{"id":2226,"date":"2026-03-14T19:58:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T19:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/?page_id=2226"},"modified":"2026-04-18T18:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T18:38:44","slug":"connie-coo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/connie-coo\/","title":{"rendered":"Connie Coo"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Connie Coo<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Tells us about John Merlini<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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St. Maria DeMattias
Foundress of
The Adorers
of the
Blood of Christ<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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COO\u00a0\u00a0 COO
I\u2019m Connie Coo.
It\u2019s good to be \u201cComing in on a wing
and a prayer.
to tell you about a great man
who has much to do with your own
great woman:
Maria De Mattias
Yes, I\u2019m cooing about
JOHN MERLINI.
So if you\u2019ll settle back comfortably,<\/h5>
I\u2019ll sing his story for you.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I suppose you know little John
was born in Spoleto, Italy.
He was the first boy among many sisters.
There are advantages
and disadvantages in that!
Dad and Mother were both staunch
Christians,
and their home was ordered like a
Convent.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Dad Merlini was proud of his son.
He dreamed dreams of John help him
in the store\u2026
His mother, I think, had other dreams.
I often heard her remind the tiny fellow
to lift up his heart to the Lord.
I think her own soul frequently \u201csoared\u201d
to the God she so loved.
She dedicated Johnny to Our Lady
when he was just a small child.
I think Our Heavenly Mother,
and John\u2019s mother may have
great plans for this lad.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Little John began helping in the store
almost as soon as he could walk.
Can\u2019t you just imagine him stacking the shelves.
They had everything from sweets to wine..
from pasta to pottery.
He learned to keep things in order\u2014
all neat and tidy.
I used to smile when I watched Johnny
climb on barrels and benches
to reach top shelves.
Wings would have simplified things.
Than you, God, for mine.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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There are stormy days in the Merlini Home.
Tempers flash like lighting\u2026
words thunder back and forth\u2026
and there are floods of tears.
When things settle down
I\u2019ll try to give you the gist of the problem.
It has something to do with
Seminary verses Commerce.
It\u2019s really too much for my bird brain,
but maybe you understand.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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John\u2019s mother is just like us
mother birds.
She understands\u2026calms..
and consoles her son.
Mother\u2019s love always finds a remedy.
She just told John that if God would bless
their home with a strong little brother,
his dad would let me begin
studying for the priesthood.
The young lad slid right off his chair
onto his knees.
I think he\u2019s praying for this solution.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Do I look like I\u2019m strutting?
I guess I\u2019ve been watching John strut
around in his new cassock
so much it\u2019s wearing off.
Yes, God gave the Merlini\u2019s
a new little boy, Peter.
He\u2019s so cute, chubby, healthy and happy.
In a few years, Peter can be his dad\u2019s
helper in the store.
So john got to begin his seminary studies.
He studies at school,
but continues living at home.
He\u2019s a good influence on the young people
of Spoleto.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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If John were alive today,
he\u2019d be on TV.
He\u2019s a born actor\u2014and writes plays.
He was good at this as a lad,
and seems to be better since his
ORDINATION in 1818.
He loves to preach and sing.
What his voice lacks in quality,
it has in volume.
Anyway, He can sure hold a crowd,
and he has a lot deeper message to give
than most TV Programs carry today.
It deals with responding to God\u2019s
infinite love for us,
by genuinely good lives. \u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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All right, all you birds,
Get off your feet\u2014spread
your wings
and get into formation.
Father Merlini is organizing another procession
and you know how much fun it is to fly
overhead.
These processions seem to draw a lot of
young folks\u2026and yes, a lot of women too.
Some men usually join before they reach
the church..
and children are always under foot.
I guess that\u2019s about everyone.
Doing things together puts them
into the mood of the prayer meetings\u2026
makes them feel like they belong
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SHH!\u00a0\u00a0 Quiet.
No more cooing today.
John and his priest friend
went to San Felice for a retreat.
There they met Gaspar.
He talked to them a lot
about Jesus on the cross and
the power of the Blood.
He told them of the need
of reforming the clergy\u2014
for this will bring about a reform
in the church and in society.
