To Pope Pius IX

E V, 2539

On the name of the entire Salesian congregation, he offers his warmest congratulations on the occasion of his episcopal jubilee – the Salesian Society owes everything to the Pope, and the Salesians are at his complete disposal, ‘strong in fighting, intrepid in suffering, constant in working’ for the kingdom of God.

Turin, 3 June 1877

To the Holy Father Pius IX, [from] the Salesian Congregation for his Episcopal Jubilee

The Salesian Congregation, which is so protected and encouraged by Your Holiness, and which has received so much help and benefit, both temporal and spiritual, is delighted to be able to offer Your Holiness its congratulations on this most auspicious day. Having neither gold nor silver nor precious gifts worthy of You, we thought you would not dislike an album showing the current state of our pious society, now in its fourth year since its definitive approval.

We do this not out of vainglory, but solely to recount the mercies of the Lord, whom, as children to their father, we wish to present here to Your Holiness the present state of the Salesians; for if sacramentum regis abscondere bonum est, it is also true that, as Tobit says, opera Dei revelari et confiteri honorificum est.

The secret unknown to men was the blessing You bestowed upon this humble Congregation; the work of the Lord has been manifested in the number of members and in the abundant harvest that Divine Providence has placed in their hands and where they are currently working.

There are therefore four hundred and fifty Salesians already working in institutions specially founded in Piedmont, Liguria, other parts of Italy, Switzerland, France, Argentina and Uruguay, without the distance slowing down the good will of these evangelical workers.

Linked to the Salesian Congregation is the Institute of Mary Help of Christians, whose purpose is to care for abandoned girls in the same way that the Salesians care for poor boys. The current number of these sisters exceeds two hundred. Here, Holy Father, you will find information about the educational institutions, the people who run them, and the conditions of those involved.

This, Holy Father, is all your work, and all the Salesians are yours.

Yes, Holy Father, these Salesians are yours, and they are all ready to go wherever you wish, to work as you wish, happy if they are given the good fortune to give life and possessions for the love of that God, of whom you are Vicar on earth.

Therefore, bless these children of yours, and may this blessing make them strong in battle, fearless in suffering, steadfast in work, so that they may all one day gather around you in heaven to sing and bless the Lord’s mercies forever.

Fr John Bosco