Pope Benedict has encouraged the Salesians of Don Bosco and other religious to continue to seek out a spiritual life rooted in "profound mysticism and a solid asceticism" instead of activism.The Order, who are gathering in Rome this week for their 26th General Chapter meeting received the letter of encouragement from the Pope to mark the beginning of the chapter.
The Pope wrote the theme chosen for this general chapter - Da mihi animas, cetera tolle" (Give me souls, take away all else) - expresses "that same program of spiritual and apostolic life which Don Bosco made his own".
Pope Benedict also reiterated the point that he has been making to religious orders lately, that of drawing inspiration from their founders and returning to the charisms of their founding.
"It is vitally important for the Salesians to draw continual inspiration from Don Bosco, to know him, study him, love him, imitate him, invoke him and make their own that apostolic passion which flows from the heart of Christ," the Pope wrote.
The Pope also added his warning to religious orders about the temptation to abandon the quest for holiness in favour of a religious activism.
"The theme that the Salesians will study this week expresses in synthesis the mysticism and asceticism of Salesians and is necessary to overcome the dispersive effects of activism and to cultivate the unity of spiritual life by acquiring a profound mysticism and a solid asceticism," he wrote.
"This nourishes apostolic commitment and is a guarantee of effectiveness in pastoral activity.
"It is in this that each Salesian's path to sanctity must consist, and on this that the formation of new vocations to Salesian consecrated life must concentrate".
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce