Passionists and the 1918 Spanish Pandemic Influenza. By Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D. Passionist Historian, St. Paul of the Cross Province. March 15, 2020. Email passionistarchives@gmail.com

Pittsburgh Passionists and the 1918 Pandemic Part One is a short introduction.  Part Two describes the historical event.
Part Three is the archival document

PART ONE

The present 2020 COVID-19 virus has been compared to the 1918 Spanish Influenza. :On Friday March 13, I spent the morning digging through the Passionist Historical Archives located within the Special Collections at The University of Scranton.  I also delved
into the in-house archives at St. Ann’s Monastery, Scranton.

In the days ahead, I will post some historical summaries and supporting documents from the Passionist Historical Archives
which will show how the 1918 Pandemic impacted Passionists in Pittsburgh, PA; Brighton, MA, Baltimore, MD, Scranton, PA,
Louisville, KY and Corpus Christi, TX. 

You might ask why this is of value?  Because, for the foreseeable time, it seems to me that this 2020 Pandemic reminds us
that we all have something in common.  At this moment what is most certain is uncertainty.  The history of the 1918 Influenza
reminds us how suffering can suddenly enter our lives.  At such times, how do we respond with compassion and care?  Such
moments do test our faith.  At the same time, history reminds us to be humble.  History reminds us to be courageous.  History
reminds us to be wise. History reminds us to respect our common humanity.  I suggest that a solemn and sacred understanding
of the 1918 Pandemic is a window for us to view this 2020 COVID-19 virus.

This year, as the Passionists celebrate the 300^th anniversary of the founding (1720-2020), we recall that this pandemic is one
of the many ways that the Passion of the Cross is part of everyday life.  With faith, let us lift up and carry our personal crosses;
when possible let us find creative ways to assist others to carry their cross as well.  With confidence, let us as ask God to
provide peace and healing for those in need.

PART TWO Let us now learn how the 1918 pandemic had an impact on
the Pittsburgh Passionists.

In 1918 St. Paul’s Monastery Chronicles, as a center of devotion and ministry, reported how “The State and City Health Officials
closed the City Churches, Oct 15, 22 and 29^th., because of the Spanish Influenza.”  Noteworthy was: “This [was] the first time in
the history of the Monastery Chapel that its doors were closed for Sunday services.  Through God’s Mercy, one of Community
was afflicted and recovered.” P. 263.

PART THREE 

Click here for a copy of the actual archival document.

(Should you find this information of interest Please consider sending these reflections on to those you know and join our sign up list
at the Passionist Archives website www.passionistarchives.org.  May the Passion of Jesus Christ Be Always In Our Heart)

Passionists and the 1918 Spanish Pandemic Influenza.
By Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D. Passionist Historian, St. Paul of the Cross Province.  Email passionistarchives@gmail.com

1918 Pandemic Documentation: Passionist Fathers Godfrey Holbein, C.P. in Scranton, PA and Victor Koch in Baltimore, MD and
the 1918 Pandemic.

Part One is a short introduction.  Part Two describes the historical event. Part Three is the archival document

PART ONE 

The present 2020 COVID-19 virus has been compared to the 1918 Spanish Influenza.  On Friday March 13, I spent the
morning digging through the Passionist Historical Archives located within the Special Collections at The University of Scranton.
I also delved into the in-house archives at St. Ann’s Monastery, Scranton.

In the days ahead, I will post some historical summaries and supporting documents from the Passionist Historical Archives
which will show how the 1918 Pandemic impacted Passionists in Pittsburgh, PA; Brighton, MA, Baltimore, MD; Scranton, PA;
Louisville, KY and Corpus Christi, TX. 

You might ask why this is of value?  Because, for the foreseeable time, it seems to me that this 2020 Pandemic reminds us that
we all have something in common.  At this moment what is most certain is uncertainty.  The history of the 1918 Influenza reminds
us how suffering can suddenly enter our lives.  At such times, how do we respond with compassion and care?  Such moments do
test our faith.  At the same time, history reminds us to be humble.  History reminds us to be courageous.  History reminds us to
be wise.  History reminds us to respect our common humanity.  I suggest that a solemn and sacred understanding of the 1918
Pandemic is a window for us to view this 2020 COVID-19 virus.

This year, as the Passionists celebrate the 300^th anniversary of the founding (1720-2020), we recall that this pandemic is one
of the many ways that the Passion of the Cross is part of everyday life.  With faith, let us lift up and carry our personal crosses;
when possible let us find creative ways to assist others to carry their cross as well.  With confidence, let us as ask God to
provide peace and healing for those in need.

PART TWO: The Historical Events

In 1918, the Retreat of St. Ann’s Chronicles Vol 1. 1900-1927, Scranton, Pennsylvania described how seminarian
Godfrey Holbein came down and survived the Spanish Influenza,

“1919.  Jan 5 The grip or ‘flu’ entered the monastery again on this day taking hold of Father Richard, Confr[ater] Godfrey [Holbein]
was also a victim.  Thank God both were around again after a few days or so.”  [Note that the above-mentioned Godfrey Holbein
was ordained in 1923 and was assigned to China where he and Passionist Fathers Walter Coveyou and Clement Seybold were
all murdered by Hunan province bandits on April 24, 1929.]

