Visiting the Pope and Rome along with Don Orione

Although this was not sent directly to a child, we would like to quote this letter of Don Orione’s to a benefactor friend whose children he had accompanied to Rome. He introduced them to the Pope and took them to see the most important monuments. Then, in the evening while they were quietly resting, he wrote a letter by express mail to the parents in order to reassure them about the journey and about a good breakfast of milk and coffee with pastries!  The joy and insight of a father! 

(Introduction by Fr. Vicenzo Alesiani fdp)

Souls and Souls!

Rome, Saturday 12 July 1924 (8p.m.)

My dear Mr. Gambaro,

The grace, consolation and peace of Our Lord!

I am writing while your sons are resting, as they have been since 4.30 this afternoon when I telegraphed that they had been received by the Holy Father who gave them his hand to kiss. He looked in a kindly manner at them and blessed them. He also blessed a few devotional objects that Edward and Francis will bring back to their Family as a memento. They were so happy to be in the Vatican, in the Pope’s presence. They could scarcely believe it!

The journey was a very good one. There was only one gentleman in our compartment and he got out at Pisa.  This allowed them to be more comfortable and to have a good rest.

They had some fun also.

At Civitavecchia they had some milk and coffee with pastries.  Someone was already waiting for us here.

After having a wash they served my Mass and we then had some breakfast before getting ready for our audience which was arranged for 1 o’clock.

Before going to see the Pope they went to Confession and visited the Basilica of St. Peter. After the audience we met Monsignor Migone and a good friend of mine who is a member of the Noble Guard and was on duty. We were thus taken on a visit of the Raphael Galleries and some parts of the Vatican. Later we came to our central House at 126 Via Appia Nuova. By then they needed to rest. Four hours later I found them still sleeping deeply; it was good that they rested. I wonder what they were dreaming about! I noticed that they were both peaceful and had contented expressions. May God always be with them!

They have their postcards ready, but have not yet had time to write them. They will do it tomorrow.

It will certainly be a great thing to remember, something that will be a beacon for the rest of their lives.

Your most devoted servant in Jesus Christ and Mary Most Holy.

Fr. Luigi Orione of Divine Providence.

Don Orione lived in community at the Paterno

by Fr. Flavio Peloso

In this account of an evening at the Paterno in Tortona (February 17, 1940), one of his last peaceful evenings there, we are told how Don Orione met the priests of the Community in his room.

"He had summoned us: Fr. Curetti, Fr. Gatti, Fr. Genovese, Fr. Toso, Fr. Simonelli, Fr. Orlandi and Fr. Cardona: Fr. Bidone was absent. Just as we went in, he told me to take a box of candy and offer it round to the priests; “at least one for each eye”, he said, laughing. From his bed he began speaking in a low voice, and then he paused.

“It has been a long time since we all met together. I wanted to spend a little while with you. I am rather worried about some religious in the Congregation, and some Houses which are not doing as well as they should. Pray to God that things may improve and right themselves. I exhort you to pray and to invoke the Holy Spirit because perhaps we will have a new priest in March: Fr Kisilak in Rome, and some subdeacons here.  The list will be out tomorrow. We must see that unworthy candidates do not get into the Congregation, because even one would be enough to discredit the entire congregation.

And another thing… I beg you to be punctual in rising and for meditation. If you do not do this in community, you know very well that it will not be done at all. We have to give God glory together in the community. In this we have had the good example of the most recent comers, Fr. Alice and Fr. Bidone, who are very punctual-- quite unlike their behavior as Seminarians. They are diligent and vigilant.

This is something we should be pleased about but, at the same time, it is something which has made us reflect that we have the duty of giving them a good example. They, the new-comers, were and are more vigilant than we, who are the elders in the congregation. While he was here, Fr. Alice also edified the seminarians. See what a good example Fr. Zambarbieri is to the seminarians. He frequently attends meditation and Mass with the priests, and also often goes to meditation with the seminarians, showing great earnestness and piety.

