don bosco's madonna the bothering black hole · about the significance of a sacrament…it is...

2 3June 2020 Don Bosco’s Madonna Don Bosco’s MadonnaJune 2020

Fr. Ian Doulton sdb

From The Editor's Desk:The Bothering Black Hole.....3

Matrimony or Cohabitation- Don Giampaolo Dianin........4

No One Will Separate Us - Maria Chiara Bregolin..........6

Youth on the Move: What Brings Us Together - Anastasia Dias.......................7

Fesat of the Month: In That Bread and In that Wine - Don Chino Biscontin...............9

Great Bible Heroes: The ‘Greatest’ Meeting of All - Ian Pinto,sdb.....11

Witnesses In And For Our Times:St. Paulinus of Nola................13

Lectio Divina: The Future of Human-kind - Don Carlo Broccardo 16

Quietspaces: So Important to Give andto Bless - Pope Francis...........18

A Wreath on the Sea- Pierluigi Menato...................20

Fioretti of Don Bosco - 17 - Michele Molineris.............24

Salesian Saint: Bl. ZeffirinoNamancura ..........................27

Reflecting on Mary: Mary: Receiving and Being a Sign - Maria Ko.....29

NewsBits.....................................31In a Cheerful Mood......................32The Devotion of

the Three Hail Marys.............33Loving Children to their

Loving Mother........................34They Are Grateful to

Our Lady & Don Bosco..........34Thanks to Dear

St. Dominic Savio...................35

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

DON BOSCO'S MADONNA

Mumbai JUNE 2020 vol.22 No. 2THE BOTHERING BLACK HOLE

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcomeit.” John 1:5 (NIV)

It’s the beginning of a new academic year and you’re changinggears maybe and then you ask yourself: Do I ever have little

places of discouragement that entangle my heart? I know in thebigger picture of life, things are good. But there’s this little dark place.A little black hole. That sometimes doesn’t feel that little. It hangslike a cloud — blocking the sun, casting shadows.

Maybe it’s an argument you’ve had with a family member one toomany times. Your relationship is good, but this one thing feels like ablack hole.

Maybe it’s an issue with one of your kids. He’s an amazing child,but there is this one habit of his that baffles you, embarrasses youand causes you to fear. It feels like a black hole.

Or maybe it’s a recurring frustration with a friend. She’s amazing,but there’s this one part of your friendship that darkens the collectivegood. And you can’t figure out how to address it. Now it’s happeningmore frequently, and it feels like a black hole.

I know. It’s hard.Recently, I was in one of my prayerful moments and desperately

asking God to help me better process some of the hard situations inmy own life. I asked God to shed some of His light on what I’mstruggling through so I don’t get lost. His voice wasn’t loud ordefinitive. Just a slight shift of my thoughts to be more in line withtruth, and I knew light was defeating my darkness.

I saw my prayer being gently answered; small changes were takingplace, no grand finale I was hoping for but I noticed the beautifulsymphony of hopeful notes in the in-between.

I began to realize that every time I turned to God and asked Himto shed light on my situation, I was trading a little of my struggle fora bit of His strength.

I began to realize that there was no black ‘hole’ at all. The ‘whole’wasn’t all bad. Yes, there are some issues to address and sometensions to manage, but I can’t let my frustration darken my outlook.Doesn’t Jesus remind you, ”I am the light of the world. Whoeverfollows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light oflife.” He also assures us that darkness cannot win against light, ”Thelight shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcomeit” (John 1:5). This truth should make you want to do somethingpositive in this area today. Invest the time to make a little imperfectprogress right there in your dark place. A dark place that won’t beso dark with a little light cast upon it.

Turn then,

most gracious advocate,

thine eyes of mercy

towards us.

And after this,

our exile,

show unto us,

the blessed fruit

of your womb,

JESUS


MATRIMONY OR COHABITATION?MATRIMONY OR COHABITATION?MATRIMONY OR COHABITATION?MATRIMONY OR COHABITATION?MATRIMONY OR COHABITATION?by Don Giampaolo Dianin

REFLECTIONS ON AMORIS LAETITIAREFLECTIONS ON AMORIS LAETITIAREFLECTIONS ON AMORIS LAETITIAREFLECTIONS ON AMORIS LAETITIAREFLECTIONS ON AMORIS LAETITIA

We see all around us a growing allergy towards the in-

stitution of marriage. It does nothave the features of the refusalthat characterized the sixties ofthe last century when protestagainst every institution wasstrong; today love no longer feelsthe need for an institution;strong passion, a roof over theirheads and the will to get in-volved in the game of life as longas there’s good understandingwas enough.

In the past decades, those whochose cohabitation did so to givethemselves a trial; to look forguarantees, to experience theunion concretely. Some took it onbecause they did not believe in theinstitution; they considered it apiece of paper and the ceremony,irrelevant. Today, if you ask acouple why they have chosen to

live together, they might look atyou strangely because they mightnot even understand the question.They might even tell you: ‘Todaywe’re doing it because everyone isdoing it. Maybe sometime in thefuture, we will get married but fornow, we don’t see the need.’

Pope Francis dedicated num-bers 131 and 132 of AmorisLaetitia to explain the profoundmeaning of the institution ofmatrimony. There is nothing for-mal, no external show, no yield-ing to lavish ceremonies, only asearch for the profound links be-tween the love of a man and awoman and their lives together;the intimately personal and so-cial dimension of their existence;and this, even before their mar-riage takes on the features of thecelebration of a sacrament.

Institutions, in general, do not

arise to complicate life or to inter-fere in personal affairs but theyexist to make possible and facili-tate our existence. We know, forexample, that the State has manyremits; but it exists to make thelives of people in a particular ter-ritory, habitable. The State buildsroads and bridges, administers jus-tice, investigates matters, andpunishes transgressors so they donot harm others. Taxes are paidbecause we don’t just have rights,we also have duties.

The man-woman bond and thefecundity of love are a preciousasset; the happiness of peopleand the healthy growth of futuregenerations are at stake. Societ-ies have always felt the need toprotect and promote this funda-mental experience in the lives ofpeople. It is not their intentionto intrude into their intimatespaces but to help and supportthem; to guarantee the rightsand duties that facilitate theirdevelopment and growth.

Marriage is born to protect thelove between a man and awoman. By getting married I telleveryone that we are together,and we ask them to respect ourchoice. By marrying me, I wantto protect our love from even astomachache or from the upsand downs and from crises thatcould lead me to destroy every-thing. This institution tells me:“Think about it, go slow, gethelp!” By marrying me I assuremy partner of the rights and du-ties I assume because it is alsojustice, concreteness and com-mitment. By marrying me, Iguarantee that children willhave a safe place to grow up.

The Pope writes: “Marriage ismuch more meaningful than

mere spontaneous associationfor mutual gratification, whichwould turn marriage into apurely private affair. As a socialinstitution, marriage protectsand shapes a shared commit-ment to deeper growth in loveand commitment to one another,for the good of society (AL 131).

Marriage could also lead tosimply stopping or falling intoboredom. In the past, it was saidthat “marriage is the tomb oflove,” imagining that a timecould come when all enthusiasmwould disappear. But cohabita-tion also has its risks: its provi-sional nature, uncertainty, thefear that the other could alwaysleave and loneliness comparedto the laws and guarantees thatthe State reserves for those whoare married.

Marriage is not love’s super-structure, but it has its essentialaspects: I assume the responsibil-ity for the person I love and I do itin front of everyone.

By marrying you, I tell youthat I will be with you for bet-ter or for worse, in joy and pain.By marrying you, I promise tolove you for life. By gettingmarried to you, we give life tothe conjugal “we” that sur-passes everything, withouteliminating, the individualityof each other. By getting mar-ried we embark on a good paththat others have lived and trodand one that has been tried andhas many indications that itwill reach its goal. By marryingyou I am telling you that youcan trust me and that our loveis not a passing feeling but acommitment that yearns to en-dure through time with all itsstruggles.q


STSTSTSTSTAAAAAYING YING YING YING YING TTTTTOGETHEROGETHEROGETHEROGETHEROGETHER

NO ONE WILL SEPARATE USNO ONE WILL SEPARATE USNO ONE WILL SEPARATE USNO ONE WILL SEPARATE USNO ONE WILL SEPARATE USBy Maria Chiara Bregolin Tezzon

I have been a God-fearing per-son and that is large because I

came from a God-fearing familyand we believed in the power ofprayer and the intercession of thesaints. I have been able to experienceGod’s presence many times in mylife and also in my marriage. Andbecause I prayed fervently my hus-band was able to take his courage inboth his hands and he decided to say‘yes.’ We have recourse to the inter-cession of the saints to help youngpeople find a husband and many tes-timonies bear this out and I add mytestimony to that list.

Forgive this rather flippant intro-duction. Truly the theme of numbers131 and 132 of Amoris Laetitia issomething that would make myhands tremble. I am convinced thatanyone who gets married todaymust be really brave.

I could not enter into the theme ofcohabitation versus Christian mar-riage between friends and familywithout entering into an endless dis-cussion on the reasons of one andthe contraindications of the other.

So, I start with a choice: two bap-tized people who decide to live to-gether and start a family withoutgoing through the sacrament ofmarriage; they have made a choice.I believe that, unlike many, cohabi-tation is also a choice in all respects:it is also courageous to take chargeof one’s life, leaving the nest to startone’s own family, but not yet clearabout the significance of asacrament…It is with the courageof faith that one can throw one’sheart beyond the obstacle and over-come the distrust in the future, theeconomic difficulties, the failed ex-

periences of other couples, the fearof approaching something too greatand sacred in accepting the grace ofMarriage.

I speak of many dear friends whohave chosen to live together not be-cause of the economic advantagesor the vision of marriage as a “tombof love” nor to give their day a bit ofpep, that bit of insecurity that makesyou say to the other that your loveis not taken for granted. I speak ofmany dear friends to whom wehave not been able, as marriedChristian couples, to make clear thatthere is no merit in choosing the sac-rament. But it is only Grace; theGrace of having had examples ofjoyful marriages before us; the Graceof having been able to develop amoral choice though with a certaindegree of unconsciousness.

