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XXI General Chapter

of the Salesian Society

CHAPTER

DOCUMENTS

Rome, 12 February 1978

1.3 Page 3

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Editrice S.D.a.

Extra-commercial edition

Direzione Generale Opere Don Bosco

Via della Pisana, 1111

Casella Postale 9092

00100 Roma-Aurelio

,... ., ,ss' . ROM'

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CONTENTS

Contents

Presentation

Signs and Abbreviations

Document 1: Salesians, evangelizers of the young. . . . . . . . . . .

1-165

Document 2: The Salesian Brother: a "lay-religious" vocation at

the service of the salesian mission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

Intervention of the Rector Major on "Sharing in the life and

government of the Congregation"

166-211

212-239

Document 3: Formation to salesian life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 240-342

Document 4: Opera PAS and the Salesian Pontifical University

. 343-370

Document .'5:Revision of the Constitutions and Regulations. . 371-446

Deliberation: Confirmation of the decisions of the SGC concern-

ing the Faculty granted by the M.P. Ecclesiae Sanctae Ill, 7

. 447

Appendices: 1-19 (Cf Index)

,. . 448-592

Analytical Index

General Index

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NOTE

The 5 Documents of the GC21 have been arranged in logical order which

differs to some extent from the practical order in which they were prepared

and presented in the assembly by the respective Capitular Commissions.

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PRESENTATION

My dear confreres,

I am pleased that the first letter in which the new Rector Major

greets you and meets you fraternally, even though briefly, should be

the promulgation of the Documents of the 21st General Chapter. In

choosing the official presentation of our chapter work for this first

encounter we enhance and enrich our fraternal solidarity.

We feel immediately at home and at our ease because we'are dealing

with something directly linked with the heart and wishes of our

Father Don Bosco, something both vital and intimate at the highest

level. Such a meeting immediately creates an air offriendship;, we

are talking about the reason for .our existence, thepres~nt~day

meaning of our common vocation; we are touching the most delicate

point of the fundamental choice that each (),ne of us deliberately

made at his religious profession.

We feel a proper appreciat~on ,,''Q'. f each oth"er's sj.,gbjficance, and iJ~':.

portance, because the General Chapter relies on the capabilities and

responsibility of each confrere;Jn effect it outlines a futureyf whi~h

we are to be the architects and builders, and exhorts tis to' be calm

but none the less resourceful in our task. And so this fiI:st meeting

reflects the joy of our vocation ana"op,ensrup a vision of hope.

We are in the,periodimme~iately afterihe G£2i.' We ~now very well

that with the passage of time we b~come ti~ed;, but th~ present is a

moment of youth in which i1'is lawful, -~nd.'ih our case even mitural,

for us to do' a little dreaming. Even though s.9m~what ,laboriOUS-t,y

and with the inevitable defects of any human enterprise; the cijaJ2ter

assembly has been a "moment of ~ace"; it must not pass unbb-

served ("timeo Deum transeuntem")! ,,'

We must let ourselves be stirred up and rejuvenated by the breath of

the Holy Spirit; we must go back wit1,lDon Bosco to 0&;:odgins,; a

time of 'areams', .wh'~n,:there ,was more emph<.\\sison grace than '>On

. human

calculations,'

whenvltalitv \\Jas' ~ore evident

t'h; an c'.risis,',

when there was more concern about future planning than brooding

1.7 Page 7

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PRESENTATION

over past failure. Let us reawaken in ourselves.th'elpsychol()gy at

those times, confident in the intervention of the Lord who periodic-

ally renews our youth. Even those who are older, even the sick, even

those who are tired and in the evening of life, let all feel at this time a

deep gratitude to the Lord who renews us.

With the GC21 he is making a new appeal to us: our vocation is not in

fact a dialog of the past, now closed; it is always open in an attitude

of conversion and hope to new invitations from the Spirit of God.

