May 14th - St. Mary Mazzarello, Don Bosco's Lieutenant
Born in 1837, Mary Mazzarello grew up in a hard-working, God-fearing
peasant
family in northern Italy. She was a normal teenager of her
times-intelligent,
enterprising, hard working, fun-loving and always in the height of local
fa****on.
As she grew into young adulthood, she began to sense that God was calling
her to
belong totally to Himself and she responded by consecrating herself
completely
to Him. She did not understand immediately what this meant nor how it
would
unfold. It was a response of unconditional love.
Mary was often impulsive but in the matter of discovering a direction for
her
life she sought advice from those who knew her well and whose judgement
she
trusted. Her father was a great source of homespun wisdom and the leader
of
the
apostolic group she had joined was a woman of spiritual insight and
intelligence. She confided, above all, in Fr. Pestarino who had guided her
for
several years and who knew her inside out. Slowly she came to distinguish
the
way ahead in the events of everyday life.
She weighed up her inclinations and physical strength, took stock of
situations
around her and considered what she might do to share Christ's passion for
the
world.
An event that had a particular bearing on her life and future mission came
in
the form of illness. When assisting some sick members of her family during
the
epidemic of typhoid fever that struck her village in 1860, Mary contracted
the
disease. After several months hovering between life and death she
recovered
but
no longer had the strength to work in the fields and vineyards as she had
formerly done.
What was she to do? At twenty-three she had her life before her but lacked
skills beyond those acquired in helping her father on the farm. Together
with
her closest friend, Petronilla, she set about learning dressmaking from
the
village tailor so as not to be a burden to her family and with the
declared
aim
of setting up sewing cl***** for the village girls. Once their training
was
finished, the pair did indeed begin their work for the good of the girls,
teaching them a life skill and encouraging them to live their Christian
life
joyfully.
Hers was not initially a choice for religious life, but one of a life
consecrated to God by vow while living and working in her village
environment.
Associations of young women sharing the same desires and aims as Mary were
appearing in several parts of northern Italy at this time and Mary became
part
of one of them, receiving sup****t from others to live the life she had
chosen.
But God had further plans for her. She met Don Bosco and they perceived in
each
other a shared passion for the good of the young. Here was a woman who
experienced his apostolic ideals for the young and who was the perfect
choice to
become the founding member his new religious congregation of the Salesian
Sisters. Mary did not hesitate but once again said her wondering but
joyful
'Yes' to God-wherever that would lead her.
Saint Quote:
A joyful heart is more easily made perfect than one that is cast down.
--Saint Philip Neri
Bible Quote
1 An ancient man rebuke not, but entreat him as a father: young men, as
brethren: 2 Old women, as mothers: young women, as sisters, in all
chastity.
3
Honour widows, that are widows indeed. (1 Tim 5:1-3)
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Prayer to the Holy Ghost
Cardinal Mercier said about this prayer: "I am going to reveal to you the
secret
of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your
imagination
and close your eyes to the things of sense and your ears to all the noises
of
the world, in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctity of your
baptized soul (which is the temple of the Holy Ghost) speak to that Diving
Spirit, saying to Him:
"Holy Ghost, beloved of my soul, I adore Thee. Enlighten me, guide me,
strengthen me, console me. Tell me what to say and do. Give me Your
orders.
I
promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all
that
You
permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will. Amen."
If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of
consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be pro****tioned to
the
trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate
of
Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the
secret
of
sanctity.
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