don bosco's madonna why, why, why? mumbai june 2017 …donboscosmadonna.org/pdf/jun2017.pdf ·...

2 3June 2017 Don Bosco’s Madonna Don Bosco’s MadonnaJune 2017Fr. Ian Doulton sdb

From The Editor's Desk:Why, Why, Why?.....................3

Dealing with the TeenYears- Jeanette Brimner....................4

Youth on the Move: The Student You Can Be - Melanie D’Souza,.................7

Salesian Saint: Ven Dorothea de Chopitea.............................10

Witnesses In And For Our Times:Antoni Gaudi...........................12

Lectio Divina: The Holy Name of God- Carlo Broccardo..................16

Quietspaces: Unity Doesn’t Come from Glue - Pope Francis.......................18

God SpokeTo Evan Richards- Fr. Ian Doulton's Collection...20

The Illnesses and the Saintly Death ofDon Bosco

- Fr. Elias Dias, SDB..................24

Reflecting on Mary: Mary of Nazareth A Vocation Story - Enrico dal Covolo.................28

NewsBits.....................................30

Walking With the Church: Fear of Dying, Fortune Telling, Candles etc........................31

In a Cheerful Mood......................15The Devotion of

the Three Hail Marys.............33Loving Children to their

Loving Mother........................34They Are Grateful to

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

St. Dominic Savio...................35

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

DON BOSCO'S MADONNA Mumbai JUNE 2017 vol.19 No. 2

WHY, WHY, WHY?It is not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of

God might be made manifest in him. In the 9th chapter of John’s gospelJesus notices a man who is blind. His disciples began to speculate thateither he or his parents must be particularly sinful to deserve this formof punishment, they decide but Jesus stops them and says that theirexplanation doesn’t quite fit. Perhaps he even talked about how blindmost of us are to the marvels he brought as the Son of God. But whathe says is pretty simple: It is not that this man sinned, or his parents, butthat the works of God might be made manifest in him.

Why do people suffer and die? Why do babies come into the worldwith debilitating diseases or disabilities? Why do young people dieyears before their years... at a more appropriate time? Why do naturaldisasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods take so many innocentlives? Why is it that someone we love dies unexpectedly? Why?

Perhaps you’ve been through a tragic circumstance or death of aloved one and had people offer explanations to you about what you’vegone through. We hear that it was God’s will or that God needed thatperson in heaven. Do any of those explanations quite ‘do the trick’?The question lingers: “What does that mean for us? If we’re going tosuffer and die, what’s the point anyway?”

That’s the age-old question the disciples put to Jesus: “So what’s thepoint Jesus?” In effect Jesus tells the disciples that they are to watchand see what happens. He will heal the man born blind but Jesus surelyis asking them to watch more than just this one particular moment.Pay attention to each moment, Jesus may be saying. Watch how sufferingand tragedy do not defeat the grace of God. Watch how the very worst thingsin life get turned into the very best things.

That’s the remarkable thing about the life that Christ reveals. It’snot that good things always come to those who are faithful. Rather, aswe are faithful we see the things that are so bad get transformed intogoodness. When we stumble through difficulty and find our very livestransformed, we pass through things temporal and get a glimpse ofthings eternal. There we can see a little of God’s immeasurable power.Nothing can defeat God from bringing good. The things we know willstop our world completely are somehow healed. We are sustained inour sufferings. And then our suffering becomes part of our experienceof healing.

How often have those things that you wished with all your heartwould not happen become the experiences where your faith in Godhas been formed? “Why do these things happen, Jesus?” we might asklike the disciples do. “Don’t get stuck in that question” Jesus may besaying, “but watch and see what God does next!” That’s thetransforming power of the incarnation and resurrection of our Lord.

Watch and see what God does with those things you can’t explain.

Grant that we,who glory

in the Heartof your beloved Son

may be made worthyto receive

an overflowing measureof grace

from that fountof heavenly gifts.

Through our Lord JesusChrist, your Son.

From the Mass ofthe Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

4 5June 2017 Don Bosco’s Madonna Don Bosco’s MadonnaJune 2017

FFFFFAMILAMILAMILAMILAMILY ISSUESY ISSUESY ISSUESY ISSUESY ISSUES

DEALING WITH THE TEEN YEARSDEALING WITH THE TEEN YEARSDEALING WITH THE TEEN YEARSDEALING WITH THE TEEN YEARSDEALING WITH THE TEEN YEARSby Jeanette Brimner

When our children were teenagers in the nineteen eigh-

ties our older friends who hadgrown children remarked, “Weare so glad that we don’t have toface bringing up teens in thismodern world with all theviolent movies, rampant druguse and disrespect for autho-rity.” Well it has become more ofa challenge than ever to raiseteens today!

My husband and I obviously

survived our children’s tumul-tuous teen years but at times itwas touch and go. During thattime we had four teens, since wehad our children close togetherand our home was flooded withthe seething hormones of youngpeople whose moods rangedfrom effervescent joy to the deep-est doldrums and to anger…in amatter of minutes. We sent themto a Catholic school which wasfairly strict, we impressed onthem the need to rely on God intimes of trouble, we said Gracebefore meals and went to SundayMass with them as well as onEaster and Christmas. But I thinkit was easier then, when morefamilies went to church alongwith their children. Times havechanged! And not for the better!

At a youth conference Bishop

Paul Andre’ DeRocher stated,“Most of our students do notlearn religion in our Catholicschools! They are just not inter-ested. They only memorize whatthey have to learn for an exam.”

Maybe that is because many ofthem do not attend Mass nor domany of their parents or teach-ers. In the world today cellphones, video games, the inter-net, and many other distractionsseem to take precedence overGod, just when we need Him themost.

While teens are slowly matur-

ing into full-fledged adults theyneed to express themselves ininnocuous ways to show their in-dividuality. As parents we allow-ed them to choose what theywore to school as long as theywere modest and stayed withinthe schools mode of dress. Weoften discussed topics at thedinner table including politics

and religion which certainlymade our family meals anythingbut boring. Of course, to them wewere old people who were unableto comprehend the new worldthat was their domain. So, oftenthe conversation would be inter-rupted with exclamations suchas “You just don’t understand,mom and dad. Things aredifferent now!”

We needed a sense of humor

when our daughter would gochange her outfit if my husbandor I said she looked nice. If herparents liked it, it was obviouslya write-off! And we became usedto the fact that if we said some-thing was white they would in-sist it was black...In other wordsit seemed we could never win!

But the hardest lesson we hadto learn was that our kids,despite our efforts to teach themgood morals, and responsibilitycould sometimes let us down.One evening I was entertainingmy two much older sisters-one anun, when two burly policemenknocked on the door. They wereaccompanied by my two shamefaced boys. “They have beendrinking underage,” the huskierone announced” They got intoyour older son’s beer when he leftthem alone in his apartment fora short time. No charges will belaid but let this be a warning tothem.” As soon as they left, myboys slunk upstairs. I returned tomy sisters red-faced, but theydidn’t seem shocked, especiallythe one with six children whohad already weathered the teen-age years. “Things like this hap-pen now and then, despite allyour efforts,” she said soothingly.My sister, the nun, added,” Just

put them in God’s hands and allwill work out in the end.” Shehad the optimism of someonewho had never been a mom, Ithought to myself!

Nowadays it’s even more

difficult to raise teenagers, forthere are more external influ-ences to deal with, like the uncen-sored internet, violent and offen-sive video games, and slack mo-ral attitudes regarding sex beforemarriage. The media today pro-mote material values and under-mine the morals that many, well-intentioned parents, churchesand schools are trying to instill.Today’s teens have to deal withmore temptations and without adoubt are affected by the scan-dalous behaviour on the part ofsome authority figures such assexual impropriety, lying andcheating to become rich andswindling people out of theirhard earned money, with theirtargets being mainly seniors.

But there are so many uplifting

stories about teens that are greatexamples for their peers. Ayoung man on a talk show oneevening spoke about how hebrought his three siblings upalmost single-handedly since hisfather had abandoned them andtheir mother became a drug ad-dict. His courage and intell-igence as well as perseverancewere praised by viewers whosent him donations so that hecould attend college when hisbrothers and sister were able tobe on their own. One teen tutorshis peers in math and science forvery little money since many ofhis pupils are not very well off.And several teens in our area


visit people in nursing homes intheir spare time while others singin their church choir.

Sometimes I miss those hectic

days jammed with high schoolconcerts, driving lessons andcramming for exams as well asthe joyful times when they andtheir friends filled the house withmusic and laughter and ceaselesschatter. And I even feel a tingeof nostalgia for their noisy out-bursts, their sulky moods andcomplaints. But most of the timeI savour the peace and quiet myhusband and I now enjoy. And Ifeel very grateful that I did nothave to work outside the homeso I could be there for them. Itmeant going without a car but itwas worth it!

Since recent research tells us

that the frontal cortex of thebrain in a teenager is not fullydeveloped it means that they arenot always able to reason logi-cally, control their impulses allthe time or be always capable ofmaking rational decisions. Theirparents have to be prepared foroccasional impulsive and seem-ingly irrational behaviour duringtheir growing up years. Adoles-cents will benefit if parentsrealize how many pressurestheir children are under, such asgetting good marks, fitting inwith their peers, having toput up with bullying at schooland on Facebook and on and on.If parents are there to listen totheir problems or worries with-out passing judgment or offeringunwanted advice, their childrenwill realize that they have a safeplace to go to when their lives gettoo complicated. Remembering

their own teen years will helpparents show more empathywith their teen’s difficulties.

