RM's greeting to authorities and others at Colle

Saturday, 16 August 2014

To their excellencies

Bishop Guido Fiandino

Auxiliary, Turin

Bishop Francesco Guido Ravinale

Bishop of Asti

Dr. Pier Luigi Faloni

Prefect of Asti

I would like to thank you for being here with us at Colle Don Bosco and for your words of welcome to me on this day when we open the Bicentenary of Don Bosco's birth.

I also greet all civic and religious authorities here today, Salesian Family members, residents of Castelnuovo and outlying areas, friends and especially young people.

It is right and proper that the opening of this event, celerbated around the world at the same time, should take place here at the Becchi where Don Bosco's birthplace is; where he worked in the fields around here as a child; where he had his early experiences of faith and apostolate, and where he grew up amidst financial and family difficulties. Your presence honours this celebration, but in particular it recongises the gift God has givent his land and young people throughout the world in the person of Don Bosco.

To come back here to the Becchi is to return to the source. This is the land of the dream. We cannot possibly forget our origins: Don Bosco's charism arose here. All of us, members of the Salesian Family, were born here. We cannot safeguard our identity except by recalling this roots of ours. These poor and humble beginnings, this trusting abandonment to God, constancy in overcoming trials are in contrast to the subsequent development of Don Bosco's work, which was prodigious and so unexpected. Thus the dream came true. But this simple and poor lifestyle must continue to be what characterises us; so we must continually come back here to learn how to live out Don Bosco's charism today.

John Bosco was a son of Francis Bosco and Margaret Occhiena, peasant farmers. When he was two years old, his father fell seriously ill with pneumonia and died at 33 years of age. Francis Bosco left his wife a widow of 29 years of age, with three children to raise: Anthony, the child of his first marriage, Joseph and John. Margaret also had to look after and assist her mother-in-law: Margaret Zucca, who was elderly and infirm. This was a time of famine and 'Mama Margaret', as Salesians have always known her, d to struggle and work in the fields with great sacrifice in order to support her family and also John's desire for schooling, despite his step-brother Anthony, who felt that time spent with books was time and money wasted while he was left to plough the ground.

Over this year, especially for those of you who live here and safeguard this precious memory, you will be able to come back here to the Becchi and draw on this history to inspire the choices you make in life. And this is my wish for all of you. May Don Bosco inpsire and intercede for us.