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BLESSED DON GIOVANNI CALABRIA

"Champion of evangelistic charithy"

Who was Don Calabria?
He was a nice clergyman from Verona, who died fourthy years ago, he deeply loved God and the young. Pope Paul VI said of him that: "Don Calabria was one of the most particular clergyman of our century. He spent his life in poverty, trusting in Providence and taking care of those in need of help...

Why do so many people speak about him?
Because they have learnt how good he was and how absolute his faith in God was. Although he used to say of himself: "I am poor priest, a big nothing", he has been known all over the world as a priest who deeply loved God and the poor.

How did he understand what his path was?
He spent his life looking after people who were poorer than him. He prayed a lot and tusted a priest, a friend of his. He had a great faith, which he tried to give everyone. He was so sure that you should live abandoned in God and you should never feel alone even in the unhappiest moments of your life because god always leads you.

Did he have any problems when he was young ?
Yes, he did like other his youths. He was dedicate and was not always understood by his Superior. He met difficulties in studies. His father's death forced him to lead a poor life. So he had a lot of troubles which made him so sympathetic that he decided to take care of the needs of the poor.

How did he become a clergyman ?
He lived according to the Gospel day by day. He prayed a lot and was charitable towards his brothers. Even if he didn't do very well at school he was so good that his Superiors allowed him to enter priesthood. They said: "We admitted so many bright youths, let a very good one enter".

So he became e priest but why did he take care of the poor?
That was the question he was put when he took some deserted children in his house. According to conformist people it was not proper for a clergyman to look after dirty and unpolite youths. Howewer, Don Calabria saw in them figure of Christ. Since his life aimed at loving him, it was as if he took Christ in his house. In the suffering eyes and faces of those children he saw Christ.

How was Don Calabria institution estabilished?
He was still a young seminarist when, on his way back home in a cold night of november, he found a scared young boy waiting for him in front of his house. He had run away from those who beat and took advantage of him. Don Calabria let him come in and gave him his bed, while he slept on the floor next to his mother's bed instead.

What is Don Calabria institution?
It is a religiuos family, present all over the world, made up of Brothers, Sisters, Priest, laymen and laywomen. They carry out evangelization and aim at improving life conditions of those in need og help and at person promotion.

What is Don Calabria's message?
Faith in God and the Gospel are the base of our life. Some of this thoughts were:
- We must live as "Living Gospel", this is the only way of saving mankind.
- You trust God or you don't. If you don't, tear the Gospel
- We must love the poor as we love God.
- The Gospel is not abstract but we must put into practice its teachings.
- Approch the youths as if you approach Christ.
- Christ is still living among us in the poor.
- In the face of a poor you can see Christ's face.
- We must be "Living Gospels", don't follow the way of thinking of those who say a lot but do nothing.
- Even if at first sight youths do not appear so, they represent the great masterpiece of God's love.
- Our wealth, our riches are only based on the Gospel put into practice.

Tonight I found out the real meaning of the Gospel...
Monsognor Chiot said: "One day I receveid a note from Don Calabria" in which he wrote:"I must see you. I went in hurry to San Zeno in Monte and when I arrived I asked him:"Is there something wrong ? I was worried about you". "Not at all" Don Calabria radiant with joy answered and carried on:"I must tell you something very important... I read the whole Gospel". "Nothing else?" Mons. Chiot replied a little suprised and carried on: "What priest has never read the Gospel?" and Don Calabria: "Off course. I read it several times and preached it too: however, the night before yesterday after an unhappy day I decided to read it again and again during the whole night. I felt something strange. I was surprised and bewildered. What a great thing is Gospel! Listen, listen"he turned the pages, he jumped and stopped whenever he had underlined something clearly."Listen, do not worry about food, about clothes, do not worry your Holy Father Knows... think, God our Father". He carried on turning and turning again those pages real l y entranced. He had particularly underlined the "paradoxes" of the Gospel: They are so opposite to current values that they seem impractible. However, they are not so for a saint. God deeply conquered his soul. "Conversion to the Gospel" would lead all his life.

