b) IN THE CHURCH AND FOR THE CHURCH

"Your solicitude as universal shepherd"

Your letter concerning Christopher Columbus (...) has once again called our attention to the miserable situation of those who emigrate in droves from Italy to the Americas every year to eke out a living there.

Yes, Holy Father, the same faith that made Columbus picture in his mind untold numbers of people enshrouded in utter darkness and drawn to foolish ceremonies and idolatrous rituals brings before our eyes a picture that is no less heartbreaking: thousands upon thousands of poor emigrants, like sheep without a shepherd, wandering over steep and rugged paths, generally uninstructed in the eternal truths and precepts of the Christian life, exposed to the snares of wicked and arrogant people whose slaves they have become, miserable prey to the sects, which are more active and numerous there than elsewhere.

We know that, in your solicitude as universal Shepherd, you hastened to come to their help both by challenging the zeal of the American bishops on their behalf and by fostering the foundation of the Istituto Cristoforo Colombo in the episcopal see of Piacenza, an institute for priests who wish to be their guides and to assist them with all the care of the sacred ministry and the inventiveness of Christian charity.

Holy Father, the support and encouragement you thus conferred on Italian emigration will not be the least of the glories of your fruitful and illustrious pontificate, nor will the benefits accruing to the Church and the Holy See from your support be either few or insignificant.

In its work of protecting the emigrants of various European nationalities, the Holy See ‑-without mentioning the innumerable other means known to Your Holiness ‑- now possesses the easiest and surest means to earn the gratitude and affection not only of the emigrants but also of the very nations to which they belong.²²

"Give a new impulse to the work for the Italians living in the Americas"

We, the undersigned Metropolitans of the various regions of Italy, interpreting the feelings of your fatherly heart and of our venerable suffragan bishops, make bold to ask you to give a new impulse to the deserving and meritorious work of the missions for the Italians in the Americas by capitalizing on the 4th centennial of the discovery of the New World.

Since the moral and material needs that must be met for this purpose are, as you know, huge, ever-present and increasing, we dare ask you, Most Holy Father, to direct that on the third Sunday of this coming October, pursuant to your venerable letter, and every year thereafter, a collection be taken up in all the churches of Italy on behalf of the abolition of white slavery, just as you did for the work on behalf of the abolition of black slavery. 

The offerings collected would, if it please you, be sent to the Cardinal Protector of the Congregation of the Missionaries for the Italian emigrants, which has its main house in Piacenza, and be administered and distributed by him according to the needs of the Congregation.

Your Holiness, by now all the dioceses, in fact all the parishes of Italy, one might say, contribute sons and daughters to emigration, in greater or lesser numbers.  So it is only fair that all the parishes contribute to a work that redounds to the good of all (...).

In this way, Holy Father, the Istituto Cristoforo Colombo ‑- which would stand like a living monument erected on this solemn occasion by the Italian Catholics to the great discoverer of America ‑- could have a stable and secure existence and bear ever more abundant fruit.  We ourselves would be much more at peace over the fate of our distant sons and daughters.  Through this collection, very many other supremely important works would have life and growth, such as churches, schools, factories, orphanages, hospitals, and so on.   With that periodical reminder, many priests and lay people would feel the urge to hasten to their help.  The Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide itself would reap significant moral and financial benefits from the collection, and the future of Catholicism in those young American countries would be ensured also in this way.²³

"Under the high patronage of the Supreme Pontiff and of the Episcopate"

The Institute of the Missionaries for the Italian Emigrants, born five years ago in my City of Piacenza, under the high patronage of the Supreme Pontiff and of the Episcopate, has, with God's help, borne overflowing fruit.  Your Excellency knows well the spiritual, moral, and material dangers that are part and parcel of our emigration (...).  Since all the dioceses of Italy contribute a more or less large contingent to this sorrowful exodus, all of them, I am pleased to say, have helped in the work of Redemption by providing material means, as well as priests aflame with the spirit of sacrifice.   With that help, it was possible to open an Institute of Missionaries in Italy, in this city to be precise, and to carry out all the other works of religion in various countries of America, mainly in North America, wherever the Italian settlements are more numerous.

But what has been done so far ‑- although it is a lot given the lack of time and means ‑- is still very little in comparison with what remains because we do not have huge material resources or a sufficient number of workers to replace the worn out and the fallen, not to mention the possibility that the works already begun may wither.  We would need to initiate other rather urgent activities, such as setting up offices of supervision and administration at least in the main ports of embarkation and debarkation both in America and in Italy.  Moreover, I get frequent requests to open new Missions, but I do not know how to provide the help.

