contentsdonboscosmadonna.org/2008archives/jan.pdf · its existence, the eagle has to make a big...

January 2008 2 Don Bosco's Madonna

From The Editor's DeskOpen Your Eyes and See!.........3

1 - The Rebirth of the Eagle- Fr. Erasto Fernandez. SSS.....4

Don Bosco Found Me!- Fr. Edwin D'Souza sdb...........7

Searching for Jesus- Etienne Murphy........................8

Walking With the Church: Where AreThe Old Testament Saints?

- Fr. McNamara.......................10

Witnesses In And For Our Times:Istevan Sandor:- Paolo Risso............................12

Lectio Divina: Our Father-Roberta Fora.........................16

Quietspaces: The Man For others -Don Bosco

-Serena deSouza....................18

A Touch of Death (4)- Tom Henderson....................20

Don Bosco's Initial Difficulties- Natale Cerrato......................23

NewsBits.........................................26

16 Steps to Greatness (OperationWardrobe) 13 - Justice - 2.............28

DON BOSCO'S MADONNA

Mumbai JANUARY 2008 Vol. 9 No. 9

In a Cheerful Mood.......................15Loving Children to their

Loving Mother.........................32The Devotion of

the Three Hail Marys..............33They Are Grateful to

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

St.Dominic Savio....................35Cover: Don Bosco,

By Crida

CONTENTS

"Let us ask Mary...

to help us to see

in the face of every

human person,

the Face of Christ,

the heart of Peace."�

Pope Benedict XVI1/1/2007


Open Your Eyes and See!

Fr. Ian Doulton sdb

T o open your eyes each morning is quite a miracle,

but at that early hour, who would even hazard suchsublime thoughts? Just getting out of bed and gettingon with the business of living is quite a feat! Even so,opening your eyes to another day when so many closed

them to this world last night for the last time - is quite a soberingthought. Now imagine opening your eyes to another year and seeing2008 for the first time. Wow! That really is a miracle! How wonderfulto think that this New Year opened on the First of January with thefeast of Mary, the Mother of God…and our Mother too!

That means as you step into this New Year you are looking into atthe face of Mary the Mother of God…the same face that the infant Jesuslooked at when he opened his sparkling little eyes for the first time inthat damp, dark and cold cave in Bethlehem two millennia ago. Howgrateful ought we to be that we don’t have to walk through this yearalone? But, smart as we are, we might decide to do just that - likefoolish and stubborn little children. In spite of our stubbornnessMary hurries behind us urging us gently to take the right path.

And because we’re not on the right path we fret, worry, fear andgrumble even as we have to enter this New Year thinking we are allalone. Actually, give or take a week and we will settle ourselves intothis morose mindset. We probably began our journey through thefirst days of 2008 much like we begin any day. We grumble as we getup and get to work. We are upset that we didn’t have enough timeyesterday. We crib about the weather. Friends have no time for usand relations constantly sponge on us. We are irritated that peopledon’t keep their promises and others spend their time slandering usas if they were doing us a favour. What a sorry way to begin our day!Yet, like it or not, that is probably how the New Year began. Thismagazine will reach you a couple of days into the New Year but stop for amoment and ask yourself: “in what mood did I wake up on New Year’sday?” You’d probably come up with a mood from the choice list givenabove. I need not be a genius to know that that’s how we’ve patternedour lives so far. Why else are we ‘moaning and groaning’ in the vale oftears? We hardly believe that Mary is there at our side ...ready to help.

All these years she has been beside us and yet we grumbleungratefully. We would do well to actually take her hand and allowher to walk with us through the dismal and desperate, the joyful andexuberant moments of 2008. She’s always ready to help and sheconstantly whispers to us: ‘Do whatever he tells you!’ She says:“Don’t try to act smart by getting your advice from popular books orTV shows, from ignorant friends posing as cheap know-it-alls.” Thesecret of having a great year is to resolve to ‘Do whatever Jesus tellsyou’. Positively 2008 will be a wonderful year, I assure you. That ismy wish for each of you… take Mary’s hand, there’s still time tobegin ‘once more,’ the year is still young! Oh! It’s very young andMary is waiting.


Ornithologists, the scientistswho study the habits of birds,

tell us that the maximum life-spanof an eagle is about seventy years.But at around age forty, its sharpbeak gets bent and useless foreating, its strong talons that couldotherwise effortlessly carry a full-grown sheep or goat, becomebrittle and incapable of holding itsprey and finally its large feathersget stuck to its chest making itvery difficult to fly. At this stage ofits existence, the eagle has to makea big decision regarding itsfuture.It can continue languishingin this fashion and soon die, or itcan enter into a process of rebirthlasting around three months – andthen emerge with a new burst ofvigorous life lasting almost aslong – another thirty years at least.

Instinct for SurvivalAt the onset of this important

midlife predicament, Nature itselfinternally programmes the eagleto fly to its nest high up in themountains to initiate this processof rebirth. There on a lonelymountain peak it ruthlessly breaksits bent beak on the hard rock andwaits patiently till the newreplacement appears. No soonerdoes its new beak becomefunctional than it proceeds tosavagely tear out its useless talonsand there follows another longwait till a brand new set grows intheir place. With the help of thisnew set of sharp beak and claws itproceeds to meticulously pluck outits feathers one by one, no matterhow severe the pain - till it is almostbald and bare. A further seeminglyendless wait till it gradually beginsto sport a new coat of supplefeathers. It is now as good as new.The entire process takes about threeagonizing months after which it is

ready to fly off and live for thirtymore glorious years of a better andtrouble-free existence.

Death, the Law of LifeThis process that every eagle

reportedly goes through is simplyits own adapted version of thePaschal Mystery, a dying andrising that every eagle must gothrough in a very dramatic way.In fact, almost every single creatureand the whole of Nature as wellendures a similar process inwhich death at one level givesway to new life on a higher plane.An example very familiar to all isthe butterfly that enters into thecocoon stage before emerging as acolourful altogether new creature:a butterfly. Jesus expressed thisfundamental law of life succinctlywhen he said: ‘Unless the grain ofwheat falls into the ground anddies, it remains but a grain. But if itdies, it produces a hundredfold.’Jesus not only taught us this, buthe actually lived it himself too –even from the very inception ofhis earthly life.

The Letter to the Philippianstells us that ‘Although he wasequal to God, Jesus did not clingto his equality with God. Rather,he emptied himself taking theform of a servant. And beingfound in human form, he becamehumbler yet, even to becomingobedient…unto death, death on across – and therefore God hashighly exalted him so that at thename of Jesus every knee shouldbow in heaven and on earth andevery tongue confess that JesusChrist is Lord, to the glory of God,the Father’ (Phil. 2:5-11). If anyonehas the moral authority torecommend this painful path as thetrue way to obtain new andabundant life, it would be Jesus

1. THE RE-BIRTH OF THE EAGLEFr. Erasto Fernandez, sss

CEL SERIES


because ‘he himself learned toobey through suffering!’

Daily Paschal MysteryAs a matter of fact, every single

dawning day presents each of us withits own share of the dying-risingmystery on a platter, unsolicited andoften unwanted. Most of us beginour day with great plans andexpectations, generally all directedtowards achieving a better way oflife. We set out optimistically toachieve our goals for the day, yet,no sooner do we begin thanobstacles crowd our path, andone problem after another dogsour steps, upsetting and blockingall our projects: the person wewanted to meet fails to show up,or there is a sudden bus strike ormaybe the usual bus/train wetake gets cancelled or is delayed.On finally arriving at ourdestination we find that the officerwho was to do our work hasn’tyet arrived (because of the traindelay, no doubt) and we have towait for hours on end to get thework done. Eventually, we bringthe day to a painful close with lessthan half our plans accomplished.A frustrating day it has turned outto be – yet pretty normal from thespiritual point of view! For if itwasn’t exactly this pattern wefollowed, yet it would be prettymuch the same progression offrustrations after frustrations – dayafter day! What is our habitualreaction to such an experience?Don’t we most often get more andmore upset and exhausted with tryingto catch up with our own self-madeplans? Don’t we frantically try to getour bandwagon back onto its self-designated rails?

