Love resounds in your heart Titolo Assisi, 1-8 agosto 2009

Transcription

1 Love resounds in your heart Titolo Assisi, 1-8 agosto 2009

2 Printed for internal use by the Central Council of SIM July 2009 The reflections suggested in these pages were written by Barbara P.

3 Every place of this earth keeps a secret that speaks very deeply to us, to out heart. We can hear it the silent voice of the wind among the olives, in the song of the birds, in the sound of the bells, in the rumors of the street, in the voice of the people, in the million years old stones Among many ways, these pages would like to help us listen to the message of these places, through the voice of Armida Barelli, our first Sorella Maggiore. With her, we will go through these days, visiting places, recalling the story of the Institute, trying to take from the strength of the origins. 1

4 Sunday 2 August Beloved little sisters, 1 It s beautiful to see you here in the sweet homeland of our soul: Assisi 2, in our first Oasis! In the heat of these days, in the heart s desert, and in the toil of intense work for the Kingdom...I m sure you feel that this place and these days really are an oasis! And yet back then in 1933 everyone sort of smiled at me when I said I wanted our houses to bear that name. But who cared? I felt it was a profane name, but it was born out of the experience of our life in the world so often scorched by uninterrupted work, by the toils of family, social and Church-related life. Now it is your Oasis: the place of this your encounter, and I welcome all of you as your Sorella Maggiore [Elder Sister]. How many Missionaries have I welcomed into this house! How many sisters have Fr. Gemelli and I welcomed within these very same walls! During these days I will continue to listen to each one of you, beloved little sisters, because I am with you, together with our Father Francis and his little plant, Clare. Rest assured of my closeness! And I will smile upon you from heaven above 3 ; I rejoice from heaven above over this your encounter bringing you together from all five continents! When already ill and voiceless, very distinctly do I recall seeing the arrival of the first sisters from the United States, and then from France and Switzerland. What a joy! What a grace! They were so different from us, and yet we were united by one and the same ideal: live in the world without conceding anything to the world, work without respite, pray without respite, but above all: love, love, love! 1 Testament of , Armida Barelli, La nostra storia, pg Testament of Armida Barelli 3 Testament of Armida Barelli 2

5 Love Jesus, the Spouse, and in Him everything and everyone! 4 It is this love, I am sure, that will enable you to surmount the distances of culture, language and experience, and will fill your hearts during these days, because, first and foremost, we are sisters! Also smiling with me today is St. Francis, who gathers you here today from distant lands and along different roads. 5 And when you gaze out of the windows of our Oasis you will see centuries-old houses, the walls of the city and the grills of convents, the kitchen gardens and the fields; raising above the houses you will see the Tower of the Town Hall, the cupola of San Rufino, and the Rock overlooking everything below its summit. 6 Right in front of the house the convent of the Poor Clares and the Basilica of St. Clare, with Mount Subasio in the background. And all around the olive groves, which some of you may be seeing for the first time! This land also smiles upon you and welcomes you as it has welcomed hundreds upon hundreds of sisters, to speak you each one of you about fraternity, peace and minority. Smiling upon you more than anyone else is the Sacred Heart, who welcomes you into this house dedicated to Him. Always place your trust in Him, in His love and His compassion. He was the secret of my life and will be for ours as well! 7 Welcome little sisters! Armida 4 From the testament of Armida Barelli 5 La nostra storia, Italisn version (2nd edition), pg Cf. La nostra storia pg Cf. Testament of

6 Monday, 3 August Little sisters, I m so very happy that so soon after your arrival you are already going up to the mount of La Verna. From the gentle slopes of Subasio where Francis was born and everything began for him and for us 8, you are venturing up the steep and rocky slopes of La Verna, where in his flesh Francis received the signs of the wounds of the Crucified One, where his body was rendered alike to the body of the Beloved One! This is where, amidst many a problem, we wanted to construct our 2 nd Oasis! We did it during the war and I still remember it being impossible to find furnishings, especially wool for the mattresses. At an altitude of more than 1,000 meters above sea level woollen mattresses were absolutely necessary and one of our sisters had a brilliant idea: I have two woollen mattresses on my bed and I m willing to give up one of them, she said to me, so why don t we ask those with two such mattresses to do the same? I immediately said I was prepared to follow her example, and no sooner had I said that than two persons who did not belong to the Institute offered me a mattress each for the House of St. Francis. This gave us four mattresses ready for use, but we still needed 76. Father Gemelli ordered no one to donate a mattress if they only had one, but we hoped that at least 76 would be able to give one and some even two! Those who might be able to send a woollen pillow or even a bag of wool, or a woollen blanket, was urged to donate it happily, as long as it created no discomfort for her or her family. St. Francis would have rewarded one and all! And the wool arrived: in small packages, boxes by mail, crates by rail. We filled a huge room with it. We had all that wood carded, cleaned, put in new covers and cases, and ended up with 81 mattresses and an equal number of pillows and quilts. 9 The Missionaries have always been generous! 8 A. Gemelli, 9 Armida Barelli, La nostra storia, p

