The whole Salesian Family has reason to celebrate her memory with gratitude. Maria Cristina, in fact, offers a model of Christian life of undoubted relevance: as a young woman she knew how to fully live the time given to her (she died on 22 October 1995, at just 26 years of age). As a mother she prioritized her baby she carried in her womb even at the cost of her own life; as a Past Pupil of the school of the FMA “Maria Ausiliatrice” of Cusano Milanino, she lived a truly spiritual life, made up of intense prayer, dedication to her duties and offering her sufferings in joyful testimony.
More information is available on the website of the "Amici di Maria Cristina - ONLUS" Association - https://www.mariacristinacellamocellin.it - where you can also find information about the biography of the Venerable and the initiatives organized by the association itself.
On the occasion of this precious event, we publish one of the writings of the venerable found in her Diary. A text that cries out the firm joy that springs from the priceless gift of faith and that reminds us how important it is to revive this gift.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO BELIEVE:
I believe that there is joy even when everything is sad;
believe that there is peace, even if there is only war outside and inside you;
believe that there is life, even in the face of death;
believe that there is truth, even if the world is built from lies;
believe that there is God, in every moment.
I thank you, Lord, for the faith You give me
strength for me and for others
the joy of living towards a goal;
the sweetness of feeling close to You;
the greatness of feeling possessed by You.
Loving you Lord is sacrifice,
following You is renunciation,
and like all sacrifices and renunciations, it costs.
Yet, I know, I believe that the greatest joy comes from the love that I give You.
It is man's nature to love, but many times he does not know
to whom to turn his love.
You are the love.
In you, I know that there is no sin, sadness, discouragement.
You are the joy,
You are forgiveness,
You are the hope that many times I miss.
And I don't realize that
when I miss one of these three,
I don't fully own you.
Maybe because I'm not looking for You enough,
or I don't know how to recognize You behind the thousand faces You have.
Help me.
(From Una vita donata, edited by Fr Patrizio Garascia and the “Associazione Amici di Cristina Onlus”, Edizioni San Paolo, Cinisello Balsamo, 2005).
