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You are here:Home / Family News / NEF 2009 / Family News - 2009 May 14th
May 13, 2009

Family News - 2009 May 14th

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A word from the Superior General

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Gentle of heart, like Jesus

Gentleness is one of the five virtues which St Michael Garicoits contemplates in the Heart of Jesus, and which he would like for all his religious.  In the Gospel, Jesus presents himself as meek and humble of heart (Matt 11,29).  This same Jesus declares that the meek are blessed and that they will possess the land (matt 5,4), in the same line of though as Psalm 37: Leave your anger, calm your fever, don’t get indignant; it can only have bad results. The wicked will be uprooted, but he who hopes in God will possess the land (Psalm 37, 8-9; 22, 34)
This is how our father St Michael comments the passage in St Luke’s Gospel (Chapter 9) where the sons of thunder wants to destroy by fire those who have not wanted to receive them: It was all right for Eli to follow the spirit of his times, but the Apostles would have been wrong in following the spirit of Eli, because that was not part of their vocation. The spirit of their vocation was the spirit of Our Lord himself, a spirit of gentleness, humility and devotion so as to draw sinners gently to penance and be like him. (MS 203)
We can contemplate the gentleness of Jesus in certain difficult times: Christ never committed sin nor spoke lies. He was insulted and did not retaliate with insults; when he was tortured he made no threats but he put his trust in the righteous judge. (1 Peter 2, 22-23) When they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there and the two criminals also, one on the right, the other on the left.    Jesus said: “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing”.  Then they cast lots to share out his clothing. (Luke 23, 33-34)  His followers,  seeing what was happening, said “Lord, shall we use our swords?” and one of them struck out at the High priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. But at this Jesus spoke.“Leave off”, he said. “That will do!” and touching the man’s ear he healed him.  (Luke 22)
From these two texts the gentleness of Jesus is evident.  What I am now going to show are some attitudes of this same Jesus, so gentle of heart, even if they seem to say the opposite.  The Pharisees have been watching Jesus to see if he would cure on the Sabbath, and thus be able to pursue him. Then grieved to find them so obstinate, he looked angrily round at them, and said to the man “Stretch out your hand”. He stretched it out and his hand was better. The Pharisees went out and at once began to plot with the Herodians against him, discussing how to destroy him.  (Mark 3, 5-6). Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon sellers “Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market” (John 2, 13-16) Don’t let us forget the violent attacks of Jesus against the crooked ways of the Pharisees. (Matthew 23, 13-36)
It seems to me that gentleness is the most characteristic aspect of charity. It is charity expressed with the utmost subtlety, with discernment and self control. To be gentle is much more than to be non-violent. The person who is gentle will forgive, will refuse vengeance of any kind, will renounce his rights so as to break the spiral of violence, will repay evil with goodness so as not to harm others and be able to live together, as brothers, otherwise our world would quickly become a hell. Despite what some people say, the meek is not a softy, nor someone who is indifferent to good or evil, nor a coward full of fears. The real meek is the one who stands up for truth, justice and love, who calls things by their name with courage, and as a result is regarded as a brute in the eyes of his enemies because they feel under attack because of the inconsistency of their own lives.
Disciples of Jesus, we put all our energy into resembling like Jesus, into being watchful over ourselves so as to absorb his virtues. There is no shortage of opportunities for cultivating and interiorizing gentleness. At one time or another, we all happen to live with people who don’t like us, who make life hell for us, who despise us and who want to wipe us out of their existence. We have all known situations where our way of acting has driven some of our acquaintances to be diametrically opposed to us.  Such contradictions are opportunities for us to practise and show gentleness: by choosing to be silent so as to avoid an outburst of accusations; by getting on with our duty instead of remaining passive, by not giving in to pressures to renounce our convictions, so as to be faithful to what as adults we judged to be true.
Gentleness and not aggressively can help us to welcome our brother, to listen to him, understand him, pacify him. For it is only by gentleness of manner that respect for God’s time for each one of us is shown. It is only by gentleness of manner that one can correct a brother. A gentle way of acting, as we have explained it, is a source of peace, consolation, pleasure, joy and equilibrium.

