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St. Francis Xavier M.

Bianchi

Ascetical Writings

Edited by Fr. Giovanni M. Scalese, CRSP


1743-1815

Compiled and Edited by:


Fr. Robert B. M. Kosek, CRSP
Sr. Rorivic Ma. P. Israel, ASP
Ms. Frances Stahlecker
Mrs. Nancy Bellis
Translation from Italian by:
Fr. Frank M. Papa, CRSP
St. Francis Xavier M. Bianchi
Barnabite Priest

Ascetical Writings

The great confidence that we should have


in the love shown us by Jesus Christ
in all that he has done for us

CONSIDERATIONS

Our Hope
King David placed all the trust of his salvation in his If we have serious reasons to fear eternal death because
future Redeemer and said, “Into your hands I of offenses against God, we have, on the other hand,
commend my spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, much greater reasons to hope for eternal life in the
faithful God” (Ps 31:6). Now, how much more should merits of Jesus Christ which have an infinitely superior
we put our trust in Jesus Christ, since He has already value for our salvation than the value would our sins
come and has brought Redemption to its completion? make us lose. We have sinned and have merited hell;
Therefore, with greater trust each one of us must say but our Redeemer has come to take upon himself all
and always repeat, “Into your hands I commend my our faults in order to expiate with his suffering, “It was
spirit; you will redeem me, LORD, faithful God.” our infirmities that He bore, our sufferings that He
endured” (Is 53:4).
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Saved by the Blood of Christ condemn? It is Christ (Jesus) who died...., who indeed
In the very unhappy moment when we sinned, the intercedes for us” (Rom 8:34). Who is the judge who
eternal death penalty was written by God against us; but should condemn us? It is that same Savior who, not to
what did our merciful Redeemer do? “obliterating the condemn us to eternal death, wanted to condemn
bond against us ... He also removed it from our midst, himself and has died and who not satisfied with it, now
nailing it to the cross” (Col 2:14). With His blood he in heaven, continues to procure our salvation in front of
nullified the decree of our conviction and then nailed it His Father. Hence, St. Thomas of Villanova writes,
to the cross so that we, looking at the sentence of our “What do you fear, O sinner, if you abhor your sin?
damnation because of the sins committed, would look How could He condemn you, He who dies not to
at the same time upon the cross where Jesus Christ, condemn you? How could He chase you away, if you
dying, has canceled it with his blood, and so we would return at His feet, to the one who has come from
regain the hope of pardon and of eternal salvation. heaven to search for you when you were running away
Oh! How much better spokesman he is for us, as from Him?”
he obtains for us the divine mercy, the blood of Jesus
Christ than what was the blood of Abel against Cain, Confidence in Christ Crucified
“and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the If we are afraid because of our weakness to fall at

sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of the assaults by our enemies against whom we have to

Abel” (Heb 12:24). As if the Apostle would say: Oh! fight, this is what we have to do. As the Apostle warns

Happy you sinners who, after sin, have made recourse us, “let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that

to Jesus Crucified, who has shed all His blood to clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies

become a mediator of peace between sinners and God, before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the

and obtained pardon for them. Your iniquities cry leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that

aloud against you, but the blood of the Redeemer lay before Him, He endured the cross, despising its

pleads on your behalf, and at the voice of this blood the shame” (Heb 12:1-2). With high spirit let us go to the

divine justice cannot stand placated. fight, gazing on Jesus Crucified who from His cross
offers us His help, the victory, and the crown. In the

Christ is Our Judge past we have fallen because we did not gaze on the
It is true that on account of our sins that we have to wounds and outrages suffered by our Redeemer. We
give the eternal judge is very rigorous. But who will be have not made recourse to Him to receive His help.
our judge? “The Father… has given all judgment to his But, in the future we will keep in front of our eyes what
Son” (Jn 5:22). Let us be consoled: the eternal Father He has suffered for love of us and how He is ready to
has entrusted our judgment to the same Redeemer. come to our aid. To Him we make recourse; for sure,
Hence, St. Paul encourages us, saying, “Who will we are not going to be overcome by our enemies.

