Desidero iniziare echeggiando le parole di Madre Carla: se ci fermiamo un momento a meditare sul mistero dell’incarnazione della parola, possiamo solo restare senza parole e in silenzio di fronte alla grandezza della Trinità; (frascati, 14 luglio 2003).

Cari membri del tribunale, caro padre Shiju Cleetus, cara suor Carmela, care sorelle e amici, oggi ci riuniamo per celebrare la conclusione dell’inchiesta rogatoria nella causa per la beatificazione di Madre Carla Borgheri. Non dimentichiamo il profondo contesto umano e spirituale in cui si è sviluppata la sua vita.

Il percorso di Madre Carla Borgheri, è profondamente radicato nella sua devozione alla Santissima Trinità. Meditando proprio il mistero dell’Incarnazione, ricordiamo il ruolo della Vergine Maria, che, con umiltà e fede, divenne il vaso attraverso cui la parola si fece carne. Onorando Madre Carla, rendiamo omaggio anche al sacro femminile e alla forza derivata dall’esempio di Maria.

La sua risoluta dedizione nel alleviare la sofferenza e promuovere amore e gentilezza trova riscontro negli insegnamenti di san Giuseppe, il padre terreno di Gesù. Come san Giuseppe, Madre Carla abbracciò una vita di distacco e fiducia incondizionata in Gesù, incarnando le virtù di umiltà e servizio disinteressato. Nata con un cuore pieno di compassione e una mente guidata dallo spirito santo, il percorso di Madre Carla trova paralleli con le vite di Maria e Giuseppe. Lavorò diligentemente per elevare gli emarginati, offrendo conforto agli oppressi e facendosi portavoce di coloro dimenticati dalla società. Durante il processo di beatificazione, abbiamo esplorato le storie della vita di Madre Carla, scoprendo le innumerevoli occasioni in cui il suo amore e la sua gentilezza furono la luce guida per chi ne aveva bisogno. I suoi atti altruisti, che fossero curare i malati o confortare gli afflitti, hanno lasciato un’impronta indelebile nelle pagine della nostra umanità comune.

Il percorso di Madre Carla ci sfida a esaminare le nostre vite e a considerare come anche noi possiamo contribuire al miglioramento del mondo che ci circonda, tratti dall’umiltà di Maria e dalla fiducia incrollabile di san Giuseppe. Celebrando oggi Madre Carla Borgheri, non stiamo solo onorando una figura storica, ma abbracciamo un esempio senza tempo di amore e compassione. Possa la sua beatificazione servire da richiamo all’azione per tutti noi, ispirando un impegno rinnovato al servizio, all’empatia e al desiderio di un mondo più giusto e compassionevole. Grazie, e che lo spirito di Madre Carla, guidato dall’amore della santa trinità, continui a ispirarci e guidarci tutti.

Dott. Waldery Hilgeman

ENGLISH VERSION

Dear Fathers, Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ, first of all, I Wish you a very happy feast.

Judas had the best pastor, the best leader, the best adviser, the best counselor. Yet he failed. The problem is not leadership or the church you go to. You will always be the same if your attitude or character doesn’t change or your heart doesn’t transform.

Today, the Church is commemorating the conversion of St. Paul, an apostle. According to St. Mark, Jesus resurrected and bestowed a mission upon the apostles. The mission was to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News. This included the idea that faith and baptism are essential for salvation. In fact, Jesus said, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:16). Furthermore, Christ guarantees that preachers will be given the authority to work miracles or prodigies which will support and confirm their missionary preaching (cf. Mk 17:18). Though the mission is enormous – “Go into the whole world” – it will not be without the Lord’s escort. Jesus promised, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Today’s collect tells us: “O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul, you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching.” A gospel God has allowed us to know and that so many souls would desire to have: we are responsible for transmitting this wonderful heritage to whatever extent we can.

The ceremonies, observances, liturgical rites, food prohibitions, and works prescribed by the Old Law were not enough to establish a person’s right relationship with God. The grace of faith in Christ is the only means of justification. Faith is not a one-time action but a continuous process of entrusting ourselves to Christ, being united with Him, and living in conformity with His life, which is characterized by love. As stated by Paul, we are justified by faith that is expressed through love (Galatians 5:14). St. Paul’s conversion is a great event: from persecuting Jesus’ followers, he converted into a servant and defender of the cause of Christ. Quite often, perhaps, we have also been “persecutors”: and, as St. Paul, we need to convert from “persecutors” into servants and defenders of Jesus Christ.

