Mary leads us to Jesus

Transcription

1 n th January 2010 Associazione di Maria Ausiliatrice Primaria - Torino - Valdocco Mary leads us to Jesus Monthly message At the start of the new year, everyone s wish is for it to be a time of joy, peace and love. But we know that all this is not utopia or worse an illusion, but rather the revelation of God s love, who revealed Himself through Jesus, prince of peace. Through the mistery of the incarnation, the mistery of the coming into the world of the Prince of Peace, reconciliation between man and God takes place at Christmas time. By becoming a man in this world, God brought us His peace and His forgiveness. He brought us God s reconciliation, He brought us eternal life. God wants us to be his children once again, and for us to be in his love and His light. St Paul tells us Jesus is Peace, because in Jesus God and man become one, they become humanity reconciled to God. The initiative came from God, but our response counts as well, because the King of Peace knocks at our heart. Peace will enter our heart if we open our heart to Jesus. By opening our heart to Jesus we have God s forgiveness and we feel at peace with Him, with ourselves and with our neighbours. Mary will guide us along the path of faith, if we have total faith and we abandon ourselves overcoming any form of fear. Her maternal mission is to give us Jesus, to let us know and experience His love. But in such difficult times, she not only brings Jesus to us, but she also takes us to Jesus so that we may be filled with His peace and His blessing. As a matter of fact, through Jesus our Father blessed us with all possible spiritual blessings. God s love will live in us and among us if we open ourselves to His love and we let everything contrary to His spirit die. This is made possible thanks to the strength of forgiveness and the power of mercy. Welcoming God s love sets us free from our miseries and poverty, and also gives us the strength o regenerate our relationship with our neighbours, with our families in particular, which are often marked by wounds and resentment. Above all, this journey with Mary teaches us to sincere repentance of the heart, which melts all hardness and creates a new heart. All this allows us to share this peace with others through love. And we can do so with all our being: through our actions, our words, our smile, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, starting from our families and then spreading it to the whole world. In Jesus teaching is the key to allow God to live among us: Love one other as I have loved you. (cf Gv 13,34). Mutual love is the key to God s presence: If we love one another, God stays with us. (1Gv 4,12) because: Where there are two or more gathered together in my name, I am among them. (Mt 18,20), says Jesus. Living this new commandment is the premise for God s presence among us. Unless this presence is guaranteed we will be able to do nothing, as this presence gives meaning to the supernatural brotherhood which Jesus brought on earth for the whole of humanity. All this marks the beginning of something new, beautiful, real and authentic: a life in the light of God s presence and of His love, through the Heart of Mary. Fr Pier Luigi Cameroni Promoter of spiritual activities