If the parents have taught their

children about God’s love forthem and urge them to seek Hishelp during tough times theirteens will be armed with trust ina God who loves them uncondi-tionally. Parents can also showtheir love in many ways by com-plimenting their teens for littlethings like keeping their roomtidy, being kind by cleaning anelderly neighbour’s snow off herdrive way for free, or for tryingtheir best at school even thoughtheir marks may not always begood.

Teens seem to enjoy arguing

about seemingly inconsequentialthings so parents must try not torise to the bait every time theyare riled. Letting them choose adecent time to come home froma gathering or deciding whatbedtime would be reasonable onschool nights makes them feelthat they have some control intheir lives. Then there will also

be less contention in the family. Of course establishing

boundaries for teens is importantand if they break them they needto suffer the consequences. Forinstance if a teen comes home lateafter curfew they might have toforgo the next event they are in-vited to. Teens feel more securewhen they have rules to obeywhich can also help when peerstry to talk them into unaccep-table behaviour. They can blametheir parents for having to behome on time or refusing todrink under age.

If parents welcome their teens’

friends into their home they canlearn about them as well as pro-vide a supervised haven whereeveryone can have fun. Whenour kids were teens we often hadan extra person or two at thedinner table on weekends andsometimes friends stayed over.One boy who was an aboriginaltaught me how to make bannock– a tasty bread fried in a pan.Another pal shared stories abouthis life on a farm and brought usgoat milk to taste, which hisfamily preferred over cow’smilk. Another friend jokinglycalled me his psychiatrist be-cause I would listen to him talkabout his problems when hevisited after school.

Teenagers can teach us so

much. We hone our toleranceskills when we find them beingtoo moody or noisy or clumsy.They teach us to have patiencewhen we are teaching them howto drive the family car or how tocook or organize their home-work habits. Telling them welove them and writing them little

notes saying how much theymean to us, helps us strengthentheir self-respect and teaches usthe power of love.

Parents can never be perfect inraising their children but if theytry their best and seek God’s gui-dance they will remember thiseven if children chose differentvalues to cling to when they growup. When a couple marries andembarks on raising a family theywill hopefully realize there willbe good times and sometimes, se-emingly insurmountable diffi-culties. But they must startsomewhere. For as Cardinal JohnHenry Newman once wrote“Nothing would be done at all ifa person waited till he could doit so well that no one could findfault with it.” This reminds methat the most prominent virtuethat we can learn when bringingup teenagers is humility. Theywill find more faults in us thanwe’d care to admit and thensome more. But hopefully in theirtwenties they will start actuallyliking us despite our faults andmight even be grateful for thelove they received while travel-ling the scary but exhilaratingjourney through adolescenceand hopefully emerging relati-vely unscathed.


THE STUDENT YOU CAN BETHE STUDENT YOU CAN BETHE STUDENT YOU CAN BETHE STUDENT YOU CAN BETHE STUDENT YOU CAN BEby Melanie D’Souza

Once again, it’s that strangetime of the academic year.

Depending on your school orcollege, you’re either starting orending a new academic year orsemester - or perhaps you’realready bracing up for anothersummer break from school!

Whatever it is, you’re eitherfeeling highly accomplishedand/or are ready and refreshedand you are already thinking ofways ‘to do much better nexttime’. Perhaps you’re still goodabout it – I mean, good aboutstarting with a prayer before youbegin to swallow large chunks ofstudy material before that evilExam – or maybe you just forget.Maybe you thank the Lordafterwards instead. In essence,our spiritual habits are as uniqueas our study habits.

But one thing remains. Nomatter how consumed we canget with our project deadlines,the seemingly impossible teacheror professor, the dreadful examseries which sometimes canreally be just a memory test,know that God takes care ofevery school or college student,if we let Him. If we offer up that

tired brain – while we still respectthe temple of the Holy Spiritthrough sufficient sleep andhealthy food (I am alsosometimes guilty of not doing so.)

No matter what your grey-haired folks tell you, rememberthat this integral part of your lifeinvolves a culture of learningthat goes beyond academicstudying! (Take the hint!) Sowhen the grind of the semesterhits rock bottom again, here aresome faith habits we can adopt,to spice things up a little bit:

1. Music for the senses:This does work for a select groupof subjects. Ever tried playingyour favourite band or praise &worship music while practisingmath and science problems? Ortaking a study break to play your

instrument? Keeps you sharp!2. Reward yourself: Find

events that help you enjoy theglory of life and to be thankfulafter a rigorous week of workinghard – dances, musical events,picnics or family dinners, what-ever. Don’t forget your social life.

3. Use your talents: This isa tricky one. In a competitiveworld that makes you think thatit is ‘every man for himself’,think again. Your Lord is really‘our Lord’. So don’t be selfish andshy away from helping yourpeers or mentoring fellowcolleagues. If anything, think ofit as a personal test of yourknowledge of the material andyour academic charity!

4. Be thankful: Just as youmay start your studying ordealwith a prayer, don’t forget tothank your Lord for yourprogress, no matter how sad itmay seem. Another way to showthat gratitude, although moreindirect, is through random actsof kindness, to other students orroommates, your teachers, yourparents or whoever is helpingyour race against time runsmoothly.

5. Get out, relax!: Nature isstimulating. Go for a prayerwalk; pray a decade (of theRosary) as you bolt from class toclass. Attend a silent retreat; takesome low-profile breaks. Finishoff the day’s studying with aRosary/bible study thattransitions you into a restful lastfew hours of the day. And keepto it.

To reiterate, these are the mostformative years of our life forreasons that go over and abovepreparing for a career. Not only

do we learn to have a decentwork/study-life balance, but wemaster finding meaning in thethings we do. As students of theFaith, we strive to be less quickto pass judgement in an era oflearning that involves meaning-ful mistakes. Our student rolemodels like St. Dominic Savioshow us that. And his teacherDon Bosco reminds us, “Theschool was not the end; it wasrather the instrumental meansfor improving the way of life.”

Meanwhile, save thisphenomenal Student prayerfrom one of our most lovedteachers, St. Thomas Aquinas:(Good luck!)

Come, Holy Spirit, DivineCreator, True Source of light andfountain of wisdom! Pour forthyour brilliance upon my denseintellect, dissipate the darknesswhich covers me, that of sin and ofignorance. Grant me a penetratingmind to understand, a retentivememory, method and ease inlearning, the lucidity tocomprehend, and abundant grace inexpressing myself. Guide thebeginning of my work, direct itsprogress, and bring it to successfulcompletion. This I ask throughJesus Christ, true God and trueman, living and reigning with Youand the Father, forever and ever.Amen.


SALESIANSALESIANSALESIANSALESIANSALESIANSAINTSSAINTSSAINTSSAINTSSAINTS

DOROTHEADOROTHEADOROTHEADOROTHEADOROTHEADE CHOPITEADE CHOPITEADE CHOPITEADE CHOPITEADE CHOPITEA

1816 - 18911816 - 18911816 - 18911816 - 18911816 - 1891Dorothea de Chopitea was

born in Santiago, Chile onJune 5, 1816 to Don Pedro Nolas-co Chopitea and Isabella Villotawho had come from Spain andwas extremely wealthy. Doro-thea was one of the last of eight-een children. Three years later,when Chile gained independencefrom Spain, Don Pedro broughthis family back to Barcelona.Dorothea was a lively andenterprising child and possesseda heart of gold. At 13 she chose Fr.Peter Nardò as her confessor andspiritual director and he wouldaccompany her for the next fiftyyears, educating her with gentle-ness yet firmly teaching her to“detach her heart from riches.”Throughout her life Dorotheaconsidered her family’s wealthnot as a source of amusement anddissipation but as a great meansbequeathed by the providence ofGod for the welfare of the poor.Several times Fr. Peter Nardò readto Dorothea the Gospel parable ofthe rich man and Lazarus. Shereceived a good education and atthe recommendation of Fr. Nardòshe married an excellent youngman Joseph Maria Serra, at the ageof 16. He was a merchant and abanker. They lived as a happy andfruitful married couple for 50years which caused Joseph toexclaim: “Our love grew every-day.” From that marriage wasborn six daughters: Dolores, Anna

Maria, Isabella, Maria Luisa,Carmen and Gesuina who wouldall grow up to become exemplarymothers. It was not surprisingconsidering that the atmospherethey breathed in that family wasone that could have suggested thatit was a “religious community.”

She was a woman of great faith,a lively piety and arduous pen-ance. Dorothea’s main concernwas to live truly for God and shenourished her piety on daily Mass,Holy Communion and the HolyRosary. Each year she took part ina retreat. It was during one ofthese, that she took the followingresolutions: “I will not interruptmeditation or spiritual readingwithout a serious reason […] I willmake twenty mortifications eachday. I will wear a hair shirt for twohours every morning.” The virtuethat outshone above every otherwas charity. She gave up all shehad in Barcelona which wasunlike anyone else in Barcelona

in her day. On her scale of valuesshe placed her love for the poorright on top of her list: “The poorwill have my first considera-tion.”She accompanied her hus-band on his travels, was receivedby Pope Leo XIII who treated herwith great deference. Thirtyfoundations arose through thegenerosity of her husband andherself: kindergartens, schools,hospitals, workshops… Fr. PhilipRinaldi, the third successor ofDon Bosco, today Blessed, knewher personally and testified: “Ihave seen with my own eyes thecases of children she had helped,the widows, the elderly, the unem-ployed and the sick… I heardagain and again that the Servantof God performed the most men-ial tasks for the sick. He spoke, forexample, of children affected byrepulsive suppurating boils ontheir heads that she secretly clea-ned and maternally medicated.“In whatever she did she trustedher husband’s cooperation. Whenhe died she was able to devoteherself completely to her favouritemission.

