MY PERSONAL CRUSADE AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TO SACRO CUORE

The months prior to our European tour for the promotion of my book "Be Your Own Boss! The Puka King Story" was filled with much preparation and prayers for its success.

On September 2, 2007, my son Howard and I embarked on a 43-day European journey that took us to 11 countries and 18 cities aimed with a positive purpose and mission; which was to inspire our OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) and their dependents, especially the youth with my own true to life story of hard work.

With the kind help and assistance of many of our Philippine Ambassadors, Consul Generals, OWWA Officers, Labor Attaches in London, Rome, Geneva, Milan, Madrid and Barcelona, we were able to talk directly to the community leaders and the OFW groups themselves. Even the managers of Bank of Philippine Islands in Rome and Milan facilitated our meeting with several OFW groups in their respective areas, for which I sincerely acknowledge with thanks.

Likewise, my sincerest thanks to H.E. Ambassador Edgardo Espiritu who kindly arranged my meetings and conferences with leaders of the Filipino Community in London and the Batangas Association in England.

In most of my discussions with our countrymen, I emphasized the importance of sustaining traditional Filipino values like courage, determination, good character, discipline, hard work, ambition, persistence, honesty, frugality, and unwavering faith in God. Combined with proper budgeting and prudent savings from their incomes, their sacrifices and long struggles will eventually bear fruit and not be wasted.

These are self-help traits I culminated from my own valuable experiences; that is to start by adopting the can-do attitude of helping one to help ourselves, strengthened by faith and the firm decision to just do it.

Along the way in Zurich, we visited our family friend, Mr. and Mrs. Reto and Rachel Braun. Mr. Reto Braun is the Chairman and CEO of Earth Council Geneva Switzerland with a global presence in more than 70 countries promoting and teaching people to preserve and protect the environment while actively supporting the education of the youth.

Apart from the inspirational purpose of promoting positive working values, our trip was likewise a resounding spiritual success. I'm almost certain that the Sacred Heart of Jesus was always present to spiritually guide us to wherever He wanted us to go.

Our hectic schedule in France didn't allow us time and an opportunity to visit Paray-le-Monial, the Holy Site where the Visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were revealed to St. Mary Alacoque.

Instead, we met with our dear friend, the internationally famous Filipino Healer priest, Father Fernando Suarez in Milan and Rome. On October 6, Fr. Suarez graciously celebrated a special Mass at St. Peter's Basilica inside the Vatican for me, my son Howard, Norma Macalindong, a Filipino councilor in Rome and 3 other Filipino couples from California.

He likewise accommodated us with a guided Royal Tour inside the splendidly huge Vatican Church. It was here, where I saw the beautiful and moving portrait of the Visions of the Sacred Heart to St. Mary Alacoque.

After that, we had a breakfast meeting with our amiable and kind Ambassador H.E. Philippe Lhuillier at his residence where we and Fr. Suarez discussed lengthily the many problems besetting our OFW particularly, the effects of culture shock, psychological depression, and family-separation related issues and how they can be addressed soonest.

I feel very fortunate and thank the Sacred Heart of Jesus for that special opportunity of having obtained a special blessing from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on the last day of his vacation on September 30, directly from the balcony of his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.

Definitely, our journey to the International Temple of the Sacred Heart (Sacro Cuore) was the most memorable and spiritually fulfilling part of our European trip. This is one special place I'll never forget for the rest of my life.

Never in my wildest dream did I ever imagine that when I started to sell statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to sustain myself when I was a student, I would on this very day set foot on this most beautiful and majestic Sacro Cuore Temple built by St. Giovanni John Bosco to personally honor and thank His Most Sacred Heart.

Upon entering, I was deeply moved at the sight of a life size image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which seemed to smile and look upon me as I prayed before Him. The Sacred Heart knew what was in my heart as I joyfully give thanks and praise for all the many blessings He continuously provide for my family.

There is also a special Altar for the Blessed Mother, Mary Help of Christians. It is but a fitting tribute to the humility and great love our Blessed Mother has for us Her Children in union with Her Son Jesus.

I now understood what my Filipino guides were telling me that Sacro Cuore is a special place of worship and fellowship for Filipino workers stationed in Rome. This Church is so special that it even holds a Mass in Philippine language once daily for Filipino devotees. It was in this special Church, where we attended several Masses including the First Friday Mass of 5th October.

