Don Bosco and Mary

1. Don Boscoand Mary

2. 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

3. 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’”

4. “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 dream of a 9 year old

5. 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 “Consolata”

6. The 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

7. The 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.

8. Mary Help of Christians • After 1860 Mary Help of Christians became an ever growing presence in Don Bosco’s life

9. Mary Help of Christians • The Spoleto events of 1862: • An Apparition • A miracle

10. 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.

11. Don Bosco and the Spoleto events • There is evidence that the events in Spoleto influenced the “Dream of the Two Columns”

12. 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

13. 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.

14. Don Bosco’s endorsement of Mary Help of Christians • He might not have dedicated his great new church to Mary under the title of Help of Christians.

15. The Basilica • An interesting fact is that the statue at the top of the main cupola of the Basilica is that of the Immaculate

16. Don Bosco’s words… • “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”

17. Pius IX writes to Don Bosco… • “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.”

18. Don Bosco the Apostle of Mary (Immaculate) Help of Christians IMMACULATE • A dual significance for us today HELP OF CHRISTIANS