The Tenth Successor of Don Bosco pointed out that the values recalled by the Pope are "attitudes of life" that lead consecrated persons to experience poverty not just in theory but in practice. Consecrated life is often the Church presence closest to the frontier, the one that is active in the poorest and most marginalized peripheries of the planet. It knows that it is called upon to touch the flesh of Christ in the humble, the poor and the sick, and to trust fully in the way of the Gospel and in the providence of God.
After citing some more ideas in the tradition of the Church Fathers - not for "vain erudition, but because they are a voice and conscience that we should never neglect", as Fr Á.F. Artime explained – his reflection turned to the guidelines for managing the assets already promulgated in 2014 by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
The Rector Major developed some thoughts on the subject, to be proposed for discussion at the meeting. He said, "I think we can say that, in general, religious live a simple and sober life-style.” He urged the Superiors to think about how to practise renewed audacity and evangelical prophecy also in the management of their works.
The centrality of the most essential elements of our charism "for example, to young people for the Salesians," said Fr Á.F. Artime, should never be lost sight of through concern for administrative management.
In this regard it is appropriate to work to spread the culture of supervision and transparency, provide adequate training for administrators, use the expertise and professionalism of laypeople of proven confidence ... all these are elements that help to stave off the "temptation of power" and to revive the dimension of the radical prophecy of Consecrated Life.
