Introduction
Our history records the witness of these first women missionaries and evangelisers, together with Daniel Comboni, pouring into African lands the balm of love with which they were impregnated and spreading its perfume in these distant lands. The command of Jesus Christ to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mt 16,15) were the words that motivated and touched the hearts of these young women and together with Comboni they set out on the great adventure preaching the gospel not only with words but with concrete gestures of dedication and solidarity.
Objective
- To read history in the pure light of faith, in order to keep alive the historical memory and the legacy of our martyrs, the founding pillars of the Congregation, as a source of inspiration and a reason for hope in today’s reality.
- To keep alive the Comboni charism and spirituality in order to: Look to the past with gratitude, live the present with passion and embrace the future with hope.
Reading
Follow the story in AMN 18, pp.27-35
“We wish to recall the courageous witness of our saints and of those who, even without being canonised, have lived the Gospel radically and have given their lives for Christ, for the Church and for his people” (DA 98). The story continues in AMN 18, pp.27-35
“I cannot begin to tell you how upset I am about the sad gossip that has spread about me. At some time or another, you will come to hear about it, but don’t allow it to dadden you. Death is a sacrifice which we have to make to God; as our Saviour suffered death, and death on a Cross for the glory of the Divine Father and for the salvation of our souls, so we too have to be resigned to that great step and make with love that sacrifice” …
(Amalia Andreis, to her father)
Witness
“We all suffered from fever and dysentery, without clothes, full of disgusting insects, sleeping on the bare ground, three of us left us: Sr Eulalia died on 27 October, Gabriele on 31 October, Sr Amalia on 7 November”. (Fr. Giuseppe Ohwalder to Fr. Giovanni, 26 December 1882).
Contemplative Time
Lord Jesus Christ, we are afraid to spend our life.
But you have given us life to spend it;
it cannot be economised in sterile selfishness.
To spend one’s life is to work for others, even if they do not pay;
to do a favour which will not be repaid;
to spend one’s life is to throw oneself even into failure, if necessary,
without false prudence; it is to burn one’s ships for the good of others.
- What feelings are awakened in your heart?
- What does the witness of these martyrs invite you to do?
We are torches that only make sense when we burn;
only then will we be light. Deliver us from cowardly prudence, that which makes us avoid sacrifice, and seek safety.
Life is not spent with pompous gestures and false theatricality.
Life is given simply, without publicity.
Write in you Journal
- Are we authentic companions and successors of our martyrs, are we consistent with the example of their lives, do we continue to live their choices, their radicalism, their martyrdom witness?