To cleric Giovanni Cinzano and his pupils at Valdocco

E IV, 1928

“Soon I will be with you again; with you who are the object of my thoughts and concerns, with you who are the masters of my heart.”

Rome, 7 March 1874

My dear Cinzano and all your dear students,

You made an excellent proposal when you asked your students to give me two weeks of excellent behaviour. The idea was commendable, and the outcome was highly commendable.

You do not speak to me about yourself, but when you say that for two weeks they were all optime, I believe that this word all also includes your reverend person, is that not so?

I therefore thank you and all the students for the gift you have given me; I will show my gratitude when I arrive home. A glass of pure wine, a dish, a sweet, etc. etc. will be the token of my appreciation that I will give to each of you.

Soon I will be with you again; with you who are the object of my thoughts and concerns, with you who are the masters of my heart, and who, as St Paul says, wherever I go, are always gaudium meum et corona mea. I know you have prayed for me, and I thank you for that; I will tell you later about the fruit of your prayers.¹

But, my dear sons, motus in fine velocior, I now need you to double your prayers and fervour; and to continue with your good behaviour.

There is little I can do for you, but God has prepared a great reward for you. I will pray for you too, I bless you all from my heart, and do me the favour of receiving Holy Communion once with a Pater and Ave to St Joseph.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you. Amen.

Tu vero, Cinzano fili mi, age viriliter ut coroneris feliciter, perge in exemplum bonorum operum. Argue, obsecra, increpa in omni patientia et doctrina. Spera in Domino: ipse enim dabit tibi velle et posse. Cura ut coniuges comites Viancino visites, eosque verbis meis saluta, eisque nomine meo omnia fausta precare. Vale in Domino.

Joannes Bosco sacerdos