But he wrote to De Held that he would guarantee my conduct if ordained.
De Held then changed and became my fast and constant friend." This is the first mention we find of Father de Buggenoms.

Father Hecker ever venerated him and cherished his memory as that of a saintly friend and benefactor.
On another occasion we find a fuller account of the same events: "Only for Father de Buggenoms I should not have been ordained at all." "Who was De Buggenoms ?" "A Belgian, and my confessor while I was at Clapham.

I was there, not ordained, nor yet making my studies.

I had been forced to give them up; I could not go on with them.

De Held did not know what to make of me, and he treated me harshly and cruelly.