CONTENTSdonboscosmadonna.org/2009archives/mar.pdf · Some Important Questions - Your Home is Love -...

March 2008 2 Don Bosco's Madonna

From The Editor's Desk:- So Hard to Forgive................. 3

3 - A New-Found Vocation- Fr. Erasto Fernandez. SSS.....4

God's Ways Are Truly Mysterious- Fr. Ashley Miranda sdb..........7

Some Important Questions - YourHome is Love

- Fr. Emile M Briere..................8

Shifting The Sunday Obligation- Fr. Edward McNamara.........10

Witnesses In And For Our Times:St. Louise de Marillac (March 15)- Mario Scudu..........................13

Lectio Divina: Hail Mary: "Blessed IsThe Fruit of Your Womb Jesus - Roberta Fora.........................16

Quietspaces: If You See What I Mean- Edmund Keane SJ.................18

Family Secrets (5)- Helen Morgan........................20

Don Bosco On The Gallop- Enzo Bruni.............................23

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

Teaching Holiness With Don Bosco: Michael Magone: His Spirituality - Claudio Russo ....................29

DON BOSCO'S MADONNA Mumbai MARCH 2008 vol.10 No. 11

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.....................35

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

Mary encounters

God's fidelity

and through her

our Salvation

comes to pass!

St.Josephthe husband of Mary

Protector of theUniversal Church


Fr. Ian Doulton sdb

So Hard to Forgive

A story goes thus: Ann and Joan were cousins who lived and worked happily together until they

died. Ann was warm-hearted but contentious, oftengetting herself in rows and falling out with people.

Joan, in contrast, was gentle and agreeable, frequently called upon tomake peace between Ann and those who had fallen foul of her.

One rainy day they on their way to the market when Ann noticed abedraggled figure walking ahead, thumbing a lift. ‘Who’s that, Joan?’she asked. ‘That’s Lizzie Peters, the landlord’s wife’ Joan replied.‘Tell me, Joan, are we speaking to her?’ Ann inquired. ‘Oh, I’m surewe are’ Joan smiled.

Sometimes, perhaps, it is amusing when we hear people notspeaking to each other. Most times it is sad. It is sad, for instance,when colleagues at work pass each other in stony silence. It is sad,too, when close neighbours or long-time friends are set on avoidingeach other’s company. But it is tragic when members of the samefamily become estranged. The pain goes deeper and often lastslonger. Angry words hurt and angry silence wounds.

All of us, of course, are vulnerable, the strong as well as the weak.Any stranger can bruise us; any friend can break us. Our fraildefences can be pierced by many sharp blades – slighted dignity,rights denied, confidences betrayed, promises broken, achievementsignored. Time may help us absorb the pain but only love can help usto absolve the offence.

Sadly, there are times when the gentle impulse of forgiveness stirsin our hearts, only to be stifled immediately by fear. We hesitate tomake the first move for fear of being rejected, or being hurt again, orbeing taken for a fool. At other times, the impulse to forgive is not feltat all. This can happen especially when we have been hurt by thesuffering of those who are close to us; when, say, a friend or relativeis the innocent victim of callous cruelty. The hurt can go so deep thatit damages our inner freedom and makes forgiveness seem likebetrayal.

But whether our hurts are great or small, God’s healing grace isalways there for us. We can choose to accept or to reject it, to walk infreedom or to limp in chains. We can continue to feed our anger andwithhold forgiveness. Or we can listen to the voice of Christ callingus to reach out in love, even to those who treat us badly. It is a callthat comes to us from the Cross: from a crucified figure, rejected byhis own people, who refuses the false comfort of revenge and uttersthe most generous words ever spoken: ‘Father, forgive them for theyknow not what they do.’


3. A NEW-FOUND VOCATION3. A NEW-FOUND VOCATION3. A NEW-FOUND VOCATION3. A NEW-FOUND VOCATION3. A NEW-FOUND VOCATIONby Fr. Erasto Fernandez, sss

CEL SERIES

Our Lady of Good Health HighSchool raises its modest yet

proud structure in the centre of alow-income settlement in SakiNaka, one of the suburbs ofMumbai. Catering to some 1,200children, from kindergarten toStandard X it is housed in the formerlodgings of its director, Dr. JanetHendricks. What is unusual aboutthis school is that it grew by a steadyand constant accretion not only toits student body, but also to itsfaculty and its material size.

Way back in 1984, Dr.Hendricks, a medical generalpractitioner in the area, wasdistressed by a common complaintof many of her patients: they couldnot afford the steep donationsdemanded by English-mediumschools to which they aspired tosend their budding ambitiouschildren. Determined to dosomething concrete and tangibleto meet this aspiration of theirs,she moved her family upstairsconverting the ground floor of hersprawling bungalow into a schoolof sorts. The fifteen students whodared to accept the challenge ofbeing the pioneers didn’t take upall that much room either. Littledid Dr. Janet count on wordspreading like wildfire that thedirector at Good Health Schoolwas a Principal with a difference:she was loving, committed,considerate, and capable of givingchildren a sound Englisheducation. More enterprisingyoungsters began to pour inforcing Hendricks to

improvise…and that led them tomove to Marol, the neighbouringsuburb.

Humble BeginningsThe school soon acquired an

additional building and todayboasts of even a pocket-sizedcomputer lab fitted with second-hand machines. Good HealthSchool doesn’t receive anygovernment funding because it isclassified as a private, independentEnglish-medium school.Undeterred, Dr. Hendricks runs theschool like she would a large andeconomically constrainedhousehold. Despite having to workperpetually with only a shoe-stringbudget, education is offered gratisor subsidized for those who can’tafford it. This means that she hasto walk a tight-rope – not a hair outof place, not a decibel too loud, nota scrap on the floor. The outcomeof these unavoidable hardships isthat the children learn more thanthe three 'Rs' – they imbibe habitsof thrift and cleanliness, of takingresponsibility for their school andits belongings, of lending a helpinghand to anyone in need and alsoof maintaining tidiness of theschool surroundings – no wonderthat these students are bettermannered than most other schoolchildren in the vicinity.

They are encouraged to speakin English when at school, andeven the lower grades areimproving their grasp of thelanguage as they speak it withpride and confidence. “This is the


first year we were able to achievea hundred percent result,”Hendricks says with legitimatepride. Most of the teachers areproducts of this same institution,and so they work with an enviablesense of dedication, staying onlate into the evenings tutoring‘special’ students who are inneed. Hendricks and herdaughter Vanessa, who is now theprincipal, invest almost all theirtime and energies in the integralgrowth of their charges thuseliminating the need for thatcrutch or curse of moderneducation in India, whicheverway one chooses to see it – thecoaching class or tuitions. It is aschool that has literally been builton the back of the founder. Sheknows the students like sheknows her family. After all, this ishome for one and all.

Lessons Learnt in this SchoolMost people do not taste the love

of God directly, but only throughanother human being who sharesin God’s compassion for hisneedy children. One of the placesspecifically designed for us toexperience God’s personal love foreach person is the Eucharisticcelebration – provided, of course,one has grasped its central truth:the paschal mystery! Thisfundamental mystery reminds usthat all human beings are calledto live creatively which is possibleonly when three fundamentalsteps are taken generously yetcourageously: letting-go in faith,letting-be in hope and letting-grow in love.

As Dr. Hendricks’ school beganburgeoning, especially in thosefirst few months of its existence,

she was several times challengedto ‘let-go in faith’ at quite a fewlevels. First of all there was theletting-go of her establishedprofession as a medicalpractitioner. With admissionoffered to each new child, herworries and anxieties mountedsteadily yet menacingly,challenging her to believe first ofall in herself and in the merit ofthe choice she had made, and thenalso in Divine Providence whowas leading her step by step intothe unknown! Dealing with thesesimple children all day long alsonecessitated a letting-go of hersocial status and dignity in theeyes of at least some of her friendsand relatives. And what aboutletting-go of her own comforts andconveniences, especially as shetied herself down to providing hercharges with the very best, day-inand day-out?

An institution of the magnitudethat caters to 1200 children todaydoes not grow overnight oreffortlessly like grass springingup after the first monsoonshowers. Similar too, in thenurturing of a child from a tentativetoddler to a self-confident teenagerwhich calls for many a sleeplessnight, Dr. Hendricks would havehad to let-be in hope – holding onto her dream of seeing her childrengrow up to be responsible citizens


with a sense of mission, able tomake a significant differencewherever they are placed. Manywould have been the occasionswhen she would have beentempted to ask herself: ‘Why am Igoing through all this struggle –what is there in this for ‘me’?’Hoping against hope likeAbraham, she would have heldon tenaciously – her God-givenvision was authentic and wouldone day be realized! But, ofcourse, it would take its own timeand unfold according to God’sinscrutable plan.

