Faithful to the Second Column

By Candidate Rowan Pham

Dear Beloved of Christ and Mary, Help of Christians,

In his dreams, Don Bosco envisioned two columns that would hold together the Universal Church in times of trial. The first was the Eucharist. Our Lord Jesus Christ has left us this wonderful sacrament so that He may “be with us always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Yet as we approach the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, it is prudent to reflect upon the second column through the lens of the Rosary: Mary.

Countless saints throughout the history of the Church, especially Don Bosco, greatly emphasize the importance of a healthy devotion to our Blessed Mother through the Rosary for our salvation. After disclosing his dream about the binding of the serpent using the rosary, Don Bosco concluded, “Let us devoutly say a Hail Mary whenever we are tempted, and we’ll be sure to win,” (Biographical Memoirs, Vol. VII, pp. 143-144). How grateful are we to have such an effective tool to defeat Satan and his traps!

Yet how often do we take this wonderful gift for granted? How often do we put off Christ’s mother because we “do not have the time,” or how “boring” it is? We the faithful have been entrusted with Mary by Christ as our own mother: “Here is your Mother” (John 25:25-27). Therefore, we are called by Christ to take care of our Mother, which means to have a relationship with her. This is achieved in many ways: a humble Hail Mary, a grateful Angelus, and most importantly, a devout Rosary.

So, Beloved of Christ and Mary, may October 2025, in accordance with the Holy Father’s wishes, be a month dedicated to Mary through the Rosary. May we resolve that every prayer spoken, every holy thought conceived, be given and entrusted to Mary, our Mother and Help of Christians. With this, Don Bosco would be pleased to see his beloved children praying devoutly to the Blessed Mother.

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us. St. John Bosco, pray for us. Amen.