The video series of the World Novena of the Salesian Family to Mary Help of Christians continues with day nine, “Being Children – Building and Dreaming,” featuring Mary Help of Christians.
Accompany many consecrated and lay people of the Salesian Family on the spiritual journey towards the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, an anniversary so dear to Don Bosco.
Children trust, children rely on others. And a mother is close by, always.
You see her even if she is not there.
As for us, are we able to see her?
Blessed are those who see with their heart.
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Transcript from the video:
Mary Help of Christians
Little John Bosco
At the age of 9, I had a dream. All my life, this remained deeply impressed on my mind. In this dream, I seemed to be near my home in a very large yard. A crowd of children was playing there. Some were laughing, some were playing games, and quite a few were swearing. When I heard these evil words, I jumped immediately amongst them, and tried to stop them by using my words and my fists. At that moment, a dignified man appeared, a nobly-dressed adult.
“You will have to win these friends of yours not by blows but by gentleness and love.”
“Who are you, ordering me to do the impossible?”
“Precisely because it seems impossible to you, you must make it possible through obedience and the acquisition of knowledge.”
“Where, by what means, can I acquire knowledge?”
“I will give you a teacher. Under her guidance, you can become wise. Without her, all wisdom is foolishness.”
At that moment, I saw a lady of stately appearance standing beside him. She was wearing a mantle that sparkled all over as though covered with bright stars.
“This is the field of your work. Make yourself humble, strong, and energetic. And what you will see happening to these animals in a moment is what you must do for my children.
I looked around again, and where before I had seen wild animals, I now saw gentle lambs. They were all jumping and bleating as if to welcome that man and lady. At that point, still dreaming, I began crying. I begged the lady to speak so that I could understand her, because I did not know what all this could mean. She then placed her hand on my head and said, “In good time, you will understand everything.”
Mary guided and accompanied young John Bosco throughout his life and mission. He, a child, thus discovered his vocation from a dream. He would not understand it, but he would let himself be guided. He would not understand it for many years, but in the end, he would be aware that “she did everything”. And his mother, both the earthly and the heavenly one, would be the central figure in the life of this son, who would provide bread for his children. And after meeting Mary in his dreams, John Bosco, by then a priest, would build a Shrine to Our Lady so that all her children can rely on her. And he would dedicate it to Mary Help of Christians, because she had been his safe haven, his constant help. Thus, all those who enter the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin are taken under the protective mantle of Mary, who becomes their guide.
Mary, the Mother who accompanies/guides.
You who accompanied your son Jesus throughout his journey, offered yourself as a guide to those who listened to you with the enthusiasm that only children can have. You drew close to them and revealed yourself to them.
Let yourself be accompanied: your Mother will always be by your side to show you the way.
The Rector Major’s words
The Virgin Mary, our help in conversion.
The Virgin Mary is a powerful and silent help on our journey of growth.
It is a journey that constantly needs to free itself from whatever blocks its growth. It is a journey that must continually renew itself, so as not to turn back or stop in the dark corners of our existence. This is conversion.
Mary’s presence is a beacon of hope, a constant invitation for us to continue walking towards God, helping our hearts to remain focused on God and his love. Reflecting on Mary, on her role, means discovering Mary who does not impose, who does not judge, but rather supports, encou- rages, with her humility, with her maternal love, helping our hearts to remain close to her so that we may draw ever closer to her son Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life.
Mary’s ‘yes’ at the Annunciation, which opens up the history of salvation to humanity, remains valid for us too. Her intercession at the Wedding at Cana supports those who find themselves in unexpected, unprecedented situations. Mary is a model of continuous conversion. Her life, a life of the Immaculate, was a gradual adherence to God’s will, a journey of faith that led her through joys and sorrows, culminating in the sacrifice of Calvary.
Mary’s perseverance in following Jesus becomes an invitation for us to live this continuous closeness, this inner transformation, which we know well is a gradual process, but one that requires constancy, humility and trust in God’s grace.
Mary helps us in our conversion through her attentive and focused listening to the Word of God. Listening that helps us find the strength to abandon the ways of sin, because we recognise the strength and beauty of walking towards God. Let us turn to Mary with filial trust, because this means that, while recognising our frailties, our sins and our faults, we want to foster those desires for change. A change of heart that seeks to let itself be accompanied by the maternal heart of Mary. And in Mary, let us find that precious help to discern the false promises of the world and rediscover the beauty and truth of the Gospel. May Mary, the Help of Christians, be for all of us a constant help in discovering the beauty of the Gospel. And in accepting to walk towards goodness, the greatness of God’s word, alive in our hearts so that we can communicate it to others.
The voice of the boys
As for us, are we capable of being taken by the hand like children?
The prayer of a child motionless child:
Mary, you who reveal yourself to those who are able to see…
Make my heart capable of dreaming and building.
I who do not let anyone else help me.
I who get discouraged, lose patience, and never believe I have built anything.
I who always believe I am a failure.
Today I want to be a son or daughter who can give you their hand, my Mother, to be accompanied on life’s paths.
Show me my field, show me my dream, and make sure that in the end I too can understand everything and recognize that you were there in my life.
Hail Mary…
Blessed are those who see with their heart.
When people asked for some special grace, Don Bosco used to say:
“If you wish to obtain graces from the Blessed Virgin, make a Novena” (MB IX, 289).
- This novena, according to him, had to take place, if possible, “in church, with lively faith” as an act of fervent homage to the Eucharist. According to Don Bosco, for the novena to be efficacious, the dispositions of the soul should be as follows:
- Do not put your hope in human forces, but have faith in God.
- The request should be made to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, fount of grace, kindness, and blessing, and with trust in the power of Mary whom God wishes to be honored on earth in this temple.
- Always add the intention “Thy will be done” and the condition “if it is for the good of the soul of the person being prayed for.”
Three times: Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be… to the Holy Eucharist, followed each time by the short prayer:
Blessed and praised every moment be the Most Holy and Divine Sacrament.
Three times: Hail Holy Queen… followed each time by the short prayer:
María Auxiliadora, ruega por nosotros.
Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that it is a thing unheard of, that anyone ever had recourse to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, and was left forsaken. Filled therefore with confidence in your goodness, I fly to you, O Mother, Virgin of Virgins. To you I come, before you I stand, a sorrowful sinner. Despise not my poor words, O Mother of the Word of God, but graciously hear and grant my prayer. Amen.
Personal Conditions Required:
- Approach the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
- Give an offering or do some work to support the apostolate, preferably on behalf of youth.
- Renew your faith in Jesus in the Eucharist and devotion to Mary Help of Christians.
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In addition, the videos of the World Novena will be available on the various language channels of ANS YouTube channel, which will be uploaded day by day until the eve of the feast.