375 - NOTHING IN LIFE HAPPENS BY CHANCE

First Encounter with Father Piamarta - By Pier Giordano Cabra

Chapter One

God’s Providence Is Over All

1. This is especially true in the lives of the Saints. In Brescia, in the latter half of the 19th century, while the industrial revolution was raging, a special intervention became necessary for the young boys of the area. There, in that same local, on the 26th day of November, 1841 a boy was born, the son of Joseph Piamarta and Regina Ferrari. The following day in the church of Saint Faustino he was baptized John the Baptist.

2. Our little John Baptist had a mission to help the poor. Born poor and growing up in a poor environment he suffered the privations of poverty. Instead of a jacket to protect himself from the cold he had to be satisfied with a wool shirt handmade by his mother; instead of nice shoes, wooden clogs. His parents would foster difficult boys with issues. All of this had an effect on young John. Growing up he did not have a nice character. This was particularly because he was disillusioned by the hypocrisy he noticed around him. He understood that saying nice words is one thing, but acting upon them is another. Furthermore, to grow up we all have to work, suffer and often fight against ourselves. John was no exception.

3. He didn't have a bad temper. He had a fiery one. He was steadfast and stubborn, and would blow up angrily when something did not go his way. His mother, Regina, watched over him and would take control. One time was when John was six years old he left his soup on the table because he didn't like it. The next morning his mother gave him the same soup and again at lunch and once again in the evening until the young protester had to quit. He learned that you cannot always get what you want. This was an important lesson for John.

4. Another important rule of life that John would learn is that we must first change ourselves before setting out to change things outside ourselves. We cannot always change or improve others or other things, but we can always improve ourselves.

5. John's mother would bring him to mass in the big church of Saint Faustino. They lived almost in front of the church and had only to cross a bridge so it wasn't a long walk. John gladly participated in the ceremonies and because he had a very nice voice he was given the honor to be the solo in the Saint Faustino parish choir.

6. His mother would lead him in front of Our Lady's altar and there she would talk to him of Our Lady's universal motherhood explaining to him that she is everyone's mother. This left a deep and abiding impression on little John Baptist who would never forget his mother's words. Instead he would repeat them a thousand times till this comforting lesson became a sweet experience of his heart.

7. When John was nine year’s old death came for the first time in his life and took his most beloved person, his mother, Regina. His father, a barber, worked all day. Sometimes when he came home in the evening he would drink too much. John, who had cared for the orphans his family fostered came to know first hand what it was to be an orphan and alone. Feeling rejected and abandoned, his home suddenly empty and silent with no one waiting for him, John suffered intense loneliness in silence.

8. John's Grandfather began to take care of him. In the evenings he would enchant little John Baptist with tales of Holy History, episodes of the Bible. Today, soap operas and television films captivate young audiences but for centuries grandfathers were the ones who carefully wove important life lessons into intriguing tales that would be well remembered and skillfully narrated them to their young charges. These, they hoped, would leave a lasting impression on the young child and guide them through life.
 

Traduzione a cura di Mary Levine e Matteo Toschi