9 1 0 2 L I R P A - H C R A M • 4 - 3 r e The truth springs from the b m u n earth and justice looks from the sky Psalm 85, 12 f t Letter of the President Being a Past Pupils by M. Maghini 3 Days of Spirituality of the Salesian Family 4 o n In the Beginning, The Word Dowhatever he tells you e I have looked for you in the sanctuary ... Psalm 63, 3–45 5 e A style of Holiness by A. Martinelli 6 t The Voice of the Holy Father l Challenges for growth by A.M. Musso Freni 8 n The way to Sanctity b A pilgrim of the absolute by the Editors 10 o Let us walk together In the charism of the Founders a The Spirituality of the Past Pupil of the FMA by G. Patiño 12 “Everything She Has Done” C T The Monastery of Montserrat in Barcelona by M.J. Pérez Aguilera 14 The Association is Life Witnesses of the identity From Conegliano (Italy) The reasons for a forever yes by M. Possamai 16 From Catania (Italy) 50 years after graduation: yesterday and today by the Past Pupils 18 Editor: From Varese ( Italy ) Meeting again gladdens the heart! 19 Confederación Mundial From Civitavecchia ( Italy ) ... “And then, you cross the street” by A. Elia 21 Exalumnas/os de las F.M.A. From Alí Terme (Italy) The Church of Mary Help of Christians Dedicated as a Shrine by D. M. Virzì 22 Publishing: From Almagro Buenos Aires (Argentina) Editor in Chief Celebrating the Past Pupil’s Day with Mary Help of Christians by D. M. Virz ì 24 Concetta Apolito Zecchino not one less - With the tax of five for a thousand 25 Vice President Anna Maria Musso Freni Commitment without borders Editorial Team The hands in the World Good Morning Africa! by Carla 26 A. M. Musso Freni Cristiana Mariani Casiraghi A conference room in her memory 27 Gabriela Patiño There are only two kids by A. Ciquera 28 Gianni Radaelli Laura Pollino Ravarino Explore the world of relationships Lorenzo Trapassi Family know what you are They have collaborated in this issue: Reading is an adventure The man watching the trains go by by L. Trapassi 29 Antonio Martinelli SDB Olivia Furlan Third critical event: The family with: young adult children by R. Messina 30 Caterina Benedetta Ferrero Maria Jsabel Pérez Aguilera The Third Millennium The present that is already the future Carla Floriano Cartani Final Titles Alessandro Ciqueri The Women who have changed history by C. Mariani 31 Raffaela Messina I do not waste I reuse 33 Graphic Design: Cristiana Mariani Casiraghi A thought to live by Secretary, administration and expedition: ComThmee pnats fsrioomn, tah ech dailrleecntgoer ... by C. Apolito 35 Marta Bovese Ferrari Giuliana Ceccarelli Mossini Luana Cotta Sica Elena Mattiacci Fioravanti union No 3-4 March-April 2019 year 99º Regist. del Trib. d•i Roma n. 55•2/97 del 10.10.1997 - nuov•a serie - Iscriz. R.N.S. I D750 Tipolithography Istituto Salesiano Pio XI Administration and Publishing: ccp . 64962004 intestato a: B delle Via Umbertide, 11 - 00181 Roma Via Gregorio VII, 13 3/ int. 4 - 00165 Roma Confederazione Mondiale Exallieve/i FMA tel. 06.635692 - fax 06.39375131 Via Gregorio VII, 13 3/ B int. 4 - 00165 Roma e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] sito: www.exallievefma.org n El n.1-2, 2019, was delivered to the mail Associato March 7, 2019 Unione Stampa n Periodica Italiana Publication sent free of charge to Associates This number was printed in the month of March 2019 Letter of the President Being a Past Pupils... Friends, the instruments of our time, with the language of Being a Past Pupil is a gift , a commitment, a re - our young people, assuming their problems, their sponsibility . These were the conclusions of the two questions, their sorrows, their solitudes and, also, days of meetings, in Rome, of the Presidents and their joys and hopes. Delegates of the Italian Federations last February. It is a responsibility to keep the charism alive It is a gift because we have become part of a despite being amid many difficulties especially great family and we have been nourished by the in the Unions where there is no longer any charism of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. A presence of the Daughters of Mary Help of gift of great value that we must guard with zeal Christians. but not in a selfish way and we must share it. Here is our mission. The Association, at present, The future is still ours: let us not let it get away! is called to be alive, more than ever; we must transmit the flame of the charisma to future gen - With these convictions, we unite in wishing erations. Mother General a perfect “Thanksgiving Day for 2019” and, with her, to each Daughter of Mary It is a commitment that binds us individually and Help of Christians from all over the world. as a group. We must make ourselves present, here and now, in the existential peripheries to An affectionate greeting. which the Church has been invited to walk, with Maria Maghini Confederal President union • n. 3-4 - 2 019 3 ESIAN FAMILY DAYS OF SPIRITUALITY OF THE SAL Sanctity… a challenge? by Olivia Furlan * For some time I had confirmed to the Congress sian Family and, consequently, languages, colors, secretariat my decision to participate in the Spiri - different directions, but all united by a unique tuality Days of the Salesian Family that would take charisma. The Choir of young novices, who with place in Turin from January 10 to 13, 2019. They their warm and deep voices, warmed our hearts then sent me a detailed program of activities. and prepared us to welcome the presentation of Nothing else! Still, it could be said, everything was the Strenna 2019, enlivened the welcome. The a ... I jump into the void. I had before me a pro - Rector Major, Father Angel Fernandez Artime, with posal elaborated only with “words”. A single ques - his video, recorded between the Termini station in tion filled me with curiosity: “Holiness for me, Rome and Valdocco, introduced the theme: “HO - what will this mean? The saints are ... unreachable LINESS ALSO IS FOR YOU”. I would like, at once, people! “ – But well, I thought to myself, something to make a synthesis of the ideas that emerged in I will learn – In this way, suitcase in hand, in a the conference: splendid day of sunshine I arrived at Valdocco, the • We should not confuse the path of holiness with mother house of the Salesian charism. The place a kind of spiritualism that escapes reality. Holiness was familiar to me, and in the courtyard of the is not reserved for exceptional people but is a daily house, my gaze stopped at the image of Don way of living the Christian existence embodied in Bosco that welcomed me. I looked at him and the current context, with the risks, challenges and said, “Here I am!” opportunities that God offers us in the way of life. I looked for directions to the office of the adminis - • Constant reference was made to the Apostolic tration. Everything was very well marked; I went Exhortation of Pope Francis “Gaudete et Exultate”, inside and completed the registration forms. They which holds that holiness is a call made to all, not gave me the instructions that contained everything just to a few since it corresponds to the original plan useful to live the XXXVII Spirituality Days to the of God for each one of us. fullest. Up to here, everything was clear; what I did • Holiness is an invitation for ordinary people, not know was that the Congress had a global con - people with whom we walk in everyday life, people notation. Oh, what emotion! At 4:30 p.m. We with simple gestures. were ready to start. The great hall of the theater • It means to face life with courage, confronting welcomed all the participants: 350, from the five the inevitable difficulties of our existence. continents, belonging to the 31 groups of the Sale - • It means to understand human pain and, finally ... “to know how to love!” “Holiness, therefore, is for you, for me, for all!” During these days, I was able to meet, talk, and reflect with different people, each with its own reality of origin and life. I return to my home with the richness of universality. Af - ter having said goodbye to many of my “fellow travelers”, I returned to the image of Don Bosco and made a promise with these words: “See you soon, until next year!” * Confederal Councilor 4 union • n. 3-4 - 2 019 In the Beginning, the Word Do whatever he tells you I have looked for you in the sanctuary to contemplate your strength and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will praise you. Psalm 63, 3– 4 union • n. 3-4 - 2 019 5 STYLE OF HOLINESS Holiness is not only action by Antonio Martinelli * Pope Francis dedicates numerals 25 to 31 to the theme of “The activity that sanctifies”, the title of the paragraph that I propose for meditation; this text helps us to understand, in a complete way, the style of holiness typical of Don Bosco and Salesian life. You become saints to the extent that we identify with Christ. Pope Francis observes, “Your identification with Christ and his wishes implies the commitment to build, with him, the Kingdom of love, justice and peace” (n.25).