Don Orione Traveling by Car

Everyone knows that Don Orione traveled by car, which was one of the new means of transport at that time. They were also, however, expensive and luxurious.

This could prompt us to ask: How did Don Orione combine the vow of poverty with their use? What did he think about the question? What were his feelings about using such means of travel?

            At the beginning of 1931, Don Orione received a car donated by Fr. Vittorio Carrera, parish priest of Lungavilla, who had seen the Founder collecting broken copper pots to make the statue of Our Lady.

For Don Orione, the car was Divine Providence’s gift in his search for broken copper pots, but it was also something which could be pawned after the feast of Our Lady of Safe-keeping. Maybe it was very luxurious for him? “For the purposes of charity, Divine Providence has sent me a car, which I am using in my search for broken copper kitchen utensils; after the feast of Our Lady of Safe-keeping, I intend to pawn it.” [1]

In a telegram, the Founder thanked Fr. Carrera for the car he had donated, which was “consecrated for noble purposes: apostleship, faith and charity”. He also said that the car had begun “its work in the name of Divine Providence”. 

 

            “The car that you donated has been consecrated to noble purposes: apostleship, faith and charity. At the feet of Our Lady of Safe-keeping, it will commence its work in the name of Divine Providence today.

            I’m very grateful; allow me to give you a brotherly hug.”[2]

In a letter, Don Orione informed Fr. Orlando about the donation of the car and how he was using it to publicize the Shrine: “You know that, more than two months ago, I went to Lungavilla, and your parish priest gave us his car, which used to belong to the Christians, and it has served me so far for the publicity of the Shrine.” [3]

            But even though a car may be useful for pastoral work, Don Orione once forbade the purchase of a car: “Regarding the car, I am sorry that at the moment I must refuse you permission to make the purchase. Fr. Dutto will explain my reasons to you. That is why I have telegraphed you today not to go ahead with the plan.” [4]

Bishop Ramon Bogarin Argaña[5] met Don Orione in 1939, when he was a young priest studying in Rome. During his farewell in Genoa, Don Orione told him that he would be bishop in Paraguay, open the gates of Paraguay and die after the entry of the Congregation to that country.[6]

When the then Fr. Bogarin Argaña had to return to Paraguay because the Second World War was just about to break out, he traveled with Don Orione from Livorno to Alessandria. Some years later, Bishop Bogarin Argaña shared his experience and the lesson he was taught by the Founder concerning the use of cars.

           

“However, I had a troubling thought in my mind that kept tormenting  me. Don Orione was a religious, and so was bound by the vow of poverty. How could he then reconcile the use of a car with that promise? I had noticed that at the house there was even another car, also with its engine running.

            Encouraged by the affection that he showed me, I mentioned my concern to him, which was intensified because gasoline was so scarce, and must surely have been very expensive.

“How can you reconcile the vow of poverty with the use of cars?” and I told him that I personally had made a solemn promise not to use a car.

He gave me a great lesson on poverty: with few concepts, but very clear. When it is essential, we should not have any scruples about the use of modern means. Instead, it would constitute a sin against poverty if we were to use them only for personal comfort, when we could do without. A car is simply a means of transport, and what counts is the aim. If the aim is a good one, then the best means is justified. What we have to avoid the unnecessary use of luxury of any kind.

He was so convincing that I decided to change my promise: “I will use the car only in case of need.”[7]

 Don Orione read the signs of the times and used the technology then offered to do good, as well as to work better and faster, but always with a great concern for religious vows and values.

He used the most modern means of transport, but with total detachment, avoiding unnecessary luxury or concern for personal comfort. For him, they were only “means” to further charity.

Fr. Facundo Mela fdp

---

[1] Letter to Fr. Grossi. Tortona, 29th January 1931. Scritti 37, 9 and 37, 8.

[2] Telegram to Fr. Carrera. Tortona, 22nd February 1931 (at 15:35).

