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May 2009

St. Joseph the Worker, Husband of Mary
First Friday
Labor Day: celebrated in Brazil, China, Colombia, Spain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Mexico and Philippines
"How bright it is in the Virgin Mary the power, wisdom and goodness of God! She is the miracle of all miracles, the greatest of the works from the hand of the Almighty." [Blessed Conforti on May 11, 1907]
See May Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope
1975 - Beginning of the Xaverian Presence in the diocese of Medan, Indonesia

St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria
Education Day in Indonesia
"We have a shining example to imitate, as the Apostle talks about his deeds: working together, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain." (2Cor. 6:1) [Blessed Conforti on Feb. 21, 1915]
See May Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope

Fourth Sunday of Easter
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
Saints Philip and James, Apostles
"We ought to consider ourselves living already in the house of the Father… seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God; think of what is above, not of what is on earth." (Col. 3:1-2) [Blessed Conforti on Jan. 6, 1917]
1983 - U.S. Bishops write the Peace Pastoral: 'The Challenge of Peace'

"The life of St. Benedict is a heavenly life, guided by these words of the Apostle: our citizenship is in heaven." (Phil. 3:20) [Blessed Conforti on March 21, 1912]
1899 - Fr. Caio Rastelli and Deacon Manini arrive in Tai-yuen-fu, China
1909 - Blessed Conforti presides at the Departure Ceremony of Fr. C. Di Natale and Br. F. Pucci, missionaries to China

"St. Louis Gonzaga would well say the words of the Apostle: our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). May you learn from him the spirit of prayer which ought to be the breath of our life." [Blessed Conforti on Nov. 28, 1926]
1915 - Blessed Conforti publishes three Pastoral Letters: on Confirmation, on Labor Unions, and on the present War.
Feast of Cinco de Mayo, Mexico
1863 - Anniversary of the Founding of International Red Cross
UN - International Day for Families

"A consecrated religious should make the words of the Apostle his own: I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me (Phil. 4:13). He truly swims in the abundance of heavenly gifts!" [Blessed Conforti, Nov. 1919]
1542 - Arrival of St. Francis Xavier in Goa, and beginning of his mission activities in the East Indies
1948 - Starting of the Xaverian activities in Shang-hai, China

"May Jesus Christ be kept as a model of holiness for all… and may we focus our attention and identify with the divine exemplar so that our thoughts, feelings, works may reveal Jesus Christ, as the Apostle suggests." (see 2Cor. 4:10) [Blessed Conforti, Const. 1921]
USA National Day of Prayer

"Let us meditate what the Apostle wrote to the Philippians: whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Phil. 4:8) [Blessed Conforti, Const. 1921]
1926 - Blessed Conforti writes a letter to the Msgr. Cesare Pecorari, secretary of the Propagation of the Faith in Rome, about the possibility of founding of a female branch of the Xaverian family

"How fruitful must have been the apostolate of Fr. Rastelli, who was able to experience the willingness to suffer for Christ, to the point of saying with the Apostle: I am filled with encouragement, I am overflowing with joy all the more because of all our affliction." (2Cor. 7:4) [Blessed Conforti on May 9, 1901]
1901 - Solemn funeral of Fr. Caio Rastelli, first missionary in China, presided by Blessed Conforti. The news of his death reached the Motherhouse three months after his death on Feb. 28, 1901
1930 - Blessed Conforti concludes in Parma a three-day Mission on the newly proclaimed Blessed John Bosco

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Blessed Damien de Veuster, Missionary to Lepers of Molokai. He said: 'I make myself a leper with the lepers, to gain all for Jesus Christ'
USA Mother's Day
First Mother's Day proclamation of 1870 by Julia Ward Howe
"Because of our divine adoption, we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." (Rom. 8:17) [Blessed Conforti on Nov. 1, 1918]
1994 - Nelson Mandela is inaugurated as the first black President of South Africa

"Without a doubt, the Apostle admonishes us that in Christ you were enriched in every way… so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift." (1Cor. 1:5.7) [Blessed Conforti on June 11, 1902]
1918 - Blessed Conforti holds a conference to priests and seminarians of various diocese of Italy on 'The growth in the grace and knowledge of Our Lord Jesus Christ'
1610 - Death of Matteo Ricci, missionary to China

