(ANS - Rome) - Yesterday, 24 June, Solemnity of the Birthday of St John the Baptist, the Salesian Congregation celebrated the feast of the Rector Major. This was the first time the feast was celebrated with the new Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime.

The feast was celebrated in a particular way by the Salesian community of the Generalate and that of the Vatican, the two communities which depend directly on the Rector Major. Fr Fernandez Artime presided at the Mass, during which Salesians who were marking significant anniversaries of their ordination or religious profession were also remembered in a special way.

The Rector Major began his homily by saying "God has given us a wonderful and beautiful vocation: to be in the Church signs and bearers of God's love for the young, especially the poor."

He went on to speak about the need for fraternity and friendship in the community, not only for the Salesians, but also to serve young people with dignity: "Our first duty is to be faithful to our vocation and manifest the fullness of our consecrated life lived together."

He added that the charism is lived in a particular way in the community of the Generalate and the Salesian community in the Vatican: "We are not here only to work at one thing or another. (...) Don Bosco taught us to live the family spirit everywhere because that’s what was in his heart. His vocation was to be a father, teacher and friend. Even here, physically far removed from a daily relationship with young people, the force and originality of the Preventive System of Don Bosco should shine forth. It is our trademark and logo."

Among those who joined in celebrating the feast of the Rector Major  were the Salesian Cardinal, Raffaele Farina, archivist and librarian emeritus of the Holy Roman Church; Bishop Rosario Vella of Ambanja, Madagascar; Mons. Massimo Palombella, director of the Sistine Chapel Choir; and Mons. Markus Graulich, Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts at the Vatican.

The Feast of the Rector Major began away back in the late 1840s when his boys began to honour Don Bosco on 24 June, the Feast of St. John the Baptist – a feast that was widely celebrated in Turin – believing it to be the his feast day. In fact, Don Bosco had received the name John in honor of Saint John the Apostle, but throughout his life he let them celebrate on this day, and his feast became the family feast.

Published 25/06/2014