The MISSIONARIES OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD Cup No. 15, October 2003 of the New Covenant Celebrating Special Moments

by Barry Fischer, C.PP.S.

ince our last edition of The Cup Sthere have been two special occa- sions to celebrate: the erection of the new C.PP.S. Vicariate in India on February 19th and the of St. on May 18th in . They were two very different occasions, both cause for great joy and celebration! Due to the importance of these two events for our Congregation and for the larger Precious Blood Family, we decided to alter the format of this issue of The Cup in order to share with our readers some highlights of these special moments. We attempt to capture their spiritual significance as New statue of St. Maria De Mattias in Acuto, well as bring to life some of the moments through photographs. Following the Footsteps The issue is divided into two sections: of Maria De Mattias the first, highlighting the canonization HOMILY FOR THE MASS OF THANKSGIVING ☛ See page 16 by Erwin Krãutler, C.PP.S

I am sincerely grateful for having I am from the Congregation of Words of the Holy Father been invited to preside at this Father who be- during the Mass Eucharist of Thanksgiving for the lieved in the girl from Vallecorsa of Canonization 6 canonization of Maria De Mattias. and became her spiritual guide. I feel truly at home among you Maria De Mattias, to whom he Greeting of Holy Father dedicated himself so much, today is to Pilgrims 7 because I am a son of Saint Gaspar who, in 1822, preached a holy mis- a Saint. Giovanni Merlini continues as a Venerable . Keeping the Dream Alive sion in Vallecorsa, during which However, surely, in heaven he by Barry Fischer, C.PP.S. 8 Maria De Mattias became impas- sioned about the Blood of Christ. It rejoices over the honor of the altars The C.PP.S. in India: is moving how she refers to the granted to his favorite daughter. Historical Overview apostolate of St. Gaspar in the city Upon my arrival in Rome, my by Francesco Bartoloni, C.PP.S. 11 of her birth, when she speaks of the Moderator General gave me a holy “mission of our father.” See next page ☛ T h e C u p o f t h e N e w C o v e n a n t

