Postulazione della Causa del Beato Giovanni Battista Scalabrini

Roma, 31 march 2013

Dear Scalabrinian Confreres,

Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo,
Scalabrinian Secular Missionaries,
Lay Scalabrinians,
In 2012, the Holy See approved my appointment as General Postulator of the
Congregation of the Scalabrinian Missionaries. Currently, we have in progress the cause
of canonization of Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, the beatification of the Servant of
God Fr. Joseph Marchetti and the discerning process for the sanctity of Fr. Tarcisio
Rubin. Together with the Diocese of Rieti, also, the postulation office helps out in the
process that would result in the beatification of the Venerable Massimo Rinaldi.
Over the past months, I appointed some vice-postulators in order to help me in the
creation and spreading of literature and objects of devotion regarding the various
causes, in different parts of the world. All together we will also try to suggest and do
some initiatives that, in mutual agreement with the General and Provincial
Administrations, may promote the knowledge of the words and deeds of our “heroes”.
For all the causes, in the general postulation office I am helped by Fr. Sisto Caccia. For
the Blessed Founder’s cause I am aided by the Frs. Fernando Cuevas, Delmar Silva and
Evandro Cavalli. For Fr. Marchetti’s cause, I appointed as vice-postulators Sr. Inês
Boggio and Fr. Evandro Cavalli. Finally, Fr. Sisto Caccia cooperates with the Diocese
of Rieti as vice-postulator on behalf of Mons. Rinaldi’s cause.
In a few weeks, on May 30th, it will occur the 150th anniversary of priestly ordination of
Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini. On the vigil of his 30th priestly anniversary, he wrote a
pastoral letter in which he explains the priestly model, and among many thoughts
proposed, it struck me when he says that “the priest preaches humility in greatness,
justice with power, respect for the rights of all, moderation in his desires, contempt for
honors, detachment from the richness, self-denial toward pleasures, mortification of the
senses”.
On June 1st, then, we will remember that 108 years ago Scalabrini ended his earthly
pilgrimage and, at the Feast of the Ascension, entered paradise.
Therefore I invite all communities, groups and individuals to start a novena to
celebrate these events. Beginning with Thursday, May 23rd, I suggest to invoke
every day the intercession of Blessed Scalabrini using the prayer card I am
sending, and also adding one or more forms of sacrifice in order to obtain from
God a miraculous healing, that might be announced in your daily prayer, where
this is deemed possible and appropriate. I am also sending you the pastoral letter
on the priesthood, inviting you to read it in order to grasp the truths that, even
though times have changed, are still lasting and actually being strengthened.
I take this opportunity to convey to all of you a fraternal greeting and to ensure for you
a special place in my own prayer to Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini.

Fr. Gabriele F. Bentoglio, C.S., General Postulator

Collegio Internazionale San Carlo – Via Calandrelli, 11 – 00153 ROMA
Tel. 06.58332941 int. 406 – Cell. 347 9701008
E-mail: gbentoglio@scalabrini.net
of God, in this dual role he represents Jesus Christ, the
universal and eternal Priest, the foundation of the priesthood. N
NOOVVEENNAA TTOO B
BLLEESSSSEEDD SSCCAALLAABBRRIINNII
The priest and the Eucharistic sacrifice
I look upon the priest in the solemn and decisive moment of
the Holy Sacrifice. There he is standing in front of the altar, he
lifts his eyes to Heaven, he blesses a small piece of bread and
a cup of wine, he bends over them and says: “this is my body,
this is my blood”; and there in his hands are the Body and
Blood of Jesus Christ.
The Eucharistic sacrifice and that of the cross are substantially
one and the same sacrifice: in either of them is the same
victim, the same priest, the only difference being the manner
the offering is made.