At such times what a differencewould it not make if we were able torecognize the pattern of the dying-rising of Jesus, or even to recall thestory of the rebirth of the Eagle. Whatis called for at such moments isour readiness to shed our beak,

talons and feathers (the old way ofthinking and behaving), and to puton instead a new way of facing life.It is at moments such as these thatwe need to work together with Jesusand in accordance with his will.While giving up our plans ispainful, undoubtedly, it helpstremendously if we keep our gazefixed on the new life that this ‘dying’makes possible; it would certainlyenable us to hang on in faith duringthe most crucial moments of this trial.With our minds and hearts more calmand receptive, we would, most likely,find alternative ways of handling thesituation and the outcome could befar better than merely raving andranting over lost plans.

Background RequisitesThis positive approach, of

course, presumes that our attitudetowards life is based on the beliefthat every single event, and eventhe chance occurrences of our lives,lie in the hands of God; it is he whobrings them to birth through hisinspiration, sustains them allthrough their unfolding and bringsthem to a successful completion. Forthose who love God all things workfor their good. So, if we surrender ourlives into his hands out of love andthen are ready to do his will in everysituation, there is no reason to dreadanything negative that may happento us. “Those who wait on the Lordshall renew their strength, they shallmount upon wings of eagles; theyshall run and not be weary, theyshall walk and not faint!”

Always RejoicingIn the Ancient Testament we

have some outstanding instancesof such a philosophy of life which isactually lived even by the simplestpeople. The prophet Habakkuk, forexample, has this to say of difficultsituations: “Though the fig tree doesnot blossom, and no fruit grows onthe vines; though the produce of theolive fails, and the fields yield no


food; though the flock is cut offfrom the fold, and there is no herdin the stalls, yet I will rejoice in theLord; I will exult in the God of mysalvation. God, the Lord, is mystrength; he makes my feet like thefeet of a deer, and makes me treadupon the heights (Hab. 3:17-19).

A very familiar passage in a similarstrain is Ps. 23 which many know byrote, even if it does not really inspireus in times of difficulty: “The Lord ismy shepherd there is nothing I shallwant… He makes me lie down ingreen pastures; he leads me besidestill waters; he revives my droopingspirit. He leads me in right pathsfor his name’s sake. Even though Iwalk through the darkest valley, Ifear no evil; for you are with me; yourrod and your staff - they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in thepresence of my enemies; you anointmy head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shallfollow me all the days of my life, andI shall dwell in the house of theLord my whole life long (Psalm23:1– 6).

Another psalm not so familiar tomost Christians, but equallyenergizing is Ps. 91: “You who live inthe shelter of the Most High, whoabide in the shadow of the Almighty,will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge andmy fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’For he will deliver you from the snareof the fowler and from the deadlypestilence; he will cover you with hispinions, and under his wings youwill find refuge; his faithfulness is ashield and buckler. You will not fearthe terror of the night, or the arrowthat flies by day, or the pestilence thatstalks in darkness, or the destructionthat wastes at noonday. A thousandmay fall at your side, ten thousand atyour right hand, but it will not comenear you... Because you have madethe Lord your refuge, the Most Highyour dwelling place, no evil shallbefall you, no scourge come near yourtent.For, he will command his angels

concerning you, to guard you in allyour ways. On their hands they willbear you up, so that you will notdash your foot against a stone. Youwill tread on the lion and the adder,the young lion and the serpent youwill trample under foot… With longlife I will satisfy them, and showthem my salvation (Psalm 91:1-16).

Life EternalIn the New Testament, especially

the Acts of the Apostles, we havenumerous other examples of theApostles letting go of their old ways(mostly Jewish patterns of thinkingand acting) and performing marvelsin the name of the Lord Jesus. This isthe kind of power that is available tothose who are prepared to ‘believe’ inJesus, the risen Lord. Like Levi whowhen he was called, ‘rose, lefteverything’ and began followingJesus, so the Christian risesconstantly to newer and greaterheights on the wings of his enduringfaith in the Lord. The process ofbelieving in Jesus involves a leavingeverything behind, especially allthose important things, people,situations and the like that were reliedupon in the past. Once we turn ourbacks on all these, we find ourselvescapable of ‘rising’ to the new way ofthinking and behaving characteristicof the followers of Jesus. And howlong would we expect to live inthis new way?

Jesus answers our question with apromise: “Those who eat my fleshand drink my blood have eternal life,and I will raise them up on the lastday; for my flesh is true food and myblood is true drink. Those who eat myflesh and drink my blood abide in me,and I in them” (John 6:54-56). The lifeJesus offers us begins not after we die,but right now and endures for alleternity in the bosom of a lovingFather. Who would not want toacquire that kind of life? However,we cannot afford to forget the priceinvolved in obtaining such a life!�

“Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies…”


News

VOCATION PROMOTION

If you feel the call to be a Don Bosco Priest or Brother,we could help: Contact us at [email protected]

DON BOSCO FOUND ME!by Fr. Edwin D'Souza sdb

Rector - Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna, Matunga, Mumbai

The 22nd of December marked the23rd anniversary of my ordination.

As I reflected on my priesthood andmy call, my mind went back downmemory lane. It all began as an Altarboy at Sacred Heart Parish, Igatpuri.Igatpuri is a picturesque little railwaytown 130 Km from Mumbai and 45Km from Nashik. It was a town witha very vibrant Christian community.The parish run by the SpanishJesuits and the School by theDaughters of the Cross were focalpoints of all activities. My vocationhad its roots in ‘Hero Worship.’ TwoSpanish Jesuits, first Fr. JohnCassasayas and then Fr. XavierMingot were my parish priests. Theyhad a tremendous impact on myearly life. Both possessed oppositetemperaments but were dedicatedand zealous missionaries. Theirchallenging life ‘challenged me’. Theirhome visits were a real joy and theirmeans of transport…the commonman’s bicycle. Images of themcycling through the streets incassock and with a stole aroundtheir necks carrying viaticum to thesick and the dying, even in thepouring rain are still vividly etched inmy memory. Their reverence at theEucharist enraptured and captivatedme. I wanted to be like them!

The school at Igatpuri closed (wasit Providence?). That brought me toDon Bosco’s Matunga. I was justnine years old. From a little parishchurch in the hills of Igatpuri to themajestic Shrine of Don Bosco’sMadonna WOW! It was under the

mantle of our Blessed Mother thatthe little ‘Jesuit altar boy’ took hisfirst steps the ‘Salesian way’.

The turning point came at the firstretreat I made while I was in std. V.It was action-packed and animatedby our preacher Fr. Cajetan LoboSDB. popularly known as ‘Jimmu’.It was during that retreat that I foundDon Bosco or better DON BOSCOFOUND ME! In the years thatfollowed in the boarding and laterat the aspirantate in Lonavla I gotto know more about Don Boscoand I fell head over heals for him.Opting for the Salesian novitiate wasnot a difficult choice, and from thenon it has been…ALWAYS WITHDON BOSCO!

God’s ways are wonderful. Thepath that he traces out for our livesis unimaginable. God has a plan foreach and every one of us. All hewants to hear from us is ‘Here I amLord…Two thousand years ago hewalked by the shores of the sea ofGalilee and called Peter, Jamesand John. He is still walking ourstreets… searching….FOR YOU!�


SEARCHING FOR JESUSby Etienne Murphy

Whom do you seek?’ (Jn 1:38).Three times in the Gospel

that question was posed by Jesus.They recall three special momentsof revelation of the divine dramaof salvation – the call, the combat,and the victory. Can we relivethose moments in his presence,listening to his voice, gentle andappealing, echoing from thedepths of his heart?

A Drama UnfoldsFor two men walking along the

bank of the Jordan one evening theshadow of Jesus crossed their pathfor the first time. A drama began tounfold in which every detail hasimportance. John the Baptist sentAndrew and his companion(probably John) on a quest thatwould shape their lives. ‘John lookedat Jesus as he walked, and said tothem, “Behold the Lamb of God”.The two disciples heard this andthey followed Jesus’ (Jn 1, 36-37)Their search was alreadybeginning. ‘They followed Jesus’.As yet they could not define thecuriosity that was stirring in theirhearts.

The CallThere followed on of the shortest

and most decisive dialogues of thewhole Gospel. ‘Jesus turned andsaw them following, and said tothem, “Whom do you seek?” Andthey said to him, “Rabbi” (whichmeans Teacher), “Where are youstaying?”’ (Jn 1: 39). ‘Jesus turned’and, for the first time in their lives,they saw him face-to-face. Theyallowed themselves to be looked atby him.

