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Gratitude,
Joy and Kindness in the Mission “Open
your heart widely to the tender sentiments of the most profound gratitude and
let your life be a continuous act of thanksgiving for the favor that God has
granted you, inspiring the desire and giving you the will to consecrate yourself
to Him” (A R. III,86). “
Your gratitude should not limit itself to words alone, but let it show in your
zeal to consecrate yourself everyday to your God, dedicating yourself to
whatever he asks of you” (AR. III, 87). "Remember
that the souls who are already converted, just as those who will be converted,
have to learn from the religious, to love Jesus Christ always more and more. Try
to draw the infidels to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and of the Church by the
most eloquent preaching of good example" (C.M. III. 44). ''Let
us take care, for the greater glory of God, that what has been understood in the
heart, the Crucified Lord, should shine out, in such a way that the persons who
are in contact with us may be edified, recognize us as true daughters of the
Crucified Lord, our Father and, because of this, be inspired to practice
virtue" (C 62, III, 56). "Observe
this well: that your joy may be a joy filled with fdelity to the graces that you
receive and above all, a great joy for the zeal for your salvation and that of
others" (A R., III, 76). ' [The
religous] should look with kindness, have a cheerful, open, peaceful,
countenance without embarrassment, without effort a kind, pleasant attitude,
meekness and piety capable of winning over the hearts. Religious modesty helps
her to avoid a proud and disdainful demeanour, that which e.xpresses inconstancy
or lack of mortification" (:M.E. III, 89). “It
is necessary for a religious to understand the importance of the call that she
has received, called in a special way to reproduce holiness, to have a modest
look, a serious demeanour, a simple behaviour. The rule of St. Francis is the
most rigorous one, and also gentle because the rigors are prescribed that is,
commanded in time of health and not of illness" (ME. III 90). “ May
the zeal for the salvation of souls increase in us, as we work to make God
known, loved and served by all" (AE. III 98). “What
constitutes merit before God is not the greatness of our actions, but the
fervour of the soul and the greatness of the motivation: it is purity; the
sublimity of our intentions" (AR. III 83). "The goodness of your actions does not depend on the splendour with which they shine in the eyes of men, but on the will which carries them out" (AR. III, 88)." Servant
of God Fr. Gregorio Fioravanti OFM (1822-1894) Prayer Oh
Lords let your light shine Amen.
Biographical
Notes The
Servant of God, Father Gregorio (Ludovico) Fioravanti, Founder of the Franciscan
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Sisters, was
born on April 24, 1822, in Grotte di Castro (Viterbo), a small village near the
lake of Bolsena. He was the last one of nõne children, and belonged to a simple
and modest family, in which, even though he lost his mother when he was sõx
years old, he was educated õn the fear of God, in assiduous prayer and in
laboriousness. Already,
as an adolescent, he manifested a personality inclined to be reserved and
determined and a clear and
reflexive intelligence. In 1838, at the age of 16, he entered the Order of
Friars Minor in Orvieto, where he took the habit of Francis and received the
name of Fray Gregorio; a year later he .made his solemn religious profession.In
1845 he was ordained a priest in Viterbo. He was, first, professor of philosophy
in Rome, then he was sent to Venice as professor in the Theological Study Center
of St. Francis della Vigna. He distinguished himself by his humility and
serenity, and made, of his chair, the altar of his unceasing offering, and
during twelve years he was the wise and respected professor of life for groups
of young people. In 1856, when he was 34 years old, he was called to govern the
extensive Venetian Province of St Anthony of the Regular Friars Minor. When
the three years mandate expired as Provincial Minister, Providence, by means and
instruments, known only by the loving divine plan, disposed for him an encounter
which brought a decisive change in his life. A young french lady, Mrs Laura
Leroux, wife of the Duke of Bauffremont, eager to found a convent, came to him
asking help to begin a new institute of Franciscan religious ; because of his
advice, she oriented it towards the apostolic missions Fully obedient to God's
Will, with great sacrifice and humility, impelled by apostolic zeal, he accepted
the heavy task of guidõng the new foundation of the Franciscan Tertiaries for
the missions, which, according to the wish of the Duchess,was canonõcally
erected, in Gemona del Friuli, on
April 21st, 1861. Though
the beginning of the Institute was very promising and gave great hopes, soon the
Servant of God found himself to be the only one responsible for it, with
difficulties and unspeakable sufferings, because of the departure of the Duchess
(1863). The painful and heroic story of the origin of the
Institute, marked deeply by the cross, celebrates the invincible
fortitude, the heroic patience, the wisdom and laboriousness of this humble
Franciscan who assumed the most unpleasant tasks, only for the glory of God;
he had to face mortifyõng protests and threats, in his fidelity to God,
to help so many young consecrated, for
the purpose of taking the Word of salvation to the brothers and sisters who were
far away and in need. He
wrote and, several times,. modified the Rule for the new Institute, being an
exemplary guardian and a wise guide in order that, by all the sisters would be
loving observed, in communion of life, witness and apostolic zeal. In1865, he
was able to send the first group of missionaries to North America, to serve the
migrants, the orphans, the poor. In1872 he began a new Mission in the Middle
East, where the sisters dedicated themselves to the education of the poor and
abandoned youth . For this the Servant of God, though he never travelled outside
of Italy, has been recognized as an Apostolic Missionary. Later, in 1885, he
also opened a ‘mission’ in Italy, where he collaborated with the work of the
Church gravely damaged by anticlericalism and on account of the greatly diffused
ignorance. He continued to be close to his Institute with untiring love though
at that time he was twice re-elected Provincial Superior of the Friars of the
Veneto Province, during very difficult times for the religious, affected by the
Italian suppression (1866). Attentive to build up and to guide , especially by
example and limitless dedication to all, he served God õn silence, without
claiming anything, without defending himself even when he was lead through
trials of solitude and abandonment. He spent the last years of his life living a
completely hidden life, transforming his time into prayer and offering it for
the istitute which, nevertheless, he saw that it was flourishing and extendõng.
Struck by a sudden illness at the end of the eucharistic celebration he died on
January 23, 1894, in Gemona in the monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the
convent of his daughters whom he had directed and supported during 34 years. The
last blessing for all the sisters, the present and those of the future, was most
moving and still maintains the full efficacy of the sollicitude of a Father. Today,
the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart carry out their apostolic
service in 20 'mission' countries
of Europe, America, Asia and Africa. The
Cause of Canonization was introduced in Udine in 1990, and in 1995 it was taken
to Rome to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, where it follows the
necessary requirements In January 1997, it obtained the positive vote in the
esamination of the historical consultation. Prepared
by Pontifical University Urbaniana,
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