[3] Letter to Fr. Orlandi. Tortona, 1st April 1931. Scritti 24,202 and 24, 217.

[4] Letter to Fr. Vincenzo. 29th August 1936 (There is no mention about the place, but the date shows that the letter was written in Argentina). Scritti 67,118 and 67,138.

[5] Mgr. Ramón Pastor Bogarín Argaña (30th March 1911 - 3rd September 1976) was Auxiliary Bishop of Asunción and San Juan Bautista de las Misiones, Paraguay.

[6] Cf. Pellizzari, Angelo, “Una historia llena de mensajes”, Don Orione, Buenos Aires, November-December 2001, 21.

[7] Testimony of Bishop Ramon Bogarin Argaña about his meeting with Don Orione. It was written in Rome, on 13th October 1965. Cf. “Mons. Ramon Bogarin Argaña ricorda Don Orione”, Messaggi 111, 2, 2003.

Circular on "Seeking out Vocations"

Letter to all the Italian Parish priests, on seeking religious and priestly vocations.

Tortona, 15th August 1927.

Most Reverend Father,

May the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be always with us!

I would like to come and see your Excellency in person, but, as it is not possible, I am confident in your goodness to be able to ask you to listen to me favourably even from far away.

I will be grateful to your Excellency if you can help me in the work of seeking out holy vocations; it is in fact about this that I am hoping to interest you in the Lord: I am coming to seek vocations.  And I am especially looking for young men who show a desire to become priests or helping brothers, and who would be prepared, with the agreement of their families, to join this new-born Congregation of the Sons of Divine Providence, which, as it is blessed by the Vicar of Jesus Christ and the Bishops, will soon be able to pitch its tents far beyond Italy: to Rhodes, to Palestine, to Poland, to Uruguay, to Brazil and to Argentina.

It is prepared to accept poor boys, as long as they give good hope for the Church.  And it will educate them, with the help of God, in the doctrine of Jesus Christ, to a firm and ardent eucharistic piety, a burning spirit of charity and apostolate, helping them with special care in their studies and religious formation.

"The harvest is great, but the labourers are few."

Brothers, let us provide labourers, good labourers, for the vast fields of faith and charity!

Your Excellency's expert eye will have certainly seen in some humble boys a spark of a heavenly vocation: they are the little Samuels that Divine Providence is continually raising up in the service of the Church and for the spreading of the Kingdom of God throughout the world.

I am not coming to reap, not at all: I let the Bishops reap for their Seminaries; but, just as I used as a boy to go with my poor mother to pick up ears of wheat or corn along the sunny furrows, I am now coming, in the Name of the Lord, to pick up the ears of wheat left behind, those humble ears of wheat that could have been lost.  And with divine grace, I will try even from them to draw food and the bread of life for souls.

"Many are called to the service of the altar," wrote that great Servant of God, Fr. Rua, but many are lost, as they cannot always be helped.

If, therefore, Your Excellency has discovered, among the good boys who go to Church, some poor young boy, perhaps a little left out of things, but with the openness of innocence and the signs of a vocation to the service of God, I take the liberty of humbly asking you to send him to me.

We have preparatory courses for those candidates who are not mature enough for Grammar School.  With all of them I will give every assistance.  Our Blessed Lady will help me!

The vocations of poor boys to the Priesthood are, after the love of the Pope and the Church, my dearest ideal, the sacred love of my life.

Mercifully led by Divine Providence, this "Little Work" was begun for them; for them our first House in Tortona was opened, for those, that is, that the Bishop had not been able, unfortunately, to accept into the Seminary.  And God has granted me an increase: how many good Priests have been formed, Bishops as well!

What a long road I have walked for the vocations of poor boys!  I have climbed so many stairs: I have knocked on so many doors!  And God brought me onward like His slave.