With this letter I present and officially consign to you the new

chapter documents. The Constitutions tell us that "all members will

readily accept the deliberations (of the GC) which become of obligdl

tiof1 'fr>ralias soPrz as tbey have been promulgated, by the Rector

Major" (Art. \\152). Let l1S tht;irefore r~ceive,the~e.!docu,ments with

gratitude ."MIdloy~lty.;

I invite y.ou to read atfentively' my concluding discourse to the

members of'the Chapter (n. 552-592), ana to look upon it as a pre-

sentation;jit will enable you to 'See at once iUisynthetic'form the main

lines of the Chapter's work. There are three. principal objectives. to

whithour duty of conversion must he directed:

- we '1nuStbecome specialistsiin taking the gospel to the young;

-'-'-"wemust'live as auth"'enticreligious with a mission 'to fulfil;

-.;

trJeknemw¥esdtfas/a~lee.sciaarne dn0i1mtahteiopnr~ocess

,of

"\\,

on-going

'formatIon

throug. h

)

Xo¥. will fj,n4)n, the text the 1a,~nc\\1ing. sites from. which, our

re-Iaunchir;ig'must- take p,l,ace:'the Word' of God, tl}e Constitution~

t\\!e'Pr,eventiye S,ystiem~the sp.~tituaHzation of the rgle of the R,y<;tor,

cor,r~Iatlv~ ~ria' p~fI1plerq~~~ar,Y.!fsP'1~tsin th,e figureo~ th,~ c?,nfre-

r,~Is.

J ... f

- '.,

1 want to,drawU'o~r ~ttentionhere tQ what ,1would call a .strategic

el~went: th~ n;qCJiva~ion of

will ensure a climate' which

tbe Marian

Will render

qspect of ow vocation;

our efforts efficacious.,

shAe

dactr\\kal ~n4'cuJt~al ~eyivHi~f deyotio~ t~ Mary ~elp) of Christians,

cl~slg~edto in~7rt t):;t~~flle,siaJ;lfamily ac!ively into the Marian mo-

':'~xn~nt o~ th~pres~nt d.ay, will enabk Us (even 'miraculously', a~

Don Bosc:o assure~)us) to realize a new flourJshing of vocations, and

the ci>urage a~d clear thinkinkt~~t we ne,eq so mpcQ. ~o~ay in the

fight for the faith.

thi1f'€f~B 9~"Chrr~,t~~1h'Ms nllie~d us, ~~1inPo~J36~co\\sdrc:am ;t t~e

1ilg~of;nine aI:\\d asalwaX~r~q.!~,ehi~tory of ~arva,~ion,to J~su s Ch.ris~;

she Will help us'.to become, With and like Don 'Bosco, his. faithftil

d!is"d.\\,'piles; ~.'h, e!~l PIrHom;",:p.''fus tQhIa..ke' -ofCooCu'If',,'life an,~"e*plic,i.i'te'stiru'oriv-

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PRESENTATION

to his paschal victory by which~hesave(rthe ,worId,'andwithwl1ich

we enthusiastically join all our energies --;-the fruits of intelligence

and the initiatives of love - for the salvation of today's youth.

Dear confreres, let us look on these chapter documents as a message

of grace for our life and work: let us study them personally, make

them the object of serious reflection in community, and draw up

concrete programs for their practical application.

I greet each one of you with affection and hope, and I ask each of you

personallv for your continual prayers and daily sacrifices for the new

Rector Major: they will redound to the good of the Congregation. I

thank you all for your work and fidelity, and I assure you of ciy

personal dedication to all of you, through the daily celebration of the

Eucharist.

May the love of the Father - rich in initiative, the zeal of Christ -

generous in obedience, and the joy of their Spirit, enliven the heart of

every confrere and refine the atmosphere of every salesian house.

Let us be one in faith and hope, united in heart' and soul',in the

strength of mutual love.

1; (

And now the watch-word is: "To work!"

It)-

Affectionately,

)

Rome, 24 February 1978

',)1.

