【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2021 年06月 24 日意大利都靈訊】 ─ 聖母進教之佑大殿是聖若望鮑思高在意大利都靈華道角第一所慶禮院的皇冠上的珍寶。大殿在1863至1868年間興建，對聖若望鮑思高來說確實是一個成真的美夢。起初是慶禮院一班青年欽崇天主的地方，後來成為孕育新成立的慈幼會的一個中心，今日則是普世慈幼家庭屬神的心跳動的地方。在剛過去的三月份，美國東部及加拿大會省的慈幼家庭協調人等，請求鮑思高故居博物館副館長，慈幼會士Mike Pace神父，製作一輯聖母進教之佑大殿導覽影片。Pace神父這樣回應：「這是一個特殊的邀請，讓大殿及若望鮑思高的聖母，更加為人所認識及愛慕。」因此一輯英語導覽影片現已誕生，配以意大利文及韓文字幕，並將加入西班牙文字幕。這輯影片探索聖母進教之佑大殿的一針一線，如何編織成慈幼會歷史、神修及聖母敬禮神妙的毛毯。
第一部份：歷史、藝術及建築
對聖若望鮑思高來說，藝術和建築時常都是為教育及教授要理服務的。在這一點上，導覽影片的上半部份，集中於這幾條問題：為什麼聖若望鮑思高在設計大殿立面時，會揀選位於威尼斯、富有文藝復興時期風格的聖額我略大殿作參考。立面上描繪著什麼聖經訊息及教會歷史？假如大殿是奉獻於聖母進教之佑，為什麼圓拱上放上「仁慈聖母」的聖像？聖母奉為「進教之佑」，有什麼歷史根據呢？原來的大殿在什麼時候曾進行兩次翻新，為何進行翻新呢？設計大殿裝飾的主要設計師是誰？透過佔據祭台位置的聖母進教之佑聖像畫，聖若望鮑思高想傳達什麼訊息？為什麼聖母進教之佑受普世認為是聖若望鮑思高的聖母？大殿如何傳達聖若望鮑思高的「三種白色的愛」？信德與財務如何走在一起，支付這宏偉聖殿的建築費？
第二部份：慈幼家庭的英雄
導覽的第二部份，集中於在橫祭及埋在地底的聖髑，展現了人們敬禮的慈幼家庭的英雄：聖瑪沙利羅、聖多明我沙維豪、聖方濟沙雷氏、真福盧華及真福李納德（聖若望鮑思高第一及第三位繼承人），以及慈幼會殉道者先驅，聖雷鳴道主教及聖高惠黎神父。
聖若瑟祭台受到特別的注意，因為這座祭台，是自從聖若望鮑思高興建及祝聖聖殿後，唯一沒有改動過的地方。
這部份的高峰，在於展示聖若望鮑思高的祭台，這祭台取代了原有奉獻於基督代表聖伯多祿的祭台。在鮑思高神父於1929年6月2日列為真福時，他的遺體從楊柳谷慈幼學校遷移到這裡，受人們敬禮。在這座他曾奉獻彌撒達二十年的祭台上，他等待復活的光榮。
第三部份：福傳
最後，導覽影片讓人反省大殿的福傳幅度。1875年，聖若望鮑思高在大殿中央的桃木講道台，派遣了以賈利哀勞神父為首的首批傳教士，他後來成了主教及樞機。這輯影片探索了聖若望鮑思高在這裡發表的一些語重深長的話語，至今仍在大殿內迴響著，並讓我們反省作為慈幼家庭的一分子，在教會及普世的福傳使命。
第四部份：「我們的聖堂，我們的母院」
在大殿的基石上，刻有聖母瑪利亞向聖若望鮑思高，表達興建這座聖殿的渴望時所說的話：這是我的家，我的榮耀從這裡彰顯出來。
Pace神父繼續說：「正如以上的話，啟發聖若望鮑思高，去了解這個看來不可能實現的夢想，同時也促成了這輯影片。很多慈幼會士及獻身於聖母進教之佑的人，都未有這恩典，得以前往華道角。為我們這些在這裡服務修會的人，這恩典成了發自內心的責任：使慈幼世界更容易以他們的語言，去認識這座大殿。聖母瑪利亞成為我們敬愛的母親，不只去迎接那些前來華道角的子女，卻也從華道角走出去，懷抱在遠方的子女。我們希望這輯影片，能讓大家以某種形式，感受到聖母擁抱我們。」
影片製作團隊包括男女、平信徒、修道者及司鐸：包括負責錄影及剪輯的協進慈幼會士Katia Fiorito，以及負責指導的Pace神父，並感謝慈幼通訊社提供高清相片及無人攝錄機，大殿院長及副院長，慈幼會士Guido Errico神父及Vincenzo Trotta神父借出大殿以供拍攝，以及大殿音樂總監慈幼會士Maurizio Palazzo神父提供音樂支援。
在Mike Pace神父帶領下的聖母進教之佑大殿模擬旅程影片，可在此處收看（https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6dEQVF4E1k）
Video Tour of Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, “Don Bosco’s Madonna”
(ANS – Italy–Turin, 24 June 2021) – The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians is the jewel in the crown of Don Bosco’s original Oratory in Valdocco (Turin), Italy. Built between 1863 and 1868, it was literally a dream come true for Don Bosco. Begun as a worship space for the boys of the Oratory, it became the centre of the newly founded Salesian Congregation and today it is the pulsing spiritual heart of the worldwide Salesian Family. And last March, the Salesian Family Coordinators in the SUE Province (United States East and Canada) asked Fr Mike Pace SDB, Vice-Director, Museo Casa Don Bosco, if he would prepare a video tour of the Basilica. “This was a privileged invitation to make the Basilica and Don Bosco’s Madonna better known and loved,” Fr Pace comments. So a guided tour is now available- in English, and also with Italian and Korean subtitles, but soon in Spanish too – that explores various strands which are woven together to make the Basilica a magnificent tapestry of Salesian history, spirituality and Marian devotion.
