Mary invites us to conversion

Transcription

1 n th September2009 Associazione di Maria Ausiliatrice Primaria - Torino - Valdocco Today the mortal risk for us Christians is spiritual lukewarmness and superficiality: I know your works. You are neither warm nor cold. If only you were warm or cold! But because you are lukewarm, (you are in other words neither warm nor cold), I am about to throw you up from my mouth. (Ap. 2, 15-16). Mary, who is our Mother, regrets this state of existence of many of her children which can be defined as follows: a little for God and a little for the world. A situation where we do not decide for holiness and our heart is divided. When the heart is divided, true love is not there. God is not loved above everything else, but there are idols in our hearts which demand their share of love, taking it away from God. If we only worry above all about ourselves, we end up worrying primarily about the things of this world and we become victims of ourselves. We end up identifying the problem with the material things of this world, the goal towards which all our efforts point. And that gives rise to the temptation of relying exclusively on ourselves and ignoring God. The first worry of any man, generally speaking, is the anxious research for what we need to provide security to our existence. That is when Jesus confronts us with His way of seeing things and offers us His way of acting. He asks of us a behaviour that is completely different from our usual one, which we should keep not just once but for ever. And this is it: looking first of all for the kingdom of God. When we will be oriented with our all being towards God, will do anything to ensure that God reigns and governs our life with his laws through us and others, then our Father will give us everything we need day after day. Mary invites us to conversion Monthly message Because we find ourselves in a situation of spiritual lukewarmness, we can t radiate holiness to others, so if we can t be light of the world we can t be salt of the earth. In our daily life, those who have strong convictions can convince others: saints pull others along with them! If there were more saints in the Church, many of the indecisive ones would come closer to God. This situation is due to the fact that we do not pray enough. This is true especially if we are looking for something deeper: a constant search for communion with God and his Devine Providence. We must maintain a spirit of friendship and communion with Jesus. It is prayer that allows us to perform our daily works together with Jesus. Our Lady supports and encourages us in our commitment to prayer as well as our work of personal conversion. Through prayer, in the light of the Word of Jesus, we can analyse and see what is not working in our life. If after praying, we do not feel full or fervour and more aware of our sins and especially of the love of God, if we cannot take the kind of decisions that will change our lives, then our prayer is not deep enough. If we are united to God during our prayer, if our heart is set free from idols and becomes a temple for the living God, then we become for others a sign of the Love of God, a sign that God is with us. The appeal to conversion also gives hope to the future. In a world without hope, especially for many young people, Our Lady shows us the way we must travel: our heart must be full of the desire for Paradise! Everything passes. Eternity does not. Only one thing matters: the eternal salvation of our soul! Father Pier Luigi Cameroni Spiritual Animator ADMA

2 Let us pray to Mary Help of Christians Meditating the rosary with saint john mary vianney (First part) The Hail Mary, a prayer that is always new. The Hail Mary is a prayer of which one never grows tired. When we talk about the things of this world, about commerce, politics etc we grow tired: but when we talk about Our Lady it is forever new All saints have a great devotion for Our Lady. No grace is granted from Heaven without passing through Her hands. When a great gift is offered to an important person, the gift itself is presented by a person who is pleasing to him or her, in order for the gift to be appreciated even more. In the same way our prayers presented to the Virgin Mary have a much greater significance, as the Holy Virgin in the only creature never to have offended God. Only Our Lady fulfilled the fist commandment: you will love and adore God to perfection. And she did it totally Everything the Son asks the Father is granted to Him. Everything the Mother asks her Son is likewise granted. When our hands have touched some particular aromas, they perfume everything they touch Let our prayers go through the hands of Mary and she will perfume them. I think that when the end of the world comes, Our Lady will be allowed to rest, but in the meantime she has a lot of work on her hands. Mary is like a mother with many children: always busy running from one to the other (John Mary Vianney, the holy curate of Ars). Let us address her with great trust, and let us be sure that no matter how wretched we are, She will grant us the grace of our conversion. May the holy, Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary be blessed! h Mary, may all people glorify you, and all the earth invoke you and bless your immaculate heart. JOYOUS MYSTERY (Monday and Saturday) 1 st joyous Mystery: the Annunciation Fruit of the Mystery: humility In the eyes of God we are what we are: no more no less. All we must do is to please Him. Our merit is in contributing to grace. Lord, through the intercession of Immaculate Mary, reawaken the hearts of the young the desire to follow You in the path either to Priesthood, marriage or consecrated life. The Second joyous Mystery: the Visitation Fruit of the Mystery: love for our neighbour See how happy a good Christian who loves God and his neighbour is! How much peace is in his soul! Those who love the good God are happy, as are those around them. Lord, through the intercession of Immaculate Mary, give the world people who radiate love. The third joyous Mystery: the Nativity Fruit of the Mystery: poverty The more we make ourselves poor for the love of God, the richer we actually are. The poor and the friends of the poor are the friends of God. Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, teach us to welcome the poor and serve them with joy. The Fourth joyous Mystery: the presentation of Jesus at the Temple Fruit of the Mystery: obedience and purity My brothers, aren t we happier than Simeon? We can look at Jesus always, whenever we feel like it. He doesn t only come in our arms but in our hearts as well. Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, teach children to obey and to love their parents. 2