Gaspar told Merlini about being
commissioned
to preach Popular Missions\u2026
about the need to face the Free Masons
and the bandits without fear,
and with love.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Merlini really admires Gaspar,
and the work being done
\u00a0by this small group of
Missionaries Of the Precious Blood.
And today he began
wearing a large cross,
symbol of his joining the group.
Gaspar is really happy about this.\u00a0
He has a lot of confidence in Merlini.
They travel together a lot,
preaching and establishing missionary groups
all over the Bandit-infested-country.
They make quite a pair:
One all fire–spontaneous zeal\u2026
The other:\u00a0 organized\u2014a stabilizing element.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Look out, you birds.
Rocks are really flying today.
These Vallecorsans want the Missionaries
to stay in their town,
so they are building a house
and a church for the\u2026partly carved into the
rock of this hill.
Merlini comes and goes\u2014
to supervise and give directions.
While the men are wielding ax and pick;
Look: the young girls and little boys
are carrying stones
from the hills outside of town.
And if your beak is watering-
it\u2019s because of the good pasta sciuta
you see the ladies preparing.
There will be lots of left-overs for us.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Vallecorsa has much more to coo about
than the church and house
they built for the missionaries!
Among the leaders of the town
is a certain GIOVANNI DE MATTIAS.
Maria is his second living daughter
and she is the one God chose
to found a flock,\u00a0 I mean,
a Congregation of Sisters.
Adorers of the Blood of Jesus,
they call themselves.
Bishops and priests recognize them as Apostles.
The people know them as
sisters, friends, teachers.
Merlini directed Maria for a long time,
encouraging her in her life of love\u2026
in her busy apostolic life\u2026
in her duties of formation and administration..
in reformation of the world.
They make a good pair:
Maria and Merlini
You should get to know them better.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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How\u2019s this for a free ride?
No, this is not Rosie.
It\u2019s Ebenezer, Merlini\u2019s mule,
and he has to travel
many of the same roads as Rosie.
His stall is in Albano,
where the Missionaries have a central house
and a seminary.
Gaspar\u2019s donkey has a stall in the same barn
They also have stalls in San Felice.
If you could listen to these two swap stories
about their trips, you could write a best-seller.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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This feather is not from my wing,
it\u2019s from Merlini\u2019s desk.
He sure writes a lot.
seems like the biggest pack of letters
is addressed to MARIA DE MATTIAS.
Here\u2019s another pack to PIUS IX.
There are more to other Adorers\u2026.
to his priests\u2026
to a princess\u2026
and to lots of people.
You\u2019d think this was a favorite pastime
and that he has lots of time at his desk.
I hate to disillusion you,
but poor John has to write late into
the nights.
But he does so willingly because
he loves people,
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Merlini didn\u2019t oppose Gaspar\u2019s
going to Rome in 1837.
He saw how weak, sick, and pre-maturely
old his dear friend was.
But he knew Gaspar would obey
the call of the Cardinal,
and would drag himself.
However Merlini had his bag packed,
and as soon as he heard of Gaspar\u2019s illness
he hurried to Rome to be
with him.
Other priests were there during
the month of illness:
Cardinal Franzoni, who had called him;
Fr. Vincent Pavani, S.J.
Fr. Vincent Pallotti and
Fr. Traversi.
Gaspar\u2019s last days were spent
in continuous prayer\u2014
and he held his crucifix in his hand.
When the end came near,
Merlini led the prayers for the dying
It was a beautiful \u201cgoing home.\u201d<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Merlini could sure use wings these days.
Besides all of his usual work,
he is collecting material on his
great friend, Gaspar\u2014
and is working toward the Church\u2019s
recognition of his holiness.
These meetings with witnesses
are long but very interesting.
One was held in 1840,
and a second in 1841,
and a third in 1843.
Then Merlini had to compile
and publish all the facts found.
But it\u2019s worth it.
Look at him smile today,
Jan. 10, 1852,
as the pope gives Gaspar the title of
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You should see Merlini at prayer.
