13 May

SAINT MARY DOMENICA MAZZARELLO

virgin
Co-founder of the Institute of the Daughters
of Mary Help of Christians

Feast

For the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Solemnity Maria Domenica was born at Mornese, Alessandria (Italy) on 9 May 1837, the eldest of seven children of a hard-working peasant family of sincere Christian life. At the age of 15 years she offered herself to God with a vow of virginity. Soon afterwards she joined the association of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, committing herself more deeply in apostolic services and works of charity. A meeting with Don Bosco in 1864 marked a decisive point in her life. The Saint was already working on an apostolic project for girls, and with the collaboration of Mary Domenica gave rise to the community of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In 1872 Mary Domenica made her religious vows and was elected superior, a role in which she displayed unexpected talents as a mother and animator.

On 14 May 1881, when only 44 years of age, she died at the new Mother House of Nizza Monferrato, Asti. She was canonized by Pius XII on 24 June 1951, and was recognized as Co-foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Where the celebration has the rank of solemnity:

Evening Prayer I

HYMN

Christ is Lord and Light of Nations
We his people all proclaim.
Through St Mary Mazzarello,
May we glorify his name.

In the beauty of his teaching
She found joy in God above.
“Let us learn to speak with Jesus
In his Eucharistic Love”.

Throughout life she walked with Mary,
Learning from Don Bosco’s way.
Guided by the Holy Spirit,
Cheerful, humble, prompt to pray.

Christ her model in all virtue,
God her choice from dawn of youth.
By a life of prayer and service
She led countless souls in truth.

Loving Father, Christ our brother,
Let your Spirit on us shine;
Teaching us to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.

(R.McShane FMA)

Or another suitable hymn approved by ecclesiastical authority.

Ant 1 Let us give praise to the Lord; he exalts the humble, alleluia.

Psalms and canticle from the Common of Virgins.

Ant 2 Great is the Lord. Tell of his glory among the peoples, alleluia.

Ant 3 Blessed be the Lord for ever. The God of salvation has us in his care, alleluia.

READING Phil 1,8-11

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

RESPONSORY

God has given us a Spirit of love and wisdom, alleluia, alleluia. — God...
He has sent us the Spirit of truth. — alleluia, alleluia.

Glory be to the Father... — God...

Magnificat ant. We have pondered, O God, on the wonders of your love, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us invoke with confidence God our Father, who raises up in his Church holy and wise women and calls them to collaborate in the saving work of his Son:

God of kindness, hear our prayer.

You enriched Mary Domenica Mazzarello with a simple and active faith and led her along the road that leads to holiness:

— grant that, we may dedicate ourselves with generosity to our mission as educators.

You rendered Saint Mary Domenica open and docile to the action of your Spirit:
— guide the young people of today in the choice of the vocation to which you are calling them for the life of the Church and the world.

Industrious and burning with love, Mary Domenica lived evangelical poverty in joy of heart:
— help us to be faithful to St John Bosco’s charism, and be consistent in our witness to Christian values.

The Blessed Virgin was for Mary Domenica a guide and model of life:
— grant that she may continue to be the Mother and Mistress for each one of us, for our communities and for every Christian family.

You accepted the offering of the youthful existence of Mary Domenica for the good of the Church:
— in your mercy welcome all who have believed and hoped in you.

Our Father.

Concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

Compline of Sunday.

INVITATORY

Ant. Let us adore Christ the Lord who reveals his mysteries to the humble, alleluia.

Invitatory psalm as in the Ordinary.

Office of Readings

HYMN

God’s blessed Spirit moved his virgin saint
To wield strong weapons in a lifelong fight,
To make a lonely journey from the flesh,
That she might live unfettered in his sight.

She turned her face towards the cross of Christ,
And he himself prepared her as his bride;
She bore the Holy Spirit’s timeless fruits
By which God’s pledge of love is ratified.

Her life showed forth the kingdom of the Lord,
When humbly for his sake she dwelt apart,
To wait on him in silence with the poor,
The chaste of body and the clean of heart.

O Blessed Trinity, the virgins’ crown,
They sing your praises with unending song,
Rejoicing in the hope you have fulfilled,
Lord God, unfailing strength of all the strong.