Gaspar Fernandez,SCJ 


nef-etchecopar.jpgFather Auguste Etchecopar wrote... to his brother Séverin, no date, 1863

Didn’t I write to tell you about the death of our dear superior, Michel    Garicoits? What a loss is ours! He was our sure guide, our loving father, our steady support, our strength in all our weaknesses and our needs, our modal in everything, showing us the way to Heaven.
We lost him at a time when we thought he was cured of the illness which had kept him confined to his bedroom for about a month since Easter. The day before his death, although somewhat weak, he went to see the Bishop who was giving Confirmation in a village near here.
At evening recreation, our good superior was full of joy, for all around.  We were only to see him again on his death bed. The next day, Ascension Thursday, they came to fetch me in my bedroom at 2h45. Our Superior is very ill, I got dressed and hurried to him. I found  M. Garicoits at death’s door.  At 2’o clock he began to be breathless. I knelt down, and offered God a huge sacrifice, as great as the sacrifice of my own life. Soon all was over, and our saintly superior was dying as he had lived, and was on his way to Heaven, the same day as the victorious Jesus. He died at 3am, at  the time he was used to getting up to begin his heavy day’s work. We wept for him; even if the pain has passed, his memory is still lively with us and will be so until we meet in heaven.
The Bishop arrived next day. He burst into tears in presence of the corpse.  What a loss for the diocese, he said, he was an example for our priests.   On the day of the funeral he gave the funeral address in honour of the   deceased. Several people have told us that they received great favours at the intercession of this saintly priest! There you have the privilege of the saints. During their life time they are dear to God and to mankind because of their charity, their humility, their patience and their purity; They are living images of God, a light for the world and the salt of the earth: like their divine master they pass doing good.
Can those who seek glory, hope to have greater glory, more sure, more useful, and more lasting than that obtained by good Christian living?


With Mary: Ecce, Fiat... Magnificat!

THE ECCE ANCILLA OF MARY
Mary's humility is all the greater as her magnanimity is heroic, and the latter increases in proportion to her humility. At what moment does Mary say “Ecce Ancilla”? When does she humble herself in her nothingness? It is when she lends herself to the sublime dignity of being God's Mother, when she deems her self worthy of bearing the dignity of the Mother of God (D.S. 242/ M.S. 306)
In Mary, the magnificence of the grace of her vocation is as great as her simplicity. Tertullien wrote: “Nothing bewilders the human spirit as much as the simplicity of the divine works we see in action, when simplicity is compared to the great effects she can produce…”. Tertullien is referring to the great effects of the baptism and the simple means such as some water and a few words. Mary is the example of this divine disproportion between what we see from the outside and what is going on inside.
We are at the heart of our spirituality. This is what st Michael says: Mary brings perfect cooperation to God's plan; she humbles herself. ‘Ecce ancilla’. ‘Behold the handmaid’. She obeys with heroic faith and charity. ‘Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum’. ‘May it be done unto me according to Thy word’. (D.S. 134 / M.S. 207-208)
Origen compares Mary to a small board of wax, as if she said: Here I am, I am a little board of wax, let the writer write what he wants, let the all-powerful Lord do with me what He likes. Like Zachariah, Mary too puts a question to the angel: «But how can this come about, since I know not man?» (Lk 1,34), but she does it with a very different spirit from that of Zachariah. She asks a question not in order to understand, but rather to know how she can fulfil the will of God. In doing so, she shows to us that, in many cases, it is not fair to know the will of God at all cost, or the reasons of certain situations which – apparently – do not make any sense, but that is fair, on the other hand, to ask God to be enlightened and helped to do his will.

THE FIAT OF MARY
The Fiat of Mary is total and unconditional. We can compare this Fiat pronounced by Mary, to the Fiat uttered in other crucial moments in the salvation history: God's Fiat at the beginning of creation and Jesus' Fiat in the Redemption. All of them express an act of will, a decision.
The first one, the Fiat lux, is the divine yes of a God: divine by nature, divine because of the person pronouncing it. The second one, the fiat of Jesus in Gethsemani (Lc 22,42), is a human act of God; human inasmuch it is pronounced according to the expression of human will, divine inasmuch this will belongs to the Verb. Saint Michael says: Yes; ever since He said: Here I am, until He expired on the cross, after fulfilling all the designs of His Father and exclaiming: All is achieved. All His life was a continuation of His first act. (M.S.57)
The Fiat of Mary is a human yes stemming from a human creature. In this yes everything acquires new value through Grace. Before the decisive yes of Christ, all the human consent to participation to the work of Redemption is expressed by this fiat of Mary. Starting from the words of Elisabeth: Blessed is she who believed, we understand already how in the Gospel Mary's motherhood is not simply a physical one, but much more, a spiritual motherhood, founded on faith. Just as St Augustin puts it: "After the angel had spoken Mary answered, full of faith, conceiving Christ in her heart, even before conceiving him in her womb: You see before you the Lord's servant. Let it happen to me as you have said". (Lk1,38)
Saint Paul says that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9,7), and Mary said yes to God with joy. How do we know this? The verb fiat is in the “optative” mode, and in Greek this expresses not only a simple acceptance, but a strong desire, as if Mary was saying: I strongly desire from my inner being what God himself desires; let it be done what he desires. And Saint Michael: Perfect dedication, from which ‘devotion’ derives its name, needs us to do the will of God with love. God likes us to give to Him with joy and, in all that He prescribes, it is the heart He is asking for. Such a master deserves that we should esteem ourselves fortunate to belong to Him. (M.S. 195)
This yes of Mary is not only a human act, but also a divine one since it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. This is the greatness of Mary, her beatitude confirmed by Christ himself: “Blessed the womb that bore you and the breasts that fed you!” (Lk 11,27) said the woman in the Gospel. She proclaims Mary blessed because she bore Jesus, Elisabeth proclaims Mary blessed because she believed. Jesus says greater beatitude is bearing Jesus in the heart: “More blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it”.

