To the Provincial-Rector Fr Luigi Lasagna in Uruguay

E IX, 4255

"You have heeded the voice of the Lord and consecrated yourself to the Catholic Missions. You have guessed correctly. Mary will be your faithful guide. You will encounter difficulties and even malice from the world, but do not worry. Mary will protect us. We want souls and nothing else. May this cause our Confreres' ears to ring."

San Benigno Canavese - Valsalice, 30 September 1885

My dear Fr Lasagna,

The time for our exercises in America is approaching. I insist on the charity and gentleness of St. Francis de Sales, which we must imitate: on the exact observance of our rules, on the constant reading of the chapter deliberations, meditating carefully on the particular regulations of the houses.

Believe me, dear Fr Lasagna, I have had to deal with some of our confreres who were completely ignorant of these deliberations, and others who have never read those parts of the rules or discipline that concern the duties entrusted to them.

Another scourge threatens us, and that is forgetfulness, or rather neglect, of the Rubrics of the Breviary and the Missal. I am convinced that a change of spiritual exercises would have excellent effects if it led Salesians to recite the Mass and the Breviary correctly. The thing I have strongly recommended to those to whom I have been able to write in recent days is the cultivation of vocations, both among Salesians and among the Daughters of Mary Auxiliatrix.

Study, make plans, spare no expense, as long as you obtain some priests for the Church, especially for the Missions. When you have the opportunity to speak with our Sisters or our Confreres, tell them on my behalf that I was pleased to receive their letters and greetings, and that I felt a pleasure, indeed an effective comfort to my heart, in hearing that they have all prayed and continue to pray for me.

Let us all take heart. Mary blesses and protects our Congregation; Heaven's help will not fail us; the number of workers is increasing, fervour seems to be growing, material resources are not abundant, but they are sufficient.

May God bless you, dear D. Lasagna, and with you bless all our sons and daughters, religious and students, and may Mary assist and protect the Buxareo and Jackson families and our other benefactors; may she guide us all safely along the path to heaven.

I am here in Valsalice for spiritual exercises; everyone is in good health and sends their regards. My health is a little poor, but I am getting by. May God keep us all in his holy grace.

Your most affectionate friend

Fr John Bosco