contentsdonboscosmadonna.org/2011archives/nov.pdf · 2012-06-30 · oxford quits his promising...

November 2011 2 Don Bosco's Madonna

From The Editor's Desk:If Only....................................... 3

11 - Self - Respect the Greatest Gift- Fr. Erasto Fernandez. SSS.....4

Life after Death- Vivian Boland, O.P..................8

Artemides Zatti (1880 -1951).........10

I was attracted by the habit- Sr. Margaret Namagemba....11

Witnesses In And For Our Times:St. Charles Borromeo (Nov. 4)- Mario Scudu...........................12

Lectio Divina:Gifts of Salvation (Lk:19:1-10)- Marco Rossetti.......................17

Quietspaces: Sanctity Is the Point ofthe Christian Life- Pope Benedict XVI.................18

The Coming of the Kingdom- Fr. Ian Doulton's Collection...20

Don Bosco's Characteristics:A Mission from Above- Gianni Asti.............................24

Walking With the Church:The Origins of All Souls Day............27

Reflecting on Mary: "And Mary said..." Maria Ko Ha Fong, FMA...........28

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

DON BOSCO'S MADONNA Mumbai NOVEMBER 2011 vol.12 No. 7

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

Cover: "If I may only touchthe hem of his garment"

(Mt. 9:21) (Luberoff)

"Blessed arethose whomourn;

they shallbe comforted."

Matthew 5:4


Fr. Ian Doulton sdb

If Only...

Martha of Bethany is one of the most endearingcharacters in the Gospel story. Like Peter the

Apostle, she has a mind of her own and is not at allafraid to say what she thinks. When her more

contemplative sister, Mary, prefers the company of Jesus to thedrudgery of the kitchen, she is furious and calls on her distinguishedguest to take action. And then, on another occasion, when Jesusdelays in coming to the aid of her sick brother, she confronts himopenly: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Martha’s concern for Lazarus is, of course, commendable, but thereis a querulous tone in her voice which suggests that even this mostpractical of women has fallen foul of the ‘if only’ syndrome: ‘If onlyyou had said this or not said that; if only I had done this or not donethat, everything would have been different now.’

It is, I suppose, a mild form of delusion which affects us all at onestage or another, tempting us to look back in wistful regret, wishingthat we could somehow undo the decisions of the past. ‘If only I hadstayed on at school and finished my education, I would be qualifiednow and have a more rewarding job.’ ‘If only I had stayed single, Iwould have some sort of a decent life now and not have to put upwith my husband’s drunken violence.’ ‘If only I had got marriedwhen I had the chance, my life would be more fulfilled now and Iwould not be as lonely as I am.’

Fortunately, those retrospective dreams are usually transient: theurgent demands of the present soon catch up with us and summonus back to reality. There are, however, times when a more virulentstrain of this syndrome afflicts us and our wishful thinking becomesdestructive. Its symptoms can easily be recognized in thosedespairing cries of the heart which are filled with bitter self-recrimination: ‘If only I had spent more time at home with my son, hewould never have got hooked on heroin. I will never be able to livewith myself again.’ ‘If only I had listened to my wife and called thedoctor earlier, she would still be alive today. I will never forgivemyself.’

In situations like these, what we have to remember is that God hasno difficulty forgiving us, no matter what mistakes we may havemade in the past. But he has great difficulty making us feel forgiven ifwe are not ready to forgive ourselves. It pleases him more if we stoppunishing ourselves endlessly and just trust in his mercy. That waywe can really experience the joy and freedom which are the fruits ofhis forgiveness.


11. SELF-RESPECT THE GREATEST GIFT11. SELF-RESPECT THE GREATEST GIFT11. SELF-RESPECT THE GREATEST GIFT11. SELF-RESPECT THE GREATEST GIFT11. SELF-RESPECT THE GREATEST GIFTFr. Erasto Fernandez, sss

CEL SERIES

It seems pretty presumptuousand un-ambitious, to say the

least, when a young MBA fromOxford quits his promising careerand starts a courier service withjust one delivery boy and aninvestment capital in the form ofsavings of Rs 10,000 only. ButDhruv Lakra’s “Mirakle Couriers”claims to be the only couriercompany in the world today thatemploys only the hearingimpaired. Today, with a staff of 55employees, the company offersboth domestic and internationalservices on a competitive basisand a honest and self-respectingsource of income to themarginalized.

The tsunami in 2004 was thecause of this sweeping change inLakra’s life. He turned his back onhis cushy job as an investmentbanker to help a tsunami-affectedfisherman community inNagapatinam, South India, forfive months. “I realized with adeep inner conviction that this iswhat I wanted to do with my life,”says the 28-year-old, who hadpreviously worked with severalNGOs.

In 2008, Lakra launched“Mirakle Couriers” as hisambition was to offer the hearingimpaired community somethingbetter than candle making as avocation. He says, ‘My dream wasto give them a regular employmentwhich somehow uses theirdisability to their advantage.’ Withspecial training sessions, Lakraensures his boys deliver efficientlywhile his office work is handled

mainly by hearing impairedwomen. They receive theminimum wage and have theirown bank accounts. With plentyof bulk orders coming their way,Lakra hopes to break even by theend of the year.

“I treat it like any otherbusiness,” he observes. “What Iwant to achieve is that the idea ofcharity in India should undergoa change; a paradigm shift needsto be effected in the minds of mostpeople. Disabled people may dothings differently, but theyshould be treated as equals.”Evidently, whether the enterpriseis a success financially or not,what Lakra has set out to achieveis a grand ideal and would takequite some time to effect. People’smind-sets do not change easily,especially when it concerns those


who are disadvantaged. Mostpeople tend to look on them aspoor, helpless, inefficient’ and soon. To treat them as equals whenone has never experienced anyset-backs in life, is itself a mightychallenge!

Besides changing the paradigmof society with regard to allchallenged persons, Lakra wouldalso have given the hearingimpaired group themselves amarvelous opportunity to livetheir lives with dignity and pride– making a big difference in theirown lives, enabling some to evenshine and stand out among thosewith no impediments or lesserones. One does not usuallyunderstand the plight ofhandicapped people until oneactually lives with them in one’sown family. Then the situationbegins to be viewed from a totallydifferent angle. The problem thenis not ‘out there’ but at one’s verydoorstep! And that forces adifferent approach on one –whether one likes it or not.

Lessons Learnt from AdversityA passage in Luke’s Gospel

forces upon us the reflection aboutwhy there are inequalities amongpeople in this world. The storygoes that a man comes up to Jesusimploring him to intervene withhis brother who has deprived himof his share of the familyinheritance. Jesus’ answer to theman is puzzling. He says,“Friend, who set me to be a judgeor arbitrator over you?” And hesaid to them, ‘Take care! Be onyour guard against all kinds ofgreed; for one’s life does notconsist in the abundance ofpossessions’ (Lk 12:14-15). It seemsas if Jesus rebukes the unfortunate

man for making that request.Actually what he indicates is thatwhile undergoing this injustice isunderstandably painful, yet it is notaltogether a useless exercise.

Jesus reminds us all that Goddoes not distribute his gifts equallyto everyone. Even in the parable ofthe talents (Mt. 25:14-30) we seethat one servant gets five, anothertwo and third person gets only one.Does this unequal distributionimply that God loves the thirdperson less? By no means! God’slove for all is the same – he loves allequally, but yet distributes his giftsand talents in different measure todifferent people. And the reasonseems to be that this unequalsituation provides both partieswith the challenge they need toenter into the Kingdom of God. Theone having less, whether it is byGod’s decree or by unjustbehaviour on the part of someother people around him, thedeprived person is challenged totrust totally in God’s personallove for him. Having made whatefforts he could to correct thesituation, either by himself or eventhrough third-party interventions,and seeing that he has failed, hethen places the problem beforeGod leaving it to God to work outas He feels best. Trusting in God’slove for him he continues to do hisbest, being content with what is,and also sharing his meagerresources with those in greaterneed! God’s assurance, “I will bewith you” is his strength!

Challenge to Those BlessedThe challenge for one who has

more is to share his blessings withothers. This is incumbent on all,but much more on the one whohas more because he has


wrongfully deprived others oftheir proper share! In such cases,there is first of all the injustice tobe dealt with. “And the Lord said,‘What have you done? Listen;your brother’s blood is crying outto me from the ground!’” (Gen4:10-11). Even though theinjustice goes unnoticed or no onedoes anything about righting thewrong, yet God’s justice will notallow such flagrant violations togo unattended. Then the law ofsharing one’s blessings with theneedy comes into play as well.Oppressing one’s own kindredwas a sign among the Israelites oftotal disfavour with God (Is. 49:26);it is the kind of punishment the Lordwould impose on the foreignnations for their harassment of hispeople.

Thus it is that the same adversesituation poses challenges to bothsides and provides both with theopportunity to truly listen to theLord’s voice calling from deepwithin them. When they act on hissuggestions, the outcome will bea greater blessing than the earlierproblem. And that is becausebesides the more equitabledistribution of goods, there nowexists also a deep bond offellowship between the twoparties. This approach thereforemakes allowance for the fact thatpeople often err in theirbehaviour. But it requires them tolisten to their consciences andfollow the Lord’s rulings so thatall can live amicably and happilyin the land.

