ALBERTO

n. 1 Adi Albertomici e Carla March 2021 SIX-MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF INFORMATION ON LIFE, THOUGHT AND WORKS OF BLESS ED ALBERTO MARVELLI AND OF CARLA RONCI

“Poste Italiane S.p.A.“ - Postal Subscription Shipping ­1 D.L. 353/2003 (conv. in L. 27/02/2004 n. 46) art. 1 comma 2 e 3 CN/RN EDITORIAL

THE GREATEST FORM OF CHARITY

erodotus, the Greek historian to make us reflect on a truth that he regar- of the fifth century BC, tells of a ded as important, that is that we cannot conversation between Croesus, be “happy” alone, if we are surrounded the wealthy king of Lydia, and by mourning and misery. Our Tello could Hthe Athenian Solon. Croesus asks Solon have had healthy and intelligent children who, in his opinion, is the luckiest man and grandchildren, but he would not have in the world and, contrary to his expec- been equally “happy” if his fellow citizens tations, he is given the name of a certain had not been “happy” too. Tello, a “perfect stranger”, whom Solon A few decades later, another historian, considers “lucky” because he had healthy Thucydides, reporting the eulogy of the and intelligent descendants, lived in a pe- fallen the first year of the Peloponnesian riod of prosperity for his country and died war held by Pericles, makes him say that fighting for it. in Athens, whoever is not interested in the Emphasizing that Tello was “happy” becau- “public thing”, is not considered a “quiet” se he lived in a period of prosperity of his citizen, but a “useless” citizen. country, the wise Solon wanted, evidently, High, thought-provoking ideas, even if

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Happy Easter to all readers. The editorial staff they did not apply beyond the area of the behavior), but the battle to be waged is single State. not against politics, which is always ne- Today, in a globalized world, we cannot be cessary for peaceful coexistence among satisfied with the “happiness” of our State, people, in the difference of religions and and we are called to a sincere and cordial cultures, but against “bad politics”. openness to the universal. But to make Believers, called to follow Christ, and the- possible the development of a world com- refore called to be-for-others, must com- munity, good politics, placed at the service mit themselves to designing an open of the common good, is necessary. world, where there is room for everyone, It is no coincidence that as early as 1927, even the weakest, and which respects dif- in a famous address to the Federation of ferent cultures. Catholic University Students, Pius XI defi- They must commit themselves to educa- ned politics as the highest form of charity. ting themselves and others to a politics An expression taken up by Paul VI and in capable of operating according to great the latest encyclical of Francis: “Once principles, of recognizing every human again I invite us to re-evaluate politics, being as a brother, of joining with every which is a very high vocation, it is one of man of good will to initiate processes of the most precious forms of charity, becau- fraternity and justice for all. se it seeks the common good” (FT,180). For this reason, without looking for easy It is certainly true that there are many rea- alibis, believers today are called, as far as sons that can cause a lack of confidence in they can – and we can all do it, no one politics (personal ambitions, maneuvering excluded – to “keep alive confidence in the and electoral calculations, lack of planning, reserves of goodness that are in people’s broken promises, partisan and demagogic hearts, despite everything” (FT, 196).

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FEAST OF BLESSED ALBERTO MARVELLI

Rimini, S. Agostino, October 5, 2020

n Monday, October 5, Prayer of the Caritas worker 2020, the day of the Oliturgical memory of Lord, we ask you Blessed Alberto Mar- to renew in us every day velli, in the church of the desire to be with you. Sant’Agostino, Bishop Francis presided over We want to let ourselves be educated by the Eucharist the celebration of Holy and visibly witness in our works Mass in which young the mystery of love that it expresses. people and adults from the various lay Lord Jesus, we want to live your gospel of charity organizations of the in the situations you will make us experience, Church of par- ticipated. attentive to the cry of those who suffer beside us It was a crucial mo- in pain and solitude. ment to kick off the Make true the steps of our community pastoral year and ex- press the renewed on the path of proximity commitment to com- so that it may be every day munion. sign and instrument of your gratuitous love, without Particularly impor- tant for the Caritas uncertainties or compromises, volunteers, who, in a rich only in your infinite mercy. season made compli- cated and difficult by the pandemic, received a “special mandate” following Alberto’s example, the example from the Bishop to be “’s instruments for of Jesus, “the doctor of integral love, to the liberation and promotion of the poor.” heal the epidemics caused by small invisi- They responded to the Bishop’s invitation ble viruses and to heal those caused by the by expressing their willingness to follow, great and visible social injustices”. ­4 ALBERTO

