In a sanctuary nestled in the greenery, where gazing towards the altar makes it impossible not to admire the magnificence of creation, the first monthly retreat of the Naples community of associates took place on 27 September.
The new pastoral year opened in a different setting from the usual one: the Basilica of Maria Santissima del Canneto, a welcoming and restorative place of pilgrimage, where one can breathe deeply the air that refreshes the body and renews the soul. Situated at an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level, the sanctuary offered a welcome coolness that even at the beginning of autumn is appreciated by Neapolitans, who are generously blessed with sunshine. We were warmly welcomed by the rector, Don Antonio Molle, whose kindness and cordiality were truly exceptional.
At the invitation of the Naples community, many associates from Rome joined their Neapolitan brothers and sisters, giving rise to a genuine twinning between the two communities. It was a wonderful demonstration of how beautiful it is to share moments along our spiritual journey, filled with faith and spirituality, but also relaxation and serenity. As always, there was no shortage of moments of fraternal fellowship-and culinary delights!
The retreat, which, in accordance with the statutes, included Holy Mass, catechesis, moments of sharing and confession, was led by the community’s spiritual assistant, Don Carmine Pellegrino, who explored the theme of conversion. “Allowing ourselves to be shaped by the work of the Potter requires openness, humility and faith.” This is where conversion begins: it is nothing other than “a process of opening up and liberation.”
Accompanying us throughout the day was a figure of great importance to the Servants of Suffering and especially dear to our founding father, one who perfectly embodies humility and openness to God’s work: Antonietta Vona, a spiritual daughter of Padre Pio. The choice of destination for the retreat was therefore no coincidence. It was connected to nearby Castrocielo, Antonietta’s birthplace, where she lived before moving to San Giovanni Rotondo to follow the teachings of her holy spiritual father more closely. She maintained a rich correspondence with him.
In the afternoon, we were warmly welcomed by the mayor, Giovanni Fantaccione, and several local guides, who accompanied us on a visit to the village, the parish church, the small square named after Vona, and the narrow streets leading to the house where she had lived.
Through Don Carmine’s presentation, we came to a deeper understanding of what Padre Pio had written about Antonietta on the thirtieth day after her death, which occurred on 19 November 1949: “She was one of the few souls in whom God took delight... She passed away quietly, like a little candle, entirely consumed by and for God, in whom she now rests eternally.”
These words also shed light on what Padre Pio said in a homily on conversion. The three stages of conversion are: turning one’s attention inward, driving malice out of one’s own heart before helping others, and attaining inner freedom, which is the starting point.
Listening to the Father’s words, it is difficult not to recognise how fully they were embodied in this generous consecrated woman. Antonietta lived quietly and humbly, despite her profound spiritual stature. God surely took delight in her, because she had experienced God, cultivated intimacy with Him and allowed herself to be transformed by Him. She put the Word of God into practice and, through her freedom, came to know God’s face and make Him known to her brothers and sisters.