Mother Caterina Daghero: WoMAN oF WiSDoM AND ViSION Giuseppina Mainetti F.M.A. Mother Caterina Daghero: WoMAN oF WiSDoM AND ViSION First Successor of St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello 1 Translated by the FMA English Translation Group (ETG) from the original Madre Caterina Daghero: Prima Successora della Beata Maria Mazzarello nel governo generale dell’Istituto Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice by Giuseppina Mainetti FMA Società Editrice Internazionale, Torino, 1940. Private circulation. Cover Design and Printing: Chummy Printers, Vellore, India. 2 Turin, July 4, 1940 Reverend Sr. Giuseppina Mainetti, Only today did I finish reading your manuscript. Here in brief, is my poor reflection. The life of Mother Caterina Daghero that you have written is destined to do great good. This will certainly be the most desired reward for your work, which was far from easy. I bless you, your work and your zealous aspirations. In J. C. Fr. Pietro Ricaldone SDB Rector Major 3 4 Contents Preface 11 Introduction to the English Language Edition 12 Chapter I A Sign and Guarantee of the Future At Home in Cumiana 15 Her Loving Parents 17 Death of Her Mother 18 Model Student 19 Eucharistic Piety 21 New ‘Mother’ 22 Love for Our Lady 23 Life as a Catechist 25 Call to Religious Life 26 Leaving Home 28 Chapter II From Extreme Doubt to Wholehearted Acceptance Is this Religious Life? 31 All These Things will Disappear 33 Come and Take Me Home in Three Months 34 Peace at Last 36 Religious Profession 37 Good-bye Mornese! 39 Don Bosco’s Advice 42 Chapter III Practical Accompaniment Joyful Work and Apostolate 45 Animator and Vicar 45 Charming Episodes 46 First to Wear the New FMA Habit 48 5 Paternal Vigilance 49 Ready for Any Type of Work 50 Perpetual Profession 51 From Mornese to Turin as Animator 54 Chapter IV Baptism of Fire Painful Event 57 At the School of Don Bosco 58 Good-bye Turin 59 First FMA Foundation in France 61 Back to Nizza Monferrato 62 Mission at St. Cyr 63 Cold Welcome and a Friendly Response 64 Unexpected Gift 66 This, too, is God’s Gift 68 To Remember is to Relive 69 Threatening Times 71 Faithful Entrustment 72 Shivers in the Parlour 75 Will She Ever Come Back? 78 Chapter V In the Footsteps of Maria Domenica Back to the Beloved Nest 81 First General Chapter 81 Precious Relic of Mornese 83 Gracious Separation 84 Death of Mother Mazzarello 86 Students Present at the Election 87 Amaretti and Confetti 89 6 First of Forty-Three Years 90 Dream of the Chestnuts 92 Chestnut Festival 94 Chapter VI Fidelity to the Church and to Don Bosco Gift of Leadership 99 A Lasting Memento from Maria Domenica 100 Bravo, those valiant ones 102 Mother Mazzarello’s Only Visit to Rome 104 Don Bosco’s Legacy 105 City of Emperors and Popes 108 Two Beloved Names 110 Price of Fidelity 113 Delightful Surprise 119 Twelve Years of Waiting 120 Crowning Moment 122 Four Popes and Fourteen Audiences 123 Chapter VII From Nizza to the World Companions on the Journey 125 A Jewel of a Mother 127 Work and Prayer 128 First Apostolic Visits 129 Early Circular Letters 131 Loving Care for the Sick and Elderly 135 Loyalty to Don Bosco and His Successors 137 With a Salesian Heart 138 Death of Don Bosco 139 Travels Abroad 143 7 On Board the Perseus 146 Apostle Among the Emigrants 147 Tragic Event 149 Difficulties and Consolations 150 Arrival at Dawson Island 152 Onward to Matto Grosso 153 In the Midst of the Bororos 154 Hands to Work and Heart to God 155 Letter to Fr. Rua from Ouro Preto 159 All for Others, Nothing for Self 161 An Original Initiative for Young Women 162 Return to Europe 164 Jubilees and Anniversaries 165 Visit to the French Province 165 Advance of World War I 167 Sow Good Seeds 169 Chapter VIII The Seed Flourishes and Grows Expansion Continues 173 We Must Go There! 175 Some Wise Teachings 176 Requests for New Foundations 177 Festive Oratory 179 Importance of Catechism 182 To Instruct in Order to Educate 184 Teacher Training Institutes 186 Workers’ Hostel 190 8 A Heartening Account 193 Dealing with Crises 195 Assistance to Refugees 199 Outbreak of World War I 200 Nizza, a Military Hospital 202 Anniversaries 204 Painful Farewells 205 Ursuline Sisters of Acqui 208 Chapter IX In the Eyes of Her Contemporaries Mother Caterina is No Less Holy 211 Have Courage and Encourage Everyone 213 Fr. Paolo Albera Praise 216 Marvellous Equilibrium 219 Unaware of Her Own Merit 221 From Generation to Generation 222 Celebrating Salesian Events 224 May the Holy Will of God be Done 226 Wise Guidance 228 Grateful Heart 229 It is All the Same to Me 232 Piety: as Simple as it was Deep 234 Do Like All the Others 236 Love for the Missions 238 Celebrating the Missionary Dream 239 I Carry You All in My Heart 241 Authority that Made Itself