';'t. .

( '", 'iO

-: ~ 1 -

Fr EIGIDIO VIGANO'

Rector Major

;'Jik

,11

j~(!V)'

;. 1.

:iJ

(i"j"'r

"",.,

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!( ;1

i,,>

,....

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1.9 Page 9

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SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS

art.

c., chap.

doc.

ibid.

p.,pp.

RdC

SDV

Syn.77

SCRIS

Oss. Rom.

article

chapter

compare

document

ibidem

page, pages

1. Acts of the Magisterium

Apostolicam Actuositatem

Christus Dominus

Communio et Progressio

Evangelii Nuntiandi

Ecclesiae Sanctae

Evangelica Testificatio

Gravissimum Educationis

Gaudium et Spes

Lumen Gentium

Optatam Totius

Perfectae Carita tis

Presbiterorum Ordinis

Populorum Progressio

Renovationis Causam

Rinnovamento della Catechesi (Catechetical Renewal)

Scuola Cattolica (The Catholic School)

Summi Dei Verbum

Message of the Synod on Catechesis

Sacr~d Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes

Osservatore Romano

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SIGNS AND ABBREVIATIONS

2. Salesian abbreviations

ASC

ASGC

AWCSB

Const

DBV

Ep., Epist.

FMA

FSE

LAS

LGC

MHC

Op. Sisto Prevo

Op.Ed.

PAS

RCS

RDF

Reg

RF, RFIS

RRM

Sch Precap.

SDB

SGC

SGUPS

Stat. Conf.

Syn

UPS

VDB

Acts of the Superior Council

Acts of the Special General Chapter

Acts of World Congress of Salesian Brothers

Biographical Memoirs

Salesian Cooperators

Constitutions

Don Bosco

Don Bosco Volunteers (Volunteers of Don Bosco)

Past Pupils, (USA Alumni)

Epistolary of Don Bosco

Daughters of Mary Help of Christians

Ongoing Formation

Salesian FaII).ily

Faculty of Education Sciences (UPS)

General Chapter

Libreria dell' Ateneo Salesiano

Letter of Grand Chancellor

Memorie Biografiche

Mary Help of Christians

Mass media

Opuscolo suI Sistema Preventivo di Don Bosco

Opere Edite (Edited works)

Pontificio Ateneo Salesiano

Report of Superior Council (on restructuring of Opera

PAS)

Report of Formation Department

General Regulations

Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis

Ratio Institutionis

Rector Major

Report of Rector Major on State of Congregation

Precapitular schemes, GC21

Salesian Brother

Salesians of Don Bosco

Special General Chapter

General Statutes of UPS

Salesian Priest

Statutes of Past Pupils Confederation

Synod

Salesian Pontifical University

Volunteers of Don Bosco (Don Bosco Volunteers)

Youth Apostolate

2 Pages 11-20

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2.1 Page 11

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DOCUMENT 1

SALESIANS

EVANGELIZERS

OF THE

YOUNG

", '.'

, L,'

.; .'

...

" ; .j, "v) ,

, II,

, ,;

i ."", ii

,..,

,'1 ,

. {.

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SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-19

Part 1 YOUTHANDITS CONDITION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 20-30

Part 2 SALESIANS,BEARERS OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. . . . . .. .

Preface

1. The evangelized community

1.1 The gift of brotherhood and evangelization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

1.2 The gift of consecration and e~elization

1.3 The gift of prayer and evangelization. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.4 Animation of the community for evangelization: role of the rector. .

1.5 Practical directives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

2. The community as animator

2.1 The salesian community animator of the educative and pastoral com-

munity

2.2 The participation of cooperators and past pupils in the pastoral and

educative work of the SDB

2.3 The collaboration of other laymen in the educative and pastoral com-

munity

2.4 Practical directives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

31-79

34-37

38-41

42-45

46-57

58-61

63-68

69-75

76-78

Part 3 THE EDUCATIONALPLAN AND VOCATIONALFRUITFUL-

NESS

1. The salesian educational and pastoral plan

1.1 Contents

1.2 Style

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

1.3 Practical directives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

2. Vocationalfruitfulness... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .

80-119

81-95

96-104

105

106-119

Part 4 EVANGELIZATION: SETTINGS AND METHODS. . . . . . . . . .. .

