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2nd Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of Acqui

for having made it easier for you than for the rich to gain
heaven. You are closer to that Jesus who calls you and attracts
you with those sweet words: Come to me all you who labor and
are heavy burdened and I will give you rest; take my yoke and
learn of me who am meek and humble of heart and you will find
rest for your souls (Mt. 11: 28,29).
If there might be among you, dearly Beloved, anyone who
had the misfortune of no longer enjoying the ineffable sweetness
of being united to his brothers in the house of the heavenly
Father and were kept away from it by sin, Oh! we hope that the
Holy Visit will be the occasion to remind him of God's infinite
mercy and make him return promptly to His bosom. Thus, with
a good conscience and peace in your heart, you will have the
spiritual joy of uniting yourselves to your Bishop in the sacred
functions that he will celebrate. We will go together to the place
where the bones of your parents, brothers, spouse, children,
relatives and friends rest, and in that sacred enclosure, among
those silent tombs, we will implore from God the eternal rest of
the blessed souls of your dear departed. The Divine goodness
wishes that, while we share the help of prayer among ourselves,
we do not forget the departed, and by that bond of charity that
still binds us, we make them share in the spiritual riches that we
can store up for our benefit and theirs.
Then, dearly Beloved, we will have the consolation of
celebrating the Holy Mass for your souls in your Churches, and
allow you to participate with us in the Sacred meal by
distributing to you the bread of angels. We hope that you will
all approach this heavenly meal in order to strengthen your soul
and to enrich it with the Plenary Indulgence that the Holy
Father, Leo XIII, grants to those who, on the occasion of a Holy
Visit, go to confession and receive the Eucharist, visit their
parish church and pray devoutly for his intentions.
Together, O Parents, we will share in a sweet and holy joy
when your children are presented to us so that we may sign their

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