THE VENERABLE DON BOSCO
of priests, for South America had been neglected from the time of the suppression of the Jesuits (1773). Another motive, however, more urgent still, carried weight with the Pope and Don Bosco. On the banks of the La Plata and all along the eastern coast of South America were located thousands of Italian immigrants, who had fled from Italy to escape poverty. Agriculture, river navigation, business and the trades were all represented in a flourishing manner by these energetic and industrious settlers. The venerable Archbishop Frederic Aneyros, of Buenos Ayres, had besought Don Bosco during many years for a foundation, with liberal and large-hearted offers of support for as many Salesian Fathers and Sisters as he could part with to confer a blessing on that remote diocese.
For the Argentine Republic, therefore, Don Bosco organized his first missionary enterprise. The heroic band was composed of ten priests and coadjutor Salesian Brothers and fifteen Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians. Don Cagliero (now a prince of the Church), a favorite disciple of Don Bosco, whom he had never left from the age of thirteen, and who had become one of the most learned and saintly sons of the Society, was appointed the director of the mission, and Don Fagnano, prefect of Varese College, a man of rare wisdom and heroic virtue, was made assistant.
Don Bosco, ever animated with love and loyalty to Peter's Chair, bade them repair to Rome, where
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