THE VENERABLE SIMON SRUGI Salesian Brother Nazareth 1877

THE VENERABLE SIMON SRUGI Salesian Brother Nazareth 1877 – Beit Gemal 1943 A BRIEF SPIRITUAL PROFILE

SIMAÀN SRUGI was born at NAZARETH on 15 April 1877 TO A GREEK-MELKITE MARONITE FAMILY

Nazareth: Gr. -Melkite church on the Ancient Synagogue In this synagogue Jesus proclaimed fulfilled in himself Isaiah 61, 1 -2: «The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: He has consecrated me with his chrism, and has sent me to announce the good news to the poor. . . » (Lk 4: 18) In this very place Simon was consecrated by the Spirit for his future mission: bringing the merciful love of the Father to the poor, the sick and the little ones.

Gr. -Melkite church: register of baptism and confirmation 10 May 1877 The blessed infant Simaàn, son of Àz’àr es. Srugi, was baptised and confirmed on 10 May 1877. His mother is Dàlleh daughter of Khàuali. His godfather is Ayùb Butros son of Jaacùb Ayùb, of Latin rite. The minister is the priest Àun Augustine Àun.

1888: Simon entered Fr BELLONI’s orphanage in Bethlehem run by the “Holy Family” Congregation which in 1891 merged with the SDBs

Bethlehem, Salesian House Archives “Simon Srugi of the late Asar and Dalle Born at Nazareth on 27 June 1878 - Entered this house in May 1888 - Was admitted as an aspirant in Oct. 1892 - Accepted as a “candidate novice” on 25 July 1893 - Lay Brother – Baker”. Notice the mistaken date of birth

Provincial archives – register of Lay Brothers Coad. Srugi Simone Born at Nazareth 27. VI. 1878 Entered 1 st Salesian college at Bethlehem: 8 December 1888 Craft exercised before the Novitiate: coadiutor tailor. In the Pious Society: baker, infirmarian, tailor. Ascription: 27 July 1893 Entry in Novitiate: Betgemal 25 August 1894. First triennal religious profession: Cremisan 31. X. 1896. Perpetual: Bethlehem 20. IX. 1900

TAILORS WORKSHOP ATTENDED BY SRUGI

Bethlehem 1896 First profession - Torino – April 1907 Dearest Srugi (Beitgemal), I received your news. I congratulate you on your good dispositions to serve the Lord in his holy house. I see that you are happy. Courage, keep on always like that. I reciprocate wishes for the holy Easter festivities. Continue to have me your mostly affectionate in Jesus Christ Sac. Michele Rua

ON THE PLACE OF THE EXCAVATIONS (1920) Srugi standing by the Burial Grotto – St. Steven (on the left)

St Stephen’s Memorial, gift and task for Salesians WORKS OF SPIRITUAL AND CORPORAL MERCY 1923 1929 -30 - Starting the construction of “Confraternity of Christian the “Shrine of Christian Forgiveness” (SDBs) Forgiveness” “Apostolate of the Innocents” (FMAs) - Building of the outdoor Purpose: to spread the dispensary/clinic for sick practice of forgiveness and poor people, where both the culture of reconciliation Bro. Srugi and Sr. Tersilla and peace among Muslisms, would minister Jews and Christians.

Bet Gemal 1917 -1940: SALESIAN COMMUNITY IN CONTEXT - Aftermath of WW 1 and Armenian Genocide: orphans, refugees. . . - Initial guerrilla wars between Arab and Jew. . . - Malaric Land – Poverty – Isolation - DAILY SPIRITUALITY Sacramental and Marian Mystics. Prophets of mercy and reconciliation. Servants of young and of poor people, both Christian and Muslim. Prayer, work and temperance. Parish for Roman-Catholic Faithful (1880 -1927)

First Agricultural School in Palestine – St. Joseph FOR YEARS SRUGI WAS IN CHARGE of the MILL & OLIVE PRESS

HAKIM (Doctor) with mothers and sick babies were among the most frequent visitors

Srugi’s devotion and love for Our Mother Mary “O mamma mia del Paradiso, quanto sei bella, quanto ti amo! Sono tuo figlio, tu lo sai, Mamma mia! Dimmi che cosa devo fare per piacerti di più. Tu sei la mia mamma del Cielo. . . Mi dono a te, corpo e spirito. Ti amo. . . ti amo”. “Ti ringrazio, Madre mia, che mi hai fatto riuscire bene, mi hai guidato e hai benedetto le nostre fatiche nel soccorrere molti sofferenti. Grazie a te, mia buona Mamma, infinite grazie!”. “O my heavenly Mother, how beautiful you are, how much I love you! I am your child, you know it, Mother of mine! Tell me what should I do to please you better. You are my heavenly Mother. I give myself to you, body and soul. I love you … I love you”. “I thank you, Mother, that you gave success to my work, you guided me and blessed our toils in relieving many suffering people. Thanks to you, my good Mother, endless thanks!”

