To the Rector of the college at Borgo san Martino, Fr Giovanni Bonetti

E II, 1500

After reading the manuscript on Church History, he suggests a series of corrections and amendments.

Turin, 1January 1871

My dear Fr Bonetti,

I have completed your work and found it to be in line with our purpose and spirit. We will speak about the details verbally. In the meantime, I would like to say that this well-considered work will achieve its full purpose if the history of religion is accompanied by the pleasantness of the facts.

To achieve this, greater expansion is needed. Something can be achieved without repeating what has already been done in the following way:

1. Divide the first period into three books. The first is entitled Apostolic Times and covers the period up to the death of St John the Evangelist. The second: The Disciples of the Apostles until the death of St Irenaeus in 203. The third: The triumph of Christianity in the Persecutions This should be linked to the following thoughts: the Apostles preach the Doctrine of J.C. and their disciples continue, the martyrs who have received it shed their blood for it. Each book will be published as a separate volume. Chapters with sequential numbers.

2. Longer digressions, such as those on the arrival of St Peter in Rome, the authenticity of the four Gospels, etc., will be placed at the end of each book. This is how the series of events is best continued. Please note that these digressions at the end of the work will have to be reprinted and published as a separate volume, like a treatise on Church History.

3. Many notes can be inserted in the text and other notes can be added at the bottom of the page. Sandini, Historia Sacrae Familiae; Idem: Historia Apostolorum can provide useful information and clarification for the first book. It would be worthwhile reading Tullio Dandolo, Roma e i Papi [Rome and the Popes]. We have these authors here.

4. You will easily be able to accomplish your work if you develop and expound upon the deeds of the saints mentioned in the canon of the Mass, in the Litany of the Saints, or in the Roman Breviary. Nor should the account of the martyrdom of those popes whose deeds are authentic be omitted.

5. Show St Peter’s action concerning the Centurion; his release from prison, his dwelling in Jerusalem, and in Antioch. Discuss each apostle’s letters and why they were written. Among the disciples of St Peter, let there be a substantial chapter on St Nereus and Achilleus (May 12), St Apollinaris (July 23), and others whose deeds are well-documented.

6. Once you have made these additions and any others that your astute mind deems appropriate, send them to me, noting the place where they are to be inserted, and I will entrust everything to my factotum Berto, who will put everything in order and clean it up so that it can be sent back to you to read, etc.

I know that you never encounter difficulties in anything, but if you do encounter any, we will smooth them out when we meet in person.

Fr John Bosco

N. B. A beautiful chapter depicting the main events in the life of St Paul, the martyrdom of St Andrew, episodes from the lives of St John the Evangelist, St Cecilia and St Urban, St Sebastian and St Caius, etc.