7 This place is likewise truly precious because: La Verna marks the earthly summit of that way of love Francis had intuited at Assisi one star filled night during his youth: a way of sacrifice and ecstasy, poverty and humiliation. 10 This is where Francis definitively embraced Christ poor and crucified, but he could do so because: he had embraced Him in the leper he had listened to Him at San Damiano he had seen and encountered Him in the poor he had recognized Him in the humiliations suffered during his life he had followed Him in the hardships and sorrows caused to him by his friars This poor and crucified Christ is our King whose name we bear. With joy have I followed the journey travelled by the Institute together with the Church at large in understanding what Kingship means. I thought it was much like the journey travelled by Francis within the rich and powerful Church of his time. The King is He whom you listen to and whom you recognize in the men and women of your countries who are crucified, offended and humiliated. The King is He who becomes servant and teaches us true minority: may the greatest among you be the servant of all (cf. Mk 9:35). He is the peacemaking and humble King who gives His life in order to show us the way of peace as He did to Francis. He, little sisters, is our King of love who enwraps you with His love...in order to love Him, see Him loved, and make people love him 11 everywhere and forever! Armida 10 Agostino Gemelli, Il francescanesimo, Vita e Pensiero, Milan 1965, pg Armida Barelli, Fascicolo 50, Institute circulars. 5

8 Tuesday, 4 August My little sisters, Open the doors: look at people, cars, tourists, houses, flowers, stars. Don t be afraid of being distracted. The world is beautiful, so very beautiful! I ve always loved it and was impassioned over its every event until the very end, when Italy was called upon to vote and I felt I just had to speak out... in politics as well. How much work, and how many obstacles at times, but how much joy! In fact, it was by listening to the world that I finally discovered my vocation 12. And this after having turned down an invitation from the bishop of Milan. I will never forget the joy I experienced upon hearing the words of our Father (Gemelli): A Franciscan does not scorn the world...he does not flee the world with fear and distaste. Quite different is the sacrifice of St. Francis: he does not deny the beauty of life because that would be to disown His Love; he does not deny possession or the desire to possess. Remain in the world, but do not take a single crumb of it; admire and love as much as you want, but seeing in everything the work of the Creator I received a strange telephone call.. Congratulations to the fair sex, Miss Barelli, said a priest I knew. Have you heard what happened yesterday at the middle school? A female teacher had the nerve to say to her mixed class of students: I can t think anyone here would be that much of an idiot to still go to Mass. In response to this atheist teacher s challenge, seven adolescents of the Male Youth Branch of Catholic Action jumped to their feet and said: We are proud to be among the idiots who go to Mass. The teacher had to think of something else to say. In that class there were 32 female students and not one of them dared defend her Christian faith. Congratulations to the fair sex. And who says they are good Christians. Maybe they re not even Catholics, I replied.. The next day, however, Miss Rimoldi and I decided to do some investigating. We discovered that out of the 32 female students 30 were believing and practicing Catholics, and two received Holy Communion each day. That night I could not sleep. One thought kept tormenting me: What will become of the mothers of tomorrow if the girls of today adore the Lord in the shadows of the temple and deny Him in open daylight? The archbishop is right: it is necessary to gather them together, instruct them, make them proud of their faith so tomorrow they may be mothers able to give their children a Christian upbringing. (taken from: La sorella maggiore racconta, Ed, O.R. Milan 1981, pg. 7) 13 Agostino Gemelli, Il Francescanesimo, Vita e Pensiero, Milan 1965, pgs

9 This love is the heart of our lay vocation. Consecrated, yes, all of the Lord, but in the world: holy laywomen like the virgins and the Christian martyrs...laywomen, but holy! 14 Then again, as women we are a true resource! Both the Church and society realized this back during those years when women in Italy couldn t leave the house on their own, took no active part in civic life, and in the Church as well were all too often silent. How many stories I could tell you! Simple stories and heroic ones, stories of young women and elderly women...but I m sure that if you look at one another and tell one another your own stories you will recognize among yourselves the same determination and the same love of the first sisters of our beautiful family. And also our assistants...will understand this! Just think, even Fr. Gemelli himself was compelled to talk about fashion! And so, just like back then, be a source of strength for one another, support one another so you may truly be the salt and light of the world. This is the gift of our spiritual family.. I will always be so deeply and intimately united to you. I will ask the Sacred Heart, St, Francis, the apostle par excellence, to make each one of you an apostle. So you may not be satisfied with being good...in a homespun way. I want you to be apostles, apostles who love the Lord and make Him loved! 15 Be courageous little sisters. Armida 14 Armida Barelli, La nostra storia pg From the Testament of the Female Youth Branch of Catholic Action,

