6

Letter to the Missionaries for the Italians in the Americas

(1892)

In March 1892, five years since November 28, 1887, which saw the beginning of his religious community of priests and lay brothers for the social and pastoral care of migrants, Bishop Scalabrini writes them his first and only official letter. From the formation and apostolic zeal of his missionaries depended the realization of Scalabrini’s project to imbue again the world of migrants with the spirit of the Gospel. The letter’s immediate background is the IVth centenary of the discovery of America. The first house of the Congregation was named after Christopher Columbus. After four centuries a new group of Gospel’s workers arrives in the New World with the peaceful intention to rekindle the faith in the communities of expatriate countrymen with the view of integrating them into the local Church, create a new society capable of regenerating also the Old World.

Though few, the missionaries can achieve much if moved by the spirit of the Apostles. The missionary inspiration grows through union with Christ and with fellow missionaries; it is strengthened by the observance of the Rule, which makes possible the orderly conviviality of the group, and by obedience to the local bishops where pastoral ministry is carried out. The great bishop of Milan Charles Borromeo is presented as the patron of the missionaries. Finally, the motivation of all pastoral action is clearly indicated: selfless love for the migrants and efficient community organization, both stemming from the missionaries’ love of God and the Church.

My Dear Brothers and Sons:

Bound to you by the sweet ties of the love of Jesus Christ and with a heart filled with the most fervent solicitude for the prosperity and progress of your missions, I feel the need to approach you in writing and spend some time with you in order to treat with you of our own affairs and to speak of our family needs in an intimate and confidential manner. I know for a fact that you are good, docile and affectionate, and I have no doubts that you will receive my words gratefully and obligingly and will utilize them to your benefit. By doing this you will be fulfilling my desire which is, after all, the good of your souls.

Thanks be to God, our humble Congregation has been able to assert itself in such a manner as to gain the love of good people in a short time as well as the sympathy of honest men in all circles. My dear and venerable brethren, considering the immense difficulties your zeal had to encounter at the outset, it has, nevertheless, resulted in truly prodigious works. I am so pleased to state that you have been a credit to religion and to our country. God will know how to reward you in a way worthy of Himself.

However, it is not sufficient to have begun well. You must persevere even to the very end. There is much more that still remains to be done. I know that you are still too few for our needs. But, however few you may be, you can still do very much if you are animated by the spirit of the Apostles, i.e., when you are fully aware of the importance and sublimity of your vocation.

The honor which Jesus Christ has conferred on you by calling you to take part in His redemptive work and by numbering you among His Apostles, is great . . . ineffably great. It is to you in particular that He repeats even today those words of comfort: “I have chosen you and have appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain.” Note, He does not say: “You have been called,” but, “I myself have called you,” I, who am the Son of the living God; I, the immortal King throughout the ages; I, who have founded the Church and guide it to victory in the midst of the battles and storms of the world . . .” I have chosen you and have appointed you.” What predilection!

You have answered His call, my dear Friends. You have gone forth and you have done much good. But, I repeat, this is not sufficient. This good must be lasting “. . . that you should bear fruit and that your fruit should remain.”

What is needed for the shoot to bring forth fruit? That it remain attached to the vine. Now the vine is Jesus and you are the shoots, beloved ones. “I am the vine, you are the branches,” He Himself has said.

Therefore, as long as you remain in Him, you will feel truly yourselves, full of superhuman energy, and the results which you will reap cannot be but abundant and lasting. Everything will be easy for you, even confronted with the most serious contradictions. Instead, detached from Him, you would become like a body without a soul, incapable of any good works. You would be like branches which are good for nothing except to be cast into the fire: “Without Me, you can do nothing.”

Therefore, beloved Brethren and Sons, first and foremost you must be united with Jesus Christ. You will realize this union by nourishing faith within yourselves together with the exercise of piety, and by maintaining grace alive in your hearts.

