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September 2009

"Among the virtues, the novice master should frequently recommend the mortification of the senses, prompt and total obedience to superiors, right intention and constant diligence in their work, mutual charity, devotion to the Virgin Mary, and an unlimited trust in Divine Providence which is, as the lives of the saints show, ever generous to those who abandon themselves to her in faith." [Foundation Rule #68]
1903 - Blessed Conforti presents to the Propagation of the Faith the first draft of the Rules of the Xaverian congregation
1912 - Conforti writes his 3rd Circular Letter
See September Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope
1939 - Beginning of World War II
1985 - Beginning of the Theology House in Yaounde, Cameroon

"Trust without hesitation in the blessings you will receive from Divine Providence, having faith on the grace of God which changes our weakness into power." [Blessed Conforti on Oct. 12, 1906]
See September Mission and Church Intentions of the Pope

St. Gregory the Great, Pope, Patron saint of music
"Without detriment to their innate temperament, the novice master should help them cultivate a joyful outlook on life, natural ease in their behavior, courtesy, loyalty, strength of character, shunning deceit and insincerity, and ever ready to accept new challenges and face any risks for the glory of God and the good of souls." [Foundation Rule #69]
1912 - Blessed Conforti delivers a discourse in the Chapel of the Motherhouse for the return to China of Monsignor Luigi Calza, new Bishop-Vicar Apostolic of Western Honan. During the celebration, Blessed Conforti gives the crucifix to departing China missionary Fr. A. Binaschi
1951 - The Xaverians open the Cultural Institute of the West in Mazatlan, Mexico

First Friday
"All will cooperate in nurturing similar sentiments and aspirations so that our Society may achieve unity of thought and action and become a strong and disciplined body of men, ever ready to champion the Lord’s cause." [Foundation Rule #70]
1937 - Work begins in the Xaverian House in Tien-tsin (Ho-pei), China
1965 - Albert Schweitzer dies

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta, missionary and foundress of the Missionaries of Charity
"The Love of Christ urges us on... For this reason, and solely for this, you now set out to far off places. It is not for love of human glory, nor for the desire for earthly riches; neither the yearning to see new lands, new peoples and new customs, that we are moved to do this. 'Charitas Christi urget nos.' The Love of Christ urges us on. This is our battle cry; this is the synthesis of all of our aspirations." [Blessed Conforti on Sept. 27, 1931]
1966 - First observance of International Literacy Day
1982 - Xaverians start their mission activities in Douala, Cameroon

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
"Divine Grace will come to the aid of our human frailty. While it widens the human heart with the Love of God, this Grace will strengthen it in the face of the adversities and fears of the world." [Blessed Conforti on Feb. 5, 1907]
1924 - At the National Eucharistic Congress of Palermo, Blessed Conforti gives his key-note address on 'The Eucharist and the Missions'
1967 - Xaverians arrive in Wayne, NJ

USA Labor Day
"Is the work of a religious missionary congregation close to your heart? Then, let devotion grow in your heart, and you will see tremendous deeds in our midst." [Blessed Conforti, FCT 20, 187]
Brazil: Independence Day
1990 - A small group of Xaverians lands in Taiwan - Second Opening

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
"Fervor for religious practices, and the observance of the common rule, are the best means of assuring the prosperity of a religious community, and that such a community is blessed by God."
[Foundation Rule #73]
1913 - Blessed Conforti restructures the program for the Mission Seminary at the Motherhouse of Parma
1967 - Xaverians offer Mass in Wayne, NJ, with the Kearns family
UN - International Literacy Day

St. Peter Claver, Patron of Colombia, called himself 'the slave of the slaves forever'
"Beyond the divine grace, the Lord has also given you an incomparable honor. The Christians of that uncharted land will repeat the blessings of your names, as their first Apostles... once they will understand the greatness of the gift received." [Blessed Conforti on Dec. 21, 1913]
1959 - Solemn Liturgy celebrated in the Motherhouse in Parma, presided by Bishop Evasio Colli, with the presence of 200 diocesan priests, for the official placing of the tomb of the Servant of God Guido Conforti in the new Chapel
1969 - First group of Xaverians establishes a community in Taiwan for the First Opening: Frs. H. Frassineti, Zulian, De Vidi, and Marcelli

"Pray that the Lord may increase with His grace our apostolic labors, and keep us safe from the many dangers we face; that the Lord may console us in our afflictions, and keep us faithful in our ministry till the end of our lives." [Blessed Conforti on Dec. 29, 1914]
1930 - Blessed Conforti opens the Xaverian Minor Seminary at Massa della Lucania, Salerno, Italy
1956 - The Xaverian Sisters [Missionaries of Mary] are officially recognized by the 6th Xaverian General Chapter