SIMON’s SECRET To both Christians and Muslims he used to say: «I am that “nothing good from Nazareth. . . ” Jesus is the only doctor and healer. Trust in Him, repeat with me: Yahya Yasù’a ! Long live Jesus» . « Pray our heavenly mother Sitti Maryam and be sure that everything will be well» . - PEOPLE’s ESTEEM «Yes, there are doctors also in Ramleh or Gaza, but we come here to Srugi because in his hands the power of Allàh is operating» . «After Allàh in heaven there is mu’allem Srugi on earth» .

ARAB SDBs of different Rites (Latin, G. -Melkite, Maronite, Armenian) BETHLEHEM – RETREAT 1931

Retreat 1932: RESOLUTIONS … never complain about whatever hardships or unpleasant things can occur. 5° - I will always keep in front of me my death and judgement, in order to be ready to appear before my good Jesus. 6° - I will be vigilant over my passions and my senses so as to be pure and chaste in soul and body. 7° - I want to be very careful to do everything for obedience, because without obedience one doesn’t merit anything before the Lord and I cannot be a good religious if I don’t do all my actions by obedience.

In 1934, as in 1929, Srugi was chosen to represent the SDBs of Palestine at the celebrations for the Beatification and Canonization of Don Bosco in Torino and Rome. On both occasions he humbly renounced happy to offer that opportunity to other confreres.

Retreat 1935: RESOLUTIONS «To aim to sanctity and to my perfection, I will try and amend those defects in which I often fall, so as to please Jesus and to be a good religious. I want to do well my monthly report, at all costs. How great attention and vigilance to fight in me the sensual pleasure in dealing with people, with our boys, so as to treat my body as consecrated to God. I sold myself, I consecrated myself to God exclusively, therefore my thoughts, my affectiosn, my desires must be for him. The good Jesus suffered very greatly for me, so I want to suffer for his sake and for my sins whatever distressing and painful things can occur to me both in body and soul» .

Accompanying boys for their First Communion 1942

1937: Don Tirone - Canon. visitation to the Middle East Province (Br. Srugi among the Rectors)

Don MARIO ROSIN (1875+1938) ASCETIC SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR MARTYR - He used to wear a hair skirt and sleep on the floor - First Superior of the Theologate in the Holy Land (Bethlehem 1929 -32) - Aware of the risk of being targeted by the guerrillas, he went to hear the confessions of the Sisters at the shrine of Our Lady of Palestine. On his way back he was assaulted and stoned to death. He died forgiving his killers.

FROM HIS PERSONAL PLAN OF LIFE How happy and blessed must I be for having consecrated myself soul and body to my God! How much I’ll have to do in order to remain pure and chaste as an angel before him. How vigilant I’ll have to be lest I stain at all my soul and my body, august temple of the Most Blessed Trinity. Therefore: always keep God present to me, and put into practice the means suggested by the H. Rules.

Letter to his Protestant sister Zàhra My Dear Sister, This is to inform you that two months ago I was struck with a strong malaric fever which brought me to the threshold of the tomb. I was taken to the hospital at Bethlehem where I spent two weeks between life and death. Now, thank God, I have regained my health (though not completely) thanks to the prayers of the many orphan boys, superiors and confreres. I think however that the end of my pilgrimage on this earth is not far away. Since long, in fact, I have been feeling breath difficulties, heart ache and little strength. All this tells me: «Get ready to meet your Lord, when he wants it» . 24. 12. 1939

His room, communicating with the infirmary. Death bed Saturday, 27. 11. 43

Tombstone - Script by don Forti, Srugi’s biographer (after 1964) Here rests the body of the Servant of God SIMON SRUGI Salesian Lay Brother Nazareth 27. IV. 1877 Beitgemal 27. XI. 1943 As countryman of Jesus he saw Him everywhere. He gave himself to everybody in Christ, so as to reproduce in himself the meek and humble traits of the Good Samaritan.

The humble Servant of God SIMON SRUGI IS OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMED VENERABLE On 02 April 1993 Pope John-Paul II issued the Decree recognizing the heroic virtues practiced by Simon SRUGI and authorizing his veneration.

PRAYER TO THE VENERABLE SIMON SRUGI Dear Simon, you spent your Salesian life pouring the balm of God’s merciful love upon afflicted bodies and souls, as a minister of healing and reconciliation. Look to our distressed humanity today, especially in the Middle East, and intercede for us with God that we too, imitating St Stephen and Don Bosco, may be signs and bearers of God’s love to young and poor people everywhere, and in so doing we may attain the perfection of our Christian and Salesian vocation. Amen

PRAYING FOR HIS BEATIFICATION

Prayer for the Beatification of the Venerable SIMON SRUGI O Jesus, Word-made-flesh who, from Nazareth to Calvary, revealed to humankind the eternal love of your Father by doing good to all, may it please you to glorify your humble fellow countryman SIMON SRUGI, who so beautifully showed forth your goodness and loving-care towards the poor and the suffering. Trusting in your mercy and in his intercession, we pray you to grant us the grace [ …. ] which we are asking of you with all our heart. Our Father + Hail Mary + Glory