An Introduction
Martyrs of Pastoral Charity
The idea is not ours. Someone else gave us the thought of remembering the Xaverians who have concluded their missionary journey with a tragic death. It was Pope John Paul II, in an address during the preparation meetings towards the Great Jubilee 2000, who challenged us: “Do not ever forget the many who have given their lives for the Gospel, through martyrdom.” (Nov. 1994)
Therefore, the General Direction of the Xaverian Missionaries welcomed that invitation from the Pope and asked a committee to put together the biographies of the lives of the Xaverian Martyrs.
Three known writers in Italy have contributed towards this extensive research, and we believe they’ve done a wonderful service to all. They are Renzo Agasso, Alberto Comuzzi, and our own Fr. Augusto Luca. We extend our gratitude to them, for they really put their heart and soul in the biography of each missionary.
"From Christ who shed his blood down to the last
drop in order to ransom us, learn to sacrifice yourselves for your brothers and
sisters."
Blessed Guido M. Conforti
Alberto Comuzzi shares these thoughts: “My field of work has been religious issue for many years. But I must say that I knew very little of the Xaverian congregation. I knew how important they are in the Italian church, and their commitment to the whole church is praiseworthy. I also read some books on their founder, Blessed Guido Maria Conforti. But when a few months ago I started reading the documents on the lives of Fr. Louis Carrara, Fr. John Didone’ and Br. Victor Faccin, a new dimension of the work of the Xaverians opened before my eyes. Their stories are based on the witness of Xaverians, family correspondence, friends, and writings found in mission magazines.
I could not but feel moved by their letters; these writings are filled with youthful enthusiasm, human wisdom, and complete trust in God. I could not but stop and think on my personal Christian journey as I was reading their stories. I could not but reflect on how much we depend on distractions that our society offers, how we are not able to appreciate the simple things we have, how we fail to value the means we normally use. These means and things are still dreams for many missionaries, even today. And I’m just thinking of basic means like running water or electricity. These are feelings that even the most sophisticated words cannot express.
After having spent five months of research, and working side by side with the Xaverians, I felt how true they are to their call. All of these months, with papers, articles and personal letters, left a indelible mark on my soul. I feel admiration for them, and compassion for their parents. From the letters of Fr. Carrara, Fr. Didone’, and Br. Faccin, I realized how rooted are the relationships among missionaries and their families, especially with their parents and their brothers and sisters. I noticed the particular bond between a missionary and his mother, and the special place that the Mother of God has in the hearts of the Xaverians.
I could never count the many blessings I received from the stories of these missionaries. I ask pardon, now, if I were not able to show their extraordinary personalities, and I’m sure that from their place in heaven, they realize that they touched my heart. I learned a lot. The example of good people is always contagious, and their goodness cannot be lost through time and space.”
But who are these Xaverian Martyrs, subject of this book entitled “With Them, Forever”? The common ground to all of them is that they died a violent death! With one exception, the first, Fr. Caio Rastelli. If he didn’t suffer the martyrdom together with Bishop Grassi, Bishop Fogolla, and the many others (canonized on Oct. 1st, 2000), he died as a result of the pains and agonies he suffered during the violent persecution of Christians.
"At the end of the second millennium, the Church
has become once again a Church of martyrs. The witness given to Christ till the
shedding of blood is a testimony which we should not forget. Local Churches
should do everything so that the memory of those who suffered martyrdom doesn't
get lost."
John Paul II
We called them Martyrs of Pastoral Charity, with a specific reference to the documents of Vatican Council II and the document Pastores dabo vobis (#23): “The essential content of this pastoral charity is the gift of self, the total gift of self to the Church, following the example of Christ. Pastoral charity is the virtue by which we imitate Christ in his self-giving and service. With pastoral charity, which distinguishes the exercise of the priestly ministry, the priest, who welcomes the call to ministry, is in a position to make this a loving choice, as a result of which the Church and souls become his first interest, and with this concrete spirituality he becomes capable of loving the universal Church and that part of it entrusted to him with the deep love of a husband for his wife. The gift of self has no limits, marked as it is by the same apostolic and missionary zeal of Christ, the good shepherd, who said ‘I have other sheep, that do not belong to this fold; these also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd’.” (John 10:16)
Pastoral charity is indeed demanding: it invites missionaries to be with them, forever, with their people, with Christians and non-Christians, for they daily suffer and are in need.
It’s a faithful love, without limits or conditions. It is the same love of Christ, who gave his life for his sheep. Fr. Didone’ expressed this in his last letter to a catechist: “We, missionaries, are here in Fizi, far from our homeland, but God is everywhere, watching over us. Let us be strong! Do not fear that the missionaries will return home; they would rather die than abandon you.” Or the words of Fr. Botton: “I’ll better go out, or else they will kill us all!”
The commitment to Christ of the Xaverian Martyrs, was not proclaimed like an act of profession in front of a persecutor, as in the early church beginnings. Their charity was screamed out loud with their presence, with their faithfulness to their mission to watch over the flock, so that they would remain “with them, forever.”
For this reason, they received the true title of Martyrs of Pastoral Charity.