WE TOO SAY: HERE I AM, FIAT !
Jesus helps us and the woman of the Gospel to understand the true greatness of Mary. In fact, who treasured the words of God more that Mary, who «stored up all these things in her heart»? (Lk 2,19.51)
There is a fourth FIAT in our Salvation History, which will be pronounce everyday until the end of time, it is the FIAT of the Church end of the believers, the one we say to God in the Our Father, Fiat voluntas tua. Let your will be done.
Mary pronounced her Fiat in the 'optative' mode, that is willingly and joyfully.  How many times we happen to utter these words in an ill-concealed resignation, as a person who bowing his head mumbles: if I cannot help it, yes… let your will be done.
Saint Michael has linked joy and Ecce Venio: “Here is your banner and rallying cry: you will march at the head with the banner of the Sacred Heart, uttering the cry of My Son: Ecce Venio, and you will be the joy and support of My Church.’ He believed this voice: he seized the banner. He launched out on his course like a champion and marched on till his death.” (M.S. 319-320)… Magnificat!

Enrico Frigerio,SCJ


I am 9 years of age and I am writing to the Pope

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A young parishioner from Pibrac has decided to write a letter to Pope Benedict XVI  to share his enthusiasm for St Michael. Here are some extracts.

My name is Philippe. I am 9 years of age and come from Germany. I have been living with my family for the past four years in Toulouse, in France. My oldest sister, Sophie, is in a wheel chair; then there is Camille. She is 13 and  Pierre who is 7. I was sorry to have missed you in Lourdes which you visited in September 2008. Here is why I am writing to you: not far from Lourdes is Betharram.
That is where St Michael Garicoits used to live. He died in 1863. Thanks to Fr Philippe, my Parish Priest in Pibrac, I have learned all about him. Do you know St Michael? He used to do lots of silly things when he was young. His mother spoke to him about a very strict God who used to punish mankind. Fr Philippe told me that at that time it was common practice.
At the age of 14 God touched his heart. He was no longer afraid of God but loved him with all his heart and for the rest of his life wanted only to do his will. When he heard that God lived in heaven he climbed three mountains in the Pyrenees to visit him. There are lots of other stories to tell about him but the most important is that he always said Forward march and Be happy!.
For the last three years I want to become pope. I know that first of all I must become a priest, then a bishop……. A bishop has a lot of work to do and you, as Pope, you have even more. But I want to be Pope so as to speak to people about God, just like Michael Garicoits. He opened the hearts of many people. This is why I cannot understand why only a few people know about him.
Could you talk about Michael Garicoits? There are Betharramite priests everywhere in the world. I know a few of them in Ivory Coast, for they often visit our parish.  There are also men and women who are part of this family. Did you know that at Betharram the Virgin Mary saved a young girl from the river. Today, people only go to Lourdes. Even you! When I’m Pope I shall speak to the whole world about Betharram. But that’s a long way off.  So I am asking you to begin, please.


5 minutes with... Fr Tidkham Jailertrit

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A Training Session for the life of the Congregation n All the Regional Superiors and the 11 Superiors of Vicariates were present from the 22nd April to the 7th May at our house in Bethlehem;  this was at the initiative of the General Council to strengthen links, revive the spirit of our vocation and set up the regionalization. The hospitality of the regional novitiate community as well as the Carmelites nearby gave the whole session an atmosphere of prayer, work and fraternity. Result:  two weeks full of useful materiel and reflections to be transmitted now to all members of the congregation.

Fr Tidkham Jailertrit, 41 years old, is the first Superior of Betharram in Thailand born in the country. For that, it seemed interesting to catch his impressions ad the end of the Bethlehem Superior’s meeting.

