"Let Nothing Disturb You"

“Am I not here, I, who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Do you need anything more? Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.” ~ Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Saint Juan Diego on Mount Tepeyac in 1531

Just this very morning, someone I've known for years asked me to tell the story of ultimately how FrassatiUSA came to be.  After I finished recounting the highlights, she said quite puzzled, "I have no idea why I asked you that today."  I found the timing of her rather out-of-the-blue question quite interesting, given that FrassatiUSA will celebrate 14 years of existence in just a few days.  What made this friend suddenly curious?

I've come to recognize situations like that one as little inspirations of the Holy Spirit.  For whatever reason, this morning my friend was supposed to hear the story and I was supposed to spend some time reflecting on the journey I have been making with Blessed Pier Giorgio these many years.  What a journey!

It began on a tearful note. I cried in the airport till my eyes were swollen as I said goodbye to close friends the day I left the United States for Italy in 2006.  There is still some consolation in knowing that Pier Giorgio sobbed uncontrollably in the train station as he said goodbye to his sister Luciana after her wedding.  Neither one of us, I suppose, handled those types of situations well.  When I returned home three months later, however, those tears were long gone.  The process of making FrassatiUSA a legal entity was aided by a few good friends and the work of spreading the spirituality of Blessed Frassati was underway.

Being under the shadow and protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe all these years has been as snug of a refuge as Juan Diego's tilma was for that miraculous bunch of roses from Tepeyac.  Not every experience has been good but every experience has been used for good.  If Pier Giorgio is better known today than he was before and if his life is inspiring anyone to strive for the heights of holiness thanks to the efforts of FrassatiUSA, then every experience has been worthwhile. 

One day on that first trip back in 2006, I was in the Vatican post office to the right of the main entrance for Saint Peter's Basilica.  An elderly nun was inside at an information desk.  After buying stamps, I walked over and asked her about the banners on the facade of the basilica.  A canonization was scheduled for the next day, she said.  Then she reached into her purse (that was a sight!), pulled out a ticket and handed it to me.  It was the first canonization ceremony I ever attended.  There have been others over the years, each memorable in its own way. But I'm still waiting, working and praying for "the one."  I imagine many of you are, too.

In the meantime, there is plenty of room in the hollow of Our Lady's mantle.  Find a good spot and let nothing disturb you.

Verso l'alto!  ///cmw

p.s.  Can you chip in $14 to help us meet our end-of-year goal?  Everything we do, depends on you!  As a small thank you, we'll send you our new magnet featuring the prayer for the canonization of Blessed Frassati.  Grazie!