At the opening of the evening, the Rector of the Basilica and the promoter of the initiative, Fr Michele Viviano, introduced the proceedings, by explaining the semantics behind the proposals of the three Mondays in January (8, 15 and 22) which would be dedicated to deepening the understanding of the strenna of 2024. He then left the floor to the address of the distinguished guest and the presenter of the evening, Prof. Amos Corbini, Professor of Philosophy at the State University of Turin.
After the projection of the video that accompanies the strenna, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco took up the microphone. With his usual affability, he started with a note on the images of the video. He then focused on Salesian education and its most characteristic trait -that of knowing how to transform "wolves" into "lambs", today as two centuries ago.
In his explanation, the Tenth Successor of Don Bosco retraced the essential features of the text he had prepared - recommending its reading to all those present who crowded the basilica right up to the last pews. He emphasized on how indeed the Dream of the Nine Years was the key to the entire life of the Saint of the Young. Because it directed his path, motivated his every gesture, was remembered, and was fully understood by Don Bosco himself only 63 years later, during the emotional Mass that he celebrated in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Rome, on 16 May 1887.
He then referred to his predecessors who had been at the helm of the Congregation and to in particular, to the great celebrations and the first deepening of the meaning of this dream which took place under Fr Philip Rinaldi, under whose rectorate the first centenary of this dream was celebrated in 1924.
With one glance at the dream and the reality of today, Card. Ángel Fernández Artime emphasized that young people are and will always remain as the protagonists of the dream and of every Salesian initiative.
Particular attention was then devoted to the figure of Mary, the teacher to whom the Lord entrusted him in the dream. The Marian reference for Don Bosco was essential, which is why the Rector Major reiterated once again: "If a Salesian does not have a deep love for Mary Help of Christians and considers her perhaps only as a personal devotion of Don Bosco, then, I am sorry, he cannot be a true Salesian! It is hard to say, but our Congregation cannot be understood without Our Lady, because, for Don Bosco Mary was everything".
With an emphatic and passionate manner, the Rector Major urged all members of the Salesian Family to be part of this dream even today, to carry it forward in the service of the young people most in need. He also added some of his personal dreams as Rector Major:
– "May every Salesian house be a space for healthy and educative relationships";
– "May the Don Bosco Family be recognized more and more as the one closest to the neediest"; "
– "Our young people need real dreams, challenges, ideals... And we must do all we can to ensure that young people have nothing which blocks their daily living with enthusiasm."
– "I dream and wish to meet every day, in every Salesian house, Salesians and lay people and members of the Salesian Family who believe in the miracle that Salesian education has the power to perform".
– "We are called, like Don Bosco, to offer opportunities to encounter Jesus, the source of life and joy.
– "And I truly dream that in faithfulness to Don Bosco we will make our boys, girls and young men fall in love with that Mother without whom all this is not possible".
After a time of dialogue, in which the Rector Major made himself available for questions from those present, the evening ended with the performance of the yet-to- be released song dedicated to the Strenna, composed by the Music Maester of the Basilica, Fr Maurizio Palazzo, SDB, sung by soloists Francesca Incardona, Francesca Rosa and Claudio Poggi, and accompanied by the Choir of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians -Turin.
For those who would like to relive the evening with Card. Ángel Fernández Artime, the video of the live broadcast is still available on the basilica's YouTube channel.
