Author: Fondazione3

Mary, Mother of Charity,
Help Us to Live the
Greatest Love!

I began to honour the Most Holy Virgin under the title of the “Sorrowful Virgin”. In fact, when I was a child I always had a great love and devotion to Our Lady. I believe that the devotion to Mary, under this title, was inspired by my second companion. Memoirs II, 12
Your eyes have seen my actions; in your book they are all written; my days were limited before one of them existed. Psalm 139:16

I went to the Church of St. Francis to pray to the Most Holy Virgin and the situation became very clear and I experienced inner conflict when God wanted to manifest His Will for me. Memoirs II, 31
Many shall look on in awe and trust in the Lord. Happy the man who makes the Lord his trust: who turns not to idolatry. Psalm 40:5

The day arrives when the Work is to be started: Saturday August 1, the first of the seven Saturdays dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. The Lord started to make me savour poverty, even though He always provided sufficiently for the needs of the Institute. Memoirs III, 29
Your ways, O Lord, make known to me: teach me your paths. Guide me to your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour. Psalm 25:4

Mary, Mother of Charity, Help Us to live the Greatest love!

On the day when the first Mass was celebrated in the new House, I heard that this new place had been consecrated to the Virgin Mary. I was extremely happy and I began to feel a great joy. Memoirs III, 33
May the Lord remember all your offerings and graciously accept your holocaust. May He grant you what is in your heart and fulfil your every plan. Psalm 20:4

I visited the Shrine of Caravaggio three times during this period. The first time I experienced such a tender love for Mary that, for the whole of my prayer, I could say no
more than: “My dear Mother!” Memoirs XV, 50-51
Let all who take refuge in You be glad and exult forever. Protect them that You may be the joy of those who love Your name. Psalm 5:12-13

Through the intercession of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary, without speaking with the person involved, I recited the chaplet of the Sorrows of Mary. When I had finished my companion remained with us definitely.
Memoirs IV, 31
You, O Lord, are my shield: my glory, You lift up my head! When I call out to the Lord, He answers me from His holy mountain. Psalm 3:4

I felt myself interiorly sustained among the many difficulties that surround me. There was a time when all these worries seemed to get the better of me, but recourse to Mary helped me to regain my peace.
Memoirs XIV, 54-55
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the sea. Psalm 46:2

Mary, Mother of Charity, Help Us to live the Greatest love!

I understood that those who engaged themselves in preventing sins, have already consoled Jesus and Mary in their sufferings. Memoirs XV, 72
I am very much afflicted, O Lord, give me life according to your word. Accept, O Lord, the free homage of my mouth and teach me your decrees. Psalm 119:107

I felt that if I really sought God alone and the most Holy Virgin, in the way the Lord wanted, I could always count on their help in this life and they would not abandon me at the hour of death. Memoirs V, 10
The Lord will guard you from all evil, He will guard your life. The Lord will guard your coming and your going both now and forever. Psalm 121:7

God made me understand in what way I should seek Him alone and the Most Holy Virgin, mainly by suffering willingly without looking for comforts and approval either in words or in deeds. Memoirs V, 11
Lord, You alone are my hope. I was speechless and opened not my mouth because it was your doing. Take away your scourge from me. Psalm 39:10

I had a companion who had been ill. I had brought some flowers which had been placed before a miraculous picture of Our Lady … in that place I smelt a certain fragrance. Memoirs VI, 33
I wait for you, Lord; you, O Lord, my God, will answer. Forsake me not, O Lord; my God, be not far from me! Psalm 38:16.22

Mary, Mother of Charity, Help Us to live the Greatest love!

I felt inwardly reassured and urged to pray to the Holy Virgin Mary to hasten such a favour as she had done at the wedding of Cana. And I received the grace. Memoirs VII, 17
Leave it to the Lord, and wait for Him. Be not vexed at the successful part of the man who does malicious deeds. Psalm 37:7

From the impulse I felt to pray, I knew that God had already granted my wish. As a matter of fact, it came to pass a few days later while I persevered praying to Mary through a novena to her Immaculate Heart.
Memoirs VII, 18
I will meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. In your statutes I will delight, I will not forget your words. Psalm 119:16

The negotiations for the new place were finally concluded. On the vigil of the feast of Mary’s Divine Motherhood, the move took place. We had purposely chosen a
Saturday for this. Memoirs VII, 42
Send forth your light and your fidelity; they shall lead me on and bring me to your holy mountain, to your dwelling place. Psalm 43:3

The only moment of tranquility I enjoyed was when I went to visit the Shrine of Our Lady in St. Celsus but it was not to last long. The fact that I had to dwell among the upper class might have contributed. Memoirs X, 20
I call out with all my heart: answer me, O Lord; I will observe your statutes. I call upon you: save me, and I will keep your decrees. Psalm 119:145

Mary, Mother of Charity, Help Us to live the Greatest love!

