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Cronistoria Chronicles of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians edited by Sister Giselda Capetti, F.M.A. At Nizza Monferrato New expansion with Mother Mazzarello 1879 - 1881 Don Bosco Publication New Rochele, New York Chronistoria: Chronicles of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in 5 volumens Traslated friom the original italian ©1981 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians All rights reserved Library of Congress Catalog Numbers 80-68484 ISBN 0-89944-043-6 five volume series ISBN 0-89944-044-4 volume 1 ISBN 0-89944-045-2 volume 2 ISBN 0-89944-046-0 volume 3 ISBN 0-89944-047-9 volume 4 ISBN 0-89944-048-7 volume 5 Published for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians by Don Bosco Publications, New Rochelle,NY, 10802 Printed in U.S.A FOREWORD This third volume of the Cronistoria contains the memoirs of the Institute centered in the Mother House after its transfer to Nizza Monferrato, coinciding with the last years of Mother Mazzarello's life (February, 1879 May, 1881). They are years rich in the wise teachings of our holy Mother, under whose guidance fervor was continuous; years of fast growth in the number of vocations, and of further development evidenced by the opening of twelve more Houses. Trials are not wanting: death is still claiming victims among the young Sisters, yet these occasions bring to light such virtue as to leave no doubt about the supernatural richness of the primitive spirit. As in the preceding volumes, the narrative follows a year by year pattern interspersed with brief indications of the various events, which, as already explained, correspond to the marginal notes of the original manuscript. The layout of this part of the Cronistoria is again and again elaborated with additional touches of events and clarifications which successively came to light. All this was done with a view to ensure the greatest possible exactness in the facts narrated, and of saving from oblivion particulars which, though seemingly insignificant, deserve to be recorded for their implicit references to Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, and for the light they throw on the spirit which was lived in those years. It has been considered opportune, also in this volume, to limit appendices to indispensable documents and those illustrative of certain points in the text. Others, contained in the Memorie Biografiche, published in the Salesian Bulletin or kept in the Archives, of secondary impor-[p. iv] tance to the end in view, are carefully indicated. In the preparation of the text for the press the same criterion was used as in the preceding volumes. Some slight change in the wording, some transposing required for greater clarity was made, but the obligation of never departing from the original text was ever kept in mind. This is the volume which presents Mother Mazzarello at the height of her sanctity. Her death marks the end of the important historical period of the origins, in which are found the unmistakable characteristics of the primitive spirit of the Institute. That being so, it offers much to draw from, for the present and the future.[p. v] Rome, December 8, 1976 Feast of the Immaculate Conception Sister GISELDA CAPETTI CONTENTS iii FOREWORD 1 1879 Transfer of the Mother House, 1. - Brief return to Mornese, 2. - First anniversary of the death of Pius IX, 2. - Nizza welcomes its second postulant, 3. - Satan's fury unleashed against the Oratory of Chieri, 4. - A visit to Lu, 4. - First anniversary of the election of Leo XIII, 4. - Mother's way of training in the art of needlework, 5. - Piety and Salesian cheerfulness, 5. - First news from Buenos Aires, 7. - News from Alassio, 9. - Mother's visit to Mornese, 11. - At Alassio and Bordighera, 12. Death of Sister Becchio, 12. - Concern for the Sisters of La Navarre, 13. - Detained at Alassio, 13. - Mother's letter to Father Lemoyne, 14. - Professions at Alassio on Saint Joseph's feast, 15. - Mother's conference, 15. - Mother at Biella and Turin, 16. - Sad news, joyful news, 18. - Another letter from Mother to Father Lemoyne, 20. Holy Week and Jubilee Indulgence, 22. - Impressions of the people, 22. - Results of encouragement, 22. - Sister Cappelletti dies, 23. Mother meets Don Bosco, 23. - Sister Madelene Martini's letter to Don Bosco, 24. - The Sisters of Turin and Mother, 26. - Mother at Lanzo, Turin and Nizza, 27. - News for Sisters of Villa Colon, 28. - The agony of Sister Ricci, 31. - Sister Virginia reports from Buenos Aires, 32. Mother writes to the Sisters of the new House in Las Piedras, 34. - The first month of Mary at Nizza, 35. - Mother returns to Mornese. The Cardinal Protector for the Salesian Congregation, 36. - Novena to Mary Help of Christians. Annette Bedarida, 37. - Mother comforts Sister Pacotto, 38. - The Belbo overflows, 40. - Another storm cloud, 41. First clothing at Nizza, 42. - A second letter from Sister Magone, 43. Mother's comment, 46. - Mother at Mornese and Turin, 46. - Teachers at Genoa, 48. - Fresh missionary enthusiasm, 48. - Mother's feast-Varied tributes, 49. - Interesting news, 51. - Mother writes to Sister Vallese about the House in Las Piedras, 51. - Sister Mary Mazzarelllo dies in Turin, 53. - Retreat at Turin, 54. - Advertisement in the "Salesian Bulletin," 55. .