a) A NEW PASTORAL METHOD

"Those you gave me I have guarded"

Pray also for me because today, the 20th anniversary of my consecration as bishop of your souls, I feel more than ever the weight of responsibility I have for you before God.  My dearly beloved sons and daughters, ask God to grant me the grace to love you always as I love you today and to be able to say with serenity and confidence when I hand you back to him at the end of my life: "Father, those you gave me I have guarded and none of them was lost!"¹

"To win over all people to Christ: this is the constant and supreme aspiration of my soul"

Thirty years have passed since this precious portion of Christ's flock was entrusted to my care.  One day, which cannot be far off, I must render God a most strict account of my stewardship.  Will I have the joy of telling him: "Father, those you gave me I have guarded and none of them was lost through my fault"?

This awesome thought is always before my mind.  It impels me; it spurs me on to make up for the failures and defects of my long episcopal reign with a thorough and comprehensive visitation.

So, dear brethren and children of mine, I am announcing to you that I have decided to personally conduct the 6th pastoral visitation of each and every parish of my diocese.

Considering my age, I should surely be dismayed at the prospect.  But so keen in me is the desire to see and address you once more as your shepherd and father that no difficulty frightens me and no labor is too heavy for me.

But, conscious as I am of my nothingness, I do not confide in myself but in the help of the supreme Shepherd Jesus Christ.  I confide in the help of him who "went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing all sorts of illnesses among the people" and, after moistening the earth with his sweat, gave blood and life for his beloved sheep.

So, my dearly beloved, I will come to you in the name of God.  I will come to announce his will to you, to remind you of the eternal truths, to protect you against the poison of error, to correct abuses, if any, to bring the lost sheep back to the fold, to implore heaven's blessings on your children, to pray for the eternal repose of your beloved deceased, and to bring solace and comfort to everyone and to encourage you to do good.

How blessed I will be if, at the end of this visitation, I will truly be able to say with the Apostle Paul: "I have become all things to all so as to win over all to Christ."

To win over all people to Christ: this is the constant and supreme aspiration of my soul.²

"The good of souls, above all"

However, you did absolutely the right thing by calling a spade a spade, and I don't feel hurt at all that you sent some of my letters to people you felt you should send them to, since, as you know, I have nothing to hide from my superiors.  Only my self-esteem felt a bit taken aback because these were confidential letters, written to a bosom friend, which you are, and, consequently, hastily drafted.

Anyhow, truth, justice, and, above all, the good of souls: this is my ambition, as it is yours.

Let us not get discouraged, my good friend.  Peace, fortitude, prayer.  We must fix our eyes on Jesus Christ and place all our confidence in him alone.³

I have written you know to whom.  I have written him several times, clearly and loudly, maybe too loudly.  I have even told him that he will soon find himself before God, to whom he will have to give an account of an army of souls being lost and of the terrible sufferings being inflicted on bishops, who no longer have freedom of speech or action because they are overwhelmed by the interference of lay people, who are being encouraged and rewarded by those who should restrain them, especially by the usual pharisaic faction, which is being tolerated and indeed supported just when it is trying to subvert the hierarchical order established by Jesus Christ, etc., etc. (...).

I go my merry way, convinced as I am that the faithful and obedient bishops are not those who, out of an ill-conceived sense of respect, foster certain deceptions and perhaps make use of them, but those ‑- and they are few, poor fools! ‑- who sacrifice their peace, their future, their all, so that the Holy Father may be made aware of the deception and that the Church may be free of the disastrous consequences of error.⁴

Unfortunately, the situation is bad, very bad.  Everybody sees it, and no one does anything about it!  Our only hope is in God.  Since not even the loudest trumpets are able to wake up the sleepers from their slumber or make the last illusions come crashing down, we must let God do something.  We will peacefully go our way and try to save as many souls as we can.  The upright will love us and God will reward us.⁵

As for me... "salvation is only in the Lord."  Should we become monks or Savonarolas?  The first would be a fine alternative for those who have a real vocation to that life.  The second would be a glorious alternative for those who are up to it.  But maybe it's better not to do anything and just do whatever we can to promote the glory of God and the good of souls, with the assurance that "if we know how to keep still and suffer, we will see the help of the Lord."

Meantime, let us work, let us pray and hope for better times.⁶

"Lord have pity on the Shepherd, have pity on the flock!"

Beloved sons and daughters, listen to the voice of one who seeks, desires, and wishes only your good.  I told you many times and I am happy to repeat it: for me the greatest source of consolation and joy is your faith, your piety, your loyal and sincere attachment to the Church.