(© 1974, Stanbrook Abbey)

Or another suitable hymn approved by ecclesiastical authority.

Ant 1 I leap for joy: God has done great things, alleluia.

Psalms from the Common of Virgins.

Ant 2 With burning heart I have sought you; I have preferred nothing to your love, alleluia.

Ant 3 Christ’s love dwelling in me has made me fertile as a mother, alleluia.

You will lead me along the path of life, alleluia.

You will fill me with joy at your side, alleluia.

FIRST READING

From the letter of St Paul to the Romans 12,1-16a

The Christian life, spiritual worship

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him. For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; If service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good: love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.

RESPONSORY cf. Phil 2,2.3-4; 1 Thess 5,15

Be of the one mind in love; in humility count others better than yourselves; * let each one look not only to personal interests, but also to the interests of others, alleluia.
Always seek to do good to one another and to all; let each one look...

SECOND READING

From the letters of St Mary Domemca Mazzarello

Clothe yourselves with the love of the Lord Jesus

My dear Sisters, know how to love one another. What great consolation I feel when I receive news from the houses and know that there is charity among the Sisters, that they obey willingly, that they love the Holy Rule. My heart feels great consolation and continually implores blessings on all of you, that you may truly put on the Spirit of the good Jesus and so do so much good to yourselves and to the poor neighbor in such great need of help. But what was the Spirit of the Lord like? It was a humble Spirit, patient and full of charity - the kind of charity shown by Jesus himself who never wearied of suffering for us, even to the extent you know of. Courage therefore! Let is imitate our dear Jesus in everything, but especially in humility and love.

Yes, my dear daughters in Jesus, take courage: Jesus loves you. It is true that there are times when you have pains and distress to suffer, but the Lord wants you to help him to carry his cross in this world. He was the first to give us the good example in suffering; and so let us follow him with courage and resignation in suffering. You can be certain that those whom Jesus asks to suffer more grievously are those who are closest to him. But we must do everything with a pure intention, to please him alone.

Courage then, my dear daughters; remember that everything in this world is passing away; so let nothing disturb you, for everything is a means to enable us to find true happiness. Be joyful. Be always joyful, never give or take offence, but as soon as you are aware that some other Sister needs support or encouragement be quick to assist her; give each other help and consolation. Have great charity; love one another. Do your utmost to preserve the spirit of union with God, living always in his presence. Be always joyful and humble.

RESPONSORY Col 3,17

Whatever you do, in word or deed, * do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, alleluia.
Give thanks to God the Father through him; do everything…

Or:

SECOND READING

From an address of Pope Pius XI, 3 May 1936

From her ardent charity she drew powerful strength

St Mary Domenica Mazzarello, as a most devout Daughter of Mary, taught by her example the great value attaching to a life which unfolds and expands under the gaze and protection of so great a Mother. In fact her life displays all the characteristics of the most humble simplicity. She was a simple, a very simple, figure but rich in many outstanding prerogatives, qualities and gifts.

Her humility was so great as to make us wonder what it is that God sees in a truly and deeply humble soul, which because of its humility attracts him so much, we may say, as to induce him to work the greatest marvels.

This poor, simple and lowly peasant girl soon gave signs of what is called a talent, one of the greatest talents, that of the ability to govern. A great thing is this, and she showed that she had it to such an extent that a man like St John Bosco detected it immediately and put it to good effect. The opportune and efficacious nature of his choice was shown not only in the sure and stable foundation of the new Family of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians but also in the rapid and wonderful growth of the flourishing Institute.

In the humble soul God sees a light, form and characteristics which he cannot resist because in their exquisite beauty and their fundamental and constructive features they reflect the physiognomy of his only Son, who said: “Learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart” (Mt 11,29). As though to say that if we had learned this we would have grasped all that is needed to save souls and bring the world to Christ.

The former and exemplary Daughter of Mary recalls also and puts to us the greatest lesson in humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Mother of God, in fact, in the Magnificat openly attributes her glory and election on the part of God to her humility: “for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant”. The Mother of God proclaims herself to be the “handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1,48). It is lovely to consider Saint Mary Domenica in this light, in the light of Mary herself. She too can repeat: The Lord has looked with great good will on my humility and simp1icit and so “all generations will call me blessed”.

