Introduction
(my own)
I
would like to post the letters of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of
Sorrows for my readers to go through, mainly because of the good
advices and instructions that he mentions in them, particularly on
avoiding occasions of sins such as theaters and novels (both
equivalent to media yet less harmful than media) and also because of
the outstanding spiritual advices given to his family (one can see
that he is interested in making them live a good life) and because of
the recommendations he gives on the importance of devotion to Our
Lady.
Since
I know many people will not read the whole article, I will speak
briefly about the most important topics and give some of Gabriel’s
advice from his letters, that I hope will encourage the reader to go
through the whole article and take in his advice.
Before
he entered religion, Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (born
Francesco Possenti March 1, 1838 – February 27, 1862) indulged
rather freely in novel-reading and theatre-going, both dangerous
pastimes for one of his years. Francis afterwards referred to the
risks to which he had exposed both mind and morals by indulging these
tendencies. After entering the monastery he wrote to a friend:
“Dear
Philip, if you truly love your soul, shun evil companions, shun
the theatre [or
the media].
I know by experience how very difficult it is, while entering such
places in the state of grace, to come away without either having lost
it, or at least exposed it to great danger. Shun pleasure parties,
and shun evil books. I assure you that, if I had remained in the
world, it seems certain to me that I would not have saved my soul.
Tell me, could anyone have indulged in more amusements than I? Well,
and what is the result? Nothing but bitterness and fear.”
Yet
neither Francis brothers and sisters, nor his companions at school,
ever saw anything very reprehensible in his conduct. He was regular
in his religious duties, never neglected his morning and evening
prayers, and assisted daily at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
I
know, you (the reader addicted to media) will probably reject Saint
Gabriel’s advice on avoiding theatres (or media) and you will
continue to watch media (equivalent to theatres but infinitely more
dangerous) and expose yourself to the occasions of sinnings,
corruptions and distractions. If the theatre is bad and Gabriel so
much denounces it, what then would he say about the media, which
contains countless of immodesties, distractions and scenes much worse
than one could ever see in a theatre frequented by children such as
Gabriel, his father and his brothers?
On
the joys of having left the world and giving himself wholly to Go and
the Blessed Virgin Mary, he wrote to his Father: “I would not
exchange one single quarter of an hour spent with the Most Holy
Virgin Mary, our Consoler, our Protectress and our Hope, for a year,
no, not even several entire years passed in the glitter and enjoyment
of the world. ... Oh, how right was that man of God when he said: “If the people of the world knew the tranquillity, the peace, and the happiness of the religious life, they would enter the monasteries in crowds and towns would soon be deserted.” “Oh, how sweet it is,” my companions often say to me, “how sweet it is to serve God and His Holy Mother.” Oh, the delights that are experienced in one hour of meditation in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and of Mary, His most Holy Mother, are incomparably greater than those found in whole evenings spent at theatres, in brilliantly lit salons, in amusements and conversations, all of them, things which cannot satisfy our hearts.”
In
his last letter written (to his brother), he wrote:
“My
Dear Michael,
“Bear
in mind that one cannot serve two masters. God and the world cannot
abide in the same heart.
“They
deceive themselves who think they will be saved because they engage
in some pious practice or good works, though, at the same time, they
set their affections on creatures, worldly amusements and pleasant
pastimes.
Jesus
Christ has said: “The road to heaven is narrow”; and He adds that
anyone who would follow Him must deny himself, and take up his cross
daily; “qui vult venire post me, abneget semetipsum, tollat crucem
suam quotidie et sequatur me.”
“I
like to think that for you there are neither theatres, balls,
banquets, or such like things, and that you are prudent enough to
hold aloof from these dangers even though you live in the world. If
it were otherwise, ah, dear Michael (believe a brother who speaks to
you from his inmost heart, and who desires only one thing, to see you
happy here and hereafter), be sure that it is very dangerous to
frequent such places without a real necessity, and that it is the
height of presumption to hope for the grace to avoid sin while one
remains in the occasions of it.
“Dear
Michael, would you have someone to love? Be it so, by all means.
“But
whom shall you love? Mary! What creature is more beautiful, more
lovable, more powerful? And do not imagine that to love, to speak,
and to live with Mary is wearisome and devoid of charm, because she
is not seen with bodily eyes. Oh, no; nothing of the kind. The
consolations, the delights of this love are so much the more
satisfying to the heart, as the soul is superior to the senses. Be
assured, moreover, that you will meet none in this world who can make
you happy, for their love is inconstant or false. And were one to be
found without these defects, the very thought of the parting that
must one day come would fill the heart with bitterness and cruel
pain. Now, not so with him who chooses Mary for his portion, for she
is loving, faithful, constant, and will never be outdone in love.
“If
we are in danger, she hastens to our rescue. If we are cast down, she
consoles us. If we are sick she comforts us. If we are in need, she
runs to help us with no thought of our past misdeeds. The moment she
sees a heart that wishes to love her, she comes and reveals to it the
secret of her mercies. She presses it to her bosom, shields it,
consoles it, and even stoops to serve it, even deigns to keep it
company on its way to eternity.
“Then
when the moment of death comes, oh, dearest Brother, think of it,
when for those who love creatures all is at an end, and they must go
hence into the eternal abode which they have built for themselves,
while they cry out with unutterable anguish and almost in despair: “O
bitter and cruel death, is it so thou tearest me away from all I have
loved!” At the end true lovers of Mary are glad of heart. They
invite death. They part without sorrow from their friends and the
world, for they know that they are soon to possess the object of
their love and that in her possession they will be forever happy.
...”
Writing to his Father: "I know from experience that there are certain books which did not appear clearly to be bad, but I see now the horrible poison they contain and to what extent they are capable of corrupting the heart. Keep all romances away from the house, and be very watchful on this point." If Gabriel had stayed in the world, such words as these would probably never have been written by him. So what is the lesson to be drawn from this? The lesson to be drawn from this is that when people actually tries to give up the world and give themselves wholly to God, only then will the clear evil in worldly distractions (such as the worldly books and media you yourself perhaps read and watch and constantly distract yourself with!) be perceived to its full extent.
Since a full and more intimate and perfect communion with God only can be achieved through prayer and deep meditation, and since worldly distractions keep people away from experiencing and seeing God, this only means that those who constantly distract themselves or let themselves be distracted voluntarily (such as by constantly watching and reading about worldly things), will never find God as those religious do who have given up everything for Him and do not care anymore for worldly and useless things.
But since worldly people mostly care about what their next enjoyment will be, they are not much affected by things that are keeping them from attaining perfection -- and a more deeper communion with God -- nor do they care much about it. Only those people who actually have a will and desire to advance everyday and give all their heart to God, will perceive these things and try to do something about it.
I promise you that if you make a test, just for one day, in that you keep yourself from all distractions (or from as much voluntary distractions as possible) with a will and intention of getting to know God better, and with a burning desire approach God and the Blessed Virgin in prayer: that you indeed will experience a deeper communion and connection with them than you hitherto have done. All they want is your will and heart and desire, and if you give it to them, even if only as a test, they will approach you with more holy and good thoughts and consolations.
In another letter to his Father, he writes: "Another subject of sighs and tears and anxieties for me are those accursed novels. How I wish I had never read them. They appeared harmless at the time and they were really so many devils!"
Let the stupid reader who is addicted to media -- and even allows their children to consume media -- let these wise words of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows sink deeply into his or her mind: since media is “really so many devils!” much worse than simple novels!
Let the reader also take careful note of that novels -- before in time -- were completely harmless compared to the dangerous filth that are being spewing forth from the media today! Yes even in religious movies, shows and series, are sadly seen lascivious scenes and nakednesses, immodesties, improprieties, scandals and impieties and bad examples.
But most people who watch media do not even watch religious things most of the time, but watch more secular things, and Saint Gabriel called things that were infinitely less dangerous than the things you watch as “so many devils”!
Yes, I will repeat over and over again the dangers of media until, perhaps, you make the decision to stop exposing yourself to it! I know how almost impossible it is to make a person addicted to media to stop watching it; but with countless examples and demonstrations, some people -- with the grace of God -- will perhaps see the light and stop exposing themselves to almost certain damnation.
A biography: The life of Ven. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (Gabriel Possenti) of the Congregation of the Passion
https://archive.org/details/lifeofvengabriel00hage
Note:
The most important and interesting passages from his letters have
been made bold by me and I have also added some commentaries (in red)
when seen fit.
Introduction
(original)
THERE
is no truer mirror of a man’s life and character than that afforded
by his private correspondence; letters written without thought of
their being seen by any but his few chosen friends. To these he opens
without reserve the inner workings of his mind, his thoughts, his
ambitions, his ideas; and shows without being conscious of it his
weaknesses and limitations.
The
letters of Saint Gabriel are twenty-seven in all. They were of course
very far from being written with a view to publication. They were
simply the letters written to his family during the few years of his
novitiate and student life. But they give us an insight into his
beautiful spirit such as no biography can.
