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Acts_1975_278.ASC

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Acts_1975_278.ASC

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YEAR LVI

APRILJUNE 1975

No. 278

[[r$ ff Illt $llpH![[ G[lllllHl

OF THE SALESIAN SOCIETY

SUMMARY

!. Letter of the Rector Malor (P. 3)

LET US LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH IHE

- t1h.eGCrolsnlsgreagnadtloophtimis3m.

ln the Church

Motlves for hopo

OPTIMISM OF DON BOSCO

2. Optlmlsm and crlsls. ln

4. Joy, the vislble slgn

- - of optlmlsm.

ll. lnstrucdons and Norms (p. 35)

1. Openlng of the Saleslan Mlsslonary

stlces between Holy Orders.

Centenary

2. The lnter-

lll. Gommunlcatlons (p. 37)

1. The Rector MaJor's

reform - 3. Solidarlty

Golden

Fund.

Jubllee

2. Applylng the llturglcal

lV. Actlvltles of the Superlor Gouncll and Matters of General lntoreet

1p. a6)

V. Documents (p. 53)

Agreed Pollcy on the Cooperators.

Vl. From the Provlnclal Newletters (p. 59)

1. Clvlgn the Counselllng Centres a Saleslan look

gne Glrtle'

clergy.

for

lay

c'o-woikers

3. A plan for the

-loca2l.cThhlnean'Cteocloo

Vll. Pontiflcal Maglsterlum (p. 64)

1. Re+reatlng a Chrlstlan outlook

humlllty ln Chrlstlan ronewal.

ourselves

2. The place of

Vlll. Obltuary Notlces 1p. 70)

Flrst Mortuary Llst for 1975.

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s. G. s. - RoMA

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I. LETTER OF THE RECTOH MAJOR

LET US LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH

THE OPTIMISM OF DON BOSCO

Rone, April, 1.975

My dear conlreres and sons,

I have been thinking fot some ime about the subject of

this letter, and I must say that I have also been prompted to

write it by the requests and suggestions contained in the lettets

that continually flow in to me from all parts of the Salesian

world. These letters are always valuable, and I try to reply to

all of them. I would like to say, in passing, how helpfr:l I find

these comments which come from the heart, a chorus of voices

differing widely in key, language and emphasis, but all converg-

ing on a single idea: Don Bosco.

Coming back to the present letter, you will be glad, and

I possibly surprised, to heat that, while was marshalling ideas

to put into it, I received an 'open letter' which was a cordial

exhortation... to keep cheerful.

The writer of this letter was unknowingly opening a door

that for me already stood wide. But it shows that the idea of

optimism, linked with hope and joy, is a topical one. The times

qre are living in are a temptation against hope, especially for

those who cannot think straight and whose faith is shalry.

I am not speaking of those whose attitudes are a projection

of a warped personal background that darkens their thought,

morality and vocational aspfuations; these people are going to be

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I steeped in pessimism, anyway. No, am referring to all those,

including ourselves, who are looking on sorrowfully at the events,

often disconcerting, that are taking place in the Church, the

religious life and oru own Congtegation. A litde calm reflection

on this point, which ir highly topical for us Salesia.s, will be

helpful. It has been said that Jesus was the Great Optimist,

and that His cmcifixion provided the unique and greatest proof

of it.

I7e Salesians are sons of a Father who found the strength

to face and overcome the most incredible difficulties and sur-

mount obstacles that, humanly speaking, would have broken the

most tenacious of wills. The Chuch has every teason to apply

to him the words of Sctipture: 'I7hen all hope was gone, he

still hoped'. His hope, rooted in faith, made him steadfast

even in the face of really desperate situations.

As Christians and Salesians, then, whilst being realistic in

assessing situations, vre must look calmly and carefully to see

if the prospects offer some hope somewhere.

l. Grisis and optimism in the Ghurch

I7e a1l know that we are living in an era of profound change,

with its attendant confusion, in every sector of li[e. Both the

Church and the Congregation feel, and in a certain sense reflect,

the grave oisis the world is going through at the moment. There

is no gainsaying the massive weight of informed opinion on

this point.

Tbe crisis of today

Not long ago Cardinal Garrone wrote as follows: "The ex-

plosive rate of progtess, its diz.zy acceleration and extension into

the space age, have found man unprepared and have put the

world in danger of losing sight at one stroke of the reason for

progress: MAN, threatened physically by imminent catastrophe,

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and, more ominous still, at sixes and sevens in his moral con-

sciousness. And so even the proper development of the human

person, generally accepted without question as a Good Thing,

can degenerate into a doctrine of freedom and autonomy that

desmoys true education and respect for authority" (G.M. Gar-

rone: La Chiesa 1965-1972 - LDC L972, 62).

In a certain sense, there is a connection between this view

and the words of the Holy Father: 'Perhaps never before have

literature, entertainment, art and philosophy borne more ruthless

witness to man's shortcomings, mental incapacity, overpowering

sensuality, moral hypocrisy, ready delinquency, rebellious cruelty;

they show up his abjection, his vacillating personality; and the

entire indictment is based on a terrible and apparently irefutable

argument: "This is man! This is the great and wretched child

of the times! This is the way life is!"' (Pope Paul: Christmas

Message, 20-L2-L968\\.

Now, it is not to be wondered at that the Church, on pilgri-

mage in a world it cannot push aside, should be caught in the

backwash of this turmoil. Cardinal Garrone speaks of an 'ir-

resistible avalanche of ideas, theories and docmines in the midst

of which it is very difficult for the believer to find or keep his

footing. Even tl:e most fundamental points of the faith seem

to lose their certainty and to be t'hrown open to discussion. llhe

better ones grope around, looking for the vestiges of the great

certainties on which they built their lives: the Resurrection,

the Real Presence, eternal life. There seems to be no longer

any difference between the ideas of some theologian or the other,

even one outside the Church, md the recognized, traditional

doctrine of the Churcl: . . .' (op. cit., 59).

A very realistic picture is given to us by Pope Paul himself:

'A cortosive spirit of criticism has become fashionable in some

sectors of Catholic life. There arc magazines and newspapers,

fot instance, whose sole object seems to be to catry unpleasant

news about the Church. These are often presented in a one-

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sided way, and possibly touched up to make them more spicy,

with the result that the readers are conditioned to adopt a

negative and suspicious attitude, a systematic mistrust, a pre'

conceived contempt fot anything ecclesiastical: persons, institu'

tions, policies. Their readers are led to throw aside the respect

and solidarity that every good Catholic and, indeed, any un-

biassed readet, ought to have towards the ecclesial community

and its authority.' (Pope Paul VI: Address at the General

Audience of 18-9-1968).

So the Church is dragging along a host of negative elements,

and these elements, in turn, are rooted in a society swept by the

cyclone that is blasting every aspect of life, social, economic,

civic, right down to its cultural, moral and religious infra-

structufe. S7e are faang an evolutionary crisis entailing changes

that arc among the most rudtcal ever known to history. And,

strange to say, this is happening in spite of

would say, because of

without precedent, but

r-egteattatbelcyhntuicrnael dantdo

- though some

scientific advance

the advantage of

the individual person or group.

The many crises ol tbe past

You may, perhaps, want to put the question: is this kind of

trial, a crisis of this gtavity, something new fot the Church?

You don't have to read very far into Church history to tealae

that things have been just as bad in the past. I'll leave you

to follow up and think about the following references:

When the Church was born in the gloom of Calvary, anyone

-spokaenndothf eanapirorestpleasruwbleerefatihluerefir.sBt utot

admit it

we know

- would have

what happened

on the following Saturday night . . .

There followed the persecutions: it seemed that they must

annihilate the Christians and their oeed. And yet the blood

that was shed so profusely became the seed of a new Church.

The barbarian invasions, and then the incursions of Islam,

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agatn ga've rise to the feeling that Christianity was on the verge

of extermination. However, despite painful amputations, the

Church surfaced once more in the tejuvenated 'churches' t"hat

sprang up form the mingling of cultures and givilizations.

The schisms and heresies of later centuries caused some sad

moments for the Church, but she emerged from them purified,

and, aftet these exhausting struggles, found once again that evan-

gelical urge to set out across the oceans and carry the Good

News to peoples unknown at that time.

It seemed that the French Revolution would leave the

Church prostrate, but it failed to do so. Even the nineteenth

century, though it turned out to be a period of struggle, often

violent, finished up by being one of the most fruitfii periods

in her history: one has only to think of the saints and other

outstanding Christians, the missionary movement, the rise of the

Catholic laity.

And even our olrn century, which suffered at the outset

from

seen

itnhenartaiovangseaonfdmboedtwereneisnmna-tionwsh, atht inagstsont'ihshaitnsgeethminegdsbeityohnads

imagination in the past. look at the way the Catholic Action

movement has spread in every land, for instance, or the

phenomenon of the Secular Institutes'

\\flhat can we conclude from this sampling of Church history?

The Church is well aware that her history is one of struggle.

'Her Founder did not predict, and much less did He promise,

a peaceful life. 'S7'hat He did ptomise was that He would be with

her to the end of time.' (G. Courtois: Incontri con Dio,2, L72).

The events of twenty centuries are there to show that the mys-

terious barque has always been battered by storms, but even when

it seemed that it must surely sink, it weathered the storm and

sailed on.

ctoonkfienFeeupdrthitnoerommnoienredp,a-trhticeuilsliafernpooatfmrtehocefkoCthnheeudrwcihnor-glde.naeCnrdaatrtidohinnissa,lisnSocahrupisostienritt,

the noted historian, recalled in this connection what happened to

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the Churches of the Middle East an North Afdca. Flourishing at

one time, they disappeared beneath the hordes of Islam as a

Saharan oasis beneath the desert sand. But that did not mean

the end of the Chutch; soon after, she was growing and develop-

it iog other lands and other continents.

I condude these brief reflections with the words of Cardinal

Gerrone, taken from his courageous book on the Chuch. After

the clear and objective diagnosis already quoted, he rcmarks:

'We have no right to despair'. And the facts bear him out.

Tbe conlidence ol tbe Holy Father

'!0.hilst we are following this line of thought, it will be of

help to consider the words of Pope Paul. !flithout overlooking

the negative side of the situation in the Churcfi, he gives equal

prominence to the positive: 'I7e should be ignoring, or misinter-

preting very many "signs of the times" if we failed to identify,

admist all the current uffest and agttauon, ceftain yearnings,

certain indications which seem to us to be harbingers of a happy

renewal.' (PaulVI, Audience given to the 6th General Assembly

of the IEC, 11-4-1970).

Again: 'Thanks be to God, we seem to be able to discern

(in the Church) a degtee of goodness and hope that fat outweighs

the negative side; and even here an improvement can be con-

fidently awaited. My chief reason for saying this is that I have

experienced the resolute and unyielding loyalty of all almost

- without exception sf 6u1 fellow-Bishops: loyalty to the Church

- and to the humble Vicat of Christ, the Lord. This loyalty has

been re-affitmed in situations sometimes far from easy, giving to

the Church the calm security that comes from the trniotr of the

Episcopal College with its Leader. . . .

Thus we are comforted by the evidence that repeatedly reaches

us from all parts of the world. I have in mind especially the

places which, on account of external conditions, have been separated

from us for longer periods; where religion and the freedom of the

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Church still suffer from unjust resuictions. It is alnost as if

these made us feel more stongly t'he necessity for communioD

with the hierarchical centre of the Church; and they stengtfien

.' the ties of love with the Father and the bretfuen . . (Address

to the Cardinals, 23-L2-L968').

The Holy Father, by his words and actions, asks us to have

confidence, an immense, personal confidence in the risen Christ,

the

". .

source and

.I know

wcahusoemofIallhoauvrehotrpues; riet dis."the(IcIonTfidimen.c,eLo,fl2S)t .PaTuhIe:

thought has been paraphrased by Chesterton, the famous hu'norist,

in typical style: 'Chdstianiry has often died, but it always rose

agun, because it had a God who could get out of the tomb.'

2. Optimism and crisis in the Congregation

A spontaneous remark arises here: this is all very ttue of

the Churd:, which has Christ and the power of renewd thrc"gh

mial and purification; but what about the Congegation?

Let us think a while about this, calmly but frankly. I do

not think the conclusion will be in any way depressing, even

though some may take alarm at the shadows that seem io have

fallen acoss the Congegation. Could we really hope to escape

the effects of the general crisis in the Church? The Congregation

is made up of men who, by the very fact of what they are

and what they do, are moving in a turbulent society constantly

damouring about the world-wide cdsis it has on its hands. The

Congregation could not remain unscathed by this 'atomic fall-out',

which gets in everywhere and affects everything in one way or

another.

The Generd Chapter, through months of toil, following the

policies of the Church in Council, drew up guide-lines, direcrives,

Constitutions and Regulations specifically intended to meet the

new requirements deriving from the profound and irreversible

changes taking place, always having regard for the character and

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charism of the Sociery. No one daimed that the work was perlect;

but it was recognized, even outside the Congregation, as courageous

and yet wise and down to earth. And what response was made

to this?

tWell, some praiseworthy efforts wete made to put it into

practice; but we must admit, in all sincerity, that in some cases

*" ut. still marking time; elsewhere the effort just withered away,

or, worse still, became deformed, as though the General Chapter

had thrown out the fundamentals of the consecrated life or of the

Salesian mission.

Oar crisis is a reflection ol the general crisis

Here, of course, you will ask: 'ltr7hat are the causes, at least

in general, of these negative reactions?' There

,..i., and limitations in the doings of men,

ate always Y"rk-

and the task of

I renewal is a complex one; however, think we can isolate two

fundamental and opposing factors that, to some extent, have

aborted the action that should have resulted from the General

Ch'aptFeri.rst: there is a

anything new, a blind

kind of

and deaf

^ inertia caused by allergy to

insensibility to the changes that

have taken place in society and especially in its youth sector. It

is a false fidelity that fails to distinguish between the essential

and the accidental, the permanent and the ransitory.

Second: going to the other extreme, there is the acceptance

in theory and practice of many of the ideas fashionable in the

Church today that undermine the very foundations of faith, of

the Gospel, of the Chutch itself. These ideas challenge the es-

sentials: Priesthood, Eucharist, Papal Authority, and so on. From

here it is only a short step to a concept that could be described

as thoroughly subversive of religious life: vows, community, prayer'

all crumble away.

Once these ideas find acceptance (materialistic theology, for

example, and the theology of the death of God), even our vocation

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begins to lose the sense of the supernatural. Iflhen that happens,

its soul is lost and our mission becomes degraded and devoid.of

meaning. It ends up as a kind of agnosric attitude peddling the

cause of personal freedom, or as a crushing socio-political indoctri-

nation (but with no concern for personal freedom). Sqmetimes

it becomes a flood of sympathy and kindness intended to soften

up a target for

to it). There is

evangelization (but

no need for further

never actually getring

details. In my earlier

round

letter

against the soft and easy lite (A,S.C. No. 275, October 1974,

I pp. 77-20, and especially 32-36), have already described some

of these negative practices that have found their way into some

spheres of Salesian life.

Now it is dear that this seculadsm, for that is what it is,

with all its moral and ideologicd, rumificarions, has nothing in

common with the General Chapter or, a fortiorl, with Don Bosco.

These are deviations, distortions, arbiffary acts, excesses rundng

counter to what the S.G.C. was trying to do. And the S.GC.

(I cannot smess this point too strongly) was completely permeated

with a dynamis sense of rebirth.

To round off, this point: it is essential to recognize that,

if we love the Congregation, we must move off without further

delay in the direction clearly pointed out to us by the S.G.C.

Otherwise wq shall be guilry, to a greater or less degree, of

causing an unstoppable breach; further, we shall be wdting off

as meaningless the mission confided to us by providence.

Ours uill be tbe optinism ol the strong

Here, the author of the open letter on optimism will perhaps

be thinking: the Rector Major is painting an awfully pesiimistic

picture; everything about the Congregation seems to be negative.

Some clarifications are indicated.

Ours cannot afford to be an ingenuous, over-simplified,

unreal optimism, the trait of a temperament that is blind to

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defects, abertations, difficulties and risks, and therefore undet-

rates their importance.

Our optimism, following Don Bosco, is that of men who

ate sttong in an unshakeable faith, and therefore suong in will.

Ftom this they draw the courage to work on, day by day,

constantly, patiently, towards their goal: a dear-eyed couage that

studies tle best ways of reaching the objective, with periodical

checks and adjustments and no thought of giving in to the

inevitable difficulties; a courage, in fine, that knows iust where

it is going.

This is precisely what we 2rc aiming x1. I have oudined

some negative aspects because, in a family of adults, all members

must have a co[rmon sincerity and courage to recogDize t]re seamy

side of things. In brief, optimism for the man of strength,

for the convinced Christian, for the son of Don Bosco, who was

both enthusiastic and realistic where the Church was concetned,

does not mean playing the osrich: this is what the timid and

the cowardly do. 'What we have to do is to look redity calmly

and coutageously in the face, and to accept the truth even if it

is unpleasant.

But having said this, we must add at once, in deference to

the realism of which Pope Paul gives us a constant example,

that the negative aspects I have cited are only part of the canvas,

the darker patt. Thanks be to God that the Congregation does

not consist only of bla& spots and blemishes, nor is lack of

vitality a univetsal phenomenon. Indeed, there are notable and

not infrequent high-lights that strengthen the heart and give rise

to a well-founded optimism.

Tbe Congregation bas a lature

'!7'hat, then, are we to think, what can we do, what is to

be our attitude before the total reality of the Congtegation? I

would Iike to begin with a statement of some importance. Stay

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I I with me hete, because believe that what am saying is per-

fecdy true.

Although it would be ridiculous to ignore the faa that out

Congregation, Iike others, faces a variety of serious difficulties,

have we the right to speak of a cisis of Iife and death?

First, let us put the record straight on this point: eveo

tho"gh the Congregation may be accused of a certain functional

disordet hete and there in harbouring elements that are abnormal,

even poisonous and corrosive, it nevertheless presents the general

picture of a substantially healthy body.