At this time there was bornand grew a rapport with the Sal-esians and the Daughters ofMary Help of Christians. Shewas a woman still full of energy,spending herself for the poor. Shewrote to Don Bosco on Septem-ber 20, 1882 requesting that acollege be built on the outskirtsof Barcelona. “I would like tostart an institute for young wor-kers and the orphans of the sub-urbs.” The college would start inSarrià and would become themother-house of Salesians inSpain. Two years later, anotherhouse would be started by thedaughters of Mary Help of

Christians. In 1886 after repea-ted invitations, Don Bosco reach-ed Spain and was welcomed byhis many admirers. He must havebeen aware of the achievementsof this great benefactor. After thedeath of Don Bosco it turned intothe college of St. Dorothy. Inorder to buy the house they ranshort of 7000 pesetas: the sum shehad set aside for her old age butshe gave it generously exclaim-ing: “God wants me to be reallypoor and I will be.” She led a beg-ging campaign on Good Friday1891 during which she contrac-ted pneumonia and in a space ofseven days she was at death’sdoor. On hearing of this Don Rin-aldi spent quite a long time at herbedside. He wrote: “During thefew days that remained she thou-ght of nothing evil except thepoor and her soul. She wished tosay something specific to each ofher daughters and to bless themin the name of the Father and ofthe Son and of the Holy Spirit likethe patriarchs of old. While weknelt around her bed Dorotheaarose and closing her eyes shesoftly breathed her last,” it April3, 1891. In 1982 her remains weretransferred to the Shrine of MaryHelp of Christians in Sarrià. Therevolution of 1936 desecratedand scattered her remains. Thesewere partially re-composed andburied again in the same Shrine.

Dorothea Chopitea was thefirst Salesian Cooperator to beraised to the honours of the altar,a wife and mother of six daugh-ters. Although she only brieflyformed part of the Salesian Fam-ily she was one of the very fewpeople Don Bosco addressed as“mamma.”


ANTONI GAUDI

PROFILES

“Achurch is the only thing worthy of representing the

soul of a people for religion is themost noble aspect of man,”according to Antoni Gaudí, thearchitect of the Basilica of theHoly Family in Barcelona, Spain.

Antoni Gaudí was born on June25, 1852, in Reus, in the provinceof Tarragona, Spain, the fifth childof Francesc Gaudí Serra andAntonia Comet Bertran. Hewould know the sadness of thepremature death of all of hisbrothers and sister. This success-ion of deaths most likely explainsGaudí’s serious temperament.From childhood, Antoni sufferedfrom rheumatism. This illnessconstrained him to remain forlong periods in the solitude of asmall property his family ownedin Riudoms, outside Reus. There,his eyes captured the Mediterr-anean light and the purest imagesof rocks, plants, and animals; hewould always admire nature as awonderful teacher.

The sole aimDuring the 1868-69 school year,

the young man moved to Barcelo-na to study at the Upper TechnicalSchool of Architecture. Hereceived his degree in architecturein 1878.

Gaudí never wrote a book,although he left behind manynotes on architecture and decor.Nevertheless, one could say thathe was one of the best writers inhistory – not on paper but in stone.Passionate about aesthetics, he ex-amined the enigma of beauty, andunderstood that it is because ofBeauty (i.e., God Himself) thatbeautiful things are beautiful. Heheld that “beauty is the splendorof truth. Without truth, there is noart. Everyone is drawn to splen-dour-that is why art is universal.”

Awakening heartsThe nineteenth century was, for

Spain, a century or profoundsocial upheavals. An anticlericalfrenzy raged, and the Church waspersecuted. Joseph Bocabella, abookseller who had a great devo-tion to Saint Joseph, received theinspiration to build a church con-secrated to the Holy Family ofNazareth. Construction beganimmediately, but soon a seriousdifference of opinion arose bet-ween Bocabella and his architect,and the architect abandoned theproject. One night, Bocabella’saunt had a dream – she saw thearchitect who would make theHoly Family rise from the ground.It was a young man with blue eyes.Attaching no importance to thisdream, Joseph went to an archi-tectural firm. Opening the door,he found himself face to face witha young man whose blue eyesgave him a start-for in fact, inCatalonia blue eyes are rare. Thisyoung architect was namedGaudí. Although Bocabella’s tastetended towards a strict classicism,he came round to Gaudí’s loftierideas without hesitation.

All have a placeGaudí designed the church of

the Holy Family as a synthesis ofCatholic doctrine. In it therewould be represented the Creationof the world, the work of man onearth, the passage from the king-dom of darkness to the Kingdomof Light, the mysteries of the lifeof Christ, the seven Sacraments,the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,the Beatitudes, death, Purgatory,Final Judgment, Hell, and Heaven... This “cathedral”, about 100metres in length, would be built inthe shape of a Latin cross, with

five naves and three facades.Gaudí’s work would be open toeveryone: “The portal must belarge enough because all have aplace in the heart of theirCreator.”

On the Holy Family’s enormousconstruction site, Gaudí establish-ed a wonderful feeling of brother-hood, social security did not yetexist, and workers worked untilthe end of their lives. In hisforesight, the architect establisheda system of mutual aid by whicha small portion of each man’ssalary was deducted to pay thesalary of the worker who fell ill.The workers loved him so muchthat they called him “Father”when they spoke of him; Gaudíwould never know of this. Hiskindness was proverbial. One day,a sculptor came to the construct-ion site after a sleepless night. Thearchitect told him, “When the bo-dy needs sleep, the first thing todo is to rest.” “Yes,” replied thesculptor, “I will do it when I gethome.” “No,” answered Gaudí,“you must do it now.” And thesculptor had to obey. In coopera-tion with the parish priest, hedesigned and paid himself for aschool to be built for the childrenof the bricklayers and of otherpoor families in the neigh-bourhood. “The poor,” he wouldsay, “must always find a welcomein the Church, which is anexpression of Christian charity.”

Close to himOne day, during a visit to the

hospital, Gaudí, accompanied bya sculptor, was introduced by aSister to a poor dying man whohad no family. The two men stay-ed beside the ill man, whisperingprayers in his ear until he very


IN A CHEERFUL MOODpeaceably breathed his last. “Thisdying man’s devotion,” the archi-tect would say, “made me thinkthat the Holy Family was besidehim. I had the idea of representingthe scene in the cloister of thechurch.” On the spot, he createdthe sketch: the Child Jesus in thearms of His Mother leaning over,smiling, to caress the dying man,and Saint Joseph at the foot of thebed contemplating the scene.

A step which cost him!After his young niece’s premat-

ure death in 1912, followed by thedeath of his father, Gaudí remar-ked, “I no longer have anything.Now I can give myself completelyto the church of the Holy Family.”He lived alone in his house in ParkGüell. Then in October 1925, hemoved onto the Holy Family cons-truction site. He dressed shabbily.His frugal diet consisted mainly ofdried fruit and goat milk withlemon. He poured all his fees intothe work of the basilica. One day,as he was waiting under a balconysheltering himself from the rain,a passer-by mistook him for a realbeggar and gave him alms of twopesetas.

Every day, Antoni attendedMass and immersed himself inreading the Gospel, from whichhe drew the inspiration for the fig-ures which adorn the Holy Fami-ly. When he quoted the Gospel,everyone was impressed, even un-believers. For him, “The manwithout religion is a mutilatedman. To do things well, one mustfirst have love, only then techni-que.”When he guided visitorsthrough the building’s construc-tion site, his explanations cons-tituted an excellent exposition ofChristian doctrine. A number of

people from different religions,notably Buddhism and, Shinto-ism, were converted to Catholi-cism after contact with Gaudí orhis work.

According to his wishOn the evening of June 7, 1926,

about 6 pm, Gaudí was hit by astreetcar as he was leaving theconstruction site. Taken for a beg-gar, he was brought to the Hospi-tal of the Holy Cross, run by nunswho served the poor. There he rec-eived Extreme Unction. When histrue identity became known, themost expert medical teams, offer-ed their help, but it was too late.On June 10, Gaudí died, in pov-erty just as he had desired, afterspeaking these last words: “MyGod, my God!” His funeral wasan occasion of great public mour-ning, where civil and ecclesiasticauthorities rubbed shoulders withthe most simple people. He wasburied in the crypt of “his” Chu-rch, in the Chapel of Our Lady ofCarmel. The process of his beatifi-cation is underway, and manygraces have been receivedthrough his intercession.

Gaudí never believed he wouldfinish the work himself: “I wouldnot want to finish the constructionof the Church. That would not befitting. Building the Church is aprayer in time. We must leave tofuture generations the opportu-nity to praise God in its constru-ction, and using other styles. Andhe often said, “It is Saint JOSEPHwho will finish this Church.” Infact, the Holy Family, which PopeBenedict XVI has elevated to a mi-nor basilica, is still unfinished.

(With contributions from themonks of Saint Joseph de ClairvalAbbey)

It really hurtsJoey’s aunt: “Won’t you haveanother piece of cake, Joey?Joey (on a visit): “No thank you!Joey’s aunt: “You seem to besuffering from a loss of appetite.”Joey: “It ain’t loss of appetite, Aun-tie. What I’m sufferin’ from ispoliteness.”

