St. GASPAR BERTONI:

2nd CENTENARY of his STIGMATINE CONGREGATION

A TRILOGY in Honor of his ‘Model’ by Fr. Cornelio FABRO, CSS [August 24, 1911 – † May 5, 1995]

English Translation: Rev. Henchey, CSS In Collaboration: Tereza C. Lopes – Stigmatine Laity On the First Sunday of Advent, 2015 †

FABRO TRILOGY TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

TABLE of CONTENTS

Page I. A FAITH SERVANT-WITNESS FOR THE CHURCH 5

1. His Times: Revolution and Restoration [Risorgimento ] 5

2. Fr. Bertoni a religious of the Italian Risorgimento - 19th century 6

3. The Founder of the ‘Apostolic Missionaries’ [Stigmatines] 8

4. The Dynamism of his Spiritual Life 11

5. His Path of Humility and his Way of the Cross 17

6. A Model of Holy Abandonment 19

Conclusion: A Life Totally for Deferential Service [obsequium] of the 23 Church †††††

II. AN HEROIC WITNESS OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT of the 25 “MODEL-PRINCIPLE”

Introduction: Perfection and Imitation 25 † A. The Stages of the Descent 27

1. First Model: Himself 27 2. Second Model: presented in the first Person 27 3. Third Model: the Apostle himself 27 †

B. The Ascent: toward the “Model” 28

1. Epicurus/Seneca [The “Model-Principle”] 28 2. Transcendental Metamorphosis 29 3. The “Model” Precedes, Transcends, Urges, Transforms 29 4. Fr. Bertoni’s” Mirror-Principle” 30 5. The ‘Single’ Person – Contemporaneity [Kierkegaard] 33 6. Christian Model: Total Self-Giving [, Mary, etc.] 35 7. The “Model-Principle’ in Fr. Bertoni’s MP [July 1808-1813] 39 †

FABRO TRILOGY TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

C. Mystical Experiences 40

1. The Feast of the Sacred Heart [1808] 40 2. After Mass...’ 40 3. St. Joseph’s Convent 40 4. Introduction to the Spiritual Exercises [Sept. 15th] 40 5. Meditation - Death 41 6. The Kingdom 41 7. Incarnation 41 8. “Afterward ...” 41 9. September 29th 42 10. October 9th [31st birthday] [3 Stages] 42 †

D. Moral Evaluations 43

1. Handicapped Obedience 43 2. Connection of Virtues 43 3. Balance of the Soul 44 4. Wonders of God 44 5. Necessity of Divine Lights 44 6. Spiritual Progress 44 7. Good Example of Laity – Penalties of Pride 44 8. Interior Purification 45 9. Essence of “Model-Imitation” 45 10. Ecstasy of Love 45 †

Conclusion: The ‘Loving Experience of the Model’ in the life of 50 Fr. Bertoni †††††

III. AN ‘EVERY-DAY’ WITNESS OF ILLUMINATION THROUGH PRAYER 55

Prologue 55

1. Problem of God 58

2. Problem of Witness 61

a. Tabernacle of Witness [Ex 25:20] 61 b. and Prophets 61 c. Baptism of Christ [Mt 3:17; Mk 9:7] 61 FABRO TRILOGY TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

d. Church Martyrs 62 e. Witnesses of Christ 62 f. Extraordinary 62 g. Miracle Workers 62 h. The “Every-dayness” of the Saints 62 i. Extraordinary Physical Sufferings 63 j. Extraordinary Phenomena: Ecstasies 63 1.] Distinctions 63 2.] Originality 63 3.] Freedom 63 k. Apprehension – Consciousness 64

3. The Problem of the Personal “I” and the Examen of Conscience 65

4. Experiences of the Supernatural 66

a. Feast of the Sacred Heart [July 2, 1808] 67 b. July 11th: vivid sense of the Divine Presence 67 c. July 24th: Continuous Oblation 67 d. August 24th – Profound self-knowledge 67 e. September 27-28th: Gratitude 67 f. September 15th: Altar of St. Ignatius – Sept. 25th: 68 g. October 9th: 31st birthday – remembering 1st Holy 68 Communion h. The second half of October: rich period 69 i. The New Year [1809] – Like meeting up with an old 69 friend... j. The Year 1813 69 1.] Beginning 69 2.] Development 69 3.] Effect 70