The Sacred Ministry
A Post at the Refuge (September 1844)
At that time I began to preach publicly in some of the churches in Turin, in the Hospital of Charity, in the Hospice of Virtue, in the prisons, and in the College of St Francis of Paola. I preached triduums, novenas, and retreats. After two years of moral theology I did my examination for faculties to hear Confessions. This put me in a better position to cultivate discipline, morality, and the good of the souls of my youngsters in the prisons, at the Oratory, or at work.
It was consoling for me to see forty or fifty youngsters outside my confessional during the week and especially on feast days, waiting hours and hours for their turns for Confession. This is how things normally ran at the Oratory for nearly three years, up to the end of October 1844.
Meanwhile, new things, changes, and even tribulations were being prepared by Divine Providence.
When I had completed three years of moral theology, I had to undertake some specific sacred ministry. Comollo’s uncle Fr Joseph Comollo, parish priest of Cinzano, was now advanced in years and sick. He was advised by the archbishop to ask me to help him administer his parish, which he was too old and infirm to handle any longer. Dr Guala himself dictated my letter of thanks to Archbishop Fransoni; he was preparing me for something else.
One day, Fr Cafasso took me aside and said,
Now that you’ve finished your studies, you must get to work. These days the harvest is abundant enough. What is your particular bent?
Whatever you would like to point me towards.
There are three posts open: curate at Buttigliera d’Asti, tutor in moral theology here at the Convitto, and director at the little hospital beside the Refuge. Which would you choose?
Whatever you judge best.
Don’t you feel any preference for one thing
rather than for another?
My inclination is to work for young people.
So do with me whatever you want:
I shall know the Lord’s will in whatever you advise.
At the moment what’s the wish nearest your heart?
What’s on your mind?
At this moment I see myself in the midst of a multitude of boys appealing to me for help.
Then go away for a few weeks’ holiday. When you come back I’ll tell you your destination.
I came back from the holiday, but for several weeks Fr Cafasso never said a word. And I asked him nothing.
One day he said to me,
Why don’t you ask me about your destination?
Because I want to see the will of God in your choice, and I don’t want my desires in it at all.
Pack your bag and go with Dr Borrelli. You’ll be director at the Little Hospital of St Philomena, and you’ll also work in the Refuge. Meanwhile God will show you what you have to do for the young.
At first this advice seemed to cut across my inclinations. With a hospital to take care of, preaching and Confessions in an institute for more than four hundred girls, there would be no time for anything else. Nevertheless this was the will of heaven, as I was soon assured.
From the first moment that I met Dr Borrelli, I always judged him to be a holy priest, a model worthy of admiration and imitation. Every time I was able to be with him, he always gave me lessons in priestly zeal, always good advice, encouraging me in doing good. During my three years at the Convitto, he often invited me to help at the sacred ceremonies, hear Confessions, or preach for him. Thus I already knew and was somewhat familiar with my field of work. We often had long discussions about procedures to be followed in order to help each other in visiting the prisons, fulfilling the duties entrusted to us, and at the same time helping the youngsters whose moral condition and neglect made increasing demands on priests. But what could I do? Where could I bring these youngsters together?
Dr Borrelli said, For the time being you can bring the boys who are coming to St Francis of Assisi to the room set aside for you. When we move to the building provided for the priests beside the little hospital, we can scout around for a better place.