Writings

[733]
Yesterday the Archbishop of Florence wrote to me that he has received the famous bundle that drove so many people mad, especially me. I have discovered what caused the delay. I already had my eye on the person who sent the packet to Turin, and since it was partly malice and partly ingenuousness, since I met with sincerity, I forgive all and have done with it. I must just say for the glory of truth, that the Messageria Mazzoldi was most loyal, as it always is, in its regular despatch. Therefore, if you have made a claim for the parcel, as I asked you to, please withdraw it because everything has reached its destination. It is true that the Archbishop refused the parcel the first time; but given the circumstances in which “not knowing” (these are his own words) “that I was to receive any mail from those parts, nor what was in it, not believing what was written on the despatch paper, which said there were Agnus Dei inside, I suspected some surprise or trickery and I resolutely refused it”. So the mistake was made by me. Instead of writing ahead to the Archbishop to warn him that he was to receive the parcel, I wrote to a friend of mine in Florence that he should warn the Archbishop; and that rascal did not warn him. I had in fact written to the Archbishop inside the package. Fiat. It’s all over.
[734]
Tell Fr Bortolo that everything will be in order. Up to and including March I have given his protégée 1 florin; then two svanzigs a month. I would write to him but I do not have the time and you are within easier reach of the post. Give him this holy picture and tell him to pray for me. Pass on to Elisa a thousand thanks for her admirable kindness in giving me the news I requested. If my correspondents were like her I could retire to the valley of Tesolo (Teseul), where I took my first living breath, there to lead the solitary life of a hermit, because the world would not be for me.

Remember your most sincere friend

Fr Daniel

[735]
Oh what sweet contentment floods my heart as I read your dear letter which I have just received from Carpegna! My own Guido, will you soon be in my arms? And is it true? O golden dreams!… But no. Will it become reality? A most joyous reality?… Ah, don’t leave me, O my Guido, with my hands full of air. I believe you will come. It is not a dream, no; and look, I am informing you now right away about the journey between Bologna and Verona. If you go via Ferrara Rovigo and Padua and Verona it is shorter, and a little cheaper, but only a little. The way via Milan is slightly more expensive but easier and longer. Shorter and longer I mean in distance, but as to time, it is the same. So do what you want; but I would recommend going via Milan, because it is all by rail, whereas via the Po – Rovigo – and Padua, it is by coach. My Guido do, do come; and if you receive my note from Rome, tear it up; because I wrote it when you had written to me that you would come to Verona after your return from Belgium.
[736]
So I am waiting for you; and if I could know in advance which way you are coming, I would come to the station, Porta Nuova if you come from Milan, Porta Vescovo if you come from Padua. No, I will not admonish you for your long silence; because your appearance in Verona will heal all wounds and remove every complaint. So veni dilecte mi veni sponsa mea amica mea, surge et veni. Give Gabriello, the parish priest, Fr Antonio, Ducci et omnes etc., my greetings and accept me as

Tuissimus in corde

Fr Daniel

[737]
Although by this time Guido must have written, because in my little office I gave him pen, paper and inkwell (without the sand if you do not like it and rightly so) nonetheless at this point, having received your dear and cherished letter of the 7th of this month, and since I have finished my most laborious occupations of preaching for this evening, I hasten to give you news of Guido. I am most annoyed with myself for not having written to you as I wished, as soon as I had returned from the railway station where I accompanied my bien ami! I will tell you that never in my life had I seen Guido so plump, rubicund and healthy, neither in Rome nor in Carpegna, nor in Egypt, nor in Trieste, and since I showed wonder, the rascal added: “Have you seen, my dear, that without your medicines I am well and getting fat?” Good, I replied, I would like all my bad predictions about you to succeed like that; and really the scallywag is very well, and in the best of humours. He left behind an admirable and indelible good name which will always remain in the hearts of my fellows in the College for ever more, to eternity. I introduced him to my Superior Fr Mazza, a holy and learned man who with his admirable quality of intuition knows an individual at first sight; and he recognised him as having the purest foundation of Catholic religion and extraordinary genius, with a perception and faculty for knowing things and the world that are superior for his age, sensible and mature and of the greatest promise to society.
[738]
Fr Mazza has never made a mistake in his judgements; and yet he did not say this in my presence but to all the other priests. And Fr Mazza is one of the most extraordinary saints for his charity and penance. He is an energetic defender of temporal power, thus I am unable to understand how Guido was thought ill of by some blessed Romans. I would like to come across the latter so that I could teach them to be of better judgement and I would give them some good lessons from the Gospel in Christian charity and humility. I then presented him to my companions whose shoe laces I am not worthy to tie, and who are deeply versed in literature and the divine sciences. They are also teachers at the seminary and in the public schools, and were amazed that so young a man could possess so much knowledge, especially of classical literature. Some of them, occasionally irritated because I would so frequently describe Guido as a man of letters and endowed with a thousand other qualities, found themselves obliged to tell me, after they had spent some time together, “he is not only familiar with literature, but is already a proven author; you portrayed him as remarkable, but we find him far superior to your praise and you understated by far what he really is”. In brief, they were enamoured with Guido, who amazed them, and now speak of nothing but him. Indeed, several great men, such as Martinati, Angeloni, etc., scolded me for not warning them of Guido’s arrival; for under the pretence of paying me a visit, they would have come to see the admirable Roman nobleman who came to honour me and do so much good to us with his dear presence. They proceeded to admire his rare condescension in dealing with us humble folk, while he was present as he really is, the firstborn of the distinguished family of the Counts of Carpegna and Princes of Scavolino. When I received a letter from Guido who wrote to me from Carpegna, I put my room which is the least shabby in this humblest of places at his disposal. I had already obtained Fr Mazza’s most willingly granted permission to do so. But when Fr Beltrame, who is in charge of the priests and who had been to the Carpegna’s house in Rome, found out about it, he discussed it with the others, saying that he was a distinguished person, a Roman noble, and they realised that it would be insulting to a member of the aristocracy to oblige him to come and stay in so poor a house.
[739]
I who know Guido and his goodness and condescension contradicted everyone altogether, saying that he had been in the East and, furthermore, that he had stayed with the friars (although in comparison to us they are rich indeed). But it was all in vain. They concluded that it was insulting to a distinguished personage to subject him to such poverty and to so lowly a lodging as the complex of our ramshackle houses which by dint of building on in bits and pieces have been turned into an Institute that is a maze of narrow passages and corridors. So you can easily imagine my mortification, O my dear Countess, as I took him to one of Verona’s main hotels where he was devoured by mosquitos and where, however, he only stayed two very brief nights; you can imagine the sorrow I felt after the kindnesses I received at the Carpegna home, from everyone and especially from Count Luigi, which will always be engraved on my heart. Nevertheless, apart from a very short night and an hour and a half in the evening while I went to preach, I enjoyed your Guido to the full. I was always with him and showed him what Verona has to offer and all my Institutes.
[740]
O my good Countess, Guido’s departure left a real wound in my heart, almost like the one I felt when I left Carpegna last year, from which I have not yet recovered, when I suffered more than when I abandoned my sacred patrii lari and went to the heart of Africa. But enough, for I fear that the person you have hidden within you might complain. Meanwhile tell my dear and revered Count Luigi that he should rejoice and be proud that he has such a son who does him honour, and who is the boast of his house and will become the boast of Rome and of Italy, should God give him health, as I hope. Give him all my regards, tell him that I have delivered his letter and that I am deeply sorry that he is ill. Give him my heartfelt greetings; although in this letter I had also meant to talk to him, tell him I love him as my own father and that as soon as I have a little freedom I want to write to him. Oh! May Heaven bless both of you! Please, Lady Countess, do not write to me again before the birth; but after the birth, when you are better and then only when you can do so without harm. In the meantime I shall be more than content if I can hear your news elsewhere. Since I am unable to help you now except with prayers, I assure you that although I am a great sinner, I shall pray for You; and I will celebrate a large number of masses until I have news of the most happy event.
[741]
Enough to You, now. I want to write to the Count; my greetings to Mazzoni and Mannucci. Be brave in Guido’s absence. His guardian Angel lovingly accompanies him. I have the joy once again to send you my respects and my heartfelt greetings and to tell you that I am eternally

