Letter of Fray Domenico Franze, Medical Surgeon
Professor of Physiology and Missionary Medicine,
International University of St. Anthony
Honorary member of the Pontifical Roman Academy of Missions in Rome
20 July, 1931
Dear Father,
"Almost a year ago last September, your Excellency, along with another dignitary, interviewed me regarding two manuscripts of the book entitled "In the Reign of the Divine Will." It was your wish that I render a judgment about the book whose author had sought absolute anonymity. Well, Reverend Father, as you know, I wasn't content in just reading the book but wanted to also meet the author so as to better be able to render an opinion.
Having read the book and met the author, I didn't stop with my own convictions, but sought the opinions of some competent religious colleagues. I am enclosing one such testimony. It is the opinion of Fr. Consalvo Valls, professor of Theology in our university, the International University of St. Anthony. He is currently in charge of revising our text books. I will include his testimony later.
Truthfully, anyone not having time nor interest in examining the book can simply review the index to see how this soul, called by God to perfection, is gradually elevated through self-annihilation, anonymity and detachment, through temptations and trials, one of which is most severe and has lasted more than 46 years.
I am simply astounded as a medical doctor to find no bed sores or skin abrasions on a patient who has been obliged to be immobile in bed for so many years.
As a Religious Examiner, it is most consoling to have received assurances that for many years and after exhaustive examinations by physicians, Confessors and Archbishops, no one has ever discovered any deception.
And finally, as a Priest I am delighted to have confirmed that in this patient there exists not only a refined integrity of Christian virtue but a movement of a soul striving toward a perfection illuminated by a special grace.
Aside from all that it seems our Lord deigned to accomplish in this soul to purify and make her a worthy instrument of mercy for others, I observe in her writings the prevailing theme which I would call the paramount meaning of the existence of this creature: The Divine Will.
This humble soul calls upon everyone to comprehend the evil of their personal wills and proclaims that just as the human will represents a common evil which is sin, so also there exists for sinful mankind universal remedy. This remedy is that the Most Holy Will Of God Be The Life Of The Human Will.
If this book did nothing more than impress on its readers the rights of God and his Most Holy Will and affirm his supreme power over the human will and over the power and kingdom of our minuscule earth, I would still maintain that it would make a significant contribution for the good of souls.
Reverend Father, I tell you that it is my judgment both as a Priest and physician that only a mortified and continuously mortified soul, Only A Human Will Fused In The Divine Will could arrive at concepts so basic and fundamental as those which this soul reveals. And this is achieved without studies or schooling, being only on a bed of pain and spasm, with an extremely limited background in literature, theology or asceticism. Yet she Speaks With True Competence about the most obscure themes and gives solutions to the most difficult problems and Takes The Soul Of Who Reads Her Writings To The Most Aromatic Sphere Of Virtue.
It is not the time, however, for me to explain the physical, psychophysical and moral proofs which I have found in this patient. I have moral certitude and, having 65 years of good experience and divorced from worldly concerns and excesses, I reaffirm this moral certitude in as far as it is given to man that the book which your Excellency gave me can achieve a great good, above all because it comes from an unpretentious and virtuous soul.
I thank you for the memorable occasion you have given me and I commend myself to your prayers.
Most respectfully yours in Christ,
Fray Domenica Franze, Medical Surgeon
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