I have undergone hunger, thirst and most painful humiliations: yet they seemed like little treats from God!  I have also incurred many debts; but Divine Providence has never let me go bankrupt.  And if Jesus were to grant it, I would consider it a great grace if, for vocations, I could go begging bread right up to the end of my life.

For the character, then, of this new-born Congregation, I am coming to seek vocations and even late vocations: both for the Priesthood and for lay brothers or helpers, of which we have a great need, in Italy as well as abroad, in the Missions and in the Schools for the children of Italian emigrants.

I will even accept mature men, as long as they are free: farmers, artisans, widowers; they must just be in good health and of good will.  All those who feel they are called and able to give me a hand in exercising the Apostolate of Charity in the Colleges, Sunday Schools, Agricultural Colonies, Professional Schools - Printing Houses, Mechanical Workshops, Carpenters' Shops, Laboratories of arts and crafts - and also in the Hospices and Homes that the Hand of Providence is opening for the salvation of youth or for the comfort of the humble: all can find their niche, their place of work, since in these Charitable Institutions there are many mansions.*

Whoever perseveres stays with us, as if he were at home, in sickness and in health, for the whole of his life.

For those no longer deceived by the world and who wish to give themselves to God in a life of recollection, prayer and seclusion, we have the Hermits.  The Hermits of Divine Providence live in the peace of solitude while praying and working; and even young candidates are accepted, just as St. Benedict did.

And then? Well I still have not finished, as I also have the Sisters. Divine Providence is at work. For some years It has been developing, through my hands, a new Congregation of Sisters, called the Missionaries of Charity.  And they have already spread throughout Piedmont, Lombardy, Venetia, Emilia, The Marches, Rome, Calabria and even into Poland.

How many they are, I do not know.  I know that generally the Nuns are a little like ants.  However, they are always too few in number for our needs, as they are requested on all sides for Nursery and Infant schools, Hospitals, Poor-houses, etc.

So, if your Excellency should send me some good vocations for the Sisters, I would be very interested.  There is also a section of Nuns for the widows.  I also have the Blind Sisters, the Sacramentines.

And then...and then, if Divine Providence is still at work, you will see in a few years what will spring from the hands of the Lord.

It is all Our Lord's doing, it is Our Lord, I would say, who is at work.  The One who spoke through the mouth of Balaam's ass, did not find a more miserable creature on earth than me, in order to show that all good comes from Him.

I am not looking for dowries, I do not impose age limits for anyone; I just want them to have a good spirit, good health, a good will to love and serve Jesus Christ, to work in humble obedience, to sacrifice themselves in charity, to do good to the poor, serving Jesus in the poor. Because we exist for the poor, in fact for the poorest and most abandoned.

See, my dear Brother in the Lord, how many cares I am laying before you, how many people this Brother Galdino of Divine Providence is coming to ask from you.

Brother Galdino del Manzoni was happy to go around looking for peanuts.  I, on the other hand - due to time passing - will end up, if your Excellency is not careful, by seeking you out and taking you away yourself...And who knows?...Who knows if one day...God were to wish!...For now, I shall content myself with humbly asking you to send me vocations, good vocations, many vocations!  Souls and Souls!  I am looking for souls!  I am trying, with divine help and your Excellency's also, to do a job of resuscitation of good Religious, of holy Priests, of Apostles.

Who would refuse to help me?  Do me this charity for the love of God, the Blessed One!

I trust in Our Lord and in the intelligent goodness and zeal of your Excellency.  For what you will do, may God bless you with a great blessing!  I will always pray for you, and I promise always to be grateful to you, especially at the Altar.

Permit me now to embrace you fraternally with a holy kiss. Please accept me, respectfully as your humble and most obliging servant and brother in Jesus Christ and in Our Blessed Lady.

Fr. Luigi Orione of Divine Providence

Trusting in Divine Providence: 400 lire for a boarding school

In Rome Luigi Orione, then seminarian had seen so many priests and monsignors, several bishops and even cardinals.  This highlighted even more the relative scarcity of clergy in his city of Tortona.  Why not promote vocations among poor people and increase the number of workers in the Lord's vineyard?

