Don Giovanni Merlini and the Institute of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood

by Fr. Giacomo Manzo, cpps.

Only a few know, even among the most attentive readers, observers and devotees of St. Gaspar, Don Giovanni Merlini’s prayer for the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, which was truly the great love of his life.

In this prayer, the first thing Don Giovanni does is to thank the Lord Jesus with all his heart for “that infinite goodness” with which he deigned to call him “into the number of those who militate under the auspices of your most Precious Blood.” Think of it, being a missionary priest is defined by him as “the great grace with which you honored me,” and again “a vocation that I will never bless enough,” and he also explains the reason: “because it is a mystical source of ample blessings for me.” In this prayer, Don Giovanni basically asks for holiness as a priest and as a missionary, and holiness consists in giving one’s whole heart and soul. This is possible only by the work of grace and not by “my own power.” Thus, his spirit bursts out saying, “I want to be yours, all yours and always yours.” This is the holiness of someone who is in love with Christ: “Give me only your holy love: this is enough for me. Yes, my good Lord, by love may I live, by pure love may I die, by love may I be pastured for all eternity.” These words encapsulate the program of his whole life, his dreams and desires, and end of which the profile of every Missionary is presented. In fact, the final part of the prayer is all dedicated to the Congregation that welcomed him “into its loving bosom.” His love for the Institute is so great that he asks that it may be the divine instrument of “manifold religious and civil activities…for the benefit of peoples.” These are beautiful words that we invite you to read, meditate on and pray in their full version.

PRAYER BY VEN. MERLINI FOR THE CONGREGATION

My Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you with all the outpouring of my spirit, for that infinite goodness with which you have deigned to call me into the number of those who militate under the auspices of your most precious Blood. My God, may I ever know better the great grace with which you have honored me. This is a vocation that I cannot bless enough, for it is a mystical source of ample blessings for me. You have detached me from my homeland, relatives, friends, temporal goods and whatever else may allure this wretched humanity, to take possession of my whole heart, my whole soul. Oh! I wish I knew how to correspond to you, as I should, even unto death. But this is not my strength: it is the work of your grace. To this therefore I appeal and this I implore. Let not my malice put an obstacle to your further mercies. I promise, with your holy help, to practice humility, practice obedience, observe the Rules, and to will in all things what you will, just to give you pleasure. How much I feel obliged by the new inspirations You always give me! My God, I realize that You want me to be holy. Be a thousand times blessed! My life is yours: I consecrate it to you entirely and without reservation. I no longer want to live to my desires, but I want to be yours, all yours and always yours. Dispose of me as you please. I gladly accept, for love of you, labors, hardships, travails, scorns, infirmities, crosses, afflictions and whatever else will be your divine blessing throughout the course of my life. Give me only your holy love: that is enough for me. Yes, my good Lord, by love may I live, by pure love may I die, by love may I be pastured for all eternity. But, my Jesus, I must not pray to you only for me. I feel much obliged for the Institute that has received me into its loving bosom. And who am I to worthily render the services it deserves back to it? Lord, make up for my deficiency. Defend it always and strengthen it with Your protection and favor. Make it flourish in virtue and perfection, and animate it effectively with your true spirit. Multiply the foundations where you see the greatest need and copious fruit. Provide them for their needs both in the spiritual and temporal matters. Lead with your holy enlightenment those who were selected as head of the work, so that your highest designs may always and perfectly be fulfilled. Give all members abundance of graces to live closely united with you. Spread your mercies on all the benefactors of our houses. Look with compassion upon so many souls redeemed by you. Grant that all the religious and civil activities that the Institute presents for the benefit of the people may bear many fruits. I still commend to you, oh my God, the pious works so that the fruit of our poor labors may be maintained. Oh, Blood of my Jesus, strengthen my prayers and make me holy! Most Holy Mary, my dear Mother, to you I commend myself, in you I trust. Your prayers must obtain for me every spiritual, temporal and eternal good. Angels of heaven, and particularly you, my guardian angel, present my plea to Jesus and Mary, and let it be fully answered. St. Gaspar, St. Francis Xavier, Saints my advocates and protectors, all Saints of heaven, pray for the Institute, for me, for all. Amen.

“Nel Segno del Sangue” (In the Sign of the Blood) May/June 2019