(ANS - Gjilan)– Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, expressed great satisfaction at the end of his visit to Albania and Kosovo. It allowed him to meet many very needy young people, to get to know and appreciate the present climate of interreligious respect among the population and to learn more about the history of a great figure of contemporary holiness, Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

by Gian Francesco Romano

On 3 October, Fr Angel greeted the children who had come to welcome at the Salesian reception centre in Pristina. It was a warm and cheerful meeting, with on the one hand children and young people in particular need of attention, and on the other, the successor of Don Bosco with his unique approach to young people, summarized in his well-known phrase, "It is enough that you are young for me to love you very much."

Speaking to the Salesians in Albania and Kosovo, the Rector Major stressed particularly the importance of continuing to be welcoming and respectful of the different faiths professed by students and school personnel. Returning to a theme very dear to him, he emphasized the importance of building truly fraternal communities of educators and young people who will then be able to witness and evangelize among young people and adults.

In his visit to Gjilan, Fr Angel met Lush Gjegji, Vicar of the Diocese of Pristina. He had spent most of his life close to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was originally from Skopje, Albania. In this way, the Rector Major got to know the great determination of the saintly Albanian, who as a young woman interpreted her desire to depart as a missionary to India as a call from God.

He also received from Fr Gjegji the explanation that the same Mother Teresa gave about the so-called "dark night of the soul" or "night of faith" - that is, not being able to feel the presence of God in spite of prayer and service to the poor."  The Rector Major has written on his page in Facebook: “Mother Teresa had asked the Lord to give her whatever was necessary to bring her closer to the sufferings of the Passion of the Lord, and He sent her the trial she needed. I am struck by this testimony, because a life given totally to work and prayer, without feeling the SWEETNESS OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD, must be very hard. The Saints are like that - they leave us speechless."

Published 07/10/2014