Thought for the Day – 10 October – The Memorial of St Daniel Comboni (1831-1881)
“Preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). With these words before the Ascension the Risen One entrusted the universal missionary mandate to the Apostles. Immediately afterwards, He assured them that in this demanding mission they would always be able to count on His help (cf. Mk 16: 20).
From the time of his priestly formation in the institute founded by the Servant of God Nicola Mazza, Daniel Comboni felt called to give his own life to proclaim the Gospel in the land of Africa. This awareness stayed with him throughout his life and supported him in his missionary labours and pastoral difficulties. He felt comforted in this dedication by the words he heard from Pope Pius IX: “Labora sicut bonus miles Christi pro African” (“Work like a good soldier of Christ for Africa” Scritti, n. 4085). The modernness and boldness of his work were expressed in the preparation and formation of future priests, in the tireless promotion of the missions by his writing and publishing, in the founding of two institutes one for men, the other for women exclusively dedicated to the mission “ad gentes”, by struggling for the abolition of the terrible slave-trade and by actively working “for the rebirth of Africa through itself”. These insights of the new blessed produced great fruit for the evangelisation of the African continent by paving the way to the consoling growth of the Church in Africa today (cf. Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa, nn. 3338).
“Leading humanity to the light of eternal life”: Daniel Comboni’s ideal continues today in the apostolate of his spiritual sons and daughters. They still maintain strong ties in Africa, particularly in Sudan, where their founder spent a great part of his energy as a tireless evangeliser and where he died at a young age, worn out by his labours and illness. The unconditional trust he had in the power of prayer (cf. Scritti n. 2324) is effectively expressed in the “Cenacles of missionary prayer” which are being set up in many parishes and represent a significant way to promote and renew missionary spirituality. – Pope John Paul II at the beatification ceremony for Blessed Daniel on 17 March 1996
Daniel Comboni: the son of poor gardeners who became the first Catholic Bishop of Central Africa and one of the great missionaries in the Church’s history.
It is a fact. When God decides to take a hand and select a generous and open-hearted individual, things happen: great, new things.
St Daniel Comboni, pray for us!
AnaStpaul 