Be rooted in Eucharist and close to Mary Help of Christians
The title of the first chapter of the letter reminds us that the worship of the Eucharist and the devotion to Mary Immaculate-Help of Christians are the fundamental points of the spirituality and life of the Association.
The Rector Major continues: "Christ who dominates Don Bosco's existence is, above all, the living Jesus present in the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, the Son of Mary, Mother of God and of the Church. Don Bosco was strengthened by this presence and lived in this presence.”
From his youth, also thanks to the teachings of Mamma Margaret, Mary is strongly present in Don Bosco's life. About her, Don Bosco said to the boys: "Mary Most Holy has always been our Mother! A great support for you, a powerful weapon against the snares of the devil, dear youngsters, is your devotion to Mary Most Holy. Mary assures us that if we are devoted to her, she will cover us with her mantle, shower us with her blessings in this world and await us in Paradise.
Don Bosco thought of the members as ‘devotees’: St. Francis de Sales teaches that ‘true devotion’ has to do with the authentic love we receive from God (grace) and makes us able to correspond to his gifts (charity).
We are true ‘devotees’ when we perform every action and every work, from the smallest to the greatest, with courage and readiness to give totally, each according to his or her vocation and mission in the Church.
It is therefore necessary to revive even today the path of devotion that allows us to aim high, not forgetting the roots of holiness and the Salesian charism.
The path at times is certainly tiring, slowed down by our weaknesses and frailties and tossed by the storms of life, but the Rector Major strongly emphasises that Mary Help of Christians along our way leads us to Jesus, guiding every step we take, through her maternal mediation. She is a wise teacher and accompanies us as a constant guide in fulfilling our mission every day.
“Mary Most Holy has always been our Mother...”
(Don Bosco)
Andrea and Maria Adele Damiani
