To Pope Pius IX

E IV, 2051

He outlines the main difficulties he has encountered and continues to encounter with the Archbishop of Turin, asking for advice and protection.

Turin, 31 December 1874

Most Holy Father,

On 3rd April of the year now drawing to a close, Your Holiness deigned to give your definitive approval to the Salesian Society. With this act of sovereign clemency, you made it known that the entire Salesian Congregation and all its members were placed under the high protection and guardianship of the Holy See. After that, it was incumbent upon the Superior to promote strict observance of the Constitutions, respect for the authority of the Ordinaries, and, in the sad times in which we live and in the general shortage of priests, to lend all our support to them.

The bishops with whom we had relations constantly professed themselves our protectors, and the Salesians, for their part, worked with one heart and one soul to assist them in their ministry of preaching, catechism, hearing the confessions of the faithful, celebrating Mass, teaching, and similar activities. Only with His Excellency the Archbishop of Turin were difficulties encountered, which seem to hinder the greater glory of God.

1. He would like to subject our ordinands not only to examination in theological sciences, which has always been willingly accepted, but also to examine them on their vocation to the religious state. He was given satisfaction in this matter, but then demanded that it be declared in writing that our Congregation would never accept anyone who had left the diocesan seminary, which seems directly contrary to the Pontifical prescriptions; and this was agreed, with the proviso: without prejudice to the sacred Canons aimed at protecting religious vocations. He continued, however, to complain that we accept his clerics, while not one of his seminarians has yet joined our Congregation.

2. For three years, without any known reason, he has refused to confer holy orders on our clerics, with the exception of one who was ordained with great difficulty during the sacred season last autumn. For these reasons, we must deal with individual cases of Ordinations with great inconvenience and expense. It follows that we must see, alongside the evangelical field, workers who are idle due to a lack of ordination.

3. He absolutely does not want any priest from this diocese to enter our Congregation. This was especially true of priests Ascanio Savio and Gioanni Olivero, both of whom were our past pupils. In fact, as far as he is concerned, he also opposes those from other dioceses. A month ago, upon learning that a Lombard parish priest named Luigi Guanella had decided to join the Salesian Society, he immediately wrote to Fr Guanella through the Bishop of Como, informing him that he would never grant him the maneat, that is, the right to celebrate Mass or hear confessions in his diocese.

4. He opposes the admission of our priests to the Confession examination: Fr. E. Francesco Paglia, although in his eighth year of theology, has not yet been admitted. At first, he claimed that he had not attended conferences at his Convitto; shortly afterwards, he added that he had not taken his annual exams; then that he was unable to deal with the matter. When these assertions proved unfounded, he argued that since he had not taken perpetual vows, he could not be admitted. But if our Constitutions have been approved in this sense, if no other Ordinary raises any difficulty whatsoever on this point? Besides, did Your Holiness not establish that all religious orders must take simple and temporary vows before solemn and perpetual vows?

5. The Ordinaries of the houses of the Congregation willingly grant all those faculties that may be of benefit to souls. The Archbishops of Turin, including Archbishop Gastaldi, did the same: in addition to diocesan approval, they also granted several privileges. E.g. to bring Viaticum, administer Extreme Unction, perform funerals and funeral rites for those who live in our houses; preach triduums, novenas, spiritual exercises, give blessings with the Blessed Sacrament, adoration of the Forty Hours and similar.

However, these faculties, which effectively contribute to the good of souls, are now to be revoked by decree 17 of last month, as can be seen in the attached copy and in the letters sent to the writer in August and September last year.

6. Due to the decrease in priests caused by refusals to be ordained; the decrease in confessors, because they are not admitted to examinations; due to the revocation of common favours that are very much of use, especially for a new and growing Congregation, we have not been able to open any houses of education and instruction in towns where we had been requested to do so; and we can scarcely carry out the sacred ministry to which we are constantly called, especially on behalf of poor and abandoned children.

Having presented these facts, not to make accusations or complaints, but solely to remove obstacles to the greater glory of God, I humbly beg Your Holiness to keep the Salesian members under your paternal protection and to give whatever advice you deem appropriate for the good of souls.

Glorious to be able to prostrate himself at your feet, he implores the Apostolic Blessing upon all Salesians and in a special way upon this poor writer who, with the deepest gratitude, has the great honour of signing himself,

Your Holiness’

most obliged and humble servant

and most affectionate son

Fr John Bosco