Polish pilgrims at the canonization

card of Saint Maria De Mattias Mattias we are all called and sent by “boldness,” and “courage,” of which with a special prayer on the back. God. If she has been declared a Saint, the Acts of the Apostles and the Let- As I re-read the letter with which that means that her way is recommen- ters to the Ephesians and Philip- the General Superior, Sister Vitto- ded by the Church to all of us. pians speak. (Acts 28:31; cf. Acts ria, communicated the joyful news 19:8; Eph 6:19; Phil 1:20) Love for of the canonization, I realized that the new Saint must not be reduced this oration is based on the very DEVOTION: FOLLOWING IN MARIA’S FOOTSTEPS beautiful preface approved for the “ Devotion to and feast of Saint Maria De Mattias. However, devotion to the Saint can- love of Saint Maria “Father, source of life and font of not be limited to only an admiration holiness, in your provident love, of her virtues and her endeavors in De Mattias is, first You chose Saint Maria De Mattias the tiny during the first of all, following her th and adorned her with the gifts of half of the 19 century. Devotion to footsteps, going the Saint cannot be limited to just an the Spirit so that she might be, in along the same the Church, a prophetic voice of admiration of her foundation of the the Word of Light, a messenger of Institute of the Adorers of the Blood road, accepting her reconciliation and peace, a fearless of Christ in Acuto in 1834, and of life plan.” apostle of the Precious Blood of the sixty communities with two Christ, and a witness of the salvific hundred sisters that existed by that to requests for intercession to obtain glory of the cross. August 20, 1866, when she died at the age of only sixty-one, victim of miracles. In her life, Father, you offered us a the tuberculosis she contracted Devotion to and love of Saint sign of your love for the poor and while caring for her sick sisters; and Maria De Mattias is, first of all, for sinners, for the marginalized when in the streets of Rome the peo- following her footsteps, going and the excluded.” ple exclaimed, “the saint has died.” along the same road, accepting Every word of this preface has us Veneration for Maria De Mattias her life plan, carrying on in these contemplate the mystery of God’s call cannot mean only admiring her days the work that the Holy Spirit to Maria De Mattias, and his sending “parresia,” her “fearlessness,” brought to life through her one 2 her out into the world. In Maria De “firmness,” “trust,” “transparency,” hundred seventy years ago. fratricidal struggles as happened in other continents, races, cultures and T h “ The Blood of the era of Maria De Mattias. Today religions to wash their feet. e Christ, Love ‘till it is a question of reconciliation of C peoples and nations, of cultures and u the end,’ defeats p religions. According to Maria De FEARLESS APOSTLE death, triumphs OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD o Mattias’ journey, we are called f over hatred, ends today to contribute toward eliminat- OF CHRIST t violence, eliminates ing the chasm that separates races How she loved the Blood of Christ! h e injustices, stops and cultures; we are called to pro- How the Blood of Christ inspired claim life where others sow death, N wars, wins peace, her at times of happiness and sad- e saves the world and promote peace where others ness, in successes and in difficul- w declare war. It will not be the peace ties, during times of apparent C and forgives sin.” of cemeteries that we ask for; what o defeat! “She was near the cross of v we want is a peace that is fruit and Jesus” like “Mary, his Mother” (Jn e n work of justice. It is the peace 19:25), in a special way during the a A PROPHETIC VOICE promised by Jesus: “Peace I n painful illness that took her life. It t Saint Maria De Mattias: “adorned bequeath to you, my own peace I was the Blood of Christ that made with the gifts of the Spirit so that give you, a peace the world cannot her a “fearless apostle.” Like St. she might be, in the Church, a give, this is my gift to you. Do not Paul she exclaimed: “Yet preaching prophetic voice of the Word of let your hearts be troubled or the gospel is not the subject of a Light.” What does “prophetic afraid.” (Jn 14:27) boast; I am under compulsion and voice” mean? A prophetic voice is The peace that Jesus gives us have no choice; I am ruined if I do a voice that does not speak in its implies respect for the dignity of all not preach it!” (1 Cor 9:16) Maria own name, but becomes the voice De Mattias can say: “I am ruined if men and women, as sons and of God in the world. “The Lord put I do not preach the Blood of Christ.” daughters of God; it implies respect out his hand and touched my Those who become impassioned of for human rights, for cultural dif- mouth and said to me: ‘There! I am the Blood of Christ can never more ferences, and for the religious con- putting my words into your be quiet, can never more rest. Those victions of all peoples. The peace mouth’.” (Jer 1:9) In the first read- who feel passionate about the Blood that Jesus gives us is not based on ing, we heard the prophet of Christ face everything. Maria, just any type of love, but on the love tell the story of his vocation. It is already in 1822 in that mission of the new commandment: “Love God’s energy that fills the heart of preached by St. Gaspar, discovered one another; just as I have loved Maria De Mattias and enables her that the Blood of Christ is total love, to speak “the word of light.” The you, you also must love one another. love without measure, without light does not emanate from her. By this love you have for one limits, without boundaries! Faced She reflects the light of God. The another, everyone will know that with this discovery she says: “I felt moon would never shine if the you are my disciples.” (Jn 13:34-35) my heart would burst.” Today’s majestic sun did not illuminate it This love that generates peace re- apostles either have this experience generously. God is the sun; God quires that we set aside the mantle and become passionate about the is the light; and we become light of our first-world arrogance and total love which the Blood of Christ if we reflect the light of God and self-importance, and that we kneel is, or they are only “sounding brass proclaim “the word of light.” before our brothers and sisters of and clanging cymbals.” (1 Cor 13:1)

MESSENGER “ The love that generates peace requires that OF RECONCILIATION we set aside the mantle of our first-world AND PEACE arrogance and self-importance, and that In our times the message of recon- ciliation and peace takes on an we kneel before our brothers and sisters of extraordinary value. It is not a ques- the other continents, races, cultures and tion only of reconciliation between religions to wash their feet.” persons and families engaged in 3 T breath. “It is finished!” (Jn 19:30) h e Love “till the end” does not mean C only a love until the chronological u end, but it is a love until its ulti- p mate consequences. It is a contin- o f uous “dwelling under the shadow of the cross” which gives Maria the t h strength and courage to consecrate e her life to the service of the Reign. N e But the cross is understood in its w Paschal dimension. “It is finished” C means that Jesus “loved until the o v end.” The words “finished” and e “till the end” come from the same n a root in the original Greek. The n Blood of Christ, Love “till the t end,” defeats death, triumphs over hatred, ends violence, eliminates injustices, stops wars, wins peace, saves the world and forgives sin. “Hail, oh Cross, only hope!” “Did not the Messiah have to undergo all this so as to enter into his glory?” (Lk 24:26) observed the Risen Jesus to his disciples of Emmaus. It is not the gallows-cross, the execu- tion-cross, the “spes unica,” “only hope,” but the “salvific glory of the Cross” that is the reason for our being Christian, the cause of our Sister Vittoria Tomarelli, Superior General of the Adorers, carries a relic of St. Maria. joy, the moving force that impels us to give our life, the profound WITNESS exclaim like Mary of Magdala: “I mysticism that supports us “till the TO THE SALVIFIC GLORY have seen the Lord!” (Jn 20:18) end,” perhaps to martyrdom, if this OF THE CROSS Here lies the secret of her aposto- is God’s will, as happened to the Proclamation without witness does late. The proclamation and the five Adorers killed in Liberia. “We not convince, nor does it influence testimony arise from the same must be ready to give even our life, or sway anyone. Such proclama- mysticism, from the Blood of so that this Divine Blood might be tions are words in the wind; they Christ Ð total Love. “Having loved adored and blessed by all,” Maria are phenomena which perhaps his own who were in the world, he De Mattias requires of her daugh- touch the eardrum of others, but loved them till the end.” (Jn 13:1) ters. (1838 Rule) Only an impas- sioned “witness of the salvific never the heart. And the proclama- With these words St. John intro- glory of the Cross” who has “seen tion of Maria De Mattias was the duces the story of the road to Cal- the Lord” can speak like this. testimony of a person who can vary which ends with Jesus’ last

