(ANS – Rome) – “The Lenten season offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity. This is a favourable time to renew our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the sacraments. This journey is one marked by prayer and sharing, silence and fasting, in anticipation of the joy of Easter”. The message of Benedict XVI for Lent 2012 considers the third of the theological virtues - charity – and examines three aspects of Christian life: responsibility towards our brothers and sisters, the gift of reciprocity, walking together in holiness.

Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, offers his summary of the Pope’s message  which this year is based on the verse from the Letter to the Hebrews: “Let us be concerned for each other,
to stir a response in love and good works” (10,24).

Being concerned: looking towards  Jesus moves us to be concerned for each other, to take care of our brothers and sisters. The family spirit is nourished and grows according to the quality of the relationships and concern expressed within it. Indifference and disinterest born of selfishness and hardness of heart are always a temptation. Being brothers and sisters and establishing relationships based on mutual consideration and attentiveness builds up the community and becomes a great sign of hope to everyone. A very practical suggestion made by the Pope and one often neglected is that of fraternal correction, in view of spiritual well-being, of the salvation of souls. Associated with religious communities but applicable in all Christians relationships, “fraternal correction” is not easy, and requires considerable mutual trust as well as courage and humility. For our communities this practice could be of assistance as a practical expression of  vocational co-responsibility, to stop the flow of those leaving through fragility and rather consolidate the decision taken. To combat selfish individualism and indifference: “It is a great service, then, to help others and allow them to help us, so that we can be open to the whole truth about ourselves, improve our lives and walk more uprightly in the Lord’s ways.”

The gift of reciprocity: Eucharistic communion and fellowship open us up to relationships with others. “our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension”. A practical expression of this reciprocity is to do penance and to ask for the forgiveness of the sins of the members of one’s community and to rejoice for the wonders of grace that the Lord continuously accomplishes in his children. There is a profound solidarity that unites us as members of the one body. Knowing how to ask for forgiveness and to recognise the good in one’s brothers and sisters helps to build up authentic relationships and to establish credible communities according to the Gospel.

Walking together in holiness: we are urged to grow day be day in the spiritual life towards full maturity in Christ. To overcome the temptation to become lukewarm, we can benefit from knowing, imitating and sharing in the prayers of that wealth of holiness that has followed in Don Bosco’s footsteps. “The wisdom of the Church in recognizing and proclaiming certain outstanding Christians as Blessed and as Saints is also meant to inspire others to imitate their virtues.”

“The witness of so many brothers and sisters in the Salesian Family,” – Fr Cameroni adds – “who have lived in a radical manner the following of Jesus and have been men and women of communion, such as Mother Maria Troncatti, FMA, whose beatification is drawing close and Nino Baglieri, a Volunteer with Don Bosco, whose cause is beginning are a reason for joy and at the same time an encouragement to share in holiness.”

Published 22/02/2012