IT IS A CONSOLATION FOR ME TO BREATHE THE SAME AIR, TO OFFER THE HOLY SACRIFICE ON THE SAME ALTARS, TO BE ABLE TO PRAY AT HIS TOMB

Eugene describes his joy at finding the tomb of his former Venetian teacher and mentor, Father Bartolo Zinelli.

And have I not found the memory, the bust and even the body interred in the church of this holy priest, of whom you have heard me speak so often, of this great servant of God, Father Bartolo Zinelli, who was my teacher at Venice, who died in the odour of sanctity under this very roof which shelters me? The cause of his beatification would have been launched long ago if the Society of which he was a member had not been dissolved, because of the misconduct of its head, the famous Paccanari, who finished so badly after having made a good beginning.

But my dear teacher, this good friend who could only console himself at my departure, so he wrote me, by going up to the altar to pray for me, he only had virtues, and the Bishop of the place where he preached his last mission wished to proceed to authenticate by act a prophecy which be made in his diocese and which came true.

… It is a consolation for me to breathe the same air, to offer the holy sacrifice on the same altars, to be able to pray at his tomb.

Letter to Fr Hippolyte Courtès in Aix, 6 December 1825, EO VI n 210