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God first loved us
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Weedy
Mar 26, 2023, 3:55:22 AM3/26/23
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God first loved us
"Fulfill the commandments out of love. Could anyone refuse to love our
God, so abounding in mercy, so just in all His ways? Could anyone deny
love to Him Who first loved us despite all our injustice and all our
pride? Could anyone refuse to love God Who so loved us as to send His
only Son not only to live among human beings but also to be put to
death for their sake and at their own hands?."
--St. Augustine--(excerpt from Catechetical Instructions 39)
<<>><<>><<>>
26 March – Blessed Maddalena Caterina Morano FMA
(1847-1908)
Virgin, Sister of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christian – the female
branch of the Salesians of St Don Bosco, most commonly known as the
“Salesian Sisters”, Teacher and Catechist – born on 15 November 1847
at Chieri, Italy and died on 26 March 1908 at Catania, Sicily, Italy
of cancer. Patronages – Teachers and Catechists. The Roman Martyrology
says of her: “In Catania in Sicily, in the year 1908, Blessed
Madeleine-Catherine Morano, virgin, from the Institute of the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, devoted herself to teaching
Catechism, traversing this region up and down endlessly.”
Maddalena Caterina Morano was born in Chieri, in the province of
Turin, on 15 November 1847. Her father Francis died when she was eight
and she began to help her mother with her work. Thanks to her uncle, a
priest, she was able to resume her studies. Her teacher appointed her
to help the little ones. Meanwhile she met Don Bosco for the first
time, while walking to Buttigliera d’Asti. Maddalena wanted to teach
and when she was 17 gained her teacher’s certificate.
Teacher
When she was 19 she began teaching at Montaldo Torinese. She confessed
to her mother in 1877 that she wanted to become a nun but her mother
could not support herself if Morano left her. She did this with
diligence and competence for 14 years, earning the respect and esteem
of the entire neighbourhood. Finally, Maddalena took her spiritual
director’s advice and, after having bought a home for her mother with
her savings, went to speak to Don Bosco, who directed her towards
Mornese, where Mother Mazzarello happily welcomed her.
With Mother Mazzarello
She immediately began teaching. In 1880 she consecrated herself to God
through perpetual vows and asked the Lord for the grace “of staying
alive until she had become a saint.” In 1881, at the request of the
Archbishop of Catania, Maddalena was invited to direct the new work at
Trecastagni, where three teachers were working. For four years she was
in charge, taught, washed, cooked, was Catechist but was especially a
witness to the point where the girls were always repeating – ‘we want
to be like her!’
Sicily
After a pause of a year in Turin, where she was in charge of the FMA
community at Valdocco, she was sent to Sicily as Visitor, Directress
and Novice Mistress. Hers was the task of founding new communities and
forming holy Sisters. Constantly with “one glance to earth and ten to
heaven,” she opened schools, oratories, hostels, workshops everywhere
on the island.
Numerous vocations came, attracted by her zeal and the community
spirit she created around her. Her multiple apostolates were welcomed
and encouraged by the Bishops. At Catania they gave her all the
Catechetics to look after, the foundation of new Oratories and the
Teacher’s College.
She was very devoted to Saint Joseph and Mary Help of Christians, who
guided her in founding new works and she was successful in spreading
Don Bosco’s charism and the Preventive System.
Death
Suffering from a tumour, Sr Morano died at Catania on 26 March 1908 at
the age of 61. At her death in 1908, there were 18 Houses in Sicily,
142 Sisters, 20 novices, 9 postulants. In the city where she died, St
Pope John Paul II proclaimed her Blessed on 5 November 1994. Her
remains are venerated at Alì Terme in the Salesian Church at Messina.
Mother Morano had a fear – being aware that people considered her a
saint, she said: “When I am dead, do not say ‘Mother Morano was a
Saint and will be in Heaven’ and with this, you let me burn in
Purgatory until the end of the world, if by mercy of God I am saved.
Pray, pray for me. ” She knew “that holiness is all about doing God’s
will, this being the only way to show our love for Him.”
The Provincial of the Salesian houses in Sicily, Fr Franco Piccollo, wrote:
“Certain names […] acquire special meanings and, for those who have
known Mother Morano, this name takes on three meanings -that is ,
unbeatable fortress, authentic and full of sanctity, generosity with
God and exquisite goodness with all. [She] showed strength in
suffering, for almost all her life she uncomfortable and suffered some
very serious ailments, although she kept them secret, true daughter of
Blessed Don Bosco, she was waiting for rest in Paradise.”
Don Albera, then spiritual director of the Salesian Society, was
amazed to find in her, so many beautiful qualities and one day he said
– “Oh this Mother Morano is a wonderful nun! She could govern not only
the province but the whole FMA congregation. “
Of Mother Morano, her biographer Don Garneri, states:
“I can say [that] her intimate study was to imitate Jesus in
everything.” And she did it also repeating the ejaculations: “All for
You my good Jesus, my immense good! Only Your love and glory is enough
for me my Jesus.”