"God gives to all without becoming poorer. So it is for the apostle of the Gospel, who will first need be immersed in the Light in order to bring it to others." [Blessed Conforti on Feb. 19, 1918]
1889 - As he enters a week of retreat, young Fr. Conforti asks Fr. G. Venturini to pray for him, "so that the Lord may confirm my good projects, and give me the grace to bring to fulfillment the plans which have been in my mind for quite some time."
1918 - Blessed Conforti sends the First Letter to the Bishops of Italy on the Missionary Union of the Clergy
1952 - Beginning of the US Xaverian Novitiate in Petersham, MA

The Most Holy Name of Mary
"Let the missionary be mindful that his behavior must always be a convincing message confirmed by the eloquence of his deeds." [Foundation Rule #14]
1931 - Last solemn get-together of the Xaverians at the Motherhouse in Parma honoring Blessed Conforti on his name's day
1958 - Founding of the Xaverian House in Khulna, Bangladesh
1996 - Opening of the Xaverian Center for studies on Conforti, in Parma

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. John Chysostom, Bishop, Patron of Preachers
"Let us employ the strength that comes from our priesthood for the great work of evangelization, so that the whole world may not delay to come to know and love our Lord" [Blessed Conforti on July 13, 1919]

Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross
"The apostolic life, combined with the profession of the religious vows, is in itself the most perfect life possible according to the Gospel." [Blessed Conforti on July 2, 1921 - LT #2]
1789 - John Carroll is appointed first U.S. Bishop
1947 - Official Blessing of the House of Holliston, MA by Card. Richard J. Cushing

Our Lady of Sorrows
Blessed Paolo Manna, PIME missionary and founder
"Truly, love is begotten from sorrow. At that moment on the Cross, the Lord gave Mary a loving heart, as immense as the skies, as deep as the oceans; for she will be the worthy mother of a family, of countless peoples." [Blessed Conforti on Feb. 15, 1931]

St. Cornelius, Pope, Martyr, and St. Cyprian, first African bishop martyr
"The Superior General should be an example to all the confreres. He carries out his mandate with paternal authority and brotherly love... He should consider himself as the servant of all so as to attain the good of all. [Foundation Rule #72]
Mexican Independence Day
1907 - Pope Pius X writes a personal letter to Conforti, asking him to accept to become auxiliary Bishop of Parma
1920 - First Regular Novitiate in the Motherhouse in Parma, with 21 novices.

St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop, Patron of catechists and catechumens
"The Superior General should be both resolute and gentle in encouraging his brothers in their piety and observance of norms." [Foundation Rule #73]
1921 - After the approval of the Constitutions, novices in Parma profess their First Profession

"show a fraternal interest and paternal concern for the sick confreres, and leave nothing untried to provide them with the best available treatment, especially when missionaries are obliged to leave their mission posts through illness or age. Such confreres are to be considered as veterans of the apostolate worthy of respect for their tireless labor." [Foundation Rule #74]
1928 - Blessed Conforti gives the mission cross to departing China missionary Fr. N. Ferrari, and greets the community of the Motherhouse as he prepares for pastoral visit to the Xaverians in China
1961 - Dag Hammarskjold, second Secretary General of the United Nations, and 1961 Peace Nobel, dies in a plane crash in the Congo while on a peacekeeping mission.

St. Januarius, Bishop, Patron of Naples
"The Superior General should visit... all the houses of the Society in order to gather first hand information regarding the moral, disciplinary and financial situation, and to meet with the individual confreres and offer them words of encouragement and advice." [Foundation Rule #77]
1928 - Blessed Conforti leaves for his visit to the Xaverians in China together with Frs. J. Bonardi and N. Ferrari

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and Companions, 103 Martyrs of Korea, priests, missionaries and lay people who died in the early days of the Church in Korea. Most were murdered during waves of persecutions in 1839, 1846 and 1867
National Catechetical Sunday: Celebrated the third Sunday of September, Catechetical Sunday is set aside as a time to recognize the essential ministry of the Church.
"The Superior General should also visit the missions to affirm the confreres, assess their needs, and encourage them to observe the common rule." [Foundation Rule #78]
1925 - Blessed Conforti presides at the opening of the Xaverian House in Poggio San Marcello, Ancona, Italy
1929 - Blessed Conforti gives the mission crucifix to departing China missionaries Frs. J. Henry Fassineti and A. Dagnino
1931 - Surrounded by the Xaverian community, Blessed Conforti watches the premier of the missionary movie 'Our Africa'

