April 18, 1869 – April 18, 2023

With Our Gaze Fixed On Mary Help of Christians, Let Us Celebrate ADMA's "Birthday"

Introduction

Gathered around Mary we contemplate the picture that Don Bosco wanted to leave with us as a sign of his devotion to Mary Help of Christians. Today, as then, he repeats to us, "Be devoted to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are."

At Valdocco, the large painting towers over the altar and the tabernacle as if to indicate that Mary wants us to allow her to take us by the hand to lead us to Jesus, the true center of our being.

THE EARS

Gospel

The angel said to Mary in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you… The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God… Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary's whole life is about listening... Mary knows how to listen, patiently, humbly and very attentively. Her silence is never empty, heavy or cold, but always enriched with listening. She listened to the Word of God, she listened to her parents, she listened to Jesus, she listened to the voice of God in history, in people and in all that was happening to her...Mary's listening continues for the good of humanity!

Hail Mary…

Together, let us pray:

O Mary, woman with a listening heart, capable of filling your intense silence with listening, make us able to listen attentively to every voice that God uses in order to speak to us. Make us able to listen respectfully to parents and educators, with interest to those who share a thought with us and with solidarity and sincerity to those who need to share their sorrow. Grant that we may know how to listen to God's Word with your faith, with your attentiveness, with your silence. Amen.

THE MOUTH

Gospel

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth… And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

Mary spoke very little, but her words given to us in the Gospel are of immense depth, intensity and richness. To us, as well, she continues to repeat the words we need to hear and she teaches us to strive for the essentials while giving thanks to God.

Hail Mary…

Together, let us pray:

O Mary, mother of the words which warm the heart, let us learn from you to speak gently, to speak the truth and to communicate words that build peace. Teach us also the words of the annunciation, words that tell of the beauty of having a friend like Jesus and words that are drawn from the Word of God.

Help us to remove from our speech words that divide, offend or hurt. Enable us to make our words instruments of peace, unity and harmony. Amen.

THE EYES

Gospel

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” […] And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Mary has a gentle, attentive, caring and maternal gaze. Her eyes have seen Jesus, looked at him with wonder, with joy, with emotion and even with sorrow. These very same eyes continually gaze on us!

Hail Mary…

Together, let us pray:

O Mary, in all history, you are the woman with the gentlest gaze. You look at everyone with maternal goodness and at every moment know how to perceive our problems, hardships, and difficulties. Give us eyes capable of seeing beyond appearances.

Grant that we may never pass by someone with distraction and superficiality, so that no one may feel ignored or neglected. Enable our eyes to communicate solidarity, communion, understanding and friendship. Amen

THE SCEPTRE

Gospel

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”… His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

“Don Bosco’s" Madonna has a crown on her head and a scepter in her hand, because Don Bosco always felt her to be a powerful, strong and effective helper. He knew that Mary has a great secret. The secret of her power is Jesus. Even today, when someone turns to Mary with a request, she turns to Jesus and says, "You are greatly needed, they have no more wine..." And Jesus intervenes.

Hail Mary…

Together, let us pray:

O Mary, Powerful Virgin, Queen of the Church, we do not have your strength, nor your faith, but we long to learn to be like you capable of being helpful!

Help us to understand when we are needed. Help us to never back down when there is hard work to be done. Help us to give life to the motto “I’ll go!” by making ourselves always available to others, starting with small matters. Accompany us on our journey so that our secret, too, may be, as it is for you, Jesus’ affection, His friendship and our confidence in Him. Amen.

JESUS

Gospel

“When the days were completed for their purification* according to the law of Moses, they brought the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.”

Don Bosco's Madonna never carries the baby Jesus cuddled to herself, but always presents Him with open arms in a welcoming, embracing gesture that extends to all humanity. Mary has the scepter in one hand and Jesus in the other. Like Jesus, each of us can experience being held in Mary's arms! Mary’s one desire is that we know, love and imitate Jesus!

Hail Mary…

Together, let us pray:

O Mary, Mother of Jesus and our mother also, help us to love Jesus, to follow Him and to listen to His Word. Help us to "do whatever He tells us," to put His Gospel into practice.

Help us to be effective apostles of Jesus. Help us to speak of him with our lives and to make him present to all those we meet. Help us also to become like Jesus, bread broken for our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Italian Final Hymn: Salve Regina

Salve, Regina, madre di misericordia,

vita, dolcezza e speranza nostra,

salve, salve Regina

A te ricorriamo, esuli figli di Eva.
A te sospiriamo, piangenti, in questa valle di lacrime.

Avvocata nostra, volgi a noi gli occhi tuoi, mostraci dopo

questo esilio il frutto del tuo seno, Gesù.

Salve Regina, madre di misericordia.

O clemente, o pia, o dolce, vergine Maria.

Salve Regina! Salve Regina, salve, salve!

Suggested Final Hymn in English: Hail, Holy Queen Enthroned Above

Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, O María.

Hail, Queen of mercy and of love, O María.

Triumph, all ye Cherubim; Sing with us, ye Seraphim.

Heav’n and earth resound the hymn: Salve, Salve, Salve, Regína.

The cause of joy to all below, O María.

The spring through which all graces flow, O María.

Angels, all your praises bring; Earth and heaven, with us sing;

All creation echoing: Salve, Salve, Salve, Regína.

O gentle, loving, holy one, O María.

The God of light became your son, O María.

Triumph, all ye Cherubim; Sing with us, ye Seraphim.

Heav’n and earth resound the hymn: Salve, Salve, Salve, Regína.

The Hail Holy Queen Prayer:

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears
Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us,

and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.