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Don Bosco and Mary
Don Bosco and Mary
A choice or a story? A choice or a story?
† Don Bosco’s personal devotion to Mary transcended all titles
† His devotion to Mary under specific titles develops in line with specific social and historical contexts
Fr Alberto Caviglia writes…
‘Under which titles did Don Bosco inculcate
devotion to Mary, and which was the object of
Savio’s devotion? The answer is,
“All and none in particular’”
The dream of a 9 year oldThe dream of a 9 year old
• “I wanted to run away, when a Lady, very nicely dressed in the style of a young shepherdess, motioned to me to follow and accompany the strange flock, while she walked at the head of it”
• It was not a Madonna under a specific title that appeared to Don Bosco, but simply the Madonna – Mary, the mother of Jesus
The “Consolata” The “Consolata”
•In the 1840’s and 1850’s Don Bosco was devoted to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows•(Consolata – the Madonna of the people of Turin)
The ImmaculateThe Immaculate
•As the religious movement that led to the Church’s definition of Mary’s Immaculate Conception gained ground (1854) •Don Bosco’s devotion moved in the same direction and for quite some time his devotion centered on this title
The ImmaculateThe Immaculate
• It appears, therefore, that before the Immaculate Conception became an ecclesial symbol and then a permanent Salesian educational symbol •This devotion had become for Don Bosco a very personal experience connected with his life and work.
Mary Help of ChristiansMary Help of Christians
•After 1860 Mary Help of Christians became an ever growing presence in Don Bosco’s life
Mary Help of ChristiansMary Help of Christians
•The Spoleto events of 1862:• An Apparition• A miracle
On a hillock located in a sequestered spot [outside of the city of Spoleto] an ancient image of the Virgin Mary has survived in a niche of a crumbling wall—all that remains of an old church that had existed on the site. The fresco, which in spite of its being exposed to the elements is still in good condition, depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child in her arms. The place has long been abandoned and forgotten. But in recent weeks people have been praying at this ancient shrine, because the Blessed Virgin has appeared several times to a child named Enrico, not yet five years of age. However, only after March 19, 1862, and a miraculous cure, have people been flocking to the place in large numbers. A 30-year-old peasant had recourse to the Virgin in that image and was instantly cured of chronic illnesses that had plagued him for a long time.
Don Bosco and the Spoleto
events
Don Bosco and the Spoleto
eventsThere is evidence that the events in
Spoleto influenced the “Dream of the Two Columns”
Don Bosco’s endorsement of Mary
Help of Christians
Don Bosco’s endorsement of Mary
Help of Christians
Without the Spoleto events
Don Bosco might not have become
the apostle of Mary Help of
Christians
Don Bosco’s endorsement of Mary
Help of Christians
Don Bosco’s endorsement of Mary
Help of Christians
He might have retained the title of Mary
Immaculate for the Mornese group that he met in 1864 and that
became the “Daughters of Mary Help of Christians” (Salesian Sisters) in
1872.
He might not have dedicated his
great new church to Mary under the
title of Help of Christians.
Don Bosco’s endorsement of Mary
Help of Christians
Don Bosco’s endorsement of Mary
Help of Christians
An interesting fact is that the statue at the top of the main cupola of the Basilica is
that of the Immaculate
The BasilicaThe Basilica
“The Madonna wishes us to honor her under the title of the
Help of Christians.The times are so bad that we
badly need her help for the preservation and defense of the
Christian faith”
Don Bosco’s words…
Don Bosco’s words…
“while renewed, fierce warfare was being waged by evil people against the Catholic Church, our heavenly Patroness was being
honored anew under the title of Mary Help of Christians.”
Pius IX writes to Don Bosco…
Pius IX writes to Don Bosco…
A dual significance for us today
Don Bosco the Apostle of Mary (Immaculate) Help of ChristiansDon Bosco the Apostle of Mary (Immaculate) Help of Christians
IMMACULATE
HELP OF CHRISTIANS