Salesian Center
Pentecost 2012
“Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind. . .And they were filled with the Holy Spirit”
Dear Friends and Sisters,
In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit first appears as a violent wind (Acts 2:2). Most of us have been confronted with a violent wind, perhaps even a tempest. The wind comes from all sides: front, right left, back and turns in every sense. It pushes us, but not necessarily to the side we would like to go! This is what happened to the Apostles: the wind of the Spirit pushed them, but they did not yet know in what direction. By the feast of Pentecost, is not likely that we will hear a violent burst of wind in our churches, or elsewhere. But the breath of the Spirit will be there; He will come to comfort us and to push us. In what direction? He alone knows. But if we let him guide us, if we do not resist him, he will be able to come into us and, then, we will be sure that we are on the right path.
Actually, it is only when we allow the Holy Spirit to come and act in us that he is able to transform us, convert us, help us to accept others are they are, with differences of culture, race and language. It is the grace of the action of the Holy Spirit in us that we are able to love one another, even if the other does not think like we do, understand and share what we have with those who have nothing, learn to resist temptations, and many other things that we ask when we pray the Veni Creator. The Spirit breathes where he wishes and as he wishes. It is our turn to know how to grasp the inspirations he sends us and allow him to breathe in us. He may push us to go out of ourselves- to evangelize by our life witness, for example-or, on the contrary, to dive into the depths of our selves to see where we are in our lives as Baptized Christians, or in our lives as a Salesians. Let him do it!!! Let’s not try to hide, like a turtle in its shell, or to blow back a breath of wind that would prevent the Holy Spirit from entering into us. His breath is beneficial; we need not be afraid. Let us be ‘invaded’ by him, and with him we will be able to do great things, each in our own lives.
Our three founders, Fr. Chaumont, Madame Carre & Mother Marie Gertrude, were very attentive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and they responded to him with all their hearts. Like all founders, they had some great successes-our Salesian societies are proof of it-, and they also endured some failures. But they did not allow themselves to be discouraged because they had confidence in the Holy Spirit. So that the Church might recognize their work and can show their example to all the Baptized, the leaders who have preceded us have introduced their causes in Rome. Following them, we are trying to continue this process. As I announced to you in the last Christmas letter, the Congress of theologians examined the cause of Mme Carre on March 16, 2012. The nine theologians gave a favorable response and one of them even proposed that the words “founder, spouse and mother” be added to the document on the heroic virtues of our founder. This text now will be sent to a Cardinal, who will examine it, before meeting with a group of cardinals, probably before the end of this year.
But, before that, we must name a new postulator, because Fr. Charles Cauty is not able to assume this responsibility. On the recommendation of Msgr. Claudio Iovine, assistant to the Promoter of the Faith of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints, we have made some contacts with priest postulators serving the Congregation in Rome. For the cause to be properly followed, the postulator must live in Rome. After refusals from others, Fr. Jose Carlos Brinon, SCJ, new postulator general of the Congregation of Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has accepted taking the cause of Mme Carre, assuming approval of his superiors. He is Spanish, but understands French very well. Moreover, in my opinion a sign from heaven, he knows Fr. Cauty well. The latter used to stay at the residence of the Priests of the Sacred Heart when he went to Rome to work on Mme Carre’s cause. Fr. Brinon met Fr. Cauty while he was studying there. When he learned that the Congress of Theologians was going to examine the cause during the month of March, he tried to find Fr. Cauty. In that effort, he contacted our Association through our Internet sites, (American & French). He is not yet officially named, but there is great hope he will be. In Lien #4 (Bond-Mar-Apr) we appealed to your generosity for help in covering the cost of the cause. The Council sends a big thanks to all those who have already sent a gift. There is still time to participate if you wish, according to iinstructions in the Bond.
Mme Carre’s house in Lorry-les-Metz, continues to be a welcoming place, a place for meetings and renewal, both for the inhabitants of the village and surrounding towns as well as visitors who come from afar. A brochure[1]has been printed which includes all the information necessary if you wish to stay there, or if you want to order more brochures to help the home of our founder be better known.
I wish all of you a beautiful feast of Pentecost,
Annie Trabichet, General Directress
[1] The brochure is currently only available in French.