your most affectionate Fr Daniel
P.S. My Superior sends you his respectful greetings, and so do my missionary companions.

[742]
In the hope that You will have received my letter of 29th September in which I promised to let you know of the progress of our young Africans and our efforts for their education, I hasten to express my sentiments of gratitude to the Members of the Society for aid to poor Africans. First of all I give you some information on the Institute for African boys and then on the one for African girls.
[743]
The Institute for African boys now has 11, that is:
1. Giovanni Farajallah, aged about 13, born in Malamoh in the Galla tribe.
2. Salvatore Badassa, aged 12, born in Oromoh in the Galla tribe.
3. Pietro Bulloh, aged 11, born in Goraghi in the Galla tribe.
4. Battista Olbmbar, aged 13, born in Kafa (Galla).
5. Antonio Dobale, aged 11, born in Marago (Galla).
6. Gaetano Baratola, aged 13, born in Maggia (Galla).
7. Francesco Amano, aged 12, born in Kafa (Galla).
8. Giusepppe Ejamza, aged 9, born in Maggia (Galla).
9. Michele Ladoh, aged 16, born in Gondokoro in the Bari tribe (4°40' Latitude North), on the White Nile.
10. Ferdinando Said, aged 17, born in Tegali (11° Latitude North), on the White Nile.
11. Francesco Schubbe, aged 14, born in Gondokoro, in the Bari tribe.

