Rome (Italy). On 4 June 2024, in the happy coincidence of the anniversary of the opening of the cause of Canonization of Saint John Bosco (4 June 1890), the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, inaugurated and blessed the new premises of the Salesian General Postulation in Rome, at the Zeffirino Namuncurà Community.
The premises and archives of the new Postulation contain the relics and documentation of the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and other/members of the Groups of the Salesian Family on their way to the honors of the altars.
The event was attended by Msgr. Maurizio Tagliaferri, speaker of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints; Father Sergio La Pegna, official of the Dicastery and Superior General of Doctrinaires; Father Bruno Capparoni, Postulator General of the Guanellian Family. In addition, there were several members of the General Council of the Salesians of Don Bosco and of the Community of the Central See, the Vicar of the Preprovince Mary Seat of Wisdom (UPS), Fr Giuseppe Ruta; and the whole Community of Zeffirino Namuncurà with the Director, Fr. Silvio Roggia.
Also present were the Mother General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Sister Chiara Cazzuola; the Secretary General, Sister Maria Luisa Nicastro; the Vice Postulator of the Cause of Mother Rosetta Marchese, Sister Francesca Caggiano, FMA; the collaborators of the Salesian Family Sector, and the Superior General of the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart, Mother Graziella Beghini, with some sisters.
“It is necessary to express deep gratitude and praise to God for the holiness already recognized in the Salesian Family of Don Bosco and for that on the way of recognition. From Don Bosco to our days, we recognize a tradition of holiness that deserves attention, because it embodies the charism that originated from him and that was expressed in a plurality of states of life and forms.
These are men and women, young people and adults, consecrated and lay people, bishops and missionaries who in different historical, cultural, social contexts in time and space have made the Salesian charism shine with singular light, representing a heritage that plays an effective role in the life and community of believers and for people of good will”.
These are the initial words with which Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of the Saints of the Salesian Family, addressed those present, recalling that half of the Groups of the SF – 15 out of 32 – have at least one cause for beatification underway.
He then presented his work team – Fr. Gabriel de Jesús Cruz Trejo, Dr. Lodovica Maria Zanet, Dr. Mariafrancesca Oggianu, Dr. Cristiana Marinelli, Dr. Matteo Penati, Dr. Maurizio Bruni, the deacon Luciano Griggio – and the works carried out, designed by architect Toti Cameroni, with the coordination of the Studio dell’Eng. Francesco Miotto.
“The inauguration and the blessing of these premises reminds us that we are the custodians of a precious heritage that deserves to be better known and valued. In addition to the liturgical-celebratory aspect, it is necessary to fully exploit the potential of a spiritual, pastoral, ecclesial, educative, cultural, historical, social, missionary type… of our Causes.
The sanctity recognized, or in the process of recognition, on the one hand is already the realization of evangelical radicalism and fidelity to the apostolic project of Don Bosco, to which to look as a spiritual and pastoral resource. On the other hand, it is provocation to live faithfully your vocation to be willing to witness love to the extreme.”
Fr. Pierluigi, with the passion that distinguishes him, stressed how much this inauguration represents an event of grace for the whole Salesian Family, “Experience confirms more and more that the promotion and care of the causes of beatification and canonization of our Family, the choral celebration of events inherent in holiness, are dynamics of grace that arouse evangelical joy and a sense of charismatic belonging, renewing intentions and commitments of fidelity to the call received and generating apostolic and vocational fruitfulness”.
After watching two films – one presenting the works and one on Salesian Holiness, based on the text of Fr. Pasquale Liberatore – Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, who in his greeting highlighted another important aspect: the location of the Postulation in the House that hosts the young Salesians post-Novices:
“It is a community full of life, health, mission, study, prayer, young people who have all the vitality and a great desire to prepare to continue in Salesian life.” It is also part of a network, “it is very close to the Salesian Pontifical University, the historical institute, the Salesian historical library and the Salesian Central Archive”.
He then thanked all those who made it possible, “What we inaugurate today is the fruit of the dedication of so many people, of thinking together, of searching together for resources.” He highlighted the importance of historical preservation, “we are spiritual children of a man and one of the first who had an extraordinary sensitivity in the care of history, of preserving all that was life, because they clearly felt, Don Bosco first, that God permanently communicates Himself”.
In a truly family and prayerful atmosphere, the inauguration and blessing of the rooms, culminating in this prayer, took place, “O God, who gives us the joy of inaugurating these premises, destined to preserve and transmit the witness of holiness that flourished in the Salesian garden, arrange for us to guard this heritage with love and to promote among the young and the people of God the universal call to holiness with the apostolic spirit of Don Bosco”.
Photos : Flickr FMA
