sabato 15 settembre 2018

ENG 24 SET 2018


1.        “We Are True Images of Our Lady"
from the Letters of Mother Mazzarello
We are invited to enter into the heart of la Madre today - into the simple life of a woman who knew how to make room for the Holy Spirit so that He might transform her and burst forth into her life with His Gifts, just as He had in Mary.  It is at Mary's school that Mother Mazzarello grew in sanctity and wisdom.  Taking a good look at Mother Mazzarello's life, we discover the characteristic traits of Our Lady impressed on her life thanks to the simple and familiar relationship that she had with Our Lady. 
With great simplicity and concreteness, she modeled her life on Mary's.  Hers a filial and trusting relationship.  This often brought her to invoke Our Lady and to exhort the Sisters and the girls to place full confidence in Mary and to live and to work in Her presence. [see Letters (L) 20 and 27] She invited the Sisters to cultivate the virtues so as to imitate Mary (see Letter 29) and to make Her known and loved by the girls. (see L 47)  She said: "We are true images of Our Lady."  (Cronistoria, vol. 3, p. 216)
With the Feast of the Immaculate drawing near, Mother Mazzarello insisted on preparing one's heart so as to live the novena with all the fervor possible and with simplicity.  She would say: "We need to plant beautiful flowers in our hearts so as to make a beautiful bouquet to present to our dear Mother, Mary Most Holy.  We need to exercise ourselves in all the virtues during these remaining days but especially in obedience and in mortification.  Let us not let any occasion pass us by without mortifying ourselves in something; above all, let us mortify our will and let us be exact in the observance of our Holy Rule.  Every morning, let us make our Communion with fervor."  (L 27)
Mother Mazzarello was certain that Our Lady would be happy with Her Daughters and that they would obtain from Jesus the grace to be Saints if they would live their commitment to true humility and charity, putting up with each other's defects and exerting themselves more in works of piety.  (See L 52)
"I ENTRUST THEM TO YOU."  Mother Mazzarello heard this when she was walking on the little hill of Borgoalto one day.  There appeared to her a vision in which she seemed to be in front of a very large house with all the appearances of a high school with numerous girls.  (See Cronistoria, vol. 1, pp. 96-98)  Our Lady was entrusting to Mary Domenica Her daughters, Her little girls and her mission among them.  As it was for Don Bosco, so it was for Mother Mazzarello - the mission was that of “caring for”, “keeping safe” all that God Himself would entrust to them.  Today the "I entrust them to you" cries out strongly in the voice of the Church, as the Synod of Bishops cries aloud and anew, "We entrust them to you!"  To you, to the educating communities: Listen and accompany the young!  May they know and feel that they are received and welcomed, safeguarded and cared for, and integrated into the community.  May you be able to walk the path of sanctity with them.
For reflection and prayer:
  • Have I sought to live some of Mary's attitudes in such a way that each evening She might be able to say to me: "My Daughter, I am happy with you"?
  • Do I hear the cry of the children and of the young people who tell me: Take care of me" because I am part of the mission that Our Lady left to the FMA with that "I entrust them to you" on Borgoalto?
  • Spiritual exercise: I sit beside Mary and with all simplicity I live this month seeking to offer Her beautiful flowers of good attitudes that I cultivate in my heart.  I take on the habit of asking Mary for the heart of a mother in moments of tiredness in the mission.
Mary Help of Christians, help us be, like Mother Mazzarello, women of profound interiority, women of wisdom, and helpers in the midst of the young, transforming our entire life into a gift for others.  Amen.

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