The problems facing the Congtegation today are not the

ones Don Bosco had to face; they are different again from those

that beset the Congregation after Don Bosco's day, though quite

- as certainly

remain inactive

baenfodrethtihseismb.aIsticis-nottheenyouwghillmneoret layltloowdeupslortoe

them; and to wrap oumelves up in a fatal cocoon of discour-

agement and frusration is unthinkable. This is the rcactiotr of

a soul whose ideals are dead, bereft of the hope that informs

the builder of the Christian Kingdom.

And now for a little reflection together. Painful trids ate

nothing new for the Congegation. So far they have beea suc-

cessfully overcome. Can the present ones be similmly resolved?

For me the answer is a calm 'Yes', and it is based on sound

reasons. Here are some of them.

3. Reasons for hope

There is something that happens very often, something that

makes me think. The Pope, and with him many others who

are responsible fot the govetnment of the Church in Rome and

throughout the world, as well as eminent laymen, who are some-

times non-Christians and non-believers, show a confidence in and

esteem for the Congregation that at times make me feel worried

and almost abashed.

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a) The Cburcb and society baae conlidence in us

This attitude is so obviously sincete and impamial, so wide-

spread among people who ate well acquainted with men and

events; it is so constant, despite unfortunate episodes not likely

to deate a positive image of the Congregation, or at least of some

of its members, that it cannot be without a solid foundation.

It is undemtandable that anyone looking from within at

certain short-comings, misfornrnes and defections may wondet

somewhat sceptically about such appraisals; but perhaps he is

overlookitrg the fact that the people who make these iudgements

do not get lost among the details of individual people and

circumstances, but see t'he thing as a whole. And taken as a

whole, as we have said abeady, the Congregation is seen in its

service to the Church and to society as a healthy, effective or-

garttzation.

I do not think it out of place to recall the words addressed

by Pope PauI some months ago to a group of confreres taking

part in the Second Course of On-going Formation. His words

are typical of many statements of the sort: 'Providentially for

the Church, we know that you are promoters and defenders of

the genuine Christian spitit. You are masters of the technique

I indeed, would say you have the magic touch of leading

- - the youngsters of our age, so highly resistant to Christianity lived

at depth, to the profession of their religion . . . . \\fith all our

heart we bless and encourage your dedication and specialization

in this field.

So have no fear! Be good Salesians, sons of Don Bosco,

and you will rendet a great service to the Church and to society.'

(ITelcome to the Salesians at the General Audience, 20-17-L974).

These words are typical of what the Pope says about us;

and rather than arouse in us a sterile complacency, th"y should

spur us on to deserve in fulI the esteem and trust of the Church.

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b) Our rnission uas fieau rnore badly needed

Quite apart from these external rclations, has the Conge-

gation internal reasons, all things considered, for looking to the

future with confidence?

Today there are many congregations that have had to revise

their mission radically. If we have a special need it is to dedicate

ourselves more decisively to the young: they are the special object

of our mission, after all.

I7e are all aware that, in these days, young people have

been-taised to a position of primary i-Fortanie in society; youth

is referred to as a new 'social status.' Add to this the i^"i th^t,

in many

explosive

for want

parts of the

force. No,

of 'material'

Iwtodoorwlndo',trkitthoirncnkp.reoTsuhernemtsCisaosnitogrneremgweaintlildoonduisissa,ptoeppveeeannr

to the future and looks ahead for this very reason, that ii is

directed to the service of the young, who are the hope of the

future.

Our problem, then, Iies not in the nature of our mission but

in how to adapt it to new times and needs, to rhe new problems

and susceptibilities. And here we have to look ar our;lves, at

our mentality, our lack of awareness, our peaceful life perhaps

compounded with a mental bldckage, so that we are priu.ntid

from understanding and accepting the many changes tJrat have

already come about and are still going on. These changes are

often irreversible; but that does not mean thar we must aLandon

our mission. On the contrary, we sray in the field and adapt

our strategy.

Isn't this what Don Bosco did, the thing that singled him

out as new and original? If he had been content to remain

shackled to the easy-going way of those who graced their short-

sighted sluggishness with the name of prudence, or dignity, or

tradition, Don Bosco would sdll have been 'in the Filippi

meadow', to use Don Caviglia's phrase. Or perhaps he would

have given up and disappeared into the limbo of some small

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_16_

provincial town. . . . Fat from being intimidated by the pro-

Ll.-r of the times, Don Bosco accepted them and used the new

conditions for his own ends.

c)'Ve do not haae the dillicahies of Don Bosco

I am not ovetlooking the obvious obiection: 'Don Bosco

was Don Bosco, but we arc fat below him in stature, and the

Congtegation is going through a crisis that is neithet simple nor

uivial.'- I would rcply firct of all by salng that it is a mistake

to identify individual negative situations with the whole Con'

gregation. And then we are not called upon to confront the

v"rt accomolation of problems and &fficulties that out Fathet

had to overcome in the teeth of an aflny of advetsaries in the

Church and civil adminis6alion, some with good intentions,

others his sworn eoemies, intent on killing off the Congegation.

The situation today is very diffetent, and in many ways more

favourable.

'!7e have a tich and constant tradition coming from Don

Bosco himself. Since the Founder's death, it has been clarified

and sttengthened by a celtury of experience, whidr is a secute

-guaraotee for the future.

Thanks be to God, in the Congregation not only are there

wothy men, well prepared

tasks offered by out mission,

and

but

involved in the wide range of

those men are of all ages (I say

it designedly), living their Salesian

intense conviction and simplicity.

spitituality with an

I would especially

ggualy

like to

point out how many confreres tfiere are whose life is one of

it"y.r,

which

prayet that animates the vast and fruitful

ii ii interwoven, Don Bosco-style. And

activity

this is

with

true

wherever wotk is being done in our Fatrher's name.

dl The ma?ry, nany conlreres uho uant to giae tbernselues totally

And what proof is there fot the existence of apostolic and

spiritual riches, which circulate like living blood in the body of

2.7 Page 17

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the Congregation? I have it in the replies I have received &om

all parts of the world to my invitation for the Centenary of the

Missions. They come from confreres, young and old, whose only

wish is to give themselves without reserve, fot any place at all;

many of them even ask to be sent to the places of gteatest

poverty, of greatest need, to those who are most abandoned.

This is surely a source of comfort. But this army, full of

vitality as it is, makes no fuss: which does not mean that it is

any the less effective. Little notice is taken of this fact, and the

reason is simple: a fidJtri,g tree makes much more noise than a

whole forest growing in silence. 'And yet', as van Balthasat

remarks, speaking of the Church, 'it should be a comforting

thought that not only does evil remain more deeply imptessed on

the memory than good, but also the world cannot see, or can see

only very indirectly, the good done by Christians. \\7ho can

es'imate the acts of self-contol by whidr evil has been ptevented,

the acts of selfless penance and charity, the volume of ardent and

hidden prayer? 'S7ho besides God knows the experiences of the

saints, who, carried up from obscurity to the heavens, lift whole

periods of history off their hinges, thrust aside mountains of

misdeeds, and redeem irretrievable situations? You cannot

attend only to the debit side of the Chuc.h's ledget without

taking into account these entries on the credit side.' (Urs von

Balthasar: Cbi e il cristiano, l4).

I think we have to make similar reflections on the Con-

gregation, if we want to make a realistic diagnosis. To avoid

making a superficial, biased assessment, you must know the Con-

gregation thoroughly from within and in its totality; it cannot

be assessed piecemeal or from the outside, nor by generalizing

from local situations as though they applied to the whole Con-

gregation, and in every case the credit side must be set off

against the debit, even when the latter is teal and cannot be

ignored.

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_18_

e) Lile begins again alter eaery stort?z

I have abeady referred to men of all ages in the Congregation

who live out their Salesian vocation in faithful generosity. I

think it will be useful to be more explicit.

There came a time when our young confreres were caught

in a violent stom, and many wete overwhelmed. And they

weren't the only ones involved, either: thete were oldet priests

and confreres also. The phenomenon burst with the suddenness

of a cyclone, a complicated aff.ur with many contributory factors,

some of them of distant oflBh, many coming from older members.

There may be causes of this sad episode that would repay PromPt

and prudent investigation, at least in order to avoid the same

mistakes in the future.

The Congregation suffered great harm, as did the Church

itself and the other orders and congregations. But it must be

said, too, that the hurricane uprooted a number of sick and sterile

plants, and stipped off the dead leaves.

A glance around the wotld today would show that the height

of the storm has apparently passed, leaving a very obvious rail

of destruction. However, if we seem to be standing before a

city that has been struck by a tornado, it is equally true that life

shows signs of stirring once more. W'e are picking up the pieces,

helped by the experience that has been gained.

This is patticulatly evident in the vital area of vocations.

f\\ An upuard trend in aocations

An immediate boost to our hopes is provided by the upswing

in vocations in a numbet of Provinces; and they are vocations

amongst young people who are much more mature and better

prepared than earlier generations. This is confirmed by the

improved perseverance rate among novices of recent years.

These young people are well awate of the troubles that have

come upon the Provinces, and it is nothing unusual to hear them

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_L9_

say that they have no desire to imigals those confreres, some of

them quite young, who neglect prayer, try to rationalizs thgif

lack of faith, find Salesian work distasteful, play down the im-

portance of knowing Don Bosco, and make no effort to live his

spirituality. The rejection of such attitudes on the part of the

new genefations is without doubt a very comforting sign.

Let me dwell a little longer on this matter of new vocations

and quote you some figures, which, unfomunately, arc incomplete.

My apologies.

In the cumenr year, the two Provinces of the U.S.A. have

2L novices, Venezuela has 19, Sao Paulo 18, Cenral Amefica L2,

the two Provinces of Colombia have 18.

In Europe, the Province of Bilbao has 31 novices, 4 of.

them Brothers; Madrid and Le6n have 40, including 15 Brothers.

England and Ireland have 25 novices between them, the two

Polish Provinces 29.

In Asia, the Indian Provinces have almost 100 novices,

the Philippines have 19, Vietnam 17. In Ausualia on Don

Bosco's feast., 7 young men made their first profession. The

Provincials assure me that these novices give good hopes of

perseverance because they have had a better-planned period of

probation, have been selected more carefully, and have come to

the Congregation older than in the past.

Now to draw conclusions. Given that the presence of good

vocations is a sign of regenerative power in the Congregation,

and a prerequisite for its continued existence, surely this revival

in numerous Provinces is an immediate cause for confidence in

the future of the Congregation?

'We are not yet out ol tbe tunnel

lWe are by no means out of the tunnel yet: there is still

some way to go, still some building to be done, and not a

Iittle rebuilding. I admit that the vocations sector is still not

universally promising. It would be unpardonable self-deception

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20-

to be satisfied with the improvement that has been made, even

though it is'real and encouragng. We need to give due atten-

tion to the negative situations, whatevet the causes may be.

Some of these may even be external to the Province concerned,

but they spring in the last analysis from the Provincial and the

local Communities.

:' rUTe need the courage and sinceriry to avoid trite explana-

tions and to face teality so that we can uace the causes and

find appropriate remedies. Therc are Provinces where the

situation is very serious, and could become disastrousl but these

ate isolated cases, which do not compromise the Congregation

as a whole.

Now we come to the question of numbers. As you know,

the,ontuhm" ber of Salesians has fallen considerably

for

reasons we have abeady mentioned.

in recent

This is a

years,

cause

of regret, but we must add at once that it would be still more

regreitable and harmful if we who are left were not to make

the necessary adaptation to the present-day needs of the Church

and the Congregation.

Today, muc-h more than in the past, the success and true

greatness of the Congregation are not to be measured by numbers

but by the qualiry of the Salesians. By 'quality' I mean espe-

cially the qualiry of their religious and apostolic life-and don't

take me up wrongly here. I'm not saying that out confreres

must all be spiritual supermen besttiding the apostolic scene.

This is what Pope Paul has to say: 'It is not numbers that

count, but fervour and dedication: what is important is the spi'

rit.' (Address at the Public Audience, 20-lL-1974)

A growing number of mediocre, unfaithful Salesians could

be weakening, possibly self-destructive, rather than a source of

strength and growth. One writer has observed that, if you

multiply me&ocrity, the result is not a building up but a spread'

ing out. You can imagine what the results could be in our case.

The level of our community life would fafi' at an increasing rute.

3 Pages 21-30

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-21 -

So, although we do not ignore numbers altogether, let us not

make a fetish of them.

Today, after ten years' experience, we feel that our first

concern must be quality: we must not repeat the mistakes of

the past, the full seriousness of whic-h could be seen only in

these years of crisis. I am referring to a cefiatn superficiality

and carelessness in admitting candidates; to certain benevolent

judgements in cases of serious psychological or vocational defects,

or of character-defects that were never properly assessed, with

the result that the candidates were allowed to go forwatd when

they should nevet have been permitted to do so.

g) New initiatiaes are flourisbing

Returning to our pfesent situation: there are still more

reasons for having confidence. Here are some of them.

Great sttides have been taken in putting the directives of

the Special General Chapter into effect to bring about the rcne-

wal sketched out by Vatican II, although I admit that there hris

been some initial drugg-g of feet.

This point has come out clearly in meetings with Ptovin'

cials, Rectors, Provincial Councils, and hundteds of confretes.

It is confirmed by the Superiors who have vlsited individual

Provinces; it is confirmed also by many of you.

In very many communities, serious and praiseworthy efforts

have been made to give to prayer its ptoper place and to make

it efficacious, freeing it from the palsy of formality without

going to the other exmeme of arbitrary exaggerutions, which

impoverish it and make it an occasion for drifting away from

God instead of getting closer to Him. Many communities, after

a rough passage, have now succeeded in developing a huppy

atmosphere of sincere respect, fraternal understanding and soli-

darity.

And what about the way of life that combines generous

effort with Salesian austerity to make each Community a huppy

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-22-

one? More than one Provincial has been able to tell me this

sort of thing: 'We are poor indeed, but we are h"ppy in our

poverty.l

I wish I could give you an adequate idea of the fermenr

of. teal gro\\rth that is taking place in the Congegation. It would

be practically impossible to draw up an exhaustive list of initia-

tives designed to bring about the spiritual renewal that needs

to take place across the Salesian spectrum. But at least we can

mention one or two items.

There are the Courses of On-going Formation at the Centre.

Those who have taken part in them are the best witnesses to

the good derived from tfiem, as seen in the way they live and

the work they do. Similar courses arc at present being aranged

for Brothers and missionaries, and there are others being organiz-

ed in the Regions. They are indeed a blessing.

The Tuo-year Course ol Spirituality at ovt Salesian Ponti-

fical University is being attended by dozens of confreres, Brorhers

as well as priests, who draw good, meaty sustenance from it for

carrying out their apostolate in the Provinces. Besides this

course, there are others for up-dating in Theology and Education,

not only at the U.P.S. but in many other centres as well.

As for retreats, and especially annual retreats, satisfactory

progress is reported in making them more effective and better

adapted to the new mentality. Confreres are also being trained

for this.

You know already what efforts are being made to promote

systematic historical studies on Don Bosco, the Congregation and

our spirituality. These riches must no longer remain unexploited.

You will also be glad to hear that nearly everywhere we

are giving ou collaboration, often much appreciated, to the local

Church in many different ways: the mass media, specialized

assistance in particular fields, the care of immigrants, the instruc-

tion of the illiterate, etc.

And, in our own field of operations, the catechetical cenres

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-2r-

and youth centres are very numerous. I hear also of interesting

developments in constructive pastoral work in the sdrools, and

in the establishment of educational comnunities, where lay

people and parents share responsibility with the Salesians. And

this happens in youth centfes as well, those courageous works

designed to help difficult and neglected boys in poor neighbout-

hoods.

New forms of youth movements and associations are spring-

ing up. From many places I hear of new vitality and new ideas

in this field, but with all of them the chief concern is to give

something solid to the youngsters and not harmful substitutes.

As a matter of fact, young people are the first to ask for this

wholesome and palatable fare, to demand a serious work which

will cause Christ to grow in their souls.

I also see with pleasure that, in some places, properly pre-

pared groups of young people are offering themselves as aolun-

teers in the real missionary spirit. I know that some of these

have had the generosity to embrace the consecrated life.

Interesting though these developments may be to read about,

if you wanted to understand what our men are doing, the ioyful

sacrifices made by young and old, you would really need to live

on the missions, where they spend themselves for those poor

people who have very few material goods but who are ridr in

their slmplicity and faith. In this typical mission-country, I

must mention the many confreres who work with gteat dedica'

tion, humility and Christian charity amongst the poorest wretcbes

of the slums, favelas, bidonvilles... The names are different, but

the calamity is the same: the depths of human and moral misery.

And the ones who always come off worst are the young. It is

to these that our confreres, being Salesians, give their first at-

tention.

If there arc any of us who are living a flat and colourless

li[e, the very eistence of these thousands of generous confreres

should be enough to convince them that the Congregation is alive

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-24-

and vibrant, it is {ertile and has a mission whic} it is fulfilling

with feverish energy in the Church of God.

I Finally, thjd< of the Salesian Co-operators, and especially

the young Co-operators. This great apostolic force, with its

renewed consciousness of the mission handed to them by Don

I Bosco, is in a state of continuous expansion. And could con-

tinue with this list of positive phenomena, but I think I have

said enough to give you a f.ur idea of how very vital and dynamic

the Congregation in today.

It is lor us to build, tbe lature of tbe Congregation

I From these considerations, think we can reasonably deduce

that we have tlre right, and the duty, to look to the future of

the Congregation with complete confidence.

The source of our hope lies primarily in the Risen Christ.

It is a hope that is rooted in and nourished by faith, the faith

that made our Father the new Abraham who 'in hope believed

against hope.' Thousands upon thousands of builders of the

Kingdom have been spurred on by faith to attempt the impos-

sible; and amongst them are countless Salesians, well-known

and not so well-known. Faith must sustain us too: 'Lord, in-

crease our faith,'we should say with the aposdes; and rhis,

I think, is the whole point.

But this is not enough. Although our hope finds its nou-

rishment in Christ, God, in the mystery of His economy, does

not wish to do for us what we should do for ourselves. 'God

helps those who help themselves': He does not make Himself

a substitute for us, He does not do what we ought to do, and,

at a human level, He leaves all the responsibility to us. But if

we do our best on our side, God gives us added strength. This

is what happened to Don Bosco.

