[continued from previous message]   
      
   in a climate of anticlericalism, was a decree suppressing the "House   
   of the Orphans" and the Congregation of the Oratorian Fathers in   
   Udine.   
      
   Father Luigi thus began a difficult struggle to save his work on   
   behalf of the orphans. In this he succeeded, but he could do nothing   
   to prevent the suppression of the Congregation of the Oratory. The   
   unhappy political situation led to the destruction of the material   
   structures of the Congregation of the Oratory in Udine but it did not   
   succeed in preventing Father Luigi from remaining to the end a   
   faithful disciple of St. Philip.   
      
   Now an old man, but with his habitual openness of spirit, he   
   understood that the time had come to hand over the reins to the   
   Sisters, and this he did with tranquility and hope. At the same time   
   he maintained contact with them all through his letters in which he   
   strengthened the ties of affection and love, and in his paternal   
   concern never tired of recommending community spirit and trust.   
   Through his deep union with God and his experience over many years   
   Father Luigi had acquired a special spiritual wisdom and intuition   
   which enabled him to read hearts: sometimes he even revealed the gift   
   of knowledge about secret inner thoughts and situations which were   
   known only to the person concerned.   
      
   At the end of 1883, as his strength began to decline, he was forced to   
   give up all work, and he constantly suffered from a high fever. The   
   illness took its inexorable course. He retold the Sisters not to be   
   afraid "because it was God who raised up their religious family and   
   made it grow and He it is who will see to its future".   
      
   When he knew the end was near, he wished to greet everyone. So he   
   wrote his last words to the Sisters: "After my death, your   
   Congregation will have many troubles, but afterwards it will have a   
   new life. Charity! Charity! This is the spirit of your religious   
   family: to save souls and to save them with Charity".   
      
   During the night of Thursday, the 3rd of April 1884, he finally went   
   to meet Jesus. The whole of Udine and the people of the surrounding   
   countryside hastened to see him one last time and to beg his   
   protection from heaven.   
      
   Through his efforts on behalf of the little ones, of the poor, of   
   young people in difficulty, of those who are suffering, of all those   
   living in trying circumstances, Father Luigi still continues today to   
   show everyone the path of union with God, of compassion and of love,   
   and is still ready to accompany the steps of those who entrust   
   themselves to the Providence of God.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   By nature, each one of us is enclosed in his own personality, but   
   supernaturally, we are all one. We are made one body in Christ,   
   because we are nourished by one flesh. As Christ is indivisible, we   
   are all one in him. Therefore, He asked His Father "that they may all   
   be One as We also are one."   
   --Saint Cyril of Alexandria   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that   
   believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live: And every one that   
   liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou   
   this? (John 11:25-26) DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Be Present   
      
   Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this   
   night, that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting   
   world may repose upon Thy eternal changelessness, through the everlasting   
   Christ our Lord. – Amen   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)