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Fr. John Baptist Cortona, O.S.J.
CHAPTER 2
1867 - 1877
His priestly ordination. Savio, bishop of Asti.
Father Marello appointed secretary to Bishop Savio. He accompanies
his bishop to the Vatican Council. His father dies. He wants
to become a Trappist and Bishop Savio dissuades him. Bishop Savio
chooses him as his confessor. He again wishes to become a Trappist
and Bishop Savio convinces him that he has another mission in
this world.
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As Joseph's years of theology were drawing to a close,
he was overjoyed to reach the priesthood to which he had aspired
for so long. The quality of his preparation is easily demonstrated
by the results: an excellent priest and a holy bishop. He received
all the Holy Orders in Asti at the hands of Bishop Carl Savio;
tonsure and the four minor orders on December 21, 1867; the subdiaconate
on March 28, 1868; and the diaconate on June 6 of the same year.
Finally he was ordained to the priesthood on September 19, 1868.
He celebrated his first Mass in his native town, and the second
in the little shrine of Vallone of Antignano near Asti, dedicated
to Our Lady of Ransom. Our Most Blessed Lady smiled on the young
priest preparing himself to work so committedly to rescue many
souls from the bondage of Satan, a bondage far more degrading than
physical slavery. Much later he would reclaim that shrine and see
to it that his sons properly care for it.
At this point we should pause briefly to discuss
the man providence destined to be the spiritual guide and wise
counselor of our venerable founder. Bishop Carl Savio was "savio",
that is "wise", both in name and in fact, full of wisdom
human and divine. He was born in Cuneo which had been the birthplace
of Bishops Lobetti and Maurice Caisotti, his predecessors in the
episcopate of Asti. He grew up and was educated all the way through
philosophy and theology in his native city. He dedicated himself
to the study of Christian wisdom with great eagerness, so that
at the age of twentyfive he was placed on the faculty of the University
of Turin. As Professor of Dogmatic Theology, he was particularly
admired for the easy clarity of his classes, his elegance of expression,
his depth and vast learning, qualities that endure in his writings. "I
remember," one of his former students, the Reverend Canon
C. Vassallo, used to say, "and it will always be etched in
my memory, the ease, breadth and finesse with which he handled
the most difficult questions. I remember the goodhearted kindliness
with which he welcomed us; the graciousness of his manners was
a holy attraction for us."
He was an outstanding speaker, particularly in the
delightful way he would improvise on any topic, even when asked
at the last minute. Pius IX appointed him bishop of Asti, and he
made his solemn entry into the diocese in June of 1867.
This Bishop Savio, with his deep knowledge of human
nature, appreciated the outstanding quality of young Marello, and
immediately after ordaining him made him his secretary. This was
a special blessing from the Lord, who had destined the young Levite
for greatness. Under the guidance of such a bishop, who linked
uncommon learning with a rare modesty and genuine humility, Father
Marello could acquire the combination of virtues necessary for
his noble mission. Daily conversation with such a person and the
constant presence of his living example made a deep impression
on the good secretary, who had a mind quick to catch lofty discipline
and a heart generous enough to imitate every good example. His
progress in Christian virtue was so evident that it delighted the
bishop and drew the admiration of his companions, who took him
as their model and proudly boasted of having been his schoolmates.
In 1864 Pius IX published the Syllabus of Errors
and condemned Modernism in all its manifestations. Four years later
he convoked the Vatican Council for the eighth of December 1869,
inviting all the bishops of the world to take part. It opened the
day of the Immaculate Conception, and Rome witnessed an imposing
spectacle. Over 700 cardinals, bishops, prelates, and abbots gathered
in St. Peter's Basilica. Pius IX personally presided over the public
sessions. It was at the fourth of these sessions that the bull Pastor
Aeternus was promulgated, defining papal infallibility.
Our founder was fortunate enough to accompany Bishop
Savio as his secretary and to take part in the imposing assembly
of bishops and the solemn act of deference rendered the Roman Pontiff
in those stirring days.