And so we must work with God if we want Him to be

the author of out hope. Just as our predecessors have built up

the Congregation in the past hundred years and more, so no\\r

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-25-

u/e must bear the responsibility for its future. When f say 'we,'

I mean that no one is free of such responsibitity. !7e must

have a lively understanding of this obligation: each of us, accord-

ing to the r61e Providence has assigned to him, with his perso:

nality, cultural background and personal standing, has the po*.,

to be a builder of the Congregation's future. And by the same

token, he has rhe tragic possibility of destroying it.

I remember a film I saw years ago that put across in a

striking manner, the idea of how a state could disintegrate not

through the action of its external enemies, but from the combin-

ed.desmuctive action of its own citizens, Massive walls were

shown, made of enormous blocks of stone. The,juts and recesses

wete fitrled with myriads of tiny rhen, each armed with a pick-axe.

These lilliputian men were busily engaged in chipping away, and,

as they did so, the giant blocks first became dislodged, then

tottered and finally came crashing down. The massive wallb,

which at first sight appeared impregnable, were eventu ally flat-

tened by those thousands upon thousands of little blows.

The story needs no comment. It represents a reality for

us too. And destructive action can take many Iormsi resistance,

deviations, absenteeism, lack of trust...

In this connecrion, I would like to invite you to rcad agan;

with particular attention Don B-osco's dream oi the 'Meetini"oi

the Devils,' which had been called to plot the destruction of

the Congregation (BM, 17, 384-387). You will'find tl:ere some

food for thought on our present sitiiation, miltatis mutahdis'.''

But it requires no gfeat effort to convince ourselves tLat,

if we are all united in our constructive work, the Congregation

will overcome this time of trial. I repeat: no one is without

value in these operations; there ip spacs and rr{ork for everyone.

The Rector Maior and his Council, the Provincials and Rictors

carry the heaviest responsibility, it is rrue; bur there is little

they could do without the hard work of the individual con-

freres.

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_26_

To be constructive we must be united, that is, we must aII

pull in the same direction. This means that all of us must

,.."pt the Special General Chapter and its implications whole'

heartedly, eniering into its spirit and objectives. These objecti-

ves are entitely above board, they respect the past, they are not

permissive, so there is no fear that they will lead to the ruin of

ih. Congt gation, nor to a secularism that would dry up the

Iiving source of the Salesian vocation.

The S.G.C., in the spirit of our Father, wanted to impress

on the Congregation a dynamic sensitivity to the times, which

would give substance to our consecfation and make out mission

fruitful. The Holy Year, our Missionary Centenary, the Pro-

vincial Chapters of this year and the intercontinental Provincials'

meetings, soon to take place, all of these I would call providential

occasions for promoting the healthy development of the Congre'

gation. It is a sincere, courageous overhaul of what we have

done in the last few years, an opPortunity to set things right

with firmness and precision, so that we can make steady pro-

gress.

The news that we have received so far about the Ptovincial

Chapters is very encouraging. Let us go forward together, then,

the young and the not so young, in this union of purpose and

fuatel:nal c}ariry which was the constant concern of our Father.

For the resly the vision of a 'city divided against itself,'

with its consequefit dissolution and death, serves as a spur and

a warning to us to make ourselves 'one heart and one mind,'

convinced and effective architects of renewal along the lines

given us by the S.G.C.

4. Joy, the visible sign of oPtimism

So far I have spoken of the optimism we ought to base our

lives and actions on in this kind of. trial', and I have pointed

out the natural and supematural motives fot it. There has

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-zl-

been no attempt to cover up the pressing realities that arc all

around us, demanding the reaction of a strong faith rather than

the inaction of a passive acceptance.

I But don't think that these reflections would be complete

without a word on the natural, sensible and typically Salesian

expression of our optimism: I mean joy.

Tbe joy ol the Christian

Fr. courtois, in an inreresting Iittle book entitled Good,

bHeulimevoeu,r,joayssiesrtsa:n'CeosnsetrnarriyalltyocwhrhisattiaJnanvseirntiusme.'wTohulids

have us

is what

che-stertonsays: 'Joy is the great secret of christianity.' claudel

explains it like this: 'Joy is the first and last word of the Gospel.

lre .angel appeared to Mary to give her news of. a great joy,

which was later confirmed by the angels who appearJa to ili"

' shepherds; and the

before the Ascension

las tword of

.was: "so thar

Jesus

your

during

joy mry

t^h. S,rpp.r

be full and

arrd

life

may abound in you."

Jesu worked his first miracle not to cure sickness, nor

even to convert a sinner, but simply because the joy of. a family-

feast was imperilled.

it on many occasions;

But

then Jisus consecrated joy and shared

much so that, in the Gospel, we see

how keenly sensitive He is to the things that enrich- the human

spirit and gladden the heart. He enjoyed the sights of nature:

the flowers of the field, the golden grain at harvest time, the

calm beauty of the Lake of Genesareth. He enjoyed the flaring

torches that Lit up Jerusalem at the Feast of Taternacles. H;

loved and turned naturally to the intimacies of the family and

of holy friendships. He did not disdain to wear a cloak on

feast-days, or to take part in a wedding-feast." (Raoul plus: .Se-

minare la gioia, 704)

One can understand, therefore, the force of the greeting

often used by Jesus with his disciples: 'Be filled with Ly joy-,

(cf. Jn 15, 11).

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, It was natural fot St Paul, in the midst of his many trials,

repeat

ioyful

hyisoulerttleivres swiinththmeovLinogrdin.siIstesnacyei:t'MagaayinyzouReaiolwicaey!s'

(PhiI. 4, 4).

It iolio*r from all we have said that a habitual attitude

of sadness would be anti-christian. Such a conffadiction-rul-

{ortunately

reproof oi

by no means infrequent-prompted

Christians by Bernanos: '\\[here the

-this

deuce

vehement

have you

hiid"t your joy? No one would think, from seeing the way

y-Looorldiu.'", that'

And

to you and you alone was promised the

Paschal says: 'No one is so content

joy

of the

a true

Christian.'

The point is this: the true christian is full of radiant ioy,

and to b. , t*. christian means to live intensely the teaching

and example of Jesus in the Beatitudes.

Tbe joy ol the Salesian

Now, if this is true of every genuine Christian, how much

the more does it apply

brought the charact.iitii.

to us Salesians, sol1s of a

note of joy to the building

suapinot f-whhios

educational works.

.Don Bosco 'built walls of light' for his sons' He once

suffered much-on finding that, instead of the singing, smiling,

lilht-h.urt d bustle, the openness and cheerfulness that normally

pie*railed in the house; 'the shouts and the songs could no longer

Le heard, the lively activities were gone; instead boredom, wea-

riness and ill-humour could be seen in the actions and on the

fu... of many of the boys, together with a lack of trust that

bpinroor,utrlgnothhtytoimptuiattp*ivnldiectraoeyixitmoahmnuespch.lheeTsp,haalemreta.c'vooef(nsLstehtnateontetSdrtaoeflrueaoscbmihtainnaRgbwoooaumfyte,Di,wto'1in8th8TB4hoa)esllcreoit,s.isseimenno-

n..a ,o give any h.i., yoo can find plenty of them in our rich

literature.

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29-

But I would like to quote that pithy Artide of the new

Constitutions, No. 47: "'lrut nothing disturb you," Don Bosco

used to say. Because God has sent us, we have confidence in his

providence and (sha[) not be discouraged by difficulties. Thete

is also the optimistic humanism of St Ftancis of Sales, which helps

us to believe in the natural and supernatural resources of man

without, however, ignoring his weakness. \\7ith this background,

we know how to make our own what is good in the wotld and

refuse to lament over our times. !7e "hold fast to what is

good," especially if it is attractive to the young. \\7e make our

own St Paul's exhortation "Rejoice in the Lord always." This

is the witness we must give to youth. "...The fruit of"the

Spirit is love, joy, peace, . . ." and this is where our own hope

and out openhess to the Spirit is rooted.'

As you can see, in this article all the richness of Salesian

joy and optimism is happily summed up. These are riches that

have come down to us from our Father to nourish the life of

the Salesian as a religious and educatot in the faith.

Fr. Aubry, in his book Una Via che conduce all'Amore,

has an excellent and highly persuasive commentary on this arti-

cle, which is very characteristic of our spitit.

What is the practical conclusion? The real Salesian is one

who &ffuses joy, the evangelical ioy typical of Don Bosco. If

this is what it is going to be, Don Bosco's ioy, it must obviously

spring from and be fed by Don Bosco's faith, and that was

overflowing with charity.

It has been rightly said that 'fundamentally, joy is always

the fruit of love.' And so the radiating of joy, with calm good

humour and understanding, working with others and sharing the

ups and downs of life with them, must be part of our being and

of our mission.

And there are innumerable ways of doing this, some of them

very simple: the innocent joke, the happy remark that defuses

an explosive situation, softening the effects of a bitter remark,

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-30-

remembering the anniversary of a confrere, becoming one with

the Community, unobtrusively helping it to grow in charity.

These are all real contributions, though hardly noticeable, and

they are indispensable for creating the serene atmosphere that

we all long for . . . and we all long for it because that is the way

the heart of man is made.

This need for joy is felt all the more today, when 'Men are

much less happy than they were long ago . . .' 'Our socalled

civilation has wiped the smile off mens' faces: gigantic office-

blocks, assembly-lines, slry-scrapers, stress, impersonal environ-

ment. Oudook gloomier and gloomier!' M. Thielicke: Il sorri-

d.e'!i7Seamntui set

dei Pazzerelli, 74).

react, then: absorb

joy

give

out

again

the

conviction that, as Romano Guardiai says, and he never wastes

wotds: 'A smile is one of the weapons of the human soul.'

And let us not forget that we do not cease to be men of our

time on the day we make our religious profession.

Blessed are those confreres who, by thefu attention to the

small needs of others, spread this joy, redoubling the energies

of the soul, and for that matter, doing physical good as well.

The value of what they are doing for their confreres they may

not even imagine.

Tbe Eleaenth Conornandment: ioy

The Salesian is consecrated for others, especially the young

and those on whom li(e smiles least. His vocation, in its widest

and richest sense, is to be an educator. Now, to educate, that

is, to enlighten the intellect and lead it to truth, to strengthen

the young will and so bring it to live what is good and true, is

a difficult and delicate task, and nowadays is more difficult and

delicate than ever. This is where joy comes in-it is a powerful

and necessary ally.

Fr. Auffrey quotes an expert in education, Richter, who has

a picturesque way of describing ioy in education: 'Like the eggs

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of a bird, like the young of the turtle-dove, a child at fitst needs

nothing but a litde warmth, and this it finds in the joy that,

like the rays of the dawn, enables its infant strength to grow

eanvdil,mcaantugrreo.wJ.o' y(FirsotmheAh.eaAvuenfrabye:neIlathMwethoidcoh

everything, except

Edacatioo di Don

Bosco, 62)

Ft. Caviglia has this to say of Don Bosco, priest and educa-

tor: 'Don Bosco was a saint of good humour, and to talk to

him gave joy to the soul. Happiness and serenity for him were

moral factots of the first order that gave shape to his educational

method, to the extent that he wanted a sharp eye to be kept on

the sly and the sulky. That is why I say that joy was the

Elevent Commandment in the house.'

Don Bosco is very clear in expressing these pedagoglcal

principles of his, and he presents his plan of education in a style

that is simple, but rich in substance. This is how he puts his

plan to the boys: 'I'11 teach you how to live as good Christians,

and, at the same time, make you happy and content.' (Gioaane

Prooaeduto, Introd.) And to this project he directed all his

educational strategy and tactics. It should be noted in passing

that Don Bosco always made his object clear: to inculcate

Christian truth and values (nowadays we would say 'to evan-

gelize'.)

Fr. Auffray again: 'It was Don Bosco's wish that ioy

should be the predominant featute of his houses; he poured it

freely into the Regulations and impregnated every action of the

day with it. He did not neglect discipline, whidr he wanted

to be firm but not rigid, respected by the pupils, but not over-

worked by the educator, a famiTy affut, and never rigorous.

But he wanted joy to be the pivot of all that his sons did in

education; and he never departed from this principle.' (op.

cit. 58).

For this reason Fr. Caviglia, writing about Don Bosco, could

say: 'I7hoever ente$ one of Don Bosco's houses cannot fail to

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be.'i,mmediately aware that he is in.a realm of. gaiety where hap-

piness is supreme, not only because he sees everyone, boys and

masters, mixing freely together, .but also because the Salesians

themselves ,always look happy and serene.' And, speaking of

Valdocco, he adds: '.Even ih chuch,'in Don Bosco's house (with

1,400 boys) there is never a liturgical function, not even prayers

are said without some singing. He preferred ordinary prayers

to be said outside church; but in any case he wanted hymns sung,

and liturgical music as well. He had singrng in recreation, and

whenever there was any kind of anniversary.' (A. Caviglia:

Don Bosco, 92)

This brief outline will serve as a clear indication of the

place joy has in our system of education, and is an invitation to

every community and every individual to make a sincere exami-

nation of conscience. Our work, ouf actions, ouf cornmrdty,

how fat do they reflect this serenity, this wholesome joy and

hapfiness, whicl are at the same time Christian, evinngelical, and

truly Salesian?

I have used the word 'wholesome' because Don Bosco's

kind of joy, which is Christian and beneficial, is not to be con-

fused with that which is based on a fuenzy of amusements and

enteftainments. These leave young hearts bamen, and someti-

mes disturbed; they are mere diversions, specious substitutes fot

true joy.

Remember: the joy that fills'the heart and binds a boy to

his educators, the joy that creates an atmosphere where a voca-

tibn can blossom is closely bound up with our own personal joy,

with our enthusiasm for living our vocation. Ultimately the

boys will reflect what we are ourselves. '!7e shall see in them

our faith, our Christian love, the sincete dedication of ourselves

to their good. These are the springs that feed the spirit of joy

as Don Bosco undbrstood it.

I would like to invite every conftere and every Community

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to look agatrn at this matter, which is certainly no secondary one,

in the light of what our Father and our best traditions tea&

us. Don Bosco not only found new 'waIls of sunshine' to

enlighten and warm

o.r"1f them to be a

the hearts of

source of joy

his

for

boys, but

others. I

he wanted each

am thinking of

the thearical productions, the band, the choit, gymnastic &splays,

and so on. And I recall with regret that, in some places, these

joyful means of Salesian education have been abandoned. On

the other hand, many of these same activities, which for years

typified our educational system and which we have laid aside-

tGutr., music, g1s.-havg been taken up in a modernized form

by other otgatizations, some of them even non-Christian, and

used successfully to capture the interest of the young.

Of course, the mummified practices of a past age cannot

be preserved; but it is one thing to renew', to re-create them

without losing their substance, and quite another to abandon them

altogether without putting anything in their place, thus making

our system the poorer for their loss.

bn" of or:. putt pupils, a thoughtful man well acquainted

with the problems of the young, pointed out to me recently that

the filns we show them-and some of them are far from suit-

able-and the football matches and other spofting events afe not

the best things for creating t-hat atmosphere of joy, understanding

and f.amfiariiy that sttikes deep into the minds of the boys'

Much more now than in the past, these youngsters are likely to

be the victims of frustration and &sttess, of misunderstanding

and confidence, and cfeate a climate tlat is constructive, helping

ness. They need a kindness that is expressed in a friendly pre-

sence, in the quiet chat and the helping hand-I am thinking

here of the new forms of group activity, which lead to friendship

and con-fidence, and create a climate that is constructive, helping

to make men and Chtistian of our young people, despite the

difficult age into which they have been born.

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Ve baae Someone at our side

I think I have given you enough to think about in tfiese

points, which seem ro me to be very topical. Let me now

conclude. '$fhen, at our Baptism, we became members of the

Church, the priest said: 'May this child serve the Lord in joy.'

And this wish accompanies us on our path through li[e; it is

a wish for us and all the souls for whom we become in any way

responsible. But the path is long, often it is rough and dark;

and then that baptismal wish douds over, and discouragement

threatens to swamp us.

Our best safeguard against the temptation to discourage-

ment is the certainty that we are not alone. W'e are with Don

Bosco, we are with legions of confreres, who have gone before

us and still accompany us with the faith, courage and oprimism

of our Father. And especially we have One beside us who is

living and powerful, walking with us as He walked with the

disciples to Emmaus, One we do not see but who loves us and

shares our struggles, our suffering and our pain. And He can

be our strength and our joy, as He was for the two disciples,

whilst we await our reward.

And so ,when we feel in our hearts a sense of resentment,

or sorrow, or doubt, let us draw closer to Him and repeat with

faith and affection: 'Stay with us, Lord Jesus, lest darkness

overwhelm our minds.'

In so saying, let us unite our voice with Mary,s. She is

the Help of Christians, Morher of the Church and of our Con-

gregation: she is our hope.

Fr. Lurcr RrccBnr

Rector Major

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II. I.NSTRUCTIONS AND NORMS

1. Opening of the Salesian Missionary Gentenary

On 27tb Febraary 1.975 the Rector Maior sent a letter contain'

ing infortzation on tbe opening ol tbe Salesian Missi'onary Centenary

and tbe way ol celebrating it on 11th Nouernber. Here is tbe text.

Dear Father Provincial,

In the next few days you will recieve a short dossier offering

some practical help to the different

worthy celebration-of the Centenary

branches of our

of. our Missions.

Family for

I am sure

the

that

you will give it your fulI attention.

A preview of the things of general interest that arc afoot has

already appeared in No. 276 of. the Acts (Oct. '74 issue). I hope a

detailed calendar of events and other information wiII. soon be available.

I think you should know the following:

The Centenary Day is Tuesday, 71tb Nouernber 1975.

In the whole Congtegation, the day should be spent in ptayet

and reflection on the moment that, in Don Ceria's words, opened a

new period of the Congregation's history.

There is no need for external celebrations on that day; they

can be held at other times with the rcst of the Salesian Family. In

the dossier you will find useful suggestions for them.

On l1th November our communities, propeil,y prepared, should

relive that historic day befote Jesus in recollection and in reading

over the pages that describe the very beginnings of the Congregation's

missionary adventure. They should use the BM, Yol. 1.L, 1875, the

Annali, Vol. 1, Chap. 38, the co--emorative volume that will appear

in the next few months in several languages, and other relevant material.

