(21) Advice for young students: The beauty of Japan

Miyazaki May 2, 1926
To Seminary Student Valentini Eugenio

Dear Eugenio,

Your long-awaited letter arrived at the beginning of May, the month of Mary. I think what you are saying is natural. I am not surprised and see no problem with it. If I am freed from unpleasant thoughts five minutes before I die, I should be grateful to God. I always think of you during mass. There is a nine-hour time difference, so when you say evening prayer and go to bed, I am saying mass here. Let's remember each other.

As for yourself. It's better not to know if you've become a saint or not. Don't think about it, just work, work, work. The Lord wants practical work, not theory. Otherwise, you'll be like a doctor who scientifically examines the condition of a dying patient.

Practice, practice! Those who practice will make mistakes, but if they receive advice and improve, you can move forward without worrying. Also, be sure to pray often for the students you are entrusted with.

About the exams. Prepare as well as you can and leave it to Mary and Jesus like a child. What is the use of worrying about whether the future will be good or bad? You don't know if you will still be alive five minutes from now... What use will a PhD or a position have for eternal life? It will only increase your responsibilities. Great gain!

Be more humble before Jesus, and everything will go better. You overthink. You want to see everything with your own eyes. Say: "If the Lord wills, I will be a professor, a king, a bishop, a pope... and then I will swell up like a frog... I wonder what will happen..." Now, now, laugh and say to yourself, "That's ridiculous!" And rub your hands, be a little more humble, and go straight.

Do you want news about Japan? Japan is a country of flowers, fairy tales, and beautiful scenery; a beautiful country in every sense of the word. But in this earthly paradise, there are also mosquitoes and frogs, and millions of souls who do not know God. When will they come to know God? Oh, pray that God's kingdom may come true in Japan too.

Be always cheerful. Greetings to you all, everyone, everyone. Pray for me. Have a good June, the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!" I embrace you。

　　　　Father V. Cimatti