Truly, I can say that if you consecrate your life, give your love and total devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart will be fulfilled in your life as it was fulfilled in my own. The true secret of my success in life is none other than the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you prioritize Him in all your endeavors, He will bless all your undertakings and assure you of His immense blessings.

My inspirational visit to Sacro Cuore Temple has all the more strengthened my resolve to continue in our collective efforts to erect a suitably imposing image of the Sacred Heart set on top of the highest point in Batangas City, Philippines.

Through the kind assistance of His Eminence Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, and with the full cooperation of Fr. Fernando Suarez, an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is planned to be installed within the proposed Montemaria Shrine project in Batangas City.

By Divine Providence and with your continued prayers, these projects will be accomplished in His time in accordance with God's Will just as the construction of Sacro Cuore was fully completed in 7 difficult but fruitful years by St. John Bosco.

Whatever difficult trials and unbearable hardships one may encounter in life, the final destination of our journey is to be united with God. Let the Sacred Heart of Jesus be your guide into your spiritual journey to God.


HERNANDO M. VITAS
Chairman and CEO
The Providence-Vitas Foundation, Inc.
Author, BE YOUR OWN BOSS! THE PUKA KING STORY
Website: www.pukaking.com

SACRED HEART OF JESUS IN THE THEOLOGY OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

"And since there is in the Sacred Heart, a symbol and sensible image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love one another, therefore it is fit and proper that we should consecrate ourselves to His most Sacred Heart; an act which is nothing else than an offering and binding of oneself to Jesus Christ, seeing that whatever honor, veneration and love is given to this Divine Heart is really and truly given to Christ Himself."

Pope Leo XIII
ANNUM SACRUM
Encyclical on Consecration to the Sacred Heart

SACRED HEART: GOD'S WORD ADDRESSED TO US

Theology is, first of all, God's Word addressed to us. Apply this immediately to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The pierced Heart of the Crucified is God speaking a word to us, a word carved out in the Flesh of Jesus' side by the soldier's lance. It is the Divine Love of God laid bare for all to see: "God stepping out of His hiddenness."

When we speak of a theology of the Sacred Heart we mean this first of all: not our discourse about love, but the love of God revealed first to us, the poem of love that issues forth from the Heart of God. This is exactly what St. John, whom the Eastern tradition calls, "The Theologian," says in his First Letter: "In this is Love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the expiation for our sins" (1 Jn 4:10).

The difficulty here is that, in order to receive this word inscribed in the flesh of the Word, (cf. Jn 1:14), we have first to stop in front of it, to linger there and to look at the wound of love. "They shall look on Him Whom they have pierced" (Jn 19:37).

To contemplate is to look, not with a passing glance, but with the gaze of one utterly conquered by love. Jeremiah says, "You have seduced me, O Lord, and I was seduced; You are stronger than I, and You have prevailed" (20:7).

The call to be an adorer and an apostle of the Sacred Heart is addressed to every Christian. The apostle is, in essence, the bearer of a word, one sent forth and entrusted with a message.The image that the apostle carries into the world is the one he has learned by looking along with the eyes of adoration at the pierced Heart of the Crucified Christ.

The Word of Crucified Love is hard to pronounce - not with our lips but with our lives. Adoration is the school wherein one learns how to say the Sacred Heart. It is in adoration that the apostle receives the Word of the pierced Heart that, in turn become His Life's message.

Adoration and apostleship of the Sacred Heart together model a spirituality accessible to all Christians: the word received in adoration is communicated in the dynamism of one sent forth with something to say.

SACRED HEART: OUR WORD ADDRESSED TO GOD

Theology is, in the second place, our word addressed to God. Applying this also to the Sacred Heart of Jesus we see that all we could possible want to say to God has already been uttered and is being said eternally through the "mouth" of Christ's glorious pierced Heart in heaven. It is through the Sacred Heart that the Blood of Christ speaks "more graciously than the blood of Abel" (Heb 12:24).

The Letter to the Hebrews puts it this way: "Christ is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through Him, since He lives forever to make intercession for them" (7:25).

Christ exercises His priesthood of intercession in the "inner sanctuary behind the veil" (Heb 6:19) by presenting to the Father the glorious wounds in His hands, His feet and His side. The wound in the side of Christ, "great High Priest over the House of God' (Heb 10:21), speaks to the Father on our behalf. It is our word addressed to God.