After seeing some of her protégésreturning to share in her visionand dream, would come the nextand perhaps most difficult of herchallenges – to let-grow in love.Hers was a venture not just tomake money, to achieve worldlyrenown or to work out a career.Her predominant concerns werenot about herself or her family.Hers was a labour of love andunless each child in her care trulyexperienced that love, theireducation would ultimately cometo nothing. What seems to havesustained her all these manyyears could be summed up in theprayer of St. Francis: ‘Lord grantthat I may never seek so much tobe consoled as to console, to beunderstood as to understand, tobe loved as to love with all mysoul.’ She has tasted the depth oftruth in St. Paul’s words to theelders at Ephesus: ‘It is moreblessed to give than to receive’(Acts 20:25) and so the Eucharisthas led her to a blessedness thatvery few indeed have the privilegeto experience during their earthlyjourney.

Eucharistic Path to FullnessAll of this is what we celebrate

each Sunday in our Eucharist. Wecome to the Eucharist because weare convinced that we have beensingularly blessed by the Father.Deep down in each Christianheart is the burning desire to giveback to God in some measure whatwe ourselves have received solavishly. And this is so becausethe Eucharist makes presentagain the supreme example ofJesus’ own self-gift of himself.Undaunted by the insults andignominies heaped upon him, helovingly broke of his very life andshared it with those who rejectedhim. Truly, ‘greater love no onehas than when a person laysdown his life for his enemies!’ (Jn15:13). If it is true that ‘he lovedme and gave himself up for me’(Gal 2:20) how can we go throughlife, and especially show up at thejudgment seat, empty-handed?And that too after hearing almostdaily the Eucharistic command:‘Do this as a memorial of Me!’

The fullness of life Jesus cameto bring us can be ours only whenwe sincerely empty ourselves ofall self-seeking and step out infaith to make others happy. For‘it is in giving that we receive, inpardoning that we are pardonedand in dying that we are born toeternal life!’


NewsVOCATION PROMOTION

For further contact Fr Brian Moras sdb: [email protected]

GOD'S WAYS ARE TRULY MYSTERIOUS!Fr. Ashley Miranda, sdb

Administrator & Vice-Rector, Salesian Novitiate, Nashik

Ijoined Don Bosco School,Borivili (then St. Paul’s) at the

suggestion of an aunt of mine in1974. It was very small then, more likea family. We, the boys of the juniormost class were showered with lots oflove and affection and life at school wasexciting. We had a lot of opportunitiesto develop our minds andpersonality. I enjoyed school exceptfor the fact that it lasted the entireday, so by the time I got home Ifound myself watching my friends attheir football or cricket matches.

Catechism was taken seriously.Every First Friday and on other daystoo we Catholic boys attended a wellanimated Mass. The sermon thoughlong, was invariably soul stirring.Best of all, the Mass was followedby tea and snacks.

Catechism classes were usuallyvery creative and they made us situp and think. I remember Fr. EliasDiaz trying to prove to us that Godexists. With a pained expression onhis face he wrote on the board theatheist says “GOD IS NOWHERE”then with a broad smile and with atriumphant flourish he struck the‘NOWHERE” with a chalk in his hand,and then it read “GOD IS NOW/HERE”. We were all immensely thrilled- God couldn’t be denied so easily afterall.

The memory that most stands outis the day God called me. I was inStd. X then. School had closed forthe day and I was going home. Fr.Elias was at the entrance with agroup of boys. I tried to slink awayand I almost did but not before hecalled out to me, “Hey you comehere!” "I father?" I stammered, “yes,yes, come here”. All the boys were

quiet. As I approached, he askedme in the tone of a cop who hadjust nabbed a thief, “You! What doyou want to become?” I had never everasked myself that question so Ihesitated then said, “a scientist.” Inhis usual dramatic style Father wenton, “What? A scientist!! You don’twant to become a priest?" I hesitatedbut said, "‘Yes father, I want to be apriest.’

Fr. Elias arranged for me to join thejunior seminary at Lonavla in June1980. I freely made my first professionas a Salesian in May 1983 and wasordained a priest in December 1993.In May 2008, I completed 25 yearsas a Salesian. God’s ways aremysterious! These 25 years havebeen years of many challenges butalso of much happiness and joy. Ihave experienced God’s power andlove in innumerable ways. In my turnI have tried, in spite of my manyshortcomings, to share his love withthose to whom I have been sent. Ithas been a wonderful life! I praise theLord for calling me to be a Salesianand a Priest! God is truly very, veryGood!


SOME IMPORTANTQUESTIONS

Dedicated to Christ suffering for our sins

It is a good idea to visit a graveyard during Lent. As we move

along the paths and look at theheadstones we may read of thedeath of a child or of a boy in histeens, of a number of people whodied in their fifties or sixties. Wemay even spot the names of someof who have reached ninety yearsor made the century and over it.

The short inscriptions carry adepth of meaning and educate ussilently in the uncertainty of lifeand the reality of death. Our visit,without being in any way morbid,makes the message of AshWednesday more real. We are butdust and unto dust we shallreturn.

Such thoughts help us to assesscalmly but seriously the quality ofour lives. Are we doing anythingworthwhile in the span of life thatis ours? Are we grateful for all thegifts God has given us? Are wethankful to those who help us inlife, who love us and putthemselves out for us? Or do welive selfishly, taking others forgranted and not bothering to helpthe poor and those who have beenbruised by life?

But maybe, with the grace ofGod, we are trying to do somethingworthwhile, trying to bring zestand joy to life, to showcompassion towards others, togenerate around us anatmosphere of helpfulness,courtesy and love. Let us thankGod if we are and pray for thegrace not to grow discouraged in

doing good. But what if we arenot?

When we think about Christ’ssuffering during this season,particularly during Holy Week,we must not become discouraged.From them we learn, it is true, theenormity of sin, the terrible evil ofselfishness. But we also learn thegreatness of Christ’s love for us.

He was glad to suffer for us, ifwe could only learn from hiswounds his patient love for us andthe power of his forgiveness. Byhis wounds we are healed.

When we look upon him whomwe have pierced we may well feelshame and sorrow because of ourneglect of his love. But this spiritof contrition is something thatshould not depress or paralyze uswith self-pity. Rather it shouldbreak the shell of ourcomplacency or hardness of heartand release in our lives a newcurrent of love, generosity andgoodness.

When we think of the shortnessof life and look upon our Lord onthe cross and hear his prayer tothe Father to forgive those whohave crucified him, we should askourselves three very practicalquestions:

What have I done for Christ?What am I doing for Christ?What will I do for Christ?

Our Easter happiness may welldepend on the answers we give tothese important questions.


Your home is love, and withoutlove, you gasp and die like a fish

out of water. Without a friend andwithout the healing mercy of God,you will not have the strength toforgive yourself or others. We needeach other, and we can heal eachother.

We exist to love and be loved.And if we stop long enough tolisten to our hearts, we know it.When we are without love, wesense that something is missing.Without love, there is a dull acheor a passionate yearning or a deadhope inside us.

One day a woman came to mewith many theological questions.She had spoken to other priests,too. I gave her what I thought wereadequate answers, but none ofthem satisfied her.

Her real question was: “Do yourespect me? Am I lovable?”

Similarly, a man loudly discussedthe problems of the world with anattitude of assurance andcompetency and he severelycriticized everybody else’s opinions.When I asked him what he wasreally after, he cried out, “Oneperson who will love me.”

We can heal each other. The lovewe carry in our hearts is a preciousointment for which others areyearning. So often that love remainsunused, and unused it diminishes.As a result, the loneliness of thosearound us is unassuaged.

Sometimes we feel that our loveis not good enough. It’s true thatwe are poor, weak sinners, but Godlives within us and shares withus his power to love.

Every day we are challenged to

love. Every day the forces of lifestruggle against the forces ofdeath within us. Every day wehave to make choices.

In the ping-pong game of givingand receiving, we miss the ballover and over. But let us pick it upand keep playing.

It takes faith to believe that loveis the very fabric of reality. It takescourage to keep on loving whenour love is rejected. It takes hopeto belive in love when shame, fearand depression attack us fromwithin.

Will there ever be unity amongpeople? Will we ever know peaceand be able to rest in one another’slove and in the love of Christ?

All our lives, we struggle for hope,hope in the power of love.

The saints had to struggle for it,too, and they brought comfort andstrength to many.

Let me tell you a little story. A manput on a lavish banquet for hisfriends. The table was laden withchoice meats, seafood, salads anddesserts. But the only availablecutlery were long spoons.

Some people tried to feedthemselves, but the spoons were solong that they couldn’t get theminto their mouths. So they remainedhungry. Others used their longspoons to feed one another. Thesewere lavishly fed.

May we Christians fully believein the power of the love Christ hasgiven us. May we seek to love andserve others. Then we will be trulyliving. We will be affirming to theworld that God is alive and that heis our saviour.

