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Anecdotes from the Council

This photo shows the four stenographers of the First Vatican Council (8.12.1869 - 20.10.1870), who were selected from among the students of the French Seminary: Leo Dehon, Josèphe Dugas (a future Jesuit), Henri Louis Prosper Bougouin (the future bishop of Périgueux), Gustave de Dartein (he will join the Benedictines at the age of 65).

The importance of the experience of the First Vatican Council for Dehon's ultramontane convictions, for his universal ecclesiastical horizon and for the numerous contacts on the highest levels of the Church is well known from many of his writings. Therefore we will be exclusively presenting some anecdotes chosen from Dehon's diary, which give an inside look into both Dehon's humor and the Council itself.

Presenting Mgr Caixal y Estrade, bishop of Urgel in Spain Dehon writes:"The bishop of Urgel spoke always full of devotion and energy. He spoke often, very often, and at such length, as to fatigue the entire council." (NHV VII/31) Some months later about the 'success' of the same bishop Dehon writes: "As soon as Mgr Caixal, bishop of Urgel appears on the platform, two thirds of the council fathers leave the hall." (NHV VII/124)

Concerning Mgr Vérot, bishop of Savannah/US, who contributes again and again to the entertainment of the council fathers: After an Irish bishop argued, a national council of the Irish church would have already confirmed the dogma of the infallibility, Dehon notes: "Mgr Vérot. The definition (of the dogma) would be a sacrilege! The faith of the Irish people proves nothing at all. They believe even in the infallibility of their parish priests and would flog everyone who denies this. The incredulous laugh at some religious practices and beliefs. When once someone laughs at the benediction of donkeys, he [Vérot] answers that for understanding the effectiveness of the benediction one would have to substitute simply the donkey.... The speaker was frequently interrupted by the fathers..." (NHV VII/185f)

And Mgr Vérot on infallibility: "Mgr Vérot (always very amusing) suggests a canon of the following type: 'Whoever states, that the Pope can do, what he wants, anathema sit.' 'The Chapter President: We aren't here in a theater of buffoons, but in the holy church of God; may the Rev. speaker accept that I'd like to tell him bluntly: It annoys me that he entertains the fathers by listening to his jokes.'" (NHV VIII/11f).