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St. Teresa, with her very generous heart, used to have to make this recourse often, now that we can find
say, “It is not my intention to tremble at the devil; the right help for our salvation. Perhaps there will be a
where we can say ‘God, God’ and make him time when we could not find it anymore. Let us go,
tremble.” She also said that if we do not put all our
then, in haste to embrace the cross of Jesus Christ, and
trust in God, all our shrewdness would be good for
let us go to it with great confidence. Let us not lose
nothing. “All our shrewdness,” these are her
words, “are of little help if, taken all confidence heart because of our miseries. In Jesus Crucified we will
completely away from us, we do not put it in find every richness and grace for us. “In Him you were
God.” enriched in every way…so that you are not lacking in
any spiritual gift” (1 Cor 1:5-7). The merits of Jesus
The Passion of Christ and Christ have enriched us with divine treasures and have
the Sacrament of the Altar
made us capable of any grace that we might desire.
Oh! What great mysteries of hope and love are the
Passion of Jesus Christ for us and the sacrament of the
In Jesus We Are Given All Graces
altar! They are mysteries which, if not assured by faith,
St. Leo says that Jesus with His death has brought
who could believe them? An omnipotent God wanting
us greater good than the damage brought by the devil
to become man, shed all His blood and died out of pain
with sin. And this affirms what St. Paul had said before,
on a cross. And why? To pay for our sins and save us,
that the gift of Redemption has been greater than the
rebel worms! And then wanting to give us that very
sin. Grace has surpassed the crime. “The gift is not like
body of His as food, sacrificed for us on the cross, so
the transgression…where sin increased, grace
that He could be totally united with us! Oh God!
overflowed all the more” (Rom 5: 15-20). Hence, the
These two mysteries should turn to ashes because of
Savior encouraged us to hope for any favor and any
love of all the hearts of men. And which sinner, as
grace out of His merits. And this is how He taught us
dissolute as he might be, could despair of pardon if he
the way to obtain whatever we want from His eternal
repents of the evil done as he sees a God in love with
Father, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask
men and inclined to do them good? So do everything
the Father in my name He will give you” (Jn 16:23),
with trust. St. Bonaventure used to say, “How could
“When,” He says, “you desire something, ask my
the one who has done and suffered so much to save me
Father in my name, and I promise you it will be granted
deny me the graces needed for salvation?” “So let us
to you.” But how could the Father deny us any grace if
confidently approach the throne of grace to receive
He has been the one to give us His only Son, whom
mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Heb 4:16),
He loves as himself? “He who did not spare His own
the Apostle exhorts us. The throne of grace is the cross
Son but handed Him over for us all, how will He not
where Jesus sits as if on His throne to dispense graces
also give us everything else along with Him?” (Rom
and mercy to whoever makes recourse to Him. But we
8:32). The Apostle says “all”; so no grace is emphasized,
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nor the pardon, nor perseverance, nor the holy love, same way, if we are bound to Jesus through love, we
nor perfection, nor paradise: The Father gave us too are loved. Since He is loved by God, we too are
everything. But we have to pray to Him. God is loved. It is more valuable for Jesus Christ to make sure
infinitely merciful with those who pray to Him. that we are loved than be hated, because the eternal
“Enriching all who call upon Him” (Rom 10:12). Father loves the Son more than He hates the sinners.
Here the Saint adds a note, “I would like to add
here many other beautiful thoughts written by the The Greater Love Overcomes the Minor Hate
Jesus says to the Father, “Father, I wish that where
Venerable John of Avila in his letters about the
I am, they also may be with me” (Jn 17:24). The greater
confidence we should have in the merits of Jesus
love overcame the minor hate, and so we have been
Christ.”
forgiven and loved, sure of never being abandoned
since there is such a strong bound of love. The LORD
The Blood of Christ Repairs Our Faults
says through the Prophet Isaiah, “Can a mother forget
Do not forget that between the eternal Father and
her infant ...? Even should she forget, I will never forget
us there is Jesus Christ as mediator. Therefore, we are
you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written
loved and we are bound by ties of love so strong that no
your name” (Is 49: 15-16). He has written us on His
fault could untie them if man does not break them
hands with His blood. Therefore, we should not be
through some mortal fault. The blood of Christ
upset for any reason while everything is disposed by
screams, asking mercy for us, and screams so that the
those hands which have been nailed to the cross as a
noise of our sins is not heard. The death of Jesus Christ
testimony of the love He has for us.
has made our faults die. “O death! Where is your
sting?” (Hos 13:14). Those who get lost are lost not
Jesus is Our Advocate
because of lack of satisfaction but because they do not
Nothing can terrify us as much as Jesus Christ can
want to take advantage, through the sacraments, of the
give us trust. May I be surrounded by all the sins that I
satisfaction given by Jesus Christ. Jesus remedied for us
have committed, by the fears of the future, and the
as if He had to do for himself, so that for our sins,
demons that may accuse me and try to ensnare me,
because He did not commit any, He has claimed them
begging mercy from a whole, gracious Jesus Christ, my
as His own and has asked pardon for them, as if praying
lover until death. I cannot but trust as I see myself
for himself, so that all those who want to come closer to
valued so much that God has given himself up for me.
Him would be loved. And as He has asked for it, so He
O my Jesus, safe refuge for those who, in the midst of
has obtained it because God has desired for Jesus and us
the storm, find recourse in you! O watchful shepherd,
to be so intimately united as one so that both He and
the one who does not trust you will be deceived
we would be loved, and He and we would be hated.
although he wants to amend. This is why you said, “It
Since Jesus is not hated and cannot be hated, in the
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is I! Don’t be afraid. I am the one to suffer and to FEELINGS OF LOVE AND PRAYER
console. Sometimes I give desolation to some, so that it
seems they are in hell, but then I free them and lift Oh! My Jesus, I Love You.
Oh! My Jesus, my love, what beautiful hopes your
them up. I am your advocate who has taken up your
passion gives me. How could I be afraid not to receive the
cause as my own. I am your guarantor who has come to
forgiveness of my sins, paradise, and all the needed graces from
pay your debts. I am your LORD who has redeemed
an omnipotent God who has given me the whole of His
you with my blood, not to abandon you, but to enrich
blood? Oh! My Jesus, my hope and my love! Not to lose me
you, having ransomed you at a great price. How could
you have wanted to lose your life. I love you above every
I flee from those who are looking for me, as I have gone good, my Redeemer and my God, you have given the whole
towards those who were looking for me to insult me? of yourself to me, and I give you the whole of my will, and
I did not turn my face away from those who were with this I repeat that I love you, I love you, I love you; and I