Now that it is no longer so cold, we have another reason to be punctual. Since my heart attack, I have made an effort - I should not be saying this - to celebrate Mass for you. It has been said that I did so because I could not sleep at night, but this is not the main reason, which is to be with the community and to give you a good example.

One can never do too much good for the Lord. Remember what Michele Bianchi (Translator´s note: one of the four Fascist generals who organized the march on Rome which brought Mussolini to power) said: “Even when one has given one’s all, even one’s life, for the Fascist cause, it is the very least one can do!” Good gracious! Giving one’s life for an earthly cause, however worthwhile, is the least one can do, but it is not to be compared with religious perfection, the cause for which we must sacrifice ours. I hope, in a few days, to be with you for meditation and to celebrate Mass... I do not know what they have decided, but it seems they want to send me I know not where, in which case we will be united in spirit, and in heaven we will be together ...

Let's get back to us. Pray that, if it is His will, the Lord may remove any bitterness in the Congregation. Pray for those who are to be ordained. Be punctual for meditation. See! Earlier I gave you some sweets, and now ... (he said smiling) this also should be enjoyable..."

(Then he began to talk jokingly with Fr. Curetti ...) 

"Do you know, Fr. Curetti that I want to come and see you at the agricultural settlement? I want to come and eat grapes off the vines in the vineyard”.

Fr. Curetti replied: "Do come, and you may perhaps still find some grapes left on the vines”.

"If you get someone to put some back .... (and then) I can see you have lost weight”... (laughter)

“Do you know that Bianchi has returned from Rome?” "He told me” - Fr. Curetti replied – “that he could not bring them, but they are all on the way."

"What?"

"The coins and the stamps!" (Translator´s note: Fr. Curetti was blind, but collected stamps and coins, and Don Orione loved to tease him about this).

"So”, Don Orione said:”You won’t need any more?" "Do you have a special one to give me?"

“What do you imagine I could have? I have my illness, but that is not at all nice, and I do not want to give it to you. "

            Fr. Gatti added: "Indeed, it may be more valuable than any coin".

"Yes, if I accept it as a blessing, even this may prove a treasure”. .

He wished them good night and added: "If you see Fr. Sterpi, say “good night” to him for me. Good night!”

 

The Preacher of Lungavilla

Providence had sent him a horse which, to its credit, had had an honorable career, but through age, hardships and unavoidable lack of food, was beginning more and more to resemble Don Quixote's horse.  

  Needing to go to Lungavilla, Don Orione thought of using the little cart that Providence's horse could pull and one of his boys could drive.  Everything went well until they were the other side of Voghera, but there the problems started.  The poor horse, tired out by the distance traveled, suddenly slowed down and fell, dragging the cart with it, on to the Voghera-Stradella tramway.  All efforts to raise it up again were in vain.  As if on purpose a locomotive appeared in the distance puffing terribly, as though taken by surprise by this new kind of signal set at danger.  Finally it stopped.

In surprise the people wondered what had happened, then, seeing the obstacle, many of them got down to help with removing it.  Among those present was a young woman who made more of a fuss than anyone because she recognized the boy accompanying Don Orione as her brother.

It was God's will that the poor animal, after being held by the legs, the head and the tail, could be moved and put back on its feet.  Diagnosis of the condition, carried out immediately by the more expert of the people, revealed the necessity for some hay in order to restore the animal to health again.  The tram went on its way again while Don Orione, who by then was expected at Lungavilla, saw to the urgent needs of the horse by finding shelter for it in a nearby farm under the care of the boy.  He made his way to Lungavilla on foot and alone.

 It was a cold winter's afternoon with a great deal of snow in the fields and on the roads.  The mishap on the journey had taken up more time than had been allowed for.  The parish priest, after waiting patiently, had decided to begin and the people were already about to leave the church when Don Orione arrived, breathless from his haste.

Once the news had spread around, however, they all went back inside.  He then entertained them with one of his sermons that made them lose all notion of time.