10 Wednesday, 5 August Dear little sisters, How beautiful it is to recall our origins! It was I was all alone that day. I had just responded yes to the pope s request to found the Female Youth Branch of Catholic Action throughout Italy, and had accepted to travel the new way of consecration in the world. In my heart I asked myself: Will the Lord give me other sisters who wish to dedicate themselves totally to the Mission (apostolate) in the world? In the depths of my heart it then seemed to me that the Lord responded: Yes! 16 Certainly, back then I never would have imagined the greatness of the Lord s gift. But now, looking upon the colors of your faces, the native attire of your countries, and the stories that brought you here...i repeat to myself and to you: the Sacred Heart lets no one surpass Him in generosity! 17 Only a year later, exactly ninety years ago, we were already a small group. We went up to Assisi like a small flock for the first retreat and the consecration of the first sisters! Like you, we visited Assisi. Like you, we stopped at the tomb of Francis and Clare. But above all San Damiano captivated our hearts: the true countenance of Franciscan poverty. 18 Today, for those who come from afar, from Africa, from Latin America...San Damiano may seem beautiful, but think about Rome or even the churches in Assisi...and you will see what I mean. This is where our spiritual family was born! Under the eyes of the crucified King, naked and poor, who continues to speak to people s hearts. 16 Armida Barelli, La nostra storia, pg Cf. Fascicolo 60, sundry letters, Barelli Archives 18 Armida Barelli, La nostra storia, pg. 42 8

11 You too, little sister, clothed this night by sister moon and the stars 19, surrounded by so many sisters, bearing in your heart your country and your people, you are about to approach the altar to make your offering.. Your heart chants the hymn of the greatest love...pause yet one more moment, reflect yet again upon the greatness of the act you are about to make; upon the altar you are going to place not something of your own, but all of yourself. Think about this, not in order to take flight with fear, but so you can reach out to Him with full awareness, enlightened trust and ardent love. He has called you: you can harbor no doubts about this, and today you are responding to his call. Therefore, fear not: He will be your strength, because you are giving yourself entirely to Him. May His grace descend upon you to renew you as if in a second Baptism, you are a Missionary of the Kingship of Christ! He is the King, you are the bride who prays, loves, works, and fights and suffers for the spreading of His Kingdom. In your innermost depths savour the loftiness, greatness and value of this your mission... In chastity, poverty and obedience you will be an apostle in the world; in humility, simplicity and charity you will bring to your fellowmen Jesus who reigns within you as the undisputed King. Kiss your Crucified One. Only on the Cross, one with Jesus, will you be able to bear sustainable fruit in your life. Clinging to Him and projected ever ahead in the ardent desire to love Him and make Him loved, resume your life with courage. Go forth Missionary of the Kingship of Christ...the world belongs to you. 20 Armida 19 Canticle of the Creatures 20 From an unpublished and undated letter written by Armida Barelli 9

12 Thursday 6 August Little sisters, After the this night s joy I know you harbor in your hearts a sweet most secret: your bond with the Lord, the Spouse. And you are the faithful, fecund and loving brides 21, who, like Clare and with Clare, today descend the slope of Subasio all the way to the Portiuncola. There did (the friars) the brothers receive her, there did she hand herself over to the Lord under the loving gaze of Mary. May the Holy Virgin take your intention as well under her material protection and obtain for you the grace of progress in the interior life. And Mary has no other counsel for anyone wishing to follow Jesus Christ: do what He will tell you. 22 The Portiuncola was the point of departure for the mission of Francis and his companions. It is to this mission that we consecrate ourselves. From the very outset we had no doubts about the sense of our consecration in this new form of life: Bring about the peace of Christ in the kingdom of Christ, and the kingdom of Christ in the nations ravaged by warfare. This is not achieved by sitting there with rosary beads in your hands. You too will have to work hard. Don t dream about being halo-polishers who look for the icing of piety. Work, work! Prayer in work and work in prayer, until you die Are these words of Fr. Gemelli difficult to stomach? Could be, but now you understand and certainly know what the minister general of the Friars Minor wanted to tell us with his goodly irony: Happiness is a Franciscan obligation! If you must make a sacrifice with tears in your eyes it s better not to make it. 24 This is the way it was for all of us and for those who came after us: in the apostolate we discover the true happiness and the joy of being united in a single ideal. 21 Armida Barelli, La nostra storia, pg Fascicolo 43, Institute Circulars, Barelli Archives 23 Armida Barelli, La nostra storia, pg Ibid., pg 67 10