Adapted from The Power of Love(MH Publications)

YOUR HOME IS LOVEFr. Emile-Marie Briére


SHIFTING OF THE SUNDAY OBLIGATIONby Fr. Edward McNamara, Professor of Liturgy

at the Regina Apostolorum University, Rome

Q1: We here in Nepal have a verypeculiar situation. Sunday is anormal working day in this country(I believe also in many Arabiancountries). Therefore, over manyyears (30-plus), we have been havingour entire Sunday celebration shiftedto Saturday, the only day on whichpeople could participate fully.However, this has led to someconfusion: For some people it is hardto feel that the Sunday obligation isfulfilled by attending Mass onSaturday. Another problem is thequestion over what Mass to celebrateon Sunday. Some of us just repeat thesame Mass; some others insteadcelebrate the Saturday Mass onSunday. At times, some of the feastson Saturdays are lost because of ourparticular situation. I personally missthe Saturday Mass, because I am usedto celebrating on both days. And toadd to all this, is our nationalcalendar, which is different from theGregorian calendar; the monthbegins somewhere in the middle of theGregorian calendar. For all officialpurposes we have to use that nationalcalendar, and most of our people toouse that calendar. For example, we haddebates on several occasions: When isthe first Friday of the month? As perthe Nepali calendar or the Christiancalendar?—P.P., Katmandu, Nepal

Q2: Here in our country, very oftenparishes celebrate the parish feast onSundays, e.g. the feast of St Jude’sChurch, etc. Is this correct? If theSunday Readings are not proclaimedbut some other readings pertainingto the feast day are read, I thoughtthat it is not right to do so. — M.J.,Colombo, Sri Lanka

A: As both questions are relatedto the Sunday liturgy, I willattempt to answer them together.

In the first case, it is importantto remember that for ChristiansSunday as such is not atransferable feast. During the firstthree centuries Christians met onSunday even though it was anormal working day, and manyof them were slaves taking a greatrisk. This often meant getting upvery early or perhaps sneaking outin the evening. (Of course, we arealso in an epoch when the merefact of being a Christian could leadto a painful death.) As one groupof ancient martyrs famouslyrelated to the magistrate whosentenced them, “We cannot livewithout Sunday.”

Sunday Mass has not lost anyof its value or importance to the


lives of Catholics, nor have theybecome less heroic in defendingtheir faith as recent events haveshown. At the same time, thepresent circumstances of Christianliving and the Church’s desire tocare for the spiritual needs of asmany of the flock as possible canlead to some innovations.

Therefore what is the situationof Sunday in Nepal, Arabia andsome similar situations?

First of all, Sunday alwaysremains Sunday, and the properliturgy of the day should alwaysbe celebrated. Likewise as far aspossible the faithful should attendMass on Sunday or on Saturdayevening. If it is necessary anduseful, then priests should bewilling to celebrate Mass atunusual times.

In those cases where permissionhas been granted for Sundayliturgy to be celebrated on a Fridayor Saturday morning becauseSunday is a normal workday, it isimportant to note that it is not acase of transferring Sunday toanother day. Rather, it is a pastoralresponse so that those Catholicswho find it impossible to attendMass on Saturday evening orSunday might not be deprived ofthe riches offered by the three-yearcycle of biblical readings andprayers.

Canonically speaking, thosewho are objectively unable toattend Sunday Mass aredispensed from the precept and infact have no obligation to attendMass on Friday or SaturdayMorning. If they do attend, thenthey do something that is very

good. And when this is a commonsituation pastors act well inaddressing their spiritual needsby providing the best liturgicalfare while being careful to avoidthe impression that they aremoving Sunday to another day.

As our correspondent pointsout, this can sometimes lead tolosing some celebrations that fallon a Saturday. In some cases itmight be enough to mention thefeast in the prayers of the faithfuland the homily; on others it mightbe pastorally more useful toactually celebrate the feast onSaturday morning instead ofusing the Sunday texts.

The other question, regardingthe proper calendar to followwhen the local one is different, issomething of a conundrum. Insuch cases the local bishopswould be the ones to decide. Ifneed be, the bishop would ask theHoly See for permission to changethe dates of certain liturgicalfeasts that are tied to theGregorian calendar, such as thesolemnity of the Sacred Heart.

Since practices such as the firstFriday or first Saturdays aredevotional and not officialliturgical practices, I see nodifficulty in adjusting the practiceto local needs.

Finally, a reply to our readerfrom Sri Lanka: Since the patronsaint of a parish is usually rankedas a solemnity within the parishchurch itself, it is permitted totransfer the celebration to thenearest Sunday so as to allow asmany parishioners as possible toattend. (Zenit.org)


PROFILES

ST. LOUISE DE MARILLAC, (MARCH 15)SERVANTS OF THE POOR, FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST

by Mario Scudu (T/A I.D.)

It is said that one day Napoleonwas found listening to a group

of luminaries enthusiasticallydiscussing philosophy, politicsand science. They seemed to beexalting the philosophy ofEnlightenment that permeated arather philanthropic society. Theemperor listened for some time butgradually grew more and moreimpatient by their verbosity. All ofa sudden he interrupted themsaying: “This is all very good butthere will never be anyone like agrey sister!” That was what theDaughters of Charity were called- founded in 1633 by Vincent dePaul and Louise de Marrillac.

The Daughters of the Charity orthe Grey Sisters were aware thatthe State actually did nothing.They were real angels and stroveto relieve pain everywhere wherethe civil and political authorityrefused to go. This important taskwas motivated by the exampleand teachings of their founders,Sts. Vincent de Paul and Louisede Marillac.

For more than thirty years St.Louise worked with St. Vincent dePaul with the same objective:

showing the merciful andcompassionate face of God to thepoor, especially those abandonedand rejected. They were spurredon to do this because of their greatlove for Jesus Christ.

Her Early LIfeLouise de Marillac was born to

wealthy parents in 1591. Sadnessinvaded her tiny life at a ver earlyage when her mother died shortlyafter her birth. She was lovinglylooked after by her father who hada tidy income that assured her of


a certain security. She was a wiseand intelligent child and herearly schooling was done at theconvent of the Dominicans ofPoissy. The recollectedatmosphere that was fervent andcultured immediately fascinatedher. Sadly, when her father’sfortune diminished she changedschools and her education shiftedto practical matters such ascooking and housekeeping.Biographers describe her as apensive, faith-filled quiet girl,happy in her studies, yet markedby loneliness and sadness.

She lost her father when shewas 13 years old and that furthercomplicated her status. She wasreduced to the state of an orphansince her stepmother and theother relatives (it seems) were notreally concerned about her future.

The girl grew very fervent andshe made a vow to devote herselfcompletely to the Lord. At the ageof 18 she was prepared to enter aconvent but she was dissuadedfrom doing so because of her frailhealth. Since she could notbecome a nun she had to getmarried and so it was. It was amarriage that she had notconsented to, but which wasarranged by her relatives.

In 1613, Louise was 22 years oldand she married a wealthy manand had a son. Free from financialworry, she devoted herself to herson’s care and the needs of thelocal poor. Tirelessly she visitedthe poor in their homes, bringingfood and washing them. Withrespect, patience, and a warmsmile, she instructed them in theirdaily tasks, taught them

catechism and shared her love ofGod. This utter devotion to the lessfortunate was her hallmark.

The year 1623 was an importantyear for Louise. She felt inspiredand wrote: “I understand that therewill come a time when I will be able totake the three vows of poverty, chastityand obedience like other people do... Iwould like to help my neighbour, butI cannot not understand how this canbe done." A sign from above cameafter some patient waiting and itcrowned her dream to become areligious.

Louise followed this inspirationwith humility, serenity and innerpeace. At that time thecircumstances of her lifedemanded that she stay beside herhusband who was ill. Shecontinued to nurse him with greatdevotion and tenderness for twowhole years after which he died aholy death in 1626. She mentionedthis as a great grace of God.

Meeting Vincent de PaulProvidence did not leave

anything out. In order to fulfil herdream God directed Louise to meetsomeone who knew nothing of herinspiration in 1623. DivineProvidence planned that she meetVincent de Paul, a simple anddevoted priest who took over herspiritual direction. Once self-absorbed in sorrow, Louise owgrew to trust him completely assomeone sent by DivineProvidence. Vincent championedthe cause of the needy, thedowntrodden, the indigent andthe unemployed. In his eyes, thepoor were Jesus Christ and it tooklittle time for him to realize thatLouise shared his vision. While


Vincent founded the firstconfraternities of charity, whichserved the poor throughoutFrance, Louise took charge of theirmanagement. By her example ofhands-on service, she inspiredhundreds of wealthy women tojoin her efforts, contributing notonly their finances but alsothemselves, as laborers. Due to herrelentlessness in serving her‘masters’ as she affectionatelycalled the poor, charities sprangup all over France and continueto exist in similar form today.