2 Witnesses Michele Rua: a vocation in Mary s name If it is true that a man s worth is based on the education he receives, it should be said that in 1852, when the 15 year old Michele Rua joined the oratory, he found himself immersed in an atmosphere of Christian piety filled with marian fervour. Fr Rua himself declared in 1895: Don Bosco s devotion to Holy Mary was evident in every single moment of his life. More than once I saw him moved to tears when talking about such a good Mother: he often talked about Her, encouraging us to love Her, venerate Her and to put our trust in Her. When epidemic diseases struck our community, he encouraged us to address Her, assuring us that we would be set free from such calamity if we avoided sin and wore Her medal as well as praying to Her During novenas or Marian feasts, every day he would assign us an act of mortification in Her honour, and during private conversations he would often tell us of graces received through Her intercession. He encouraged us to honour Her as an effective means to win any temptation and to grow in virtue. Don Bosco set the dates of the Marian feasts which were most important to him and which marked the future of his work. On the 3d of October 1852, during a trip which the best of the youth from the Oratory went on every year to Becchi on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Don Bosco asked Michele Rua to wear the ecclesiastical habit. Michele was 15 years old. That evening, on their way back to Turin, Michele, overcoming his shyness, asked Don Bosco: Do you remember our first meetings? I asked you for a medal, and you made a strange gesture: as if you wanted to cut your hand off and give it to me, and then you said: We will divide everything in half. What did you mean? And he answered: My dear Michele, you still don t understand? And yet it is crystal clear: as you grow older you will understand what I meant: in life you and I will divide everything in half between us: suffering, responsibilities, joys and all the rest everything will be shared between us. Michele went quiet but he was filled with happiness: in simple words, Don Bosco had proclaimed him his sole heir. Don Rua always trusted Don Bosco and faithfully remained by his side in his apostolic mission with such marked Marian characteristics: he truly was Don Bosco s and his congregation s first born. Don Bosco was not afraid to call young people to brave undertakings which by human standards were considered reckless. An example of this was the outbreak of cholera in the summer of 1854: fear provoked the closure of all workshops and the flight of all those who could afford to leave. In some places, as soon as it was known that a person had been infected with the disease, his neighbours and sometimes his own family as well would abandon him. In the West of Valdocco a lazaret was set up. But only a few brave people would offer to care for the sick. Don Bosco therefore addressed the older ones among his youth, among whom the best of the Salesians to be could be found. On the 26 th of January 1954, to four of them (among whom Michele Rua and Cagliero), Don Bosco proposed : with the Lord s and St Francis de Sales help to put the commandment of love to one s neighbour in practice and to then make a promise and (if possible) a vow to the Lord. To those who accepted and will accept in the future this proposal, on that evening was given the name of Salesians. He told them that the mayor was appealing to the best in the city to become nurses and to assist the sick. If anyone wanted to join him in this, he thanked him in the name of God. Fourteen volunteered and then thirty, and they worked with such courage, selflessness and fervour, that they gain everyone s admiration. On the 5 th of August, Feast of the Virgin Mary of the Snow, Don Bosco, while addressing the sick said: I want us to put our souls and bodies in the hands of Mary If you will all be in God s grace and will not commit any mortal sin, I assure you that nobody will be infected with cholera. Those days were filled with torrid heat, hard work, dangers, nauseating stenches. With the autumn rain the disease ended. Of Don Bosco s young volunteers none were infected with cholera. During Don Michele Rua s trial of beatification, Don Gioulio Barberis described his personality in the following way: 2

3 His commitment was always to follow Don Bosco, to renounce his own point of view and opinion, in order to conform to Don Bosco s mission. As soon as he heard he intended to set up the Salesian Congregation, he was the first to make him a vow of obedience. That happened on the 25 th of March 1855, and Michele was 18. From then on, he thought about nothing else but to set his own will aside, in order to do God s will, which expressed itself through Don Bosco. Michele Rua became the first Salesian on the day of the Angel s Annunciation to Mary. He himself remembered this during Don Bosco s trial of beatification: In 1855 I was in my second year of my studies in philosophy and on the Day of the Angel s annunciation, I took my vows for a year. Living side by side with Don Bosco, Don Rua absorbed his spirit, of which devotion to Mary Help of Christians was an essential component. The witness Lorenzo Saluzzo states: I particularly remember hearing from the Servant of God these words: One cannot be a good Salesian unless he is devoted to Mary help of Christians. On the 8 th of December 1859, in Don Bosco s oratory in Valdocco, the feast of Mary Help of Christians was solemnly celebrated. The 184 young men who lived as boarders in Don Bosco s home were the heart of the summer oratory: they had sang, prayed and received communion from Don Bosco during Mass. Then, after an abundant breakfast and a time for games, they had prepared themselves for religious instruction. Many among them managed to talk to Don Bosco about their jobs, families, problems, and about their future. In the evening, following jolly goodbye songs, Don Bosco, who looked tired but was fully of joy, in his usual good night thanked Our Lady and all present for the wonderful day. He then gave all boarders and their assistants (who whore the cassock in those days), a brief announcement that made the hearts of twenty amng them beat faster: That evening Don Bosco publicly announced how, the following day (Friday), he would hold a special meeting in his room after the other youth had gone to bed. The priests, assistants and laity who cooperated with Don Bosco knew that meeting had to be important. And in the evening, after 9 o clock following the usual day of prayer-studywork and joy, nineteen young men entered Don Bosco s small room. Fr Lemoyne s chronicle and the minutes transcribed by the biographer A Amadei, that Don Bosco first of all called upon the Holy Spirit and Holy Mary s assistance, and then summed up what he had said in previous meetings. Then, visibly moved, he announced that the time to form their Association had come, which he had had in mind for a long time, for which Pio IX had encouraged him and praised him, and which in practice already existed, since most people present belong to it al least in spirit and followed its rules and because some of them had already made their temporary promise. The moment had come to announce that if they wanted to be part of it, the Association would have kept the name of St Francis de Sales. (6) In such congregation, which would have supported the oratory, could only joined by those who intended to consecrate themselves to God, making a vow of chastity, poverty and obedience, and of devoting their life to the abandoned and endangered youth. And so, this meeting should be attended only by those who intended to join such Association. Michele Rua (22 years old) had no doubts. Don Bosco had made an invitation which for him was (as always) an order. So much so that the next day he went to the Missionary Home to begin his religious exercises, and was temporarily ordained (11 th December) and became a deacon (17 th December). SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR THE APOSTOLATE OF PRAYER FEBRUARY 2010 General: For all men of science and knowledge, so that through an honest search for truth, they may get to know the One true God. Missionary: So that the Church, aware of its missionary identity, may strive to faithfully follow Christ and to proclaim His Gospel to all people. For the bishops: So that dialogue between State and Church may support men and women of good will in their struggle for the common good, the promotion of the fundamental rights, the fight against poverty and the search for peace. Marian: So that like Mary, we may read each event in our life in the light of God s Providence 3