In a word, on that day we shall be united in reliving the spirit

of the great event, in thanking the Lord for what has been achieved

by His grace thtough the years, and in renewing our own missionary

commitment, which the new situations have made all the more rugent.

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I think it will hetp if your reread my l.etter on the MISSIONARY

CENTENARY.

And so I leave it to you and your Council to organize this day

befittingly, while I must insisr on the spiritual character that the

occasion must have in each Community.

Please let me know what you organize and how it all goes off

In the next number of the Act (Apirl-June) you will find other items

I on the Centenary; here shall give you the programme of celebration

at Tudn:

ltth November - Day of Prayer;

13th, Thursday - Civic Commemoration;

16th, Sunday - Solemn Concelebration (televised) and distribution

of crucifixes to the new missionaries in the Basilica

of Mary, Help of Chtistians.

May the Lod help us to make these demonstrations fruitful for

the apostolate. Greetings to our co-workers and confretes. Let us

pray for each other.

Fr. Lurcr RrccBnr

2. fhe interstices between Holy Orders

The Secretary Genetal wishes to call the attention of the Provin-

cials to what is prescribed in the documents of the Holy See for the

interstices to be observed between Lector and Acolyte, and these and

the Diaconate. See:

AAS, 7972, pp. 533 and 539.

ASC No. 268 (Oc:.- 1972), pp. 45 and 51.

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III. COMTVIUNICATIONS

l. The Rector Maior's Golden Jubilee

Tbe Prelect General, Fr. Gaetano Scrioo, sefit tbe Prooincials a

letter uith saggestions lor comrnernorating the bdppy occasion.

Dear Father,

Both for my own part and on behalf of the Superior Council,

I wish to call your attention to atr addition to the celebration for the

Holy Year and the Missionary Centenary: the 50th anniversary of

Rector Major's ordination to the priesthood (19th September L925, at

S. Gregorio, Catania). It gives us a welcome opportunity to streng-

then our spiritual ties with the successor of Don Bosco. As such, he

is the Father and cenme of unity of the entire Salesian Family.

We shall, of course, want to celebrate this event as Salesian men

of faith. Permit me to make some suggestions that will help us all

to take part in the jubilee.

I L) It goes without saying that shall be able to assure the Rector

Major that all will join with him in the liturgical celebration of praise

and thanksgiving that he will offer to the Lord. I7e all feel the need

to thank God for having glven the Salesian Family a leader like Don

Ricceri and we shall ask God's help for the man He made responsible

for the forestering of unity and renewal

2) Next there is o:ut respo?tse to bis pastoral anxiety for the

vigorous conduct of the mission entusted to our Family by the Holy

Spirit. I am sure I am right is saying that the Rector Major's

thought and wishes are summed up in the Strenna for 1975: conoersion

to God, reconciliation uitb our brotbers, and euangelization.

In his words, written and spoken, he has placed these values

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-38-

before us, setting them on a solid doctrinal basis, with close reference

to the person and spirit of Don Bosco and with suggestions on their

lgeTizartsn in practice. The best gift that our Family can offer him

is its complete solidarity with him in mind, heart and action.

3) There rue two dates to note when external e-pression will be

given to these sentiments in tle name of the whole Family, both

events to be held at Rome:

Bosc-o

8th April: there

fnstitute in honour

wilt be an evening function at the Don

of the Rector Major. It will be held at

the end of the meeting between the Superior Councfl and the Provin-

cials of Europe, the United States, Australia and Zure, and on the

eve of the General Chapter of the Daughters of Mary, Help of

Christians.

- 19th September: the Rector Major will celebrate his Jubilee

Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart; it will be a 'spiritual appoint-

ment' for all who feel that they are linked under any tide whatever

to the Salesian mission.

Please pass on this news about the jubilee, Best wishes from

mysel{ and the rest of the Superiot Council, and a fraternal remembrance

at the altar for you and all the Communities of the Ptovince.

Yours sincerely,

Fr. GlrreNo Scnrvo

2. Applying the liturgical reforms

All reforrns, eoen tbose tbat are only structural, are accotTz-

panied by suings touards the extremes, and eaentaally, giuen

sone good, uill, tbey reacb a state ol equilibriarn, like a pen-

dulun.

Tbougb tbe liturgical reform of Pius XII and tbe Coancil

is not confined to structnres, it is these that are nost aflected

by tbe extre,ne positions held today, ubich range lrorn tbe flat

reiection ol any cbange ubateoer to tbe most bizarre of inno-

uations. The present remarks are co;nfined to tbe celebration ol

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Mass and tbe adrninistration of the Sacraments, especially Con-

lession and Connunion. Instead. of quoting exalilples, referen-

ces uill be gioen to tbe releaant official dnd semi-official d.ocu-

nents.

.A) CurnnetroN or Mess

l. Vhicb Mass to celebrate

A notice lrona tbe Saued Congregation lor Dioine'Worsbip,

dated 28tb October 1974 (ct.Notitiae No. 99, Nou. 1974, p.

353), ofi relusal to ase tbe new Ronan Missal, says:

'Where the Bishops' Conference has decided to use the vernacular

version of the Roman Missal, of at least a pafi of it (e.g., the Ordo

Missae), from that moment onwards Mass nay not k. celebrated, in

Latin or in the vernacular, except in accordance with the rite of the

Roman Missal promulgated on the authority of Pope Paul VI on 1st

April 1969.

To provide for all the needs of those priests who, through age

or infirmity, find it very difficult to follow the new Ordo in the

Missal or the Lectionary, the Sacted Congtegation has laid down

some rules: it is clear that the Ordinary can authorise such ptiests

to use the whole or part of the 7962 editron with the modifications

of. 1965 and 1967, but only for the celebration of Mass sine populo.

The Ordinaries cannot, therefore, give this authorization for Masses

celebrated cilrz porylo.

The local and religious Ordinaries must see that the Ordo Missae

of the new Roman Missal is accepted by all the priests and faififul

of the Roman Rite (this does not apply to non-Roman liturgical rites

recognized by the Church), regardless of any pretext advanced in

favour of any usage whatsoever, even a time-honoured one. Th"y

should also see that this Ordo Missae is used with the greatest

zeal and devotion to reveal the treasures of the Vord of God and

of the liturgical and pastoral doctrine contained in it.'

The Samed Congregation for tbe Doctrine of tbe Faitb, in

a Declaration reported in tbe Osservatore Romano for 30tb

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-40-

October 1974, says tbis about tbe excessiue liberties taken uitb

tbe cbaice and adaptation of liturgical forms, euen the saoa-

nental o?res, e.g., the Eotcbaristic Prayers of the Mass:

'The Iiturgical reform of Vatican Council II introduced some

mo&fications even in the formulas for the essential parts of the

sacramentatr rites. When these new modes of expression, with tlle

rest, had to be tanslated into modern languages, the sense of the original

was tendered in the idiom proper to each language. From this, a

number of difficulties have arisen, now that the Bishops' Conferences

ate submitting these versions to the Apostolic See for approbation.

Faced with this situation, the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine

of the Faith insists that the translations of the essential formulas

for the sacramental rites must be rendered accurately from the sense

of the original Latin text. So the Sacred Congregation declares: "The

Apostolic See approves and confirms the proposed version of the

sacramental formula in a modern language when it is satisfied from

examination of the text that it expresses exacdy the sense intended by

the Chuch, that sense to be understood according to the mind of the

Church expressed in the original Latin text."'

2. Celebrating witb decoruxt

Mgr. A. Bugnini, Seuetary for tbe S.C. for Diuine Vorsbip,

rnade the follouing stateftzent in the oflicial organ of his Depart-

rnent Notrttae, No. 97, Sept. L974) on certain abuses in the ase

ol oestnents at Mass:

'Enquiries have come in from some quarters about whether it

is permitted to celebrate Mass without the sacred vestments, or with

a stole rrorn over a cassock or ordinary clothes.

The reasons for these questions are mostly practical, especially

where it is a matter of moving around: pilgrimages, excursions, camp-

ing, etc. f,here ate other reasons: for instance, a greater degree of

conformity with the surroundings, which would be' the case in a

factory where the chaplain celebrates . Mass in oueralls, or in the

mountains, whete the priest is dressed as an Alpine guide. The

question is: what is the mind of the Congregation of Divine Worship?

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-41 -

There is nothing &fficult or strange abour the answcr, which

has to follow the rulings for the renewed liturgy that have been

issued in the last few years.

First of all there is the General Institution of the Roman Missal.

At No. 297 we read:: "The external manifestation of the diversity of

minisries for performing the sacred rites is tJre diversity of sacred

vestments:, which must therefore be a sign' proper to the office of

each minister. It follows that such vestments should also contribute

to the solemnity of the sacred action"" And at No. 298t "The vestment

cotrlqron to all ministers of any grade is the alb;" whilst at 299 we

have: "The proper vestment for the priest celebrating the Mass, and

the other sacred actions directly connected with it, is the. chasuble."

The dispositions, which echo tradition but renev its.details, are

in practice fundamental to the rules given in the ot}er documents

dealing with the matter. For instance, the Instruction on Masses for

Particular Groups (No. 11b) simply refers to rhe texr of the Roman

Missal quoted above, and this.same text is used in tle Third Instruction

(No. 8c), which adds: 'It is an abuse to concelebrate or celebrate

with a stole over the monastic habit (cowl), ihe cassock or ordinary

clothes; nor is a minister allowed to perform sacred.functions, such

as imposing hands at ordinations or administering the Sacraments or

givinj benilictions, wearing only a srol.lo.r"r ordirrry clothes.'

The S.C. for Divine \\Torship has neaer modified these rulcs,

nor does it intend to do so, either in their general application or in

granting individual indults. The reason is simple, and is the one given

in the General Institution: the distinction of the sacred ministry, the

decorum of the Sacred action, the clear-cut separation'of the sacred

from the profane. The commu"ity wants to be respected, wants to

perceive, also through the sensqs, the meaning of the rites and to enter

into the mystery.

There is one relaxation to the above ruling, which has bedn

introduced to facilitate the use of vestments for those who are moving

around or travelling: the casula ine alba. This consists of a complete

chasuble, closed all round and reaching to the ankles; the stoie is

worn outside it, and no alb is needed. The colotr.r can remr.in the

same, while a change of stole indicates the colour of the day. This

vestment can be kept folded in a travel-bag; but it may be used

only when necessary, and authorization must be obtained from the

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-42-

Bishops' Conference of each country. There are precise rules govern'

ing its use (cf. Notitiae, 81, L97), p. 96 et seq.).'

B) AnrrarNrsrRATIoN oF THE Secneunus (Conmunion)

Mgr. A. Bagnini again proaides tbe ansuas, tbis time on the

d,istribution of Coipnunion under otte ot botb species (4. Notitiae,

No. 97, Sept. 1974, P. 308, note'ab'):

'Here and there it has become the custom for the communicant

to take the sacred Partide direcdy, with his own hand, from the

gi!61irrm or paten, as the celebrant does, or the minister who has the

Bishop's mandate to disribute Communion and then to communicate

himself direcdy; urd similarly with the Precious Blood in the chalice.

Is this sort of "selfrservice" permissible? Not at all! It is more

fitting, more in keeping with Our Lord's gesture at the Last Supper,

that the consecated bread should be actually giuen to the faithful

(cf. Matt. 26, 26 et seq.; Mk. 14, 22 et sq.; Lk. 22, 19 et seq.)'

Again, in the lite De Sacra Connzunione et de cultu mysterii

Eucbaristici extra Missanz (Polyglot Press, Vatican, 1973), we have:

"Holy Co--union must be d'istributed by the competent mini51s1,

who shows the Patticle of consecrated bread to the communicant and

hands it to him."

The Church chose to multiply the extraordinary ministers of

Holy Communion, men and women, rather than tolerate a weakening

in the sense of tlib Biblical gesture. No faculty, then, for taking

the consecrated bre&d dfuecdy has been granted, nor will it be. If

the practice has been introduced here and thete, it must be discontinued

with a suitable explanation, or, if necessary, through the intervention

of the local ecclesiastical authority.'

3. Fraternal solidarity (15th report)

a) Pnovntcrs rHAT HAvE sENT oFFERINGS

Itar-v

Central

Lire 3.000.000

5.3 Page 43

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Southern

Novara

Venetian (St. Mark)

-4r-

SparN

Barcelona

Bilbao

Madrid

HuNcenv

ArraBnrca

Argentina (Cordoba)

Argentina (Bahia Blanca)

Brazil (Belo Horizonte)

Central Ametica

United States (East)

Asre

India (Calcutta)

India (Gauhati)

Korea

Vietnam

AoveNcr rnov MrssroNs Orrtcr

Total receipts betueen 72 Sept. '74 and 70 Marcb

'75

Balance bfd.

Total as at 70 Marcb 1975

1.398.000

5.000.000

950.000

1.771.000

745.000

r.000.000

15.000

700.000

1.064.000

t.560.312

585.000

504.560

100.000

50.000

680.000

500.000

550.000

20.173.672

32.499

20.206.t71

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-44-

b) DrsrnrnufloN oF MoNEY REcETvED

Eunope

Italy, Iombardo-Emilian: for prisoners

do., Ostia: to the FMA for the poot

Jugoslavia, Zagreb: from Novam Prov.

AmBnrce

Antilles, Haiti: literacy

Bolivia, Santa Cruz: Youth Centre

Central America, San Salvador: "Don Rical-

done" Club

Chile, La Serena: catedretic material

Colombia, Bogot6: Children's Rescue work

Colombia, Medellin: Past Pupils' Social Work

Uruguay, to ih. Prov. from Bahia Blanca

Asm

Philippines, Cebri: Social Centre at Pasil

Philippines, Joriz, Manila: social work

Phflippines, Tondo, Manila: for children from

the slums

Hong Kong, Macau: lepers at Coloane

Hong Kong, Taiwan: publications

India, Calcutta: new aspirantate at Ranchi

India, Gauhati: Don Vanni's Mission

India, Gauhati: well and irdgation at Golaghat

India, Gauhati: four houses for the poor

India, Madras: wells for three villages at

Chingleput

India, Madras: maintenance of the otphans at

Nilgiris

200.000

500.000

600.000

500.000

1.0r5.000

1.000.000

300.000

500.000

532.000

500.000

1.000.000

500.000

,00.000

500.000

1.000.000

,00.000

2.000.000

1.500.000

1.000.000

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-45-

Middle East, Egypt: poot chil&en of the Boys'

Club at Cairo

Middle East, Nazareth: indigent Arab youth

Thailand, Surat Thani: enlatgement of the

crhurch

Vietnam: uaining houses

Total disbarseffieflts lron 12 September '74 to

10 March 1975

Balance'cf d

Total

500.000

,00.000

1.500.000

1.000.000

20.167.000

,9.171

20.206.771

c) Cesu-rr.ov

Total receipts as at 70 Mdrcb 7975

Total disbursenents at sarne dat,

Renaining fand.

301.49L.040

30r.451.869

39.L7t

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IV. ACTIVITIES OF THE SUPER,IOR COUNC,IL

AN.D MATTE.HS OF GENERAL INTERES.T

1, The first session of the Counci'l for 1975

This started on 15th Jarroary and will finish on 15th April. The

most important matters under discussion are the following:

a) The Proaincial Chapters, 1975

The two main objects here are: the approval of the deliberations

of the PC75s (v. Const. S 1Zg); and the careful assessment of the

situation in the Provinces, particularly in relation to what had been

said and decided at the last PCs.

b) Preparation lor tbe continental rneetings

The Rector Major and the other Councillots will be meeting

Provincials and Delegates from the Regions to see how far the decisions

of the S.G.C. have been put into effect (cf. ASGC 761.L2).

c\\ Reports ol the extraordinary uisitations

Reports were made on the Provinces of Barbelona, Belgium

(North), Chile, the Philippines, France (North), Gauhati, Liguria,

Uruguay, Rosario. There was also the report on the U.P.S., presented

by Fr. Vrganb.

d) The Training Manual

Close attention has been given to ttre establishment of criteria

based on the contributions received by the Department concerned.

These critetia, set out in a short document, will enable the local

commissions to prepare their own manuals,

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e) Tbe a??ointffient ol lilteen neu Prouircials

The data accumulated ftom the consultations have been analysed

and the decisions will be made before the end of the session.

f) Other basiness

Details will be given in rhe nexr number.

2. Department of Salesian Training

a) Canonical ttisitation ol tbe Pontifical Salesian (Jnioersity (U.P.S.)

This was carried out by Fr. Egidio Viganb berween 9th Decem-

bet and 31st January.

b) European Synposiam on Retreats

The European Symposium on the Renewal of Retreats for Sales-

ians took place at tfie Pisana between 25th lanuary and 1st February.

130 confreres, some from outside Europe, and Salesian Sisters took

part. It consisted of specialist reports and group discussions. There

was an intense liturgical li[e, and a spirit o{ Salesian cordiality.

c) Coarses of On-going Fornation

The Third Course finished in the middle of February, ro rhe

satisfaction of all concemed. The Fourth Course is coming up, this

one being reserved for missionaries (v. No. 5 further on).

d) Tbe Brotbers''Vorld Congress

The Centml Commission met at the Pisana on 1st March for

the final preparatory phase. Items on the agenda:

Deleg--atesrin,esvapinsediocnttihoeannroudlfefisdnoafocluramtphepenritorsvpaarlensodefnottahthteieonra;dmmaitneisritaral ttivoe

machinery;

be sent to

- preparation of a duty-list;

5.8 Page 48

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-48-

- co-ordination of.activities, such as the preparation of the speci'

men film-strip on the voqational the-e and the organSzation of a televis-

ed Mass on Sunday, 7th Septg4ber, at the end bf the Congress, to

form a part of the Missionary Centenary celebrations.

On 2nd March the rapporter[s were brought in; also present were

the Councillor for Formation and a few other confreres as consultors.

Subject discussed: the arrangement of the draft reports to be sent

to the Delegates.

The outcome of it all will be tanslated into the main languages

and sent to the Delegates, with the 'R6su-6 of the Provincial and

Regional Conventions.' The full text of the reports will be made

availahle to the Delegates at the beginning of thq Congress itself.

Delegatets please note, In the interests of efficienry, the Central

Commissi6n needs to know the requirements of the Delegates, especially

when it comes to languages. so please fill in and return the Inform-

ation Form as soon as Possible.

