Rome (Italy). On 8 December 2020, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Salesian Family celebrates 179 years since the birth of the oratory, on 8 December 1841. Don Bosco traces the beginning of the Salesian work back to a meeting with a boy in the sacristy of the church of St. Francis of Assisi who, not welcomed by the sacristan, is considered by him as a friend and invited to catechism.
“Before beginning to teach the catechism to Bartolomeo Garelli, he recited a Hail Mary … she was fruitful in great things” we read in the Biographical Memoirs (Vol. II 74). In the Memoirs of the Oratory Don Bosco writes: “This is the beginning of our Oratory, which was blessed by the Lord and grew as I could not have imagined then.”
On this day, in all the realities of the world where the Salesian Family is present, the Educating Communities gather to celebrate with a Hail Mary recited together, the moment “that started everything”. With the Marian Circle, the Hail Mary spreads throughout the Salesian world, renewing the trust in Mary of Don Bosco who said: “We are indebted to Mary for everything, all our greatest things had their beginning and fulfillment in the day of the Immaculate Conception.”
Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, addressing the Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the General Council, and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Generalate (RCG) in Rome, says: “For us, this feast is like approaching a magnificent work, such as the Last Judgment of the Sistine Chapel: it is very large, but everyone can dwell on a detail. Here is God’s action: God chooses a girl from a remote village like Nazareth, He chooses the humility of a teenager to do great things. The Salesian Congregation was born in the greatest humility, with a Hail Mary, the boys, and the Pinardi shed. The Institute of the FMA was born in a small town in Monferrato. What God values is the depth of the heart.”
Mother General, Sr. Yvonne Reungoat, says: “December 8, which reminds us of the beginning of the Salesian work, is always a new beginning for all of us because we must always start again to welcome the mission that the Lord entrusts to us that changes and we must continually reinvent. The charism is a source of permanent creativity. Having started everything with Mary in the simplicity of Don Bosco’s faith, tells us that today we too are called to grow in this absolute trust in Mary, which assures us of her presence as Mother of the Church and of the Salesian Family.”
In this time of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, creativity was not lacking to meet online through the social networks with children, young people, families, entrusting to Mary “who did everything” in the life of Don Bosco, the Salesian works throughout the world.