For Don Bosco, art and architecture were always at the service of education and catechesis. With this in mind, the first half of the tour focuses on these questions: Why did Don Bosco choose the Renaissance-era Basilica of St. George in Venice as the model for his façade? What passages from Sacred Scripture and what events of church history are depicted therein? Why is there a statue of Our Lady of Mercy on the cupola if the Basilica is dedicated to Mary Help of Christians? What are the historical roots of the devotion to Mary as “Help of Christians”? When and why did the original Basilica undergo two major renovations? Who were the major artists commissioned to adorn the Basilica? What message did Don Bosco wish to communicate through the iconic painting of Mary Help of Christians which dominates the altar space and is recognized all over the world as Don Bosco’s Madonna? How does the Basilica convey Don Bosco’s “Three White Loves”? How did faith and finances come together to pay for such a magnificent church?
The second part of the tour focuses on the Salesian family heroes who are honoured at the side altars and in the Crypt of Relics: St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello, St. Dominic Savio, St. Francis de Sales, Blessed Michael Rua and Blessed Philip Rinaldi (the first and second successors of Don Bosco), and the Salesian Proto-martyrs, Bishop Luigi Versiglia and Fr Callistus Caravario.
The altar of St. Joseph receives particular attention, as it is the only altar that has remained unchanged ever since Don Bosco built and blessed it.
This section culminates in the presentation of Don Bosco’s altar, which replaced the original altar dedicated to St. Peter as the Vicar of Christ. Don Bosco has been honoured here since his beatification on 2 June 2 1929 when he was translocated to the Basilica from the Salesian school in Valsalice. He awaits the glory of the resurrection at the altar where he celebrated his daily mass for twenty years.
Finally, the tour reflects on the missionary dimension of the Basilica. From the walnut pulpit in the nave of the church, Don Bosco commissioned the first missionary expedition in 1875 under the leadership of Fr John Cagliero, future bishop and cardinal. The video explores some of Don Bosco’s heart-felt words from that occasion which still echo in the Basilica today and allow us to reflect on our own mission within the Church and the world as members of the Salesian Family.
At the very foundations of the Basilica are those words which Mary spoke to Don Bosco when she revealed her desire that he build this church: hic est domus mea, inde gloria me; this is my home, from here my glory shall go forth.
“Just as these words inspired Don Bosco to realize what seemed like an impossible dream, they also inspired this video,” Fr Pace adds. “Most Salesians and most devotees of Mary, Help of Christians will never have the privilege of visiting Valdocco. For those of us who serve the Congregations here, this privilege becomes a heart-felt responsibility: a responsibility to make this Basilica more accessible to the Salesian world, in their own language. As our loving mother, Mary not only welcomes her children who can come to Valdocco, but also, from Valdocco, her love goes out to embrace all her children far and wide. It is our hope that this video may in some way be an experience of our Mother’s embrace.”
The Virtual tour of Basilica Mary Help of Christians with Fr Mike Pace is available here.