PRESENTATIONThis book contains the Instructions
which the Founder of the Pauline Family, Fr James Alberione - known familiarly as Primo Maestro - gave to the senior members of the Society of Saint Paul in 1960 during a spe-cial month-long retreat at Ariccia in Rome. He was well aware, and he says so explicitly, that he had reached the end of his earthly life. That is why these so lively and inspired words are seen by the members of the ten Institutions of the Pauline Family as their common father's spiritual and apos-tolic testament.
What Fr Alberione conveys here is the definitive interpre-tation of the Pauline religious life considered in the light of this gift from on High. It is a survey, extraordinary and effec-tive, where every feature of daily living - the spiritual, the apostolic, the communitarian - appears, to use his own words, fully illuminated by the light of Jesus our Mas-ter. Through this total identification in Jesus the Divine Master everything is made holy; and everything is - as it was for the Founder's every initiative - influenced by a heart that seeks God and souls.
It gives me great pleasure to present this work to Paulines and non-Paulines alike. I am convinced that when they read it with loving attention they will discover not only rich spiri-tual nourishment but practical pointers for bettering their own religious commitment so that, indeed, the man and woman of God may be perfect (2 Tim 3:17).
Rome, 4 April 1998. FR SILVIO PIGNOTTI
Superior General SSP