1. The oratory and youth center: settings for evangelization. . . . . . . . . .

2. The school: a setting for evangelization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. The parish: particular aspects of the salesian evangelizing presence

4. The missions. . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Mass media: a means of evangelization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. New modes of salesian presence for evangelization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CONCLUSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

120-161

121-127

128-134

135-142

143-147

148-153

154-161

162-165

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SALESIANS, EVANGELIZERS

OF THE YOUNG"

The GC21 consigns this document to the confreres with the frat~rnal 1

hope that in it they may find light and helpful encouragement in

their task of witnessing the gospel and taking it to the young. "There

are millions of them in the world," the Pope told us, 1 "often confused

and bewildered by a multiplicity of discordant voices, who are

waiting for your saving word; they are looking for the friendly hand

of a brother, who will guide them with quiet certainty to,¥ards the

Absolute."

To meet and reply to their expectations, this document was born.

1. It is a practical document, injhe sense.that' it begins from the 2

evaluatlon of the present situation and its .problems, and leads to

conclusions whi~h it invites us to adopt to render our work more

faithful and efficaciously apostolic.

2. It is a family docume.nt. The conclusions are mot(vated by refe- 3

rence to a framework of common values shared by all the salesian

family. It is not a question of ideas divorced from actual salesian

life" but' <;>tfhose fou~d concretely in it. They become fully the

constitutive elements of that life when efficacious evangelization is a

consequence of fidelity on the part of the confreres; and when the

latter find themselves in difficulties, that life suffers; it becomes

impoverished and begins to fade away arid asks to be. revitalized.

For this reason the term. "frame of reference" has been adopted; it is

a picture to which that life can compare itself as to an exemplar, to

which it can aspire as to a saving'ideal. The document begIns and

ends with concrete facts. It is not in any seli1sea complete treatis~; it

is much less than that, but it may well be the more precious on that

account because of its particular point of view and those to whom it

is addressed.

I Paul VI to the GC21 (n. 477).

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CHAPTER DOCUMENTS GC21

The document's very composidhri 'Orstructure. bears thfs. OUb .Each

part deals with a practical problem, which it;evalu3Jes in £the light

especially of the Constitutions, and for which is then indicated the

line of solution, followed by the practical directives which seem most

urgent for a concrete conclusion.

4 3. It is a meaningful document for the present day. The Church is

calling for our services at a moment in history when the emphasis is

on evangelization. The originality and creativeness proper to our

charism leads us to try to interpret and live this moment in a salesian

way, b~cause "no one c~ una'Vareof the cpnnection betwyen our

arguJ,11ent'and tlie problems ofeclucation in thepre~ent day~"2 .

"..

'.,

;> t

Ow; charism must be one of the;~'designs':.fOl;:,meeting thy n,yeds of

"moqem y,outh, so thirsty, for trutl} :and far-r,e,;\\ching dc;;signs."3 Tp'~

idea therefore t4at links the various parts of the documel)tand gives

th~m tlQity is our vocatio,n as evangelizers"which be«omes1r~alwh(fn

it is lived out in our pastoral and educative projects, restud~ediand

put into prac~ice.

5 4. This commitment is urged upon us by the letter which Cardinal

Villot,in the name ofLhe Holv Father, sent to 'Fr. Ricceri, and by the

address which the Pope himself gave to tile General Ch'apter in

private' audience. The points on 'Vhi<;hhe dwel~and in.coahect~on

with which the sons of Don Bosco'" are filially submissive and at his

disposal for the good of the uniyersal Church"4 are interrelated with

each other and give ,a soul an,d vitality to our document.

