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Saint Mary Mazzarello

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Page 1: Saint Mary Mazzarello
Page 2: Saint Mary Mazzarello

Mornese is the birthplace of Mary Domenica Mazzarello, where she spent 42 years of her life.

Mornese was an open door,that enlarged her heart to the horizons of the entire world.

Page 3: Saint Mary Mazzarello

Mary Domenica, lived her youth with intensity, in this beautiful place steeped in silence, in the colour of the vinyards at the

side of a farmhouse.

At this school of silence she learned the

precious value of life…

Page 4: Saint Mary Mazzarello

…she learned to weave a life of profound rapport with God…

…she learned to open the mind and the heart to welcome everyone.

Page 5: Saint Mary Mazzarello

A little window on the west side of the farmyard: “an eye of fire” that would burn for love of the horizon beyond.

Here Mary Domenica had chosen to close her days of intense work and sacrifice.

Page 6: Saint Mary Mazzarello

In the evening she used to go to the window from where she could faintly see the light of the Tabernacle,

and she gathered all the familes in her prayer.

Page 7: Saint Mary Mazzarello

how to comtemplate along with her brothers and sisters. On leaving for the Parish in the morning she used to carry along the work of the day, her co-workers and her experiences in the vineyard.

Here at Valponasca, where only the wind blew in all directions to break the silence,Mary Domenica learned

Page 8: Saint Mary Mazzarello

The parish witnessed the birth, the nurturing and

the blossoming of the holiness of Mary

Domenica.

Here at the school of Fr. Pestarino, she learned the way of intimacy with God, such that she could say, after her sickness,

the prayer that sustained her througout her life:

““Lord, if you give me a little more time to Lord, if you give me a little more time to live,live,

let me be forgotten by all, so that I will be let me be forgotten by all, so that I will be happy in the knowledge that I am happy in the knowledge that I am

remembered by YOU only.”remembered by YOU only.”

Page 9: Saint Mary Mazzarello

Before the church door, Mary used to remain

kneeling even in the cold of winter, waiting for it

to be opened.

The tiring morning pilgrimage to the parish in order to participate in the

celebration of the Eucharist testifies to her desire to

become more Christ-like and to participate in His

redemptive love.

Page 10: Saint Mary Mazzarello

The main altar was the converging point of Mary’s young aspirations.

From here she drew the strength and the love to enrich her work in the vineyard and in the joyful activity among children of the

village.

Page 11: Saint Mary Mazzarello

The tabernacletabernacle:a point of reference of the morning and evening encounter with Christ and the

centre of all existence.

It is really this staying in the presence of God that allowed Mother Mazzarello to unite all of her being to the Lord:

to receive the gift of wisdom, to open up to the experience of divine mystery, to encounter the divine with

familiarity, to see the human condition from God’s point of view.

Page 12: Saint Mary Mazzarello

One day as she passed the Borgoalto hillock, she suddenly saw before her

a set of buildings that appeared to be an institute filled with

numerous young women. She stopped to look. Full of amazement, she said to herself: “I have never seen anything like this before? This building never existed here.

What’s happening?” And she heard a voice saying:

Page 13: Saint Mary Mazzarello

On On 7 October 7 October 18641864

DDon Boscoon Boscocame to Mornesecame to Mornese

The Daughters of the Immaculate were happy, but none responded as Mary did.

She said to them:

““Don Bosco is a Don Bosco is a saint and I feel saint and I feel

it!”it!”

All the people came to meet him, preceded by the parish priest and by Fr. Pestarino.

Page 14: Saint Mary Mazzarello

The Institute Don Bosco envisioned for the youth of Mornese

was established after much hard work and sacrifice. It was the first house of Mary Mazzarello and her

companions.

Page 15: Saint Mary Mazzarello

On 5 August 18725 August 1872in the little chapel of the Institute “the

Veni Creator Spiritus is intoned.

The 14 fortunate ones move up to kneel before the altar carrying on

their arms their new religious habit. They are dress well and their eyes

sparkle with joy.

The voice of Mary Domenica Mazzarello, full of emotion yet

determined, is heard:

“I am, Sr. Mary Domenica Mazzarello

(…)I make the vow to to be

chaste, poor and obedient (…)”.

Page 16: Saint Mary Mazzarello

It is Don Bosco’s turn to speak:

All that we are and all the good we have done

is through the assistance of

Mary Help of Christians.I therefore wish that

you be a living monument of gratitude

to her benign Motherliness.

Yes, this monument is

The Daughters The Daughters of Mary Help of Mary Help of Christiansof Christians

Page 17: Saint Mary Mazzarello

In the courtyard of the Institute is a little well, a symbol of a life of poverty and sacrifice, one that is limpid and joyful.

Around this well, Sr. Mary Domenica Mazzarellooften stopped the sisters and girls of the Institue in order to

offer them refreshing water, but more, her maternal goodness. She did this in her characteristic way and at the opportune

moment.

Page 18: Saint Mary Mazzarello

GO GO FORTH!FORTH!

“At Mornese all wanted to be missionaries and many asked to be

sent.”

“We wanted to build a kind of Mornese… but at times we had to struggle with poverty, with the language, with the

suspicion of the people.”

Mother Mazzarello would encourage us from afar:

“A little at a time and you will do much.”

Page 19: Saint Mary Mazzarello

THE SPIRIT OF MORNESETHE SPIRIT OF MORNESE

Great obedience, simplicity, faithfulness to the Holy Rule;Great obedience, simplicity, faithfulness to the Holy Rule;

Admirable meditation and silence;Admirable meditation and silence;

A spirit of prayer and of mortification, candour and innocence;A spirit of prayer and of mortification, candour and innocence;

Fraternal charity in conversation, joy and serene cheerfulnessFraternal charity in conversation, joy and serene cheerfulness

which seemed like a place in Paradaise.which seemed like a place in Paradaise.

Only God and his love was thought of and was talked about,Only God and his love was thought of and was talked about,

There was love for Mary, St. Joseph and the Guardian Angel,There was love for Mary, St. Joseph and the Guardian Angel,

and work was always done under their sweet protection,and work was always done under their sweet protection,

as if they were actually present. There was no other aim.as if they were actually present. There was no other aim.

O how beautiful that life was!O how beautiful that life was!


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