Archbishop Goodier aptlydescribed that moment. ‘As a

stranger who speaks to a strangerin a lonely place, the lonelinessmaking them companions, heturned about and accosted them’.The words of Jesus were more thana question. Coming from his heartthey were already resounding intheir hearts, imperceptibly drawingthem towards him.

Moment of DestinyArousing and rewarding their

curiosity, Jesus gave them aninvitation, ‘Come and see’ (Jn 1:39).For those two men it was themoment of destiny, an invitationthat changed their lives. Without amoment’s hesitation theyresponded. ‘they came and sawwhere he was staying, and theystayed with him that day’ (Jn 1:39).

We cannot piece the curtain ofthat evening encounter; the marvelof that ‘staying’ with Jesus, whenheart spoke to heart. What we doknow is that by the time morningand come they belonged to him;he had made them his own. Amoment when history was made,the marvel of that evening wasindelibly imprinted on theirmemory. Writing years later, Johncould still remember the very hourwhen they first met Jesus. ‘It wasabout the tenth hour’ (Jn 1:39).

“They saw where he wasstaying’ (Jn 1:39). They saw in thatreposeful contemplation the one inwhose company they would wantto stay forever.

‘Come.’ They could not keepthat joy locked up in their hearts.They had to tell the world, ‘Wehave found the messiah’ (Jn 1:41).

The CombatThe scene changed. In the


new adventure, seeking you whom Ihave found.

If only, with an open heart, I canrespond to your invitation ‘Come’,then you will allow me to see whereyou live and to enjoy the intimacy ofyour company. My life becomes anunending and joyful seeking andfinding.

I remember the words of Pascal, ‘Wewould not go on seeking him if wehad not found him’. I make my ownthe closing words of the book of PopeJohn Paul II, Crossing the threshold ofHope – ‘It is important to cross thethreshold of hope, not to stop beforeit, but to let oneself be led.’

Grant me the grace ‘to be led’ to youas were your first apostles on thatblessed evening.

A Home in Our HeartsAnd just one final thought for my

pleading, so beautifully expressedby St Augustine – ‘What a blessednight! Let us, therefore, build a homefor him in our hearts where he maycome and teach us.’�

darkness of the night of betrayal,Jesus for the second time asked‘Whom do you seek?’ (Jn 18:4). Hisquestion was addressed, not tothose who approached him in orderto love him, but to a crowd with evilin their hearts. A band of soldiers,with lanterns and torches andweapons, came to seize him.

‘Whom do you seek?’ For onebrief moment the majesty of hispresence terrified them. ‘Theydrew back and fell to the ground’(Jn 18:6). But it was their hour andthe hour of darkness, and heallowed himself to be taken. They‘seized Jesus and bound him’ (Jn18:12).

The VictoryFrom the Garden of Gethsemane

to the Garden of Easter. Gone thedark night of betrayal. Now, onthis splendid Easter dawn,Magdalene, the great lover, soughther beloved. Through her tears shedid not recognize her risen Lord.And then, just as Andrew and hiscompanion had ‘turned’, ‘sheturned round and saw Jesusstanding’, but she did not knowthat it was Jesus. Jesus said to her,‘Woman why are you weeping?Whom do you seek?’ (Jn 20:14).

‘He asked her why she wept inorder to increase her desire to seehim,’ said St Augustine. Enoughfor her to hear his voice, callingher name.

My SeekingDear Lord, may I ask you to help

me to relive those Gospel moments.Make me realize that every day youturn towards me and ask me, ‘Whomdo you seek?’

If I can keep rekindling the divinecuriosity of your apostles, and theardent search of Mary Magdalene tofind you, then, each day becomes a


Where are the Old Testament Saints?Sign of Peaceby Fr. McNamara

Q. Why is it that we never invokeor ask intercession of the “holy ones”from the Old Testament in the prayersof the Mass, nor do we have feast daysto honour them?

I am thinking of those such as Elijah,Hannah, Samuel, Ruth, King David,or Isaiah, to name a few. Though wemay refer to them, no feast dayappears on the Roman calendar, norany mention when praying in theEucharistic prayers to be united withthe saints in heaven.

J.K. Portland, Oregon USAA. The reason that there are no

feasts to Old Testament saints inthe Church’s universal calendaris probably due to the historicalprocess in which the calendar wasformed. At first, only martyrs forChrist were remembered on theiranniversaries, and shortlyafterward the Blessed Virgin wasalso honoured with feast days.

St. Martin of Tours (died 397)was probably the first non-martyrremembered with a feast. But thetradition has generally been thatthe saints in the calendar havebeen heroic examples of the life inChrist.

This does not mean that OldTestament saints were notrecognized or that theirintercession could not be sought.

The Roman Martyrology, aliturgical book first published in

the 1600, collects all of the saintsand blessed officially recognizedby the Church and organizedaccording to their feast day.Those classified as saints in thisbook may be celebrated on theirfeast days, provided that the dayis free of any other obligatorycelebration.

Most of these saints, who faroutnumber those of the generalcalendar, have no specific Massformulas. Whenever they arecelebrated, the most appropriateformulas are chosen from thecommon of saints.

Among the great saints of theOld Testament traditionallyremembered in the Martyrologyare the Prophet Habakkuk,celebrated on Jan 15; Isaiah, July6; Daniel and Elias, July 20 and21; the Seven Maccabees andtheir mother, August 17;Abraham, Oct 9; and King David,Dec. 29.

There are also other occasionswhen the intercession of the OldTestament saints is invoked insome way or another, for example:

- Every time the litanies of thesaints are prayed they are invokedin generic terms: “All holypatriarchs and prophets, pray forus.”

- Abel, Abraham andMelchizedek are referred to in the


Roman Canon as examples of truedevotion to God.

- Abel and Abraham used alsoto be specifically invoked in the brieflitany in the rite recommending adeparting soul, but this has nowbeen replaced with a generic term.

- In the Libera (Deliver etc),which follows shortly after, manyOld Testament names still appear,for example: “Free your servant,Lord, as you freed Daniel from theden of lions.” (Zenit.org)

The Proper Sign of PeaceQ What is the proper “sign of peace”that should be given at each Mass? Iskissing appropriate? Should it be justa handshake or a nod? No one hasreally ever explained this to me.A The General Instruction of theRoman Missal (GIRM) states: “Asfor the sign of peace to be given,the manner is to be established byConferences of Bishops inaccordance with the culture andcustoms of the peoples. It is,however, appropriate that eachperson offer the sign of peace onlyto those who are nearest and in asober manner” (no. 82).

Later, the GIRM indicates thatthe priest celebrant offers a sign ofpeace only to those near him inthe sanctuary except on specialoccasions, such as a wedding orfuneral. In those situations it maybe appropriate to extend a sign ofpeace and greeting to those nearthe sanctuary (see no. 154).

A close reading of the GIRMreveals that the “sign of peace” isnot mandatory, but is left up to thediscretion of the celebrant. Ahandshake is certainly appropriateand customary in many cultures;a friendly kiss between peoplewho are familiar with oneanother, such as family members

or couples who are engaged,might also be appropriate.

A more formal sign of peacesometimes exchanged byconcelebrants is the ancienthands-on-the-shoulders, hands-under-the-elbows, double-cheekkiss. It’s sort of European or, moreproperly speaking, Roman inorigin and is rarely seenelsewhere, but it’s neverthelessappropriate.

In India it is a bow of the headwith folded hands.

A nod would be fine, too. Or afriendly smile and wave tosomeone on the other side of theaisle would also be acceptable. Inthe absence of any specificindication from the bishops,common sense should dictatehow you express your peace withyour neighbour.

(Courtesy: Petrus, October 2007)


PROFILE

S

SUFFERED UNDER STALIN

ISTEVAN SANDORby Paolo Risso

His father was an engine driver, his mother, a housewife. They

came from the Hungarian nobilityand were deeply Catholic. Theyhad three children: Stephen, Johnand Ladislaus and they brought thelight of Christ wherever they were,at school, at play or at study.

Stephen (Istevan, in Hungarian)possessed a pleasant andgenerous nature. He was alwayseager to assist his companions atgames or at school. He entertained

them on walks, with games, littleskits and beautiful stories.