Can’t figure it outUncle Bob: “Well, Frankie, whatare you going to do this vacation?”Frankie: “Last year I had mumpsand chicken-pox. This year I don’tknow what I’m going to do.”

It will serve him betterA gentleman meeting a neigh-bour’s boy who had just come outof a fight on New Year’s Day witha fearful black eye, put his handon the boy’s head and said:“My boy, I pray that you may ne-ver fight again, and that you maynever receive another black eye.”“That’s all right,” said the boy.“You go home and pray over yourown kind. I gave him two of ‘em.”

Striving for peacePasser-by: “What are you runningfor, sonny?”Boy: “I’m trying to keep two fellersfrom fighting.”Passer-by: “Who are the twofellers?”Boy: “Timothy and me.”

Cherished memories“Madam,” shouted the angryneighbour, “your little Reginaldhas just thrown a brick throughour window-pane!”“Oh, would you please bring methe brick?” beamed Reginald’s

mother. “We’re storing all thelittle remembrances of his child-hood in a beautiful showcase.”

As good a reason as any“Mamma, I’ve got a stomach-ache,” said Tina aged 6.“That’s because you’ve beenwithout lunch. Your stomach isempty. You would feel muchbetter if you had something in it.”That evening the pastor called,and in the course of conversationremarked that he had been suffer-ing all day with a severe headache.“That’s because it’s empty,” saidTina. “You’d feel much better ifyou had something in it.”

Not so preciseFather (teaching his little daughterto tell time): “These are the hours- and these are the minutes - andthese are the seconds.”Little girl (still puzzled): “Butwhere are the jiffies, daddy?”

Riches galoreVisitor: “And what are you goingto do when you grow up, dear?”Preeti: “I’m going to raise mint.”Visitor: “Yes, that’s where Daddysays all our money comes from.”

Cause for troubleLittle Benny (running home):“Mummy, mummy! There’sgoing to be trouble down at thegrocer’s.”Mother: “Why?”Benny: “Mrs. Shah has got a babygirl.”Mother: “So?”Benny: “For the past week Mr.Shah had a sign in his windowsaying, ‘Boy wanted.’”


THE HOLY NAME OF GODCarlo Broccardo

The Book of Exodus recountsthe events that we perhaps

all know so well, and why not?Thanks to the many films thathave been made of Moses. Thefacts of the life of Moses lendthemselves well to being narra-ted in one form or another. Weare at the end of the book of Gen-esis when Jacob and his childrenand their families go down toEgypt. There is a terrible faminein the land of Canaan and theyno longer have anything to eat.Thanks to Joseph, Pharaoh givesthem a piece of fertile land onwhich to live.

Then the years pass, genera-tions follow generations oneafter another and the family ofJacob grows numerous. They be-come so numerous and strongthat the new Pharaoh (who didnot know Joseph) decides to re-duce the risks drastically. Heforces them to work for him asslaves. He passed a law that re-quired midwives to kill all malechildren as soon as they wereborn. In short, he made their liveshell. The people then cried to the

Lord and had he did not remainsilent. We read from the Book ofExodus: “The sons of Israelgroaned under their slavery; theycried to God for help and fromtheir bondage their cry ascendedto God. God heard their cry andremembered his covenant withAbraham, Isaac and Jacob. Godlooked upon the Israelites andwas aware of their situation (Ex2, 23-25).

God intervenes to help hispeople. How? Through Moses,who was saved from the waters

and who grew up in Pharaoh’scourt; he then fled into the wild-erness, there God commandedhim to set his people free. And itwas at this point that films un-leash their imagination when itcomes to showing all the prodigi-ous actions with which Mosestries to convince Pharaoh to lethis people free; and the highlightof the ten plagues of Egypt wasthe final act of liberation: thecrossing of the Red Sea.

Thus far, I think we know allthe facts. But we are only at thefifteenth chapter of the book ofExodus that is not even half waythrough the book. What then?The many chapters that followmight be a bit boring, from a nar-rative point of view, becausethey speak of Moses going up themountain and receiving fromGod the tablets of the Law, notjust the Ten Commandments, butthe whole series of rules thatwere to be observed.

Unfortunately, the story doesnot have a happy ending becausewhile Moses is on the mountainwith God, the people with Aaronhad built the famous golden calf.Moses came down the mountainand saw the treason that the peo-ple had committed and he des-troyed the tablets of the Law. Fin-ally we’ve reached today’s pass-age. He has to go up the moun-tain once more to receive theLaw of God again.

However, before giving himthe Law God answers a requestof Moses: “Show me your glory”(Ex 33, 18). Before explainingwhat must be done, God presentshimself, revealing his name. Heis “merciful,” it is difficult totranslate this Hebrew word intoEnglish which is a word derived

from the noun “uterus” callingit a very profound love that isphysical and life-giving. “Com-passionate” is synonymous with“patient,” saying that it is theattitude of one who loves eventhough the other is not deservingof that love. “Slow to anger” hasa curious Hebrew original, be-cause it would be, possessing“wide nostrils.” God is one who,before unleashing his wrathbreathes deeply, one who thinksthe better of it and forgives. Andfinally: “abounding in love andfaithfulness.” The love andfaithfulness of God are expressedin a unique merging of twowords which define a single con-cept which means that his loveis faithful and he loves us foreveras the Psalm repeats: “Eternal ishis love for us” (cf. Ps 136).

Notice the beautiful end oftoday’s passage: if this is yourname, Moses says to God then Iam not afraid to ask you to con-tinue to walk with us. Yes, it istrue, we are sinners and we willcontinue to make mistakes; butthe love of God is even greaterthan sin.

Then before giving the comm-andments once more, God recallsall that he is and all that he wasand will be for his people: onewho loves them deeply and for-ever. A Jewish scholar, PincasLapide writes: “People operatethus: first they have a desig-nation, then perform the taskand finally they receive a reward.God acts in reverse: first comesthe reward, then he performs histask and himself and withunparalleled patience, he stillwaits for our fulfilment.”

The Lord gives the Tablets toMoses and Moses shows them

to the people. (Fresco byCosimo Rosselli (1439-1507)

Sistine Chapel, Rome


UNITY DOESN’T COME FROM GLUEUNITY DOESN’T COME FROM GLUEUNITY DOESN’T COME FROM GLUEUNITY DOESN’T COME FROM GLUEUNITY DOESN’T COME FROM GLUE

Unity in the Church was at the heart of Pope Francis’ reflectionduring Mass on Thursday morning in the chapel at Santa Marta.

Reading the day’s passage from the Gospel according to John (17:20-26), the Pontiff gave particular emphasis to the comfort whichcomes from hearing the words: “Father, ‘I do not pray for theseonly, but also for those who believe in me through their word’”.These are Jesus’ words as He bids farewell to the Apostles. At thatmoment Jesus prays to the Father for the disciples and he “also praysfor us”.

Francis pointed out that “Jesus prayed for us at that time, and Hecontinues to do so”. In fact, we read in the Gospel: “Father, I prayfor these but also for so many others who are yet to come”. Thisseemingly insignificant detail might escape the inattentive reader.However, the Pope emphasized, “Jesus prayed for me”, and this“is precisely the source of faith”. We can imagine “Jesus before theFather in Heaven”, praying for us. And “what does the Father see?His wounds”, or rather, the price that Jesus “paid for us”.

With this image the Pontiff got right to the heart of his reflection.Indeed, he asked, “what does Jesus ask the Father in this prayer?”.Does He say: “I pray that they will have a good life, will have money,will all be happy, will want for nothing?”. No, Jesus “prays thatthey all be one: ‘as thou art in me, and I in thee”. At that momentHe prays “for our unity. For the unity of his people, for the unity ofhis Church”.

Jesus is well aware, explained Francis, that “the spirit of the world,which is really the spirit of the father of division, is a spirit ofdivisiveness, of war, of envy, of jealousy”. It is also present “infamilies, even in religious families, even in dioceses, even in theChurch as a whole: it is the great temptation”. For this reason, “thegreat prayer of Jesus” is to bear “likeness to” the Father: “as thou,Father, art in me and I in thee”, in the “unity which He has withthe Father”.

Now, one could probably ask: “Father, with this prayer of Jesus,if we want to be faithful, we cannot gossip about each other, canwe?”. Or: “We cannot label this one as..., this one is this way, thatone is...?”. And “that other one, who was branded as a revol-utionary...?”. The Pope responded with a resounding “No”. Because,he added, “we have to be one, one single thing, as Jesus and theFather are one single thing”. This is precisely “the challenge for allof us Christians: to leave no room for division among us, not lettingthe spirit of divisiveness, the father of lies enter us”. “We must,”

the Pope continued, “always seek unity”. Naturally, each person“is how he is”, but must seek to live in unity: “Has Jesus forgivenyou? He forgives everyone”.

The Lord prays that we succeed in this. The Pontiff explained:“The Church has such need, so much need of this prayer for unity,not only that of Jesus; we too must join in this prayer”. After all,since the very beginning the Church has demonstrated this need:“If we read the Book of the Acts of the Apostles from the beginning”,Francis said, “we will see that quarrels, even deceit, begin there.One deceives the other, consider Ananias and Sapphira...”. Even inthose early years we find divisiveness, personal interests, selfishness.Building unity truly was and is a veritable “struggle”.