We
can follow him in his short, brilliant career of holiness from the
first sharp pangs of sorrow as he left his worldly life behind to the
last lovely letter of praise in honor of his Heavenly Mother before
he went to Heaven. All through them there is the humble
unconsciousness of his own sanctity and there is the frank boyish
style we would expect, and that ardent love of his dear relatives
which grace rather perfected than diminished.
The
letters, of course, naturally lose greatly in translation, but they
retain sufficient of their original charm to make them worthy of
publication. It must be remembered that they are the letters of a boy
between his nineteenth and twenty-fourth year.
Letters
of SAINT GABRIEL of the Sorrowful Mother
~
Morrovalle
September
21, 1856
My
Dearest Father,
The
long desired day has come at last. Almighty God had waited for me a
very long time, and I, ungrateful that I was, had remained deaf to
his call and offended Him by running after the vanities of the world.
However, the Infinite Mercy of God has been able to arrange all
things sweetly, and today, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, our
Protectress and our Mother, I have put on with unutterable joy this
holy religious habit and taken the name of Confrater Gabriel of Our
Lady of Sorrows.
Up
to the present, dear Father. I have not had the least shadow of a
difficulty either as regards the religious life or my vocation. Oh,
be assured, he whom God calls to the religious life receives a very
great favor, a favor that it is impossible to estimate at its real
value. What caution, in fact, does it not require to live as a good
Christian in the world!
Dear
Dad, I ask your pardon for all my acts of disobedience and for all
the trouble I have given you. Pardon me if at times I have given away
to strangers things belonging to the house, or if I have taken them
for myself. I ask pardon also of my brothers and the servant. She
will forgive me for having sometimes treated her badly.
My
Brothers, I am sure will understand me. They will not think I speak
thus through a mistaken and exaggerated sentiment of piety.
Everything must be examined in the sight of God with the greatest
care, and the things of which I have just spoken are not so small
that no account may be taken of them.
Dearest
Brothers, be good. Do not vex our poor Father. He does not deserve
it. Love one another. Dear Michael, avoid bad companions; they would
lead you to eternal ruin. I know myself how many sins they are the
cause of, and I begin now to understand the wisdom of the advice that
Dad and our superiors used to give us on this subject. Dear Henry and
Dear Cencio, be attentive to your studies, and always go together. In
a word do what Dad tells you. God and the most Holy Virgin will bless
you for it. In giving you these words of advice, I do not intend to
read you a lecture. I have more need of it myself than you. I
simply wish to fulfil the duties of a good brother to you.
Pray,
and get prayers said for me, to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother; for
my part I shall not fail, in spite of my unworthiness, to pray for
you and for all our dead ones. Accept my best wishes, together with
those of my excellent Fathers Master and Vice-Master. Remember
me to the Jesuit Fathers, the Fathers of St. Philip Neri and
anyone who asks after me.
Begging
your blessing, dear Dad.
I remain.
Your affectionate son.
Confrater
Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin
~
Morrovalle
October
23, 1856
My
Dearest Father,
The
peace and joy I feel in this holy house surpass beyond measure all
that I experienced in the vain and frivolous amusements of the world.
Be quite certain of this, dear Dad, and believe the word of your son
who speaks to you from a full heart. I would not exchange one
single quarter of an hour spent with the Most Holy Virgin Mary, our
Consoler, our Protectress and our Hope, for a year, no, not even
several entire years passed in the glitter and enjoyment of the
world.
You
tell me I ought to write to you twice a month. That is not
possible. For it is not the custom here to write so often. But
Father Master has assured me that he will give me permission to write
if I become unwell, or if I have something particular to tell you.
For the rest, do not be uneasy. I am very well, and I shall not fail
to write when there is need. Tell my brothers that the reading of
certain books that had been lent me has done no good to my soul. Let
this be a warning to them. [Media also does
no good to one’s soul, yet most people indulge in it daily to no
purpose for their eternal salvation.]
On
the 16th of November we shall celebrate here the Feast of Saint Paul
of the Cross. I shall not fail to pray to him, and also to Our Lord
and the Most Holy Virgin Mary, for you, for my brothers and for our
dear departed ones. I hope you will do the same for me. Tell Cencio
and Henry to study well. The holidays are over. Everything comes to
an end. Let them devote themselves with all their hearts to their
studies, remembering that this is their duty, and that later on they
will be happy for having done it.
Your
most affectionate son,
Confrater Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin
~
Morrovalle
November
2, 1856
My
very dear Cousin, (Peter Possenti)
I
was deeply grieved, and so was my father at hearing of the death of
your virtuous wife and your newborn daughter. Faith teaches us that
we ought to resign ourselves to the will of God who permits
everything for our good. Assuredly this trial must have been a heavy
cross for you. But what can we do?
Shall
we allow such occasions to pass without drawing from them some
precious gain towards our salvation? Oh, no. Nature, it is true,
suffers cruelly. But we ought not on that account to give way beyond
just limits.
Let
us turn to Our Lord and make Him a generous offer of all these
trials. I will not fail to remember the dear deceased in my prayers.
But, she has already received from Our Lord, we may hope, the
recompense due to her great virtues.
You
will do me a great favor, should you see my brother Michael at
Spoleto or in Rome, if you remind him to take advantage of the
opportunity he will have to send me two pictures of the Sacred Heart
and of the Madonna, one picture of Our Lady of Sorrows and another of
the Crucifixion. But I would like them to be expressive. Do me
this favor and I shall be extremely grateful for it. Do not forget to
lay special stress on the word “expressive”.
Remember
me to my Uncle, my Aunt and the whole household. Tell them that my
life as a Passionist is a sweet, peaceful, happy life. Oh, how sweet
it is to serve God!
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady
of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
December
2, 1856
My
Dearest Father,
The
kind of life that I lead here is so well regulated that the
twenty-four hours of the day seem to me, I assure you in all
sincerity, to be only twenty-four short minutes which fly rapidly by.
This is a great encouragement to me. God, it would seem, has really
called me to the religious life, and the Congregation which I have
entered is indeed that in which Our Lord wishes me to pass the few
days of my short existence.
I
was very much grieved at hearing of the death of those two, about
whom you spoke to me. I will not forget to recommend them to God,
together with our own dead in my poor prayers Advent being already
begun, I send you beforehand, as also to my brothers and the rest of
the family, my best wishes for the holy Feast of Christmas. May the
Holy Infant Jesus, and Mary, His Immaculate Mother, grant you all
every happiness and crown you with blessings. Let us pray often to
Him who came from the right hand of His Father where He was, to be
born between two beasts in a poor stable. Let us beg Our Savior who
so willingly exposed Himself to the insults and outrages of His
creatures, in order to snatch us from everlasting hell to which we
were hopelessly condemned; let us beg of Him to purify our hearts by
a holy Communion, and to inflame us with His Divine Love.
My
health is splendid and I am very happy. I dwell in God’s house
although I do not deserve it. I hope that by placing my
confidence in the help of the most Holy Virgin Mary and clinging
faithfully to the feet of Jesus Crucified, I may be able to advance
along the road to perfection. What more can I wish for in this vale
of tears?
Begging
your blessing,
I
remain.
Your
loving son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
March
8, 1857
My
Dearest Father,
You
can well imagine how happy I should be to see once more relatives
whom I love so tenderly. But, as I foresee that a visit from them
would be a great source of distraction to me, I beg that you will
tell them that I appreciate their kind intentions but that for the
reason just stated I would prefer to see their visit postponed to
some future date when I shall have finished my novitiate. It
might be on the occasion of a visit that I have promised to pay my
aunt, the nun, after my novitiate.
Dearest
Dad, knowing how ardently you desire my eternal salvation, I have
not the slightest doubt but that you will explain clearly to them
what I have told you. I have, in fact, resolved to avoid any such
distractions during my novitiate, and I am positively determined to
keep this resolution, as far as I am concerned, even at the risk of
being impolite. You must not be surprised at this resolution. I know
my own weakness, and while I fall daily into many faults, I still
wish to remove from the enemy every possible occasion, even remote
ones, of tempting me into other faults.
Do
not imagine, either, that this decision has been imposed on me, or
even hinted at, by my superiors. They would probably be quite
indifferent to these visits and would put no obstacle in their way.
It comes solely from my own weakness which obliges me resolutely to
avoid everything that would give the devil the least hold of me.
I
have heard, through my uncle, that Cencio and Henry study little or
next to nothing. I do not wish to take up the whole space in giving
advice. I will confess quite frankly that of all the things I feel
most sorrow for now, the principle are these: having studied too
little, having been disobedient, especially in the choice of
companions, and having always said the Rosary of Our Blessed Lady
with distraction, or while half-asleep or busied about something
else. These few lines will be useful reminders to my brothers. I
hope they will take them to heart. I will only add one more thing:
that is, that certain companions who win our friendship and
affection, by their nice manners, their visits to the house, and by
their entertaining ways, lead us straight to hell.