Nef: How do you feel about meeting for a fortnight with all the Superiors of Regions and Vicariates?
- Before leaving Thailand, when my brothers asked me if I was excited to go to the Holy Land, I said: no, I have been there before. And then they asked me if I was afraid for the meeting, I replied again no; first, I know all the participants, except two of them (but I saw their photo in our website); second, as representative of the Vicariate, if I have concerns, I will forward to my regional superior! More seriously, I thank God that I had the opportunity to participate in this meeting of the Superiors of regions and vicariates at Bethlehem. I learned about the new structures and the missions of the congregation and experienced the international and intercultural dimension of Betharram. We are very different but we are also a unity, as a family. Every day during the session I felt good, despite the language difficulty. Furthermore, I'm young, so I have time to learn...

Can you present briefly your Region and your Vicariate?
- Each region has its specific features. Each vicariate has its specific identity. My Vicariate is a part of Blessed Miriam Region. This area consists of England, India and Thailand, three countries where cars drive on the left side. In this context, the Vicariate of Thailand seems to be like a child learning to walk, needing its parents’ hands. We need support and guidance.

What challenges does this bring about for the members of the Blessed Miriam Region?
- The Blessed Miriam Region has three major challenges that highlight our lack of resources, both human and financial. Each vicariate is far from each other and in different time gone: there is 7 hours difference between Birmingham and Bangkok, for example.
None of the three vicariates have large works like schools that raise money. In India almost all the members are in formation, either as students or as formators. In Thailand, whilst we do have parish work it does not provide for the needs of our students. England has several parish works and also sends funds to India from money raised by mission appeals and from the investments made when Sacred Heart College in Droitwich was sold. But will it continue long time in those proportions?...
Finally, a priority is formation: Thailand has many young people (Juniors) who join our Congregation but we do not have enough formators. The shortage of formators is also felt in India.

After this session, can you see more clearly your role as Superior of Vicariate?
- In the next few days, I will cope with the challenges with council members and have a meeting to prepare for Vicariate Assembly in October 2009. Now I feel better of the service entrusted to me because I do not work alone. I hope for the future of Betharramite mission in the world will continue and grow.

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IN MEMORIAM Italy

+ P. Angelo Petrelli (1927-2009)

Father Angelo was born at Talamona (Sondrio, Italy), on 25th May 1927.  Betharramite pupil from the age of 11, he made his first vows on the 2nd August 1944 and was ordained priest on the 25th June 1950, the Holy Year.  With his degree in Theology, he taught for years at the scholasticate in Albiate.  In 1969 he entered the Vatican’s Minister’s Office as secretary.  For 13 years he devoted himself with competence and meticulousness to this task discreet but valuable.  In 1982 he was sent by his superiors to the Holy Land where he carried out his ministry first at Bethlehem, then at Nazareth as chaplain to the St John of God Hospital.  In 2003 he was recalled to Rome, from which time his health began to decline.
Mental problems being more frequent, he was transferred to the Care Home in Solbiate on 28th May 2005; there he shared a room with a man who had been ordained with him – Angelo Pessina. Personally I became very attached to my two Angels – Fr Angelo Pessina and Fr Angelo Petrelli;  the former had been my novice master  (Monteporzio, 1959 – 1960) and the latter had been my Theology teacher and superior in Albiate, during the 60’s.  Like many of my confreres I benefited from the Theological competence of Fr Petrelli at a time when the Church and society were going through tough times. As intelligent as he was pernickety, he appreciated preciseness in everything whether in the intellectual or in practical everyday things.
As chaplain at Solbiate,  I could see the gradual decline of Fr Angelo’s  intellectual and physical powers.  To begin with, he would concelebrate Mass during the week, reading the Gospel and saying part of the Eucharistic Prayer; he willingly took part in meetings for formation and relaxation.  With Fr Pessina we would take long walks in the grounds, praying and singing together before dinner in their room. The last hymn we sang together was the hymn to our Father founder Michael Garicoits  “St Michael, in heaven where you shine, help us to heaven to praise and bless…heaven…heaven”. He is there now.
At the beginning, Fr Angelo had difficulty in accepting treatment, but as time went by he submitted; he would even smile and distributed blessings just for the asking.  During the last six months he didn’t say a word but stared at us with eyes that seemed bigger because he had lost so much weight. Towards the end I would pray and sing gently by his bed side; I got the impression then that he was listening and understood everything I was saying, for he had a way of looking at me. Finally, he died in peace.
Fr Angelo had a great devotion to Our Lady.  As long as he could he recited his rosary with devotion.  In October 1949, in the review “La Carriola” the young cleric wrote this prayer: Oh Mary, we have often called upon you as “Cause of our Joy” without perhaps measuring the depth of the truth of the invocation! Joy is a grace, sadness is sinful.  Humanity had been in the depths of sadness because of sin… and in their wretchedness they had called upon a Liberator.  Mary appeared and with her the Liberator.  Grace overcame sin, joy overcame sadness!  Grace comes to us through Jesus, and Jesus comes to us through Mary.  Grace is a new victory, a gift given to us through Mary, just like Jesus, source of all graces.  O Mary you really are the” Cause of our Joy!”
On the 12th April 2009, while the Resurrection of the Lord was being celebrated, Fr Angelo lived his Paschal mystery. It was only right, for during these last years he walked his Stations of the Cross in union with the suffering Christ. He was only skin and bone, but his mind was still struggling.  As I accompanied his last days I could see Job on his bed of suffering, Job at the beginning of  his revolt and sufferings, but who in the end turned to God and made his profession of faith: I know that my Redeemer lives and that with my eyes I shall see God”. Fr Angelo lived for the Lord, he was consecrated to the Lord, he died in the Lord:  Henceforth, he can only contemplate his Eternal Love.



