4. Scalabrini to Corrigan¹⁵

         Piacenza, January 7, 1888

Most Reverend Excellency,

May God bless you, Venerable Monsignor, and reward you abundantly for the exquisite charity with which you encourage the work of evangelization of Italian immigrants.

            I am obliged to you beyond measure. It seems to me that we understand each other perfectly regarding our subject matter, as we will understand each other in everything. If I were not quite inferior to Your Excellency in every aspect, I would say that we are old and sincere friends.

            Last November I was in Rome where I received your letter of October¹⁶ which I left with His Eminence Simeoni¹⁷. Several matters were decided in favor of the emigrants, among them the foundation in Piacenza of an Apostolic Institute of Missionaries for these emigrants and especially for those of America, no country excluded. The Institute is already opened and five priests have entered and several others are seeking admission. However I am proceeding very slowly in accepting them since I want individuals who are truly spiritu Christi ducti (led by the spirit of Christ), who would raise the morale of our countrymen and the prestige of the Italian clergy by their zeal and the sanctity of their lives. In the Institute, English and Spanish are studied, and sacred sciences are reviewed.

            The proposal¹⁸ of the beloved and zealous Father Marcellino, whom I warmly recommend to Your Excellency, is good and in the future it can be adopted as circumstances will allow. For the time being, however, it is not convenient to discuss it. We should rather direct all energies to the implementation of the decisions already taken which will be communicated in a short time, I hope, to the entire venerable American episcopate with a letter from the Holy Father who has shown great interest in our very important project.

            I believe that Your Excellency will have received by now the copies of the Catechista Cattolico. May this modest but dear magazine do some good and produce in America those positive results it has produced here.

            I am enclosing with this letter a copy of the Brief of the Holy Father¹⁹ and a summary of the Rules for the Missionaries, so that Your Excellency may know what we intend to do. The rest will be mailed at the appropriate time for your information and norm.

            I ought to write the same thing to Father Marcellino but I will not do it knowing that it will be a great joy for him to hear them from Your Excellency, his beloved and venerated pastor.

            I embrace you in osculo sancto (with a holy kiss), and commend myself to your prayers and I remain

Your Excellency’s Most Devoted and Affectionate Confrere,

John Baptist, Bishop