The priest is the social man par excellence

The priest is not only the man of the Church, the man of God;
he is the social man par excellence.
Working, toiling, sacrificing themselves to spread here God’s
kingdom and save souls; kneeling, so to speak, before the
world to implore as a favor its permission to do good to it,
here is the priest’s ambition. Whatever power, authority,
creativity, intelligence, strength, everything he has, he uses for
this purpose. Is innocence at stake? He takes on himself its
preservation. Is there a misfortune? He flies to relieve it. Is
there a quarrel? He is the herald of peace. And here he
becomes a guide to the corrupt, support for the weak, a shield
for the oppressed; there he becomes an eye for the blind,
tongue for the mute, father to the orphans, mother for the
children, companion for people in jail. He gives everything to
everyone in order to gain all to Jesus Christ. From the shack of
the poor he runs to the palace of the rich, from the altar to the
bed of the dying, from the mountain to the valley, looking for
the lost sheep and he rests only when he is able to take them to BLESSED JOHN BAPTIST SCALABRINI
his breast, to carry the other on his back, and bandage the
wounds of the other, and feed the one with the food that takes Father to the Migrants
from his very mouth, never so happy as when before going to Apostle of the Catechism
bed he can remind himself of a dried tear, a consoled family, a
preserved innocence, the glorified name of God.
1839-1905
General Postulacy of the Scalabrini Missionaries – Casa Madre, Piacenza
Founder of the Scalabrinian Missionaries
and the Scalabrinian Sisters
 NOVENA TO BLESSED JOHN BAPTIST SCALABRINI
A novena is nine days of prayerful reflection. The nine days
recall the nine days of prayer observed in the upper room by
Mary, the Apostles and the other disciples of Jesus between
Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday (Act 1: 12-14).
Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini was born in Como, Italy, in
1839 and died in 1905. Ordained a priest in 1863 and bishop at
the age of 36, he was noted for his love of the Eucharist and
Cross of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Pope and the
poor. He worked with cholera victims, visited the sick,
prisoners, saved thousands of farm workers from famine, and
founded an institute for the speech impaired. In 1887, he
founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles
(Scalabrinians) for the religious, moral, social and legal care
of migrants – all of which earned him the title of “Father to the
Migrants.” He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on
November 9, 1997.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit
-Amen.
You Christ are the King of Glory
-the eternal Son of the Father.
You overcame the sting of death
-and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
HYMN: LIFT HIGH THE CROSS- no. 162-(missalette)
Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.
1. Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod, Our
King victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Refrain
From the Pastoral Letter of Blessed John Baptist
Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza, for Lent 1892
The priest speaks and acts on behalf of people and speaks
and acts on behalf of God
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. May the Lord
send many more workers to his harvest!
Of all the tasks that a man is called to do on earth, none, my
dearest faithful, can be compared to the Catholic priesthood.
St. John Chrysostom writes that even Royal Majesty is obliged
to bow before Priestly Majesty.
The king rules over bodies while the priest deals in the realm
of the souls. A king’s throne is set above human societies, but
even where his power is absolute, it can only be exercised on a
subordinate level and it can only be concerned with temporal
matters. The priest moves on a higher realm: with his ministry
he touches divine order itself and penetrates into eternity.
About the King one could say: “He is taken from among men
and is set for them in matters that concern men”; about the
priest, however, the Apostle tells us, “he is taken from among
men and is set for them in the things that concern God.”
Actually, the priest is God’s helper, his ambassador, the
lieutenant, who interprets his will, the advocate of his mercy,
the custodian of his holy mysteries, the dispenser of his
graces. The priest incarnates the people who seek God: on him
the religious faithful converge their prayers and petitions, so
that they might rise up to heaven together; upon the priest,
more so than on any other earthly authority, the image of God
is made evident in a sharper, clearer and nobler fashion; upon
him God pours the heavenly gifts that he is called to distribute
in the world.
There is a double stream of sacred realities that flows from
earth to Heaven and from Heaven to earth. From earth the
religious acts of humanity flow to Heaven, from Heaven
God’s blessings flow to earth. The sacred realities come
together in the priest just as on the mountaintop the vapors that
rise from the valleys toward the clouds come together with the
waters which from the clouds descend to the valleys.
The priest! He speaks and acts on behalf of the people and
speaks and acts on behalf of God. Man of the church and man
 NOVENA PRAYER 2. Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. Refrain
O Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, 3. All newborn followers of the Crucified
missionary of the Word of God, Bear on their brow the seal of Him Who died. Refrain
minister of the Eucharist and of the 4. O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
Church, As you have promised, save and set us free. Refrain
man of charity and communion,
PS. 66 – IN THE CROSS IS VICTORY
most loving son of Mary,
apostle of the catechism Antiphon:
LET US GLORY IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
and father to the migrants, IN HIM IS OUR SALVATION, LIFE, AND RESURRECTION.
we rely on your intercession O God, be gracious to us and bless us
to receive God’s blessing And make your face to shine upon us,
on ourselves and our beloved ones, That you way may be known upon earth,
Your saving power among all nation.
on those who face migration
and on all humankind. Let the peoples praise you, O God,
Let all the peoples praise you!
May the Holy Trinity, through your
intercession, Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
For you judge the peoples with equity
grant us the grace ……… that we entrust And guide the nations upon earth.
to your fatherly love. Amen. Let the peoples praise you, O God,
Let all the peoples praise you!
The earth has yielded its increase;
The Lord be with you. –And also with you. God, our God, has blessed us.
May the Lord bless us and take care of us. -Amen.
May God bless us;
May the Lord be kind and gracious to us. -Amen. Let all the ends of the earth fear God!
May the Lord look on with favor and give us peace. -
Amen. Let the peoples praise you, O God,
May the Lord bless you, the Father, the Son and + the Holy Let all the peoples praise you!
Spirit. -Amen
Antiphon:
(Say one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the LET US GLORY IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
canonization of Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini) IN HIM IS OUR SALVATION, LIFE, AND RESURRECTION.
A reading from the gospel of St. Matthew (11:28-30) Blessed Scalabrini, you established a large number of parishes
to serve the migrant’s need for Catholic Education.
“Come to me all you who are weary and are carrying heavy
burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and
-Pray that all parishes become models of faith.
you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and
my burden light.” LITANY TO BLESSED SCALABRINI

