George Matulaitis Journal

111 me, and our Congregation with all its members, his paternal blessing. I took my leave of him, strengthened in spirit. How good a father to all religious is His Eminence Cardinal Vives y Tuto! As I went back to my lodgings, I gave my heartfelt thanks to God for all the good He has granted us, for the whole Church, for all our benefactors, and also for our enemies. That same day Father Wiskont 1 from the diocese of Vilnius came to see me. He lives at the French College. He has received his doctorate in philosophy from Louvain and is now studying theology. November 26 In the morning I attended Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and prayed there for a while. Later, I went to the Polish College, since I wanted to say goodbye to Archbishop Teodorowicz, but did not find him at home. I met with the seminarians + ysik and Kalinowski and also Father Saldra. 2 I promised the latter that I would call on him again. In the afternoon Father Grum and I went to the French College, where I visited Wiskont and Araszkiewicz—I also met two Russians there who were studying theology: Jevreinov 3 and Kolpinski. 4 The latter knew Father Bu ys 5 and used to go to confession to him. I also knew an Italian priest, Campa, 6 who works at the Vicariate. The whole group of us then went to St. Paul’s Basilica. At about six I went to Monsignor Sapieha’s as had been arranged. We talked a little about the situation of our Church. Then he made me the following proposal: that I remain in Rome or move here 1 Antanas Wiskont (1875-1940): priest, ordained in 1900. After receiving his doctorate at Louvain, he studied theology in Rome. When Matulaitis was Bishop of Vilnius, he was appointed Notary for the diocesan tribunal and Censor of Religious Publications. 2 Klemensas Sova (1886-1956): used the pen name Saldra; Lithuanian priest and writer studying in Rome (1908-1913) and living at the Polish Papal College. Returned to Lithuania to work in the diocese of Kaunas. 3 Alexander Jevreinov (1877-1959): Russian seminarian, ordained in 1913. Appointed Bishop to Russian Catholics of the Eastern Rite in Rome, in 1935; friend of Bishop Bu ys. Lived and died in Rome. 4 Diodor Kolpi < ski (1892-1935): Russian student received into the Catholic Church by Fr. Bu ys in 1911. Studied in Rome and was ordained there. Worked in Russia until 1926; professor at the Institute for Missions in Louvain (1926-1929). 5 Pranciskus Bu ys (1872-1951): Matulaitis’s close friend and associate; had become a Marian in the ren- ovated community in 1909; professor at the Theological Academy of St. Petersburg (1902-1915); Vice Rector (1912), Rector (1913-1915). 6 Luigi Campa (1879-1966): worked in the Vicariate of Rome.