(ANS - Turin) - In this year of the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco and the institution of the liturgical feast of Mary Help of Christians, there is another important anniversary: ​​the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, which occurred on 27 April 1865.

The cornerstone of the church of Mary Help of Christians was blessed by Bishop Giovanni Antonio Odone of Susa, and was laid by Duke Amedeo of Aosta, son of Vittorio Emanuele II, in the presence of the mayor, the prefect and other eminent personalities. Don Bosco advertised the fact with a commemorative booklet and launched a grand raffle.

The construction work was entrusted to the master builder Carlo Buzzetti and began in the fall of 1863. In April 1864, when the excavations were complete, Don Bosco told Buzzetti: "I want to give you a down payment for the main work." He pulled out his wallet, opened it and emptied it into the hands of Buzzetti. It contained eight soldi, not even half a lira. "Do not worry!” he said. “Our Lady will provide the money needed for her church."

In a prophetic dream of 1844, in the early days of the oratory, the Virgin Mary appeared as a Shepherdess. She invited him to look towards the south. "I looked and saw a field planted with vegetables.” “Look again,” she said. “I looked again and saw a beautiful high church. In the interior of the church there was a white band on which was written in large letters: HIC DOMUS MEA, INDE GLORIA MEA (Here is my house, hence my glory)."

"In this bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco and the institution of the liturgical feast of Mary Help of Christians it is good to remember the glory that Mary Help of Christians has manifested from her home. In particular, today Mary wants the glory from her home to reach our homes, renewing family life according to God's plan,” says Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family.  He went on: “It is in this perspective that we celebrate the Seventh International Congress of Mary Help of Christians, a Salesian Family event, which will be celebrated in Turin and Colle Don Bosco from 6 to 9 August 2015."

For information and registration, go to the website www.mariaausiliatrice2015.org or write to  congresso@admadonbosco.org

Published 24/04/2015