Above all one needs to realize that we cannot achieve unity onour own: indeed, “it is a grace”. That is why, the Pontiff pointedout, “Jesus prays, He prayed that time, He prays for the Church,He prayed for me, for the Church, for me to take this path”.

Unity is so important that, the Holy Father noted, “in the passagewe have read”, this word is repeated “four times within six verses”.However, unity “is not assembled with glue”. There is no such thingas a “Church built with glue”: the Church is made one by the Spirit.Thus, “we have to make room for the Spirit to transform us, as theFather is in the Son, one single thing”.

To accomplish this objective, Francis added, Jesus himself givesthis advice: “Abide in me”. This word too is a grace. Jesus prays:“Father, I desire that they also, whom thou hast given me, may bewith me where I am”, that they may “behold my glory”.

This meditation gave rise to some advice from Pope Francis: tore-read the Gospel of John, Chapter 17, verses 20-26, and consider:“Jesus prays, He prays for me, He prayed and prays for me still. Heprays with his wounds, before the Father”. He does this “so we mayall be one, as He is with the Father, in unity”. This “should spur usnot to judge”, not to do “things that work against unity” and tofollow Jesus’ advice “to abide in Him in this life so that we mayabide with Him in eternity”.

These lessons, the Pope concluded, are found in Jesus’ discourseduring the Last Supper. In the Mass, “we relive” that supper, andJesus repeats those words to us. Therefore, during the Eucharist,“we leave room so that Jesus’ words may enter our hearts and weall may be capable of being witnesses of unity in the Church and ofjoy in the hope of contemplating the glory to Jesus”.

Notes from the Holy Father’s Homily on Thursday 21 May, 2015based on John 17:20-26


GOD SPOKE TO EVAN RICHARDSGOD SPOKE TO EVAN RICHARDSGOD SPOKE TO EVAN RICHARDSGOD SPOKE TO EVAN RICHARDSGOD SPOKE TO EVAN RICHARDSFrom Fr. Ian Doulton's collection of stories

There was Evan Richards. Hewas poor and sick; had no

work. He prayed to God long andhard, for help and for work. Hegot neither. Then Evan Richardsstood up and he said to God: “I’llnever pray to you again! You lookdown and you see what we’regoing through and you don’t doanything! You’re God! You’resafe and warm and you’re inheaven and what do you knowof how we feel?”

And God spoke to EvanRichards: “Show me, EvanRichards what I do not know.”

Then Evan Richards went intoa city; into the darkness of theslums, along the alleys wherepeople wear the wind for a coatand hunger sits down first atevery table. And he said to God:“You own the sky, the land andthe sea. You’ve got the gold of thesun, the silver of the stars. Whatdo you know of the emptystomach, the bare back and thefloor for a bed?”

Then God spoke: “Look yonder,Evan Richards, tell me what yousee.”

It was getting dark and EvenRichards looked around andsaid: “I see a hill with the treesbare so it must be winter. Thereis house under the hill and alongthe path from the house come aman and a woman. They must bepoor by the way they are dressedand they walk tired. They arestopping at the house. The manspeaks a few words and points tothe woman. Then the door hasbeen slammed in his face. Nowthe man is taking the woman bythe arm and helping her. Theyare walking around the side ofthe house where is there is a cavein the hill. There they go,creeping into the cave. The cavehas no door and I can see inside.This is a stable where cows anddonkeys are kept. Now I see theman and the woman again.They’re bent over a cattlemanger and there on a pile of

straw is a baby.”

Then God sent an Angel whocame and stood by EvanRichards. The Angel had a bookin his hand and he read:

“And Joseph went out ofGalilee out of the town ofNazareth, into Judea, to the townof David which is calledBethlehem together with Maryhis espoused wife who was withchild and she brought forth herfirst born son and wrapped himin swaddling clothes and laidhim in a manger because therewas no room for them in the inn.”

But Evan Richards turnedaway and ran. He went out intothe road where the homeless, therefugees stumble in rags and intears from the terror in thehomeland to the lonelinessahead. Then Evan Richards saidto God: “You always had heavenfor your home. There’s no powerthat can turn you out. What doyou know of the despair thatcomes from standing withnothing but the clothes on yourback; with no hope of goinghome, with nothing ahead butbegging in a land of strangers?”

God said: “Look, Evan

Richards, along this other road.Tell me what you see.”

“I see a man trying to hurry atired donkey. There’s a womanriding on the donkey and she’sholding a child in her arms.There’s fear in the man’s faceand he keeps looking back overhis shoulder.”

Then the Angel that God sentfrom heaven read from the book:“Behold an angel of the Lordappeared in a dream to Josephsaying: ‘Arise and take the childand his mother and flee intoEgypt and remain there until Itell you, for Herod will seek thechild to destroy him. So he aroseand took the child and his motherby night and fled into Egypt.”

So Evan Richards went backinto the city across the rails, thegrime and the clamour of thefactories where men raced tofeed machines that sucked


strength from their arms, hopefrom their hearts and he said toGod: “You built the world out ofnothing but only a word. It tookonly one breath to put life intoman. What do you know of work,the sweat, the strain?”

Then God said: “Look overhere, Evan Richards, and tell mewhat you see.”

“I see a man at a work benchputting down a hammer to takeup a saw. He’s working on abeam now. Dust is in his hair andsweat on his face. Now he’sholding out his hand for the price

of his labour. The hand iscalloused and blistered and all itreceives is a few pennies.” Thenthe Angel read to Evan from thebook: “And when the Sabbathhad come Jesus began to teach inthe synagogue and many whenthey heard him were astonishedat his doctrine saying: ‘where didhe get all this?’ and ‘what is thiswisdom that is given to him andwhat means such miracleswrought by his hand? Is this notthe carpenter?’” But EvanRichards turned away and ran.

He searched until he found ahospital and he went in. Everyman there breathed in groansand Death sat waiting by this bedand that. Then Evan Richardssaid to God: “You’re a spirit withno flesh that can be torn, noblood to run out. What can youknow of man’s fear of dying; ofthe chill that stops the heart;fighting of the body against the

pain that’s ripping loose thesoul?”

Look out on that hill EvanRichards, and if you can bearit…tell me what you see.”

“It’s dark out there but I heara hammering of nails going intowood; now I hear a groan like allthe suffering of the world. NowI see…there a hill and a cross;and a man they’ve fastened tothe cross with nails. There’s acrowd around with guards tohold them at a distance. A fewwomen are crying. Some of themen look afraid. But the rest aremocking and they laugh to seethe man struggling against thenails. “Eli, Eli, lama sabactani!”That is his death cry…hardenough to split the rocks. Andthat woman by the sight of hergrief is his mother.” Then theAngel read from the book onceagain: “But Jesus, Pilatescourged, delivered him to becrucified and the soldiersstripped him; put on him ascarlet cloak and plaiting acrown of thorns, put it upon hishead. And when they hadmocked him they took the cloakoff him and put on him his owngarments and led him away tocrucify him. And after they hadcrucified him they divided hisgarments. And there stood by thecross Mary, his mother. Nowfrom the sixth hour there wasdarkness over the whole land butabout the ninth hour Jesus criedout with a loud voice saying: ‘MyGod, my God, why hast Thouforsaken me?’ And he again criedout with a loud voice and gave

up his spirit.”Then Evan Richards stood

silent but God spoke again: “Tellme now Evan Richards, what Ido not know of poverty and ofexile, of suffering and death?”

Then Evan Richards lookeddown and thought awhile andsaid: “There is still one thing.“What is it?” God was curious.“You’ve always had the angelsto sing your praises and evensince you made man you’ve hadsaints that lived and died foryou. You’ve never known whatit is to have nobody to love you.”Then God, with a deep sigh said:“Neither have you, EvanRichards. For, why did my Sonwho is God lay aside the garmentof his glory and take up the ragsof flesh like your own except thathe might be with you in allthings, even death? You haveread this in the book for yourselfbut you have never understood.

Listen…and the Angel went on“In the beginning was the Wordand the Word was with God andthe Word was God. He was in theworld and the world was madethrough him and the world knewhim not. He came to his own andhis own received him not. Andthe word was made flesh anddwelt among us. For God soloved the world that he gave hisonly begotten Son…”

Then Evan Richards fell on hisknees before the Lord andthrough his tears he mumbled:“God, O my God…how couldyou love me…who am a fool?”“I am Love!”


THE ILLNESSES ANDTHE ILLNESSES ANDTHE ILLNESSES ANDTHE ILLNESSES ANDTHE ILLNESSES ANDSAINTLY DEATHSAINTLY DEATHSAINTLY DEATHSAINTLY DEATHSAINTLY DEATHOF DON BOSCOOF DON BOSCOOF DON BOSCOOF DON BOSCOOF DON BOSCO

by Fr. Elias Dias

Don Bosco was seriously andeven critically ill numerous

times during his life. In a long andfairly detailed passage of thebiographical Memoirs, Fr. Lemo-yne speaks of Don Bosco’s life-longfight against illness. (Biogra-phical Memoirs Vol. 2, pp 380f).Referring to his practice of read-ing late into the night when astudent at Chieri, Don Bosco him-self writes without further expla-nation: “This practice so ruinedmy health that for some years Iseemed to have one foot in thegrave” (MO pg108). But the epi-sodes of 1846 and of 1871, both ofwhich nearly proved fatal, arewell documented.