He attended the parish ofSzolnok, his birthplace, and heloved the liturgical celebrationsespecially the Holy Mass. He wasan altar boy and a member of theyouth group of the Sacred Heartof Jesus.

The priests of the parish noticedhis good qualities and advisedhim to join the Salesians. As he


grew up he yearned to dedicatehimself totally to the education ofyoungsters, teaching them to loveJesus.

At this time he began to read the“Salesian Bulletin” with growinginterest and in it he discovered theperson of Don Bosco, his worksand how he gave himself to Godfor the sake of young people. Soonthe person of Don Bosco began todraw him like a magnet and heyearned to live that kind of life andto give himself to the SalesianEducative project.

The Young SalesianHe began to work in the

railways like his father but hesoon realized that his ideal wasdrawing him in another direction:to become a Salesian in order tofollow Christ in the footsteps ofDon Bosco.

In February 1936 he entered theaspirantate at the Salesian

printing school of Rakospalotaand in a matter of just a few daysthis model youngster impressedthe Salesians so that within amonth he was admitted to thenovitiate.

When Istevan turned 20 yearsold he was repeatedly called upby the army until the year 1941.During the Second World WarHungary receded into obscuritywith the other countries in EasternEurope as they succumbed to theadvance of communism. Even so,Istevan succeeded in completinghis novitiate and dedicatinghimself to God through hisreligious profession as a SalesianCoadjutor.

He was summoned by the armyonce more but this time he wascaptured by the Americans whothen occupied Germany. Onlyafter his release in 1945 did hereturn to the Salesian communityin Hungary. All through hismilitary service he remained anexemplary Salesian. The barracksand even the trenches became hisoratory. Wherever he could, hehelped and served hiscompanions. He succeeded inimbuing his conversations andhis activity with thoughts ofChrist and the Gospel even thoughthat was difficult.

He finally returned toRakospalota and to hiscommunity of confreres. Hebecame a printing instructor andwas entrusted with the formationof the clerics. The oratory too washis responsibility. The boys andthe youngsters looked on him astheir model. He was always kindand brave in times of difficulty.


Through his happy demeanour hewas able to bring Christ to theseyoungsters.

During this time Hungarybegan to be suppressed intosubmission under the communistrule of Stalin. In 1949, in amonumental abuse of power,Stalin’s pro-consul to Hungary,Matyas Rakosi, confiscated theproperty of the Church andnationalized the schools.

Istevan tried to save at leastsome printing machines and somefurniture at the cost of greatsacrifice. Sudden all the religiousfound themselves with nothing.Everything belonged to the state.They had been deprived of alltheir belongings. They were now

reduced to living in hidingdisguised as farmers, portersand casual labourers.

Martyr for JesusIstevan had to leave not

only his printing press but hiscommunity too. Through allthis he never gave up hisreligious vows. He wanted toremain faithful to Jesus Christto the point of death.

For some months he wentabout under a false name andsucceeded in findingemployment as a worker in adetergent factory in Budapest.Being extremely generous hefearlessly he sought out newforms of apostolate. But hewas constantly aware thatwhat he was doing wasforbidden by his atheisticpersecutors of the state.

One day in the middle of July1952 the police arrested him at thefactory where he worked. He wasincarcerated for almost a year.After this at a farcical trial he wascondemned to death forsubversive activity. In reality his“subversion” was his fidelity toChrist, to Don Bosco and to hisapostolate. That was his Catholicidentity.

On the evening of June 8th 1953Istevan Sandor was hanged. Itwas only after the fall of theCommunist regime in Hungary,in 1990, that the news of hisexecution was officiallycommunicated. He suffered underStalin for love to Jesus Christ: ASalesian and martyr only for Him.

Today his cause of beatificationhas been introduced. �


IN A CHEERFUL MOODImpenetrable DefenceAn officer in the army was givinga talk to his soldiers before goinginto war. This was one of the firstthings he said to them: “Now, youmust be very careful, because theenemy has a new weapon whichcan pierce one inch of wood, sokeep your heads down!”

Equine PositivesPhotography is a strange business,”mused the young man.“Because it develops negatives, Ipresume?” queried the youngwoman, with a queer accent on theword ‘negative.’“Not exactly, that. But, as anexample, the other day I had mypicture taken in my riding-clothes– not on a horse, you understand,but just standing in my ridingoutfit, with my whip in my hand.And today I received a letter fromthe photographer, stating that thepictures are all mounted andready for me!”

Class ClarityThe teacher was more thandisappointed, she was annoyed.Not a boy in the class could namethe two birds she had drawn onthe blackboard. “Come now,” shepleaded, in a final effort, “one ofthem is a robin and the other is athrush. Can any boy tell me whichis the robin?”A voice droned up from the lastboy in the back row: “The onebeside the thrush, miss!”

Horticultural CharityA rather stupid young fellow sawa sign which read: “Ring the bellfor the gardener.” He walked up

and pulled the cord. A red facedman soon appeared and inquiredwhat he wanted. “Are you thegardener?” asked the young man.“Yes. What do you want?”“I saw the sign there, so I rang thebell and now I’d like to know whyyou can’t ring the bell yourself?”

Hair-raising GuaranteeClient: “Do you give a guaranteewith this hair-restorer?Barber: “Guarantee, sir? Why, wegive a comb free with every bottle.

Tools of the TradeThe family and their guest hadjust seated themselves at table.“Susie?” said the mother, “whydidn’t you put a knife and fork atMr. McKlunk’s place?”“He don’t need any, mother,”replied Susie. “You said he eatslike a horse.”

Air of ConfidencePilot: (after landing in a tree)“Sorry, but I was trying to make anew air record.”Farm Hand: “Well, you certainlydid; you’re the first person toclimb down that tree withoutclimbing it!”

Celestial TherapyA pianist, who was undergoingan operation, asked the doctor ifhe would be able to play the pianowhen he had recovered.Doctor: I won’t guarantee youthat.Pianist: Why?Doctor: Because the last fellowthat went under this operationwas playing the harp twenty-fourhours later!�


The Our Father by Roberta Fora

It is truly wonderful to become aware that we have a “Father

in heaven.” He never abandonsus. He is with us in all our joysand sorrows.

He is my dad and he is tender,loving and faithful. He is a Fatherto all of us, not only to those whoare happy and serene but he isFather even to those who are sadand desperate. He is Father ofthose who may have lost all hope,those who do not have thestrength to look forward to whatanother day may bring.

This is the infinite andinexplicable mystery of God’simmense love for us. He has chosento love us as a kind and mercifulFather who is ready to “lure” us toHimself.

In teaching Catechism it is notalways easy to introduce thefigure of God as a Father to hischildren. God loves us as a father.He is one who simply lavishes hischildren with his love. Thisexample, by itself, can give us onlya vague idea but in some cases

even this idea risks becominginconceivable and incomprehensibleespecially for children who havehad totally negative experiencesof their fathers. How many fathersare unable to assume such adedicated role and so they havedeprived their children of a sereneand joyful relationship withthem? These men prefer livingpresumptuous and arrogant rolesof men centred on pampering onlythemselves.

We are familiar with this hardreality but nevertheless we areinvited to reflect and to pray thisprayer - The Our Father.

Whether we gather at SundayMass, in the warmth of our ownhomes or the privacy of our ownrooms to pray the “Our Father,”we should never forget our earthlyfathers, the ones we may havenever had, because we wereorphans, or because of the dailynegative experiences throughwhich we are presently living.

We pray for children in everycorner of the world who yearn for


a little love because they receiveonly receive physical andpsychological abuse from thosewho claim to be their fathers.

These statements truly saddenus and in the face of suchsituations we feel ‘insignificantand helpless.’ Therefore, let us

surrender ourselvestogether with all God’screatures to Him who is“Our Father and theirs.”If it is true that His loveis infinite and thatprayer has immense andmarvelous power, thensomething certainly willhappen when we pray.Our world willgradually change .

We demonstrate toour children - our dearones, and those we meetin our everyday lives -the Father’s discreet yetsublime presence thatsilently guides andwatches over us as wejourney through life inthe warmth of His love.This will be our small butirreplaceably valuablecontribution that willhelp change oursurroundings thus

giving these unfortunate children adeep sense of living life moreintensely.

