Rome (Italy). On 30 October 2023, close to the Solemnity of All Saints, the General Secretariat of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians proposed the online formation and prayer meeting In the circle of FMA Holiness, remembering Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, and Servants of God of the Institute. Numerous FMA communities and members of the Salesian Family from all over the world were connected to the event, broadcast from the Generalate in Rome.
The General Secretary, Sister Maria Luisa Nicastro, introduced the moment with these words:
“As we approach the Feast of All Saints, we want to reflect on the gift and closeness of brothers and sisters on the path towards recognition of Holiness by the Church. We Daughters of Mary Help of Christians have been gifted with illustrious figures: Blessed Sister Maria Romero, Venerable Sister Teresa Valsé Pantellini, Blessed Mother Maddalena Morano, Blessed Laura Vicuña, Servant of God Mother Antonietta Böhm, Servant of God Mother Rosetta Marchese, Blessed Sister Maria Troncatti, Blessed Sisters Carmen Moreno and Sister Amparo Carbonell, Venerable Mother Laura Meozzi, Blessed Sister Eusebia Palomino. They flourished from the Charism that Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello received and are entrusted to us as a treasure, an example, a help. We believe that with God everything is possible. These Sisters support our faith and our prayer.”
In her Message, the Mother General of the FMA Institute, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, underlining the importance of valorizing and transmitting to the new generations the Causes of beatification and canonization of the Salesian Family as a charismatic legacy, said:
“Dearest Sisters, we are truly invited to collaborate with the Lord in the commitment to become saints and to help young people to become saints. With simplicity and humility, we recognize that we are part of the great Salesian Family called to holiness. To a holiness that envelops us, attracts us, and becomes a gift for the whole Church.
Therefore, it is necessary to support the service of the animators and promoters of the Causes as an ecclesial ministry in the light and grace of the Salesian charism. We have a great wealth in our hands and it is up to our creativity and resourcefulness to present the relevance of the testimony of our Saints, Blesseds, Venerables, and Servants of God as artisans of peace and communion. they were Words of God incarnate, through modalities and languages understandable to the men and women of our time, especially young people. For this reason, we insist on activating bonds of communion, collaboration, and twinning between the Causes which, due to history and spirituality, have forms of spiritual kinship” (Full text).
The meeting continued with the interventions of Fr. Pier Luigi Cameroni, SDB, Postulator General of the Salesian Family, on “The animation of the Causes of Saints and the request for intercession: experiences and good practices.” And of Sister Francesca Caggiano, FMA, vice Postulator of the Cause of Mother Rosetta Marchese, on “Fame of holiness, fame of signs, theological and scientific elements necessary for the recognition of a miracle.” At the end, the multi-voiced prayer, with the candidates’ request for intercession at the altars. (Texts)
In addition to the live streaming, the video also features testimonies of graces received through the intercession of the Saints, Blesseds, Venerables and Servants of God of the FMA Institute.
Grazie Madre Chiara per il suo messaggio. La santitá salesiana non è una santitá da museo o da vetrina, ma si presenta con il volto fresco e giovane. Nelle nostre comunitá ci sono sorelle “ricche di anni” e ricche di santitá genuina e semplice. Una santitá come quella di Don Bosco, mamma Margherita, Madre Rosetta, Madre Mazzarello; una santitá che ci insegna a donare la vita ogni giorno, nella gioia, “sino all’ ultimo respiro”.