Page:Don-bosco-pine.djvu/203

 sustaining the Salesian missions, he states: "Over one hundred and fifty missionaries left ports of Europe during last October and November for the various parts of Africa, Asia and the Republics of South America." Don Rua calls his co-workers' attention also to "four large churches which our Society, entirely at its own cost, has at present under construction, besides many others of smaller dimensions."

The venerated Don Rua, even on his death-bed, was never weary of manifesting his gratitude to the Salesian Co-operators.

"I desire," he humbly requested, "that you would tell them that I am full of gratitude for the help they have given our works. If Don Bosco said that without them he could have done nothing, how much less could I have done, who am but a poor creature! I am therefore obliged to remember them in a special manner. I will pray for them, for their families and friends, that the Lord may reward them in this life and in the next."

And when in 1910, on the death of the saintly Don Rua, the supreme direction of the Salesian Societies was committed to the Very Reverend Paul Albera, his grateful heart overflowed at once upon his magnanimous Co-operators; after having imparted to them the special blessing of the Holy Father, he made known his sentiments in a long and beautiful letter from which we present a brief excerpt:

"I seize this opportunity to assure you that