The Holy PairLouise would become the true

companion of Vincent in carryingout his works of charity. She wasalways there with muchdiscretion, wisdom and spiritualtenderness. Vincent alwaysencouraged her to be happy,simple and humble reminding herof the importance of “holyindifference” in the light ofwhatever God wanted of her. Shefound in this the will of God andthe mission He wanted her tofulfil.

Had not Christ lived for thirtyyears in obscurity in Nazarethbefore he began his public life?That was how Louise had to wait.

During this time she was gettingto know the methods of Vincent’swork with the poor. Suddenly amiracle took place. Then a daycame when Louise became awareof her real mission in the Church.

In 1633, this "holy pair" foundedthe Daughters of Charity (thatgoes on today). It was a religiousinstitute that both of them togetherdirected for 27 years, until in 1660

both of them died a few months ofeach other.

It was a real revolution in theChurch and society (womenleaving convents to work!) andthis was not accepted under thenormal codes of conduct. Womenreligious and women in generalremained out of sight and were notto be seen, but the Grey Sisterscame out to help like women neverbefore had done.

Her daughters were called“servants of the poor,” as if thepoor were their true masters.Louise remined her sisters in heradmonitions and letters: “In thename of God, dear sisters...bevery loving and sweet with yourpoor. Be aware that they are yourmasters....” And these poor werewaifs, the abandoned, thehomeless, the sick, the insane,prisoners, orphans, war victimsand others in similarpredicaments.

After Louise’s death in 1660,her young granddaughter wasfound in tears, praying at hergrandmother’s tomb. She askedthe Sister who happened uponher if there would still beDaughters of Charity now that hergrandmother was gone. Inresponse the Sister told Louise’snamesake: “When all the poor inthe world are no longer poor,when all the hungry are fed, andall the naked clothed, when thesick and the dying, and theabandoned babies, and theorphans, and the outcast, and thelonely and forsaken are allgathered in heaven, until that day,there will always be the Daughtersof Charity.”


IN A CHEERFUL MOODBedside BusinessThe old doctor had never refuseda call, from rich or poor - but nowhe was tired. "Have you anymoney?" he asked a midnightcaller. Certainly he had money."Then go to the new doctor. I'm tooold a man to get out of bed foranybody who can pay for it."

Substantial Hint"I think," the new secretaryannounced triumphantly, "thatthe boss has decided to keep me!"

"Has he said anything?" herfriend asked.

"No," she replied happily, "butthis morning he bought me adictionary."

Precise PositionTelling of a member expelled fromher club, a woman said: "Theydismembered her."

Pastoral EnthusiasmOur maid asked for an advance onher week's salary. "Our preacheris leaving the church this Sunday,"she told us, "and the congregationwants to give him a littlemomentum."

Appropriate ResponseSix-year-old Jerry camedownstairs bawling lustily.

"What's the matter?" asked hismother.

"Papa was hanging pictures andhe just hit his thumb with ahammer," said Jerry.

"That's not so serious," soothedhis mother.

"A big man like you shouldn't

cry at a trifle like that. Why didn'tyou just laugh?"

"I did," sobbed Jerry.

Prompt Customer SatisfactionA dress shop received this note:"Dear Sir: You have not yetdelivered that maternity dress Iordered. Please cancel the order.My delivery was faster thanyours."

Frozen ConfidentialityAlice: "I thought you could keepa secret?"

Mabel: "Well, I kept it for aweek, What do you think I am, acold-storage plant?"

Hide and SeekWoman to customs officialclosing her bags: "Does that meanyou give up?"

Hearing AidDuring one of those interminableteenage telephone calls, I heardmy daughter say, "Just a minute.Let me change ears."

Couple CompatibilityTeenage boy to chum: "She and Ilike the same films, the same food,same records - trouble is we don'tlike each other!"

Ignorant BlissOne sweet young thing arrived ather first football game after thefirst half. "The score is nothing tonothing," she heard a fan say.

"Oh, good," she cood to herescort. "Then we haven't misseda thing."


'BLESSED IS THE FRUITOF YOUR WOMB

JESUS'by Roberta Fora

Meditating on this most common prayer is like meditating onthe Word of God...may it touch our hearts. (ed)

Mary was the channelthrough whom God came to

earth. This is one of the greatest andmost sublime of mysteries.

Who knows what emotions andfeelings went through the motherof the Saviour during the ninemonths she was waiting for hisbirth.

For every mother the period thatprecedes a birth is a time of greattrepidation while numerousthoughts constantly go through hermind. At times there are doubts orfears and her mind tends towander…she will often dream of thelittle creature that is growing withinher and she wonders about thecolour of its eyes and its hair and somuch else.

Mary certainly must have gone


through similar experiences. Hertime was spent waiting intenselyand profoundly. She was perfectlyin tune with the Lord, alert,recollected and attentive to his voiceduring her daily moments of prayerand solitude.

Jesus is the most blessed and themiraculous fruit of Mary’s womb.God had sent him to earth to fulfilhis salvific mission amonghumankind.

Jesus, born of Mary grew inwisdom and grace within hisfamily at Nazareth, under thewatchful guidance Joseph his fosterfather, the silent and hardworkinghusband and of his mother, Mary.As soon as he was became a grownman he left his family behind anddevoted himself entirely to the planof salvation that God had designedfor him.

At this point it is interesting toreflect on some significant momentsof his life. The Lord was born in astable not in a palace fit for a king.His first visitors were not from thenobility but the humble shepherdsof the little town of Bethlehem.

Now that he was an adult, hesought out some friends to havearound him in order to complete hismission. They would also help himin his preaching. The first two wereJames and John, poor fishermenwhom he found along the shore ofLake Tiberias.

During his last Passover, beforeJesus was arrested, tortured andkilled, he was aware that the timehad come for him to return to hisFather, he decided to bid themfarewell at a very special dinner. Justbefore he consecrated the bread andwine, he gave his disciples a puzzlinglesson in humility. He washed theirfeet and wiped them with a towel thathe had tied around his waist. After

that the most grueling momentsensued: his passion, scourging,crowning with thorns, being insultedand derided by the soldiers. Throughall this he never uttered a word. Hesuffered everything meekly andsilently.

The culminating moment wasmost certainly his death on thecross.

Christ, as man, felt abandoned byeveryone even by God but justbefore he breathed his last hefervently surrendered himselftotally to his Father. Three dayslater he rose from the dead just ashe had promised.

Blessed be the Lord, born of theVirgin Mary, the beginning and theend of our existence! The journeyof the Christian is strewn withobstacles, crosses that he cannotescape but we have nothing to fear.Christ surrendered himself to Godand by his resurrection heconquered death.

Therefore, for us, there is a lightthat dispels the darkness ofsuffering and death, a certainty thatGod calls us to eternal life and joywithout end.

Intercede for us, dear mother Marythat we may follow the example ofChrist your son. May be live humbly,walking courageously through life’sproblems and yearning to be unitedwith you one day in the kingdom ofheaven for all eternity.


DEDICATED TOTHE CHURCH OF CHRIST

IF YOU SEE Wby Edmund Keane SJ in serious mood

shine, of darkness a

Thoughts on DarknessNature can be indifferent to our sorrows. A land may be gripped by

famine, yet the sun continues to rise and shine upon the strickenfields: in the middle of war-torn countryside a bird may start from abush and sing: our hearts may be broken at a graveside, yet at thatmoment a rainbow may leap across the sky.

But on Calvary the sun refused to shine upon the scene of thecrucifixion. The most heinous crime of man, the killing of the Lord ofnature, did not pass without a protest from nature herself. ‘It wasabout the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth untilthe ninth hour’.

In the gathering gloom the crowd began to trickle away, feargnawing at their hearts. Many who left the scene were anxious todistract their minds from what they had just beenwitnessing: they were anxious to get back to the market-places of the city, to a scene of bustle and chatter. In this waythey hoped to shut out from their eyes the sight of theCrucified One and to expunge from their ears the words oflove and mercy that he had uttered from the cross.

They crept away from the scene of Christ crucified, sayingto themselves ‘I won’t allow myself to think of it now’, andplunged into the deeper darkness of an unreal world –unreal because it has no place for him who is the Light of theWorld.

Faith Shaken?I think it is true to say that many persons have lost their

faith or, at least, have had their faith badly shaken, by beingunable to accept what I call the human face of the Church.This is so sad, especially as it is really the result of ignorance– a mistaken view of what the Church is and the consequentfalse expectations.

Their mind, I suspect, runs something like this:The Church of Christ is supposed to be holy and claims to

possess the complete truth - the truth of Christ. But I find thatstrange errors and attitudes have occurred in the past, and Istill see some - to me –mistakes and errors adopted bypresent representatives of the Church, priests, bishops, evenPopes. Then there are things like commercialism at the holyshrines, the odd individual scandal, the priest whom I foundvery un-Christian-like in the confessional. Therefore it must


WHAT I MEAN writes of the day the sun refused to

and closed doors.be all wrong and I can’t subscribe to it any more.

