18. Scalabrini to Corrigan⁴²

         Piacenza, October 26, 1888

Most Reverend Excellency:

I received your last letter together with your new contribution of two thousand lire for my Institute. What can I say, Most Esteemed Archbishop? Your great kindness leaves me quite confused. Every day my obligations toward you grow and my impossibility to satisfy them. I shall try to repay you by sending some new workers for your beloved vineyard whenever you wish. For me it is a true consolation whenever I can fulfill any wish of Your Excellency. My Missionaries owe so much to you. In a pamphlet you may have already received I pointed out for public gratitude the help you gave to the newly born institution with exceptional love.

            May God grant you prosperity and bless you, and may He preserve you for many years to our gratitude and affection. To the gratitude and affection of your diocese which has really shown them: plebs sacerdoti adunata et Pastori suo grex adhaerente (the people gathered around the priest and the flock united to its pastor).

            In the meantime I rejoice with you and renewing my sincere thanks for everything, I reaffirm myself with particular veneration

Your Most Reverend Excellency’s

very devoted and affectionate servant and confrere,

Gio. Battista, Bishop of Piacenza