New book

Eugénie Signorile is preparing her “final” book on Blessed Alexandrina. Let's wait for it.

We do not know anyone else that writes like her on the subject.

Manuel Monteiro de Castro, a new cardinal who wrote about Blessed Alexandrina

Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation for age limit presented by Cardinal Fortunato Baldelli from the charge of penitentiary major and has named to succeed him Manuel Monteiro de Castro, titular archbishop of Benevento, until then secretary of the Congregation for Bishops and secretary of the College of Cardinals.

Manuel Monteiro de Castro was born near Guimarães, Portugal, 30 km far from Balasar. He wrote the foreword of the book Alejandrina. Alma de víctima y de apóstol.

Balasar, "privileged Parish”

Jesus, speaking of the relationship of the Holy Cross with Alexandrina, said Balasar "privileged parish" ("almost a century past that I sent to this privileged parish the Cross for sign of your crucifixion") and "beloved land."

Is it possible to find some sense of special privilege in Balasar even before the appearance of the Holy Cross?

Ancient image of Our lady of Mercy

 

Originally, the area of this parish had two parishes: St. Salvador of Gresufes and St. Eulália of Balasar. Since, according parish memories, at church of Matinho (the parish one since 16th century), among the five existing altars, one was dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ (1736) or to the Crucified Lord (1758), we think that with it was kept in memory the patron saint of the old parish of Gresufes.

To the niche of the Lord of the Afflicted in Vila Pouca hamlet, can be assigned the same task.

To the definitive annexation of Gresufes, the parish church of Balasar was on Casal; later demoted to a chapel, in it was venerated Our Lady of Mercy, who is the Mother of God holding her dead Son in her lap.

We can say that the appearance of Holy Cross and its devotion were long prepared in Balasar and it fit into the plan would have privilege assigned to the parish.

The appearance of Holy Cross is a very relevant fact. Whether other alleged sightings of the same Cross are more legend than reality, in the case of Balasar the appearance is very well documented.

But that Jesus himself associated Alexandrina with this appearance raises to the greatest height the importance that the phenomenon already deserved and makes Balasar a "privileged parish".

New issue of the Bulletin of Graces

A new number of the journal “Boletim de Graças” (Bulletin of Graces), the 21th, has been released.

The Alexandrina Foundation offers now some services to the pilgrims with guided visits, with programs for one morning, for one afternoon or for one day.

Contact:

E-mail: fundacao@alexandrinadebalasar.com

Tel. (00351) 252951601 or (00351) 252956100

Look and see, Jesus, the anxieties I have

Look and see, Jesus, the anxieties I have; if it was not for You, they would have taken my life.

I want to be born again, but already knowing You, so that I may never pollute my body.
I want that, along with me, the whole world might be born again and that it, too, might know You so that it would not let itself be polluted.
I want a new heart, but one that has always loved You, and will never stop loving You.
I want the same for every creature, so that each loves You with the same love that I wish for myself.
Sentiments of the Soul, 45/1/4

Alejandrina. Alma de víctima y de apóstol

We knew that the book by Fr Humberto Alejandrina. Alma de víctima y de apóstol had been published in Spanish by Edibesa, but we had no copy; we get one now. It is an excellent work to present our Beata to Spanish-speaking people.

To escape the assault of those who put in serious danger her chastity, Alexandrina, at age 14, jumped out a home window, falling to the ground from a height of about four meters. The fall caused irreversible damage to the spinal cord. To this was added an incurable myelitis, which worsened the situation by reducing her to immobility.

It was the beginning of a calvary that progressively became a painful mystical experience, reviving in her soul and flesh the Christ's Passion.
After more than 30 years of suffering, she dead in 1955 with 51 years of age. The last 13 years and seven months lived with no other food that the Eucharist, phenomenon rigorously tested and studied by science.
This singular life had profound impact on the whole mystery of Fatima, especially with the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
This book, written by Fr. Umberto Pasquale, her spiritual director, is a reflection of this. It offers a stimulating example for those who suffer, for those who wish to learn about the flowering of holiness in our day, and find the mysterious but real presence of Christ in human life.
Foreword by Archbishop Manuel Monteiro de Castro, titular Archbishop of Benevento, Secretary of the Congregation for Bishops at the Vatican.

A curiosity: there is an Alexandrina’s nice picture taken in 1943 (see below); the book gives this information about it: that day she was with a high fever. A slight swelling beautifies her face.

The Basilica of Fatima, Cardinal Cerejeira, Dr. Fr Sebastião Cruz, a mystic of Salamanca, the Abbot of Singeverga... A fragment of a letter from Alexandrina to Fr Mariano Pinho

The Cardinal is a very close friend. A few days ago he sent me, a few very, very comforting words: he wrote that in inaugurating the Basilica of Fatima he thought of Balasar. He said that he put me on the paten and offered me to the Lord as a victim for sinners. And even more things.

The Archbishop’s secretary, Dr. Sebastião Cruz, brought a canon and professor from Salamanca here. They said that he was very pleased. Dr. Sebastião told me that he always was, and always will be, on my side. It seems to me that it was a mystic who had come from Salamanca, to study my case with him and with the Abbot of Singeverga, who is now already studying the writings.

Letter to Fr Mariano Pinho, November 3, 1953.