Imagine waking up at dawn andknowing that we can place ourday in the hands of an“affectionate and thoughtfulDad!” This cannot but make usimmensely happy and serene. �

"The Our Father is itself a prayer uttered in the firstperson plural, and it is only by becoming part of the"we" of God's children that we can reach up to himbeyond the limits of this world in the first place. Andyet this "we" awakens the inmost core of the person;in the act of prayer the totally personal and thecommunal must always pervade each other."

(Jesus of Nazareth, pg. 129)

BENEDICT XVIon the Our Father


THE MAN FOR OTH

by Serena

DEDICATED TO

DON BOSCO

This is the story of Don Bosco, He touched hearts so long ago, To whom humility came naturally,In spite of which he left us a legacy,That reached our Indian shores,More that one hundred years ago.

He sought out young lads, More often than not, ill clad, Gathering them into his fold,

With fun and games galore.Exploding with energy he foundThis stick of dynamite called ‘youth!’

Amama’s boy he surely was, For at Mamma Margaret’s lap, He first learnt to love Jesus and Mary

And wholeheartedly pledged himself,To work for their glory.

With fervour so real, He preached to youngsters God’s message of love and charity,

That - he believed is the essence of Christianity,And worked tirelessly to establishshrines, schools and shelters,Where every young life is cared for and nurtured.


HERS - DON BOSCO

na de Souza

He left no stone unturned, To preach God’s holy Word, And reverence for the Holy Eucharist,

Together with the daily recitation of the Rosary,To express his devotion to our dear mother Mary.

Each day in the confessional he sat, Eager to bring hope to a young repentant soul, For God himself promised,“Though your sins be as scarlet,I will make them white as snow.

He inspired young lads, To be priests and brothers, To love as he did the youth of the world

And for them he found the Salesian Order.To his last breath he gave his life,That his boys may know the Love of the Saviour,And pass it on to others in need. �


EPISODE FOUR

The story so far:Father Redmond and his niece Sara

Nelson, the romantic novelist, areattending a local Literary Weekendat which Sara is to present the prizesin a short story competition. FatherRedmond has a reputation as adetective and at the opening ceremonyhe speaks with John Ross, a leadingmurder/mystery writer, who tells himhe has a sensational idea for his nextnovel which is sure to be a bestsellerand has invited his publisher to theweekend to show it to him. He alsoremarks, jokingly, that the ideawould be almost worth killing for.

As they speak, the hotel manager,Vincent Moore, asks Sara Nelson toautograph her latest novel. He alsoasks John Ross to autograph his. Soonafterwards Ross collapses and dies.Father Redmond is troubled byRoss’s earlier remark and begins towonder if Ross was, in fact, murdered.Later, he speaks with Ross’s wife,Mary, and learns that her husbandhad a heart condition. His doctor,Peter Knowles, confirms this andthinks that Ross’s heart attack wasbrought on by the excitement of hisnew storyline.

Still troubled, Father Redmondmeets Michael Bradley, anothermurder mystery writer and rival ofJohn Ross, who specialises in storiesinvolving death by poisoning.Father Redmond asks if a particularpoison could induce a heart attack,and Bradley becomes angry andagitated, seeming to think that he issuspected of poisoning Ross.

The following day Ross’s publisherreveals that John Ross would have haddetailed notes on his planned noveland that it would be possible for anotherwriter to complete the novel with thesenotes. Now thinking that someone isplanning to steal Ross’s idea and passit off as their own, Father Redmondsees Mrs Ross and Michael Bradleyin deep conversation.

The Literary Weekend,although over-shadowed by

the sudden death of John Ross,was proving to be a success.Several poets gave readings oftheir poetry to great acclaim, andit was generally felt that the overallstandard had improved on theprevious year. Sara Nelson had satthrough the readings with part ofher mind focused on thedisturbing questions her uncleCharles had placed in her mind.

Had someone murdered JohnRoss with the intention of stealingthe idea for his new novel? If thatwas true, how was it done? FatherRedmond had raised the questionof something being added toRoss’s drink to bring on a heartattack. She supposed that waspossible and tried to rememberwhat John Ross had beendrinking just before his death.Someone had handed him a drink- who was it? She couldn’tremember. She had been signingher novel for Vincent Moore at thattime.


She had a big sad 'why?' stamped all over her face

She considered the possibility ofsomeone trying to steal his newstory line and could see no logicalway that could be handled. Hehad shown the idea to no one andit had been locked in his room. Theonly person with access to it washis wife, Mary, and why wouldshe wish to steal something thatwas hers anyway, following herhusband’s death? She could nothope to write the novelherself, but couldgive it to MoranTessington, whomight find anotherwriter capable ofdoing it.

It was true that thenovel was a possiblebestseller, and maybeshe decided to removeher husband so as tohave all of its earningsfor herself. That seemedthe only feasiblemotive she might have,and she had beenspeaking very earnestlywith Michael Bradley...

Bradley was a good murdermystery writer; not as good asRoss, but good enough to producea viable novel if equipped withRoss’s notes. Sara had oncevisited John Ross at his home andhe had shown her his plan for thenovel he had been working on atthe time. She had been impressed.The chapter notes had beenextremely detailed; so much sothat she had felt she could havewritten it herself if she was soinclined.

It was certainly true that anywriter with a good grasp of the

fundamentals of writing wouldhave been able to put togethersomething worthwhile from thedraft. Bradley certainly could.Was it possible that he and MaryRoss were scheming together?Now that her husband’s ideabelonged to her, she could give itto whoever she wished.

Sara relayed thisnotion to FatherRedmond as they satdown for tea. Henodded his agreement.‘Yes, it is possible thatMary Ross andMichael Bradley areconsorting on this.There wouldcertainly be amotive and, asBradley is anexpert on poisons,he would havethe means. If JohnRoss had notpassed thatremark to me I

would not have been soalarmed at his death so soonafterwards. It is true that, being awriter of murder novels, JohnRoss would have made such aremark only in jest; but I find hisdeath so coincidental.’

Sara looked distressed. ‘Youcould be totally wrong. John Rossdid have a heart condition and hisdoctor says that the excitementcould have triggered his fatalattack.’ The priest sighed. ‘Yes, Icould be wrong and hope that Iam. We can only wait to see whatdevelops next.’

� � �

After tea they attended a book


launch and on leaving thefunction rooms saw Mary Rossstanding in the lobby. She had asuitcase by her and greeted themwith a wan smile. ‘I’m goinghome,’ she said. ‘I’m finding itimpossible to get a taxi.’

‘I’ll drive you,’ Sara offered.Mary Ross thanked herand Fr. Redmond decided toaccompany them. On the journeyMrs Ross revealed that herhusband’s key to the house wasmissing from his key ring. ‘Hemust have lost it,’ she said. ‘Hewas so absentminded these lastfew days...’ She told them thatcardiac arrest had been cited asthe cause of her husband’sdeath. She also mentioned thatshe had given the outline of JohnRoss’s new storyline to hispublisher, Moran Tessington.‘He asked to see it,’ sheexplained. ‘I don’t know what hehas in mind.’

� � �

When they arrived at Ross’shome some fifteen miles away,Mary, Ross offered them tea andshowed them into the room inwhich John Ross had worked.While she was out of the room,Father Redmond quicklybrowsed through the pile ofpapers next to Ross’s typewriteron the writing desk. He turned toSara. ‘Can you see any copy ofhis new idea?’ he asked.

Sara shook her head. ‘No, andthat’s odd. I know he kept hiscarbon copies in the top drawerof his desk, but there are onlycopies of old storylines in it now.’

‘And the chapter notes?’

‘No sign of them either. I wonderwhere they are...?’

‘Where indeed?’ said FatherRedmond with puzzled eyes.

Mary Ross returned with the teaand informed them of the funeralarrangements for her husband.She said that her sister was comingto spend a few days with her. ‘I’mgoing to miss John so much!’ shecried, suddenly bursting into tears.Sara went to comfort her, glancingat Father Redmond and noticingthat he was studying Mary Rossintently.

� � �

As Sara drove them back to thehotel she remarked to her unclethat Mary Ross’s grief seemedcompletely sincere. FatherRedmond murmured somethingvague and closed his eyes.

‘I wonder where that copy is,’Sara remarked. ‘Perhaps hebrought it with him to the hotel?’

Father Redmond opened his eyesand when he spoke his voice wascalm and measured. ‘Or perhapssomeone took the key to his housefrom his key ring and removed thecopy and the chapter notes.’