RESPONSORY Sir 3,18; 1 Tim 6,11

The greater you are, the more you must humble yours elf * so you will find favour in the sight of the Lord.

Aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness; * so you will...

Or:

SECOND READING

From an address of Pope John Paul II, 12 December 1981.

You are called to ensure the continuity of your mission

Many years have passed since the time of the Community of Mornese and the heroic and promising beginnings of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. They have been years marked by trials and sacrifices, but crowned also by precious and consoling fruits for your Family and the entire Church. Today you carry out your apostolate for the young in every sector of formation; working always in harmony with the objectives of your foundational charisma, you are called to ensure the continuity of your mission which aims at involving also the girls and young women of the present generation in the wonderful adventure of a life according to the Gospel. It is a mission that requires you to be full of joy. Joy of this kind is one of the characteristic traits of the Salesian pedagogical charism so fully assimilated by Mother Mary Domenica with personal intuition and absolute fidelity She was, in fact, continually concerned about the joy of her daughters, as though this were the main indication of their holiness, and she would frequently ask each of them: “Are you happy?” She meant that joy and happiness which Jesus promised to his followers and is always recommended by St Paul (cf. Phil 3,1; 4,4), who describes it as one of the first fruits of the Spirit: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, ...“ (Gal 5,22). An attitude of happiness of this kind is rooted above all else in a deep sense of faith in which the presence of the Lord is dominant and always prevails as he who loves and saves us, and as a loving Father watches over all our affairs.

From an intense contact with God, and from a convinced spirit of faith which finds practical expression in constant adherence to the Church and its teaching, you will find deep motives for your Salesian joy, and also the ability to discern situations and above all the hearts of the young with that intelligent and supernatural discernment which so surely marked the educative ministry of Don Bosco and of Mother Mary Domenica. Respect for the demands of reason and religion, i.e. a trusting attitude in the face of natural and supernatural values of the individual, is certainly fundamental to a positive educative approach. Salesian loving kindness has its source in the very heart of Christ and in Mary most holy its model and inspirer. It is a burning zeal for the overall salvation of the young; it is a pastoral care and solicitude eminently respectful of the individual; it is an affective power that can win over the heart and has a decisive value in the educational process according to the Salesian spirit.

And so you must make yourselves respected by the serene consistency of your witness to all those values in which you believe and want to pass on to others. This is an unavoidable duty; nothing of value will pass from us to the young, nothing permanent can we inculcate in them, unless we are concerned to see that it is a consequence of our consecration.

RESPONSORY Col 3,23-24

Whatever your task, work heartily, as doing it for the Lord and not men; * knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward, alleluia;
You are serving the Lord Christ * knowing that...

TE DEUM.

Concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

Morning Prayer

HYMN

As at Vespers or from the Common, or another suitable hymn approved by ecclesiastical authority.

Ant I From before the dawn I have sought you: your love is my life, alleluia.

Psalms from Sunday, Week I.

Ant 2 Bless the Lord in his works: he reveals himself to the pure of heart, alleluia.

Ant 3 Let us rejoice together and be glad: the joy of God is our strength, alleluia.

READING Col 3,12-15

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.

RESPONSORY

Great is the Lord’s power; he is glorified by the humble. * Alleluia, alleluia. Great is…
He brings down the mighty from their thrones. * alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father... Great is…

Benedictus ant. Bless the Lord for all his works; like incense, radiate a sweet odor, alleluia

Or:

O wise woman, the Spirit of God has made you a teacher of life, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

Let us give thanks in Christ Jesus to the Father who, by raising up holy men and women in the Church,

gives us authentic models of evangelical fidelity, and let us say:

God, our Father, hear our prayer.

Father, you have enriched the Church with a marvelous variety of gifts and charisms:
— grant that in creative fidelity we may embody the Salesian spirit in ourselves.

You have given the Pope and the Bishops as guides for your holy people:
— help us to adhere fully to their teaching and manifest it consistently in all our actions.

