Saint Teresa of Ávila Patron Saint of the Institute • Istituto Figlie di Maria Auxiliatrice

Rome Italy). On October 15, 2022, the Feast of Saint Teresa of Ávila is celebrated, recognized and loved by Saint John Bosco as Patron of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In the context of the 150th anniversary of the Institute, celebrating her means remembering her presence.

In the Constitutions of 1885 (XVII, 9) we read: “The Feasts of Saint Joseph, Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Teresa of Jesus, who are the particular Patrons of the Institute, will be celebrated with particular devotion and solemnity.” This is an indication that is present until the current Constitutions, without further specifications: “We will honor in a special way […] St. Francis de Sales, St. Teresa of Jesus that our Founder gave as Patrons to the Institute” (Const. Four. Five).

Through a careful study of the sources, it can be concluded that the spiritual formation of Maria Domenica Mazzarello and the Daughters of the Immaculate (FMI) is largely “Teresian”. One can speak of a direct influence by reading some of the Saint’s works – eg. book of the Life; Path of Perfection – or indirectly, through of the mediation of Giuseppe Frassinetti, great friend and teacher of Don Domenico Pestarino. His ascetic works, in fact, are impregnated with the doctrine of the Saint.

Thanks to Frassinetti’s formative action, the FMA come to know some parts of path of perfection remembered in the contribution: Pater noster of Saint Teresa of Jesus. treatise on prayer (Parma 1860), elaborated by himself from the spirituality of the Saint of Ávila.

In the election of Saint Teresa as Patron, Don Bosco stands in continuity with the spiritual tradition of the FMA. In addition, there are many common elements between the “Teresian” spirituality and that of Don Bosco proposed to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: spiritual realism; a unitary spirituality in which all aspects of life are unified by love; a simple and affective prayer made from the heart and with the heart; joy as a characteristic element of a healthy and youthful spirituality; the harmony between active and contemplative life; filial love to the Virgin.

Two in particular are deepened:

Joy

In the constitutions of 1885, Don Bosco adds in the article corresponding to Mistress of novices a very significant underline:

“Yes. Teresa wanted the Religious to be happy, sincere and open. Therefore, the Mistress of Novices will see to it that her students are precisely like this, because Sisters of such character are the most adequate to inspire young people and the people of the century to esteem and love piety and Religion” (Rules or Constitutions for the daughters of Seawent SS. helper attached to the Salesian Society, Turin 1885, Tit. IX,5).

During a visit to the Alassio community, Don Bosco asked the FMA: Are you all happy?” And followed: “I recommend to you holiness, health, wisdom and joy! Make all of you Santa Teresas! Remember that the devil is afraid of happy people. He will tempt you with discouragement because of the great work you have (spoke in the workshop)” (MBX648).

Already in the oratory, in the program given to the FMA in 1869, Don Bosco proposed some practices of life, some simple pedagogical suggestions and some fundamental elements of Salesian spirituality that shaped the small group, in line with what was already being done in the House of the Immaculate. Among the proposed elements we find what regards the formation of character: “Constant work on the nature of each one to form a good character, patient, cheerful, that makes virtue kind and easier to live together” (Chronohistory I, 225).

Joy is contemplated here in a pedagogical key. Joy, which is above all the fruit of the Spirit, is contagious; whoever is happy transmits peace, light, serenity, because joy comes from a clear conscience. A joyful heart is the normal result of a heart that burns with love of God, of a poor heart, free from all possessions and intensely inhabited by God; a heart that only from Him expects all good. In this sense, joy is transcendent.

Saint Teresa attaches great importance to recreation, a moment in which the sisters meet to share, talk, be happily together, manifesting the Love that inhabits them. A pedagogical aspect rich in meaning.

Joy, furthermore, is an element that shows that God is acting in the hearts of creatures. Feeling joy is a “mystical operation”. It can only come from God, for a reason that is not only earthly, but is the fruit of the Spirit. In this sense, joy is a criterion of a healthy spiritual life.

Our Lady, the true Superior of the community

On the same day of the religious profession of the first eleven FMA, Don Bosco confirmed Maria Domenica Mazzarello in the role of Superior and assured: “For now she will have the title of vicar, because the true Superior is the Virgin” (chronohistory I, 308). It seems that the decisive affirmation of Don Bosco on the particular role of the Director of the house recognized to Mary Most Holy is to join a Teresian tradition known in the Salesian environment and probably also in Mornese. Indeed, having Santa Teresa to assume the difficult task of prioress of the monastery of the Incarnation, she puts the image of Mary in her place in the choir. The event is narrated by Giovanni Bonetti in the biography published in 1882, on the occasion of the third centenary of the death of Teresa of Jesus, and proposed to the FMA of the House of Chieri that bears her title:

“Another tactic used Saint Teresa to finish winning the hearts of all, and so that all of them would go to God. […] a few days after his arrival at the Incarnation he called the Chapter, that is, the meeting of the sisters; but in the choir, on the chair of the Prioress she placed the statue of the Virgin with the keys of the monastery in her hand […]. The Saint, taking a stool and sitting next to the image of Seayeah, he said like this: The position of Prioress, my sisters, is as far from my thoughts as I am far from deserving it. […] Precisely because of this weakness of mine, I do not want to be Prioress of the Monastery, except in name. The true Prioress will be Our Lady who is before you” (Giovanni BONETTI, The Rose of Carmel or S. Teresa di Gesús: notes on her life, Turin SEI 1909, 238-239).

The Teresian inspiration is confirmed in another very significant gesture of Maria Domenica Mazzarello: leaving the house keys every afternoon at the foot of the statue of SeaAuxiliary Day (chronohistory II 132).

Sister Elena Massimi, FMA, President of the Italian Association of Teachers and Educators of the Liturgy, proposes the following liturgical texts for the Feast of Saint Teresa of Ávila:

Liturgy of the hours

Eucharistic Liturgy

Saint Teresa of Ávila Patron Saint of the Institute • Istituto Figlie di Maria Auxiliatrice