It’s very sad that sincere, reasonably intelligent people can be putoff so easily just because their idea of Christ’s Church is so far wideof the mark.

Yes, the Church of Christ is holy, because it is the Mystical Body ofChrist through which he continues to give to the world his healing,saving gifts of truth and life - the Sacraments, the Mass, his gifts ofgrace, the animation of the Holy Spirit.

But Christ entrusted the continuation of his mission to humanbeings with all their limitations and sinfulness, or, as F.J. Sheed putsit “the trouble is that the world, looking at the Church, does not seeChrist: it sees only us. We - popes, bishops, presidents, priests, nuns,you, I - are the faces He presents to the world and it does not always

attract” (The Church and I).So, Christ’s Church, besides its divine origin, has also a

human element, a human face, and this is the face thatsome people - really quite irrationally - find unacceptable.

Christ compared his kingdom to a field with a mixtureof wheat and weeds, and this would always be so. Wecan’t expect all the living human members of the Churchto be in a state of perfection. We are still on the way.

No HandleI’m sure nearly everybody knows that painting called

‘The Light of the World’ by Holman Hunt. It has, I think,been reproduced many times as a ‘holy picture’. In it wesee Christ in a rather over-grown garden at midnight. Helooks sad, wears the crown of thorns and holds a lanternin his right hand: with his left he is knocking on a heavilypanelled door that looks as if it hadn’t been opened for along time. One is naturally reminded of the words ofApocalypse (3, 20): “Behold, I stand at the gate and knock;if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will comein to him and eat with him, and he with me”.

There is a story associated with the first unveiling ofthis picture. If my memory serves me right there wassupposed to be one critic present who remarked to theartist “Mr. Hunt, your work doesn’t seem to be finished.There is no handle on the door!” “That”, Holman Hunt issaid to have replied, “is the door to the human heart. Itcan only be opened from the inside”.


Episode Five

The story so far:At the age of twenty-six, Sarah

Williams’ life has been turned upsidedown by the death of her mother andfather in a car crash. She had alwaysbeen led to believe that her parents,Tom and Bridie, had no livingrelatives, yet an old friend, Dr. JimBrennan, arrives at the funeral toinform her that she has extendedfamily in Ireland. Sarah puts on holdher wedding plans to her fiance,Jonathan, and takes up an invitationfrom her mother’s sister, Nuala.Leaving behind her native Englishtown of Kingsborough, she comes tothe Irish village of Killpatrick, tomeet her mother’s family. There, sheencounters more mystery in the formof a photograph of her grandmother.Her mother always told her she lookedlike her; yet Sarah can see noresemblance at all...

A fter the noise ofKingsborough, it seemed to

Sarah that Killpatrick slept in atimeless silence. She marvelled at

the beautiful scenery and thefriendliness of the people. In theshort time she had known hermother’s family she had grownfond of them and wondered whyher mother had cut them out of herlife.

Her Auntie Nuala was a warm-hearted woman and her UncleCon, a quiet, inoffensive man. Hercousins already treated her likeone of the family.

Towards the end of the week,her mother’s younger sister, Kate,who had been visiting herDown’s syndrome son, Sean, inDublin, invited her to tea. Perhapsshe could throw some light onwhy her mother had severed allconnections with her familytwenty-seven years earlier.

Nuala and her family had nevermentioned the subject. Hercousin, Kevin, a journalist with aDublin newspaper, drove her toher aunt’s flat where she waswelcomed with open arms. Katewas a kindly woman, tall and


slim, with heavy-lidded blue eyes.‘Well how are you Sarah?’ she

asked as they sat down to teatogether. ‘I can’t get over poorBridie dying like that and poorTom too. It broke my heart when Iheard the news and to think thatnone of us even knew where theywere.’

‘Aunt Kate, why did Mum andDad cut themselves off from theirfamilies?’ asked Sarah, seizingthe opportunity.

‘Well it’s a long story and allancient history now. What didyour parents tell you?’

‘Nothing at all,’ she replied.‘They always denied havingfamilies.’

‘Well I can understand whythey might do that. You see theywere very badly treated here.’ shereplied.

‘By whom?’ asked Sarah,surprised.

‘Their families,’ replied Kate.‘What happened?’ asked Sarah,

interested.‘Well, I’ll have to go back to the

beginning. When Bridie met Tom,I was already engaged to my latehusband, Bill. Tom came from awell-off farming family a fewmiles outside the town and beingthe older of two sons, was due toinherit the farm when his motherdied.

‘Tom was a Protestant andBridie a Catholic and in thosedays, it wasn’t considered rightfor one to marry the other. Whenhis mother heard he was going tomarry a Catholic she disownedhim. She then made over the farmto the younger son, leaving Tomwith neither a job nor a home. Hefound lodgings with JimBrennan’s widowed sister andthat’s how Tom and Jim met.’

Sarah listened attentively as sheheard the true story of her parentsromance for the first time.

‘Our mother gave Bridie aterrible time when she heard shewas going to marry a Protestant.She told her she would never havea day’s luck. Her last words toBridie as she left the house on herwedding day were, ‘You’ve madeyour bed so you can lie on it!’

‘They were married in St.Fintan’s Catholic Church here inKillpatrick but on the side altar asit was a mixed marriage. I was theonly member of either family toattend.

‘After the wedding, they movedinto a rented house not far fromhere and settled down to marriedlife. It must have been very hardfor Bridie. You see when I marriedBill the previous year, my motherpaid for my wedding receptionand gave me a deposit for a houseas well. Poor Bridie got nothing,not even a dish cloth!

‘Shortly after I married I foundout that my husband was agambler. Money slipped throughhis hands like water and it was aconstant battle to pay the bills. Icouldn’t go to my mother for help.She was a very hard woman,Sarah, and there was nobody elseto turn to. I was too ashamed totell Bridie. There was no GamblersAnonymous then and those werethe days when a married womanwas looked down on if she wentout to work.’

‘It must have been very difficultfor you Aunt Kate,’ commentedSarah.

‘It was,’ replied Kate. ‘But to makea long story short we eventually lostthe house and my mother blamedme. She said I was a bad manager.Little did she know!’


‘What age were my parentswhen they married?’ asked Sarah.

‘Let me see now... your Mumwould have been about twenty-five and your Dad about twenty-seven. They were married in1947.’

‘So it was six years before I camealong,’ she said, voicing herthoughts.

‘Oh yes, you were a long waydown the road. They had triedevery way they could to adoptlong before that.’

‘Adopt? What do you mean, AuntKate?’ asked Sarah feelingdecidedly uncomfortable. Kate’sface grew red with embarrassment.

‘You mean you don’t know?’‘Know what Aunt Kate? Are you

saying I’m adopted?’ she askedincredulously.

‘Oh Sarah darling, I could cutmy tongue out!’ said Kate deeplyupset at her blunder. ‘It neveroccurred to me that you didn’tknow. Didn’t your mother tell youshe couldn’t have children?’

‘Yes, but that was after I wasborn,’ she innocently replied.

‘No darling. That was afterCatherine was born.’

‘Catherine? Who’s Catherine?’asked Sarah, feeling the bottomdrop out of her world.

To be continued

Form IVStatement of ownership and other particulars about the newspaper:

Don Bosco's Madonna

1. Place of Publication:

2. Periodicity of Publication:3. Printer's name and nationality:

4. Publisher's name:5. Editor's name:6. Name & address of individuals who own the newspaper and partners or shareholders holding more than 1% of capital.

St. Paul Press, 58/23rd Rd., TPS III,Bandra Mumbai - 400 0501&s2of every monthFor Bombay Salesian Society,Fr. Edwin D'Souza sdb (Trustee)IndianDon Bosco Shrine Office,Matunga, Mumbai 400 019-do-Fr. Ian Doulton sdbBombay Salesian SocietyDon Bosco Shrine Office,Matunga, Mumbai 400 019

The magazine is a non-profit publication

I, Fr. Ian Doulton, hereby declare that the particulars given above aretrue to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Dated: March 1, 2009 Sd/- Fr Ian Doulton sdb


Don Bosco: The Times, The Man,The Facts

DON BOSCO ON THE GALLOPDON BOSCO ON THE GALLOPDON BOSCO ON THE GALLOPDON BOSCO ON THE GALLOPDON BOSCO ON THE GALLOPby Enzo Bruni (T/A:ID)

We know how Don Bosco wasattracted to sports and how

he was blessed with exceptionaltalents if he wished to pursue it. Itwas during those vivacious yearsin Chieri that we would have seenthe young Johnny Boscochallenge visiting mountebanksand charlatans with muchsuccess, earning the admiration ofhis friends. But perhaps, little is known ofhow he risked riding horsesbarebacked. How and where hehoned this skill is not reallyknown but we may suppose thatsince he grew up in thecountryside, the presence ofhorses as a means of getting fromplace to place as also for work orleisure, could not be ruled out.

Don Bosco narrates in hisMemoirs a curious fact that taughthim an invaluable lesson.