One can know the rule and knowwhat the virtue indicates, yet still nothave the Gift of Grace as the Gift ofMarriage as a sacrament which:“[…] involves a series of obligationsborn of love itself, a love so seriousand generous that it is ready to faceany risk” (AL 131)

That “yes” that I said in theChurch, before witnesses and soci-ety, tells the other that he can trustin my love, accept that to supportour family there will not only be lawsand the whole cultural substratumbut also the grace of the Holy Spiritwho works incessantly and keeps usyoung, alive and constantly demon-strating my love for you because youare my companion, partner, loverand friend.

On this journey, united as we areby the Gift of the Holy Spirit, no onedare separate us.q

WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHERWHAT BRINGS US TOGETHERWHAT BRINGS US TOGETHERWHAT BRINGS US TOGETHERWHAT BRINGS US TOGETHERby Anastasia Dias

While you’re reading this, itmay be a beautiful, sunny

morning in the month of June. Ora warm afternoon. Even better, astill an evening. You may havewoken up to bright rays of sun-light entering through yourwindows, grateful to be alive. Oryou may be going to bed, with asmile on your face, eagerlywaiting for tomorrow’s dawn.

It’s been almost six monthssince Covid-19 entered our lives.It’s a cliché to say that our liveswill never be the same again.Millions of people have beenbattling this disease while quitea few of them have alreadysuccumbed to it. Even thougheverything we’ve had seems lost,we still have one stronghold toseek refuge-hope in. The samehope that comes every morningthrough your windows, layeredwith happy rays of sunshine.The hope you carry with youwhen you go to bed every night.The hope for a better tomorrow,a tomorrow in which we willhave defeated this virus.

Covid-19 is unquestionablyone of the most unfortunatethings that could and didhappen to us. Nevertheless, ithas given us time to look withinourselves and introspect and to

around us too; the time we saidwe never had for ourselves, forfamilies and friends. Now, in theshelter of our warm homes, in thecompany of our loved ones, werealize how fortunate we are tohave families.

We have begun to think ofthose who aren’t as fortunate asus, who live on the streets, forinstance. They’re the one thispandemic has affected the most.We’ve reached out to them,sharing masks, food, clothingand even shelter.

It is in this time of crisis, thatwe’ve put away our differencesand joined hands to beat thevirus. World leaders have cometogether and encouraged us tostay at home and save lives. Weare one large human family now,united by our differences andcommitted to eradicate Covid-19.

It is during this lockdown that


FEAST OF THE MONTH

During his last supper withhis disciples, Jesus makes a

moving and heroic effort at com-munication. To understand theEucharist it is essential that wetry to understand what Jesuswanted to communicate on thatdramatic evening of his arrest onthe eve of his killing.

Four very strong emotionswere welling up in his heart. Firstof all, there was anguish at theprospect of suffering and of vio-lent death. Secondly, there wasno less anguish about the fate ofhis mission, since the possiblesalvation of humankind de-pended on it. Moreover, Jesushad at heart the fate of his dis-ciples who were associated withhim during his public life andwho would now have to face,

IN THAT BREAD AND IN THAT WINEIN THAT BREAD AND IN THAT WINEIN THAT BREAD AND IN THAT WINEIN THAT BREAD AND IN THAT WINEIN THAT BREAD AND IN THAT WINEDon Chino Biscontin

fragile as they were a difficulttrial. The only possibility of thecontinuation of his mission wasnow going to pass into thoseweak hands and finally, andabove all, a complete and totaland loving surrender to His Fa-ther in trust, docility and totalavailability.

Jesus wants to communicate tothe disciples, first of all, themeaning of the events that areabout to unfold. From the out-side, his violent end will appearas a denial of all that he hadtaught in the name of God andof his claim of the mediator be-tween God and men. Seen fromwithin the soul of Jesus, thoseevents, a consequence of his to-tal fidelity to his mission, is theincarnation of a faithful love

The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the mostpopular solemnities at the popular level: in many dioceses in theCatholic world it is accompanied by processions, a sign of Jesus

who walks the streets of man

our human qualities ofcompassion and sensitivity thatseem to have been lost a long timeago have been found again. Thistime they’re put to good use,hopefully never to be hiddenagain.

We’ve been thinking of doctorsand nurses; they have beensacrificing their own lives,working tirelessly, to save eachand every patient breathing ona ventilator. Some of us decidedthat we’re going to make adifference; we’ve gone to lend ahelping hand to healthcareworkers; so we left our homes fora while and worked withhealthcare workers. We’re alsothinking of the army and thepolice who have left theirfamilies and the comfort of theirhomes to patrol streets, riskingtheir lives to prevent the spreadof the virus, to protect us.

These times are completelyunprecedented; the virus hasentered our lives and made usvulnerable. We understood ourmortality and how an invisiblevirus can potentially kill us. Atthe same time, it makes usrealize how powerful we are ifwe come together as acommunity. If, instead of lookingat the things that make usdifferent, if we look at onecommon trait, our humanity, wewill be invincible.

We find joy in togetherness, insharing and giving; even joy likenever before. Joy that weconcealed because we began tostare at the screens of ourlaptops and smart-phones. Nowwe begin searching, soul-searching.

We look into ourselves, findreserves of strength, unknown

and oblivious of for so long.Because of Covid-19 we areconfronting our deepest anddarkest fears, and are fightingthem valiantly. When this is allover, we will have gotten rid ofdepression and anxiety that keptus from leading happy lives forso long. We are emerging aswarriors.

Everything around us seems sodifferent now that this might befar from over. We aren’t afraidto spend time with our familiesfor the fear of being judged, atleast we are lucky enough tohave them.

Nature had begun healing.There was no one to create animbalance in the natural cyclebecause we humans have beenhidden away for so long.

One can sense love all around.Gratitude for the simplest ofmoments. Life in itself has beenthe greatest gift we could everhave.

Human beings became morecompassionate, sensitive andcaring. This pandemic bringsabout the best in us. We willsurvive. This is enough for us.

Like my 6-year-old cousinbrother, when asked about life inquarantine, simply said:‘Quarantine is when Dad has allthe time in the world to playwith me (and he wins everytime). Mum doesn’t hesitate totell me another story at bedtime.My sister doesn’t seem to run outof hugs. My grandmother smileseach time she sees me. I lovebeing quarantined.’

To paraphrase him in simplerwords, ‘Life is the greatestblessing and we’ve just begun torecognize that.’q


GREAT BIBLE HEROES

THE ‘GREATEST’ MEETING OF ALLJohn the Baptist and Jesus

Ian Pinto, sdb

John and Jesus shared a specialrelationship. Not only did John

baptize him and herald him as theMessiah, they were primarily bloodrelations. The first time they met,they were in their mother’s wombs.Since we know nothing of Jesus’early life, we don’t know whetherhe and John spent time together butit does seem quite probable. If Marywent to assist Elizabeth in her preg-nancy, thereby showing a special re-lationship with her, she surely musthave gone again later when boththeir sons were growing. So, Jesusand John might have had a fewmoments together and perhapswere quite familiar with each otherdespite the distance between them.

This much however is certain,John never spent as much time withJesus as any of his disciples. Thesame is the case with Jesus, Yet, Jesusboldly declares him to be the great-est man ever born. John hardly knewJesus, the Christ. All he knew wasJesus was his relative. Both of themwere friendly relations before theyever became great stalwarts. Johncouldn’t have known much aboutwhat Jesus did prior to meeting himat the Jordan. All that he might haveheard were the stories his mothertold him about how both, he andJesus came to be born.

An Eye for the MessiahWhat stands out in John is his sen-

sitivity to God. He had developedover the years, possibly through in-tense fasting, prayer and penance,

“I tell you this: no one greater than John the Baptist hascome forward from among the sons of women” (Mt 11:11).

an eye for the Messiah. We see thiswhen Mary came to visit Elizabeth.Despite being only a foetus in thewomb, he leapt for joy (Lk 1:39-45).We see it again when he went to thedesert to encounter God (Lk 1:80)and finally, when he saw Jesus amidthe crowds he was preaching to andbaptizing (Mt 3:1-14).

Of all the people Jesus encoun-tered in his lifetime, no one saw himfor who he really was except forJohn the Baptist. Most of them be-gan to believe in him only after heperformed miracles or spoke withauthority. John was the only onewho declared on sight that Jesus

which reaches its climax in thegift of his life: “Jesus, knowingthat his hour had come, to passfrom this world to the Father,having loved his own who werein the world, he loved them tothe end” (Jn 13, 1); “Greater lovehas no man than this, than to laydown his life for his friends” (Jn15:13).

Surprisingly, for this reason,he, as their Lord and Masterwashes the disciples’ feet: “TheSon of man, came not to beserved, but to serve, and give hislife as a ransom for many” (Mk10:45). That is why he will offerbread and wine saying: “It is mybody… and It is my blood,”where the words “body” and“blood” indicate the person andlife of Jesus.

Jesus still wants to communi-cate to the disciples his total con-fidence in God to whom he en-trusts his existence and the mis-sion that filled it. He will expiresaying: “Father, into your handsI commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46).The Father will save him fromdeath: “You will not leave mysoul in hell neither will you suf-fer your Holy One to see corrup-tion” (Acts 2:27).