How did he put into practice that conversion?
Don Calabria used to say: " All the words are consacratory". It means that if we trust Christ's words:
"This is my body and this is my blood" we must also trust Christ's other words (i.e.)
"Do not trouble... do not worry...your Father thinks of you.
"Who accepts a child like this accepts me.
"I was hungry and you gave me some food".
According to Don Calabria's faith this meant that Christ is present not only in the Eucharist but also in the poor.
"You did it to me" these are consacratory words.
"Do something good without thinking to have something back". These are also consacratory words.
"Go and get close to your brother". Even there are consacratory words.
"Love your enemies too". These again are consacratory words.
"I give a new commandment: love each other as I loved you". These also are consacratory words.
This is not the eleventh comandament, this is a "new" one from New Testament, which improves the Law. For those who want to follow Christ this is the only commandament... the others are Mose's. This new commandament summarize them all.

How did his faith lead his life?
He strongly believed: "Those who take care of all do not need to go to church: an ill person represents Christs with his suffering". This is the literal translation of chapter 25 of the Gospel according to S. Matthew. This strong belief was always present in his life. He was a young clergyman when he took in his home the scared young gipsy and gave him his bed: he was Christ! When he was a chaplain at S. Stephen Church he cared for the young chimney-sweepers who came from the mountains during winter time. They were exploited and alone. They were Christ! Whenever he passed through Porta Borsari he used to give alms to a poor beggar and when some friends of his expressed their disapproval of it he answered:"He may be Christ. When a Superior of a religoius house spoke to him about his great economical problems, after thinking he answered: "Here Providence is putting us to the utmost test. I have nothing else to give you but a bilion". He gave him deserted child. He was Christ! When giving a mentally ill boy the brothers of Negar Hospital he told them:"Take care of him. These are our riches. These are our bilions". He was Christ!

Who are the religious who work for Don Calabria Institution
They are clergyman, brothers and sisters who have understood the message of lovegiven by the Gospel and they want to live according to Don Calabria's teachings. They trust God, they are charitable and give help to the poor and needy. They are supported in their work by laymen and laywomen.

What does religious mean?
A relugious is a person who was understood and experienced God's love. Since it is a great gift and treasure he tries to make the others experience it. Besides he testifies it with his way of life. He lives in poverty, in chastity and obedience.

Is it difficult to be a religious ?
You need to have a great heart, love Christ and your brothers and live being sure that God loves you. So everything becomes easy and beautiful.

How many are the religious of Don Calabria institution ?
The brothers are 300 and the sister are 100. They are organized in communities all over the world. Living in a community is the best way of experiencing brotherhood.

Where can you find Don Calabria Institution?
Sono in Italia, in Brasile, in Argentina, in Uruguay, in Paraguay, in Cile, in Angola, in Colombia, nelle Filippine, in Russia e in India.

Who does Don Calabria Institution care?
Don Calabria loved everyone but he particualrly loved the poor and the needy. So Don Calabria institution helps the young with troubles the elderly, the "meninos da rua", the ill, the dropouts, the lepers, the prisoners, the disabled and the drug-addicts. Don Calabria institution works for Hospitals, Parieshes, Leper Hospitals, Prisons, School particularly, Technical ones, drug-addict Centres, Vocational Institution, Seminars, Social service centres particularly for families, Houses for deserted children, disabled Institution, job cooperative Societies for troubled people, social assistance Centres for the dropouts and mentally ill, Ecumenical Institutions, Prayer Houses.

Can you cooperate with Don Calabria institution without being a religious?
There are several associations linked to Don Calabria institution. There is a "Family of Outside Brothers" created by Don Calabria himself and considered an integral part of the institution itself. It consists of men and women who live according to Don Calabria's spirit and teachings and so they are involved in charity work. However, they have their own jobs and they live in their families.

"Associazione Ex Allievi". An association of former students, which gathers all those who lived in some Don Calabria centre and want they experienced.

"Spazio Fiorito". An Association formed by groups of young people and families who organize educational spiritual and social activities. They aimed representing the evangelic spirit of the institution.

"U.M.M.I. Unione Medico Missionaria Italiana". An association formed by a group of Italian doctors who work in underdeveloped countries. It cooperates with hospitals medical Care Centres and Volunteer Associations. It is involved in training medical and nurse staff. "Medicina e Missioni" (Medicine and Missionares) is a magazine edited by this association, which is also concerned with raising money for "F.I.B., Fondo Infanzia Bisognosa", a fund for needy and poor children.

"Francesco Perez". A volunteer association which coordinates all the activities of volunteers working for our institution. Volunteering is one of the best way of putting oneself at Christ's disposal and of showing the gratuitousness of love.

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