Death to Self – Pre-requisite!All this is easily said but we

know that things just do not workout all that easily in practice. Veryfew would be ready to truly listen

to the Lord’s gentle suggestionsespecially when it means losingone’s grip of a large amount ofwealth. With our myopic view oflife, we fail to see beyond ournoses, even though every singleperson would vociferouslyproclaim that no one can take allhis wealth with him into the grave;some day or other he will have toleave it for others to enjoy. Why

not heed the Lord’s suggestionthen when he says, “And I tellyou, make friends for yourselvesby means of dishonest wealth sothat when it is gone, they maywelcome you into the eternalhomes!” (Lk 16:9). The only wayto make friends throughdishonest wealth is to give it awaylavishly – as long as we keep it forourselves it is a liability, but whengiven away, it becomes a realasset, productive of eternal life.

Again Jesus warns us,“Children, how hard it is to enterthe kingdom of God! It is easierfor a camel to go through the eyeof a needle than for someone whois rich to enter the kingdom ofGod.” They were greatlyastounded and said to one

"The more materialwealth we possess

the more fear we haveto carry along withus wherever we go:fear that we might

one day loseall that wealth..."


Newsanother, ‘Then who can be saved?’Jesus looked at them and said, “Formortals it is impossible, but not forGod; for God all things arepossible.” Peter began to say tohim, ‘Look, we have left everythingand followed you.’ Jesus said,“Truly I tell you, there is no onewho has left house or brothers orsisters or mother or father orchildren or fields, for my sake andfor the sake of the good news, whowill not receive a hundredfoldnow in this age - houses, brothersand sisters, mothers and children,and fields with persecutions - andin the age to come eternal life” (Mk10:24-30). In spite of all this adviceand these warnings, we still areloathe to give up our materialpossessions!

Lure of WealthEspecially in our modern

consumerist world we arebombarded from all sides withadvertisements regarding variouscommercial goods which areprojected as not only making life alot easier, but also as guaranteedto obtain for us a high rating inSociety. While all this is true upto a point, we know fromexperience that it does not reallygo very far. For one thing, the morematerial wealth we possess themore fear we have to carry alongwith us wherever we go: fear thatwe might one day lose all thatwealth, fear that someone may robus of it, fear of being pestered bythe poor who constantly ask forhelp!

There is besides the strangeinner craving within us whichsomehow never leaves us satisfiedand contented with what we have.There is a charming little story toldof a King who was blessed with

plenty but yet remained veryunhappy. As he traveled throughhis kingdom he came across apoor farmer who possessed nextto nothing; yet his greatesttreasure was his happy contentedlife. Seeing this, the King waspuzzled and sought the reasonfor this from his wise men. Onevolunteered this explanation. Hesuggested to the King that he begiven ninety-nine gold coinswhich he took and hidstrategically in the field of thepoor farmer.

Within a few days the farmermanaged to unearth every singleone of the ninety-nine coins andwas grateful to God for this greatblessing. Yet, a nagging innervoice kept repeatedly remindinghim that no one would give himninety-nine coins leaving him oneshort of the coveted number,hundred. There must be that lastcoin somewhere on the premises.So he began to search franticallyday and night and with eachday’s unsuccessful hunt, he grewmore and more desperate – hewas no longer happy andcontented but extremelymiserable. He was convinced thathe could not be happy until hehad found that one last gold coin– which of course he never did.

Are we also in search of that‘one missing blessing’ which, ifwe had our lives would becomplete? Turned around, thissame missing one could be justwhat could lead us back into thearms of our loving Father, whohas prepared for us everythingthat can really satisfy us. Yet, tobelieve in him and trust him is inpractice very difficult. And thisis what provides the Devil with afoothold!


LIFE AFTER DEATHby Vivian Boland, OP

One of the most importantCatholic theologians of the

last century, Karl Rahner, wrotethat Christianity may be referredto as ‘a hope’ just as easily as it isreferred to as ‘a faith’. We cantherefore speak about passing onthe hope, keeping the hope,practicing our hope and teachingthe hope to younger generations.

The hope in question is, ofcourse, the hope we have in Godon whom we rely to save us fromdisintegration and despair as hedraws us ever more deeply intohis life of love. We have the hopeof being raised to live with Christ,and with our brothers and sisters,in the kingdom of the EternalFather. Some historians identifythis hope as one of the mostimportant reasons for the rapidspread of Christianity across theRoman world in the first century.

Some Jewish groups werealready convinced that the Lord,the God of Israel, would raise thejust to everlasting life. Injusticewas the last thing experienced bymany people in this world,especially those who tried to livegood and holy lives. The Lord, theGod of Israel, is just above all else

and so, they reasoned, he must actto vindicate those who had placedtheir trust in him. At the time ofthe Maccabean revolt, about 150years before the time of Jesus,many faithful Jews diedcourageous deaths rather thansubmit to tyranny. They diedfilled with hope that God wouldraise them up in the resurrectionof the just.

Jesus taught that this strand ofJudaism is correct. God is God ofthe living and not of the dead. Godwill vindicate and bring to himselfthose who have lived and died inrighteousness.

Socrates, the most famousphilosopher of ancient Greece,taught that the human soul isimmortal. As he died he asked hisfriends to make an offering to thegod of healing, implying thatdeath as a kind of cure for thedifficulties and trials of life, ablessed release and a journey to abetter place.

God’s power seen in ChristianMartyrs

We may not be philosophical asSocrates in the face of death. We


may not be as unconcerned as theheroes of the Maccabean revoltthreatened with torture andexecution. But many Christianmartyrs have been able to givetheir lives, sustained by their hopein God. The Mass for martyrsspeaks of their deaths revealingGod’s power shining through ourhuman weakness, God choosingthe weak and making them strongin bearing witness to him.

The great difference for theChristian believer is, of course, theexample of Christ. It is not anexample that remains outside us,something we simply look at andadmire and try to imitate. It issomething that becomes part ofour spiritual being when we arebaptized into his death andresurrection. It is nourished in the

Eucharist where we proclaim hisdeath until he comes. It isexperienced in the sacrament ofreconciliation when we actuallypass again from the death of sinto the new life of grace.

Saint Paul ties our resurrectionwith that of Jesus. If Christ has notbeen raised, he says, then there isno resurrection of the dead. If Christhas not been raised, we are the mostfoolish of people. If Christ has notbeen raised, we are still in our sins.So if we are living in the grace ofChrist, living ‘by his Spirit’, then weare already living the ‘life afterdeath’, we know what it is like andwe know what it is about.

Sometimes people say ‘ifsomebody would come back to tellus’. But we have, more than likely,visited the realm of deathourselves. If we have everwandered from God and turnedaside to selfishness, pleasure ordespair, then we have tasteddeath. If we have ever experiencedforgiveness and the prompting ofGod’s Spirit drawing us back, ifwe have ever experienced thedrawing of goodness and heardthe voice of justice, then we haveglimpsed the eternal kingdomprepared for us from thefoundation of the world.

Anxious as he is to strengthenthe faith of the Thessalonians,Saint Paul reminds them of theirsure hope and prays that the Lordmay ‘turn their hearts to the loveof God and fortitude of Christ’. Wepray with him, that we may notturn aside to any sin but may livein the love of God. When we do,we taste already on earth, the giftsof the world to come.


SALESIAN SAINTOF THE MONTH

Artemides Zatti was born inBoretto (Reggio Emilia, Italy)

on 12 October, 1880. He very soonexperienced a hard life of sacrifice,so that at nine years of age he wasearning his living as a farmlabourer. Under the constraints ofpoverty at the beginning of 1897his family emigrated to Argentinaand settled in Bahia Blanca. HereArtemides began to attend theparish in the care of the Salesians.

Advised to become a Salesian,he was accepted as an aspirantby Bishop John Cagliero and, nowa twenty year old, he entered thehouse of Bernal where amongother things he was given the taskof looking after a young priestsuffering from tuberculosis.Artemides himself contracted thedisease. He was therefore sent tothe hospital of San José in Viedma.Here he was looked after in aspecial way by the priest andqualified doctor Fr. EvaristoGarrone. With him, he asked andobtained from Mary Help ofChristians the grace of a cure, ason his part he promised todedicate his whole life to caringfor the sick.

He was cured and he kept his

ARTEMIDESZATTI

1880 - 1951

promise. In 1908 he made hisperpetual profession. At first hebegan to be responsible for thepharmacy attached to the hospital.Later he had full responsibility forthe hospital, which became thetraining ground for his holiness.This was in absolute dedicationto his sick.

In 1913 he was the driving forcebehind the building of the newhospital which was thendemolished in 1941 to make roomfor the residence of the bishop ofthe newly created diocese ofViedma. Without beingdiscouraged he set up another.Like Don Bosco, he madeProvidence the first and safestsource of income for his works.Suffering from cancer, he died on15 March 1951. John Paul IIbeatified him on 14 April 2002.His mortal remains are in thechapel of the Salesians inViedma.


I WAS ATTRACTED BY THE HABITSr. Margaret Namagembe as told to Mathias Mazinga

VOCATION PROMOTION

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

IIIII am Sr. MargaretNamagembe, a member of

the Religious Institute of theCatholic Sisters of theImmaculate Heart of MaryReparatrix, Gogonya. I wasborn on October 9, 1962, theday after our country’sindependence.

My parents, the late MaryKizza Nantumbwe andPascal Muleera, lived inNswanjere, in Mpigi district.I grew up at Nsabwe with mygrandmother, SseffoloozaNantabaalo. She was a committedCatholic. With her I went to churchevery Sunday and we had familyprayers every day.