WITHOUT LOVE I WOULD BE NOTHING Homily of the Bishop for the feast of Blessed Alberto Marvelli

ou desire the greatest chari- message and uses language that is radical, sms. So, I show you the most peremptory and clear-cut. “If I did not have sublime way” (1 Cor 12:31). charity, I would be nothing.” “Charity is not This is what the introductory envious. It does not boast. It does not verse“Y to the passage on the praise of love, swell with pride. It does not disrespect. It which we heard earlier from the first rea- does not seek its own interest. It does not ding, says. If we ask ourselves what then get angry.” “It excuses everything, believes is the high road of Christian existence, the everything, hopes everything, endures answer can only be: charity. everything.” “Charity will never end.” In Paul’s hymn to love, he formulates an Now, rather than delve into the Pauline absolute, categorical, all-encompassing hymn to charity, I’d like to go after it throu- gh three ‘surprises’ that show its root, fruit, and modern context. 1. The root of charity or Christian love is expressed telegraphically by the Apostle John: “God loved us first” (1 Jn 4:19). Indeed, Paul specifies: God showed his love “while we were still his enemies” (Rom 5:10). And we “recognized and believed in the love God has for us” (1 Jn 4:16). (1 Jn 4:16). The first response to such an unbelie- vable event is the amazed, grate- ful and almost incredulous surpri- se of our faith. It seems that faith is an easy thing to do. Instead, it is among the most difficult. “We have belie- ved in Love”: it is a cry for which we must gather all our strength and become almost violent. We, human beings, are instinctively ­5 ALBERTO

inclined to be more active than passive, 3. The third and finalsurprise is the modern more to do than to let ourselves be done. context of Love. The modern era has mar- We don’t want to owe anything. But in this ked a turning point in the history of po- way a shift and a reversal insensibly take verty and Christian charity. It has become place: in first place, on top of everything, clear that it is not enough to provide for instead of gift, duty is put. In the place of the needs of the poor and the oppressed grace, the law. In place of faith, works. In on a case-by-case basis, but that it is ne- the place of God’s benevolence, our good cessary to act on the structures that create will. Perhaps a trace of this tendency is the poor and the oppressed. Therefore, it the old translation of the Gloria: “Peace on is not enough to show charity as the inspi- earth to men of good will”. While the new rer of individual action, but also as a force translation more faithfully conveys the capable of inspiring new ways of tackling Greek text with: “Peace on earth to men be- the problems of today’s world and of pro- loved of the Lord”. There are treatises on the foundly renewing structures, social organi- duty and the way to love God, while the- zations and juridical systems from within. re are none on the love-charity of God for In this respect, charity becomes social and us. Almost always when we speak of God’s political charity: that charity which makes love, it is God who is the object and reci- us love the common good and effectively pient of our love for him. Not the subject seek the good of all persons, not only con- of his love for us. sidered individually, but also in the social 2. Second surprise: the fruit of Love. “If God dimension that unites them. Today, this so loved us, we also must love one ano- charity takes on the proportions of a real ther” (1 John 4:11). This is the astonishing world social issue. Such as globalization. consequence drawn by the Apostle John. Alberto Marvelli was a reliable witness of Here we see how the event underlies the social and political charity. He was a con- commandment. But what commandment? vinced, consistent, passionate protago- One might expect that, if God has loved nist, to the point of being defined as an us in this way, the consequence would be “engineer and laborer of charity” (Fausto that we must also love him. And instead, Lanfranchi). even here we register a surprise. Instead, We ask Blessed Alberto not to leave us in the consequence of God’s immense love peace, until we are convinced that there is for us is that we must love one another, no renewal, including social renewal, that our brothers and sisters. Of course, God is does not start from a generous response always the first addressee of our love. But to the call to holiness. That genuine politi- the first recipient is always our neighbor, cal action is service for the common good, our brother. Love for one’s neighbor is not with transparency and competence. That a gift we give him, but a debt we owe him: it will be possible to save ourselves from “Do not owe anyone anything, except to the pandemic only together, only if we live love one another” (Rom 13:8). Therefore, as brothers and sisters. All. each one of the brothers who knocks on + Francesco Lambiasi your heart is a creditor who demands his debt.

