1. Scalabrini to Corrigan⁶

         Piacenza, August 18, 1887

Most Reverend Excellency,

Your most esteemed and welcome letter arrived on July 24. It shows that the spirit of your Excellency is all zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.⁷ I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the goodness that you deign to show me. How fortunate I would consider myself to be close to you so as to be able to avail myself more easily of your wise counsel.

            Unfortunately, the complaints of Your Excellency regarding the Italian emigrants in America are quite true. On the other hand, Most Excellent Monsignor, allow me to point out to you in turn that we must distinguish between Northern and Southern Italy. Even in matters of  religious instruction, from what I am told, the difference between North

and South is very striking indeed. Here among us the influence of St. Charles Borromeo is still felt: if religious education is not everywhere as it would be desirable, generally speaking it is at least sufficient. Certainly, it would be necessary to give it a greater impulse. To contribute in some manner to such a holy undertaking, I have founded several years ago the Catechista Cattolico (Catholic Catechist)⁸, a magazine of fairly wide circulation which has been highly praised by the Holy Father. Could you not, Your Excellency, circulate it also among the Italians residing in your diocese? In fact, would you be disposed to honor it, with some of your own articles on the subject? This would be something most welcome to everyone and of great advantage to the poor emigrants themselves. With this hope in mind, I am sending you a few issues of the magazine and ask that you forgive my boldness.

            You have kindly offered to write me about Italian priests and lay persons residing there. I would be very much obliged for the favor. In fact, with God’s help, I intend to busy myself again with this important matter. The pamphlet that you have kindly read has been received very favorably in Italy, but until now verba verba praetereaque nihil (words, words and nothing else).⁹ The Holy See, however, seems willing to take some serious measure. Unfortunately, up to now the priests who have left for America, with few exceptions, were nothing more than rejects of Italian dioceses. Now we would like to send priests worthy of their vocation, men who are prudent, zealous and unselfish, and who would be at the total disposal of the bishops of America. With this in mind, I presented a modest proposal to Propaganda Fide and I hope that something will be done.¹⁰ I also hope to see established here in Piacenza a house where we can receive, instruct and prepare priests who intend to dedicate themselves to the evangelization of their emigrant countrymen in America. Vocations would not be lacking; what I lack are financial means. How wonderful if some wealthy American were inspired by God to come to my assistance!

            I do not want to trouble you any longer, Most Excellent and Venerated Archbishop. Commend me to God; keep your precious benevolence toward me; and permit me to express my deepest gratitude and veneration for you.

Your Most Reverend Excellency’s

Most Devoted Servant,

Gio. Battista, Bishop of Piacenza