13 May
Saint
MARY DOMENICA MAZZARELLO
Virgin
Co-foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
Feast
For the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: Solemnity. When this solemnity coincides with a Sunday of Paschal Time, the celebration is transferred to the first free day following (cf Roman Missal, General norms for the liturgical year and the Calendar, nn. 5, 60).
When celebrated with the rank of solemnity because titular of a church or public oratory duly dedicated or blessed, there are three readings and the Credo is said. In this case such solemnity is not transferable to a Sunday in Paschal Time (cf ibid., General norms for the liturgical year and the Calendar, nn. 5, 58, 59).
Mary Domenica was born in 1837 at Mornese, Italy. Her family upbringing guided her in the way of solid piety, tireless hard work, and a profound judgement and practical sense which she later manifested as a Superior. At the age of fifteen she joined the association of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, and began apostolic work among the girls of the neighbourhood. A serious attack of typhus contracted at the age of twenty-three made a deep spiritual impression on her: the experience of her physical frailty deepened her abandonment to God and prompted her to open a dress-making workshop to teach local girls to work, pray and love God. Thanks to her intense sacramental life and the enlightened guidance of Don Pestarino, she made great progress in the spiritual life.
In 1872 Don Bosco chose her to take on the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. As Superior she proved herself adeptin spiritual training and guidance, and she had the particular charisma of a happy and reassuring tranquility, radiating joy and involving other young girls in a commitment to the education of women.
She left to her Daughters an educational tradition permeated by evangelical guidelines: the search for God known through enlightened catechesis and burning love, responsibility in work, sincerity and humility, austerity of life, and joyful self-giving. She died at Nizza Monferrato on 14 May 1881. She was beatified by Pius XI in 1938, and Pius XII canonized her on 24 June 1951.
In the texts of the Mass the assembly praises and thanks God who has a special love for the humble and fills simple and sincere hearts with his spirit of holiness (II Coll.): a holiness which, in the case of Mary Domenica, became translated into a life lived in the teaching of caring fidelity, patient kindness, sincere humility, conscientious poverty, joyful obedience and trustful spiritual abandon (Pref.).
Deeply linked with the mystery of the passion and glory of the risen Christ (Sol. bless.), the Saint is for all the faithful a shining example of Christian and religious life (I Coll.), a teacher of life (I Offertory), a splendid example of charity (II Offertory).
With this model before their eyes, the festive assembly (II Offertory) asks the Father, the source of all that is good (I Coll.) to prolong in today's Church a pattern of holiness made up of: — love for the young (II Coll.) as a daily witness to the love of the Father (cf. I Coll.); — fidelity to educational zeal (II Coll.) so as to offer to young people a sign of the immense love of God (Pref.); — a tireless attitude of seeking God and serving the Church (Sol. bless.), so as to respond joyfully to the Lord's call (I Offertory); — continual growth in the ardour of charity, of which Mother Mazzarello has left us so splendid an example (II Offertory), so as to build up fraternal charity and grow in the joy of serving God in our neighbour (After comm.).
ENTRANCE ANTIPHONCf Ps 118 (117), 16.29
The Lord's right hand is triumphant;
his right hand raised me.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his love endures for ever (T. P. Alleluia).
Or:Cf Sir 51, 18b. 20
In my prayers I asked outright for wisdom; my heart has taken its delight in her;
my foot has pursued a straight path;
I have sought her ever since my youth. (T. P. Alleluia).
The Gloria is said.
OPENING 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, for the religious Community:
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 (feast) 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.
1st Reading: 1 Cor 1,26-31 Gospel: Lk 10,21-28
For FMA
1st Reading: Rev 19,1.5-9a 2nd Reading: 1 Cor 1,26-31 Gospel: Lk 10,21-28
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Accept, Father, the gifts we offer you, the sign of our spiritual sacrifice; through the intercession of Saint Mary Domenica whom you have given us as a teacher of life, grant that in our daily work we may respond joyfully to your call.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.
Or, for the religious Community:
Accept, Father,
the gifts of this festive community,
and increase in us the ardour of charity
of which Saint Mary Domenica
has left us so splendid an example.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE
Wise and watchful virgin
V. The Lord be with you g. And also with you.
V. Lift up your hearts.
We have lifted them up to the Lord.
