and dedicated as Mr. Didace Barbe.

However Mr. Cassou of Igon, a pupil of the great Seminary of Bayonne, had also given himself to the community. He had just been promoted to the priesthood in the summer of 1838. An energetic soul with above ordinary intelligence, sound judgment, fervent zeal and steadfast piety, Mr. Cassou promised much. [...]

Since 1832, Mr. Garicoïts had with him the young Didace Barbé from Lestelle, whom he had cared for, for the lower classes; he placed him in the minor seminary of Saint-Pé to read classics; Later he would become a very useful member of the congregation.

The year 1839 presented nothing remarkable in the work of the house; the school and missions were going splendidly. A dark cloud, however, loomed on the horizon: Mr. Eliçabide let himself be carried away by a false compassion for his relatives [...], at considerable expense and financial outlay, which forced Mr. Garicoïts to reprimand him several times; but his conduct worsened yet. So much that the Superior told him that he could no longer be employed and he predicted that one day he would become an assassin and would end up on the gallows.

This dark cloud which saddened Mr. Garicoïts and those he confided in, became horribly clear due to a fire on 9th April 1839 at midnight. The fire started in the attic [...]. At the sound of the bell everybody was up on their feet. They began to form a human chain and, aided by the people of Lestelle and Montaut, awakened by the sound of the bells, they were able to control the fire [...]. They were unaware for a few days as to the cause of this blaze, but on repairing the damage they found scattered in the frame of the vault of the chapel, large piles of woodshavings and two bed sheets containing a large amount of woodshavings, pushed well into the arches of the vault; this discovery showed that neither carelessness nor any Act of God was to blame for the disaster, pushing all responsibility towards spitefulness.
Mr. Eliçabide pronounced himself in favour of the suspension of the school. But the Superior took measures so that nothing changed there. ... [...] Mr. Eliçabide left Bétharram at the beginning of the holidays. Mr. Garicoïts had already sent Mr Didace Barbe to Dax to be prepared for his Teaching Diploma. [...]

The Congregation of the Missionaries was gradually growing. The ancient works of Bétharram, the missions and the pilgrimage, were developped slowly but steadily; devotion to the Virgin of Betharram resumed its old vigour. The Blessed Virgin restored the titles with which she had revealed herself to Betharram (Beautiful Branch). Stella Matutina, Morning Star for our country [...]; since 1837 she especially shone down on the youth and farmers and from 1834 she sent the Superior of the house to encourage and direct the Daughters of the Cross at Igon, in the region, for the education of the daughters of the people. Salus infirmorum: Since the great revolution, the tradition of families was to send the infirm to Betharram and for more than 39 years some extraordinary cures delighted many villages [...].

But the great title of Mary Refugium peccatorum increased the most since the establishment of the missionaries. The presence of Mr. Garicoïts in Betharram, outside of working days in Igon, Mr. Fondeville constantly available for confessions throughout his life, the presence of the missionaries during the summer [...] called to Bétharram a great meeting of people not only during the month of September, according to custom, but throughout the year.

During Lent 1838, 1839, 1841 and 1842 the [local] population provided for the many penitents. At that time they also began to organise private pilgrimages from distant regions [...]: openly pious people of good will would go to Betharram to strengthen themselves, to purify themselves more and more from the past [...]; others would go there to regain peace of conscience, to break away from long-lasting scandals, to lay the foundations of a wholesome life. Several climbing Calvary felt overcome by Grace and could not return without easing their conscience with a good confession.

Simon Fondeville scj
(1805-1872)
(to be continued)