But I cannot deceive you.  I have the duty in conscience to tell you the truth.  Woe to me if I do not speak up!  Listen: evil is also in our midst and it is very serious.  0 Piacenza, my beloved city, think of the faith of your forefathers and mothers.  Look how you have fallen from your ancient greatness!  Who betrayed you?  Who reduced you to such ignominy?  Within your walls I see many people who ignore all the duties faith imposes on them, who insult the faith with satanic blasphemies, who desecrate the holy days, who constantly offend God with their pagan lives, who read blasphemous books and newspapers, who oppose the Church and her faithful ministers, who let themselves be duped like children by all kinds of ideas, foisted on them with pretentious gravity and ignorant pride by astute and boisterous people.  What are you doing, my children?  Are these the works of your faith?  Is this how you reciprocate for the blessings God has lavished on you?  Shame on you, shame on your city!  Do you not see that, by acting in this way, you are turning with insane pride against the Almighty, that you are grieving your holy patrons, as well as Our Blessed Lady, the Mother of God and your mother?  0 Lord, listen to the groans of my deeply saddened soul!  Why did you let me live during this time of deviation and evil?  When will these days of turmoil and sacrilegious profanations end?  Lord, have pity on the Shepherd, have pity on the

flock!

But in the midst of sorrow there is also comfort.  Dearly beloved, I take comfort from the thought that up above there is someone who keeps an account of all the sufferings we endure and our divine Leader and Teacher endured before us.  There is comfort, nay, a soothing balm, in knowing that we are suffering for justice' sake and that we are suffering not with hatred but with love for those who persecute us, so that they might be converted and live.⁷

"This is the kind of shepherds our modern days call for"

The pastor, then, as you well know, is indebted to everyone, always ready to help everyone.  Two extremes must be avoided, however.

Let me be practical, like a father.

Some dedicate themselves so intensely to the salvation of others that they gradually lose their spirit.  They end up by losing themselves without saving others.  They must remember that they do good to others only insofar as they are doing good to themselves.  Therefore they must cultivate piety, for "piety is useful for all things," especially in the works of the ministry.  "Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me" (Jn 15:4).   They should never neglect themselves, therefore, but be ever mindful of their own sanctification (...).

There are others, on the other hand, who, like shopkeepers, set up shop in the parish house.  If asked, they are ready to help people.  They do not neglect to instruct the faithful that come to them.  But they are not moved by zeal.  They do not give thought to the needs and dangers of their flock.  Because of misconceived prudence, timidity, or laziness they neglect the means that are called for.  These men can be compared to flags that stand out on the poles for all to see but do not ripple or flutter in the wind.  The prophet speaks of them, when he says: "They are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph" (Amos 6:6).  Such must not be the pastor's life.  Remember what the master of the house told his servant: "Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in" (Lk 14:23).

These are the zealous pastors that are absolutely needed in our

times.⁸

"Come out of your sacristies, but do so in order to bring holiness"

Venerable brothers and beloved fellow workers of mine, you, above all, must grow ever stronger in the spirit of your calling.  With courage persevere in your parish work, which will not be rewarded by the world but by the One who has called you to the inestimable honor of taking his place in the work of saving souls.  Redouble your efforts and your watchfulness.  Speak out clearly and loudly so as to shield your flock from the wiles of the seducers.  At this time, especially, make every effort to promote religious instruction and piety among the people.  Yes, do come out of your sacristies, as they say today, but come out with your minds and hearts filled with the Holy Spirit.  Come out of your sacristies in order to sanctify.  The sacrifices of your ministry are great, indeed much greater in these days when this ministry is so beset by all kinds of obstacles.  But, in heaven,  these sacrifices, even the smallest ones, are counted up.  So, be patient and take courage.⁹

"Let us come out of our tents!"

A well-known modern writer has said that this is no time to remain lazily in our houses sighing and crying, while the fire of unbelief and immorality is spreading and, like natural fire, threatening to destroy the ark of faith in our land.  So let us get out of our tents.  Let us remember that we have only the weapons of faith and love.  With these let us enter into public life, to the extent civil law and our consciences permit, without taking sides politically, ready to die rather than to make compromises with what is false and unjust.  Let us enter into public life not as enemies of constituted authority but as relentless enemies of evil wherever it may be found.  Let us enter as disciplined men and women who, after the example of Christ and his Church, can tolerate evil itself but without approving it or doing it ourselves.¹⁰

"The pastoral visitation and the celebration of the synod"

You are my joy and my crown.  Neither the fear of dangers nor the fury of unexpected circumstances or tribulations of whatever kind will ever separate me from you.  With Jesus Christ, eternal Shepherd of our souls, may I be able to say in all truth when the time comes: "Father, those you gave me I have guarded and none of them was lost" (...).

