(41)The Emotions of Mary's Celebration

Miyazaki December 8, 1926
To Rector Rinaldi Filippo

Dear and beloved father, Father Rinaldi

Thank you for the kind recommendation you sent, and for the good news that you will be sending Fr. Ricaldone, the Vicar General, for an inspection tour. Your children in Japan have just returned from the Cathedral after celebrating Heavenly Mother. (...) On the day of the celebration, a Franciscan priest was in attendance, and surprisingly, a non-believing child attended Mass. What came to mind was the first time Don Bosco met a child in the Basilica of St. Francis in Turin. As I spoke about this to the congregations, I felt a deep emotion in my heart, filled with hope and prayer.

Oh, Mary, help us to turn away from sin and become saints. I asked Jesus to give my life for the salvation of all my congregations, especially the religious.

Enough is enough. Otherwise, my heart would not be able to bear the holy joy. Thank you, Heavenly Mother! Thank you, Jesus! I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Rector Major for sending me to this country where I can experience heavenly joy.

So, a quick report on the month. (...)

After consulting with the Papal Nuncio and the Vicar, I will be visiting Nakatsu and Oita in January to inspect the environment, although the date has not yet been decided, and will be able to get a better understanding of the situation. I can't do much because I don't speak the language very well, but if I don't jump in the water, I won't be able to swim forever. Don Bosco and Mary will surely help me. I pray that the devil will not get in the way... (...)

Father Cavoli is feeling better, and his speech is on track. I asked him to start a church altar group, and two children showed up at the 5:30 Mass this morning. I was so happy that I invited them to breakfast and offered them a cafe latte. It was the first breakfast for my poor children... They are so poor. So are the majority of my parishioners in Japan. Oh, my poor parishioners!

The other day, I made a home visit with the parish priest, and we were amazed at how poor the homes were! Even the huts in Bethlehem where Jesus was born were not like this! Good, good! This is exactly where we belong. "The good news is preached to the poor." (...)

As December began, it was said that His Majesty the Emperor [Emperor Taisho] was in a critical condition.

The weather is good, with a minimum temperature of 7 degrees at 7am and 15-18 degrees during the day. There is strong wind and rain today.

We have just received a congratulatory message from His Excellency the Nuncio from Tokyo. He says, "The foundation and guarantee of your success is the spirit of our Founder. If you work enthusiastically and devotedly, supported by the unobtrusive and natural behavior and firm faith that are the teachings of Don Bosco and the Salesian tradition, your efforts will be victorious. May the Immaculate Conception, who has accepted you under her protection, show her love for the children of Don Bosco in Japan." Thanks be to God!

Please help us to respond to the love the Lord has shown us. Oh, the wonders of God's providence! Why does He care for us so much? Rector, please help us to be fully grateful to God.

On behalf of all my brothers, I wish you a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year. We renew our resolve to be true Salesians. Today, we are the first in the world to celebrate Mary. Because Japan is nine hours ahead of Italy, we are always number one in every aspect of life. And in keeping with the Japanese spirit of wanting to be number one in everything, we also want to be number one in good things and in Salesian life. Please grant us your great blessing.

I kneel before the priest, held in my father's arms, and I am nothing before Jesus,
I am worthless, your child.

Salesian Father V. Cimatti