austraLasia #1881

Cardinal Zen turns to Salesian roots to inspire his flock in Advent, with a 'high noon' note

HONG KONG: 12th December 2006 -- Cardinal Zen is understandably careful about trumpeting his Salesian roots, given his vast set of responsibilities for all manner of faithful (and, if one is to take his comments on certain events in China, some less than faithful), and Religious. But in writing his Advent pastoral letter to the faithful of his diocese, he calls on Salesian experiences to highlight Mary's role in this season.
    Speaking at length of the Angelus, and explaining its particulars in terms of its context in Catholic countries where traditions still stand, he remarks on Don Bosco's dream at nine years of age, selecting the 'I am the one your mother has taught you to greet three times a day' line as the punchline.  He refers to a tradition in the Salesian motherhouse - he really means the House of the Father at the Pisana - where a bell rings at noon and people leave their offices to recite the Angelus together in the corridor.  He then widens out these experiences from various trips he has made - to England, for example where Aid to the Church in Need, an NGO he has had association with, does similarly.  Perhaps he has also noted the www.sdb.org website which, at the moment, is sporting a series of images of 'Mary of Advent' on its home page occasional banner - since 'noon' is likely to occur at any time for a global website, we can hardly have it pop up and ring bells once a day, but it is there for all to note and reflect on for a moment at their 'high noon'.
    For those following Cardinal Zen in the media, he has been particularly outspoken in recent weeks, following in the wake of an illicit episcopal ordination on the mainland, but it was also worth hearing him comment on a recent visit to Vietnam, where he joined several other cardinals from other parts of Asia.  Cardinal Zen, noting the enormous significance of this visit, also politically for Vietnam, because it brought communists and faithful together in acknowledgement of Francis Xavier's birth and the gift of Christianity to Asia, used the opportunity to urge China to follow Vietnam's example of increased religious tolerance and openness.  The Cardinal found time to visit at least one Salesian community during his visit.
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