I first heard about Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli while attending high school at an educational institution sponsored by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters. Forty years later, I was blessed to delve more deeply into his inspiring story after my wife, Bianca, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2020.
Seeking a miracle
Seeking a miracle, Bishop Hying encouraged my family to implore the Apostle of the Upper Midwest’s intercession. Hoping that this might be the miracle needed for his canonization, we asked family and friends to join us in spiritual solidarity that God’s will be done. And while she did not experience a miraculous healing, there were many unmistakable miracles of grace received for which I am most grateful.
During the 10 months before Bianca’s passing on May 26, 2021, I read a number of books and biographies on this zealous priest, missionary, and founder. His heroic witness of evangelical enthusiasm has greatly impacted my own spiritual and apostolic life. So much so that before I formally began my official duties in the Diocese of Madison, I traveled up to the Dominican Motherhouse to invoke his heavenly assistance to embrace the dual mandates to “go, make disciples” and to “put out into the deep.”
What can this frontier friar teach as we embark upon a pathway of missionary discipleship as the People of God in Southeastern Wisconsin? How might we recapture Father Mazzuchelli’s evangelical fervor when mediocrity and moral malaise has slowly crept into our personal lives, parishes, schools, and other institutions? What powerful lessons can we learn from the bountiful legacy of this pioneer priest who was not afraid to make incredible sacrifices and undertake bold initiatives to share the Good News — especially to those on the fringe — with the saving message of Christ?
First of all, each of us must be willing to get out of our comfort zone and take seriously the challenge of our Baptismal calling to see Jesus in others and be Jesus to all those we encounter. For young Samuel, that meant walking away from a comfortable upper middle class life to enter Religious Life and then as a seminarian to leave familiar surroundings in Italy to travel across an ocean to serve in a vastly unknown territory.
Despite not knowing the language, culture, or customs, Father Mazzuchelli selflessly responded to an invitation to minister to the indigenous, immigrants, and those ignorant of the Gospel. Are we willing to do the same? Can we follow his example forgoing financial security and material comforts to free ourselves so that we might invite others into a personal encounter with Jesus? What might be holding us back? How might we grow in our trust and go “all in” with our commitment to being faithful disciples of the Lord?
Using our gifts
Secondly, we must be open to acknowledging and to integrating our gifts at the service of the Gospel. As a young man, Samuel responded to the urgent need for missionaries and willingly offered his God-given talents and abilities to serve Christ. He had to learn new languages and creatively enculturate and communicate the faith so that those instructed could comprehend revealed truth and connect the faith to everyday life. To accomplish this, Father Mazzuchelli had to learn to truly listen, as well as ponder and pray, so that he might effectively minister to the wide variety of souls entrusted to his care. Do we recognize our unique gifts and the countless graces God has given to us and place them at the service of others? Are we willing to challenge ourselves and consider innovative ways to reach and teach others about Christ’s tender mercy and infinite love? Do we humbly offer ourselves as “a living sacrifice” so that God might be honored, worshipped, and praised in the manner in which He desires?
Third, we ought to look to Mary as the perfect model of faithful discipleship and entrust ourselves to her maternal care and protection. Father Mazzuchelli had a deep devotion to Our Blessed Mother, especially under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows. For him, the Blessed Mother manifested the depth of her faith as she stood beneath the wood of the cross. She should be for us an inspiration of what it means to “take up your cross” and boldly follow in the footsteps of Our Savior. The sword of sorrow pierced Mary’s heart throughout her life yet she willingly embraced the difficulties and challenges with unwavering confidence. Are we willing to persist until the end in our quest to effectively form disciples? Will disappointments and setbacks thwart our mission or will we recommit ourselves to discover new avenues to catechize and evangelize? Do we accept the reality that God uses all things — including disappointment and rejection — as stepping stones to even greater works than we could possibly imagine or hope for?
My wife’s courageous bout with brain cancer opened up a new pathway that I would not have traveled upon had I not gotten acquainted with Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli.
Through prayer, reading, and reflection I discovered a companion along the way who witnesses to me what it means to take my baptismal calling seriously and to place a priority on the salvation of souls — beginning with my own! May this saintly model of missionary discipleship inspire all of us to “open the way for the Gospel” within our families, among our friends, and with all those people we are blessed to encounter on our earthly pilgrimage to eternity.
Michael D. Wick is the chief of staff for the Diocese of Madison.