To the young people at the house in Valdocco, Turin

E IX 4195

‘It is true that it takes a lot of effort to go around, give audiences from morning to night, visit benefactors; on certain days I felt very ill due to fatigue and my infirmities, but thinking of you made that effort sweet. Because I always think about the Oratory; especially in the evening when I can have some quiet time, I think about the Superiors and the young people, I talk about them with those close to me, and I pray for them constantly.’

Toulon, 20 April 1885

My dear boys,

I went to France and you can guess why. You destroy the loaves, and if I didn’t go looking for the conquibus [the wherewithal], the baker would cry out that there is no more flour and that he has nothing to put in the oven. Rossi the cook would tear his hair out and shout that he doesn’t know what to throw into the pot.

Since the cook and the baker are right, and you are even more right than they are, I had to go in search of fortune so that my dear children would have everything they need.

It is true that it takes a lot of effort to go around, give audiences from morning to night, visit benefactors; on certain days I felt very ill due to fatigue and my infirmities, but thinking of you made that effort sweet. Because I always think about the Oratory; especially in the evening when I can have some quiet time, I think about the Superiors and the young people, I talk about them with those close to me, and I pray for them constantly.

And do you think of me too, pray for me? Oh yes, certainly, because your Rector wrote to me about it, and his letters, with the news he gave me about the house, gave me great pleasure.

I must make a recommendation here. May is almost here, and I would like you to dedicate it in a special way to Mary Help of Christians. If only you knew how many graces Our Blessed Lady has bestowed in recent days on her good children at the Oratory! The Madonna truly deserves that you give her a token of your gratitude. If only I had time, I would tell you so many wonderful things!

So I propose a small sacrifice to be made throughout the month, and I want you to put it into practice faithfully. The practice is this: Each one, in honour of Mary, should make an effort to keep mortal sin away from his soul by avoiding occasions of sin and frequenting the sacraments. Last year we had cholera in Italy: but in the future we may have something worse. We therefore need Our Lady to spread her mantle over us.

Let us be prepared. I hope to be back with you soon, and I ask the Rector to make sure that we are all in good spirits in the refectory on that day. You like cheerfulness, don't you? I like it too, and I wish and pray that the Lord will one day grant you all, grant me that eternal joy he has prepared for those who love him.

May the Lord bless you and always believe that I am

Your most affectionate friend

Fr John Bosco