God's works are mysterious, and his plans are hidden in the backdrop of every single action which he begins and perpetuates through his lowly ones. The Constitution of the Daughters of Presentation of Mary in the Temple (DPMT) tells: ""Our Institute was born in silence, it lived and continued in humility, a memory that illumines every decision, present and future"" (art. no. 203). The search for the spirituality of this 'silently born Institute' surprises me to know its humble beginning in the early decades of 19 Century. The Pious Work of St. Dorothy, founded by the priest Don Luca Passi in 1815 at Calcinate Bergamo was the only lay association for women, in the whole Catholic scene of pre-unified Italy. In 1827, Francesca Butti and Maria Rossi became the members of the Pious Work of St. Dorothy and later they were appointed as its care takers. Thanks to this experience that led them to focus on the education of the poor girls. Sufferings, humiliations, poverty, and rejections were their earnings as they engaged in charity works and the promotion of human dignity. At the same time, they were drawn after the divine love and that transformed their lives in Christ as he was their Unum necessarium. This love for God and fellow beings impelled them to consecrate themselves to God.
Though Francesca and Maria started their mission, on 7th April 1833, with a special interest to live in charity and union of mind, slowly it unfolded in them a strong desire for religious life. There were many hurdles to overcome, and the absence of an approved rule was the major one. The year 1874 was marked with tangible divine blessings, even though the Founders both Francesca and Maria were called to eternal life, their long-cherished dream and tireless hard work of founding a religious Institute was realized with the approval of the rule in the same year. In response to the ardent prayers and the sincere longing of the sisters, Cardinal Andrea Ferrari, after learning the details, canonically erected the Society of the Daughters of Presentation of Mary in the Temple as a Religious Congregation on 5th March 1895. Thus, with in the span of 62 years, from that distant 7th April 1833, the small community born at St. Vitale, Como found its precise and definitive identity in this recognition. The lived spirituality of its Founden, which is rooted in the Pascal mysteries of Christ with a specific Marian dimension remain as a strength of this Congregation.
As we began to examine the spiritual path lived by the Founders of the Daughters, which is unravelled in the First Constitution (1874), the Biography of Mother Marchesoli (1933), and the Revised Constitution of 2010, we realise that their lived spirituality finds its foundations in the Bible and the lives of the saints throughout the centuries. So, this study is an attempt to look at the spirituality of the Daughters of Presentation of Mary in the Temple in the light of the Constitution, based on Scripture and Tradition. Indeed, these two young friends Francesca, and Maria, were truly rooted in Christ and reached out to the people with their hidden and holy lives. As the readers, go through these pages, will realise that God's works were marvellous in and through his handmaids, Francesca and Maria. This study aims to bring out the spiritual richness of the Daughters, which has not yet been explored sufficiently in writings. Trust that it will give more clarity for the relevance of the Daughters' spirituality in following Christ after the example of Mary presented in the Temple. Certainly, I wish and pray that this study will act as a catalyst for all the seekers of God in the ordinariness of their lives. Let it prompt many more members to explore again and find the true treasure which contains in the Constitution.
This book is a revised version of my Licentiate dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum, Rome in 2022. When I scroll down these pages of my search into the spirituality of the Daughters, I am indebted to many. At the outset, I thank God for the graces that enlightened me enabled me to complete this research work.
I also gratefully acknowledge the support of many persons who have journeyed with me by encouraging, inspiring, and challenging me throughout this writing. I am particularly indebted to Prof. Richard O'Connor, who graciously agreed to direct me in this research work. His insights, expertise, research methods and corrections refined my thoughts and enabled me to bring out the best within my capacity. I also acknowledge the inspiration and support of Prof. Dr. Thomas Karimundackal SJ. throughout this work. He was generously available and patiently guided me during this study, extending due appreciation and offering helpful direction and intuitive remarks that contributed to the successful completion of this project. During the XIX and XXI Ordinary General Chapters, P. L. Nava and P. Ittoop reflected on Temple Spirituality and Accipe Spirituality respectively and I am grateful for their profound insights, which turns as a good resource for me.
I am delighted to present to you dear readers the book BEHOLD IN SPIRIT AND MISSION, a revised version of the Licentiate dissertation of Sr. Betsy Maria (Mercy Vettath) submitted to the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum, Rome in the year 2022.
It is indeed an arduous and in-depth exploration of the Constitution into the Spirituality of the Daughters of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, in the light of Scripture and Traditions. In fact, it is a treasure trove of its spiritual richness. It delves deeply into the inexhaustible spiritual wealth of the Daughters of Presentation.