He always seems to be listening\u2026
attentive\u2026
absorbed.
He spends long hours in Church
-discussing with the Lord his many responsibilities;
-offering the Divine Blood for Peace
\u00a0in a Revolution-torn-world;
-fingering the Crucifix on his chest with so much love;
-begging the Lord to relieve Maria De Mattias
of her fears and her desire to retire;
-and keeping up her health and her courage.
He prays for the CPPS,
for all Adorers;
for the Church,
for Italy, for the world,
thanking God for all His love and care.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
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What\u2019 going on!?
All this banging and sawing.
No chance for sleeping around here.
Undoubtedly Merlini is in town,
fixing up some old abandoned monastery
for a residence for a group of missionaries.
He\u2019s quite an architect.
Though a bird,
I can prophecy that in a short time
these rafters which served as our roosts
will soon become the ceiling for
a very serviceable place
for these men of God.
I wonder how many of these old buildings
he has already transformed.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Merlini seems to like to sit in this box.
It looks something like the bird house
he made for me and my family.
Like mother birds, who sit long hours
in there caring for our young,
Merlini cares and counsels all the people
who come to him at all hours.
Let me tell you something interesting:
Though Merlini ordinarily has a hearing problem;
he seems to hear the wee-est whisper
in that box.
Now isn\u2019t that something!
Everyone comes out so relieved and grateful.
He comes out happy\u2026but exhausted.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
I\u2019d like to go with Fr. Merlini,
but I\u2019m a bit afraid.
He\u2019s going to preach to prisoners.
There are hundreds of Political prisoners
in the jails
and what a sorry plight is theirs,
especially the poorer guys.
Even though Pope Pius IX
has twice granted amnesty,
and emptied the prisons,
during revolutionary times,
it doesn\u2019t take long to fill them up again.
I\u2019d like to hear what he tells these men,
maybe something about how
unjustly JESUS, a true MAN OF PEACE
was treated\u2026
and of how He was a victim of violence.
I think I\u2019ll fly along.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
The cross can be lovely to wear\u2026
but difficult to bear.
I don\u2019t mean to be poetic.
That\u2019s what I gather from
Merlini\u2019s talks with the Lord.
He looks weighed down and
he is always offering and accepting
the CROSS of Misunderstanding,
the CROSS of Isolation,
the CROSS of Rejection.
Those are big words for a little bird like me\u2014
so I guess they are beg
crosses.
Today I heard him say:
Thank you, Lord, for relieving me
of this cross which I have carried
these 10 years with as much love as I could.
I detected lots of love when
he kissed his Crucifix.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Coo\u00a0 Coo\u00a0 Coo\u00a0 Coo.
That means: CONGRATULATIONS.
It\u2019s quite and honor to be chosen as
THIRD GENERAL MODERATOR
of the Precious Blood Missionaries.
I don\u2019t claim to be your Guardian Angel
but I have sorta ben your Guardian Bird
so I celebrate with your brothers.
You deserve the honor,
and are capable of bearing the cross
for the next 20 years.
They aren\u2019t easy years.
1847 to 1867 are revolutionary years.
The Adorers are rejoicing today too.
You believe in them
much more than your predecessor
Valentini did!
So they have hopes for better years ahead.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Did you know that Pius IX,
when consecrated Bishop
was assigned to Spoleto
and stayed ther 5 years?
(1827-1832)
Merlini was already a traveling Missionary
but he made stops in his home town
and got acquainted with his Bishop.
They became close friends and
exchanged spiritual direction.
Merlini was happy when \u201cHis Bishop\u201d
became pope in 1842.
Their friendship continued.
In 184, when Pius IX
had to flee to Gaeta,
Merlini also left Rome in protest.
He wanted to show his support;
and Pope Pius appreciated his visits.
The pope wanted to return to his
See and to his people,
and\u2026\u00a0 \u2026.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Merlini suggest that
if the feast of the Precious Blood
could be given a place
on the Church Calendar\u2026
conditions would permit the pope\u2019s return.
Pius IX listened\u2026
Prayed\u2026
reflected
and then on August 10, 1849 ,
he established this Feastday for the universal church.
