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Circular Letter #4 - 1916

Parma, Italy, Institute of St. Francis Xavier
February 21, 1916

In omnibus Christus! Christ in All!

 

To all my dear brothers
of the St. Francis Xavier Foreign Mission Society
working in the Vicariate Apostolic of W. Honan, China

 

Health, Peace, Blessing! I am happy to send you the new rule of our small foreign mission society. They are the result of long study and experience. I wrote them in view of how they should be when our Institute will have attained that full development to which all commit ourselves for the glory of God and the coming of the kingdom on this earth.

 

While composing this rule I had three things in mind especially: to convey the sublime nature of vocation and the apostolic life; to guarantee unity of spirit and government to our society; to describe what is necessary for the formation and preservation of that spirit. Hence I limited myself (exclusively) to whatever could help attain this threefold goal. I omitted all those details which might better be incorporated into the Constitutions of the Institute, and which could be modified as need arose. The Rule, one the other hand, should have a sense of perpetuity once they have the approval of the supreme ecclesiastical authority.

 

I don’t know whether I succeeded in what I set out to do. The Rule is the expression of all the enthusiasm of which I am capable, of all that desire for good which brought me to give birth to an Institute. Independent of my limits and unworthiness, this institute is destined, with the help of divine grace, to accomplish great good for the church of God. It is for this reason that I ask your observations and seek the wisdom of your experience before I submit this work to the Holy See for approval.

 

I send a copy of the Rule to each of you, so that individually may read it and reflect upon it before the crucifix. Make whatever observations you deem opportune for the good of the society. Remember, however, that our Institute has its general purpose mission among the infidels. Therefore, mention cannot be here made of the particular needs of any given region.

 

Your observations will be taken into due account by me, together with those who now so zealously assist me in the government of the Institute. I would suggest that before forwarding your suggestions that you meet together on this matter under the direction of Monsignor Vicar Apostolic. I have already written him about this my suggestion.

 

I would ask you not to be too attentive to the style of work, necessary corrections will be made before it is brought to the printer.

 

I will be going to Rome sometime before August of the ad limina visit. On that occasion I wish to submit the Sacred Congregation of Religious for a definitive approval. It is necessary then that I have your observations within the first half of July.

 

May the Lord bless our common efforts and intentions. Through the divinely efficacious redemptive power of the blood of His only begotten Son, may the Lord permit this young bud sprouting for the shadow of the cross to become a gigantic and strong tree.

 

I embrace you in love of Jesus Christ. I wish you an abundance of heavenly graces which make your apostolic work fruitful.

Yours in the Lord,  

 

Bishop Guido Maria Conforti,
Director General
Saint Francis Xavier Foreign Mission Society

 

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