The beatification of Ceferino, the first in Argentina, was a significant event for many reasons. The large number of the faithful and of dignitaries showed the esteem and the devotion that for many years have grown up around Ceferino. The entire Bishops’ Conference of Argentina was present at the celebration at the conclusion of the 94th Plenary Assembly held at Pilar between 5 and 9 November. There was also a significant presence of members of the Salesian Family in Argentina, of the Salesian Provincials of Italy, of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Provincials from the America South Cone Region, and of Sr. Maria de los Angeles Contreras, representing Mother Colombo. Also among those present were Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga and the Vice President of Argentina Daniel Scioli. There was also a large number of the Mapuche communities from Chile and Argentina.
“It was a very profound spiritual experience for me; I would say one of the most intense of my life!” Fr Chávez said. “A very profound spiritual experience also for the Church. The large number of young people present in Chimpay and the model of holiness proposed by Ceferino must help the Church to realise it cannot lose the young. The Church must accompany its activity of ministry with that of the education of the young.”
“A very profound spiritual experience for the Congregation. For me, Ceferino is the most obvious fruit of Salesian education, which through the missionary praxis of Bishop Cagliero, implemented by the work of Fr Milanesio, provided the young Mapuche with a path of human development and mature growth in the faith.” Referring to some incidents in Ceferino’s life Fr Chávez described how he had had to overcome now a few obstacles, social, historical and personal in order to arrive at a mature vocational choice of Salesian life and the priesthood.
A very profound spiritual experience also for Salesian Argentina the Rector Major added, which is reviewing the nature of its presence in the country. “The beatification of Ceferino, as well Blessed Laura Vicuña and Blessed Artemides Zatti, are a stimulus to look forward with confidence and renewed enthusiasm.”
“The holiness of Ceferino is a very simple holiness and very Salesian. Simple because Ceferino detached himself with simplicity from the comfort of his own culture in order to be useful to his people so as to be able to return as a Salesian priest, and provide for his people what he had received. A holiness very Salesian because available to a teenager, welling up in Ceferino’s heart after reading the life of Dominic Savio written by Don Bosco, and from a very simple devotion to the Blessed Sacrament expressed in small daily gestures.”
Referring to the needs of young people for whom it is necessary to present with great courage the goal of holiness and models like Ceferino, and the next Strenna which is an invitation to focus on the practice of Salesian education according to the heart of Don Bosco, the Rector Major ended his Good Night saying: “Our educational system is a system that makes saints! It makes saints of the educator and the one being educated. We are approaching the 26th General Chapter 26 which is inviting up to return to Don Bosco; we are being called to do what the first Salesians did: faithfully reproduce the pedagogical and educational experience of Valdocco so as to be able to form young saints.”
Published 15/11/2007
