Celebration
of important anniversaries
1st Centenary of the death of Fr Paul
Albera - 2021
4th Centenary of the death of Saint Francis
de Sales - 2022
Dear confreres and members of the Salesian
Family,
I send you all my affectionate greetings,
together with my best wishes that all may be well at this particular time we
are sharing with the rest of humanity.
I believe that many of you will receive this letter
together with the document setting out our Congregation’s programme for the
next six years, following GC28 which, as you know, finished early. The next
written item that will come to you will be a publication entitled: “GC28.
Chapter Reflections”. In other words, its title will not be “Chapter
Documents”, given that the process of study and approval by the Chapter itself
was not fully completed.
It is certainly the case that this has been a very
special time that, until now, has not been experienced by the Congregation,
with the exception of what happened to Fr Paul Albera who was elected Rector
Major at the 11th General Chapter, and who remained in office for
twelve years due to the First World War. This prevented a new General Chapter.
It was 21 September 1921 when he convened the new General Chapter and I quote
his words: “Twelve years without a General Chapter. Next year
will be twelve years since the loving Providence of the Lord, who usually
chooses the weak and the inept for the accomplishment of his works, called me
to succeed the venerable and unforgettable D. Rua in the government of the Congregation;
therefore, according to the norms of our Constitutions, the General Chapter
must meet for the election of the new Rector Major.”
Therefore, the reason for this letter is because two
important anniversaries will soon be upon us.
29 October
2021 will be the first centenary of the death of Fr Paul Albera, the second
successor of Don Bosco, and 28 December 2022 will be the fourth centenary of
the death of our patron and titular saint, Saint Francis de Sales. Given the
occasion of these anniversaries, I would like to announce that 2021 will be
the year for commemorating Fr Albera, and 2022 the year for
commemorating Saint Francis de Sales.
Fr Paul Albera was Rector Major from
1910 to 1921. Don Bosco felt that he was very close to his spirit since he was
a boy at the Oratory. As Rector Major, despite the terrible time of the First
World War, that saw a prolonged interruption to the growth and formation of the
Congregation (1914-1918), he succeeded in maintaining and developing the Salesian
work in Europe and other continents. He was a man of culture and elevated
spirituality as we can grasp from his circular letters.
The young Paul was a
calm, smiling and studious lad. The memory of Dominic Savio, who had died the
year before he came to Valdocco, encouraged the best boys to follow in his
footsteps. He became a friend of Michael Magone, his neighbour in the
dormitory. He excelled in school, but also stood out for his piety. One day in
1861, it was he whom Don Bosco chose to pose at his side for the historic
photograph that pictures him as a penitent making his confession to Don Bosco.
The young Albera was
among the first group of 22 Salesians to publicly profess their vows on 14 May
1862. In 1881 Don Bosco sent him as Provincial to France, where the people
affectionately called him le petit don Bosco. In 1892 he returned to
Turin to take up the role of “Catechist General” – in charge of formation. He
undertook a lengthy visit to America from 1900 to 1903, as Fr Rua’s
extraordinary representative, and in 1905 he accompanied Fr Rua on his trip to
the Holy Land.
The 11th General Chapter commenced at
Valdocco in Turin on 15 August 1910. This General Chapter had “the peculiarity
of having had as its protagonists the first three successors of Don Bosco: it
was convened by Fr Rua, who died before it began; it was reconvened, opened and
presided over for two days by Fr Rinaldi, and presided over and closed by Fr
Albera, who was elected Rector Major at this Chapter.
On 16
August 1910, the members of the 11th General Chapter chose Fr Albera
as the second successor of Don Bosco, after Fr Rua. He himself would write,
recalling the moment eleven years earlier: “I remember now how it was now the
memorable morning of August 16, 1910, when I saw myself, unworthy as I was,
raised to such a sublime office, such a grave responsibility. I remember the
emotion, or rather the consternation felt at the time; the anxieties, the
fears, the tears shed that day at the tomb of D. Bosco, the ardent prayers that
I addressed to this good Father of ours so that he might come to my aid; and
how, in the end, I induced myself to accept the charge, albeit with great
repugnance, and only so as not to contradict the divine appointment... Then,
all the marvels that God was pleased to work over these years, making use of my
poor person, parade before my memory.”
