1. LETTER OF THE RECTOR MAJOR

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“But who do you say that I am?” (Mk 8,28)

Looking at Christ through the eyes of Don Bosco

1. Contemplating Jesus Christ from a salesian standpoint – 2. Jesus Christ in the life of Don Bosco – 2.1. The Christ of the Gospel – 2.2. Conformed to the image of Christ – 3. Jesus Christ “Apostle of the Father and the Good Shepherd” – 3.1 Gratitude to the Father for the gift of the divine vocation to all men – “Gratitude to the Father …”, “for the gift of the divine vocation to all men” – 3.2. Predilection for the poor and the little ones – 3.3. “Zeal in preaching, healing, saving, under the urgency of the coming Kingdom” – 3.4. Attitude of the Good Shepherd who wins others over by meekness and the gift of himself – 3.5. The desire to gather the disciples into the unity of brotherly communion – 4. Jesus Christ “our living Rule” ▪ in the realization of the mission; ▪ in the life of community; ▪ in the evangelical counsels; ▪ in the life of prayer; - in formation – Conclusion: “Let us be imitators of Don Bosco, as he was of Christ!”

Rome, 25 December 2003