I
beg my brothers to be obedient to dear Pacifica. She deserves it for
all the good she has done us. If I had always listened to her advice
I should be much better. But enough of that.
Tell
Henry never to let the daily duty of reciting the Divine Office
become burdensome to him. He is of course strictly obliged to it; but
if he says it with devotion and has each day the intention of
praising the Blessed Virgin by this means, it will be a perfect
prayer. Remind him of the words of a Saint on this point: “It is
an almost certain pledge of eternal salvation to praise the Blessed
Virgin perseveringly each day in the recitation of the Psalter.”
Accept
every good wish from my Superiors, especially Father Master. Remember
me, and get others to remember me constantly to Our Lord and the Most
Holy Virgin, for I need it badly.
Give
my regards to all who are kind enough to ask for me, particularly to
the Religious that I know.
With
love to you and all the household and begging your holy blessing,
I
remain,
Your most affectionate son,
Confrater Gabriel of
Our Lady of Sorrows
P.S.
I
shall not fail to offer up my poor prayers to Our Lord and the most
Blessed Virgin for the soul you have mentioned to me, as also for
yourself, Dearest Father, and for the family, living and dead. Tell
Henry and Cencio not to forget what they promised to the Blessed
Virgin and to Father Bompiani, that is, to recite the Angelus every
morning, noon and evening. If they are in the street or anywhere
else, let them not be ashamed to take off their hats. They will thus
overcome human respect and will certainly obtain the protection of
that all-powerful Mother during this life and at the hour of death.
Also, if they would know Mary well and win her love, a precious
pledge of their soul’s salvation, let them read St. Alphonsus’
book “TheGlories of Mary”. They will see what a good
Mother she is. When you answer this letter they will have already, I
hope, followed my advice and read it. They will derive great pleasure
from this book, which contains at least a hundred very interesting
examples, etc.
~
Morrovalle
May
23, 1857
My
Dearest Father,
My
life is one of unending joy. The days, as I have told you, the very
months seem to fly by. I am really very happy serving this good
Master and Mistress, who daily reward their servants with so much
generosity, not to speak of the everlasting reward which I hope to
obtain of their boundless mercy. Oh, at such a thought, how even
things which seem bitter become sweet and wholesome! What a great
favor it is to be allowed to live in the house of God! How well Our
Lord knows how to repay His servants even here below. He is not
like the world. The few fleeting joys and pleasures which the world
gives to its followers are tainted with a deadly poison. It will make
them drain this cup to the dregs at the awful moment of death: fatal
pledge of what it reserves for them in eternity.
I
understand now those words which I heard so often from you and my
teachers and others as well, and which appeared at the time quite
commonplace and without much meaning. I understand now, too,
another saying I often heard that he who enters religion, “chooses
the better part,” “meliorem partem elegit,” that he has entered
the harbor and escaped the storm, and he has got clear of the
numerous snares of the devil, the flesh, and the world. And many
other things I now understand that were once dark to me. Happy is he
who being called to such a holy life follows at once the voice of
grace.
How
do my brothers study? Are they obedient? What attention are they
giving to the only thing which really matters; their eternal
salvation? Have they a devotion towards Our Lady of Sorrows? Do
they sometimes meditate on her sufferings? Have they a solid devotion
towards this tender Mother? Above all, do they say the Holy Rosary
devoutly? Ah, what power the thought of sincere devotion to this dear
Mother of God gives us to bear up under all our weaknesses, our
sorrows, etc. Mary is the only ladder reaching to eternal happiness.
I should be glad if you would take especial care of the plaster
statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, which was once mine, and make it the
means of nurturing your own devotion to her. If you do this you will
give me the greatest pleasure. And you will be doing a thing very
pleasing to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Pray
for me always and ask others to pray especially for me at the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass and at your Communions. On my part I will never
forget you or those who recommend me to Our Lord in prayer.
When
you write to Michael tell him to call and see Father Tedeschini.
Besides the spiritual profit he will gain for himself by these
visits, he will be doing me a kindness.
May
the Holy Spirit of God descend during these days on you and on my
brothers. May He bestow on you that spirit of truth, consolation and
peace which is the pledge of eternal salvation.
May
our most Holy and sweet Mother Mary “she who is all goodness, all
compassion for our miseries” may she compensate and abundantly
reward you for the trouble and unceasing care that you have taken for
our spiritual welfare and our education.
Let
us ever keep before our mind the hope of being all together one day
in the company of this loving Mother. In the meantime let us trust in
her, and be without fear.
Your
affectionate son
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
September
2, 1857
My
Dearest Father,
I
remember well the promise that I made you of returning home if I
found that I was not called by Our Lord to this Religious
Congregation.
But
how, dearest Father, can I leave so loving a Master as Jesus Christ
and a Mistress so full of tenderness as Mary? The more pain I give to
their Sacred Hearts, unworthy and useless servant that I am, the more
they teach me that they alone are the dispensers of true joy and
happiness. I do not deserve so great a favor. I am indeed unworthy of
it. God knows it is my heart that speaks.
Your
desire, dearest Father, to see me again, if possible, has given me
the greatest satisfaction. Perhaps, however, you will not have an
opportunity of seeing me on the day of my profession which, with
God’s help, will take place (Gismondo and another will be professed
at the same time) the day after the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. If
I do not see you in person, dearest Dad, be assured I shall see you
in spirit before the Most Blessed Sacrament, and also in the Sorrows
of Jesus and Mary. You will do the same by me, I hope. Our Lord and
the most Holy Virgin will bless these visits and will gain us
entrance into that happy and eternal home where we shall never more
be separated.
I
am going to ask you a favor which I am sure you will not refuse.
This
is, indeed, the first and the last time in my life that I shall ask
you such a thing. I made a solemn promise to my dear Advocate, the
Blessed Virgin Mary, to do something for the souls in Purgatory if
she would see me through to the beautiful and longed-for day of my
holy Profession. I beg, then, that you will give the sum of ten
crowns to Father Guardian of Monte Lugo, to whom I have already
written telling him what to do with the money. I am perfectly sure
that you will do me the kindness of carrying out this last wish of
mine. I have so often had proof of the readiness with which you tried
to please both my brothers and myself in everything, that I have not
the least doubt that you will all the more readily do me this favor.
So I thank you in anticipation.
Henry
will be able to manage the business quickest without telling anyone.
Do
not think that I forget you, my dear Brothers, in my poor unworthy
prayers or any of those whom I ought to pray for. Pray also for me
and ask others to pray for my intentions as well, especially in view
of my Profession.
Urge
my brothers, dear Dad, to pay a visit each day during the holidays to
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady of Sorrows. Advise
them not to give themselves too much to amusement, and to be faithful
to those practices of devotion which they have promised to observe.
Your
most affectionate son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
September
27, 1857
My
Dearest Father,
Tuesday,
by the grace of God and the help of my Mother of Sorrows, saw my
wishes fulfilled. I made my holy Profession with inexpressible joy
and delight. Such a grace can never be duly appreciated. Having then
received so priceless a favor from God, the obligation of
corresponding with it becomes weightier for me. Now you may imagine
whether I have need of your prayers and those of others. May God and
the Blessed Virgin bless my Profession and crown it with graces.
In
your last letter you mentioned that the time arranged [by his family
and relatives] for the visit to Monte Giorgio is drawing near. My
dearest Father, would you have me speak frankly to you, just as I
feel, and without anyone influencing me?
Well, I must tell you
that such a visit does not appear to me necessary for any reason.
What is more, it seems incompatible with my present position.
Perhaps
it will be even hurtful to me from a spiritual standpoint. I may
add that amongst us Passionists it is not the custom to make such
journeys, not even for the older Fathers. How then could I, who have
been so lately professed, dare to face the Superior and ask him for
that which not even the older Religious ask? However, if the
opportunity occurs of passing through that town (which is the more
likely as a monastery is to be founded soon not far from there), I
shall be able to take advantage of it. This permission will not be
refused.
I
will not cease to pray to Our Lord for all those things and for all
those who have asked me to pray for them, especially for you, being
certain at the same time that you will not forget me.
Your
most affectionate son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
P.S.
I send every good wish to Calandrelli in return for those he sent
me.
Tell him that we would have been glad to have had him as a
companion of our happiness on the memorable day of September 22, but
God had willed it otherwise. We, though more unworthy, have been the
privileged ones.
Accept
also the good wishes of my excellent Fathers Master and Vice-Master.
(NOTE:
Calandrelli had left the Novitiate on account of bad health, and also
perhaps because he had no vocation.)
~
Morrovalle
November
15, 1857
My
Dearest Father,
I
am delighted with the news you have given me of my four
brothers.
Give them my love when writing to them. Remind them
especially of the end they ought to have before them in their
studies. Will you, for my sake, exhort them with true fatherly
words (as you always have done) to have a true and unswerving
devotion towards the Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin. Let them never go
to rest without having honored a Mother so gracious and so merciful
by some act of devotion. Oh, dear Dad, reading daily the lives of
the Saints, I see how a great number of them, tepid and sinful,
though they once were, became saints because they had by some
practice of devotion, won the heart of this tender Queen, always so
ready to grant it to those who ask. How many have been snatched from
the hands of the devil thanks to the recital of a Hail Mary, a Stabat
Mater, a Rosary, or some such prayer. Oh, if I only had time to give
you some instances.