3. Youth Apostolate DePartment

a) Tbe aspirantate ond oocation

The Department has worked out a first &aft of 'Aids to Reflec-

tion' on the nature, aims and the general educational and pastoral

considerations of the first phase in the cultivation of vocations,.chiefly

in the aspirantate.

At the end of February the document was sent to a cefiain

nu-ber of cbnfreres for comment. Up to the end of March only

rwo replies had been received.

Th...

10th-12th

*m a,cl international meeting held at

March to study this document and

the

Generalate

proved to

from

be a

highly. rewarding exercise. confreres from ths following countries

took part: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Colombia, India, Ireland,

Italy, Perf, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States

and Uruguay.

The

study at

document, with

meetings of the

its modifications, will come in

Rectors of the aspirantates, so

for

that

further

it may

emerge as a valuable instrument of reflection and action.

5.9 Page 49

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b) Yo*tb Centres

A paper on Youth Cenffes is all ready for study and modification.

c) Tbe educational conmunity and.lay co-uorkers

A considerable amouht of information has abeady reached the

Department on what is being done about the training of our co-

workers as educators in the Salesian sense of the word, that is,

efficient members of an educational community. A meeting is soon

to be held to evaluate this material and oryarize it into a policy

for action.

4. Department of the Adult Apostolate

a) Tuo irupofiant Congresses for the Past Pupils

: On 25th and 26th January, Fr. Giovanni Raineri, the Councillor

for the Adult Apostolate, presided ar rwo important meetings in

Brussels. The first was for the National Presidents of the European

t Past Pupils to aftenge a prograrnme for the European Congress,

which is being held at Louvain from 11th-14th September on rhe theme

'The Salesian Past Pupils and European Unity.'

At the second meeting, the Confedeml Council dealt with the

themes for the Missionary Centenary and the Eurasian Past Pupils'

Congress, planned for L976.

b) The Prouisional 'VorA Cauncil of Co-operators

In a letter dated tt-2-L975, the Rector Major appointed the

Provisional ITorld Council of Salesian Cooperarors. The following

were nomina,ted:

Fr. Giovanni Raineri, Councillor for the Adult Apostolate.

Mothet l*azia Galletti, Member of the Superior Council, F.M.A.

Fr. Mario Cogliandro, Secretary General of the Co-operators.

Fr. fumando Buttarelli, Co.operators'National Delegate for Italy.

Sr. Maria Rampini, Co-ordinator of the Co-operators' Delegares,

F,M.A.

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Mrs. Giovanna Albert, Co-operatots' National Councillor for Italy.

Dr. Luigi Sarcheletti, C.N.C. for ltaly.

Prof. Agostino Luzat4 C.N.C. for Italy.

Mt. Amadeo Clarri, C.N.C. for'Spain.

Mr. Antonio Garcia Veta, C.N.C. for Spain.

Mr. Jos6 Bruno Teixeira, C.N.C. for Portugal.

Mr. Benjamin Turiano, C.N.C. for the Philippines.

Dr. Enid Roberts, C.N.C. for Madras.

Mts. Teresa Paolini, Co-operators' Local Councillor for Rome.

Don Mario Midali, Professor at the U.P.S.: Expert.

After a whfle, it is intended to make further appointments to the

Council and also to fotm a working party within the Council.

On 1st and 2nd March, the Rector Major opened the first Council

Meeting. Items on the agenda:

the functions of the Council as given in the new Regulations;

- a definitive &aft of the Manual fot Officers;

- the Votld Congtess of Co-operators to celebrate the centenary

- o{ Don Bosco's Regulations (1876-t976);

the Centenary of the Salesian Missions;

-- the Congress of the Young Cooperators of Europe.

c) Manual lor Ollicers ol tbe Cooperators' Association

On 28th February a group of experts revised the draft of the

New Manual.

5. Mission Department

a) Tbe 704tb Missionary Expedition (not 10Jrd, as stated fi ASC

No.277, p.35) numbered 55 in all: 30 priests, 10 Brotlers, 15 clerics.

Bteakdoun by nationality.' they come from 11 countries: Italy,2l;

Spain, 12; Po1and, 9; India, 3; Ireland, 3; Phflippines, 2; Brazrl,

JugosBlarveiaak, dPoaurungbuyayP, rUonaiintecde:K6infgrodmomliadnzd;U5niftteodmSLtaotmesb,aotndey,

each.

Venetia

(West), Madrid; 3 from Dublin, Venetia (East), Bilbao; 2 fuom

Manila, Bombay, Le6n, Turin (Subalpina); 1 from Belo Horizonte,

6 Pages 51-60

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Calcutta, Odord, 'Liguria, Naples, Parugoay, C6rdoba (Spain), Barce-

lona, United States (East), Ljubljana.

Breakdown by destination; to Latin America (Antilles, Argentina,

Bolivia, Braz7, Chile, Colombia, M6xico, Paraguay, Venezuela): 26.

To Asia (Hong Kong, India, lapan, Middle East, Philippines, Thailand):

L6. To Aftica (Central Africa, Algeria, Guinea, Mogambique, Sout'h

Africa):13.

b) The Centenary.Poster Competition

For the thematic and oryanizational details, see .d.SC No. 275

(July-Sept. 1974). This Competition, for the design of the CSM,76

Poster, was open to artists from all over the world. The two phases

- - Provincial and International closed at Rome on 3Lst January

1975 wirh the acceptance of thirty-seven original works, twenty-*rree

coming from the Provinces of the F.M.A. and fourteen from Salesian

Provinces.

On 7th Mard: the panel of judges met under the presidency of

Mgr. Giovanni Fallani, Piesident of the Cenral Pontificai Commission

for Sacred Art in Italy. The panel was composed of well-known

artists and experts, and al.so Fr. Ettore Segneri, Director of the

Central Office for Social Communications.

The first prize was awarded to a work countersigned "Sol AIum-

bra," which turned out to belong to Mr. Nicolas Ortega Garcia, a past

pupil from Madrid. Four other works were highly reco-mended.

c) Opening ol the Centenary at Turtn

A 'CSM-1976 Committee' is working hard to put on the following

events in the city that saw the departure of the first missionaries:

the-

1lth November: the

Rector'Major appearing

Day of Prayer mentioned in

in Section II of this number;

the

letter

Help-of

Ijfh November: the Civic Commemoration;

16th: the Solemn Concelebration in the

Christians, and the Departure Ceremony

Basilica

for the

of Mary,

new mis-

sionaries, all to be televised.

d) Cornmemoratiue publications

The following publications commemorating the Centenary will

shortly appear:

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-52-

I Part of the Missionary Diory ol Mgr' Giovanni MarcJresi;

- a booklet on Mgr. Vetsiglia alrd Fr. Caravatio, prepared by Fr.

- Adolfo L'Arco;

of mote than 150 Salesian missionaries, by Fr. Eugenio

Valentini.

e) Course of Continaoas Fornoation for Missionaries

A two-months' Course of Continuous Formation and Missionary

Renewal will start on 10th May. It will be attended by about forty

Salesian missionaties ftom vadous missions. It will be a ioint under-

taking of the Missions and Salesian Formation Departments.

f) A meeting uith Salesian tnissionary bishops.

These two Departments are also working on a meeting with our

missionary prelates from Asia and Latin America, probably about

twenty in number. The meeting, planned tor 1-2th-L6th January

1976, will be followed by the \\feek of Salesian Spirituality from

26th-31st, which will have the missions as its theme.

6. The Regional Gouncillors

All have been on the job, and have visited their Regions. Of

particular interest is Fr. Vecchi's visit to his Region last September,

bctober and November. He met the combined Ptovincial Conferen'

ces in Uruguay to deal with the progtammes of Continuous Formation,

the press and the Missionary Centenary.

At Buenos Aires he met the representatives of the Plate Provinces

taking a special interest in the ttaining of catechetical teams for the

preparation of material for the press.

In the next quarter he is booked to visit the Province of Recife,

and some Councillors are to take part in opening "Planned Meetings"

with the con{reres and other members o{ the Salesian Family inBrazil,

with the accent on Rectors and specialized areas of activity. There

is also to be an extraotdinary visitation to the Province of Campo

Grande.

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V. DOGUMENTS

Agreed Policy on the Go-operators

On 4,7-L974 the Rector Major and Mother Ersilia Canta, tbe

Superior GenerdJ ol the F.M.A., signed tbe neu 'Agreed. Policy on

the Salesian Co-operators for Salesians and Daugbters of Mary, Help

of Cbristians.'

Tbe tirst agreextent uas mad.e in L971. The new text has been

cornposed in tbe ligbt ol tbe renewed, Constitutions of the Salesians

and tbe F.M.A., witb special reference

Co-operators, uhicb carne into lorce

tbe new Regulations lor tbe

April 1974. lt is giuen in

lull below.

PREAMBLE

UNrrv oF THE Sar-rsrlx Fervrrr,v

Don Bosco founded the Salesians, the Salesians Sisters and the

Co-operators as different responses to the Salesian call; which means

that the Co-operators are not at the receiving end of our mission to

- youth and the working dasses

our side.

they are collaborators, working at

From the neu Salesian Constitationr

'The Holy Spirit has raised up other groups of. Aapizcd' persons

who, Iiving the Salesian spirit, fulfil the mission of Don Bosco in their

different vocations. The Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians,

and the Co-operators were founded by Don Bosco himself. Later

other institutes were established, and more may yet come into being.

Together with us, tlrese groups form the Salesian Family, for

which the members of the Society have the special responsibifity of

preserving unity of spirit and of encouraging those friendly contacts

6.4 Page 54

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-54-

which lead to enrichment and to a more fruitful apostolate' (S lO).

Tbe neu Regulations of tbe Co-operators permit of a 'flexible

orgatization that could be easily adapted to the local situation;' but

they require that the Centres should be ensured 'a common orientation

of effort' (S 23).

Artides L3, 25 and 27 say that the Rector Major, as successor

to Don Bosco, the Father of the Salesian Family and its centre of

unity, has full authority in the Association of Co-operators; this is

ordinarily exercised at world level through a member of the Salesian

Superior Council, and through the Provincial at Provincial level.

In pursuance of. article 11.2 ol the Constitutions ol tbe Daagbters

of Mary, Help ol Christians, a member of the General Council sees

to Sisters.

Cor,r,esoRArroN

Tbe Regalatioins ol tbe Sisters invite the members to 'collaborare

Salesian Co-operators according to the Regulations of the Union'

(S 152).

The new Regulations for the Co-operators deal with the principle

of collaboration in the following arricles:

7: Through collaboration, the Co-operator will 'reafize his poten-

tial here and now. . .'

8.8: The many lay co-workers who, in ever-increasing numbers,

are helping 'in the work and activities of the Salesians and Salesian

Sistem' can become frrll Co-operators.

12: 'I7e wish . . . to share information and encourage spiritual

growth . . . to participate . . . in the structures of inter-communication,

collaboration and co-administration created by co--on agreement among

the officers of the different groups of the Salesian pamily.'

Lasdy, the neu Regulations S 25.2 read: 'The bases for collabo-

ration and the areas of co-responsibility between the Salesians and the

Salesian Sisters in regard to the otganszation of the Co-operators will

be agreed upon at a meeting of the Rector Major and the Mother

General.'

As a result of this, we present

6.5 Page 55

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-))-

THE AGREED POLICY

CrNrnrs eNo l.ocer, Dsr.pclrEs

1) !7here chcumstances permit, a Co-operators' Centre may be

set up in connection with a house of the Salesian Sisters.

2\\ The Centre is erected by the Co-operators' Council with the

consent of the Provincial, and also of the Salesian Provincial concerned.

l) Th" Delegate for the Centre is appointed by the Provincial,

F.M.A., after the views of the Local Councillors (or of some of the

foundation-members of the Centre) have been heard. Her duties are

similar to those ptescribed for Local Delegates by the new Regulations

and the Manual (S 28).

4) The Local Delegate:

a) shares responsibility with the Council for the training and

admission of new Co-opetators (S ZZl;

b) encovages observance of the Regulations, adhetence to

official policies, and the activation of the Association's programme;

c) heeps her Mother Superior informed of her apostolic sefvice,

and likewise her Mother Provincial through tlre Provincial Delegate;

d) has the duty, after consulting her Mother Superior and the

Co-operators' Council, of seeing that there is a Salesian to give the

Monthly Retreat, to meet the requirements of the sacramental and

liturgical life and to help with the training programme;

e) in the absence of a Salesian or a priest, gives the monthly

talk, or asks some other qualified person to do so.

5) If the occasion arises for the amalgamation of an F.M'A. Centre

with an S.D.B. Centre and vice versa, the decision rests with the

Provincial and the Mother Provincial, after consultation with the

Co-operators' Local and Provincial Councils.

6) II a work of the Salesian Sisters has to be abandoned; the

Co-operators should keep the Centre going either by attaching it to

the nearest work (S.D.B. ot F.M.A.) or by handing it over to a

Co-opetators' Delegate (27.3), with the consent of the Provincial.

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-56-

RELAtroNs BETvEEN THE LocAL DuecArr, F.M.A.,

AND THE Ser.nsrer.ls

7) The Assistant has no right to a se,u on the Local Council and

he has no responsibility for organization. The out-of-pocker expenses

of the priest providing ssdin2ry or extraordinary services are met

from the Centre's cash fund.

8) Normal relations between an F.M.A. Centre and a neigh-

bouring Salesian Centre are regulated by the respecrive Councils.

9) \\7hen Centres of the two Congregations are established in the

s4me area, there should be collaboration in the apostolate and joint

functions should be orgenizsd (e.g., annual meetings, retreats, etc.).

Trm Pnovrxcrer, DBr,roem, FM.A

10) Having consulted the members of the Co-operators' Provincial

Council, the Mother Provincial appoints the Provincial Delegate and

introduces her to the communities concerned.

11) The Provincial Delegate, F.M.A.:

a) represents the Mother Provincial at the Co-operators' Provin-

cial Couocil and the Cenrres;

b) is ex officio member of the Co-operarors' provincial Council

and, if there is more than one Provincial Council, she is a member of

all of them;

c) guides and helps the Local Delegates;

/) visits the Centres;

e) provides liaison between the Centres for which she is

tesponsible and the Provincial Council;

l) with the Mother Provincial's approval, calls the annual

meetings of Local Delegates fot study and discussion; it a good thing

to invite the Provincial Delegate, S.D.B., as well;

g) at the beginning of the year, informs the Superiors of the

directives, proposals and schemes adopted by the Association and, at-

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- >t -

the end of the year, reports ba& to tfiem-'ori w.hat:,has been effected

in the F.M.A. Centres,. and convejs the same in-formation to tHe

ProrTinciala"ndNationalQuncils.,,]... r ,:

RBlanorus BETvEEN rnp Pnovu.lcrnr, Dnr,ncarEs; S.D,B. AND F.M.A.

12) The Salesian Provincial Delegate:

a) has the spiritual responsibility for all th. 'C6ritl.r"'ir'hi,

area, including those establishpd with the Siqters;

::, b) .muntans good worhi4g relations with his cou4teqBart,

c) with

erected- with

the

approval of the

Sisters; this is

Delegate, F,M.A., visits the Cenrres

to preserve theit tnion'with the

13) The Provincial Delegare, F.M.A., examines particular situations

at t}e centres and

problems, availing

ries to

herself,

find the most charitable solutions to

if necessary, of the services of the

the

Co-

operators'Council, the Provincials, S.D.B. and F.M.A., and the Salesian

Provincial Delegate.

14) New members accepted by the Local Councfl are received into

the Association by the Salesian Provincial or by his Delegare.

15) where the boundaries of the salesian Province do not coincide

with those of the Sisters' Province, the Provincials of the two congre-

gations must come to an agreement on how many Co-operators, Frovin-

cial councils should be set up. The co-operators should be consulted

on the matter.

Rrr.erroNs BErvzEEN urr Supenron CouNcrr.s

16) The urhole field of collaboration and co-responsibility between

the salesians and the Salesian sisters at international level is to be

reviewed periodically by the Major Superior responsible from both

Congregations with the help of experts.

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-58-

17) The Sisters should be adequatdy represented on the Provisional

World Council and on the !florld Council whidr is to be set up.

18) Until such time as the \\forld Council is established, important

problems should be referred to the Provisional \\7orld Council, for

f',rrth.r refetence to the Rector Major, who is the authoritative inter-

f: preter of the new Regulations (SS e.34).

YBenr.v PRocRAMME

19) The yearly ptogramme worked out by the Ddegates of both

Congregations and the Councils will provide fot the needs and initiatives

of the Salesians and the Sisters.

Roma, 24thJvly D7a

Morsen Ensrr,ra CeNte

Fr. Lurcr Rrccrnr

6.9 Page 59

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VI. FHOM THE PBOVINCIAL NEWSLETTERS

Tbis section is conpiled lrom tbe P.NIs sent in to H.e. lt

is essentially an INFORMATION colann (cl. A.S.G.C. 7G3, 3b: "a

digest of tbe principal initiatiues andertaken in tbe lietd of Salesian

reneual"), and. implies no ualue lud,gement on the part ol the Superior

Council.

l. Venetian Province giving the Gounselling Gentres a Sa.

lesian look

Fron 30tb Nouenber to 7st December 7924, there uas a neeting

of tbe people running tbe Salesian Comprebensiae Coanselling Centres

in ltaly. Tbe cbiel paper uas gioeru by Fr. Gioaenale Dbo, Coancillor

lor tbe Yoatb Apostolate. (See tbe NL lroru Venice, December 7974,

pp. 7-8, and otber NLs.)

In his paper entided 'Problems and prospecrs of the Provincial

Counselling Centres,' Fr. Dho sketched the broad oudines of the

work and its Salesian character.

He identified three constituents of the present situation:

1) Most young people today are more conscious of their potential

and their responsibilities, but they are off course and a prey to

manipulation, and therefore in need of 'objective' guidance.

2) The establishments providing education and pastoral care are

going through the painful process of renewal and are finding the greatest

difficulty in translating the new prospecrs and dimensions into reality.

Among the difficulties are the anxieties of the more clear-sighted edu-

cators, and the obscurantism of the duller spirits.

