(ANS- Rome)-On 8 July last Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Joseph Augustus Arribat SDB. Now the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, has written a letter on Fr Arribat addressed to all Salesian confreres.

Fr FernandezArtime points out that this stage in the journey towards the beatification and canonization of Father Arribat is a great gift for the congregation and for the whole Salesian Family.  It comes in this third year of preparation for the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco and should be seen the light of the programme undertaken in the 27^th General Chapter.

The Rector Major urges us to look to this figure of a Salesian priest, "an authentic disciple of Don Bosco, who lived with a heart radiant with priestly fervour, full of gentleness and selflessness, with a peaceful spirit and a face marked by a constant, humble, friendly smile." He was a true "mystic of the spirit".  Everything about him belonged to God and was for God, and this could be seen, not only from his words, but also from his deeds. He was a "Prophet of Fraternity" and an enemy of idle chatter, who lived charity as a way of life. And he was a "servant of the young", always present in their midst,  determined not to be served but to serve, and ready for the most humble service. He was a sensible man, a happy religious, a good Salesian, much sought after as confessor and wise spiritual guide.

The Rector Major concluded by inviting all the confreres to value the gift of Venerable Fr Arribat, and to follow his example by "living among children and young people with a passion for education and ministry." In particular, he proposes Fr Arribat to Rectors as "a model of fruitful spiritual fatherhood, joining attentive, helpful and generous charity with a humble exercise of authority in communion and apostolic ministry." Finally, Fr Arribat intercedes for all the members of the Salesian Family "asking for them the grace to live the Preventive System with joy, and a spirit of sacrifice and service."

The full textof the letter is available on the site sdb.org.

Published07/23/2014