Also, biographical summary of Father Victor Koch, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1873-1955) tells of his
relationship to the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic in Baltimore.  Father Koch was ordained a priest on
September 19, 1896.  Father Koch was a missionary, pastor, and religious superior.  He was a curate priest at the Passionist
parishes in Cincinnati, Ohio and West Hoboken, New Jersey.  In 1905 he became pastor at the Passionist parish at St. Paul’s,
Kansas. From 1914 to 1920 he was pastor at St. Joseph’s Monastery parish, Baltimore, Maryland where he built an
addition to the parish school and served the people during the flu.  For more on Victor Koch, C.P. go to www.viktorkoch.com.

PART THREE:

Click here view a copy of the actual archival document on Godfrey Holbein.

(Should you find this information of interest Please consider sending these reflections on to those you know and join our sign up list at the Passionist Archives website www.passionistarchives.org.  May the Passion of Jesus Christ Be Always In Our Heart)

The present 2020 COVID-19 virus has been compared to the 1918 Spanish Influenza.  Take a look at this historic material
from the Passionist Historical Archives located at the Special Collections, The University of Scranton.

Passionists and the 1918 Spanish Pandemic Influenza. By Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D. Passionist Historian,
St. Paul of the Cross Province. March 15, 2020. Email passionistarchives@gmail.com

Scranton Passionists and the 1918 Pandemic.  Part One is a short introduction.
Part Two describes the historical event. Part Three is the archival document

PART ONE 

The present 2020 COVID-19 virus has been compared to the 1918 Spanish Influenza.  :On Friday March 13,
I spent the morning digging through the Passionist Historical Archives located within the Special Collections at The University
of Scranton.  I also delved into the in-house archives at St. Ann’s Monastery, Scranton.

In the days ahead, I will post some historical summaries and supporting documents from the Passionist Historical Archives
which will show how the 1918 Pandemic impacted Passionists in Pittsburgh, PA; Brighton, MA, Baltimore, MD, Scranton, PA,
Louisville, KY and Corpus Christi, TX. 

You might ask why this is of value?  Because, for the foreseeable time, it seems to me that this 2020 Pandemic reminds us
that we all have something in common.  At this moment what is most certain is uncertainty.  The history of the 1918 Influenza
reminds us how suffering can suddenly enter our lives.  At such times, how do we respond with compassion and care?  Such
moments do test our faith.  At the same time, history reminds us to be humble.  History reminds us to be courageous.  History
reminds us to be wise. History reminds us to respect our common humanity.  I suggest that a solemn and sacred understanding
of the 1918 Pandemic is a window for us to view this 2020 COVID-19 virus.

This year, as the Passionists celebrate the 300^th anniversary of the founding (1720-2020), we recall that this pandemic is one
of the many ways that the Passion of the Cross is part of everyday life.  With faith, let us lift up and carry our personal crosses;
when possible let us find creative ways to assist others to carry their cross as well.  With confidence, let us as ask God to
provide peace and healing for those in need.

PART TWO: The historical event

The Spanish Influenza of 1918 hit St. Ann’s Monastery Passionist community in Scranton, Pennsylvania with intensity,
The Retreat of St. Ann’s Chronicles Vol 1. 1900-1927 explains that on October 6, 1918 “The public authorities, state & local
issued orders a few days ago looking to controlling and preventing the spread of influenza which has become a plague over the
country.  These orders forbade the assembly of the people in any place including churches.  It was observed so rapidly that
Mass was omitted & then celebrated with closed doors.  On all the churches notices were placed by the police notifying people
the flu was blamed.”

However, the epidemic persisted.  “The next week between Oct 6 & 13 brought the influenza to the monastery & some ten
students [seminarians] and three of the priests were taken down.  The Bishop strengthened the public authority & directed
that Masses be not celebrated in churches on October 17.  

On October 7, 1918 “The spread of the influenza has necessitated the postponing of all missions & Forty Hours Devotions.
This means all the Passionist Fathers at home.

According to the entry of October 11.   “The month of October formed without any church services.  The quarantine continued
all that time.  Thank God St. Ann’s Parish fared pretty well; while there were a number of cases there were but two or three
deaths.  In the monastery we were likewise fortunate.  There were eighteen infected, but all are well.”  

The month of November “began with churches closed for All Saints & First Friday & All Souls & Sunday Nov 3.”   Then on
November 9, the “closing churches etc. was lifted at noon today.  St. Ann’s Church was then thrown open & Masses will be
as usual tomorrow.

During the month of October, Oct 11, a letter from the Provincial dispensed matins, deciding these hours be said after the
Rosary & the observance of the Rule, directed the students to take an hour cessation after Vespers; the celebration of a
Novena of Masses & the celebration of a novena of November These dispensations whilst until Nov 12.

PART THREE:

Click here to view a copy of the actual archival document.

(Should you find this information of interest Please consider sending these reflections on to those you know and join our sign up list at the Passionist Archives website www.passionistarchives.org.  May the Passion of Jesus Christ Be Always In Our Heart)