The Father will also ensure thecontinuity of the mission and,with it, the offer of salvation willremain open despite the killingof his Son: “In this is love: it wasnot that we loved God; but thathe loved us first and sent his Sonas a victim for the expiation ofour sins” (1 John 4:10). To Peter,he will say: “Simon, Simon, be-hold: Satan has sought to sift youlike wheat; but I have prayed foryou, so that your faith may notfail. And when you have re-turned, strengthen your broth-

ers” (Lk 22:31-32).With such confidence, Jesus

says: “Do this in memory of me”(Lk 22:19). The supper takesplace in the context of the Jew-ish Passover celebrations. Herethe word “memory” indicatesnot only a mental exercise but theword “memorial” meant the realreappearance, here and now, ofthe events commemorated. Forthe Jews, it was the presence ofthe Power of God that was en-acted in their liberation from sla-very in Egypt; for the disciples,it was the presence of Jesus him-self, through his love, which rec-onciles, heals, resurrects andsaves. But the “do this” of Jesusindicates what he was doingwith his disciples: being arounda table for a friendship meal.Jesus refers to this meal with sin-ners, which now costs him his lifeand which he considers theclearest and most complete signof the significance of his mission:lost men and women to whomGod, through Jesus, offers recon-ciliation and salvation.

We recognize in that Breadand in that Wine the presence ofJesus himself and, without fearand with gratitude, we sit at thetable with him, the Son, as hisbrothers and sisters.q


ST. PAULINUS OF NOLA

354 - 431

PROFILES

was the chosen one of God (Jn 1:29).Despite the attention he was gettingand the faith people were putting inhim, John was sensitive to the truth:“I am not the Messiah” (Jn 1:20), “Ihave been sent before him. Only thebridegroom has the bride; but thefriend of the bridegroom stands byand listens, and rejoices to hear thebridegroom’s voice. My joy is nowfull. It is necessary that he increaseand that I decrease” (Jn 3:28-30).

Mouth for TruthIt’s no secret that John had a sharp

tongue. He was not one who backeddown from speaking the truth. Henever minced his words and ulti-mately, this is precisely what costhim his head. Right now, I don’twant to shift the focus so much onJohn’s stand for truth. Here, what Iwant to point out is his courage totestify to the truth. As quoted ear-lier, he said very emphatically, thathe was neither the Messiah nor aprophet. He was convinced that hewas called to be the “voice of onecrying out in the wilderness: Makestraight the way of the Lord!” (Jn1:23)

I’m sure he would have enjoyedhaving his own band of followers,people who adored him and hungto every word. Anyone would likethat, but not John. When he sawJesus walking by, he declared to thedisciples who were with him, “Thereis the Lamb of God” (Jn 1:36). He in-vited his own disciples to follow theone who was greater than himself.His disciples took up his invitationand left his side to follow Jesus. Thisis a mark of great humility. Howmany people do you know whowould willingly lower themselvesbefore someone genuinely greater?I know for sure that I struggle to bethat kind of person and that I have

met hardly a handful of people whowould do something like that!

What’s very clear is that Johnsided with truth. He knew that therewas no virtue in living a lie. Jesuswas the chosen one, not he, and ul-timately, people would find salva-tion only through Jesus and notthrough his baptism.

Hands for SavingThe final point I want to make

regarding the character of Johnwas that he had blessed hands.God used him to wash away thesins of repentant people and givethem a new lease of life in thewaters of the Jordan. Jesus him-self submitted to being baptizedby John. John’s baptism became aturning point in many people’slives. An important question toask is ‘How did he come to pos-sess this power?’ The answer isquite simple: God. John gave Godthe better part of his life. Likemany good and holy Jews beforehim, he eagerly awaited the com-ing of the Messiah. God rewardedhis steadfastness and devotion bymaking him an instrument to her-ald the coming of the Messiah.

John is perhaps not one of themost popular Biblical figures. Idon’t think many would take hisname if you asked them to namea few individuals from the Biblebut one cannot deny his great con-tribution to the history of salva-tion. John shows us in his ownsimple way, how God can use aperson to fulfill his plans. On ourpart, we need to devote time tobeing with Him, praying, prepar-ing ourselves and surrendering toHis will. God wants people to her-ald the Good News of His love,mercy and salvation. Can we be theinstruments He is looking for?q

Pontius Meropius Paulinus wasborn at Bourdeaux in 353.

“Everyone,” says St. Jerome, “ad-mired the purity and eloquence ofhis diction, the delicacy and lofti-ness of his thoughts, the strengthand sweetness of his style, and theliveliness of his imagination.”Such were the talents of Paulinusin his youth, while a desire ofpleasing men yet divided hisheart. Probity, integrity, and othermoral virtues were endowmentsof his soul still more admirablethan his learning.

When he came of age, he tookas a wife, a Spanish lady of sin-cere piety, and one of the most ac-complished of her sex; her namewas Therasia, and she broughthim a great estate in land. The pru-dence, generosity, affability, andother social and religious virtuesof the young statesman attractedveneration and esteem whereverhe came he gained many friendsand clients in Italy, Gaul, andSpain and in all he countries haddisplayed his talents during fifteenyears in the discharge of variousemployment and affairs both pub-lic and domestic. But God waspleased to open his eyes to see theemptiness of all worldly pursuits

and to inspire him with a morenoble and innocent ambition ofbecoming little for the sake of thekingdom of heaven. The conver-sations of St. Ambrose at Milan ofSt. Martin, whom he had met atVienne, and of St. Delphinus,bishop of Bordeaux, gave him arelish for retirement and strongsentiments of a more perfect vir-tue.

Paulinus had made some ad-vances in virtue but was not yet


perfect and his wife, though yetyoung and in a condition to enjoythe world, was the first to excitehim to a contempt of whatever isnot God; and they mutually en-couraged one another to forsakeall, that they might more perfectlyfollow Christ. In this resolutionthey retired first into Spain andpassed four years in a little coun-try solitude, from 390 to 394, in ex-ercises of penance and devotion.There they lost their only son, aninfant, whom Paulinus calls aholy offspring, because he hadbeen purified by baptism. Theyburied him at Alcala, near the bod-ies of the martyrs Justus and Pas-tor. The holy couple lived fromthat time, by mutual consent, inperpetual chastity; and Paulinussoon after changed his dress to sig-nify to the world his resolution offorsaking it, and he determined torenounce the senate, his country,estate, and house, and to buryhimself in some monastery or wil-derness. The saint sold all his es-tates and distributed the priceamong the poor as he did also theestate of his wife, with her consent,who aspired with no less fervor toChristian perfection. This actionwas much extolled by all true ser-vants of God, but severely con-demned by the slaves of the world,who called his piety folly, hatingGod in the works of his servantbecause contrary to theirs. Therich forsook him; his own slaves,his relations, and brothers, refusedto pay him the common duties ofhumanity and charity, and roseup against him, so that he becameas one unknown to his brothers,“and as a stranger to the childrenof his mother.”

Thus while the world despisedhim, he justly and courageously

despised it again and gloriouslytrampled it under his feet. In hispoverty and obscurity he becamethe admiration of the universe,and persons of the first rank trav-elled from the remotest bound-aries of the empire to see Paulinusin his little cottage, as St. Austinand St. Jerome witnessed.Therasia confirmed him in thesegood resolutions and was not in-ferior to him in virtue.

St. Austin, being then only apriest, in 392, commended his gen-erous resolution, calling it, theglory of Jesus Christ. And exhort-ing Licentius, a young noblemanwho had formerly been hisscholar, to a contempt of theworld, he wrote thus to him, “Gointo Campania; see Paulinus, thatman so great by his birth, by hisgenius, and by his riches. See withwhat generosity this servant ofChrist has stripped himself of allto possess only God. See how hehas renounced the pride of theworld to embrace the humility ofthe cross. See how he now employsin the praises of God those richesof science, which, unless they areconsecrated to him who gavethem, are lost.”

The saint had indeed, for thesake of virtue, forsaken all that theworld could give; he had despisedits riches, honours, and seducingpleasures and had trampled uponits frowns and all human respects.Courted in the world by all thatwould be thought men of genius,and caressed by all that valuedthemselves upon a fine taste, hehad courage to renounce thoseflattering advantages; and withhonours and riches he had madea sacrifice also of his learning andgreat attainments, only that hemight consecrate himself to the

divine service. Yet this was onlythe preparation to the conflict.Wherefore not to lose by sloth theadvantages which he had pro-cured to himself, he laboured withall his strength to improve themto his advancement in virtue.

Paulinus would not choose aretreat at Jerusalem or Rome, be-cause he desired to live unknownto the world. His love of solitude,and his devotion to St. Felix, de-termined him to prefer a lonelycottage near Nola, a small city inCampania, that he might serveChrist near the tomb of that glo-rious confessor, which was with-out the walls of the town. Hewould be the porter of his church,to sweep the floor every morning,and to watch the night as keeperof the porch; and he desired to endhis life in that humble employ-ment. But he was promoted toholy orders before he left Spain.The people of Barcelona seized onhim in the church on Christmas-day, in 393, and demanded withgreat earnestness that he shouldbe made priest. He resolutely op-posed their desire and only atlength consented on conditionthat he should be at liberty to gowherever he pleased. This beingagreed to, he received holy ordersfrom the hands of the bishop. Thecitizens of Barcelona were, indeed,in hopes to fix him among them;but the next year, 394, after Eas-ter, he left Spain to go into Italy.

He saw St. Ambrose at Milan, orrather at Florence, who receivedhim with great honour andadopted him into his clergy, butwithout any obligation of residingin his diocese.

St. Paulinus had spent fifteenyears in his retirement, when,upon the death of Paul the bishop

of Nola, about the end of the year409, he was chosen to fill the epis-copal chair. Uranius, a priest ofthat church under our saint, whohas given us a short relation of hisdeath, to which he was an eyewit-ness, testifies that the holy prelate,in the discharge of his duties,sought to be beloved by all ratherthan feared by any.

