To the Bishop of Vigevano, Pietro Giuseppe De Gaudenzi

E IV, 2079

He expresses his gratitude for the letter sent to the Archbishop of Vercelli on his behalf — he describes the outcome of the audience he has just had with Archbishop Gastaldi

Turin, 7 February 1875

Reverend and Dear Bishop,

Thank you for the new sign of kindness you showed me regarding the Archbishop of Vercelli. Little by little. But at every moment there are difficulties.

After your last letter, I wrote to the Archbishop as you had indicated, begging him, for the love of God, to tell me specifically what he found reprehensible in me, and I would accept and follow his advice as a true treasure. As usual, no response. I wanted to go and talk to him myself during a public hearing.

He received me, but said that he had nothing to do with Don Bosco, that he did not recognise the approval of our congregation, and that he intended to command and, if necessary, suspend any of our members. I have never opposed his authority; but tell me what made a protector become such a severe censor? I replied. He continued to criticise the triennial vows, adding that Rome had been wrong to approve them.

I said that all religious Orders, including the Franciscans, take their triennial vows twice, according to a special decree of the Holy See.

And that is bad, he interrupted me, the Vatican Council will put an end to this and all these authorities of the friars will be regulated. Then he jumped on the letter you wrote, repeating what he had already written to you and adding new epithets about you, me and others. He said that I had no authority to receive the vows of our members, and although he already had several copies, he had decrees, rules and rescripts sent to him to have them examined, and I am awaiting a response. I don’t understand any of this any more.

I have made it a rule to remain silent and wait for God to make me understand something. God will help us.

Thank you for all your kindness. Please pray for me, who gratefully professes that he is

Your Excellency’s

most obliged servant,

Fr John Bosco