The illness of 1846 climaxed aprotracted struggle against thecondition characterized by symp-toms associated with the respi-ratory system; weakness, chestpains, blood-stained sputum,intermittent temperatures. Thiswas during the trying time of thewondering oratory. It finally deve-loped into that near-fatal bron-chopneumonia which forced himout of Oratory work for severalmonths. The most serious relapsesince the illness of 1846 was theVarazze illness of 1871-1872, aperiod of nearly two months.

After that there were manyother relapses in1875, 1878. InFebruary 1884 there was a seriouscrisis in Don Bosco’s health. TheSalesians close to Don Bosco werevery alarmed; he himself appar-ently did not expect to recover. OnFebruary 8, he included in his

Spiritual testament list of out-standing benefactors, withmessages to be delivered to themafter his demise. He was suffer-ing from severe bronchitis, withextreme weakness, chest pains,blood-stained sputum, weakenedheart heartbeat and low pulse. Thedoctors insisted on bed rest. Afterthe bed rest Don Bosco recoveredand visited France. During his stayin Marseilles, on March 25, 1884,he visited a renowned Dr. P.MCombal who gave his very severereport.

He was prescribed especiallyvacation from occupational pres-sures. Don Bosco did follow theadvice at the same time due to hisnature and responsibilities hecould not oblige to put into prac-tice all his prescriptions. How-ever he recovered from the crisesand undertook extensive journeysto France and Spain, both toprocure funds for the church ofthe Sacred Heart Rome and also

to strengthen the works in thesecountries.

Finally on April 20 1887, hemade his last journey to Rome forthe consecration of the church ofSacred Heart. Pope Leo XIII recei-ved him with love and affection.On May 14, 1887 the Church wasconsecrated. His Eminence Paro-cchi, Cardinal Vicar of Rome em-braced Don Bosco and thankedhim for his stupendous work forthe church. On that occasion DonBosco offered Mass at the altardedicated to Mary Help of Chris-tians. During the mass Don Boscopaused and broke down morethan fifteen times.

Don Bosco got back to Turin ina greatly deteriorated conditionand the doctors ordered him torest. In spite of that he attendedfarewell function for mission-aries who were departing forQuito (Ecuador). The sorrows ofdeparture found compensation inthe joy of return. Next day BishopCagliero arrived from SouthAmerica. Don Bosco was so plea-sed to see his beloved son amongthe others who came to visit him

Don Bosco’s last illness wasreally no new illness, but a recur-rence, with aggravated symp-toms and various serious compli-cations, of the same chronic car-diopulmonary condition. Thus,when he returned from his ride onthe evening of December 20, 1887,and took to his bed never to leaveit again. Don Bosco entered thelast and fatal episode of the illness.

The news of Don Bosco’s criticalillness of December 1887-January1888 brought thousands of peoplefrom near and far to his bedside.Don Bosco’s illness and deathwere neither sudden nor unexpec-ted. He had been suffering from

serious chronic ailments for a longtime. The illness plagued himsince 1846 even traceable perhapsback to his student days.

One afternoon (22 Dec. 1887)after taking the soup, he joked andsaid to his secretary, “Vigliettigive me some of that iced coffeeand make sure it is good and hot.”

In his last illness many greatpersonalities visited him. HisEminence Cardinal Alimondawas a regular visitor to Don Bosco.On one occasion Don Bosco saidto him “I commend my soul andcongregation to your prayers.”And he began to cry. With encou-raging words His Eminence spoketo him of conforming with the willof God and of trust in God, rem-inding Don Bosco that he had

This photograph was taken onthe very day of Don Bosco’sdeath. The crucifix and the

armchair are still to be seen inthe corridor outside his room.


laboured hard and long in God’sservice. He said “ I have done all Icould, now may God’s will bedone...Your Eminence, I have beenthrough hard times... But thePope’s authority!....I have toldBishop Cagliero here to tell theHoly Father that the Salesianscommitted to the defence of thePope’s authority..” There was afiery vehemence in his words.Bishop Cagliero who was stan-ding by the foot of the bed, replied:“Yes my dear Don Bosco restassured that will deliver yourmessage to the Holy Father.” DonBosco then insisted on having thecardinal’s blessing: and onleaving, the cardinal deeplymoved, embraced and kissed himonce again. (Cerruti Memoirs, pg 4Dec 30,1887FDBM 963 A11)

A few days before his death theDuke of Norfolk called on DonBosco. The newspapers had beenspeaking of him as Queen Vic-toria’s envoy to the Pope. On see-ing Don Bosco, he knelt at hisbedside. The Duke pleaded for theestablishment of a Salesian houselike the Oratory in London and ofmission in China. He acceptedmessages from Don Bosco for theHoly Father. Then he receivedDon Bosco’s blessings and left.

There was an illusory recoveryfrom sickness of Don Bosco.Doctors believed that his healthwas improving. At the same timethe doctors decided to operate onDon Bosco and remove fleshygrowth at the base of the spine. Dr.Vignolo performed the opera-tion. One day Don Bosco said toFather Sala: “See to it that youhave a place ready for my burial,because if it is not ready wellbefore I die, I will arrange for thecorpse to be put in your room.”

Negotiations were in progress atthe time to obtain a lot in the Turincemetery exclusively for the burialof Salesians. Fr. Sala promisedDon Bosco that he would attendto the matter in earnest. As amatter of fact Fr. Sala after intensenegotia-tions obtained permissionfor Don Bosco to be buried atValsalice. It seemed that DonBosco had known beforehand thathe would soon have to leave thisworld (Enria Memoir page273,FDBM 937 B 8).

Don Bosco’s condition wasgetting progressively worse. Hewas in great pain. Fr. Sala said tohim “Don Bosco, I can see you arein great pain.” “Yes” he answer-ed, “but all things pass away andso will the pain.” He joined hishands deeply moved and began topray. After a while Fr. Sala said tohim, “it must be a source of greatsatisfaction for you to know that,after a life of privation and toil,you have established the Salesianwork in practically all parts of theworld.” After a pause he added“Our congregation is underdivine guidance and under theprotection of Mary Help of Christ-ians. (Sala Memoirs pp 6f FDBM1222 C 10 f).

Throughout day and night hewas often delirious. They heardhim cry repeatedly: “They are introuble!” Or “Forward, alwaysforward!” To Bonetti he said: “Tellthe boys that I shall be waiting forthem in paradise.” And to thesisters he said “If the sistersobserve the rules they have recei-ved, their eternal salvation assu-red.” (Viglietti Original CronicaleVoll VIII pp33-36 Jan 28,1888,FDBM1227 D4-6).

It was January 29, 1888, feast ofSt. Francis de Sales the patron of

the Salesian Oratory, Don Boscoentered into agony. By Mondaymorning January 30 his rightarm was completely paralyzed.He still spoke occasional wordsto Fr. Rua, to Bishop Caglieroand to others who were presentaround him. Then he whispered“May God’s will be done in allthings,” adding repeatedly“Mary, Mary! Pray, pray!”Those were his last words.Throughout the day an uninter-rupted procession of people,passed through the room allwanted to kiss his hands lasttime. Bishop Basilio of Biella, hisconfessor Fr. Giacomelli, BishopCagliero and members of thegeneral council were aroundhim. At about 1:30 AM Tuesday31 Jan 1888, Don Bosco enteredin last agony. All gazed at theface of the saintly father. Seizingthe opportunity Fr. Rua turnedto Don Bosco and said: “Reve-rend Father, we are gatheredhere, a good number of your oldsons, priests and brothers andwe ask for your blessings Pleasebless us, and bless also all yourchildren scattered throughoutthe world and in the mission.Since you cannot move yourright arm, I shall rise it for you,and shall pronoun-ce the wordsof blessings. Follow them in yourmind and bless all our Salesiansand our young people.”

At about 4 A.M his breathingwas no longer normal, and beadsof perspiration were appearingon his face. Around him thebishop was praying the Proficis-cere (Depart oh Christian soul).Then without being aware of it,while all kept their eyes fixed onthat saintly countenance, DonBosco fell asleep in the Lord. It

was 4:45 in the morning, January31, 1888. He seemed asleep buthis soul had already flown toheaven to receive in God’s beau-tiful paradise the reward prepar-ed for his heroic virtues andlabour.

At his death everyone wascrushed with grief. In the midstof sadness Fr Rua said: “”Wehave lost our loving Father onearth but we have gained a po-werful protector in heaven. Hewill intercede before the throneof God and of Mary Most Holyfor all his beloved orphanedchildren here on earth. Let uskeep his spirit alive and let usimpart it also to our youngpeople. If this is done, God willcause our Father Don Bosco tolive among us till the end of theworld (Enria Memirs pp 276-282,FDBM 937 B ii-C5)

Don Bosco’s “humanity” is re-vealed at every step of his life. Heachieved much in his life time andhas received recognition, even tothe point of adulation, from allquarters. Here was a man who inutter truthfulness, came to termswith his limitations, humblyacknowledged his helplessnessand need, and trustingly giveshimself over into the care ofothers. In return the devoted andunstinted service rendered to DonBosco by his spiritual sons wasremarkably amazing. He died asaintly death by loving and beingloved by others.

(This article is based on ArthurJ. Lenti sdb: Don Bosco’s Last Years,His Last Illness and Saintly DeathFrom Eyewitness Accounts. Journalof Salesian Studies VolV No 2 Fall1994 pg 23 Institute of SalesianStudies Berkle California USA.)