St. Paulinus lived to the year431. Three days before his deathhe was visited in his last sicknessby Symmachus and Acyndinus,two bishops, with whom he enter-tained himself on spiritual things,as if he had been in perfect health.The joy of seeing them made himforget his distemper. A little latera priest of Lucania arrived, whobrought him fifty pieces of silver,sent him for a present from a cer-tain bishop and a layman. St.Paulinus gave thanks to God, gavetwo pieces to the bearer, and paidthe merchants for the clothes. Heslept a little at night but awakedhis clergy to Matins according tohis custom and made them an ex-hortation to unanimity andfervour. —After this he lay silenttill the hour of vespers, when,stretching out his hands, he saidin a low voice, “I have prepared alamp for my Christ,” Psalm xxxi.The lamps in the church were thenlighting. Between ten and elevenat night, all who were in his cham-ber felt a sudden trembling as bysome shock of an earthquake, andthat moment he gave up his soulto God. He was buried in thechurch he had built in honour ofSt. Felix. His body was afterwardsremoved to Rome and lies in thechurch of St. Bartholomew be-yond the Tiber. qAdapted from:

Butler’s Lives of Saints, London


THE FUTURE OF HUMANKINDDon Carlo Broccardo

On the evening of Holy Saturday, during the Easter

Vigil service, the first reading is al-ways taken from the first chapterof the book of Genesis; the greatstory of creation. It is a poetic andimpressive narrative punctuatedby some repeated themes. One ofthe refrains is that, as God pro-ceeds with creation he stops occa-sionally to look at his completedwork with satisfaction and “seesthat it is good.” All that God hadcreated was good and only good.When Adam and Eve begin theirexistence (here we enter the sec-ond chapter of the book of Gen-esis), God prepares for them a gar-den rich in vegetation and fertile:a veritable garden of delights (es-pecially for those who live in anarid land like Palestine). It was notjust a beautiful place. They couldeat of all the fruits that grew in thegarden except from the tree of theknowledge of good and evil andthey could live a totally peacefullife.

There was peaceful coexistencebetween humans and the animalsthat were created for them. There

was peace between man andwoman, created for each and fac-ing each other (says Gen 2:18). Thebiblical narrative expresses thisreality by saying that they were“both naked,” the man and hiswife “and they felt no shame”(Gen 2:25). They had nothing tohide and nothing to fear. Finally,and this is most important, bothof them lived in serene commun-ion with God who walked withthem in the garden. This is obvi-ously an anthropomorphic image(God thought of as a human be-ing) but it gives the reader a fairidea of familiarity and the attitudeof living together in peace.

On June 1, the liturgy offers usa passage from the third chapterof the book of Genesis (Gen 3:9-15) in which we see how the wholepeaceful scenario simply went upin smoke. Humans, as we know,transgressed God’s command-ment and wanted to eat – at theinstigation of the serpent – thefruit of the forbidden tree. Thatwas how the peace of the gardenwas shattered.

Genesis 3:9-15 takes up the

three aspects of the preex-isting peace that we sawearlier but this time, inreverse order. First ofall, the relationshipwith God is broken;the Bible invites us toimagine God goingout for a walk withAdam in the morn-ing and he does notfind him; then hecalls him and Adamresponds: “I hid be-cause I was afraid.” Sincewhen did God become scary?Since Adam ate of the tree that hewas not supposed to, he realizesthat he is naked and now he fellshelpless and vulnerable.

That was the same feeling hehad in front of the woman; just afew verses earlier we read thatthey ate of the fruit and “their eyeswere opened and they knew thatthey were naked and they sewedtogether fig leaves and madeaprons for themselves” (Gen 3:7)They now felt vulnerable and sothey had to “protect” themselvesfrom each other’s gaze as well asthe gaze of God. And they wereright, because Adam’s first reac-tion, when he was discovered byGod was to blame Eve: “Thewoman you put with me, she gaveme to eat and I ate.” Not that hehad many other alternatives.However it was sad to see howimmediately the mutual accusa-tions began.

Finally, the serenity that existedwith the animals is also brokenbecause Eve in turn now blamesthe serpent and because in the endannounces a future of intermi-nable struggle. There would beenmity not only between thewoman and the serpent but also

between their children: “Iwill put enmity between

you and the woman,between your lineageand its lineage,” saysthe Lord.

What we read orwill read on June 1,could be the saddestpage in the Bible; apage that makes us

reflect on how wehuman beings are ca-

pable of ruining eventhe most beautiful things!

Think of how we are slowlydestroying creation with pollu-tion; or the wars of hatred thatinfests the land; there is even kill-ing in the name of God! Like hu-mankind on the whole, we areable to ruin even the most sacredof things. What future are weleaving for the generations tocome?

But the story of Genesis does notend on a tragic note but with whattradition calls “the Proto-Evangelium” which is the firstproclamation good news: “I willmake you and the woman hateeach other – says the Lord to theserpent – her offspring and yourswill always be enemies. Her off-spring will crush your head, andyou will bite her offspring’s heel”(Gen 3:15 TEV). The lineage ofEve, that is, the whole of human-kind, will always be threatened bythe evil one. We are not to benaïve. Till the end of time human-kind will have to “fight” thetemptation to ruin everything butin the end, we will make it; we willsmash the head of the evil one. Itmay seem impossible that human-kind will overcome evil, but weknow that nothing is impossiblefor God. q

VOICES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT


SO IMPORTANT TO GIVE AND TO BLESSSO IMPORTANT TO GIVE AND TO BLESSSO IMPORTANT TO GIVE AND TO BLESSSO IMPORTANT TO GIVE AND TO BLESSSO IMPORTANT TO GIVE AND TO BLESSPope Francis’ Homily (Edited) on the Occasion of the Solemnity of theBody and Blood of Christ, on Sunday, 23 June, 2019 at Church of Santa

Maria Consolatrice, in the Roman Quarter of Casal Bertone

Today, God’s word helps us to appreciate more deeply two verbsthat are simple, yet essential for daily life: to speak and to give.

To speak. In the first reading, Melchizedek says: “Blessed be Abramby God Most High… and blessed be God Most High” (Gen 14:19-20).For Melchizedek, to speak is to bless. He blesses Abraham, in whomall the families of the earth will be blessed (cf. Gen 12:3; Gal 3:8). Ev-erything begins with blessing: words of goodness create a history ofgoodness. The same thing happens in the Gospel: before multiplyingthe loaves, Jesus blesses them: “Taking the five loaves, he looked up toheaven and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples”(Lk 9:16). A blessing turns five loaves into food enough for a greatcrowd: the blessing releases a cascade of goodness.

Why is it good to bless? Because it turns a word into a gift. When webless, we are not doing something for ourselves, but for others. Bless-ing is not about saying nice words or trite phrases. No, it is about speak-ing goodness, speaking with love. [...] How many times have we re-ceived words of encouragement, or a sign of the cross on our fore-head? We were blessed on the day of our baptism, and we are blessedat the end of every Mass. The Eucharist is itself a school of blessing.God blesses us, his beloved children, and thus encourages us to keepgoing. [...] We come to Mass, certain that we will be blessed by theLord, and we leave in order to bless others in turn, to be channels ofgoodness in the world.

This is also true for us: it is important for us pastors to keep blessingGod’s people. Dear priests, do not be afraid to give a blessing, to blessthe People of God. Dear priests, continue to bless: the Lord wants tobless his people; he is happy to make us feel his affection for us. Onlyas those who are themselves blessed, can we in turn bless others withthat same anointing of love. It is sad to think of how easily peopletoday do the opposite: they curse, despise and insult others. [...] Let usavoid being infected by that arrogance; let us not let ourselves be over-come by bitterness, for we eat the Bread that contains all sweetnesswithin it. God’s people love to praise, not complain; we were createdto bless, not grumble. In the presence of the Eucharist, Jesus who be-comes bread, this simple bread that contains the entire reality of theChurch, let us learn to bless all that we have, to praise God, to blessand not curse all that has led us to this moment, and to speak words ofencouragement to others.

The second verb is to give. “Speaking” is thus followed by “giving”.This was the case with Abraham who, after being blessed byMelchizedek, “gave him a tenth of everything” (Gen 14:20). It was

the case, too, with Jesus who after reciting the blessing, gave the loavesto be distributed among the crowd. This tells us something very beau-tiful. Bread is not only something to be consumed; it is a means of shar-ing. Surprisingly, the account of the multiplication of the loaves doesnot mention the multiplication itself. On the contrary, the words thatstand out are: “break”, “give” and “distribute” (cf. Lk 9:16). In effect,the emphasis is not on the multiplication but the act of sharing. This isimportant. Jesus does not perform a magic trick; he does not changefive loaves into five thousand and then to announce: “There! Distrib-ute them!” No. Jesus first prays, then blesses the five loaves and beginsto break them, trusting in the Father. And those five loaves never runout. This is no magic trick; it is an act of trust in God and his provi-dence.

He tells his disciples straight out: “You give them something to eat”(Lk 9:13). Why do we have to give them something to eat, if they cameto hear our Teacher? If they didn’t bring their own food, let them goback home, it’s their problem; or else give us some money to buy food”.This way of thinking is not wrong, but it isn’t the way Jesus thinks. Hewill have none of it: “You give them something to eat”. Whatever wehave can bear fruit if we give it away – that is what Jesus wants to tellus – and it does not matter whether it is great or small. The Lord doesgreat things with our littleness, as he did with the five loaves. He doesnot work spectacular miracles or wave a magic wand; he works withsimple things. God’s omnipotence is lowly, made up of love alone. Andlove can accomplish great things with little. The Eucharist teaches usthis: for there we find God himself contained in a piece of bread. Simple,essential, bread broken and shared, the Eucharist we receive allows usto see things as God does. It is the antidote to the mindset that says:“Sorry, that is not my problem”, or: “I have no time, I can’t help you,it’s none of my business”. Or that looks the other way…

In our city that hungers for love and care, that suffers from decayand neglect, that contains so many elderly people living alone, fami-lies in difficulty, young people struggling to earn their bread and torealize their dreams, the Lord says to each one of you: “You yourselfgive them something to eat”. You are not alone, for you have the Eu-charist, bread for the journey, the bread of Jesus. Tonight too, we willbe nourished by his body given up for us. We will feel blessed and loved,and we will want to bless and love in turn, beginning here, in our city,in the streets where we will process this evening. The Lord comes toour streets in order to speak a blessing for us and to give us courage.And he asks that we too be a blessing and a gift for others.q


A WREATH ON THE SEAA WREATH ON THE SEAA WREATH ON THE SEAA WREATH ON THE SEAA WREATH ON THE SEABy Pierluigi Menato, TA/ID

All that was left of his fatherwas a photograph: a slightly

dimmed sepia-toned portraitthat was also fast fading withage. It stood on the chest ofdraws in a tin frame; before itwas a bouquet of fake flowers butmade so well, they seemed al-most real.