My desire to become a religiousalready began which I was only apupil at Kkande Primary School.The late Cardinal EmmanuelNsubuga had a relative who livedin our village and he wasaccompanied by nuns on his visits.Their habits immensely fascinatedme. Their yellow habits made themlook like angels. When I joined themin prayer I felt as if I were prayingwith the angels of heaven.

I started religious formation at theCongregation’s Mother house inGogonya and after four years in1986 I pronounced my vows ofpoverty, obedience and chastityand became a nun.

It would be a lie to say thatreligious life is a bed of roses. Ithas its own challenges, personalas well as communal. Thecommunity life we lead as

religious women lead can verytrying because we come fromvarious backgrounds. We areespecially taught how to relatewith one another. Community lifehas provided me with many goodthings. Living and praying togetheras a family is such a wonderfulaspect of religious life. Assecularism and individualismcorrupt society, religiouscommunity life remains theembodiment of human solidarityand sharing. Together we sharethe good and the bad.

But what is of utmostimportance is to trust in theprotection and providence of God.

Honestly, I don’t think I wouldhave managed to be a nun for allthese 25 years if it were not for themercy and providence of my God.In joy and in sorrow, I havealways remained firm andsteadfast, knowing that God is onmy side. I will keep in constantprayer and communion with Jesusand the Blessed Virgin Mary as Icontinue to live my religious life.


PROFILES

ST. CHARLES BORROMEO(1538-1584) (NOVEMBER 4)

A GREATER LOVEby Mario Scudu (TA/ID)

In both the civil and theecclesiastical spheres there were

various people whom posteritydecreed should be given the title ‘theGreat.’ We do not mention them herebecause they are so easy to recalland they are not very many innumber. The saint we present here,St. Charles Borromeo was not givensuch a title though in my opinionhe deserves the title nonetheless atleast in the ecclesiastical sphere. Hewas one of the pivotal figures of theChurch in the 1500’s especially inthe city of Milan and his influencereached immeasurable heights.

Charles was born in 1538 atArona on Lago Maggiore, into a richnoble family. His father Gilbert wasfamous for his great generositytowards the poor and his motherMargaret was aksi a very pious lady.She unfortunately died whenCharles was only nine years old.The influence of his parents wasfundamental in his upbringing.

At the age of 12 he was awardeda scholarship to the Benedictineabbey at Arona for which he wasawarded 2000 crowns, a

considerable sum. But despite hisage the boy already had his ownclnear ideas.

Upon receiving the habit, he ranaway and told his father that hehad decided to spend that moneyto help the poor. Not bad for atwelve year old boy. His peerstoday are light-years away from


such noble decisions.At the age of 14 he went to study

in Milan and then to Pavia. Hetook with him only a smallamount of money. To him, sucheconomic concerns (consideringhis status) seemed to matter verylittle. As a student many of histalents gradually surfaced: hisprolific intelligence, his sense ofcharacter, his persistence andreflective nature. He concentratedon the essentials and did not losehimself in the many distractionsthat were not uncommon toyoungsters his age. In 1559, hereceived his doctorate and he wasjust 21 years old.

In Rome, at that time, there was achange of the guard at the Vatican.Pius IV was the newly elected Pope.He was Gianangelo de’ Medici amaternal uncle of Charles. Thisappointment caused a change inhis life. He was summoned toRome with his brother Frederick.

An Ecclesiastical Career in RomeIn the summons of Pius IV we

are presented with a rare case ofnepotism that had a positiveinfluence on the Church. The Popeimmediately gave appointments tohis two nephews: Frederick (1561)was appointed ‘Captain General’of the Church and Charles, not yettwenty-two was appointed to whatwe would today call the Secretaryof State. Shortly after thisappointment he was also given theadministration of the diocese ofMilan… however he was forced tostay in Rome. These were not theonly two responsibilities that hewas given. He had to administer theinevitable accumulation of theeconomic assets of the Church.Historians say the there was perfectunderstanding between the Pope

and his nephew. Despite his manyresponsibilities Charles remaineda man who loved culture.

A decisive eventThe sudden death of his brother

Frederick (1562) radicallychanged his life. He interpreted itas a sign from God to reform hislife and in a sense, to live moreclosely according to the spirit ofthe Gospels. He radicallychanged. He bade farewell toreceptions, to entertainments eventhough they were morally licit, tothe Knights of the Vatican whichnow became a commission ofreligious culture. He scaled backhis personal way of life too,increasing his penances, fastingand sacrifice. He took on morecommitments of a theological andpastoral nature. He was still thebishop of a diocese though he didnot directly administer it.

But the greatest merit of CharlesBorromeo was that he convincedthe Pope to reconvene the Councilof Trent that had been suspendedin 1555. If it ended in 1563 sosuccessfully and gloriously,bringing much benefit to theChurch it was due to the hardwork of Charles Borromeo. He wasits inspirer and organizer.

In July 1563 he was ordained apriest and a bishop soon after. Hewanted to be a pastor to the soulsof his diocese of Milan and washe waiting for this opportunity.The Council had come to an endbut there was need to ascertainthat the successor, Pius V wouldcontinue the reform that hadbegun. Charles believed in theinspiration and the direction ofthe Holy Spirit but at the sametime he did what he knew wouldbe humanly possible. In fact, the old


and sick uncle of Charles suggestedthe names of the new cardinals whowould carry forward the reformsthat were intended by the Councilof Trent. Having done this he wasasked to preside as papal legate overthe provincial council that was heldin Milan (his diocese) to implementthe provisions of the Council, andCharles went. A short time later hehurried back to Rome (in thecompany of Philip Neri) because thePope was dying. In fact, Pius IV diedin his arms on 9th December 1565.

It was on January 7, 1566 thatCharles could have been electedwith ease. His “lobby” was verystrong indeed and he was indeedvery worthy. But both he and theHoly Spirit thought otherwise.Cardinal Michele Ghisleri waselected. He was a Dominican andhe supported the implementation ofthe Council of Trent and Charleswas one of his ‘sponsors.’

A pastor “a man of steel” whogave his life

When he reached Milan in April1566 he immediately got down toimplementing the great reforms ofthe Council of Trent. He was suchan able organizer and a tirelessworker that Philip Neri exclaimed:“But he is a man of steel.”

He organized the 12constituencies of his diocese andoversaw the revision of life of hisparish priests obliging them tokeep their registers and thearchives of the various parishactivities and associations. Heworked hard to train the clergy ofthe major and the minorseminaries. He especially made ita point to visit the people entrustedto his care beginning his first visitalready in 1566 shortly after hearrived in Milan.

His greatest asset as a pastor wasthe love he demonstrated in the lovewith which “he gave his life for hisfriends.” This was seen in theplague of 1576. He was absentfrom the city on a pastoral visit buthe returned immediately while theSpanish governor and the grandchancellor were fleeing the city.

He went to work immediatelyknowing full well that that theplague was no respecter of persons.He organized the work ofassistance and bravely visited thosewho were affected by the terribledisease. He went out of his way tohelp all to the extent that he waspersonally rebuked by the Popehimself.

In spite of all his pastoralactivity, Charles Borromeo madefour visits to Rome and to Turin.He had a great devotion to theHoly Shroud. From 1578 it wasin the custody of the Duchy ofSavoy which was overseen by theBishop of Milan. He requestedthat he be allowed to venerate thissacred relic personally so that hewould be spared the dangerouscrossing of the Alps (the officialreason) but also to protect it fromthe French (the political motive).The exposition that was held in1978 was to commemorate thearrival of the relic to that city.

Because of his tireless pastoralwork, his frequent travels and hisconstant penances his healthrapidly deteriorated. He died onNovember 3, 1584 and devotion tohim spread rapidly. He wascanonized in 1610 by Pope Paul V.

Charles Borromeo physicallydied but his legacy of personalholiness and untiring action forthe Church is very much aliveand continues down thecenturies.


IN A CHEERFUL MOODBrightness in Action

The Baltimore PoliceDepartment, famous for itssuperior K-9 unit, was somewhattaken aback by a recent incident.Returning home from work, awoman had been shocked to findher house ransacked andburgled. She telephoned thepolice at once and reported thecrime. The police dispatcherbroadcast the call on thechannels, and a K-9 officerpatrolling nearby was first on thescene. As he approached thehouse with his dog on a leash, thewoman ran out on the porch,clapped a hand to her head andmoaned, “I come home from workto find all my possessions stolen.I call the police for help, and whatdo they do? They send a blindpoliceman!”

ParenthoodIf it was going to be easy, it never

would have started withsomething called labour!

Shouting to make your childrenobey is like using the horn to steeryour car, and you get about thesame results.

The smartest advice on raisingchildren is to enjoy them whilethey are still on your side.

Avenge yourself ~ live longenough to be a problem to yourchildren.

The best way to keep kids athome is to give it a lovingatmosphere ~ and hide the keysto the car.Parents: People who bear infants,bore teenagers, and board

newlyweds.The joy of motherhood: What awoman experiences when all thechildren are finally in bed.Life’s golden age is when the kidsare too old to need babysitters andtoo young to borrow the familycar.Any child can tell you that thesole purpose of a middle name isso he can tell when he’s really introuble.Grandparents are similar to apiece of string ~ handy to havearound and easily wrappedaround the fingers ofgrandchildren.There are three ways to getsomething done: Do it yourself,hire someone to do it, or forbidyour children to do it.Adolescence is the age whenchildren try to bring up theirparents.Cleaning your house while yourkids are at home is like trying toshovel the driveway during asnowstorm.Oh, to be only half as wonderfulas my child thought I was whenhe was small, and half as stupidas my teenager now thinks I am.