Loved 243 9 Always Practical 244 I have Learned to Understand 246 Casa Madre: House of Memories 248 Timely Advice 251 Caring for the Sick 252 Postulants and Novices 254 Pupils and Past Pupils 256 Intuitive Understanding of Hearts 257 Chapter X Into the Sunset Prayer, Gratitude, Joy 259 FMA Association of the Past Pupils 259 Golden Jubilee of the Institute 261 VIII General Chapter 264 Revised FMA Constitutions 266 Intense Work but Declining Strength 267 Grave Concerns 269 Joy and Courage through Pain and Suffering 272 Last Days 275 Salesian Family Mourns, Yet an Angel Rises 277 ADDENDA A Courageous Formator in Changing Times: Mother Caterina Daghero (1856 – 1924) 281 Educational Power of the Family 281 Beauty and Joy of Faith 283 Solidarity as an Attitude for Life 286 Conclusion 290 10 Preface In writing these biographical memoirs of Mother Caterina Daghero, Superior General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, I drew from authentic documents preserved in the General Archives of the Institute, and from oral testimonies of Sisters who, from the earliest years of the Institute, personally knew our late lamented Mother. I followed a rigorous historical criterion. However, I did not intend to write a complete life. Forty- three years as mother general represents a long period in the history of the Institute, the development of its works and its expansion, all of which would require a more vast and detailed historical study. In these pages, Mother Caterina Daghero is remembered above all for her virtues of mind and heart, and especially in the total dedication of herself to the fulfilment of the will of our founder and teacher, whose desire was completely intent on the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Not only the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, but also our friends in the great Salesian Family, and everyone will benefit from reading about this Mother, who was a faithful disciple of St. John Bosco and of Blessed Maria Mazzarello. Giuseppina Mainetti FMA 1940 11 Introduction to the English Language Edition The English language translation group (ETG) is an international group of FMA representing various parts of the English-speaking world. Mother Antonia Colombo, then Mother General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and the general council, commissioned the group in 1998. The principal aim of this group is to translate from Italian into English significant primary and secondary source material relevant to the history and spirituality of the FMA. The ETG was re-established during the XXII General Chapter, 2008, in the presence of Mother Yvonne Reungoat, current Mother General of the Institute, Mother Antonia Colombo, Mother General emeritus, and some members of the general council, together with the provincials of the English-speaking provinces. The ETG is indebted to the work of the late Sr. Giuseppina Mainetti who published the book, Madre Caterina Daghero: Prima Successora della Beata Maria Mazzarello nel governo generale dell’Istituto Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice in 1940. This translation has been prepared with a view to making the life of this great FMA, who led the Institute for forty-three years, available to a wider English-speaking audience and particularly to those in initial formation. Given the fact that the text was written nearly 80 years ago, the translators, with due permission, have updated some terminology and expanded on certain historical references. A special word of thanks goes to Sr. Piera Cavaglià, Secretary General of the Institute, for her constant encouragement, assistance, and guidance and for her kind permission to include an extract from her article, Una formatrice coraggiosa in un tempo di svolte: Madre Caterina Daghero (1856 – 1924) [A Courageous Formator in Changing Times: Mother Caterina Daghero (1856- 1924)]. The group also thanks the FMA province of Chennai for their generosity in liaising with Chummy Printers, Vellore, and the FMA Institute. 12 Style and Mechanics of the English Translation Throughout the text the ETG has tried to utilise words and terms that are acceptable wherever English is spoken. The group sought agreement on usage and chose that which was most understandable, if not always the most acceptable for a given country or region. UK English spelling is used throughout the text. The USA date sequence is used, that is, month / day / year. An exception to this rule has been made for the footnotes, where the European system has been used to avoid confusion. Footnotes containing bibliographical references have not been translated, while explanatory notes instead have been translated. In lists, a comma has been inserted before the word and, as is the custom in USA English.