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DISCOURSE OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE FRANCIS
TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GENERAL CHAPTER OF THE
SALESIAN SOCIETY OF ST. JOHN BOSCO (SALESIANS)
Dear Brothers,
You are very welcome! I thank Father Angelo for his words. It is my wish for him and the new General Council to be able to serve by guiding, accompanying and sustaining the Salesian Congregation on its journey. May the Holy Spirit help you to respond to the expectations and challenges of our time, especially of young people, and to interpret them in the light of the Gospel and of your charism.
I imagine that during the Chapter — which had the theme “Witnesses to the Radical Approach of the Gospel” — you always had Don Bosco and young people before you; and Don Bosco with his motto: “Da mihi animas, cetera tolle.” He reinforced this programme with two other elements: work and temperance. I remember that in school it was forbidden to have a siesta! … Temperance! For the Salesians and for us! “Work and temperance” – he said – will make the Congregation flourish.” When one thinks of working for the good of souls, one overcomes the temptation of spiritual worldliness; one does not look for other things, but God alone and his Kingdom. Temperance, then, is the sense of due measure, being content, being simple. May the poverty of Don Bosco and of Mother Margaret inspire every Salesian and every community of yours to an essential and austere way of life, closeness to the poor, transparency and responsibility in the management of goods.
1. The evangelization of young people is the mission that the Holy Spirit has entrusted to you in the Church. It is closely connected with their education: the journey of faith is part of their process of growth, and the Gospel also enriches human maturation. Young people must be prepared to work in society according to the spirit of the Gospel, as agents of justice and peace, and to live as protagonists in the Church. Therefore, you avail yourselves of the necessary further pedagogical and cultural reflections and updating to respond to the current educational emergency. May Don Bosco’s experience and his “preventive system” always sustain you in your commitment to living with young people. May your presence among them be distinguished by that tenderness that Don Bosco called loving kindness, also using new languages, but knowing well that the language of the heart is the fundamental one to come close to them and to become their friends.
Essential here is the vocational dimension. Sometimes the vocation to the consecrated life is confused with a choice of voluntary service, and this distorted vision does no good to the Institutes. The coming year 2015, dedicated to consecrated life, will be a favourable occasion to present its beauty to young people. In any case it is necessary to avoid partial views, so as not to arouse vocations that are fragile and sustained by weak motivations. Ordinarily apostolic vocations are the fruit of a good youth ministry. The care of vocations requires specific attention, first of all to prayer, then appropriate activities, personalised courses, the courage to offer the proposal, support and the involvement of the families. Vocational geography has changed and is changing, and this means new demands for formation, support and discernment.
2. Working with young people, you come across the world of youth exclusion. And this is frightening! Today, it is frightening to think that there are 75 million young people without work, here, in the West. We think of the vast reality of unemployment, with so many negative consequences. We think of the addictions, which sadly are manifold, but which stem from a common root of an absence of true love. Reaching marginalised youth requires courage, maturity and much prayer. And the best must be sent to this work! The best! There can be the risk of being carried away by enthusiasm, sending to such frontiers people of good will, but who are not suited. Therefore, careful discernment and constant support are necessary. This is the criterion: the best must go there. “I need him to make him superior of that, or to study theology …” However, if you have this mission, send him there! The best!
3. Thank God you do not live or work as isolated individuals, but as a community: and thank God for this! The community sustains the whole apostolate. Sometimes Religious Communities are riddled with tensions, with the risk of individualism and of dispersion, whereas there is need for deep communication and genuine relationships. The humanising force of the Gospel is witnessed to by the fraternity lived in community, made up of hospitality, respect, reciprocal help, understanding, courtesy, forgiveness and joy. The family spirit that Don Bosco left you helps a great deal in this respect encouraging perseverance and creating an attraction to consecrated life
Dear Brothers, the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth is almost upon us. It will be a propitious occasion to propose again your Founder’s charism. Mary Help of Christians has never failed to give her help in the life of the Congregation, and she certainly will not fail to do so in the future. May her maternal intercession obtain for you from God the hoped for anticipated fruits. I bless you and pray for you and, please, pray also for me. Thank you!
