The
following are some notes I took from Cardinal Ivan Dias’ Homily
on the occasion of Fr. Gobbi’s passing from this life to
eternity. The Homily was given by the Cardinal (who is the Prefect
Emeritus of the Congregation of the Evangelization of Peoples) on June
30th, 2011 at a Memorial Mass of Thanksgiving during the Annual
International Retreat Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests in
Collevalenza, Italy. About 300 priests and 15 Bishops were in
attendance, (see
video). Fr. Gobbi’s body was present for the
mass the day after his death in Milan and then returned to Northern
Italy for the Funeral Mass in Dongo (Como), Italy.
“‘As
Christians we believe nothing is coincidence but rather
providence.’ We see providence coming from Our Lady. Yesterday
was his passing and today we celebrate this first Eucharist since his
death… together!
Fr.
Gobbi opened his heart to Our Lady and he transmitted her messages to
the world through cenacles. Personally I am a part of the Movement for
nearly 40 years. When I first came to Rome, I joined a charismatic
group and they had prophecies. But when I read the Blue Book I saw a
simple language of the Spirit, where the Bride and the Bridegroom come
together. I was a friend of Don Stefano and I received him as Nuncio of
Korea or wherever I might be… he is a true priest! It is not
coincidence that he is here in the middle of this retreat. God wanted
him here for the 1st Mass of Thanksgiving!
We are
here as spokespersons for all those who consecrate themselves to Her
Immaculate Heart. We all are a mixture of human and spiritual and as
human we need to lift up the heart remembering the good things Fr.
Gobbi has done for us and now he can do more for us from the other
side.
When I
spoke to Pope Benedict XVI about the Movement, which he knows as
Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, he spoke and
asked about Don Stefano and tomorrow I will see the Holy Father and
tell him of these events. He appreciates all those who pray for him. ( italics are my words: One of the 3
commitments of the MMP is to pray for the Pope).
Yesterday,
(the day of his
death) was the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and the 60th
Anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s priestly Ordination. This is
not a coincidence!
Today we read about the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant in the Old
Testament. This is not a coincidence!
(Saturday, the day approaching for his
funeral was the 1st Saturday [Fatima] but also the Feast of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary! This is not a coincidence!)
Let us
today be filled with joy for our strong and loyal friend Don
Stefano!
In
Korea, Our Lady cried Tears of Blood for priests to bring Jesus forth.
Our priestly dignity is for God, even to the point of shedding blood.
There is ferocious fighting against the priesthood and the
Devil’s attacks on the priesthood. A couple of years ago at a
retreat in Rome, John Paul II said regarding the need for more priests,
‘the world needs holy priests, not just numbers, otherwise we
will have quantity not quality.’
Soon
there will be a great clash between the forces of Good and Evil!
Christians don’t even notice it, but it is coming! Therefore, let
us offer this Mass for the suffrage of Don Stefano Gobbi and also in
Thanks to God for his mission and to continue his message, in humble
unity, which is the greatest force against the enemy! In silence now
let us thank God for the gift of Don Stefano and our needs.”
The
following day at dinner, Cardinal Dias called the retreat from Rome and
it was relayed to us that upon sharing these events with Pope Benedict
XVI, the Holy Father said “He went right to Heaven”.
Video clips of Fr.
Gobbi’s Funeral
Part I
Part III
Part II
Part IV
Fr. Gobbi singing to our Lady
Fr. Gobbi letting children come
kiss our Lady's statue
Fr. Gobbi reading the Gospel
and Homily