3 The Fifth joyous Mystery: Jesus is found in the Tempe Fruit of the Mystery: the search for God in all things If we want to show the good God that we love Him, we must do His will. The surest means to know the will of God is to pray our good Mother. Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, help all those who must take important decisions to put God in first place. LUMINOUS MYSTERIES (Thursday) 1st Luminous Mystery: the baptism of the Lord in the river Jordan Fruit of the Mystery: to reawaken in us the grace of our baptism A Christian created in the image of God, a Christian redeemed by the blood of God. A Christian, Son of God, brother of God, the heir of God. Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, strengthen the faith of all those who are preparing to receive baptism. The Second Luminous Mystery: the wedding of Cana Fruit of the Mystery: love for the Church Everything the Son asks the Father is granted to Him. Everything the Mother asks Her Son is likewise granted to Her. What must encourage us to pray to her with great trust is the fact that She is always there for us. Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, let love and trust in the Church our Mother grow in our hearts. The third Luminous Mystery: the proclamation of the kingdom and the invitation to conversion Fruit of the Mystery: Conversion Our Lord is Truth itself and makes no distinction between His Word and His Body. It is totally impossible to love God and to be loved by Him without being nurtured by this divine Word. Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, sanctify priests so that they may be a credible image of the Good Shepherd. The Fourth Luminous Mystery: the transfiguration Fruit of the Mystery: the grace of a spiritual life Just like the disciples on the Tabor could only see Jesus, the spiritual souls on the Tabor in their heart can only see Our Lord. They are two friends who never tire of each other Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, help Christians to have a deeper prayer life The Fifth Luminous Mystery: the institution of the Eucharist Fruit of the Mystery: faith in the real presence. All good works put together cannot equal the Sacrifice of the Mass, as they are works of man and the Holy Mass is the work of God. Lord, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mary, may the Eucharist be the source and the peak of our Christian life. 3

4 Family Chrocicle ADMA-TORINO VALDOCCO SPIRITUAL PREPARATION FOR THE S.CLAIRE FAMILIES-ADMA Just like last year, from the 2d until the 15 th of June, two shifts of spiritual preparations for young couples took place in the Salesian mountain chalet of Pracharbon (Ayas Valle d Aosta). About thirty young families in the first shift and forty in the second, shared their experience of faith and prayer, while children where being looked after for them. They are young couples who have already started walking along the Christian path (Family group of St Claire) under the guidance of Fr Roberto Carelli, a Salesian professor of theology in the centre Torino- Crocetta. The common theme of the meetings in the first week, (guided by Fr Pierluigi Cameroni), was to be disciples of Jesus imitating St Paul, while in the second guided by Fr Roberto, it was the Beatitudes. Those days were a combination of prayer, reflection, spiritual guidance and sharing, and were characterised by an intense feeling of being a family and by evangelical joy, through the powerful help of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco. We had the opportunity to present the spirit and the path followed by ADMA, which several families were already in contact with, through the monthly meeting which takes place every 24 th of the month at the Pinardi chapel in Turin. As a matter of fact, about fifteen such couples are preparing to make their solemn promise, which will take place on the next 4 th of October in Turin during the Day dedicated to Mary. This meeting was a gift of grace, a fruit of the love Mary has for anyone working for Her Association. We could really see the grace operating in the life of couples and families who take a decision in favour of God. TWO MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCES OF communion in the Salesian spirit and the year dedicated to the Salesian Family, were the preaching by Fr Pierluigi Cameroni during the spiritual exercises to the Salesian co-operators of the Trivenito at Auronzo di Cadore (Belluno), thanks to the invitation of the provincial coordinator, Mr Ivo Borri, and 27 young Salesian brethren from Italy and other countries who are going to make their religious profession. Both experiences were a gift to revive the common apostolic passion of the Da mihi animas, and at the same time a chance to let the spirit of the Association of Mary Help of Christians be known. 4