6 5., Th~ Pope, after 'praislb'g the choice of the general si:~dy theme 6f

tne GCl!, ~poke of D'oh Bosco, a sustaining arlClrestraii}h1gpfe~ehc~

who goes 'ever>before us with youtHful and dynamic trea'd. He

recalled the refer~nce in his Memoirs to Don Bosco's "priestly thirsf~

which made him, want to "launch out among the young so as to know

them intimately and'so be able to help them keep away fromevil."s

The thirse of his'vocation, and young people and 'their condition,

form the two dimehsioiis bf the life of Don Bosco. And" at a. time

which -<Vaso cOfuplex and calamitous" he lived tHem out as "atT{.e

champ,. ion

of th,e.

history'. of Italy

and

of the

Church."

., ,'.

2 Message of the Synod of Bishops on catechesis,'no. !.

3 From the text of the address

nil (n. 464).

4 Constitutions art. 128.

5 Paul VI to the GC2!.

of homage

read to the Holy Father by Fr. Egidio Viga

2.5 Page 15

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SALESIANS EVANGELIZERS OF THE YOUNG

6. This heavy responsibility arising from the charism which we also 7

share lays on us obligations in the same direction:

a) We put to ourselves emphatically the problem of our fidelity in

"following Christ in a total and unconditional way... by means of a

generous, joyous and faithful practice of the evangelical counsels" in

Don Bosco's spirit, to show to young men and boys" a face that is not

just a mask but the clear manifestation of a brotherly love reflecting

that of God himself which is 'greater than our own heart''' (1 1n 3,

20).6 "Give first place to the religious spirit," says the letter of Card.

Villot.

b) "We maintain the special character of salesian work and peda-

gogy and this more especially because the requirements both in the

Church and in civil society today appear to correspond more than

ever to the particular apostolate of the sons of St. John Bosco, whose

first interest and preference has always led them to dedicate them-

selves to the male section of young people." 7

c) We live this vocation and charism, following Don Bosco who was

a "true champion," as men of faith and dedication who through their

acquired skill are able to reawaken the creative inventiveness of the

gift of God.

7. The directing and correcting figure of Don Bosco and that of the 8

Pope, who "points out the determining factors of our identity at a

moment of change when it is not easy to see clearly"8 compel us to

reflect on these decisive sectors, and lead us to make an objective

evaluation with a consideration not only of the values and principles

to be retained and developed but also of the urgent need to find

suitable means for defending them.

6 Ibid.

7 Letter of Card. Villot to Fr. Aloysius Ricceri, 29 Oct. 1977 (n. 448).

8 Intervention of Fr. Egidio Vigano in the Chapter assembly.

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INTRODUCTION

9 "Preaching the gospel and catechizing are fundamental to our mis-

sion. As salesians we are all and at all times educators in the faith." 1

This service which" demands from our communities ability to an-

nounce, and courage to bear witness to the gospel," was proposed to

us also in the message of the Bishops, meeting in the Fourth Synod.

They are of the opinion that "in the next ten years catechetics will

be throughout the world the natural and most fruitful terrain for the

renewal of the entire ecclesial community."3 And they thank those

religious communities who provide renewed hope "in the great spi-

ritual fecundity for a world lived in the spirit of the Beatitudes."4

The Pope himself refers to the "immense contribution" made by

those religious who are witnesses to sanctity, and dedicate themsel-

ves to making Christ known "with an inventive originality that exci-

tes admiration." 5

10 This inventiveness and originality for us salesians arises from and is

continually nourished by a double source: from Christ and his gos-

pel, lived according to Don Bosco's spirit,6 and from the young who

"are said to abhor all that is false and fictitious and to look onlv for

the transparently true."7

We wonder whether we really believe what we proclaim whether we

live what we believe, whether we truly preach what we live, attentive

to the appeals coming from the young; whether we really bear wit-

ness to an effective solidarity with them and at the same time a

solidarity with the Absolute which is God." 8

I Const. 20.

