"ALESSANDRINA" MARIA DA COSTA

Open please this website: http://www.clerus.org/
Choose a language (among six).
Find this little icon and click on it:
Go to number 05 and open Document.
Search Alessandrina. Alessandrina is indeed Alexandrina, our Beata, whose complete Portuguese name is Alexandrina Maria da Costa.
At least in the German version of the document you can find a picture. But the original copy is better…

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year with Bld Alexandrina!

ERROR CORRECTED

If you open the English page of the Bld Alexandrina’s website (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/index_english.htm), you can see that an important error was corrected in the section of the Monthly Page. Indeed the link of the months sent to the Portuguese pages, but now it is sending to the English translation, offering a lot of very interesting information. See also "Christmas' quatrains".
Now we have in the website two little Alexandrina's biographies in Asiatic languages, Japanese and Tagalog.

CHRISTMAS POSTCARD

A Brazilian society, named Comunidade Servir (http://www.comunidadeservir.com.br/), i.e., Community to Serve, prepared a beautiful Christmas postcard, whit the following Bld Alexandrina’s nice text:

The Everything came down to the nothing, Greatness came down to poverty.
Love came down to coldness, to indifference, to misery, to indignity.
What a great love is Jesus!
Bld Alexandrina

NEWS

A Photobiography was put in the English page of the official website: http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/fotobiografia_eng.htm.
The statistics of November went out yesterday: it was an extraordinary month, with the visits to be brought near to 9.000, coming from 83 countries!
Some texts translated into Telugu were promised to us; Telugu is the language of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and is the third one more spoken in India.
We are told that last number of the Bld Alexandrian Society newsletter brings some information on the book To the Ends of the Earth.

NEWS IN THE BLD ALEXANDRINA’S WEBSITE

Alponse Rocha has reorganized some pages of the Alexandrina’s website. The main changes are in the Homepage (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/) and in “Plan site” (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/plan_site.htm). In the English Index (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/index_english.htm) there are links to two new articles, “Artists with Alexandrina” and “The Parish Church of Balasar”. Both have good photographs.
On next 5 December our collaborator Leo Madigan will be interviewed in the EWTN.

WHO WAS THE SAINT?

Some time ago, a lady from Balasar had an operation on her carotid artery. Immediately afterwards she suffered a stroke and lost her speech. The doctors predicted that she would need three to six months to recover. But her daughter was not satisfied and asked Blessed Alexandrina to intercede for her mother, so that she might have immediate health. When the daughter returned to the hospital the next day, she found that her mother was speaking normally! The daughter asked "So, mother, are you feeling better?" and her mother replied "Was there anything wrong with me?" The doctor, when he learned what had happened, only wanted to know:- "Who was the Saint?"

FIVE DAUGHTERS OF THE POVERTY OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT IN BALASAR

Are already in Balasar, since 10th October, the first five young nuns for the foundation of a community that will live in Bld Alexandrina Centre. In the photo can be seen the founder and the nuns in the Alexandrina’s bedroom.

GOOD NEWS

One of the most important books on the Blessed Alexandrina was prepared by the Signoriles (Eugénie and Chiaffredo), and has the title Figlia del Dolore, Madre di Amore. It was sold out and it will have new edition.
This book, "almost an autobiography", in the first edition had 768 pages and was, after Cristo Gesù in Alexandrina, the largest work ever written on her – to whom was assigned the authorship. The first edition was of the Mimep - Docete (http://www.mimep.it/mimep.asp), which certainly will publish also the second one.
If you open this page in the Official Website http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/plan_site.htm, and later open Writing with Flowers, you will have a very nice surprise.
The booklet Alexandrina, Teach me is already on line: http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/alexandrina_teach_me_index.htm
There is the ideia of translating into Litvan a book on the Bd Alexandrina.