You reveal the mysteries of your Kingdom to the simple and the lowly:
— help us to discern your presence in every reality of life so as to accomplish your plan of love.

Call everyone to accept the Gospel of Christ your Son:
— grant that we may share his saving mission in the spirit of the beatitudes.

In St Mary Domenica you offer us a model for living the commandment of brotherly love:
— help us to work always in communion of life and action for the extension of your Kingdom.

Our Father.

PRAYER

Father, source of all that is good, you give us in Mary Domenica Mazzarello a shining example of Christian and religious life through her deep humility and ardent charity; grant that we, in simplicity of spirit, may bear daily witness to your Fatherly love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Or, in communities of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians:

God, our Father, you have a special love for the humble and imbue with your spirit of holiness hearts that are simple and sincere; hear our prayer on this solemnity of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello, who shared with Saint John Bosco his love for the young and with him founded a new religious family. Grant that we may be docile to her teachings and faithful to her example of educational activity. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Prayer during the day

Hymn corresponding to the hour of day, or another suitable hymn approved by ecclesiastical authority.

Antiphons and psalms of the day as in the Psalter.
(For the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, proper antiphon with complementary psalms.)

Ant. Glorious is the woman who has given birth in the spirit, alleluia.

Midmorning

READING 2 Thess 1,11b-12

We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power, so that the name of our’ Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is a wise virgin, alleluia
— The Lord found her watching, alleluia.

Midday

READING Eph 1,17-20a

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power in us who believe, according to the working of his great might which he accomplished in Christ.

The Lord is good to all, alleluia.
— His tenderness extends to every creature, alleluia.

Mid-afternoon

READING 1 Thess 4,1b-3a

As you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, do so more and more. You know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification.

It is good for me to stay with God, alleluia.
— The Lord is my strength and my hope, alleluia.

Evening Prayer

(for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Evening Prayer II)

HYMN

O Jesus, thou the virgins’ crown,

Thy gracious ear to us bow down,

Born of that Virgin whom alone

The Mother and the maid we own.

In thee, their Bridegroom and their Lord,
The virgins find their bright reward,
And wheresoe’r they footsteps wend
With hymns and praises thee attend.

o gracious Lord, we thee implore

Thy grace into our minds to pour;

From all defilement keep us free,

And make us pure in heart for thee.

All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to thee,
With whom the Spirit we adore,
For ever and for evermore.

(St. Ambrose)

Or another suitable hymn approved by ecclesiastical authority.

Ant 1 Unceasingly have I sought you, 0 Lord: you have been the source of my joy, alleluia.

Psalms and canticle from the Common of Virgins.

Ant 2 The Lord has made of my life the dwelling place of his love, alleluia.

Ant 3 God has overwhelmed me with his blessings, he made me the praise of his glory, alleluia.

READING Phil 2,1-4

Dearly beloved, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

RESPONSORY Jn 13,34a; 1 Pet 1,22a

Love one another. * Alleluia, alleluia. Love...

Love each other earnestly from the heart. * Alleluia, alleluia.
Glory be to the Father... Love...

Magnificat ant. Poor and humble as I was, the Lord loved me and did great things for me, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

God our Father has manifested in St Mary Mazzarello the wonders of his love: in the certainty that he will hear us, we pray:

Father, all holy, hear our prayer.

You inspired in St Mary Domenica Mazzarello a deep Eucharistic spirituality:
— grant that for all Christians a vital participation in the Easter mystery may be at the centre of their lives.

You chose Mary Domenica to be the cornerstone of a living monument of gratitude to Mary Help of
Christians:
— bestow on all members of the Salesian Family a filial love for the Virgin Mother, to make her powerful help known to others.

You gave to Mother Mazzarello a heart full of solicitude for your Kingdom:
— inspire young people to disseminate everywhere your message of love and salvation.

You willed that a new religious family should arise for the Christian education of the young:
— guide children and young people in their search for the authentic sense of life.

You withdrew your Son from the power of death:
— grant eternal light to our brothers and sisters who have died believing and hoping in your mercy.

Our Father.

Concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

Compline

As in the Psalter for the day.

(For the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Compline of Sunday).