Nina Moscati: an emblem of benevolence Sonia Andreoli Translated by Carla Mariza Ruiz |
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There are countless testimonies of how Nina Moscati, sister of the holy doctor Giuseppe, was his accomplice in doing good, as amply described by Father Alfredo Marranzini s.j. in an article published in Gesù Nuovo Magazine, edition 1991 (pg. 402-412) and in turn, compounded by the author in Osservatore Romano of March 29, 2003 - also present in our site dedicated to St. Giuseppe Moscati.
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(May 21, 1920, S. Lucia di Serino [Avellino] – August 18, 2008, Napoli) |
Fr. Marranzini met Nina when he were only 11 years old, having been convinced to enter the Seminary of Salerno.
He describes her as a gentle, affable, and above all, describes the happiness with which she received the news of his decision, regaling you with your picture next to his brother Giuseppe, when children and also a crucifix of wood covered with mother of pearl which belonged to the Holy Doctor, advising him to keep it very carefully (in fact, both memories are preserved in the Archive Moscati since 1999).
Crucifix above was, in turn, presented to St. Giuseppe Moscati by Father Alfonso Parziale, born in S. Lucia Serino, he was a missionary in America, and was ported to Betlemme turn when his pilgrimage in the Holy Land. Nina adds, speaking with Fr. Marranzini, his brother kept the object with high esteem, and that ever kissed it before falling asleep and waking.
We can only imagine the commotion of the Father, an old man, describing his emotions in those memories that, although distant, still remained intact, just as remained alive his esteem and affection for Nina, with the happiness of seeing, finally translated from the remains of Poggioreale Cemetery for the Church of Gesù Nuovo, next to the oratory dedicated to the Holy Doctor.
But what meant Fr. Marranzini with "complicity in his brother's doing good"? This subject was not only based on his experience in his meeting with Nina, but also in his testimony cited, as well as that of another brother of the saint, Eugenio Moscati, in his testimony in the cause of beatification of Prof. Moscati, says:
"My brother was carrying in his heart the love of neighbor [...]. All his work was free, and the little money he received from customers who knew to be rich and wealthy, had in charities and charity, offering remedies to the poor, and having the opportunity, it did benefit them. For his complicity in doing good to others was our sister, Nina. "(Positio super virtutibus servi Josephi Moscati viri laici: Summarium, p.15).
Another witness to the qualities of Nina is offered us by Mr. Ettore Caropreso,who was present at the Solemn celebration on the afternoon of February 18, 2009, in honor of repatriating his remains to Gesù Nuovo.
Knowing her personally, granted us an interview so she said:
"... At that time we were in a difficult economic condition... I slept on the floor... Nina instructed the caretaker to make me prepare the morning coffee at Bar Cappuccio... when he asked me: "You ate...?" and I answered that no, she immediately took care of that... It's as if it relieved me... and had understood that his brother also worked with her in this meritorious work. I worked all my life, and I turned to the priests of the Church of Jesus New, where even today, although my 87 years of age, I am happy to drive me every day to pray beside the body of Nina, he always wanted to be buried here... "[...]" Unfortunately, few times I saw her in person, and rarely was able to hold her... but I know that secretly, watching over me...
I am also aware of the fact that Giuseppe Moscati did not charge money for their care..."
In his words so precise, full of emotion, it appears again as the figure of Nina is associated with that of her brother in charity, in true love, not one based on only donate surplus, but rather to provide not only material needs of others, as well as those of the spiritual order.
It also collaborated with Nina's brother Giuseppe, who defined himself as her "angel protector and wise inspiring," in particularly difficult cases in which sick people had the need for spiritual comfort and receive the Sacraments frequently asked her to be personally - as his brother Eugenio said in his depositions in the process of beatification of Holy Doctor:
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""When in the hospital found any ill non-baptized, immediately he communicated to his sister Nina, and this promptly, was organized for the administration of Holy Baptism to the sufferer." Notably, due to the fact that Nina having been kept some writings and other materials belonging to his brother: he had a habit of throwing garbage in everything he wrote, and sister, cautiously, collected all his writings the basket...
