This letter, a reply to a Milanese couple of the Marrieds of St. Paul, completes a trilogy that began with a letter to an Angelic sister and her novices (Letter 9) which was followed by one to a Barnabite (Letter 10). A remarkable total of 2,200 words penned in the brief space of ten hectic days and less than a month before his death, this trilogy of letters all unwittingly became Anthony Mary's spiritual testament to his three Families.

Spiritual teaching was always his primary concern, no matter the circumstances. All three were written in Guastalla. One reason that brought Anthony Mary to Guastalla in May 1539 was a sudden controversy that erupted between the Holy See and some notables of Torelli's former county. With the backing of Roman friends, count Paolo Torelli of Montechiarugolo had secured from the pope the right to levy navigational duties on the Po river. But some Guastalla's notables preferred count Marcantonio Torelli to have that right. Hence, they rejected the papal decision. Rome's reaction was immediate: the county was laid under interdict, that is, all religious ministrations were discontinued with the exception of preaching and the sacrament of Penance.

At that time some priests had the privilege of the portable altar whereby they were authorized to celebrate Mass anywhere, including interdicted localities. Anthony Mary enjoyed this privilege. In addition he had served as Guastalla's chaplain for a number of years. To him his duty was clear: he must immediately leave Milan to minister to the beleaguered people of Guastalla, which, incidentally, did not belong to any diocese.

By the time he wrote this letter, Anthony Mary was probably realizing that his days were numbered. Though no reference to his taxing ministry is contained in any of the three letters, in this letter he admits being unable to accept Madonna Laura's request because of "physical weariness." Indeed toward the end of June, he became so ill that he requested to be taken home to his mother in Cremona where he died on July 5.

However, his poor health, made worse by the sultry climate of the lower Po valley, was no obstacle to his zeal and his friendship.

Bernardo and Laura and their family were remarkably close to both Anthony Mary and the Barnabites. Bernardo's name is the ninth on a list of forty-five early benefactors, or rather de facto Affiliates, of the Barnabite Order. Madonna Laura was possibly one of the matrons active in the Venetian mission. More tellingly, one of their children, sixteen-year old Fabrizio joined the Barnabites on June 29, one week before Anthony Mary's death, and changed his name to Paolo Maria. In 1570 he became the seventh Superior General and was reelected in 1574. The names of two other children, Giovanni Battista and Paolo Antonio, are recorded in St. Barnabas' book of Benefactors (1562). Fittingly enough, both Bernardo and Laura were buried in the church of St. Barnabas.

In this letter Anthony Mary presented them a way of Christian living as exacting as the one required of his religious men and women. Indeed this last letter is vintage Anthony Mary: stern teaching, tender affection, and personal friendship used as leverage to make his point. He expects "amiable Bernardo" and "sweet Madonna Laura" not to be "just little saints. No, I greatly desire that you become great saints." And he adds: "because of my deep and tender love for you, be pleased, I entreat you, to comply with my wishes... For I know the summit of perfection Jesus Christ wants you to reach... See how I long for your perfection. Look into my heart; I lay it open to you. I am ready to shed my blood for you provided you follow my counsels."

The value of this letter was recognized early on as it was the first, and most frequently, published (1682 in Milan, 1697 in Florence, 1703 in Bologna).

The text is collated with copies kept in the General Archives in Rome.

Guastalla, June 20, 1539

To the honorable Mr. Bernardo Omodei
and Madonna Laura [Rossi],
both worthy of much respect in Christ.

Highly esteemed brother, or, as you prefer to be called, dear son, my greetings and my very self to you in Christ.

I have received your letter, and here I am to answer it, or rather, to talk, as it were, with you and your most cordial Madonna Laura.

You have decided to give yourselves to Christ and I desire that you do not fall victims to lukewarmness, but rather that you grow more and more fervent. For if you let lukewarmness ensnare you, your life in the spirit will be overcome by the flesh, and - to use the proper word - you will be Pharisees rather than Christians and spiritual persons.