Later Merlini will ask that the
Feast of the Precious Blood
become a double of the 1st<\/sup> class.
He will write the Office and Proper.
You know everytime I think of giving blood
for the life of others,
I can\u2019t help but think of the PELICAN.
It helps me understand why Merlini,
Gaspar, Maria De Mattias,
and so many others treasure
THE DIVINE BLOOD.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
I\u2019m dusting off my crown so I can
accompany (at least for these heights)
Merlini\u2019s visit to a Russian noble lady
who lives in Rome:
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PRINCESS
ZANEIDE WOLKONSKY.
She and her sister,
Princess Mary,
are converts.
She sent a message to Merlini about
opening a school for
poor girls in her house.
Merlini feels no inhibitions and
is interested in presenting
the Princess\u201d proposal to
MARIA DE MATTIAS.
It would be convenient to have the
Adorer-Apostles
in the center of Christianity.
The Princess is sincere in her desire
to help poor girls in Rome.
But her house is interesting.
All sorts of social gatherings
are carried on—
besides the school.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Here\u2019s a favorite hangout of my friends.
This beautiful fountain is so refreshing.
Tourists always have goodies for us.
There were more tourists
than usual today
at this Trivio Fountain.
Excuse me,
they\u2019re not tourists.
They are Missionaries and Adorers.
Oh Boy, another feastday.
Look, some important-looking
Cardinal is handing Merlini a big KEY
with a pretty ribbon on it.
\u00a0He is opening up the Church of Our Lady.
Everyone is clapping
and Merlini is smiling.
They all entered and
you should hear them sing.
I may be just a bird,
but I KNOW that this church
now belongs to the Missionaries.
I\u2019m glad because Merlini
loves our Lady so much.
We will bring Gaspar\u2019s body here from Albano.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t
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How do people stretch their minds?
extend their thoughts?
Are their dreams, imaginations,
and plans sort of elastic?
Merlini just wrote to Maria De Mattias
telling her to think of the whole world\u2026
to extend her thoughts\u2026
when writing the rule.
How can these two persons,
holy as they are,
think of having Adorers and Missionaries
all over the world?
Lord, they are going to need wings
as well as wheels.
I\u2019m going to keep my eye on
the new invention which is being
experimented,
not too successfully yet.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Dear Sisters Pierina, Catherine
Angela and Philomena,
I wish I could lend you my wings
so you could arrive quickly in London.
Instead, you\u2019ll have to face a long trip.
Enjoy it as much as you can.
You are privileged to be the
First Adorer Missionaries.
Merlini must feel relief and pride.
He spent months of negotiating,
and getting everything ready for this trip.
You can count of his interest,
His prayers and his letters.
Maria De Mattias was especially grateful
for his guiding hip at times like this.
I\u2019ll let my friends, the sea gulls,
accompany you.
I feel better with land
under
my feet and wings.\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\u201cThe Germans are Coming!\u201d
That\u2019s what Merlini wrote to Maria.
\u201cSay a Hail Mary and
you\u2019ll know how to communicate.\u201d
Now really,
it takes more than that!
Father Merlini too the responsibility
of housing these sisters
while they were in
Rome and Civitavecchia.
But they wanted to meet the Foundress
and visit Acuto.
They stayed with her for three weeks.
Fr. Merlini was impressed with
Sr. Clementine and Sr. Pauline.
Could he detect in the former-
the courageous, loyal woman who
would go to America
and lead her sisters on,
in poverty, rejection and hardship?
You should have seen the gestures everyone
made to be understood!!!
Made me think of how we have to bat
our wings when caught by a storm.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Merlini, you are quite a fellow,
You seem to be like wine-
you get better with age.
What do you think of this long ride
up to nothen Italy,
and then on to GURTWEIL?
Aren\u2019t the alps beautiful\u2026
and the undulating green fields are so refreshing.
Imagine what a wonderland this must
be in winter, too.
Merlini was warmly received, especially by
Sisters Clementine and Paulina.
I\u2019m an Italian bird and I don\u2019t understand
all this language.