“SOLO PER AMORE!” IN THAI LANGUAGE

Solo per Amore!, an excellent book on the Bld Alexandrina, written in Italian by Eugénie Signorile as an autobiography, is already translated into Portuguese (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/so_por_amor_index.htm), English (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/for_love_alone_index.htm) and French (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/seulement_par_amour_index.htm). Now it will have translation in Thai language, according information given by its authoress.
Leo, Baron Madigan of Lumiar wrote about it: “It is a highly thought-of work”.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

It was not possible to spend much time with the Irish pilgrims who visited Balasar last Sunday, due to the many people that came. Also, it wasn't possible to sell the new book on Blessed Alexandrina "To the Ends of the Earth". The book is beeing sold at 6 euros. If you want to receive it, please contact the publisher: manuelcosta@cm-pvarzim.pt;
Or search here: http://ww.cm-pvarzim.pt/biblioteca/?op=publ&tipo=biblioteca_poveira&sort=autor;
or write to:

Biblioteca Municipal Rocha Peixoto
Att. Mr Manuel Costa
Rua Padre Afonso Soares
4490-664 Póvoa de Varzim
Portugal

The book has been sent to Salesian houses throughout the world, to Catholic colleges of Theology and to many English-speaking people in the USA, England, Ireland, and so on.
Fr Mariano Pinho's mortal remains were returned to the Cemetery at Balasar on 14th October.

In the picture, the launch of To The Ends of the Earth in Balasar.

PROTAGONISTS OF THE LOVE

Eugénie Signorile changed the title originally given to the book she will publish soon: the definitive heading is Protagonists of the Love. Since people will have natural curiosity to know something about it and we don’t have still the definite version, we put here the headings of the parts and chapters as they were in a version of some months ago:

Part I – As Jesus loves
1 - 20 centuries ago
2 - Today the resuscitated Jesus go on loving and suffering

Part II – As Alexandrina loves
1 - Love to the humanity
2 - Love to Jesus

Part III – Mutual love between Jesus and Alexandrina
1 - Each one gives and receives
2 - Mystical identification between Alexandrina and Jesus

Part IV – As Mary loves
1 - Help
2 - Mediator and co-redeemer
3 - The love of the Mother of the Sorrows

IRISH PEREGRINATION IN BALASAR

We are told that an Irish peregrination will come to Balasar next day 14th October, the day after the Alexandrina’s liturgical memory and the day where Fr Marino Pinho’s mortal remains will be placed in the Alexandrina’s former tomb.
In 13th and 14th will be also in Balasar Maria Rita Scrimieri who has already written some works on the Bld Alexandrina.

NEWS FROM BALASAR

On 10th October will come to Balasar the first five young nuns for the foundation of a community that will live in Bld Alexandrina Centre. They belong to a Brasilian congregation called Sons and Daughters of the Poverty of the Blessed Sacrament, whose founder is Fr. Roberto Lettieri. See here: http://www.tocadeassis.org.br/index.php?lingua=1&pagina=home
Fr. Mariano Pinho, whose mortal remains will come on 14th of the same month of October, has still two sisters alive, one with 90 years and the other with 96.

BLD ALEXANDRINA IN BANGLA

Into some time we hope to have in the Bld Alexandrina’s Website four little texts in Bangla, the official language of Bangladesh, also called Bengali. It is very possible that in next times can appear in it translations into other languages of Asia.

EUCHARISTIC CRUSADE

In 1930 Fr. Mariano Pinho founded, for the Apostolate of Prayer, a monthly magazine for young people and for children. Its title is Cruzada (Crusade), the full title being, Cruzada Eucarística (Eucharistic Crusade). This publication is a success, and 95,000 copies of Cruzada are sent to 82 countries each month.

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

On 13th October 2007 the book To the Ends of the Earth will be launched, whose author, José Ferreira, is also the author of this blog. It will be published in Portuguese and English editions by the Municipality of Póvoa de Varzim; the translator is Leo, Baron Madigan of Lumiar. There will only be 500 copies of the English edition. On the following day, 14th October, the mortal remains of Fr. Mariano Pinho, who died banished in Recife, Brazil in 1963, will come to Balasar, to the former chapel of Bld Alexandrina’s tomb.

FOR LOVE ALONE!

The English Bld Alexandrina promoter Kevin Rowles is attempting to find a publisher for Bld Alexandrina's excellent biography For Love Alone!, written by the Italian author Eugénie Signorile. If anyone is able to assist, please contact Kevin at kevin.rowles@btinternet.com .

O FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT

O Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
O my three Beloveds in one single love!
By mercy, may our union be so close, so close that it cannot be separated.
O my three Beloveds, I wish I had:
All the Angels’ adoration, to adore You,
All the Cherubs’ love, to love You,
All the praise of the Earth and of the Heaven to praise You,
And later on, to prostrate my heart before You, as long as I live,
To sing the glories of the three Guests who inhabit my poor and cold breast.
Everything praises the Creator; is it only me who doesn’t?

In the picture, the Jump's window.

ABOUT ALEXANDRINA'S WRITINGS

The Suffering One of Balasar (Alexandrina) bequeathed to posterity, in her numerous writings, the richest of springs where she not only discloses to us her the exquisite transparency of her elect and beautiful soul and the delicate and difficult ways by which, since infancy until the death, Providence had led her steps, but also, gushing out from them, the abundant light of precious spiritual doctrine. And this all the more so as she approached her end.

Fr Marian Pinho

BD ALEXANDRINA'S NEWSLETTER

The Bl Alexandrina's last newsletter was published in Balasar, Portugal, some days ago; in it can be found interesting news, like that of an house of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in Campinas, Brazil, with the Bd Alexandrina's name.
In the last 25th May came to Balasar a pilgrimage from Lebanon, asking for peace for that martyrized country.

OH, LIFE OF GOD IN SOULS!

I want somebody to do what you are unable to do.

Loose leaves, what you say is loose leaves!

You make souls aspire to Me.
You go ahead; you reach like this to Me, you reach like this!

You touched the Infinite,

You live by the Infinite,

You speak about the Infinite!

Oh, life of God in souls!

Jesus to Bd Alexandrina

FR MARIAN PINHO’S MORTAL REMAINS IN BALASAR

One day after Bd Alexandrina’s next liturgical memory, in 14th October, will arrive to Balasar, from Recife, Brazil, the Fr Marian Pinho’s mortal remains. Bd Alexandrina’s first spiritual director has been banished in 1946; however we know that he was a holy priest and therefore his return is like a triumph. Indeed Jesus has promised to Bd Alexandrina that he will climb “the altars honor”.
There is a Fr. Marian Pinho’s website: http://causapadrepinho.home.sapo.pt/
In 14th October will be in Balasar many Portuguese people, some Italian pilgrims and, we hope, an Irish pilgrimage.

THE SIGNORILES (II)

Works published by the Signoriles with authorship attributed to Alexandrina:
Figlia del dolore, madre di amore. Quasi una autobiografia, Mimep-Docete, Pessano (MI), 1993 (768 pages).
Mio Signore, mio Dio! Come pregava Alexandrina, Mimep-Docete, Milan, 1992 (a Portuguese translation was published with the title Vida Interior da Beata Alexandrina, Apostolado da Oração, Braga, 2004, with authorship attributed to Eugénie and Chiaffredo Signorile).
Maria, mia Madre. Come Alexandrina sente la Madonna, Mimep-Docete, Pessano (MI), 1987.
Anima pura, cuore di fuoco, Mimep-Docete, Pessano (MI), 1990 (widely illustrated; it has been translated into English and Portuguese, but not published).
Venite (richiami di Gesù), Mimep-Docete, Pessano (MI), 1991.
Sofferenza amata, Mimep-Docete, Pessano (MI), 1999.
Ho sete di voi, Mimep-Docete, Pessano (MI), 2004.
Solo per Amore!, Mimep-Docete, Pessano (MI), 2006 (this book, conceived as an autobiography, has already translated into Portuguese and English; it is a highly thought of work).
Zampilli Incandescenti, Mimep-Docete, Milan, 2007.

Works published with authorship attributed the C.E. Signorile:
Croce e sorriso, Associazione “Sotto il manto di Maria Regina della Pace”, Gorgonzola (MI), 2002 (there is Portuguese translation with the heading of Sorrindo à dor, Cavaleiro da Imaculada, Oporto, 2001, with authorship attributed to Alexandrina Maria da Costa).
Sulle ali del dolore, Gamba Edizioni, Gorgonzola (MI), 2004.
Alexandrina, voglio imparare da te, Gamba Edizioni, Gorgonzola (MI), 2004 (this work, conceived as a vade-mecum for Alexandrina’s friends, is translated into Portuguese; in the Monthly Page of the Official Website it is also translated into Spanish, English, French and still, in part, into German and Slovene).