V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. g. It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello,
the wise and vigilant virgin,
you manifested caring fidelity and patient kindness,
sincere humility and laborious poverty,
joyful obedience and trusting spiritual abandon.
Through your Spirit
you called her to join with Saint John Bosco
in founding a new religious family,
to offer to young people
a sign of the immense love
you have given us in Christ your Son.
And we, united in fraternal exultation,
praise and bless you, Father, with all the saints of heaven
as we proclaim your glory, saying (singing):
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosannah in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosannah in the highest.
COMMUNION ANTIPHONCf Lk 10,21
I bless you, Father,
for hiding these things
from the learned and the clever
and revealing them to little children.
Yes, Father,
for that is what it pleased you to do (T.P. Alleluia).
Or:Lk 10,27
The Lord says:
You must love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your strength
and with all your mind,
and your neighbour as yourself (T.P. Alleluia).
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God our Father,
may our sharing at this eucharistic table
(following the example of Saint Mary Domenica)
nourish our desire for you,
the one and supreme good;
may it build up our love for one another,
and increase our joy
in serving you in our neighbour.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
SOLEMN BLESSING
May God our Father,
who has brought us together to celebrate
the feast (solemnity) of Saint Mary Domenica
grant us to live always in humility and evangelical charity.
g. Amen.
May the risen Christ
who enabled Mother Mazzarello t%share
the mystery of his passion and glory,
transform your life
into a joyous and fruitful offering of what is good.
g. Amen.
May the Holy Spirit,
who in Mary Domenica Mazzarello poured out his gifts of piety and counsel, render you tireless in your search for God and in service of the Church.
g. Amen.
And may the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son + and Holy Spirit,
come down on you, and remain with you for ever.
Amen.
Saint MARY DOMENICA MAZZARELLO (1)
Dear brothers and sisters, we thank our heavenly Father for the wonders he worked in Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello; let us implore his loving assistance for the Church, for the human race, and for all of us here present.
.. God of kindness, hear our prayer.
For the Church throughout the world: that in docility to the Holy Spirit its members may make good use of the Gospel to enrich the cultures of our modern times, we pray to the Lord.
For Christian educators: that they may generously dedicate themselves to guiding our modern youth towards a deeper awareness of their faith and a more committed Christian witness, we pray to the Lord.
For women: that they may collaborate with courage in the solving of today's vital problems, and so promote a society of greater justice, founded on the great values of human social life, we pray to the Lord.
For the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: that following the example of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello they may grow in communion with Christ. May they be attentive to the action of the Spirit and work tirelessly for the good of the young people entrusted to their care, we pray to the Lord.
For all of us taking part in this Eucharist: that we may be able to draw from this inexhaustible source of life the strength to fulfil God's will with joy, we pray to the Lord.
Other intentions.
Accept with kindness, Father, the prayers we make to you on this solemnity (feast) of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello; and while we celebrate in her the mystery of humanity renewed in Christ, grant that we may be faithful to the obligations of our baptism so that we may please you in our intentions and our works. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Saint MARY DOMENICA MAZZARELLO (2)
With trust and gratitude let us make our prayer to God our Father who reveals the riches of the Gospel to hearts that are simple and humble.
g. Renew us, Father, in your Spirit.
For the Church: that its members may be attentive and docile to the Spirit, and thus able to read the signs of the times and their incessant demand for the coming of the Kingdom, we pray to the Lord.
For the members of the Salesian Family: that in imitation of Mother Mazzarello they may live with enthusiasm the donation of themselves to God and their neighbour, we pray to the Lord.
For the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: that being faithful to the spirit of their Foundress they may live their vocation to a generous service in the Church of our time, we pray to the Lord.
For young people: that they may experience the liberating power of the Gospel of Christ and develop strong convictions of human and Christian life, we pray to the Lord.
For us gathered here today: that through our sharing at the one table of the Word and the Bread of life our sense of family unity and communion may be strengthened, for the good of our society, we pray to the Lord.
Other intentions.
Father, hear our prayer: grant to us who celebrate the great things you have done in your Saints, the grace to persevere in your love so that, with the strength given us by the Spirit, we may proclaim your Word, Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord.