Such a union will result in unity among yourselves . . . that unity for which Jesus Christ so warmly prayed for His disciples and which is so necessary. No class of men, however great their strength as individuals, will ever be able to do great things if they do not submit to the law of unity. Much less will Missionaries be able to do the same because in working with souls as simple instruments of Jesus Christ, they will obtain all their efficacy from this sovereign principle which informs them. For this reason, my dear Sons, I implore you and I beseech you through the love of Jesus Christ and for the good of our brethren, not to scatter your forces by using them, each according to his individual whim and for his own benefit and without any other guide except his own will. Instead, you must be united and be as one: “That they may be one.” You must be one in thought, one in affections, in desires, as you are united for the same end: “I beseech you, Brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing; and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be perfectly united in one mind and one judgement.”

How can you succeed in this? With all humility and meekness, and with all patience, by supporting one another. This is, after all, the secret of the Apostle: “With all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

Therefore, let vain jealousies be far away from the Missionary, as well as injurious words, contentions and competition! Let each one be calm and tolerant in the fulfillment of his own duties. Let each one bear with the faults of others. Let each one make an effort “to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”

Let peace reign not only among you, my sons, but even with the brethren in the ministry. Because of your mission you will often come in contact with priests and missionaries of different nationalities. You must benefit from their experiences. Have towards them the greatest deference; love them heartily and respect them always. Let there by peace in and outside of the home. Let there be peace with everyone!

But peace is not possible without order and there can be no order without a rule. And you, my Brothers and Sons, have your rules approved by the Holy Apostolic See. Be scrupulous in their observance. Only then will there be peace among men, writes St. Augustine, when each single individual will remain faithful to the place assigned him by Divine Providence: “Peace is to be found in that all stay in their place.” Therefore, let the one who among you has been assigned to command fulfill his office with firmness, and, at the same time, with modesty. Let him who must obey, do it willingly, as St. Bernard says, as well as with simplicity, speedily and without hesitation.

Let obedience to your superiors be your uniform.

Obedience, first of all, must be given to the Venerable Shepherds of the American dioceses. You owe much to them. Often, together with me, you have praised their teaching, their zeal and their attachment to the Apostolic See.

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 appointed judges of the activities which are promoted for the spiritual benefit of the faithful committed to their care. They alone are the judges of the time and of the most opportune means to be employed to initiate activities, as well as to bring them to an end. Beware, therefore, of undertaking anything at any time without the pleasure of him whom the Holy Spirit placed to rule the diocese where you are assigned. With humility and with devotion see your father in him. He must invoke upon your labors the blessings of God and because of this, surround him with the most reverent love and with the most heartfelt respect. Let it be your great concern to guide and to train the minds of our compatriots to have the same respect and love. The more they see you docile to all the teachings of the Bishops, the exact followers of all that he prescribes and always ready to follow his wishes and his desires, the more ready will they be in turn to follow your wishes and your desires.

The union that you must have 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 his greatness known; to remind everyone of his good works and to celebrate his glories so that you may win the souls of all men for him. First of all, you must subject yourselves entirely, in mind and heart, to all that he teaches and commands or even simply advises.

Here briefly, are the virtues which will make up the beauty, the honor and the strength of the humble Congregation to which you are the first to belong. Great self-abnegation, great love for discipline and a strong, generous and persevering obedience to your Superiors and especially to the Roman Pontiff. Remember, that you are setting the example for those who follow you.

I will not speak of the obedience you owe to me, as your Superior General and to Father Zaboglio, the Vicar who represents me, because I know that you love me too much to sadden me and to render even greater the account which I must render God even with regard to your souls.

Let me rather manifest to you, beloved Brothers and Sons, that it is my firm will that the following be observed:

1.     At least once every six months, the Provincial of the Province and at least once a year the Superiors of the houses must communicate directly with the Superior General who resides in Italy, and they will render him an exact account of all the activities which have been organized and established in each mission of America, of the results obtained, or which are hoped for, as well as the economic conditions of the missions.

2.     The Provincial, who has, as you know, the greater direction of all the houses and the authority to command all the missionaries residing in his province, must be vigilant over the exact observance of the rules. They shall communicate all the orders of the Superior General, and they shall see to it that they are observed.

