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• 1 Letters from Ingolstadt (1–9) ingolstadt, an old bavarian city on the Danube River north of Munich, is the home of a famous university founded in 1472. After the Protestant Reformation, Ingolstadt was an important base for the efforts of the Catholic Counter-Reformation in central Europe in which the Jesuits played a key role. From 1717 to 1721, Philipp Segesser was studying theology at the university and preparing for his ordination to the priesthood. His letters from Ingolstadt record his devotion to his family, his plans for his ordination, his needs for the related celebrations, and his expected assignment to Altötting. Letter 1 letter to his father from ingolstadt, 16 may 1719 Most noble and stalwart father, I do not doubt that both my most honorable noble father and honorable mother will be able to enjoy their happy and joyous Easter in the best of health after a pleasant and meritorious holy Lent. This would give me great comfort. I ask the good Lord to grant me this solace for many years to come. However, since the time for the upcoming trip to Sargans is approaching, I did not want to neglect my duty to wish good luck to the honorable noble father and the honorable mother for this long and inconvenient trip. In fact, I am writing this at a somewhat earlier date because everyone will be occupied with much more important matters than reading my letter. The early receipt of my letter might make it possible , if it is desirable, to write back to me. 2 Letters from Ingolstadt (1–9) It is my fondest wish, desire, and request that the good Lord provide the most honorable noble father with a companion for this trip like the one He sent to His devoted servant Tobias,1 a companion who took all of the worries upon himself, freeing Tobias from all danger, protecting him from all illnesses, guiding him to the place he desired to go, and eventually bringing him happily home.2 This I desire for my most honorable noble father and honorable mother, as well as all those who may accompany them. May their experience be the same as that of Tobias, although this is in God’s hands. I will not neglect to fulfill my duty to offer my humble daily prayer for this to happen and to appeal to their holy guardian angels that they assume the role of Saint Raphael or an equivalent substitute. That trip next month is followed by the feast day of Saint Heinrich,3 the name day of my most honorable noble father, and I take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt congratulations to the most honorable noble father (because it is uncertain that another letter would arrive by then). May the good and benevolent Lord keep them for many years to come, in the best of health, happiness, and prosperity for the greatest benefit of all, and to the solace of all their friends. I also wish that I could be present with appropriate words and a Bindband,4 so that my feelings might be more evident. However, because a man of God is not expected to have any resources but spiritual ones and no one knows what my feeble efforts may achieve at another time, I herewith offer what I can at this time with my limited means and ask that it be looked upon favorably and accepted. Until then I can do no more than to offer my holy Masses on your behalf. As the most honorable noble father knows, if he so wishes, more Masses can be offered and reported to him. When the Father Socius5 visited the local college, he told me that the Reverend Father Provincial6 and he himself had been invited by the most honorable noble father to visit him at his residence, if their journey should take them to Sargans. He told me that this pleased the Father Provincial very much, and, if it would not take them too far out of the 1 The Archangel Raphael. 2 An allusion to the Book of Tobit in the Old Testament Apocrypha. 3 Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II (973–1024), feast day mid-July. 4 A Bindband is a ribbon or other simple token of appreciation given to a newborn and also presented to a family member or a friend on a birthday, name day, or other occasion as a symbol of family bonding or solidarity among friends (Mannhardt 1858: 698...

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