Now, here is how the lukewarm - the Pharisee - behaves. Having left his old ways, he does not commit big sins any longer but takes pleasure in little ones; and does not feel remorse for them. For instance, he stops blaspheming and insulting his neighbor, but he attaches no importance to getting somewhat upset and to insisting on his own opinion rather than to giving in to his opponent. Speaking evil of others is no longer a bad habit of his, but indulging quite often in vain and useless chatting during the day is not much of a sin to him. He got rid of eating too much and drinking excessively, as drunkards do, but he enjoys snacking here and there, between meals, without necessity. The vicious habits of the flesh are a thing of the past for him, but he takes delight in conversations and entertainments that are not so clean. He loves to spend hours in prayer, but during the rest of the day his spirit wanders aimlessly. He no longer seeks honors, but if they are given him, he gloats over them.

I have given some examples; you can multiply them. Be sure to conclude that the Pharisee or lukewarm person works at getting rid of serious sins but allows himself to commit little ones. He eliminates all illicit things but desires everything that is considered licit. He refrains from sensual actions but takes pleasure in visual sensualities. He wants to do good but only within certain limits. He controls himself but not totally. I am not saying that he should accomplish all this in the twinkling of an eye and in a short time, but neither should he by fits and starts and over a long time.

On the contrary, anyone willing to become a spiritual person begins a series of surgical operations in his soul. One day he removes this, another day he removes that, and relentlessly proceeds until he lays aside his old self. Let me explain. First of all, he eliminates offensive words, then useless ones, and finally speaks of nothing else but of edifying things. He eradicates angry words and gestures and finally adopts meek and humble manners. He shuns honors and, when they are given to him, not only is he not interiorly pleased, but he also welcomes insults and humiliations, and even rejoices in them. He not only knows how to abstain from the marital act, but, aiming at increasing in himself the beauty and merits of chastity, he also renounces anything smacking of sensuality. He is not content to spend one or two hours in prayer but loves to raise his mind to Christ frequently. Now, share your thoughts with one another on other subjects, just as I have done so far.

Amiable Madonna Laura and you, dear Mr. Bernardo, accept my words and reflect on them with the same affection as I have told them to you. I do not say, of course, that you should accomplish everything in one day. What I do say is: I would like you to be intent on doing more every day and on eliminating every day even licit sensual inclinations. All this is, indeed, for the sake of willing to grow in perfection, of diminishing imperfections, and of avoiding the danger of falling prey to lukewarmness.

Do not think that my love for you or the good qualities you are endowed with, may have me desire that you be just little saints. No, I greatly desire that you become great saints, since you are well equipped to reach this goal, if you will it. All that is required is that you really mean to develop and give back to Jesus Crucified, in a more refined form, the good qualities and graces He has given you.

Because of my deep and tender love for you, be pleased, I entreat you, to comply with my wishes in this matter. For I know the summit of perfection Jesus Crucified wants you to reach; the abundant graces He wishes to give you; the fruits He wants to gather in you; and the peak of holiness to which He wants to lead you.

Good Madonna Laura and amiable Mr. Bernardo, disregard the person who makes these exhortations; consider instead his love for you. See how I long for your perfection. Look into my heart; I lay it open to you. I am ready to shed my blood for you provided you follow my counsels.

Let it be known to you that I would be hurt to the marrow of my soul were I not sure that you not only ought to do this - but also to accomplish any of the greatest deeds performed by any male or female saint.

Fully convinced of your desire to be faithful to Jesus Crucified, I have written this letter to you, not with pen, but with my heart. And I entreat you to value it and read it often - even every week if it suits you. I promise that if you heed it, in the absence of any other book, it will become such a book as to help you reach great perfection if you read it along with the book that records the sweet memory of the cross of Christ.

I have not written one word without some special meaning in it. If you discover it, it will be, I think, most useful and gainful for you.

As I cannot write to you as often as I would like, it will please me if you care enough not to lose this letter. In fact, I hope that, by Christ's power, anytime you read it, it will be for you like a new letter, and moreover, by means of it, you will be able, as it were, to write a new one by yourselves.

Cordial Madonna Laura, you will excuse me if, because of my physical weariness, I am unable to answer all your requests, as I would like to. I entrust to your care both your perfection and Mr. Bernardo's; likewise, Mr. Bernardo, I recommend to you your own perfection and your wife's.

I am indebted to both of you, and, as far as I am concerned, I want never to be free of the debt.

Remember me to your dear sons and daughters.

Christ bless you.

From Guastalla, June 20, 1539.

Yours in Christ.
Brother and part of you,
Anthony Mary, Priest.