The Marian Movement of Priests has Expanded in a Powerful Way
In a message to him on August 291973Our Lady told Fr. Gobbi:
“Whatever I communicate to youmy sondoes not belong to you alonebut it is for all my priest-sonswhom I love with predilection.
Above all it is for the priests of the Marian Movement of Priests whom I love most tenderly and whom I want to form and lead by the hand to prepare them for their great mission.
Therefore gather together in a booklet whatever I have told you…”
And thusby means of these messagesMary began to make use of Fr. Gobbi as a humble instrument to gather all priests who would accept her invitation to consecrate themselves to her Immaculate Heartto be strongly united to the Pope and to the Church in union with himand to bring the faithful into the secure refuge of her motherly Heart. Thus a powerful cohort would be formed and spread throughout every part of the worldcreated not with human means of propagandabut with the supernatural power that emanates from silenceprayersuffering and constant faithfulness to one’s duties.
In September of 1973the first national gathering took placewith twenty-five priests taking part out of the eighty already enrolled. Beginning in 1974the first cenacles of prayer among priests and faithful took place. These gradually spreadand by the end of 1996Fr. Gobbi had many times visited the six continents.
The M.M.P. has succeeded in expanding in a powerful and extraordinary way. In practically all the countries of EuropeAmericaAsiaAfrica and OceaniaNational Headquarters have been established and entrusted with the task of gathering the membership and assisting in the formation of prayer cenacles.
The worldwide membership of the M.M.P. now numbers at least 400 cardinals and bishopsmore than 100,000 priestsand millions of religious and faithful around the world.
IN THE UNITED STATES…
…the Marian Movement of Priests was initiated in 1975with a temporary Headquarters in LewistonMaine. In 1977its National Headquarters was permanently established in St. FrancisMaineon the banks of the St. John River that separates Canada from the United States.
Our Lady’s choice of St. Francis as the home for her U.S. Headquarters is truly a meaningful one. It was St. Francis of Assisi who was called by Jesus to go “rebuild his Church”and Our Lady’s Marian Movement of Priests has been called by her to this same mission.
As of the year 2000the M.M.P membership in the U.S. has reached sixty-three thousandincluding four thousand members of the clergy – bishopspriests and deacons. Diocesan priests from all 50 states are enrolledas well as women and men religious from hundreds of communities.
In addition to the existing membershipthousands have since gone on to their eternal reward. Our Lady’s cohort is forever expanding in heaven as well as here on earth.
Fr. Gobbi Spiritual Testament
Fr. Gobbi died in MilanItaly at 3:00 PM (local Italian time) on June 292011the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. He had been hospitalized since June 19 after suffering a heart attack.
All of the national and regional directors of the MMP were gathered for their annual spiritual exercises at the Shrine of Merciful Love in CollevalenzaItaly from June 26 – July 2. Fr. Gobbi’s body was taken from Milan to Collevalenza on June 30where a Mass was presided by Cardinal Ivan Dias.
That same dayhis remains were returned to DongoComoItaly (his birthplace) where the funeral Mass was celebrated on SaturdayJuly 2the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Ave Maria
MilanJanuary 12011
First Saturday of the month and year
I accept death however and whenever the Lord desiresrenewing in the Immaculate Heart of Mary my “Yes” to the Divine Will.
I leave as my spiritual testament everything that is written in the book“To the PriestsOur Lady’s Beloved Sons,” and I attest that the messages contained therein were received by me under the form of interior locutions.
In a spirit of thanksgiving to Our Lord and to Our LadyI ask thatafter my funeral Massthe Magnificat be sung by all.
I ask for a very simple funeral. In lieu of flowersI request that works of charity be done. I desire to be buried in Dongoin the Shrine of Our Lady of Tearsat the foot of the Altar of the Crucifix. If that is not readily availablethen I ask for a temporary burial in the Chapel of the Clergy in the cemetery in Dongo.
As I have consecrated every moment of my lifein the same way I consecrate to the Immaculate Heart of Mary the moment of my passing from earth to Heaven and from time to eternity.
I thank everyone for all the good that I have received. I ask pardon if I have involuntarily offended anyone.
To all members of the Marian Movement of Priests and of the Marian MovementI promise my special protection and a particular help from Heaven where I hope to enter through the mercy of the Lord and with the help of your prayer.
I bid you goodbyeas I look forward to meeting you under the glorious mantle of the Queen of All Saintsand I bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Father Stefano Gobbipriest