Christ is truly risen - let's walk together!

By The austraLasia Team

EAO, 12 April 2020 -- Pope Francis asked us a few weeks ago to take up the 'Valdocco Option' with our whole heart - revive the gift of the Salesian Vocation: to live for the Young and walk with the Young, sharing our mission with many Salesian Family members.

The vocation story of Don Bosco and the 'Valdocco story' are intertwined very deeply with the Risen Lord and Easter Sunday:

1826 - on Easter Sunday Young John Bosco (11 years old) receives Holy Communion in Castelnuovo for the first time - personal encounter with Risen Jesus in the Eucharist. Mamma Margaret assures him :"I am convinced that [today] God has really taken possession of your heart."(Memoirs of the Oratory, chapter 4).

1846 - on Easter Sunday Don Bosco (31 years old) moves finally to the Valdocco Oratory after years of a 'wandering Oratory'. A beautiful mosaic of the Risen Jesus in the Pinardi Chapel is a lasting reminder of our Salesian roots.

1934 - on Easter Sunday the Universal Church confirms the sanctity of our Father in the Vatican canonization ceremony and declares his way of following Jesus a sure path to live the Gospel, the 'preventive system of Don Bosco' becomes an asset of the whole Catholic Church.

1994 - on Easter Sunday the 'Way of Light' (Via Lucis) was blessed, a mirror of the 'Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) as one of the treasures of the Universal Church recognized also in the 'Directory on Popular piety and liturgy' (Vatican, 2001, n. 153).

Let's walk these 50 days closer than ever with the Risen Jesus!

The AustraLasia news team wishes you a truly blessed Easter journey!

Resources:

• The Way of Light: Via Lucis in different versions (ENG,ITA)
• The 'Directory on popular piety and the liturgy (Vatican, 2001, n. 153 - VIA LUCIS)

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