Saints Nereus, Achilleus, and Pancras, Martyrs of the Early Church
"St. Paul continues with different and expressive words: by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective." (1Cor. 15:10) [Blessed Conforti on April 11, 1909]
1926 - Blessed Conforti publishes the rules for the diocesan seminaries of Parma

Our Lady of Fatima
"In times of discouragement, let us turn to God in prayer, renew our resolve and increase our fidelity to our commitments. The words of the Apostle assure us: everyone should remain in the state in which he was called." (1Cor. 7:20) [Blessed Conforti, July 2, 1921 - LT #3]
1917 - Our Lady of Fatima
1902 - Blessed Conforti is called to Rome as the Pope Leo XIII tells him of his plan of naming Conforti Archbishop of Ravenna
1929 - After request of Blessed Conforti, Pope Pius XI establishes the Apostolic Prefecture of Loyang, China, and gives the leadership to the Xaverians, who have worked there for over 25 years
1889 - Abolition of slavery in Brazil

St. Matthias, Apostle
"The Apostle Paul gives us from on high a password, with a vitality of a soldier: bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." (2Tim. 2:3) [Blessed Conforti on March 23, 1913]
1906 - Blessed Conforti writes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to obtain Italian Patronage of the new mission of Western Honan, China
1923 - Blessed Conforti presides over the Mission Congress in Bergamo, Italy

St. Isidore the Farmer, patron of farmers and rural communities
"To the Ladies of St. Vincent, I urge: the Love of Christ impels us (2Cor. 5:15); may the love of Christ move us, sustain us, and drive us onward." [Blessed Conforti on Jan. 15, 1903]
1906 - Beginning of the Apostolic Prefecture of Western Honan, with the Xaverian mission activities
1926 - Msgr. Cesare Pecorari, secretary of the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of Faith, gives his approval to Blessed Conforti in regards to the founding of the female branch of the Xaverian family
UN - International Day of Families

"Prayer is the light and warmth, the nourishment and life of the soul. The soul will suffer greatly if it does not breath this heavenly air." [Blessed Conforti on Jan. 6, 1916]
1911 - Blessed Conforti gives the Mission Crucifix to Fr. A. Dagnino and Fr. E. Prina, departing missionaries for Western Honan, China

Sixth Sunday of Easter
"Through baptism, you have been reborn… now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God!" (1Cor. 6:11) [Blessed Conforti on Dec. 25, 1923]
1925 - Blessed Conforti opens a week-long Marian Congress in Parma that ends with the Solemn Crowning of Our Lady of Fontanellato

St. John I, Pope and martyr
1892 - "Pray the Lord for me, so that my poor plans which have now changed dramatically, may not remain eternal ideals." [Blessed Conforti in a letter to Rev. Clemente Antolini, on May 18, 1892]
1920 - Birth of Pope John Paul II
1977 - Treaty on the Prohibition of use of Nuclear Weapons or other weapons of Mass Destruction, in Geneva

"As we meditate, we are enflamed by the fire of Divine love, we see clearly the will of God, we discover our shortcomings and try to correct them, and we nurture and increase the resolve to work for the salvation of souls." [Blessed Conforti on Oct. 6, 1914]
1918 - Blessed Conforti begins his homilies on 'the Creed' at the Cathedral of Parma

St. Bernardine of Siena, Priest and Preacher
"Here are my duties as they are well described by the Apostle of the Gentiles: convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching (2Tim. 4:2), I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible… to the weak I became weak, to win over the weak; I have become all things to all, to save at least some." (1Cor. 9:19.22) [Blessed Conforti on Jan. 11, 1902]
National Feast in Cameroon

Ascension Thursday, in Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta and State of Nebraska
St. Christopher Magallanes and companions, Mexican martyrs of 20th century for their belief in Christ
"Thinking about the 25th of my ordination, I can almost hear the Apostle Paul telling me the same words he offered to his disciple Timothy: set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity." (1Tim. 4:2) [Blessed Conforti on Aug. 2, 1913]
1894 - Bishop Andrea Ferrari is named Cardinal of Milan, and the rector Guido Conforti shares his good wishes on behalf of all the Seminary.

