The Pro Sanctity Newsletter

Year of the Founder Fall 2013 Almost 100 Years Ago...

on June 25, 1914, Maria and to avoid paying the fare. Then Gaetano Giaquinta became there was the time he, though the parents of their third child, acting with charitable motives, Guglielmo (William). He spent collected stamps for the mis- the first nine years of his child- sions, but played ‘hooky’ from hood with them in the place of school for a month to do it. His his birth, Noto, Sicily, but when older brother kept the secret, they moved to , he was then finally told his father after not able to join them until he the brothers had a fight. was 11 years old. Gaetano soon decided that his However, some of his youth- youngest son needed discipline ful escapades in the big city and sent him to the Minor Semi- surely did not point to the nary in Rome where he learned saintly man he was to be- good study habits and self- come. Guglielmo’s favorite control. Most important, it was understanding confessor, an mode of transportation was to there that he discerned his voca- eloquent preacher, and a gifted hang on the outside of trains tion. Though Guglielmo was writer. developing a strong character, In the aftermath of World War he was also becoming a kind, II, Msgr. Giaquinta saw the IN THIS ISSUE gentle, modest, and holy young need to minister to Italian youth man. The first of 4 special issues who were rootless and search- commemorating Bishop After continuing his formation ing for something. Thus in Giaquinta’s 100th Birthday in the Major Seminary of St. 1947, he founded the Pro John Lateran, Guglielmo was This Just In………………page 2 Sanctity Movement as a means The Creed - Part II……...page 2 ordained a priest in 1939. Fur- to spread the Universal Call to From Desk of Director….page 3 ther study led to a law degree Holiness and provide a struc- Ask Pro Sanctity………...page 4 and appointment as Judicial ture that would give meaning to Personal Challenge……..page 4 Vicar in the Vicariate of Rome – their lives. Our Stories in Pictures….page 5 an office that he held for ten Guglielmo Giaquinta became Saints for Our Times…....page 6 years. He was known as a faith- Come Grow with Us…….page 7 a bishop in 1968 and continued ful priest, an effective spiritual Save the Date…………...page 8 director and retreat master, an Continued on page 3 This Just In… because of the Incarnation. The

Agnes Rus, A.O. Blessed Virgin Mary has a tre- mendous role in this. Could God Update on the Cause of have chosen to accomplish Sal-

Beatification of vation another way? Of course!

Bishop William Giaquinta But He chose to have the Sec- Founder of the Pro Sanctity Movement ond Person of the Trinity be- come a human being through the cooperation of the Blessed In the years since Bishop Virgin and so her participation in Giaquinta’s death, those in Rev. Msgr. Steven J. Aguggia the mystery of the Incarnation is charge of the process have Pro Sanctity Spiritual Advisor paramount. This is why the collected about 200 testimo- and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese Church honors and venerates of Brooklyn and Queens nies from cardinals, bishops, the Mother of God in a profound priests, nuns, spiritual children, continues his study of the Creed way. This is why her greatest married people, members of …... title is in fact, “Mother of our Institutes and the Pro Last time, we talked about God.” Can we easily see how it Sanctity Movement. the beginning of the Creed… all stems from the central mys- This summer, Judge Msgr. God our Father. tery of the Incarnation? Tasciotti and Mr. Francesco, We turn now to the second The Incarnation also means notary, came from to visit (and longest) section, that is, the that the created world is good. Nebraska, California, and New part that describes the Son, Je- Sometimes in history, various York to meet with people who sus Christ. There is really too groups of heretics claimed that had met Bishop Giaquinta dur- much to discuss in just one short the world was evil or that created ing his numerous visits to the article. It requires an entire things drew us away from God. United States. Regrettably, the course on Christology (the theo- However, the fact that God be- interviewers arrived in Califor- logical study of Christ) and Mari- came man (a creation) proves nia just a few days after the ology (the theological study of that God loves His creation and death of Palmira Tafani, an Ap- Mary). that since it is from God, it is ostolic Oblate for over 50 years I would like to concentrate good. We can, of course, misuse and someone well acquainted our attention, then, on one im- creation and sin but that is a cor- with Bishop Giaquinta. Apart portant aspect of the mystery of ruption of what God intends. The from this unfortunate occur- Jesus Christ. In fact, it is so im- mystery of the Incarnation is also rence, the interviewers spoke portant and central to us that, the reason we use images in our with many people and were when reciting the Creed, we churches and for our devotion quite impressed by what they honor this section in a particular (pictures, statues, icons, etc.). heard and also by the develop- way by a bow or by a genuflec- God became man and so is able ment and spreading of the Pro tion. to be pictured. These things (and Sanctity Family in this country. “…And by the Holy Spirit he all created things) should lead us Let us continue to pray for was incarnate of the Virgin Mary to God, as long as we are not the intercession of Bishop and became man.” too attached to them and they Giaquinta and collect the testi- Here is the mystery of the become more important for us monies of graces received, es- Incarnation which is the central than God Himself. pecially those of healing. mystery of Christ. Imagine if you So…it is easy to see why we will…God, the Creator of all bow at these words things, the All-Mighty, becomes when we recite the Pro Sanctity East Newsletter a man, human in all things but Creed (or genuflect Editors sin, out of love for His creation… on Christmas us! “Incarnation” means “the tak- and the Annun- Angela Di Paola, A.O. ciation). They are Rosemary Darmstadt ing on flesh”…God becomes Mariakutty Joseph, A.O. man. the words which de- Nina L. Riti The mystery of the Incarna- scribe the very heart Agnes Rus, A.O. tion is what makes possible our of our Catholic Donna Spoto salvation. The Death and Resur- Faith! rection of the Lord is possible 2 continued from p 1 his pastoral care, deep con- in Rome on June 15, 1994. Ten