There are only two things achild will share willingly:communicable diseases and hismother’s age.

Adolescence is the age at whichchildren stop asking questionsbecause they know all theanswers.

An alarm clock is a device forawakening people who don’thave small children.


GIFTS OF SALVATIONLuke 19: 1-10

by Marco Rossetti

Only a few kilometers separateJesus from Jerusalem. At this

point it was important for theMaster to remind the Twelve of thefundamental reason for thisjourney. He was going up to thatcity to give his life – to die- and torise again. It was the third time thathe was telling them this and he hadto make quite an effort to get themto understand and accept this (18,31-34)! By this time the group wasentering Jericho, a flourishing citywith its own customs’ house for thecaravans that came from the Jordanvalley and from distant Arabia ontheir way to Jerusalem andZacchaeus was a resident of that city.

The Gaze and the WordThe oasis of Jericho offered Jesus

an opportunity to take a break andthe possibility to situate a miracleand an encounter: two differentstories, but both presenting the offerof salvation.

The news of the healing of theblind man (18:35-43) quicklyspreads around the city andZacchaeus arrives on the scene. He

is “a sinner,” the chief of thepublicans, those who collected taxesfor the Romans. He was curious.Perhaps he wanted to see Jesus. Thatis how the episode begins and in afew verses we come to the core ofChrist’s work and one of the themesvery dear to Luke: the salvation ofsinners. The story is crisp and quick.Zacchaeus, being rather shortclimbs a tree in order to see Jesus,but suddenly the action is reversed:“when he arrived at that place, Jesuslooked up...” and saw him first (v.5)! After that look, the chief taxcollector is drawn by the Word:“Come down immediately becauseI must stay at your house today.”

The Offer of SalvationIt is beautiful to note Jesus’

considered approach. Zacchaeus isright on time, his curiosity and hisdesire combine to become anacceptable moment for salvation.Never keep quiet or ignore yourdesire for God, not even yourcuriosity about him. Zacchaeusmust have said to himself instead: Icould use this occasion for my own


good. Why live with a yearning foran unspoken word or anunexpressed desire? Jesus said toZacchaeus: “come down quickly.”“Quickly,” but actually in the Greektext we read two verbs that makethe statement even more intense:“come rushing down!” Why suchhaste? It is as if Jesus were saying:“Come on, get out into the open:stop hiding among the branches ofthe sycamore tree and tell me whatyou want and why you want to seeme. Give up your old life and comeand meet me.” In the presence ofChrist who brings salvation, thereis no time to lose! He must beaccepted at once and his plan mustbe put into action by removing fromone’s life all that is not decent orupright. He wants to gift you withsalvation but why is it that you aresometimes so reluctant to accept it?

The Moment of SalvationThen Jesus says: “…I must stay

at your house today.” Staying at thehome of a public sinner isunbecoming for a teacher like Jesusbut in his assessment of things, heis not afraid (v. 7). Instead he offershim salvation: that publican wasreally in need and so he needed tobe helped immediately, “today.” It isa word that is very dear to Luke. Heuses it 19 times in his Gospel andtwice on this page to emphasizeexplicitly that the moment ofsalvation for Zacchaeus is rightnow.

In stopping at his house andentering it at the same time, we arepresented with something uniqueand beautiful. Here the Lord inviteshim to encounter salvation: “today,”an unrepeatable and unforgettableoccasion, and “at home” which is asymbol of an everyday life situation.Truly we should give a lot more

attention to the quality of our dailylife situations in which God knowshow many invitations to salvationand to the Lord come our waywithout us realizing it and whichperhaps we have declined to accept.Zacchaeus is a master at not lettingthe Lord pass him by. He teachesus to throw open our doors byconcrete actions that will signify theintention to change his life. The textthan presents several levels of a manwho “comes down in haste” –observe the two verbs Luke usedafter Jesus ordered him down (v. 5).“And he received him joyfully” (v. 6).Then we are told that this chief taxcollector makes an extraordinarydecision demonstrating his change ofheart: “Lord, I will give half mywealth to the poor and if I havestolen from anyone I shall restore itfourfold” (v. 8). Courageous actionsand impossible to execute byhimself but they spring from a heartthat has been overwhelmed by thelove of Christ and so he feels theneed to have his dignity restored,to be made right, and he is nowgrateful for the salvation he hasreceived.


SANCTITY ISOF THE CHR

by His Holiness P

On Monday 1 November, 2010, the Feast of All Saints, the Popeaddressed the faithful in St. Peter’s Square before reciting the Angelus. Thefollowing is a translation of his reflection which was given in Italian.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Solemnity of All Saints, which wecelebrate today, invites us to raise our gaze toheaven and to meditate on the fullness of thedivine life which awaits us. “We are God’schildren now; it does not yet appear what weshall be” (1 Jn. 3:2): with these words theApostle John assures us of the reality of ourprofound relation to God, as too, of thecertainty of our destiny.

Like beloved children, therefore, we alsoreceive the grace to support the trials of thisearthly existence – the hunger and the thirstfor justice, the misunderstandings, thepersecutions (cf. Mt 5:3-11) – and, at the sametime, we inherit what is promised in theGospel Beatitudes: “promises resplendentwith the new image of the world and of maninaugurated by Jesus” (Benedict XVI Jesus ofNazareth, Milan 2007, p. 72). The holiness,imprinted in us by Christ himself, is the goalof Christian life. Blessed Antonio Rosminiwrote: “The Word impressed himself in thesouls of his disciples with his physicalpresence… with his words… he had given tohis own this grace… with which the soulimmediately perceives the Word”(supernatural anthropology, Rome, 1983, pp265-266). And we have a foretaste of the giftand the beauty of sanctity every time that we


S THE POINTRISTIAN LIFE

Pope Benedict XVI

participate in the Eucharistic liturgy, the communion with the “greatmultitude” of holy souls, which in Heaven eternally acclaim the salvationof God and of the Lamb (cf. Rev 7:9-10). “The lives of the Saints are notlimited to their earthly biographies but also include their being and

working in God after death. In the Saints one thingbecomes clear: those who draw near to God do notwithdraw from men, but rather become truly close tothem” (Deus Caritas Est, n. 42).

Consoled by this communion of the great family ofSaints, tomorrow we shall commemorate all thefaithful departed. The Liturgy of 2 November andthe pious exercise of visiting cemeteries reminds usthat Christian death is part of the journey towardbecoming like God and it will vanish when God willbe all in all to everyone. The separation from earthlyaffection is certainly painful, but we should not fearit, because it, accompanied by the prayer andsuffrage of the Church, it cannot break the profoundbond that unites us to Christ. As was previouslysaid, St. Gregory of Nyssa affirms: “He who hascreated everything in wisdom, has given this painfuldisposition as an instrument of liberation from eviland the possibility to participate in separatedgoods” (de Mortuis Oratio, IX, Leiden, 1967, p. 68).

Dear Friends, Eternity is not an “unendingsuccession of days in the calendar, but somethingmore like the supreme moment of satisfaction, inwhich totality embraces us and we embrace totality”(Spe Salvi, n. 12). To the Virgin Mary, the sure guideto sanctity, we entrust our pilgrimage to ourheavenly home, while invoking her motherlyintercession for the eternal repose of all our brothersand sisters who have been laid to rest in the hope ofresurrection.


Short Story

THE COMING OF THE KINGDOMfrom Fr. Ian Doulton's collection

We have fought many wars, allof them to defend the ideals

of justice and brotherhood and theright of each man to find his own wayto happiness. We have won manybattles overseas but here at home wehave yet to win the decisive one.

This is what Johnnie Barkerbegan to discover even while he wasstill with the army of occupation inJapan. At first, all he lived for, wasthe day he could go back home toHorton Creek in the in the valley.Then he fell in love with a Japanesegirl. Her name was Set-Sumi andshe had eyes like black velvet butJohnnie Barker took his timedeciding whether or not to marryher. Set-Sumi loved farming, babiesand a host of things that Johnnieloved. She was intelligent, pleasantand hardworking and she lovedJohnnie. She was also a goodChristian and the only way Johnniecould have her was to marry her.He listened to the objections of hiscommanding officer. He weighedcarefully the warnings of hisfriends. Then he wrote a letter to hisfather explaining how he felt. Andwhen he boarded the plane outbound for the States, Set-Sumiclimbed the ramp with him as Mrs.Johnnie Barker.

Together they changed to the localtrain that chugged through HortonCreek. Johnnie was excited. Thescenery seemed to look the same,the wooded valley and all the treesand streams. He was coming homeand he made not secret of hisexcitement to ‘Sets’ (that’s whatJohnnie affectionately called her).She was happy for him too. Oh, his

dad would be looking forward toseeing his ‘Soldier Son’ return homefrom the war. As he lifted herdelicate frame off the train onto thelittle platform he asked her: “Youtired honey?” “No, I’m not tired”she replied very shyly. Then sheasked quietly: “Where is our father,Johnnie?” (She would always say‘our father’ when referring to herfather-in-law, for, that was theJapanese custom) Johnny knewMatt Wilson, the stationmaster ofHorton Creek as a good familyfriend for many years. His fatherwould certainly be inside chattingwith Matt. He told Set-Sumi to lookafter the luggage while he went tocall his dad. He went into thestationmaster’s office and foundMatt busy at his books: “Matt, Matt,I’m home!” Johnnie shouted, like aschoolboy back home for holidays.Matt was thrilled to see him: “Well,Johnnie, how are you, how haveyou been? You look like you’vegrown two feet taller! Well, I’m gladto see you Johnnie.” Matt toldJohnnie that his dad had left thepick-up truck for them to come homeand nothing more. Johnnie foundit strange but his dad could havebeen caught up with something onthe farm. He came back and toldSets: “Dad will be waiting for us athome, I guess.” But it still seemedodd.

