Mornese (Italy). Welcomed by the embrace of the hills of Alto Monferrato and the hospitality of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of St. Mary D. Mazzarello Community, of the Piedmontese Province Mary Help of Christians (IPI), on 27 and 28 April 2024, a group of members of the Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) from Turin, San Benigno Canavese, Nizza Monferrato, Mornese, and Lerma, spent two days of retreat at the Collegio of Mornese (Alessandria).
They were intense days, in which moments of reflection and prayer alternated with moments of conviviality. In the two reflections proposed by Sister Lucrezia Uribe, FMA, World Animator of ADMA, entitled “To pray well, pray from your heart and with your heart” and “Marian spirituality in Mother Mazzarello”. The young Maín was presented as an assiduous woman in prayer and meditation on the Word of God. Hers was a ‘heartfelt’ prayer, very personal and spontaneous, that allowed her to enter into intimacy with God and to transfigure her life.
La crescita nella devozione verso Maria Addolorata forgiò la spiritualità di Maín che, divenuta Figlia di Maria Ausiliatrice, tradusse la conformazione a Cristo con la significativa espressione “Lui qui e noi qui”, indicando il crocifisso appeso al collo.
Fr. Pietro Mellano, Salesian of Don Bosco, chaplain of the FMA Community of Mornese and coordinator of the Professional Formation Center of Alexandria, presented the reflection entitled, “Mary, Woman of Prayer”. Mary has been portrayed as an example of an open attitude, of a willing heart that, in humble and simple prayer, put life in the Lord’s hands, “Lord, what you want and how you want it.” Mary is the woman who in prayer makes us understand that every day given by God is a call.
The days spent in silence and meditation, were marked by the hour of Eucharistic adoration, the prayer of Vespers, and the holy Rosary with meditations on “Mary, Woman of the Beatitudes”, led by Sister Lucrezia Uribe and Sister Gabriela Patiño, World delegate of the FMA Past Pupils.
At the end of the day, the Good Night could not be missing. It was given with full Salesian spirit by Sister Blanca Sánchez, FMA, Animator of the Community of Mornese,
At Mary Mazzarello Shrine, Fr. Manolo Jiménez, SDB, Central Assistant of the VDB, presided at Holy Mass on Sunday together with many townspeople. After the time of Eucharistic adoration and the prayer of the Rosary, everyone returned home with the desire to repeat the community experience of prayer and silence, as was recommended by Pope Francis for this year 2024, in preparation for the great Jubilee of 2025.