Work published in collaboration with Giulio Giacometti and Piero Sessa:
La Gloria dell'Uomo dei Dolori nel sorriso di Alexandrina, Edizioni Segno, Tavagnacco (UD), 2005.

THE SIGNORILES (I)

The Signoriles are an Italian couple, Mathematics and Physics teachers at the Liceo Beccaria, in Milan (http://www.beccaria.mi.it/), who made an intensive study of Bld Alexandrina. They collaborated with the Fr Umberto Pasquale at the time of the Diocesan Informative Process, which took place in Braga between 1967 and 1973, translating the five thick volumes of the Sentiments of the Soul.
Professor Chiaffredo, born 9th October 1913 in Stroppo, in the province of Cuneo, died on 13th October 1999. But his wife, Professor Eugénie Signorile, born 9th September 1914 in Milan, still publishes books on Alexandrina.
Neither of them knew Alexandrina alive.

CHINESE PAGE

We have already some texts in Chinese to place in the official Website. A page will soon be created for them.
See the main title of those texts:

虔诚信徒亚历山德丽娜.玛丽亚.德.科斯塔

BOOKS IN ENGLISH ON THE BD ALEXANDRINA (III)

For Love Alone!

In the Bd Alexandrina’s Official Website there are other books in English about her. The most important is the excellent work, written by Eugénie Signorile in 2006, For Love Alone! (in Italian Solo per Amore!) and whose authorship is attributed to Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Costa (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/so_por_amor.htm).
It is there also in the original Italian version, in Portuguese and in French.
A second book by the same authoress can be read in the Monthly Page, between June 2006 (http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/pagina_mensal_junho06_uk.htm) and June 2007. Its original Italian title is Alexandrina, voglio imparare da Te! and in English Alexandrina, I want to learn from you!
There is yet a third book translated into English, Alexandrina, teach me, which can be provided to whoever wants to read it.
And must no be forgotten the main English page of the same website, http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/index_english.htm.
On the next 14th October, we hope will be published in Balasar the book To the Ends of Earth, by Jose Ferreira, which will have also Portuguese edition.

BOOKS IN ENGLISH ON THE BD ALEXANDRINA (II)

Two books

The situation for English-speaking people wishing to read about Bd Alexandrina has deeply changed in the most recent years.
Leo Madigan, who has written many books on Fatima, where he lives, published in 2005 his Blessed Alexandrina da Costa, the mystical Martyr of Fatima (http://www.theotokos.org.uk/leomadigan/alexandr.html).
Also Kevin Rowles, living in England, published other booklet on the subject: Blessed Alexandrina, a living miracle of the Eucharist (http://www.theotokos.org.uk/pages/publicat/misc/alexbook.html), which can be read on line in the Bd Alexandrina’s Official Website: http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/living_miracle_1.htm).
But this is not all.

BOOKS IN ENGLISH ON THE BD ALEXANDRINA (I)

Alexandrina, the Agony and the Glory

For much time, the readers of the English language had only, on the Bd Alexandrina, the book Alexandrina, the Agony and the Glory (http://alexandrina.balasar.free.fr/blessed_alexandrina_maria.htm),
written by Francis Johnston. As he explains in the acknowledgements: “this first English language book on the Blessed Alexandrina da Costa owes much to the excellent Italian biography Alexandrina, Libreria Dottrina Cristiana, Turin, 1960, by Fr Umberto Pasquale SDB”.
In the second edition, widely illustrated, there is a photograph where can be seen in Balasar Francis Johnston, Fr Umberto and Deolinda.
This book had a great success, which is confirmed by its current promulgation: it can be found on line in various websites and also for sale in many places. There is even the case where it appears in a Japanese page: http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/booksea.cgi?ISBN=0895551799.

ALEXANDRINA'S ICON

One month ago an Italian group came to Balasar and brought the Alexandrina’s beautiful Icon. Its iconographer, Domenica Ghidotti, came too.
There is an original copy of this icon in Nave, in Italy; between that of Balasar and the original version of Nave exist some little differences.

FISRT MESSAGE

There are each time more English-speaking people visiting Bd Alexandrina’s Official Website: http://alexandrinabalasar.free.fr/plan_site.htm.
Therefore it will be useful to provide them up-to-date information on what is written and is done about her. This is the only reason of this blog.