He expressed his thoughts to the bishop.  Mgr. Bandi looked at him smilingly and kindly, but raised a mountain of difficulties.  The seminarian replied that he had thought of all those things, but that his faith in Providence gave him the courage to try:

"Just your approval and blessing, my Lord, and all will be well."

"Well, if that is the case, I give you both," the bishop then said and approved the seminarian's plans in general.  Perhaps he thought that between saying and doing there would be an ocean to cross.

As soon as he was out of his meeting, however, he started to work towards the accomplishment of his fine dream.

First of all he had to find a suitable premise to accommodate the boys.  He left the bishop's palace to begin a tour of reconnaissance and met a youngster, Luigi Stassano, a pupil of the Salesians.

"Where are you going?" asked the youngster.

"I'm opening a boarding school, you know," replied Orione immediately, as if he were taking up the thread of his thoughts.

"Oh yes?  A boarding school?"

"Absolutely."

"Right.  I'll change and go there too.  Where are you opening it?"

"I'm just going around looking for a place."

The boy's father, Pasquale Stassano, a really good type of person and a member of the St. Vincent conference that had been opened in Tortona by the choirmaster Giuseppe Perosi, had in fact intended to let out a small house that had belonged to a priest brother of his, in the San Bernardino district, a kilometre out of Tortona on the way to Genoa.  Could he perhaps try that?  That was Luigi Stassano's suggestion to the seminarian Orione, who accepted it with enthusiasm and acted immediately upon it.  Mr. Stassano was not against it but, however good and willing he considered Luigi Orione to be, he knew that he was very poor.  Consequently, before giving his word he made an expressive gesture with his hand and asked:  "What about money?"

"How much are you asking"

"Four hundred lire per year."

"That's fine," declared the seminarian.

It seemed the most natural thing in the world.

But the other, somewhat astonished, did not really understand.

"But do you have four hundred lire?"

"Do not doubt.  Providence will see to it," was the reply.

"Okay," answered Stassano who did not want to deny trust in Providence but proceeded cautiously, "let's agree to do it this way: if this week you can give me a deposit I will place the premises at your disposal.  If not, I will be under no obligation."

"Fine."

 A small step forward had been taken.  For Luigi Orione this was enough to feel protected by Providence.  But the best was about to happen.  Once he left the Stassano house he walked towards the city with a view to going back to the cathedral.  Hardly had he crossed the Ossona bridge than a woman's voice called out to him in the Tortona dialect.  It was an admirable old lady whom he knew, Angelina Poggi.

"What are you doing around here?"

"Don't you know?  I'm opening a boarding school."

"A boarding school?" repeated the old lady to whom the news came like manna from Heaven.  "Right, I'll be sending my grandson there."

"Great."

"How much will you be charging?"

"Just a little; very little.  Whatever you can give me."

"If I give you four hundred lire, how long can you keep him?"

Four hundred lire!  The exact amount.  Luigi Orione's heart was beating more strongly in gratitude to God.  He could do nothing other than to respond with an act of generosity:

"I'll keep him for the whole of the high school period."

"Good.  Come home with me and I will give you the money immediately."

The word "chance", if used in connection with this meeting, would give a totally wrong impression.  It was Providence in action, guiding the steps of the young seminarian and coordinating the different incidents.

Luigi Orione did not wait to be told twice.  He followed that good old lady, took the four hundred lire that she offered, rushed back to the Stassano's house, paid the rent for the first year and left for the cathedral holding the welcome receipt and with a spring in his step.

Then came the reverse of the coin.  A sacristan with a discouraging frown tackled him from afar and said:

"But where have you been all this time?"

"Did you not know that I am opening a boarding school?"