[744]
I brought the eight Galla boys to Verona myself from the Indies (East) in 1861.Michele Ladoh arrived last year with Fr Giovanni Beltrame. Ferdinando Said came in 1853 with Fr Geremia of Livorno, a Franciscan missionary in Egypt. Francesco Schubbe arrived from Central Africa only last month with Reverend Francesco Morlang, an apostolic missionary. I cannot yet give you any report on him because we have not yet started his education. To be precise, he is still in Bressanone with Fr Morlang, who will bring him to Verona towards the end of the month.
[745]
Also as regards Ferdinando Said, I can only tell you that after being appropriately instructed in religion, ecclesiastical history, arithmetic and the Italian and Arabic languages, he is now employed in farming and as a cobbler, and will leave with the next expedition for Africa. Unfortunately I cannot tell you much about another African boy, Luigi Maraghi, either. He was 12 years old, from Marago and the son of one of the most terrible Galla chiefs. He had unusual ability and extraordinary purity of heart, combined with marvellous beauty and heroic self-denial. I brought him with me from Aden where he was a slave with a Goan trader. In one year he had thoroughly mastered Arabic, and also Italian very well and he was first at school. Then he died last July after being ill for four months. I have never met a soul who so yearned for suffering and so longed to suffer Our Saviour’s pain. He died like an angel, after touchingly moving his brothers to implore God for Africa’s conversion.
[746]
The Founder of our Institutes, Fr Nicola Mazza, established an Institute for boys in Verona in 1837, where he gathers poor boys who through lack of means have no access to a proper education. They must be absolutely destitute and have excellent intelligence, sound judgement, a good heart and good habits. He imparts a full education to these boys in accordance with the vocation that they themselves must choose, deliberately and of their own accord. He keeps them and educates them until the time when they enter society to work as priests or as doctors, lawyers, engineers, painters, sculptors, etc. Thus we have had several hundred priests, teachers, lawyers, engineers, etc., who work for themselves and for their families, for the State and for the Church. Indeed some of them at their own request were sent as missionaries to Central Africa.
[747]
A little later the Institute for girls was founded. They are poor and in danger of losing their innocence. Here they are trained to be able housewives. Those of them who show an aptitude are also trained in feminine handicrafts, such as arranging flowers artistically and embroidery, and they are also taught painting, mathematics and foreign languages. Our silk and embroidery work received the first class medal in 1855 at the Paris exhibition. Our Institute was commissioned by the Empress of Austria to make the Mass vestments which the Emperor and Empress of Austria presented to the Holy Father last year. They are decorated with 14 pictures by Raphael and other classical masters and are most perfectly sewn together in Nadelin silk. Civiltà Cattolica and Armonia value these vestments at 36,000 thalers. The African girls also demonstrated their artistic ability in this work of beauty. The Institute now has 184 boys and 32 clerics, who are the ones who have already received an ecclesiastical order. There are 412 girls in the female Institute. All these young people are supported by the charity of the faithful whom our founder attracts day by day. Otherwise we have nothing, neither land nor capital, with which to keep the Institutes going.
[748]
From Fr Mazza’s two Institutes, a third came into being: the one for the mission in Central Africa. He had sent numerous Priests from his Institute to Central Africa, but rapidly realising from experience that the missionaries who found that climate hard to bear needed to be assisted in their work by natives, he decided to found two Institutes for this purpose, one for African boys, and one for African girls. He then put this plan into practice and entrusted the boys’ direction to the head of his male Institute, and the girls’, to the head of the female Institute. These young Africans must be instructed in religion, in the arts, in agriculture, and especially in all they need for life. When they are fully trained they are sent to Central Africa, where they will help our missionaries in spreading the faith.
[749]
As regards the Africans who show they have a vocation to the ecclesiastical state, they are instructed in everything that will make them good priests, but they only receive ordination to the priesthood after first spending seven or eight years in Africa. After these preliminary observations I shall now proceed to explain the progress of the young Africans.
[750]
The eight Galla boys, who knew their language and Abyssinian and who during their stay in India and Aden had also learned Indian, had to learn another language which was known in our Institute. Therefore as soon as they reached Verona with me, I had to try to teach them Arabic. Thus we spent last year teaching them the Christian religion, which we imparted to them in the Galla language and in Abyssinian or Indian, according to what the young people could understand or the language in which we could make ourselves clear in, and at the same time, in writing Arabic and the common Arab tongue as it is spoken in the Nile area, as well as in the basic principles of written Arabic. Every day they had five hours of school and five hours of private study; but these ten hours were occupied in this way only on five days a week. On Thursdays they only had to study, and on Sunday the same thing, but for three hours.
[751]
This year it was possible to teach them regularly. We taught them the following subjects: Religion: the Christian doctrine of Cardinal Bellarmino was thoroughly explained to them (printed in Arabic by Propaganda in Rome). The principal mysteries, the sign of the Cross and the Creed were explained to them in Arabic. The Arabic language: writing, exercises in reading, the grammatical rules on the formation of regular three-letter verbs, tables on the six triliteral noun-classes. The Italian language: writing, Soave’s grammar, progressive exercises in analysis, the composition of tables and short stories. Arithmetic: the main exercises with all the numbers, but on a broader scale with ordinal numbers and fractions.
Old Testament History: from the creation to the captivity in Babylon. The African boys were taught all these things in Arabic. In their free time and during the autumn holidays, they were given practical agricultural experience.

[752]
Michele Ladoh, who arrived last year from the Bari (a black tribe) and who had learned Arabic from the Dongolese, White Nile traders, was taught for four months by himself and then assigned to the same level as the Galla. In 1862–1863 the following distinguished themselves most of all:
Giovanni Farajallah, who was awarded the first prize;
Michele Ladoh, who was awarded the second prize;
Salvatore Badassa, who was awarded the third prize.

[753]
The first five boys, including Michele Ladoh, have above average ability and are particularly gifted in painting and the speculative sciences. We expect a great deal of them. They all possess extraordinary self-denial, and are very docile and obedient. The two prefects who were allocated to supervise them and who were prefects of the young Italians in my Institute, assured me that they would rather be in charge of a hundred Africans than ten Italians. I therefore hope that they will also become docile instruments to help the unfortunate Mission in Central Africa whose climate has stolen almost all our missionaries from us and whose only hope rests with the Africans who are educated in Europe.
[754]
Our Institute for African girls consists of the following 13:
1. Rosa Fedelkarim, aged 15, born in the tribe of the Humus, east of the White Nile.
2. Annetta Scibacca, aged 16, born in Teghali, west of the Shilluk tribe, 11° Latitude North.
3. Domitilla Bakhita, aged 15, born in Mady in the Dinka or in Ahien to the east of the White Nile, between 10° and 11° Latitude North.
4. Fortunata Quascè, aged 18, born in Tongojo in the Jebel Nuba below 10° Latitude North.
5. Elisabetta Haua, aged 19, born in the tribe of the Fertiti, east of theWhite Nile.
6. Giustina Bahar-el-Nil, aged 13, born in Libya in the Jebel Nuba.
7. Luisa Mitherah, aged 14, born in the western region of the Kingdom of Darfur.
8. Elisabetta Kalthumach, aged 16, born in Darfur.
9. Maria Zareah, aged 16, born in Tekem, west of the White Nile.
10. Regina Zafira, aged 15, born in the Jianseh, 9° Latitude North, west of the White Nile at its confluence with the Ghazal.
11. Francesca Bakhita, aged 12, born in Colongo in Jebel Nuba.
12. Caterina Zenab, aged 12, born in Ayel in the tribe of the Hogh, west of the White Nile, 7° Latitude North.
13. Maddalena Zenab, aged 16, born in Bellagross in the tribe of the Barta,
10° Latitude North, and east of the White Nile.