Faced with this love, Sister Elisabetta Dispenza confesses: “I felt
attracted as if by a magnet … when I saw her go and return from
Communion. She no longer looked like a human creature but an angel. In
those moments I wanted to imitate her … “ She often spoke of the
Madonna and sometimes she also sang her praises in Sicilian dialect
with the people – “Long live Mary, may Mary always be alive. Long live
Mary and the One who created her, for without Mary you cannot be
saved.”
She often said to the Sisters: “Let us remember that we bear the name
of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, therefore, we must be such in
words, with deeds, imitating her virtues and with our good example. My
sisters, we became Sisters to make us holy and sanctify the souls that
the Lord entrusts to us.”
Speaking with her, adds Sister Dispenza: “I had this impression
several times that in its spiritual perfection she followed in the
footsteps of St Teresa of Avila, St Francis of Sales, St John Bosco,
three saints of whom she often spoke and whose lives she knew well.”
Don Monasteri expresses this impression of his: “When I saw her I
seemed to be in front of a St Teresa.” Mother Morano “devoted to all
the saints, had a special devotion to the Patriarch St Joseph, so much
so, that under her protection she placed the Sicilian Province. In
honour of the Saint she composed a special rosary and in the needs of
the House she prayed: “Saint Joseph think of us!”
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/26/
“All for You my good Jesus, my immense good!
Only Your love and glory is enough for me, my Jesus.”
--Bl Maddalena Caterina Morano (1847-1908)
Bible Quote:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show
his works in the meekness of wisdom. [James 3:13] RSVCE
<><><><>
O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing,
I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my
sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble,
patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good
Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the
midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health
of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all
that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I
place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with
humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.
Saint Quote:
It often happens that we pray God to deliver us from some dangerous
temptation, and yet God does not hear us but permits the temptation to
continue troubling us. In such a case, let us understand that God
permits even this for our greater good. When a soul in temptation
recommends itself to God, and by His aid resists, O how it then
advances in perfection.
--St. Alphonsus Liguori
<><><><>
PSALM 126
Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.
Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. It
is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten,
you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his
beloved, Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward,
the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the
children of them that have been shaken. Blessed is the man that hath
filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall
speak to his enemies in the gate.
Ant. And the Lord shall give unto Him the throne of David His father,
and He shall reign for ever.
Ant. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word.
"Fulfill the commandments out of love. Could anyone refuse to love our
God, so abounding in mercy, so just in all His ways? Could anyone deny
love to Him Who first loved us despite all our injustice and all our
pride? Could anyone refuse to love God Who so loved us as to send His
only Son not only to live among human beings but also to be put to
death for their sake and at their own hands?."
--St. Augustine--(excerpt from Catechetical Instructions 39)
<<>><<>><<>>
26 March – Blessed Maddalena Caterina Morano FMA
(1847-1908)
Virgin, Sister of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christian – the female
branch of the Salesians of St Don Bosco, most commonly known as the
“Salesian Sisters”, Teacher and Catechist – born on 15 November 1847
at Chieri, Italy and died on 26 March 1908 at Catania, Sicily, Italy
of cancer. Patronages – Teachers and Catechists. The Roman Martyrology
says of her: “In Catania in Sicily, in the year 1908, Blessed
Madeleine-Catherine Morano, virgin, from the Institute of the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, devoted herself to teaching
Catechism, traversing this region up and down endlessly.”
Maddalena Caterina Morano was born in Chieri, in the province of
Turin, on 15 November 1847. Her father Francis died when she was eight
and she began to help her mother with her work. Thanks to her uncle, a
priest, she was able to resume her studies. Her teacher appointed her
to help the little ones. Meanwhile she met Don Bosco for the first
time, while walking to Buttigliera d’Asti. Maddalena wanted to teach
and when she was 17 gained her teacher’s certificate.
Teacher
When she was 19 she began teaching at Montaldo Torinese. She confessed
to her mother in 1877 that she wanted to become a nun but her mother
could not support herself if Morano left her. She did this with
diligence and competence for 14 years, earning the respect and esteem
of the entire neighbourhood. Finally, Maddalena took her spiritual
director’s advice and, after having bought a home for her mother with
her savings, went to speak to Don Bosco, who directed her towards
Mornese, where Mother Mazzarello happily welcomed her.
With Mother Mazzarello
She immediately began teaching. In 1880 she consecrated herself to God
through perpetual vows and asked the Lord for the grace “of staying
alive until she had become a saint.” In 1881, at the request of the
Archbishop of Catania, Maddalena was invited to direct the new work at
Trecastagni, where three teachers were working. For four years she was
in charge, taught, washed, cooked, was Catechist but was especially a
witness to the point where the girls were always repeating – ‘we want
to be like her!’
