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1st Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of Acqui

holy joy when I will be able to impose my hands on you and
raise up from you evangelists of peace for my beloved people.
It is also good for me to address to you a word, O Virgins of
the Lord, who are numerous in serving your Divine Spouse in
the Diocese of Acqui. You too cooperate in my mission, you too
are ministers of peace. You invoke this peace from heaven in the
angelic office of prayer; you spread it in families by educating
the young in those virtues that form good mothers; and many of
you carry this gift of God to the houses of suffering to the
bedside of the sick poor. Continue generously on this path that
you entered lovingly, and Jesus your Divine Spouse will fill
your heart with peace and joy. Pax Christi exultet in cordibus
vestris, pledge of that perfect peace, that eternal joy which is
reserved for you in heaven.
To you also, O illustrious personalities who preside over the
public good in the Diocese, allow me to address an affectionate
greeting. You represent that power that is ordained by God and
with which He ministers for the public good (S. Paul to the
Rom. XIII); ministering good, and therefore ministering peace
which, according to the definition of St. Augustine, is the
tranquillity of order. In promoting together this good, this
peace, we will help each other; and we will invoke efficacious
help from God who is the principle of authority and who
strengthens it commanding everyone to submit to it not only
through fear, but through conscience, threatening eternal punish-
ment to those who resist (St. Paul, ivi).
Now, to each one of my beloved children, I would like if
possible, to address a word of affection, a greeting of peace.
May you all have that peace that my love desires for you; may
the evil angel, the ancient subvertor of peace, never make you
lose it by rebellion against the Divine Law. Remain obedient to
the Church who teaches you to observe lovingly this same law,
and with a heart flooded with peace, you will live in that life of

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