To Pope Pius IX

E I, 495

He reports on the good state of health of the Piedmontese Church and its anxieties, not without hope, regarding the difficult political and religious situation in Italy and in the Papal States in particular

Turin, 10 March 1861

Most Holy Father,

I am taking advantage of this favourable opportunity, as a zealous contributor to the newspaper L’Armonia is travelling to Rome to address a few words to Your Holiness. How many things a poor priest would like to say to the head of Christianity! Let us keep everything as brief as possible.

I will say, therefore, that after many disturbances, I am now at peace and am allowed to work freely for my youngsters and for the printing of the Letture cattoliche. In the past year, our schools have grown fourfold. Currently, we have about five hundred promising young men in our house who are preparing for the clerical state.

Our clergy has so far stood firm courageously; but great trials are approaching, and unless the Lord strengthens us with his grace, I fear some shipwreck. Promises, threats, oppression are the three enemies with which we were assailed; now the time of persecution is approaching.

The faithful are fervent; but every day a large number of them go from lukewarmness to apathetic indifference, which is the greatest scourge of Catholicism in our cities and towns. But the timid cast aside all fear and show themselves fearless wherever it is necessary to show that they are Christians.

However, Holy Father, rest assured that here in Piedmont you have a large number of children united in the spirit of the Lord. They are all ready, if God so wills, to give their lives and possessions for that most holy religion of which you are the visible head on earth, while God assists you from heaven.

What most afflicts the soul are the disasters that loom over the universal Church. Take courage, Holy Father, we have prayed and today we redouble our prayers for the preservation of your sacred person. One young man who for several years has shown clear signs of having special enlightenment from the Lord,¹ has repeatedly expressed himself in these words: How many tribulations will grieve the paternal heart of Pius IX. The Immaculate Virgin offers the Holy Father a large bouquet of roses, but he must hold them by the thorns, which are very sharp.

Another person believes that if the Lord does not change his plans, Your Holiness will have to leave Rome again; that this will be a great good in the midst of evil; for entire peoples will rush to venerate you; millions of people will embrace Catholicism solely moved by the fortitude of the tribulations of the Vicar of Jesus Christ, who by this means will enlighten many souls through our Saviour and Redeemer.

In short, frightening events are approaching, perhaps unprecedented in the history of nations; but Your Holiness will emerge victorious over all of them when, after bloody conflicts, you will once again become the peaceful ruler of your states, welcomed by the love of your people and blessed by kings and nations.

But what about those rulers, those followers of theirs who are the cause of so much evil? Those who are the cause of these evils, or who could prevent them and do not prevent them, are in God’s hands like a rod which he uses to punish the crimes of men; then the rod is broken and thrown into the fire.

In any case, we have prayed and continue to pray to the merciful God to preserve and protect his Vicar, and to grant peace to his Church. All hope in men is now futile; only God can help us.

Holy Father, you have already done me many favours; now add to these the favour of forgiving me for the overly familiar manner in which I have written to you. Attribute everything to the great goodness of your heart and the great affection I have for your venerable person.

Finally, deign to impart your holy apostolic blessing upon me and my young people as I humbly prostrate myself before

Your Holiness. I am

your most affectionate son

Fr John Bosco