43. Scalabrini to Corrigan¹⁰²

         Piacenza, September 9, 1893

Most Reverend Excellency:

The deep affection which I have always felt for Your Excellency has now doubled as I think of the sorrow and annoyance which you must have felt during these last years because of the disgraceful matter regarding Father Morelli. I did not write you because I did not wish in any way to influence on the decision Your Excellency might have wanted to take in this regard. Now that You inform me, in such a delicate and respectful manner, about this unhappy conclusion, I do not wish to delay an instant to thank you for everything and to express all my gratitude.

            That news surely caused me great sorrow, but I am comforted by the thought that God will derive good from evil. I am ever more convinced that my Missionaries must totally depend on the Bishops in whose dioceses they are admitted. This is also one of the main points of the Rule and by failing to observe it, Father Morelli has suffered and has made us also suffer. God’s Will be done! I hope that this will be a lesson to others and

that Father Vicentini will not undertake anything without your permission. After all, if the Missionaries cannot have the basement of the church, a room, a wooden chapel will suffice, if You Excellency will allow them to carry on their mission in that area. Provided they may do some good and save many souls, whatever thing must suffice.

            To speak in confidence, most esteemed Archbishop, I am rather worried about Father Bandini. He says that he is entirely dependent on Your Excellency, as secretary of the St. Raphael’s Society and therefore it is not known what his exact financial condition is. You would do me a great favor if you would call him in and compel him to clarify his financial status through those arrangements you deem opportune. I am very happy that he should depend directly on Your Excellency, as all the others should, but I would not want this to be a pretext for Bandini to avoid dependence from both of us, turning to us both only when he would no longer find a solution to his mismanagement.

            If you have the occasion, remember me with reverent affection, to your former secretary, now Bishop of Brooklyn, and tell him that if he comes to Italy, as I have heard, I would very gladly see him here.

            In closing, I recommend myself and my Missionaries to your prayers and I remain with a very special veneration,

Your most Reverend Excellency’s

very affectionate confrere and friend,

Gio. Battista, Bishop of Piacenza