b) REALISM AND CONSISTENCY

"Deeds are what counts"

Your kind letter of the first of this month caught up with me quite far from Piacenza, where I was making the pastoral visitation, the only consolation of my awesome ministry, because the sight of a lively faith, seemingly impossible in our day, helps me forget for a moment the painful situation of Church and society.

I am happy for you and share in your consolations, but you know I don't take documents too seriously or ‑- even less ‑- good and beautiful words.  Deeds are what counts, public and solemn deeds.  Those people have jeopardized religion, the episcopate, and the Holy See in the eyes of well-meaning non partisan people.  So it is supremely urgent that everybody know that those people have no mandate and that their foolish and scandalous excesses have no standing.⁶

"Now I believe only in deeds"

If I were to consider all the compliments I received on my return from Rome from the people down there, I would believe a lot of nice things.  But what can you expect?  Now I believe only in accomplished deeds.  I read somewhere that men of talent are ordinarily naive.  I also must have had some talent once because I easily believed people.  But now I must have used it up completely because I am almost skeptical, salva fide (except for the faith), of course.  By the grace of God, this faith vividly and increasingly enlightens and gladdens my heart, which is often perturbed at the sight of so much wickedness.

And you, my dear friend, how do you stand in this regard?  Really, you have so much talent that no matter how much of it you might lose, you will always have more than enough left to retain an ample supply of ‑- what shall I say? ‑- of good faith and wise naiveté, which lend charm to your austere person.⁷

"The politics of puny expedients"

I sit down at once to answer your letter which I received today.  I thank you very, very much for the good news you give me.  I'll try to put into practice the words: "he hoped against hope," even though I have no hope whatsoever in the politics of puny expedients prevailing down there and instead fear bitter disillusionment.  I hope that, after hearing you out, I will change my views, which are somewhat skeptical.⁸

"The politics of the Gospel"

I was saddened by what you tell me in your letter, but I'm not surprised.  When one acts in all things according to the dictates of human politics and not to the teachings of the Gospel, when one says and unsays with the same ease, does and undoes, praises and blames at the same time, when more weight is given to the divisive outcries of scandalous individuals than to the solemn testimonials of bishops, who are solely motivated by the desire for good, when the most solemn acts of the bishops are treated almost like the work of thoughtless children, Your Excellency, what else is not possible?

But we must take heart in the knowledge that in Leo XIII we have a great Pope who knows how to hold high the prestige of his and our authority.  He will surely not permit that his prudent directives, both private and public, in this regard be de facto nullified.  He is too wise.

The cunning of certain people will not prevail.  He will be in firm control, I'm sure.  I remember very well what he told me orally in this regard.  Confident as I am in his word, I can assure you that, as soon as he can, he will provide a remedy for the very serious problems of Northern Italy.  Fiat, fiat.  Oh then we will be able to cry out in truth: "The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered!"⁹

"Your work is blessed by God, and that is all that counts"

What you confided to me in your letter of the 18th of this month has deeply saddened me, first of all because of what it does to you, whom I truly love, and then because of the festering wound of which it is a symptom.  It is really excruciating to see the holiest of works opposed by those who regard themselves as champions of the faith.

Dear Fr. Giuseppe, you are still young.  Get ready to see even worse things.  I know the world and I know whereof I speak.  I am becoming more and more convinced that we must do good for the sake of good, for love of God alone, without seeking the approval of human beings or caring about their disapproval.  This is the only way to succeed in our work, believe me.  I have great hopes for your work, because it is being opposed (...).  Your work is blessed by God, and that is all that counts.  No matter what people say or do, it will prevail.¹⁰

"The practical knowledge of people and things"

A few days ago my vicar general, who was traveling through Italy, had a private audience with the Holy Father.  The Pope asked him with great concern about my health and expressed a desire to talk to me and to discuss "a well-reasoned proposal he (Scalabrini) has submitted to me.  You could write to him and ask him to

come here if he can."  But after having been assured by my vicar general that I would be going to Rome toward the end of the month, the Pope answered: "Oh, well, if you assure me of this, then don't write."

What do you think, dear friend?  Would he dare invite a bishop to travel to Rome just to tell him that the non expedit remains in force?  Or perhaps the Pope wants to change direction and desires some clarifications?  My common sense inclines me to the second alternative.  But my experience with, and concrete knowledge of, the present cast of characters and of the current situation do not leave me too hopeful.

I will bring along two thick volumes of documents, a veritable arsenal of powerful weapons.  But, if after this gigantic effort to bring order to the various religious, political, and philosophical questions ‑- I want to discuss all of them with the Holy Father ‑- I don't get anywhere, which is quite probable, I will weep over the evils afflicting the Church and dedicate myself completely to prayer and my sacred ministry, doing by myself what I think best for the good of souls.  I won't concern myself about anything except to prepare myself for death, fighting bravely the known enemies of peace, love, and religion.¹¹

"Ideas advance; let them advance"

You come out with certain monkish ideas....  I know you are kidding!

The cells of Egypt...?  Not at all!  Let those who have brought harm to so many souls go and bury themselves there, not a bishop like you who has spoken, written, and done so much to prevent it.  Come, come!  God has placed you on the battlefield and you must stay there, even if enemy bullets are coming at you from all directions.  You are a glorious wounded soldier.  Besides, ideas advance.  They are ideas of truth, love, and peace.  Step back and let them advance.  Victory is inevitable, and you will be able to say that you opened the road for it.¹²