A SIGN OF LOVE FOR THE POOR AND MARGINALIZED GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2004 Saint Maria De Mattias: “In her life, September 13-24, 2004 - Rome Father, you offered us a sign of your love for the poor and for sinners, for 4 the marginalized and the excluded.” Our religious life is contemplation to the edges of society, without a T h and action at the same time. Daily “ In the faces of all home, a roof, without anything. e contemplation of the Blood of the little ones, all They are nailed to an infinity of C Christ, Love “till the end,” prompts crosses, but they do not ask to u the youth, the indi- p us to go to the poor, to sinners, the remain hanging on the cross for- genous, the blacks, o marginalized and the excluded. ever. They want to rise and partici- f Maria De Mattias speaks of “Char- women, elderly, pate in the “banquet of life” that t ity toward God and toward our those disfigured by God has prepared for all his sons h neighbor,” the “dear neighbor,” and and daughters. (cf. John Paul II, e understands that there exists one poverty, by vio- Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 39) N e and the same love. We can love God lence, by neglect, This is the question that we ask w truly only if we also love our neigh- we encounter the ourselves daily: are we “a sign of C bor. St. John writes: “One who has o bloodied face of the love of the Father for the poor, v no love for the brother he has seen for sinners, for the marginalized e Christ who calls n cannot love the God he has not and the excluded?” Do we live the a seen… whoever loves God must n upon us and chal- Blood of Christ Ð Love “till the t also love his brother and sister.” (1 lenges us.” end?” In his first letter, St. John Jn 4:20-21) “And who is my neigh- presents us the vocation and the bor?” (Lk 10:29) is the question of path, the option and the mysticism the doctor of the law. Maria De faces of all the little ones, all the for all of us who adore the Blood of Mattias does not need to ask the youth, the indigenous, the blacks, Christ: “The way we came to question. She knew her neighbor, women, elderly, those disfigured by understand love was that he laid the favorites of God; she loved the poverty, by violence, by neglect, we down his life for us; we too must poor and the marginalized. encounter the bloodied face of Christ lay down our lives for our brothers who calls upon us and challenges us. Today our Congregation is called to and sisters.” (1 Jn 3:16) continue this mission, to go where no There are millions of men and St. Maria De Mattias, pray for us! one dares to go, to embrace those women who are hungry today, who Amen. that the world rejects, to welcome are sick without the possibility of those whom society today considers getting medicine; there are mil- Rome, Church of St. Gregory VII, superfluous or to be cast out. In the lions who are on the street, shoved May 19, 2003.

The red hats mark the daughters and sons of St. Maria in St. Peter’s Square. 5 T h e WWoorrddss ooff tthhee HHoollyy FFaatthheerr C u p dduurriinngg tthhee MMaassss ooff CCaannoonniizzaattiioonn o f May 18, 2003 t h e “He who abides in me, and I in Daughters of Our Lady on Mount mystery of the Cross and founded N e him, he it is that bears much fruit” Calvary. the Institute of the Sisters Adorers w (Jn 15: 5; cf. Gospel Acclamation). of the Blood of Christ “under the “This is his commandment, that we C The words Jesus addressed to the emblem of the Divine Blood.” should believe... and love one o Apostles at the end of the Last Love for Jesus crucified was v another” (I Jn 3: 23). The Apostle e Supper are also a moving invitation expressed in her in passion for n John exhorts us to accept the to us, his disciples in the third mil- souls and in humble devotion to a boundless love of God, who for the n lennium. Only those who are inti- her brothers and sisters, her t salvation of the world gave his “beloved neighbour,” as she liked mately united to him Ð grafted to Only-begotten Son (cf. Jn 3: 16). to say. “Let us encourage one him like the branch of the vine Ð Christ expressed this love in a another,” she urged, “to suffer wil- receive the vital nourishment of his sublime manner when he poured lingly out of love of Jesus who grace. Only those who live in com- out his Blood as “an infinite price with such great love shed his blood munion with God produce abun- of redemption” for all humanity. for us. Let us work hard to win dant fruits of justice and holiness. Maria De Mattias was won over in souls for heaven.” Witnesses of this fundamental the depths of her spirit by the Gospel truth are the St Maria De Mattias whom I have the entrusts this message to joy of canonizing on her spiritual sons and this Fifth Sunday of daughters today, spur- Easter. Two of them ring all to follow the come from Poland: Lamb who gave him- Sebastian self in sacrifice for us, Pelczar, Bishop of even to the point of Przemysl, Founder of giving up their life. the Congregation of the May each one of us Sisters Servants of the experience in our own Most Sacred Heart of life the efficacy of Jesus; Ursula Ledó- Jesus’ assurance! chowska, , Foundress of the May Mary, Queen of the Ursuline Sisters of the Saints and a model of Sacred Heart of Jesus perfect communion with her divine Son, help us. in Agony. May she teach us how to The other two Saints continue “to abide” in are Italian: Maria De Jesus, united to him as Mattias, virgin, Foun- branches to the vine, dress of the Congre- and never to cut our- gation of the Sisters selves off from his love. Adorers of the Blood of Indeed, without him we Christ; Virginia Centu- can do nothing, for our rione Bracelli, a lay life is Christ, alive and woman, Foundress of present in the Church the Sisters of Our Lady and in the world. Today of Refuge on Mount and forever. Praised be 6 Calvary and of the John II reading homily during Canonization Mass Jesus Christ! T h e C u p o f t h e N e w C o v e n a n t