4 Days devoted to spirituality of the Salesian Family Rome th January 2010 Good ight of Saturday 23d January 2010 Announcing the VI International Congress of Mary Help of Christians On this special occasion of Days devoted to the spirituality of the Salesian Family, we give thanks from the bottom of our heart for the opportunity to address you as members of the Association of Mary help of Christians. In order to fulfil his vocation and mission of salvation for the youth and the people, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit Don Bosco created around him a great union of apostolic forces, in the shape of an articulated movement, in the unity of a Family. We must unite (He wrote in 1878) among us and the whole Congregation Let s unite then in order to have the same goal and use the same means to fulfil it Let s unite as in a single family, where brotherly love may encourage us to help each other as well as our neighbour. Belonging to and helping the Salesian Family concretely express themselves through brotherly love and the collaboration among the various groups, by getting to know each other, through communal spirituality and the sharing of experiences. The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), founded by Giovanni Bosco in 1869, belongs to the Salesian Family because of the great salesian devotion (in the form established by Don Bosco) towards Mary Help of Christians. This devotion commits people to honour Mary, help and mother of the Church, by taking part in Don Bosco s mission in favour of the youth and the people, particularly by increasing and defending the Christian faith among the people. In the Salesian Family the Association highlights and spreads the devotion to Mary, as an instrument of evangelisation and promotion in favour of the needy and of the youth. Today, when faith is put through the mill and several children of God are exposed to tribulations because of their faith in Jesus Christ, when humanity is undergoing a great crisis of spiritual values, the Church feels the need to ask Mary for her maternal intervention: in order to strengthen one s faith in the only Lord and Saviour, to continue the world s evangelisation with the same courage of the first Christians, and to illuminate and guide the faith of both communities and individual disciples. In particular, to educate the youth to the Christian value of life, to which Don Bosco gave 100%, as a father and teacher. (Giovanni Paolo II Angelus of the 31st January 1988). In the Salesian Family, one of the particular forms used to experience and spread the devotion to Mary Help of Christians according to Don Bosco s spirit is the promotion of International Congresses of Mary Help of Christians, which are open to all groups of the Salesian Family which recognise in the devotion to Mary Help of Christians, one of the charismatic aspects of our communal spirit. For the Association such meetings strengthen their sense of belonging and they make it visible, as well as being a chance for renewal. Since1988 five International Congresses of Mary Help of Christians have taken place: Torino-Valdocco in 1988 (on the 100th anniversary of Don Bosco s death); Cochabamba (Bolivia) in 1995; Seville (Spain) in 1999; Torino-Valdocco in 2003 ( on the 100 th anniversary since the coronation of Mary Help of Christians); Mexico City in It is therefore with great joy that we announce the VI International Congress of Mary Help of Christians Which will take place in Częstochowa (Poland) At the Shrine of the Black Madonna From the 3d to the 6th of August 2011 The grace to celebrate our congress in such a holy place, rich in faith, history and spirituality, and marked by the testimony of holiness of so many men and women of God aims to be of great stimulus to renovate our commitment to be (following Mary s footsteps) authentic 4