Warn
my Brothers, especially Cencio, not to become intimate with their
class-fellows who are not noted for virtue. Do not be content,
dearest Father, with daily giving them those counsels that you have
also given me.
Take the greatest care in this matter. You cannot
be too careful. Do not bring them to the theatre or to evening
parties under any pretext whatsoever. Doubtless all are not so weak
as I have been. I am quite sure of that. Still, all these things are
so dangerous. Oh my God, how many sighs does the remembrance of
them cost me! I assure you in all sincerity that from the moment I
began to frequent such places I was full of hypocrisy. And, alas, in
what an abyss should I have not fallen had not Mary, who is so full
of goodness even to those who do not pray to her, come to my help
during the octave of the Assumption! As you have a real anxiety
for the salvation of your children, be inflexible in the matters I
have just mentioned to you [i.e., about
not bringing them to the theatre or to evening parties under any
pretext whatsoever; and I would also like to add: do not let them
watch any form of media for any reason whatsoever, nor ever let them
surf the internet ungoverned or without images blockers, flashblockers, html5 blockers and ad blockers activated at all times. http://www.catholic-saints.net/best-adblockers-imageblockers-and-flashblockers/].
Another
subject of sighs and tears and anxieties for me are those accursed
novels. How I wish I had never read them. They appeared harmless at
the time and they were really so many devils!
[Comment: Let the stupid reader who is addicted to media -- and even allows their children to consume media -- let these wise words of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows sink deeply into his or her mind: since media is “really so many devils!” much worse than simple novels!
Let the reader also take careful note of that novels -- before in time -- were completely harmless compared to the dangerous filth that are being spewing forth from the media today! Yes even in religious movies, shows and series, are sadly seen lascivious scenes and nakednesses, immodesties, improprieties, scandals and impieties and bad examples.
But most people who watch media do not even watch religious things most of the time, but watch more secular things, and Saint Gabriel called things that were infinitely less dangerous than the things you watch as “so many devils”!
Yes, I will repeat over and over again the dangers of media until, perhaps, you make the decision to stop exposing yourself to it! I know how almost impossible it is to make a person addicted to media to stop watching it; but with countless examples and demonstrations, some people -- with the grace of God -- will perhaps see the light and stop exposing themselves to almost certain damnation.]
These
few lines have, I think, been inspired by the Blessed Virgin. I am
ashamed of myself as I write them. Pardon me, dearest Father. God
suggested to me what I have just said to you. I hope I shall be
allowed to send you this letter.
You
can rest assured I will never forget to pray for you, as also for my
brothers, Pacifica, and all those who remember me in their prayers.
Give them all my kind regards. Tell them to pray for me. I am very
grateful for all you have done as regards the Father Prior of Monte
Lugo. Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of Our Holy Founder. I hope
that Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary will be pleased to hear my
poor prayers.
Begging
your holy blessing,
I am,
Your affectionate son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
December
20, 1857
My
Dearest Father,
The
anniversary of Our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth, which the Church is
about to celebrate, reminds all the faithful to wish each other the
precious gifts that Jesus came to bring us. It friends and brothers
are accustomed to interchange good wishes at this time, what is a son
to say to a tenderly loved Father? I do not want to fill space
with compliments or vain greetings. I desire one thing only, that the
dear Infant Jesus and His loving Mother may deign to grant the good
things I wish for you and all those at home. You can remind my
brothers that at the approach of this Feast my heart used to leap
with joy, with a false and deceitful joy. In fact, what I most
desired in those days, and chiefly on the eve and night of this great
feast, was games, entertainments, and other distractions of the kind.
Indeed, I used to do everything but the right thing. Let this be a
lesson to them.
May
Jesus and Mary deign to grant my prayers.
Your
very affectionate son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
My
Dear Brother, (Michael)
I
will not begin my letter by offering you the good wishes it is
customary to offer at this season, but by opening my heart freely, as
one ought to do to a brother. What shall I say to you? I do not wish
to make you uneasy, but those words in your letter “I greatly
desire that you would let me know in detail your mode of life”
have made a deep impression on me. From the moment I read them I have
not ceased to recommend you in a particular manner to Our Lord and
the Blessed Virgin Mary, and I shall continue to do so.
My
dear brother, can it be that the happy hour is coming for you which
has already struck for me, although I was by far the more unworthy of
this favor? And why should not she who is called “Refuge of the
Sinner” have turned toward both of us. I long to think it is so,
and if it were, all I should have to say to you would be “Surge et
veni” “Arise and come.”
Don’t do as I did, who, when
called by Our Lord, put off accepting His invitation from day to day
through my negligence, but if you hear His voice calling you, do not
delay a moment to answer it. Leave learning, relatives, and the
world, and put your hand to the work. Do not let yourself be deceived
by the devil who tells you: “It is necessary first of all to think
this over!” No! do not mind him; come at once to the feet of Jesus.
Perhaps
I should not be where I am now if I had delayed much longer in
answering the call of God. Have recourse to Mary and, if she has
obtained for you the precious grace of a vocation, give her your
heartfelt thanks. At her feet make a sacrifice of all and say to her
(mark the words well); “I sacrifice everything to you; learning,
relations and worldly goods.” Put yourself under her protection
and fly with her.
If
I am to have the happiness of seeing you called to the religious
life, write to me soon, that I may be able to arrange everything with
the Provincial. But if I am mistaken; if you do not see (and it is
only with spiritual eyes that so important a thing as this ought to
be viewed) it, I say, you do not see that you have a vocation, let it
be as if I had never written to you on the subject. This is what I
feel in my heart, so I hope you will take it in good part.
I
am now going to tell you in detail the sort of life I lead. I think
I
ought to tell you in the first place that in our Congregation all
live in common. The religious has nothing to trouble about, either as
regards food or clothes. His superior, who has for his subjects the
same care as the good father of a family has for his children,
provides everything for him. The Passionists have no revenue of any
kind. They live solely by alms. I can assure you that in spite of
this we never want for anything, for Our Lord provides for us
abundantly.
I
will now give you concisely the horarium for day and night. At night
we go to repose fairly early, and after five hours sleep we get up to
chant Matins in choir. This chant, which lasts about an hour, is
followed by a half-hour of mental prayer. Afterwards we return to
bed, in winter for three hours, in summer for two and a half. In the
morning we get up to chant the canonical hours of Prime and Tierce.
We assist at two Masses, and, after having put our cells in order we
take a light collation. Each one then applies himself to his
particular work, such as study, hearing confessions, etc. . . . After
that we have spiritual reading for a quarter of an hour, followed by
a solitary walk for half an hour. We go back to choir to chant Sext
and None, then we dine. Besides Lent and Advent we have three fast
days a week; Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Thanks
to Divine Providence, there is no want of anything, although we live
only on alms.
At
the appointed hour we go to chant Vespers, and we make about a
quarter of an hour’s spiritual reading in common. There is also in
the evening another solitary walk for half an hour. However, on
Thursdays and Sundays and on certain feast days we spend part of
the evening walking in the country. When we return we say Compline,
then we have an hour’s meditation, and after that, supper. During
winter we have recreation for three-quarters of an hour, and for an
hour in summer. The day ends with the recital of the Rosary.
In
this manner, each day passes quickly, peacefully and joyfully. Oh,
how sweetly one goes to rest with the thought that all the day he has
been serving Our Lord, although it may be very imperfectly! What
pleasant and peaceful sleep that nothing comes to disturb, no fear,
no care, no anxiety, not even death itself, since being, as we hope,
in the grace of God, death can only deliver us from this vale of
sorrow.
I
may say in conclusion, that I have myself had my share of the
entertainments and pastimes that the deceitful world can give, and I
can assure you that one single aspiration to Jesus and Mary gives
more joy than all those frivolities and vanities of the world.
Do
you remember the miraculous statue of which Dad has so often spoken
to us and which is called, if I remember rightly, “Our Lady
of Pity”? Go there; ask her to enlighten you; tell her that
Dad has had recourse to her, and that he has not been disappointed.
Neither will you be.
Your
very affectionate brother,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
March
7, 1858
Dearest
Father,
I
thank God that you have reached an age to retire from office. The
less engrossing one’s business the better one can direct one’s
efforts towards the supreme end of existence. There we hope to
receive from an Almighty and generous God eternal rest, after the few
labors of our short life. May the Blessed Virgin Mary be your
advocate and may she obtain for you this precious grace. I will not
fail to remember you to Our Lord and Our Lady of Sorrows in my poor
prayers, also all the family living and dead.
Do the like for
me.