Your Excellency, please give me a helping hand with an undertaking that is overwhelming my meager energies.  Please recommend this work to the prayers and charity of your faithful during the Lenten sermons or in whatever way you deem best.  I address this plea to you in the name of so many of our distant sons and daughters who are without religious care and thus in constant danger of losing their souls.²⁴

"I put my trust in the help of my venerable confreres in the episcopate"

Your Excellency, I am pleased to see that the cause of our poor emigrants is very dear to you, too.  The solicitude of a bishop like you, outstanding for virtue and learning, gives me great encouragement

in the face of an undertaking which, to be honest with you, surpasses my energies.  Personally, after God, I put my trust in the help of my venerable confreres in the episcopate.  In the last analysis, we are dealing with an undertaking that will be highly beneficial to the most abandoned portion of their flock (...). 

Your Excellency, there are millions of our poor countrymen and women scattered all over the vast plains of America, "like sheep without a shepherd."  Almost every day, I would say, I get very touching reports from them.  All end their letters pleading with folded hands that I send them a priest.

I sent some not too long ago and I will send more in a few months.  Your Excellency, I will not forget your suggestions, but I need help, especially personnel.  Oh, if you too, with the great influence you exercise, would only speak about this matter to the Sicilians, who are so full of faith!  I am convinced that we could find vocations for the care of our poor emigrants also in your part of the country.²⁵

"We are dealing with a cause that is of common interest"

I have been moved to write you this letter by the urgent and very serious needs of our emigration, to which every diocese in Italy contributes in greater or lesser numbers. 

As you will see from the enclosed letter of his Eminence, the Cardinal Secretary of State, I would like to assign one of my missionaries, Fr. Beccherini, to give a conference in the main seminaries to help make the work for the care of emigrants in America better known and, where possible, to inspire vocations on their behalf.

Your Excellency, would you be so kind as to let this Missionary come to you, too?  I would be most grateful to you, and God would certainly recompense you for it by a luxuriant burgeoning of your clergy?  A holy bishop used to say: "For every one I give to the Missions God invariably sends me two".²⁶

"In this matter not all bishops measure up to their calling"

We need personnel, but unfortunately we don't have enough for the needs.  At the moment, I have seven priests and six lay brothers available here, plus three clerics studying theology. 

There would be no lack of aspirants; but in this matter not all bishops measure up to their calling.  They forget the hundreds of thousands of souls that are perishing ‑- among whom each bishop has his portion ‑- and they refuse their priests permission to go to their help.  What is one priest more or less for dioceses like ours!  Oh, Your Eminence, what lack of generosity even with our Lord!  We should really think about removing this obstacle, too.  Your Eminence, you would render an outstanding service to religion were you to send a circular letter to the bishops of Northern and Central Italy.  To save you time, I am enclosing a sample copy of a letter.  This is the only way to wake up the slothful.  I know it will do a lot of good.²⁷

"Nothing without the bishop"

You owe obedience, first of all, to the Venerable Shepherds of the American dioceses, whose learning, zeal, and attachment to the Holy See you have often praised.  You owe much to them.

Beloved, remember that you are exercising the sacred ministry in the field reserved to their immediate jurisdiction and that they alone are the ordinary and legitimate judges of the works that are done for the spiritual good of the faithful committed to their care.  They alone are the judges of the most opportune time and the most suitable means for beginning activities and for ending them.

Beware, therefore, of undertaking anything at any time without the approval of him whom the Holy Spirit has assigned to rule the diocese where you are living.  With humility and devotion see him as your father, who invokes the blessings of God upon your labors; and as such surround him with the most reverent love and with the most heartfelt respect.  Let your great concern be to guide and train the minds of our compatriots to have the same respect and love.  The more they see you docile to all the Bishop's teachings, strict in the observance of all he prescribes, always ready to follow his wishes and desires, the more eager will they be to follow your wishes and desires. 

Your union with the Pope, the Supreme and Infallible Teacher from whom you received the mission to the apostolate in these distant lands, will become stronger and more intimate through your union with the Bishop.  Mindful that where Peter is, there the Church is also, take advantage of every occasion to make the Pope's greatness known, to remind everyone of his good works, and to celebrate his glories so

that you may win the hearts of all people to him.  First of all, you must submit yourselves entirely, mind and heart, to whatever he teaches or commands or even simply recommends.

