Strenna 2019 – a brief presentation of the RM's commentary

By Our Own Correspondent

Rome, 28 December 2018 -- At the direct invitation of the 10th successor of Don Bosco we 'continue our century-old tradition, shared all around the Salesian world in 136 countries.'

We have already had the 9-point outline presentation of the Strenna since last July.

Now, on 27 December, we also have the official Strenna commentary (available on Boscolink), Strenna poster (officially available on ANS Foto, with an alternative source being Japan SC) and the Strenna video Salesian channel in YouTube.

The Rector Major, Fr Ángel F. Artime, introduces the aim of the 2019 Strenna thus: “I do so while giving a commentary on a subject very familiar to us, with a title taken directly from the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis on the call to holiness in today’s world: Gaudete et Exsultate. In choosing this subject and this title I want to translate the strong appeal to holiness that Pope Francis has addressed to the whole Church into our own language and in the light of our charismatic sensitivity.”

The 22 page official ‘Commentary’ contains simple, profound and very concrete points for each member of the Salesian Family, ending with the (incomplete) list of 168 Salesian Family Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, Servants of God and others for whom the diocesan inquiry is still in progress.

1. God calls everyone to holiness (next door holiness)
2. Jesus is Happiness (Holy – Happy – Blessed)
3. Saints for the Young and with the Young
4. What does it mean to say ‘Holiness is for You!’?
5. Some possible indicators of holiness
6. Path of holiness today in the list of our Salesian Family history

Most recently the ‘Holiness’ theme has been a core message of the 2004 Strenna (Fr Pascual Chávez) ‘Let us propose wholeheartedly to all young people joy in the call to holiness as the high standard of ordinary Christian living (NMI, 31) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Dominic Savio to represent to the young the call to holiness!

The 37th Salesian Family spirituality days will be held next January 10-13 at Valdocco, focusing on the 2019 Strenna theme ‘Holiness for you too!’ in the presence of 400 delegates from most of the 31 Salesian Family groups from all continents (http://www.sdb.org/en/salesian-family/165-salesian-family-days).

Related materials:

• Strenna 2019 Commentary by Rector Major (December 2018)
• Strenna 2019 Presentation (July 2018) - multilinguage & EAO languages
• Rejoice and Be Glad (Pope Francis: Gaudete et Exsultate - Apostolic Exhortation) ENG
• Rejoice and Be Glad (Pope Francis) Filipino Study version - English and Tagalog
• Strenna official poster and Video for download - high resolution

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