Every now and again, Philipstopped to look at it and felt atwinge in his heart because thatimage was as faded as the imagein his heart, which would oneday or other completely disap-pear from his memory. Yet, a yearhad not gone by since his fatherhad disappeared, swallowed upby the sea, just like what hap-pened long ago to his uncle An-drew and his cousin Michel. Thefate of fishermen who becometoo familiar with the sea is some-times treacherous.

Philip was left with his motherand his Grandfather Daniel, afisherman too. They lived in the

little house by the old pier. Itstood amid the sound of the fish-ing boats on one side and the seaon the other. A fisherman’shouse is small, always smellingof fish, seaweed, iodine and seasalt; just two small rooms, akitchen and a bedroom.

Philip slept with his grandfa-ther in the kitchen and had forhis bed an old net hooked up tothe wall with a nail like a ham-mock. His grandfather slept ona straw mattress that, during theday, was rolled up in a corner.There in the only bedroom, slepthis mother, it was where he wasborn and from where, for the lasttime, his father had left thatmorning, at dawn, when the seaas calm as a dead cat had to-wards evening turned utterly in-sane, so made that it had swal-lowed up both men and boats.

Since his father had disap-peared, every time they spoke ofhim she burst into tears, it washeart-wrenching for the poorwoman. He could no longer ut-ter his father’s name. He just said“he” when she was there, hisname no longer came to her lips.Grandfather Daniel raised hishead from the book he was read-ing by the light of the oil lampand nodding his head, but saidnothing. Philip was already inbed and could hear his motherwhispering and crying softly asshe washed the pots and panswhile Philip stared up at the ceil-ing. Because he couldn’t sleep thepoor boy glanced out of the win-dow to see through the mistypanes the silver stars that

seemed entangled in the nets thatwere spread out to soak up thenight dew.

Only much later did the boyfall asleep; he was unable to sleeptill he heard his mother sigh asshe got into bed in the otherroom. He would have liked tojump out of bed and run to com-fort her with a hug and a kiss buthe didn’t dare. He was possessedby an invincible shyness. Grand-father Daniel said that men mustswallow their tears, die of a bro-ken heart, but never cry or showfear. So, Philip, who would haveliked to do so many things for hismother, did not even whisperwhat he felt in his heart; it wouldremain there shut up in a shelllike a peanut.

It was almost a year that hisfather had disappeared and theacute pain, sharp and scorchingremained shut within the wallsof that poor house. By nowgrandfather Daniel had takenthe boat out to sea and he oftentook the boy out with him toteach him how to stand at thehelm or to pull in the nets.

Every time Philip went out

fishing with his grandfather, hismother kissed him on the fore-head but never said a word. Sheremained there at the door look-ing at the boat as it slowly re-ceded on the waves. Her faceturned pale and seemed to growstone cold; only her lips movedslightly in prayer.

Spring was over and the car-nations on the window sill hadfaded. They were exposedthroughout the sunny summerafternoons. The fishing boats onthe still green water bobbed upand down throwing up goldenreflections. It was already Sep-tember and with it came suddenstorms and squalls whichslapped the cliff side withsprays; all that could be heardwere the sounds of creakingmasts and trees. It was nearlyOctober with some stormy andother sultry days. The seacrashed against the shore crack-ing hulls that seemed to groanlike tortured creatures.

One evening towards the endof October, Grandfather Danielcame home with a great bundleof yellow and white chrysanthe-


mums.“We need to prepare a

wreath...” he told the mother.“Next week we’ll be getting intoNovember and it will be All SoulsDay on the second.”

“Oh, yes, it’s already All SoulsDay…” she repeated. Then tak-ing the bundle of flowers shewent and shut herself in herroom.

Philip dared not say anything.“Wreaths” he thought “on AllSouls Day were taken to thegraves of loved ones. My poordad doesn’t have a grave.”

At supper, while eating soup,the boy raised his head of tousledhair at one point, as if to say

something.“Grandfather Daniel...” he

murmured...“What is it?”“Oh, it’s nothing...I wanted

some bread...”“It’s in front of you, dear...”

said his mother, giving his shoul-der a little squeeze.

It was not the bread he wanted.Philip wanted to know where thechrysanthemum wreath wouldbe taken, but the question stuckin his throat. The evening beforeAll Souls Day the sea turnedrough and ugly.

It was a feast day and theywent to Mass walking along the

walls by the sea front to protectthemselves from being hit by thegale that came in from the sea.When they returned from Church,his mother murmured somethingto Grandfather Daniel; Philipcould catch only a few words.

“Don’t be afraid,” replied theGrandfather, “the sea will becalm tomorrow.”

The night was terrible and itmade Philip whisper: “OurLady, protect us!” From his sus-pended hammock Philip heardthe screech of the wind and theroar of the lightning. A boltstruck the masts of the fishingboats in the dock. Another streakstruck a tree nearby, sendingsplinters bouncing on the roofabove the boy. The boy jumpedup terrified and then he imme-diately stuck his head under thecovers not to have to see the glowof the lightning through the win-dow, as it lit up the kitchenwhere Grandfather Daniel sleptserenely on his straw mattress.

As the sky turned pale with thefirst sign of dawn, the windseemed to calm down and the seaonly stirred a bit; the waves werecoming to the shore more calmlynow as if to forgive the outburstof the night before.

Kissing him on his cheek hismother woke up Philip. She wasalready dressed. “Get up,” shesaid, “Grandfather is already out-side. We have to go.”

“Where?”“Today is All Souls Day. We’re

all taking a wreath to your poorfather.”

When the boy was ready, hismother took him by the hand andthey went to the pier. Grandfather

was already in the boat untyingthe sail ropes.

“Hurry up, come on,” heshouted to the boy and his mother,when he saw them approaching.The mother sat in the bowwrapped in a woolen shawl, hold-ing the wreath in her hands. Philipstood next to his grandfather whoheld the tiller and was adjustingthe sail.

The sea had the colour of mol-ten lead and large bituminouscoloured clouds swirled on thehorizon. The boat, driven by thewind-swelled sails, left the dockquickly. Gradually, Philip saw theland move away, the tangle ofmasts and white cottages on thecoast gradually disappeared.

The old man then looked at thesea.

“Here, perhaps...” he whis-pered, and he got up to lower thesail, tying the tiller.

The waves had now calmeddown and the boat barely pitchedon the immense expanse of greywaters.

The mother tried to stand butfell back on the bow, sobbing:

“I cannot...” she murmured, “Icannot.”

Grandfather Daniel came up toher and gently took the wreathfrom her hands and gave it toPhilip, who, after a little hesita-tion, threw it into the water. Thenthey all made the Sign of theCross. “Let us kneel” said Grand-father to the boy who was stand-ing beside him, “and pray to theLord that those who have died atsea may rest in peace.”

The mother was crying, her facein her hands. “Amen,” she mur-mured, “Amen!” q


FIORETTIFIORETTIFIORETTIFIORETTIFIORETTIOF DON BOSCO - 17OF DON BOSCO - 17OF DON BOSCO - 17OF DON BOSCO - 17OF DON BOSCO - 17

by Michele Molineris

46. Room of Chestnuts (1853)One evening after supper, while

Don Bosco was engaged in his cus-tomary role of teaching, two sinis-ter-looking men appeared at theOratory and asked him to rush tothe bedside of a man in a nearbyneighborhood called “Cuor d’Oro.”The man was dying and wanted tomake his confession. Ever ready toprovide spiritual assistance, DonBosco quickly turned over the classto someone else. As he was aboutto leave, realizing that it was al-ready dark, he thought it prudentto have some of the older boys ac-company him. “There’s no need,”the two strangers said. “We’ll escortyou there and back. Their presencemight upset the sick man.”

“Never mind!” Don Bosco replied.“My boys always enjoy a walk.When we’ll get there they will waitfor me outside.” Reluctantly the twomen led the way.

When they came to the house,they ushered Don Bosco into aroom on the main floor, telling him:“Please wait here a moment whilewe tell the patient you’re here.” Theboys-among whom were Cigliutti,[John] Gravano, and [Joseph]Buzzetti – remained outside. In thatroom there were several men gath-ered festively around a table. Seem-ingly they had enjoyed a fine sup-per and now were leisurely savor-ing or pretending to savor chest-nuts. After greeting Don Bosco veryrespectfully and praising him en-thusiastically, they invited him tosample some chestnuts. Don Boscocourteously declined, saying:“Thank you, but I really don’t feellike any. I just had my supper.”

“Then you won’t refuse at least aglass of our wine,” they chorused.“It’s one of the best; it’s from Asti.”(A province near Turin renownedfor its excellent sparkling wines).

“No, thank you. I never drink ex-cept at meals; it upsets my stom-ach.”

“Oh, come now; a little sip won’thurt you. It will even help your di-gestion. You could at least drink toour health!”

So saying, one of the men reachedfor a bottle and filled all the glasses.Since he had deliberately set out oneglass too few, he placed the bottleon the table and went to fetch an-other glass which he proceeded tofill from a second bottle standingnear it. He then offered it to DonBosco who had not failed to observethe maneuver. Obviously they wereoffering him a poisoned drink.Without betraying his suspicion,Don Bosco lifted the glass andtoasted the ruffians; then he put itdown on the table again, excusinghimself. “You can’t do this to us,”one of them protested. “You’re of-fending us,” another broke in. “Thiswine is of the very best! Drink to ourhealth!” they all shouted.

“I already told you that I don’t feellike drinking, and now I’ll add thatI cannot and will not drink it,” DonBosco replied.

