Em IX, 4281

Turin, 8 December 1885

My dear sons in Jesus Christ,

Troubled by various discomforts, feeling my strength diminish every day, I had already been feeling for some time the need for relief and support in fulfilling the mission that divine providence had entrusted to me.

I saw the need for someone who could effectively help me in carrying out my various tasks and who would also be responsible for everything necessary for the smooth running of the Pious Society of St. Francis de Sales.

To this end, therefore, I thought of choosing a vicar to represent me and be like another self, a vicar who would have this special office, that the traditions we have observed so far remain intact and are preserved after me by those who follow us. I am referring to those traditions that are the practical norms for understanding, explaining and faithfully practising the rules, as definitively approved by the Holy Church, and which form the spirit and life of our Pious Society. For it is my most ardent desire that, when the hour of my passing to eternal life comes, our affairs should not be disturbed or changed in any way.

Some time ago, while I was meditating on this need, the Supreme Pontiff, of his own accord, wrote to me through His Excellency Archbishop Jacobini Domenico, asking me who among our confreres I thought was fit to take my place in the supreme direction of the Salesian Pious Society.

I thanked the Holy Father for his kindness and replied by proposing my vicar, Fr Michael Rua, because he is one of the longest-serving members of the Society, because he has been exercising this office for many years and because, ultimately, this appointment would meet with the full approval of all the confreres. A few weeks ago, through our beloved Archbishop, the Holy Father deigned to inform me that this proposal was entirely to his liking.

Therefore, my dear sons after having prayed for a long time to the giver of all good things, after having invoked the light of the Holy Spirit and the special protection of Mary Help of Christians and our patron Saint Francis de Sales, availing myself of the authority granted to me by the supreme pastor of the Church, I appoint as my Vicar General Fr Michael Rua, currently prefect of our Pious Society, and everything that I can do, he too can do with full powers in all public and private affairs relating to the Society and to all the personnel of which it is composed.

I am certain that the new Vicar, in dealing with important matters, will always gratefully accept the kind advice and counsel that will be given to him.

To you, my dearest sons, I recommend that you give him the same complete obedience that you have always professed to the one you call father and who loves you with paternal love, that obedience which has been and, I hope, will always be my consolation.

As a consequence of this election, I also inform you that, availing myself of the power conferred on me by our rules, I appoint Fr Celestino Durando as Prefect of the Salesian Pious Society, relieving him of the office of school councillor which he has held until now, while in his place and in the office of school councillor of our Pious Society I choose and appoint Fr Francesco Cerruti, currently provincial of the Ligurian province and rector of the college of Alassio. He will, however, continue to hold the office of provimcial until further notice.

With regard to our missions in South America, I appoint Bishop John Cagliero as my Provicar with full authority over all personnel and all houses and provinces in those regions.

On this same occasion, I believe you will be pleased to hear that my health has improved considerably, and I attribute this to the charitable prayers I know you have offered to God for me. I thank you most sincerely and assure you that whatever little strength and days God in His mercy will still grant me, I intend to devote entirely to the benefit of our humble Congregation and the good of our souls.

May the Lord bless the new Vicar, the other superiors and all our confreres, and may He grant that all may always be of one heart and one soul in promoting the glory of our heavenly Father and the sanctification of our souls.

Most affectionately in Jesus

Fr John Bosco

Note 1. The rectors of the individual houses will read this letter at the first conference they hold for our beloved confreres.

Note 2. I remind you of what I have already recommended on other occasions, namely that in the address of letters and in all other public or private writings that do not deal with relations with ecclesiastical authority, titles of the Congregation should never be used, but only civil titles, such as director, doctor, professor, teacher, prefect, etc. Thus, when missionaries write from America to a confrere in Europe, they should not use the title “Father”, but “Priest” or “Sir”.