The Eighth and the last volume of the Letters of St. Vincent Pallotti, edited by Fr. Bruno Bayer, SAC is published and sent to all the Major Superiors. This volume is different from all the others because it is addressed to only one person: Sr. Maria Geltrude Costantini (1780-1846) of the Order of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and its content is also different from that of the previous ones. It presents particular texts through which a spiritual director can be seen sharing his mature spiritual experiences with a religious in the process of guiding her life. At first sight the texts can appear disappointing: they are not in a chronological order, almost always the date of sending the letter is missing and many of the responses consist of only one word which, without reference to Costantini, is not easily understandable. Therefore, these texts cannot be read in hurry or one after the other. When they are understood profoundly, the reader will be rewarded by the discovery of a "pearl of great value" which underlines once again the richness of the sanctity of Pallotti and his ability to direct souls.
Bibliography: Febbruary 2010
Publications sent to the Generalate in the month of February 2010:
BUOB, Hans SAC, Die Geheime Offenbarung, eine Auslegung der Geheimen Offenbarung des heiligen Johannes. Ihre Aktualität für uns und für unsere Zeit (Apocalypse, an interpretation of the Apocalypse of St. John. Its reality for us and for our time) Unio Verlag, Hochaltingen [2010], pp. 254.
KNAPINSKI, Ryszard, Świety Wincenty Pallotti, in Święci według mistrzów - 100 dzieł wielkich malarzy (St. Vincent Pallotti, in Saints according to the Masters – 100 Works of the Great Painters), Editor: Elzbieta Olczak, DEMART S.A., Warszawa 2009, pp. 252-253; 333. (Album illustrated with photographs of hundred saints by famous painters. In pages 252-253 we can find the photography of picture of Alfovino Missori who presents St. Vincent Pallotti with the Crucifix and a short description of this picture. On page 333 we can find a short biographical note on St.Vincent Pallotti).
INFORMAÇÕES PALOTINAS, Informativo da Provincia Nossa Senhora Conquistadora, ano 66, n. 2, jul./dez. 2009, Biblos Editora, Santa Maria 2009, pp. 295 (This Periodical contains numerous contributions by Pallottine authors and biographical notes on Pallottines).
UNIONE DELL'APOSTOLATO CATTOLICO, Charyzmat św. Wincentego Pallottiego, początki, rozwój, tożsamość, (Polish translation) – Original title: "The Charism of St. Vincent Pallotti – Origin, Development and Identity", Roma 2004, translators Mariusz Małkiewicz SAC, Zdzisław Słomka SAC, Istituto Pallotti; Apostolicum, Ząbki [2009], pp. 84.
VINCENZO PALLOTTI, Saint (1795-1850), St. Vincent Pallotti, an Inspiration and Model for Everyone, Yuva Deepthi Press, Kerala 2010, pp. 68.
VINCENZO PALLOTTI, Saint (1795-1850), Letters to Sr. Maria Geltrude Costantini, Edited by Bruno Bayer SAC, Generalate House of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, Rome 2010, pp. 241 (St. Vincent Pallotti, Opere complete, Lettere; VIII).
ŻYCIE - DZIEŁO - CHARYZMAT, Św. Wincenty Pallotti, życie, dzieło, charyzmat (St. Vincent Pallotti, Life, Work and Charism), n° 2 (6)/2008, Istituto Pallotti, Konstancin-Jeziorna 2010, ss. 116 (n. 6 of the half-yearly Periodical of Pallotti Institute in Poland with various contributions on St. Vincent Pallotti and his Spirituality).
Publication “Apostolato Universale” - n.22/2009
In the month of October 2009, n.22/2009 of the Publication “Apostolato Universale”, consisting of 72 pages, was sent out to all subscribers. The texts of this issue present reflections on Pallottine history and its impacts on actual life. Precious to the Pallottine historians are the tracts on the historical memories of St. Teresa Eustochio Verzeri (1801-1852), Founder of Daughters of the Heart of Jesus. The charismatic intuitions of our Founder are realised in diverse works today. It is confirmed in history and the actual state of the Centre of Rehabilitation for Lepers, “Jeevodaya”, which celebrates 40 years of its foundation this year. In the part dedicated to formation, this issue presents the texts of conferences from the cycle of Meetings of Study on the Word of God in St. Vincent Pallotti: one on Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church in the time of St. Vincent Pallotti and the other on the Word of God in the spiritual formation of St. Vincent Pallotti. The conference on the celebration of the Word of God, the central point of which is the reflection on the Biblical themes in the preaching of Pallotti, is also added. As always, this issue contains the collection of the publications of Pallottine Authors during the period January-June 2009. There is also a summary of the thesis of doctorate on the “St. Vincent Pallotti’s spirituality of priesthood and its impact on collaboration with the laity”. On the last page you will find information on the activities of the Institute of St. Vincent Pallotti and the archive under its care. ALL THE NUMBERS UP TO NOW PUBLISHED
XIX General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters
The XIX General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate would be held from February 25 to March 22, 2010, in their General House in Rome. The twenty-seven sisters / delegate would discuss on the main theme, "United in the Holy Spirit, we are witnesses of hope" which would consider the following three aspects: To contemplate with Mary the face of Christ, to imitate Jesus and His Love for all, to make his presence visible in the service of love and compassion. The inaugural Mass was celebrated in the Church of San Salvatore in Onda which was presided by Rector General SAC, Fr. Friedrich Kretz, and was assisted by some guests and members of the General House. On the second day of the General Chapter, the delegates have a day of retreat led by the Rector General of our Society. You can find all the information on this extraordinary event on the website www.19gc.com, dedicated precisely to the General Chapter. We join the Pallottine Missionary Sisters in prayer so that they may remain open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and to the example of Mary and the Apostles gathered in the Cenacle.