3) Thought must be given to the Salesian pasroral care of the

young not in terms of the institution they attend, but of evangelization.

Fr. Dho put some questions that, in the context given above,

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60-

would throw some light on what these Salesian Comprehensive Counsell-

ing eentres ars aiming 41.

1. \\7ho is meant to benefit from the work? Answer: chiefly the

Provincial Community; then the Local Co--unities (of all sorts, and

all the people concerned: boys, Salesians, lay co-workers and parents);

and possibly boys not connected with any of our works.

2. Vhat sort of service is being offered in these Centres?

Answer: ptimarily educational and pastoral (we are not psychologists,

but educaiors and pastots turning the sciences to our own ends). !7hat

we have here, in fact, is continuous, on-going education, as required

by the profound and rapid social changes.

The new conditions demand a general shake-up in the objectives

ani methods of counselling.

i. !7.hat are the objectives of the Centres? Fr. Dho took three

areas into consideration:

. Vocational guidance. The thing to remember here is that the

pr,ibl.. is not principally psychological but educational and pastoral.

The guidance does not aim at divining the right 'choice,' the final

decision made at a particular point in time. However, many Salesian

Communities are not yet ready for such developments, and so the

counsbllors. cannot stop at 'diagnosesl' t'hey must help the Community

to open out into an educational action that incorpofates guidance as

part

of an integrated

Oryaruzed social

lPifreoc.esTs.his

represents

a vast

field

for

guidance

work.

Religious education and tr4ining. Muny educators feel the need

fot advice, to help them to a better understanding of the young and

to establish with them a rapport that makes for effective pastoral

action.

4. tgfill the counselLors have to develop a new rnethodology?

Answer: yes, as you can see from what has been said. One has

to avoid being fenced in by the purely diagnostic, going no further

than ,the individual advice of the psydriattist.

Only by expanding into the full pastoral field will the Salesian

couirsellor find the ruison d;'1tre for his work.

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-6L

2. North German Province - the 'Gblogne 'Gircte' for lay bo'

workers

For some tirne tbe 'Cologne Circle' bas been at work on tbe

problern of training oar lay co-uorkers in the Salesian spirit ond metbod.

This bas been started. by a gtoup of Prouincials in Central Europe.

Here is tbe gist of a report ruade to tbe conlreres last October by the

Prooinci.al, Fr. Karl Oerder.

It is becoming more and mote obvious that we cannot get very

fat without our lay helpers. But we have the ptoblems of working

with them and of uaining them to work with us.

So a working party was formed on the advice'of Fr. Ter Schure

and with the co-operation of some of the Provincials of the Region,

to provide a solution to the problem. It was called, provisionally,

the 'Cologne Circle.' !florking with the aims and methods proposed

in August 7974, the Circle directed its efforts to the lay people

working with us in education. Th.y need to know about Don Bosco

and the Congregation, they need special maining in our Preventive

System,

giu.n,

The Cologne Circle is awate that often this training is not

it is taking the matter in hand. It is providing printed

-rtt.. "anndd othet material for in6oductory studies, on-going formation,

talks, information days, days of recollection, retreats ' ' .

The seminary at Benediktbeuern and houses in other Provinces

are co-operating in the project. They deal with the educational aspects,

theology for lay people and continuous formation. The Salesians will

try to hold up to these lay people the ideal of the qualified Co-

operator.

All the Salesians will be expected to play an active part: it is not

a mattef of a general apostolic mission, but of a specifically SaleSian

mission, with the future of Don Bosco's wotk in the Region at stake.

3. Barcelona NL - a plan for the local Ghinanteco clergy

A fiue-year plan bas been studied

Mixepd.is, to train prtests fron tbe

in Mexico,

Cbinanteco

in tbe

tribe.

Prelacy ol

Tbe story

7.2 Page 62

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cones troffi Fr. Isid.ro Fibregas and appears in tbe Barcelona NL.

(October 7974, pp. 3-6): the lollowing is a surzrnary.

W'hen the Holy See appointed Mgr. Braulio Sdnchez ro dre new

Mixepolitan Prelacy, they gave him the task of creating a local clergy.

And that is just what we, the members of this executive team,

are doing.

The ,Chinantecos are one of the tribes in the Prelacy,, living

alongside the better-known Mixes, the Zapotecas, Mixtecos, etc. Be-

cause of their natural docility and self-effacing demeanour, they have

always knuckled under when attacked, and so have lived in submission.

They received the light of the Gospel early on from the Spanish

missionaries, who worked very hard and chose charming spots in

which to build some magnificent cieurches. The remains of these can

astirlel gbuelasr eheanrv.eJsut,sittaws athsedemsitsrosyioendarbyywreovrokluwtioanssb, eagnindnpinoglitticoalyiuelpd

heavals. Eventually the missionaries were expelled from the country,

and for a long time they Chinantecos were left to themseLves. Some

parts of the faith they kept intacr, but others were adulterated by the

old p'a!7gahnensutpheerstSitaiolenssi,awnsitcahrroivaeftda, nthdeidyolfaoturiensd. one priesr working

entirely alone. He travelled tirelessly around his teffirory, but he

could visit any one place only once a yar, and he could do only

hurried baptisms and mamiages. The first task Mgr. Braulio set

himself was to form a good band of helpers from among the peoples

themselves. Today they are doing a fine iob in keeping the faith alive

in their communities. !7e prepare these 'parish auxiliaries' for their

work by special eight-day courses held once a yefi and by contacting

them and the parish priests as ofren as possible. In the Prelary

there are more than 500 helpers, vdth more than 140 among the

Chinantecos. From this nursery we hope to get the local clergy who

will take our places.

rJTe need to train the clergy here on the spot to ensure their

acceptance among the people and we are experimenting in this line.

In January L975, we are starting a five-year plan to produce the first

deacons and other orders. \\[e have established two centres (one

among the Mixes at Matagallinas, the other at Rio Manso for the

Chinantecos) where carefully prepared courses will be held for training

lectors, acolytes and deacons.

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The parish arr*iliaries will form the pool on which to &aw

for candidates, because they wifi have the entrance-qualifications, the

time, and the gootlwill of the people. The courses will last for

three months, during the quiet period of the farming year, and will

be repeated for two years. At this point the candidates will teceive

the first Orders, to be followed by two yeats of practical ierning and

ftrther coruses, leading on to the next stage and finally to th6 diaconate.

Then comes the decisive step for the celibate deacons: the priesthood.

Such is our ambitious plan and our great hope. \\fle aim at

giving the seed of faith, sown long ago by the first missionaries, a

chance to sulrive the assaults of the dark forces of dissension.

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\\lll., PONTTIFICAL MAGISTER,IUM

i'-,

f..,.,

l.'1

Re. lgreating

a.Qhristian,qutlook,in

,,.'.-,

ourselves'

In the lace of too r7tafiy indiuilaal cases and. not'a few collectiae

contexts. of a dangerous 'co,xforruity to.anticontormityit eueft in tbe

Cbistian.-conscience,and in Cbristian practice, Pope Paul reminds

us of our daty of re-creating a Cbristian outlook in ourselues tbot

is coinscious ol Christian digni.ty. Tbis, tbe Pope tells as, is ubat

conciliar and Holy Year reneual rTzeafls for tbose wbo uant to under-

stand..

Again for tbose wbo uant to and,erstand, wbat tbe Pope says is

of irnnediate and obaious application to us as consecrated religious

ond priests follouing Don Bosco's charisrn. (General Audience, L5th

Janua'Sry7e19m7ur)s.t re{reate a Christian oudook in ourselves; we said

tfiis last time with regard to the renewal of our life in general, but

especially of our Christian li[e, our Catholic life. Now to recover

this oudook, to give it ideal splendour and logical certainty, to confer

on it fruitfulness of works and moral energy, the Holy Year can be

salutary for everyone.

We all know that the invitation is a permanent one, that it

springs from the original context of the teaching of holy Scipture.

Moreover, it is the basis of the doctrine of baptism, of man's rebirth

in a different existential form, a paradoxical, superior, new form.

Remember Jesus' dialogue with Nicodemus at night: Jn 3, 3 f.f.;

and remember the comparison, almost the antithesis, the transformation

of the "old man," the man of this natural world, and the "new man,"

given new life by a supernatural principle of which St Paul speaks

to us repeatedly: cf. Eph 4, 22; C.ol 3, l0;2 Cor 5, L7; etc. \\7e

know this, ot rather we should know it well, if our conscience is really

mindful of one Christian vocation.

The Christian is a new being, an original being, a happy being.

\\7ell does Pascdl say: "no one is as happy as a rcal Christian, or as

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reasonable, as virtuous, as kindly" (Pens€es, 54'L). Now we moderns;

even if we profess to be in communion with the Christian religion

(a communion that is often passed over in silence, minimizedr,seculari2,

ed), have rurely, ot incompletely, the sense of this newness of, ouf

style of life. \\7e often pose as con-formists, uriinfluenced by "human

respect"' to appear as we are, Christians: people, that is, with theil

own free and superior, though logical and auster€, way of li[e.

Obstacles to Christian Lile

So the Church calls us and admonishes us: Christian, be aware

of what you are; Christian, be consistent; Christian, be faithful; Chris-

tian, be strong; in a word: Christian, be a Christian.

It'would be useful, at this point, to study the obstades that

pre-vent us from giving our life a Christian appearance. The diagnosis

of these obstades, internal and external, would make up a ueatise of

spiritual pathology, difficult to set down in a: few pages. In any

case, it is the text we study at every moment set aside for religious

and moral renewal. \\7e may now just indicate one indispensable

factor of this desired Christian renewal; and -it is not difficult to

identify it, even if it is not always easy for evelyone to have recourse

to it. It is grace; it is the action of the Holy Spirit; it is the supple-

ment of light and sffengrh, which only conract with the divine

source of our spiritual regeneration can obtain for us.

This is dearly conveyed in the words of St Paul, whom. we have

chosen as the model of the renewal that we are seeking. He. says:

a",r.enovamini Spiritu mentis vestrae," be renewed in the spirit of your

mind (Eph 4,23), where the word "Spirihu," " pneurnati" in the original

text, must,refer,.exegetes tell us, to grace, that is, to the Holy,spirit

(cf. J. Knabenbauer, Corzrzt... ad Epb., p..132). It is the efficacy

we derive from Christ's passion, frsm his work of redemption,. whiih,

as St Thomas teaches us, is ffansm.itted to us in fwo principal-ways:

by faith and the sacraments, that is, by means of an interior act' of

out soul, faith, and by means of 'tfre.extefioruse of'the sacraments

(S.Th. Ifi, 62, 6). And here we have taking shape before ,us 'the

religious practice of the Holy Year; which is not exclusive, certainly,

to this particular, celebrati,on,.but is .practised in it with particular

commitment and with the deliberate assistance of the ecclesiastic"il

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ministry: a profession of {aith, a recorrse to sacramental action. This

brings us back to another characteristic obstacle which opposes the

desired renewal; it is the state of mind that has recendy been spead-

ing and becoming more intense: distrust of the Church, the so-called

institutional Churdr, the real Churcle, the human Church, the Church

that is the minister, custodian and dispenset of divine mysteries (cf.

1 Cot 4, 1). Let us recall the great statement of a famous German

Catholic thinker, John Adam Moehler, a forerunner of the ecumenical

movement (1796-1338), on the necessity of the me&ation of the

Church to know Christ and live by his life (cf. L'unitd nella Chiesa,l,

7), Our ideal and vital Christian renewal, therefore, cannot disregard

a rediscovery of our insertion in the mystical and social body of

Christ, which is the Catholic Church, and a liberation from the

temptation, fashionable today, unfortunately, of separating Christ from

the Church, as if by contesting the latter, and allowing our interpretation

of religious truth every arbitrary oiticism of the Church, it werc

possible to enjoy a more authentic and more vital communion with

the Lord Jesus, who is the source of our salvation through his

Church. So we will say with St Ignatius of Antioch, discamus

secundun Cbristianisruurn uiaere, let us learn to live according to

Christianity (ad. Magnesios, X). This is the renewal of the Council,

this is the renewal of the Holy Year! "He who has ears to hear,

let him hear!" (cf. Mt l),9). !7ith our Apostolic Blessing.

2. The place of humility in Ghristian renewal

Is tbere any room nowadays for bamility os an inteior disposition?

And ubat aalae bas tbis so-called.'passiae' and'negatioe' oirtue for tbe

Cbrtstian? Is there not a clasb betueen our uocation as hanan beings

aontbdeCrh?ris'Vtiabnast

on tbe one band,

is tbe relationsbip

and the

between

precept of hunility on tbe

kumility and looe, barzility

and strengtb, and autbority, and prayer? lf we do not get tbis one

right, ue run tbe risk ol building on sand, that is, on ambigaity.

Tbe reconstruction of nodern man, tbe nodern Christian, tbe

rnodern religious, the nodert Salesian, bas to stort from here. (Generd

Audience, 5th February 1975).

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\\7e are still thinking of that renewal, promoted by the Holy

Year, of the humuan conception of life that must characterize the

authenticity and efficiency of the Ch,ristian, both in his personal

conscience and in social life. And following, with the Gospel in

our hands, in the tracks of this quest, we come up against a word

that is a programme in itself.

It seems to us &fficult to reconcile this word with the elevation

of man, operated by the divine plan of gtace. In this plan the

digruty and the greatness of man, as we have had occasion to affirm

so many other times, rise to a splendid and maiestic stature, characte-

ristic of an adopted son of the Father, of a brother of Christ the

royal Saviour of mankind, and of a being that has within him the

luminous and sanctifying presence of the Holy Spitit.

Humility is a prereqaisite

Man, ih the conception and redity of Catholicism, is great; and

he must feel such in his conscience, in the value of his work, in the

hope of his final destiny. At the same time, however, an order that

invests the whole personality of man, his thoughts, his style of life,

his relations with his neighbours, bids him be humble.

llhat hrrmility is a prerequisite, we might say a constitutional

one, of Christian psychology and morality, no one can deny. A

proud Christian is a contradiction in terms. If we wish to renew

Christian life, we cannot pass over the lesson and practice of humility.

How are we to solve, in the first place, the conffast berween the

vocation to greatness and the commandment of humility? Ifithout

having recourse to Pascal's famous expression, about the grandeut and

the misery of man (cf.. Pensdes,400,416,4l7, etc.\\, we have on our

lips and in our heart every day the "Magnificat," the sublime hymn of

the Virgin Mary, who proclaims before God and to all those who listen

to her sweet voice her lowliness as his handmaid (l'humilitatem

ancillae suae, Lk 1, 48), and who at t{re same time celebrates the great

things that God has done fot het and prophesies her exaltation by

all human generations (ib. 8, 49). How is it possible? How can

we reconcile the most siricere and operative humility with recognition

of the highest dignity?

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Sellishaess dnd, Pide.

-68

T[e apparent contradictiop between the humility and. dignity, of

the .Chiistian could not haue a high.r and more authoritative solution.

An4 +e first solutioq is

The religious man cannot

given by consideration of

but be humble. Humility

man before God.

is truth. Cosmii

aw4reness produces hutility: "'\\trflhat is man, that thou (O God) shouldst

magnlfy him?" (Job 7, L7). St Augustine, in whose works the concept

of hrlmility is alwayE present, teaches us that humllisy is to be set in

the ftamework of truth (De nat. et gr., 34, P.L. 44, 265). \\7e are

tiny beings; and, what is more, we are sinners (cf.. S. Th;.,II-II, 151).

In thislconnection fur,miligy seems logical, and so easy, that if it

were not tehpered by other considerations coming from dod's mercy,

it would lead us to scepticism, to despair. "Humble yourselves, St

Petet writes, under the mighty hand of God,

in the time of visitation, cast all your anxiety

t'huapot nhehimma, ybeecxaalrlst ey.ofieu

cares for you" (1 Pet 5, 5-7). The example of Christ, above all,

will be a:school and model of humiliry for us (cf. St Bernard, De.gradi-

bus bunilitatis et satperbiae, P.L. L82, 94L, fI.).

From the religious standpoint praise of hutnility is eas/ imd victo.

rious (cf. 1, Cor 4, 7). This is an additional reason for recognizing

anot}er merit of digion, certainly not a secondary one. But, we

may wonder, does there not exi'st a , humility without a' religious

refetence? Yes, there does. Humiliry, in itself, is wisdom'(cf. S.Tb.

ib. 1). Socrates, -for example, taught us humility. But his moral

sttength is not always univosl ,and certain, because he easily gives

vray to deptession, or swells with presumption and vanity.

Personal hruniJity, that is, the upright and equable judgment that

bne can have of oneself, very easily does not continue to be uprigtrt

when it is a

we compare

q'ouuersstieolnveosf

the judgment

with others,

we must have on others. When

we are usually unable to keep

within the rightful limits. , rWe can almost say that humility, that ,is,

knowledge of our litirilagisls, is not a sociril virtue. Comparison with

others'often makes us lenient with oursdves, and proud; remember

the parable of the Pharisee and.the.publican:in the temple, when the

former says oI himself: "I am not like the rest of men .. ." (Lk

tr8,11).

Two outstanding evils of human psychology, guilty of the most

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extensive and serious harm to mankind, are thus laid bare: selfishness

and pride. Man then makes himself the centre of his estibadon o{

the values of life; he puts himself first; he considers himself unique.

His art of living consists in thinking of himself and getting the better

of others. All the great social and political disorders spring ftom

the hotbed of selfishness and pride, where so many human instincts

and so many springs of action are nourished, but where love no longbr

exists. Even where this soveteign feeling still :aurvives,,.,imbued'ias

it is with selfishness and pride, it becomes distorted and depraved;

it become collective selfishness, it becomes pride in community prestige.