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CARLA RONCI. A MYSTICAL LIFE

arla’s daily life is studded with Him.... God is pleased to find in me only many hardships: both those that what is His and that is everything we give”. derive from backbiting that saps Then he continues: “I alone do not solve, the soul’s energies and forces her nor can I do anything, but with God I am toC change the order and the way she carri- everything and can do everything”. Her es out the many tasks of the day; and tho- days are a continual inner search for the se that come from the misunderstandings Spouse who dwells in the depths of her of her family. All these difficulties, which heart and to Him she entrusts herself with we might consider typical of the lives of unlimited trust in order to be as the Apo- , were defined by Pope Pius XI as the stle Paul says: “I have been crucified with “terrible daily grind” and Carla defined it Christ and it is no longer I who live, but as: “martyrdom of the heart”. But how is it Christ who lives in me. This life in the flesh possible, humanly speaking, to cope with I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved such sufferings and at the same time con- me and gave himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20). tinue to love all one’s neighbors, take on The consciousness of having to give her- the difficulties of others and continue to self in loving without limits, led her to ex- smile in order to make oneself one with press herself very often, in her writings, others? During the spiritual exercises in with the verb “to be consumed”. In order to Macerata on March 26, 1960, Carla wrote be consumed in Him, in her Spouse, she is in her notebook: “My will must never act determined that Jesus alone should be the alone, because God wants me to act with center of all her thoughts, her aspirations and the affections of her heart. She wro- te: “May Jesus Christ live in our hearts as the only undisputed Lord, until we are completely transformed in Him, so as to reach perfect identification, to be “Alter Christus””. She was very young when she wrote these thoughts, she was about twenty years old; Jesus had chosen her, He had given her the wisdom of the heart. In the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 11, 25-30) Jesus says: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hid- den these things from the wise and le- arned, and revealed them to babes. Yes, O Father, for thus you have decided in your goodness”. In her meditation, Car- la writes: “Jesus said: “Be perfect”, but He did not ask this of a few, He asked it of everyone!” The Holy Spirit dwelling ­7 CARLA