Response: I have been crucified with Christ Praise to you, God, our Creator.
-and Christ lives in me. -All glory and praise to you.
PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL Praise to you, Jesus, our Savior.

Blessed Scalabrini, you sought justice for the migrants -All glory and praise to you.
who were oppressed in your day. Praise to you, Spirit of Love.
-Pray for all enduring the same trials today. -All glory and praise to you.

Blessed Scalabrini, you were concerned for the migrant Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, pray for us.
and brought the Holy Eucharist to them along with the Ever loyal to God’s will, pray for us.
catechism of the church. Ever devoted to the Eucharist, pray for us.
Ever zealous of the crucified Savior, pray for us.
-Pray for all who are losing their faith. Faithful child of Mary, pray for us.
Blessed Scalabrini, you promoted reconciliation between Faithful witness of the Gospel, pray for us.
Church and State, and helped solve a painful moral Faithful servant of the Holy Father, pray for us.
Faithful devotee of St. Charles, pray for us.
dilemma for the Italian catholic migrant of your day.
Faithful Bishop of the Church, pray for us.
You acted as a bridge for dialogue and profoundly
Father of the migrants, inspire us.
influenced the history of the Church.
Apostle of the catechism, inspire us.
-Pray for our Church and State today so that we may Promoter of family values, inspire us.
continue to work toward reconciliation. Model of compassion for the poor, inspire us.
Model of intense prayer, inspire us.
Blessed Scalabrini, you are the founder of the Model of vision and courage, inspire us.
Scalabrinian Fathers and Brothers, who work among the Model of contemplation and action, inspire us.
migrants throughout the world. Model of wisdom and understanding, inspire us.
Model of humility, inspire us.
-Pray for all who share your spirit, mission and
Model of reparation, inspire us.
charism; may they inspire others to follow God’s call to Model of perseverance, inspire us.
minister to the Church. Model of faith, hope & charity, inspire us.