The old pick-up was still goodand Johnnie drove off in a cloud ofdust into the valley. The roadwound through the green valleyand then Johnnie said excitedly:“Sets, there’s our fence, that’s thebeginning of our land.” Nothing


had changed. Set-Sumi wasimpressed. Soon the pickup wasclimbing up to a clearing where thebungalow was. Johnnie thenproudly said: “Here’s our house.”Set-Sumi observed: “I do not see alight in the house.” Johnnie couldalmost think of his father eagerlypreparing supper for them in thekitchen, with ham and cornbreadand sweet potatoes from the farm.It was then she said: “Johnnie, yougo to our father, I wait.” Johnnietried to insist but she said:“Perhaps he would like to welcomeyou, alone.” Maybe he should,thought Johnnie. So, he walked upthe porch steps and in through thewire mesh door and into the livingroom. He saw his father sitting inthe armchair by the window. WillBarker could see the drive fromwhere he sat. Johnnie shouted assoon as he saw his father: “Dad,dad, I’m back!” There was a coldreply from the gathering twilight:“I reckon you are.” Some ofJohnnie’s excitement disappearedat this cold reception. His son hadcome back from the war and herewas his father with no sign ofwelcome. There was somethingwrong, Johnnie sensed. Then heasked: “Dad, what’s troublingyou?” Now it all came out. Hisfather stood up and in his deepvoice said: “What’s troubling me?You ask what’s troubling me?”Johnnie tried to quieten him saying:“Dad, Sets is outside.” Will couldnot be bothered. She could remainthere. Johnnie was shocked. Hecould not believe he was hearinghis father’s voice: “There are plentyof your own kind you could havemarried, girls right here in thevalley.” Then Johnnie raised hisvoice: “Well, I loved Sets”. Old manBarker wasn’t listening. He sat on

his armchair once again: “You’veloved her? You should have knownshe wasn’t our kind. She won’t fitin here. What will people say? Howare we going to face this town?”Johnnie replied as loudly as hisfather had spoken. Now he couldnot be bothered if Set-Sumi waslistening: “I haven’t done anythingto be ashamed of.” William Barkerwas prepared to speak to the Japsmaybe in the streets or at mostemploy them on his farm, but havehis son marry one of them and havethem eat at the same table? Hewould not hear of that. Hebellowed: “How you could loweryourself with getting mixed up witha heathen?” Johnnie knew full wellthat Sets was a good Catholic, fromthe Catholic Mission in Osaka, infact, a better practicing Catholicthan either he or his father. WillBarker then said in disgust as heturned his back: “I’m not havingany bunch of little ‘skinnies’running around my house.” But thewar had taught Johnnie a fewthings and one of them was not tohate the enemy. He hated the wrongideas somebody had pumped intotheir heads. Set-Sumi’s father waskilled in one of the Americanbombing raids. Will did not evenwant to see her and so he said:“She’s not going to set foot in myhouse,” disgusted, he continued:“Just thinking about you and her,turns my stomach.” Johnnie wasreally angry and walked out in arage: “I’m taking my wife to a hoteland I’m not setting foot in this houseuntil you are ready to treat her likemy wife.” Set-Sumi had heard allthis and she had tears runningdown her cheeks as she fell intoJohnnie’s arms: “Johnnie, Johnnie,”He tried to calm her but she criedon: “I am sorry. I made you hear


our father say those things.”This was the way Johnnie Barker

came home and found that the warhad followed him. He and his wifemoved into a little old house notmuch better than a shack on the nexthill over from his father’s. Fromtheir south window, they could seeWill Barker’s chimney. But newsraced through the valley. ‘JohnnieBarker’s married a Jap!’ Nobodysaid: ‘Welcome home, Johnnie’ andnobody came to call. Johnniefarmed the place by himself. Hetried to make the house livable withonly Sets to help him. Every once ina while, she walked across the fieldsand left a cake or a pie on WillBarker’s doorstep. But the old mannever spoke to her or Johnnie. If hepassed his son on the street, heturned his head. Johnnie set his jawand hung on. Sets packed away thetea things that were meant forcompany and lost much of hergaiety. They fought it out alone fora year and a half when Johnnie gotanother call from the Army. Therewas trouble in Korea. This time itwas doubly hard to go because hehad to leave Sets alone and theirbaby was on its way. Johnny sawto it that word reached his fatherbut when he boarded the train outbound from the valley only Setswaved him goodbye.

Months passed. Sets used tostand every day and look sadly atthe chimney of her father-in-law’shouse. One day there was no smokecoming from the chimney. The nextday there was none. When, thethird morning passed without thesign of life, Sets, thought she hadbetter call the doctor. She had nophone in the house so she trudgedthe three miles to the doctor’s andtogether Dr. Weston and she wentover to Will Barker’s.

Dr. Weston knocked hard andcalled loudly: “Will! Will Barker!Will, its doc.” There was no sound.He looked concerned: “Sets, I’mgoing in.” Set-Sumi went in withDoc Weston. The place was alldusty. There was mud on the floor.Then both of them heard a soundin the kitchen. They walked quicklythere. The moment Will Barker sawSet-Sumi he shouted, weak as hewas: “Get out, and get that Jap girlout of my house.” He had a stick inhis hand and was coming towardthem swaying from side to side. Hedid not seem normal at all. He wasdelirious. Dr. Weston managed tooverpower him and took him tobed. He immediately went into aswoon. Set-Sumi said quietly:“Doctor, our father is very sick?”“Too sick to move, I have to get anurse,” replied Doc Weston. Set-Sumi was ready to sit by his bed: “Iwill care for him,” she said. Thedoctor would not have it. “No Setyou can’t, you’re too near your time.It’d be a night and day job. Besides,he doesn’t want you.” Set-Sumiassured him: “I cared for the sick inthe war. You said with this fever,he would not know anything. Hewould not know I am here.”

It was about a week later as Set-Sumi was dozing by Will Barker’sbedside when Doc Weston tip toedin and asked if she had eaten andrested. Set-Sumi replied: “I haverested and the neighborhoodwomen have brought food.” DoctorWeston seemed relieved that theneighborhood was finally comingto accept Set-Sumi. There seemed tobe some movement from the bed.Set-Sumi said quickly: “Doctor, ourfather is waking up.” Doc Westonpatted the slim shoulder of Set-Sumi:“You did it Sets. You pulled himthrough.” Will Barker was trying


to get up and the doctor tried to tellhim to take it easy. He had beendelirious all this time. The momenthe set eyes on Set-Sumi he said,rasping: “What! What’s she doinghere? You get that Jap girl out ofhere.” Weston tried to convincehim: “Well you wouldn’t be here ifit wasn’t for her. She’s been nursingyou night and day.” Barker wenton, as if he had not heard the doctor:“You? What are you doing here? Itold you to stay away.” Set-Sumispoke boldly now: “You are thefather of my husband, so you aremy father. My people are taught tohave great respect for the elders ofour family. I am the daughter of thishouse. When you are sick I care foryou.” Will Barker fell back on thepillows, but not before hewhispered: “Go away.” In his eyeswas still the fire of hate. Set-Sumiturned her face away so Doc wouldnot see her tears. Doctor Westonstood up over Will Barker and saidvery distinctly: “Will Barker. Is thatall you’ve got to say?” He led Set-Sumi by the shoulders out of theroom. She was sobbing. Then hesaid loud enough for Will Barker tohear: “Now, Sets I’m taking you outright now.” She agreed: “Yes,please doctor. I want to go home.”In the mean time Will Barkerwanted to get up because hethought he was feeling a little better.“Now when can I get out of thisbed?” He shouted after DocWeston. The doctor told him to takeit easy and said he would come tosee him in the morning. He had onlybeen conscious for three days now.

Some days later, Doc Weston wasvisiting Will Barker again. He heardthe buggy of Matt Wilson, the oldStation Master pull up. Matthopped off and came to the doorand shouted: “Hey doc, doc,” while

making his way to the door,“Johnnie’s wife’s in a bad way comeas soon as you can:” Doc Westoncalled back: “I’ll be right there, I’mcoming.” Matt continuednervously: “Get Johnnie Barker assoon as you can too. My wife and Ijust stopped in to see her.” But thebaby wasn’t due mused DocWeston. Matt was agitated: “Mymissus told me to tell you the babyis coming. She is looking awfullybad.” Doc Weston told Matt to runalong and send a wire to JohnnieBarker. He came back to the bed ofWill Barker, who seemedunconcerned and he said verysternly: “Now Will, Barker, listento me before I go. I’ve got somethingto say to you. Johnnie’s wife woreherself out taking care of you. Shesat up with you five days andnights. She saved your life and allyou said was: ‘Go away’. You callyourself a man of peace? You callyourself a Christian? Now chewthis over Will. If Johnnie’s wife dies,if Johnnie’s baby dies, it will be onaccount of you!”

