True Wealth is in Reciprocal Love

Dear Confreres,

John Bosco was 18 years old, living and working in the Café Pianta in Chieri while completing his high school studies. He had the intention of joining the Franciscans. The parish priest advised against it, because there was much work in the diocese and, as a diocesan priest, John Bosco would be able to help his mother in her old age. Having heard of this, Mamma Margaret went to Chieri to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her son. She told him:

"...Don’t worry about me. I ask nothing of you, and I expect nothing from you. Remember this: I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I want to die poor. What is more, I want to make this very clear to you: if you decide to become a secular priest and should, unfortunately, become rich, I will never pay you a single visit! Remember that well!

Even into his seventies, Don Bosco could still recall his mother’s solemn bearing and her vibrant voice as she gave him that warning. He could never repeat her emphatic words, born of true Christian sentiments, without feeling greatly moved." (Biographical Memoirs, Vol. 1, p. 221-222)

What a powerful lesson about living the Gospel Don Bosco learned as a young man from his saintly mother! As sons of Don Bosco, we should pay attention to her words, especially as we join the entire Church for World Day of the Poor this year on Sunday, November 13.

Mamma Margaret accepted a life of poverty, not because of misfortunes or resignation to fate, but because she already had found her true treasure in Jesus Christ. Unable to read the Gospel, still she knew how to imitate Jesus, who "for your sake, He became poor although He was rich so that by His poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9). In his Message for the World Day of the Poor 2022, Pope Francis reflects on this paradox. Our true wealth is not in material things or economic security but in reciprocal love that moves us to share each other’s burdens. Jesus’ way of life models for us a poverty "that sets us free and brings us peace." In imitating the poverty of Christ, Mamma Margaret found love, freedom, and peace, treasures she wanted to share with young John Bosco.

This time of year, with Thanksgiving (in the USA) and Christmas on the horizon, many of our Salesian works conduct food drives and toy drives, collaborate with local agencies to help the poor, visit nursing homes and hospitals, and organize meals for the disadvantaged. We have the opportunity in all these worthwhile activities to give witness to Christ’s poverty in our own lives, the way Mamma Margaret did with her children, and educate others about "Jesus’ treasure, His love, which excludes no one and seeks out everyone, especially the marginalized and those deprived of the necessities of life" (Pope Francis’ Message).

In our Salesian circles, we have an outstanding example of Christ-like poverty in St. Artemides Zatti, whose feast day happens to be Sunday, November 13, but is transferred to Monday, November 14, in the USA. Last week, Fr. Dominic Tran emailed some prayer resources for Zatti’s feast to the directors. In his solidarity with the poor, St. Artemides was able to concentrate on what was essential and avoided the snares of anxiety and superficiality. He understood that Christ’s poverty made him rich. His closeness with the poor and the sick was a living witness to the Gospel, his way of evangelizing.

We are challenged by this World Day of the Poor, and the many charitable activities being conducted in these next months, to reflect the paradox of the Gospel: being poor like Christ so others can be enriched. Please send all the good things going on in your Salesian presences to Salesian News so we can all benefit from the practical solidarity being lived today.

Thanks to the CYMs, Fr. Lou Molinelli, and the staff of the province office of youth ministry, who gathered in Stony Point for meetings these days. May their time together help us all be generous missionaries to the young.

This month, we also give attention to prayers for the deceased. Please ensure each community complies with Regulation 76, celebrating a Mass in each community on Saturday, November 5, for deceased benefactors and members of the Salesian Family, and on Friday, November 25, for the deceased parents of the confreres.

We await the visit of the Rector Major. Please support this historic occasion with your prayers and your presence.

God bless you.

Fr. Tim Zak