Our Salesian Roots

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.

As for Don Bosco, his priesthood demanded an heroic preparation. It permeated and defined his whole life. He never wished to be anything other than a priest, everywhere and always - charismatically oriented towards the young, especially those in need. His aim was not to be an educator who happened to be a priest, but a priest who exercised his priesthood in the educative mission. It was as a priest that he approached the young and led them to Jesus and to eternal life; it was as a priest that he founded the three Families of his co-workers and disciples and extended his apostolate to the mission fields. Like Francis, he too lived and wore himself out in his untiring zeal.

In the hearts of our two saints there burned the same passion for souls, the same pastoral charity that impelled them both towards the direct and creative apostolate…

Both were assiduous in spreading the Word in simple, imaginative and popular language; both catechised with conviction, both were keen writers albeit in different areas of teaching. Both spent long hours in the confessional and in spiritual direction; both were noted for their friendliness and deep concern for educative and Christian guidance - each according to his own special

vocation. Both were religious founders and taught others to walk the path of sanctity…

Doctrinal conviction founded on love. In 1939 Bishop Lavallée, Rector of the Catholic Faculty at Lyons, thus expressed his understanding of the affinity of the two saints: `The relationship between Francis de Sales and John Bosco is evidenced in their common aim: they tackled the evils that afflict humanity with the miraculous weapon of charity’

In the 16th century Francis, and in the 19th century John Bosco, both faced a period of cultural, social and religious crisis. For Francis there was the Renaissance and the Council of Trent; for John Bosco there was the Risorgimento and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Both had to cope with the distorted vision of mankind proposed by Calvinistic pessimism (in the time of Francis), and Jansenism (in the time of John Bosco). Their weapon was that they envisaged mankind and human affairs as optimistic and open to the future. They were both divinely inspired to centre their convictions on the most positive and decisive reality that exists: LOVE, which is the totality of God and must become the totality of man. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you... He who loves remains in God and God remains in him... God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. Our two saints never ceased to meditate and live these words… Francis, like St Augustine, was called the `Doctor of love', and Don Bosco was called by Pius XI a `giant in charity'…

Salesian pastoral attitudes. Charity for our two saints was not only the beginning and the end. It constituted the actual way they toiled and fulfilled their pastoral work, the actual means and the actual form of their apostolate. The bishop, the priest, the educator, must above all else love `with deeds and in truth' those to whom he is sent. Before being translated into action, the apostolate must be a personal relationship of love; indeed every activity not suggested by love is doomed to failure. This conviction prompted Frances de Sales and John Bosco to exhibit a number of attitudes that could be called typically `Salesian'…

In every good shepherd who loves his sheep and seeks to be loved by them so as to lead them the more easily to God, there is a very special relationship, which Don Bosco summed up in his well known term `kindliness' - in other words, an infinite respect for each person, including the poorest of the poor, and the least likeable ones. The opening gambit must be a pleasant welcoming smile, a kindness that tries in all humility to be affable, a sense of humour, infinite patience and forbearance in the face of faults and ingratitude, and an invitation to friendship. In this way Francis de Sales and John Bosco surrounded themselves with an aura of extraordinary pleasantness and congeniality. (Aubrey - Pamphlet on don Bosco and Francis of Sales)

Questions for Personal  & Community Reflection 

Do we as a community reflect on present day realities and discern the signs of the times as to how God is calling us to respond in our pastoral ministry?

Have we  imbibed by the same zeal and love as Don Bosco and Francis of Sales?

Do I live out my Salesian vocation with a sense of optimism, reflecting the joy and kindliness of our founder and of our patron?