At the core of devotion to the Sacred Heart is a passing-over into the prayer of Christ to the Father, a long apprenticeship to silence by which we begin to let the Heart of Christ speak in us and for us to the Father.

The mystics of the Sacred Heart, in particular St. Gertrude and St. Mechtilde, speak of offering the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the Father. This means allowing His Sacred Heart to speak for us, to pray in us, to pray through us, taking comfort in what the Scripture says, "that we have not a high priest who is unable to symphatize without weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Heb 4:15).

This suggest a simple way of praying, one accessible to all: "Lord Jesus, I come to be silent in Your Presence, trusting that Your Heart will speak for me, knowing that all I could ever want to say, that all I would ever need to say, is spoken eternally to the Father by Your Sacred Heart."

In this way, everything that prayer can or should express - adoration, praise, thanksgiving, supplication and reparation - finds it most perfect expression.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart, thus understood, is a manifestation in the Church of the Holy Spirit, "helping us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought" (Rom 8:26). The Sacred Heart is, in the life of the Church, the organ by which "the Spirit intercedes for the Saints according to the Will of God (Rom 8:27).

Cardinal Ratzinger wrote: "We have seen who Jesus is if we see Him at prayer. The Christian confession of faith comes from participating in the prayer of Jesus, from being drawn into His prayer and being priveleged to behold it; it interprets the experience of Jesus' prayer and its interpretation is correct because it springs from a sharing in what is most personal and intimate to Him.

This is the prayer of the Sacred Heart, the prayer that filled the days and nights of Jesus' earthly life, the prayer that suffused His sufferings and ascended from the Cross at the hour of His death, the prayer that with Him descended into the depths of the earth, the prayer that continues uninterrupted in the glory of His risen and ascended life, the prayer that is ceaseless in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.

Cardinal Ratzinger further wrote that "by entering into Jesus' solitude" and "only by participating in what is most personal to Him, His communication with the Father, can one see what this most personal reality is: only thus can one penetrate to His identity." The Sacred Heart represents and invites us into what is most personal to Jesus: His communication with the Father.

In words that today sound almost prophetic, Cardinal Ratzinger concluded that "the person who has beheld Jesus' intimacy with His Father and has come to understand Him from within is called to be a rock of the Church. The Church arises out of participation in the prayer of Jesus (cf. Lk 9:18-20; Mt 16:13-20),"

WORD FROM GOD, WORD TO GOD, WORD FOR THE WORLD

Word of God addressed to us, word addressed to God, word of the Church addressed to the world: herein lies one approach to a theology of the Sacred Heart. The Liturgy remains it primary articulation. Together with the Liturgy of the Hours for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the 12 Biblical Texts provided for the Mass - a First Reading, Psalm, Second Reading and Gospel become a fundamental resource, an inexhaustible treasure waiting to be mined for every one called to hear, to pray and to offer the healing word that is the pierced Heart.

The Sacred Heart is the Heart of God laid bare for man: Word from God. It is a human Heart lifted high on the Cross: Word to God. It is the Heart of the Church open to all who seek, to all who thirst, to every lost sheep waiting to be found and carried home: Word for the world.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the full and irrevocable message of the Father to us. It is everything we ever could or should need to say to the Father. It is all we have to say to the Father. It is all we have to say to one another and to the world.

Pope Benedict XVI, writing in 1981 as Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, challenges us to nothing less: "In the Heart of Jesus, the center of Christianity is set before us. It expresses everything, all that is genuinely new and revolutionary in the new Covenant. This Heart calls to our heart. It invites us to step forth out of the futile attempt of self preservation and, by joining in the task of love, by handing ourselves over to Him and with Him, to discover the fullness of love which alone is eternity and which alone sustains the world."

Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby, O. Cist. is a Cisterian monk of the Abbey of the "Santa Croce in Gerusalemme," which is located in Rome. He serves as Chaplain to the Benedictines of Jesus Crucified at the Monastery of the Glorious Cross, in Connecticut. He has published extensively on many topics related to sacramental theology, and particular on the nature of sung prayer.

BASILICA DEL SACRO CUORE: A GUIDED TOUR

"In this Temple My Eyes and My Heart
will always be waiting for You"

This Basilica was wanted and prioritized by two Popes: Pio IX and Leone XIII. With the help of the dioceses in the world, it was built by San Giovanni Bosco (St. John Bosco) on a project of the Count Francesco Vespignani, architect of the Holy Buildings from 1881-1887.

