1072_The spirituality of the provincial councillor: resting one's head on Don Bosco's heart.

 

 

HUA HIN: 9th March 2005 -- Something to add to the 'spirituality of...' list is the spirituality of the provincial councillor.  Fr Chávez offered some thoughts on this before the group set off for a day of very practical spirituality, which takes in a visit to the Buddhist Temple at Ban Grude (a quiet and beautiful seaside area with banana boats, amongst other things!), a visit to the Salesian Cemetery at Ban Seng Arun where Bishops Caretto, and Praphon are buried, a Eucharist at Fatima Church, a grand supper followed by stage show by students and parishioners, before return to Hua Hin and an AV presentation by GIA and ITM.

    The spirituality of the provincial councillor, says the RM, is that of 'animation and government'.  Animation is what the soul does for the body - provides vitality.  Death is (amongst other things) absence of vitality.  The soul unifies.  Death is dismemberment.  Animation then, in province terms, is providing vitality, holding the province in unity.  The soul, too, provides identity, makes each one what each one is.  Hence the three tasks of animation for the provincial councillor are clear: vitality, unity, identity.

    Government fosters fidelity to Don Bosco's charism, but it is especially a responsibility for creative fidelity.  A charism is dynamic.  It needs creativity.  However, we can say that animation is the way to govern.  Animation without government, though, is mere rhetoric.  At times a provincial council can be busy with assessment.  Assessment on its own will change nothing, though it is essential. 

    Government without animation would be tyranny, formalism and an unwelcome input in the heart of the confreres.  They may obey but they will not be convinced.

    So then - all this in terms of a spirituality?  The councillor is first a sacrament of the Holy Spirit.  Someone who talks to the heart, persuades, encourages, consoles perhaps, speaks on behalf of God.  The councillor cannot simply speak as one who wields power.

    The main points of reference for this spirituality are the Gospel and the Constitutions; knowing what is of the Gospel and what the Salesian criteria are.  In effect to be more closely identified with our Gospel project of life.

    It is a lived spirituality - we live what we say.  We cannot say things we do not believe in.  That would make us not credible.  We are to be identified with our words.  This is an aspect of the grace of unity.

    "Try to have the mind and heart of Don Bosco - another way of summing up this spirituality".  The RM commented that he liked the photo where we see Don Bosco hearing the confession of Paul Albera as a boy ( that well-known photo of DB hearing confessions).  It was something Albera commented on later as RM...how much at that point he would have wanted to rest his head against Don Bosco's chest, to have Don Bosco's heart.

    Finally: this animation and government is at the service of the New Religious Life.  At this point the RM recalled the recent Congress of Religious Life in Rome, where 800,000 Religious were represented.  The striking icons of the Congress were the two Samaritans - the Samaritan woman and the Samaritan on the road to Jericho.  Both are icons for Religious in the passion for God (the woman thirsting) and the passion for humanity (the preferential option for the abandoned and rejected). 

    The RM commented on the value of ideas provided by key theologians of New Religious Life (Radcliffe, Schneiders) as well as the results of 15 group discussions at the Congress.  Councillors will find much inspiration in the Acts of this Congress.  One clear notion is the need to simplify structures, as he was told by one young SDB: "I'm not here to maintain structures, I'm here to give my love for the young".

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