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 canonization of St. Maria De Mattias on May 18th in Rome. 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, Italy well as bring to life some of the moments through photographs. Following the Footsteps The issue is divided into two sections: of Saint 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 Giovanni Merlini 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 Servant of God. 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 Papal States 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 Jeremiah 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.