【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2019 年 07月 12 日羅馬慈幼總部訊】 ─ 「交託、信賴與微笑！」這是總會長范達民神父，適逢聖母進教之佑善會成立150周年之際，致送慈幼會士及整個慈幼家庭信函的標題。該善會於1869年，聖母進教之佑大殿祝聖大典翌年，於4月18日在鮑思高神父的推動下成立。
范達民神父促請慈幼會士及慈幼家庭成員，更新慈幼聖召中聖母的幅度，檢視對聖母進教之佑的信念及敬禮，這無疑對整個普世慈幼家庭，是一項有用的建議，落實衛甘諾神父當年在邀請慈幼會士，「讓聖母在家中安居」的呼籲。
懷著使聖母進教之佑更好地在家中安居的渴望，讓慈幼會士在以下各方面作簡單的反省：他們對聖體及聖母進教之佑的依靠；聖母進教之佑善會成立一百五十年來所跟隨的道路；他們一直以來所承受、須予以守護的慈幼神恩的民眾特質；以及「從聖母家中到我們家中」這條道路等方面。
信函繼續說，為配合本年度的贈言，我們要緊記沒有聖體，便沒法成聖。聖體是心靈徹底皈依天主大愛的基礎。信賴聖母是活出聖洗恩寵，使之在信仰旅程中成長所必需的，堅信她「親手」帶領我們，「與她的愛子，天主聖父之子耶穌相會。」
「奉獻於聖母進教之佑，是鮑思高神父所熟識及推廣的，這正是因為進教之佑是天主子民信仰的助佑和保衛。有不少的意識型態，誘惑人們去除生命意義中基督徒的意識，也有很多運動攻擊教會的信仰及團結，這教會是建基於伯多祿所宣認的信仰的穩固磐石上的。」
鮑思高神父願意透過聖母進教之佑善會，為基督徒提供成聖及宗徒工作的指引，既簡單且適用於每一個人，為捍衛並宣揚信仰，以及增強大眾的宗教虔誠的實質。
總會長在總結時說：「在我們感謝聖母進教之佑善會這150年來發展的同時，讓我們勉力忠信於我們慈幼家庭會祖聖人的神恩，使我們在聖神的引導下，更新福傳及教育的熱忱……這福傳熱忱的基本要素，在於這善會的更新，以及對家庭及新一代特別的關顧。」
我們隨從這些指引的召請，忠信持守鮑思高神父所走過的足跡或道路，他對救主的神聖母親的敬禮，可從他的整個神修，以及教育牧民行動中清晰地看出來。
“Entrust, have trust and smile!” Rector Major’s Letter on 150th anniversary of ADMA’s foundation
(ANS – Rome–RMG, 12 July 2019) – “Entrust, have trust and smile!” This is the title of the letter addressed by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, to the Salesians and to the whole Salesian Family on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), promoted by Don Bosco on 18 April 1869, one year after the consecration of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Valdocco.
Fr Á.F. Artime urges renewing the Marian dimension of the Salesian vocation, examining the convictions and making a careful evaluation of own’s devotion to the Help of Christians as Salesians of Don Bosco, undoubtedly a useful proposal for the entire Salesian Family throughout the world, and making current the appeal Fr Egidio Viganò addressed in his time when he invited Salesians to “make a place for Our Lady in our home.”
With the desire to make Mary Help of Christians ever more at home with us, a simple reflection is offered on Salesian attachment to the Eucharist and to Mary Help of Christians on the path followed in these 150 years since ADMA’s foundation, on the popular nature of the Salesian charism that was consigned over time as a treasure to be guarded, and on the path to embark upon “from the house of Mary to our own homes.”
The letter goes on to say that in harmony with this year’s Strenna, it must be remembered that there is no way to sanctity without the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the keystone for the radical conversion of the heart to the love of God. Trust in Mary is a condition for living the baptismal grace and maturing it through the journey of faith, convinced that She takes us “by the hand to a meeting with her Son Jesus, the Son of God the Father.”
“Devotion to Mary Help of Christians was understood and promoted by Don Bosco precisely from the point of view of the help and the defense of the faith of the people of God, tempted by ideologies that removed the Christian sense of the meaning of life, and by many movements that attacked the faith and unity of the Church founded on the solid rock of Peter’s profession of faith.”
With ADMA, Don Bosco wished to offer Christians an itinerary of sanctification and apostolate that is simple and accessible to all, with the intent of defending and promoting the faith of the people and enhancing the contents of popular religiosity.
In conclusion, the Rector Major writes: “While we give thanks for these 150 years in the life of the Association of Mary Help of Christians let us commit ourselves in fidelity to the charism of the holy founder of our Salesian Family, to allow ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit in a renewed evangelizing and educative zeal… The essential aspect of this evangelizing zeal consists in the renewal of the Association and giving special attention to the family and to the new generations.”
Following these guidelines, a call to remaining faithful to the footsteps or path traveled by Don Bosco whose devotion to the divine Mother of the Saviour characterized and strongly marked all his spirituality and his pastoral and educative actions.