The depravity of our days, the clash of passions, and the arrogance of the various factions (why fool ourselves?) have wrought great havoc elsewhere and have not left our own Diocese untouched (...).

A certain spirit of egoism and self-interest is attempting to penetrate even the less affluent classes and to lead them to illicit gain.  And there is more!  Young people are attracted by false promises, and everything is being done to possibly tear them away from all bondage, except the bondage of their passions.  We are going through a period of history that could be fatal to the salvation of many people!  With all my heart I desire that all my good people elude all the snares of this bleak age and always walk the path of truth and justice.

This will happen, dearly beloved, if faith will not cease to reign in your hearts; if you will always be docile to the motherly cares and rules of the Church; if you always remember that, without love, one day neither the applause of the world, nor the protection of the powerful, nor your accumulated riches will count for anything; and that only a soul without sin, a conscience that is upright and just before God, and a life of Christian resignation, adorned with good works, are entitled to an eternal reward (...).

To you, venerable brothers, the apple of my eye and the support of my weakness, I make this one recommendation: read and meditate seriously and tirelessly on all the regulations which, in accord with you, I have promulgated in the Synod and just published since it is my intention that they take full effect throughout the whole Diocese this coming October 15.

The more you conform to this code of laws, the more you will sanctify yourselves and others and call down on yourselves and others the blessings of Almighty God (...).

Venerable brothers and beloved faithful, I am happy to tell you that with the help of God, I have brought to a happy and successful conclusion the sacred pastoral visitation and the celebration of the Synod,

two very serious and important obligations of my pastoral ministry.¹¹

"We must not get lost in the past but prepare the,future

Thank you ever so much for your kind and uplifting letter.  I have the impression the Holy Spirit has granted you the sensus Christi with which to understand the state of your diocese so rapidly and so well.

As a rule, priests who live isolated in the mountains are good, have no pretensions, and are loyal to the bishop.  What they need is not corrections and acts of authority so much as encouragement and loving nudges to do good, as circumstances require.  I repeat: by and large, your priests will not bring you any grief.

Yes, my venerable brother, without wasting time with the past but preparing the future, we must awaken the Christian spirit in our young people, which has been half destroyed by the adults.  It won't be too hard if God gives you the grace to do what you have in mind.  The religious wave of Christian spirit will penetrate into the families through the young people who come together in our youth centers.  Families are always touched very much by the good done for their children.  The care of children and the care of the sick: these are the two tools with which to win all people over to God.  This is what I keep telling the pastors of my diocese. ¹²

"To restore all things in Christ"

It is absolutely essential to put God at the head of society, to lead all people back to Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life; to call them back to the Church, who is mother, teacher, guardian, and defender of all rights and all legitimate authority.  It is essential to train our young people according to Christian principles, to sanctify the family; to restore a balance among the different social classes, in keeping with Christian norms and traditions; to profess the faith openly and fearlessly; to practice all kinds of works of charity, without regard for oneself or for earthly recompense.  In a word, "it is essential to restore all things in Christ." This is the remedy for our ills.  This and this alone is the secret of the greatness and the power that

will ensure the peace and prosperity of both families and nations.¹³

"I would be ready to sacrifice my very own life"

You must not take advantage of God's goodness and forbearance any longer.  You must not fool yourselves any longer.  Wake up from your sleep of death.  Come to your senses, return to your conscience, reconcile yourselves to God.  This is the prayer of your shepherd and father, who loves you deeply.  Dearly beloved, have pity on yourselves.  Fear, yes, fear the day that will come when you will wish you had time to repent but, to your utter ruin, will not have it.  If today you hear the voice of the Lord, repent, repent at once.  Do the number and gravity of your sins frighten you?  Or are you afraid that the God whom you have offended will not lovingly welcome you back.  If I, a poor creature bereft of all virtue, am so consumed with zeal for your welfare that I would be ready to give up my very life for your return to the heavenly Father's house, how great then must be the desire of an all good, tender, and merciful God to take you back to his bosom; of a God declaring he does not want the sinner to die but to be converted and live.  Cheer up, then!  Conquer all fear, dearly beloved, and rest assured of the help of God.

Once you have become friends of God and heirs to heaven, you will taste in this life the peace of the godly and in the life to come the joy of the elect.¹⁴