"A boarding school indeed.  Go and see the bishop right now.  He has already sent for you two or three times."

What could have happened? - thought the seminarian with his mind in a state of apprehension.

It turned out that a few over-zealous people, after hearing this great piece of news, had thought it their duty to let his lordship know of the inevitable failure and unpleasant consequences that could arise from it to the detriment of the clergy.  The bishop, somewhat disturbed, gave in to this pressure and was persuaded to suspend all approval.

As soon as he saw him, Bishop Bandi said very severely:  "For your information I am withdrawing my blessing.  I want no more to do with your boarding school."

The poor seminarian was dumbfounded for a while on hearing this tone of disapproval.

"I am sorry," he then replied humbly and ashamed, "especially as I had already arranged everything."

"What?  What?" the bishop burst out, raising himself up a little on his chair.

Luigi Orione told him of what had happened immediately after they had been together.  Although he was trying to cast his eyes down through respect, they were shining.

Once he had finished and had declared that he was ready to be obedient to his bishop, whom he venerated above all other authority, Bishop Bandi, freshly convinced and full of emotion, said: "Kneel down; I am giving you back my blessing."

And he encouraged him to continue.

Without losing any time Luigi Orione set the date of 15th October for the opening of the new boarding school, which was then made ready after much intense work during the few days that were remaining.

Flying over the Andes

Don Orione writes from Chile to a woman in Genoa, telling her about his first journey in an airplane, “flying over the “Andes.”  This is not in order to be an adventurer or a tourist, but rather to go where Providence calls him to set up places for the poor.

The charitable houses grow in number as he passes by.  Divine Providence does everything.

Even by means of the benefactors who are “the first founders.”

What about him?  He has nothing to do with it.  He signs himself: your poor Don Orione!

Then he adds a wonderful postscript, with a tactful thought for the sisters who are leaving.

He will be going to welcome them at the Port.  Then, without realizing it, he reveals the secret of such charity: everything for Jesus!

  * * *

Souls and Souls!

from Santiago de Chile, 2nd February 1936

To the good daughter of God, Miss. Maria Gambaro,

Grace and consolations from Our Lord. While I was writing to Federico, asking him to make my apologies to you because I could not reply to your letter, I see that I now have a little time, so I am writing.

As you can see, I am now in Chile, where Divine Providence has called me through this Archbishop of Santiago.  He is giving me two Houses for the most neglected of the poor. One House will be for the sisters.  I am well enough in health, but I do feel tired.

- My first time in an airplane.

The doctors have finally allowed me to make this journey, which I made from Mendoza to here by air, flying over the Andes at over 5000 metres of altitude.  It was my first time in an airplane. Thanks be to God, I did not suffer anything.

I will soon be going back to Argentina by air. I trust in the Most Blessed Virgin to help me!

Convey my news to the Little Cottolengo and say that Divine Providence will soon be opening a Little Cottolengo in Chile: let us pray.

You see Mary, your family, the Gambaro family, has started the Little Cottolengo in Genoa.  Then there was the Little Cottolengo in Milan, and after that the Little Cottolengo in Argentina, the Little Cottolengo in North America and soon there will be the Little Cottolengo in Chile.  Before you and Pippo close your eyes, you will see, they will see!

What a good example for the children of Pippo and Gina!

Would you make sure that Pippo’s family reads these words that I am writing on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Tell them that I pray for them every day and that in all the Cottolengos they will always pray for the Gambaro family, the first founders, and for their descendants.

I bless and console you, your brother, Gina, Edoardo and Giovanna and the baby, Franco, Fede and Mario: each and every one of them!  May God sustain your house and always bless it!

In Jesus Christ and Our Blessed Lady. 

Your poor Don Orione.

P.S.  Six missionary sisters are to leave; may this give us courage.  I will be there to welcome them at Buenos Aires.  I am sending my blessing for a safe journey: everything for Jesus!

Scr. 41. 68

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”