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A file of correspondence between Irish Fr Provincial and Fr John Coyne SJ. Includes a letter from Archbishop Adam Kozłowiecki, Archdiocese of Lusaka, Ridgeway, Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, Africa to Irish Fr Provincial asking permission for Fr Coyne to come out to Africa to look after his archives and to be his companion '...I feel in great need of somebody older, detached from my daily battles and with good sense and experience who would be able to help me personally in both my decisions and my spiritual life.' (15 May 1963, 1p). Includes a letter from Fr Coyne, 85 Eglinton Road, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial concerning Monsignor A. O'Rahilly an ex Jesuit of the Irish Province. Remarks that he visited Mgr. O'Rahilly and '...I ventured to sound him on the subject of his dying as a Jesuit...' Concludes 'You might...think it worth while to meet (him)...and sound him on his desire to re-enter with us...his personal worth is...of the highest. His former allegiance to our Province as well as his continued admiration through the years of its men and its achievements might suggest to Superiors the "congruity" of his readmittance to its ranks in the closing years of his life (24 July 1969, 2pp).

A file relating to an article written by Fr Patrick Gannon SJ in the 'Irish Ecclesiastical Record' supporting a fellow Jesuit's interpretation of a passage in St. Mark. This article sparked a controversy as Fr Gannon's views were disagreed with by Cardinal MacRory (and other eminent scripture scholars). Includes a letter from Fr John R MacMahon SJ (Fr Provincial), St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Fr Byrne SJ concerning the controversy. Remarks 'In reply to a letter from Fr Gannon, I wrote to him to say that I could not allow him to pursue the discussion about St. Mark III, 20 - 21 any further…that I would not approve of his seeking an interview with the Cardinal; that he might write to the Cardinal, but that I would have to see a draft of the letter beforehand.' Remarks that he received a reply from Fr Gannon and includes a passage from the letter describing it thus 'He is taking a most extravagant view of the situation.' (15 April 1945, 1p). Includes a copy of a letter from Fr Provincial (Fr MacMahon SJ) concerning a letter Fr Gannon wishes to write to Cardinal MacRory regarding the difference of opinion between the two men. Remarks 'Let me assure you (and I wish I could convince you) that you are taking far too tragic a view of the whole business. If you could put it out of your mind for a month, you would, I am confident, take a more tranquil view of things.' (26 January 1945, 1p). It would appear from the file that Fr Gannon was not able to put the matter out of his mind and that it was only as a result of his death in 1953 that the matter was laid to rest. It would also appear that Fr Gannon's view was gaining some support amongst scripture scholars when he died.