To the (Countess) Princess Isabella Eu D’Orléans Braganza in Paris¹

E VIII, 3869

He announces that he has called for prayers throughout the month in Valdocco to obtain the desired grace

Turin, 14 August 1883

Madame the Countess of Eu,

Father Gouverd wrote me a letter informing me of your piety and your desire to say a novena of prayers to obtain a grace by God’s goodness. We will gladly join our poor pleas to all the others, which are undoubtedly much more pleasing to God.

With this intention, from the 10th of this month, we have begun and will continue to say our prayers until the end of August.

1. All priests of the Salesian Congregation will say prayers and celebrate Masses for you and your eldest son.

2. Our children (150,000) will also pray and receive Communion, both in Europe and America, particularly in the empire of Brazil, where one of our orphanages was founded a few months ago in Nicteroi.

But as subjects of this empire, we will not limit our prayers to one month. Every day, in private and public acts of piety, all Salesians and their pupils will pray to God for the preservation of peace and health in all the imperial family.

May the good God send his grace and blessings upon you, and may the Blessed Virgin help and protect you in the great work of saving our souls and saving many others. Amen.

Please forgive my terrible French and my terrible handwriting, and allow me to express myself in J. Ch.

Your humble servant

Fr John Bosco