JANUARY
Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31
			Print It

January 2008

1 -
NEW YEAR'S DAY
Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
World Day of Prayer for Peace
See January Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope
"Without God who is truth, there is no harmony of ideas; without God our final destiny, there is no concord in our relationships; without God, creating wisdom, there is no balance of things."
[Blessed Conforti on May 26, 1912]
1918 - Blessed Conforti publishes the ''Father's Word'' a series of articles by our founder on mission call and life
1982 - Opening of the Xaverian house in Murcia, Spain

2 -
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Teachers
See January Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope
"Whoever does not work in view of the ultimate goal, wanders aimlessly and without merits."
[Blessed Conforti on June 12, 1927 - FCT 20, 188]

3 -
The Most Holy Name of Jesus
1840 - Birth of Bl. Damien of Molokai, missionary to the lepers
See January Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope
"Let us contemplate the sublime mystery of the birth of Jesus with our eyes enflamed by faith, and with the simplicity of a child."
[Blessed Conforti on Dec. 25, 1921 - Antol. 488]
1952 - Xaverian Msgr. Dante Battaglierin becomes Bishop of the Diocese of Jessore, Bangladesh
1961 - Xaverian Msgr. Pasquale De Martino is named Administrator of the Diocese of Padang, Indonesia

4 -
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, foundress of the Sisters of Charity
First Friday
See January Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope
"In that Holy Night, the struggling of this world received a brother, the enslaved a liberator, the children a friend, the learned a teacher, the rulers a model, and death itself a victor."
[Blessed Conforti on Dec. 25, 1927 - Antol. 489]
1903 - Bishop Conforti enters privately the diocese of Ravenna as Bishop, in the middle of the night

5 -
St. John Neumann, bishop and promoter of parish schools
See January Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope
"This particular event of the birth of Christ contains an entire moral conversion: it establishes the beginning of the new order of ideas which must change the face of the earth."
[Blessed Conforti FCT 28, 152 - Antol. 489]

6 -
Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
National Migration Week begins
Blessed André Bessette, religious and healer
"The Divine Word helps us understand that since its appearance, He came to redeem everyone, and that all the peoples of the earth are His inheritance."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 6, 1911 - Antol. 34]
1911 - Blessed Conforti preaches in the Cathedral of Parma, on the necessity of 'sustaining the mission work of the Church'
1921 - Final approval of the Xaverian Constitutions
1966 - Ordination of Bishop R. Bergamin, for Indonesia
1987 - Ordination of Bishop G. Biguzzi, for Sierra Leone

7 -
St. Raymond of Peñafort, priest and scholar
"The Epiphany of our Lord should be one of the greatest and happiest events of our history, for it marks the beginning of a new era of brotherhood, prosperity and peace which Christ Jesus gives."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 6, 1911 - Antol. 34]
Ortodox Christmas

8 -
"The Holy Child will speak to rulers and the peoples of the earth, to the greatest and the simplest among them, to the rich and the poor, the wise and the uneducated; in a word, he will speak to all peoples of every age, time and space, in an unspoken language which will renew the social order."
[Blessed Conforti on Dec. 25, 1927 - FCT 28, 150 - Antol. 38]
1931 - Bishop Conforti blesses the cameras and mass-media machinery used for the Xaverian movie 'Our Africa'

9 -
"It seems that even today the Lord repeats with greater force and insistence to the Pope the same words He told Peter long ago on the shores of lake Gennesaret: 'Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch'."
[Blessed Conforti on May 23, 1926 - FCT 28, 117 - Antol. 37]
1930 - Xaverian Msgr. Assuero Bassi is named Apostolic Prefect of Loyang, Honan, China
1984 - Fr. Noel Vaccari dies in Rome: worked in the 1960's in the USA

10 -
"The members of our Congregation should be mindful that the essence of their vocation consists in spreading the kingdom of God among those who do not know him. Their best efforts are to be directed, in obedience, toward this goal."
[Blessed Conforti on July 2, 1921 - Foundation Rule #6 - Antol. 33]
1991 - Xaverians arrive in the Philippines
Islamic New Year: 1429

11 -
"What most dignified and sublime a wish is the profession of religious vows coupled with our vow of consecration for the spread of the reign of Christ among those who do not know him; it constitutes the most perfect resemblance of the work of our Redeemer."
[Blessed Conforti on July 2, 1921 - Antol. 34]

12 -
"Do not be afraid: the grace which sustained St. Paul the Apostle, will support you in your mission work."
[Blessed Conforti on Nov. 19, 1924]

13 -
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
National Vocation Awareness Week begins
St. Hilary, Bishop
"Having offered to God everything that you hold dear, and every loving affection, you have chosen to bring the light of the Gospel."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 18, 1904 - FCT 0, 77]
1906 - After an audience with Pope Pius X, Blessed Conforti accompanies departing China missionaries Frs. Armelloni, Pellerzi and Uccelli to the port of Naples

14 -
Ordinary Time begins
1875 - Birthday of Albert Schweitzer
"Tribulations and sufferings of every kind, and perhaps even the crown of martyrdom await you. Nothing, however, sways you, and nothing changes your decision."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 18, 1904 - FCT 0, 77]
1920 - Blessed Conforti writes to the members of the Missionary Union of the Clergy, introducing them to the Encyclical of Pope Benedict XV 'Maximum Illud'
1960 - With decree from the Propagation of Faith, the Xaverians establish the 'International Conforti House' in Rome

15 -
St. Arnold Janssen, Founder of the Divine World Missionaries
1929 - Birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.
"May this crucifix which you wear on your breast comfort you and may it be your joy, your all."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 18, 1904 - FCT 0, 78]
1974 - Xaverians arrive in Colombia