John Paul II addressing Pilgrims in the Aula Nervi GREETING OF HOLY FATHER TO PILGRIMS May 19, 2003 The canonization of Maria De Mattias is a favorable opportunity to gain a deeper knowledge of her lesson of life and to draw from her example useful guidelines for our own lives. I am thinking first and foremost of you, dear Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ, who are rejoicing to see your Foundress glorified, and of all Bishop Erwin Kräutler greeting Pope of you, the faithful who are devoted to her and make up her spiritual family. The message of Mother De Mattias is for all Christians, for she points to a priority and an essential commitment: to “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus” (Heb 12: 2) in every event of life, never forgetting that he redeemed us at the price of his blood: “He gave everything,” she would repeat, “he gave it for everyone.” My hope is that many will follow the example of the new saint. Throughout her life she strove to spread the Christian commandment of love, healing wounds and smoothing out the difficult situa- tions and contradictions in the society of her time. It is easy to see the timeliness of such a message. Moderator General greets Holy Father. 7 T h e C KKEEEEPPIINNGG TTHHEE DDRREEAAMM AALLIIVVEE u p For the Erection of the New Vicariate of India, February 19, 2003 o f t The founders of religious congre- by Barry Fischer, C.PP.S. our future here. We are happy and h e gations were charismatic people: grateful for the presence of all men and women on fire with a vision sibility. As the status of our presence of you who have come today to N e who wished to spend their lives in in India becomes that of Vicariate, an celebrate this important moment w the service of God and the Church in even greater responsibility is placed with us. C response to the needs of the time and in the hands of our Indian mission- o place in which they lived. aries to further the dream of St. v OUR C.PP.S. IDENTITY e Gaspar and to discern ways to incar- St. , a Roman n nate our charism in these lands. There are three basic elements which a priest, was no exception. He was a n characterize our Congregation and t man graced with the gift of preach- We gather with joy and in thanksgiv- which give us our identity as a ing, who wished to communicate the ing for all that has been achieved Society of Apostolic Life. message of the Precious Blood to all since the first Missionary of people. His passion and zeal attrac- the Precious Blood set foot on this A missionary charism. We are ted others to join him and so, on soil and to beg God’s blessings upon called to be persons on the move, August 15th, 1815, he founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood in Italy.

Soon the Congregation spread throughout what were then the Papal States while St. Gaspar gave form and direction to the new community. But he had always dreamt of being a missionary in other lands, inspired by the example of St. to whom he had a special devotion and under whose protection he would one day place the Congregation. Gaspar’s personal wish to go to for- eign lands was never realized but he once said he had a dream: “he saw a whole army of missionaries going out into the whole world, with a chal- ice in their hands, applying the merits of the Precious Blood!”

Today we gather to celebrate the con- tinuing unfolding of that dream. Missionaries of the Precious Blood now minister in nineteen countries around the globe. Here in India, once evangelized by the great St. Francis Xavier, the sons of St. Gaspar have planted their roots. The plant has grown and the roots are firmer. Today our young C.PP.S. community cele- brates a rite of passage.

