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4th Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of Acqui

excessive but appropriate for the fault; neither arbitrary nor
stemming from passion, but solely the effect of justice and love.
What is said here about blame and punishment can be said
also of praise and reward; if they are not given with prudence
and proportionate to merit, instead of being encouragements to
virtue, they often become a subtle poison which insinuates itself
into the heart and corrupts the best sentiments. Reward must be
given in such a way that it does not give rise, in the heart of the
one who receives it, to vain complacency and a dangerous
exaltation of self love; but rather to a sweet satisfaction, a holy
joy at having been able to accomplish one's duty faithfully and
having corresponded to the will of their parents in which they
must recognize the will of God himself.
Some may say: my children never deserve praise and
reward; I must always reprove them, almost at every step; I have
attempted all the ways, tried all the methods, I have tried gentle
admonition and severe punishments, but all in vain; they
become worse every day. I answer: unfortunately, it is true that
we sometimes meet such intractable characters that neither
reason nor force, neither the kindness of indulgence nor the
severity of punishment manage to subject them to discipline. O
parents who have such children, we commiserate with you; but
know that the evil is not without remedy. After having tried
every means in your power, revive your faith in the One who
holds in his hands the hearts of every man, and continue to love
these ungrateful and rebellious children, and do not cease to
pray for them, that God in his power and mercy may do what
you cannot do yourselves. He will hear you, and to you too, as
to other parents who weep over the perversion of their
offsprings, he will give you the consolation of seeing them
finally repentant.
Prayer is a method to be practiced not only in anxious
moments and when you have tried every other way, but always
and in every case, even when the burden of educating your chil-

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