years after his death, the Cause of cern for his fellow priests, and Bishop Giaquinta’s apostolic activity as the and Canonization of Coat of Arms Servant of God Guglielmo prophet of the Call to Holiness, Giaquinta was opened. such that in his lifetime the Pro (at left) contains the symbols of a boat which depicts the Sanctity Movement spread from his native Italy to the Church, firm in her direction in the midst of the forces of evil United States, Belgium, Malta, represented by the stormy and India, and more recently to seas. The star stands for Latvia (north of Lithuania), and Mary, Mother of the Church Holland. and light for its journey. Although Bishop Giaquinta was ill for the last eleven years DUC IN ALTUM of his life, he served his dio- “Put out into deep wa- cese as long as he was able ter.” (Luke 5:4) expresses and led all branches of his Pro Bishop Giaquinta’s teaching to Sanctity Family until his death be more and to do more.

From the Desk of the Director Donna Spoto

The universal Church recognizes November 1st as All Saints Day: a day we recognize the holiness of the saints in heaven—both known and unknown. The desire of Bishop Giaquinta to communicate to all people their fundamental vocation to holiness was so great that he designated November 1st as the Day of Univer- sal Sanctification. This essential Pro Sanctity celebration touches the very core of our baptismal call to live holiness in our daily lives and the Founder dreamt that this would become a celebration of the whole world.

This year’s celebration will be particularly poignant, as it opens the Year of the Founder (November 1, 2013 to November 1, 2014), celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bishop Giaquinta. Our news- letter will focus on the life of our Founder and will assist us in coming to know him more intimately— as a person, priest, bishop, founder, and devoted Servant of God. We celebrate his life as a true apostle of holiness!

We are particularly blessed to have as our Episcopal Moderator Bishop Ray Chappetto, who has already embraced with great enthusiasm the Year of the Founder by sharing the Pro Sanctity message with all of his brother bishops in the United States (see enclosed letter). His love of the Pro Sanctity Movement shines through in his beautiful letter and generous availability to Pro Sanctity.

Since the core of Pro Sanctity is to understand and know Christ personally and respond fully to His love, Bishop Chappetto shares that the Pro Sanctity Movement promotes the Universal Call to Holiness by seek- ing to address the needs of the mind with theology, the heart with spirituality, and the hands with ministry. This was affirmed by our Holy Father in his morning homily September 26, 2013. The Holy Father stated, “In order to fully understand Christ, one must speak the three languages that are necessary to know him: that of “the mind, heart, and action.” What a beautiful gift to know how closely the Pro Sanctity Movement, formed so many years ago, is united with the Holy Father and the Universal Church.

3 Ask Pro Sanctity… Salvation History - Part III Agnes Rus , A.O.

The Salvation History throughout the Old Testament is focused on Je- sus Christ. The Church teaches us that Jesus Christ is the complete fulfill- ment of Divine Revelation; all that God wants us to know is revealed to us in the life and words of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant, and not only of the Old Law but also the Old Testament roles of priests, prophets and kings. He is the New Covenant ratified in His own blood (Hebrews 7:22). He is the Prophet, the Priest and the King. Out of the perfection of Jesus’ humanity He returned to the Father "love for love." Christ’s per- fect living for the Will of the Father is both the perfection of man and the glory of God. In Christ and by His grace man becomes both fully alive and the glory of God (St. Irenaeus).

The History of Salvation is not over, we are actively part of it. The knowledge of God’s Plan be- fore and in Jesus, is the foundation of the work and mission of the Church. The reveals Jesus Christ to every generation and brings His salvation to the people of every time and place.