Sara swung to look at him ‘Ididn’t see Michael Bradley at thebook launch’, she said. ‘Do youthink...?’ Father Redmond closedhis eyes again. ‘At the moment Iam not sure what to think. For nowwe can only wait and see whatMoran Tessington has to say aboutJohn Ross’s new storyline...’�

To be continued


Don Bosco: The Times, The Man,The Facts

DON BOSCO'S INITIAL DIFFICULTIESby Natale Cerrato (T/A:ID)

In the third volume of theHistorical-Geographical-Statistical

and Commercial Dictionary of theStates of His Majesty the King ofSardinia, compiled and edited byProf Fr. Goffredo Casalis (Turin1871), we find on pg. 714-718, anarticle entitled: The Don BoscoInstitute and we are told, amongother things, that when Don Boscoreturned to Valdocco from Becchiafter his convalescence in thesummer of 1846 he had no means ofsustenance. “He was so discouragedthat he would have almost given upthis work had it not been for Dr.‘Borelli’1 the theologian, whoencouraged him to trust in the help ofGod. The city of Turin could not affordto lose an institute such as his thatwould be a tremendous advantage to itand to the society in general. He,together with Fr. ‘Cafassi’ (spelt thatway by Don Bosco himself) fromCastelnuovo d’Asti, who was heir to ahuge patrimony left by Fr. Guala andwould be his successor as Rector of TheConvitto Ecclesiastico of St. Francisof Assisi, undertook to spend a notable

sum annually to help Don Boscoexclusively in his work.”

But Don Bosco on returning toTurin from Becchi knew very wellthat he did not want to give uphis work but he earnestly stroveto persuade his mother to comewith him to Turin.

The Real FactsAmong other things it was true

that Fr. Cafasso helped DonBosco. In a Memoir of the Oratorycompiled by Fr. Borel, there arerecords of expenses andcontributions received from 1844-1849. In fact, there were generousdonations from Fr. Cafasso (cf.ASC 123 Borel- FDB p. 164, N. 552,it E 4).

In 1844 Don Bosco had amysterious dream concerninghis Oratory’s future. (MO 239ff)He realized later that it was truehe would be in serious difficultyfor two years. He would have a


‘wandering Oratory,’ from theRefuge (of Marchioness Barolo), tothe church of St. Peter in Chains,later to the Dora Mills and afterthat to the Moretta house andfinally to the meadow of the Filippibrothers from where he was askedto leave with no other place to goto. He then prayed to the Lord:“Dear Lord, why don’t you show mea clear location where I can gatherthese youngsters? Or tell me what Iought to do” (MO 255).

Fr. Borel advised Don Bosco:“Let us cut our losses now andsalvage what we can. Let us sendaway all the youngsters except forabout twenty of the youngest.While we continue to teach themcatechism, God will open the wayand the opportunity to do more.”

“There’s no need to wait foranother opportunity,” said DonBosco, “The site’s ready: a spaciouscourtyard, a house with manychildren, a portico, a church, priests,clerics, all at our disposal.”

“But where are these things?” Dr.Borrelli (Fr. Borel) broke in.

“I don’t know where they are, butthey do exist and they are ours.”

At this Dr. Borrelli (Fr. Borel)burst into tears, “Poor Don Bosco!”he exclaimed. “You're losing your

mind!”He took Don Bosco by the hand,

embraced him and went offleaving Don Bosco alone in hisroom.” (MO cf. 246)

Evidently, there were momentsof grave perplexity but never theintention to uproot himself fromthere at all. Then there opened tohim a small window of light. Oneday while he was beseeching theLord a certain Pancrazio Soavecame to him in the Filippi fieldwhere the boys had alreadytrampled down the grass sothoroughly that they had to bedismissed. This man (Soave) cameto know that Don Bosco needed aplace for his “Oratory” but heconfused it for his “laboratory” andhe agreed to lease him a shed thatwas attached to a field that wasowned by a certain Francis Pinardiof Arcisate.

In fine, Don Bosco accepted theplace on April 5, 1846 through theagreement signed by Fr. Borel onthe contract that leased thePinardi shed.2

Fr. Joseph Cafasso

Fr. Borel


There was hope and even acertainty of a grand Oratory in thefuture, like the one he had seen inhis dream. Not even wheneveryone had abandoned himand not even when he was askedto leave the Filippi field had hereached the last stage of hispainful pilgrimage.

Even at that moment of supremediscouragement he prayed to theLord to illumine his path. Hewept but he continued to believeagainst all human hope that hewould become the father of agreat multitude of poor andabandoned youngsters. Themerciful and provident God heardhis cry and heeded his tears andprayers. (cf. F. Giraudi L’Oratorio diDon Bosco, SEI 1935 p. 57)

The Pinardi ShedThe Pinardi House lay on an

isolated stretch along theGiardiniera Road in the midst ofthe fields of the Valdocco districtand some distance from both theMoretta house and the Filippifield. The house that FrancisPinardi acquired on July 14, 1845,from the Filippi brothers had twofloors with some land around it.That same year he leased it out toPancrazio Soave of Verolengo(TO) on November 10. There heopened a workshop on the groundfloor and sublet the rooms above.Only the roof of the Pinardi shedwas preserved and under it hebuilt a storeroom. The place belowthe roof he later transformed intoa large room that became thePinardi chapel. After some timeDon Bosco, with the help ofFr. Cafasso and some otherbenefactors was able to rent outsome more rooms and eventuallythe whole house on February 19,

1851 together with the surroundingland.

In truth, the sale of the house byMr. Pinardi was made to fourpeople together: to Don Bosco, toFr. Borel, to Roberto Murialdo(brother of the Dr. Leonardo), andto Fr. Cafasso for a total some of28.500 Lire, for the land and thestructure.

On January 26 1853, the Fr. Boreland the Fr. Murialdo renouncedtheir rights of ownership andhanded it over to Don Bosco andFr. Cafasso. On 10th October 1856this was confirmed in theirhandwritten will: “I leave to thepriest, John Bosco of Castelnuovod’Asti and domiciled in Turin theownership of the workshopattached to the Oratory of St.Francis de Sales in the main regionof Valdocco, together with 5000lire. The remission of the same isto be made to the inheritor on mydemise. Notwithstanding whatwas written before on the subject.”(G.Cafasso, Epistolario e Testamento(…). Effeta Editirice 2004, pag 173)

The Pinardi shed was called byDon Bosco “Casa birichinòira” (E 35)(from birichin = streetboys andòira=not for girls). It was thePiedmontese way of saying that theplace was only for boys especiallyragamuffins. The name indicatedthat it was a place of chaos andcommotion. It was the first and mostmiserable house of Don Bosco andfrom there, there are now more than2000 houses in 128 countries on allthe 5 continents.�(Footnotes)1 Don Bosco always spells the namethis way. He seems to have considered“Borel” a kind of dialect abbreviationof the more Italian-sounding“Borrelli.”2 It was leased in the name of Fr. Borelas Don Bosco had no money at all.


1

NEWSBITS

VATICANPope Benedict XVI has completedhis second encyclical, a meditationon Christian Hope, Vatican sourcessaid.

The text, tentatively “Spe Salvi”(Saved by Hope), is about 65 pages,sources said Oct. 16, 2007. Norelease date has been set for thedocument.

The working title comes fromSt.Paul’s letter to the Romans, Iwhich he wrote: “For in hope wehave been saved.” The encyclicalis said to explore the Christianunderstanding of hope, withreference to modern philosophyand the challenges of disbelief.

The pope worked on theencyclical this summer, when hehad time to write during hissojourns in northern Italy and athis villa outside Rome. At thesame time, he was working on athird encyclical that deals withsocial themes, Vatican officialssaid.

The pope published his firstencyclical in late 2006. Titled “DeusCaritas Est” (God is Love), it calledfor a deeper understanding of liveas a gift from God to be shared in aself-sacrificial way.

The pope spoke about theimportance of the virtue of hopein 2005, when he addressedMexican bishops on their “adlimina” visits to Rome.

“Confronted by today’s changingand complex panorama, the virtueof hope is subject to harsh trials inthe community of believers. For thisvery reason, we must be apostleswho are filled with hope and

joyful trust in God’s promises,”the pope told the bishops.

From a pastoral standpoint, headded, hope means remindingChristians that God neverabandons his people and is aliveand active in the world.