MARY OF NAZARETH:MARY OF NAZARETH:MARY OF NAZARETH:MARY OF NAZARETH:MARY OF NAZARETH:A VOCATION STORYA VOCATION STORYA VOCATION STORYA VOCATION STORYA VOCATION STORY

Enrico dal Covolo

All human beings are called: tolife, to faith, to grace… In par-

ticular, an outstanding quote fromthe Second Vatican Council says:“Everyone in the Church is calledto holiness” (Lumen Gentium 5, 39)

It is true that every vocationstory is, in some respects, unrep-eatable: Mary of Nazareth’s storyis absolutely unique in the eco-nomy of Salvation. Yet Mary ofNazareth remains one of us, andalluding to her can give new vigorto our faith response.

At the moment we shall be con-tent to identify five traits of Ma-ry’s vocation as we reflect on thepassage of the Annunciation(Luke 1, 26-38).

1. The Call of God“The Angel Gabriel was sent by

God to a town in Galilee called Na-zareth, to a virgin called Mary.”

This is step one of the story, thecall-election which is absolutelyGod’s initiative. He is the realprotagonist of the story. He is theone who sends Gabriel; He fillsMary completely with grace giv-ing her an extraordinary experi-ence. Among other things, this

illuminating meeting determinesin her the “moment of truth” ab-out herself. Mary discovers the“handmaid” the servant, radical-ly limited. But her encounter withgrace brings her to her knees, be-cause she is filled with the “greatthings” of God.

Before this divine initiative eachof us is called to give our assent infaith. Only in the light of grace willwe be able to understand oursel-ves and decipher the story of ourvocation.

2. The Person’s ResponseBefore the gratuitous interven-

tion of God, Mary concludes herdiscernment with a word of totalavailability “Behold the hand-maid of the Lord, let it be done tome according to your word.” She re-cognized God and recognized her-self, the humble servant in whomgrace was doing great things.

Here is the second part of thebiblical account of a vocation: theresponse of the one called.

Mary’s response is totally posi-tive: empty of herself, the virginis full of grace. But the responseof the one called may also be neg-

ative: think of the rich young man.He refused to empty himself of hisriches, leaving no place for grace,and he went away sad.

Everyday of our lives each of usis given the possibility to respondlike Mary or like the rich youngman.

3. The Mission“You have found favour with

God,” the angel goes on, “You willbear a son and you shall call hisname Jesus.”

This is the third step in the storyof a vocation: the mission. Maryis called to be a mother, the mo-ther of the Son, and in him the mo-ther of all humankind. But it is amission that she will discover gra-dually over the course of her life,fully grasping its meaning only atthe foot of Jesus’ cross.

In this lies an important lessonfor our lives: even we, when wemake space in our mission we willdiscover our more fertile areas onour pilgrimage of faith and likeMary along the way of the Cross.

4. The Doubt“Mary was greatly disturbed

with these words... ‘How can thisbe possible?’”

We’ve taken the fourth step onthe story of a vocation: the resis-tance, the trials, the temptationsof the one called. Encounteringdoubts and questions is normal inbiblical vocation stories. Doubts inthemselves are neither culpablenor moral deviations but a neces-sary step in our discernment to-wards making a response. How-ever, we must ensure that thedoubts do not turn intoconvictions.

But doubt cannot be our lastword: permanent doubt ends up

clipping the wings of faith,paralyzing the possibility of agenerous response to the Lord.

5. God’s Response“Mary, do not be afraid!”Here finally is the last part of

the story: the reassuring responseof God. A divine phenomenonappears on our creaturely horizonand usually produces two oppo-sing feelings: fear or love. Godpresents himself as a fascinatingand tremendous mystery, terriblein his majesty and fascinating inhis goodness. When God’s lightfirst shone on the soul of Augus-tine he “trembled with love andfear,” and even after his contactwith God he “shivered and burn-ed” at the same time (Confessions7, 16. 11,9).

But God himself invites the onecalled to let love absolutely prevailover fear so that in the spiritualexperience of the one called thefear of God gradually dissolvesinto love till – without any fear –he will contemplate God “face toface.” “There is no fear,” saysJohn, “because perfect love castsout fear” (1 John 4:18)

“Mary, do not be afraid!” Do notbe afraid, you who hear the call ofthe Lord: he is with you.

* * *The story is over... But it is a

story that is re-offered to useveryday.

We will return to meditate oneach of these five traits that wehave identified: God’s call, man’sresponse, the mission, doubt andGod’s reassuring intervention.

We will compare our story tothe story of Mary: and if we emptyourselves of our selfishness, wewill discover that we too are “fullof grace.”


NEWSBITS

Fear of dying, Candles, Fortune-Telling, Feasts of OurLady,Christian Spirituality, Guardian Angels

From St Martin’s Messenger, IrelandQ. I have a great fear of dying andthe more I hear of sudden and tragicdeath the more afraid I get. I worrya lot about not being totally prepar-ed to meet my Maker. Can you helpme?A. Thank you for your letter. Ha-ving read it I can only say to youthat you are trying to do all thatGod asks of you and that youshould not worry. God does notask for perfection in this life. Heasks for effort, and perseveringeffort until the time when Hecomes to take us to Himself. Al-ways remember that God lovesall of us and that He desires oursalvation. His son died for thesalvation of all people. We are allsinners in one form or another.But God is a loving and forgivingGod and readily forgives our sinsand failings if we acknowledgeour sinfulness and ask His mercy.If we are faithful to prayer andthe reception of the Sacramentsas you are, then we will exper-ience His saving and healingpower. There is no need to beafraid. Trust in His great love foryou. The following is a prayer toSt. Joseph for a happy deathwhich I recommend to you tosay: St. Joseph, guide me on my way.Protect my soul from harm. And ifthis journey ends today, pleasecome with Mary and her Son to takeme to your home to stay.

Q. Why do we use lighted candlesfor Mass?A. The General Instructionabout the Mass in the Romanmissal tells us that candles areused ‘to express devotion or fes-tivity.’ Although Christian useof candles was taken over fromthe Romans who used them forbig civic and religious occasions,the practice of candles goes backa long long way. From time im-memorial a living flame was re-cognized as a symbol of life,hope, joy, and everything thatmankind considered good andbeautiful. Pagans lit lamps atthe tombs of their dead. It wasan expression of their belief in avague form of continued exis-tence for their loved ones whohad died. Our Easter Can-dlesymbolizes Christ ‘the light ofthe world’ and indeed we canlook on all lighted candles on oraround our altars as pointing tothe risen Christ our life, our lightand our hope.

Q. Can people foretell the future?Can we believe fortune tellers?A. The Catechism of the Catho-lic Church gives very clear an-swers to this question in num-bers 2115 and 2116 of the Cate-chism.(2115) God can reveal the fu-ture to his prophets or to othersaints. Still, a sound Christian

ITALY

May, the month dedicated to theBlessed Virgin Mary, is the idealtime for communions and confir-mations. Eucharistic rules of eti-quette require that particular att-ention be paid in cases involvingdivorced parents. Timings for thecelebration of the Christian initia-tion sacraments and the pathsthat lead up to these vary.

Organisers have to get churchdecoration, lighting and soundregulation down to a tee.

It is appropriate to use one of thethree Eucharistic prayers duringthe mass held for the little ones andfor acclamations to be sung. Con-firmation takes place between theages of 12 and 13. In this cere-mony, children confirm the vowsthat were taken on their behalf bytheir godparents and parentsduring their baptism.

The “Don Bosco” Evangelisa-tion and Catechetical Centre(CEC) advises the following: “Par-ents should get involved in thedecisions and preparations for thecelebration of the sacrament. Theyshould be guided along a parallelpath that is suitable for Christianadults. This is the task of the cate-chists, but at the beginning, it is

the parish priest who should showa positive attitude towards themto involve them and give them asense of responsibility. This isa magnificent opportunity for theparish priest and catechists to liveout their missionary vocation am-ong the numerous families thatoften have weak links with theChurch community.”

Furthermore, “By having morecordial and frequent contact withthe Church community, some fa-milies that do not have very strongties with their parish have the op-portunity to discover a differentside of the Church - one that ismore welcoming and friendly.”There are user-friendly informa-tion sheets available that can helpparents learn more about thesacrament.

The parish priest or the catechistshould go through these with par-ents and suggest ways to use them.“Particular attention should bepaid to divorced parents whooften do not feel at ease for fear ofbeing excluded or pushed away.”

Salesians draw attention toJohn Paul II’s Apostolic Exhorta-tion on the Family (1981), inwhich he says: “Together with theSynod, I earnestly call upon pas-tors and the whole community ofthe faithful to help the divorced,and with solicitous care to makesure that they do not considerthemselves as separated from theChurch,” (Familiaris Consortio84). “Many parents like to takecommunion with their children. Aseparate event should beorganised in order to allow themto participate in the sacrament ofReconciliation.”(La Stampa)


THE DEVOTION OF THE THREE HAIL MARYS

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 night prayers.To practise this devotion in time of danger, stress,special need or temptation, is a sure means toobtain Our Lady's help.My sincere thanks to the Holy Trinity and Mother Maryfor keeping my daughter safe during her delivery. Thank

you Mother Mary for the gift of a grand daughter after nine years of mydaughter’s marriage, through the recitation of the three Hail Marys.