“What does Paul’s conversion mean for us?” This question was pondered by Pope Emeritus Benedict and he answered it by saying, “We can only consider ourselves Christians if we have a personal encounter with Christ” (Benedict XVI, September 3, 2008). Becoming a Christian is not just about adopting a new philosophy or choosing to follow a new moral code. It goes much deeper and is the result of encountering the risen Christ through Scripture, prayer, acts of love, and participation in the Church’s liturgy. Once our faith in Christ is genuine, it is transformed into charity and love.

St. Augustine once said that just as Saul was led to Ananias, the fierce wolf is led to the innocent sheep. However, the Shepherd, who watches over all from the top of heaven, reassures the wolf, saying, “Do not be afraid.” It is truly remarkable! The once-captive wolf is now being led towards the very sheep it used to hunt. And the Lamb who gave His life for the sheep is now teaching the wolf to not be afraid.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 977, states that Jesus Christ linked the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism. As it is written in Mark 16:15-16, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Baptism is considered as the first and most important sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ. Christ died for our sins and rose again for our justification, and through baptism, we can also walk in newness of life, as mentioned in Romans 6:4.

We may have a strong understanding of our purpose and calling in life. However, each day presents a new opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to God. Our mission and purpose are reflected in the small decisions we make every day. We should ask ourselves, What is God expecting of me today? How can I act as a follower or messenger of Jesus today?

I am reminded of the life of Mother Carla Borgheri, who was committed to a life of holiness. She spent much of her time in prayer, devoted to the Eucharist and Mother Mary. Throughout her life, she exemplified the virtue of hope and always trusted in Divine Providence. She showed her love and charity towards God and others and had a deep respect for priests and religious sisters. Mother Carla lived a simple life, practicing virtues such as poverty, chastity, obedience, and humility. She had unique charismatic gifts and was considered by many to be a saint. Let us pray for the beatification and canonization of the servant of God, Mother Carla Borgheri, who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Incarnation and the Missionary Fathers of the Incarnation.

With the Virgin Mary, we should realise the Almighty has also noticed us and has chosen us to share and carry out the priestly, religious redeeming mission of his divine Son: Let us pray to Regina apostolorum, Queen of the apostles and ask her to give us the courage to bear witness to our Christian faith in this world of ours.

Lastly, let us thank and pray for the Postulator, Vice Postulator, Bishops, Episcopal Delegate, Notaries, Copiers, Sisters, and all those who bore witness, as well as those who were engaged in the kitchen and the church. May they be blessed by the intercession of Mother Carla Borgheri.

Sia lodato Gesù Cristo

Fr. Arockia Jose – Promotore di Giustizia

Sono onorato di trovarmi davanti a voi oggi con profonda gratitudine e un profondo senso di rispetto mentre ci riuniamo per esprimere la nostra sincera gratitudine all’Arcivescovo Joseph. Apprezziamo di aver gentilmente accettato di presiedere l’indagine canonica per la causa di beatificazione dell’amata Serva di Dio Carla Borgheri. Esprimo inoltre la mia viva gratitudine a tutti i membri del Tribunale che hanno generosamente accettato di svolgere questo importante servizio ecclesiastico.

Mentre iniziamo questo sacro viaggio per esaminare la vita e le virtù di Carla Borgheri, mi vengono in mente le sue stesse parole, che catturano l’essenza della sua costante dedizione alla volontà di Dio: “Coloro che fanno la volontà di Dio in ogni cosa non possono mai sbagliare. Anche se la volontà è vissuta imperfettamente, non manca di avvicinarci al Padre e di santificarci» (Carla Borgheri, Testimoni di Cristo Frascati, 27 giugno 1997).

Queste parole profonde risuonano nel cuore del viaggio spirituale di Carla Borgheri e servono da guida per tutti noi coinvolti in questo importante processo.  L’accettazione da parte dell’Arcivescovo Joseph del ruolo di Giudice Delegato in questa causa di beatificazione testimonia il suo impegno a sostenere la santità del processo di discernimento della Chiesa.

