On Saturday, March 8, 2008, The members of the formation house for the Salesians of Don Bosco of the Eastern USE (SUE) had our quarterly day of recollection. Fr. Pat Angelucci, S.D.B. as our preacher for the retreat. The weather was perfect in my mind for the recollection, it rained all day. It was the perfect setting at Our Lady of the Angel’s Parish is Allendale, NJ. Fr. Pat talked about Salesian Asceticism. Fr. Pat told and, and taught us what it means to be a Salesian, and what makes a Salesian. Fr. Pat talked about some very interesting points. When Fr. Pat described the Salesian he used a quote from the 18th Volume of the Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco,

“A Salesian is not like a Jesuit, a soldier, so to speak, of the sacred army or, one might better say, of the elect militia that the Church mobilizes against her fiercest enemies, and especially against this modern world which is so full of pride so conceited because of its knowledge and its valor. A Salesian is not like a Capuchin, the most popular of monks, for his austerity and severity, his contempt for worldly possessions, his absolute poverty both interior and exterior, which terrify us. The Salesian is not like the son of St. Benedict who lives in solitude, and spends his life in study, in the chant of divine praises and in the cultivation of the soil. The Salesian is not like a disciple of Joseph Calasanz, eminent benefactor, well deserving of the Church and of Society, but devoted only to one task. No, the Salesian is not any of these.

The Salesian is the man of self-denial and humility, the man who lives dead to himself, without even noticing it; who does good, thinking that he is doing nothing; who makes sacrifices without considering them, sometimes even unaware of them. He is the man who deems himself to be the lowliest servant of the Church when his last hour strikes. He goes wherever he is sent; he takes and adapts himself to things as he finds them, building his nest in either the exuberant branches of a tree rich in foliage, or amid the most sharply pointed, craggy stones or bare rock. His characteristic virtues are that he never complains, not even when everything is against him, and that he is never discouraged, but always puts his hope in Divine Providence.

The Salesian has something of the energy, of the industriousness, of the breadth and of the height of goals as well as the unconquerable courage of the Jesuit; he also enjoys something of the popularity of the Capuchin; he has something of the retiring spirit and working habits peculiar to monks; in short, he has something in common with all religious orders known to us, despite the fact that he truly is a new breed.”

I thought that this was something that will help me along in my formation process, always there to see who, and what makes a Salesian. the key points that I really took in were, “The Salesian, is a man of self denial; who is dead to himself with out realizing it…one who never complains, never becomes discouraged, and always puts hope in Divine Providence.” Any Salesian reading this, and has not heard this before, I suggest that you take this and use it in Spiritual Reading. Don Chavez said at the opening conference of the General Chaper that we should all be returning to Don Bosco, we should love him, study him, and imitiate him.

Fr. Pat went on to tell us of a story of when Fr. Vigano was the Rector Major. Fr. Vigano was in Ecuador with his secretary making visitations. Don Vigano’s secretary was originally from Ecuador so this was a speacial homecoming for him. When a member came to thank the secretary at the public audience he kept referring to the secretary as the Successor of Don Bosco, the Successor of Don Bosco, the Successor of Don Bosco. Don Vigano was getting alittle confused. He later went up to the man and asked him, “Why are you calling him the ‘Sucessor of Don Bosco?” THe man replied, “because in the program here it says it, S.D.B. Successor of Don Bosco. I thought that this was a great interpretation, and so did the rest of my house mates who made the retreat. We can all be Successors of Don Bosco, in fact thats exactly what we are. All Salesians need to be more like Don Bosco.

Fr. Pat Angelucci also talked about Salesian Poverty. I liked how he described it, keep life simple, take nothing, refuse nothing. Also, keep your heart detached from all worldly bounds. Keep your room simple. Do not put up ornate decorations in your room. Time for a Salesian is a very precious gift. To waste time, would be a very serious sin. Time is a poverty. We can never have enough of it.

Fr. Pat also touched upon Salesian Prayer. Salesians are not afforded a lot of time in the chapel in a community setting. If you are to spend a lot of time in the chapel, then you must do it on your own time. Salesian Prayer, is our work, when we are with the young, we are praying. It is an active life, not a monastic one.

We must love with the heart of Don Bosco, love like him, and care for the young like him. Lets all return to Don Bosco, through Mary Help of Christians!

God Bless,

Adam Dupre