Great Opportunity of 400th Anniversary of St. Francis de Sales
(1622 - 2022)
By Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti, SDB
Hong Kong, 15 June 2018 -- What kind of Salesian for the young people of today? - A partial response to this GC28 question might be:
'A Salesian who is faithful to his name of 'Salesian'! since is really living in full the Gospel spirituality of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) and who is deeply inspired by the Gospel spirituality of St. John Bosco with its roots in the work and spirit of St. Francis de Sales (Motto of 'Da mihi animas, Cetera tolle! as well with two of his masterpiece writings 'Filotea' - Introduction to the Devout Life and 'Teotimus' - Treatise about the Love of God).
Yes, there are multiple reasons for this response to the GC28 question:
- Since last GC19 (1965) all 8 recent SDB General Chapters point at the 'spiritual superificiality' as the main weakness of the Salesian Congregation.
- Among the roots of this 'spiritual superficiality' we might discern also the weaker impact of St. Francis de Sales after the Beatification and Canonization of Don Bosco. Unfortunately after 1934 our Patron, St. Francis de Sales is slowly disappearing from the 'Salesian screen', almost completely.
- To recover the Saint Francis de Sales seems be an essential element in our fight against the 'spiritual superficiality' in our Salesian hearts!
- Our 'Special General Chapter (GC 2) in 1971 reffers frequently to St. Francis de Sales (n. 11, 93, 102, 217, 550, 667) and this is reflected in well in our renewed Constitutions (Art. 4, 9, 17, 24), but this sensitivity is not very much present in the following 7 General Chapters.
- Now we see a Golden Opportunity to recover the figure and spirituality of St. Francis de Sales in the awareness of each Salesian of the Third Millenium, since the 400th Death Anniversary of our Patron and Protector of Our Society (1622-2022) is coming soon!
- I would suggest the following move: during this two years before GC28 insert the attention to St. Francis de Sales through the noun - adjective 'Salesian' (=What kind of Salesian?) in our journey of each Provincial Chapter 2018-2019. In this way the preparation and celebration of the Provincial Chapters and the GC28 may promote the 'recovery' of St. Francis de Sales in the context of our common love for Don Bosco.
And how to promote this attention? I think you know the way better! After the GC28 we might have two years of splendid spiritual preparation (2020-2021, 2021-2022) for the 400th Death Anniversary of St. Francis de Sales, who passed away on 28 December 1622.