The Station Master finally sentJohnnie Barker a telegram. He neverreceived the wire. It crossed onefrom Johnnie saying he was on hisway home. - He was the only onegetting off the train and there wasnobody on the platform. He knewSets wouldn’t be there with the babycoming. There would be no pick upfor him this time. There was onlyone car near the tracks, a brand newcar. He started to walk away fromthe station with his duffle bag onhis shoulder, head down and hisboots kicking the dust. As he nearedthe car the door opened and twopeople stepped out. “Sets! Dad!”Sets was so excited in Johnnie’sarms: “Johnnie, Johnnie!” Will

(Continued on pg. 27)


A MISSIONFROM ABOVE

by Gianni Asti

Our reflections on Don Boscoas a catechist were inspired

with some urgency as we considerthe times in which we live. Thinkof the fact that today, we have tobear witness to our Faith in aworld that is moving away fromGod at such a speed that it islosing its Christian and humanvalues.

Religious education that in thepast sustained the Faith of ourelders does not seem to be effectivefor today’s youngsters. Asystematic catechesis only takesplace for those preparing for theirFirst Communion andConfirmation.

Once upon a time, parents andgrandparents were the firstcatechism teachers of theirchildren and because of this wewould like to reflect on theinfluence that Mamma Margarethad on her son, Don Bosco

A Call From AboveWe will now consider how the

vocation of John and theeducation he received wasinfluenced by the Call he receivedfrom heaven in the form of thedream that he had at the age ofnine.

There was a certain originalityin the suggestions that theyoungster received as to how hewas to teach Catechism andwitness to his Faith during thoseearly years and later on as a youngpriest.

The experience that John hadduring the dream of Jesus the

Good Shepherd and Mary becamethe foundation of his ministryamong youngsters and it explainsthe passion with which he spoketo the youngsters about God. Infact, for Don Bosco, teachingCatechism was not just aboutmemorizing some formulae but itmeant encountering God andbringing him to young people.

Only those who have had anintimate experience of God canfeel that passion that wouldqualify them to be good catechists.In this regard we should keep inmind all those who are presentlyin this ministry - even parentswho are the first catechists of theirchildren.

We must remember that theessential content of all catechesisis concentrated in one person whoneeds to be known and accepted:Jesus Christ, the Perfect Man, Sonof God, Saviour and Lord.

The first proclamation is of Him


who was dead and rose andwhich St. Paul handed down tothe Christians of Corinth: “Wedeclare to you, brethren that theGospel we preach to you…Christdied for our sins according to theScriptures and was buried and roseagain on the third day, accordingto the Scriptures and that heappeared to Cephas and then to thetwelve!” (Corinthians 15:3-5)

That majestic and luminouspersonage who appeared to littleJohnny - in the dream while he wastrying to silence his blasphemingcompanions with blows - wasJesus, the Good Shepherd.

Instruction on the ugliness ofsin and the beauty of virtue

In John’s dream, Jesus calledhim by name (like the typical ofthe calls in the Bible) and orderedhim to put himself at the head ofthe group of youngsters and takecharge of them, adding the words:

- You will have to win thesefriends of yours, not with blows, butwith gentleness and kindness. Sobegin right now to show them thatsin is ugly and virtue is beautiful

- Confused and afraid, Ireplied that I was only a boy andunable to talk to these youngstersabout religion. At that moment thefighting and cursing stopped and thecrowd of boys gathered about the Manwho was now talking. Almostunconsciously I asked:

- But how can you order me to dosomething that looks so impossible?

- What seems so impossible you mustachieve by being obedient andacquiring knowledge.

- But where, how?- I will give you a Teacher, under

whose guidance you will learn andwithout whose help all knowledgebecomes foolishness.

- But who are you?- I am the Son of Her whom your

mother has taught you to greet threetimes a day. (EBM 1, 95)

The first draft of the Catechismthat Don Bosco received from onHigh contained a catechesis on theugliness of sin and the beauty of virtue.He masterfully penned down thosethoughts in his famous prayerbook: The Companion of Youth. (IlGiovane Provveduto)

As instructed in the dream hewas told that it was not with blowsbut with gentleness and charitythat he was to win over his charges.These should be the characteristicsof every catechist. He or she shoulddemonstrate the virtue of patiencecoupled with firmness. Thekindness of Don Bosco thatconquered the hearts of hisyoungsters was the most beautifulexpression of this charity.

The means to be employed werealso revealed: obedience and theacquisition of knowledge. Johnwas upset and admitted that hewas a poor ignorant youngster.

From this mission that he hadreceived from above John derivedthat passion for the salvation ofsouls that he demonstratedthroughout his life. It became hismotto: Give me souls and take awaythe rest.”

This is your Field of WorkWhen he gave him a Teacher,

Jesus, the Good Shepherd,presented his mother to him. Healso pointed out to him that hisfield of work was that privilegedportion of humanity: poor andabandoned youth.

At that moment I saw besidehim a Lady of majesticappearance, wearing a beautiful


mantle glowing as if bedeckedwith stars. She saw my confusionmount; so she beckoned me to her.Taking my hand with greatkindness she said:Look!I did so. All the children vanished.In their place I saw many animals:goats, dogs, cats, bears and a varietyof others.This is your field, this is where youmust work,’ the Lady told me.‘Make yourself humble, steadfastand strong. And what you will seehappen to these animals you willhave to do for my children.I looked again; the wild animalshad turned into as many lambs,gentle gamboling lambs, bleating awelcome for that Man and Lady.‘At this point of my dream I startedto cry and begged the Lady toexplain what it all meant because Iwas so utterly confused. She thenplaced her hand on my head andsaid:‘In due time, everything will be clearto you.’After she had spoken these words,some noise awoke me.’ (EMB 1, 95-96)

This was the role of Mary in themission of Don Bosco the catechist.She would help him understandGod’s plan for his life and for thegood of youngsters. It was not fornothing that his work for poor andabandoned youngsters would havehumble beginnings with therecitation of a Hail Mary with a poor16 year-old bricklayer.

A catechist jugglerSupported by the example of his

earthly mother John immediatelyswung into action. He was just tenyears old.

We notice him at his firstperformances among his peers.

Here we find the young John Boscohoning the art of teachingCatechism. He coupled theproclamation of the Gospel andentertainment to prayer and he stillsucceeded in offering his audiencean experience of God.

“There was a meadow in Becchidotted with several trees. John usedto stretch a rope between two ofthem and anchor it firm and tight.He would then set up a chair and asmall table with a bag on it. A largemat was then rolled out on theground. As soon as everything wasready and everyone was eagerlywaiting for the performance tobegin, John would invite them torecite the five decades of the rosaryand sing a religious song. Thatdone, he would stand on his chairand announce: “Now I want to tellyou about the sermon that thechaplain gave today at Morialdo.”At the end of his sermon a briefprayer was recited and then theshow would start. The youngpreacher had now become a skilledentertainer. (EDB 1, 106)

This was what “teachingCatechism” meant for Don Bosco:to be enamoured by the youngstersthe Lord had sent to him so that theycould sense that in him they had aloving friend.

For him simply teachingCatechism was unimaginable.There had to be a little ‘game’ whichwould make that meetingsomething that they lookedforward to.

So, that was how Don Boscotaught Catechism already as ayoungster, through hisperformances in the courtyard infront of his home. Today outside hishome there is a monument to theten-year-old passionate juggler –catechist, man of God.


Barker smiled his old familiar smile:“Welcome home, son!” Johnnieembraced his dad: “Dad, you camewith Sets! What happened?” Willsaid: “Well you haven’t seenanything yet. Look in the backseat”.Johnnie opened the door and hiseyes opened wide and he shouted:“Ah, ha, ha, the baby! Sets whydidn’t you let me know?” Willmotioned him: “Here, climb in thecar.” Johnnie was all questions. AllSets said was: “Our father bought itfor us and he taught me how todrive.” Then Will Barker was hischeerful self once more and he put

his arm around his son’s broadshoulders and said: “Well it’s adarn good story. And if you’ll climbin herebeside my grandson we’lltell you all about it on our wayhome.”

This is one battle for brotherhoodthat ended in victory. But the war isstill being fought in communitiesthroughout every country all overthe world. It will end only when allof us have learned the lesson of theLord’s Prayer that he whom we call‘Our Father’ is equally the Father ofall. And that only when we havelearned this shall we see the comingof his Kingdom of Peace.

(Continued from pg. 23)

I go to a special Mass once a monthfor All the Faithful Departed… I feelthat we do not pray sufficiently forthem… My question is that I wouldlike to know when the Church firststarted celebrating ‘All Souls Day’?

Thanks for your question. Ibelieve that most Catholicsconsider it a sacred duty to prayfor the dead. They may not do soby attending a special monthlyMass, but any Christian whoprays will almost certainly prayfor their deceased relatives andfriends because they believe thatthey can help them with theirprayers. When was ‘All Souls’Day’ first celebrated? It was firstbegun in the year 998 by St. Odilo,a Benedictine Abbot. Other

Benedictines and Carthusiansfollowed his example and in 1003Pope Sylvester II approved thepractice. Another point whichyou might like to know was thatthe date (2nd November) wasselected so that the memory of allthe faithful departed, thosealready enjoying their eternalreward and those still inpurgatory could be celebrated ontwo successive days, the first twodays in November. The successivecelebrations remind us all of ourbelief in the Communion of Saints– we can help those who are gonebefore us by our prayers and thosewho have already departed thislife can help us by interceding forus with the Lord.

