To Cooperators at S. Nicolás de los Arroyos (Argentina)

E IX, 4351

He thanks them for their help to the missionaries — the Pope, pleased with their charity, grants a plenary indulgence for their deceased — full agreement with the archbishop and the parish priest — his health is too precarious to guarantee a further letter.

Pinerolo, 25 July 1886

To my worthy and charitable Cooperators, to all their relatives and friends living in the city and neighbouring villages of San Nicolás de los Arroyos in America.

Your religion and charity, charitable friends, Cooperators, is well known in America and Europe, especially for the constant protection you give to our dear sons who live among you. They left our country willingly to take up their sacred ministry for the glory of God and the spiritual benefit of your souls, especially those of young people. This was strongly recommended to them before they left by those who loved them so much and love them so much in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know that you help them, and what little they already have is all due to your charity. Continue your work, and I will continue to pray to the Lord for you, that his graces may multiply in all your affairs and your families. Our good works were recounted to our Holy Father Leo XIII, who took great comfort in hearing about them. He asked me to “communicate my special benevolence, tell them that I bless them all from my heart, granting a special indulgence, but a plenary one, to be obtained by all Cooperators, their families, and their deceased relatives who are in need of suffrage in the pains of Purgatory.” You know that my Salesians do not possess temporal goods; their heritage is your piety and your charity. Archbishop Aneyros, our most venerable Archbishop, Monsignor Pietro Ceccarelli, Parish Priest and Vicar of S. Nicolás, are the ones who encouraged us to come among you, and our trust is entirely in them and in you. If God keeps me alive, I hope to write you another letter, but it is not certain because, being very old, I can hardly write and it is even more difficult for me to be understood.

However, I have great hope in your prayers and in the good news that I hope to receive from you whom I love in J. C. and for whom I make special mention every day at the altar of the Lord. May God bless us, and may the Holy Virgin Mary guide us all safely on the path to heaven.

Your most affectionate friend,

Fr John Bosco