To Pope Pius IX

E II, 736

Accompanying letter to the ‘statutes’ of the Salesian Society, requesting improvements and approval.

Turin, 12 February 1864

Most Holy Father,

With the sole purpose and desire of promoting the glory of God and the good of souls, I humbly prostrate myself at the feet of Your Holiness to request approval of the statutes of the Society of St Francis de Sales.

This is a project that I have thought about a lot and wanted to do for a long time. In 1858, when I had the good fortune to be able to introduce myself to you, upon hearing of the efforts that heresy and unbelief were making to insinuate themselves among the people, and especially among poor and inexperienced youth, you welcomed with approval the idea of a society that would take special care of this most endangered portion of the flock of Jesus Christ. Your Holiness was kind enough to outline the basic principles for me, which I have done my best to follow in this draft set of regulations.

But although I have firm resolve and have done my best in accordance with my limited abilities to implement your advice, I fear that in doing so I may have strayed too far from the intended goal, even in essential matters. For this reason, I would rather request the correction of these proposed constitutions than their approval.

Therefore, Your Holiness, or whoever you deem fit to appoint, please correct, add or remove anything you deem necessary for the greater glory of God. I will not make any comments whatsoever. On the contrary, while offering to provide any explanation considered necessary or appropriate, I hereby declare myself deeply indebted to anyone who will help me to improve the statutes of this Society and make them as stable as possible and in accordance with the principles of our holy Catholic religion.

The statutes consist of 16 chapters divided into short articles, a copy of which I enclose. A separate sheet will provide explanations for some of the most important points. The Bishops of Cuneo, Acqui, Susa, Mondovì, Casale, and the Capitular Vicar General of our Archdiocese were kind enough to add their commendations in favour of the same Society. It currently has over seventy-five members, all of whom have pledged to devote their lives and resources to the salvation of souls.

While we all await in prayer the decisions of the Supreme Hierarch of the Church, Your Holiness, we prostrate ourselves, begging you to grant us the favour you have indicated by imparting your holy apostolic blessing to each one of us.

Meanwhile, in the name of everyone, I have the highest honour of being able to prostrate myself at the feet of Your Holiness and profess that I am

the most humble, obliged and affectionate

son of the Holy Church and of Your Holiness

Fr John Bosco