65. Scalabrini’s Answer to the Addresses at the Catholic Club of New York¹³⁸

          New York, October 15, 1901

I am deeply moved and tenderly touched in heart: moved and touched by the words so honorably addressed to me, which I accept with deep acknowledgement, not as directed to my poor person, but to the Catholic Episcopacy – moved and touched by your etiquette, which is truly gentlemanly, demonstrated when this valiant club and its president decided, after consulting me, to use, by means of their illustrious interpreter, the French language to save me from having to confess that I am unable to respond in English without falling in some errors, which would have truly embarrassed me.

            But I am moved and touched above all by the solemn testimony of affection and esteem which you have shown towards Italy and its emigration.

Yes, gentlemen, I think the religious and moral greatness of the course of our Italian emigration and the political and natural greatness of this hospitable country, whose doors (as the distinguished President of the Republic told me several days ago) open twice, are made to fuse into one and will usher the secrets of a new era into the 20th Century, an era which will not lack either the blessings of God or the development of culture. Thank you, gentlemen, a thousand thanks!

            And now what can I tell you?

            I have traveled a considerable part of your glorious country and I admired again and again with a mysterious joy, which gives me enthusiasm, the great design of God on America. During the celebration of the 4th Centenary of Christopher Columbus’ (discovery of America) I was invited, in Italy, to give a speech for the occasion for the sole and simple reason that the family of Columbus belonged to my dear diocese of Piacenza, even if he himself was born in Genoa.

            One of these talks was entitled ‘the Designs of God on America’. Anyway, what my thoughts were then I saw realized during my pleasant stay among you in my long trips to various states of the Union.

            In fact, when God wants to do great things, He manifests it by means and instruments which he chooses for that purpose. And great things God wanted and still wants for America and with America. I speak principally of North America.

            You see, gentlemen, God wanted to develop this continent of yours with a richness and a magnificence compared to none. Here (in my travels) I saw plains and prairies without end, a prodigal fecundity, forests which make one dream of immensity, mountains with their green tops that seem to touch heaven, wide and deep rivers of water which run without ever stopping from one ocean to another. Here one finds all temperatures, all climates, all types of vegetation. All the produce the earth can yield, which are enjoyed in various parts of the world, you have them all here in one. Here you have all the treasures of the sea, all the minerals, to say it all, in a few words, all the gifts which God has made for the rest of the world are altogether here in America.

            When the appointed hour arrived for the eternal Wisdom to open the vast continent for evangelization, God sent it the greatness among all people. He sent it heroes and saints, starting with Columbus up to the last martyr who moistened the ground of New England with his blood.

            Finally, God with full hands poured on the people born here the genius of material progress, the blessing of social prosperity. And all this began when Asia and Africa (still in the fullness of barbarianism) were just about to avail themselves of the benefits of evangelization and when Europe was suffering under a perverse doctrine and prepared to live with godlessness.

            Now it is a principle of Faith that everything was made through the word – Jesus Christ. Therefore, all God did for the American continent, He did for His Son, Jesus Christ, and Christ does everything for His Church.

            America then – how sweet it is to proclaim this fact before you – is the heredity of Jesus Christ, the promised land of the Catholic Church.

            One day, here, in America, if inertia, the ignorance of the ways of God, the resting on one’s past laurels, the oppression of saintly aspirations, do not deviate the people from God’s plans, all nations will have numerous rich, happy, moral and religious generations, who, while conserving each of the characteristics proper to its nationality, will be strictly united.

            From this land of blessing, inspirations arise, principles are diffused, new and mysterious forces are harnessed, which will be generated to renew the old world with its grasp of the true economy of liberty, of brotherhood, of equality, teaching it that peoples of different origin can very well conserve their language, their proper national existence and at the same time be politically and religiously united without barriers created by jealousy and division and without the arms to impoverish and destroy one another.

            And so, in America and through America, the great promise of the Gospel will be fulfilled. One fold only and one shepherd only. Unum ovile et unum Pastor.

            Then the work of Columbus will be better understood. Then maybe his tomb will be changed into an altar and his glorification will be complete.

            I hope so, yes I hope so, gentlemen. While the world is on edge because it has been dazzled by its own progress, while man exalts with his conquests over matter and commands nature like its owner by getting into the heart of the soil, subjugating lightning, confounding the waters of the oceans, making canals of isthmuses to overcome distances, while peoples fall, rise and renew themselves, while the races mix, increase and mix again, by means of the noise of our machinery, over and above this

feverish activity, of all these gigantic works, and not without them, a work is maturing here below which is much more vast, much more noble, much more sublime – the union in God through Jesus Christ of all men of good will. The servants of God who work unconsciously in complementing His designs, have been numerous in every age. But in the great historical epochs of social renewal, these have been more than can be recognized. . .more than can be imagined. They are innumerable. Because of this, gentlemen, know this well; do not ever forget it. This supreme purpose preordained by Providence for humanity is not the conquest of matter by means of the advance of science and not even by the formation of a great people in which there occurs the genius of strength, of know-how, of riches. Is this not so? . . . But the union of the soul in God through Jesus Christ and of his visible representative, the Roman Pontiff.

            The obstacles which still oppose this highest design disappear little by little and a day will come, it will come above all in this great and glorious country, in which nations knowing where greatness lies, will feel the need of returning to the Father and they will return.

            That day will come, gentlemen, that fortunate day in which all the accents, all the voices of different tongues will raise to the Omnipotent a canticle of praise and thanksgiving, the Son of Truth will shine more luminously and the rainbow of peace will arch its colors over the earth to all its people. It will be like an arc of triumph under which the Catholic Church will pass victorious and peaceloving, taking with it the modern world and society, becoming again Christian. In order and justice, it will continue its walk towards true liberty, true culture and true progress.

            Let us hasten, gentlemen, in prayers and works towards that blessed day.

            Let us hasten. I would like this voice of mine to reach out to all you Catholics of the United States, keeping yourselves united as children to their Father, to this zealous episcopacy, which will provide leadership and counseling, which themselves will come from that supreme bishop, who nurtures for them and their flocks an affection which is truly paternal and who directs and governs all with a wisdom which comes from on high and which cannot ever err.

            Let us hasten. I speak to you in particular, the Catholics of New York, to surround by true love this venerable archbishop of yours, who honors this great see and the entire Catholic Church with his wisdom, his zeal, his piety and the splendor of his Apostolic virtues.

            Finally, assuring you gentlemen, that this reception will be one of the kindest memories of my life, again I give wholehearted thanks on my behalf and on behalf of my fellow-countrymen. I pray that God will recompense you and your families and keep you all in His Holy protection.