Mary is at the side of her children: this is the message that Don Bosco wanted to underscore with the devotion to the Mother of the Church, the foundation of the Salesian Family founded by him. He did it by starting from his personal experience, he who prayed to Mary many times to come out of debts, from threats, indifference. But the decision to dedicate the Basilica to the Help of Christians also arises from a precise observation of the Church's historical path: Mary is present in History and, if humanity wants to see the effect, one needs open the eyes of faith and touch it with one's hands.
It can be seen in the personal graces that come from God the Father and of which She is the intermediary, as when at Cana she asked her Son to provide so as to bring cheer to the party; but it is also a widespread grace that sustains the faithful in their testimony, which invigorates charity, which keeps hope alive, as happened with the Apostles in the Cenacle.
The daily heroism of the Christian arises from a profound union with Jesus. Mary is absolutely interested in this relationship and strengthens it as she is meant to do: as the mother of Jesus and mother of the Church. Her first help is to make us truly followers of the Lord, priests of His redemption, builders of His Kingdom. That is, of "being truly Christian". The rest comes later: help in the difficulties, the capacity to bring aid to the weak, the joyful celebration of the liturgy.
The origin of the appellation of Mary originates in the mild nature of the first communities of faithful in Antioch, Ephesus, Alexandria, Athens, and passes through the awareness that She gives her thanks, above all, to those who are poor and meek. There is a detail in the picture of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco: the Basilica of Superga. The Madonna that is remembered in that temple is the "Virgin of the Graces", that is the dispenser of spiritual and human support to the life of the Christian. The "same" that Don Bosco met in Barcelona, where the order of the Mercedarians is rooted, monks who offered themselves to replace prisoners of war and to return them to their families, professing freely the Christian faith.
Don Bosco probably wished that his Sons were like mercedarians, actors in a struggle against the various forms of slavery - of a political, social and psychological nature - of which young people are the first victims.
We are certain that Mary Help of Christians has a special care for these children, today's heroes.