St. Rita of Cascia, wife, mother and Augustinian sister who served the sick and poor
"Speak as often as you can to the people, and let the precept of the Apostle be your norm: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching." (2Tim. 4:2) [Blessed Conforti on June 6, 1913]
1902 - Official announcement of the nomination of Blessed Conforti as Bishop of Ravenna
1992 - Xaverians start a new mission in Mozambique
1957 - Anniversary of Albert Schweitzer radio address: 'The end of further experiments with atom bombs would be like early sun rays of hope which suffering humanity is longing for.' [Declaration of Conscience, radio broadcast from Oslo, Norway, May 22, 1957]

"May I leave you with the same words of the Apostle: I have great confidence in you, I have great pride in you; I am filled with encouragement, I am overflowing with joy all the more because of all our affliction… I rejoice, because I have confidence in you in every respect." (2Cor. 7:4.16) [Blessed Conforti on Aug. 2, 1913]
1898 - Beginning of Christian Work of Evangelization in Burundi
1900 - Feast in Parma in support of the Xaverians, the newly established Mission Congregation

Ascension of the Lord - Seventh Sunday of Easter
"We are not ordained priests for ourselves, but for others, like the Apostle warns: every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God." (Heb. 5:1) [Blessed Conforti on Aug. 2, 1913]
1944 - Founding of the Missionaries of Mary, the Xaverian Missionary Sisters, by Fr. James Spagnolo and Mother Celestine Healy-Bottego
Day of Prayer for the Church of China and Asia

St. Bede the Venerable, Scripture scholar, St. Gregory VII, Pope and St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, Carmelite mystic
USA Memorial Day
"Mary is like a staircase on which God came down to earth, and on which we go up to God. She will obtain, through her powerful intercession, anything we ask in prayer." [Blessed Conforti on May 20, 1922]
1929 - Beginning of the Apostolic Prefecture of Loyang, China, with Xaverian Msgr. Assuero T. Bassi as Apostolic Prefect

St. Philip Neri, Apostle of the Eternal City, Rome
"We are not able by ourselves to formulate a worthy thought on eternal life, like the Apostle suggests: I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be accursed.’ And no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit." (1Cor. 12:3) [Blessed Conforti on Jan. 6, 1913]
1888 - Conforti is ordained a deacon in the Chapel of the Bishop's Residence in Parma

St. Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop Primate of England
"A new life pervades our soul, and we receive the spirit of adoption and blessing: you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’." (Rom. 8:15) [Blessed Conforti on Feb. 5, 1915]
1955 - Official opening of the Xaverian activities in London, Great Britain

"St. Paul could remark to the Romans: you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’." (Rom. 8:15) [Blessed Conforti on Dec. 25, 1923]
1962 - Arrival of Fr. T. Munari in Madrid, marking the beginning of the Xaverian activities in Spain

"The warning of the Apostle should serve us as a foundation rule: my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power." (1Cor. 2:4) [Blessed Conforti on July 6, 1917]
1927 - Blessed Conforti writes to the Congregation for the Propagation of Faith requesting a mission opening in Africa
1952 - Beginning of the Apostolic Prefecture of Makeni, Sierra Leone
1959 - The Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rituals decrees the introduction of the Cause of Beatification of the Servant of God Guido M. Conforti
2003 - First Observance of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (1Cor. 6:19) Therefore, we ought to look out for anything that would degrade human dignity and diminish the holiness of the Christian." [Blessed Conforti on Feb. 15, 1927]

PENTECOST SUNDAY
The Visitation of the Virgin Mary
"It is the Holy Spirit who changes the apostles in new disciples, who guides them in their journeys, who fills the mind of the faithful with heavenly wisdom and gifts, who presides at gatherings, and who sustains the martyrs, inspiring them to answer marvelously with their lives so much so that tyrants remain speechless." [Blessed Conforti on Jan. 6, 1920]
1931 - On his last talk to the Novices in Parma, Blessed Conforti renews his vows on the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary in Heaven