I am pleased to include here what Bishop Ronco wrote
of him in the letter to Msgr. Pagella that I have already quoted: "Bishop
Savio had found Marello to be discrete, dedicated to his churchly
duties, prudent in administrative affairs, a trustworthy keeper
of secrets, well educated and obedient; he therefore chose him
as his companion at the Council, and kept the beloved priest at
his side ... in the highest confidence." He also tells how
the bishop of Asti and several others lodged in the apostolic residence
of the Quirinale. Among them was Cardinal Pecci, archbishop of
Perugia and later Pope Leo XIII, much revered for his learning
and respected as an oracle by the venerable Council fathers. Here
Leo XIII met Marello and developed that great esteem for him which
later led him to tell Canon Peloso (then secretary to Marello as
bishop of Acqui) in a private audience; "You have a bishop
who is a real treasure."
During his brief stay in Rome, our founder took the
opportunity to visit the monuments witnessing the faith of the
martyrs, the virtue of the heroes of Christianity, and the grandeur
of the pontiffs. His visit overwhelmed him with awe and enkindled
his faith and love. The impression was so deep that ever afterward
he would talk about the experience with such glowing enthusiasm
and detailed knowledge that he sounded like a Roman by birth.
Our lives are interwoven with joys and sorrows, roses
and thorns, laughter and tears. Difficulties and suffering are
part of life for everyone, but they are hardest on those God has
destined for the greatest glory. They purify them, strip them from
clinging to creatures, and unite them more directly to God. Father
Marello had to undergo heartfelt tragedy. His mother died while
he was still small, and he had directed his deepest feelings to
his father, who returned his love in equal measure. In 1873, at
the age of 65, his father was stricken with a painful and fatal
disease. The son rushed to San Martino to be beside his dying father,
remained till his last breath, and then followed him to the final
dignities at the tomb.
Death wounded the holy priest in his dearest affections,
but by faith and prayer he resigned himself completely to the will
of God, who works all things for our good. From now on he could
justly repeat the words of the prophet: "My loved ones have
left me. From now on You alone, O Lord, will be my lot and heritage
on earth."
During this period he felt a great desire to become
a Trappist religious. This was not due to the death of his father,
but solely to his desire to belong totally to God. The Lord is
the center of our hearts and the goal of our hopes; only He can
satisfy us. Now the more eagerly we seek Him, the more we will
be attracted to Him in contemplation, and contemplation is powerfully
aided by an atmosphere of solitude and silence. Those who are far
from the noise of the world, from earthly concerns-and anxiety
about externals, can bury themselves deep in God and taste the
beginning of the peace which will one day be our blessedness. With
good reason St. Bernard used to say: "0 solitudo, sola
beatitudo." But before acting on his desires, Marello
wanted to consult his beloved spiritual father, Bishop Savio. The
bishop discouraged him: "It seems to me that God has work
for you to do in the world." The good Father Marello was always
detached from his own will, and he revered his bishop; so he decided
to remain in the world. Meanwhile, he made every effort to progress
ever farther in the virtues that should adorn a holy priest. For
these virtues Bishop Savio respected him so highly that he made
him his confessor and spiritual director; it seemed that no other
priest could give him such wise direction and the encouragement
he would need in special circumstances. But the idea of becoming
a Trappist kept haunting Marello, until one day he went back to
talk Bishop Savio into giving him permission to fly to what he
thought was the true resting place of his soul.
Once more Bishop Savio persuaded him that the Lord
had called him to do something for the glory of God and the salvation
of souls in the world. Marello replied insistently: "If the
Lord had really called me to fulfill some such plan, He would have
made known his will to me by now." Bishop Savio countered: "The
time has not yet come; keep on praying and you will see that the
Lord will not be late in letting you know his plans for you." God's
priest wanted nothing more than to do God's will even at the cost
of his own likings; he continued in fervent prayer, repeating to
the Lord the words of Saint Paul: "Domine, quid me vis
facere?" (Acts 9:6) and Samuel: "Loquere, Domine,
quia audit servus tuus" (I Samuel 3).
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