2 Ibid.

3 Message of Synod 1977, n. 4.

4 Message of Synod 1977, n. 18.

5 EN 69.

6 cf Const. 101.

7 EN 76.

8 cf EN 76.

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SALESIANS EVANGELIZERS OF THE YOUNG

"Following closely... Jesus Christ, we choose a deeply christian way 11

of loving God and our brethren with undivided heart." 9 For this we

point in the first place to the Constitutions, faithfully put into prac-

tice, as a privileged criterion of our identity as individuals and as a

community. And we affirm the necessity to know them, accept

them and live them, so as to be able to present once again the riches

of the apostolic heart and intentions of Don Bosco, "a man of God

and God's man for the young." 10

In this sense we reaffirm also the enduring value of Tradition which

the Rector Major and General Chapter, in the light of the life of the

confreres, interpret with authority and propose afresh in a new way.

At present the ASGC have a special importance for us; although they

bear "the imprint of our weakness," 11they are a valid attempt to

bring Don Bosco close to the youth of our time, and they contain "the

motivation of the Constitutions themselves and the principles from

which they spring." 12

Secondly we recognize in youth itself the other source of our inspi- 12

ration in spreading the gospel. We salesians are sent to the young,

and especially to the poorest of them, and we collaborate in the

creation of a new society grounding to the full their life in faith.

We meet these young people in different countries of the world, and

they present a great diversity with different standards of conscience

and freedom; sometimes fixed and closed in on themselves because

of the emargination caused by their poverty, sometimes a prey to

contradictions and conflicts even of a violent nature, and occasion-

ally following Christ and already at work on the building of a:more

human society.

In each and everyone of these young people one can detect the need

for truth, for freedom and human growth, and the desire (often no

more than implicit) of a deeper knowledge of the mystery of God.13

They go through this experience as living parts of a setting called 13

"the youth situation." It is made up of tendencies and reigning

9 Const. 75.

10 ASGC 769.

11 ASGC 769.

12 ASGC Introduction p. ix.

13 Message of Synod 1977 n. 1.

2.8 Page 18

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...,..,

CHAPTER DOCUMENTS GC2!

values which make easier the growth in faith of their humanity, or

make it more difficult. 14

The harmonious relationship which is so necessary to educate them,

liking what they like but without abandoning our adult role of sale-

sian educators, becomes in this way both difficult and complex.

And yet the gift of God which is our vocation is a source of hope; we

must update oi:ITSkills,but even more must we believe in the force of

the Spirit and the special gift he has given us to enable us to conquer

every. fear and not desert the difficult field of our youth commit-

ment.

The GC21 therefore looks on the one hand at the young and percei-

ves a happy coincidence between their expectations, the appeal they

make to us, and our own mission; 15and on the other it looks at the

new engagement of the Church to evangelization and discovers in

our mission of taking the gospel to youth the fundamental charac-

teristic of our identity.

14 But how do we set about this work of evangelization? As sharers in

the evangelizing activity of the Church we believe in Don Bosco's

charism and hence in our own particular way of evangelizing the

young. This we do in a realistic way by means of the salesian

educational project, the "Preventive System", rethought and reacti-

vated with its operatives, content, aim, style and means in the va-

rious settings in which we work.

We are well aware that education and evangelization are specifically

distinct activities of their class, but nevertheless there is a strict

connection between them on the practical plane of existence. In

Don Bosco and his preventive system salvation refers to the whole of

the young person. It is freedom from sin and growth in Christ even

to the level of sanctity, but it is also freedom from the many condi-

tions.of poverty and dereliction, of social and cultural subjection, so

that the young may become "upright citizens."16

Today Evangelii Nuntiandi confirms this notion. The various ele-

ments in the process of evangelization ("presence, sharing the lives

and fortunes of fellowmen,. renewal of mankind, witness, open

proclamation, commitment of the heart, entry into the community,

14 cf EN 19.

