Brian Condon: Diary of James Alipius Goold, 1848-1886

Thursday August 1st. Commenced Mission with Mass. Addressed the Congregation after the 1st Gospel. Explained the religious exercises to be observed during the Mission. Named the hours for Confessions - morning and evening devotions and instructions. Preached in the evening.

Friday August 2nd. Celebrated Mass at 8.30. Preached. Heard Confessions at the hours appointed. People attend very well. Evening - night devotions. Rosary - instruction - Confessions.

Saturday August 3rd. At 9 o'clock Mass and the usual prayers for the Mission. All day and evening up to a late hour engaged hearing Confessions. Read or walked about during the intervals of interruption. Dinner at the usual hour.

Sunday August 4th. Celebrated Mass at 11 and preached. Administered Confirmation before Mass. A great many went to Holy Communion. Vespers - Sermon and Benediction in the evening in St Francis.

Monday August 5th. Celebrated Mass in College Chapel at the usual hour. Heard Mass and Confessions afterwards in St Francis. Divine Office - meditation. Business up to 12. Short walk. Read for an hour - Vespers. Dinner. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Tuesday August 6th. Matins - Mass. Heard Mass afterwards and recited Hours. Heard a few Confessions. Engaged with business and letters up to 1. At 1 meeting of Catholic School Committee. Walked home - read a little - recited Vespers. Dinner. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Wednesday August 7th. At a little after 7 said Mass. Heard Mass. Recited Hours. Breakfast - meditation - letter writing. Business up [to] 12.30. A short walk home - read until 2.30. Recited Vespers. Dinner. Went out for a drive. Returned about 6.30.

Mission commenced this evening for the people of Melbourne. Recited Rosary, preached - recited prayers for Novena. Gave Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Heard Confessions.

Thursday August 8th. Celebrated Mass at the usual hour. Heard Mass and Confessions - recited Hours. Breakfast. Wrote letters - transacted business up to 1. Meditation rather late. Evening exercises of the Mission - sermon - Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Confessions. Crowds attend.

Friday August 9th. Mass - heard Mass and Confessions - breakfast - Divine Office. Meditation. Letters - business - study for 2 hours. Mission - sermon - Benediction - Novena - Confessions. Church very crowded.

Saturday August 10th. Mass - Heard Mass - Confessions - Hours. Breakfast. Meditation. Business - Confessions up to 4. Studied at intervals during the day. Novena - Confessions.

Sunday August 11th. Celebrated Mass at 8 and preached. A great many received at this Mass. After thanksgiving heard a few Confessions. After breakfast finished the morning's Office - made meditation. Studied a good part of the day. Visited the St Francis Church and two Chapels at the hour for teaching the Christian Doctrine. Evening - Vespers - sermon - Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Monday August 12th. Mission continued. Celebrated Mass at the usual hour. Afterwards heard Mass - recited Hours - heard Confessions. Breakfast - meditation. Wrote letters - business up [to] 12.30. Heard a few Confessions during the day. Study at intervals. A short drive after dinner. Night - Rosary - sermon - Benediction - Novena - Confessions.

Tuesday August 13th. Mass. Heard Mass - recited Hours. Heard Confessions. Breakfast. Meditation - letters - business. At 1 meeting of Catholic School Committee. Short walk - a little study - Vespers - dinner. A short drive. Evening - Rosary - Sermon - Novena - Confessions.

Wednesday August 14th. Celebrated Mass. Heard Mass. Duties of he Mission continued. Confessionals well attended. Evening - Novena - Confessions up to a late hour.

Thursday August 15th. A solemn High Mass. Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Conclusion of Mission or Spiritual Retreat. Great fruit, thank God, has blessed it.

Friday August 16th. Heard Mass this morning. Recited Divine Office whilst hearing Mass. Meditation. Letters and business at the usual time. A walk home. Read and studied a little. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Saturday August 17th. Duties religious and secular as usual. Confessions at the times appointed.

Sunday August 18th. At 8 o'clock Mass and instruction. Thanksgiving. Returned home from St Francis about 10.30. Read and studied until 2.30. Visited Christian Doctrine classes in St Mary's and St Francis. Evening - Vespers - sermon and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Monday August 19th. Devotional and Church duties same as usual. Engaged in office from 10 to 12.30 p.m. Short walk. Read and studied a little before dining. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Tuesday August 20th. At the usual hour - Mass. Heard Mass - afterwards Hours - Meditation. Business from 10 to 12. At 1 meeting of School Committee - over about 2.30. Evening prayers - Confessions.

Wednesday August 21st. Mass at a little after 7. Heard Mass - Confessions - Hours - meditation. Business from 10 to 1. A short time for study and reading before dinner. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Thursday August 22nd. Duties same as yesterday. Some school business transacted. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Friday August 23rd. Mass at the usual time. Heard Mass. Recited Hours. After breakfast meditation. Business, read and wrote letters. Took a walk - recited Vespers - read until dinner time. Evening - prayers and Confessions.

Saturday August 24th. Heard Mass this morning. Recited Matins and Hours - meditation. Read and studied at intervals. Confessions from 2 to 4 - evening from 7 to 10.

Sunday August 25th. Mass at 8. Instruction after the first Gospel. Recited Lauds and Hours. Meditation. Read and studied from 11 to 2. Visited St Francis and St Mary's at the hours for the Christian Doctrine. Evening - Vespers - sermon and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Monday August 26th. Morning devotions - Divine Office. Mass at a little past 7. Went to St Francis. Heard Mass - heard Confessions - Meditation. Business from 10 to 1. Evening - night prayers and Confessions.

Tuesday August 27th. After the usual morning devotions and preparation - Mass. Heard Mass - recited Small Hours - meditation. Visited a few of the schools. Evening - night prayers and Confessions. Meeting of School Committee today.

Wednesday August 28th. Celebrated Mass - heard Mass - Divine Office - Meditation. From 10 to 12.30 business - a little study when possible. A short walk before dinner. Evening duties as usual.

Thursday August 29th. Engaged as yesterday. Religious duties as usual.