By June 1841 Don Bosco wasalready a priest. For some monthshe had the experience of being theassistant pastor of the parish ofCastelnuovo. His task was easy.It was his birthplace. The peopleloved and appreciated him. Hewrote in his Memoirs: “I visited thesick and administered the holysacraments to them, exceptpenance since I had not yet takenthe exam. I buried the dead andkept the parish records. My delightwas to meet children and teachthem catechism….Whenever I leftthe presbytery there was a group

of boys, and everywhere I went mylittle friends gave me a warmwelcome...” (MO pg. 175)

He went on: “As I had a certainfacility in expounding the wordof God, I was in much demand asa preacher, to give festal homiliesin the nearby villages.

“On a Sunday in October I wasinvited to speak at the Parish ofLavriano for the feast of St.Benignus, a few kilometers fromCastelnuovo. I was happy toaccept and to do justice to theoccasion. I prepared myself and


wrote out my sermon carefully,trying to make it popular and atthe same time polished. I had tocelebrate Holy Mass for thepeople before setting off. To getthere in time for the sermon Idecided to make the journey onhorseback. Sometimes trotting,sometimes galloping I was abouthalf way along when I passed amillet field and a flock of sparrowstook sudden flight. The noise oftheir flight frightened the horse,and he bolted down the road andacross the fields and meadows.Somehow I managed to stay in thesaddle, but then I realized that itwas slipping under the horse’s

belly. I tried an ‘equestrianmaneuver’ but the saddle was outof place and it catapulted me onto a heap of stones. From a hillclose by, a man could see thisaccident; he ran to my assistancewith one of his workers and,finding me unconscious, carriedme to his house and laid me onhis bed. They gave me the mostloving care and after about anhour I came to and realized that Iwas in a strange house. The goodman reassured me that my thankswere not necessary.

While waiting for the doctor hetold me what had happened tohim: “You do not know me, buteven I’ve got around a bit andknow what it is to need help.Many a spill I’ve had going to fairsand markets. I have lots of thingsI could tell you. Like this one. OneAutumn I was going to Asti on mydonkey to collect winterprovisions. On my way home,when I got to the valley ofMurialdo, my poor beast, quiteoverloaded, fell in a mud hole and


lay there in the middle of the roadunable to move. Every effort to gether up again proved useless. Itwas midnight, dark and wet. Notknowing what else to do, I shoutedfor help. In a few minutessomeone answered from a littlehouse nearby. They came, aseminarian and his brother, andtwo other men with a lamp to lighttheir way. They got her out of themuck, having first unloaded her.They took me and all my baggageto their house. I was half dead andcovered with mud. They cleanedme up and put new life into mewith a magnificent supper. Thenthey gave me a nice, soft bed. Inthe morning before I left I wantedto pay them for all they had donefor me, but the seminarian turnedeverything down flat, saying.“Who knows? Someday we mayneed your help.”

Don Bosco continued: “I wasmoved to tears by his words.When he saw my reaction, heasked me if I were ill.

“No,” I replied, “your storygives me great pleasure and that’swhat moves me.”

“How happy I would be,” hewent on, “if I knew what I coulddo for that good family! What finepeople!”

“What was their name?”“Bosco,” he said, “popularly

known as Boschetti. But why are

you so moved? You know them,maybe? How is that seminarian?”

“That seminarian, my goodfriend, is this priest whom youhave repaid a thousand times forwhat he did for you, the very onewhom you’ve carried to yourhome and put into this bed. DivineProvidence wants to teach usthrough this incident that onegood turn deserves another.”

It is easy to imagine the joy and

the wonder of all those present.The doctor arrived a short timelater. He found no broken bones.After a few hours Don Bosco wasable to return home on horsebackwith his beautiful sermon in hispocket. John Brina went the wholeway home with him. For as longas he lived they remained fastfriends. Don Bosco concludes:“After this warning, I firmlyresolved that in the future I wouldprepare my sermons for the greaterglory of God, and not to appearlearned and erudite.

That was how the young JohnBosco was formed, constantlyattentive to the voice of God that cameto him through the incidents of hisdaily life. Through this attentivenesshe was able to educate his boys andteach them how to read with openhearts the messages that Providencewrote in their daily lives. That is theordinary way to Salesian sanctity.


NEWSBITSLONDON

A new environmental edition of theBible has been published.

“The poor and vulnerable aremembers of God’s family and arethe most severely affected bydraughts, high temperatures, theflooding of costal cities, and moresevere and unpredictable results ofclimate change.” ArchbishopDesmond Tutu says in the forewardto HarperCollins’ The Green Bible.

“We, who should have beenresponsible stewards preservingour vulnerable, fragile planet home,have been wantonly wastefulthrough our reckless consumerism,devouring irreplaceable naturalresources,” he says.

The Green Bible has received astamp of approval from the SierraClub. The book highlightsenvironmentally significantportions of the holy text in green, isprinted with soy ink on watercoated recyclable paper, andfeatures earth conscious essays fromSt. Francis of Assisi, Pope John PaulII and others.

It also highlights in green morethan a thousand passages relatingto God’s love for creation and therole of humans in caring for theearth.

Along with the biblical text, thebook includes a set of essays bytheologians and conservationists.

“It helps rectify a misperceptionthat this is not a biblical issue,” saysPeter Illyn, an evangelical pastorwho founded an environmentalstewardship group called RestoringEden to foster awareness across thedenominational spectrum.

The Green Bible comes in the NewRevised Standard Version, which is

accepted by Protestants, RomanCatholics, and the Orthodox.

Matthew Sleeth, a former medicaldoctor concerned aboutenvironmental degradation whocame into Christianity throughreading the Bible, is the author of“Serve God, Save the Planet.”

“When I started doing this, myown church wouldn’t let me speakfrom the pulpit,” he says.

“But,” he says, “now manychurches who call themselvesconservative are taking it up,” andhe has seen Christian collegeschange their behaviour, modifyingcurriculum and finding ways toreduce their carbon footprint.CATHNEWS

VATICAN CITYThe famed operatic tenor PlacidoDomingo has recorded an albumof songs inspired by the poems ofthe late Pope John Paul II.

The album, titled Amore Infinito(Infinite Love), features 12 songsthat highlight such themes asgratitude, freedom, the soul, theconscience and a mother’s love.Some of the recordings are duets,including one song, Love,performed by the tenor’s son,Placido Domingo Jr.

Produced by the German labedDeutsche Grammophon, the albumwas released in Italy on November28. The same day Domingoappeared at Vatican pressconference to launch the new disc.

Pope John Paul wrote poemsunder a pseudonym during hisyears in Poland; as pope, hepublished a volume of spiritualverses in 2003. His poetic works arespiritual in tone and treat a wide


variety of subjects and experiences,including literature, theatre, factorywork and young love.

In addition to Domingo’s son, fourother artistes each perform on onetrach of the new album: Italian tenorAndrea Bocelli, US Gospel singerVanessa Williams, Welsh opera starKatherine Jenkins and USsymphonic pop singer Josh Groban.

Domingo performed before PopeJohn Paul II at a Mass in 1995, andlast April he sang at a Mass inWashington celebrated by PopeBenedict XVI. In 2003, he sang aprayer for peace that Pope John Paulhad written the year before for aninter-religious service in Assisi,Italy. CNS

THE VATICANThe International Year ofAstronomy, which began Jan 1 wasestablished by the United Nationsto coincide with the 400th

anniversary of Galileo Galilei’s firstuse of the telescope to observe thecosmos.

The Vatican is also celebrating thestar-studded jubilee year, as theVatican Museums, the VaticanObservatory and other Vaticanoffices participate in several specialinitiatives.

In late December, Pope BenedictXVI rang in the year of astronomyearly by sending his greetings tothose participating in the year-longcelebration.

The pope has repeatedly praisedGalileo, calling him a man of faithwho “saw nature as a book writtenby God.”

The pope also said the discoveriesof science and astronomy can helppeople better appreciate thewonders of God’s creation.

As part of the astronomy year,Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno is

one of more than 50 scientists fromaround the world who iscontributing to a new Cosmic Diaryblog. The U.S. Jesuit and othercontributors reveal in the blog –www. cosmicdiary.org – what it’slike to be an astronomier andexplain details of their research.

The Vatican Observatory alsowill help organize a week onastrobiology at the PontificalAcademy of Sciences in November.

Astrobiology studies life in theuniverse and is hot on the hunt forextraterrestrial life and so-called“Goldilocks planet”. Like theporridge this childhood storybookcharacter gobbles up, it’s atheoretical planet that is not too hotand not too cold, but just the rightdistance from the sun to sustain life.

The observatory is alsopartnering with the PontificalCommission for Vatican City Stateto publish a book on the history ofastronomy and the Vatican.

In June a week-long


international symposium will coverthe role of astronomy in the 21st

century, science education and thedialogue that is needed betweenscience and culture.

