(on the 60th anniversary of the death of Bishop Pavel Huyn)
P. Gorazd Cetkovský, O.Carm.
Sixty years ago – on October 1, 1946, Pavel Count Huyn (born February 17, 1868, in Brno) passed away in Bolzano, South Tyrol, former Bishop of Brno (1904–1916) and Archbishop of Prague (1916–1918). It was also through his efforts that the Carmelite brothers finally arrived in Kostelní Vydří in 1908 (almost two hundred years after the establishment of the pilgrimage site of Our Lady of Mount Carmel). Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to regard this shepherd of the church as a benefactor of Carmel and a co-founder of the monastery.
It must be said openly that the mark left by Bishop Pavel Huyn in the church history of Moravia and Bohemia is not unambiguous. To this day, many anecdotes circulate about his fiery nature and strictness, or anecdotes about his poor Czech. He was often attacked for his aristocratic background, German descent, and alleged hostility to the Czech nation. On the other hand, it is demonstrable that he tried to ensure that the faithful of both nationalities were well cared for in the diocese and that he performed his pastoral duties with the utmost responsibility of which he was capable.
This year also marks ninety years since he was called from Brno to the episcopal throne in Prague and became its archbishop. In the following years, it became apparent that this was not a very wise decision (just like the appointment of the Austrian nobleman Cardinal Lev Skrbenský as Archbishop of Olomouc). During the October coup in 1918, Archbishop Huyn was on a visitation in Cheb. From there, under the impression of the tumult of events, he went abroad and resigned from his position as Archbishop of Prague the following year. His planned appointment as a cardinal also did not come to pass. In 1921, he was appointed titular patriarch of Alexandria. He spent the remainder of his life in Italy.
Bishop Huyn called the Carmelites to Kostelní Vydří after visiting the parish there in the summer of 1907. During this visit, a conflict arose in the church – before the entire parish – between him and the local pastor. The pastor had been serving there for over twenty years and was already thinking of retirement. The bishop then seemed to hasten his departure. Stories of similar unpleasant encounters during visitations circulate in nearby Telč or in the not far away – then German – parish of Matějovec.
That the priests were apprehensive about the visits of this bishop was confirmed to me in an intriguingly coincidental manner. When we were recently going through the records in the parish archive in Prague-Liboc, we found among them a private letter that had arrived for the Liboc pastor from Moravia.
The letter indicates that the Prague priest had requested information from some of his friends – a pastor active in the Brno diocese, which was the previous posting of Bishop Huyn – about what the new Archbishop of Prague was like and how to prepare for his visit to the parish. The found letter, which we will publish here, is a response to those questions. The letter captivates not only with its immediacy and specificity. In a certain way, it gives us a closer insight into what we could call the spirituality of this successor of the apostles, from which many lessons can still be gleaned today. At the same time, it serves as a wise defense of Bishop Huyn. Between the lines, we can sense the depth of the priestly heart that was able to write this way about the bishop and his evident weaknesses, with great understanding for the person and such generous love for the church.
Dear friend!
In my opinion, His Excellency, your new archpastor, has a worse reputation than he deserves.
He has faults, like every man, and I believe that none of us behaves perfectly towards all his subordinates and in everything; many also complain. It is a pity that you will receive him with prejudice. Where there is prejudice, everything is criticized unfavorably right away. I have interacted with him enough and I cannot complain. He is quick-tempered, but his anger passes quickly, and it is advisable to remain calm and not to let oneself be drawn into anger. He prefers a certain directness; no long windedness and evasive answers. For visitations, he appreciates a grand welcome, if possible, at the gate, a large attendance and order during the procession. The more societies and corporations represented during introductions, the better, as well as more prominent individuals.
In the church, cleanliness and ample decoration, especially floral, are important to him. He gets very upset when he finds inappropriate items in the church, brooms, mops, ladders, etc. – torn paraments, church linens. If the pastor overlooks something like that, it is best to say that it is not in use. Somewhere in the altars in the back, there is a box where various items are kept; it should be sealed so that it cannot be opened at all. Cleanliness behind the altar! Sacrarium! The tabernacle should have a curtain in front, lined in white, not turning. The cemeteries should be nicely maintained, with separated areas – even if only by a small path – for 1) non-Catholics, 2) unbaptized infants, and 3) suicides. A separate place for each type; when asked, do not hesitate to point it out immediately and clearly. A nice main crucifix in the cemetery. In addition, we have a comprehensive printed instruction for visitations in our diocese, which will likely also be issued with you. When the pastor evaluates his parish and parishioners, he should not unnecessarily belittle them, and when there is a shadow, he should remember to point out the bright side.
In school, his hobby is for the children to learn to invoke a good intention in the morning – and a perfect contrition in the evening. When you teach the children this, it covers many other deficiencies. The catechist tests; it is more convenient if it is tested according to the catechism, but that does not decide; he himself also always catechizes, but not always exactly according to the catechism questions, which may cause difficulties with less capable students. Whenever he comes to the church and has a Mass there, he is pleased by a large number of communicants, especially children, and the order during Holy Communion; he often requests that a thousand small particles and even more (partly consecrated and an extraordinary amount unconsecrated) be prepared, even if they are not needed, and he cannot tolerate any resistance in this matter. School children must be in our care at least four times a year at the sacraments. In the tabernacle, the corporal must be spread out, not to let the vessels be placed on folded corporals. It is best to have corporals made for the tabernacle according to its size. Confessionals must be visible, not hidden in a corner where they cannot be seen. He also calls for midwives and tests if they can promptly baptize, especially in the mother's womb. You will soon learn his special wishes, and those who care about successful spiritual administration will also accommodate him. When he receives complaints that prove to be justified, he is then dissatisfied with the things at the visitation that he does not notice elsewhere. I cannot think of anything else that I should alert you to. Official books must not be torn; otherwise, he will not even sign them. If you need anything, I will always gladly help, but I am confident that you will get along quite well with him.
Looking forward to seeing you, God willing, in 1917
devoted Lehejček
In Tvrdonice, 14/9 1916Consecration must be done both in the monstrance and in the ciborium at least every 14 days, and the renovations in the sacristy must be noted.
I’m scratching, but I hope you can read this!
The author of the letter is P. Jan Lehejček, a native of Býkovec in the parish of Panské Dubenky. He was born on June 20, 1868, which makes him a little less than half a year younger than Bishop Pavel Huyn. He was ordained a priest in 1891 and ten years later became the pastor in Tvrdonice, later also the dean of the Podivín deanery. He served in Tvrdonice for twenty years – until his death in 1921.