In the presentation of the text concerning the 11th
General Chapter presided over by Fr Albera, I myself write that, approaching
the first centenary of his death in 1921, we have a “unique opportunity to take
advantage of the circumstance and to make known this Rector Major about whom we
do not have many sources, although those we do have are of incalculable value:
his circulars, his intimate diary, the chronicles of his travels, especially
the one he made to America as a delegate of Fr Rua, during which, with great
sacrifice, he visited all the Houses in the American continent. His correspondence
and that of his companion, Fr Gusmano, with the superiors of Turin, offer
invaluable information about his life, adventures, sufferings, and his
brilliant successes with his confreres who worked there. Likewise the news
reports in the Salesian Bulletin and the many Spanish newspapers that reported
his numerous interventions during the almost five-month-long triumphal journey
he made through the Iberian Peninsula.”
Gifted with
refined sensitivity and given his familiarity with many spiritual writers among
whom in particular Saint Francis de Sales, Fr Albera wrote circular letters
that are precious mini treatises that make him a kind of master of Salesian
virtues.
As Rector
Major he undertook many travels because he felt the need for direct contact
with the growing Salesian Family.
In any
case, his greatest trial was the First World War (1914-1918). A direct
consequence of this tragic event was the impossibility of holding a General
Chapter during his time of office, as already indicated. Fr Albera recommended
to those in charge to assist confreres in the military both morally and
materially. He insisted on the maintaining of existing works and intervened
personally on behalf of refugees and war orphans, and wrote a monthly circular
letter to Salesians who were called to arms. Despite the losses and the
slowdown caused by the war, the Congregation resumed its path, uphill though it
was, as soon as the hostilities ceased.
For us, Fr
Albera is a great model of love for Don Bosco. He is also an inspiration for
the time we are going through, the first global pandemic to affect life in all
countries on a planetary scale, the long-term effects of which we can only
imagine, for now, with a large degree of uncertainty.
The second
successor of Don Bosco was also a valiant scholar and imitator of the virtues
of St Francis de Sales. I would like to remind you that it was indeed Fr Albera
who in 1921 announced a year of celebration for the 3rd centenary of
the death of our Patron. On that occasion he wrote: “Another topic very close
to my heart that I would like to direct your attention to is that of the 3rd
centenary of the death of St Francis de Sales, which will take place on 28 December of the coming year. We
should not only take our name from him but likewise his spirit, so we have a
duty before all others to celebrate this worthily.” Then
after reminding people that Don Bosco’s educational principles were
those of Saint Francis de Sales, “charity, gentleness, familiarity, the holy
fear of God infused into hearts, preventing, obstructing evil so that we are
not then forced to punish it,”
Fr Albera puts the following request to the confreres: “In each of you, my dear
children, may there be a holy fervour to further explore the writings of our
heavenly Patron, especially the Introduction to the Devout Life, the Treatise
on the Love of God and the Spiritual Letters: this is the first and
most practical way to celebrate his glorious centenary.”
After
writing this beautiful letter announcing this “Salesian” year, Fr Paul Albera
gave up his soul to the Lord on 29 October 1921, leaving the celebration of the
jubilee year he had promulgated up to his successor, Fr Philip Rinaldi.
Now it is
up to us to celebrate both the first centenary of the death of dear Fr Albera,
and the fourth centenary of the death of our holy Patron, Francis de Sales.
Saint
Francis de Sales died in Lyons, during a journey, on 28 December 1622.
His solemn funeral took place in his cathedral in Annecy on 24 January 1623,
and on 29 January that year his body was buried in the church belonging to the
first Visitation monastery in Annecy. He was listed among the saints in 1665.
Blessed Pius IX proclaimed him as a Doctor of the Church in 1877. On 26 January
1923, Pius XI proclaimed him as the patron of journalists. In 1967, in his
letter Sabaudiae gemma Saint Paul VI described him as “doctor of divine
love and evangelical kindness” as well as “doctor of spiritual direction”.