- Feast of Leo XIII, 56. - The ladies' retreat, 56. - The foundation of Cascinette, 57. - Don Bosco at Nizza, 57. - Exhortation of a saint and Father, 58. - Mother's display of affection, 59. - Departures and arrivals, 60. - Family news, 60. - The retreat begins, 62. More news about Miss Bedarida, 63. - Father Cagliero presents the first [p. vi] printed Rule, 63. - The retreatants in recreation, 65. - End of the retreat, 69. - A memorable Good Night, 71. - Father Lemoyne remains at Nizza, 72. - Miss Bedarida publishes her story, 72. - Another vineyard party. Mother and the missionaries, 77. - Mother Mazzarello assists her dying father, 79. - Sorrow turned to spiritual account, 80. - Death of Monsignor Galletti, 81 - Let us not waste time: let us become saints, 81. - Mother writes to her Daughters in Uruguay, 82. - Shopping trip to Asti, 86. - Sister Albina Frasearolo dies, 89. - Poor Miss Be. daridal, 89. - Sister Adelaide Cerena goes to heaven, too, 91. - Mother's recommendations 91. - Mortification and poverty for herself and her Daughters, 92. - Sister Virginia Magone's last letter, 93. - Mother's trip to Turin, 95. - Interesting and inspiring news, 95. - The Sacred Heart Association gives good account of itself, 96. - Two letters from America, 97. - A Mother's thoughts for those far away, 102. - An outing to the "Madonnina," 103. - Dear Sisters, pray for Providence, 104. - "And then you say you wish to go to America?," 105. - Jubilee. novena, 105. - Mother's letter to the Sisters of Borgo San Martino, 106. - Intense cold; outbreak of smallpox, 106. - Father Cagliero arrives, 107. - Jubilee feast of Mary Immaculate, 107, - Miss Bedarida comes to weep over her misfortune, 108. - News and practices for Christmas, 109. Filial wishes, 110. - To Mrs. Pastore, 112. - Delicacy of a mother's heart, 112. - The birth of Jesus, delight of all hearts, 113. - To the Sisters of Bordighera, 114. - Last day of the year, 115. 121 1880 Sister Ferrettino goes to Biella, 121. - Mother makes Don Bosco's recommendations her own, 121. - New preoccupations, 122. - Don Bosco goes to Liguria and Nizza-mare, 122. - Mother at Quargnento, 123. - Mother looks after a postulant with smallpox, 123. - Mother at the washtub, 124. - Beautiful happenings at Lu, 125. - Solemn erection of the Stations of the Cross, 125. - Protection of Saint Joseph, 126. - Sicily on the map, 127. - Second anniversary of Leo X Ill, 128. Don Bosco in France, 128. - First news from Patagonia, 129. - Practical exercise of humility, 130. - A visit from Father Cagliero, 135. - First biographical sketches of deceased Sisters, 135. - Last Eucharistic outpourings of Sister Emma Ferrero, 136. - Mother's great charity, 137.Don Bosco at Bordighera for the laying of the cornerstone of the church, 137. - Mother at Turin, Chieri, Cascinette and Biella, 138. - Mother does not permit exceptions, 139. - Mother's letter to Sister Piccono, 140. - Sister Catherine Daghero Superior at St. Cyr, 141. - Sister Daghero goes to Nizza, 142. - Mother's letter to Sister Marassi, 142. - Sister Catherine Daghero goes to St. Cyr, 144. - Well supplied trunks, [p. vii] 145. - A prophecy?, 146. - Mother goes to close the House of Mornese, 146. - Confidence in Saint Joseph. Extension of the school at Nizza, 149. - First news from St. Cyr, 150. - Mother goes to Turin: good news, 151. - Sister Massola dies, 152. - Mother in Liguria, 152. - The secret of Sister Elisa Roncallo, 153. - Return to Nizza. Letter to Sister Same pietro, 153. - Month of Our Lady. Letter to the Sisters of Patagonia, 154. - Vocations flourish in Nizza, 156. - Don Bosco meets Mother in Turin, 157. - News of Sister Magone and the Houses of Uruguay, 158. - Mother's return to Nizza. Death of Sister Negrini, 160. - Novena to Mary Help of Christians, 161. - Father Cagliero reports to Nizza. Don Bosco's conference on the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, 161. - The African girl, 162. - The feast of Mary Help of Christians at Nizza, 163. - Father Cagliero's enthusiasm about Nizza, 163. - How the novices spoke of it, 164. - Fraternal confidence, 165. - The boar. ders' testimony, 167. - A program for the month of June, 169. - Competition in humility, 170. - Mother comments on the reading of the "Salesian Bulletin," 171. - First news of the civil war in Buenos Aires, 172. - Mother writes to the Sisters of Catania, 172. - Father Lemoyne brings news from Valdocco, 174. - Sister Madelene Martini's letter to Don Bosco, 175. - Sister Elisa Roncallo goes to Alassio for treatment, 177.