[755]
The first eleven girls and the last one were brought to Verona in 1853 by Fr Geremia from Leghorn, who bought them in Cairo. Caterina Zenab, whom I knew when she was still very young in the tribe of the Kich, 7° Latitude North, after my return to Europe was brought by my confreres to Cairo, and by me to Verona, when I stopped in Cairo on my return from India. She is very gifted, has an excellent knowledge of Arabic and Dinka, and was a great help to us on the White Nile in compiling a dictionary, grammar and catechism in the Dinka tongue, which is the most widely spoken language in Central Africa. In the female Institute the African girls are also taught in Arabic, which 18 Italian women in my Institute know fairly well. The teaching of the African girls includes study and feminine handcrafts. This year, first of all we divided the girls into three classes which correspond to the European elementary classes. Madalena Zenab, is in class 1, Caterina Zenab who obtained the first prize, is in class 2, with Francesca Bakhita and Regina Zarifa.
[756]
All the others are in the third class. Rosa Fedelkarim won the first prize, Annetta Scibacca the second, and Domitilla Bakhita the third. The first class studies the following subjects: the main lines of the Bellarmino catechism; reading and writing in Arabic and in Italian; arithmetic exercises in the four operations.
[757]
The subjects of the second class are the following: reading and writing in Italian and in Arabic, basic grammar in these two languages; mathematics, the four operations more extensively. Bellarmino’s catechism in a more thorough fashion. The history of the Old and New Testaments. The third class learns the basic principles of Arabic literature, the history of the New Testament and Church history, especially that of Africa. Geography: general notions, and the specific geography of Africa. Arithmetic: the rule of three, positive and negative numbers, simple and composite, ordinals and cardinals. Religion: the Creed, prayer in general, the Pater and the Ave Maria, explained in Arabic according to the Bellarmino catechism. General notions of pharmacology and medicine.
[758]
Feminine handcrafts are divided into four classes. The first includes the preparation of socks, clothes, shirts, mending and ordinary work; the second white embroidery; the third, embroidery in various colours; and the fourth, gold and silk embroidery. For the moment only Maddalena Zenab is in the first class. In the second are Caterina Zenab, Regina Zarifa and Giustina Bahar-el-Nil; in the third are Francesca Bakhita, Elisabetta Kalthuma, Maria Zareah; all the others are in the fourth. Rosa Fedelkarim, in addition, can also embroider faces, so that she can even do specific portraits. This year they received the following prizes: in the first class, Maddalena Zenab, in the second, Caterina Zenab, in the third Elisabetta Kalthuma, in the fourth Rosa Fedelkarim, Annetta Scibacca and Domitilla Bakhita. The first six have become so skilful that each could direct a school in Central Africa on her own. They are all imbued with their religion and long passionately to return to Africa to convert their compatriots to the Catholic faith. Then greater prudence and a long trial period will be necessary for those who express the wish to become sisters. They must do a noviciate of at least ten years.
[759]
But our African adult women, however good and devout they may be, do not possess the docility they showed when they were little girls. They must be guided with greater sagacity and be forgiven some shortcomings. However, for the moment we are satisfied with their progress. That is all I can tell you of my Africans for the moment. I want to tell you something else about the conversion of a Muslim African girl whom I instructed in Verona, and who was baptised a year ago, as well as about the baptism of Michele Ladoh by the Bishop of Verona and about the celebration at which our Africans received Confirmation. The African girl of whom I speak, who was given the name o Maria, in my opinion (she herself did not know anything about it) came from the land between the kingdom of Darfur and Kordofan, where she belonged to a slave dealer who took her to Alexandria when she was still very small. She lived there for seven years as the slave of a Muslim and subsequently also embraced his Muslim religion. She then changed masters several times until she arrived in Constantinople and finally Thessalonica, where she entered the service of the Spanish Consul. He entrusted her to his daughter, who was married to a nobleman, Count Conti of Vicenza, in business in Thessalonica. The devout lady who longed to procure the greatest gift for the poor African woman who was now 28, and who therefore entrusted her to the Sisters of Charity in Thessalonica for this purpose, to her great sorrow found her completely alien to becoming a Christian and resolved to stay faithful to the false religion.
[760]
They treated Maria with all possible gentleness and she responded to her young mistress’s concern. Called by Providence to Italy for business, the count and his wife, accompanied by the African, arrived in Venice. In Venice, the Countess heard that in Verona there was an African Institute and Missionaries who knew the languages of the east. Consequently she came to Verona and begged me to accept the poor African girl. Maria visited the African girls in the Institute and spoke to them, she saw their embroideries and their progress in learning and showed the desire to learn it all. But how is it possible to succeed in this when ability and natural aptitude are lacking? In brief, the Count wanted me to teach her, and I spent two and a half months instructing her in the mysteries of the faith. Then she herself asked to be baptised. But I tested her for another two months, and only then did I arrange for her to receive holy Baptism. Thus she was baptised last August in our Church of the Holy Saviour, by the parish priest of S. Eufemia, Fr Ferrari, and then confirmed by the very reverend Bishop. Now she is very happy and calm and I always have good news of her from her count in Thessalonica, where she is again living in the house of the Spanish Consul.
[761]
