PROPER OFFICES
BLESSED MADELEINE MORANO
15 November
Blessed MADELEINE MORANO
virgin
Optional Memorial
Born at Chieri, Turin, on 15 November 1847, Madeleine Catherine Morano began from her youth a teaching career among local children, which was to last for the rest of her life, especially after obtaining her teacher's qualification. In 1879 with a wealth of educational and catechetical experience, she became a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, and asked from God “to remain alive until she had attained sanctity". In 1881 she was sent to Sicily, and there she began a flourishing work of education among the girls and young women of the poor and working classes. With "one eye on earth but ten constantly on heaven", she opened schools, oratories, hostels and workshops in every part of the island. Her many-sided apostolate was highly esteemed and encouraged by the Bishops, who entrusted to her evangelical enterprise the organization of the teaching of catechism throughout Sicily.
Sister Morano died at Catania on 26 March 1908, thus closing a completely coherent life, having fully understood that the “preventive system” was not only a method of education but a spirituality which develops and directs every good intention to the service of the Lord and on one’s brothers and sisters. In the same city of Catania John Paul II proclaimed her Blessed on 5 November 1994.
From the Common of virgins. Psalms of the day as in the Ordinary.
Office of Readings
Second Reading
From the «Addresses» of John Paul II, Pope
(Catania, 5 November 1994 - passim)
Tireless activity in doing good to others
"I am the true vine" (Jn 15,1). Through this allegory proposed on the eve of the paschal events, Jesus fully reveals the mystery of the life that is within him. The same mystery is revealed as a source of immortal life for the Servant of God Madeleine Morano.
Today she bears witness also to you, who are called by circumstances to serve this city's rebirth, mobilizing the energies which the Lord constantly renews in you, through tireless activity at the service of good.
Sr Madeleine Morano worked with precisely this in mind! She, the "born teacher", had come from Turin, the city of Don Bosco, with her outstanding pedagogical talent and her love for God and neighbour. In Sicily, Sr Madeleine carried out an intense and fruitful spiritual and educational activity for the benefit of your people. For long years she made herself one of you, becoming the model of faithful service to God and to her brothers and sisters. Look to her, beloved faithful, the better to carry out that apostolic and missionary project which all the members of the Church in Catania are striving to promote, as they listen to the voice of the Spirit and concentrate their efforts on a diligent discernment of the "signs of the times".
Discouragement and bitterness due to disturbing and overwhelming events are understandable human feelings but they should not quell Christian courage in doing good, "cost what it may", as Mother and now Blessed Madeleine Morano used to say.
In our era characterized by a tragic crisis of human values and a painful anxiety for the Absolute, you are asked to carry out a serious and demanding programme of doctrinal study, of consistent life-style and perseverance in the exercise of charity.
May Mother Morano be an inspiration to you. Motivated by a deep yearning for love and holiness, for many years she trod the streets of your city and region, serene and fearless. The teaching and examples of St John Bosco and St Mary Domenica Mazzarello sustained her in her task. Looking at the sea she would say: "Do you see how vast, how immense the sea is? God's bounty is greater by far!". And with a simple but incisive example she would illustrate the way to holiness: "You climb the high mountain of perfection with constant mortification. Even the tallest houses are made of small stones, piled one upon the other".
Her exhortations enlighten, comfort and encourage: "Think as Jesus would have thought. Pray as Jesus would have prayed. Act as Jesus would have acted". This is what Mother Maddalena used to say and this is how she lived, repeating to herself: "Ask for the grace to bear your cross peacefully every day".
Our sister, Blessed Madeleine Morano, dwells in God and God dwells in her forever. "With age-old love I have loved you", the Lord declared through the mouth of the prophet Jeremiah (31,3). The new Blessed experienced in herself the truth of these divine words, and after the trials of her life now witnesses the fulfilment of God's promise to his people: "They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them, I will lead them to streams of water on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel" (31:9).