Great self‑abnegation, great love for discipline, and a strong, generous, and persevering obedience to your Superiors and especially to the Roman Pontiff: this, in a word, is what will give beauty, glory, and strength to the humble Congregation to which you are among the first to belong.²⁸

"Total obedience to the local Ordinary"

I am firmly convinced that these Missionaries can achieve their purpose only in total obedience to the local Ordinary not only regarding jurisdiction and the observance of Church laws but also regarding the fulfillment of their mission.  It is my firm determination that these Missionaries are not to undertake anything without the advice and permission of the Ordinary.

Your Excellency, it is very important that you know all this so that you may act with the greatest freedom and authority with the Missionaries, admonishing them, correcting them and, if necessary, also compelling them with ecclesiastical penalties.  In all this, you will find me and the provincial superior in complete accord.²⁹

"This is one of the principal points in our Rule"

I am becoming more and more convinced that the Missionaries must depend in all things and for all things on the bishops who accept them into their dioceses.

This is also one of the principal points in our Rule.  Fr. Morelli, who did not observe it, is paying for it and will make us pay as well.  The will of God be done!  I hope that the consequences teach the others a lesson and that Fr. Vicentini will not do anything without your approval.  For that matter, if the Missionaries cannot have the basement, a room will do or a wooden chapel if Your Excellency permits them to continue their mission in that area.  As long as they do good and save

many souls, anything will do.³⁰

"The different nationalities should have a representative in the episcopate"

The good Marquis Volpelandi gave me a copy of the letter Your Excellency wrote to the Hon. Cahensly.

These two gentlemen were deeply mortified, to say the least, by the attribution to them of ideas they had never entertained and asked me to reply for them, convinced as they are that my word will be more effective with you.

Dear bishop, permit me to tell you that this is all a tempest in a teapot.  These excellent men had no intention of violating the rights of the American hierarchy in any way whatsoever.  They never dreamed of asking the Holy See for a double jurisdiction.  Their intention was very simple: to try to have the various European nationalities represented in the American hierarchy, not by a foreigner but by an American citizen.

Was this idea not already offered to the American hierarchy itself by the wisdom and practical sense of things that characterizes this body?  Is this not the method already in practice?  Are there not German bishops in the United States?  Was not Mons. Persico himself, born in Italy, a bishop?  And, if I am not mistaken, is there not presently a bishop who is in some way Italian?

If the question is put in these terms ‑- and these were the terms ‑- Your Excellency can see that no harmful effects could come from the memorandum.  In fact, I believe it would have benefited the whole episcopal body.  Since bishops must provide for all Catholics under their jurisdiction without distinction, they would have received from these aforementioned representatives exact and sure information on the customs, aspirations, and needs of the respective nationalities.  Providing for them would have been much easier, the people would have been much more satisfied, and religion would have greatly benefited from it.³¹

"Freedom of ministry, in agreement with the Archbishop"

The priest, Rev. Francesco Zaboglio, is authorized to negotiate with the Archbishop of New York for the establishment of our missionaries in that city on the following conditions:

1.     The missionaries must have freedom of ministry so that in the church, oratory, or basement assigned to them they may perform all the functions of the sacred ministry, abiding, however, by the conditions the Archbishop believes appropriate for weddings and baptisms.

2.     The missionaries must have free and independent lodging even if it has to be in a rented house so that they can live common life.

3.     The missionaries must be free to take up collections, always in agreement with the Archbishop, for the purpose of erecting a new church for the Italians.³²

"Full and absolute freedom in their ministry"

Cardinal Rampolla ‑- to whom Your Excellency turned ‑- and the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide have asked me to honor the wishes you expressed to them, namely, to have missionaries at your disposal for the religious care of Italian emigrants.

I will seriously consider the holy desire expressed by Your Excellency and will make arrangements to grant your request, which is inspired by your pastoral zeal and love for souls.  So I hope to be able to send you missionaries in a few months.  But I first have to know: 1) if the priests can have a separate residence, howsoever modest it be, so that they can observe the rules approved by the Holy See; 2) if they will have full and absolute freedom in their ministry to the Italians and if, therefore, they will be under the sole and direct authority of Your Excellency, whose orders and plans they must fully honor.  This principle has been adopted in the dioceses of North America, where I have sent missionaries.  The bishops have withdrawn the Italians from parochial jurisdiction and put them entirely under the missionaries sent from Italy to provide for their spiritual needs.³³