Editorial

God weaves a wonderful tapestry above our heads. Look up, you only see it in reverse, and it throws you into confusion. But when he will show you it from other side, you will see it as it really is and then you will be surprised and filled with admiration to see what your ignorance dared not imagine. (From Pere me voici)

Dear St Michael,

when you gave this reflection you still were at “this side of eternity”: you saw from below like us a design which seemed confusing, almost without sense; this wonderful tapestry in great confusion. With the image of this wonderful tapestry and the entangled threads, you expressed these great difficulties which you had to face to fulfil the project you had in your heart; at the same time you were showing that your work was not a personal project but indeed the work of God and that in this plan all these threads which seemed mixed up began to form a harmonious design. It was a way of encouraging those who were at your side and sharing in your plan so that they even manage the difficulties and realise the marvellous design as God’s plan taking shape little by little through the very difficulties themselves.

In this jubilee year in which we have celebrated the 150 years of your going to heaven, we have felt encouraged by your vision. We have tried to walk a small step along the path of your life, to re-read, to deepen, and spread your message, to be able to make our own this vision which accompanied you all your life. Religious, laypeople, schools, colleges, parishes, chaplaincies etc, have participated in many projects realised in the different Vicariates. All had the common desire to perpetuate your message which today is truer than ever.

At the end of this jubilee year I would like to recall and share with the Betharramite religious and laity a few expressions which I have rediscovered this year by reading again your correspondence. These expressions are like threads forming a marvelous tapestry woven by God into our humanity and which help me find and carry out your design in my daily life.

Here are some of your sayings
"Corde magno et animo volenti" which appears the least 15 time in your letters. “With an open heart and a great spirit.” As shown in this letter:
Do not forget to say to God and your Superiors through your conduct; ‘Here I am ...without delay, yet without undue haste; without ifs and buts, but without being rash; without any looking back, yet being willing to change; Corde magno et animo volenti with peace and joy. (Letter 39)
You make use of the same expression when you write to the superior of Moncade:
When one’s ideas are opposed, it is difficult to accept. Then one believes that one is losing time when things are not going according to the inventions of our own imaginings. One does not know how to understand, appreciate, and embrace the disposition; corde magno et animo volenti et constanti: obscurity, sterility and lack of success are what one sees oneself reduced to, by obedience. This is the manna unfortunately hidden from many. (Letter 163)

You use this same expression in letter 343 when asking a religious to be faithful and encouraging a missionary in South America (letter 418). By repeating this expression you remind me that faithfulness comes from the heart and is transmitted to the will; the generosity and promptitude of those who answer the call of the Lord purifies the heart and permits us to see the hidden manna within the difficulties or the steps that I need to take each day: this reminds me of Pope Francis’ words that “a religious with a bitter heart does not belong to his people. We must never become pure administrators, managers but fathers, brothers, companions on the journey.” Such generosity and promptitude will cure a sour heart and bring peace and goodwill. I am certain that you, Michael, would have enthusiastically approved the words of Pope Francis.

“Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re.” With a mixture of firmness and gentleness: another expression which comes to my attention. These words are taken from the book of Wisdom (Wisdom 8, 1). In your letters this expression appears at least six times. You use it when giving counsel to superiors especially in dealing with difficult situations. For example concerning the young man with difficulties entering the seminary against the wishes of his parents and you suggest to father Etchecopar...
that by following his vocation he will be doing the will of God and will have all the advantages which go with that vocation. Should not a mother understand that, before all else she should seek the happiness of her child?
[…] People never work better to secure their parent’s happiness than when they are following their vocations. No doubt they fail to see this clearly; but is it not true? Go to the point suaviter in modo, sed fortiter in re. (Letter 146)

This expression conveys your determination to follow the will of God and at the same time showing gentleness to people. It is a balance which is not always easy to find, but always characterised your decisions, in very complex and difficult situations.
On another occasion you advise the superior of the College of Moncade to do all that is possible
to steer the ship above and below, suaviter prudentque certainly, but also fortiter. I am afraid that some imagined impossibilities are paralysing you. Some movement is needed there, some action from a solid push. (Letter 225)

We are here in a particular situation, in a different situation, but you remind us again that firmness and prudence must always work together to achieve an objective. You invite the same person to adopt an even-handed way of acting, which is to say; we have a duty before God and men, of not failing to correct and form men who are idoneos, expeditos et expositos. Begin by standing by the rules yourself, and then suaviter as much as possible, but fortiter, and go ahead! with both teachers and pupils,…(Lettre 251)
Not only a generous heart and determination is necessary, but also gentleness and firmness.
There is a third saying, drawn from Scripture which strikes me in your letters. I find it very appropriate for it echoes within me an invitation to never lose that richness and life which is a gift of the Holy Spirit in this jubilee year, an invitation to constancy and perseverance: insta opportune et importune (2Tim4,2) be vigilant in favourable and unfavourable times ; words St Paul addresses to Timothy. You use this expression when inviting the superior of the seminary at Oloron to do what ever he could... always and everywhere, in preaching and in strongly urging, in season and out of season, this discretion and all our rules, but notably those without which our Society would not be able to survive except by a miracle. (Lettre 154)
On another occasion this expression appears to be a call for unity:
May all our members be one: unum sint.
Insta in hoc opportune et importune. (letters 340 and 570)

Dear St Michael, the jubilee year is ending but your Charism which you received from the Holy Spirit continues to be alive among your sons, laypeople and religious, which day after day by their mission wherever they find themselves, contributing to shape this design which remains not always clear to us but which you from on high, see in all its fullness. By your writings, your example, your intercession, inspire us and guide us. “ May the Lord put in our hearts the same passion to do his will and the same compassion to serve all people in the heart of this world where he sends us”.

Enrico Frigerio, scj
General Vicar