January is a special month for us
Salesians for we celebrate the feasts of
our Founder St John Bosco as well as that of our Patron St Francis of Sales,
whom Don Bosco took as his model. These two great saints lived out that
Salesian spirituality which was forged in their daily life as pastors.
Both saints used writing as a means of
reaching all categories of people to guide them in their spiritual life and
help them live a more authentic Christian life.
These Animation Notes
are an initiative of CONFORT, (CIVAM Ongoing Formation Team)
with the aim of helping in the on-going formation
process of confreres and Communities. We know how very often the demands of the
apostolate take up so much of our time. We hope that these
Notes will help you remain in touch with the spiritual dimension of our active
involvement in the apostolate.
We have taken Philip Rinaldi’s simple
but profound insight into the spirituality of D Bosco – Union with God amidst so much business –as the mission statement of
this initiative.
CONFORT
John Bosco and Francis of Sales
Vital ‘Salesian' affinities.
Don Bosco tells us that he
was attracted by two essential aspects of the moral and spiritual characteristics
of Francis de Sales:
·
his apostolic energy, his
zeal for the salvation of souls, his defence of the truth, his fidelity to the
Church; and
·
the Christ-like gentleness
that imbued his zeal: his charming manner, his patience, his extraordinary
sensitivity.
The vital source of both
these qualities is a deep, solid and decisive conviction, namely, that love is
the totality of God and the totality of man. Thus it is possible to group the
affinities found in our two saints under the three following aspects.
Staunch pastoral character.
The first characteristic
that both saints shared was their pastoral nature… Francis was an intellectual,
a writer, a theologian - but first and foremost he was a bishop…. He was a man
of many talents, and consecrated himself heart and soul to his duties and
responsibilities as bishop. He was utterly selfless and never failed to give
his all to his flock… As befitted a good shepherd he dedicated himself
tirelessly to celebrate, sanctify and govern always for the good of his people,
regardless of their social standing. All his writings were inspired by his episcopal
activities. It was as a bishop that he guided so many Philotheas and Theotimuses
along the path of devotion, and founded the Congregation of the Visitation. He
wore himself out in his total dedication to this active apostolate, in
accordance with his episcopal motto: Chosen
by God, assigned to his people.
