To Coadjutor (Brother) Bartolomeo Scavini

E V, 2649

He advises him not to leave the congregation and to write to him explaining the reasons that are troubling him.

Turin, 1 December 1877

My dear Scavini,

I have heard that you are tempted to leave the Salesian Congregation. Do not do this. You who have consecrated yourself to God with perpetual vows, you who are a Salesian missionary, you who were among the first to go to America, you who were Don Bosco's close confidant, do you now want to return to that secular world where there are so many dangers of perversion? I hope you will not make this mistake.

Write down the reasons that trouble you and I, as a father, will give advice to my beloved son, which will make him happy in time and in eternity.

May God bless you and believe me always in Jesus Christ.

your most affectionate friend

Fr John Bosco