Marello & Mary - A Journey Together

This month of May, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a good opportunity to reflect on the deep connection between St. Joseph Marello and Mary. It is a connection he very probably began as a little boy, learning it from his mother and continuing it through his childhood, especially nurturing it with the loss of his mother and the desire for that motherly love that Mary so generously gives those who rely on her. Is it purely his father’s idea to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Savona to celebrate the completion of his childhood schooling and find there the courage to pursue his vocation as a priest? Or rather is it the continued growth of a spiritual relationship that looks to Mary to guide the most important discernments in his life?

That this devotion to Mary continues can only be confirmed as he lay in the throws of typhoid fever in Turin, seeking still to pursue a Christian calling, but outside the seminary. While one could attribute his interior experiences as purely products of the fever, it cannot be without significance, that even in these moments of human frailty, his inner thoughts turn to Mary, find in her light and comfort – which when heeded brought about a physical recovery and a return to a priestly vocation. From that point on his seminarian writings are regularly punctuated by references to Mary, calling upon her aide, pointing her out to others, making her a sure fixture in his spiritual life. As a young priest, continuing to grow spiritually, he focuses his devotion very particularly on two aspects of Mary that will become prominent in his relationship to her. The first is the Immaculate Conception – Mary the grace filled and holy, the perfect fruit of God’s mercy, filled and therefore overflowing with graces to all who turn to her. Mary in her immaculate purity of total focus on God, excluding all sin, remaining faithful and fruitful all her earthly life and continuing to be a fountain of grace and holiness from her glory, is a strong pillar of Marello’s love for Mary and reliance on her.

The other aspect of Mary is that of Our Lady of Sorrows – the “Addolorata”, so lovingly united to her Son that she share with Him in His Passion, her heart united to His, the model of all who deeply love Jesus and desire His salvation. It is in this passionate sharing in the sacrifice of her Son that Marello sees the path of union, heartfelt, generous to the point of self-sacrifice, unafraid of suffering, utterly inseparable from Jesus. It is a reliance on Mary as a path to Jesus, to His mercy and salvation, to His transforming love, to hope in Him above and beyond all earthly hopes. It is Mary who walks with frail, suffering human beings so that they may find the love and grace of Jesus and not despair in their struggles.

Of course, for Marello, his devotion to Mary is also together with his devotion to her spouse, St. Joseph. The two are not separable! To love and honor one, to be in deep personal connection with one, is to love and honor and seek deep personal connection with the other. Admiring St. Joseph, one cannot omit to turn to Mary, the love and joy of his life in serving Jesus. To admire Mary and be her son, cannot be without embracing the partner of her heart, Joseph.

Marello transmitted his love of Mary to his Oblates – urging them precisely as sons of Joseph, to likewise be all the more sons of Mary, the Immaculate and Sorrowing Mother of grace. Marello, taking the motto of “Iter para tutum” upon becoming a Bishop, placed all his service to the Church and the people of Acqui, under the care of her who had been his guide and support since his earliest days. It also cannot be without meaning that virtually his last act before leaving this life, was to once again visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Savona, concluding his life’s journey where he once found its beginning, at the feet of Mary, into whose hands he commended his life and eternity.

Points for Reflection

• How authentic and deep is my devotion to Mary? Who is she to me and what role does she play in my spiritual life?

• How consistent am I in the daily prayer of the Rosary, honoring her Feast days, big and small, particularly those connected to her Immaculate Conception and to her role as Our Lady of Sorrows?

• Do I have particular devotions of my own to Mary that are meaningful and practical in my life?

• Do I understand and spiritually embrace the intrinsic connection between Mary and Joseph, honoring them as the Holy Spouses?

• How much do I encourage others in their devotion to Mary, speak of her, invite others to get to know her and pray to her?

• What more can I do to grow in my personal spiritual connection to Mary?