18 May

SAINT LEONARD MURIALDO
Priest

He was born at Turin on 26 October 1828 into a well- to-do family. A friend and collaborator of Don Bosco, he dedicated himself to the Christian formation of poor youngsters, orphans and the abandoned, starting up with great faith and courage many initiatives at a social, spiritual, cultural and legalistic level. He also had a hand in the foundation and running of organizations for Catholic workers. He founded a Congregation which he dedicated to Saint Joseph (Josephites of Murialdo) to continue the apostolate among the young and the poor in the spirit of the humble artisan of Nazareth, the educator of Jesus. He died at Turin on 30 March 1900, and was canonized by Paul VI on 3 May 1970.

From the Common of Saints or the Common of Past ors with psalms from the day as in the Psalter.

Office of Readings

SECOND READING

From the writings of St Leonard Murialdo, priest

Predilection for poor and abandoned youth

We have special motives for rejoicing in our mission, motives arising from the nature of the young people to whom we give our special attention. Who are they? The poor and the abandoned: there you have two requisites that make a youngster one of ours; and the poorer and more abandoned he is, so much the more is he ours.

Poor and abandoned! How wonderful is the mission of caring for the education of the poor! And more wonderful still is that of seeking out, of succoring, of educating, of saving for time and eternity, the poor who are abandoned, abandoned from a moral aspect if not materially. How good it is to be able to say in truth: “Thou wilt incline thine ear, defending the fatherless and the oppressed” (Ps 10,18). The poor, the children and finally sinners, were the pupil of Christ’s eye, a valuable gem, a most precious treasure. And our own youngsters are poor, they are children, and we have also to add that sometimes they are anything but innocent. But should this last characteristic, even though in itself it is certainly not desirable, make our youngsters less dear to us or of less interest to us, if we put it in those terms?

We may sometimes forget this condition of the young to whom we want to consecrate our lives. No sooner does a youngster show signs of an unfortunate or even perverse disposition, of indiscipline, of unwillingness to learn, proud, stubborn in doing wrong, or even going from bad to worse, and immediately we become disgusted and disheartened, and want the problem removed from us by sending the youngster packing and all his vices with him. But nevertheless we must not tire too easily, become too easily depressed and give up hope. Let us not forget that when we take in abandoned youngsters we must expect to find them ignorant, wild and unruly, with all the defects that normally accompany abandonment.

We must not be surprised either to find defects and even vices in children belonging to good class and

Christian families. If they were already perfect, what need would they have of education? But what else can we expect who take in children off the streets or who come to us at times from the hands of coarse and scandalous parents? Their moral wretchedness should move us much more than their material want; instead of making us lose too soon all compassion and hope, it should prompt us to work courageously and sympathetically for these unhappy souls; often they are more to be pitied than blamed, and we ourselves might well have been like them if we too had been abandoned.
The very condition therefore of our poor youngsters should prompt us to do violence to ourselves the better to fulfill the duties imposed on each of us with respect to their education, and to pray to God “to give the increase” (cf. 1 Cor 3,6).

RESPONSORY Ps 81,3-4; cf. Jas 2,5

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute; * rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked, alleluia.
God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom; rescue...

Or:

SECOND READING

From articles on “A sound press” by St Leonard Munaldo.

Good journalism is an apostolate

On the great day of Judgment salvation is assured to those who have not refused bread to the hungry; but not by material bread alone does man live. In our times the hunger that is more keenly felt is the hunger for moral and religious instruction, for truth and for justice. To work for these things is an act of charity superior to corporal works. The Catholic who has the necessary talents for wielding the pen should not remain idle, he should not bury his talents. Good journalism is an apostolate and, after that of the priesthood, it is at the present day the most noble and sublime. Good journalism is a continual sermon, a daily instruction, a courageous conflict for the Church and the Pope; it is a means for the salvation of souls, and for the Christian regeneration of the world. The words of the priest spoken in church reach only the faithful, those already converted; the newspaper on the other hand goes everywhere and reaches all.

There are some who are not convinced that Catholic journalism is an apostolate; they look for faults in good publications, they find perfection only in evil ones; for the former they have no encouraging word, no helpful advice, no monetary contribution to help to correct the defects, to fill lacunas, to make improvements.

They criticize their defects and give no praise to the part that is good, or else they would seem to want a perfect newspaper and so pour scorn on the one they have, speak badly of it and do not support it financially; and meanwhile they buy and allow into their homes harmful periodicals. It is an illusion, it is absolutely false, to believe that periodicals of this latter kind are not pernicious, that this or that paper has no influence. A newspaper which is read today, read again tomorrow, read every day, succeeds in impressing its ideas on the intelligence of even the most strong-minded of readers and imperceptibly forms his spirit and heart.

In our times this institution of journalism has found its way into all our traditions, and good journalism has become an absolute need for stemming the tidal wave that invades everything and penetrates everywhere.

There is also another kind of person, those who are certainly honest and upright, but have a great repugnance for anything connected with the political press; they say they are ‘neutral’. Sure enough, while the volcano is spewing out white-hot lava, while an earthquake is threatening, or in other words while one of those political and religious crises is brewing with which history is full, you will find people who say with haughty arrogance: “I believe in being neutral in everything; I am independent”. This sort of neutrality is nothing but a moral monstrosity - it is devoid of all meaning; what it is, in fact, is sloth and selfishness, it is a desertion of social duty, and it is a serious fault.

RESPONSORY cf. 1 Thess 2,4.3

We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, * so we speak not to please men but to please God. Alleluia.
Our appeal does not spring from error or uncleanness, nor is it made with guile; we speak...

Concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.

Morning Prayer

Benedictus ant. The love of Christ impels me to give my life for the brethren. Alleluia

INTERCESSIONS

Let us celebrate with joy the kindness shown us by God our Father, and through the intercession of St Leonard Murialdo let us pray with faith:

Lord, make us perfect in love.

You guide us and love us as your children:
— make us witnesses to your goodness every day of our lives.

You inspire us with a simple and lively faith in your Providence:
— enable us to discern your loving presence in the events of daily life.

You arouse the intelligence and heart of your children:
— grant that we may generously fulfill your will in freedom of spirit.

You invite us to recognize your countenance in the young who are poor:
— help us to serve you in each of them with humility and charity.

You have given us the Immaculate Virgin as a model:
— through her protection guide us on the path to holiness.

Our Father.

PRAYER

O God, the source of all good things, in Saint Leonard Murialdo you have given to orphans a father and to young workers a guide: through his intercession grant that we may follow the precepts of your love in the service we give to our neighbor. 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.

Evening Prayer

Magnificat ant. Saint Leonard Murialdo, brother and friend of the poor, father of those who are all alone, reveal to us the heart of God, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS

As we commemorate Saint Leonard Murialdo, let us ask with faith of God our Father that he will grant his salvation to us and to all.

God our Father, hear our prayer.

Remember young people who are poor, the orphans and abandoned:
— support them with your fatherly assistance.

Your Son worked with St Joseph in the house of Nazareth:
— bless those who make their living by the sweat of their brow.

Protect all Christians who are engaged in the apostolate and in social activities:

— help them to be courageous witnesses to your truth.

Grant that generous young people may follow the poor, chaste and obedient Christ:
— that the message of the Gospel may reach all mankind.

Open the arms of your mercy to the dead who have done good to us:
— admit them to the peace of your kingdom.

Our Father.

Concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.