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3rd day: 16th August, 2014
ANGELA, THE «GOOD MOTHER»
Guide: In the Preventive System, goodness, being good, is an essential element. It is a way of being
that distinguishes the Salesian educator from all others. It is a goodness that conquers and transforms,
draws near and understand, loves and educates. Goodness involves being good - good, true, and
beautiful!
Sr. Angela, a missionary of the first expedition to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, was called by the
people, especially the children and women with whom she came in contact, “the Good Mother”. The
people recognized her not only as a “Mother” but as a “Good Mother”.
In this missionary of the first hour one could find what is good, true and beautiful according to the
Gospel. One could find in her a Mother with a great heart, an attentive glance, and resourceful hands.
Invocation to the Holy Spirit… (choose a suitable song)
From the life of Sr. Angela Vallese
Reader 1: Having left Dawson Island definitively, the SDB and FMA missionaries and a group of
indigenous people arrived at Punta Arenas to later depart for the mission at Candelaria. Sr. Angela was
waiting for them at the port. At the moment of disembarking, the indigenous people who were timid,
embarrassed, and lost, repeated in a whisper: “Good Mother...Good Mother…”. Sr. Angela called each by
name, and addressed a motherly word to each of them…
Reader 2: In community she was capable if sensing every little or great need. How often she mended
the linen of the Sisters in a hidden way! And when she perceived that someone had to repair her habit
because no one had two-she waited until the Sister went to bed and then, “she carefully and quietly
took it away”. She worked the whole night through. In the morning when the Sister rose, she found the
habit whole and entire!
Reader 1: When someone was ill, it was Sr. Angela who cared for them day and night. «She
understood even a simple indisposition, a fleeting melancholy, and even through a way of speaking,
looking, or laughing she understood if her daughters were suffering. She would approach them with
quick charity and would ask in a low voice: “What’s the matter? May I help you? I am here for you…”».
Reader 2: «And with what solicitude she worked to conserve harmony in the house, to keep cheerful
those daughters of hers who were so sacrificed, so far way from all. She prepared welcome surprises
for them remembering a dear anniversary, providing the relaxation of a beautiful outing.»

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From the Word of God (Mk 10: 17 – 18a)
«And while he was going on his way, a man came running to him, and went down on his knees, saying,
Good Master, what have I to do so that I may have eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call
me good? […]»
From a letter of Madre Mazzarello
«My Very Dear Sr. Angiolina,
It has already been a year since we last saw each other. How time passes! We really must make good use of
it to gain much merit and so be ready when the Lord calls. I am happy that the Sisters there are good and
work hard. It is up to us to help them to grow always in virtue, first of all by example, because what is taught
by example remains deeply impressed on the heart and does much more good, and then by words. Always
encourage them to be humble and obedient, to love work, to act with the right intention and always to be
open and sincere with everyone. Always keep them cheerful, always correct them with charity but never
overlook any defect. A defect that is corrected immediately is nothing, but if it is allowed to take root, it is
very difficult to uproot…». (L 17 - Mornese, December 1878)
From the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (259)
Together: «Jesus wants evangelizers who proclaim the Good News not only with words, but above all
by a life transfigured by God’s presence.»
Guide: Let us pray.
Guide: What does it matter?
1. «For Sr. Angela Vallese sacrifices no longer mattered, when the grace triumphed in souls!»
2. What did it matter if a house was lacking the necessities? What did it matter if it meant
wearing out your hands in washing, or kneading bread?
1. What did it matter if there was no wood and it was necessary to travel 3-4 miles in any
weather to look for it?
2. What did it matter to have hands that were swollen from the cold, with chilblains, torn by
thorns, hardened by the hoe with which they struggled to break the arid ground?...
Together: «All is nothing, as long as God reigns! This was Sr. Angela Vallese’s style».
1. “Good Mother”, “Mother of the Indians”, “White Mother”. It did not matter how they called her.
2. For the little people of the Tierra of Fuego she was truly Mother. In her they found what was
good, true, and beautiful, according to the Gospel.
Conclusion with a suitable song:

3. 3
For the personal reflection:
When meeting the sisters of “Isola Grande”, sr. Angela Vallese encouraged them to fear not the austral
wind, but the one that hardens the hearts of the Onas Indians: “Ah, my dear daughters, I well know
that the Indians are wild, repugnant in their dirt and nakedness, at times ferocious and brutal, ready to
use violence, but, as Mons. Fagnano says, let us try to be ourselves fathers and mothers to them...
No sacrifice be too heavy for us… Let us be fervent in prayer, ardent in charity towards one another:
God and Mary Help of Christians will do the rest!”
When Mons. Fagnano, sr. Angela Vallese and other two sisters arrived in Dawson, for a visit to this
island, the indigenous fled. But then, slowly, they turned back and drew nearer. Sr. Angela looked at
each of them smiling, drawing near and opening her arms like a mother. Later she would say: “They
were dressed like St. John the Baptist!...”
The indigenous study the missionaries! Encouraged by their smile, they want to look at them closely,
to touch them, but they are also ready to run away. Those three figures dressed in white and black are
too mysterious. Are they men, women or penguins?
“Kasteciaci?” (penguin-birds), they ask.
“No”, Mons. Fagnano replies, “good mothers”.
“Ah!...”
And then the women take the sisters by hand and accompany them to visit their miserable “toldi”
circular huts where they live closely with men and dogs which are the very precious companions in
hunting.
From that visit sr. Angela Vallese will gather the certainty that God is calling her to sacrifice all her life
to save them! God calls her to be the “Good Mother”!
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