By Lui Leiofi Sueina SDB

Valdocco, Mary Help of Christians Basilica, Italy, 28 September 2024 - I have been reflecting on the spiritual life, journey, and prayerful devotion of Mary Domenica Mazzarello, FMA. While I won't go into details about her life, I want to share my personal experiences during our visit to her birthplace, Mornese, and all the places where she was and worked.

We spent a day and a half in Mornese, where Mary Domenica was born. The Sisters warmly welcomed us with lunch and then showed us around Mary’s family home. Her birth house has been restored, and her family likely lived there until 1849. We also visited the Church dedicated to Mary Domenica Mazzarello, built by her former students, and now called the Sanctuary. It was consecrated on 4 August 1872. Nearby is a chapel dedicated to Mary Help of Christians and St Stephen, built by the Mazzarelli as thanks for their protection during a cholera epidemic in 1835-1836. The chapel was blessed on 24 May 1843, the Feast Day of Mary Help of Christians.

The next day, we visited the Valponasca farmhouse. Historically, their house was crowded, so Mary’s father decided to move the family to Valponasca, which had been rented for 18 years. From a window in this house, Mary could just barely see the steeple or the cross of the church. This view helped her make a spiritual communion, as she longed to attend Mass daily. It was here, at Valponasca, that Mary Domenica began preparing to join the Daughters of Mary Immaculate.

While we all know the story of Mary Domenica, I want to share how these places and her story touched my heart. Walking on the ground where she once walked, and touching the places where she lived, filled me with a deep sense of connection to her life.

Visiting these locations where she grew up and worked, I gained a better understanding of her devotion to helping her family, and the sick, and her strong faith, especially through the Eucharist. I learned many things from her life. For example, her father was an important catechist to her. Once, she asked him, “What did God do before He created the world?” He answered, “God loved Himself, contemplated Himself, and adored Himself.” These teachings brought her closer to God and strengthened her faith.

At Valponasca, she could see Jesus through that small window, despite the distance from the church. Although it was far to visit the Blessed Sacrament every day, when her father bought a house in the village, much closer to the church, she was thrilled. No longer did she have to run to get there—she could walk.

As I walked around the farmhouse, I thought about her life and the lessons she learned. First, that window became her way of communicating with Jesus, reminding her daily to visit Him despite the distance. It became her source of strength. Second, the well where she fetched water before Mass showed her devotion to both her family and God. Even though she longed to visit the Blessed Sacrament, she also wanted to help her family. Mary Mazzarello worked hard, like a man in the family, yet she never forgot the Eucharist. Lastly, the vineyard on the farm symbolizes her diligence. Every morning, she would prepare for Mass, fetch water, attend Mass, and then return home to work. The question for us is: Can we show this same devotion?

In the Church in Mornese, there is a relic of Mary Domenica Mazzarello—a piece of her spine placed under the altar. To signify the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The altar is meant for sacrifice in the Holy Mass. So, her relic is placed under the altar to strengthen the significance of the Blessed Sacrament for her. This honors her deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. The FMA placed it there to inspire everyone to be strong and faithful to the Blessed Sacrament. Mary Domenica Mazzarello passed away at the age of 44.

St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello,

Pray for us.

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