5.  Corrigan to Scalabrini²⁰

         New York, February 10, 1888

Dearest Bishop,

With the greatest joy and a heart filled with gratitude to the Lord, I received your letter conveying the news of your Institute and the information on the rules to be observed by the Missionaries and on the sovereign benevolence of the Holy Father. This represents a promise for the salvation of Italian emigrants. Blessed be God a thousand times over! At last I can breathe freely! There is now a well-grounded hope that we can do something for these beloved souls who, until now have been perishing by the thousands. I could not find a way to come to their assistance! Now I am at peace and am glad!

            Allow me, Your Excellency, to present you with a one thousand lire check as my personal contribution for your Institute. I have had no occasion as yet to discuss this with my zealous priests, who, I am sure, will not fail to back my modest offering with theirs. All, especially two or three of them, if I am not mistaken, will willingly contribute once the Institute takes some practical and concrete steps in our direction.

            Meanwhile, I recommend my neglected Italians to you. If possible, I would like to have two missionaries as soon as possible.

            The most zealous Bishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota,²¹ was here two days ago. He too will do his best to have priests of Piacenza go about providing for the salvation of souls that are perishing.

            Commend me to our Lord and to the Blessed Virgin Mary and believe me always

Your most affectionate servant,

+Michael Augustine, Archbishop