Our community here has reached a 8 new level of maturity and of respon- Statue in Central Patio of St. Gaspar Ashram ever ready to respond to the needs of CONCLUSION T our times and of the people we wish “ We are called to be h My brothers of the Indian Vicariate, e to serve. We go forth to preach persons on the the Word of God without making the cloak has been passed to your C hands. Just as Elisha received the u exception of persons, but especially move, ever ready p cloak of the great prophet , so to those most in need of it. The heart to respond to the too you have received the charism of o of the message we preach is nour- f St. Gaspar and are now responsible ished by the common spirituality needs of our times for keeping it alive and to give it ever t we share. and of the people h deeper roots in your own culture and e we wish to serve.” In other words, our works are not to find new expressions for living it N stagnant. We are called to be always in response to the particular needs e w open to the new challenges which we and challenges of the time and place and literally spent his life and died face according to the changing times in which you live and minister. C “A Victim of Charity.” o and needs of the societies in which On one of my previous visits to India v we serve. Pope John Paul II, when We are a community of missionary e I had the experience of visiting an n speaking to the Delegates at our last priests and brothers. Community elephant farm and I learnt what it a General Assembly, challenged us “to was an important element of n meant to tether an elephant! The t be bold and courageous as was our Gaspar’s vision. We join together to elephant, accustomed to having its founder, in our response to the needs encourage one another, to nourish leg tied from the time he was little, of today and to go where no one else each other in prayer and in friend- never realizes his strength. I stand wishes to go and where there is little ship, to discern together the needs before you today, as Moderator or no hope of success!” and the cries of our sisters and General of our Congregation, and brothers, and to search together for plead with you to untether the char- The spirituality of the Precious ways in which we can best respond. ism of St. Gaspar on this beautiful Blood. It was at the foot of the Cross Again, we find the basis for our land God has given you! that St. Gaspar learned the wisdom community life in the Precious of God’s love. It was there, in con- Blood, the Blood of the Covenant, Our world urgently needs to hear the templation of the Crucified Lord the Blood of Reconciliation, which message of the Precious Blood of who opened his arms in an eternal breaks down the walls which sepa- Jesus Christ! Our broken and frag- gesture of loving embrace for all people, that St. Gaspar came to know just how much God loved him “ May your lives be as open chalices, filled and how precious he was in God’s each day at the Eucharistic table with the eyes. It was that realization that drove him to reach out to the most Precious Blood of Christ’s life poured out hardened sinners, to go to the bandits for us, in order to be food and drink for and the marginalized of his times, to announce to them what Pope John all whom you encounter on your journey of Paul II once said to the prisoners in a compassion and solidarity.” wretched and overcrowded jail in Sao Paolo, : “The Precious Blood speaks to us of the greatest joy rate us and which “makes us one in mented societies yearn for the mes- of all: that of knowing that we are Christ’s love.” sage of the Blood of Christ which loved by God!” reconciles divisions and heals the To live together as brothers and to brokenhearted. This was the message that burned in overcome our differences and to die Gaspar’s soul and which drove him to our own prejudices requires of us a So many women and men, children untiringly on his missionary jour- constant conversion, so as to achieve and elderly, the poor and outcast, cry neys. The most hardened sinner, the that communion in diversity made for the recognition of their rights and lonely, the sick, the elderly, those possible in the Precious Blood of the defense of their dignity. The hun- gry, the homeless, the marginalized who are rejected by society and Jesus. That we may be one, so that need to be embraced through the pushed to the fringes, the victims of the world may believe that the Lord Blood of Christ into the circle of prejudice and hatred, ache in their has sent us (cf. John 17,21). It is in God’s love, and to find their rightful hearts and need to hear this Good this way, giving testimony with our place at the banquet table of life. News of the Gospel of the Blood of own lives to brotherly love in the Christ. Gaspar never tired in his bond of charity that the message we Do not disillusion them! As efforts to communicate that message announce will be credible. Missionaries, St. Gaspar said, “we 9 T h e C u p o f t h e N e w C o v e n a n t