It was patterned in the Bramante Style, Latin Cross Shaped, constructed with classical timeless elegance. The majestic Church was built on the Esquillino Hill in Rome within the Aurelian walls. Its bell tower is the highest point in Rome. This was the first parish Church built after the capture of Rome and it became a parish in February 2, 1879.

On the right side, you can find Confalonieri's marble statue of Pope Pio IX, friend of Don Bosco, who was responsible for the acquisition of the land on Esquillino Hill on where the Temple was to be built. Over this statue is an admirable portrait of Pope Leone XIII, who wanted Don Bosco to build this Church.

Follows the S. Maria Domenica Mazzarello altar who founded with Don Bosco, the Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice (Mary the Helper's Daughters). Her portrait is from Crida, 1966. Originally the altar was dedicated to S. Luigi.

After that is of S. Francesco di Sales, the patron of the Salesian Family and of the journalist. Over the altar you can see a picture from Piombi; as homage from Don Bosco to Cardinal Parocchi, Vicar of Leone XIII after the consecration of the Church in 14th May 1887.

At the end of the right side the altar of S. Giuseppe, coming from the "100 priests" Church nearby Sisto Bridge. In 1884, it was the high altar in the Chorus, already used for the celebrations while they were building the rest of the Church; here Don Bosco celebrated Mass very often.

Originally Pio IX, who bought the ground to build this Church, wanted to dedicate it to S. Giuseppe, by himself proclaimed the Universal Church Patron (February 8, 1970). After an intelligent discussion about the devotion to the Holy Heart of Jesus by Father Antonio Maresca, he changed his mind dedicating it to the Holy Heart of Jesus. The picture over the altar, located there in 1893, is from Giuseppe Rollini, ex-pupil of Don Bosco in Valdocco.

Over the door towards the Sacristy, there is a tablet to commemorate the date of the Church Consecration on May 14, 1887.

The main centerpiece is the High Altar, coming from the town of Siena. It was taken down from the Church of S. Francesco to be restored and it was sold, together with other marbles to Don Bosco.

With a height of 16 meters, the columns are exquisitely made of alabaster, while the rest of the Altar is made of precious California marbles.

The Holy Tabernacle is of great value for its precious marbles and precious stones. In it was kept for ten years, some unaltered Hosts of an Eucharistic Miracle.

At the center of the Altar is a rendition from Francesco de Rohden (1817-1903), this master painter was the last of the so-called Nazarenes painters. The wall behind the Altar was built in 1969 by Ficini the architect and Mariani the painter to separate the Church from the chorus.

The organ built around another one, was given as a gift to Don Bosco in 1884 from Bernasconi. It was inaugurated three days before the Church Consecration performed by some of the most skillful organ masters in Italy. It was repaired many times from 1970 to 1985. It is still currently under repair. It was defined as one of the best organ during its period. Although out of order, there is a project for its restoration.

To the sides of the Altar, are five lamps burning as they represent the five continents. The Siena and Trento marbles floor and the Altar front were executed by architect Ficini. The dome was painted by Virginio Monti (1852-1942), representing the glorification of the Holy Heart. The above transparent covering was placed on June 7, 1991.

From this point, turning around you see that the Church is Latin Cross shaped, and the ceiling is rich in frescoes and pictures. At the transept, in the centre you can see the Salesian Congregation Shield made of wood by Andrea Bevilacqua. The roofs frescoes are all by Virginio Monti.

Going on in the nave, the eight Basento granite columns can be sighted. The dimensions of this Church is 28 meters in length and 30 meters in width. Don Bosco wanted to change the original plan and added 28 meters to its length.

On the two sides of the nave, there are bishops, popes, patriarchs and Fathers of the Church busts, which indicate the universality of the Temple.

Above are painted the Twelve Prophets by Cesare Caroselli (1847-1927). He also made the Apostles and the Evangelists frescoes that are placed on the pendentives of the transept and on the nearby walls.

In the center of the ceiling of the nave stands out the Holy Heart carved in golden wood by Andrea Bevilacqua, also the author for all the other wooden bass reliefs.

Over the main door, there is a tablet which explains the reason for the name of the Church. Above there are three stained glass windows representing Jesus, St. Peter and St. Paul. The Salesian College of Alassio gave as gifts the two nearby holy-water basins.