15 Address of Pope Paul to GC21 (n. 467-478).

16 cf EN 31.

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SALESIANS EVANGELIZERS OF THE YOUNG

reception of the signs, apostolic action"),17 far from being in conflict

and even mutually exclusive in fact complement and enrich one

anotheLIS

We salesians, evangelizers of the young, accompany our work by 1:5

accepting as a necessary preliminary the evangelization of ourselves.

As individuals and as a community of believers we have a specific

charism in virtue of which we dedicate ourselves to education.19 Set

in the midst of the world we are often tempted by idols2° and we

know that we have an incessant need to listen to the word of God and

be converted to it to nourish the heart by fidelity to the command-

ments in his love and with motives of hope and trust.

We need to conform ourselves to Christ in Don Bosco's spirit so that

like him we may be enabled to evangelize by educating.

To this end each of us, in the religious and educative community, 16

builds and cultivates, as far as lies in his power and with the help of

his brethren, his own humanity and talents so that the community

may be renewed. It becomes the place where God is present and

communicates with us.

To this end we joyfully accept his initiative to consecrate us with the

love of the chaste, poor and obedient Christ, and we reply with the

joy and alacrity of our collaboration.

To this end, when we come to recognize his presence and the gift he

has given us, we love him, we give him praise and thanksgiving. But

precisely because we are sent by him to the young, we feel that our

prayer becomes also light and strength. We are enabled to discern

in the world the action of God in the events and life of youth, the

significance of our consecration for their salvation, and we feel the

urgent need for our collaboration.

The community develops this progressive self-evangelization 17

through the ministries which animate it, especially that of the rector.

And in turn the community itself becomes an animator by inserting

itself into the complexity of the social and ecclesial context of its

neighborhood and promoting collaboration, so as to make a full and

17 cf EN 21.

18 cf EN 24.

19 cf SC 89.

20 cf EN 15.

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CHAPTER DOCUMENTS GC21

timely response to God who sends it, and to the young who await it.

To the extent in which this conversion is accepted, there will live in

the community the soul of the "preventive system," which in addi-

tion to being a method of education is above all a spirituality; it is a

love freely given, inspired by the love of God which forestalls every

creature by his divine providence, accompanies him by his constant

presence and saves him by ~ing his life for him.

18 The GC2! intends to draw attention to some problems existing in the

life of the Congregation, as evidenced by the authoritative indication

of the Holy Father, the data and urgent requests sent in by provincial

chapters and individual confreres and felt by the Chapter members,

or arising from the Rector Major's report. As far as possible it

desires to evaluate their positive and negative aspects and give gui-

delines concerning points which seem to be of fundamental and

practical importance.

It refers back to the picture of common and accepted values (Con-

stitutions and ASGC) for the justification of certain attitudes it

adopts, and to give meaning to the commitment it calls for from the

confreres if they are to bear witness to the gospel and announce it to

the young.

19 Practical directives

a) Let the provinces decide on ways for promoting the knowledge and

assimilation of the revised Constitutions. Let them be accepted as the

concrete criterion of our identity and the basis for revision of life and future

planning at both personal and community level. Let them be made the

object of days of retreat, of formation workshops, and times of prayer. (cf

"Formation to salesian life" n. 240-342).

b) As a sign of unity and as an authoritative interpretation of our identity,

let particular esteem be shown for the ASGC, the Acts of the GC21, the

ASC, and the guidelines and directives provided by the Superiors. The

best ways of doing this shall be decided at provincial level.

c) Let a knowledge of salesian history and spirit be fostered through the

researches and publications of the Center of Salesian Studies, by the

publication of a critical edition of the Constitutions of our Society, by a

greater diffusion of salesian literature (translated and in popular form), with

the richest possible exchange of news and initiatives (Salesian Bulletin,

ANS, Provincial Newsletters). (cf "Formation to salesian life" n. 342; cf

also practical directive n. 105c of this document).