5 disciples and passionate apostles to bring the Gospel to the youth. The Congress motto Totus tuus, encourages us to have holiness as our goal and to have the great marian devotion which characterised the servant of God John Paul II, and also aims to express our childlike confidence in Mary help of Christians, so that like her, we can walk the path of faith by defending the great values of life, family and education. Our wish and that of all Salesians, FMA and Salesian cooperators in Poland who have welcomed the invitation to host and coordinate the event with great joy, is that this may be a meeting of the Salesian Family, which in the name of Mary Help of Christians may grow in brotherly communion and apostolic collaboration. Mary, who was the first to welcome and bring to all the announcement of salvation, teaches us and guides us to fulfil our common vocation as individuals and people who have met the Crucified and Risen Christ, and announce it with joy and faithfulness. From Her we learn that the depth of the experience of God is the root of the mission, and that the first and main way of evangelisation is the testimony of faith. Such testimony becomes more convincing when we approach the men and women of our time, (and the youth in particular), as brothers and friends and we accompany them radiating joy and hope. This way we transmit what we believe in and we show through our life what we announce. Il Rector Fr Pascual Chávez has always encouraged us to consider such Congresses as a special occasion to strengthen the devotion to Mary help of Christians, and reminds us of the importance of the devotion to the Mother of God, as was promoted by Don Bosco. My dear brothers and sisters said Fr Chavez during the V Congress in Mexico City in 2007, Today as in Don Bosco s time, profound social and cultural changes are annihilating the family. The Chruch and the Salesian Family are called to indicate Jesus and His Gospel, just like Mary did. Like Don Bosco, we members of the Salesian Family renew our vocation of shepherds of the youth, with the mission to bring them to Christ, the only one who will not disappoint even the greatest expectations, and who is able to satisfy their thirst and hunger for life, happiness and love. As we try to fulfil our mission we know we are not alone, as Mary was given to us as a powerful Help against evil in the fight for the salvation of the youth. Mary Help of Christians is the one who with maternal love, takes care of those who are experiencing trials in this dark world pictured at her feet in the Basilica of Turin. In order to prepare ourselves to this Congress we would like to draw your attention to two useful readings: The third volume of Notebooks by Mary Help of Christians devoted to the Association of Mary help of Christians (ADMA), which is aimed at the formation of its members and of all those who want to know more about the history and spirit of the ADMA: A spiritual journey, by Fr Roberto Carelli, lecturer at the department of theology of our university at Torino- Crocetta, will be issued for the month of September 2010, as a path of preparation to the Congress. We await any suggestions and advice that may enrich this experience of spirituality and communion under the guidance of Mary. Our wish and commitment id that all groups of the Salesian Family may participate in this event in great numbers, and that this Congress may be, through Mary Help of Christians, an extraordinary gift of grace for the whole Salesian Family. Good night! Sig. Lucca Tullio, Presidente ADMA Don Pierluigi Cameroni, Animatore spirituale 5