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
"At the Eucharistic Banquet we find, more than ever, the awareness of the universal fraternity, which is a duty for every Christian." [Blessed Conforti on Sept. 6, 1924]
International Day of Peace

"The superiors of the filial houses, or of missionaries resident in the missions, must govern their community and their confreres with charity and prudence in striving towards the perfect observance of the rules and Constitutions of the Institute, so that they may fulfill its noble ideal: the glory of God and the good of souls. [Foundation Rule #83]
1888 - Guido M. Conforti is ordained priest in the Parma Cathedral by Bishop Andrea Miotti
First Day of Fall

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin priest and spiritual advisor
"[Missionaries in authority or formation] must be like burning lamps in the house of the Lord, and more by example than by word, with kindness rather than severity, they are to encourage others to enthusiasm, observance of the rules, hard work and sacrifice." [Foundation Rule #85]
1888 - Conforti celebrates his First Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fontanellato, assisted by Fr. Andrea Ferrari, future Archbishop of Milan, Italy
1946 - Beginning of the Xaverian house in Holliston, MA

"Animated by loving concern, superiors must ensure that nothing is lacking and provide all that is needed for the spiritual and material well-being of the community and the individual confreres. This will eliminate backbiting, murmuring, and discontent which are harmful to charity and harmony." [Foundation Rule #86]
1907 - Blessed Conforti is named Auxiliary Bishop (Coadiutor) of Parma, with right of succession

"The vitality, growth and the fruitfulness of our humble Society and the spiritual progress of its members depend on the faithful observance of this rule. Let it, therefore, be faithfully observed by all, with the intimate conviction that true holiness consists in the perfect fulfillment of the duties inherent to our vocation, to which we have been called by Divine Providence. [Foundation Rule #88]
1982 - First Xaverians arrive in Chad

Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs, Patrons of physicians
"Trust in divine Providence is the main component of our faith. If all the banks of the world would close, we won't lose this treasure." [Blessed Conforti on April 2, 1931]
1900 - Conforti is received in private audience by Pope Leo XIII who says: 'I bless with all my heart your mission Seminary, so that it may bring the good fruits for which it was founded.'
1958 - Beginning of the Xaverian presence in Coatbridge, Scotland

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Vincent de Paul, Founder of the Vincentians and Daughters of Charity
"The life of grace is the flower of spring which promises us, in the life of glory, the eternal autumn where the harvest will be abundant." [Blessed Conforti on April 12, 1914]
1931 - 22nd and last mission sending ceremony of Blessed Conforti. He gives the mission cross to departing China missionary Frs. A. Poli, F. Sinibaldi, M. Frassineti, N. Vaccari, and P. Pozzobon at St. Peter's Church, Parma
1951 - The Fifth Xaverian Chapter, following the presentation of Fr. James Spagnolo, recognizes the Missionaries of Mary (Xaverian Sisters) as the fulfillment of the thoughts and wishes of Bishop Conforti of founding a female branch of the Congregation

St. Wenceslaus, Bohemian ruler and martyr and Laurence Ruiz and companions, 16 martyrs of Nagasaki, Japan
"The Sacrament of anointing of the sick is like the last kiss of God who transforms agony and death into expiation and joy." [Blessed Conforti on Dec. 4, 1915]
China: Teachers' Day
1925 - Blessed Conforti presides over the week-long mission gathering of the Missionary Union of the Clergy, in Rome
1978 - Death of Pope John Paul I

Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael
"We are more fragile than glass, and if God's grace is not among us to sustain us, we can instantly fall into the depths of moral darkness." [Blessed Conforti on Jan. 14, 1918]
1973 - Xaverians move the Theology house from Franklin, WI to Chicago, IL

St. Jerome, Scripture scholar of the early Church
"The missionary who sacrifices all for the highest of ideals, who dedicates all for the good of his brothers and sisters without seeking anything in return, who seeks but to conquer souls for the truth, who aspires to martyrdom as a seal worthy of his work, is an incomparable type of moral beauty; nothing more heroic and great can be conceived of by our mind." [Blessed Conforti on Sept. 27, 1931]
1995 - Catina Gubert, Fr. Aldo Marchiol, Fr. Ottorino Maule are killed in Burundi, Xaverian Martyrs of Burundi