Daisy Dias, GoaThank you dear Mother Mary for interceding for us and blessing us witha baby girl after nine years of marriage. Randell and Tanya Mendes, GoaWe are deeply humbled and grateful for all the blessings and favours ofour Lord and Our Blessed Mother and we continue to trust in yourprotection. Annie & John, CanadaMy grateful thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for answering my prayerand for granting my daughter employment and for being with my son-in-law also during a difficult time. V. D’Sa, MumbaiOur belated and heartfelt thanks to the Blessed Trinity and Mother Maryfor healing my skin allergy and curing me of a viral fever. Please continueto protect us and shower on us your blessings. B. Lobo, VadodaraThank you Almighty Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus and Mother Mary for themany favours and blessings bestowed on us and for your constantprotection. D. Monis, MangaloreThank you and praise and adore you Most Holy Trinity and Mother Maryfor all the favours granted us and for keeping us in good health andunited to Christ. M. D’SouzaMy sincere gratitude to Our Lady and Don Bosco for healing my sonwho was not well because of a shoulder fracture and frequent body painand is now healed through the faithful recitation of the three Hail Marys. Dayaseelan Paulas, Navi MumbaiI thank Mamma Mary for saving my great grand daughter Kyra who iwas10 months old from a major accident. Her hand was jammed in thecupboard when I inadvertently closed it after I had taken out my keys. Iput it in ice and when we examined it there was no fracture. She is backto her usual self. Rose Teresa GonsalvesMy sincere thanks to Mother Mary for all the numerous blessingsbestowed on me and my family through the recitation of the three HailMarys and for helping my son Shelton secure a good job. Royston & Corrine D’Souza, Trichy

attitude consists in putting one-self confidently into the hands ofProvidence for whatever con-cerns the future, and giving upall unhealthy curiosity about it.Improvidence, however, canconsititute a lack of responsi-bility.(2116) All forms of divination areto be rejected: recourse to Satan ordemons, conjuring up the dead orother practices falsely supposed to“unveil” the future. Consultinghoroscopes, astrology, palm read-ing, interpretation of omens andlots, the phenomena of clairvoy-ance, and recourse to mediums allconceal a desire for power overtime, history, and in the last ana-lysis, other human beings, as wellas a wish to conciliate hidden po-wers. They contradict the honour,respect and loving fear that weowe to God alone.

Q. Why are there so many celebra-tions and feasts of Our Lady thro-ughout the year?A. Mary is the Mother of Godand our mother and it is onlyright for us, as her children, toshow our love for her with thesevarious feasts which are mostlycentred on one of her many app-earances. Furthermore all of thesefeasts teach us how to live in res-ponse to God’s love for us. Theychallenge us to become what Godwants us to be - they are all meantto bring us closer to God. The greatshrines and the great feasts ofMary have very clear messages oflove, hope, prayer, penance, andforgiveness - which if we practicewill bring us closer to God.

Q. What is Christian Spirituality?Are there different versions ofspirituality?

A. In reply to this question Iquote from an article written byN. Egan some years ago. This isjust a partial extract taken fromthe article. ‘The great forms ofSpirituality are Buddhist, Jew-ish, Christian, Hindu and Musl-im... The Jewish, Christian andMuslim spiritualities share a lot,especially the belief in a transcen-dent God, even if they under-stand God differently. Christianspirituality differs radically fromthe others in that it sees Christ asthe son of God ‘the way, the truthand the life.’ The Christian’s pur-pose in life is to have the mind ofChrist, to see, judge and act asChrist would and to grow closerto the Father. Christian spiritual-ity is a set of beliefs and practicesabout Christ and God and what itmeans to live as a human beingcalled to an intimate life withGod. It specifies worship of Godand a life of prayer by which weachieve that intimacy. It alsocalls for closeness to our fellowhumans. The identifying charac-teristic of the Christian from theearliest times is that he or she isa lover capable of mercy andforgiveness.’

Q. Do guardian angels exist?A. Yes. It is a long tradition inthe Catholic Church that every-one is given an angel to guardhim or her through life. It is ourconviction that God has a per-sonal 24-hour-day concern forour good. It is a Catholic doc-trine based on evidence from theBible. One example is found inthe words of Jesus when he wasdiscussing little children. InMatthew 18:10 he speaks of‘their angels who look on theface of the Father in Heaven.’


APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYERJUNE 2017

THANKS TO DEARST. DOMINIC SAVIO

LOVING CHILDREN TOTHEIR LOVING MOTHER

THEY ARE GRATEFUL TOOUR LADY AND DON BOSCO

National LeadersThat national leaders may firmly commit themselves toending the arms trade, which victimizes so many innocentpeople.

On January 29, 2017 I had viral fever and it was only after doing ablood test I came to know it was typhoid. The doctor suggested fivedays of treatment with complete bed rest for the next ten days. Iprayed to the Lord Jesus and His mother, Mary to heal me of thissickness. I followed the doctor’s treatment for just two days andwithout any bed rest I resumed my office. The typhoid vanished. Aweek later my blood test showed no signs of typhoid. All praise tothe Lord Jesus and His most Holy Mother. Jubel D’Cruz, MumbaiMy belated but heartfelt thanks to the Holy Trinity and Mother MaryHelp of Christians for her help and protection over my family allthese years. V. Mascarenhas, GoaOn October 9, 2015 as I was travelling with a friend on his scooterwe were returning from work. I was sitting behind. I found thescooter being pulled to the right side of the road and we landed in agutter and I was knocked down. My upper jaw was bleeding. I wastaken the hospital for stitches. I always wear the scapular and havethe rosary around my neck. Our Lady has protected me duringsuch moments. I am sorry I delayed in publishing my thanks. Mrs. Immaculate Fernandes,GoaThank you dearest Jesus, loving Mother Mary and all the angelsand saints for the gift of a baby girl. A Devotee

I was married in the year 2011 and after a lot of difficulty I conceivedbut the doctors were not confident that I would come to term.During this time the relics of Don Bosco came to Goa and I prayedto the holy saint for the gift of a child. In the following days I had adream and I conceived a second time. Today I have two sons andI am grateful to Don Bosco for the safe and normal pregnanciesand deliveries of both my sons. Osmand, Sharon, Daniel & AaronThank you dear Mother Mary and Don Bosco for all the blessingson my family and for continual good health. Mrs. Glynis SaldanhaThank you Mother Mary and all the saints for arranging the secondmarriage of Sema and Constancino; for granting a life partner formy niece Roselle and Elroy and my nephew Ruben and Cinusha;and for curing Mercy Tarcedo’s leg. Theresa Soares, MumbaiWe thank Our Lady for her protection at an accident which occuredon May 3, 2016 when my daughter-in-law skidded over aspeedbreaker. She escaped being run over by a truck that wasnot far behind. The timely help of a police van assisted and tookher to hospital where she received the necessary treatment. Weare extremely grateful for Our Lady’s protection. Maria Lawrence Mascarenhas, Goa

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to the HolyFamily, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio andall the saints for all the favours granted tous. Ivy J. D’Souza, VasaiOn September 24, 2016, my grand sonStruan met with an accident and was saved.It was a miracle. Thank you Jesus, MotherMary and St. John Bosco and DominicSavio, for all your blessings. M.M. Pereira, MumbaiThank you Jesus, Mother Mary, DonBosco and Dominic Savio for the safedeliveries of my daughter and my threenieces and for many other favours. V. D’Sa, Mumbai

I prayed that the Lord show me the way to help my son pursue hisstudies and he received a chance. Our sincere thanks to the SacredHeart of Jesus, Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio forinterceding for him and for all the favours received. Flavia, MumbaiI thank the Blessed Trinity, Our Blessed Mother and St. Dominic Saviofor the safe delivery of our second child. Mrs Cleeta Gonsalves, MumbaiMy heartiest thanks to Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco and DominicSavio for the safe and normal delivery of a baby boy and many otherfavours granted. B. V. Rodrigues, GoaOur sincere thanks to our Heavenly Mother and St. Dominic Savio throughtheir intercession my daughter is alive today after a very difficult delivery.The baby girl had a tumor and was operated three days later. Both werein intensive care. Both are now home and fine. Maureen Hobkirk, AustraliaThank you Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio for ahealthy baby boy at the age of 41. Thank you for protecting me duringmy pregnancy and for conceiving after 11 years after my first girl.

Cynthia Xavier D’MelloMy grateful thanks to Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco and all thesaints for helping my son clear his studies and granting him a workvisa and for all the other favours received. Mrs. & Mr. Peris, Vasai

36June 2017 Don Bosco’s Madonna

Regd RNI no. 9360/57;Postal Regn. MH/MR/North East/089/2012-2014posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office

on 1st & 2nd of every monthSubs: (one copy Rs. 20/-); Inland Rs. 200p.a; Airmail: Rs 500 p.a.

MARY WAS THERE

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 ifany, 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 all correspondence 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]

My daughter could not have a babybut God heard my prayer and gaveus a beautiful baby girl from theMother Teresa orphanage in Bom-bay. The nuns named her MOMI-THA and we christened her secondname as Teresa. She was 16 monthswhen she was brought to the UK. Sheis now 22 years old and she is a kindand loving young lady. She lovesJesus and she made her first HolyCom-munion when she was 8 yearsold and then she became an altarserver and she still serves andstudies very hard. She graduatedfrom UNI. Thanks to Almighty Godand Mother Teresa she has a job atan occupatio-nal therapy clinic andshe works for the old and the young.When she was 9 years old she washit by a car and was rushed to ahospital. I thank Jesus, Mother Maryand all the saints for the favoursreceived. We pray the Rosaryalways. Mrs I Delacroix, Wales, UK

don bosco's madonna why, why, why? mumbai june 2017 …donboscosmadonna.org/pdf/jun2017.pdf ·...

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