hitting me; would I turn it from the one who wants to want to repeat it all the time: I love you, I love you. I want to

adore me? How could my children doubt that I love say so my whole life long and I want to die giving my last

them, as they see me in the hands of my enemies and breath with these dear words on my lips, “My God, I love
you;” to start at that moment a continuous act of love to last
my love for them? Who in the world have I despised
into eternity without ever stopping to love you. I love you,
who has loved me? Whom did I ever abandon who has
then, and because I love you, I repent for having offended you
asked for my help? I am even looking for those who do
so much. Wretched me! Not to lose a brief satisfaction, I have
not look for me.”
wanted so many times to lose you, my infinite goodness! This
If you believe that the eternal Father has donated thought torments me more than any penalty; but I am
his Son, then believe that He will even donate to you comforted by the thought that I am dealing with an infinite
everything else since it is all so much less than the Son. bounty which does not know how to despise a heart who

Don’t you ever think that Jesus Christ has forgotten you loves You. Oh, could I die for you who have died for me! My

while, in memory of His love, He has left you the dear Redeemer, I surely hope from you eternal salvation in

greatest pledge that He could have: He himself in the the next life; and in this one I hope for holy perseverance in

your love. This is why I propose continually to ask you for it


Sacrament of the altar.
all the time. And you, through the merits of your death, grant

me the perseverance always to pray to you. This I ask and I


hope from you, Mary, my Queen.

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Virgin Mary, My Mother, Mother of My


LORD
Virgin Mary, my mother, to you, the mother of my
LORD, sovereign of the world and Virgin of paradise, the

advocate, hope, and refuge of sinners, I, the most miserable of


all, make recourse to you today. I honor you, my Queen, and

I thank you for all the graces granted me so far, especially for
freeing me so many times from the hell I deserve. I love you,

my most lovable Lady, and because of the love I have for you,
I promise to want to serve you, to live and die at your feet.

After Jesus, my sweet Savior, I entrust my hope and firm trust


of salvation in you, my dear mother. Accept me now as your

servant and son; receive me under the mantle of your sure


protection. I desire nothing else from you but a solid, constant,

and tender love for Jesus Christ. Obtain for me a great purity
of mind and body, hate for the world, horror for any evil, and

love for holy virtues. I beg you to obtain for me the strength
to resist any temptation by my enemies. Allow me to lead a

life as a true servant of yours, humble, chaste, and patient,


detached from this world, and from all creatures.

My Dear Mother, I am your son, do not leave me until


you see me already safe in heaven. Meantime, give me your

maternal blessing to confirm it for all eternity in paradise where


you reign. Amen.
NOTE:
Three Glory Be, with Blessed be
the most holy and purest Immaculate The present English translation is only a part
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Italian original edition entitled:
“S. Francesco Severio M. Bianchi: Sacerdote
Virgin and Mother of God, always immaculate and Barnabita - Apostolo di Napoli. Cenni
Biografici e Scritti Ascetici.” PP. Barnabiti,
most merciful Mary, my mother, with your powerful
S. Maria di Caravaggio - Napoli, 1996.
intercession secure that I and all creatures may know
and always love Jesus Christ, your most beloved Son.
Salve Regina

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January 30

FRANCIS XAVIER M. BIANCHI — BARNABITE PRIEST

Francis Bianchi (1743-1815) was born in Arpino, Italy. He joined the Congregation of the Barnabites, his

teachers. After his ordination he taught at the University of Naples; then he zealously ministered to the people

by preaching and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, works of mercy and spiritual direction of the clergy,

religious and laity. Because of his apostolic zeal he was called another "Philip Neri" and "Apostle of Naples." He

was gifted with outstanding charismatic gifts: he predicted Napoleon's defeat in Russia and the return of Pope

Pius VII to Rome; he stopped the flow of lava when Vesuvius erupted; for years he endured "fire and thorns" in

his legs. Tirelessly he ministered with fatherly care to the penitents lining up at his door. He died in Naples on

January 31, 1815. His memorial is on January 30, not to interfere with the one of St. John Bosco.

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