“In contemporary society,which shows such visible signsof secularism, we must not give into despair or a lack of enthusiasmin pastoral projects,” he said.

In introducing a section onhope, the Catechism of theCatholic Church states: “Hope isthe theological virtue by which wedesire eternal life as ourhappiness, placing our trust inChrist’s promises and relying noton our own strength, but on thehelp of the grace of the Holy Spirit.(CNS)

ROMEUS Apostolic nuncio ArchbishopPietro Sambi made theannouncement saying, “Peter, therock on which Jesus founded thischurch, will be among us in theperson of his successor, Benedictthe XVI.”

Catholic News Service reportedthat the Holy Father will arrive inWashington on 15 April, when he


will receive an official welcome atthe White House. That afternoon -coincidentally his 81st birthday -he will address the nation’sbishops.

The Pope will celebrate Mass atthe new Washington Nationalsbaseball stadium and meet withdirectors of Catholic universitiesand diocesan educational leadersat the Catholic University ofAmerica.

He will also attend an inter-religious meeting at the Pope JohnPaul II Cultural Centre.

On 18 April, he will travel toNew York to address the UnitedNations and attend an ecumenicalmeeting in the afternoon. Thefollowing day, he will concelebrateMass at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

While in New York, the Holy Fatherwill visit Ground Zero, and celebrateMass at Yankee Stadium. (CNS)

CHINACatholic shrine in China has beensaved from destruction, howeverpolice continue to refuse entry topilgrims other than locals.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady ofCarmel in Tianjiajing was built acentury ago. It was badly damagedduring World War II and theCultural Revolution. Morerecently, it has been a popularpilgrim site, with 40,000 to 50,000visitors each year.

AsiaNews reported in May thatlocal authorities banned theannual pilgrimage, which hadbecome a national tradition. Theyalso revoked permits organiserswere required to hold, calling thepilgrimages “illegal religiousactivities.”

In addition, a ban was issued

denying the Church the right touse public areas, requisitioningthe shrine’s own compound andthreatening to destroy it.

Although pressures from localCatholics have stopped thedemolition plan, the ban onpilgrimages remains. (CNS)

BEIJINGChinese officials have rejectedmedia reports which have said thatBibles would be banned form theOlympic games.

Catholic News Agency publishedan article sourced from an Italiannewspaper.

The China Daily reported thatForeign Ministry spokesman LiuJianchao said the Beijing Olympicorganisers “did not and would notissue such a rule and this is a totalrumor.”

“According to the Chinese laws,foreigners are allowed to bring inreligious objects or materials, beit print or audio or video, forpersonal use.”

Beijing Olympics Media Centredirector Li Zhanjun said a religiousservice centre will be set up in theOlympic Village and religiousservices, from Christian, Catholic,Muslim, Jewish, Hindu toBuddhist, will be available toathletes next year. (CNS) .�


16 STEPSto

GREATNESS(Operation Wardrobe)

Text by: Jimmy RizziDrawings by: Giovanni GherardiTranslation & adaptation: I.D.

13 - JUSTICE

Part 2

LOOK HOW MANY JUDGES ARE ROMING AROUND!They are impossible to please, ready to pass sentence,

a sentence of condemnation! These judges are you and me!And these are our characteristics:

1) A Pointed Finger (at others)

3) A memorydiskette

(to remember themistakes of others)2) A Pedestal

(to raise youabove others)

2) Scales(to give

everyonehis due)


� dis JUSTICE

GOD is very different:His JUSTICE is Queer,

it is STRANGE JUSTICE,YET IT IS GOD'S JUSTICE!

Read this parable:

The parable of the workershired at the vineyard

From the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 20:1-16)

At that time Jesus said: "The Kingdom of heaven is likethis. Once there was a man who went out early in the morningto hire some men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to paythem the regular wage, a silver coin a day, and sent them towork in his vineyard. he went out again to the market place atnine o'clock and saw some men standing there doing nothing,so he told them, 'You also go and work in the vineyard, and Iwill pay you a fair wage.' So they went. Then at twelve o'clockand again at three o'clock he did the same thing. It was nearlyfive o'clock when he went to the market place and saw someother men still standing there. 'Why are you wasting the wholeday here doing nothing?' he asked them. 'No one hired us,' theyanswered. 'Well, then, you also go and work in the vineyard,'he told them.

"When eveningcame, the owner told hisforeman, 'Call theworkers and pay themtheir wages, starting withthose who were hired lastand ending with thosewho were hired first.' Themen who had begun towork at five o'clock werepaid a silver coin each.So when the men whowere the first to be hiredcame to be paid, they


� DISPROPORTIONATE JUSTICE“But what is this queer kind of Justice?" You may askyourself. What employer pays the last workers as muchas he pays those who came first? How very unfair! Thatis what they think. Those workers who came first areshocked! What kind of justice is this? That is God’sunfathomable justice...God’s justice is like this, it's a very different kind of justicefrom ours: he doesn’t execute justice according to ourmerits, he doesn't simply mete out justice according towhat we have done. He doesn’t only pay the first…Godgives out of the goodness of his heart...

� God's justice never condemns. It does not returnevil for evil. He does not execute justice according tothe wrong we've done, but he gives us with great love.His justice is in his pardon and his mercy...

thought they would get more; but they too were given a silvercoin each. They took their money and started grumbling againstthe employer. these men who were hired last worked only onehour,' they said, 'while we put up with a whole day's work in thehot sun - yet you paid them the same as you paid us!'"'Listen, friend,' the owner answered one of them, 'I have notcheated you. After all, you agreed to do a day's work for onesilver coin. Now take your pay and go home. I want to give thisman who was hired last as much as as I have given you. Don't Ihave the right to do as I wish with my own money? Or are youjealous because I am generous?'"And Jesus concluded, "So those who are last will be first, andthose who are first will be last."

THE JUSTICE OF GOD


To be continued

� It is a justice that Jesus the Son, the only JustOne, the only Innocent One makes himself guilty tofree us from our guilt...

� His justice is just: Jesus, the only Just One rendershimself unjust in order to justify us....

.

Be aware that Jesusis the only just one.Thanks to him youare saved and thatyou are justified;made right,reconciled with God.

Therefore THE JUST MAN is

NOT ONLY the one who LIVES

ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF

THE LORD, but he is also the one who

becomes JUST like the LORD. He is one

who has the CAPACITY to PARDON

and show MERCY...

That is what it means: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”


LOVING CHILDREN TOTHEIR LOVING MOTHER

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesusand Mother Mary for all the favours received.

John Robert George, BombayBelated thanks to you dear Mother Mary for curingmy daughter ofher illness after 13 years. Mrs. L. Vaz, BombaySincere thanks to Our Blessed Mother for having helped mesucceed in my examinations and for all the graces received. N. Braganza, GoaThank you dearest Mother for giving us a wonderful house and forthe many other favours you have showered on our family. Mr Julius & Mrs Sandra Colaso, GoaThank you, dear Lord Jesus and Mother Mary for Mira and Maya togood health after their recent bout of high fevers and cold. We areextremely grateful. Natasha Samagond, USAThank you dear Mother Mary for the safe delivery of a healthy babyboy. Pancy, Bonny D'Souza, KarwarThank you dear Mother Mary for helping my mother recover after afall. Thankfully she did not have a fracture. Agnelo D'Souza, BombayWe thank you dear Mother Mary for the gift of a baby boy receivedthrough the faithful recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Jayaseelan Paulas, BombayThank you dear Mother Mary for the two major falls I had in 1997and 1998 when I was knocked down by a speeding vehicle. I amgrateful that I was not injured except for a few bruises. I was wearingthe blessed Scapular of Our Lady. May Our Lady protect me always.

Nurse Winnie D'Souza, BombayOn the way driving to Ooty with my family and my aged mother Iwas caught in a situation where a truck was attempting to overtakea bus and in the rush I immediately swerved the car to the left offthe road after saying: Jesus, "Mary and Joseph, Save Us!" Our tinycar turned over. We were rescued a few moments later by a groupof students who helped us. Except for a few bruises and a dislocationnone of us was severely injured. We're grateful to the protection ofour Blessed Mother. The daily Rosary we pray assures us of Mary'sprotection. Mr. L. Colaso, Conoor, NilgirisThank you dearest Mother for all the favours granted to us. Vincents, BombayThank you, Mary Help of Christians for a successful eye surgery.