Your
most affectionate son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
May
2, 1858
My
Dearest Father,
I
see no difficulty in your project of going to live in Rome, the less
so, as my brothers can pursue their studies there under your own
eyes. You ought to ascertain beforehand, however, whether that
unhealthy climate might be hurtful to you. It is true that in the
summer time you could go somewhere outside the city to avoid the heat
of Rome. As regards Vincent’s profession, you have not asked my
advice, and I do not dare to offer any. I only beg and conjure you
to consider less the interests of the present life than the eternal
interests of the soul. “What does it profit a man,” indeed, “if
he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his own soul?”
“Now one thing is necessary.” Jesus Christ Himself has taught us
this truth. That is why I urge you not to select a profession where
the soul may be imperilled.
Dearest,
Father, if I were not writing to you I would omit what I am going to
say. But next to the salvation of my own soul I desire and pray for
yours and that of our family. Do not permit! I beg of you with all
my heart! Do not permit any of my brothers to frequent balls or
theatres [or modern day media]. Do not allow excuses
such as that recreation is necessary, that there is no evil in the
thing, and that “those are good people”. No, dear Dad, do not
admit these excuses. I have heard this language at home myself, and
yet, God knows how baneful such things have been to me. No! I repeat!
No; nowadays such an excuse ought not to be taken. As we are in the
month of May, would not my brothers be glad to offer a lovely bouquet
to Mary?
[Comment:
I know, you (the reader addicted
to media) will probably reject Saint Gabriel’s advice on avoiding
theatres (or media) and you will continue to watch media (equivalent
to theatres but infinitely more dangerous) and expose yourself to the
occasions of sinnings, corruptions and distractions. If the theatre
is bad and Gabriel so much denounces it, what then would he say about
the media, which contains countless of immodesties, distractions and
scenes much worse than one could ever see in a theatre frequented by
children such as Gabriel, his father and his brothers?]
If
you go away, I beg of you to take care of the statue of Our Lady of
Dolours. Honor her all you can by pious exercises, and do not doubt
but you will experience her merciful help.
Your
very affectionate son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Morrovalle
May
27, 1858
My
Dearest Father,
The
efficacy of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion which
is daily increasing, is my excuse for asking you, in your charity,
for some leaflets concerning it so that I may make it more widely
known. I am unwilling to mention any number, and will only remark
that each membership requires nine leaflets, as Henry will tell you.
I depend then on your charity to do me this favor, reminding you that
you will not go unrewarded for it.
I
wish Henry would get with the least possible delay Roberto the
Camaldolese Hermit’s book entitled “The
Love of Mary.” It is a collection of miracles and examples,
most interesting to read and I would like one of my brothers to read
it to you every day in your room in the presence of those of the
household able to come and listen to it, in order thus to learn how
to know Mary better, and the power she can use in our favor.
Tell
Henry, too, to do his best to have it read in the
Confraternity. The ardent desire that I have for your salvation will
tell you how much I have all this in my heart.
Ever,
Your
affectionate son,
Confrater
Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Pievetorina
December
19, 1858
Dearest
Family,
As
we are very near the time of peace, mercy and grace, I, as a good son
ought, think it my duty to wish a loving Father, not a compliment nor
as a matter of form, but with my whole heart and with the most ardent
desire, that this time may be for you and all at home a time blessed
by God, a time of real joy and worthy of pleasant and everlasting
remembrance. Yes, dearest Father, and you, my beloved brothers, I
wish that Jesus may be born again in your hearts; that Mary may ever
preserve Him there by her prayers; that Joseph, the holy Angels, and
the shepherds may keep Him company and intercede on our behalf. My
one wish is that this Holy Family may take you under their
protection.
Dearest
Father, thanks to Jesus and Mary, I have renounced everything and
since I made this sacrifice I could not be more happy than I am.
However, knowing your generosity and that of my brothers and
Pacifica, I venture to ask you again and again this year for a
Christmas gift. I have no right to it, so I ask through pure charity.
Besides, it is not for myself that I ask this favor, it is for your
own souls. You will not be giving it to me, for I declare that never
more will I ask anything for myself. It is to Jesus Christ Himself
that you will bring the gift I ask for: I mean union and charity
among all of you at home. Let no reproaches, sharp words, or
bickerings be heard among you. Let peace, union, charity, and
brotherly love reign in your midst. Jesus and Mary will come to dwell
in that abode of peace as they did long ago in the stable of
Bethlehem.
Dear
Dad, be generous with the servants and particularly with those who
are poor. Dear Dad, has this advice which I have so often given to
Michael and Pacifica been put into practice? I am not sure.
Well,
would you deign to listen to the wish of a son who undoubtedly in the
past has been thoughtless and ungrateful towards you and has caused
you many anxieties and cares, but who, today, begs pardon with his
whole heart, and seeks, begs, desires but one thing; your soul’s
salvation. I repeat it, dear Father, when you have read this letter,
give your commands at once; exert your authority in this matter. Oh,
how it would cry to God for vengeance, if a father whose son, thanks
be to God, lives comfortably on charity alone, should allow his poor
servants to suffer by not giving them enough for their livelihood. Be
quite sure, dear Dad, charity never degraded anybody. On the
contrary, the blessing of the poor will call down the blessing of
Heaven on you and your family. Jesus Christ has said; “what you do
for the poor, you do also to Me.”
May
it please Jesus and Mary that your house may henceforth become the
refuge of the poor.
Do
not fear, dear Dad, do not tear that you will want for anything. The
blessings of the poor, and what is far better, the blessings of Jesus
and Mary will be the best inheritance you can leave your children.
One of your greatest consolations when dying will be that you did not
send away any poor person without relieving his wants. This thought
will strengthen your soul and will be your best defense at the
searching judgement of God. This, in a word will gain great merit for
you in Heaven. Oh, may no one be so unfortunate as to dissuade you
from acting thus. If there were such a one, alas, how I should
tremble for him. It is your place to command. Your goods are your
own. No one has the right to claim them, no matter who he be, and it
seems to me most just that you should employ what God has freely
given you for His glory and your own salvation.
Do
not despise, dearest Father, the wishes of a son who, after his own
salvation, desires and begs of God nothing more ardently than yours
and your family’s. It is not without a singular inspiration from
Our Lord that I feel myself impelled to write in such a strain to
you. Your kindness and the assurance you have that these sentiments
spring from a heart that loves you, will be my excuse. May Jesus and
Mary themselves deign to aid my words and my poor advice. Rest
certain, moreover, that in showing mercy to the poor, you will
yourself find mercy with God.
Your
very affectionate son,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Pievetorina
January
10, 1859
My
Dear Michael,
I
have not forgotten you in my poor prayers, but what use are they of
themselves? Oh, I beg, by the love you ought to have for your
soul, never leave off, no never, cost what it may, practicing those
acts of devotion towards the Blessed Virgin which you have marked out
for yourself. It is with my whole heart and not without a particular
inspiration, unless I am deceived, that I exhort you to offer this
bouquet to Mary. If you do so, there is not the least doubt but that
you will receive a great reward.
At
this time of the year, when the world blindly abandons itself to
amusements and folly, can you not deprive yourself of something? Some
amusement? For the love of Jesus and Mary? When you wish to practice
these pious acts, you will say to yourself, “I could amuse myself
if I pleased; it is quite allowable, but I will deprive myself of it
for the love of Jesus and Mary.” Afterwards go and make a short
visit to an image of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Dear
brother, will you refuse me what I ask of you? Will you say “no”?
This mark of affection for which I beg is the one I have most at
heart, and I desire it with all the earnestness of my soul. Give it,
dearest brother, and Jesus and Mary will be pleased with it.
Would
you like a memento of that brother who, by the mercy of Jesus and
Mary, loves you more than anyone else, although in the past he may
have had for you too often feelings of aversion and antipathy. Well,
do not put this letter along with the others, but re-read now and
again the lines that I have just written to you. You will thus give
me great pleasure.
When you write to our brother, the Dominican,
give him my love, and tell him that if I appear to forget him because
I do not write, in my heart I never forget him. Give him this little
memento; “Beloved brother, do not forget that both of us are
strictly obliged to tend to perfection.”
Your
very affectionate brother,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Pievetorina
February
1, 1859
Dearest
Father,
You
ought to rejoice, rather than be cast down, that God visits you with
trials and sufferings; tribulations being ordinarily the distinctive
mark of the elect. Dear Dad, are you in need of solace? Listen to me.
Neither the conversation of your fellow men, nor theatres, nor
anything that the blind world can offer, is capable of comforting a
distressed mind and a sick body. No, dear Dad, since God has
visited you with this sickness, conversation with Jesus and Mary can
alone bring you any consolation. They alone can give you the strength
and help you need. For this reason, get good books which will speak
to you of the love of Jesus and Mary. Read the works of St. Francis
de Sales which you have at home; in a word, devote yourself to
exercises of piety. Cencio and Henry, as well as the other
members of the family, will keep you company in all this. Let your
soul be the only object of your thoughts, now that business no longer
troubles you. This is God’s will for you.
I
know from experience that there are certain books which did not
appear clearly to be bad, but I see now the horrible poison they
contain and to what extent they are capable of corrupting the heart.