The Personal Challenge Nina L. Riti

Msgr. Aguggia did it again. man. This great sacrifice chal- one is doing, is presented as a He presents in Part II of the Creed lenges us to live a life that Christ good, necessary act and that one a challenge for all of us to embrace asked us to live...one of love for has the right to do ‘whatever.’ The as we near the end of the Year of ALL of God the Father’s creation person acts by fooling themselves Faith. He says, “The Incarnation because, to again quote Msgr. that this act is really good. To which is the central mystery of Aguggia, “Incarnation also means oversimplify…I don’t rob some- Christ…God becomes man” Wow, that the created world is good…we one’s house because it is wrong, I we say it so easily. Do we really can misuse creation and sin but need the money to buy the drugs comprehend the magnitude of that is a corruption of what God so I can function in this world – such a statement? intends” and therefore, the chal- thus presenting a bad as a good. lenge for me is to care for and love In an attempt to explain ALL of God’s creation. That means Abusing the environment this concept to my Confirmation every single human being …even for our own greed and valuing ma- class I used the analogy of what it the person who has hurt you and terial things over people, are just would mean if they, human beings you are angry with. Can you really some examples of the individual capable of thought, reading, writ- forgive and love them or do you presenting a situation as good ing…all their human qualities and give that lip service and walk when it really is abusive and gifts, put that spirit into the body of around thinking I have the right to wrong. Even Pope Francis, in his an ANT...no longer able to read, be angry because of what they did? January 5, 2013 weekly address, write, think etc. – only able to scurry said the “culture of waste tends to around for food and mere exis- Sometimes I think people become a common mentality that tence. Would they give up all their care for their pets more than they affects everyone.” He links disre- gifts and do that for the love of a do human beings. They reason spect for the environment and dis- really good person. You know their that the pet does not choose the respect for life. So, we face these response. NO, NO way. I then evil deed that some humans challenges daily and must pray for said that this is nothing in compari- choose. I truly believe that man is discernment and strength to per- son to what God the Son, fully incapable of choosing evil for evil’s ceive the situations rightly and act Divine, gave up by becoming sake…but rather, the evil which accordingly.

4 er h our Found Journey wit

“Eucharistic Jesus, show me Your face.”

“We have to root ourselves in Jesus; we have to become Jesus.”

“May there be love and fraternal unity among us, as well as fidelity to those You have chosen to be the rock and pillars of Your Church.”

“Jesus said, ‘Be holy, for I the Lord, am holy.’”

5 es ur Tim ls ... s for O ode int Compiled by Nina Riti Our M Sa hear the voice of my soul, and that is downs of her emotions, I again quote the true guide that I must follow.” Benedetta when she wrote a friend “I What a prophetic statement from a am going through a period of great young high school girl. Benedetta was aridity. I feel alone, tired, somewhat to eventually lose the sense of hearing humiliated and without much patience. completely. However, she graduated The worst is that I am not at peace. high school and went on to college but Pray for me, pray for me. Why is this missed getting her medical degree by happening to me? Why is God allow- one course because she contracted ing this?” Her friend’s advice helped neurofibromatosis. Her doctors even- her through this difficult time and she tually concurred that she indeed had was finally able to write someone who this terrible illness that was also called was going through a rough time by Venerable Benedetta Von Recklinghausen disease. This telling him, don’t ask WHY, rather ask Bianchi Porro caused her to lose not only her hear- that Jesus walk with you in carrying ing, but also her sight, and complete your cross because she understood This is the story of a young girl feeling of her entire body except her what Jesus felt when he said on the named Benedetta Bianchi Porro who left hand. When she initially began cross “My God, my God why have you was born on August 8, 1936 in north- losing her hearing she had the fore- abandoned me?” My understanding of ern Italy. She was one of six children sight to study lip reading and sign lan- the discourse with this young man in a family whose mother had a deep guage, as this was to become the only was that asking WHY causes us faith that she cultivated in her family. means she would eventually have to much pain; it is with the full accep- As an infant Benedetta was stricken communicate. With great patience tance of the cross that we experience with polio, the first and the least of the her mother would trace letters on her peace. medical problems that were to con- hand so that Benedetta would be able Her ‘special’ miracle at front this bright, beautiful girl. The to know who was visiting her and disease went into remission but left greet the visitor cheerfully. On a trip to Lourdes in 1962 her right leg shorter than her left, Benedetta had a true epiphany. She She is happy and free from sin causing her to limp. One day a boy and another young girl were at the said, “Oh the cripple” while playing a Benedetta loved the words of Saint grotto for a final meeting with the game in the schoolyard. Her brother Francis who said, “Praised be You, Madonna and Benedetta told her, heard this and started a fight with the my Lord, for our sister bodily death, “The Madonna is there, she is looking young man. Benedetta yelled at her whom no living man can escape. at you.” Suddenly the girl got up from brother and said “He called me the Woe to those who die in mortal sin”. her stretcher and was cured, but cripple. What is wrong with that? It’s She told her Mother “How happy I am, Benedetta remained completely para- the truth.” As a result, the boys Mama, to be pure as I go to the Lord, lyzed, unable to hear or speak. In her stopped fighting. This was the way without mortal sin”. Here was a young book Benedetta, Maria Grazia Dantoni Benedetta was to deal with the many girl who lost her hearing, lost her sight, writes, “She had gone there to be crosses she would bear in her short lost feeling of her entire body except cured. Little by little, she understood, lifetime. her left hand saying “How happy I consented, abandoned herself to Him.” Benedetta herself who a year Jesus is her true guide am.” Don’t misunderstand…it was not always happy, cheerful Benedetta… after her trip to Lourdes, found her At the age of 10, in 1946, she began she wrote a friend once “There are condition worsened and said, “I’ve keeping a diary about the many times that I would like to throw myself realized more than ever the wealth of things she was dealing with in her life. out the window” …but she would not my state and I want nothing but to In 1953, she started losing her hear- give in and with acceptance came the keep it. THAT was the miracle of ing. This created many difficulties and peace…eventually she was com- Lourdes for me.” on one occasion when she could not pletely bedridden, denied those Benedetta died on January 23, 1964, hear the question her Latin teacher senses that we use to communicate only 28 years of age. In December had asked her she became worried. and experience life and yet she writes 1993 Pope John Paul II approved her She wrote in her diary “What do I look “I live everyday life, but how full it journey to sainthood and now Vener- like when this happens? But what seems to me! Life itself seems a mira- able Benedetta awaits a miracle for does it matter? Maybe one day I will cle to me, and I would like to sing a the next step to sainthood. What no longer understand anything that hymn of praise to Him Who has given better way to close than quoting her other people say, but I will always it to me.” To reiterate, the ups and Continued on page 7 6 Mark your Calendar 2013! Come and grow with us