Children of India

are not statues.” Go forth with cou- are those who dream dreams, and are you untether that charism here in rage and enthusiasm, with fire and willing to pay the price to make India and throughout Asia, we can with passion as did our Founder, to those dreams come true.” Yes, there only trust in the continued protection carry the treasure of God’s love to all is a price to pay, the same price Jesus of our Founder, the inspiration of St. who yearn for it. paid on the Cross. We must also pay Francis Xavier, and the maternal it, in the daily shedding of our blood, May your lives be as open chalices, care of Our Lady of the Precious in a life poured out for others in filled each day at the Eucharistic Blood. The Spirit blows where she generous and selfless love. table with the Precious Blood of wills and continually creates and Christ’s life poured out for us, in Jesus not only announced that we renews. We can only look with order to be food and drink for all would suffer for the cause as He did, gratitude to the past and with hope whom you encounter on your jour- but he also promised to be with us and serenity to the future, knowing ney of compassion and solidarity. and to never abandon us. We never the ever new and exciting paths will surely continue to unfold before us, To live the message of the Blood of walk alone! We have each other. As a community, joined together as if we are open to the movement of Christ and to incarnate it in our lives, the Spirit in and among us. in our communities, and in our mis- blood-brothers in Christ, we fulfill sionary activity is a mission filled the mission entrusted to us. We are with challenges and difficulties. likewise encouraged by the increas- RRREEETTTRRREEEAAATTT 222000000444 Cardinal Suenens once said: “Happy ing number of lay women and men who share with us the spirituality of July 11-17 the Precious Blood and who find in it San Felice, Giano “ To live together their way of following Christ and of as brothers and to living the Gospel. And Mary, our Fr. JOSEPH NASSAL, Lady of the Precious Blood, covers C.PP.S. overcome our us with her maternal protection. differences and to St. Gaspar’s dream has continued to Retreatmaster die to our own unfold in ways and places that he Celebrating could not have imagined on that prejudices requires th August 15, 1815, when his small the 50 anniversary of us a constant band of missionaries gathered for the of the canonization conversion.” first time in the abandoned monas- of St. Gaspar 10 tery of St. Felix in Umbria (Italy). As T h TThhee CC..PPPP..SS.. iinn IInnddiiaa:: e C u HHiissttoorriiccaall OOvveerrvviieeww p o f The 19th and 20th of February were by Francesco Bartoloni, C.PP.S. reflection led by the Moderator t h important dates for the confreres of General before the first assembly of e India. the Vicariate in which the new leader- and Fathers Giandomenico Piepoli N and Antonio Calabrese of the Italian ship would be elected. In his reflec- e On February 19th at six in the eve- w Provincial Council. Also present was tion Father Barry pointed out the ning in the crypt chapel of St. Gaspar Father Vincent Boselli, Director of meaning of authority and its exercise C Ashram in Bangalore, the Indian according to the Normative Texts of o the Tanzanian Vicariate. v Mission was elevated to the status of the Congregation. At eleven the same e a Vicariate. The Moderator General The retired Archbishop of Banga- n morning, all twenty-three missionar- a read the letter officially establishing lore, Alphonsus Matthias, and many ies of the Vicariate were present and n the Vicariate during a vesper service other guests Ð parishioners, mem- the electoral assembly began. t of prayer and fraternal joy. bers of religious congregations, priests, seminarians and friends Ð al- Father Amaladoss Mariasusai was Present at the celebration were all of so came to mark the event. A recep- elected the first Vicariate Director. the members and students of the tion with delicious food and a thea- After a prayer service in the chapel Vicariate along with Moderator trical production put on by the stu- for his installation and the exchange General Father Barry Fischer, dents followed the liturgy. of good wishes, the other four mem- Fathers Francesco Bartoloni and bers of the leadership team were elec- Stack of the General Curia, On February 20 at 9:00 AM the mem- ted: Fathers John Bosco Santiago, Father Giovanni Francilia, Provin- bers of the Vicariate gathered again in Susaiappan Madalaimuthu, cial Director of the Italian Province, the chapel for a period of prayer and Peter’s and Jayasingh.