“Yes, you will!” they shoutedagain. With these words, two ofthem grabbed Don Bosco by hisshoulders and told him: “We won’tswallow this insult. Drink you shall,and by force, if necessary.”

Don Bosco was in a tight spot. Hecould not physically resist, norwould it have been prudent to doso. Therefore, he decided to try hisluck, saying: “If you really want meto drink, let go of me, or I won’t beable to hold the glass steady.”

As soon as they released their

hold, Don Bosco instantly darted tothe door. Fortunately it was notlocked, and he quickly opened it.The sudden appearance of four orfive husky young men between 18and 20 years old curbed the bellig-erence of the men. Their spokesmanvery meekly said: “Well, if youdon’t feel like drinking, you don’thave to.” “Maybe one of my boysmight like this drink,” Don Bosco re-marked. “Oh, just forget it,” they re-plied. (Don Bosco would certainlynot have given that drink to the boys;his suggestion was simply a ruse toforce them to show their hand moreopenly.) “Well, then, where’s thedying man?” he asked. To save face,one of them led him to a room onthe next floor. The dying man turnedout to be one of the two who hadcome to fetch him at the Oratory.Don Bosco asked him a few ques-tions, but the scoundrel, after mak-ing a prodigious effort at self-con-trol, finally burst into laughter, say-ing: “I’ll make my confession someother time.” Don Bosco left thehouse immediately, thanking Godfor the protection he had received.

After hearing the whole story thenext day, some boys made their ownprivate investigations. They learnedthat a certain individual had offereda good dinner to these hired hatchetmen after they had promised tomake Don Bosco drink a little winewhich he had prepared especiallyfor him. Don Bosco never forgot thatroom; even during the last fewmonths of his life, whenever he wentout on a walk with one of us, hewould point it out, remarking:“There’s the chestnut room.” (EBMIV, 486-488)

47. I won’t be there anymore, butyou will be there (1853)

An old prophecy assured FatherRua that his life would last at least

thirty-five years more. So he himselftestified:

“In 1853, while preparations wereafoot in Turin for the centennial cel-ebrations of the miracle of theBlessed Sacrament, our good fatherDon Bosco wrote a pamphlet to helpprepare the faithful for the solemnanniversary. I was then sixteen andacting as his secretary. A few monthsafter the close of the festivities, DonBosco and I were returning from thesummer residence of our goodfriend, Father Matthew Picco, whereDon Bosco used to spend a few daysevery year to work at his writing inthe peace of the countryside, avail-ing himself of the extensive literary,historic, and scientific knowledge ofthe learned professor. When wereached the city’s outskirts, not farfrom the Great Mother of GodChurch, our conversation turned tothe recent centennial celebration andthe popularity of his pamphlet. At,one point, Don Bosco, looking to thefuture, remarked: “When the fourhundred and fiftieth anniversary iscelebrated in 1903, I shall no longerbe here, but you will. As of now, Ientrust its reprint to you.”

“I gladly accept so welcome atask,” I replied, “but what if deathshould play its tricks on me beforethen?” “Have no fear! Death willplay you no tricks, and you will beable to carry out the task I am nowentrusting to you.” Hearing himspeak with such conviction, I thenand there put aside a copy of thepamphlet to have it on hand for areprint in 1903.”

He did indeed reprint it, prefac-ing it with a statement similar to theabove and also mentioning his 1868illness and recovery.

48. In clergyman (1853)Bishop [John] Cagliero told the

Salesians: One evening in 1853 Don


SALESIANSALESIANSALESIANSALESIANSALESIANSAINTSSAINTSSAINTSSAINTSSAINTS

ZEFFIRINOZEFFIRINOZEFFIRINOZEFFIRINOZEFFIRINONAMANCURANAMANCURANAMANCURANAMANCURANAMANCURA

STUDENT, BLESSEDSTUDENT, BLESSEDSTUDENT, BLESSEDSTUDENT, BLESSEDSTUDENT, BLESSED

1886 - 19051886 - 19051886 - 19051886 - 19051886 - 1905

The sanctity of Zeffirino is anexpression and fruit of Sales-

ian Youth Spirituality, comprisedof joy, friendship with Jesus andMary, the fulfilment of one’s du-ties and a commitment to help oth-ers. Zeffirino is convincing proofof the fidelity with which the firstmissionaries who were sent byDon Bosco to Argentina, suc-ceeded in replicating what he haddone at the Oratory of Valdocco:to form young saints.

Zeffirino’s life is a brief parableof just 19 years, but rich in teach-ings. He was born in Chimpay(Argentina) on August 26, 1886and was baptized two years laterby the Salesian Missionary Fr.Milanesio, who had mediated thepeace agreement between theMapuce (an indigenous tribe lo-cated between Chile and Argen-tina) and the Argentine Army. Hewas eleven when his father en-rolled him in the governmentschool at Buenos Aires. He in-tended to make his son the futuredefender of his people. ButCifferino was not happy there sohis father took him to the SalesianCollege of “Pius IX”. Here he be-gan his adventure with gracewhich would transform him intoa heroic witness of the Christianlife. At once he showed a keen in-terest in his studies, wasenamoured by the practices of pi-ety, he loved his catechism and

was appreciated by everyone, hiscompanions and his superiors.Two experiences set him off to-wards the peaks of sanctity: thelife of Dominic Savio, of whom hebecame an ardent imitator, andhis First Communion, at whichtime he promised uncompromis-ing fidelity to his great friendJesus. At that time the little ladfound it difficult to “fall in line”and “be obedient to the sound ofthe bell” but he soon became amodel.

He took as his model of lifeDominic Savio; following his“simple recipe” for sanctity whichDon Bosco, the “Father andTeacher of Youth” gave littleDominic one day: Be alwayshappy, do well your duties of pi-ety and study, and help your com-panions.” He was the soul of therecreation and the referee too, andhis word was accepted when therewas a dispute. Zeffirino’s piety ex-uded the Salesian culture, solidly

Bosco came home dripping wetfrom a torrential downpour. Whenhe got to his room he wanted tochange, but his mother could notfind him another cassock. He wasdisappointed because the boyswere in church waiting for him tolead the devotions in honor of OurLady of the Seven Sorrows, and hedid not want to let them down. Thenhis eye chanced on a used, longovercoat and a pair of white trou-sers which I believe Marquis [Domi-nic] Passati had brought for someboy. Without any hesitation DonBosco donned them, put on a pairof clogs, and trudged downstairs tochurch. It was dark in the church,but the boys could not help notic-ing his strange garb. They smiledsympathetically because they knewthat he was poor for their sake.

Another year, during the monthof May, he was again caught in adownpour. Since he had no othercassock to change into, he had towear a long overcoat that a fellowpriest had given him. It did not reachto his heels, and that is why - as hepreached the May sermonette fromthe pulpit - we could see to whatextent his socks had been darned.

A humorous episode occurredaround 1854 or 1855. One day DonBosco had to send [the cleric Jo-seph] Rocchietti to town on a veryimportant errand; noticing that theboy’s shoes were worn and burst-ing at the seams, Don Bosco took offhis own and gave them to him with-out further thought. On his way out,Rocchietti said laughingly to hiscompanions: “I wonder how DonBosco will manage today. He has noother shoes.” That was quite true!Worse yet, when he tried to borrowa pair from Buzzetti, Rua, and oth-ers, he found that they, too, had onlythe shoes they were wearing, andnone were Don Bosco’s size. Finally

someone managed to find a pair ofclogs. It should be remembered thatit was the height of summer. Whendinnertime arrived and Don Boscocame down the stairs, the strangeclatter and unusual footwear at-tracted the boys’ attention, excitingtheir laughter. The amusing aspectof the incident was that around threeo’clock a servant came from Count[Louis] Giriodi to ask Don Bosco ifhe would go to assist a sick mem-ber of his family at once. Don Boscowanted to take a coach so that no onewould notice his clogs, but it wouldhave taken too long to find one,since they were rather scarce in ad-dition to being expensive. He there-fore asked the servant to accompanyhim. As they trudged along Via DoraGrossa and across Piazza Castello toVia Po, No. 53, Don Bosco kept closeto the buildings, hoping that his cas-sock would hide his unusual foot-wear. After administering to thepatient, he was about to leave whenthe servant hinted that Don Boscomight not need to be escorted back.“I’m afraid I do,” said Don Bosco.“But why, if I may ask?” “Because Ineed someone to block out the viewof my clogs.” “Good heavens,” theservant exclaimed, and wentstraight to Count Giriodi to tell himabout it. The count hastily dressedand accompanied Don Bosco him-self through the narrow, deserted al-leys. On reaching Via Corte d’Appello, he took Don Bosco to ashoe store at No.8, run by Mrs.Zanone, a widow who was wellknown to both of them, and whis-pered to her that Don Bosco waswearing clogs because he had noshoes. The lady, who had warmlygreeted Don Bosco, was greatly sur-prised, and she instantly fitted himwith the finest shoes she had in ex-change for his clogs, which she keptas a precious souvenir of the event. q


MARY: RECEIVING AND BEING A SIGNMARY: RECEIVING AND BEING A SIGNMARY: RECEIVING AND BEING A SIGNMARY: RECEIVING AND BEING A SIGNMARY: RECEIVING AND BEING A SIGNby Maria Ko Ha Fong, FMA

rooted in the Sacraments, particu-larly the Eucharist. For this reasonhe assumed the role of sacristan.With the slow and prayerful man-ner in which he made the sign ofthe Cross he impressed all thosewho saw him.

In 1903, when he was sixteenand a half years old, MonsignorCagliero accepted him among theaspirants in Viedma, the capital ofthe apostolic vicariate, to startstudying Latin. One day – Frances-co De Salvo seeing Zeffirino, whowas already a Salesian aspirant,arrive on horseback with light-ning speed, shouted to him:“Zeffirino, what do you like best?”He expected an answer referringto horse riding (an art theAraucanos were famous at) butthe boy, braking his horse replied:“To be a priest.” And then he gal-loped on.

