Corniana,
September 1, 1912
In
omnibus Christus!
The
Lord has heard our prayers, our long awaited wish has been fulfilled!
The Vicariate, which holds such fruitful future promise, has received a
final approval from the Supreme Authority of the church, by the elevation to the
episcopate of the man who is to guide it.
Again
I say, thank the Lord for this signal blessing, and consider well what this
means and what consequences flow there from.
The
church of Honan now possesses what is necessary for its expansion. It has that
Episcopal ministry, by which Christians receive the fullness of spiritual life
which is nurtured by that complete paternity residing in a Bishop alone. This
event is significant also for the fact that the new Prelate and his faithful
co-operators have been chosen as the foundation stones of a new Church destined
to attain full growth and development in the not too distant future. Along with
this grace, the Lord entrusts you with the unique task of being the first
apostles of a hitherto unexplored civilization by the gospel, recognize the
grandeur of the grace they have received. However, the reason for you
consolation should be the awareness that your names will be written the book of
life. Your reward will be great if you faithfully fulfill the mission the Lord
has called you to in His infinite love.
Consider
the new obligations and duties which are assumed with regard to this vast
mission which expects much from you. The Institute, looks to you, its first
alumni, to provide those coming after you with the example of a life program
which is truly apostolic. There are obligations also regarding the new Bishop,
who was chosen from among your ranks, proposed by your vote to be elevated to
the episcopate by the Holy See. Before this happened, he was your esteemed
superior, and you showed him obedience and submission. Now that he has been
invested with the fullness of the priesthood and he returns signed with this
August character, greater is your obligation to honor and obey him, and in him
to recognize the person of Christ, whom he more closely and more perfectly
represents. Recall the words of the martyr Ignatius: “Follow and listen to
your Bishop, just as Christ followed and heeded His heavenly Father,” in this
way you will be of one heart and spirit. Let nothing impede or stand in the way
of this union, even at the cost of sacrificing viewpoints, convenience and
personal interests. This was the divine Savior’s wish, before His ascension He
prayed His heavenly Father that all who would believe in Him might always be
one: that they may be one. Here lies the secret to overcome all obstacles along
the road of the apostolate. This is the secret of success which will enable you
to win over to Christ this vast mission entrusted to you by the common Father of
the faithful.
This
holy union will grow stronger day by day if Christ’s love remains the bond
binding your hearts together, if the rules of our Institute, especially the
evangelical counsels which you profess, remain the unchanged rule for our work.
Love poverty, be satisfied with bare necessities as poor people do, don’t look
for what is superfluous in dress, housing, food. Preserve and prudently guard
priestly purity, avoid anything which might diminish its splendor, even in the
public eye alone so as to have nothing of remorse in the secret of your heart.
Above all else I recommend the spirit of submission and obedience, which is not
popular today. The prevalent spirit of insubordination today dampens the spirit
of obedience even among the clergy of every rank. This is a weakness, our
division and discord is one of the main reasons why our enemies continue to gain
ground.
The
lord will be with you if you are one in mind and heart with those who represent
Him. Always work in unison with these, remember the words of bishop, St.
Ignatius: Ado nothing unbeknown to the bishop”. Following this wise advice, it
provides grater assurance of the Lord’s blessing, and you can count on
obtaining more abundant fruit from your apostolic work. Thus will this beloved
mission proceed forward, in the way in which it so well began, by building and
providing consolations for those who have worked so hard for its development.
After thanking the Lord, the giver of every gift for this, I am grateful to each
of you who have been instruments of mercy and salvation for so many poor
infidels.
When
I remember you, working with such sacrifice and abnegation in that remote region
for the kingdom of God, my spirit is uplifted and I take heart in the midst of
may trials and difficulties in the pastoral ministry. I have experienced how the
holy and noble example of other offer strong incentives to work for holiness.
Unable
to do more for you, I will remember you every day to God at the Altar. This is
an especially fervent remembrance for you and that vast mission which I love as
much as I love this diocese to which I am bound by solemn and sacred bonds.
Perhaps
I do not write as often as I and you would like. I am ever close to you in my
mind and heart, nonetheless, for these know distances. Be assured of this,
forgive me if the increasing occupations which constantly preoccupy me do not
permit me to visit China more frequently at least by letter.
The
Vicar Apostolic can tell you all the new that you wish to have bout the
Institute, the city of Parma, friends and acquaintances. This is no need for me
to write more, I embrace you individually in he charity of Christ, I ask you for
your prayers, and my prayers for you are for all that a friend and brother can
wish.
+ Guido M., Archbishop/Bishop
Superior
of the Institute St. Francis Xavier Foreign Mission Society