Newly elected leaders of the Indian Vicariate: Fathers Susaiappan Madalaimuthu, John Bosco Santiago, Amaladoss Mariasusai (Vicariate Director), David Jayasingh, Michael Peter’s 11 T sophy and theology. Part of their h e program of studies involves acquir- ing a licentiate in philosophy or C u theology or in some secular disci- p pline so that the Missionaries can o become involved with skill and f professionalism in the various t pastoral activities taking place in the h Vicariate now and in the future. It is e important and essential for the N Vicariate to create its own future. e w The needs of the population we C serve in India define our future there. o v Ours is an apostolate of silent evan- e gelization because of the delicate n a situation at the moment. The major- n ity of the population is not Christian t and there are serious obstacles to any St. Gaspar Bhavan, Bangalore kind of conversion. This is an evan- gelization carried out in charity, with The invocation of the Holy Spirit tion of Fr. Duraiswamy Narala, now the gospel assurance that the one marked the end of this historic day a definitively incorporated member. who sows is not the one who reaps. which saw the Vicariate of India The house rented for this purpose The Missionaries, according to Fr. established as the most recent unit of was later acquired by the Italian Giuseppe, also have the task of re- our Congregation. Province and became the evangelizing Christians, deepening motherhouse of the mission in India. and articulating religious instruction in church and family. Some Mis- BEGINNINGS On August 16, 1991, the CPPS semi- sionaries are already highly skilled nary of Bangalore was solemnly The Indian Mission was born, accor- in preaching popular missions, spiri- dedicated under the name of St. tual exercises, retreats, and in the tra- ding to its founder and first animator, Gaspar Bhavan. In the same year the ditional preaching of triduums and Fr. Giuseppe Montenegro, on first seminarians who had gone to th novenas Ð already very much a part December 25 , 1983, when two Rome returned to India as priests: of Indian religiosity. seminarians came from India to Italy Fathers Amaladoss Mariasusai and to study theology. In the following Anthony Paikad. Social work makes the apostolate of year another four came and, in 1985, evangelization credible. Our Mis- a diocesan priest, Fr. Duraiswamy sionaries are giving attention to THE CURRENT SITUATION Narala, joined the seminarians in healthcare and medicine in the slums Italy and began a program of forma- The Vicariate of India consists of that are present in all parts of India tion with the aim of becoming a seven houses: four parishes, two and to welcoming orphans and chil- member of the Congregation. The seminaries (philosophy and theo- dren of the street. arrival of these young men in Italy to logy), and a chaplaincy. Attached to study theology and to become these residences are social develop- acquainted with the Congregation ment projects such as schools, CANDIDATES DREAMS marked the beginning of an attempt orphanages, centers for the elderly FOR THE FUTURE to spread our spirituality in Asia. and those sick with leprosy. I myself was very much impressed In 1985 a decision was made to There are currently 33 members in when I listened to our students. I begin the formation of seminarians the Vicariate. More than one hun- spoke with nearly all of them, and in Bangalore, India, under the direc- dred seminarians are studying philo- their dreams for building the CPPS mission in India are for pastoral work among the classes most abandoned, “ This is an evangelization carried out in especially in the countryside, where no one wants to go. For this reason charity, with the gospel assurance that the many of them would like to acquire one who sows is not the one who reaps.” professional competence over and 12 above their theological studies so source of renewal for all. There are T h “ The Missionaries are committed in a two aspects to this spirituality: one is e contemplating the mystery of merci- concrete and real way to overcoming C ful Love which has loved us even to u the differences among castes and regions the shedding of his Blood, and the p that have plagued India for thousands other is active loving, because we o of years.” must also shed our Blood for our f brothers and sisters. t h e that they can seek out and alleviate and open for all kinds of apostolates in THE BLOOD OF CHRIST: N material as well as spiritual poverty. the nearby parishes and in the dioce- A SPIRITUALITY FOR INDIA e ses. They enjoy great esteem in these w The young students were asking to be dioceses and we are often called upon The spirituality of the Blood of C able to go to the entire country of India to collaborate in various areas. One Christ seems to attract people and o when there is a suitable number of v Missionary works in the marriage tri- the Union of the Blood of Christ is e Missionaries in order to open residen- being established on the family n bunal of Bangalore, for example. a ces in northern India. There missionary level. A solid group of lay people are n activity seems to be more difficult and An integral part of the formation of following the Missionaries and are t also more risky, due to Hindu funda- our seminarians is practice in pasto- absorbing their spirituality and are mentalism. To see such availability and ral work and in preaching in the living that spirituality in their places enthusiasm makes one hope that the seminary and in neighboring par- of work and in family education. young Vicariate will develop in such a ishes, as well as in the apostolate in way as to give witness to the universal the slums, in homes for the elderly The Missionaries involved in pasto- message of the love of a God who has and in orphanages. ral work adapt their schedules accor- shed his blood for the salvation and ding to the needs of the people they reconciliation of all. The rhythm of life in our houses is serve. A great deal of importance is the rhythm of prayer. The spirituality given to community prayer as well The Missionaries, in addition to their of the Precious Blood as lived and as as to personal prayer: to adoration, to specific work, are always available offered to the people has become the the monthly day of recollection, and

C.PP.S. members and students in an impromptu group photo at St. Gaspar Ashram 13 T members coming from the various h e states of India, is the clearest proof of “ The bishops call that. To be certain, community life C us to liberate the u also has its difficulties, but these can p be overcome with dialogue, with poor from their o daily sharing of life experiences, oppression, particu- f and in planning together the future larly the Dalit (the t they wish to create. The Missionaries h are committed in a concrete and real poorest and most e way to overcoming the differences marginal of the N among castes and regions that have e w plagued India for thousands of years. classes, the “untou- This new reality in India must truly C chables”) and tribal o become a sign of unity and commu- v nion for others. This must be the populations who e n great ideal and our young Indian con- have been exploit- a freres must not deviate from this. n ed and who exper- t Our missionary presence in India ience discrimin- is made up of young Missionaries, Fr. Joseph Montenegro, founder and first ation.” animator of the Indian Vicariate who try to acquire and live the model of life and of enthusiasm for work to those spiritual exercises pre- of our Founder Saint Gaspar. This The works of God are only realized scribed in the constitutions and sta- is not a quick and easy process: with a strong interior commitment tutes of the new Vicariate. A great it requires time, perseverance, but also with a substantial economic help to community living are the and faithfulness. There will be base. The economy of the Vicariate community meetings which the successes and failures, but the is sufficiently consistent with the Missionaries hold on a regular basis. spirit of communion must be stron- local situation. The Vicariate already The Missionaries are prepared to ger than any challenge. Every begin- has some properties and receives assume every kind of responsibility ning has its difficulties and our income from its activities which can in the community, either for leader- Vicariate will also have them, but be a springboard to self-sufficiency. ship or for the administration of with time and above all with the The Italian Province, however, will goods. The recently elected leader- experience of life these can be over- continue to give its substantial con- ship of the Vicariate, composed of come. tribution for some years to come in

