Daughters of St. Paul

Venerable Brother Andrew Borello, SSP

Andrew Borello was born in Mango, near Alba in Italy's Piemonte region, on March 8, 1916. His early years were marked by prayerfulness and work--accepted and offered in the spirit of St. Joseph. For Andrew, work was a means of becoming holy himself, and of collaborating in the redemption of the world. Andrew was also an enthusiastic member of the organization "Catholic Youth."

At twenty, accepting an interior call from God, he entered the Society of St. Paul as an aspirant brother, or "Disciple," of the Divine Master. Andrew strongly desired that his life give the greatest possible glory to God, and at the same time do much good to people. With fervor, he pronounced the vows of religious consecration, committing himself to working alongside the priests of the Society of St. Paul in the service of evangelization with the means of communication. At the same time, Brother Borello felt himself unworthy of such a grace. Continually, he asked for God's help in prayer, and begged others, "Pray to the Lord so that I will obtain the grace of humility."

Borello shared his deep insights into the vocation of his brothers. "How beautiful it is to be united to the priesthood, feeling and providing with them for the needs of the people, the way a mother feels and provides for the needs of her children."

In his great love for the vocation and his Congregation, and with the consent of his spiritual director, Brother Borello made a special offering of his life to God, with the intention that all those called might be faithful to the grace of their vocation. It was March, 1948. That intention continued to inspire him as his life drew near its consummation. He once mentioned, "There is one thing that causes me sorrow: the fact that some are not faithful to their vocation."

The Lord accepted the offering of his "good and faithful servant." The young brother was stricken with a sudden and grave illness. Only thirty-two years old, Riccardo Andrew Borello died in September, 1948--just six months after his special offering to God.

"The brothers are the backbone of the Congregation; from among them, I hope for real saints: faithful servants of the heavenly Father, men who will make reparation for the offenses against Jesus Master, persons rich in grace and in the Holy Spirit" (Father Alberione).

Prayer for the intercession of Brother Borello

Jesus Master, Way, Truth, and Life, I thank you for the wonders of grace worked in your faithful disciple, Andrew Borello, and for having made of him a host of reparation pleasing to the Heavenly Father.

Through the heroic offering of his humble life, O Lord, multiply religious and priestly vocations in your Church, and grant that we too, following his holy example as a person committed to reparation, generous dedication to apostolic service, and loving and active silence, may glorify you on earth in order to contemplate you in glory in Heaven.