It deals with the origin and history of the Congregation in brief, the biblical root of its spirituality, heritage from Church tradition down the centuries, and magisterial teachings, which are reflected in the Constitution (first and the revised). Therefore, it is a constitutional study, in the light of Scripture and Tradition, which unveils the spirituality of the Daughters of Presentation. Imbibing from the apocryphal writing, the author emphasized the relevance of the spirit behind the traditional faith about the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. She highlights the Scripture foundation of Marian Spirituality unveiling from the ""behold"" of annunciation (Lk 1:38) to the ""behold"" at the foot of the cross (Jn 19:25-27) a culminating point of spirit of oblation. As Sr. Betsy rightly states in the conclusion, ""Our spirituality is a Marian way of life, it shows how Mary intimately united herself with God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, cooperating with the plan of God, which continues in and through the Church today."" It contains well the various aspects of the Presentation Spirituality which she underscores step by step. Accipe the unique spirituality trait of the Daughters of Presentation - a gift that deeply influences the Daughters' personal, vocational, communitarian, ministerial and ecological choices - is highlighted with brief reflections.
I am pleased to see that this study is an endeavour to unearth the treasure of the Presentation Spirituality and heritage. I proudly present this book to all the readers especially to the Daughters of Presentation and urge each one to draw spiritual strength and enlightenment by a reflective reading. I appreciate the relentless hard work put in by Sr. Betsy in bringing out this valuable book that showcases the rich spirituality reflects in our Constitution in the light of the Scripture and Tradition, to understand and assimilate, live, and share it with the present and future generation of the Daughters of Presentation of Mary in the Temple to sanctify themselves and lead others to God.
Religious life has always been like a shining light in the life of the Church. The Founders of religious orders are usually revered as people of great holiness and example for the rest of humanity. Francesca Butti and Maria Rossi are two such people who lived in the North of Italy in the 19º century and did great work for abandoned women and children. Started in Italy, focused on the local parish activities, in God's plan and time, their mission has spread to different nations like, India, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Tanzania, and Indonesia. The charism they had, the spirituality they lived and the mission they envisioned are as relevant today as they were in the beginning, if adapted to new circumstances.
'Behold in Spirit and Mission is an expression of the spirituality of the Daughters of Presentation. The hidden and heroic virtues of Francesca Butti and Maria Rossi inspire me to explore and reflect on the spirituality they lived and bequeathed to the Congregation that they founded. So, the subject matter of this study is an attempt to explore the richness and uniqueness of the Presentation Spirituality based on its Constitutional teachings in the light of Scripture and Tradition. It begins with a history of its origin, discusses its scriptural and ecclesial foundation, highlights its spiritual inheritance and ends with an attempt to show its relevance for the present time.
The first chapter deals with a brief history of the origin of the Congregation, through the life history of Francesca Butti and Maria Rossi, the two Founders of the Daughters. It is by tracing their [Founders] early lives growing up in the Lombardy region, their efforts to help the needy girls of the locality and especially the spirituality they gave rise to in the community they formed, which was later approved as a religious Congregation namely, the Daughters of Presentation of Mary in the Temple (hitherto DPMT) Their ardent desire for a holy life, the difficult situations they encountered, their initial steps to join another Congregation, the first community, the differences and divisions they went through, the construction of their new chapel, the painting of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple which they received as a gift, the title of the Institute, the approval of their rule, the status of their religious Congregation and the pontifical status it received etc, are briefly considered. Thus, the first chapter aims to set the background for reflection on the spirituality of the Congregation.
The second chapter explores the Biblical inspiration on which the Founders built up their charism, spirituality, and mission. Emphasises to the Biblical passages which our Founders meditated on and lived, especially the quotations we read in the First Constitution (1874) and the present Constitution (2010) which are directly related to the Daughters' spirituality that we follow today. 'Behold' in Spirit and Mission, the title of the text is evolved from the Scripture foundation of Marian Spirituality reveals from the ""Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord"" at annunciation (Lk 1:38) to the ""behold, your mother"" a culminating point of spirit of oblation at the foot of the cross (Jn 19:25-27). The prefiguring of Mary in the Old Testament and mention of her in the Apocryphal Gospel of James also are dealt with and given their due importance to present a holistic approach to the Marian Spirituality that the Daughters follow.
The third chapter highlights the tradition of religious life in the history of the Church with a focus on Vatican II and post Vatican insights on religious life as found in various Church documents. Since the Daughters have not taken up and followed exclusively any one spirituality of the great religious traditions like that of the Carmelites, Dominicans, Ignatian, Franciscans etc., my search will look more widely at various religious movements in the tradition of the Church, focusing on a few with which the spirituality of the Founders shows some affinity or similarity even if they did not explicitly depend on or borrow from them. Therefore, this study will be looking at these earlier movements to show that the spirituality of the Daughters of Presentation is truly and faithfully within Catholic tradition. In other words, this is to seek the ecclesial roots and wings of the Daughters of Presentation in terms of its spirituality and mission and to show that they are truly in the mainstream of Catholic spirituality.
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