"the first apostle of the new evangelization."
Pope John Paul II
"Here he is, humble, silent, tireless, contained in
his thoughts, which flows from prayer to work, always ready to read the signs
of the times. Our Father Alberione has given the Church new instruments to express
herself, new means to give vigor and new breadth to its apostolic
mission....May the Pope, in the name of the whole Church, express its
gratitude." Pope Paul VI
On December 31, 1900, during a special night of prayer
before the Eucharist, the young seminarian James Alberione felt himself called
to serve God and the people of the new century.
During that night, he resolved to do something new and
wonderful for the Church of Twentieth Century. At the time, many were
complaining about the "evils" of the bad "press" and slowly
an idea arose in his fertile mind that the press should be utilized for good
and the human spirit nurtured by the truth and wisdom of the Gospel. From then
on, this invitation transformed and gave specific direction to his future life
as a priest, apostle, and communicator of Christ.
Alberione at his ordination |
Thus in 1914 was born the Society of St. Paul.
A year later, he founded a similar group for women, the
Daughters of St. Paul.
His ideal, like that of St. Paul, was universal – all the
means of modern communications were to be used so that all people would hear
the gospel.
For this extraordinary mission, new apostles were needed
(both men and women), who could dedicate themselves entirely to this service.
By the time of his death in 1971, Fr. James Alberione had
founded ten institutes that are known today as the Pauline family.
On December 20, 2002, Pope John Paul II promulgated the decree for the beatification of Fr. James Alberione. His beatification took place on April 27, 2003 at St Peter’s Square in Rome.
Prayer through the intercession of Blessed James Alberione
Lord, glorify Blessed James Alberione
in your Church.
Let him be for all of us light,
Guide and support the work of
our sanctification and in our apostolate.
Open the way for evangelisation
so that the presence of Jesus Master,
the Way, the Truth and the Life
may shine on the world through Mary,
Mother and Queen of the Apostles.
Grant me the grace I am praying for….
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be….
Jesus Master, the Way, the Truth and the Life, have mercy
on us.
Mary, Queen of the Apostles, pray for us.
Saint Paul the Apostle, pray for us
From all sin, deliver us O Lord.
Those who obtain graces and favours through the
intercession of Blessed James Alberione, are kindly asked to contact us.
Excerpts from Fr James Alberione’s writings
"In the morning, therefore, let us place ourselves
at the Master's feet and say to him, 'Jesus, you are the Way, I want to walk in
your footsteps; you are the Truth, enlighten me, you are the Life, give me
grace.' "
"Master, your life maps out the path for me, your
doctrine confirms and makes steady my footsteps, your grace sustains and
upholds me on the journey to heaven."
"How many times have you considered the question:
"Where is humanity going? How is it going? Toward what goal is humanity
headed? This humanity that is continually renewing itself on the face of the
earth?" "
"No greater wealth can be given to this poor and
proud world, than Jesus Christ. The world has need of Jesus Christ Way, Truth
and Life."
For more on Blessed James Alberione and his thoughts,
visit
www.alberione.com
20 February 1894 – 5 February 1964
Teresa Merlo met Fr. Alberione June 27, 1915, and agreed
to collaborate with him in giving life to his apostolic vision.
From that time on, with tremendous faith and untiring
trust, Teresa, who took the religious name of Thecla, (after St. Paul's first
woman disciple) assisted him not only in the foundation and formation of the
Daughters of St. Paul, but with the other Congregations of the Pauline Family
and his many other apostolic works.
Her deep faith and trust in God, her example and courage,
her close collaboration with Alberione and her loving guidance of the sisters
won for her the respect and love of all who knew her.
She helped shape the particular spirit and new mission of
the Daughters of St Paul dedicated to evangelization with all the means technology
would provide.
Nothing was ever enough for her when it came to
communicating the Good News of Christ the Lord to the people: “Our field of
apostolate is the entire world.”
She died on February 5, 1964, and the Church proclaimed
her "Venerable" on January 22, 1991.
How to Be Happy
“Our heart, our soul is too big to be happy with things which end. Only God can make us happy, only serving God, loving God alone, sacrificing ourselves for Him. Then one is always happy. Let us unite ourselves intimately to God and we will be happy any place, with anyone, in any work.”
Venerable Thecla Merlo
Prayer through the intercession of Sister Thecla Merlo
Most holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank
You for having, created, redeemed and sanctified Your humble and faithful
servant, Sister Thecla Merlo and for having constituted her Mother and
Co-Foundress of the Daughters of St. Paul who are consecrated to the apostolate
of the Mass Media of Communication.
Deign now to glorify her even here on earth, granting us,
through her intercession the grace we ask of You….
O Mary, Mother, Teacher and Queen of the Apostles,
support our plea with your maternal intercession. Amen.
Glory be….Hail Mary…..
Those who obtain graces and favours through the
intercession of Sister Thecla Merlo are kindly asked to contact us.
More on Thecla Merlo
More on Thecla Merlo
13 June 1896 - January 24, 1948
Blessed Timothy Giaccardo, the first member of the
Pauline Family to be raised to the altars, has a special place in each
Pauline's heart. As a young boy, Fr. Alberione picked him out and sent him to
the seminary. Eventually he became not only Alberione's right hand and a
primary figure in the interpretation of the Pauline charism, he was in a
special way instrumental in the life of the congregation of the Pious Disciples
of the Divine Master, the third community founded by Alberione.
On May 9, 1985, Pope John Paul II declared Father Timothy
Giaccardo "venerable."
More on Blessed Timothy Giaccardo
Feast Day October 22
History of the Daughters of St. Paul
The story of the Daughters of St Paul runs parallel to
the story of the extraordinary development of the media in the 20th century,
and to the story of the Church in this period.
It began in Northern Italy in 1915, when Fr James
Alberione first gathered around him a small group of young women and girls whom
he prepared to carry out the printing apostolate. He asked Sr Teresa Merlo to
be our first Superior General. These two were remarkable leaders and it was
through their faith and guidance that we received firm foundations and
continued to grow.
Humble beginnings
Our congregation started out by printing and distributing
Bibles and catechisms at a time when the Bible was not well known, nor its
prayerful study encouraged among Catholics. The editorial and publishing aspect
of our ministry quickly developed and soon afterwards our radio ministry
evolved. In time we opened book centres so that people could easily find good
Christian reading material and resources. The criteria for choice of content
were always made with the view to promote the human and spiritual growth of the
person.
Spreading out
In the early 1930s the Sisters began to move out from
Italy so that, following the example of St. Paul, we could continue our mission
in every corner of the earth. Today, our sisters can be found on five
continents and in 50 nations with a total of 260 communities worldwide.
The Pauline Institute has 2,560 members and about 300
young women in formation. This international aspect of our Institute encourages
a great love and respect for the diversity among cultures, and an emphasis on
inculturation.
Over the years our ministry has continued to develop and
change as society has changed. Our founder encouraged us to learn and make use
of the new forms of media as they emerged.
This spirit of change and adaptability is essential to
the character of our Institute.
It gives us a very positive outlook on the future, and
the courage to welcome the challenge of speaking about God in new ways to the
people of each new generation.