(ANS - Rome) – "Holiness is possible for all.” With these words Fr Leonard Mancini, Provincial of Central Italy, greeted the young people at the final General Meeting of the Fourth Forum of the Salesian Youth Movement in central Italy.

Their final meeting was on Sunday 27 April at the Salesian House of Pius XI in Rome, in conjunction with the canonization being celebrated in St. Peter's Square.

They had started in the early afternoon of Friday 25^th with a talk on holiness given by Fr Andrea Bozzolo, a teacher of theology. In the evening, after dinner, the Salesians of the Post-Novitiate in Nave performed a stage show entitled The Business of Saints.

April 26^th was a special day, with the warm affectionate presence of the Rector Major, Fr Angel Fernandez Artime.  He began by speaking about the Salesian House at Sacro Cuore, mentioning also Don Bosco’s trips to Rome, the famous letter in 1884 and his great love for the Pope.

Replying to some questions, Fr Fernandez Artime told the story of his Salesian vocation and of his feelings and emotions at the beginning of his ministry as the successor of Don Bosco.

With specific reference to the theme of the Forum, held in close relation with the canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, the Rector Major was asked to propose a recipe for holiness. He had no hesitation in pointing out that we need to imitate the Saints, but it is essential above all to be united to Jesus. This is what is meant by the Gospel reference to the vine and the branches, chosen by the Salesians to be placed at the beginning of their document on the recent General Chapter.

The Rector Major met the families gathered for their Forum, in conjunction with the young people’s forum, and also the three Salesian communities at Sacro Cuore.

On Saturday 26^th, the young people spent part of the day visiting some of the places visited by Don Bosco on his numerous trips to Rome. In the afternoon, they gathered at Piazza del Popolo, to commemorate the historical meeting between Don Bosco and Cardinal Tosti in 1859, and especially his meeting with some young people. The Piazza was already packed with tourists, but the crowd grew as people looked on with curiosity while about 1500 young people of the Salesian Youth Movement joined in dances and group games.

In the evening, after supper, they met again at Sacro Cuore for a prayer vigil and the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On Sunday 27^th, they all turned their attention to St. Peter's Square for the canonization of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.

Published 28/04/2014