There will be Eucharistic Adoration every Monday from 10 AM to 5 PM in the chapel of the Pro Sanctity Center at 45-30 195th St., Flushing, NY 11358

Come to the Bethany and spend some quiet time in conversation with the Lord.

Year of the Founder Pilgrimage to Sicily, Rome, Assisi June 17-28, 2014 Participate in the Pro Sanctity International Convention, visit the birthplace of the Founder, tour Rome & Assisi, meet Pro Sanctity friends from all over the world! Please contact Jessi for more information or to register. Deadline is December 1, 2013 or when full. Space is limited. 402-661-0223 or [email protected]

Festival of Faith Bible Sharing For children 3-9 years Getting to Know Jesus Our Lady of Angels Parish Every Thursday, 7:30-9:00 pm Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY 11209 Our Lady of Miracles School Nov. 16 & Dec. 21, 2013, 4-6 pm Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY 11236

Pro Sanctity Retreat Spanish Speaking March 21-23, 2014 Catolicismo Seminary of the Immaculate Conception Every other Tuesday beg. Oct. 15 Huntington, NY 11743 St. Fidelis, Madonna Room College Point, NY 11356

For information: 718-649-0324 or [email protected] www.nyprosanctity.org

Venerable Benedetta Bianchi Porro - continued from page 6

“I want to say to those who are suffering, to the sick, that if we are humble and docile, the Lord will do great things in us.”

The author of the book Benedetta ends with telling the legend that Benedetta had talked about …a beggar saw the golden coach of a great king arriving. He stopped to wait for alms in the hope that the king would liberate him from his poverty. But the king, having descended from the coach, unexpectedly held out his own hand. What have you got to give me? Confused and hesitant, the beggar drew from his sack a grain of corn and gave it to him. In the evening, emptying out the sack, among his handful of possessions he found a grain of pure gold. He wept bitterly that he had not had the courage to give all he possessed. Are you able to give everything?

7 Apostolic Oblates NON PROFIT Pro Sanctity U.S. POSTAGE PAID 45-30 195th St. FLUSHING, NY PERMIT NO. 1461 Flushing, NY 11358

The Pro Sanctity Movement is a Catholic Organization dedicated to promoting the Universal Call to Holiness by seeking to address the needs of the mind with theology, the heart with spirituality, and the hands with ministry.

Day of Universal Sanctification Year of the Founder Servant of God Bishop Giaquinta - Apostle of Holiness St. Margaret Church 66-05 79th Place · Middle Village, NY 11379 Saturday, November 9, 2013 Holy Mass at 5:00 p.m. Bishop Raymond F. Chappetto Main Celebrant and Homilist

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