5 HERRERA DE PISUERGA (PALENCIA) SPAIN-HOMENAJE A MARÍA AUXILIADORA. Last 31st of May a big meeting of the ADMA members and of the whole Salesian Family took place in the St James, Leon (around 630 people). The pilgrims came from several regions: Asturie, Castille and Leon. Such meeting took place to celebrate the 50 th anniversary from the arrival of the Salesians at ad Herrera de Pisuerga, and of the foundation of what was then called the arc confraternity of Mary Help of Christians. The stay of the Salesians lasted only 10 years, during which a centre for vocational training was set up, as well as primary schools and a boarding school for 90 Salesian assistants. Without a doubt the Association of Mary Help of Christians consolidated its presence and spread miraculously, just like the other branches of the Salesian Family. The beautiful picture of Mary Help of Christians was placed in the parish church, which is the same place where, every 24 th of the month, the novena and the feast of Mary help of Christians still takes place. This happens despite the fact that the Salesians are not there any more. The ADMA of Herrera, with its President Fulgencio Amo, prepared a great Homenaje a María Auxiliadora in order to celebrate this commemoration. The collaboration of the parish priest and of the mayor of the city, Mr Javier San Millán, (a former Salesian student), were also of great help, together with the District Council, the Cultural Association of the city, its traditional costumes, the choir, the Salesian orchestra of Astudillo (Palencia), the local ADMA and many faithfuls. The celebrations began in the Plaza Mayor of the city, where the mayor welcomed and praised the Salesians work, and the influence of the devotion to Mary help of Christians among the youth and families. Subsequently, people accompanied the image of Mary Help of Christians in a procession to where the school used to be, and there the Eucharist was celebrated with great solemnity by the vicar D. Eusebio Martínez, together with Salesian priests who had previously worked in that school. Among them, the national delegate of the ADMA, Fr Eleuterio Lobato. Various Salesian assistants were also present. During the Eucharist, the local Associations of Mary Help of Christians made considerable donations to the foundation Juan Soñador, which is in charge of the social and missionary needs in the area. After a time of celebration, the singing of Rendidos a tus plantas, Reina y Señora (sang by pilgrims with tears in their eyes), marked the end of the meeting. Mary Help of Christians was once again the mistress of all hearts: today She gave great impulse to life and hope. With Her anything is possible! INTENTIONS FOR THE APOSTOLATE OF PRAYER OCTOBER 2009 General: That Sunday may be lived as the day in which Christians gather to celebrate the risen Christ, participating in the supper of the Eucharist. Missionary: That all the people of God to whom Christ entrusted the mission to preach the Gospel to all creatures, may commit to their missionary responsibility and consider it as the highest service that could be offered to humankind. Of the bishops: That school and university may not give up their task of passing on knowledge, but on the contrary, promote the integral formation of students. Marian: That by reciting the Rosary believers may become aware that the Virgin Mary forms all those who belong to her into the image of her Son. 5