Love loses its best and Christian characteristic; universality, and there-

fore its 'true authenticity, its sincefe disinterestedness, its marvellous

iipacity of discovbring, knowing; serving the sufferings of others

niagn"nlroorrsly, as Christ taught us by word and example

This kinship between lumiliry and love, between humility and

the exercise of the authority in&spensable for justice and t}e common

good, and finally between humility and prayer, could and should be

the subject of further reflection. Let it suffice now that we have

claimed for it the place that is due to it in the Christian renewal

which we are seeking, an indispensable and vital place, that of

a virtue, as St Thomar:sayJi following the example of Christ (Mt 11,

29; L8,2),

tissima et

which is, after the theological virttres

potissima," excellent and preferable

and justice,

(II-II, 161,

"excellefr-

5; cf. St

Augustinb, De oerb. Don., serm. 69, l;.P,L. 38, 44\\) -

41,"4

..:,

,ii

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VIII. OBITUARY NOTICES

Fr. Gioaanni Battista Atzeni

* Arbus, Cagliad, Italy: 2G11908. f Setargius, Cagliari: ll-12-lg.j4. 66 yeare

old; 48 prof.; 39 priest.

f'sep $aldinia he ioined the Salesian House at Genzano, whete his

Salesian and priestly vocation matured. For forty he years he filled the

ordinary posts in our hquses: teachiqg, direction of the boys' dub, parish

mhistry, and dl with a high sense of duty. He vas always faithful to

fuis 6alling, and such was his humiliry that he never looked for praise.

He fulfilled his last obedience just two months before his death. It cost

him much, and it vill undoubtedly increase his heavenly revard.

Fr. Natale Aoahle

* Lu Monfemato, Alessandri4 Italy: lyl2-t89g. f Alessaadria: 2TlL-1974.

74 yars old; 49 prof.; 43 priest.

In spite of poor health he worked hard on the missions in China.

His ability in book-keeping made him an invaluable man in adminisua-

tion, although he never held office. But he was most appreciated in his

cure of souls: confreres, faithfrrl, religious, priests, etun the Bishop, were

among his penitents. \\flhilst he could, he went everf week to the lepro-

sarium at Coloane to exercise his ministry. On fus return to Italy,

the sickness that had been sapping his vitality finally did for him and

took him off to his dch reward.

Bro. Giaseppe Bald.assane

*Barletta, Bari, Ialy: l7-5-t911, f Naples, Italy; 1&11-1974. 63 years old;

45 Wof..

'An amenable yorrng man, a great worker with a simple but deep

piety.' Thus his parish priest, and he stayed that way all his life. For

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21 years at Bari and then for almost all the rest of his life at 'Don Bosco'

at Naples he taught wood-work

bered him with gratirude as

'tthoegiei nmeraastiotenrs.'9Bf ebsoidyseswhhios

always

great

for work, he had considerable inventive ability. The boys saw

remem-

capaaty

in him

a man of faith, the exemplary religious, and glimpsed a truly gteat soul

that knew the secret of love and self-sacrifice, and referred everything

to God.

Bro. Josd Baruut

* Vilar de CaM, L&i&, Spain: 29'61894. t Barcelooe, Spain: 1&7-1974' 80

years old; 62 ptof.

He was a humble, simple soul, always available, and he won the

esteem of everyone. He taught for eleven years at Ciudadela, and for

one year at ltzroitia. Then he vent to Sarri6, where, besides attending

to the reception-desk, carried on a hun&ed-and-one apostolic activities.

He was very keen on distributing good books, magazines and pamphlets.

He himself took a pamphlet entided Eienplos y Ensenanzas to 180 num-

bers, with a circulation of 20,000. He laboured endlessly for vocations,

and was immensely gratified to preside in 1968 over a reunion of about

forty members of the Baraut Obiols family consecrated to the Lord. He

had a great devotion to Mary, and now the good and faithful servant

has gone home,

Fr. Manuel Bars

* Torroella de Montgd, Geroaa, Spain: 261G1889. f Shillong, ltdia: 441974'

84 yeats old; 66 prof.; 57 priest; 6 Apostolic Administmtor of Krishaagar.

Mgr. Bars was one of the pioneer missioners of Ass'm. He used

his exceptional capability and dynamism to spread the Gospel message

in North-East India, to which he devoted himself entirely. A bi'product

of his intense vork was the fostering of the languages and culture of the

region, and he was recognized as a scholar in this field. His two dictio-

- - naries Khasi and Ga,ro are standard works.

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Bro. Cailo Basso

* Roccaforte Mondovl, Cuneo, ftafa: 21.t2-L89r. f Bivio di Cumiaoa, Turio,

l:oly: 271-L975. 81 years old; 47 prof.

In his Salesian life he was exemplary and geoerous to the very end,

He left a fine example of hard work and self-sacrifice, especially in the

loving care of his vineyard and orchard. He possessed a keen wit and

gteat aff.abrhty, and his smilg inspired peace and confidence. His

wcoitunnetsrsym- ananadgothgewpiathst

tphuepwilsonwdielrlsteosftifnyattuoreth,isse-rviwngashtishaLroordf

a humble

.with joy

and simplicity. !?'hat he had done to his vines, God did to him at the

.qq oj his days; but he apcqpted it all and offered it up for.his.confrgres

and the boys.

Fr. Gualtiero Bondi

*,Budrio, Bolopa, ltaly: LGTL903. f Pio XI, Rome: 11-2-1975. 71 years old;

52 prof,.;.45 priest; Rector 14.

It was not long after his ordination before he took over the admi-

nis*atiqq'of large houses, movmg on to rectorships combined with parish

work. He. was a talented admiriistrator with a stfoDg seDse of respon.

sibility and he held a series of posts in the Rompn and-A&iatic Provinces.

He erpressed a strong desire to work in.the House of God, and he started

off at the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians, at Rome with Mgr. Sal-

vatore Rotolo, for whom he had the greatest respect. He asked to be

setrt back to the Basilica to see out his last days, and here Our Lady

called him to herself.

Fr. Lutgi Bors'ello

Turin: 2rcL894. t

There: L-Ll-1974. 80 years ,f

^g";

prof.;48 priest.

. He vas a Milttary Chaplain for twenty-two years and for ,another

rwenty-five years Chaplain at the Ferrante Aporti; so his Salesian aposto-

late was exircised outside the communir,;;, but it was, Salesian in spirit.

He knew Don Albera, and Don Ricaldone, 'and held them in the highest

respect. A formidable :atray of rnedals speak for themselves; but tis

most glorious medal was the priesthood.

.. .

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Fr. Arnedeo Bardeus

* Burriana, Castell6n; Spaio: 1611-19V2: 1 Matar5, SalceJona:, 22:LZ-lgV4i 72

years old; 54 prof,.;44 priest.

' He was an outshn&ng figure of a Salesian, calm, full of life, with

great spiritual ambitions, an indefatigable worker, a loyal friend, a man

oHfeeaussyed-Ohis.1pr*emniri-o'g

conversation. He taught.competently till his death.

promote the causes of th. Salesian marwrs of the

Civil \\far, and also the iause of Dame Dorothea Chopitea. In this way,

he showed his love for Don Bosco and the Congregation.

Fr. Ilario Bussoletti

o N.pi, Rome, Italy: 741904. f Rome: 2G7-L974. 70 years old, 50 prof.;

43 priest; 26 Rector.

He spent, most oJ his Salesia4 life in the Lombard Province. After

ordination, the

H. T charge

Superiors sent fuim'to work

of various houses. He won

the Oratory and then

gold medal for saving

put

the

town from the reprisals of the Germans towards the end of !florld War II.

Then he beco-e parish priest. U:rquenchable zeal., solid piety and level-

headed optimism characterised all he did.

B)o. Prd.ro Bustanoente

* Lima, Per6: *12-1885. f Piua, Peru 1G2-L975. 89 years old; 66 prof.

,.t .;

He died at 4.40, Iike Don Bosco. Lasr year, when''he was sick in

hospital, he asked the Salesians to take him to the Salesian House ,because

otherwise, if Don Bosco comes to,take me, he won't find me,. And that

was typical. He'always had his rosary in his hands, praying for everyone,

and he never missed his Friday Confession. He was a jovial soul, with a

great love of .the Congrqgation.. For fifty years he was d master-tailor,

and he taught the;trade to hosts of boys, who remembered hirn with

affection.

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Fr. Afiio Carciola

* Pedara, Caanie, Italy (r:9'1917. f Messina: 2l-l't975, 57 years old; 39 prof.;

28 priest.

The real Salesian, living and working in silence. After the war, he

spent his life in our San Domenico Savio Club at Messina, where he taught

the primary school chil&en and organized theatricals among them' to the

delight of their parents. After twenty-five years of teaching he had to it

give up because of severe debility and a serious heart coodition; and it

was a heart attack that finally took him off.

Fr. Ettorc Castoldi

* Milan, Itdy: 111-1911. C,ampo Grande, Mato Grosso, Braal: l'9'L974. 63

year old; 38 prof.; 29 priest.; 15 Rector.

He showed great otganizing ability in office' But his chief work was

in the parishes, where he laboured for thirteen years after the style of

St Paul, who sacrificed himself srillingly for the good of souls. His Bishop

writes as follows: 'Don Castoldi will remain in the annals of the Church

in the Campo Grande as the tireless apostle of matrimony.' His chief

concern was the Christian Family Movement, on which he spent himself and

for which he gave his life, since he took sick and died wl'tilst directing one

of the courses.

Bro. Nno Cesaro

* Campo S. Martino, Padue, Italy: 2A11-1J19. t Intra di Verbania, Novata:

,12-1974. 55 years old; 26 Prof.

He was a powerfully-built man and did not seem to know what

tiredness was. He packed in only when the Lord said, 'Enough.' He was

a hard-working Salesian, straight as a die, a man of great humanity and

spirituatity. He was very much taken up with the welfate of the house

and its spirituat and tempord affairs. \\7e shall certainly have a friend

in the heavenly courts.

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Bro. Celestino Cbac6n

" Tdibe, TCchira, Venezuela: +7-1908. Caracas: l+2-197j. 66 years old,

42 ptot.

He spent his Salesian life gt. Caracas as master-tailor lrnd at the Alto Orinoco

Mission as odd-job man. His last years were spent in the Missions Office,

again as factotum. A cancer ate him up in three months. But the fatal

disease only served to bring to the fore hii qualities as a religious and a

Salesian: deep spirituality, exquisite charity, tireless rliligence, steadfast

loyalty to to the Rule, the Superiors, the Congregation and his daily duties.

Bro. Cbarles Clayette

* Paris, Fraocer 2l-L2-L897. t Gid, Fraace: Wlg74, 76 years old;49 prof,

.A great enthusiast for his vocation, he worked on the shopfloor for

forry years as assistant, instructor and head of department. He opened the

engineering

6 flammsr,

shop at Caen, Saint Dizier and Giel.

a fi7e, a lathe . . . and a smile. He

He always

vras called

b,pegeatint

with

pbre

Clayette,' partly because of his stature, but also because he was small

and humble like a child with its good qualities and defects. He died poor,

but rich in the fulloess of his life: a ieal man, a thorough Christian- and

a hundred-per-cent Salesian and educator.

Bro. Samael Cortds

* t Sao Pedro Nonudco, El Salvador: 15-&1889. Santa Tecla, El Salvador:

2L-L-1975. 85 years old; 56 prof.

A good, simple religious, he spent his Salesian life in lowly occupations,

always loyal, obliging and affable. The ailments of old age he bore with

serenity and with the spirit of faith.

Fr. Giuseppe Crucilll

I * Canicetd, Agrigento, ltaly: %*L9L2. lianariao, Caltanissetta, I:tolyz 2TL2-

L974. 62 yars old; 44 prof.; t4 priest.

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Born into a deeply Christian f.amrly, he joined the Salesiaos while his

sister joined the Da.ughters .of Mary, Help of Christians' He devoted his

time and energies io tiachinij Rdfigi-on in ichool and td the priestly'mini.try

among the boys of the Boys' Club. On his way back from giving

catechism classes in a local town, he had an accident on his scooter, landed

on his head ahd died rwo days lbter in hospital.. Pray for his soul.

Don Rodollo Fierro

f * IJsEe, Bogot6, Colombia: Gl1-1879. Barcelona, Spairrt 5-12-L974. 95 years

old; 78 ptof.;l2 priest; 12 Rector.

He was drawn to the Salesians as a boy by the pictur.e of -Don Bosco

and the preaching of Fr. Evasio Rabagliati, who w.ap. then the apostle ot

the leplrs. He'was exceptional iri his dedication to the work of education,

both as student of the theory and as practitioner during [i5 time as Rector

in Venezuela.

Spain'and this

Don Rjnaldi instructed

absorbed most of'his

ehniemrgtieos.or.gFaonrJztewethlveePyaesatrsPuhpeilswains

Certtral'trnspeCtor of the Catholic Teacher Training Colleges in Spain. He

was director hnd editor of the'spanish Salesian Bulletin for hany years, and

he'u/as a prolific and skilful viter on educational and general topics: In

1911' his speech in the Chamber of Deputies at Madrid stopped the law

for the

testify

tsouppthreesseiosnteoemf reinligiwouhsichconhgerevgaastiohnse.ldHbisy'hsaoifcdieoztye.nAdebcoigratimonasn

intellecrually and morally, he never had a bitter word to say about anyone.

He died the death of the just, surrounded, like a patriarch, by the affection

of all.

Fr. Ugo Fiorini

* Palaazolo, Vemua, Itdy: ,1441881. t Rovereto, Trqt: 24L974, 9L years

oJd,;, 74 prof.; 67-priest.

As a young priest he left for Latin America, where, in an outpouriag of

love for his fellow-men, he worked so hard that he vrecked his health.

He returned home and recoveted enough to start work again' Leader of

youtrgsters, a profoundly human educator, he fired' others with his

enthusiasm. A Jprtfuight ch41acg91, he hated doigg thipgs.'hy halvqs. , He

had a great loyalty for the Church and the'Pope. He entr+rsted his life and

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work to Our Lady:

of everyone,

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she was his Helpen' He took v.ith him the affection

B,rq. Ped.ro Fonseca

*ye'aDrosreosldd;o)1Indpihri6o, fM. inas'

GeraiS; 'Btaa\\

22-GL9L5. t

Brasilia:

27'7:-79'7i4'.

I :.

His ,constitutioh Was of proverbial .toughness, and he was always

thankful to God for his gciod health, bidding fair to see the next rnilleniirm.

He stopped work bately two monts before his death' He'was mad on

work, good work sanctified by union with God. As builder and decoratot,

he left his mark on many a house in the Provinces where he worked. He

took up cooking under obedience, and did it to perfection. He had a

great love for oihers, his correspondence with the numerous memteis bf

his family vas proof of that. He was. the consgh,ug angel in his father's last

months. His great love for Don Bosco, the CoriSregation.and"the Superiors

was the motive force behind his Salesian mission.

Fr'. Jauier Galindo

* Puebi?, Mdxico: 2&ll-L%6. Oaxaca-Mixes, M&ico: 27+1974. 17 yeats

old; 19 prof.; 9 priest.

As a youngster he was distinguished for his religious observance, deep

spirituality and refined manners. From the time of his novitiate he had

tepeatedly exptessed the desire of working for the lepers. 'My concern

is-for thi lepirs,'he used to say,'I want to die a leper.'- God accepted

the sacri-fice of his life, and the last years of his prigsthgod were devoted

to missionary work. His d<jath caused dgep grief in the district.. He rests

novr at Tlahuitolpec, whete he started his apbst6late. Three bishops and

eight priests concelebrated at the obsequies before a great assembly of the

faithful.

Er. Erui.lio Gano

* La Spezia, Itzly: 18&1886' t Tudn, Mother Houset 2O-2'L975. 88 yeas

old; 71 prof.; 62 priest.

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A fimt class vocation from the Salesiaa Club and School at La Spezia,

he vas received into the Congrqgation by Blessed Michael Rua. He- took

a brilliant degree in Literature at Naples. He lived all his salesian life in

the apostolate of the school and the press in the Provinces of Rome and

Naples, until he was called to Turin by Don Ricaldoue iD l93g to take

over the Lettare Cattoliche, then the magazine Maria Aasiliatrice. He also

worked on various periodicals aia tne Salesiol Bal,letin. He founded the

Naista dei Giooani and was responsible for sixty odd publications of various

genres, educational, narrative, religious, etc. For fifteen years before the

end

part

was getting steadily wealter and veaker, and

his consecration, always faithful to his motto:

t,hIispahses

offered up as

no judgement

- I just obey!'

Fr. Alleo Gatta

* Rocca di Papa, Rome, ftaly: 2G&1898. f Genzaoo, Rune: 2G6,1974. 7j

yeam old; 59 prof.; 51 piest; 9 Rector.

Brilliandy gifted, he spent dl his working life as a teacher. He poured

iust as much energy into looking after the aspirants. He put bis

outstanding ability as a spiritual director at the service of the young.

However, a progressive paralysis sut back his energetic activity. Even so,

he still managed to be a 'master) to the boys and his confreres during the

fifteen long years of his calvary, which he offered up serenely to God.

Fr. Pauel Golla

f * Chorz6v, Poland: 1G1-1891. Wrzesnia, Poland: L9-Ll-1974. 83 years old;

63 ptof.; 54 pdest; Rector 2; Master of Novices 14.

A worthy educator and master of more than 840 novices to vhom he

passed on the Salesian spirit. After his e1din21isa, he acted as Provincial

Secretary for some years, then as Master .of Novices. He managed to

complete only two years of his rectorship at Zielone; then, physically

exhaused, he became confessor in the uai.ing houses. A musician himself,

he completed the biography of the well-known musician Fr. Antoni Hlond.

Pneumonia took him off to God.

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79-

Fr. Frarcisco Gonzilez Beltrln

* f Burriana, Gstdl6n, Spain: 2-2-1899. There LUL2-1974. 75 ye*rrs old; 55

prof.; 45 priest.

He was well-liked by everyone who knew him for his cqfdial, simple

manners, and for his kindssrr and generosity. He was a t€rY dynamic

character, and held his own against the lay authorities of the republic when

the increasingly anti-religious laws vere tlueatening our college at Valencia.

He was a good adminisuator with a great spirit of self-sacrifice, and he

spared himself no pains to feed the hundred of so boarders in the difficult

time just after the war. Then he was the man of providence for our House

at Burriana, his home-tovn. His personality and work contributed in very

large measure to building up its prestige. He loved Doo Bosco and Mary,

Help of Christians, and was a grcat aposde of the devotion.

Fr. Emile Grallaxd

* Rennes, France: l7-l-L899. t St Dizier, France: 2UL-L971. 76 years old;

51 prof.; 45 priest; 6 Rector.

