Jesus, how sweet is Your name! But it is also a strong name, a powerful name, and when it resounds every knee must bend in Heaven, earth and in every place. Jesus, you know that since many days I am torn by a dilemma: to talk to You before my brothers or in the intimacy, in the conversation and prayers, which constantly Marisa and I raise to you.
In the Ecclesiastes it says that there is a time to speak and there is a time to keep silence and I wondered: is it now the time to speak or is it the time to keep silence? (Qohelet or, more rarely, Ecclesiastes is a text of the Bible 3. 1-8. Editor's Note) As usual I have been guided by your teachings. A few months ago, You said to us: "I am happy when you draw out from your heart whatever you have inside, for I already know it." Our Lord, what can come out from two hearts that are pierced, crushed, offended, humiliated, slandered and persecuted?
You told us we should not ask questions, but we are human creatures, we cannot understand so much your many acts, orders, directions, because, while we are your brothers, we know that between You and us there is infinity and we understand more and more the differences existing between You and us.
Why, Jesus, at each feast, we feel more tired, more tried, more embittered and disappointed? We are dragging ourselves. It is true that 37 years ago your Mother made us ponder this expression: "We will drag our poor body, without uttering from our mouth a bitter word of grievance." Jesus, were we unable to implement that recommendation? We are complaining, but I believe that if You and the Mother of the Eucharist were in our place, you too would complain.
Sure, You would add, addressing Your Father and in accordance with your lifestyle, "Thy will be done." You know, Jesus, we have always tried to do Your will, even by shedding blood and tears.
Once God the Father asked Marisa and me: "It is I who has to adapt to you or is it you who have to adapt to Me?" And I answered: "We are the ones who have to adapt to You." believe me, Jesus, at that time I did not foresee that You would have asked us to climb a Golgotha increasingly fraught with thorns and hindrances and to live in a Gethsemane where the bitterness of our suffering would have been turned into something terrible and oppressive. Jesus, You know I am not exaggerating, You know everything I am telling you is true, because You were the first to tell me that. Jesus, I ask You the question again: "Why at every feast we see each other increasingly tested and tired? When, My God, will a smile return on our lips?" The Mother of the Eucharist answered to Marisa when she asked: "Mummy, why are you not smiling?", "What reason I have to smile?" We give you the same answer: "What reason we have to smile?" Yet, Jesus, true God and true Man, in the Sacred Scripture is written: "God loves those who give joy." We no longer succeed to offer You our actions and suffering with joy, we are not offering them to You with a smile, but with moaning and crying. It's terrible what I am about to say, it is devastating the question I am about to ask. "Jesus, Son of God, as we are unable to give you anything with joy, do you still love us?" Jesus, look at our exhaustion: You have tested it, You have experienced it, but let me bring to your attention that Marisa and I are living it for more than 37 years, it is a lifetime. Every year was tougher, harder and full of more suffering than the previous year. Until when, my God, will You continue to crush us in the grip of suffering?
The year 2008 was terrible! The Year of Hope, the year of Certainty will be over in 15 days and what is left in our hands? Suffering only. Sometimes I wonder: what is our fault? Why should we bear the consequences of wars, selfishness, sins and the offenses towards You? Why, my God?
I, today, as never before, implore You: keep your promises. On June 29 you have placed next to the expression "Enough", the adverb "soon". I beg You, I beseech You, Jesus, don't tell me that your "soon" is not ours. Please: use our language, consider our present concepts, not because we do not want to adapt to You, but because we do not succeed to stand up again. Remember when you fell before you got on top of Golgotha, remember how you dragged, remember how a tough weakness was crushing You. Jesus, we are in this situation and we are exhausted. Marisa and I cannot cope any longer with the way things are going. Give us what You promised, keep what You told us, I know You will do it, but please, I beg you, I implore You, just once, do it in our time.
None of us is a hero. We feel like those kids who love their parents, and when they stumble and fall, cry for the pain and shout: "Dad, Mom, come and pick me up." Jesus, we are in this situation: turning to your and our Dad with that affection and respect You taught us to show, we shout: "Dad, come to our aid, see how we cannot cope with it any more." Then we turn our gaze to our Mother and call her up for help.
How many times has Our Lady cried for us! Isn't it true, dear Mother of Heaven that together with Grandmother Iolanda you have been often crying on your daughter and me? The tears of a mother are moving the father. I know, Mother, you are on our side. Yesterday, while your daughter was moaning and I, Yari and Laura, sad and suffering, were beseeching you, we felt a big pain in your words when you said: "I cannot do anything, for God has decided this suffering."
My Mummy, many times I said to you: stand in front of Daddy God and do not get up until, with a smile and stretching His hand on you, He says to you: "Go, my daughter, go, Mary, to my children to give the good news."
Jesus, I have spoken with my heart in my hand, I have spoken as I have never spoken before my brothers and sisters. You see their involvement in our suffering, You see the pain expressed by someone with tears while the others are experiencing sadness and melancholy that is reminding what you had in the Gethsemane when you said: "My soul is sad to death".
Jesus, raise us again, give us the joy we experienced in the past and that for too long we have forgotten. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, Daddy God, Brother God, Friend God, the One and Triune God, to You our love, our praise, our faith for all eternity.

Rome, 23rd November 2008
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

+ Claudio Gatti
Bishop ordained by God
Bishop of the Eucharist