Fr Enrico Stasi, Provincial of the Salesians of Piedmont, Valle d'Aosta and Lithuania, gave a warm welcome to the participants from all over the world, while Fr Eusebio Muñoz, Delegate of the Rector Major for the Salesian Family, underscored: "This experience allows us to better understand what the Spirit has done with Don Bosco and continues to renew in our groups and in each of us."
Fr Á.F. Artime then spoke of the reasons that led him to choose the theme of the Strenna: through the phrases of Pope Francis, through the witness of life of all the Saints of the Salesian Family, through the witness of Mary, through Jesus and through the "Indicators of holiness."
"To believe, to hope and to love. These are the teachings of Mary, woman of the here I am ... Sainthood is reserved for everyone, not just a few! It is a goal that is reached in an instant, but only if there is a progressive path to travel upon, easy and pleasant, but it must be robust or else it will fall into the superficial!"
The Rector Major then invited everyone to seek holiness in daily life and to bear witness of Holiness for others, for the young: "There is no need for consecrated people to tell young people what to do with their lives, to tell them what's good and what's not. It is necessary that, looking into our eyes, they can say: it's true, what they say is true! We must see happiness, joy, so that they can believe what we tell them, what we talk to them about. This is for all of us. Bear witness with our lives, believe in holiness in everyday life, and demonstrate it."
He concluded his speech by speaking of the "Indices of Holiness", to make it clear that being Saints is possible for everyone:
- live everyday life as a meeting place;
- be people and communities of prayer;
- develop the fruits of the Holy Spirit;
- practice virtue;
- witness the communion;
- understand that everyone's life is a mission;
- look for simplicity in the Gospel;
- grow in small gestures.
The photos of the Days are available on ANSFlickr.
Further information is available on the website dedicated to the Days: http://salesianfamilydays.com
For updates, please visit the Facebook page of ANS, which hosts the live broadcast of the main moments.
