The addressee of this brief letter is Battista Soresina. The letter has no date and no place of origin because Anthony Mary enclosed it with Letter 7. Actually, Letters 6, 7, and 8 form a trilogy written in the same period of time, October-November 1538, when Anthony Mary and Paola Antonia Negri went, first, to Cremona, and then to Guastalla. In fact, at the end of Letter 6, Anthony Mary writes, "…today or tomorrow I will be going to Guastalla… along with Paola Antonia." And so they did. As a matter of fact, in addition to co-signing Letter 6, they co-signed Letters 7 and 8 as well. Both Giacomo Antonio Morigia and Battista Soresina had written to Anthony Mary. Letter 7 was his reply. Though written for the whole community at St. Ambrose's, Milan, the letter's address specifically mentions Morigia and Soresina. However, on second thought, Anthony Mary decided to enclose a short personal note for Battista in order to exhort him to achieve spiritual maturity through a more interiorized relationship with the Lord. Of course, Anthony Mary and Paola Antonia offer their prayers and support, but Battista should have more trust in, and openness to, the direct action of the Lord.

The text of this letter is drawn from a copy in the General Archives in Rome (N,b,II,6).

To our cordial and sweet son in Christ,
Mr. Battista.

Sweet son in Christ,

Why are you so faint-hearted and full of fear? Don't you know that we cannot forsake you? By experience you should be well aware of the help given to you.

We have prayed Jesus Crucified. We do not want any one thing from Him, unless He grants you the same, to your mind and heart.

That's all, but rest assured that we will keep our word.

May Christ greet you on our behalf. Please keep us in your prayers.

Christ bless you,

Yours,
Father in Christ,
Anthony Mary, Priest,
and Mother,
I, P[aola] A[ntonia Negri]