Keep all romances away from the house, and be very watchful on this
point.
[Comment: If Gabriel had stayed in the world, such words as these would probably never have been written by him. So what is the lesson to be drawn from this? The lesson to be drawn from this is that when people actually tries to give up the world and give themselves wholly to God, only then will the clear evil in worldly distractions (such as the worldly books and media you yourself perhaps read and watch and constantly distract yourself with!) be perceived to its full extent.
Since a full and more intimate and perfect communion with God only can be achieved through prayer and deep meditation, and since worldly distractions keep people away from experiencing and seeing God, this only means that those who constantly distract themselves or let themselves be distracted voluntarily (such as by constantly watching and reading about worldly things), will never find God as those religious do who have given up everything for Him and do not care anymore for worldly and useless things.
But since worldly people mostly care about what their next enjoyment will be, they are not much affected by things that are keeping them from attaining perfection -- and a more deeper communion with God -- nor do they care much about it. Only those people who actually have a will and desire to advance everyday and give all their heart to God, will perceive these things and try to do something about it.
I promise you that if you make a test, just for one day, in that you keep yourself from all distractions (or from as much voluntary distractions as possible) with a will and intention of getting to know God better, and with a burning desire approach God and the Blessed Virgin in prayer: that you indeed will experience a deeper communion and connection with them than you hitherto have done. All they want is your will and heart and desire, and if you give it to them, even if only as a test, they will approach you with more holy and good thoughts and consolations.]
Since Cencio only attends lectures as an extern, make him and Henry
read for you the pious books that I have mentioned above. Jesus and
Mary will teach you to savour all the sweetness that is in them.
What
an opportunity have you not now of giving yourself entirely to the
practice of virtue. You are free from all professional cares. You
have a son already a subdeacon, and another with his time almost
completely at his own disposal. Then, dearest Dad, how often you
have said to me yourself that you would like to retire into a
religious house. Do not let your prey escape your hands. Besides what
you desire is quite easy, since Divine Providence has so well
regulated all things. If you do so, you will enjoy a very peaceful
life here below, and one very suitable for your advanced age. As for
me, I will do penance for my past life, and all of you will lay up
treasures for another life. In this way we shall have the happiness
of embracing each other on the dread day of the General Judgment, and
of being set at the right hand of the Sovereign Judge, thanks to the
protection of Mary, our deliverer.
Your
very affectionate son,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Pievetorina
April
27, 1859
Dearest
Brother, (Michael)
I
thank you, and so does my Father Lector for the pictures of Our Lady
of Sorrows, and the others, which you have sent me. Henry having
mixed these latter with his own, I cannot tell which are yours.
The
little picture of the Immaculate Conception, and those of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Louis Gonzaga, are the ones I like
best. May Jesus and Mary reward you for sending them, by so
stamping their own likeness on your heart that you may belong to them
and to no one else.
My
dear Michael, love the Mother of Sorrows much. Give Mary proof of
your devotion especially in the way I have already recommended by
going often to visit one of her miraculous images; and for choice,
visit those which represent Our Lady of Sorrows.
My
dear Michael, be on your guard against dangerous occasions of sin,
avoid worldly vanities, theatres, bad books, and bad companions. [And
stop watching media at all cost!] Oh, dear brother, I assure you in
all sincerity, that when I think of my own past conduct in this
respect I tremble for my salvation, although, thanks be to God, I am
now in religion and, consequently, leading a life of penance.
[Comment:
Even though Gabriel lead a good life for being in the world, yet,
after entering religion he saw so much evil in these things (which
today would be looked upon as almost completely harmless due to the
much more evil filth shown in the media!) that he even feared he
would have been lost had he not entered religion! If this saint
feared he would have been lost for doing less harmful things than is
the media you watch, what then would he have said or thought if he
did what you, the reader, perhaps are doing daily?]
Do
not fail to make a visit for me and in my name to one of the images
of which I have spoken just now. Do me this favor as soon as you can.
Pray always for me. I promise you I will also pray for you.
Your
affectionate brother,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
May
13, 1859
Pievetorina
My
Dearest Friend,
Don’t
imagine that because we are far away from one another my love for you
has grown cold. Nothing of the kind, I assure you. God’s grace, on
the contrary, has elevated and purified my affection for you, and I
declare in all sincerity that though I desire the salvation of all, I
desire yours with special earnestness. If then you look on me as a
true and sincere friend you will take in good part what I am going to
say to you with all the affection of my heart.
You
are right when you say that the world is full of dangers and pitfalls
and that it is very difficult to save one’s soul in it. However, if
it is really God’s will that you should live in the world, there is
no need to get discouraged. Oh, no! One can save one’s soul even in
the world.
Now,
my dear Philip, if you sincerely desire your salvation, avoid, I beg
of you, all that I am going to tell you to avoid.
Avoid
bad company; and by that I do not mean young fellows without
restraint, shameless or grossly immoral, who are indeed rarely met
with, but by bad companions I mean those who by flattery and false
friendship would taint and pervert your heart. You doubtless
understand me.
Avoid
the theatre [or the media, which is infinitely much worse]. I know it
by experience, that it is rare, and even very rare, to leave it
without having lost the grace of God, or at least without exposing it
to great danger.
Avoid
balls, for in these all things conspire against the soul.
Avoid
bad books [or the media, which is infinitely much worse], for they
can cause frightful havoc in a young man’s heart.
My
dear Philip, I confess in all sincerity that I do not know whether a
whole life spent in this holy Congregation will suffice to make
reparation for my faults, above all, for those which I have committed
through the four things I have just mentioned.
I
leave you to consider if I have spoken truly, since you were always
my most intimate friend.
My
dear Philip, I think I can say that if I had continued to live in the
world, I should not have been able to save my soul. Oh, no, it is
impossible to be saved when one gives oneself up to worldly
friendships, when one listens to bad conversations, when one exposes
oneself to so many dangers, and, in a word, when one frequents
company where the spirit of the world holds sway.
Tell
me, could I have had more amusement and more fun than I had in the
world? Well, what remains to me of it all now? Nothing but regrets,
fears and sufferings.
Listen
to me. In the world I confess I have not always made known to you the
real feelings of my heart; but I can assure you that I speak to you
today with the greatest sincerity and as a true friend. I tell you I
desire only one thing in your regard. It is that, on the dread day of
General Judgement, if I can save my own soul, I may find myself with
you under the protecting mantle of Mary.
Ah,
my dear Philip, if you have listened in the past to the bad
advice that I have given you, I beg you not to misunderstand me
now. I have received numerous tokens of your friendship. I preserve
its happy remembrance, but today I ask, I beg, only one thing of you;
that you will not despise the letter of a friend who speaks to you
from an overflowing heart. Would to God it were possible for you to
read what is in my heart!
Dear
Philip, do not laugh at me, for it is my heart that speaks. I ask
pardon for the scandal that I may have given you, and I declare that
I wish to retract all the evil I may have spoken against anyone
whatever. I pray you, forget it all. Ask Our Lord, too, to pardon me.
You
ask me, my dear Philip, for a little book of meditations. You could
not ask me anything more agreeable, but you have not told me what
sort of one I should send you. If you desire a little book for
meditation, believe me, the Eternal Maxims of St. Alphonsus are
excellent. However, there is a Month of Mary, which is preferable. I
do not know of a better one, whether on account of the thirty or
thirty-one meditations that you can re-read each month, or on account
of the examples and pious practices it recommends. Not having this
book, I cannot send it to you, but I do not think there will be any
difficulty in finding it at the Seminary, or the Oratory of St.
Philip Neri. Go and ask for it and you will do me a great favor.
Please
accept this little book that my excellent Superior has given me. Take
this souvenir as a pledge of my love for you. Such a present, it is
true, would be despicable if one looked only at its outside, but I
assure you that if you are faithful in reciting this little Office
every day, you will find it a pledge of Mary’s protection.
Accept
my excellent Father Lector’s and Gismondi’s kindest regards.
Assuring you that I do not forget you in my poor prayers, I subscribe
myself.
Your
affectionate friend,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
P.S.
Get the Month of Mary of Muzzarelli. If you cannot find the
book Eternal Maxims of St. Alphonsus let me know. Let me know
also if you want any other book, but in that case explain yourself
more fully.
~
Isola
July
19, 1859
Dearest
Father,
On
Sunday evening, thanks be to God, we reached this Retreat. There are
a great many fruit trees in this country, proving what I have written
to you of it, that the climate is very mild. As for myself, thanks be
to God, I am pleased to be here.
Do
not believe (as there are some who wrongly do) do not believe, I say
that because he is in religion, a son forget the love he owes his
Father, and all that his parents have done and suffered for him. I
can tell you that on the contrary, in embracing a religious life, one
perfects the tenderness he had for his own family, and that one
always preserves the grateful remembrance of benefits received. Dear
Dad, in spite of my unworthiness, I appoint from this moment, for
your consoler and your protectress, the Virgin of Sorrows, who is the
Comforter of all men, especially those who are in sorrow. Also,
when you would wish to have letters from me, go visit her and tell
her that since I abstain from these attentions for love of her, it is
her part to console you and fulfil better than I could myself the
duties of a son towards his father.