6 RODEO DEL MEDIO- MENDOZA - (ARGENTINA) MEETING OF THE PRESIDENTS OF ADMA IN THE PROVINCE OF CORDOBA During the meeting which took place from the 6 th to the 7 th of June, the Presidents of the ADMA from the province of Cordoba were present: Parroquia María Auxiliadora; Parroquia San Antonio de Padua Barrio San Vicente; Ceferino Namuncurá de Río Tercero; Colegio Ängel Zerda de Salta; Colegio Don Bosco de San Juan; Colegio Don Bosco de Mendoza; Oratorio Ceferino Namuncurá de las Heras, Mza; Parroquia María Auxiliadora de Rodeo del Medio and the spiritual promoter P. Aldo Tobares. Fr José Bocalón and Fr Cristian from the Salesian community of Rodeo del Medio also attended the meeting. Fr Tobares drew our attention to the aims of the meeting: namely, to help us grow in devotion to Mary in a climate of solidarity in the spirit of the Gospel and to deepen our devotion to the Virgin, (since our specific charisma is to spread the devotion to Mary Help of Christians and Jesus Eucharist), and to meet, report and share such experiences into our communities. Fr Aldo subsequently handed us a gazette of Eduardo A. González entitled Las expresiones religiosas de las nuevas necesidades populares to be read and analysed, where the author suggests some reflections linking the new forms of popular religion to the social and personal situation. Many such devotions are now disappearing while others are acquiring more importance as time goes by. As Christians we must start evangelizing anew, to point out such provocations to people. After a tour of Bodega de Rodeo de Medio and the sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians, the meeting continued in the afternoon with collective reflections and more information. The commitment to re-launching the devotion to the Virgin following the suggestions of the Rector, was put into practice through the meeting of all the ADMA for the year 2010 with the following aims in mind: promoting the devotion to Mary Help of Christians with a special attention towards the most vulnerable and the poor, reading and spreading the work of the ADMA online. At 7 p m the Eucharistic celebration as well as the offering of the crown to Mary Help of Christians took place in the sanctuary. On the 7 th the meeting continued with a visit to the most important places for the Salesians in Mendoza. In the afternoon each ADMA introduced itself and its work. Fr Tobares underlined the importance of our work, which is to continue working for the benefit of the Association to which we belong. At the end everyone acknowledged the value and the importance of the meeting: It was a gift to the Virgin a very powerful experience it was very useful to get to know different forms of devotion to the Virgin nobody should be deprived of the good that the ADMA can do. The meeting came to an end with a moment of prayer and with the lighting of candles, symbol of the light of Christ, and the singing and praying to Mary Help of Christians. The meeting ended with a commitment to work for the evangelisation of the youth, in an atmosphere of spirituality as well as joy. LA TOLA (ECUADOR) - GROUP ESTIBADORES IN CRISTO RE. The Association of Mary Help of Christians aims to promote the human and Christian growth of every individual, and this aim was made clear during a meeting of 70 market unloaders from the Central Market, who are already well organised and have set up a fund to help the neediest among them. The ADMA met three times with the above mentioned group, a group living a profound Christian life, blessed by God. Such meetings were attended by P.. Emilio Vera, who promotes talleres of Christian formation, as well as Ms Blanca de Narváez, President of the ADMA in the same parish and other associations which organised themselves for the meeting, entertainment and the moment s of sharing ones experiences. For their part, Salesian priests offered these workers a chance to meet once a month in the parish. The talleres which were suggested were of great interest and were followed with great attention not just by those whose aims was to have a specific formation, but by all. ADMA wishes to thank God and Mary Help of Christians, who are opening up new paths that enable us to get closer to people, to whom we are giving a light of hope. (Ing. Jeaneth Barahona Reportera de ADMA). 6

7 SICILY (ITALY) THE 5 MARIAN PILIGRIMAGE OF THE ADMA REGIONAL ASSOCIATION This year was special, and we decided to mark the 140th anniversary of the Association of Mary Help of Christians. The Piligrimage for 2009 took place on the 13th of June in Agrigento, in order to give all Centres in Western Sicily the chance to be there. Many people provided their help to ensure everything would go well: the regional delegates, Fr Edoardo Cutuli, Sister Carmelina Cappello and the regional President Luigina Ciaramella along with the whole council, Sr Maria Lavenia, headmistress of the Institute of Mary Help of Christians in Agrigento, who contacted the local authorities, in particular the mayor Dr. Marco Zambuto, who did all he could to give us hospitality in the communal theatre Luigi Pirandello, where all the Centres gathered. The following groups took part in the piligrimage: Calatabiano FMA - Caltagirone FMA Capaci Parr. San Rocco - Catania Canalicchio FMA - Catania M. Help of Christians FMA - Catania S. Francesco SDB - Floridia Parr. S. G. Bosco - Gela SDB - Lercari Freddi Parr. M. SS. Costant. - Marsala SDB - Modica SDB - Palagonia - Siracusa FMA e F.S. - Taormina SDB for a total of around 450 people. Folowing our welcome and during the initial prayer, Fr Edoardo blessed a panel representing the image of the shovel in the picture of Mary Help of Christians, which is found on the altar of the Basilica in Turin. The central moment was the report given by Fr Edoardo Cutuli, regional delegate of the ADMA on the theme With Don Bosco imitating Mary, Eucharistic Woman. Living the Eucharist doesn t only mean receiving the Body of Christ, but also transmitting the peace we have inside to others, putting in practice Don Bosco s educational system with all the people we meet. Mary wants us to be fighters in order to help the weak and the poor. That s what living our faith means: Mary is our strength. If we really are her children, she will let us know what we should do, just like Don Bosco used to do. The morning at the theatre ended with the parade of the standards, the greeting of the mayor of Agrigento and with a letter of thanks of the President and the regional delegates, Fr Edoardo and Sr Carmelina. The pilgrimage ended with the solemn Eucharistic Celebration in the Basilica Blessed Mary Immaculate Virgin in St Francis in Agrigento, and was presided over by His Excellency Mons Fancesco Montenegro, Archbishop of Agrigento. The Archbishop praised our association during the meeting, underlining the importance of the formation of the laity who, under the guidance of Mary, can be yeast for the world (Petitto Venera). Truly there is nothing greater than to meet and communicate Christ to all! In response to the invitation of the Rector addressing the whole Salesian Family the Rector has invited the whole Salesian family to act as true disciples of Christ and to be committed to the evangelisation of the youth. For this reason, we who belong to ADMA want to take up the challenge to help the youth to look at the other not just with our own eyes and feelings, but according to Jesus Christ s perspective. As a concrete sign of harmony with this commitment we suggest 10 points which, (following pope Benedict the XVI s teaching), want to help the ADMA groups to elaborate on some key points of evangelisation. English - ADMA: the formation process 2010: Français - ADMA: le chemin de formation Português - ADMA: o 2010port/adma/ /index.html Español - ADMA: el camino de formación de Italiano ADMA: il cammino di formazione