Sicily
After a pause of a year in Turin, where she was in charge of the FMA
community at Valdocco, she was sent to Sicily as Visitor, Directress
and Novice Mistress. Hers was the task of founding new communities and
forming holy Sisters. Constantly with “one glance to earth and ten to
heaven,” she opened schools, oratories, hostels, workshops everywhere
on the island.
Numerous vocations came, attracted by her zeal and the community
spirit she created around her. Her multiple apostolates were welcomed
and encouraged by the Bishops. At Catania they gave her all the
Catechetics to look after, the foundation of new Oratories and the
Teacher’s College.
She was very devoted to Saint Joseph and Mary Help of Christians, who
guided her in founding new works and she was successful in spreading
Don Bosco’s charism and the Preventive System.
Death
Suffering from a tumour, Sr Morano died at Catania on 26 March 1908 at
the age of 61. At her death in 1908, there were 18 Houses in Sicily,
142 Sisters, 20 novices, 9 postulants. In the city where she died, St
Pope John Paul II proclaimed her Blessed on 5 November 1994. Her
remains are venerated at Alì Terme in the Salesian Church at Messina.
Mother Morano had a fear – being aware that people considered her a
saint, she said: “When I am dead, do not say ‘Mother Morano was a
Saint and will be in Heaven’ and with this, you let me burn in
Purgatory until the end of the world, if by mercy of God I am saved.
Pray, pray for me. ” She knew “that holiness is all about doing God’s
will, this being the only way to show our love for Him.”
The Provincial of the Salesian houses in Sicily, Fr Franco Piccollo, wrote:
“Certain names […] acquire special meanings and, for those who have
known Mother Morano, this name takes on three meanings -that is ,
unbeatable fortress, authentic and full of sanctity, generosity with
God and exquisite goodness with all. [She] showed strength in
suffering, for almost all her life she uncomfortable and suffered some
very serious ailments, although she kept them secret, true daughter of
Blessed Don Bosco, she was waiting for rest in Paradise.”
Don Albera, then spiritual director of the Salesian Society, was
amazed to find in her, so many beautiful qualities and one day he said
– “Oh this Mother Morano is a wonderful nun! She could govern not only
the province but the whole FMA congregation. “
Of Mother Morano, her biographer Don Garneri, states:
“I can say [that] her intimate study was to imitate Jesus in
everything.” And she did it also repeating the ejaculations: “All for
You my good Jesus, my immense good! Only Your love and glory is enough
for me my Jesus.”
Faced with this love, Sister Elisabetta Dispenza confesses: “I felt
attracted as if by a magnet … when I saw her go and return from
Communion. She no longer looked like a human creature but an angel. In
those moments I wanted to imitate her … “ She often spoke of the
Madonna and sometimes she also sang her praises in Sicilian dialect
with the people – “Long live Mary, may Mary always be alive. Long live
Mary and the One who created her, for without Mary you cannot be
saved.”
She often said to the Sisters: “Let us remember that we bear the name
of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, therefore, we must be such in
words, with deeds, imitating her virtues and with our good example. My
sisters, we became Sisters to make us holy and sanctify the souls that
the Lord entrusts to us.”
Speaking with her, adds Sister Dispenza: “I had this impression
several times that in its spiritual perfection she followed in the
footsteps of St Teresa of Avila, St Francis of Sales, St John Bosco,
three saints of whom she often spoke and whose lives she knew well.”
Don Monasteri expresses this impression of his: “When I saw her I
seemed to be in front of a St Teresa.” Mother Morano “devoted to all
the saints, had a special devotion to the Patriarch St Joseph, so much
so, that under her protection she placed the Sicilian Province. In
honour of the Saint she composed a special rosary and in the needs of
the House she prayed: “Saint Joseph think of us!”
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/26/
“All for You my good Jesus, my immense good!
Only Your love and glory is enough for me, my Jesus.”
--Bl Maddalena Caterina Morano (1847-1908)
Bible Quote:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show
his works in the meekness of wisdom. [James 3:13] RSVCE
<><><><>
O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing,
I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my
sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble,
patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good
Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the
midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health
of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all
that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I
place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with
humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.
Saint Quote:
It often happens that we pray God to deliver us from some dangerous
temptation, and yet God does not hear us but permits the temptation to
continue troubling us. In such a case, let us understand that God
permits even this for our greater good. When a soul in temptation
recommends itself to God, and by His aid resists, O how it then
advances in perfection.
--St. Alphonsus Liguori
<><><><>
PSALM 126
Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.
Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. It
is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten,
you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his
beloved, Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward,
the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the
children of them that have been shaken. Blessed is the man that hath
filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall
speak to his enemies in the gate.
Ant. And the Lord shall give unto Him the throne of David His father,
and He shall reign for ever.
Ant. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word.
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