Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Éamon de Valera, 30 May 1916. Letters 1916-1923 Sister M. Cyprian

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This letter from Sister Cyprian to Éamon de Valera (1882-1975) was enclosed in a letter dated 29 May 1916 addressed to Sinéad de Valera (1878-1975), his wife, together with a pair of scapulars and a request that they be forwarded to Mr de Valera in prison. Sr.Cyprian sympathises with his situation and reassures him of her prayers - she invites him to join her in prayer daily at 7.00 a.m., and she asks him to urge his wife to bring his children to her for a visit.Éamonn De Valera had joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and was adjutant to Thomas MacDonagh (1878-1916), Dublin Brigade commandant. He went on to command forces at Bolands Mill during the Rising and was the most senior participant to escape execution. De Valera would go on to become one of the most influential figures in Ireland's 20th century.

 University College Dublin Archives De Valera Papers, P150/531/002 https://letters1916.ie/item/1473 English Sister M. Cyprian 1916-05-30 Cork Street, Dublin, Ireland. Éamon de Valera Dartmoor, England. Female Easter Rising Ireland 1916

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 Mercy Convent Cork Street. Dublin 30 - V 1916. My dear Mr. De Valera, It is no small draught of consolation that you possess the gift of life - a gift which has become more precious than ever to those who sympathize with you in your loneliness & who love you. Most men of great genius have to go through in life a period of retirement & solitude, brought about by choice or by Divine Providence through the medium of human beings. The Poet & the Saint have to pass this way. Saintship is only a special type of genius. Now your time is come & you will come out of it as the sunshine from underneath the cloud. A cheerful acceptation of the surroundings & the observance of rule, will go far to the shortening of your stay there. The beginning will be the hardest -: as those in charge get to know you they will appreciate you. Since 1 st May I have prayed every day very specially for you that you may get grace to bear this cross & be released soon. I shall begin this '9 First Fridays' for you on 2nd June. If our religion be true — and we knowitistrueGod is with us & since He is with us, we can be in spirit with one another: now I want you to keep a little appointment with me each day at 7 o'clock a.m. when we have Mass &Holy Communion &at 6.30 p.m. when I shall say each day The 30 days prayer to our Blessed Lady for you. I am only asking you to try &remember that you are remembered then. Prayer can obtain all things — hope- & when God acts He doeth the work as God. 'This gloom after all is but the shade of Gods hand outstretched caressingly' The students regret you exceedingly. Mother R.I.P died early in May. I hope to have the pleasure of seeing your little children very soon. Won't you suggest to your wife to have your promise to me in this matter carried out. You will find enclosed a pair of scapulars intended to be a token of good will &do something for you if such were in my power.As I do not know your address I count on Mrs DeValera giving me a corner in her envelope this time. I am already looking forward to the day when you will be once more with your wife &children in the mean time you can live for those you love notwithstanding place or circumstance. Goodbye, my dear friend &believe me that I have paid you the tribute of many a tear & sympathize with you more deeply than I can tell. Trust God not only for the best but for the verybest - try to see the ' L beyond the seems' Very sincerely yours in Jesus Christ Sister M. Cyprian. Éamon de Valera Letter from Éamon de Valera to Sinéad de Valera, c. April 1916Letter from Éamon de Valera to his mother, 18 September 1916.Letter from Eoin MacNeill to Éamon de Valera, 23 April 1916Letter from Éamon de Valera to Jack, 9 May 1916.Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Éamon de Valera, 30 May 1916. Sister M. Cyprian Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Éamon de Valera, 30 May 1916.Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Sinéad de Valera, 29 May 1916 Dartmoor, England. Letter from the Major E. Reade to Mabel FitzGerald, 31 May 1916Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Éamon de Valera, 30 May 1916. Cork Street, Dublin, Ireland. Letter from Sister M. Cyprian to Éamon de Valera, 30 May 1916.