Rome (Italy). The fourth issue of the magazine Da Mihi Animas (DMA) is online, which, in keeping with the theme of Peace planned for 2024 – after the previous “Listen to Peace” (DMA 1), “Dialogue, condition for Peace” (DMA 2) and “Witness Peace” (DMA 3) – develops the theme “Educating to Peace”.
“A strategic role, indispensable to create a culture of peace, is and will always be that of education”, affirms in the editorial Sister Maria Ausilia De Siena, Communication Councilor of the FMA Institute, recalling the phrase of the great Italian pedagogue Maria Montessori, “Building peace is the work of education; politics can only avoid war”.
Values such as “respect, empathy, ability to interact, cooperation” are qualities that are learned in the educative process, which unfold throughout life and “are nothing but evangelical values”, entrusted in the educative mission to Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, and therefore to each educator. Thus, observes Sister Ausilia, “the Salesian educative style places us in a privileged position in the work of building the culture of peace, today more necessary and urgent than ever.”
The Salesian Preventive System illuminates and supports the educator in difficult times, in rediscovering the value of ‘Salesian presence’ as well as principles that are ever more necessary such as “non-hostile communication, the dynamics of valid conflict management, inclusion, solidarity” and, above all, they recall that, as Don Bosco said, “education is a matter of the heart”.
Looking first of all at one’s own heart, to make room for the God of Peace and to reach the “hearts” of young people. This is the movement necessary to take care of them and accompany them in today’s context marked by a strong crisis of interiority, a sense of confusion, of the relational difficulty with oneself and others, “to living life in an authentic way, growing as people and as active and responsible citizens for a world of Peace.”
“Educate to Peace” is also the title of the Dossier, with the reflections and experience of Cristina Storace, Teacher of Letters and Philosophy, writer, engaged in educative volunteering.
The third cover, as in the previous issues, there is the poster with an expression of Mother Mazzarello, which can be downloaded from the magazine’s website www.rivistadma.org where, in the Archive, it is also possible to consult the issues of the journal published from 2006 to today, with their respective Translations.
