Page 199 - Reflections on St. Joseph

Here we limit our research to his contact with the laity with whom he worked for various
reasons.

To his brother Victor he wrote on January 23, 1876: “Here then is the promise we ought to make
to God: resist our evil desires and do in all things his holy will, faithfully carrying out the duties
of our state in life, whether as a good layperson or as a good ecclesiastic” (L. 91b).

Victor grew up in the school of his brother priest and bishop, was mayor for more than 40 years
in his hometown of San Martino Alfieri and did so much good as to be honored with a square in
his name and with his picture hanging in the council hall of the City. A lay person of integrity
which the political administrations of today could use as well.

But, this is not the only case. I feel it is opportune to remember the rapport which Marello
as a priest knew how to establish with engineer Carlo Rostagno, whom he had contact with
when seeking to renovate the large house of Santa Chiara in Asti or to add on to it for the
growing families in the Mother House of the Congregation. What at first were simply work
relationships slowly became reasons for mutual trust, transforming Rostagno into a
benefactor for the Congregation and making him a first-class lay person in the Church of
Asti. At the death of Canon Cerruti, founder of the Michelerio, the name Rostagno is found
among the two “lay associates” of the Michelerio Institute, along with the new director, Fr.
Luigi Bo. When in Acqui, Bishop marello was in need of some sort of assistance, he often
said: “Ah, if I only had here professor Rostagno!" Another example, even more significant,
is that of the lawyer Filippo Graglia, who was procurator for the tribunal of Asti. A man of
little faith and a truly liberal layperson in his official public conduct, he had however raised
his three daughters in a school in Turin run by Sisters. His daughters continued there
religious conduct even after finishing their studies, placing themselves under the spiritual
direction of Canon Marello. The youngest, Greca, made such progress in the spiritual life,
that, after a few years, she decided to became a nun in a cloistered monastery. Marello
directed her to the monastery of the Visitation Sisters in Pinerolo and was present for the
beginning of her Novitiate and, in April of 1889, already a bishop, he presided over the
ceremony of her First Religious Profession. Greca’s father, was not moved and was upset
with Marello for having lost his daughter in this way. Bishop Marello did not confront him
in any way and was always kind with him; in this way he first won over the mother and
then lawyer Filippo himself, who converted and went to Acqui with his daughter Bice,
knelt down before him, and became such a good and fervent Christian that he recited the
entire breviary every day like the priests.

In 1895, when the first Diocesan Committee of Catholic Action was formed in Asti, lawyer
Filippo Graglia was its first President, and when he died he was heard to say that his greatest
consolation was to have a daughter who was a nun and prayer for him. As we can see, St. Joseph
Marello knew the art of transforming people and making them saints.

On day a very qualified layman came through Asti, Blessed Bartolo Longo, founder of the
shrine and works of Pompei, who was moved to write the following: “Today a holy priest
from Asti, Canon Joseph Marello, has saved from the hands of Belial the holy place of the
Lord; and the theatre, which it was, has become a Church once again. We recalled at that
point Pompei, and how the hand of the almighty God transformed into a place of salvation
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Reflections on st. joseph