2025-05-06/2067 - Bethlehem: Licence to found in Galway.

2025-05-06/2067

Bethlehem: Licence to found in Galway.

One A4

Bethlehem: Licence to found in Galway.
Fr. Antonius Geoghan, Minister Provincial.


TEXT

Fr. Anthony Geoghegan, Minister Provincial of the Province of Ireland of the Order of Friars Minor of Stricter Observance, to our venerable Mother in Christ Mary Gabriel otherwise Martin, professed nun of the Order of St Clare and Abbess elect for the convent to be erected of the Poor Clares in Galway, and to the other sisters, namely Clare Anthony, Margaret Francis, Catharine Bernard, Mary Bonaventure, Catharine Francis, Catharine Thomas, Catharine Michael, Helen Louis, Catharine Chrysostom, Lucy Clare, Mary Andrew. To the Novices also, Sabina Byrne and Mary Kelly, everlasting greetings in the Lord, etc.

Since on the part of our many special friends and benefactors, it has often and earnestly been proposed to us and humbly to you, view of the disturbance of these times, we should grant you permission to go to Galway, and there initiate and erect a convent, in the first place for God’s glory and your welfare and consolation, and the propagation of your Order and the sanctification of neighbours. Having considered these matters maturely from every angle, yielding to their devout wishes, by tenor of these present letters we grant and bless the said permission to you. Commanding you in virtue of the obedience you bequeath yourselves at the first opportunity, proceeding obediently and religiously, to the edification of all who meet you, so that in what we praise in his handiwork, and may most mercifully grant you the grace of the God who inspired you, to whom we propose you may efficaciously recommend us, and all of us in your holy prayers.

Given at Bethlehem on the thirtieth day of January 1642.

Fr. Anthony McGeoghegan
Minister Provincial

fr. Antonius Geogheganus Ordinis Minorum strictioris observantiae Provinciae Hiberniae Minister Provincialis venerandae nobis in Christo Matri Mariae Gabriellis alias Martin, moniali professae Ordinis reformat. Sanctae Clarae nec non Abbatissae electae pro Conventu Clarissarum Galviae erigendo et ceteris sororibus, viz. Clarae Antoniae, Margaritae Francisci, Catharinae Bernardi, Mariae Bonaventurae, Catharinae Francisci, Catharinae Thomae, Catharinae Michaelis, Everlinae Ludovici, Catharinae Chrysostomi, Luciaae Clarae, Mariae Andreae. Novitiis vero Sabinae Byrne, et Mariae Kelly, eas concomitantibus salutem in Domino sempiternam, etc.

Cum ex parte multorum (?) specialium nostrorum et benefactorum saepius et sedulo nobis propositum fuit, et tuo semel iterumque, tum ob vexationem habitatualium (?) huius urbis Galviae, tum pro supplicum quatum quietem, ibidem a Dei in primis gloriam, vestrorum aedificationem, consolationem, Ordinis vestri et sanctae Clarae propagationem conventus aedificatione, conventum inchoandi et erigendi. Ea mature ex intimis votis annuentes, tenore praesentium dictam licentiam concedimus et benedicimus. Quod nostra benedictio una cum omnibus quibus obviam fueritis aedificatione, ut Deus lucidae in ancillis suis, et suam largam benedictionem vobis clementissime impertiatur, ut quod fideliter intentis efficaciter obtineamus ipsius gratia(i?) sumus per vos nobis orate. Datum Bethlem die trigesimo Januarii 1642.

Antonius (?)
fr. Antonius Geogheganus
Minister Provincialis

ISAD(G) 2nd edition