Regnum Christi members in Busto Arsizio, Italy prepared for their Marian pilgrimage and consecration for a whole month. Since she is the safe and easy way to Jesus and supreme model of Regnum Christi life, they wanted to prepare well.
Maria Cristiana, one of the participants, writes this report.
Regnum Christi, of Busto Arsizio, has a long tradition of concluding the year with a pilgrimage to a Marian shrine, just before summer vacation. Sunday, June 10, we went to Concesio, the birthplace of the blessed Pope Paul VI [where the group had the surprise to find, as a guide, a Salesian sister originally from Busto Arsizio!].
“Now of all God’s creatures Mary is the most conformed to Jesus. It therefore follows that, of all devotions, devotion to her makes for the most effective consecration and conformity to him. The more one is consecrated to Mary, the more one is consecrated to Jesus.” (St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary, Chapter III, 120)
This year we accepted the invitation of Fr. Federico Macchi, LC, our section director, to prepare the consecration to the Blessed Virgin, both personally and as part of the Regnum Christi. We prepared and went on pilgrimage manifesting our gratitude for the last year. We also requested Mary’s protection for the future, confident that under its mantle we are well protected and that we can continue to look to the future with hope and renewed enthusiasm.
“If then we are establishing sound devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only in order to establish devotion to our Lord more perfectly, by providing a smooth but certain way of reaching Jesus Christ.” (St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary, Chapter II, 62)
Each of us, according to our means and possibilities, has prepared ourselves spiritually in the weeks that preceded the pilgrimage. On Sunday 10 June, at the end of Holy Mass, in the sanctuary of the Madonna della Stella (Madonna of the Star), we each recited the prayer of consecration to the Virgin Mary, renewing our love.
Thanking Mary for Regnum Christi
If we retrace our year of activity, meetings, and study circles, we see many reasons to thank her.
In October, we celebrated the twenty-five years since the foundation of Regnum Christi in Busto Arsizio and we had the pleasure of meeting the General Director, Fr. Eduardo Robles Gil, L.C.
For example, there was a more active participation by members of the teams in the study circles led by Fr. Federico: everyone has read a book and summarized it for the others.
“Theological cafes” were added to the study circles on topical subjects in which many people who are not part of the Movement also participated.
A breath of freshness came from a group of young people looking to understand the Bible better. Fr. Federico together with two consecrated women welcomed and accompanied young people along a path that enriched the trainers themselves!
Another novelty was the return of thematic aperitifs (appetizers) that had remained in the drawer for a few years and started again with new enthusiasm. The intent of these meetings is to talk to the most varied people about important topics with lightness but not superficiality.
Also the apostolate “Madonna Pellegrina” (Pilgrim Queen of the Family) this year saw the addition of other families eager to let Mary Our Mother enter their home.
We placed our future under the protection of Our Lady as a section of the Regnum Christi. We asked that the Regnum Christi be able to continue its journey of apostolate with constancy and that new activities may arise that are an opportunity for renewal and growth, in breadth and in depth, preserving the spirit of family union. We have also asked that each member be able to cultivate their talents, increase their formation and bring Christ to the people he meets with the apostolic zeal that distinguishes us.