Blessed Madeleine Morano, through her great love has thus become a constant witness of fidelity to God who is Love. She is resplendent before us today as a shining example of active solidarity. And now she intercedes for us, she intercedes for the Church. Great is the power of the saints' intercession! Madeleine did God's will and bequeathed to us the witness of works pleasing to God.
Responsory Eph 8-9; Mt 5,14.16
R/. You are light in the Lord; walk as children of light. . * for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.
V/. You are the light of the world: let your light so shine before men.
R/. for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.
Concluding prayer as at Morning Prayer.
Morning Prayer
Scripture Reading Song 8, 7
Love is a fire no waters avail to quench, no floods to drown; for love a man will give up all that he has in the world, and think nothing of his loss.
Short Responsory
R/. My heart has spoken: * I seek your face.
My heart has spoken: I seek your face.
V/. Hide not your face from me O Lord:
* I seek your face.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
My heart has spoken: I seek your face.
Ant. al Ben. You have given your heart to Christ, o wise virgin;
now you live with him,
shining like the sun in the assembly of the saints.
Intercessions
Let us invoke God our Father, the source and model of all holiness, and let us say with confidence:
Make us holy as you are holy.
You solidly established Blessed Madeleine Morano on the living rock of your word:
–grant that we may accept with faith and courageously proclaim the gospel of salvation..
You endowed her with wonderful gifts of faith and pastoral charity:
–enable us too to be among young people as true educators and attentive servants of your plan of salvation.
You gave to Blessed Madeleine the grace to follow Christ on the way of poverty, chastity and obedience:
–help us to respond to your call to be always at the service of others.
You granted her to combine tireless activity with a burning love for your Son present in the eucharistic mystery:
–give your support to evangelisers and catechists that they may bear witness by their lives to what they proclaim by their words.
You enriched her with incomparable talents for government and practical concern for the problems of the time:
–grant that the Salesian Family, under the guidance of Mary Help of Christians, may continue to embody the educative charism of the Founders.
Our Father.
Prayer
Father, you planted in the heart of the virgin, Blessed Madeleine Morano, your word of truth which prompted her to dedicate herself with constancy and wisdom to the education of the young: grant that through her intercession and following her example we may be docile to the action of the Spirit in fulfilling with joy your loving design. We make our prayer through your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
.
Evening Prayer
Scripture Reading 1 Cor 7, 32. 34
He who is unmarried is concerned with God’s claim, asking how he is to please God; a woman who is free of wedlock or a virgin, is concerned with the Lord’s claim, intent on holiness, bodily and spiritual.
Short Responsory
R/. The virgins come before the king * They sing for joy.
The virgins come before the king. They sing for joy.
V/. They enter the temple of the king.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
The virgins come before the king. They sing for joy.
Ant. At the Magn. Come bride of Christ, receive the crown which the Father has prepared for you.
Intercessions
United in our evening prayer, let us make our thanksgiving and supplications to God our Father, and let us say:
God of all goodness hear our prayer.
In Blessed Madeleine Morano you have given us a model of life and educative wisdom:
– grant that in our mission we too may be always docile to the action of your Spirit.
You enabled her to bear witness to the joy of serving you, in the strong and willing acceptance of the cross:
–give to us the Christian optimism that springs from faith in your resurrection.
Mother Morano placed the love of your Son before any other thought or project:
–may our whole life be lived out under the gaze of the divine Master.
You looked upon her to enable her to fulfil your work:
–fill us with the strength of your Spirit that we may bear fruit that will remain.
She was a wise and faithful administrator who was found watching when the bridegroom came:
–grant that the faithful departed may enjoy the splendour of your countenance.
Our Father.
Prayer
Father, you planted in the heart of the virgin, Blessed Madeleine Morano, your word of truth which prompted her to dedicate herself with constancy and wisdom to the education of the young: grant that through her intercession and following her example we may be docile to the action of the Spirit in fulfilling with joy your loving design. We make our prayer through your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