The Origins of All Souls DayFrom St. Martin's Messenger, Ireland


"THEN MARY SAID"by Maria Ko Ha Fong, FMA

For me, the biblical presentationof Mary has overtones of

Chinese art. She seems to havesome of the characteristics offamous Chinese silk paintings:very few strokes, plenty of whitespaces, some colours, contours notclearly defined, simple subjectsand an unpretentious atmosphereof a kind of sacred silence. A fewstrokes falling harmoniously injust the right places and burstingwith energy thanks to the whitespaces, they become very evocative.These qualities invite the onlookerto take a leap towards the infinite,peep into the realm of mystery andexperience the utter beauty beyond.In fact, there is very little that theevangelists report about Mary butthe few strokes of colour and themany blank spaces that surroundher offer us a portrait of her that isa harmonious whole bothdynamic and fascinating.

For 20 centuries, the Church hascontemplated Mary’s sober beautyand she always manages to findsome new insights some newenergy to assist us on our journeythrough life. “De Maria nunquamsatis” says St. Bernard (you cannot

say enough about Mary). We cannever stop contemplating onMary as we reflect on the fewwords that she speaks in theGospels.

Only six verses in the GospelsJust like the Gospel accounts of

Mary have been counted, so toohave Mary’s words. Mary spokeonly six times in the Gospels. Twiceto the angel at the Annunciation(Lk. 1, 34.38), once to the 12 year-old Jesus when she found him inthe Temple (Lk. 2, 48), twice toJesus at the wedding of Cana (John2.3) and then once to the servants(2.5). All the six statements of Maryare introduced with “and Marysaid, or “his Mother said.”

The “sayings” of Mary look briefand yet they are clear, intense, thefruit of silent reflection. They burstforth from the depths of her life asthe result of her deepcontemplation. That was why theywere as incisive as the sword-likeWord of God.

At the Annunciation Mary doesnot immediately respond to theangel’s surprising message. Herfirst reaction is one of shock


which is typical of someone who isfaced with something so infinitelyincredible. It is something novel andunexpected and she can hardlygrasp its meaning. Hers is anattitude of humility and reflectionof someone who is conscious of hersmallness. She approaches themystery with timidity anddiscretion as she tries to plumb thedepths of its meaning. Mary begsfor enlightenment: “How is thispossible? I do not know man.” Shealso expresses her dilemma at havingto accept without knowing what sheis consenting to. She asks God whatshe should do to be able to obey andafter the angel revealed how she wasto become the protagonist andwitness those “great things,” Maryfully accepts and gives her consent:“Behold the handmaid of the Lord,be it done to me as you have said.”

At Ain Karim, when Maryencountered Elizabeth, she“proclaimed” a poetic explosion ofjoy, emotion and gratitude. A poemis the fullest, most intense and themost beautiful form of humancommunication. It is language thatunifies and harmonizes all that is inthe depths of a person and directs ittowards the Infinite. Hers was alanguage of innocence, wonder, love,a free “explosion” of life. With Godconcealed within her, Maryexplodes in a form that is new andsurprising because she isoverwhelmed by the mystery thathas filled her with overflowing joy.“My heart is moved by an exaltedtheme, my tongue as nimble as awriter’s pen.”(Psalm 44)

Words of AcceptanceThere is a long silence after the

incident at Ain Karim and then the12 year-old Jesus visits Jerusalem. Thejourney to the holy city marks a

milestone in Jesus’ growth and isan anticipation of another tripthat he will have to make toJerusalem and that journey willculminate in his Passover but italso marks a milestone in thegrowth of his mother.

She found Jesus in the Templeafter three days and Mary askedhim: “Son, why have you donethis to us? Behold your father andI have been worried, looking foryou.”

The “why” of Mary gathersup the “whys” of all humanityas they gather around themystery of the cross and in theiranxiety and anguish theyearnestly strive to find God.Mary too grows in her abilityaccept the identity of Jesus – thischild who is not just her son –she is growing in her knowledgethat God is always mysteriousand man is continuously“seeks” him.

At Cana, Mary plays the roleoff mediator. Her two ‘words’:“They have no wine” and “Dowhatever he tells you,” bring outthis dimension. Mary readsdeeply into human history,seeing individual problems, asyet unnamed. She findsconfusion and cries of pain notyet verbalized and she presentsthem to her Son who alone canresolve them. In the mean timeshe prepares the servants toaccept this divine help. “Dowhatever he tells you.” Amongthe statements that Mary madethis one is addressed toeveryone. It is also the lastrecorded word spoken by her inthe Gospel, a kind of “spiritualtestament.” After this, Mary willnot speak anymore. She has saidwhat was essential.


NEWSBITSAUSTRALIA

"Jesus must disappear from history.Actually, he must really stop poppingup as a pivot point of history itself:Before and After Christ, we say andwrite. But no longer. At least inAustralia. At least in students’textbooks."

The perplexing proposal that alltraditional references to the terms“BC” (before Christ) and “AD”(after Christ) will be replaced by themore “neutral” EV (before theVulgar Era), BP (Before Present, tobe used according to specificinstructions for ancient history andarcheology) and CE (Common Era).An innovation that was supposedto become effective immediately,but that due to the outcry it causedcould be delayed.

Interviewed by the AustralianDaily Telegraph, the AnglicanArchbishop Peter Jensen spoke ofan “intellectually absurd attempt toerase Jesus from history”. ReverendFred Nile said, “It is absolutelyshameful. What they are trying to dois to remove from our history the rolethat Christianity played in creatingthe consciousness of the Country.”

A spokesman for the Ministry ofEducation, Adrian Piccoli, statedthat the Ministry was not concernedabout the changes and added thatby now terms such as BP or CE arealready commonly used.Christopher Pyne, oppositionspokesman for educational matters,noted: “What Australia is today isthe result of the Judeo-Christianheritage of western civilization. Theembarrassing removal of “BeforeChrist” and “After Christ” is anattempt at denying our being apeople.”

UNITED KINGDOMCatholics must get back the

tradition of the “Friday fast”, theday of the week when the faithfulabstain from eating meat tocommemorate the Passion and thedeath of Christ.

English and Welsh bishopsrequested this in a communiquédated 5 September and signed byMarkus Stock, General Secretaryof the English and WelshEpiscopal Conference. In this note,they urged the faithful to “return”to this “practice of penitence,” forthe entire year. And this isprecisely what is new about theproposal: a return to this “healthyhabit,” not just during Lent, butevery Friday each year. Thebishops wrote: “Friday is thedesignated day of penitence as itcommemorates the pain and deathof the Lord.” The prelates also gavean indication of the date by whichthis “decision” came into effect:16 September 2011, which was aFriday.

In the document, the bishops ofEngland and Wales alsorecognised that “simple acts ofwitnessing, coupled with sincereprayer, can be a strong boost tofaith.” Finally, the bishops notedthat traditional acts of Catholicdevotion, such as making the signof the cross in a careful andrespectful way, saying the Angelusprayer as well as a prayer beforeand after meals, are “simpleactions during which we dedicatea few moments of our daily lives toGod the Almighty and show ourlove and trust in His goodness andprovidence.” If these acts ofdevotion have been lost or even


forgotten, in particular in our homesand at school, then we can only butgain from learning to bring them tolife once more.”

GOARichard Lees, a 26 year old

chemistry graduate, lay leader andfounder of the Goa Anglican Centre(http://goaanglicancentre.webs.com/)from Bath in the UK, has just completeda 500 km walk across the UK to raisemoney for his charity, which he setup to improve the lives of vulnerablepeople in India.

Lees walked from Walshingham inNorfolk to Lindisfarne, popularlyknown as Holy Island, inNorthumberland - the two mostimportant centres of Christianpilgrimage in England. “It wassomething that I felt I had a personalneed to do as part of my own spiritualgrowth but it has also served as anopportunity to raise funds andawareness of the charity” Leesexplained. “I was humbled by thegenerosity of people along the way,many of whom offered hospitality andfriendship. I was also amazed by thegenerosity of those who gave moneyto the appeal”

The walk raised an encouraging£1200 out of the £2000 target, and ispart of an ongoing fundraisingcampaign to finance a number ofprojects, the most important of whichis the establishment of avolunteering programme and theopening of a new charity centre inGoa, which will include a café, a travelagency, Wi-Fi internet and a charityaudio-visual display and shop. Tensof thousands of tourists visit Goa eachyear and Lees hopes to tap into theirgenerosity, not just in terms of money,but also, their time and unwantedbelongings. He also hopes his work“will generate long term funding for

projects that bring benefits to themost vulnerable, be they sociallyexcluded, suffering from extremepoverty or ill health or simplylacking opportunities”.

Lees qualified as a scienceteacher in 2008, but it seems Godhad other plans for him. After hewas baptised and confirmed inthe Anglican Church, he decidedto spend 18 months exploringwhat these plans were, througha Pastoral placement with achurch near Birmingham in theUK.

But if you are not prepared totake a risk, you are not reallyliving. Though Church life inEngland was comfortable, “Iknew I would not really befollowing God’s plan unless Itook the jump” the young charityworker said. He explained howhis ever growing faith hadrevealed to him that the right wayforward for him, was to givehimself full-time to his charitywork in India, which he hadalready been involved in duringhis time at school.

