Knowing how to contemplate

To give thanks, in the first place it’s necessary to know how to contemplate; we must be able to devote our attention to the history of our Salesian Family. In the 200 years since Don Bosco’s birth we’ve known ourselves to be loved unconditionally. And since gratitude is nurtured by humility, we have to make time for authentic apostolic motivations to mature in us, lest our motivations lead us astray, cause us to burn out, or have us rushing about endlessly or uselessly. Rather, we have to know how to be open to God’s grace.

In the second place, let’s remember how educational passion penetrated Don Bosco’s life from beginning to end, from his first steps to his last, from his childhood till he was seventy-two. There are no dead zones in a Salesian’s life. There are no parentheses in God’s promise or in the generous response of the one who is called. The attitude of gratuitousness in our apostolic life springs from this conviction: we work for God and with God’s power. The logic of the Gospel is that of grace (Rom 9:16; 1 Cor 4:7). Our vocations aren’t gestures calculated according to some measure or quality of their own, but only according to the freely given gift of God’s promise—a promise that can neither weaken nor fail. In the heart of the Salesian Family there are people of all ages in whom it’s easy to perceive the signs of a life of commitment: their little tokens of attention, respect for the kids, and friendly presence reach a level of intensity equal to the power of Him whom they represent.

Finally, thankfulness opens our lives to originality, innovation, and freshness. It draws us close to the young, whom we love and who love us, forging bonds and consolidating relationships that are profoundly unmerited and freely given.

We live in a culture of merit whose strongest ally is narcissism. The “me” generation’s creed is “I’ve earned it.” It’s opposed to a culture of relationships as gifts, a culture of sincere and disinterested friendship. We’ve received a pastoral heritage from Don Bosco, whose pedagogical and charismatic wisdom is laid out for us not in studies, research, or weighty essays, but in his lived experience of spending a lot of quality time with the young. Gratitude is a rare commodity in the world of relationships. The new edition of the Salesian Youth Ministry: Frame of Reference, presented at the Salesians’ 27th General Chapter last year, invites us to “turn our house into a family for the young” (chapter V), and calls us to an animating presence that makes gratitude an instrument of our educational relationships.

The Holy Spirit raised up the Salesian charism in the Church, and as the heirs of this gift we’re called to “build bridges” between two shores, between God and the young; to keep in regular contact with both the new generation and the Lord. Every young person is loved and is worthy of confidence on God’s part. On this is based the friendly, fatherly presence that Don Bosco’s educational genius expressed as sincere friendship and loving presence.

The young are our Promised Land. As the days go by on our journey, the young are the burning bush from which God calls us to be grateful. The best way to thank him for the gift of Don Bosco is to celebrate life. This duty isn’t exhausted by liturgical prayer. Rather, it reaches to the whole of our daily life. When the heart overflows with gratitude, you have to celebrate. Celebration is the peak of thanks for the abundance of good that our Family has received in its history.

Don Bosco’s voice has resounded beyond the Catholic Church. In every context it has touched like-minded hearts and built bridges of dialog with other religious cultures. We’re happy especially because the young have welcomed Don Bosco’s word enthusiastically. They’re the ones who’ve taken hold of the evocative Salesian slogan that I wish to offer as a message to the young people of the world: “My dear young people, I love you with all my heart. It’s enough for me that you are young for me to love you with all my soul.” Don Bosco said that to all his youngsters, and I ask this gift of our Father, Teacher, and Friend.