For us in the Congregation and the Salesian Family,
there is no lack of reasons for celebrating a year dedicated to Saint Francis
de Sales:
-
Don Bosco, drawing
inspiration from the kindness and zeal of the holy Bishop of Geneva, gave us the name Salesians, and pointed out a
programme of life in the maxim: Da mihi
animas, cetera tolle (C. 4);
-
Other than to Our Lady Help of Christians and st
Joseph, Don Bosco entrusted our Society to Saint Francis de Sales, “zealous
pastor and doctor of charity” (C. 9);
-
The Salesian relies on the intercession of Saint
Francis de Sales in order “to be faithful” (C. 24);
-
The entire Salesian Family of Don Bosco is placed
under the protection of this great Patron Saint.
The main objective that we set ourselves in this
anniversary is to make the figure, spirituality and pedagogy of St Francis de
Sales known among us Salesians.
Saint Francis de Sales reminds us that holiness is for
everyone and that we must accompany the young on the way to this goal.
At this moment in the life of the Church and our
Family, we are especially sensitive to spiritual accompaniment. And our Patron
is one of the great teachers of this art in the Church’s history. We have much
to learn from him. To the practice of spiritual direction, inherited from St
Ignatius of Loyola, St Francis de Sales wanted to add the friendship between
the one who accompanies and the one being accompanied – and Don Bosco,
spontaneously, added the community dimension to this.
But in the first instance St Francis de Sales speaks
to us about the heart and invites us to recover the loving-kindness and healthy
affection that are at the heart of the Preventive System that Don Bosco left
us, since “whosoever gains the heart has won the whole
man”.
Events
planned
Several initiatives are planned. Here I mention those
of a more comprehensive and international nature. I hope that many others will
be promoted and carried out at regional level, the level of provinces or
individual communities.
2021: Year
dedicated to Fr Paul Albera
-
14 January 2021: opening of
the centenary at Valdocco, Turin during the Salesian Family Spirituality Days.
-
30 October – 1 November 2021: congress on Fr Paul
Albera, at Valdocco, Turin.
-
16 January 2022: closure of the centenary dedicated to
Fr Albera and the Opening of the year dedicated to St Francis de Sales, at
Valdocco, Turin, also during the Salesian Family Spirituality Days.
Among the other initiatives at world level we should
recall the publication of a Life of Fr Paul Albera and a new edition of some of
his letters.
2022: Year
dedicated to Saint Francis de Sales
-
As indicated previously, on
16 January2022: closure of the year dedicated to Fr Paul Albera – Opening of
the year dedicated to St Francis de Sales at Valdocco, Turin, during the
Salesian Family Spirituality Days.
-
18-20 November 2022: congress on Francis de Sales, UPS, Rome.
-
28 December 2022, fourth
anniversary of his death: participation at Annecy in celebrations at diocesan
level.
-
15 January 2023: conclusion
of the year at Valdocco, Turin, during the Salesian Family Spirituality Days.
Other initiatives at world level: the Strenna for 2022
will have charity in St Francis de Sales as its theme; a series of retreats
will be held in Annecy in various languages; these will take advantage of the
places of St Francis de Sales (Annecy, Lyons, Turin, Treviso…); aids will be
published for the retreats and video conferences to assist days of recollection
and community days; biographies and works at a popular level, to be integrated
into programmes for Salesian initial formation phases and available to all
communities; video presentations introducing the Introduction to the Devout
Life, The Treatise on the Love of God and the Letters; web
pages with access to works and an extended bibliography for further
exploration.
Saint Francis de Sales was the founder of and inspiration
behind a number of Institutes of Consecrated Life. Where possible I encourage
collaboration with these institutes, as also with the diocese associated with
him in a special way.
* * *
Dear confreres, dear members of the Salesian Family,
These two anniversaries are a great opportunity for a
further understanding of the charism we have received. We recall Don Bosco’s
words: “I am now sketching a rough copy of the Congregation. I shall leave it to
those who will come after me to perfect it.”
It is up to us, now, to build a small piece of our great story, for the good of
so many young people throughout the world, for the good of their families and
those we intend to accompany and for the growth in charismatic fidelity of our
beautiful Salesian Family of Don Bosco.
May Our Lady Help of Christians sustain us at all
times and extend her hand over us as her much beloved sons and daughters.
With great affection in Don Bosco,
Ángel
Fernández Artime
Rector Major
RM-Strenna 2021: Presentation-Poster-Video
RM Letter - Easter 2020