Worthy of note is Michele Ladoh’s conversion of which I would now like to tell you. Christ’s grace has worked miracles in him. When he was ten years old, Ladoh lost his parents; he still has a brother and two sisters. He has the sweetest nature and cannot be provoked to anger. He is already six fingers taller than a normal man, as black as coal, well-built and in proportion, strong and impressive. Among the black people of Bari he became acquainted with Fr Angelo Vinco of my Institute; at the same time he had heard both the preaching of the Gospel from the lips of missionaries and the teaching of the Nubian Muslim dealers, who travelled the White Nile to barter, with ivory and so forth. “But why didn’t you follow Islam?” I asked him one day. “Because,” he replied, “as soon as the words of a Catholic missionary entered my ears and my heart, it was impossible for me to accept any other words. The preaching of Catholicism is the strongest and most powerful of all mortal languages, and in a Catholic Priest’s preaching one cannot but persuade oneself of the truth of faith in Jesus Christ.”
[762]
You will remember that last year the mission to the Bari tribe was temporarily abandoned, partly because of the impossibility of spreading our religion among them and partly because of the lack of missionaries. But to prevent many predictable disasters, Fr Beltrame and Fr Morlang left the station unknown to the people. Only a month later Ladoh realised that the missionaries would return no more to his land. He therefore decided to follow them and find them. Thus as soon as he knew that the Berber Solimano, Mr Lafarque’s agent on the White Nile, was about to set out for Khartoum, his ships laden with elephant tusks, Ladoh asked to travel with him as ship’s-boy. Solimano made no difficulty about accepting him, because he seemed a strong and skilful sailor. After a two month voyage on the White Nile he arrived in Khartoum, where we have the central missionary station for Africa. Since he did not find the missionaries he had known in his country anywhere, he went to Berber, where he asked Mr Lafarque permission to go to Cairo with his men. Lafarque refused. So he went by himself from Berber to Abu-Hammed, where he asked Lafarque’s agent to let him join his men. The agent had lost one of his cooks and accepted him as under-cook, and this is how he reached Cairo where, without bothering to ask for any remuneration, he went straight to the Catholic Church. There he found Fr Beltrame and Fr Dalbosco and asked to be admitted to the Church. Fr Beltrame thought he would be unable to grant him his wish because he was returning to Europe. But he could not resist the African’s pleas and took him with him; and so Ladoh, via Jerusalem and Constantinople, arrived in Verona on 8th May, the Feast of the Apparition of St Michael, whose name he took at his baptism.
[763]
The missionaries Fr Beltrame and Fr Dalbosco had already instructed him during the journey. But although they found him perfectly prepared, they nevertheless instructed him all over again to see whether his feelings remained constant. Thus on 27th June, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he was more than ready to receive holy Baptism and holy Confirmation, which was to be administered to the eight Galla boys and to Caterina Zenab. I cannot describe the joy this celebration gave us. It had been arranged that the principal nobles in the city were to be the Africans’ godparents. Count Antonio Pompei was Ladoh’s godfather and Countess Adelaide, his wife, was Caterina Zenab’s godmother. Throngs of people hastened to St Eufemia’s Church and the Bishop of Verona, Marchese Luigi di Canossa, administered Baptism. The church was decorated with the most beautiful silk and gold hangings, and the sweet melodies of a large orchestra responded to the holy and meaningful ceremonies of the adults’ Baptism. Ladoh, dressed first in black and then in white, with his fascinating bearing and his coal-black face, was the object of universal admiration.
[764]
The Bishop, the people and the devout and religious Count in particular wept at the sight of this African’s devotion, modesty and contemplation. After the ceremonies of Baptism and Confirmation and when the ten had received holy Communion, the Bishop gave a moving talk on the call to the Catholic faith and crowned the celebration imparting the apostolic blessing. Michele Ladoh is just the same now as he was at the moment of his Baptism. Endowed with a most unique inclination for virtue with his gentle temperament and extraordinary self-denial, he is an object of admiration to all who know him and a model for our youngsters. He no longer has a will of his own and is ready for everything. He always tells me that after receiving the grace of holy Baptism, he has no further wishes on this earth and is prepared to die at every instant, to be able to join his Saviour.
[765]
This is all about our Institute in Verona. With regard to Fr Lodovico da Casoria in Naples, he himself is a miracle of charity. I have seen his African Institutes many times and I believe I can assure you that they could not be administered better. He saw the need to found this Institute in Europe; he founded it, he equipped it with good masters and mistresses and has admirably reached his goals and fulfilled his plans.
[766]
Fr Olivieri’s work has brought religion some great advantages and will bring yet others. No Catholic can refuse to admire him, if one considers the great number of souls the holy man has already saved. His work was severely hampered by the Treaty of Paris, in which on the occasion of the war in the East, the trade of black Africans was suppressed; by this law the Egyptian Government no longer permits the transportation of black people from Alexandria to Europe. Nevertheless in 1859, during my stay in Cairo, many other children were transported. This year Fr Olivieri, by means of Fr Biagio Verri, the worthy heir of his spirit, and with the help of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition, was able to bring quite a few African girls to Europe. And he will continue to save souls and powerfully to support Fr Lodovico’s work, since he supplies his Institute in Naples with pupils.


