To bishops

E IX, 4330

Request to support the Pious Union of Cooperators recognised by Pius IX ten years earlier — offer of the Salesian Cooperator certificate with Bollettino Salesiano collection

Barcelona, 1 May 1886

Your Excellency,

Ten years have now passed since the late Pope Pius IX canonically approved the Pious Society of Salesian Cooperators for the benefit of poor youth, enriching it with many spiritual favours. By the grace of the Lord, the number of members quickly multiplied everywhere, greatly benefiting abandoned youth.

Since most of the Most Reverend Bishops of Italy, France, Spain and other regions have honoured the Pious Institution with their names, I take the liberty of sending you the Cooperator certificate together with the volume of Bulletins containing most of the History of the Oratory of St Francis de Sales, in accordance with your wishes.

I have no doubt that Your Excellency will kindly accept them, and I hope that with your valuable support you will cooperate in the expansion of this pious institution in your diocese, for the benefit especially of young people of both sexes.

In commending to Your Excellency’s charity the numerous poor young people gathered in the Salesian Institutes, I reverently kiss the Sacred Ring and, with profound veneration and the highest esteem, I remain

Your Reverend Excellency’s

Most devoted and obliged servant,

Fr John Bosco