It was during those years ofpersonal interior growth that hetook ill with tuberculosis. He wasbrought back to his native cli-mate, but that was not enough.Bishop Cagliero then thoughtthat he would receive bettertreatment in Italy. His presencedid not go unnoticed. The news-papers wrote admiringly aboutthe “Prince of the Pampas.” Fa-ther Rua had him sit at tablewith the Superior Council. Hewas given a private audiencewith Pius X who listened to himwith interest and even gave himhis Ad Principes medal. In theSalesian college of Villa Sora, inFrascati, Zeffirino – who had en-countered some difficulties instudying Italian – came secondin his class. His school report re-veals that he stood out in hisstudy of Latin; an important re-quirement to become a priest. On

Marcy 28, 1905 he had to be hos-pitalized at the Fatebenefratellihospital on the Tiber Islandwhere he die on May 11, leavingbehind the impressive impres-sion of inimitable goodness, dili-gence and cheerfulness. In thisregard we have this touching tes-timony from a Salesian FatherIorio. Three days beforeZeffirino died, Father Iorio hadgone to visit him. He was told bythe young Zeffirino, now dying:“Father I will be leaving soon,but I recommend this pooryoung man next to me, to you.Come back often to visit him…he suffers a lot! At night, he al-most never sleeps. He coughs alot”.

A comment of his sums up hisentire life’s programme: “I wantto study to be useful to mypeople.” In fact, Zeffirinowanted to study to be a priestand return to his people to con-tribute to their cultural andspiritual development as he hadseen the first missionaries do. Asaint is never like a meteoritethat flashes across the sky of hu-manity, but rather the fruit of along and silent gestation in afamily and among a people. Thatexpressed in Zeffirino their bestqualities.

The life of Zeffirino is an invi-tation for us to believe in youngpeople, even those who havejust been evangelized; that theymay discover the richness of thegospel which does not destroyanything of what is truly human,and the systematic contributionof education in this wonderfulwork of configuring the humanperson so that he is able to repro-duce in himself the image ofChrist.q

Mary leaves her home to be-gin her journey; a metaphor

for a “pilgrimage of faith” alongall the stages of her life. She leavesNazareth behind and with it the“sign” the angel gave her: “Evenyour relative Elizabeth is expect-ing a son in her old age, althoughshe was unable to have a child,and she is now in her sixth month”(Lk 1, 36). In the modest little homeof Zechariah, the elderly Elizabethwaits for the son that is going to behers by ‘amazing grace.’ For Mary,this fact must be a proof of God’spower before which “nothing isimpossible” (Lk 1, 37).

Nothing is Impossible for GodWhen Sarah, Abraham’s wife

laughed in disbelief at the thoughtof still being able to bear a child inher old age, the Lord asked herthis question: “Is this perhapssomething impossible for theLord?” (Gen. 18, 14) So, the son ofpromise bears the name Isaacwhich means “God smiles on you”and it is a wonderful sign of God’sbenevolence (cf. Gen 21, 7). Tothose who are discouraged andoverwhelmed by suffering Isaiahinvites us to trust in the One who

can do all things: “See, the Lord’sarm is not so short that it cannotsave, nor is his ear so hard of hear-ing” (Is 59, 1). He loves to do sur-prising things: “See I’m doing anew thing; now it springs forth, doyou not see it?” (Is 43, 19). Trust-ing firmly in God, Mary makes herway to the hills. That’s why in herfamous hymn, she can say in anexplosion of joy that the Lord for heris her “Saviour,” the God who does“great things” in her and aroundthe world; he is a God who “neverforgets to be compassionate” andextends it “from generation togeneration over those who respectand love him” (Lk 1,47.49-50).

Mary the dawnMary’s faith was strengthened by

the “sign” that God offered her, butin reality, Mary herself is a signgiven by God to all of us as a sign ofhope and comfort” (Lumen Gentiumn. 68). In fact, Mary marks the dawnthat precedes the rising of the sun,the eruption of Salvation in historyaccording to the prophecy of Isaiah:“Behold the virgin will conceive andbear a son” (Is. 7, 14) and the fact ofher existence which marks “thefulness of time” (Gal. 4:4).


NEWSBITSWhile Isaac, Sarah’s son and

John, Elizabeth’s baby bear the mes-sage that God can do all things,Mary’s Child is the God who doesall things, the Almighty God whobecomes a human being, weakand insignificant. In Mary’s jour-ney of faith, there is a kind of cir-cular design: as she discovers thesign of God in others she realizesthat she now becomes a sign of Godfor others. This is what we can holdon to in their lives. This beauty isfully revealed when Mary meetsElizabeth.

Mary and Elizabeth: two womenthrust forward into the future be-cause of what’s in their wombs; twowomen who hold within them anunspeakable mystery, a wonderfulmiracle. Just becoming aware thatthey have become the object ofGod’s particular predilection unitesthem. They realize they have a com-mon mission to collaborate withGod and this makes them explodewith a song of praise and blessing;the experience of this unusualmotherhood (one a virgin and theother sterile) makes them lean oneach other.

A Vocation to ReceiveThe miracle God worked in

Elizabeth was a “sign” for Maryand helped her to say “yes.” Nowthe miracle in Mary becomes a“sign” for Elizabeth which makesher pronounce an act of faith. Sothe two women become one forthe other the place of the discov-ery of God; the epiphany of hisgreatness and that is why theypraise and thank him. While theyrecognize each other as “signs”they become profoundly awarethat they are both by this mysterywhich they respect and whichnow becomes a song. Both of them

confront this faith which causesa mutual prophecy to spring upby the power of the Holy Spiritand together they become signs ofGod’s solidarity with humankind; what God does in them hedoes in us for the world.

Furthermore, Mary’s encounterwith Elizabeth in this emblematicsituation of pregnancy (two preg-nant women) is a paradigmaticsign that reveals her deep solidar-ity with women of all time. InMary, the woman recognizes herown dignity; she discovers that inGod’s plan she is a place wherethe newborn is prepared, a wombfor the future, a place from whereGod will come forth. In Mary,woman becomes more profoundlyaware of her vocation to receive,to care for, to give and to nurturelife, thus generating hope. InMary, the woman learns to livethis miracle, to stay in this mys-tery and to cherish the beauty oflove. Every woman recognizes inMary “a sister.” As she recognizesthe “great things” the Almightyhas done in her she is given to usas a “great sign” of hope in Al-mighty God. The Church on itspilgrimage as she faces difficultiesthroughout history looks to Maryshining before her as a “sure signof hope and consolation” (LumenGentium 68).

That is why St. Paul VI ends hisApostolic Exhortation MarialisCultus, inviting us to raise our eyesto Mary, a prophetic sign of hope:She “offers a calm vision and areassuring word to modern manthe victory of hope over anguish,of fellowship over solitude, ofpeace over anxiety, of joy andbeauty over boredom and disgust,of eternal visions over earthlyones, of life over death” (n.57).q

Bulgaria

“To you, who know the tragedyof emigration, let me suggest younot to close your eyes, your heartand your hand to those who knockat your doors.” Pope Francis inSofia spoke to the Bulgarianpeople, three weeks after the Eu-ropean elections, he focused on atheme, that of migrants, crucialin this election campaign. Andhis words resounded loud andclear throughout the Old Conti-nent and in particular in the East-ern States where today waves offoreigners slam against barreddoors.

Bergoglio is worried about theturbulence that threatens Euro-pean stability, he often reiteratesappeals to the values of unity andsolidarity on which to root the“soul” of the Brussels institutions.And in this sense, what Francissaid on the plane that took himfrom Rome to Sofia was worthmentioning. Francis expressed hisappreciation for the title “SavingEurope” from the book writtenby Enzo Romeo, Tg2 correspon-dent. The Pope mentioned the factthat the symbol of the EU - thecrown of stars - originates from

the image of the ImmaculateConception: “They did not wantto mention the Christian rootsbut God avenged himself in thisway”, he commented with irony,referring to the failure to in-clude the role of Christianity inthe Lisbon Treaty.

In Bulgaria, Catholics are just1%, compared to 84% of Ortho-dox and 8% of Muslims: this iswhy the Pope’s visit did not up-set the Sunday of the capital, inthe streets and squares of Sofiaone can easily go for a stroll andvisit the Cathedral of SaintAleksander Nevsky, the Ortho-dox churches and the commer-cial streets of the center. But atthe same time there was a pleas-ant surprise for the Catholicworld: at the mass in KnyazAlexandar square the peoplepresent were more than ex-pected, 12 thousand and not theexpected 7 thousand.

Faced with the highest au-thorities from President RumenRadev to Prime Minister BoykoBorisov, Francis pointed outthat, “thirty years after the endof the totalitarian regime”, Bul-garia finds itself “confrontingthe phenomenon of those tryingto enter its borders, to escapewars or misery, and try to reachthe richest areas of the conti-nent.” A matter that the Popewould face even more clearlythe following morning, when hevisited Vrazhdebna, which wel-comes Syrian and Iraqi refugees.Vatican Insider, Domenico Agasso Jr.


IN A CHEERFUL MOOD THE DEVOTION OF THE THREE HAIL MARYS

The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS isa very simple yet most efficacious devotion.Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding theinvocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me frommortal sin." Many people recite the Three HailMarys as part of their morning and night prayers.To practise this devotion in time of danger, stress,special need or temptation, is a sure means toobtain Our Lady's help.

Sacred Self-InflictionGilbert Chesterton used to relatea conversation overheard in atram in Dublin duirng the Eu-charistic Congress of 1932. Theweek had been one of lovelyweather, but as it drew towardthe end of the celebration, the skydarkened, and a storm seemedimmanent.“If it rains now,” an Irish womansaid somewhat tartly to her com-panion, “He’ll have brought it onHimself.”

Twin TonguesIn Leipzig where about one-third of all street names havebeen changed since the Russianoccupation, trolley conductorsare required to call out the old aswell as the new names to makeit easier for visitors to find theirway. The other day the conduc-tor of a car passing through thecentre of the city made the re-quired announcement: “KarlMarx Square, formerly AugustusSquare.”A passenger about to alightshouted back, “AufWiedersehen” (goodbye), for-merly “Heil Hitler.”