A special exhibit will open inOctober at the Vatican Museumsdisplaying historical astronomicalinstruments. It will showcaseantique instruments, spanning timefrom Galileo to models of theenormous telescopes used inastronomical research today.

Lastly, a large statue of Galileo issupposed to be erected somewherein Vatican grounds. Paid for throughprivate donations, the work of artwas commissioned by thePontifical Academy of sciences tohonour the 17th century scientist. Sofar, there has been no word yet onwhen the statue will move into itsnew home.

Some Church leaders expressedhow the celebrations finally will putto rest the long suspicion that theChurch was hostile toward science.

Only 16 years have passed sincePope John Paul II formallyacknowledged that the Churcherred when it condemned the Italianastronomer for maintaining that theearth revolved around the sun.

Even though it happened some400 years ago, “the dramatic clashof some churchmen with Galileo hasleft wounds that are still open”,wrote Jesuit Father Jose Funes,director of the Vatican Observatory,in the Vatican newspaperL’Osservatore Romano.

He said the Galileo case may neverbe closed in a way that would makeeveryone happy.

“The Church in some wayrecognized its mistakes” regardingGalileo but “perhaps it could havedone better: One can always dobetter,” he wrote, adding that he

hoped the year would help smoothstrained relations between faithand science.

One Vatican official recentlyproposed that Galileo would make“the ideal patron saint for dialoguebetween science and faith”.Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi,president of the Pontifical Councilfor Culture, told Vatican Radio thatGalileo, as a man of science andfaith, showed the two werecompatible as long as eachoperated within its specific field.

The good that came from the“dark shadow” of Galileo’scondemnation was discoveringtheology should never, as it hadduring Galileo’s time, use scienceto prove religious objectivesespecially in ways that hinderscientific study, he said.

But, he added, science also mustnot look down on theology asintellectually inferior – as if it werea kind of depository for a“Paleolithic intellect of the past”.

The archbishop made thecomments while he wasparticipating in the culturecouncil’s congress on “Science 400Years After Galileo Galilei”.Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, VaticanSecretary of State, also participatedin the November congress.

Cardinal Bertone said Galileohelped transform the nature ofknowledge so that it would nolonger be based on the certaintiesestablished by tradition, but on thetruth derived from scientificexperimentation.

However, he added, sciencemust not completely divorce itselffrom its moral traditions and lawswhich can help ensure thatscientific developments remainethical and at the service ofhumanity. CNS


MICHAEL MAGONEHis Spirituality

by Claudio Russo

Michael Magone’s ChristianFaith was put into action not

only by the way he went out ofhimself to help his companions butalso in a spirit of gratitude for the

Faith he now cherished so much.

Looking for an unknownconfessor

One morning some boys of the


Oratory decided to go forconfession to a church outside theOratory to a confessor who did notknow them. They tried to convinceMichael with a thousand reasonsabout their plan.

“No, I don’t want to go anywherewithout the permission of mysuperiors,” said Michael withouthesitation. “I am not a thief or abrigand. Thieves or brigands arefrightened of being recognized bythe police and that is why they golooking for places where they areunknown so that they won’t bediscovered. No, I have myconfessor; and I confess to him allmy sins, big and small without anyfear. The craving to go elsewherefor confession shows that you donot love your confessor or that youhave serious sins to confess.”

Like an AssOccasionally a friend of Michael

from Carmagnola visited him.Through all the laughter andchatter Magone tried to convert thisyoungster who was filled withdoubts and uncertainties about hisFaith.

One day this friend of his toldhim of one of their companions whohad estranged himself from God fora long time, “yet he is fat andflourishing and is doing very well,”concluded Magone’s friend.Michael stared hard at him andremained silent for a moment, thentaking his hand he led him to a cartthat was standing by theplayground where they wereunloading material forconstruction: “You see that mule?”Michael said to his friend pointingto the animal. “He is also big andfat, and he has never been toconfession, and I believe he hasnever entered a church either. Do

you wish to become like thatanimal who has neither soul norbrains?” Magone’s friend wasspeechless and mortified andfrom that day he never tried toconvince Magone of his religiousduties with frivolous motives.

A Way of Saying “Thanks”Michael never liked to spend

his vacations at his home inCarmagnola because, accordingto him, “at home there are theearlier dangers, the places, thepranks, the companions whowould drag me to live like I didbefore, and I don’t want that wayof life anymore. I would go forvacations only when I am strongenough to overcome thedangers.”

Don Bosco knew his motiveand so he sent Michael on a tripto Becchi, his own home togetherwith his other companions. DonBosco commented: “Seeing hisgood behavior that was worthyof a prize, I wanted to go myselfand so with a few of hiscompanions I also made the trip.During the journey I had anopportunity to have a long chatwith Magone and became awarethat the degree of his virtue wasfar superior to what I had heard.”

On the road the group wassuddenly caught in a downpour.They hurried onward andreached Chieri all drenched. Inthe city lived a dear benefactor,Cavalier Marco Gonella. He hadoften welcomed the boys of theOratory of Valdocco into hishouse together with Don Boscowhen they were hiking in thoseparts.

Even on that occasion theCavalier opened his doors to DonBosco and his boys and helped


them dry themselves. He invitedthem to lunch as they had all comein from a long walk and werefamished.

After some rest, Don Bosco and hisboys thanked their graciousbenefactor, bade him farewell andcontinued on their way. “As theywalked along the road, Magoneremained at the back of the group,”wrote Don Bosco. “One of hiscompanions thought he was tiredand so he stepped back andwhispered to him in a soft voice:“Are you tired? Are your legs achingfrom the walk?”

“Tired? Oh, no! I could walk up toMilan.”

“What were you saying in a softvoice just a moment ago all byyourself?”

“I was saying the Rosary for thatgood gentleman who was sogenerous with us and whom wecannot compensate in any otherway. That is why I am praying tothe Lord and his Blessed Mother tobless him and his home and givehim a hundred times over what hehas given us.”

And Don Bosco added: “Michaelwas grateful for any little favour.”

That was the same sentiment ofgratitude that Michael showed tothe Parish Priest of Castelnuovod’Asti when he invited some boysof the Oratory for polenta at hishouse. Don Bosco narrates: “On theevening of that day Michael said tome: ‘If it is alright with you I wouldlike to receive Holy Communiontomorrow for the Parish Priest whohas made us so happy today.’”

Prevention from FallingDuring a vacation at Becchi, Don

Bosco and his boys went on a walkthrough a nearby forest. After a littlewhile, Magone, very silently left the

group and was returning home,but a boy of the group saw himand thought he wasn’t well,followed him from somedistance right up to the house.When he entered the house helost sight of him.

He looked for him in all therooms until he found him allalone on his knees in the littlechapel, before the BlessedSacrament.

Some time later when he wasasked why he left the companyof his friends to make a visit tothe Blessed Sacrament, Michaelreplied: “I feared that I wouldrevert to offending God and so Icame back to pray to Jesus in theBlessed Sacrament that he mightgive me the strength to perseverein his holy grace.”

A List of ResolutionsOn the occasion of the novena

of the Immaculate Michaelwrote out a list of resolutionsthat he wished to carry out:

l. To pray and honour theMadonna;

2. To make a GeneralConfession;

3. To forego breakfast everydayas penance for all the sins I havecommitted;

4. To receive Communioneveryday;

5. To frequently talk to theMadonna about his friends;

6. To bring this list to the feet ofthe Madonna and to consecratemyself to her in this way.

Don Bosco permitted Michaelto carry out all his resolutionsexcept the foregoing of hisbreakfast. This sacrifice was to bereplaced with a prayer in suffragefor the souls in Purgatory.


LOVING CHILDREN TOTHEIR LOVING MOTHER

My sincere thanks to the Lord Jesus and his Mother Mary for givingme a complete recovery from an illness that I had suffered for thepast three years. Do bless and keep my son and me under yourprotection. Mrs. Claudina and Joseph D'SouzaThanks for everything dear Mother Mary. Sophie, ChennaiThank you dear Mother for helping my son return home from Delhi.

Daniel Fernandes, MumbaiMy son had appeared for an interview in the US and it seemed toahve gone well but he received a regret letter and was verydisheartened. Trusting in Our Lady I prayed and suggested to myson that he write a letter to the HR department. Miraculously hereceived a reply the following day stating that they had reconsideredhis case. Now he has the job and is doing very well.I believe OurBlessed Mother does work miracles for those who have recourse toher. I. Quadras, MumbaiThank you dear Mother Mary for blessings my family. Arnawaz Jeffrey Cabral, KuwaitThank you, dearest Mother Mary for blessing us with our home. Kevin, Geraldine and Logan Peters, Sydney, AustraliaEvery day I go for my morning walk and I pray the Rosary faithfully.On Monday 29th Dec. 08, as I began the Rosary on my walk I stoppednear a monsoon drain to pluck some Neem leaves from a tree on theother side of the drain. While stretching my hand my shoe slippedand I fell in the drain 6 feet deep. Being very slippery I couldn't climbout. I walked through the drain and a few feet ahead I found a sturdypipe with the help of which I managed to climb out. I do believe thatOur Lady protected me from any severe injury. James Devaraj, MalaysiaOur unending praise to Our Lady for the many favours and blessingsgranted to my family. Dr. Hazel Fernandes, Dublin, IrelandThe doctor had diagnosed that my daughter had a murmur in herheart. I prayed the devotion of the three Hail Marys. We did the echotest and result was a silent murmur. Thank You Mother Mary.

