Venezuela: Presentation of the book “Alberione and the Bible” by Brother Bernardo Favaretto

12 Jun

SSP Informatio… Comments

Carlos Astorga, SSP

Venezuela

12 June 2026

Venezuela: Presentation of the book “Alberione and the Bible” by Brother Bernardo Favaretto

On the occasion of the Canonical Visitation of our counselors, Fr. Antonio Pimienta and Fr. Johnson Vattakunnel, and in a climate of fraternity in union with the members of the Pauline Family in Venezuela and with deep joy and gratitude to the Lord, the blessing and presentation of this valuable work was made: Alberione and the Bible, fruit of the dedication, study and apostolic passion of Brother Bernardo Favaretto, who wanted to collect and transmit one of the most luminous dimensions of the life and mission of Blessed James Alberione: his unwavering love for the Word of God.

Father Carlos Astorga expressed when presenting the work, when we contemplate the figure of Alberione, we tend to remember the bold founder, the apostle of communication, the visionary priest who knew how to read the signs of the times and put the most modern means at the service of the Gospel. However, behind all his initiatives, his apostolic projects and his foundations, we find a permanent source that nourished his entire existence: the Holy Scripture.

Alberione understood that the Bible is not simply one sacred book among many others. For him, the Word of God was a living presence, a light capable of guiding human history and a transforming force that could renew individuals, families, the Church and society. His life was a constant search for that Word, an attentive listening to the voice of God that resonated in the Scriptures and that found its fullness in Jesus Christ, Teacher, Way, Truth and Life.

The pages that the reader has in their hands constitute much more than a historical compilation. They are an invitation to travel Alberione's spiritual path, discovering how the Bible accompanied each stage of his existence, inspired his decisions, sustained his trials and nourished his apostolic dreams. In these pages we find a man deeply in love with God and convinced that evangelization can only bear lasting fruit when it is born from an authentic familiarity with the divine Word.

We especially thank Brother Bernardo Favaretto for his perseverance and love for the Pauline Family. His patient work of research, reflection and teaching allows us to approach a fundamental facet of the Alberonian charism that remains current and necessary. We also recognize those who collaborated in the preparation of this work, contributing to this historical and spiritual memory reaching our hands today.

In a time marked by so many cultural, technological and social changes, this book reminds us of an essential truth: the media can be transformed, languages can be renewed and pastoral strategies can evolve, but the source of all authentic evangelization remains the same: the Word of God received, meditated on, lived and announced.

I hope that this publication not only helps us to know Alberione better, but also awakens in each reader a renewed love for Holy Scripture. May its pages prompt us to open the Bible again with a spirit of faith, to listen to the voice of the Lord who continues to speak to us today and to become, according to our own state of life, disciples and missionaries of the Word.

May Blessed James Alberione intercede for all of us so that, following his example, we make the Bible the heart of our spiritual and apostolic life, and so that the evangelizing mission of the Pauline Family continues to bring the light of the Gospel to the men and women of our time.

With these feelings, we have blessed this work, convinced that many Paulines will find a privileged place in the hearts of those who love the Word of God and wish to deepen the richness of the Pauline charism.

The Society of Saint Paul is a religious congregation which was founded in 1914 at Alba, in Italy, province of Cuneo, by Fr. Giacomo Alberione. Its members are known as the Paulines. Faithful to the mission assigned them by their founder, they communicate the Christian message with the use of all means that technology put at the disposition of modern man. They are present in 32 countries around the world. They are active in many fields: editorial and bookstores, journalism, cinematography, television, radio, audiovisual, multimedia, telematics; centers of studies, research, formation, animation.

Successivamente egli fondò altre quattro Congregazioni: le Figlie di San Paolo, le Pie Discepole del Divin Maestro, le Suore di Gesù Buon Pastore, le Suore Apostoline, quattro Istituti: Gesù Sacerdote, Maria SS. Annunziata, San Gabriele Arcangelo, Santa Famiglia e l'Associazione Cooperatori Paolini. Insieme costituiscono una grande famiglia religiosa: la Famiglia Paolina.

Their logo represents well the dynamism which fills them. The General and the Provincial Government, assure that the mission comes to life.

Father Giacomo Alberione, in the footsteps of Saint Paul to become one for all, has, besides the Society of Saint Paul, founded four congregations: Daughters of St. Paul, Disciples of the Divine Master, Sisters of Jesus Good Shepherd, Sisters of Mary Queen of Apostles; four associated institutes: Jesus the Priest, Saint Gabriel Archangel, Mary Most Holy Annunciation, Holy Family; as well as the Association of Pauline Cooperators. Together, they constitute the Pauline Family.

The SSP was approved officially by the Holy See on 27 June 1949. Its mission is to "evangelize with the modern tools of communications". It is made up of religious priests and lay consecrated (called Disciples of the Divine Master). They are present in five continents. The Society of St. Paul makes use of magazines, books, cinema, radio, television, discs, compact disc, internet and all technological means of communication to announce Christ and speak of everything in a Christ like manner to all those away from the parish life. The models of the mission are: Master Jesus, Saint Paul, the apostle who became one to all, and Mary Queen of Apostles who gave life to Christ, communicator of the Father.

Click here to learn more about the Society of Saint Paul.

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I Paolini - Siamo sacerdoti e laici consacrati che insieme formano la Società San Paolo, Congregazione che don Giacomo Alberione (1884-1971) ha fondato 100 anni fa ad Alba (Piemonte, Italia), il 20 agosto 1914.

La comune missione è quella di «vivere e dare Gesù Maestro, Via Verità e Vita agli uomini d'oggi», raggiungendo il maggior numero possibile di persone attraverso ogni forma moderna di comunicazione. A questo scopo, don Alberione additò come modello e padre san Paolo, l'apostolo dell'universalismo cristiano, e indicò in Maria, Regina degli Apostoli, colei che per prima diede al mondo Gesù, il divino Maestro per tutti gli uomini di ogni tempo.

La missione - Nostra specifica missione è dunque l'annuncio e la diffusione della parola di Dio e il magistero della Chiesa con la sensibilità e l'apertura di san Paolo, il quale ci spinge ad avere come oggetto dei nostri pensieri e del nostro agire «tutto quello che è vero, quello che è nobile, quello che è giusto, quello che è puro,... e ciò che merita lode» (Fil 4,8-9).

Per adempiere a questo compito, don Alberione si affidò all'inizio del '900 alla stampa, e, successivamente, a tutti i mezzi che la comunicazione sociale andava esprimendo: cinema, radio, televisione , audiovisivi. Oggi i "Paolini", suoi continuatori, si volgono con la stessa audacia, e non senza trepidazione, alla comunicazione digitale che va generando una nuova cultura e antropologia.

Siamo presenti in 38 nazioni con comunità e attività. In collaborazione con le Chiese locali vogliamo dare una risposta ai bisogni spirituali degli uomini del nostro tempo e di ogni territorio, promuovendone la dignità e la vocazione ad una vita piena, in linea con l'indicazione del nostro Fondatore: «fare a tutti la carità della verità». Con le risorse ed i mezzi che la Provvidenza ci affida ci impegniamo a liberare l'uomo da una nuova e antica povertà: l'ignoranza o il rifiuto della Buona Notizia di Gesù Cristo, morto e risorto per la salvezza degli uomini.