One October morning, passing through Borgo Alto, Mary saw a large building with a courtyard. Many children were playing.
Entranced, she must have rubbed her eyes to convince herself she was not dreaming.
She exclaimed: “What is this? This building was not here before. Never saw it! What can it mean?” said Fr. Adolf Faroni, SBD, in Saint Mary Mazzarello.
Then, she heard a majestic voice, “I entrust them to you” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki Ma. Dominica Mazzarello).
At the same time, Don Bosco experienced a vision of a courtyard with abandoned girls. He, too, heard a woman’s voice, “These are my daughters, take care of them,” according to Salesiansisters.wordpress.com.
Young and pious
Mary was born on May 9, 1937, to Joseph and Maddalena Calgano Mazzarello in Mornese, Alessandria, Italy. The eldest among seven children, Mary grew up as an obedient, honest, cheerful, hardworking and devout child.
Fr. Domenico Pestarino, the parish priest, allowed her to have her First Holy Communion at 10 and the privilege to be a daily communicant, regardless of the weather.
She was one of the founding members of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate in Mornese when she was only 15 years old. She attended catechism lessons diligently so “no one would be ahead of her” (www.vides.us/st.margaret mazzarello.htm)
She was only 15 when she consecrated herself to God and made a vow to perpetual virginity, Faroni added in Saint Mary Mazzarello.
When a typhoid epidemic hit Mornese, Mary, who was 23, volunteered to care for her uncle, aunt and the children. She herself became ill that the last rites of the church was administered to her.
Although she recovered, she became thin and frail. And realized she would “never again be fit for strenuous work.”
Anxious to still be of help, she became an apprentice to the towns tailor to learn how to sew. Then she opened shops to teach others not only how to live a holy life but also a Christian life that is honest and productive.
Parents saw that village girls attended church services more devoutly, were more obedient, docile and shunned worldly activities. This was the beginning of a semblance of a religious community with four Daughters of Mary Immaculate and a few girls.
Father Pestarino, as diocesan priest, went often to Turin. He related to Don Bosco how he appreciated the group of Mary. With a vision to found a female counterpart of the Salesian Priests and Brothers, he went with the Salesian Boys Band in Mornese.
But he did not divulge his true motive—to investigate the Daughters of Mary Immaculate group. Instead, the band will raise funds for this oratory. He was impressed with the response and piety of the girls (www.salesiansisters.org).
First mother superior
In 1867 Don Bosco sent Mary and Petronilla Mazzarello a program of activities and rules that the girls can do every day. In 1871 Don Bosco’s request to found an order of Salesian Sisters was approved by Pope Pius IX.
Mary was the unanimous choice as first superior but rejected the post, feeling inadequate to the demands of the position. Obedience, however, prevailed so she became the temporary head of the group that has not taken its final vows.
Don Bosco recognized Mary as a leader. “Her limited education more than made up for by her prudence, spirit of discernment and her ability to govern, all of which is based on her unshakeable faith in God” (www.vides us/st marymazzarello.html).
On July 31, 1872, 15 young women, professed their vows as sisters of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the presence of the bishop of Acqui; Don Bosco, the spiritual father; and Father Pestarino, the immutable guide.
For two years, she was the temporary superior until an election took place, which voted her as superior. After elected as Mother General of the Salesian Sisters, she felt they should learn how to read and write correctly. And they did, together in humility.
After a mission in the house of Salesian Sisters and orphanage in Saint Cyr, she collapsed, and was ill for 40 days of pleurisy, an inflammation of the linings around the lungs that causes pain and difficulty in breathing.
In Mornese she felt better and insisted in performing her usual work. Aware of her impending death she counselled the sisters about obedience, loyalty and love for the Lord.
At dawn on May 14, 1881, with so much effort, she “forced out a weak, sincere hymn to the Blessed Mother” and whispered, “Good-bye, I am going now. I will see you in heaven.” She was 44.
She was beatified on November 20, 1938, by Pope Pius XI and was canonized on June 24, 1951, by Pope Pius XII.
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Santiago is a former regional director of the Department of Education National Capital Region. She is currently a faculty member of Mater Redemptoris Collegium in Calauan, Laguna, and of Mater Redemptoris College in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija.