To Marquis Ignazio Pallavicini , Genoa

E II, 1083

Spiritual life advice

Turin, September 1867

Your Excellency,

May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with us always. Amen.

Here I am talking to Your Excellency as I would to my brother. What I wrote to you in August was neither threatening nor urgent; it was entirely loving and preventive. That being said, you must focus your thoughts on three things: yourself – your household – and your things.

Yourself Take a look at the resolutions you made in confession and did not keep; at the advice you received to avoid evil and practise good, but forgot. Also a great defect in sorrow for your sins. This can be remedied by meditation and examination of conscience in the evening or at another time that suits you best. At present, God wants you to be more patient in your work, especially in your family life; to have more trust in the Lord’s goodness; to be more peaceful in spirit, and never to fear that death will surprise you at night or at any other unexpected time. Make an effort to practise the virtues of humility and trust in the Lord, and fear nothing. In future, go to confession and communion frequently so that you may serve as a model to those who know you.

Your household. See that your employees carry out and have time to carry out their religious duties, arrange things concerning them in such a way that in death and after death they have reasons to bless their master. Be charitable and kind to everyone in the family, but never miss an opportunity to give advice or guidance that may serve as a rule of life and a good example.

Your things. There is much to be written here. On Monday I have to go to Alessandria and from there I will take a trip to Mombaruzzo, where I hope to write or speak to you in peace. What God especially wants from you is to promote, as much as you can, veneration for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

May God help us walk the path to heaven. Amen.

With gratitude I profess that I am Your Excellency’s

most obliged servant

Fr John Bosco