AWARENESSAWARENESS

OF OF

THE SALESIAN BROTHER’S THE SALESIAN BROTHER’S IDENTITY IDENTITY

I- WHYI- WHY

II- HOWII- HOW

III- CHALLENGESIII- CHALLENGES

IV- PROPOSALSIV- PROPOSALS

IntroductionIntroduction

-not --> identitynot --> identity-not not visibility visibility-not not vocation promotion vocation promotion

---> PROCESS ---> PROCESS OF OF

BECOMING AWARE OF BECOMING AWARE OF S.B’s IDENTITYS.B’s IDENTITY

+ challenges - difficulties+ challenges - difficulties

I- WHYI- WHY

1- The calls of the Rector 1- The calls of the Rector Majors and General Councils Majors and General Councils since the Special General since the Special General Chapter (1972) and until Chapter (1972) and until recently: recently:

SGC (151): It is necessary that we SGC (151): It is necessary that we be prepared to make more far-be prepared to make more far-reaching experiments than those reaching experiments than those tried to date. This is demanded by tried to date. This is demanded by the times we are living in, and by the times we are living in, and by the need to promote the vocation the need to promote the vocation of the brother in all its originality. of the brother in all its originality.

Fr. Vigano: the Fr. Vigano: the Salesian BrotherSalesian Brother is a topic of vital importance, a is a topic of vital importance, a matter of vital interest and study matter of vital interest and study in every province, in every house: in every province, in every house: it should occupy the mind and it should occupy the mind and heart of every single confrere;heart of every single confrere;

(During his lifetime the first four (During his lifetime the first four General Chapters dealt with this General Chapters dealt with this particular topic; in fact it has particular topic; in fact it has been on the agenda of almost all been on the agenda of almost all succeeding Chapters). succeeding Chapters).

We must rethink this dimension in We must rethink this dimension in genuine fidelity to Don Bosco and genuine fidelity to Don Bosco and the times. the times.

2- The present situation of the 2- The present situation of the vocations of Salesian Brothersvocations of Salesian Brothers

3- The requests from the 3- The requests from the Salesian Brothers and the Salesian Brothers and the Salesian Family.Salesian Family.

4- The nature of the human, 4- The nature of the human, Christian, religious and Christian, religious and Salesian vocation in the Salesian vocation in the mystery of History of salvation mystery of History of salvation (personally and communally)(personally and communally)

5- The expectations from 5- The expectations from the young. They need to the young. They need to know by whom and why know by whom and why they are served.they are served.

II- HOW: How do we come to II- HOW: How do we come to KNOW the Salesian Brothers? KNOW the Salesian Brothers?

1- From the direct encounters 1- From the direct encounters with the Salesian communities, with the Salesian communities, especially with particular especially with particular Salesian Brothers.Salesian Brothers.

2- From the studies of the 2- From the studies of the Salesian Magisterium.Salesian Magisterium.

3- From the process of self-3- From the process of self-internalising the values internalising the values presented by Salesian Brothers presented by Salesian Brothers as well as by the Magisterium as well as by the Magisterium

1- From the direct encounters 1- From the direct encounters with the Salesian communities, with the Salesian communities, especially with particular Salesian especially with particular Salesian Brothers: their original lifestyle Brothers: their original lifestyle and teachingsand teachings

““It is clear from our history that It is clear from our history that every Salesian vocation is a every Salesian vocation is a mystery which is manifested, mystery which is manifested, given, received and grows while in given, received and grows while in contact with the situation of the contact with the situation of the young and the poor, and while young and the poor, and while being exercised in their service. being exercised in their service. Self-sacrificing dedication to Self-sacrificing dedication to others leads to a development of others leads to a development of the vocation itself.” (SB 2.0)the vocation itself.” (SB 2.0)

2- From the studies of the 2- From the studies of the Salesian MagisteriumSalesian Magisterium

““Today we have available a Today we have available a wealth of information. It is wealth of information. It is a question of going into it a question of going into it more deeply and making it more deeply and making it more clearly understood, more clearly understood, keeping in mind also the keeping in mind also the relevant reflection in the relevant reflection in the Church” (SB 2.0)Church” (SB 2.0)

3- From the process of self-3- From the process of self-internalising the values internalising the values presented by Salesian Brothers presented by Salesian Brothers as well as by the Magisterium as well as by the Magisterium

““Every Salesian has his identity. Every Salesian has his identity. He lives and reveals it in his way He lives and reveals it in his way of working, praying and speaking, of working, praying and speaking, in his behavior with his confreres, in his behavior with his confreres, with the young and with those with the young and with those with whom he comes in contact. with whom he comes in contact. He may be more or less conscious He may be more or less conscious of it, and become especially aware of it, and become especially aware of it in moments of difficulty and of it in moments of difficulty and when he takes stock of his life.when he takes stock of his life.” ” (SB 2.1.4)(SB 2.1.4)

““The ideal identity is that The ideal identity is that aimed at as a goal to be aimed at as a goal to be attained, because attained, because considered more perfect considered more perfect than the one actually being than the one actually being lived, which is always lived, which is always defective in some way. In defective in some way. In redefining our identity the redefining our identity the Constitutions have taken Constitutions have taken into account the experience into account the experience of Salesians and their of Salesians and their communities, and hence communities, and hence their real, qualitative and their real, qualitative and communal identity. communal identity.