14 Orphan children in Kolar Gold Fields order to make the economic support enthusiastic journey in this great zation in ongoing and quiet work T h of the new Vicariate more stable. nation, rightly called a subcontinent, each day, as our Missionaries come e that is India. It is a land of a thousand to gain more experience and respon- C faces, of a very ancient civilization, sibility. u LOOKING TO THE FUTURE of great ideals and at the same time a p Some of those first young men who I want to close my article with some land riddled with contradictions, o poverty, and so many problems to be entrusted themselves to the words of f reflections of Fr. Giuseppe on how Fr. Giuseppe and believed in the the future expansion of the Vicariate resolved. The wonderful experience t that I had in India in the months of missionary ideal of our founder and h in India will take place. These are e January and February, meeting our in the spirituality of the Blood of taken from his report to the Missionaries and our young seminar- Christ are now the elected leaders of N Assembly of the Italian Province e ians makes me certain that all of this the new Vicariate. To them and to all requesting the erection of the Indian w will not remain on the level of ideal- the members of the Vicariate go our Mission as a vicariate. C ism but will reach its concrete reali- prayers and our recognition. o v He notes that in a document issued in e 2002, the bishops underlined two key n a words: dialogue and service. Our n Missionaries are already engaged in t a dialogue that embraces the cultures of India and above all a dialogue with the poor and emarginated.

The bishops call us to liberate the poor from their oppression, particu- larly the Dalit (the poorest and most marginal of the classes, the “untouch- ables”) and tribal populations who have been exploited and who exper- ience discrimination. The Church must become “not just the Church for the poor but the Church of the poor.”

The Vicariate has received requests from bishops in India to being pasto- ral work in their dioceses.

The preparation of our Missionaries involves not only study and research but also practice in preaching and in preparing for social work. Within the next five years the Vicariate is considering opening houses in Goa, Mumbai, Calcutta, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

It remains only to say “Con- gratulations” and “Ad Maiora” to this our new institute, the Vicariate of India.

The Congregation through the Italian 50th Anniversary Province knows well that all such undertakings have wonderful ideals of the Canonization and such aspirations at the outset. It of St. Gaspar del Bufalo will be the commitment of the entire Congregation to support these con- freres of ours at the beginning of 1954 - June 12 - 2004 their journey, a difficult but 15 T Continued from front page ☛ h e of St. Maria De Mattias, Foundress of C the Adorers of the Blood of Christ; u and, secondly, the history of the new p Vicariate of India and the events sur- o rounding its creation. f How to capture the festivities of the t h canonization in a few pages? Quite an e impossible task. However we wish to N highlight in our first article the inspi- e rational homily which our C.PP.S. w Bishop of the Xingú in Brazil, Erwin C Kräutler, delivered the day following o v the canonization in the Mass of e Thanksgiving celebrated in the Church n of St. Gregory VII near the Vatican. It a Sister Vittoria Tomarelli presents a red cap to the Pope n was a special treat for all of us to have t “one of our own” speak of St. Maria aries, gives us an historical overview now have seven provinces, three vicar- De Mattias and to call us to follow in of the new Indian foundation as well iates, and two official missions as well her footsteps and to realize today the as describes for us the present situa- as the mission “ad experimentum” in work the Holy Spirit began in her tion of the membership and our com- Guinea Bissau. Our Missionaries now some 170 years ago. The text is pub- mitments there. serve in nineteen countries around the globe. lished in its entirety as it brings to life Finally, we also publish the homily I for us Maria De Mattias as a model delivered at the official ceremony at Together with the Adorers of the and inspiration for us today. St. Gaspar Ashram in which the Blood of Christ, we join St. Maria De Next we publish the words spoken by solemn proclamation of the erection of Mattias in her hymn of praise and we the Holy Father both in the canoniza- the new Vicariate was read. With the sing: “Oh all you peoples, clap your hands, acclaim the Lord with joyful tion ceremony itself in St. Peter’s establishment of the new vicariate, the and happy voices!” Square on May 18th, as well as his Missionaries of the Precious Blood brief remarks to the pilgrims gathered in the audience hall on May 19th fol- lowing the Mass of Thanksgiving. The second part of this issue of The Cup Next Issue: APRIL, 2004 focuses our attention on the C.PP.S. “The Charism of St. Gaspar Today” presence in India. Fr. Francesco Bar- toloni, Vice-General of the Mission-

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