(ANS - RMG)- The adventure of the Spirit continued on the afternoon of Friday, 15 January, the second of the Spirituality Days. The general atmosphere was increasingly positive and welcoming. The participants now knew each other and exchanges were increasingly cordial.  The family spirit could be felt more and more.

At 3.30 p.m., a talk on the fascination and adventure of the Spirit in Don Bosco was given by the Director of the Salesian Bulletin, Fr Bruno Ferrero. His title was "Don Bosco: lessons in Life Coaching". In today's culture, and also in universities, the term "life coaching" is being linked increasingly with education, training strategies and the like. The speaker tried to show how Don Bosco was an extraordinary "life coach", with an exceptional ability to "give life".  With Don Bosco children and young people who had been damaged by a tough uncaring society, flourished again, finding strength, courage, hope and the radical optimism that comes from faith.

After a break, there was a panel discussion with some high level contributions on models of Salesian holiness, and the immense power of the Spirit to renew people who perhaps had ceased to live an interior life.

Professor Elizabeth Casadei, postulator of the cause of beatification of Blessed Alberto Marvelli, spoke of the wonderful testimony of this young man, who died at just 28 years age. He lived the life of a passionate educator, competent engineer, deeply in love with God and people, even to the point of risking his life several times. "May my life never be anything other than an act of love," he wrote in his diary.

Professor Maria Ludovica Zanet, who is a collaborator of the Postulator General of the Salesian Family, spoke about the life of the Venerable Servant of God, Fr Giuseppe Quadrio SDB. He was a highly intelligent young priest who wrote: "Either a saint or nothing! The saint cannot live a half-hearted life, giving some things to God and keeping something for himself. Now I have to, and I definitely want to, become a saint. I do not want to fail in God’s plan for me to be a saint."

Next to speak was Fr Pier Luigi Cameroni, Postulator of the Salesian Congregation. He described the wonderful adventure of Mamma Margaret in whom the Spirit found a soul full of faith and a maternal heart that knew no boundaries. "God was at the centre of all her thoughts." She felt that she was living always in God's presence and expressed this conviction with her famous expression "God sees you." Don Bosco always remembered her teachings. What he learned from her left its mark on his educational system and his spirituality.

After supper, all the participants went to the Salesian House of Cinecittà to attend "Don Bosco, the Musical", the famous show by Marcello Cirillo.

The day ended with the Rector Major’s "Good night" which was well received as always.

Published 16/01/2016