Apprezziamo la disponibilità encomiabile di tutti i membri del Tribunale, disponibilità a contribuire con la vostra esperienza e il vostro tempo allo studio della vita, delle virtù, della reputazione di santità e dei segni attribuiti a Carla Borgheri. La vostra dedizione a questa sacra causa incarna la vostra devozione al servizio di Dio e della Chiesa.

Mentre intraprendiamo questo cammino benedetto, rimaniamo uniti nella preghiera, invocando l’intercessione di Carla Borgheri, affinché la sua vita esemplare sia riconosciuta e celebrata dalla Chiesa.  È attraverso l’amore e il sostegno della comunità che Madre Carla diventa modello di vita, sottolineando che la santità non è solo uno sforzo individuale ma il frutto di un’intera comunità che accoglie Dio e diventa il volto concreto del suo amore in ogni campo della vita.

Possano Mons. Joseph e tutti i membri del tribunale essere guidati dallo Spirito Santo nel loro discernimento e garantire un’indagine attenta e giusta.  Grazie, Monsignor Joseph, e grazie a tutti i membri del Tribunale per la vostra dedizione altruistica nel riconoscere e onorare la santità di Carla Borgheri.  La grazia di Dio ci accompagni in questo santo cammino.

Dott. Waldery Hilgeman Postulatore

ENGLISH VERSION

In a joyous commemoration at St. Raphael Church Thykoodam on January 13, 2024, the Missionaries of Incarnation recently marked a day of profound significance – the remembrance of the proclamation of Mother Carla Borgheri as the Servant of God. The morning session, enriched by the wisdom of Dr. Waldery Hilgeman, delved into the details of the canonization process, providing insights into the remarkable journey of Mother Carla. As the day unfolded, the evening saw a magnificent Eucharistic celebration at 4:30 pm, presided over by Monsignor Mathew Elanjimattam, the Vicar General of Verapoli Archdiocese. This sacred occasion was made even more beautiful by the significant collaboration among the Missionary Fathers of Incarnation and the Missionary Sisters of Incarnation. Their joint efforts created an atmosphere of unity, underscoring the shared commitment to honoring Mother Carla’s profound impact on the congregation.

The evening was graced by the presence of numerous priests, sisters, and their cherished relatives and friends, creating an atmosphere of shared reverence and spiritual connection. Distinguished guests, including Postulator Waldery, Mother General Carmela Cataldo, Vicar General Loreda Spagnolo, General Councillor Sr. Jessy Chenathara, and General Procurator Sr. Gracy Thayil, added to the solemnity of the event. Mother Carmela inaugurated the proceedings with the lighting of the lamp, setting the stage for an evening filled with inspiration and remembrance. Father Joby, the parish priest, and Mr. Ooby, the Parish Council Secretary, graced the occasion with heartfelt valedictory speeches, emphasizing the impact of Mother Carla’s life on the community. Sister Loreda delivered a touching message that echoed the profound influence of Mother Carla Borgheri.

The evening unfolded with a captivating drama based on Mother Carla’s life history, skillfully conducted by Fr. John Capistan Lopez. The regional superior, Sr. Shyni, concluded the event with a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all who participated in making the day a memorable tribute to the remarkable Servant of God, Mother Carla Borgheri. This day served not only as a remembrance but as a celebration of a life devoted to faith, service, and inspiration. The legacy of Mother Carla Borgheri continues to resonate, inspiring generations to come, and the collaborative efforts of the Missionary Fathers and Sisters added a unique and beautiful dimension to the celebration.

On this occasion of Christmas season, with great joy, we the Missionary Sisters of Incarnation together with our inmates and their family members and our benefactors, celebrated the Christmas program at St. Charles Home, Tamil Nadu on 22^nd Dec at 11.30 am. We invited Rev. Fr. Madhan, the correspondent of Bishop Arockiaswamy B.Ed. College as our Chief Guest and Paster Stephen, the Paster of Sahaya Nager AG Church and Mr.Vijai, Sub Inspector of Rajakamangalm who were our Special Guest. All our Chief Guests and Special guest were impressed by the cheerfulness and the programs of our dear children who are intellectually Disabled. This is the joy that we must learn from these special children and bring to others. Through the programme, we could see the possible effort and the dedication of all the sisters and the staff who are involved in their growth and education. We thank all our well-wishers, friends and relatives. May the infant Jesus bless you all and give you peace, joy and prosperity through this great festival of Christmas.