(Fr Daniel Comboni)

Translated from the German.

[767]
I turn with trust to the true Father of Missionaries for assistance in a small but arduous Mission which I am now undertaking to save a soul from the hands of the Protestants in Saxony, on the advice and order of His Eminence Cardinal of Reisach, Fr Mazza and the Bishop of Verona.
[768]
Last year Emilie Julien, General of St Joseph sent Maria Kessler to me in Verona so that I could find her a place. She had been converted to our faith three years ago in Albano from the August Confession. As Your Eminence recommended, I had her accepted in our female Institute, where although she was very happy with the establishment, she was deeply upset since she did not have the means to go to Saxony and wrench from the hands of the Protestants, as Your Eminence had instructed her, a son whom she had had ten years earlier when she belonged to the false religion of Luther. Since Cardinal Reisach had frequently promised to help her and to pay everything in General Emilie Julien’s presence, M. Kessler wrote three letters to him begging him for help, and she also wrote three to Baron Carbonelli, Minister of the King of Naples, who had helped her more than once. But neither the Cardinal nor the Minister ever replied, although I am sure they both received and read the letters.
[769]
Moreover, since Cardinal Reisach, when he was in Trent, had urged and pressed me to send the new convert immediately to Saxony to fetch the boy, since after the age of ten it would be impossible to save him, on the advice of my Superior Fr Mazza I therefore left for Dresden last October. There I discovered to my great surprise that the Bishop, the Vicar Apostolic, in accordance with the Cardinal’s instructions had for six months been making great efforts to free the boy without ever having succeeded, because a certain Will, charged by the Bishop to claim the boy from the family where he was living in Meissen and persuade it to give him up without paying his maintenance, had said that the Pope and Rome were determined to have the boy, as I was assured by the person who held him. This was the cause of all the opposition I met with.
[770]
Since this task is also a work that concerns the Missions, I beg Your Eminence to read the enclosed letter addressed to Cardinal Reisach, in which you will realise the serious difficulties I encountered in saving the boy, who was stolen from me three times by Protestant ministers who naturally suspected that I had come to Saxony to proselytise, and you will see that by the grace of God and the Blessed Virgin Mary I succeeded in saving him and now have him with me in Verona. After reading the enclosed letter, I beg Your Reverend Eminence to seal it, and at your convenience to deliver it into His Eminence’s hands.
[771]
I met all these expenses by borrowing money, always hoping that the Cardinal, together with my other benefactors, would help me. When I returned to Verona on 25th January, I found a letter from Mère Emilie saying: “I have delivered the Kessler woman’s letter to His Eminence Cardinal Reisach; but I do not believe he will do anything, for more than once he promised me he would pay for her allowance, wardrobe and board, and he has in fact never kept his promise”. This is what the Kessler woman had also told me but I did not believe her. Now I begin to have doubts. However, since one should never lose one’s hope in good, I asked Kessler to write a humble letter to the Cardinal in German and I also wrote him another, in which we appealed to his kind heart to help us. Naturally I cannot really quote the Cardinal; but since Mère Emilie recommended the Kessler woman to me on his behalf, I was faced with two alternatives: either to rid myself of the Kessler woman by sending her to Rome, or to agree to help her myself. Through the desire to save a soul, encouraged by the Bishop of Verona and by Fr Mazza, I opted for the latter and went to Saxony; but I always entertained the hope that the Cardinal would help us in the undertaking. Cardinal Reisach and Mother Emilie know all about this.
[772]
Forgive me now Your Eminence, if I have the filial trust of turning to you and begging you to read the enclosed letter and then, at your convenience, to deliver it into the hands of Cardinal Reisach; and if he gives you his hand, the opportunity, put in a word in my favour so that he refunds me a good part of the 500 thalers which I have spent. I hope that the truly holy and charitable heart of that Eminent Cardinal will hasten to the aid of a poor priest, who unworthily yes, nonetheless on this journey did but exercise his ministry. Certain that among the many obstacles of the wily Protestants, God blessed my deed because in addition to saving this soul, I hope to have ensnared another five for Christ, two of whom I am expecting in Verona, and three whom I shall recommend to the zeal of Monsignor, Vicar Apostolic in Saxony. For the moment I do not speak of what is being prepared for Africa which we shall submit to Your Eminence; but I limit myself to offering you respects from Fr Mazza and Fr Kirchner whom I saw in Bamburg, together with the very deepest respects of


your most devoted son,

Fr Daniel Comboni,

former Apostolic Missionary in Central Africa

[773]
Mgr Ortalda, Canon of Turin Cathedral, has insisted that I write to tell You, most beloved Father, that Mgr Massaia, Bishop of the Gallas, has a supreme desire to meet you to discuss things concerning your Mission. At the moment the Bishop is in Rome, but he will soon be going to Turin. Mgr Ortalda, the great promoter and patron of Missions, has the same wish. I therefore implore you to tell me, or Ortalda himself, when you might have the chance to pass by Turin. If you want to communicate with Monsignore Giuseppe Canon Ortalda, you just need to send him a letter to Turin, Via Seminario. Should you be in Rome instead, please be so kind as to go to the Conception to see Mgr Massaia.
[774]
On the occasion of my being sent to Germany to wrench a boy and two young girls from the hands of the Protestants, I went to Cologne to find our friend Dr Sticker II and the members of the Society. I was surprised that you, Most Reverend Father, had never visited this Society. I am certain that this would increase even more the fervent zeal its members show in promoting the good of Africa; and you would be welcomed there with supreme veneration and religion. Even Fr Lodovico has been to Cologne.
[775]
I know that you, Father, and my dear Fr Biagio have been through Verona and been to several houses without coming to ours. Why, my good Father, do you not remember the poor Missionaries of Central Africa? We are all working with the same purpose, for the salvation of our dear Africans, so why should a happy correspondence not reign between us? It was truly with scant resignation that I abided with you and Fr Biagio not coming to see me, nor even letting me know where you were. Is it so difficult for the African Mission work that we will undertake to be closely linked with your own? It does not matter that in years past my Fr Mazza’s ideas were not identical to yours in detail, for I think God’s work will bring us closer together. But enough on this: I hope that another time you will indeed come to see me, because there are in fact so many points I would like to talk over and seek your advice about. In the meantime I pray to the God of the Armies, and to the Queen of Africa, that she may save a great many souls and that she may maintain your precious life for many years, as well as Fr Biagio Verri’s. Please give him many greetings and I hope you will both save many souls. I send my Superior’s greetings.
[776]
In the hope of soon receiving news of your vast enterprise, I commend myself to your fervent prayers, and to those of Fr Biagio, the true heir of your spirit; while in the Most Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, I kiss your hands and ask for your blessing.

