Parma,
Mission Institute, 25 January 1907
In
omnibus Christus!
To
all my dear brothers of the Xaverian Institute
I
am pleased whenever I think you and all that you are doing in distant regions of
China. I am envious of your good fortune, I encourage you to continue even to
your death, this work which you have so well begun.
I
can well understand that you experience setbacks and difficulties of every kind.
At times your apostolate may appear sterile, it may produce little of the fruit
which you expected. Don’t be discouraged, the Lord measures not so much the
results of you labor as the right intention with which you work.
Persevere
always with a simple spirit, humility, mortification, good intention,
cleanliness of heart, fraternal charity and you will constitute a formidable
army, for the Lord will be by your side. Like the light which dissipates
darkness, you - by preaching the good news, by the example of your life - will
eliminate error, sin, ignorance in those regions still under the slavery of
Satan. Why did the Lord send you so far away?
Perhaps the words of Paul regarding the attitude of the Philippians were
to have toward gentiles is an answer: “that you may be without grumbling in
the midst of a depraved nation, among whom you shine like stars in the sky”
(Cf. Phil. 2,14ff) Only if we act in this way can we repeat to those whom we
have won over to the faith: “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ...Walk
according to what you have received from us...walk as if you were like us”.
Don’t
forget that Paul’s capability of walking in the midst of the people, doing
good to all, showing his concern to all, answering every kind of need,
distributing heavenly blessings everywhere, flowed from his likeness with
Christ. You can carry out this same sublime mandate if your heart ever beats
with the love of Christ which embraces all, does all for all, to lead all to
God.
This
norm which the Apostle of the gentiles ever followed, however, should not give
rise to the belief that to win over the Chinese to Christ, one must adapt to
their customs, even if these are not reproachful, to become more Chinese than
the Chinese. I am far removed from you, the situation is quite different from
here, yet I believe nonetheless, that this way of acting would be more a
hindrance than a help in preaching the gospel. Such customs are widely founded
on human viewpoints and are not in conformity with the norms given by Christ to
His apostles. They were to win over the world by humility, poverty, and
especially by that love which bears with all, sustains all, is superior to all,
and conquers all. I am not saying that Chinese customs are to be avoided, rather
that you should use them only to the extent that they are indispensable to
enable you to touch the heart of the poor pagans. Accompany them in order to
bring them along with you. How often you read that this method was used by
Xavier with great success.
I
am writing, not because I feel that I can give answers to your situation. I have
spoken with wise and well prepared persons who have been to China. They
mentioned that perhaps one of the principal causes for the slow acceptance of
the faith there could be that generally speaking missioners too often adapt
themselves to the Chinese customs, and these see to impede the spreading of the
gospel. Take whatever you think is helpful in all of this, and ever regulate
yourselves in the way best indicted to accomplish your mission, to win over for
Christ the greatest possible number of souls.
This
letter is a sign of my great affection for you. I send it along with Fathers
Dagnino and Guareschi, who join you as zealous co-workers in the apostolate.
They can tell you how I think of you always, speak of you often. You hold a
special place in my heart, in your Masses remember the one who professes himself
to be.
Affectionately yours as a brother,
+ Guido M., Archbishop