He was Rector at Rennes and Pouilld and worked at Caen, Melles,

Marcu and Coat. From 1948 till his death he belonged to the community

of St Dizier. His past pupils temember him as a readet of the Humanities

who could commufcate his appteciation of literature, and as a musician

who for a long time was organist and choir-master. The chief menory,

howevet, is of a priest with rock-like faith.

k. Eduard oan Heese

* The }Iague, Holland: lVlGl9L2. f Santiago, Chile: 12:7'1974. 61 years

old; 43 prof..; 14 priest; 6 Rector.

He went to Chile in October L93t and taught for many years in our

colleges. In his last year he was vorking for the Cell Movement at Co!'

cepci5n. His delicate health could not stand the complications that set in

after an operation, but he had been well prepared for eteroity by the dif'

ficulties of life,

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Fr. Abromo Giuseppe l-andoni

t * Goda l[aggiore, Varcsq'Italy:,.,L5-9:L915,, ,Scsto S. Giovapgi, Milaa: .2-L-t975,

59 yeats oldi 17 prof.; 11 priest.

. He wzls an open and generous squl, faithful to the Salesian ideal, and

he worked for the yorrng to the end of his days. He was alvays peady

to preach and hear Confessions, heedless of strains and sacrifices. Genial

and"friendly, he ceated about Liin an atmosphere of .cpnfidence in which

people found it easy to opeq their.hears. May the Lord receive him into

His Kingdom and give him the reward of the just.

Fr. Virgilio Lorenzo

'f * Moslares de la Vqga, Palencia, Spanz Zl+tOZl. Lugo, Spuu D-12-1974.

53 yars old; 31 prcf.; 24 pdest; 14 Rector.

In all the communities he went to under obedience, either as .Rector

or as an ordinary religious, he left a great deal of affection and admiration

for numerous qualities: dutifulness; avaiabthty to all who needed him,

gteat capacity for work, affabtlity of manner. EIe lived a life of sacrifice

given entirely to the service of God and the love of his neighbour.

Bro. Estanislao Mariniak

* .Toan Ia .Pampa, fugeatina: 11-1-1911. .t Borrlqgne,.Bueaos lwtst 9:L2-L974.

63 years old; 36 ptof.

He spent his Salesian life in the Brothers' Aspirantate teaching and

assisting in the work-shop, faithfully and responsibly. A humble and

spiritual man, he passed away as he had lived, quiedy, leaving behind many

sorrowing confreres and pupils. Bur he also left behind the memory of

a life of prayer and of service, and the example of,his love and sacrifice for

the Congregation and its work.

Fr. Anton Monsbausen

* Doctweiler, Gbrmany: L&ll-LgLl. t Helenberg, Germany: L2-L2-L974. 6l

years old; 39 prof.; 24 pries,t.

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From 1950 to t965 he worked as chaplain at Satrnerz, Vilbert and

Aulhausen, and as Prefect at Bendorf. From 1965 onwards he was oc'

cupied with Confessions at Helenberg and he gave excellent examgle

in his care of the sick and old confreres. May the Lord teward him for

his generous charity and fervour, which edified us all.

Bro. Saloatore Mura

t * Ussassai, Nuoro, Italy: 21+1911' Laousei, Nuoro: 62-L975. 63 years old;

42 prof.,

He lived his teligious life with constancy and scnrpulous exactness. He

spent most of forty years as infirmarian in a hidden life of dedication.

After a long period of illness he took up his daily duties with reneved

vigour, full of concern for the welfare of the House. He stepped in to

cover the domestic emergencies, disregarding his chronically uncertain health.

His memory will always be blessed.

Fr. Partenio Muscinelli

* Sansepolcro, Atezao, lt:.lyt t4L920. t Villa Sora, Frascati, Italy: L-2-1975.

14 years old; 37 Wof.; 26 priest; 5 Rector.

Equipped with a very good mind, his teaching was much appreciated

at the Salesian High Schools at Alassio, Pordenone and the Saco Cuore,

Rome, where he was made Head-master. Then he was made Rector of

the Gerin Institute, Rome, and Villa Sora, Frascati. He was the real

Salesian in the midst of the boys whom he loved. He shared their

problems and sacrificed for them his best energies, in spite of his ailing

health. A man with a wealth of ideas, which he expressed with great

darity, he was noted for his for*rrighmess in this ti-e of confrontation.

His intelligence and excellent manners temain with those who have known

him and weep his untimeb passing.

Fr. Sergio Edruuxdo Nafiez

* Guadalaiata, al, M&ico: 8"il%8' f Maozanillo, C,olirna, Mdxico: +7-1972.

14 years old; 15 ptof.; 5 Pdest.

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-82

With only five years of priesthood, he could not be said, by ordinary

human reckoning, to have fulfilled his trissionary ideal among the Mixes,

cut off as he was, a young man in full vigour. Before leaving for the

missions, he applied his energies very generously and fruitfully to the

youth apostolate in ou colleges. The Lord of the harvest accepted the life

of Ft Setgio and sent along more workens to take his place:one of his

sisters and a group of lay volunteers have offered their services in the

education and evangelization of these ethnic groups in great need of help.

Fr. Fernando Oropeza

f & Tecamachalco, Puebla, MCxico: &1892. Mdxico Ciry: 2UGL974. 81 years

old; 61 prof..; 52 priest; 3 Rector.

Fr Oropeza did a vast amount of good in his long Salesian life, which

included rectorships in a number of houses of the Province. His great

characteristic, acknowledged by everyone, was his love for Our Lady and

Don Bosco, and his strong loyalty to the Congregation, even when times

were hard. He was always a cheerful man around the House. Defective

eye-sight, worsening with age, caused him great suffering.

Fr. Rayrnond Petit

* Oyonax, Ain, France: 2L-8-L902, f La Grau, La Navame, France: 1,62-L975.

72 yeart old; 46 prof.; 36 priest.

He joined as a late vocation in 1928. From 1934 to t95L he worked

enthusiastically on tfie missions of Thailand, Indo-China and China. On

his return to his home-country, obedience took him to La Navame, where

death overtook him whilst teaching the Sixth Years and assisting in the

mdoisrsmiointosryou-tcroapnpeddailnl ahtisthweorakgeatofh. o7m21e.TFhoer

zeal that took him to the

him, teaching and assisti.g

was being busy with souls. Amiable, friendly, a dedicated worker, hc

was utterly loyal to Don Bosco all his life.

Fr. Tbornas Puduuery

f * Triihur, Kerala, India: lSL2-L9tr6. C:hingleput, Tamil Nadu: 2-2-L974. )7

years old; 15 prof.; 4 ptiest.

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83-

He was killed in a motor accident whilst going to a neighbouring

village to show the frlm Tbe Lile ol Cbrist. He was not unprepared: a few

days before, he had made his monthly Exercise for a Happy Death, and

on the tragic day itself he had been to Confession and then stayed for a

long time in recollection before Jesus in The Blessed Sacrament, A pre-

sentiment? A1l remember him as a tireless worker: for him, a rest meant

a change of work. Since 1973 he had been Curate of the Parish. After

only nine months on the Padsh, he had already won the love and respect

of the parishioners. Indeed, the news of his death was a shock to the

whole community and they turned out to a man to attend his funeral. May

he find eternal rest with the divine Master, whose devoted disciple he was.

Bro. Dolf de Reuuer

f * Abconde, Utrecht, Holland: 15-L-L914. Saas.Fee, Switzrrland: lr7-1974. 40

years old; 19 prof.

Our dear confrere was a real worker. He fixed all those little things

that seem mere ffifles but are essential to the smooth running of the house.

A quiet, gende type, he could come out strongly in defence of justice.

In his reactions to the aggiornamento and his remarks on it he sometimes

showed a knowledge of the facts and a warmth of emotion we did aot

realize were there. He had a love for nature, which he showed in the care

he lavished on small, defenceless animals and in his passion for the

mountains. Bro, Dolf was always at the centre of co--unity life.

Fr. Anibal Riittier

"" Roque Pdtez, Bueoos Aites, Argentina: 2L-l-L915. f Bou,lope, Buenos Aires

2rLl-L974. 59 years old,; 43 prcf.; 34 priest; 4 Rector.

His talents were above the ordinary, and these he used in teaching

with Salesian fervour in a number of our schools. He was a shrewd

researcher into historical soutces and he wrote several books and monographs

that were received very favourably by the citics and the public. His

pupils admired him greatly for his insight and sincerity in the field of

apologetics as he worked at forming them to the spirit of Christianiy. He

managed to shed some light on cument controversies in the national history:

He died whilst taking part in the Boys' Farewell Dinner at the end of the

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sc,hool year, to the great consternation of all the confreres and pupils,

who much appreciated his abilities, his love for Don Bosco, his hard wo*

and his love of order and discipline.

Ft. Altonso Ruocco

* Rioneto in Vulture, Poteoze, laly: 212-L%1. f Naples: L&l-t975. 41 years

old; 25 prof.; 14 priest; 4 Rector; 3 Vice-provincial.

Harmony and balance: this was the first impressiou he gave of his

all-round maturity. His death crme as a particularly heavy blow because

he was at the peak of his energies, which he vas expending on his office

of Vice-provincial. His judgement was sure, his spirituality simple but

deep, his manners jovial, his cordialiry spontaneous, and he had a way

with the boys. His dynamism made him a model Salesian, much loved

by the Province, which deeply mourns his suddeu passing.

Fr. Doruexico Raggeri

* f Trecastagni, C,atania, ltalyz 72-L906. Messina: 2U1-1975. 69 years old;

50 prof.; 41 priest.

He came from a deeply Christian family that has given all seven

c-hil&en to the Lord: three Daughters of Mary, Help of Cchristians, one

enclosed Carmelite nun, and three Salesian priests. Genial, open and

generous, he soon made firm friends with the boys who were lucky enough

to have him as assistant and maths master. And it wds the same with the

soldiets during the wat, when he was Army Chaplain, earning praise for

his conduct as a Chtistian and Salesian apostle.

Bro. Jacob Scboltens

* Leens, Groniagen, Hollaad: l6l-L941, fSaas-Fee, Switzerland: lr7-1974. t3

yeats old; 13 prof.

Our confrere vras pzu excellence an aposde of the class-room, and tfie

boys knew very well how hard he wotked for them. He alvays prepared

his classes with great care, .and several times he vas offered positions of

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85-

responsibility by the fnspector of Sdrools. He got through the work of

three, but he was always ready to step in asd take a duty for others. He

was in charge of the cleanitrg staff and was on excellent terms with them.

Years ago he fell captive to the charms of the Eountains and from then

on he could not do without them, His deep lorre for the Creator found

expression in his Iove for nature.

Fr. Jan Tokarsi

f * Miechowice Wielie, Poland: 1241900. Rak6w, USSR: 1412-1974. 75 years

old; 44 prof.; 33 pdest.

He come to us as a late vocation and progtessed from Son of Mary

to priest during the difficult years of the last war. He was ordained at

!0ilno, and took up the lssting duties of parish-work in post-war Poland,

llistling with harrowing worries and deman& on his spirit of self-

sacrifice. These eventually brought him to his grave. He was stmogly

attached to the Congtegation and wanted to die a Salesian.

Bro. Franc Tomsic

* t Hlapicina, C,roatia, Jugoslavia: 2&)-1909. Riieka, Crcatia: )UL-197r. 65

years old; 40 p,tof.

He was an excellent and conscientious worker: bursar, gardener,

projectionist, driver, sacristan, etc. Franc was a Salesian of the old school,

a model for religious ot any age, a man of deep spitituality, modest, faithful.

He followed St. Benedict's motto: 'pray and work,' and Don Bosco's:

'work and temperance.' His favourite urork was in Church, both in the

sense of attending to his spiritual life, whete he was the essence of

rqguladty, and in the sense of seeing that everything was propedy done.

He had a special flair for arranging the dtars for feasts. His last illness

threw him back on his spiritual resources, and his death has left a gap

that will be difficult to fill.

Fr. Paolo Valentinuzzi

* Casana della Delizia, Udine, Italy: 2661885. f Fossano, Cvter: 2-2-1975.

89 yeam old; 65 prof.; 55 priest.

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He was a simple soul, uncompromisingly upright with a suong

personality and a sffong constitution. All his long life he was the son

of Don Bosco in his spirituality, his observance of the rule to the point of

scrupulosity, and his love for the Congregation, the Church and the Pope.

He was .tireless in working for religious and priesdy vocations, and for

the missions. After a short illness, he faded out peacefrrlly during the

external celebrations for our holy Founder.

Fr. Giorgio Zottarel

* Biancade, Treviso, Italy 2441908. t Rome: 28-LGt974. 66 yeam old, 45

prof.; 34 priest.

Reasons of health counselled his transfer from the Venetian Province

ro Rome, .aker a short stay in Sicily. He spent his life teaching in diffetent

sorts of sc-hools from Middle School to Technical College, and in State

Schools, vhere he taught Religious Education. For a short while, he was

in charge of the teaching of Catechism. He worked right up to the end:

even this year he was teaching in the Middle School, when Sister Death

came to take him away unexpectedly.

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l'elenco 1975

t 1 Sac. ATZNI Giovanni Batista Selargius (Italia) 11.12.L974 a 66 a.

t 2. Sac. AVALLE Natale Alessandda (ltalia) 21.1L.1974 a 74 a,

L Coad. BALDASSARRE Giusepp. f Napoli (Itilia) 18.1i.1974'a 63 a.

t 4 Coad. BASSO Carlo Bivio Cumiana (Itaha) 25.1.1975 a 8L a.

5 Sac. BONDI Gualtiero t Roma Pio XI (Italta) ll2.lV75 a 7l a.

f 6 Sac. BORSELLO Luigi Torino (Italia) l.ll.L974 a 80 a.

t 7 Sac. BUSSOLETTI Ilario Roma (Italia) 29:t.L974 a 70 a,

t 8 Sac. CARCIOLA AIIio Messiaa (Italia) 21.1.1975 a 57 a.

t 9 Coad. CESARO Rino Iatra di \\,7g1Sania (ka\\a) 3,12.1974 a 55 a.

t 10 Sac. CRUCILLA' Giuseppe Mazzarino (ltalia) 2r.12.L974 a 62,a.

11 Sac. FIORIM Ugo f Rovereto (Italia) 2.6.L974 a 9l a.

t 12 Sac. GARRO Emilio Torino Valdocco (lalial 202.L975 a 88 a.

ll Sac. GA]TA Alfeo t Genzaoo (llalia) 20.6.1974 a 75 a.

t 14 Sac. LANDONI Abramo Giuseppe Sesto S. Giovaoni (kaha) 2.L.L975 a 59 a.

f 15 Coad MURA Salvatore Lanusei (Irz.li^) 62.1975 a 6) a.

t 15 Sac. MUSCINELLI Parteoio Frascati (Italia) 12,1975 a 54 a.

t 17 Sac. RUOCCO Alfonso Napoli (Italia) 18.1.1975 a 4l a.

t 18 Sac. RUGGERI Domenico Messina (Italia) 28.1.1975 a 69 a.

f 19 Sac. VALENTINTZZI Paolo Fossano (IuJia) 22.L975 a 89 a.

t 20 Sac. ZOTTAREL Giorgio Roma (Italia) 28.10.L974 a 66 a.

t 2l Coad. CLAYETTE Carlo Gid (Fraocia) 8.4.L974 a 76 a.

t 22 Sac. GRALLAND Emilio Saint-Dizier (Ftancia) 28.1.L975 a 76 a.

f 2) Sac. MONSIIAUSEN Antonio Heleneabery (Ger. Occ.) t2.12.L974 a 6L a.

f 24 Sac. PETIT Raimoado La Gau (Fraocia) 162.1975 a 72 a.

f 25 C,oad. REUVER Rodolfo de Saas-Fee (Svizzem) 13.7.1974 a 40 a.

f 26 C.oad, SCHOLTENS Giacomo SaasFee (Svizera) 1r.3.1974 a 1) a.

t 27 C-oad. BARAIII Giovaoni Batcdona (Spapa) L8.7.1974 a 80 a.

t 28 Sac. BIIRDEUS Amadeo Matarb (Spagna) 22.12.1974 a 72 a.

29 Sac. FIERRO TORRES Rodolfo - Barcdona (Spqgna) 5.12.1974 a 95 a.

l0 Sac. GONZALEZ Beltrln Franc. t Burriaoa (Spapa) L0.L2.1974 a 75 a,

t 11 Sac. LORENZO Viryilio Lugo (Spa.pa) 8.12.1974 a 5) a.

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f 12 Sac. GOLLA Paolo Vrzesnia (Polooial 19.1L.1974 a 81 a.

ll t Sac. TOKARSKI Qi6yanni Rako$. (Urss) 15.12.1974 a 74 a.

-5

t )4 C-aad. TOMSIC Ftaoctsco Biieka (Jugeslavia) ,0.1.1975 a 65 a.

)5 Coad. BUSTAMANTE Pieto t Piua (Peft) l6.2Jn5 a 89 a.

t 16 Sac. CASTOLDI Ettore Gopo Grande (Brasile) L.9.L974 a 63 a.

f ,7 C,o d. CHACON Cdestino Caracas (Venezuelal 142.1975 a 66 a.

t 18 Coad. CORIES Samuele Santa Tecla (El Salvadot) 2L.L.L975 a 85 a.

f ,9 C,oad. FONSECA Pietto Brasilia (Brasile) 27.7.1974 a 59 a.

f 40 Sac. GALINDO Saverio Oaxaca-Mixes (Messico) n.4.L974 a )7 a.

f 41 Sac. I{EESE Edoardo van Santiago (Cile) 12.7.L974 a 6l a.

f 42 C,oad. MARINIAK Stanislao Boulope (fugentina) 9.L2.L974 a 6) a.

t 4l Sac. NUNEZ Sergio Edmoado Manzaaillo (Mexico) 4.7.1972 a )4 a.

f 44 Sac. OROPEZA Ferdinando Mexico (Messico) 20.6.L974 a 8l a.

f 4J Sac. RO1TIER Annibale Boulogne (&gentina) D.LL.L974 a 59 a.

t 46 Sac. BARS Emanude Shillong (lridta) 4.4.L974 a 84 a.

t 47 Sac. PUDUSSERY Tomaso Chingleput (Irdta) 21.2.L974 a 17 a.