Saint Justin Russolillo, S.D.V. Blessed Justin Russolillo, S.D.V. Works – Volume XII Works – Volume III Book of the Soul Let us make man Part III Part 1 Translated and published by Translated and published by Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V. Fr. Louis Caputo, S.D.V. Vocationist Editions 90 Brooklake Road Florham Park, N.J. 07932 U.S.A. 2021 3 Nihil Obstat Very Rev. Antonio Rafael do Nascimento, S.D.V Superior General of the Society of Divine Vocations April 30, 2021 4 TABLE OF CONTENT St. Justin’s Biographical Notes and Foundational Principles Introduction Chapter 1 TOWARDS THE LIGHT 1946 1947 Chapter 2 TOWARD THE GLORY 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 Chapter 3 OUR GOAL 5 1954 Chapter 4 DIVINE UNION 1955 Chapter 5 SHORT TREATISE OF DIVINE UNION Chapter 6 MEETING THE BRIDEGROOM Analytical Index Index of Names 6 ST. JUSTIN’S BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES AND FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES The Lord does not create people just to occupy space. God has a plan, a vocation, a mission for every human being. Many of today’s problems are caused by the fact that people are more con- cerned about finding a job, a profession, or a career, rather than their own vocation and mission in life. A profession or career is something we do to live, to earn what we need in order to live. Vocation is something we do out of dedication and love. A profession can be chosen or inspired by our family or by human considerations but a vocation comes from on high and invites us to loving service of our neighbor. This world would be a much better place if every profession, career or job were also a vocation! St. Justin Russolillo is born and called to help human beings to discover and follow their vocation in life. People find true ful- fillment only by discovering and following their vocation. There- fore, all life, every activity, every act of service, every life-choice is seen as vocation. The title of the biography of Fr. Justin, “Chiamato per Chiamare - Called to Call”, written by Oreste Anella SDV, syn- thesizes the mission of this man of God. The most important thing in life is to discern one’s own vo- cation. Justin, born on January 18. 1891, in Pianura of Naples to 7 Luigi Russolillo and Giuseppina Simpatia, from his earliest years feels a strong and clear calling to the priesthood. An intelligent and sharp boy, Justin is known among his friends for his dedica- tion to his studies and for his exceptional piety. He completes his primary education receiving private lessons from his aunts and from his parish priest. When he is only five years old he receives his First Commu- nion and falls in love with Jesus present in the Eucharist. In 1901, when he is only ten years old, he enters the seminary at Pozzuoli, his native diocese. Justin never doubts his vocation but more than once he fears that he would be unable to follow it because of the poverty, which grips his large family and because of the bouts of illness that accompany him throughout his life. When Baron Zambaglione, to whom his mother asks for fi- nancial help to pay the seminary fees, proves unresponsive to her request, both mother and son weep bitterly. On this occasion Gi- useppina tells her son, whose talents she values, “Don’t be afraid, Mamma will make you a priest, even if it costs me my own eyes!” What would a mother’s love not do! All the family, including the aunts, set about making sacrifices so that Justin can follow his vo- cation. While all seems to be going well for the young seminarian, two painful events grieve the entire family: Aunt Enrichetta dies suddenly (she was the one who provided a notable amount to help pay the seminary fees) and his father Luigi falls from a scaf- folding and is unable to work any more. There is no money for the seminary. Once again mother and son weep bitterly at the prospective of Justin having to leave the seminary. The semi- nary’s superiors realize what is happening, and moved by it get involved in his case. Baron Zambaglione, this time at the bishop’s request, agrees to pay half the fees. The sky turns blue once more! 8 As a result of his unsteady health Justin runs the risk on more than one occasion of being sent home from the seminary. The Su- periors, who appreciate his holiness and his extraordinary intelli- gence, make some exceptions for him: they allow him longer holi- days, provide him with a private room instead of the traditional dormitory, and sometimes even give him more nutritious food. With his financial problems sorted out, Justin continues with his studies and moves on towards priesthood. During his holiday periods at home he discovers the seed of priestly and religious vocation in many young boys. He starts to get them together, to give them catechism classes and to teach them Latin. On the day of his priestly ordination, September 20, 1913, Jus- tin makes his vow of charity, promising to do always whatever would give the greatest glory to God, and the vow to found a religious Congregation dedicated to the service of priestly and re- ligious vocations. For his priestly ordination he only asks one gift: to have all the children of Pianura receive Communion at his first Mass. After his ordination Justin is appointed prefect of discipline at the Seminary of Pozzuoli. This appointment lasts only a few months because on account of his poor health the Bishop deems it better for the young priest to be assigned to his native town and serve as Parochial Vicar of St. George Parish. This new assignment allows him to live at home with his parents and receive all the loving attentions of his mother. The pastor asks Fr. Justin to serve as chaplain to the Holy Rosary Confraternity and to provide pas- toral care to the rural area known as Masseria Grande. From 1914 to 1920, even during his military service in World War I, Justin dedicates great attention to the oratory and espe- cially to his future aspirants. 9 In 1920 he becomes Pastor of St. George Parish in Pianura. He accepts the pastorship because he sees the parish as a womb in which a vocation is conceived and nurtured. Divine Provi- dence prepares the birth of the first Vocationary in the rectory of St George’s parish, where Fr. Justin serves as parish priest from September 20, 1920 until his death on August 2, 1955. On October 18, 1920 he starts again community life with 12 young men in the Parish House, which becomes the first Voca- tionary. This time his efforts are rewarded as he has the approval of Bishop Pasquale Ragosta. On October 1, 1921 Fr. Justin welcomes six young women from the “Pia Unione” (Pious union) and founds the religious congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Vocations. The growth of the female branch is helped immensely by Mother Giovanna Russolillo, sister of Fr. Justin, Superior General of the Sisters from 1926 to 1969. Some other young women, who are not called to traditional consecrated life but share his love for vocations and follow the Vocationist spirituality, become first Co- operators and later form the Secular Institute of the Vocationist Apostles of Universal Sanctification. The main center of the new foundation is the Vocationary, where all those who show signs of a vocation and have not yet decided whether to enter the seminary or join a specific Religious Community are welcomed and formed, both spiritually and aca- demically, free of charge. Poverty ought not stop them from real- izing their vocation. What attracts a lot of boys, generous benefactors and several priests who approach Fr. Justin and offer their assistance, is that interior fire that can be seen in this man of God who lives and tries to get others to live what he teaches and enjoins on those he 10 meets along his path: “Become a saint…make yourself into a real saint, because all the rest counts for nothing.” Fr. Justin and his Vocationists nurture vocations and direct them to wherever God calls them. To accept candidates for dis- cernment the Vocationists ask no money and no certainty of voca- tions. The willingness to become saints is the only prerequisite for admission into the Vocationary. When Justin is later asked about the birth of the Vocationist Congregations he replies, “The Society of Divine Vocations was born from a seminarian, who used to teach catechism every day and sometimes the whole day.” The Lord always shows a certain preference for the poor and it is from them that he calls his chosen ones. Justin, a faithful fol- lower of Jesus, pledges himself and his religious families to “iden- tifying, fostering and serving vocations to the ordained ministries, especially among those who are less well-off.” The desire, determination and concern of Fr. Justin are shown in this statement, which sets the specific mission of his aposto- late and that of his sons and daughters; “Poverty must never be an obstacle to following one’s own vocation.” Relying on Jesus’s words, “The poor are with you always,” the Vocationists continue to work in order to help poor vocations. The fire of divine love burns within him and this fire must blaze. Justin stands out for his piety and his dignity in prayer. Often, in the seminary, in the parish and in the Vocationary he spends all his free time praying.