But it\u2019s easy to see how happy everyone is,
especially when Fr. Merlini opened his bag
and pulled out lots of hearts and chains.
The next day he distributed them,
even to the housekeeping sisters.
Here there are no distinctions.
Surely this summer of 1865
will always be cherished!<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Here is a death that made a profound
impression on Merlini:
that of MARIA DE MATTIAS.
All during July se was bedfast,
and Merlini came faithfully to see her each day\u2026
to sustain her.
He brought her the special blessing of Pius IX.
On the evening of August 19,
the sisters urges the
71 year old priest
to get some sleep.
But he was restless, and when called,
he hurriedly climbed the stairs
to Maria\u2019s room.
He entered in time to intone
the TE DEUM
as the peace of death erased the agony
of the three month\u2019s\u00a0 dying.
Tears streamed down Merlini\u2019s cheeks
as he reminded the sisters
to thank God for having given them
such a
WONDERFUL FOUNDRESS.\u00a0<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Merlini could not forget this sister
whom he had directed for 40 years.
He had stacks of her letters
in his desk drawer.
Slowly he reread them\u2026
rediscovering the depths of her love\u2026
the greatness of her holiness.
He asked the sisters to send him
copies of Maria\u2019s letters to them.
They increased his admiration of her.
He prayed over all this
and then his pen started to move.
Maria\u2019s first Biography
was in the making.
It is beautiful!
It will be such a treasure for all ASCs.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
A toast to Merlini!
FOR HE\u2019S a jolly good Fellow!
The occasion?
His Golden Jubilee
as a Precious Blood Missionary.
His brother priests, the Sister Adorers,
and his many friends join in honoring him,
and in thanking him for letting God work wonders
in and through him.<\/h5>
1870 is not a year in which the Church
feels like celebrating.
It is the year of the
Unification of ITALY,
and the last of the Papal States fall.
Pope Pius ix suspended the work
of the First Vatican Council
which he had convoked the year before.
He himself voluntarily became the
Prisoner of the Vatican.
Because of Revolutions in Germany,
our sisters were exiled,
and most of them went to the USA.
A remnant went to Austria and
then on to Croatia in 1879.
All of these events will be turned into
blessings by our Faithful God.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Stop!\u00a0\u00a0 Whoa!\u00a0 Look out, you horse!
Merlini, don\u2019t cross the street now.
Can\u2019t you hear those horses coming?
Of corse not!
Your\u2019re almost deaf!
Oh No! They hit him!
He\u2019s lying there in the street.
I hope he isn\u2019t hurt too bad.
Kind people are taking him the few blocks
to his
Generalate.
What a Vigil of Christmas, 1972.
Instead of joy, everyone is sad.
Look at the steady stream of visitors,
priests, sisters, common people.
All are praying for him.
and he is blessing all and praying for the enemies of the Church
especially the free masons,
the anticlerical,
the indifferent and the week.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
January 12, 1873
Whow, look at him go\u2026
faster than a jet\u2026
faster than thought\u2026
sped on by love and his desire for union.
He had given all
and the Lord had stripped
him still further
so now
nothing can hold him back.
Merlini, I am happy for you.
But I wish I could go with you.
I, too, am old and tired.
And I am going to miss you so much.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Now, all you nice people
don\u2019t you agree that
Father John Merlini is
Someone to coo about?<\/h5>
John Merlini was proclaimed
a Saint on\u00a0
January 12, 2025.<\/h5>

\u00a0<\/h2><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Connie Coo Tells us about John Merlini St. Maria DeMattias Foundress of The Adorers of the Blood of Christ COO\u00a0\u00a0 COOI\u2019m Connie Coo.It\u2019s good to be \u201cComing in on a wingand a prayer.to tell you about a great manwho has much to do with your owngreat woman:Maria De MattiasYes, I\u2019m cooing aboutJOHN MERLINI.So if you\u2019ll […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2226","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2226","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2226"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2226\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2346,"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2226\/revisions\/2346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/saintjosephsvilla.org\/website_f669cee5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2226"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}