The Path to Heights

Move forward daily with faith and generosity!

Not that the way is easy nor that the roads are smooth. Rather, they will be descending and sloping roads that climb up, paths ascending to the summit.

And to reach the summit one must climb and struggle and even if at times there are some falls, get up, and Jesus is still there.

The psalm says if you love the Lord, even when you are about to fall, the Lord's hand will uphold you lest you should get hurt (cf Psalm 90:12).

The picture the psalm draws is gracious! The Lord puts his hand beneath you so that you may not get hurt.

Yes, when one walks supported by the hand of Jesus, one does not fall at all.

Balance and Harmony

Today, the Church commemorates Blessed Timothy Giaccardo, the first Pauline priest and the first Blessed in the Pauline Family.

Timothy Giaccardo generously corresponded with Providence with regard to the apostolate. It would be very edifying to read the articles he wrote in Gazzetta di Alba, which he edited for some time to see his keen observations on certain issues, which at that time were not at all clear. He knew how to follow the right path, how to be balanced without being dejected or enthusiastic.

He corresponded with Providence regarding material things. He paid almost scrupulous attention to keeping account of the smallest things and to time and would serve the Institute and the apostolate.

You know how much he loved his confreres, how holily he loved the sisters. And we think his wish in heaven would be that each one of us become holy.

Discernment before Decision

From things that are morally indifferent, take only that much which helps you; leave out what does not help. Don't be addicted to anything, neith to food nor to rest; but make a wise regimen with regard to what is good for health.

Some amount of mortification is profitable so that the spirit can have sufficient freedom and control over the flesh. Don't be concerned about human esteem; instead fear the judgement of God. A word of approbation from God is infinitely more valuable than the esteem of all human beings whose praise is often spurious.

So too with health: if we have abundance of health, we can do great things for the glory of God; but when we are in poor health, we have to learn to mortify our grand desires, even if they are about very holy things. We should know how to realize them or leave them with a holy indifference in the will of God.

There are things that truly help us: make use of them as much as possible.

Mysteries of the Rosary

The first 5 mysteries of the Rosary (joyful) are meant to check the desire of the eyes, that is, avarice: the Family of Nazareth lived in very humble poverty. In the following five mysteries (sorrowful) is checked the desire of the flesh, because through them we consider the passion and death of the Saviour. Considering in the last five mysteries (glorious) heavenly things, all earthly honours lose their importance.

I primi cinque misteri del Rosario servono a rintuzzare la concupiscenza degli occhi, ossia l'avarizia: la Famiglia di Nazaret visse in umilissima povertà. Nei successivi cinque misteri viene rintuzzata la concupiscenza della carne, poiché in essi si considera la passione e la morte del Salvatore. Considerando negli ultimi cinque misteri le cose celesti, perdono importanza tutti gli onori terreni.

The Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary

It is useful that we learn to recite the rosary with devotion, that is, with intelligence and love.

The meditation on the mysteries: In every mystery one can find and meditate on a truth, which the Church teaches, then a moral and ascetical lesson, thirdly a particular grace to be prayed for.

For example, in the first joyful mystery we have

• a fundamental truth: the mystery of the incarnation.


• a moral lesson: Mary's humility in accepting the responsibility.


• Grace: obedience to the divine will and the grace to accept well the graces to correspond to God' will.

Here we have a truth to meditate upon, a lesson to be learned and a grace to be prayed for. So with all the other mysteries.

The rosary is a short course of theology if it is considered in all its joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries. It is a summary of catechism and theology and can be also called therefore: A short theology of Jesus and Mary.

The Guardian Angels

The guardian angel has the duty of enlightening, protecting, guiding and praying for the person entrusted to him.

The angel enlightens him by inspiring; by disposing the mind to receive the truths of faith, to penetrate them, to love them, to think and judge according to them.

The angel protects him from dangers of soul and body. Numerous are the assaults of the deomn from which our good guardian angel defends us; he continuously strengthens our spirit to stand strong against the dangers of the environment and of the senses.

The angel guides a young person in his vocation, supports him in his weaknesses and lifts up the fallen, goes before and points out to every person the way to paradise.

The guardian angel prays for the one entrusted to him, for his family and parish. He prays during life and at the moment of death.