From a letter written to St Charles Borromeo after his arrival in Corsica. For a shepherd, it is a duty, to give his life for his flock. St Alexander Sauli Said just before his death whilst on pastoral visits to his Diocese. What do we think is meant by the wedding garment, dearly beloved? For if we say it is Baptism or faith, is there anyone who has entered this marriage feast without them?
A person is outside because he has not yet come to believe. What then must we understand by the wedding garment but love? That person enters the marriage feast but without wearing a wedding garment, who is present in the holy Church. He may have faith but he does not have love. We are correct when we say that love is the wedding garment because this, is what our Creator Himself possessed, when He came to the marriage feast, to join the Church to Himself.
Let it go before us and be with us. Open our hearts to Your love. Let it be the foundation of our love, let our love be Your love. O God, loose, remit and forgive my sins against You. Whether in word, or in deed, or in thought, willingly or unwillingly, knowingly or unknowingly, committed, forgive them all, for You are good and love mankind. And through the prayers of Your most holy Mother, of Your heavenly servants and holy powers and of all the saints who have found favour in Your sight, enable me to receive, without condemnation Your holy and immaculate Body and Your Precious Blood, to the healing of my soul and body and to the driving away of all evil imaginations, for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages.
In addition, St Alexander Sauli was both friend, advisor and spiritual comfort to St Charles Borromeo, who held him in very high esteem. Patronages β Corsica, Barnabite Seminarians. He was appointed by St Pope Pius V to the ancient see of Aleria, Corsica, where he rebuilt churches, founded colleges and seminaries and, despite the depredations of the Corsairs, placed the Church in a flourishing condition.
In , he was made Bishop of Pavia and died at Calozza the following year. He left a number of works, chiefly catechetical. Alexander was born of a wealthy and highly regarded family of Lombard on 15 February Tommasina Spinola, his mother, also came from an ancient and noble family.
