BOOKS
In times when a significant proportion of consecrated men and women have retired from active ministry, and fewer vocations means others are handing on their front-line roles in education, health or social care to lay colleagues, Fr Michael Cunningham, SDB, argues that despite the human tendency to identify ourselves by our function, 'we are more than what we do.'
We know that a 'Rule of Life' is common to religious communities, with roots going back to Benedict and other 'Greats'. But a 'Rule' might still be off-putting for some today, so it was an inspired little touch to come out with “A Salesian Way of Life”, and as the author, Fr David O'Malley, describes it, not far into this brief but profound and inviting invitation to 'be Salesian' whoever you are, whatever gender, faith background ...
The book by Fr Pietro Braido, SDB, and edited by Fr Francesco Casella, SDB, outlines a spiritual and pedagogical itinerary whose focal point is Don Bosco, not the activity of Don Bosco, but his being: the priest of the young and founder of institutes of consecrated men and women, apostles of youth.
By Ludovica Maria Zanet
Who is a saint? Those who experience full configuration to Christ and witness to it in the Church and before every person. Canonized saints are those whose holiness is demonstrated with proof: heroic virtues or martyrdom, the reputation of holiness and of miracles. In short, they are people who were exemplary in living and in dying, and have an ability to intercede effectively before God, for the true good of man.