Turning right, we find a precious Carrara marble baptistery by Petertongo, which was a gift from the Trento diocese. the surrounding panels about the Baptism are valuable.

Forward is S. Anna and S. Gioacchino Altar, with a painting from Guido Guidi (1991), S. Luca academician. Ahead, we find S. Giovanni Bosco and S. Domenico Savio Altar. Noteworthy are the two exceptional columns coming from an ancient Roman temple, it was a present from a rich family. The lower part was remade in occasion of Don Bosco canonization by architect Guerra Baldellie. The expenses for the renovations was paid for by a rich Roman family.

The painting is by Giuseppe Crida (1934), who also made the Candoglia marble bass reliefs. The Tabernacle is adorned with precious stones.

At the end of the aisle, we find Maria Ausiliatrice's (Mary the Helper) Altar. It was originally installed at St. Teresa's Church, situated in the corner between Via XX Settembre and Via della Consulta. Then it was taken down and lodged in Villa Torlonia (in Via Nomentana) until finally installed in this church.

The center painting is by Giuseppe Rollin, who painted the picture of S. Giuseppe too, he was inspired by Our Lady of Ovverbuk. The diadems crown and the sceptre (blessed by Giovanni XXIII on his deathbed in 1961) were placed there by the Cardinal Paolo Marella in the name of the Vatican Chapter on May 31, 1963.

It was in this Altar where Don Bosco celebrated the Holy Mass on May 16, 1887. Here he stopped for fifteen times crying, realizing the words of his nine year dream "At the right time you will understand everything." At this Altar, as he was reviewing his life, he understood the meaning of these words. On May 16, 1987 a tablet was placed to commemorate its centennial anniversary.

History of the Front of the Church

Don Bosco invited Leone XIII to be responsible for the building of the front, but for many reasons, he was unable to do it. So the Italian Catholics decided to make a national vow for its building, thanking God for having avoided the cholera plague in 1885. Financial contributions came from all the bishops and many public institutions.

Finished in neoclassical style in Travertino marble from Tivoli, crafted by artists such as Benzoni, Pantorese and Baroni who worked on it. The stained glass windows are a work of the Mosaic Company of Venice. The Leone XIII shield is by Geipi.

The statues of the saints which crows the front of the Church should have been four: S. Francesco di Sales by Baroni, S. Agostino by Pantorese, S. Teresa and S. Margherita Alacoque, these last two ones have never been done. The two angels under the Cross are by Angelo Benzoni.

In the BASILICA DEL SACRO CUORE, the following dates are solemnly celebrated:

The First Friday of the Month
The 24th of the Month: MARIA AUSILIATRICE
The Last Month of the Year: DON BOSCO
The EUCHARISTIC ADORATION on Tuesday at 4:30 PM

MASSES TIMETABLE

Daily at Mornings 6:00 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00
Evening Masses 17:30 19:00

Holidays at Mornings 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:30
Afternoon 4:00 PM (Philippines' Mass)
Evenings 5:30 7:00 PM

Here in this Church you can always find two priests for Confession. Being so near to the Central Station, with the daily number of frequent Masses and the possibility to go to Confession, makes it the most accessible and comfortable in all of Rome.

Basilica Parrocchiale
SACRO CUORE DI GESU
Via Marsale, 42 - 00185 ROMA
Tel. 06.4453257
Fax 06.4463352
E-mail: sacrocuore-parrocosdb@donbosco.it
Website: www.basilicadelsacrocuore.it

Parroco: Sac. Policari Enzo, SDB
PARROCCHIA SACRO CUORE DI GESU A CASTRO PRETORIO

NSSH NOVEMBER 2007 SCHEDULE

NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART

NOVEMBER 2007 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

01 Thursday All Saints Day

02 Friday All Souls Day
4:00 PM Mass at the Niches A and B
First Friday Sacred Heart Devotions
Whole Day Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Church
Veneration of the relic of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
7:00 PM Additional First Friday Mass