6 Family chronicle TORINO-VALDOCCO NEW COUNCIL FOR THE PRIMARY ADMA ( ) Following the elections which took place in the month of December, the New Primary ADMA Council was set up: President LUCCA Tullio; Vice president and coordinator of ADMA for the youth:fantino Enrico; Treasurer:SAVIGNANO widow Faiella Tina; Secretary: MARCHISIO Rosanna; Counsellor and Representative for the Salesian Family: CHI- OSSO Giuseppina; Counsellor PRIANTE Claudio; Promoter of Spiritual Activities: CAM- ERONI don Pier Luigi.The result was that while the Council guarantees a continuity with tradition, at the same time it is open to new generations which are present in the area of Turin. We thank all members of the previous Council: CHIOSSO Giuseppina, PRIANTE Claudio, DO- GLIO Ettore, SAVIGNANO ved.faiella Tina, RIC- CIARDI Francesco, BELTRAMO Lucia, BELVI- SOTTI VIGNA Teresa for their generosity towards the Association. Regarding the importance and the task of the Primary ADMA in relation to the Association as a whole, we entrust Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco with the new Council, so that it may fulfil its task in the spirit of the Association. Enrico Fantino, Claudio Priante, Tina Savignano, Tullio Lucca, don Pier Luigi Cameroni, Rosanna Marchisio PRIMARY ADMA CHRISTMAS RETREAT : On the 13th of December in Valdocco (Mary Help of Christians Church), the Primary ADMA took part in the traditional Advent retreat. This year the joy for the coming of Christmas could truly be felt, also due to the presence of many young families and children who contributed to the joyous atmosphere. The day was extremely full: in the morning after prayer, Fr Pierluigi (promoter of spiritual activities for the Primary ADMA), presented the beautiful icon of the blessed Alexandrina da Costa, stressing in particular the symbolism regarding the life of the blessed Alexandrina. As a matter of fact, Alexandrina is a great mystic who spent great part of her life bed ridden, following an accident she had in order to defend her purity. Of her, we have over 5000 pages left of mystic words, dialogues with Jesus and mystical experiences where she shares in the passion of Jesus. It was precisely through such a great mystic that Jesus asked for the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The morning ended with the Eucharistic celebration in the church of St Francis de Sales where surrounded by children, Fr Pierluigi reminded everyone of the importance of attitude of waiting which characterises Advent, and invited all families to pray together the Christmas novena in front of the Christmas crib. In the afternoon, the Rosary was followed by an intense moment of prayer in front of the 6

7 icon of the Blessed Alexandrina, going through the spiritual life of this girl who was in love with Jesus and with the Rosary, which are the most important components of the ADMA. It is interesting to note that blessed Alexandrina aside from being a Salesian cooperator, was also a member of the ADMA! On the same day, the Primary ADMA also voted for the renewal of the Council (Lucca Tullio e Simonetta). PRIMARY ADMA PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE 70 people took part in this pilgrimage. Most of them were young families belonging to the Primary ADMA, among whom 23 children and young people, who shared between the 1 st and 6 th of January a powerful experience of faith and communion in the sign of Mary Queen of Peace. These days were marked by prayer, testimonies of faith and conversion of several people, the meeting with several prayer communities as well as communities which focused on helping young people with serious problems and children victim of wars. During such experience Mary s maternal presence could be felt in our life, as well as the fact that it is through Her that we meet Our Saviour of the world and Lord Jesus. The fact that it was mostly young families who took part in this pilgrimage was a sign of great renewal for the Association of Mary Help of Christians, and a sign of how the faith is passed on from one generation to the next within the family We pray the Lord for the victims of the catastrophe which has hit the population of Haiti, as well as for those who are grieving their loved ones. We assure them of our prayers as well as of material help for those who have lost their home or who have been affected in many different ways. We implore God to grant them consolation through their suffering. We remember in particular all the Salesians and the young people who have died in this tragedy. May Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco intecede for both the living and the departed 7

8 CATANIA CIFALI S. GIOVANNI BOSCO CHURCH. On the 8th of December 2009, fest of the Immaculate, our Association was joined by 8 new members: Abate Alessandra, Benzi Ines, Di Grazia Vittorio, Grimaldi Maria Daniela, Nicotra Sebastiana, Salemi Claudia, Sanfilippo Roberta, Scapellato Cinzia. The celebration began with a welcome for the new memebers and ended with a picture. At the end of the celebration it was noted how great it was to be able to be granted a plenary indulgence. This was a great sign of hope in this 150 anniversary since the foundation of the Salesian Family ( Fr Concetto Pennisi promoter of spiritual activities) Italian: French: Spanish: Portuguese English The paper can be read at the following site: For every comunication you can contact the following adress: pcameroni@salesiani.it 8