Zeal in Amending our Lives (12)

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Zeal in Amending our Lives (12)

A fervent and diligent man is ready for all things. It is greater
work to resist vices and passions than to sweat in physical toil. He
who does not overcome small faults, shall fall little by little into
greater ones.
If you have spent the day profitably, you will always be happy at
eventide. Watch over yourself, arouse yourself, warn yourself, and
regardless of what becomes of others, do not neglect yourself. The
more violence you do to yourself, the more progress you will make.
'A Kempis: --Imitation of Christ, Bk 1, Ch 25

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June 28th - St. Vincentia Gerosa, virgin
Co-Foundress of The Sisters of Charity of Lovere

UNDER July 26 herein will be found an account of St. Bartholomea
Capitanio, foundress of the “Suore della Carità” of Lovere--an
institute closely resembling both in its spirit and its activities the
world-famous Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In the work of
giving life to this project Bartholomea was assisted from the first by
a companion much older than herself, who was also a native of Lovere.
Catherine Gerosa—the name Vincentia only came to her when she assumed
the habit of a nun--had been born in 1784 and for forty years had led
a most holy life, devoted almost entirely to works of charity and the
domestic duties which had devolved upon her after the early death of
her parents. It seems to have been in 1823 or 1824 that she was
brought into intimate contact with Bartholomea Capitanio, both of them
having been deeply moved by an appeal of Mgr Nava, bishop of Brescia,
who called for volunteers to help in rescue work, especially through
the education of the young. This was at the time sadly neglected in
that part of Italy under Austrian rule. Though Catherine Gerosa’s
attraction was rather in the direction of the service of the sick and
poor, she was persuaded to join forces with her younger friend who
felt specially called to the work of instructing children.

In the end both aims were combined in the institute which they planned
in close dependence upon the rule of the Sisters of Charity of St.
Vincent de Paul. They would gladly have affiliated themselves to the
great French order, but the political theories of the then government
refused recognition of any organization which depended upon foreign
control. The work prospered astonishingly, despite the lack of all
resources and despite the death in 1833 of the more active of its
foundresses at the early age of twenty-six. But Vincentia, though she
had to carry on alone, was truly possessed by the spirit of God. She
seems also to have been an admirable organizer and under her rule
recruits and new foundations continued to multiply. She herself was
the humblest of creatures and found the marks of respect paid to her a
great trial. She turned continually to the remembrance of our Lord’s
sufferings on the cross for strength and guidance. Hence she used to
say, “He who has not learnt, what the crucifix means knows nothing,
and he who knows his crucifix has nothing more to learn”. After a long
illness most patiently borne, Mother Vincentia died on June 29, 1847.
She was canonized in 1950.

Fr Luigi Mazza, s.j. who published in 1905 a full account of Bl.
Bartholomea Capitanio and her institute, supplemented this in 1910
with a Life of Mother Vincenza Gerosa. The decree of beatification (in
Acta Apostolicae Sedis, vol. xxv, 1933, pp. 300-303) includes a
biographical summary. See also Kempf, The Holiness of the Church in
the Nineteenth Century, pp. 204-207.


Saint Quote:
Behold Jesus Christ crucified, who is the only foundation of our hope;
He is our Mediator and Advocate; the victim and sacrifice for our
sins. He is goodness and patience itself; His mercy is moved by the
tears of sinners, and He never refuses pardon and grace to those who
ask it with a truly contrite and humbled heart.
--St. Charles Borromeo

Bible Quote:
Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him;
always living to make intercession for us.
[Hebrews 7:25] DRV


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The glory of God is the human person fully alive

The Son is with the Father from the beginning. He was to reveal to
the human race visions of prophecy, the diversity of spiritual gifts,
his own ways of ministry, the glorification of the Father, all in due
order and harmony, at the appointed time and for our instruction.
Where there is order, there is also harmony; where there is harmony,
there is also correct timing; where there is correct timing, there is
also advantage. The Word became the steward of the Father's grace for
the advantage of all, for whose benefit he made such wonderful
arrangements. He revealed God to human beings and presented them to
God. He safeguarded the invisibility of the Father to prevent people
from treating God with contempt and to set before them a constant goal
toward which to make progress. On the other hand, he revealed God to
human beings and made them visible in many ways to prevent them from
being totally separated from God and so cease to be. The glory of God
is the human person fully alive; the life of human beings is the
vision of God. If the revelation of God through creation gives life to
all who live upon the earth, much more does the manifestation of the
Father through the Word give life to those who see God.
--Irenaeus of Lyons