Take
good care of the little image of Mary which I left at home and which
I recommended to Pacifica when she came to see me. If you desire to
see my writing read and re-read these letters that I have sent to
you. Do not think that though written by an ungrateful son they
deserve to be forgotten. God often uses weak and defective
instruments to carry out the workings of His mercy.
Thanks
be to God, I am happy and well pleased in the religious life I have
chosen. Do not leave off, however, recommending me continually to
Jesus, and to Mary, the Mother of Sorrows.
Your
very affectionate son,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Dearest
Father,
The
air of this country, as I have told you several times already, is
excellent, and thanks be to God, I suffer less frequently from slight
headaches. Our recreations consist in walks which we take from time
to time and which give us not the vain pleasure that is felt in the
deceitful and corrupting amusements of the world, but that true joy
which the grace of God always brings. Oh, how right was that man
of God when he said: “If the people of the world knew the
tranquillity, the peace, and the happiness of the religious life,
they would enter the monasteries in crowds and towns would soon be
deserted.” “Oh, how sweet it is,” my companions often say to
me, “how sweet it is to serve God and His Holy Mother.” Oh, the
delights that are experienced in one hour of meditation in the
presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and of Mary, His most
Holy Mother, are incomparably greater than those found in whole
evenings spent at theatres, in brilliantly lit salons, in amusements
and conversations, all of them, things which cannot satisfy our
hearts.
Yes,
there is more pleasure in taking a simple solitary walk within the
monastery enclosure, under the eyes of Mary, our Queen and the true
love of our hearts, than could be felt in the world on the most
pleasant promenades. In fact, worldly pleasures always leave a great
void in the heart, which the worldling is never able to fill. But
what untold consolation for the Religious, when evening comes, to
see, thanks to the Divine Mercy, that his whole day has been spent in
the service of the Sovereign Master, who will reward His servants so
generously. Yes, such a religious is filled with joy, at this
thought, and he retires to his poor bed, expecting to rise soon to
sing the praises of the Lord. In fine, what makes the yoke of the
Lord pleasing, easy and sweet, is the hope that the day will soon
come when, without having to feel the pangs caused by the thought of
leaving goods, children, and everything else, he will go to enjoy God
for a never ending eternity.
Your
most affectionate son,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
[Comment:
If a person desires to feel God’s and the Blessed Virgin Mary’s
consolations and delight in this life, then it is needed to live a
life of less distractions and dividedness. For example, if your
greatest happiness or desire of the day is to do your own thing, such
as watching media or playing video games or spending all the time
with your loved one’s, then you will never come to know or
experience God’s delight in your life; and you will always live
discontent with yourself. If on the contrary, you delight in spending
time with God and have the thought of Him as your greatest happiness
in life, then you will readily experience His loving embraces. The
more one loves God in this life, the more will one seek His
consolations and caresses only: “A person worthy of the Holy
Spirit’s consolation is one who seeks no other consoler but God.”
(Words of The Blessed Virgin Mary, in The Revelations of Saint
Bridget, Book 2, Chapter 22)]
~
Isola
December
27, 1860
Dearest
Father,
My
excellent Father Lector, wishing to satisfy you, has told me to write
to you. Oh, my dear Father, do not be so anxious to hear from me,
since I have a Mother who loves me and in spite of my unworthiness,
takes great care of me. Oh, my dearest Dad, let us place a little
more confidence in this tender Mother, who declares her love for
those who love her: “Ego diligentes me diligo.” I love those
who love me, and who says to us with Isaias, “Numquid oblivisci
potest mulier infantem suum. . . .” “Can a mother ever forget
her child so as not to have pity on the fruit of her womb? Though a
mother should forget her child, I will never forget thee.” Ah! how
dear we have cost her. Well, indeed, does she know in the midst of
what sufferings and torments she received us on Calvary as her
children.
She accepted the charge when her well-beloved Son was
pouring forth His blood, dying stretched on the Cross, rather than
see our souls lost forever.
If
we meditate for a few moments on this thought, oh, without doubt, we
shall love with a greater love, that Mother who is so tender towards
us. We should have greater confidence in her and not fear the
devil so much. Nay more, when the devil will attempt to
intimidate us by his threats and terrors, our confidence in the Most
Holy Virgin will make us say: “Si Maria pro me, quis contra me?”
“If Mary is for me, who is against me?” It will not be God the
Father, since Mary, in quality of His well-beloved daughter, will
appease Him. It will not be Christ, the Judge, since she as His
Mother will incline Him to pardon us. It will not be our sins, for
they will be blotted out in her presence form contact with her mercy.
“All hell trembles with terror when I say ‘Hail Mary’ “;
“Satan fugit cum dico ‘Ave Maria’ infernus contremiscit.”
Lastly, we will not fear men, for according to the Word of the Holy
Ghost, the Most Holy Virgin is “strong as an army set in battle
array.” Oh, if we give ourselves over completely to her, if we
often say to her: “Oh, my Queen, I place the defence of my cause in
your hands, I place myself under your protection.” “In manus
tuas, Domina, commendo causam meam”; our sleep will certainly be
more tranquil, our days happier, our life, in one word, will be a
real heaven.
It
is said of Mary that every good comes with her: “venerunt omnia
bona pariter cum ilia.” If then we have Mary with us we have
everything; everything is wanting to us if she is absent. If Mary
protects us we are saved, if she abandons us we are lost. It is not I
who say it, it is the Saints. Think well on these thoughts.
[Comment:
That is why every person should search for, and love the Mother of
God burningly and with their whole Heart!
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Remember
me to Pacifica, and tell her to bear her ill-health patiently in
memory of Mary’s Sorrows. Let her strive to honor the Most Holy
Virgin by doing these great things for her. Besides, this powerful
Mother will know well how to reward her a hundredfold.
Your
very affectionate son,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Isola
May
9, 1861
Dearest
Father,
I
have learned from your last letter that God has visited you with a
pro-longed trial, but console yourself with the thought that God
tries those whom He loves, and that it is not a very good sign to be
always prosperous. Now is not a time of rest; it is a time of
suffering. Rest will come when in the designs of His Divine Mercy it
will please Our Lord to call us to Himself.
We
are building now the dwelling that we must inhabit, not only for
thirty, forty, or one hundred years, but for all eternity as long as
God will reign on His throne, that is to say, forever.
We
shall inhabit the house which we ourselves shall have built. Whether
we are forever happy or unhappy depends on ourselves. Have confidence
then, dearest Father; we are pilgrims, and being such, we ought not
to linger by the roadside of this deceitful world. Let us keep our
eyes fixed on our Country. Consider attentively Jesus and Mary and
see if their sorrows do not surpass all imaginable sorrows. Suffer
joyfully for their sake. They will know well how to reward you. He
who is King of the Universe, and she who is its Queen, have suffered;
and we, mere nothings that we are, would wish to suffer nothing for
their love. What do I say? for their own advantage? I strongly
recommend the devotion of the “Month of Mary” and recital of the
“Stabat Mater.” You have already told me that you practice this
devotion, but if you could celebrate the Month of Mary at home with
all the servants, it would be better still.
Remember
that “the road which leads to salvation opens only through Mary,”
“Nemini nisi per eam patet aditus ad salutem,” and that he “whom
she wishes to save will be saved.” “Quem ipsa vult, salvus erit.”
I devote the remainder of this letter to Henry. As for myself, thanks
be to God and the Most Holy Virgin Mary, I am very well and very
happy.
Accept
every kind wish from Father Lector and myself. Begging your holy
blessing, dear Father.
Your
very affectionate son,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Isola
May
9, 1861
Dear
Brother, (Henry)
If
I did not love you I should not trouble so much about you, but as I
love you now more dearly than ever, listen to my words, although they
are those of a brother much below you. I feel myself urged to speak
to you as a true brother concerning your new state, but having
nothing of my own to write to you, I will put before you what
spiritual writers and Saints say about the Priesthood. Do not be
astonished if I quote Latin texts: it is in order that you may
understand them better. “Magna dignitas, sed magnum est
pondus. In alto gradu positi oportet quoque ut in virtutum culmine
sint erecti; alioquin (mark this well) non est meritum, sed ad
proprium praesunt judicium.” Thus speaks St. Justinian. “The
priesthood is a great dignity, but is also a great burden. Priests
are placed at a great height, but it
behooves them also to be
raised to the summit of virtue. Without that there is no merit for
them, for they will only be thus raised up for their own
condemnation.” Such is the excellence of your dignity that St.
