MO Stages on a spiritual journey

STAGES ALONG THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY in the Memoirs of the Oratory


Prelude:

  1. Father’ s death and his recommendation (p.1-2 of the English printed version)

  2. First memory and cry – Mamma Margaret (p.2)

  3. Effectiveness of ‘confidence in God’ (p.2)

  4. The dream. (p.3-4)



First steps:

  1. First Communion: mother’s talk and John’s reaction (p.6-7)

  2. Don Calosso: trust and ‘taste’ for spiritual life (p.9)

  3. Error of perspective: too much trust in human beings (p.9,10,11)



Interlude:

  1. The Chieri environment: obedience, companions, teachers, friends, confessor, Comollo (p.16,18)


Choice of state of life:

  1. Personal and critical situation (p.26)

  2. First idea of a solution ‘my plan’ (p.26-27)

  3. Trust in Comollo (p.27)

  4. Obedience ‘I ceased to do…and gave myself over to…’ (p.27)


Radical decision at time of clerical clothing

  1. Preparation (p. 28)

  2. ‘Oh how much old stuff (clothing)…’ (p.28)

  3. ‘A new man…a new life’ (p.28)

  4. Resolutions for a settled life (p.29)


Consolidation journey:

  1. Happiness , exact fulfilment of duty (p.30)

  2. Ascesis and detachment (p.31)

  3. Comollo: affective a fervent piety (p.32)

  4. The ‘terrible lessons’ of the holidays (p.32); ‘withdrawal’ and complete abandonment of worldly amusements. Borel’s advice (p.37-38)

  5. Intellectual conversion: from worldly readings to a ‘taste for ascetical things’ (p.38)

  6. ‘For the greater glory of God…’ (p. 42)

  7. Trust in don Cafasso, his guide in spiritual things. (p.42)

  8. Guala, Cafasso, Golzio ‘three models that Divine Providence gave me’; the strange spiritual direction of Cafasso who took him to the prisons (p.43)


Definitive choices:

  1. Blind and total obedience, “personal inclinations” and “divine will” (p.48-49)

  2. The choice given by Barolo and Don Bosco’s response (p. 60-61)

  3. Isaac’s sacrifice – ‘tell me what I should do’ (p. 61)

  4. ‘Prepared to die’ (p. 70-71)

  5. ‘I have disobeyed’ (p. 71)

  6. ‘If such seems to please the Lord I am ready to leave immediately’ (p.72)

  7. Don Bosco and Mama Margaret’s total detachment and poverty (p.72)


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