Dal 25 febbraio al 22 marzo 2010 avrà luogo il XIX Capitolo Generale delle Suore Missionarie dell’Apostolato Cattolico e si svolgerà nella loro Casa Generalizia a Roma. Le ventisette suore/delegate discuteranno sul tema principale del Capitolo “Unite nello Spirito Santo, siamo testimoni della speranza” che verrà considerato nei seguenti tre aspetti: Contemplare con Maria il Volto di Cristo; imitare Gesù e il suo Amore per tutti; rendere la sua presenza visibile nel servizio dell’amore e della compassione.
La Messa di apertura è stata celebrata nella chiesa di Santissimo Salvatore in Onda e presieduta dal Rettore Generale SAC, D. Friedrich Kretz, assistito da alcuni ospiti e membri della Casa Generalizia.
Nel secondo giorno del Capitolo Generale le delegate hanno vissuto un giorno di ritiro guidato sempre dal Rettore Generale della nostra Società.
Si possono trovare tutte le informazioni su questo evento straordinario sul sito web www.19gc.com dedicato appunto al Capitolo Generale.
Ci uniamo alle Suore Pallottine Missionarie nella preghiera perché rimangano aperte all’ispirazione ed all’azione dello Spirito Santo all’esempio di Maria e degli Apostoli riuniti nel Cenacolo.
Meeting of the young consecrated Pallottines 2010
On 9 January 2010, a meeting of the young consecrated Pallottines, both priests and sisters, was held at the Generalate House of the Society of Catholic Apostolate. The theme chosen for the meeting was "Discovering Pallotti through his writings". We may recall here that exactly 175 years ago, on 9 January 1835, St. Vincent Pallotti received the charismatic inspiration of the Union of Catholic Apostolate. The group of about 25 young Pallottines, on this occasion, was accompanied by Fr. Jan Kupka SAC, the Director of Institute of St. Vincent Pallotti. He offered very precise and rich information as the group visited the Church of SS. Salvatore in Onda, Pallotti's room, chapel, museum and the Institute St. Vincent Pallotti; in other words, the legacy left to us by our Founder was made alive once again. The day was ended with a concelebrated Holy Mass at the altar of our Founder. This was indeed an edifying "journey" through the life and the historical times of our Holy Founder.
Meeting of the Institute of St. V. Pallotti - Febbruary 2010
On 11 February 2010 began a cycle of seminars promoted by the Institute of St. Vincent Pallotti in Rome. The leading theme for the year 2010 is: "St. Vincent Pallotti: Priest and Apostle". The first conference, presented by Francesco Todisco SAC, General Counselor of SAC, was a reflection on the theme "The priestly life in Rome at the time of Pallotti". The speaker outlined the political and social situations of the Italian peninsula in the early nineteenth century. This was not only a period of political and social turbulence, following the changes that took place after the French Revolution, the uprisings against the secular governing of the Church and the Pope, but also involved attempts to look for new changes in political and social life. St. Vincent Pallotti, a Roman priest, had participated in the affairs of the city of Rome at that time, in the pastoral options of the Roman Church and in the life of priests and religious. He had taken several initiatives in line with the pastoral works of the diocese of that time. His life as a priest and apostle was part of the number of priests who were distinguished for their life and ecclesial commitment at that time. The greatness of St. Vincent Pallotti is found in the intensity of his relationship with God, in the passionate imitation of the person of Jesus, devotion to Our Lady and the love for the Church when she suffers. A striking characteristic of his priestly life finds its expression in the charity lived as self giving, as source and motivation for the personal apostolate and of the community. These are the perennial values that St. Vincent Pallotti cultivated and lived in the whirlwind of his time, and inherited by those who are inspired by his charism. di Gesù Cristo, nella devozione verso la Madonna e nell'amore verso la Chiesa quando essa è causa di sofferenze. Un tratto particolare della sua vita sacerdotale trova espressione nella carità vissuta come donazione di sé e come sorgente e motivazione dell'apostolato personale e comunitario. Questi sono i valori perenni che nel turbine del suo tempo ha colto e vissuto san Vincenzo Pallotti lasciandoli in eredità a quanti si ispirano al suo carisma.
Publications sent to the Generalate in the month of February 2010:
The XIX General Chapter of the Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate would be held from February 25 to March 22, 2010, in their General House in Rome. The twenty-seven sisters / delegate would discuss on the main theme, "United in the Holy Spirit, we are witnesses of hope" which would consider the following three aspects: To contemplate with Mary the face of Christ, to imitate Jesus and His Love for all, to make his presence visible in the service of love and compassion.