Fired by his faith and with thestrength and support offered tohim by church communities ofall denominations where hehad lived and worshipped(Bath, York and Birmingham, inthe UK), Lees founded the GoaAnglican Centre in the summerof 2010 and spent the winter of2010/2011 establishing a basefor the charity in Goa. Heestablished and strengthenedlinks with local charities thathad the know-how and contactbase to help him fulfil his goals.Amongst these are SEEDS Indiawww.seedsindia.net in Keralaand Mother Teresa’s Roses inMumbai (Bombay) and Goa.


LOVING CHILDREN TOTHEIR LOVING MOTHER

Our sincere thanks to Mary Help of Christians for helping our daughterto pass her SSC board examinations with a good percentage and formany other favours. Maureen, MumbaiMy nephew, his wife and son were saved from a terrible crash whencement boulders came through the roof of their house but sparedthem.Our Lady was there to protect them. A similar incident tookplace last year and they were spared from a crashing ceiling fan thatfell from the ceiling. We pray the three Hail Marys every day. Miss Arputhaswamy, TiruchiOn 4th May 2011 we were travelling by car from Goa with my wife anddaughter-in-law and two small grand children to visit Our Lady ofVelankanni. At Davangere we met with a serious accident. None ofus were hurt though the car was totally smashed. We prayed the 3Hail Marys and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Our Lady had protecteduus. Devotee, MumbaiThank you, dear Mother Mary for the gift of a beautiful healthy babygirl. Ms. Hazel Crasto. DahisarMy sincere thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for blessing me with agood job abroad. Please keep me always under your loving protection.

Savio F. DeSouza, GoaMy heartfelt thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for their constantguidance and protection in our daily lives. Lorna DeSouza, GoaThank you, Mother Mary for my successful cataract operationsinJanuary 2009 and July 2009 and for a left leg operation in March2008. Selwyn Lopes, GoaIn the month of August 2011, my husband had taken a loan from thebank and he lost the money somewhere. We were very upset andworried. I prayed the three hail mary continuously, and asked Mothermary to help us find the money. In the morning around 5.00 am, myhusband found the money in the store room. It was a miracle to findthe money in the store room. I would like to thank Mother Mary forhelping us find the money. and for all the favours granted to me. P.D UKIt was in July 2010 – a very close friend of ours was very sick inhospital, she was in a coma for nearly a month due to some infection.She was under medication but there seemed to have been noimprovement. It was at this time that I received the Don Bosco’sMadonna and I felt inspired to pray earnestly and entrust my friend toMary Help of Christians. Soon after this she began to show signs ofimprovement and now she is fine. I am sure Mother Mary heard ourprayers. Thank you dear Mother Mary. P. Antao, GoaOur grateful thanks to Mother Mary for all the blessings and favoursthat our family received. V.E. Joseph & Mary Joseph, New PanvelThank you dearest Jesus and Mother Mary for curing my child Ishaanfrom Jaundice. Please continue to bless him and keep him in thebest of health. Clemie Coelho, 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 Mary Help of Christians for the many graces grantedto me through the recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Euphrasia Rebello, GoaMy sincere thanks to Our Lady, Don Bosco and St. Dominic Savio formy admission in the post graduate programme. Ishwar Rathwa,VadodaraThank you dear Mother Mary Help of Christians. I prayed for employmentfrom Our Lady's Book (Don Bosco's Madonna) and I am blessed with atemporary job. I pray that Mother Mary continues to intercede for meand that Almighty God blessed me always. I pray the three Hail Marysdaily. Valerie Fernandes, TorontoOur humble thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for the many favoursreceived throughout our daughter's pregnancy and for blessing her witha healthy baby girl Kaitlyn Elizabeth. Mr. & Mrs. Arockiasamy Anthony, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThank you Mother for the all the blessings on my family,and for keepingmy parents and my family in good health,and for blessing me with ajob,the 3 Hail Marys have always be my strength in my most difficulttimes. A Devotee, MumbaiOur sincere thanks to Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco and St. DominicSavio for a successful by-pass operation of Mr. John Godwin. We continueto say the three hail Marys daily. Mr. & Mrs. Godwin, MumbaiMy sincere thanks to Mary Help of Christians, through the recitation ofthe three Hail Marys my daughter and son-in-law have got their greencards and for all the other favours received. T. Gomes, MumbaiThank you dear Jesus and Mother Mary for granting a US visa to ourson. We need your continuous favours and blessings on him and on ourfamily. Mr. & Mrs. D'Souza, MumbaiWe are grateful to Our Lady for favours received. Please mother, protectus and my Trinette and Enzo. R. Mahadwan & E. D'Silva, MumbaiMy sincere and heartfelt thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for havingattained 70 years of age in spite of many obstacles, difficulties andmisfortunes. I also pray that Jesus and Mother Mary protect me and mywife always. Joe Cabral, Mumbai


THEY ARE GRATEFUL TOOUR LADY AND DON BOSCO

My sincere thanks to Our Lady, Don Bosco and to St. DominicSavio, through whose intercession and the daily recital of the threeHail Marys, I have received countless blessings for the last 40 yearsfrom ever since I was a child. Sorry I am very late to send mythanksgiving, but I know the Lord understands. Mother Mary and allthe Saints continue to intercede for me and my Family. Theresa Vaz, PuneI am grateful to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Mary, Don Boscoand Dominic Savio for the successful bypass heart surgery of mysister and also for many other favours received. Violet, MumbaiMy belated but sincere thanks to Almighty God, the Most SacredHeart of Jesus and Our Blessed Mother Mary for granting my son agood job in a big organization in the Gulf. Maria, MumbaiMy brother was suffering from a skin ailment. He had visited manydoctors and had taken several medicines. Mother Mary alwaysprotects her children. I prayed hard to Mother Mary to cure him of hisskin problems and today he is healed. Thank you Mother Mary for allthe favours granted to me and my family. F. D’Souza, MumbaiThank you dear Jesus and Mother Mary for all the graces grantedme during a very difficult period in my life. Lizzie Dias, MumbaiThank you Mother Mary, Don Bosco and all the other saints for allthe favours received. Leena Martis, MumbaiMy sincere thanks to Our Lady Help of Christians, Don Bosco andDominic Savio for all the graces received. Helen Johnson & Marissa J. Manuel, BhayandarThanks to Mother Mary and St. Dominic Savio for granting my sonsuccess in his Std XII as well as in his final year and thank you formany other favours. Devotee, MumbaiMy heartfelt thanks to Our Lady: On 13th May and 24th May ourhouse work that had been held up for 10 years became possible andwas completed because of Our Lady's blessing. The impossible wasmade possible. We are grateful for several other favours received.

Theresa Gonsalves, MumbaiBelated thanks to Our Lord Jesus, Our Lady, Don Bosco and DominicSavio for the many favours granted, especially the gift of a baby girlto my elder daughter who had a normal delivery after manycomplications. She is eight months old now. Mrs. O. Pinto, MumbaiOur sincere thanks to Jesus, Our Lady and St. Dominic Savio forgiving me a good life partner. Mrs. N. D'Silva, MumbaiThank you, Mother, for restoring my good health and do continue toshower your blessings on us. Cheryl, PuneMy belated thanks to Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco andDominic Savio for blessing my daughter with a safe delivery andt thegift of a healthy baby girl. Rodricks, MumbaiThank you, Mother Mary for granting my daughter-in-law a safe andnormal delivery and a healthy child. F. Pinto, Mumbai

APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYERNOVEMBER 2011

Holy Father's General Intention: For the Eastern Churches, thattheir venerable tradition may be known and appreciated as a spiritualtreasure for the entire Church.

Missionary Intention: For Justice and Reconciliation in Africa: Thatthe African continent may find in Christ the strength to fulfill the path ofreconciliation and justice, indicated in the second Synod of Bishops for Africa.

THANKS TO DEARST. DOMINIC SAVIO

Thanks dear St. Dominic Savio for the favourI received. I was saved from having to undergoan operation which the doctor had advisedme to get done. I have been cured. MumbaiWe are grateful to St. Dominic Savio for thegift of a baby boy. I wore the scapular ofDominic Savio throughout my pregnancy. Mr. & Mrs. S. D'Cunha, GoaDear St. Dominic Savio thank you for the giftof a baby girl and for a safe and normaldelivery. Preetham and Carol Fernandes, DubaiMy Sincere thanks to our Dear Lord, MotherMary Help of Christians, Don Bosco andSt.Dominic Savio for favours received. B. Cardozo, Mumbai

For the last seven years we were childless and several times I came tothe shrine to ask for prayers. Today I am blessed with a healthy babygirl. I am grateful to Our Lady, don Bosco and St. Dominic Savio for thegift of a child. Mrs. Sonia Almeida, GoaI am sincerely grateful to St. Dominic Savio for granting my son successin his examinations. D. Fernandes, MumbaiMy elder son was born in March 2004 through a C-section and I was dueto have my second child in 2008 and I was very nervous as the doctorhad told me that I would not be able to have a normal delivery. It was thefeast of St. Anne and I attended Mass with my family and after lunchthat afternoon I went into labour. I went to the hospital and delivered anormal baby boy that evening. I am most grateful to Our Lady andSt.Dominic Savio for this gift and for having preserved me from a dangerousaccident. Alanna Braganza, GoaOur sincere thanks to Our Lord Jesus, Mother Mary, Don Bosco and St.Dominic Savio for saving us from a major accident while we were asleepat home. Mr & Mrs Lawrence Pereira, Mumbai

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