In this “ancient” setting of Valdocco, where everything speaks of our origins, I am almost obliged to remember that December of 1859, when Don Bosco made an incredible decision, one unique in history: to found a Religious Congregation out of boys.
He had prepared them, but they were still very young. "I have been thinking about founding a Congregation for a long time. The time has come to make it concrete," Don Bosco explained, simply. "Truly this Congregation is not being born now: it has already existed through that set of Rules that you have always traditionally observed... It is now a matter of moving forward, of setting up the Congregation according to the normal pattern and of accepting its Rule. Know, however, that only those who, after serious reflection, want to take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in due time, will be enrolled in it... I'll give you a week to think about it."
On leaving the meeting, there was an unusual silence. Then, when they finally began to speak, it was obvious that Don Bosco had been right to proceed slowly and prudently. Some muttered under their breath that Don Bosco wanted to make them friars. Cagliero paced the courtyard with long strides, gripped by contradictory feelings.
But, in the case of the majority, the desire to "remain with Don Bosco" prevailed. It was Cagliero who spoke the historic phrase: "Friar or no friar, with Don Bosco I will stay."
At the "commitment ceremony", which was held on the evening of December 18, seventeen were present.
On September 5, 1877, in Lanzo Torinese, Don Bosco convened the first General Chapter. There were twenty-three participants and the Chapter lasted three full days.
Today, for Chapter number 29, there are 227 capitulars, or Chapter members, who have come from all over the world to represent all the Salesians.
At the opening of the first General Chapter, Don Bosco said to our confreres: "The Divine Savior says in the Holy Gospel that ‘where there are two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in their midst.’ We have no other purpose for these gatherings than the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ." So we can be sure that the Lord will be in our midst and that He will guide things in such a way that everyone will feel at ease.
A change of era
The Gospel expression, "Jesus called those whom He wanted to be with Him and sent them out to preach" (Mk 3:14-15), tells us that Jesus chooses and calls those whom He wants. We, too, are among that number. The Kingdom of God is made present and those first Twelve are an example and a model for us and for our communities. The Twelve were ordinary people, with strengths and weaknesses. They formed neither a community of pure people nor even a simple group of friends.
They know, as Pope Francis said, that, "We are living in a change of era rather than an era of change." In Valdocco these days there is an atmosphere of great awareness. All the confreres feel that this is a moment of great responsibility.
In the life of the majority of the confreres, of the provinces, and of the Congregation, many positive things are happening, but just the knowledge of this is insufficient and cannot serve as a "consolation," because the cry of the world with its great and new forms of poverty and the daily struggles of so many people – not only of the poor but also of simple and hard-working people – rises loudly as a call for help. These are all questions that must provoke us and shake us up and not leave us in peace.
With the aid of the consultations made in our provinces, we believe that we have identified the main reasons for concern on the one hand and the signs of vitality of our Congregation on the other, always considered in the light of the specific cultural traits of each particular context.
During the Chapter we propose to focus on what it means for us to be truly Salesian, people passionate about Jesus Christ, because, if we are not, then we will offer good services, will do good to people, and will help them, yes, but we will not leave a deep mark.
Jesus' mission continues and is made visible in the world today through us, His envoys. We are consecrated to be prophets, to create large spaces of light for today's world. We have been consecrated by God and put here to follow His beloved Son Jesus, to live as people truly “conquered” by God. Therefore, yet again, that which is essential rests totally on the Congregation’s fidelity to the Holy Spirit, living our Salesian consecrated life centered in Jesus Christ, with Don Bosco’s spirit.
Apostolic vitality, like spiritual vitality, is evidenced by our commitment to young people, to children, living in myriad forms of poverty; therefore, we cannot stop at offering only educational services. The Lord calls us to educate by evangelizing, manifesting His presence, and accompanying life with opportunities for the future.
We are called to seek new models of being present, new expressions of the Salesian charism in the Name of God. This should be done in communion with young people and with the world, through "an integral ecology," in the formation of a digital culture in the worlds inhabited by young people and adults.
And there is a strong desire and expectation that this will be a courageous General Chapter, in which things are said, without getting lost in correct, well-packaged phrases that don’t touch our lives.
We are not alone in this mission. We sense and know that the Virgin Mary is a model of fidelity.
It is beautiful to go back with mind and heart to the day of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in 1887 when, two months before his death, Don Bosco said to some Salesians who, moved, were looking at and listening to him: "Until now, we have walked with certainty. We cannot err; it is Mary who guides us."
Mary Help of Christians, Our Lady of Don Bosco, guides us. She is the Mother of us all and it is she who repeats at this moment of GC29 what she said at Cana in Galilee: "Do whatever He tells you."
May our Mother Help of Christians enlighten and guide us, as she did with Don Bosco, to be faithful to the Lord and never to disappoint young people, especially those most in need.