16 -
"From Christ Crucified who poured out His blood even to the last drop to redeem humanity, learn to sacrifice yourselves for your brothers and sisters."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 18, 1904 - FCT 0, 78]

17 -
St. Anthony, Abbot and Founder of Religious Life
"May you be comforted by the thought that in this common land, which you now abandon, innumerable souls will share in your joys and your sorrows and will always accompany you with most fervent wishes for your happiness and for the successful outcome of your labors."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 18, 1904 - FCT 0, 78]

18 -
Christian Unity Week begins
"Since my early childhood I felt a strong call to dedicate my life for overseas Missions."
[Blessed Conforti, FCT 0, 4 - Antol. #27]
1904 - Blessed Conforti gives the Crucifix to Frs. Calza, Sartori, Brambilla and Bonardi, departing missionaries for Honan, China
1958 - The house of Franklin, Wisconsin, begins its Philosophy and Theology courses

19 -
Christian Unity Week
"This plan to found a mission Congregation became so strong in my heart that, after much counsel from enlighten and holy people, I considered it inspired by God."
[Blessed Conforti FCT 0, 4 - Antol. 27]
1906 - Blessed Conforti writes the First Circular Letter to the Xaverians

20 -
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Fabian, pope and martyr and St. Sebastian, martyr
Christian Unity Week
"With the love of God, St. Francis Xavier experienced in his life the continuous love for his brothers and sisters. He wanted to bring to the Heavenly Father's home all the suffering he met, and share the Gospel to all those who did not know it."
[Blessed Conforti, 1923 - Antol. 29]
1921 - Blessed Conforti writes a Pastoral Letter on Catholic Youth Organizations

21 -
USA - National Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.
St. Agnes, virgin and martyr of the fourth century
Christian Unity Week
"For this reason, St. Francis Xavier abandoned his homeland, undertook long trips by land and see, traveled to many villages far and wide, so that he could announce the Good News to everyone."
[Blessed Conforti, 1923 - Antol. 29]
1921 - Blessed Conforti has an audience with Pope Benedict XV

22 -
St. Vincent, deacon and martyr of Spain
Christian Unity Week
USA - Day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right of life, on the Anniversary of Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade (1973)
"Dangers, persecutions, denials, struggles, setbacks of the various seasons, physical and moral illnesses, instead of slowing down St. Francis Xavier's mission zeal, they increase it all the more."
[Blessed Conforti, 1923 - Antol. 29]
1931 - Blessed Conforti introduces to the Clergy of Parma the Encyclical by Pius XI on Holy Matrimony

23 -
Christian Unity Week
"How marvelous is the project of those who vow their entire life to God in poverty, obedience and chastity."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan 6, 1924 - Antol. 29]
1923 - Blessed Conforti presides over a week-long celebration of the arrival of the Arm of St. Francis Xavier at the Motherhouse in Parma, Italy
1927 - Blessed Conforti writes his last letter to the members of the Missionary Union of the Clergy as he concludes his mandate as president of this organization

24 -
St. Francis de Sales, bishop and patron of writers
Christian Unity Week
"How marvelous is even more the sacrifice of homeland, of friends and relatives, in order to bring the torch of faith and Christian civilization to overseas lands."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 6, 1924 - Antol. 29]

25 -
The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle
Christian Unity Week ends
1907 - Blessed Conforti writes the second Circular Letter
1929 - Blessed Conforti writes the seventh Circular Letter to the Xaverians and an open letter to the diocese of Parma on his recent visit of China
"The missionary who leaves his homeland for distant shores to announce the Good News, is armed solely with the crucifix. It possesses the power of God and through it the missionary will, after having triumphed over himself, triumph over all. "
[Blessed Conforti, Jan.-Mar. 1925 - Antol. 30]
1988 - Apostolic letter 'Euntes in Mundum' by Pope John Paul II on bringing the Gospel of Christ to the World [Jan. 25, 1988]

26 -
Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops and companions of St. Paul
"Every missionary should consider himself a voluntary victim for the conversion of those who do not know the Gospel and value his modest contribution to the work of Christ for the salvation of the world as his greatest glory."
[Blessed Conforti on July 2, 1921 - Foundation Rule #9 - Antol. 41]
1958 - Opening of the Xaverian novitiate in Brazil

27 -
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
World Leprosy Day
St. Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursulines, teaching order especially for poor girls, wives and mothers
"With enthusiasm he should welcome the day when he is called to abandon all and leave for his field of labor."
[Blessed Conforti on July 2, 1921 - Foundation Rule #9 - Antol. 41]

28 -
St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor, patron of schools and universities
"No, you are not alone... May all of this lighten your heart and confirm it in the generous resolution to consecrate yourself for life and for death for the propagation of the Reign of God on earth."
[Blessed Conforti on Apr. 15, 1921 - Antol. 42]
1898 - Conforti is named Archdeacon of the Cathedral of Parma
1972 - The Amazon Region of Brazil becomes a Province

29 -
"Never forget that there is no glory greater than that of being cooperators of God for the salvation of our brothers and sisters."
[Blessed Conforti on Jan. 3, 1922 - Antol. 42]

30 -
"We praise you because for this great cause you have made the sacrifice of your dearest affections, your family, your friends, your beloved country, because for you, above all, there is the propagation of the Kingdom of God, the salvation of so many souls, who one day should receive from you their redemption."
[Blessed Conforti on Mar. 13, 1927 - Antol. 43]
1948 - Mohandas Mahatma Gandhi assassinated

31 -
St. John Bosco, priest and founder of the Salesians, dedicated to educating youth
"St. Bosco was a man of prayer, from which he would receive strength and help, so that he was able to overcome all obstacles in his works and plans... With concrete evidence, he tells us that nothing is more powerful than a person of prayer."
[Blessed Conforti on Feb. 8, 1918]