How You Cut ItA kindly priest was accustomedto drop in on his good friend Pat,for a chat. One Friday he calledon his Irish crony and found himeating sausage. He gave him atremendous dressing down, butPat countered with the defensethat sausage wasn’t meat.“Oh yes, it is,” said Father, “andfor penance you can draw me aload of wood.”

Dutifully Pat went about fulfill-ing his penance. He hitched uphis old box wagon, drove it to thesaw mill, loaded it up with saw-dust and was dumping it on thepriest’s wood pile when the priestsaw him.“Pat! Whatever are you doing,dumping that stuff in my yard?”he scolded.“That’s your wood, Father,”saidPat.“But that isn’t wood at all,” saidthe priest.“Well, if that isn’t wood,” re-turned Pat, “them sausages ain’tmeat.”

The Sweetest Part“Bill used to call his house overthere, ‘the Nutshell.’ Wonderwhy he changed the name?”“He got tired of having funnypeople calling to ask whether thekernel was in.”

What Providence“How’s times around here?” in-quired the tourist.“Pretty tolerable,” responded theold man, sitting idly on the stumpof a tree: “I had a pile of brush toburn, and the lightning set fire toit and saved me the trouble ofburing it.”“That was good.”“Yes, and I had some trees to cutdown, but the cyclone took ‘emdown for me and saved me thetrouble.”“Remarkable! But what are youdoing now?”“Oh, just waiting for an earth-quake to come along and shakethe potatoes out of the ground.”q

Dearest Mama Mary. It is only by your grace that Ihave come this far in clearing up my financial debts. Yes, by sayingyour powerful 3 Hail Marys daily in the midst of my financial difficulties.They were not going away but I can now handle them one day at atime. Mother Mary, always be by my side and guide and guard me.

Candida, MumbaiThank you dear Mama Mary for being there with me during my financialcrisis and saving me one day at a time. The 3 powerful Hail Marys area real blessing to me through times of disaster and difficult times. Ilove you Mama Mary. Be with us always and forever. Candida, MumbaiI am most grateful to Our Lady, through the recitation of the three HailMarys. I had lost hope of my son who was to appear for his Class XIIboard exams. But with the help of Our Lady, my son not only appearedfor the board exams but also succeeded. WendySincere thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mother Mary forhelping me and my family during our difficult times. Keep our familyalways in your care and protection. A DevoteeMy sincere vote of thanks to Jesus and Mary for favours granted. A DevoteeMy sincere thanks to Mother Mary, through the recitation of the threeHail Marys, for the graces granted. Myfanwy AlmeidaMy sincere thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and MotherMary for all the mercies received. Joseph MascarenhasThank you dear Mama Mary for taking me through the daily financialdifficulties by reciting the three Hail Marys. Nothing is more powerfulthan this. Mama Mary, be with me always like the bright star showingme the way. Candida, MumbaiThank You Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit and Our Lady for giving meback my lost handbag along with all its contents intact. Marina Correa, MumbaiMy grateful thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for all the graces andblessings received by me and my family through the recitation of theThree Hail marys; and also for granting my son a good job. BlessedMother Mary keep me and my family safe under your mantle blue.

Mabel D’Cunha, Mumbai


THANKS TO DEAR

ST. DOMINIC SAVIO

LOVING CHILDREN TO

THEIR LOVING MOTHER

THEY ARE GRATEFUL TO

OUR LADY AND DON BOSCO

APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYERJUNE 2020

The Way of the HeartWe pray that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowingthemselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus.

Sincere thanks to the Lord Jesus, MotherMary and St. Dominic Savio for curing myniece’s son of high fever. Louella, MumbaiOur sincere thanks to Our Lord and Our Ladyand Dominic Savio for blessing our daughterwith a safe delivery and the gift of a normalbaby girl after five years of marriage.

Prudy RodriguesThank you dear Mother Mary and St.Dominic Savio for many favours received.

Cheryl Gracias, GoaDear Mother Mary and St. Dominic Saviofor the gift of a normal baby girl a year andten months ago. Christine Dores, DubaiMy sincere thanks to Mother Mary and St.Dominic Savio for the safe, full term and

normal delivery of my daughter Christiana Lobo. Angela Mascarenhas, PuneWe are grateful to Mary Help of Christians, St. John Bosco and St.Dominic Savio for the gift of a healthy baby boy after ten years ofmarriage. Sumi and Nijith, KeralaMy sincere thanks to Mother Mary, Don Bosco and St. Dominic Savio forthe success of my grandson in his Std. XII exams. Mr. & Mrs. P.O. SilveiraMy grateful thanks to the Holy Family, St. Anthony, Mother Teresa, DonBsco and St. Dominic Savio for their intercession in answering my prayersand for helping my grandson Raoul to pass his C.A. Exams with flyingcolours. Michael and Fausta AlmeidaMother dearest, I once again extend to you a big thank you. With gratefulheart, I want to express my eternal gratitude to you for giving Ravi a verygood job of his choice. Thank you for always being available to us andgiving us physical, emotional and mental strength to carry on. Throughoutthe years your assuring presence and support has strengthened ourfaith in you. We thank you very much for heling us out when we neededhelp most. Dearest Mother always guide and keep us healthy and safe.Our grateful thanks to Don Bosco, Dominic Savio, St. Jude, St. Anthonyfor always being there. Ramona D’Costa, Mumbai

Thank you Divine Jesus and Mother Mary for saving my husbandfrom continuous nose bleeding. I owe everything to you for savinghis life. I also thank you, Mary Help of Christians and I thank youfor all the favours I have received. A DevoteeI am deeply thankful to the Divine Mercy of Jesus and Mary Helpof Christians for protecting my husband during his 26 years ofcancer and for blessing our family. Jesus and Mother Mary keepme and my family always under your loving care.

Rose Gomes, MumbaiMy sincerest gratitude to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Maryfor the many favours granted to my family: for restoring my health,for my daughter’s acceptance to a good college. For Mira’sinternship and job offers. For your continued grace and blessingson my mother Ashalata, the pillar of our family. For my husband’sprofessional peace and salvation; that I started writing again; forsending us the right people to fix and assist with our home; for ourimmigration papers coming through after a long time; for showingme the way when I was adrift; for healing my daughters throughtheir journeys. Mrs. P. Samagond, AustraliaI thank you Mother Mary for the gift of a baby girl many yearsback. My first child after two years of marriage. Mrs. G. FernandesMy thanks to Jesus and Mary for their love and mercy. C.O.

I thank you Almighty God, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Don Bosco andall the saints for the safe delivery of our baby girl after elevenyears. Naveen and Rita D’SouzaDear Mother Mary, Don Bosco and St. Jude for curing me of myillness. A DevoteeOur sincere thanks to Our Lady, Don Bosco and all the saints forall the graces and blessings bestowed on me and my family andprotecting us from all harm. Naomi M.My grateful thanks to Our Lady and Don Bosco for favours received.

E. SerraoI was praying for my niece to find a suitable partner. A millionthanks to the Divine Mercy, Mother Mary, St. Joseph and the saintsfor this and all the other favours received. Olga Cabral, MumbaiMy grateful thanks to the Divine Mercy, Mother Mary and DonBosco for healing my husband and for many blessings bestowedupon our family. Mrs. Rose Gomes, MumbaiOur sincere thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the ImmaculateHeart of Mary and all the saints for favours received and forkeeping us in good health. Elizabeth Pires, Mumbai

36June 2020 Don Bosco’s Madonna

Regd RNI no. 9360/57;Postal Regn. MH/MR/North East/089/2019-2020posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office

on 1st & 2nd of every month

Subs: (one copy Rs. 20/-); Inland Rs. 200p.a; Airmail: Rs 500 p.a.

MARY WAS THERE

Don Bosco's Madonna, has developed to its present form from a folder published in 1937,by late Fr Aurelius Maschio, on behalf of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Bombay.

The magazine is sent to all who ask for it, even though there is a fixed subscription(Rs 200/- India & Rs 400/- Airmail)). We trust in the generosity of our readers/benefactors.Whatever you send us will help cover the expenses of printing and mailing; the surplus ifany, is devoted to the support of orphans and poor boys in our schools and apostolic

centres.To help a poor lad to reach the priesthood, is a privilege

You can help by establishing a Perpetual Burse with:Rs 5000/-, 10,000/-, 15,000/- for a boy studying for the priesthood;But any amount, however small, will be gratefully received.

Send your offerings by Payee cheque or Draft on Mumbai banks;MO/PO/INTL MO/BPO/Bequests, Wills, Perpetual Burses, all favouring Don Bosco'sMadonna or Bombay Salesian Society or Rev. Fr. Edwin D'Souza, (Trustee).

Please address all correspondence to:

Rev. Fr. Edwin D'Souza, sdb.,SHRINE OF DON BOSCO'S MADONNA,Matunga - MUMBAI - 400 019 - INDIA

Phone/Fax: 91-22- 2414 6320, email: [email protected]

I cannot but recall that Christmas of2017 when I was hospitalized in criti-cal condition. A minor cut on the heelof my right foot had, despite treatment,resulted in a crater-like wound that hadturned septic and gangrenous. Diagno-sis recommended immediate amputa-tion of the foot. We were told that, inmedical experience, the hard epdermalcover of skin, is never regenerated, im-plying that the hollow caused by thewound would stay life long. We couldonly hope and pray. Preliminary treat-ment was started and to the surprise ofall, the foul smelling discharge stoppedin a few days and later the sepsis less-ened and the wound showed signs ofhealing. And even more amazing to thedoctors was the fact that the epidermalcover on the heel, had begun to re-grow!It was as if our dreaded forebodingsand pain had been washed away by thepower of prayer. Today I can stand onmy own two feet, confident and grate-ful that when I called, MARY WASTHERE. M. J. Chaves, Mumbai

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