From your most humble servant


Fr Daniel Comboni

Apostolic Missionary

[777]
I would have liked to write to you last night at 11, as soon as I arrived from Pinerolo, but I was too excited and drunk with pleasure at having spent a most beautiful day with our dear and most loveable Pippo. So today I am sitting at my table to write a couple of lines to my venerated Lulù about our Pippo. When I was last in Venice I received a letter from a friend of mine in Turin in which he told me that Pippo had been slightly unwell. Having dispatched my business on my return fromV ienna, I rushed off on my trip to Turin and yesterday turned up in Pinerolo. What do you think? I was amazed at his robust constitution.
[778]
He had spent a few days in the infirmary and was thus forced not to go out, but I found him so agile, strong, merry and happy that I was quite consoled. It is enough for me to say that from dawn till dusk, in the sun except for a quarter of an hour in the café and two hours for lunch, we wandered around the Pinerolo countryside, on the hills, in the valleys, to Cavallerizza, on the Campo di Marte, and he stayed with me until 9 o’clock, and the indefatigable Pippo saw me tired and exhausted, while he was indestructible. It must have been an indisposition to laugh at. Captain Sapelli, Lieutenant De Carlini and the Colonel have also given me the most encouraging information on his docility, goodness and obedience, and his regular discipline. You can imagine how lovingly I applied all my skills to recommending that hey take care of him, and show him respect, especially bearing in mind that, being so well bred in a distinguished family, he was still capable of submitting to the rigours of military discipline. I saw that he is much loved, that they have special regard for him, and that they close their eyes when at times studying is a burden. Indeed, the Captain, who is Pippo’s most immediate superior, assured me and promised me that he will have every regard and will treat him as a son. Pippo is pleased, he is happy, and the idea that after mid-September the year’s studying will be over and that he will be seeing on the outskirts of Rome his Maria and mama, papa??, and Guido, made him extraordinarily happy. What more do you want, Countess! I spent a day in Paradise. And in the week I am staying here, I shall be going to see him again. As is proper, I also grilled him, examined him and it may be said that he made his general confession to me: he is sorry to see that he is not in his father’s good books.
[779]
I gave him all the recommendations of a true father, brother, friend, and I found him most compliant. Without discussing whether the passage he made from Belgium to Pinerolo was appropriate or inappropriate, one certainty is that Pippo is glad and happy. But I beg you never to stop writing him letters as a real mother, without ever tiring, because this will do him a lot of good. He is too lazy about writing, but Pippo loves and venerates his dear mother. I would say the same to Guido. I would like him to write to Pippo frequently and to give him advice continuously, because he is very much in Pippo’s good books for he loves and respects his brother. This is natural, because however docile Pippo’s nature is, it is certain that the militia and the military college, however rigorous it may be, is not always a school of morality and religion, and what he has not done so far he might yet do. I was consoled to see that he is greatly loved by his Superiors. It was one of these who told me that his allowance from the family is too stingy. Pippo does not complain of this, but he does say the same. Although I would like to have millions to give to my Pippo, however, being fully aware both of his father’s allowance and of the considerable sacrifices you are making, with the help of Countess Baldini (truly a second mother to Pippo), I say it is enough for him to get by on modestly and not be spoilt. You know what Pippo is like: you must always keep him in check, for he would do as many others do, because if you sent him 20,000 francs a year, he would spend them all.
[780]
Let all this remain only between me and Lulù: I speak with my heart, but also with my head. I do actually have quite proper means of knowing my Pippo’s aspirations in minute detail. Therefore, although he is behaving well at the moment, and is making himself truly loved by his superiors for his goodness and docility, nonetheless we must always follow him closely because he is certainly less bridled than when he was in Rome. So you, Guido, myself, Fr Luigi, to whom Pippo is indeed grateful, Countess Adelaide Baldini must always, in the proper way, each according to the position and rules governing our relationship with him, we must always, as I said, follow himclosely, never lose sight of him and do good to him. I will tell you he is fat, rubicund, sincere, open with those who know how to handle him, robust, fit and happy. Of course he will never be a great horseman; but he is learning as much as he will need in his career. The captain assures me that he will do well in the examinations, although, knowing Pippo and the number of subjects, his loss of four months of study because he began in mid-year and being a bit ill, I have my doubts. Let us hope nonetheless, and let us always pray for him, and let us trust in God who will always have to listen to our pleas. In Pinerolo he also has a very good friend in the person of Signor Da Vico, a Major in the National Guard: an excellent, gentlemanly and very good man. He is giving Pippo much attention.
[781]
It is a strange thing, however, that I promised Pippo to write about an increase in his allowance. Yet after mature reflection on all things, I think it is not right for the reasons I have given above. All in all I am pleased, I have hit the jackpot, indeed I am happier than if I had hit the jackpot at having seen and embraced Pippo; and on Thursday I shall do the same again. Besides, on Sunday I shall return to Verona and will work for his Pole. Besides, I was saying, not an instant passes without my heart being filled with my dear Carpegna family. I want to get acquainted with this Lady, Countess Baldini, and I shall go to see her tomorrow. I felt as if I were in Rome, as I imagine it, speaking to Countess Baldini. I occasionally think of writing to the Count; but I believe it is inappropriate to speak of Pippo. In any case, give me your advice. I am wary of making things worse; anyway tell me your opinion on the matter. Pippo did assure me that he had written to the Count for his saint’s day. Although I have grave doubts, it is nevertheless easy for a letter to have got lost. Imagine if the person who took the letter to the tobacconist spent the stamp money (quite easy), the letter would certainly not have reached its destination, because letters for Rome have to be stamped to the border, otherwise they are not sent in accordance with a recent law. I therefore gave Pippo instructions in this respect.
[782]
So please give the Count my heartfelt greetings, write to me at length in Verona, give Guido a hundred kisses for me, and to little Maria, whom I love with all my heart, and tell me of Annetta who may be in Rome. I can just see her tomorrow. She will be in an ecstasy of bliss because of the feast of the Holy Mother of Mary. Pray to her for me and I shall do the same for you, my dear Countess Ludmilla, and in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary I remain your

