THIRD DAY
THE OBEDIENCE OF FATHER DARIO

In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul speaks of the obedience of Christ who "being of divine condition, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited, rather He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave born in human likeness(...) humbled himself and he became obedient unto death, and death on a cross. " (Ph. 2, 6-8).

      With this example in front of his eyes, Father Dario was the model of obedience as much to his mother, as a youngster, as later indicated by his Superiors in the Seminary and during his first and final appointment as a parish priest.

Oh Father Dario, you who had the honest faith of a trusting child to obey all your superiors,  help me to practice this difficult virtue as Our Lord in Nazareth was obedient to Saint Joseph  and the Blessed Virgin. So be it.  

  (Our Father and 3 Hail Marys) Oh God, You who have given us a model of obedience in Christ, He who said "those who fulfill the will of my Father who is in heaven, are my brothers, my sisters and my mothers ".  (TM 12, 50) Lord, help me to distinguish your will as did your Servant, Father Dario, and to conform my acts consequently.   This I ask in Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever.  Amen.



  Fourth Day
  FATHER DARIO,  MAN OF THE DIVINE PARDON

      The day of Passover, the Lord made Himself present to the Apostles, blew on them  and he said: "Receive the Holy Spirit. To those whose sins you  forgive,  forgiveness is granted  and to those whose sins you retain, remain bound." (Jn., 20, 22). Faithful to the Word of Jesus,  Father Dario spent a long time in the confessional to reconcile men with God. This is the explicit testimony of several people. He was, really, the Reconciler, the man of pardon and proponent of the infinite mercy of God Who reconciled the world to Himself by the death and resurrection of His Son.

Oh Father Dario, man of the pardon of God, you who understood so well, the sense of divine pardon, help me to understand the depth of  human weakness and the necessity to use this important sacrament which Jesus  instituted on the evening of His Glorious Resurrection. So be it.


(Our Father 3 Hail Marys) God, Almighty, You Who reconciled the world to Yourself by the death and resurrection of Your Son and by Him Who continues pardoning our sins by the ministry of His priests, grant us the grace to forgive and receive forgiveness, according  to the will of your Son. This I ask in Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.



FIFTH DAY

THE FATHER DARIO, BAPTISM MAN

Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus appeared to his Apostles and he said to them: "Go forth and preach the good news to all He who believes and is baptized will be saved. " (Mc, 16, 15). Father Dario understood very well these words of Our Lord and was devoted in spirit to the ministry of Baptism. The last day of His life, he administered a Baptism and a few minutes later, he was killed. The baptism of a new child of God was his final ministerial act.

Oh Father Dario, you who understood the word of Jesus with respect to the necessity of Baptism which makes us children of God, help me to keep always in mind and heart, the divine purpose of the sacraments and education of Faith in Our Lord and to live as you, a true son of God who I am by my own baptism. So be it.

(Our Father and three Hail Marys) Oh God, make us your children by adoption by the baptism that gives us your own life, and make me understand, like Father Dario, the deep sense of that inner transformation so that I can live like a true son of light. This I ask in Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.



SIXTH DAY

FATHER DARIO, MAN OF THE DIVINE WORD

In His last encounter with the Apostles, Jesus said to them: "All power has been given to me in heaven and earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.(...)Teach them to obey all that I have commanded you." (Mt. 28, 18-20). For Father Dario, the Word of God and catechism for the children were of capital importance. He was devoted with much ardor to the ministry of youth catechism and was prepared to spread the word of God when they killed him.

Oh Father Dario, you were truly devoted to teaching the word of God that nourishes the soul. Help me to understand the need to reach contact with that source of revival and to live like you on every word that springs forth from the mouth of God. Thus it is.

(Our Father and 3 Hail Marys)

God who speaks to us continuously in our heart according to the teaching of your prophets "The word is very near to you, on your lips and in your heart for you to observe". (Dt. 30, 14) Grant me the grace to listen to this Word and to practice it as your Servant Father Dario did in such a faithful manner. This I ask in Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.



SEVENTH DAY
THE FATHER DARIO, MAN OF THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON THE ALTAR

So that the love that He poured forth on Cross is truly manifest to all men throughout the ages, Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist. " Lord Jesus, on the night in which he was betrayed, took the bread, and giving thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, saying: "This is my Body which is given up for you: do this in memory of me. In the same way, having dined, He took the cup also and pronounced the blessing: " This is the New Covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink of the cup, do this in memory of me." (1 Co. 11, 23-26).

Dario's entire life centered and culminated in the fulfillment of his greatest desire: to be a priest and say the Mass, which he celebrated with great devotion.

Oh Father Dario, you who understood the profound meaning of the sacrifice of the Mass that gives us all the love that Christ gave on the Cross, help me to penetrate this true love, and to unite my sacrifices to His for the salvation of the world. So be it. (Our Father and 3 Hail Marys)

Lord God, you who always fortify us by the sacrifice of your Son in the divine Sacrament of the altar, grant me the grace to unite myself to His sufferings and to enjoy His glory. This I ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who lives and reign forever and ever.

EIGHTH DAY
FATHER DARIO AND THE MOTHER GOD

Nobody loved His mother like Jesus. Nevertheless, before dying he offered His mother to St. John who represents us all. Jesus said to him: " Woman, here is your son. " Then, He said to His disciple: " Here, you have your mother " (Jn. 19, 26-27). Truly, the Mexican Catholics tenderly venerate the Virgin of Guadalupe, who has a particular predilection for the children of this country. From his childhood, Dario learned to love his sweet Mother in heaven.

 

Kind Father Dario, you who loved our divine Mother who keeps vigil for our country in a special way, help me to love our sweet Mother so that she is my consolation, my joy and my refuge during the difficult times of my life. So be it. (Our Father and 3 Hail Marys)

 

Oh God, grant me the grace to love and respect the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God's Son and our sweet Mother. Help me follow the example of your Servant, Father Dario with fidelity and devotion.

This I ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who lives and reign forever and ever.

 

NINTH DAY
FATHER DARIO GIVES THE ULTIMATE PROOF OF LOVE

At the last Supper, Jesus said to his Apostles: " There is no greater love than this: to give one's life for His friends" (Jn, 15, 12). This is what Father Dario also did, spilling his blood for Christ in pain in the flower of his youth, during his 23 years of life.

His final words were: " Jesus ". By his death, he says to us as St. Paul: " I determined not to know any another thing while among you but Jesus Christ and Him crucified " (1 Co. 2, 2)

Oh generous Father Dario, you who offered your entire life with the vigor of youth, teach me to help all those who surround me and ask for my help. (Our Father and 3 Hail Marys)

Oh God, you Who gave us the ultimate proof of your love, offering your Son unto death, and death on a cross, help me to offer my life in my daily duties as exemplified by Father Dario who did not hesitate to give his all in the difficult times of religious persecution, sewing the seed of true Christians, witnesses to a greater love.

This I ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who lives and reign forever and ever.