(ANS – Turin)– Fr Gianni Ghiglione, SDB, has finished the second volume of his book on the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales in the light of his letters. The book was launched in Turin on the afternoon of Thursday 21 November. In this third year of preparation for the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco, dedicated to spirituality, this volume offers insights that will help us to rediscover the roots of Don Bosco’s spirituality.
Fr Ghiglione’s first volume, Salesian spirituality in the Letters of St. Francis de Sales, father, teacher and friend (Part One 1593-1610), was published in Italian by Elledici in 2012, and was well received. Now the second part is published. It is an affectionate return to the Letters of St. Francis de Sales, with the focus now on the last ten years of his life (1611-1622).
The element of continuity that links the two volumes is that of Salesian spirituality, which was the path trod by St. Francis de Sales on his journey to God. In the history of the Church his way is unique, modern, innovative for his times and is still relevant today.
"In 1610 the Order of the Visitation was something new. Many sisters joined the new Congregation and Francis wrote them an extraordinary number of letters. It is here above all that we can grasp the Salesian spirit at its source, the spirit of simplicity and joy which he later proposed to married women, to the nobility and to priests. This is what makes the message of Francis relevant at the present time. It is not weighed down by four centuries of history." All of this was evident during the book launch.
The text is aimed primarily at those who are inspired by St. Francis de Sales as father, model and patron. These include the Sisters of the Visitation, the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Cooperators and others. However, from the honest simple answers the saint wrote to both nobles and ordinary people, everyone can find something to help them to live the "little virtues" with freedom, serenity and joy.
Published 22/11/2013