Most loyal and affectionate

Fr Daniel

[783]
If I were less fond of You and the Carpegna family, I would be silent, and not enter the sanctuary of these most delicate matters, hence perhaps causing greater pain by not warning of the greater damage that might result from them. My venerable Ludmilla, if one thinks carefully, certain things which at first sight appear to be important are but little things, mathematical points, on the great scene of the world. Youth is a prey to certain inevitable crises; we must not wonder at these. The time of maturity comes along, and things calm down. This is perhaps not dignified language for a minister of the Church, but it certainly is that of someone who knows something of the world scene. On the other hand keeping silent could do worse harm, and would hinder the prevention of damage by magnifying it. My dear Ludmilla, God knows what a great effort and what interior conflicts have led me to write to you, but I would be afraid of not being true and loyal if I kept a secret from Ludmilla. From this introduction you will think that I have a great thing to reveal. And yet if we think about it carefully, it is a really little thing, given the times in which we live and human nature. However, through love and duty we are bound to avoid even little things. If, in what I am about to say I use an improper manner, or am wrong in what I say, I beg you to give me a telling-off, which I will cherish, coming from You.
[784]
When I returned from Pinerolo I wrote to you about our dear Pippo’s physical condition; that is about his perfect health and the affection his Superiors have for him. I told the truth, and that is really how it is. In that letter I promised to write from Verona. But my business, the journey there and back, and the natural reticence which preoccupies someone who does not like to talk of slightly unpleasant things, led me to suspend my letter writing until today. From Verona, I had intended to write to you about Pippo’s morality, which was not too satisfactory from our delicate way of seeing things. It is certain that since Pippo stayed for a while in Genoa with the son of theMarchese… Prefect… he has been a bit unruly, and is a bit lame in religious matters: I was not too satisfied with his sentiments, although they are indelible and are kept that way by fundamental religious principles. His morality also was a bit unbridled. You are too shrewd, you have too much talent and insight not to have noticed that Pippo’s physical ailment was not the effect of some escapade. Being able to examine him minutely, I was consoled to find him sincere and he confessed everything to me in detail; he has repented of the three or four times he slipped up in Turin and Pinerolo; he is extremely sorry. He knows it is bad and that it grieves his mother. He would be prepared to make his confession to You; but he knows that in these matters if one can conceal things, one does so gladly. Knowing the militia as I do, although they are very strict in the College at Pinerolo, each young man being examined once a week, I am quite satisfied to think that he did not slip more than two, three or perhaps four times, on one of which occasions he caught the infection, and he has been cured of it for a long time now. That is all.
[785]
My beloved Countess. I say this to you in absolute secrecy. I do not want anyone, neither Pippo, nor Guido, nor the Count to know what I have written. Poor me if it became known. I have the most reliable information about Pippo through a Prelate born in Pinerolo, who under my instructions receives news once a week or fortnight from a Priest in Pinerolo who knows everything. I hope this too will be for Pippo’s good. But to correct him and avoid greater disorders, you need to know everything, to be able more wisely to take measures to prevent Pippo from coming to any harm. If I deserve reproach, let me know. The Count must know nothing, so as not to give him further cause for anger against his son. Secondly, as I see it you must continue and multiply your letters and recommendations. They make an impression on Pippo. I speak with certainty. I would also demand greater control over money, which Pippo uses badly. If you give Pippo a thousand scudi, in a year he runs up debts for the same amount. Here too I sadly speak the truth. You should therefore oblige Pippo to account for the last baiocco, and not trust him, but the bills, Rechnung, etc. of others; so insist on getting receipts from others.
[786]
I do not know; but you will think everything is paid at the College; I believe there are still 450 francs. Thirdly, since Guido has an absolute influence on his brother; it is necessary that Guido be a father, tutor, master, everything to him. I want to talk to Guido before he goes to Pinerolo. I am staying two days in Genoa, then I am going to Turin perhaps for two weeks. Oh how pleased I would be to put him in the picture about everything! Although I shall be confiding to some extent in Countess Adelaide Baldini, and we shall make plans. Guido will be informed of everything. However, do not think I attach so much weight to this as appears. It is inevitable, dear Countess; youth is fragile in this respect. We must therefore put up with a few slips. If we talk the thing over between us, you will see that we must turn a blind eye; we should pay attention to preventing this evil in the future, and perhaps a greater evil. We know that this is not the end of the world; and it would be miraculous if the son… of a Roman remained immaculate. But as regards Pippo we must take great care, and always be at his side to get him to give up this vice, now that he has just made the mistake of moving so soon from Belgium to Italy.
[787]
I beg you not to be too sad about all this. I have told you all the harm that has been done. If there were to be any more, I would tell you, because I know everything about Pippo, and I maintain a special correspondence to know everything, to provide a remedy, and to accomplish the duties of love, friendship and the ministry. There, my beloved Ludmilla, is what I write to you. For the love of God let no one know that I am writing to you about Pippo, least of all Pippo, because I would be forced to keep quiet and not to do what my great affection for you, Pippo and the Carpegnas dictates. With Pippo, there is no need for exaggerations or overpowering threats. Pippo can be won by the heart. He would laugh at me or his friends; but believe me, his mother and Guido still have complete control over Pippo’s heart. I am almost certain to get to Rome by the autumn. Then we shall have long discussions and concrete reflections on the matter. You may be sure that should Pippo have other escapades in future, I will always inform you about them.
[788]
These escapades are almost impossible in Pinerolo. It is when he comes to Turin that a young Jew leads him to the brothel. That is where, I mean in Turin, he should always be in the company of persons who care for him, like the Baldini family, etc. Excuse me dear Countess; write to me immediately in Turin, at the Bue Rosso hotel, where I normally stay. I must be there for a fortnight. Sunday or Monday I am going to Pinerolo. I do not know whether Pippo has written to you about this. Two weeks ago he was certainly about to do so, for he has not at all lost his trust and love for You. I entreat you to be happy and to give me your news and news of the whole family. Give a kiss to Maria, from

Your most affectionate and faithful friend

Fr Daniel