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1929-2009

BETHARRAM IN IVORY COAST

It is nearly 50 years ago since our Congregation took its first steps in Ivory Coast. We are following the story of this undertaking during this jubilee year. We shall owe it to Father Laurent Bacho, General Councillor and formator in Abdijan.

5. AN APPEALING COMMUNITY

The young Betharramite community is radiant and is attractive to outsiders. The scholastics Benat Oyhenart in 1969 and Laurent Bacho in 1970, find in Katiola, for the two years of their military service, and interesting field of apostolic activity. On the other hand, the French Province recalled Fr Segure in 1969 and Fr Verley in 1970 who was appointed responsible for vocations. Fr Felix Hiale then left the college in Casablanca to take direction of Katiola; in October, the 71 junior seminarians of Katiola were joined by 21 from Bouake. Some time afterwards the community was visited by Fr Giovanni Trameri, the new Superior General. “Mgr Durrheimer told me how pleased he was with the good running of the seminary. The apostolate luckily extends outside the seminary. The percentage of those reaching priesthood is low, but at least we will have trained some good Christians who will form the backbone of the Church tomorrow.”
On the 25th March 1971, the first final profession of a Betharramite in Ivory Coast: Brother Jean-Claude Vignau, with his many friends from the parishes where he is of service as catechist, shoe-maker, mechanic, or electrician.  The religious community is now composed of four priests, a brother and two trainees. The following months were to witness the departure of Fr Minaberry, suffering from hepatitis, and Fr Suberbielle, for retraining. At the opening of the 1972 school year, the community consists of three priests (Frs Hiale, Monnot and Laban). By the end of 1973, Fr Hiale was obliged to return to France on the grounds of ill health and was replaced by Fr Segur;  Fr Laban also returned to France. As for Fr Jean-Claude he returned from his professional  formation with an Italian scholastic, Tobia Sosio, who was ordained deacon at Katiola on the 20th December 1973 (likewise Benat Oyhenart on the 22nd May 1975 and Laurent Bacho on 18th January 1976)
In October 1974, the Congregation encouraged diversification of ministries, resulting in  several changes:  Fr Monnot was named assistant at Niakara, in the hope that other Betharramites would join him there. Benat Oyhenart returned to the seminary with the recently ordained diocesan priest Ernest Dahiri – at last the Bishop’s promise is realised!. During the course of the year Fr Monnot was forced to return home, as the result of health problems.  Laurent Bacho returned to the seminary in September 1975; the same time the new Superior General, Fr Grech, appointed Fr Jean Mateo Provincial in France. Here was good news for Ivory Coast founded by Fr Mateo during his first mandate (1958 – 1964).
In January 1976, during the  ordination as deacon of Fr Laurent at Katiola, Fr Mateo spoke to him in these terms:  “If you help a man or a nation to get to know the Name of Him who loves them personally, if you help them to understand how much they are loved, if you teach them that the Name is that of Jesus, the Son of God who has come down to live among us…. then you will have helped that man and nation always to know joy, real joy, to drink at the source of Life, real Life.” Words which are still head-line news.
During his visit, Fr Mateo was aware of the harsh living conditions of the students. In agreement with the Bishop, he had a youth hostel near the cathedral refurbished and which was to become a meeting point and cathetical centre for a long time.  Finally, an important date for the community: the ordination of Brs Benat and Laurent in Ibarre, the birthplace of St Michael Garicoits, on September 1976.

Laurent Bacho,SCJ

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