Letter to the Deputies of Sogliano who had invited M. Elisabetta to go to that town to direct a school for the needy young girls of that town and of Montiano according to the last will of Fr. Antimi
Most Illustrious Gentlemen,
After more than a month that I have been in Sogliano, it is time for me to think about returning to my Conservatory, where I should have already returned if time had permitted; but nothing happens by chance. God has allowed me to stay here longer than I had expected so that I may have even more time to know and to examine the circumstances of this Pious House. The greatest difficulty that I find in executing your desire is trying to educate the four girls that are here, some of whom do not know the basics of subordination and proper behavior. What is worse, I don’t see that there is hope to improve the situation, not even to bring them to the acceptable minimum. Nevertheless, I would be willing to try everything that I can, anytime it would please you to give me absolute authority over them, of which certainly I would not abuse, and to organize everything so that we can hope to come out of this most difficult undertaking with good results.
The rules to be enforced by me and my companions are not more rigorous than those which are necessary for a well-regulated house with the goal of Christian formation and a sound education in the way they are observed in Coriano and in other similar houses. If Your Lordships want to adopt our (educational) system and agree to leave me free, without imposing your surveillance, which will always be welcomed, then I will give the teachers the necessary instructions; and I, myself, will return often and assist this work from nearby, as well as from far away, so that it will be advantageous and well-established, as we hope in Divine Providence, which is so evident in this village. However, if Your Lordships have other ideas or better plans that are not consistent with our rule, then I beg you to not be offended if I, with my companions, return to my Conservatory, since from the beginning I had said that I would come here to this place only to see firsthand whether or not it would be possible to open a well-regulated, Pious House.
Your reasonableness makes me hope for a quick decision, and in the meantime, I declare myself with all the esteem and respect of Your Most Illustrious Lordships.
Most humble and most devoted servant,
Elisabetta Renzi
