SECULAR INSTITUTE

LITTLE APOSTOLES OF CHARITY

SECULAR INSTITUTE

LITTLE APOSTOLES OF CHARITY

Superior: Giuseppina Pignatelli Via don Luigi Monza, 1 22037 PONTE LAMBRO () – Tel. 031.625264

SECULAR INSTITUTE

LITTLE APOSTOLES OF CHARITY

Secular Institute what they are, which their characteristics

The Holy Spirit, who wondrously Secular Institutes, each in fashions the variety of charismas, accordance with its specific has given rise in our time to new nature, thus help to ensure that expressions of consecrated life, Church has an effective which appear as a providential presence in society. response to the new needs encountered by the Church today as A valuable role is also played by she carries out her mission in the clerical Secular Institutes, in world. which priests who belong to the diocesan clergy, even when One thinks in the first place of some of them are recognized as members of Secular Institutes being incardinated into the seeking to live out their Institute, consecrate themselves consecration to God in the world to Christ through the practice of through the profession of the the evangelical counsels in evangelical counsels in the midst of accordance with a specific temporal realities; they wish in this charism. They discover in the way to be a leaven of wisdom and a spiritual riches of the institute to witness of grace within cultural, which they belong great help for economic and political life. living the spirituality proper to Through their own specific the priesthood and thus they are blending of presence in the world enabled to be a leaven of and consecration, they seek to make communion and apostolic present in society the newness and generosity among their fellow power of Christ’s kingdom, striving clergy. to trasfigurate the world from within by the power of the (from Post – Synodal Apostolic Beatitudes. In this way, while they Exhortation of the Holy Father belong completely to God and are John Paul II “Consecrated life”) thus fully consecrated to his service, their activity in the ordinary life of the world contributes, by the power of the Spirit, to shedding the light of the Gospel on temporal realities.

SECULAR INSTITUTE

LITTLE APOSTOLES OF CHARITY

The founder: Blessed Luigi Monza

Luigi Monza was born in In 1936 he was appointed priest () on 22 nd June, to St. Giovanni of Lecco, where 1898 into a rural family. he was “a priest according to the Their only wealth was their heart of God”. In 1937 he found labour, courage and faith. the way that God showed to him. He was admitted to the From his father’s heart was born theological college at 18 years the Secular Institute of the Little after experiencing the hard work Apostoles of Charity called, as a of the fields, the sleepless nights gift of the Spirit, to take to the spent studying and the struggle world the fullness of a life for the daily survival of poor consecrated to the total love of people. He was ordained priest Christ “with the apostolic fervour on 19 th September, 1925. of the first Christian His first pastoral appointment community”. was among the young people of On 29 th September 1954 the parish in Vedano Olona don Luigi Monza stepped aside (Varese). and silently disappeared like the The beginning of his pastoral grain of wheat that dies to give life was marked by every kind life to the ear, conscious of of trials, even the injustice of having played his part and of the jail during the fascist having given the community the regime. guide lines and objective, a road In 1929 he was assigned to the reaching towards God. The rest Sanctuary of where he would come later. was the initiator of numerous On 23 rd February 1991, in Ponte projects for young people. Lambro (Como), where he is Here his look, sharpened by buried, in the presence of trials and touched by the one of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, the God, had learned to look far, at canonization investigation at the whole world, a world diocesan level into the life and characterized by loneliness, by heroic virtues of Father Luigi sadness and egoism that “it was Monza were concluded. urgent to bring back to the love The rite was of God”. The intuition was great celebrated in the Cathedral of but it was necessary to wait until on the 30 th of April, 2006. God showed the way to follow.

SECULAR INSTITUTE

LITTLE APOSTOLES OF CHARITY

The Secular Institute of the “Little Apostoles of Charity”

The Secular Institute of the Little Their apostolic is the world Apostoles of Charity was founded horizon; the purpose of their given in 1937, as a gift of the Spirit, from existence is the charity “carried to the pastoral experience of don the furthest points of the earth” ; Luigi Monza, priest in the diocese their rule of life is that of the of Milan. evangelical “grain” that “dies to give life” ; the climate in which they The vocation of the Little live is joy because their secret is Apostoles of Charity is to follow prayer . Jesus Christ, in order to be present They live in communities of in the world “As the Apostoles fraternity or individually, where they with the practical charity of the create concrete gestures of welcome, first Christians, to make people solidarity, charity, in today’s culture, relish the spirituality of the work, politics and social Gospel and enjoy the gladness of cohabitation, in Italy and in living as brethren in Christ” developing countries. (don Luigi Monza) .

They radicalize the baptismal consecration, and undertake to live according to evangelical advice. They don't distinguish themselves from other people by dress or occupation; they live the life of every day partecipating in its events like Jesus who in incarnation took the human form totally; they, too feel as one with the earth and the people of their time.

SECULAR INSTITUTE

LITTLE APOSTOLES OF CHARITY

OUR MISSION What do we do? formative projects targeted to achieving “Everything the Divine Providence asks a style of voluntary service seen in us, since it is not what we do to every day life, in professional choices, characterize us; but is the Spirit and the through their solidarity to developing personal attitudes which will make the the Countries. difference” (don Luigi Monza) * they promote walks of human and Christian formation, of prayer and of This is the “ideal” of the Little brotherly life in different groups of Apostoles of Charity, who practice juvenile spirituality ; their vocations and the apostolic * they give courses in education of to service: the faith and in catechism in the * in factories, in schools, in hospitals, in parishes; trade unions, in offices, in politics. They offer a specific service to life, to its among families: protection and care through the * they cooperate with the pastoral Association “La Nostra Famiglia” in the action of the Church in this sphere and followiong activities. they particularly back up and support * rehabilitation of disabled people in families in difficult situations as well as various regions of Italy and in promoting their well being and developing Countries (at present in the arranging meetings between such Sudan, Brazil, Ecuador and China); families; * research and continuous study into * they encourage and educate young medical and psyco-educational problems families called to share the ideal of the of various disabilities at the “E. Medea” “pratical charity of the first Christians” Scientific Institute in Bosisio Parini (Lc), to answer the pressing needs of Conegliano (Tv), Ostuni (Br), San Vito hospitality, education and of help to (Pn); mankind.

* admittance of children from difficult They participate in parish and diocesan families waiting for fostering or organisations and associations by adoption, children and adoloscents assisting with the pastoral activities of without families or with difficult catechism, liturgy and charity. environmental and social problems to Through the Voluntary Organisation for small communities or to family groups. International Cooperation (OVCI – La They have particular care and regard: Nostra Famiglia) they fulfill projects among young people: aimed at the development of human, * they contribute to their professional social technical and health training in schools for social workers, advancement of the people of the neuro and psychomotor therapists for the developing Countries, and they assist age of development, educators, speech with the church’s mission of therapists, medical social workers, evangelization. auxiliary social assistance and through ongoing training. There is good to do everywhere … * they direct voluntary service because all the earth is your place” experienze at the Centres of “La Nostra (don Luigi Monza) Famiglia” in service communities with