Turin (Italy). In the bicentenary year of Don Bosco’s Dream at nine years of age (1824-2024) and during Salesian January, the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, Turin, cradle of the Charism and world spiritual center of Salesianity, organizes two initiatives for in-depth study on the theme of the “Dream that makes you dream”, an exhibit and three themed evenings.
Don Bosco’s Dream at Nine Years of age, is the dream that determined his whole life and work. As the Salesian historian, Fr. Pietro Stella wrote, it is “the dream that conditioned the whole way of life and thinking of Don Bosco.”
To encourage a reading of the Dream in its essential and fundamental passages and its rereading in today’s key, on the initiative of the Rector of the Basilica, Fr. Michele Viviano, SDB, an exhibit in 12 panels has been prepared for the beginning of the bicentennial year, which will be on display throughout January. For each panel, there is a phrase from the Dream, as Don Bosco recounted it. Each sentence has a brief commentary, or re-reading updated by the Rector Major, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, taken from Strenna 2024.
In addition to this initiative, as a way of preparation for the feast of Don Bosco on 31 January, three evenings of reflection and study were organized:
– Monday 8 January, The Rector Major inaugurated the initiative, offering an updated Salesian reading of the Dream. The presentation was preceded by the video of Strenna 2024 made by IME Communication. After the questions addressed to the Rector Major, the evening ended with the video of the anthem on the theme of the Dream, composed by Fr. Maurizio Palazzo, SDB (Video 1st evening);
– Monday 15 January, The Rector of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) of Rome, Fr. Andrea Bozzolo, SDB, will present a theological reading;
– Monday 22 January, Fr. Francesco Motto, SDB, member of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS) in Rome, will propose a critical-historical reading of the Dream.
The three presentations, broadcast live on the YouTube channel of the Basilica Mary Help of Christians, are preceded by the screening of an introductory video on the theme, different for each evening.
“As the Rector Major affirms, I really wish that this dream will continue to make every Salesian and every member of the Salesian Family dream, transforming it into reality,” comments Fr. Viviano.
He concludes, “Only by discovering and realizing the dream that God has for each of us, does our life become happier and of quality for each of us and our young people. Don Bosco himself wrote, ‘Only one is my desire, to see you happy in time and eternity'”.
Source: infoANS
