Rome (Italy). On 24 February 2025, during the celebration of Vespers, each Daughter of Mary Help of Christians of Mary Help of Christians Community of the Generalate (RCG) received from the hands of the Superior General, Mother Chiara Cazzuola, the volume “The Constitutions of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: a journey of holiness in daily life”, edited by Sister Yvonne Reungoat and Sister Piera Cavaglià, and recently published.
When presenting the text via video, Mother had recommended “that this text be in the hands of each Daughter of Mary Help of Christians as a personal and Institute patrimony.”
Welcoming her words, and taking advantage of her presence in the House, the Community prepared itself in a special way for this moment, as a sister recounts:
We are living the jubilee year under the sign of hope that Pope Francis has defined “the smallest of virtues, but the strongest” because it has the face of the Risen Lord. We have just begun the Triennium in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the first missionary expedition with the invitation to “rekindle the fire”. Among many solicitations, we wondered where to focus our attention.
The answer can be found in the book that our Mother had presented to us ‘fresh from the press’ a month ago, during a Good Night, as “a contribution to revive fidelity to our Rule of life, safe path of holiness in daily life.”
This was the first input that made us feel the importance and beauty of this text which, like the Constitutions, has been thought as a gift to offer each one personally. The community of the Generalate is truly ‘privileged’ and our Animator, Sister Carla Castellino, after consulting the House Council, accompanied us in preparation for the official consignment.
At Good Night on 11 February, she indicated the video published on the website of the Institute, with which the Mother presented the book. After seeing it together, the desire grew to have it in hand to know the structure of the text and especially the content of these nearly 500 pages.
At the Good Night of the 23rd, the Animator began by saying that the next day would be a markedly Marian day. She then read a page of the Cronaca which describes the inspiring presentation to the FMA of the first printed Rules by Fr. Cagliero. “Here”, he exclaims, “here is the beautiful printed book of your Constitutions! Do you know how many thoughts and worries, prayers and sighs this golden book cost Don Bosco? Only in Paradise will you know it daughters; only in Paradise!” And taking more and more strength from his heart of an apostle, he continues, “What is this book, my daughters? It is the Gospel of the religious, your Gospel…” (Vol. III, 77-78)
On the 24th, commemoration of Mary Help of Christians, all the liturgical moments, starting with the Lauds and the Eucharistic Celebration, had a Marian connotation. The prayer of the Rosary was introduced by expressions of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello on the value of our Constitutions, “sure guide that will lead us to Heaven”, as she wrote to Sister Lorenzina Natale (L 67,6).
We were then invited to entrust ourselves to Mary, “the inspirer of our Institute”, “actively present in our lives”, “Mother, Teacher, and sure Guide,” to sustain our journey of fidelity to the Covenant of love that God has established with our Founders and with each one of us.
The choral renewal of vows to crown the intercessions proposed by Vespers, was the immediate preparation for the reception of the book, given to each one by Mother Chiara while the Community sang: “We are Daughters of Mary Help of Christians”.
This was a very moving moment because of Mother’s presence, and also for the presence of about 100 Sisters coming from the 5 continents who, although of different languages and cultures, formed a single choir, grateful to the Lord for the common call to holiness according to the Salesian and Mornese Charism, to be made to shine today where and how He disposes for each one.
Mary, our Mother, Teacher, and sure Guide, accompanies us “to make generative our life and the mission that is entrusted to us in the Church.” It is the wish of our Mother that has become and continues to become a prayer for us and for all the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.
