One of the unforgettable memories of my vocational journey is the shadowed nave of the splendid Gothic cathedral in my diocese of Crema, Italy. I can still see myself seated in one of the pews, reading the Letters of St. Paul with great passion. I don’t recall whether or not I understood the words I was reading, but I do remember my emotions. That small book, with its simple cover bearing a picture of the Apostle, was the beacon that cast light on my road in life. I was fourteen years old at the time and pedaled 12 km. every day on my bicycle to get from my hometown to school in Crema. One day on my way home, I caught sight of two sisters opening the door to a small bookstore. Yes–I looked again, more carefully this time–it really was a bookstore.
The idea of nuns working in a book store was absolutely new to me and I found it very intriguing. As a result, at the end of every school day I would hasten to see the sisters and perhaps exchange a few words with them. They invited me to pray and tried to explain to me the beauty of the Pauline vocation, and one day they gave me the gift of the Letters of St. Paul. From that day on, Paul became my constant companion. I sincerely believe that my whole life, in spite of my many limitations and mistakes, has been enlightened, guided, comforted and saved by my father and friend, St. Paul.
When I entered the Congregation in Alba, a climate of great fervor permeated the house. Every week saw the arrival of new candidates to swell our ranks. The typography and bindery teemed with activity and we were nurtured with ideas concerning the importance of work and the holiness of the places in which we carried out the apostolate. From time to time, the sister in charge of the technical apostolate would raise her voice above the racket of the machines and call out an ejaculation. I will never forget the joy and sweetness that pervaded my heart at the thought that I was working to produce books that would tell people about God.
The Founder frequently visited our large Alba community and we would all assemble to listen to his meditations. That was a magic moment for us postulants. In those years, one of my favorite classes was the one on St. Paul. The sister who taught the subject would explain the lesson and we, the students, would take notes because our only text was the Apostle’s Letters. Before beginning class each day, it was customary to recite in Latin several verses of one of Paul’s letters.
Thanks to that early training, I recently discovered to my great surprise that I can recite by heart almost the whole of his Second Letter to Timothy.
I made my novitiate in Rome and concluded it with my first profession, made in the hands of Fr. Alberione. Ours was the first profession ceremony celebrated in the Queen of Apostles Sanctuary, which had just been consecrated.
Sr. M. Letizia, Sr. M. Ida and Sr. Timothy in the SIA office with a collaborator.
My subsequent studies in philosophy and theology were interspersed with times of apostolic activity: summer propaganda in one of our local communities; participation in Biblical and Catechetical Weeks, and my first forays into the writing apostolate. I would have liked to dedicate myself to this apostolate and I was told I had a talent for it but God had other plans for me. He led me, instead, along the paths of animation, apostolic formation and diffusion. Starting in the novitiate and for twenty years afterward, I worked with Sr. Assunta Bassi–a true teacher of the Pauline life and apostolate. I learned many things from her in the meetings that I helped her organize to provide our sisters with formation for the apostolate. In carrying out this work, I traveled the length and breadth of Italy during the beautiful time in which our Institute was rapidly expanding. I was able to directly follow the new initiative of collective propaganda, as well as the big exhibits that were held (like the “Exhibit on the Church” that Fr. Alberione asked us to organize to celebrate Vatican Council II). I also assisted our book centers in developing the audiovisual and video apostolates after the decline of 16mm. films. In addition to this, I spent four very interesting years in our Ut Unum Sint Center, which helped me get to know the ecumenical field and opened new horizons to me.
In 1985, I was transferred to the International Secretariat for the Apostolate (SIA) where, together with Sr. Gloria Bordeghini (a sister exploding with ideas and fervor), we collaborated in a concrete way with the General Government and our sisters throughout the world. The Continental Meetings for the Apostolate-Economy that were held in 1986 and 2003 gave us the chance to reflect more deeply on the apostolate and to learn a great deal from the apostolic experiences of FSPs from many different countries. In these apostolic endeavors, the words of St. Paul, “Woe to me…”–that is, the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel–provided us with a powerful impetus to move ahead and also gave spiritual solidity to each project the Secretariat undertook.
St. Paul Multimedia Center
An “interlude” in our apostolic itinerary occurred when Sr. Maria Cevolani, who at the time was Superior General, asked us to come up with a plan to open an International Apostolic Center in Rome (what became our St. Paul Multimedia Center) and accompany this project. We threw ourselves enthusiastically into this work.
In 2004, I was asked to join a group of well-qualified FSPs in reflecting more deeply on the theme of collaboration with the laity in the Pauline mission. I learned many important things from that experience and today, here in Spain, I have had many opportunities to apply the fruit of those experiences.
Boston: Launch of the Pauline logo.
In fact, in our five book centers in this country the FSPs work in close collaboration with the laity, providing them with the formation they need to participate in the Pauline charism according to their state in life, take on greater responsibilities in the apostolate and help improve the quality of our mission. I rejoice in the many beautiful editions produced by our Delegation’s publishing sector and above all I am deeply moved by the dedication of my sisters.
Today I can look back on more than 50 years of life as a Pauline and I hope that when the time comes for me to “fold my sails,” I will be able to echo my beloved St. Paul’s act of faith–the prayer that has sustained me all these years: “I know the one in whom I have placed my trust.” I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to him.
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Sr M. Letizia Panzetti, fsp