Bernardine speaking to Mary says: “Virgo benedicta, excusa me,
sacerdotium ipsum praetulit supra te.” “O Blessed Virgin, pardon
what I am going to say. God has raised the priesthood even above
yourself.” St. Bernard calls Priests “Parentes Christi”
(Parents of Christ), and St. Augustine cries out: “O veneranda
Sacerdotum dignitas, in quorum manibus Dei Filius veluti in utere
Virginis incarnatur!” “O venerable dignity of Priests. The Son of
God becomes man in their hands just as He became man in the womb of
the Blessed Virgin!” Finally, St. Clement, speaking of the Priest
calls him “a god on earth.” “Post Deum deus terrenus.”
What
then ought not to be your sanctity, O my Brother? Shun the society of
priests who are not men of exemplary virtue. Remain alone, or better,
keep the company of those who can do your soul some good. Watch over
your senses carefully. Devote yourself earnestly to study. I must
confess that one of the things that frighten me most at nearing the
Priesthood, if it is in the designs of God that I ever reach it, it
is the thought of study.
Doubtless for the past four years,
thanks to the Divine Mercy, I have studied a little less negligently
than I used to do with you at home, and yet few days pass without the
thought of study inspiring me with serious misgiving. Take care not
to say Mass or the Divine Office hurriedly. Work for God, for now is
not a time of rest, but of work, above all for a priest. Spread
devotion to Mary, as I have told you in another letter. I do not wish
in speaking so, to preach at you, but God chooses at times the most
contemptible means to speak to souls.
~
September
9, 1861
Isola
Dearest
Father,
I
reply in a few words to your very dear letter to express the sorrow I
feel for the sickness of Pacifica and your own ill health. Let us
have patience and suffer all for love of Jesus and Mary. They have
suffered so much for us! By doing so, our sorrows will be lightened,
and we shall not lose the merit of which they are a source.
The
ordination for subdiaconate is fixed for the Saturday before the
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows and that of diaconate for Christmas
Quarter Tense. Very certain circumstances may, perhaps, prevent
the journey being made.
May
the will of Jesus be done. I am content. Nevertheless, I fear that I
have not corresponded sufficiently well with the extraordinary grace
I have received from God. Pray then and get prayers said for me. It
is the only thing I ask you for. The loving Virgin of Sorrows who
cannot see our miseries without compassionating them, will keep us
safe enough under her protecting mantle, and she employs for our
defence those same swords which have pierced her blessed and spotless
heart. Let us compassionate Mary’s sorrows and she herself will
infallibly compassionate ours. Oh, what sweetness and calm one feels
when one throws oneself on her maternal protection! If Mary is for
us, who shall be against us? “Si Maria pro nobis, quis contra nos?”
Take
special care of Pacifica. Cheer her and tell her to honor the statue
of Our Lady of Sorrows that I left at home. Accept kind wishes from
my devoted Father Lector and myself. Remember me to those at home and
all those with whom I am united to Jesus.
If
you wish to be saved, give alms to the poor who represent Jesus
Christ.
Asking
your blessing,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Isola
December
19, 1861
Dearest
Father,
I
reply immediately to your very dear letter. I must remind you that
God will never fail to provide generously for your needs if you
provide Him in the person of the poor. Oh, dearest Father, if
experience has not proved the truth of what I say, it would appear a
paradox and, as it were, a tempting of God. How so? To give what one
has to the poor and then to imagine that God will work a miracle, so
that we shall want for nothing is, a tepid Christian would say, folly
and rashness; but he would be wrong.
Try
to economize, especially by reducing the portion of the poor and
neglecting to assist them, and you will always be in anxiety and
need. Yes, try it, and if the result does not prove what I have said,
do not fear to contradict me. One of the most efficacious means of
avoiding misfortune, of being happy on earth, of being without
enemies, of having comfort on the bed of suffering, is to be generous
towards Jesus Christ’s poor; and, to be that, we must not put them
off with a little piece of bread given with a sad countenance and, as
it were against the grain.
Remember,
dear Father, that you have a son who, after all, is but a beggar,
living on the alms of others. Not only does he want for nothing, but
he lives in greater abundance (pardon me saying it) than when in his
father’s house. Justice, therefore, demands that you should give to
the children of Jesus Christ that which Jesus Christ gives to your
own son.
Please
accept the good wishes for your happiness that I offer you, much more
with my heart than with my tongue. For Christmas is close at hand.
May Jesus, Mary and Joseph make you happy in time and eternity. You
ought not to be impatient to have news of me; for when there is
anything particular to tell I shall not fail to let you know. For
myself, I never cease to bless the merciful hand of the Most Holy
Virgin, which withdrew me from the world. I ought to be a priest by
now, but I have only received minor orders up to the present, the
ordinations not having taken place. God wills it so, and His will is
mine.
Recommend
me in your prayers, in a very special manner, and ask others to pray
for me to Jesus and to the Virgin of Sorrows. They are the only
Christmas gifts I ask of you. You will not refuse me. Bless me,
Gabriel
of Our Lady of Sorrows
~
Isola
December
30, 1861
My
Dear Michael,
Bear
in mind that one cannot serve two masters. God and the world cannot
abide in the same heart.
They
deceive themselves who think they will be saved because they engage
in some pious practice or good works, though, at the same time, they
set their affections on creatures, worldly amusements and pleasant
pastimes.
Jesus
Christ has said: “The road to heaven is narrow”; and He adds that
anyone who would follow Him must deny himself, and take up his cross
daily; “qui vult venire post me, abneget semetipsum, tollat crucem
suam quotidie et sequatur me.”
I
like to think that for you there are neither theatres, balls,
banquets, or such like things, and that you are prudent enough to
hold aloof from these dangers even though you live in the world. If
it were otherwise, ah, dear Michael (believe a brother who speaks to
you from his inmost heart, and who desires only one thing, to see you
happy here and hereafter), be sure that it is very dangerous to
frequent such places without a real necessity, and that it is the
height of presumption to hope for the grace to avoid sin while one
remains in the occasions of it.
Dear
Michael, would you have someone to love? Be it so, by all means.
But
whom shall you love? Mary! What creature is more beautiful, more
lovable, more powerful? And do not imagine that to love, to speak,
and to live with Mary is wearisome and devoid of charm, because she
is not seen with bodily eyes. Oh, no; nothing of the kind. The
consolations, the delights of this love are so much the more
satisfying to the heart, as the soul is superior to the senses. Be
assured, moreover, that you will meet none in this world who can make
you happy, for their love is inconstant or false. And were one to be
found without these defects, the very thought of the parting that
must one day come would fill the heart with bitterness and cruel
pain. Now, not so with him who chooses Mary for his portion, for she
is loving, faithful, constant, and will never be outdone in love.
If
we are in danger, she hastens to our rescue. If we are cast down, she
consoles us. If we are sick she comforts us. If we are in need, she
runs to help us with no thought of our past misdeeds. The moment she
sees a heart that wishes to love her, she comes and reveals to it the
secret of her mercies. She presses it to her bosom, shields it,
consoles it, and even stoops to serve it, even deigns to keep it
company on its way to eternity.
Then
when the moment of death comes, oh, dearest Brother, think of it,
when for those who love creatures all is at an end, and they must go
hence into the eternal abode which they have built for themselves,
while they cry out with unutterable anguish and almost in despair: “O
bitter and cruel death, is it so thou tearest me away from all I have
loved!” At the end true lovers of Mary are glad of heart. They
invite death. They part without sorrow from their friends and the
world, for they know that they are soon to possess the object of
their love and that in her possession they will be forever happy.
Now,
try and do what I tell you, and if you do not find out the truth of
what I say, do not be afraid to tell me I am wrong.
Go
every day, both morning and evening if you can, to visit some shrine
of Mary, but go for choice to a church where this good Mother is
least visited. Your presence will thus be all the more pleasing to
her. Make a sacrifice of some dangerous or vain object you may have.
Lay it at her feet in one of these visits. Deprive yourself, for her
love, of company or amusement which might be dangerous or an occasion
of sin. I beg you to say the Rosary every day in her honor, and when
you feel inspired by her to make some sacrifice, make it at once with
a good heart, and have no fear that Mary will be outdone in
generosity.
Make
known the contents of this letter, if you think it well, to Teta
and
Pellegrini. Let them remember that the scene of this world
is passing rapidly. Let them always bear in mind the thought of God’s
presence, and let them never for all the gold in the world, permit
themselves any liberty that might displease Him. It is much better to
labor and suffer for the few years we live on earth and so merit
everlasting happiness, than to enjoy our ease now and suffer
hereafter, not for ten or a million years, but for eternity. Tell
them to stamp this truth on their minds; that God will demand from
them an account, not only of their own souls, but also of their
children’s. Let them endeavour, therefore, to bring them up in the
holy fear of God, and not according to the maxims of the world. If
they do not act so, what answer will they be able to make on the Day
of Judgement?
This
letter will, perhaps, provoke a smile, but that matters little. The
writer only deserves derision. Be it understood. however, that he who
writes these lines does so with his heart in his pen, without regard
for the opinion of the world, and with no motive but the deep
interest he has in you. Yes, his sole desire, after the glory of God
is to see us all united under Mary’s protection at the dread hour
of Judgement.
~
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