His preaching ability spoiled the festivities for several producers of public dances.  The bishop of Tortona, Mgr. Bandi, forbade any solemn religious services in the parishes where entertainment so dangerous to morals was arranged, but did give permission for a priest to preach.  Armed with this permission, Don Orione kept the faithful in church for several hours, even having recourse to some most amusing jokes, and thus compromised the success of the dance.

Source: "St. Luigi Orione" by Fr. Domenico Sparpaglione 

Though Working in an Active Life

 Engaged as we priests are in priestly ministry, or else in teaching, or around our dear poor ones, let us see, nevertheless, that we do not forget about prayer.

Above all, let us want always to keep in mind, and display it in all our actions, those three blessed years of the public life of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amid the great fatigue He bore, in His evangelization of the crowds, Jesus never forgot about prayer.  The image of the Divine Teacher Who, in the middle of preaching, withdrew to the hillside to pray, should be our favorite image.

Let us remember, dear brothers, that though we are working in an active life, the obligation of prayer does not cease for us. It is prayer which raises us up to God, which allows us to speak to God, unites us to God, sanctifies us in God. The better part is the only part necessary: the duty to pray.  It was Pope Innocent I who wrote: ‘It is the duty of the priest to pray and to offer sacrifice’.

Many dangers surround us!  In Catholic action too, and even in the confessional, we find dangers.  And much dissipation is caused for us by external occupations! ‘Do you know’, wrote St. Bernard to Pope Eugene III, his pupil, ‘do you know where external occupations will lead you? If through them you neglect prayer and pious practices, external activities will lead to a hardening of your hearts, and then... and then...’.

By our very priesthood, we priests are made men of prayer. The Church is ‘domus orationis’ [house of prayer]; the priest must be ‘homo orationis’ [a man of prayer].

Oh, if only we priests were all men of prayer, the world, my dear brothers, the whole world would be converted. ‘omnipotens est oratio’ [prayer is all-powerful]. The pure hands of the priest of Jesus Christ are never raised towards Heaven without bringing down graces. Graces are lacking because the prayers of priests are lacking.

Do we have the spirit of prayer?  This spirit is extremely necessary for us priests, and besides for Religious.  St. Paul says that the Holy Spirit prays in the hearts of the saints, gemitibus inenarrabilibus. [groaning without words] Such is the spirit of prayer. It prays in the depths of the soul.

A sign of having the spirit of prayer is to have our breast and heart ablaze, burning with love for God and neighbour; to have our thoughts always and generally inclined towards good and heavenly things, and to be zealous for the glory of God.

Keep a habitual recollection of the spirit. Do not have a taste, but a distaste for earthly things. Find peace and delight in holy and divine things, in the Church and in the particular works of the priestly ministry.

 Finally, enjoy saying prayers, meditation, the Divine Office, the Mass and praying.

The first way of obtaining the spirit of prayer is certainly that of praying, and asking God for the grace of it. It will be also very useful, too, that each one diligently and often examines himself on his purity of intention in all that he does: whether what he seeks is always the glory of God, or not; whether what he seeks is from God, or whether he seeks himself, his own things and self-love, and not the love of the Lord.  As long as we seek ourselves we will never have the spirit of prayer. As long as we seek our own satisfaction, our own well-being, our personal advantage, esteem, honor and special positions, our hearts are already filled, and there is no longer any room or space there to receive the spirit of God, which is the spirit of prayer.  The spirit of prayer is that spirit which draws us out of ourselves, destroying all earthly and finite things, and allows God alone to reign.

The saints found their delight in praying; the grace of graces: if we ask God incessantly for this, whole-heartedly, it will be given to us, and we will become saints.

Praying teaches us the way to become men of prayer. It certainly is costly to give ourselves to a life of prayer, but the more we practice this exercise, the easier and nicer it becomes: it becomes an exercise of the sweetest piety.

From a letter of 4-1-1938,