03 Saturday First Saturday
5:00 AM Dawn Procession in honor of the Blessed Mother

09 Friday
8:30-10:00 AM Free Heart Consultation

10 Saturday
9:00-11:00 AM Free Legal Consultation and SSS Assistance Desk

16 Friday
6:00 PM Healing Mass

17 Saturday
8:00-11:00 AM First Communion Rites for
Francisco Benitez Elementary School

22-24 Thursday to Saturday
6:00 PM Triduum Masses in honor of Christ The King

24 Saturday
Holy Hour after the 6:00 PM Mass

24-26 Saturday to Monday
6:00 PM Triduum Masses for Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

25 Sunday PONDO NG PINOY
CHRIST THE KING Procession after the 6:00 PM Mass

27 Tuesday
6:00 PM Feast Day Mass for Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

29 November to 07 December
6:00 PM Novena Masses to the Immaculate Conception

SACRO CUORE: INTERNATIONAL TEMPLE OF THE SACRED HEART

BASILICA DEL SACRO CUORE

There is a place in Rome where the first waves of Filipino (OCW) Overseas Contract Worker, and especially Filipinas stationed in that city regularly gather for Mass and socialization every Saturday afternoon. That place is the "Instituto Sacro Cuore" and the Church is the adjoining International Temple of the Sacred Heart. They are located just in front of the entrance to the Termini Station, the major railway station of the capital city of Italy dubbed "Eternal City".

The "SACRO CUORE" (Italian for "Sacred Heart") compound, though no longer the only place where Filipinos and Filipinas gather, is sitill very dear to them because it is so near the train station where they often go to welcome kababayans (countrymen) or to see them off as they leave for other Italian cities where they work.

But "Sacro Cuore" is specially dear to thousands of Filipinos because it is in this Church where they find peace of mind and heart. That is why, from a distance, they instinctively look for the majestic statue of the Sacred Heart that towers above the belfry, and which seems to openly welcome them to His Sacred House of worship and sanctuarial refuge.

Securely they feel, deep in their hearts, that inside God's House they will find not only respite from the hassle of the frantic traffic of Via Marsala (the road along the entrance to the Church and the Institute), but they will also have an opportunity to be reconciled with the Lord through a good Confession or simply have a friendly chat with one of the priests who are assigned to their care.

Many of those who frequent this historical Church including most Romans, however, know very little of the history of the Temple. We sketch these brief historical notes not only for the benefit of the Filipinos who reside in Rome, but also for the information of all those who never went to Italy but may heard about this Church, as well as for the benefit of the millions of worldwide devotees of the Sacred Heart.

HOW THE IDEA OF A TEMPLE IN HONOR OF
THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS ORIGINATED

The first idea of having a Temple in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome came from a Barnabite priest: Fr. Antonio Maresca who was the President of the Apostleship of Prayer and Editor of "The Messenger of the Sacred Heart."

Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) not only approved the idea, but also vigorously promoted it personally and even assigned a recently acquired piece of land on the Esquiline Hill as the site of its future construction.

But those were dark days for the Catholic Church in Italy, and especially for the aging and ailing Pontiff who saw himself as a prisoner inside the Vatican since the Italian troops had occupied the whole of the Pontifical State, including the City of Rome. The Holy Pope unfortunately died without being able to see the beginning of the implementation of his plan.

His successor, Pope Leone XIII (1878-1903) expeditiously made the construction of the proposed Temple one of his priorities at the very beginning of his pontificate. Its cornerstone was laid on August 16, 1879. But the work had to be interrupted in 1880 due to the lack of funds.

DON BOSCO COMES INTO THE PICTURE

Having considered several options, the Pope eventually decided to ask Fr. John Giovanni Melchoir Bosco (a priest popularly known in those days as "Don Bosco") to take care of the stalled project.

This humble priest from Piedmont (Northern Italy) had founded a religious congregation for the education and training of young people, especially poor ones, and had acquired the great reputation of being a very successful fundraiser.

This isn't to say that his congregation was awash with money. In fact, right at that time, it was saddled with huge debts incurred in the organization of several missionary expeditions to South America.

But in spite of this seriously critical economic situation of his congregation, Don Bosco accepted the invitation of Pope Leone XIII as a sign of his loyalty to the Vicar of Christ and of his personal devotion to the Sacred Heart. His acceptance of the project, however, had to be ratified by his council. And this is where a seemingly insurmountable difficulty arose.

BLACK PEAS AND WHITE PEAS

When Don Bosco submitted the request of the Pope to his Council, many of the councilors opposed the project simply because they found it to be far above the present financial capabilities of the Congregation. He tried his best to make them realize the honor that such an undertaking would bring to the young Congregation and the spiritual good that such a Church would do.

