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Letter 4 of St. Mary
Magdalene de' Pazzi to Very Reverend Father Guardian, Together with the Other Fathers of the Confraternity of St. Francis of Paola [Minims] |
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The Order of Minims was founded in 1436 as the Hermits of St. Francis of
Assisi and sought to be "the least of all the faithful." The Rule contained the distinctive feature of the vow of vita quadragesimalis. This rule imposes perpetual abstinence from all flesh and white meat, except in case of grave illness and by order of a physician. The founder of the Minims, Francis of Paola, died and his feast celebrated on April 2, the date that Catherine de' Pazzi was born.
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(...) I mean that you have been chosen to help dispose creatures for the renewal of Holy Church that He wants realized, and that now the appointed time has come. I say further that this work must begin with the religious, men and women consecrated to Him, and by having them observe the principal vows that they have promised in their profession. Moreover, I am to make known and to bring notice of this will of God to you and to others. | ||
| (...) And, Father Guardian, Your Reverence must know that you, together with the others subject to you, are to look for opportunities, and to seek in all the ways possible to you, to follow the divine inspiration. By your words, try as much as you can to make it known and understood that religious men and women must observe the three vows, as I have said, and to make them see the ignorance and the danger in which they are. Let Your Reverence, together with your subjects, offer yourselves for, and accept the contradictions in, everything that is necessary for this work. Do not fail to give as much help by your words as you give by your example! (...) | |||
| (...) Please clothe yourself, please clothe yourself in the First Truth, and do not bear to see so many sheep lost and left to meet the most rapacious wolves of hell. Rather, help them in every way possible to you; I mean, in making known to them the most holy Sacraments and the word of God, together with all that might come up in the said work, so that they cannot say "I have no man!" [Jn 5:7]. And when you may indeed have to suffer in some way on this account, it should be enough for you that you do not suffer as one guilty of offending God or of doing an injustice, as St. Paul the Apostle says. [Rm 1:18] (...) | |||
| Please be willing Reverend Father, please be willing, as a son of God, to cooperate in replacing peace in the hearts separated from God! (...) Please be willing to act in such a way that all persons may be able to call themselves the children of God, before our glory lies in leading souls to God, and in leading them back to Him. Please do not be willing to deprive yourself of such glory, God of such honor, and souls of such salvation! Please, most dear Father, do not permit negligence! Let charity burn, burn in your breast, in making known the precious jewel of poverty; I mean, in making it known to those who have made profession of it. Please be willing to act in such a way that the word need not be fulfilled which the First Truth spoke (...) | |||
| From our monastery of Saint
Mary of the Angels near Saint Fredian's, July 28, 1586.
The humble handmaid of the Word Made Flesh |
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| from: The Complete Works of St. Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi (Vol 1) translation by Gabriel Pausback,, O. Carm. |
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