in her makes her understand that she is addresses to you as well: “Be holy, for I am part of the great people that is the univer- holy” (Lv 11:44; 1Pt 1:16)”. sal Church. It is the Spirit that flows like li- Carla’s continuous evangelical training fin- feblood from one member to another, it is ds concrete development in a specific en- He who gives meaning to daily life and in- vironment which is that of her family and stills confidence in a Plan that is above her, her parish: all the children and young peo- often incomprehensible, but nonetheless, ple of AC, all the people who seek her out a Good Plan. for advice or simply to share a problem. In She has a precise program of life: that of her daily relationship with the Lord, her becoming a and writes: “It is not by faith grows, and her experience leads her chance, O my poor soul, that you live in to give herself maxims, rules of wisdom this state of health, in this house where inspired by the Spirit, which she calls “Lit- you live, in this position with the people tle things that are precious in the eyes of around you, subject to this work that so- God”. She wrote: “Smile in the monotony metimes tires you because of its mono- of daily duty; Be silent when you realize tony and its difficulties... My soul, do not that someone has done wrong; Praise the murmur, the place you have is what you brother who has done good; Give service need, because it is the place that God in to those who are subject to you; Partici- His providence has chosen and prepared pate in the children’s game; Warmly shake for you. In this place where God wanted hands with the brother who is sad; Speak you, you have all the graces to sanctify softly to the impatient and the importuna- yourself, elsewhere you wouldn’t have te; Look with affection at the brother who them”. For Carla, therefore, her program is hides a pain; Greet the humble with affec- clear, she has no doubts, it is well defined. tion; Recognize humbly your weakness; She writes: “One must live happily and Repent sincerely for the evil done. make others happy. To flourish, my soul, is This is the lifestyle of a young woman who to show yourself happy with what is done knows how to combine the intense and for you. It is knowing how to give thanks tireless action of daily life with contempla- for the smallest service received. Happy tion. The maxims quoted seem like ano- also for the help you are called to give to ther version of the Wisdom Books, with others, without even receiving a human the only difference that they flow directly reward. To flourish is to say to all those from Carla’s heart. In fact, with her Lord around you and with words and with a sim- and Spouse, she walks the streets of the ple and casual air and a radiant face: “I am town of Torre Pedrera, holding tightly in well near you””. This wisdom that God gave the depths of her being that “secret” that her makes her a contemporary of so many makes her strong, supports and encoura- saints who lived before her and makes her ges her. an interpreter of so many teachings guar- And she is for everyone an example of se- ded by the Tradition of the Church. In par- renity and peace. Her radiant face bears ticular, today, we can refer to the Apostolic witness to this. Exhortation Gaudete et Exultate of Pope Franca Negosanti Bugli Francis who, in n. 10 writes thus: “What I would like to recall with this Exhortation is above all the call to holiness that the Lord makes to each one of us, that call that he ­8 BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS Libri e pubblicazioniIN LANGUAGE in lingua Alberto Carla Ernesto Cerasoli Dépliant Alberto Marvelli, inżynier, pracownik milosierdzia Portoghese Ed. ilPonte - pp. 24

Ernesto Cerasoli

Alberto Marvelli, ingénieur, ouvrier de charité Ed. ilPonte - pp. 24

Ernesto Cerasoli

Alberto Marvelli, engineer and worker of charity Ed. ilPonte - pp. 24

Fausto Lanfranchi

Alberto Marvelli, plenitude de vida Spagnolo crista e civìca Ed. ilPonte - pp. 24 Italiano Fausto Lanfranchi

Alberto Marvelli, plenitud de vida cristiana y civil Ed. ilPonte - pp. 24

Musical Alberto “Seven days with you”

Docu-film

Siamo fatti per il Cielo. Alberto Marvelli Inglese una vita tutta di corsa

EDITORIALE Prayer to ask Prayer for for Venerable asking for the Carla Ronci’s intercession intercession of Blessed Alberto Marvelli

Lord, we thank you for bestowing Oh God, Almighty Father, rich of Carla Ronci upon us, and we thank mercy, the powerful action of Your Holy We thank you for giving in Alberto Spirit, which blessed her with Marvelli many gifts. We praise you for her a sign of your love for us. We contemplate the wonders that willingness to fully consecrate herself you have created to Jesus Christ through chastity, in his life: his strong life of prayer, poverty and obedience; for the great his generous social and political dedication she had to her educational dedication, task during her everyday ecclesial his ardent love for the poor. commitments; for her willingness to In any aspect of his life follow her priestly vocation and the he practised heroically sanctification of presbyteries; for her faith, hope and charity. fervent prayers, which enabled her We ask you, Father, for the to endure suffering with strength intercession of Alberto, and serenity; for her simple life allow us to imitate his virtues and to become like him the constant help she gave to her witnesses of Your love in the world. neighbours. Father, grant us, through We also ask you any spiritual and Carla’s intercession, the ability to material grace. follow our path as virtuously as she We ask you peace and salvation for did. We also ask you for spiritual and Your Church, material grace. that Alberto loved and served.

If your divine plan allows it, let Carla Make Alberto well-known all over the be beatified and known by the whole Church Church, for the sake of us and Your for Your name’s glory and honour. glory. Amen. Amen

(Approved by the Church) With ecclesiastical approval

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