They have applied the They have applied the criterion of experience. But criterion of experience. But at the same time they have at the same time they have sought also to define our sought also to define our ideal identity, so that it can ideal identity, so that it can conform as closely as conform as closely as possible to the Gospel, the possible to the Gospel, the example and teaching of example and teaching of Don Bosco, and the Don Bosco, and the authoritative indications of authoritative indications of the Church’s present-day the Church’s present-day magisterium.” (SB 2.1.4)magisterium.” (SB 2.1.4)

1/ The process of being 1/ The process of being aware of SB identity is aware of SB identity is located in historical located in historical contexts: personal, contexts: personal, communal, societal.communal, societal.

-Social context:Social context:

* advantages: eager for spirituality * advantages: eager for spirituality (Asia is the bedrock of world (Asia is the bedrock of world religions), for being more than for religions), for being more than for having; for “greater things;” having; for “greater things;” tending toward self-affirmation; tending toward self-affirmation; being equipped with critical spirit.being equipped with critical spirit.

* disadvantages: some forms of * disadvantages: some forms of materialism, individualism, materialism, individualism, indifferentism with regards to indifferentism with regards to genuinely human and religious genuinely human and religious values; strong hierarchicalism, values; strong hierarchicalism, authoritarianismauthoritarianism..

-Communal (ecclesial) context:Communal (ecclesial) context:

* Advantages: new ecclesiology * Advantages: new ecclesiology stressing that the reason for stressing that the reason for the existence of the Church is the existence of the Church is to serve the world, bringing it to serve the world, bringing it back to the Lordship of Jesus back to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (L.G. & G.S.). Christ (L.G. & G.S.).

* Disadvantages: Vatican II’s * Disadvantages: Vatican II’s teachings not yet understood teachings not yet understood and correctly applied into local and correctly applied into local churches; churches;

-Personal context: strength Personal context: strength and weakness at the and weakness at the personal level. Self-personal level. Self-identification is a life-long identification is a life-long process with ups and downs. process with ups and downs. Bad experiences can distort Bad experiences can distort the values of new the values of new experiences or new experiences or new knowledge. knowledge.

-Yet, it is the person who Yet, it is the person who has to be responsible for has to be responsible for the maturing of his self-the maturing of his self-identification identification

2/ Magisterium: 2/ Magisterium: Don Don Bosco’s words; General Bosco’s words; General Chapters’ deliberations; Chapters’ deliberations; Circular letters of the Circular letters of the Rector Majors (Rector Majors (Paul Albera; Paul Albera; Rinaldi; Vigano; Vecchi; Rinaldi; Vigano; Vecchi; ChavezChavez; Acts of General ; Acts of General Chapters Chapters (SGC, GC 21; (SGC, GC 21; Constitutions)Constitutions); the “Golden ; the “Golden Book” on Salesian BrothersBook” on Salesian Brothers. .

- - Linguistic context:Linguistic context: linguistic descriptions of linguistic descriptions of Salesian Brother identity Salesian Brother identity has not been (and never has not been (and never been) finalised. They have been) finalised. They have been formulated along the been formulated along the history of the society. Not history of the society. Not all expressions are definite all expressions are definite about the Salesian Brother about the Salesian Brother identity.identity.

-At At differentdifferent historical historical stage of the Salesian stage of the Salesian Society, Salesian Society, Salesian magisterium at different magisterium at different levels has reflected upon levels has reflected upon the shared awareness of the the shared awareness of the Salesian Brother identity. Salesian Brother identity.

-The nature of magisterium is The nature of magisterium is descriptive (what is a Salesian descriptive (what is a Salesian Brother) as well as prescriptive Brother) as well as prescriptive (how to live up to the ideal of (how to live up to the ideal of Salesian Brother vocation /how Salesian Brother vocation /how to relate to this vocation (in to relate to this vocation (in different levels). different levels).

As a consequence, to grasp As a consequence, to grasp deeply at the historical identity deeply at the historical identity of Salesian Brother requires of Salesian Brother requires the us to have a larger view of the us to have a larger view of different contexts of the different contexts of the magisterium.magisterium.

3/ From the vocation identity 3/ From the vocation identity itself: self-identification is a itself: self-identification is a dynamic and wholistic process. dynamic and wholistic process. Therefore, confusion, Therefore, confusion, challenges and difficulties take challenges and difficulties take place at this level when there place at this level when there is an explicit or implicit option is an explicit or implicit option for a uni-dimensional for a uni-dimensional (reductionistic) view of (reductionistic) view of identity: functionalistic, identity: functionalistic, pragmatist, task-related vs. pragmatist, task-related vs. simply supernatural view of simply supernatural view of Salesian identity and mission).Salesian identity and mission).

IV- PROPOSALSIV- PROPOSALS

In order to have a clear In order to have a clear awareness of Salesian awareness of Salesian Brothers, it is necessary:Brothers, it is necessary:

1/ To be clear about one’s 1/ To be clear about one’s historical context: personal, historical context: personal, communal as well as communal as well as societal.societal.

2/ To study better Salesian 2/ To study better Salesian magisterium in its different magisterium in its different historical contexts (cfr. historical contexts (cfr. The The Spiritual Identity of the Spiritual Identity of the Salesian Brother identity in Salesian Brother identity in the light of Salesian the light of Salesian magisteriummagisterium))

3/ To delve more deeply 3/ To delve more deeply and wholistically into and wholistically into one’s life and mission one’s life and mission conversion of mind and conversion of mind and heart.heart.