In 1787, Father Pio Brunone Lanteri traveled to Switzerland. As he prepared to leave, Turin’s Aa advised the Chambéry1 Aa that he would pass through their city. The available sources do not disclose the reason for his trip. However, the Servant of God likely traveled to Switzerland to meet with Father Nicholas Diessbach. Another possibility is that he intended to visit one of the associations his master and friend had established there. He was traveling in a hurry and could not stay long in Chambéry. That fact disappointed the city’s Aa members. Of their number, only Father Murgeray had met Venerable Lanteri. However, every member knew about him. Unquestionably, his successful and new methods of apostolate aroused a lively desire to meet him.
The situation was complicated by the fact that almost all Aa members were attending a clergy retreat. Even so, Father Murgeray was able to organize an improvised meeting.
Echoes of this visit soon reached Turin through letters written by Chambéry confreres. For example, Father Le Tellier wrote the following letter to Father Sineo della Torre.
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“The letter with which you honored me would have given my soul a more lively joy had it announced that our dear confrere was passing by on another occasion. The ordinary periodic retreat for parish priests, which you ordered and we always attend, limited our freedom and prevented us from expressing our jubilation; this somewhat diminished my pleasure. However, having more leeway would not have helped because he passed by like a flash of lightning. We just barely saw him.
“I could not hold back my inner joy and not display it to all these good priests at the sight of such a friend and confrere, given the strong bonds of charity that unite us in Jesus Christ. At the repeated requests of Canon La Palme, Father Guillet, and Father Rey, he dined at the seminary. After dinner, I left the retreat to take him to Mr. de la Sale’s home. That good gentleman happily kept him for a good part of the evening. Then, I accompanied him to the hostel and bid farewell without hope of seeing him again. But God arranges everything as He wills: “Benedictus Deus, Pater totius consolationis (Blessed be God, the Father of all comfort).” The following day, his business was delayed, and he stayed until noon.
“While Father Lanteri was saying Mass in the cathedral, Father Murgeray, whom I had advised the day before, arranged everything so his confreres would see him as he left. That was also my wish, and I would have done the same if I could have. I thank the Lord for His mercy toward us. [Father Lanteri] has revived our dear Aa with his simple presence. His wholesome advice and words of consolation greatly resonated in our hearts. We listened to him with pleasure and resolved to imitate his zeal, at least partly, if not entirely. Ah, to communicate this spirit of charity and fervor found among you, we would undoubtedly need someone to see us often. We are a “pusillus grex” (a little flock) but have no reason to complain. I am one of the most unworthy; others are running with great strides on the road to perfection.”
Father Guillet, responding to a letter from Father Saint-Georges, complimented Father Lanteri:
“I received your letter only after our dear Father Lanteri’s departure. As Father Simeo wrote Father Tellier, we waited anxiously for him, even though we were annoyed at his visit’s timing. It inconvenienced us as we were in a retreat with parish priests. (I say we because my colleague and present seminary superior also belong to Aa). Although brief, his visit made us rejoice. Our dear Father Murgeray was especially pleased to see his old friend. The others were delighted to have met a new friend.
“We wanted to hold an assembly, and I am sure it would have greatly satisfied everyone. We saw all the edifying things you had told us about Father Lanteri. It was easy to see how grace produces its fruits in him. One of the greatest satisfactions you gave was to let us know that—thanks be to God—your Aa is edifyingly holding. I ask the Lord to continue pouring His graces on you and increase your fervor. Our dear Aa is an inexhaustible source of graces, but we draw from it only as much as we seek.”
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The Chambéry Aa had thus become better acquainted with Father Lanteri and his successful apostolate. He, therefore, strongly recommended they apply Father Diessbach’s apostolic methods in Savoy. Furthermore, he urged them to employ the methods of Turin’s Aa to combat revolutionary infiltration by distributing good books. Unfortunately, the French Revolution ended this collaboration between the sister associations. These horrific events prevented the harmonious development of the apostolate in Chambéry. However, a solid friendship united members of the two Aas. This relationship effectively enabled them to assist each other during the 1789 Revolution. History makes it clear that such actions required much courage and dedication from faithful Catholics.
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