13 Sacred Heart of Jesus, may these sisters, Missionaries of the Kingship, live for Your glory and die in Your love! 25 Armida 25 Prayer given by Pious XII on the 30th anniversary of the Institute, in A. Barelli, La nostra storia, pg

14 Friday, 7 August Beloved little sisters in the Sacred Heart 26, We have come to the last day of this extraordinary week. Perhaps you too were awakened this morning by the church bells of Assisi with their joyful voices to greet the Spouse as dawn breaks. 27. It s difficult to hear an invitation to prayer with such silvery and pressing tones 28. Remember this in your respective countries when you hear the church bells and never forget to pray for one another. Yes, prayer is what enables us to work and toil as if everything depended on us and to believe possible what others retain far from feasible, because we know that everything comes from God. This is why I send you forth into the world with utmost trust, because I am certain of the Sacred Heart. Before going each her own way I would like to lead you to the very root of all the beautiful things you have seen so far and those you still have to see, all realized through your merits as well 29. Don t consider it strange that at the end of these days we arrive there where the mortal remains of St. Francis were buried by the jealous love of Friar Elia 30 inside an impenetrable tomb 31. Don t look upon this as something strange because here is where I wish to entrust to you his Testament; in fact, I think that in this does he entrust to us the very heart of his life according to the Spirit of the Lord 32. Franciscans we were born and Franciscans we will remain forever Testament of A. Barelli to the Female Youth Branch; 11/2/ Greet the Spouse as dawn breaks : this is a poetic expression expressing the invitation to celebrate the Lord early in the morning. 28 A. Barelli, La nostra storia, pg Fr. Gemelli, in A. Barelli; La nostra storia, pg Frate Elia dealt with the construction of the Basilica a few years after the death of Francis as a place for his burial. 31 A. Barelli, La nostra storia, pg Constitutions, art A. Barelli, La nostra storia, pg

15 The Poor 34 The Lord told me, Friar Francis, to begin doing penance: while I was in sin it seemed very bitter to me to see lepers; the Lord Himself led me among them and I had mercy on them. And when I left them that which seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of soul and body. Jesus Crucified 35 And the Lord gave me such faith in churches that I would simply pray and speak in this way: We adore You, Lord Jesus Christ, in all Your churches throughout the world, and we bless You, for through Your holy cross You have redeemed the world. Fraternity and the Gospel And after the Lord gave me brothers no one showed me what I should do, but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the form of the Holy Gospel. And I had this written simply and in a few words, and the Lord Pope confirmed it for me. Work and minority We were unlearned and subject to all. And I used to work with my hands, and I [still] desire to work; and I firmly wish that all my brothers give themselves to honest work. Let those who do not know how [to work] learn, not from the desire to receive wages for their work, but as an example and in order to avoid idleness. Peace The Lord revealed to me a greeting, as we used to say: May the Lord give you peace! Without privilege 36 in the mission Always be guests as strangers and pilgrims. And I firmly command all of the brothers through obedience that, wherever they are, they should not be so bold as to seek any letter from the Roman Curia either personally or through an intermediary, neither for a 34 The poor were also at the beginning of Armida Barelli s vocation. Cf.. Maria Sticco, Una donna fra due secoli, Ed. Vita e Pensiero (Italian edition ), Milan 1967, pg Fr. Gemelli, Lettera di Pasqua 1941, written when he was in the hospital after the accident, in A. Barelli, La nostra storia, pg. 209: St. Francis showed how the Cricifix is the great book...the Crucifix you do not wear on your lapel must be in the depths of your heart. 36 This is the sense of reserve: being in the world like everyone else without privileges and in service. 13

16 church or for some other place or under the guise of preaching or even for the persecution of their bodies. Fidelity This is my Testament, which I, little Brother Francis, prepare for all of you, my blessed brothers, so that we may observe in a more Catholic manner the Rule that we have promised to the Lord. And whoever shall have observed these things, may he be filled in heaven with the blessing of the most high Father and on earth with the blessing of His beloved Son with the most Holy Spirit the Paraclete and with all the powers of heaven and all the saints. And I, little brother Francis, your servant, inasmuch as I can, confirm for you this most holy blessing both within and without. Of St. Francis I ask for each one of you his spirit and his holiness 37 so you may live the Gospel in happiness and peace as he did. And when sister death 38 does arrive I will be there waiting for you so we may be together, just as Francis is here united with his early brothers and sisters in the Heart of the King. Until we meet again little sisters! Armida 37 A. Barelli, Fascicolo 43, Institute Circulars, Barelli Archives, Milan 38 Frate Francesco, Canticle of Brother Sun 14