That is why the publication of Called to Love with Hope. Salesian Strennas by Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, SDB, allows us to reflect on the past, present and future of St John Bosco's spiritual legacy. All the more so since the Rector Major, appointed cardinal on 30 September 2023, will be ordained bishop on 20 April and will receive a new mandate from Pope Francis.
In this legacy, the annual strenna that the saint penned for his boys and followers also hold significance. His 10th Successor, Fr. Á.F. Artime, has continued this tradition by writing ten of them, beginning in 2015, shortly after his election. What do they contain? The theme chosen for the bicentenary of the founder's birth (1815) is 'Don Bosco, with the young, for the young'.
"The recalling Don Bosco's presence today entails first and foremost the comprehensive rediscovery of his spirit, which must possess all its charismatic vigor and relevance today as it did yesterday," writes the Rector Major. "Among the many aspects of his charismatic legacy, I would like to underscore two at this juncture: pastoral charity (the heart of the Good Shepherd) and his gift of discerning 'today' in order to shape 'tomorrow'."
"With Jesus let us travel the adventure of the spirit together" is the invitation for 2016. "To say with Jesus means that he is the gateway and the centre of all our reflection," the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco explains. "It is the affirmation that only with Jesus in Jesus and from Jesus could we make a journey that is truly meaningful and decisive for our lives.
The future cardinal consistently aligns the Salesian movement with the ecclesial seasons, as seen in the 2017 strenna focusing on the message of Amoris Laetitia. Titled 'We are family! Every home a school of life and love', it emphasizes the importance of family life. Similarly, the 2018 synod presents an opportunity for the Salesian Family to engage with the Church, particularly given its focus on youth. "Let us cultivate the art of listening and accompanying," echoes the theme. In 2019, Pope Francis's call to holiness in Gaudete et Exultate is echoed by the Rector Major with "Holiness for you too," emphasizing the universal call to holiness.
In 2020, the Strenna 'Good Christians and Honest Citizens' serves as a reminder of the evangelizing and catechizing role of the Salesian charism. "In today's fragile and fragmented reality," he writes, "where the political landscape is often tainted by corruption and ethical shortcomings, and where individualism often takes precedence, we must reaffirm our commitment to educating young people to engage in honest citizenship and serve society in the political and social spheres."
The Strenna of 2021, titled 'Moved by Hope', reflects on the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic. Confronted with this tragic epidemic, Fr. Á.F. Artime encourages us to turn our gaze to Christ. "The gaze of faith in encountering Jesus transforms our perspective on life and touches our hearts," he explains. "It influences the way we make decisions and discern what truly matters, as this encounter is a personal one, from person to person."
In 2022, marking the fourth centenary of the death of St. Francis de Sales, a significant educational theme is dedicated with the title, 'Do everything out of love, nothing by force'. This theme serves as an invitation to embrace it as a guiding principle for personal life: "It provides direction when undertaking a task, determining the attitude with which to fulfill a mission, and accepting responsibility and service for others. It reinforces and gives substance to a choice and a way of living as Christians in alignment with God's original intention, who created us and endowed us with freedom."
The Strenna for 2023 encourages the Salesian Family to emphasize the secular and lay aspects of its mission, with an evangelical title: "As yeast in today's human family". This perspective suggests that the Salesian charism is fully realized when vocation and mission are embraced in the mutual support and complementarity of diverse callings. "This should be the essence of the Salesian family," asserts the Rector Major, "a broad apostolic movement dedicated to the salvation of the young."
The tenth Strenna is dedicated to the dream St. John Bosco had as a child in 1824. Fr. Á.F. Artime aptly calls it 'the dream that inspires dreams'. This dream was indeed transformative for Don Bosco, for the numerous individuals who followed his path, and hopefully for many more who will continue to do so, placing their trust in God.
