austraLasia #2524
Act of entrustment of Salesian work - a 'who's who' of Salesian history
HONG KONG: 16 October 2009 -- In the presence of the Regional for East Asia Oceania, and led by the Provincial of China Province Fr Simon Lam, the Salesian Family in Hong Kong solemnly entrusted its work to the maternal protection of Mary, Help of Christians in the church named after her in Kowloon. It was the third time in history that this Act of Entrustment has been solemnly repeated in China Province and the entire story reads as a 'Who's Who' of the Salesian missionary story.
The act of Entrustment used on this occasion was the same first used by Fr Louis Versiglia on 24th October 1919 in a tiny chapel in Shiuchow. Versiglia led the mission that had only recently arrived in China and wished to entrust the future Salesian work to Mary Help of Christians. It was repeated a second time, in 1949, by the then Bishop Michele Arduino.
The Prayer of Entrustment has its own very interesting story, one which throws light on a month dedicated to missions, but also on the Salesian Family. In fact it was not just the SDBs who gathered in Kowloon on 11th October. There were the FMA, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA, Past Pupils and the Sisters Announcers of the Lord. There was very good reason for this.
The Act of Entrustment which the now canonised Louis Versiglia used had been written a year prior, in 1918, by Fr Paul Albera who, as Rector Major, had placed a golden sceptre donated by Princess Czartoryski (Salesian Cooperator - don't confuse her with the Prince and Priest Agustus!) into the hands of the image of Mary Help of Christians. He accompanied it with the prayer he had written entrusting all Salesian work to Her. A peculiar feature of this prayer is that even though the term 'Salesian Family' was not in vogue at the time, the prayer mentions "Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Cooperators, men and women....". Albera then asked all Salesian communities, FMA communities and Salesian Cooperator homes and families to entrust themselves to Mary Help of Christians with this prayer.
There is more. Just a few days before that date, on 6th June 1918, Fr Albera had missioned the first seven Salesian missionaries to China - the famous missionary expedition with Versiglia at its head. The Bishop who celebrated in the Basilica on that occasion was Louis Olivares (now Venerable) and John Cagliero, who had been created Cardinal in 1915, preached the homily. Cagliero said to them: "What last word shall I give you in particular? The word that Don Bosco gave me and my companions at the first expedition in 1875: 'Look for souls, not for money or fame or honours. Da mihi animas cetera tolle! Take special care of the children, the poor, the aged, the sick and you will gain the blessings of God and the good will of men. Recommend and spread constantly the devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are".
There is more to the history of this Act of Entrustment, so should readers wish to follow up on it, go to SDL (http://tinyurl.com/yzrlx7u if you cannot access that link) where you can read the Act itself, it's history and, if you read Chinese Provincial's recent letter! The other items are in English.
Click here to comment on this item, or here to assist with Glossary. You will need to enter 20eao02 when asked for a password.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO Blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org.
Title: australasia 2524
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces China act of entrustment
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2524
Act of entrustment of Salesian work - a 'who's who' of Salesian history
HONG KONG: 16 October 2009 -- In the presence of the Regional for East Asia Oceania, and led by the Provincial of China Province Fr Simon Lam, the Salesian Family in Hong Kong solemnly entrusted its work to the maternal protection of Mary, Help of Christians in the church named after her in Kowloon. It was the third time in history that this Act of Entrustment has been solemnly repeated in China Province and the entire story reads as a 'Who's Who' of the Salesian missionary story.
The act of Entrustment used on this occasion was the same first used by Fr Louis Versiglia on 24th October 1919 in a tiny chapel in Shiuchow. Versiglia led the mission that had only recently arrived in China and wished to entrust the future Salesian work to Mary Help of Christians. It was repeated a second time, in 1949, by the then Bishop Michele Arduino.
The Prayer of Entrustment has its own very interesting story, one which throws light on a month dedicated to missions, but also on the Salesian Family. In fact it was not just the SDBs who gathered in Kowloon on 11th October. There were the FMA, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA, Past Pupils and the Sisters Announcers of the Lord. There was very good reason for this.
The Act of Entrustment which the now canonised Louis Versiglia used had been written a year prior, in 1918, by Fr Paul Albera who, as Rector Major, had placed a golden sceptre donated by Princess Czartoryski (Salesian Cooperator - don't confuse her with the Prince and Priest Agustus!) into the hands of the image of Mary Help of Christians. He accompanied it with the prayer he had written entrusting all Salesian work to Her. A peculiar feature of this prayer is that even though the term 'Salesian Family' was not in vogue at the time, the prayer mentions "Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Cooperators, men and women....". Albera then asked all Salesian communities, FMA communities and Salesian Cooperator homes and families to entrust themselves to Mary Help of Christians with this prayer.
There is more. Just a few days before that date, on 6th June 1918, Fr Albera had missioned the first seven Salesian missionaries to China - the famous missionary expedition with Versiglia at its head. The Bishop who celebrated in the Basilica on that occasion was Louis Olivares (now Venerable) and John Cagliero, who had been created Cardinal in 1915, preached the homily. Cagliero said to them: "What last word shall I give you in particular? The word that Don Bosco gave me and my companions at the first expedition in 1875: 'Look for souls, not for money or fame or honours. Da mihi animas cetera tolle! Take special care of the children, the poor, the aged, the sick and you will gain the blessings of God and the good will of men. Recommend and spread constantly the devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are".
There is more to the history of this Act of Entrustment, so should readers wish to follow up on it, go to SDL (http://tinyurl.com/yzrlx7u if you cannot access that link) where you can read the Act itself, it's history and, if you read Chinese Provincial's recent letter! The other items are in English.
Click here to comment on this item, or here to assist with Glossary. You will need to enter 20eao02 when asked for a password.
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there. Or be interactive with the EAO Blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org.
Title: australasia 2524
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces China act of entrustment
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2524