8 ARESE (MILAN ITALY On the 23d June 2009 the ADMA from Arese celebrated the 25 th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr Pierluigi Cameroni in the church of Mary Help of Christians, the church where n 1984, he began his priestly mission in the spirit of Don Bosco. During the Eucharistic Celebration his Salesian brethren from Arese and from Nave were there, as well as a considerable number of people from the ADMA groups and other members of the Salesian family. Along with Fr Pierluigi s relatives, the President of the Turin Association Ms Giuseppina Chiosso and many friends were also present during this special occasion. Following the Holy Mass in the oratory, dinner took place in an atmosphere full of joy and friendship. The ADMA from Nave presented the group from Arese with a beautiful figurine of Mary Help of Christians, as a sign of sharing and friendship in the name of Mary Help of Christians. A special thank you goes to Mary Help of Christians, who helped, followed and inspired us in the organisation and the setting up of this wonderful and special day. May Mary always watch over and protect Fr Pier Luigi Cameroni (Francesco and Silvana Passoni). PILIGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE JULY pilgrims, among whom around 30 young people mostly from Avigliana (Turin), and assisted by Enrico and Michela Fantino, a young couple who aspire to join ADMA from Turin, as well as young couples from Nave (Brescia) and Arese (Milan) took part in this pilgrimage.their presence gave a special meaning to this day full of graces. The maternal action of Mary was really extraordinary in that it managed to open everyone s heart to the gifts of conversion, reconciliation and the renewal of one s life. Several people gave their testimony on the way back reminded us of St Paul s journey, during which he met the Risen Jesus on the way to Damascus. The most important moments of this pilgrimage were the following: the moments of prayer and of testimony, the meeting with Marija Pavlovic, the climb of the Hill of the apparitions and the mount of the Cross, the intense climate of fraternal friendship and spirituality. The youths in particular welcomed the grace of sharing their experiences as a source of help in the fight against the Goliath both within us and from the outside, and were able to win the battle thanks to five stones of prayers: (the Rosary), the Eucharist, confession, the word of God and fasting. During the testimonies given in the various communities, everyone underlined the value and the importance of living the message of peace as the path of faith and Christian living. ANOTHER CHILD OF DON BOSCO AND A DEVOTEE OF MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS HAS PASSED AWAY: It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing away of Fr Puthota Benjamin, director of the Salesians in Istanbul (Turkey), a great devotee of Mary Help of Christians and supporter of the Association to Her entitled. The whole ADMA remembers him and prays for the soul of this great Salesian. We remember with gratitude his passion for the setting up and caring for the ADMA of Istanbul, (his community along with the ADMA from Turin).Fr Benjamin will be remembered in Turin, in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians a by all ADMA groups, the President Madam Birgül, his Salesian brethren. We pray that God may grant holy vocations to the congregation and to the Salesian family through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco, so that other people will devote their life to the salvation of the youth following the sample of Fr Benjamin. D. Giuseppe Giorgis, a Salesian priest of the Latin Cathedral in Istanbul, writes the following: During the funeral service, all gave testimony to the Marian devotion of D. Benjamin. The members of the ADMA in Istanbul were all present and actively took part in the musical part of the liturgy. May Mary Help of Christians welcome Her great devotee in the glory of the Father and protect us all with her cloak 8