CONTRIBUTION TO SALESIAN SPIRITUALITY
3. Life of faith
Faith is indispensable for obtaining the spirit of prayer. Experience teaches that “if faith is alive in a religious, even when he deplores some defect in his conduct, he will not be long in correcting it; he will make giant steps in the path of perfection and will become an instrument capable of procuring the salvation of many souls.” This was the theme of the circular of 21 November 1912, elaborated as an instruction, with its first part doctrinal (on the necessity of the life of faith, its different degrees, its fruits, the value it gives to human activity, its inseparable link to prayer
15 LC 31-34.
and vocation); and its second part practical, in which, after recalling Don Bosco’s ardent faith, Albera encourages the confreres to “revive” their faith to render their ministry effective.17
Faith illuminates the intelligence and allows humanity to “walk safely despite the darkness and dangers of this vale of tears.” It makes us under-stand “the purpose for which God created us and the marvellous work accomplished by Jesus Christ.” It reveals to us “the beauty of virtue and the preciousness of divine grace. It inspires a horror of sin and provides us with the holy sacraments as so many means of holiness.” It makes us consider the religious vocation a special gift, an act of God’s predilection for us. One lives by faith who “resolutely” believes in all revealed truths, with joy “welcomes the light of divine revelation and adheres completely to the teachings of Jesus Christ, transmitted to him by the Church, to which he entrusts himself with the simplicity of a child.”18
The Salesian is a man of faith when he constantly keeps himself in the presence of God and in this way “informs and sanctifies his entire life.” Faith illuminates his mind and heart and attracts the blessings of the Lord to him. It helps him overcome temptations and face with strength and constancy life’s trials and the difficulties one meets in the mission of education. “It is only with the light of faith and with the intuition of Christian charity that in the wretched figure of poor and marginalized young people we recognise the very person of the One who was called the man of sorrows. It is the word of faith that echoes our ears: ‘What you have done for one of these least brothers of mine, you have done for me’ [Matt 25:40].” Faith also helps us overcome weariness, discouragement, and ingratitude, “reminding us that we work for the Lord.” He alone infuses in our hearts “a calm and unalterable peace” and makes us “always equal to the continuous succession of events, happy or sad.”19
Father Albera follows these deliberations with some practical spiritual indications:
Those who live by faith are pleased to contemplate Jesus living in their own hearts, now glorious as in heaven, now hidden in the Holy Eucharist, and in this contemplation the desire is kindled in him to make this dwelling more pleasing to Jesus by adorning it with the choicest
17 LC 82-100.
18 LC 88.
19 LC 88-93.
virtues.
He begins by emptying his heart of any sentiment of self-love, vainglory, and pride, so that Jesus alone may be his absolute master. He considers his heart a living temple of the Holy Spirit; therefore, he will take care that the slightest unclean affection does not profane this temple.
He will consider himself happy to lack not only what is superfluous, but even what is necessary, so as not to be an unworthy disciple of the One who wanted poverty as his inseparable companion. …
Above all, then he will strive to keep alive the sacred fire of charity, a virtue that makes us resemble God himself.
He nourishes the spirit of faith with fervent and confident prayer, with meditation and spiritual reading, with the sacraments of the Eucharist and Penance, with visits to Jesus present in the tabernacle, with attention to the smallest details when celebrating the divine mysteries.20
Father Albera goes on to illustrate the consequences of the life of faith in one’s work. Animated by faith, Salesians feel in their hearts increasing gratitude to God for having been called to be part of the Congregation.
They will consider the house where obedience has placed them “as the house of God himself” and the task entrusted to them “as the portion of the vineyard that the owner has given us to cultivate.”
They will see in the superiors “the representatives of God himself”; they will recognise “the Constitutions, the Regulations, and the schedule as so many manifestations of God’s will.” They will welcome young people “as a sacred deposit for which the Lord will hold us accountable.” They will look at their confreres “as so many living images of God himself whom he has charged to edify us with their virtues, now to make us practise charity and patience with their defects.”
Oh! When will that day come when we, according to the imaginative expression of Saint Francis de Sales, will allow ourselves to be carried by our Lord like a child in the arms of his mother? When, dear confreres, will we habitually see God in everything, in every event, which we will consider as a sacramental species under which he hides? Thus we will be persuaded that faith is a ray of heavenly light that makes us see God in all things and all things in God.21
20 LC 93-95.
Like every intervention by Father Albera, the circular letter ends with a reference to the example of faith in Don Bosco, which inspired and nourished his inexhaustible dedication to the Christian education of young people, his concrete and passionate preaching, “his admirable Preventive System,” his constant presence among the boys, his tireless assistance.
Finally, he invites his confreres to apostolic activity, considering “the state of today’s society,” where even in those who proclaim themselves Christians, we see “the torch of faith has dimmed so much that it threatens to go out at any moment.” We see “an endless number of young people attend the so-called secular schools in which it is often a crime to speak the name of God.” Perhaps in the future “we will have a generation entirely devoid of the vital breath of faith.” This thought must make Don Bosco’s disciples tremble: “The Lord who usually chooses the most miserable means to accomplish his greatest works” has called us to cooperate in the restoration of his kingdom in souls and relies “on our will and our humble cooperation. … So let us get to work immediately; from today let our life be truly a life of faith.”22