Chiara Gomes, GoaThank you dear Mother Mary for all the graces and favours we havereceived. Evely Hopkins, MumbaiWe are most grateful to Jesus and Mother Mary for helping our sonsecure a good job. Anthony and Jennifer, AustraliaHeartfelt thanks to our heavenly Mother for blessing me with a goodjob abroad. Dearest Mother always keep us under your protection.

Savio De Souza, GoaBelated, but sincere thanks to Mother Mary, Help of Christians andDominic Savio for curing me from my backache, acidity and helpingmy son pass in his SSC examination. Thank you also for all theother graces which I have received. Daisy Fernandes, Navi Mumbai


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

Thank you dear Mother Mary for the successfuloperation of my 9 year old granddaughter. In all my difficulties I havealways had recourse to Our Blessed Mother, through the faithfulrecitation of the three Hail Marys. May she continue to protect all myfamily members. Ivone Paes, GoaI am 74 years old, and over a period of time, I had developed a swellingin my left foot. It gradually made walking rather painful. I tried massageoils both ayurvedic and alopathic but the swelling and the pain persisted.Having read letters of thanks written by many, I started this devotion ofreciting the Three Hail Marys. I can assure the readers that now I walkwithout any pain and the swelling has gone. I am grateful to Our BlessedMother. Lt. Col. Celestine (retd.) BangaloreI have received numerous favours through the faithful recitation of the 3Hail Marys, I am sincerely grateful to our dear Mother for all her blessings.Thank you so much dearest Mother for the many favours received throughthe faithful recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Antonieta Simoes, Macau (South China)We started constructing a small living room for one of our tenants. Thatbegan in the month of September. In two months before the heavy rainsit was complete without exceeding our budget. During these two monthsI prayed the 3 Hail Marys fervently and I believe that the constructionwent as planned because Mary was there. We are sincerely grateful toOur Blessed Mother. Dr. Rosario Gomez, ChennaiMy mother has been a subscriber Don Bosco"s Madonna for quite sometime now but I was never a dedicated or regular reader of it. However, in thepast few months I have been glancing through it regularly and also carriedthe magazine in my bag when I went to class. I have been studying for myGMAT and have just completed all my applications for my MBA abroad. Ihad promised that if I secured admission into a good college abroad Iwould mention my testimony in Don Bosco Madonna. I am grateful to Godthat I have secured admission in a very good school abroad. I am stillwaiting for other colleges but with a secured admission I am already set onthe path of success thanks our Lord Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, DonBosco, Dominic Savio. Bryan D'Souza, Mumbai


THEY ARE GRATEFUL TOOUR LADY AND DON BOSCO

Dear Mother Mary and Don Bosco, thank you for helping me tosettle down steadily in a happy marriage and for getting me a lovinglife partner. Bosco Robert, MumbaiThank you for the countless graces and blessings received throughthe powerful intercession of Our Lady, help of Christians and DonBosco. Mrs. Annie D'Mello, GoaThank you, Jesus, Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio forthe gift of a baby girl and grand child. Albano Godinho, GoaThank you Heavenly Father, Jesus, Mother Mary and Don Boscofor the grace of a successful operation which I underwent. F. Rodrigues, MumbaiDear Mother Mary and Don Bosco for the financial assistance wereceived in the hour of our need, for the gift of a conception to ourdaughter after four years of marriage and for a favourable verdictfrom the high court in my brother's favour. Mrs. Queenie Viegas, MumbaiMy sincere thanks to Our Lord Jesus, Mary Help of Christians, DonBosco and Dominic Savio for settling my sister's marriage and forall the favours showered on our family. A Devotee, MumbaiThank you, dear Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio for allthe special favours that have been received. Protect us always.

F. Fernandes, MumbaiSincere gratitude to Jesus, Mother Mary and Don Bosco andDominic Savio for curing my daughter from her fever and my sonfrom his back ailment. Thank you also for the gift of my grandchildrenand for all the other graces received. A. Mendonca, MumbaiThank you dear Mother Mary and Don Bosco for the miraculousfavour granted to my daughter who has successfully appeared forher Engineering examinations. Jessi Ghosh, MumbaiMy sincere and heartfelt thanks to Our Lady help of Christians, DonBosco and St. Dominic Savio for the safe delivery and gift of a lovelybaby girl to my daughter Simi and for all the blessings showered onmy family. Joyce B. Vaz, BangaloreMy sincere thanks to Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Saviofor curing my daughter of her sickness. Mrs A. George, MumbaiOur sincere thanks to Jesus, our Blessed Mother and Don Boscofor a successful bypass surgery for my loving husband. Sucurina D'Silva, MumbaiThank you dear Mother Mary for so many favours that have beenshowered on me by my dear and near one who have cared for meand loved me in ways I could never repay them and especially inthese last months. Mr. Mark W. Dodd, PuneSincere thanks to Mother Mary and Don Bosco for helping me recoverfrom a very critical illness. Mrs. Nathalina Pereira, Sydney, AustraliaMy sincere thanks to Our Lady Help of Christians, Don Bosco andDominic Savio for all the favours and blessings granted to me,especially for the safe delivery and the gift of a healthy normal babyboy. Coney Kenny, Mumbai

APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYERMARCH 2009

Holy Father's General Intention: That the role of women may be moreappreciated and used to good advantage in every country in the world.

Missionary Intention: That, in the light of the letter addressed to them byPope Benedict XVI, the Bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and lay faithfulof the Catholic Church in the Popular Republic of China may commit themselvesto being the sign and instrument of unity, communion and peace.

THANKS TO DEARST. DOMINIC SAVIO

Many thanks dear St. Dominic Savio for a safeand normal delivery of our baby boy! Sydney and Lavina Fernandes,GoaI am sincerely grateful to the Most Sacred Heartof Jesus, Mother Mary, Don Bosco and DominicSavio for the safe delivery of my daughter andher lovely baby girl after nine years. Agnes, GoaWe are grateful to Mary Help of Christians, St.John Bosco and St. Dominic Savio for 35 yearsof togetherness and for blessing us with with twodevoted sons, loving and caring daughters-in-lawand two precious grandsons, Nathan and Calvin.

Mother Mary do continue to bless our home and protect us always. Bonny and Sally Noronha, Mumbai

Our sincere thanks to our dear Blessed Mother Mary and St. DominicSavio for curing my leg and hand. Sophie Pereira, MumbaiWe are grateful to our Blessed Lord Jesus, Don Bosco and St. DominicSavio for a safe delivery and a gift of a healthy baby girl and for protectingher from all childhood dangers and keeping her safe under yourprotection. Allwyn and Vanita Menezes, GoaFor the many favours and blessings we have received over the yearsthrough the powerful intercession of Mary Help of Christians, Don Boscoand St. Dominic Savio. Mr. D. George, Thane DtI am grateful to Domnic Savio for the safe delivery of my wife Melita andfor blessing us with the lovely gift of our Baby Boy. Bless my familyalways. Peter Vaz, GoaSincere thanks to dear St Dominic Savio for my successful migration toAustralia and also for helping me get a job almost immediately afterarriving. A Devotee, AustraliaBelated Thank you Domnic Savio for the gift of a healthy baby girl.

Chiara Gomes, GoaThank you dear Jesus, Mother Mary, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio forall the favours granted to us. Keep us always under your protection.

Thomas Mendes, Mumbai


Regd RNI no.9360/57;Postal Regn. No. MH/MR/North East/089/2009-2011

WPP Licence no. MR/Tech/WPP-105/NE/2009-11posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office,

on 1st & 2nd of every monthSubs: (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/www.dbmshrine.org

MARY WAS THEREOn the 1st of November, 08 my son Neilwas kidnapped and assaulted on his wayto our residence in Pune. Members in awhite car parked nearby got out, hit himseveral times, pushed him into the car anddrove off. They started demanding aransom. Then started an arduous journeyfor Neil. Since he did not carry any moneyat the time, they threatened him with direconsequences and snatched his mobile.While Neil was continuously being beatenand threatened he held the rosary firmlyin his left hand. He derived courage whenhe felt a certain warmth in his hands thatheld the rosary and this is what saved himon that fateful day. Fortunately Neil returned home and hewas saved from grave consequencesbecause of the rosary and his implicit faith.I thank Mother Mary for bringing Neilsafely back to us. Ossie Harris, Pune

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