(ANS - Turin)- The second day of the Chapter members’ pilgrimage to the places of Don Bosco began with a morning visit to the Becchi, the birthplace of John Bosco, and continued in the afternoon with a visit to Valdocco. It was a return to the source of our religious consecration. The readings of the day recalled the theme of radicalism, which is demanded of all who are called to follow Christ: "You have learnt how it was said ... but I say this to you ... " (Mt 5.38-48).

The Chapter members were moved with emotion on seeing the smallness of the house in the hills of Asti, compared to the vastness of the Salesian presence in the world. There was great curiosity on the part of those who were there for the first time, but even more significant was the awareness that here every Salesian can breathe the spirit that animates his life.

Cardinal Severino Poletto, Archbishop Emeritus of Turin, expressed it well in the homily of the Mass: when they come to this Hill, Salesians can make their own the words of Psalm 86, " here we were born." Here they can see "the rock from which they were hewn, the quarry from which they were extracted." The Rector Major reiterated the idea when he thanked the Cardinal, acknowledging that whenever he saw the little house of the Becchi, he too could say, “it is as if I were born here”.

Cardinal Poletto then gave the Chapter members an authoritative statement on the intimate relationship that now binds the congregation to the Church as a whole.  As they choose the next Rector Major, he urged them to ask God to "show them the one has chosen." Fr Chávez responded saying ”we want to journey with Pope Francis."

In the afternoon, back at Valdocco, the Chapter members visited Don Bosco’s rooms, the Pinardi chapel, the festive oratory, the tombs of the Rector Major, and finally the church of St. Francis de Sales which Fr Aldo Giraudo referred to as "the Portiuncula of the Salesians. (...) Everything is rooted here, in charity, self-giving love, the unconditional gift of self to God whom we love above all things, and in generous service of the young."

The day ended with Vespers led by Fr Francesco Lotto, Rector of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. In the evening there was time for further personal meditation on what they had seen and heard,  and an opportunity to build that fraternity which is "the criterion of all authentic consecrated life, which makes it attractive, fascinating and fruitful."
 

Published 24/02/2014