Because of his profession, Giuseppe Moscati not change much to your outfit, as he preferred to give much of what he had to the needy.
More testimony came when the testimony of his brother Eugenio:
"My sister Anna kept their clothes in order, always the same, made by an old tailor, just like you did with your other personal indumentum." As Nina's own words:
"Nothing has demanded, had to observe and provide everything to him, to make him eat anything that he felt like it was necessary to tell him that he should eat because everyone was already full, and that food would be dispensed. It was always necessary to present you a thousand reasons to give it a special food, and similarly for, without your knowledge, do something different. It was unnecessary for him, even necessary. If you've ever met, magically, a different clothes, ended with a smile - but how much desire he had to wear a narrow route and a monk's habit. He never thought of himself. If yhe earned any object, kept it as something that did not belong." (1)
Father filed Marranzini just staring at that photo pampered by Nina - which means that, in the foreground, holding strong left-handed brother Giuseppe, dressed as a sailor - who was there premonition the history that took place in the life of Doctor Santo.
Nina, besides being a tireless catechist, was still keen to needy families, as indicated by his brother properly. By 1815, appears in Napoli the Society for the Preservation of the Faith, and she taught it initially in schools when the study of religion was optional. Then, with the obligation of teaching, took up the charge of priests, while she, together with other catechists, were busy preparing the aspiring First Communion.
All this work was concentrated in the Church of Gesù Nuovo, where they had always courses catechists, where directed to young people from middle school, after being prepared by the Catechism of other churches. His works were known to be the favorite of the Jesuit Fathers, in particular, by Fr. Aromatisi.
Often, those people would even slightly older and had not yet received First Communion, and in some cases, even the baptism. From the beginning, Nina Moscati was the director general of the Society which was, in turn, largely financed by own brother, Giuseppe.
Even the sad disease that was hit, causing her to reach your in heaven "angelic brother" on November 24, 1931, halted their apostolic commitment, and Fr Marranzini in his writings, presented several papers about this.
One of these, in particular, attests committed itself "to be legally returned to the Monastery of St. Clarisse Lucia Serino, birthplace of his father, Francesco, an extensive rural property that once belonged to this and had been transferred to the State under a law that dated from 1862, supplying the said Institute, actually prevented their survival."
Both can still be attributed to this extraordinary woman, like the fact that there continued the work of his brother, after the deceased, with immense love. There are records of his words, saying, "Now, I love all those who loved my brother angelic."
Fr. Sebastiano Esposito s.j. offers other points of discussion by writing articles that address a letter to Nina unheard of Bartolo Longo, where evidence is a collaboration between them, his brother and Blessed founder of the Shrine of Pompeii.
For those who had the happiness to know her, or have you heard, or simply have been busy studying the documents that relate to your life, enjoying the character of fiction presented twice by the RAI (NT: Radio TV and Italian), is disappointing.
In fact, this fiction has the merit of presenting the figure of the Holy Doctor for people who had never heard of him, and being (as stated) freely inspired by the life of St. Giuseppe Moscati, we would expect that would not be totally relevant to the truth of the facts, omitting, for example, his constant practice the Sacraments, their daily trips to Mass at the Church of Gesù Nuovo or the Church of St. Chiara, giving way to an absent loving relationship ...
When it produces a work of this kind can be added characters who never existed, "exaggerate" a bit on the qualities or defects of the protagonist (for example, it is known that St. Giuseppe Moscati was a jolly type, social, as well far from being a "troublemaker" ;should not fantasize about real characters... especially one the caliber of character Nina Moscati, who was presented only as an appendix to the story of what had been seen on tv.
But, nonetheless, this event may have had its positive side: it forces us to reflect on what might have been Nina if Faith had not entered her life (as indeed was represented after his encounter with the figure of Chloe ).
Could, however, have a sad woman, apathetic and lacking in providing any assistance to his brother, holding in herself all her altruism. But all this is not the case, and is a good that is done to disseminate the truth about Nina, the truth about a woman full of love, a woman full of God.
Nota
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moscati@gesuiti.it |