1853
As soon as the weather permitted, we began promptly to rebuild the ruined house. Work went ahead rapidly, and by October the building was finished. Because we so badly needed room, we rushed at once to move in. The room which I first took is the one which, by God’s grace, I still occupy. The classrooms, refectory, and dormitory were permanently established, and the number of our pupils went up to sixty-five.
Various benefactors continued to look after us. Chevalier Joseph Duprè at his own expense presented a marble altar rail for the St Aloysius chapel; he adorned the altar and had the whole chapel stuccoed. Marquis Dominic Fassati gave us the small altar rail for the altar of our Lady and a set of bronze gilt candlesticks for that altar. Count Charles Cays, our outstanding benefactor, prior of the Company of St Aloysius for the second time, paid a long-standing debt for us, twelve hundred francs owed the baker, who was beginning to give us problems with our bread deliveries. He bought a bell, which was the object of a charming ceremony. Dr Gattino, our parish priest of happy memory, came to bless it; then he took the opportunity to give a little sermon to the many people gathered from the city. After the religious services, a comedy was presented which everyone enjoyed. The count also gave us a handsomely decorated baldachino, which we still use, and other furnishings for the church.
With the new church thus furnished with what was essential for worship, we were finally able for the first time to fulfill the shared desire to celebrate the Forty Hours devotion. Though the church was poorly enough appointed, there was an extraordinary assembly of the faithful. To comply with their religious fervor and to provide all of them with an opportunity to satisfy their devotion, when the Forty Hours finished we followed with an octave of preaching, which was literally spent hearing the Confessions of the crowds.
That unexpected attendance was our reason in the years that followed for continuing to organise the Forty Hours devotion with regular preaching; many people came to receive the holy sacraments and attend the other practices of piety.