Mrs. L. D'Costa, BombayMy sincere thanks to dear Mother Mary, Don Bosco and the faithfulrecitation of the 3 Hail Marys that have kept us all in good health.

Mrs Bella Sequeira, BombayI am grateful to Our Blessed Mother for helping me find a crucifix Ihad lost...it was a very special crucifix. I faithfully recite the 3 HailMarys. Mrs Maria Fernandes, GoaI am grateful to Our Blessed Mother for relieving my son Cassianfrom terrible pain in the pelvis. Philomena Mendes, Bombay


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 nightprayers. To practise this devotion in time ofdanger, stress, special need or temptation, is asure means to obtain Our Lady's help.

THE DEVOTION OF THE THREE HAIL MARYS

Thank you dear Mother Mary for all the graces andfavours I received through the recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Do continueto bless our daughter as she prepares for her ministry examination.

Mrs Dora D'Souza, KarnatakaOn 26th October 2007, my husband who was insulin-dependent wasmissing. All efforts to try and find him seemed fruitless. Not knowingwhere to turn I knelt weeping at the picture of Mary Help of Christiansand prayed the 3 Hail Marys. A few moments later I received a callassuring me that my husband was found safe. Though his sugar levelswere very low he was safe. I am most grateful to Blessed Mother. F. Parashar, BombayI thank you dear Mother Mary for the many favours received through therecitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Diya Kerkar, GoaMy sincere thanks to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I also thank Don Boscoand St. Dominic Savio who are also with me all the time. Do continueto bless us. My husband had undergone a surgery for a cyst about 8months back. Everything was fine. A week back the cyst appeared. Itwas sent for a biopsy and found benign. We prayed the three HailMarys. Thank you dearest Mother. J.N. BombayDuring my daughter's pregnancy her BP was high so I recited the 3 HailMarys for a safe and normal delivery. I am grateful to our Blessed Motherfor these and so many other favours. Mrs B. D'Souza, KalyanOur thanks to Our Blessed Mother for the many graces received throughthe faithful recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Mrs. Mary Fernandes, BombayThe baby in my womb was critical and the doctor suggested an operationafter which the baby was removed and placed in the N.ICU. We wouldknow something only after 48 hours. We spent those anxious momentsin prayer. Two days later when my husband asked the doctor about thebaby's condition he told us that the child was out of danger and wouldbe healthy. We have been praying the 3 Hail Marys for the baby's healthand Our Blessed Mother answered our prayers. Mr & Mrs George and Mary Maliyil, KeralaThank you dear Mother Mary for the many graces received through thefaithful recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Maggie Rogtao, Goa


THEY ARE GRATEFUL TOOUR LADY AND DON BOSCO

My humble and sincere gratitude dear Lord Jesus, Mother Mary andDon Bosco for a successful recovery of my sister from cancer.

Mrs. Rosy Johny, BombayThank you dear Mother Mary and Don Bosco for all the graces andfavours received. Mrs Mary Fernandes, BombayThank you dear Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio for all thegraces and favours received. Mrs. A.E. D'Silva, BombayThank you dear Mother Mary and Don Bosco for a very special favourreceived. Orson Rodrigues, GoaThank you dear Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio for all thegraces and favours received, especially for helping me succeed in myTYBSc examinations. Stephanie Sequeira, GoaOur grateful thanks to dear Mother Mary, Don Bosco and DominicSavio for the innumerable blessings showered on us. Mrs. Nora D'Sa, BombayMy sincere thanks to Jesus, Mother Mary and Don Bosco for all theblessings and favours bestowed on my and my family. Mrs O D'SouzaMany thanks dear Mother Mary and Don Bosco for miraculously savingus from an accident. Loraine S. Nair, Navi MumbaiOur sincere and humble gratitude to Our Blessed Mother and DonBosco for the many graces bestowed on us. Mr Felix & Flavy Ferns. KenyaI am grateful to the Divine Mercy, Our Blessed Mother and Don Boscofor all the graces and favours I received. Cynthia Pereira, BombayWe are alone and far from our near and dear ones and hence greater isour gratitude to Our Blessed Mother and Dominic Savio whose relic Icarried for a safe delivery of a lovely boy Shaun Joe. Jubie Savio Soares, Boulder, USAMany thanks dear Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio forhealing my daughter of a severe pain and a lump in her breast. Mrs Lourdes Athaide, GoaOur sincere thanks to Our Blessed Mother, Don Bosco and DominicSavio for the safe and normal delivery of a daughter-in-law and giftingher with a healthy baby girl and for helping my daughter settle happily.

Mascarenhas Family, Pune

M other of God, hoouring Mary we begin the New Year,A ll our cares and worries we entrust to her;M ary it is who leads us all through the storms of life,A nd intercedes for us with her Son in our moments of strife.

M other of the Universe, Queen of our hearts and family,A New Year's resolution - "To Jesus Through Mary";R equest we humbly for the renewed grace we need,Y our Son to please in thought word and deed.

Merwyn D'Souza

MAMA MARY


THANKS TO DEARST. DOMINIC SAVIO

APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER

JANUARY 2008Holy Father's General Intention: That the Church may strengthenher commitment to full visible unity in order to manifest in an evergrowing degree her nature as community of love, in which is reflectedthe communion of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Missionary Intention: That the Churcn in Africa, which is preparingto celebrate her second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, maycontinue to be the sign and instrument of reconciliation and justice in aContinent still marked by war, exploitation and poverty.

Thank you dear Lord Jesus, Mother Mary,Don Bosco and Dominic Savio for the giftof a healthy baby girl to my daughter.

Florence Rajah, MalaysiaThank you dear Jesus, Mother Mary, DonBosco and Dominic Savio for curing me ofmy sickness. Lourdes AlphonsoOur sincere thanks dear Mother Mary andDominic Savio for a good job to my husbandand my son. Benedicta D'Souza, BombayOur daughter-in-law developed severecomplications in the sixth month of herpregnancy. We prayed fervently to MaryHelp of Christians and Dominic Savio toenable her to carry the baby to full term.

Our prayers were answered and we were blessed with a healthygrandson, Calvin Shaun. Mother Mary and Dominic Savio we are mostgrateful, do keep us always under your protection.Bonny & Sally Noronha, BombayMy sincere and heartfelt thanks to Mary Help of Christians and DominicSavio for a safe delivery of a baby boy after 12 years of marriage. Maria and Marshal, BahrainThank you dear St. Dominic Savio for the safe delivery of my daughter.In spite of all the complications she delivered a healthy baby boy whomwe have named Myron Savio. Mrs Benny Sequeira, BombayGrateful thanks to St. Dominic Savio for blessing my nephew's wifewith the gift of a baby boy. Philomena Ferrao, BombayMy special thanks to Our Blessed Mother, Don Bosco and DominicSavio for the many blessings especially for curing my grandson Alisterof a throat infection. Rosy Soares, GoaMany thanks to Our Lady, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio for the safeand normal delivery of a baby girl. Rosalyn, Ca, USA


Regd RNI no.9360/57;Registered MH/MR/North East/089/2006-2008

License no. 146 to Post WPPat Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office,

Mumbai 400 001, on 1st & 2nd of every month:Don Bosco's Madonna (Monthly)

Subs: (One copy Rs. 20/-); Inland: Rs. 200 p.a; Airmail: Rs.400 p.a

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 if any,

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 everything 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]://www.donboscosmadonna.org

MARY WAS THEREMy wife was due to have our first child butshe experienced no labour pains and noattempt to induce labour seemed to work.She was very anxious and depressed.During her entire pregnancy my wifeprayed the novena of expectant mothers.Then suddenly she began to feel uneasyand she was told that this was going to bean emergency. Clasping her Rosary shewas taken into the Operation theatre whileI was anxiously praying outside. Some timelater I heard the first cry of my child and Iwas summoned by the doctors into the OT.They said that it was a miracle that mychild survived. Incidentally that was the firstday of the Novena of the Nativity of OurLady. On the following day my wifementioned to me that during the entireoperation she felt caressed and I am surethat it was the Blessed Virgin who waspresent there. Nelson Almeida, Bangalore

contentsdonboscosmadonna.org/2008archives/jan.pdf · its existence, the eagle has to make a big...

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