But when it came to the final deliberation through a secret ballot, the result was: six black peas (negative votes) and only one white pea (positive vote), which obviously, was that of Don Bosco.

The saintly priest smiled as he used to do when faced with great difficulties. He expressed his respect for the result of the votation, although most of those who had voted down his proposal were people he had taken from the streets when they were still very young. He knew they meant well, but he didn't give up right away.

He spoke again to them and with even greater conviction of the need to accept the Pope's proposal. He concluded by telling them, "Let's take another vote. If you give me a yes vote, I can assure you that the Sacred Heart will give us the means to build this Church. He will also enable us to pay all other debts and will likewise give us a beautiful surprise gift; a boarding school to be attached to the Church."

The councilors gasped for breath at the daring words of Don Bosco. Apparently, he was making things more difficult for himself by proposing an additional project. But they knew him all too well. They knew that when Don Bosco spoke that way he was sure of the support of "SOMEONE" who could move mountains. After the young councilors spent some time in silent prayer, they then cast their second vote. The secretary counted seven white peas, and no black ones. The project was approved unanimously!

DREAMING GREATER THINGS THAN THE POPE

That was a moral victory for Don Bosco. He smiled again, this time in gratitude. But that was not all. When they set out to examine in detail the plans prepared by the Pope's architect, the councilors pointed out that the Church would be too small; something not worthy of Rome and the Sacred Heart!

In the end, the very ones who had been most vocal in opposing the project at the beginning, suggested that the Church should be bigger and that the plan for the construction of a boarding school be attached to that of the Church. Don Bosco smiled again with obvious satisfaction.

Shortly after, he traveled back to Rome to present to the Pope not only the formal approval of his request, but also the revised set of plans which included an enlargement of the Church and the construction of an adjoining boarding school.

He concluded his presentation with a confident, inspired smile, asking the Pope to approve and bless the new undertaking. As for the expenses, he could offer just one guarantee: "DIVINE PROVIDENCE" would supply what was needed. At that totally unexpected turn of events, Pope Leo XIII, who had listened to Don Bosco's presentation in utter astonishment, smiled in happy condescension.

DON BOSCO IN ACTION: DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN MOTION

Immediately after, Don Bosco set in full motion, his well-tested "advertising machine". He knocked at the doors of princes and kings; he wrote thousands of circular letters in Italian, French and Spanish, presenting the project, asking for donations and assuring the donors that the Sacred Heart would reward the generosity of the benefactors a hundred fold.

He personally traveled to the main cities of France and Spain, talking to huge congregations in Churches and speaking personally to rich people who could help. Donations continuously kept pouring in to replenish the exhausted funds that were constantly devoured by the ongoing construction.

Not all was smooth sailing. The devil had also set in motion his "demolition campaign" creating obstacles right and left, using the biases of the anticlerical government, the negative insinuations of the Protestant sects that had come to nest on Rome, and which did not leave one stone unturned to oppose or stop the construction of the Temple. The devil used also - believe it or not! - even some Church people and the authors of the previous project to raise difficulties.

Undaunted and persevering, Don Bosco was used to all that. He did not waiver. He kept daring, working indefatigably, and smiling as one who already knew the final outcome.

TEARS OF JOY AND GRATITUDE

And the final outcome was the completion of the construction and the consecration of the "International Temple of the Sacred Heart" in a super record time of seven years! The consecration ceremony took place on 14th April 1887 with the participation of cardinals, bishops, priests and thousands of faithful.

During the solemn Mass, celebrated in the morning by Cardinal Parocchi (the Vicar of the Pope for the diocese of Rome), Don Bosco was in attendance among numerous authorities. During the ceremony those near him saw him burst into tears of consolation more than once. The same situation happened on the 16th of May during the Mass that he celebrated at the Altar of Mary Help of Christians in the newly consecrated Church that had cost him so much sacrifice.

The construction of the International Temple of the Sacred Heart in Rome was Don Bosco's last great undertaking. It took a very heavy toll in his failing health. He passed away in Torino just 8 months later on 31 January 1888. In all truth he could say: "Mission accomplished according to the Divine Will of the Sacred Heart of Jesus."

Mr. Jess P. Balon
THE MESSENGER OF DIVINE LOVE
January-March 2007