3.     The Provincial shall visit each house of the Province periodically and shall make those decisions which are required by the more pressing needs. He shall also exact a faithful account of the incomes and expenses of each house.

4.     He shall be assisted in the government of the Province by two Consultors already nominated by me through a special decree in the persons of the Rev. Father Domenico Vicentini and the Rev. Father Peter Bandini. He will listen to their advice regarding the proper conduct of the missions and the transferring of the missionaries, as well as (what we hope will never come about) to the application of the canonical penalties which are: the Spiritual Exercises, suspension from hearing confessions and similar punishments along this line.

5.     The Provincial will call a meeting with the Superiors of the houses at least once a year to discuss the various needs of the missions and to come to a uniform agreement of action. Those who for whatever reason cannot attend such meetings must send in their proposal in writing.

6.     Besides being vigilant in seeing that duties are performed sincerely and orderly, the superiors of the houses must cultivate and must try to increase in their subjects the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . the spirit of humility and of sacrifice, the spirit of meekness and charity. Let them beware of promoting celebrations which are not in harmony with the American ways and without the permission of the Bishops. Let them be extremely cautious in admitting to their houses and churches priests who are not members of the Congregation. Should the stay of these priests be prolonged beyond eight days, the Superior must have the permission of the Provincial and the Bishop.

Beloved, you understand very well how all these things are necessary for the proper conduct of our Congregation. You surely have comprehended the anxiety and the wishes of your father who is far away. However, I feel secure and I rest assured in reference to all matters because I am only too well-acquainted with the excellent spirit with which you are animated.

To you, Brother Catechists, I recommend in a special way that you perform your meditation and your spiritual reading; that you pray and frequently receive the Sacraments; and that you render prompt and filial obedience to the missionaries in all things, everywhere and always. Remember to revere Jesus Christ Himself in them.

Most beloved Brothers and Sons, continue to give of the best of your talents and strength for the religious, moral and civil well-being of our fellow countrymen. And while you endeavor to keep alive in them their love towards their mother country, be careful not to provoke in their midst anything which would separate them from their new fellow citizens or detach them in whatever way from other people. It is your duty to see that the Italians distinguish themselves through greater respect for authority, through a more exemplary conduct, through the exact observance of their duties and through a more lively attachment to the faith of their fathers. Since they are naturally good Catholics, they will respond easily to your counsel, as they have done until now, so long as they see in you hard-working and unselfish priests.

Be their model in all things . . . in deed, in word, in purity and in seriousness of life . . . in such a way that, as the Apostle writes, even those who are against you will respect you in not having evil to say against you.

In setting St. Bernard forth as an example, I shall say with him: “Honor your ministry.” Notice that I say “ministry” and not “dominion;” “ministry” and not “yourselves.” You will honor your ministry not with vain displays, but with an irreproachable way of life; with spiritual concerns and with holy enterprises. “Following the example of the Apostles, honor your ministry. . .ministry and not dominion; because he who seeks what pertains to himself, wants to honor himself and not the ministry. You will honor your ministry, however, not by concern over your clothing, nor over gold, nor huge buildings, but over the practice of virtue, with spiritual concerns and with holy deed” (St. Bernard to Pope Eugene).

The time has arrived, beloved, to place our Congregation definitively under the patronage of a saint. As you yourselves often expressed the desire to me, his name should be able to identify it and be for it a symbol and a seal.

After having prayed a day for this intention and having invoked the light of the Holy Spirit, the person of the great St. Charles presented itself to my mind more radiantly and sweetly than ever before. I seemed to hear a voice which told me: “Here is the Patron, the champion, the model for your sons!” From that day on, I decided to place you, your future and whatever belonged to you into his hands. Immediately the Saint showed favor to me, almost as a sign of his pleasure by procuring the means for acquiring a Church already dedicated to him. It will be precisely the church which will rise next to the new and large locality which I hope to be able to buy with the help of good people as well as your own.

You shall honor yourselves, therefore, to be called henceforth

THE MISSIONARIES OF SAINT CHARLES!