Argentina - "Generating processes rather than dominating spaces." Mother Margherita and Oratory mothers

Argentina - "Generating processes rather than dominating spaces." Mother Margherita and Oratory mothers
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07 July 2017

(ANS - Buenos Aires) - Is there a proper or preferable attitude on the part of parents in the education of their children? In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis says: "The family cannot give up being a place of support, accompaniment, guidance, even if it has to reinvent its methods and find new resources (...). Abandonment will never do good (...). However, obsession is not educational (...). That is to say, one ought to generate processes rather than dominating spaces. If a parent is obsessed with knowing where his child is and checking all their movements, they will only be trying to dominate his or her space. In this way a parent does not educate the child. "(No. 260-261)

By Don Juan Picca, SDB

The Pope states that it is not important to know where the child is physically, or with whom at any given moment, but to know where he or she is in their beliefs, goals, desires, and life plans.

The role of parents includes education of the will and the development of good habits and affective inclinations for the good.

In 1846 there already was an oratory in Valdocco. At some point, Don Bosco became ill with a serious lung disease and had to return to his mother's home at Becchi. But when he returned, he did not go alone. At her request, Mamma Margherita joined him. At 58, Margherita made a new choice. The Oratory would be the place where Margherita would spend the last ten years of her life, dedicated to her "oratory children." God then provided other women to the Oratory who followed in the footsteps of Mamma Margherita, who gave their "yes" and made available themselves to helping the children of Don Bosco. It was then with Mariana Occhiena, the sister of Margherita, Giovanna Maria Rua, Giovanna Maria Magone, the mother of Giacomo Bellia, and Margherita Gastaldi that the oratory took on a shape and familiar sensitivity that was more concrete and palpable.

Some may ask: "What did these mothers do?" Mariel Giordano correctly says: "Nothing better than a woman with a mother's heart to prepare clean clothes for children and a bed for a good rest, to have them acquire clean and tidy habits as part of their training and care."

A humble task, but undoubtedly invaluable during the educational process.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.