I had the impression of having compromised the Work and I kept on recommending the whole matter to Our Lady. After a day or two I became more calm. On reflecting upon it I can see now that there was no real motive to be upset. Memoirs X, 33
They cried to the Lord in their distress: from their anguish he rescued them. He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze. Psalm 107:28

On one occasion, only because a very serious need for others had emerged, I besought Our Lord for a special grace out of love for Our Blessed Mother. The grace came soon after. Memoirs X, 42
Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the Lord who made us. For He is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. Psalm 95:6

Feeling very worried and the weight of everything, a short time after the grace came: conscious of my unworthiness, I doubted and I asked pardon of the Lord and promised him not to do it anymore though I am still assailed by some doubts. Memoirs X, 43
I know that the Lord renders justice to the afflicted, judgement to the poor. Surely the just shall give thanks to your name. Psalm 140:13

Wherever I turned, I would find nothing but God. I knew that He alone was the object of my love and there was an ineffable joy in me at the thought of my encounter with Him and with the Blessed Virgin. Memoirs XI, 29
Bless the Lord you servants who do His will. Bless the Lord all you creatures. Bless the Lord always, my soul. Psalm 103:22

Mary, Mother of Charity, Help Us to live the Greatest love!

Our Lady made known to my confessor that the Lord was displeased with my cares, anxieties and my lack of trust in God. Gradually, my peace returned and I begged the Lord’s pardon. Memoirs XI, 36
Look: answer me, O Lord, my God! Give light to my eyes. I trust in your kindness, let my heart rejoice.
Salmo 13:4
Guarda, rispondimi, Signore, mio Dio, conserva la luce ai miei occhi. Ho avuto fiducia nel tuo amore: il mio cuore è in festa. Salmo 13, 4

I was then clearly enlightened on how to help her realise her call. And it seemed to me as though her vocation was inspired by Our Lady. I enjoyed deep peace.
Memoirs XI, 43
Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to my words. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old. Psalmo 78, 1

One day, one of my companions fell seriously ill. Judging her to be in danger of death I had recourse to Our lady of Sorrows. As I prayed I was reassured that she would not die. It was a great consolation to hear an inner voice.
Memoirs XI, 66
Hear always the sound of my pleading, when I cry to you, lifting up my hands towards your holy sacred shrine. Psalmo 28:2

Though feeling at peace and knowing that God and His most Holy Mother would manage everything, I prayed for the Institute and I came to know the name of the person who would do everything. Memoirs XII, 11
The plan of the Lord stands forever: the design of His heart through all generations. Happy the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:11

Mary, Mother of Charity, Help Us to live the Greatest love!

When I had been disturbed by temptations, I was inspired to pray in a special way to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I believe that I was freed from this ordeal through her intercession. Memoirs XII, 25
You do see, for you behold misery and sorrow, taking them in your hands. On you the unfortunate man depends; of the fatherless you are the helper. Psalm 10:14

Encouraged to take the vow, I wanted to wait for a day dedicated to the most Holy Virgin Mary because I desired to entrust it into her hands. I experienced God’s presence. Memoirs XII, 29
How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:12

Forgetting it was a Saturday, I decided to wait for a day dedicated to Our Lady. But I remembered it I begged the Lord to send me any suffering, sorrows, privations and crosses, provided He would never allow me to sin anymore. Memoirs XII, 41
Sing joyfully to God our strength; take up a melody, and sound the timbrel, the pleasant harp and the lyre. Psalm 81:3

After finishing the Novena I left the choir and went before the picture of Our Lady where I knelt. So this first storm subsided, but I found myself greatly distressed. Memoirs XIII, 25
O Lord, my heart is not proud. My soul is still and quiet. Like a child in his mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me. Psalm 131:1

Mary, Mother of Charity, Help Us to live the Greatest love!

I was very tired and sat down on the bench in the Shrine of the Holy Virgin Mary and after having prayed to Our Lady for many intentions, I also recommended the Sons of Charity to her. Memoirs XIII, 35
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication. Psalm 130:1

On these occasions I implored the Lord, and the most Holy Virgin Mary in a spirit of faith, addressing them as though they were not present within me, but in Heaven, and they deigned to grant my request. Memoirs XIV, 38
The Lord has heard my prayer. Blessed be God who refused not my prayer or his kindness! Psalm 66:20

I felt within me a tender feeling of affection for Mary and a great desire to see her. I threw myself into Mary’s arms begging her to obtain for me either life or death, as she pleased. Memoirs XV, 66
I will sing to the Lord all my life: I will sing praise to my God while I live. May my song be pleasing to you, Lord.
Psalm 104:33

I kept imploring Our Lady’s help. I finally resolved, yet again, to really serve God and seek Him alone. I placed myself in the heart of Mary. Memoirs XIV, 51
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. Then they said among the nations: “The Lord has done great things for us.” Psalm 126:2