Making a Difference - The Salesian Saints of Turin

Morning Prayer

Luke 4:14-22

Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him. He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue  on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: 

The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me,
for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord's year of favour.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, "This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen." And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips.

Reflection

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, Jesus said...

This same Spirit has been given to you...
The Lord has anointed you in baptism and confirmation.
He has sent you to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free. 

For in baptism and confirmation we receive not only the life of Christ in his Spirit

We also are given a share in his mission...

These sacraments are both Gift and Task

This same Spirit has been given to Don Bosco...
The Lord anointed him 
He has sent you to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free.

He was good news to the poor youth of Turin

He proclaimed and offered a path through love and education to those who young people who were held captive by the social injustice and iniquity of his time

By this love and the difference his education made he gave new sight to the people of Turin who embraced what he was doing

And so the downtrodden were set free.

And out of this call placed on his heart he inspired others...

Maria Domenica Mazzarello who picked up what he was doing for the boys of Turin for the girls of Turin

And one of his students, the young Dominic Savio, who was captivated by the Lord who Don Bosco loved and in whom he loved and served.  

This fruitful living of the life and mission of Christ is the part of God's great plan for salvation that we become active participants in his work...

We see this in the Virgin Mary - who anointed with the Spirit - became Mother of him who is God and proclaimed God's greatness and his care for the poor as she went to the aid of her elderly cousin Elizabeth and as we sing (to the tune of Amazing Grace)...

My soul proclaims the Lord my God, my Spirit sings His praise!

He looks on me, He lifts me up and gladness fills my days.

All nations now will share my joy, His gifts He has outpoured;

His little one He has made great; I magnify the Lord.

His mercy is forever more, His name I praise again.

His strong right arm puts down the proud and lifts the lowly high.

He fills the hungry with good things the rich He sends away;

The promise made to Abraham is filled by him each day.

Magnificat, Magnificat, Magnificat, praise God!

Praise God, praise God, praise God, Praise God, Magnificat, praise God.

Our visit today was to the Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians (the Santuario di Maria Ausiliatrice) in Turin before our journey to Venice. 

The Readings at Mass

Philippians 4:4-9

I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near.

There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.

The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy.
His wrath will come to an end;
he will not be angry for ever.

As a father has compassion on his children,
the Lord has pity on those who fear him;
for he knows of what we are made,
he remembers that we are dust.

But the love of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold him in fear;
his justice reaches out to children’s children
when they keep his covenant in truth,
when they keep his will in their mind.

Matthew 18:1-5

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes themself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.’

Reflection

I wonder why did the disciples ask Jesus, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Was it an ego trip. Were they hoping he would say one of you or you as a group? Were they looking for some affirmation of who that he would say to them you are on the right track?

And once again Jesus turned things of their head and set a child in front of them and solemnly said not only, the one who makes themself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven but also that unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Many of you will remember that children were meant to be seen and not heard and it was a bit like this in Jesus' day so what he was saying was quite revolutionary. At the same time we know how a baby or a young child can melt hardened hearts.

But sadly our world has lost sight of the beauty of children and around the world they are exploited for labour and sex often because of the poverty or increasingly addictions their parents are held in. 

The United Nations Children’s Fund estimates that at least two million children and young people are exploited in the worldwide sex trade every year. This issue continues to worsen, with sexual exploitation of children, both online and in person, increasing. 

New Zealand ranks 5th worst in child abuse among 31 OECD countries, with 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys likely to experience sexual abuse before the age of 16. In 2023, New Zealand authorities blocked over 1.1 million attempts to access websites hosting child sexual exploitation material and authorities seized more than 2.9 million pieces of illegal online child sexual exploitation material. 

So often the world around us corrupts us... The first place we are infected is in our minds and hearts. We start thinking about things, we start speaking about them and then we act out on them. Think of not only what is happening with children in New Zealand and the world, think of the hate, division, rhetoric and wars and supposedly justified violence that is happening in the world. 

Paul told the Philippians, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.

As we look to the Salesian saints of Turin may we be inspired by the hope they brought to those young people who lived in darkness and may we too be beacons of hope. 

Have a look at the website and work of the St Nicholas Children's Trust on exploitation of children

https://snctrust.org/new-zealand-context/

Saint John Bosco (1815–1888), commonly known as Don Bosco (priests are called Don instead of Father in Italy), was born on the 16th of August 1815, in Becchi near Turin. He grew up in poverty after losing his father at age two. Raised by his devout mother, “Mama Margaret,” John developed a deep faith and a heart for the poor.

As a child, he was captivated by circus performers and taught himself magic tricks and acrobatics, which he later used to engage young people. Inspired by a vivid dream at age nine, he felt called to lead troubled youth with kindness and faith. Despite limited resources and opposition from his family, he pursued the priesthood, eventually receiving support from Saint Joseph Cafasso, who helped him enter seminary.

Ordained in 1841, Don Bosco began ministering to poor boys in Turin, offering them education, religious instruction, and recreation. He developed the “Preventive System” of education, based on reason, religion, and loving kindness, rejecting punishment in favor of encouragement and moral guidance.

In 1859, he founded the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious congregation devot Saint John Bosco (1815–1888), known affectionately as Don Bosco, was an Italian Roman Catholic priest, educator, and visionary who dedicated his life to the care and education of disadvantaged youth. Born on August 16, 1815, in Becchi near Turin, Italy, he grew up in poverty after losing his father at age two. Raised by his devout mother, “Mama Margaret,” John developed a deep faith and a heart for the poor.

As a child, he was captivated by circus performers and taught himself magic tricks and acrobatics, which he later used to engage young people. Inspired by a vivid dream at age nine, he felt called to lead troubled youth with kindness and faith. Despite limited resources and opposition from his family, he pursued the priesthood, eventually receiving support from Saint Joseph Cafasso, who helped him enter seminary.

Ordained in 1841, Don Bosco began ministering to poor boys in Turin, offering them education, religious instruction, and recreation. 

In 1859, he founded the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious congregation named after Saint Francis de Sales, whose gentle and pastoral approach inspired Don Bosco’s own method. The Salesians were dedicated to the care, education, and spiritual formation of young people, especially those marginalized by poverty and industrialization. This was a pioneering mission of love, education, and faith directed toward poor and abandoned youth. 

Don Bosco developed the Preventive System, an educational philosophy based on reason, religion, and loving-kindness. Rather than using punishment, he emphasized building trust, encouraging virtue, and fostering a joyful environment. The Salesians established schools, technical institutes, and youth centers across Italy and beyond, offering practical skills alongside moral and religious instruction.

With the help of Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello, Don Bosco also founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in 1872, extending his mission to girls. His vision quickly spread internationally, and by the time of his death in 1888, the Salesians were active in several countries across Europe and South America, and he became a beloved figure known for his joy, humility, and tireless dedication. He died on January 31, 1888, and was canonized in 1934. Today, the Salesian family continues Don Bosco’s legacy in over 130 nations, including New Zealand, serving millions of young people through education, pastoral care, and social outreach. His work remains a model of compassionate and holistic youth ministry.

St John Bosco’s words for the way of hope

 Without confidence and love, there can be no true education. If you want to be loved…you must love yourselves, and make your children feel that you love them.

Act today in such a way that you need not blush tomorrow.

Do you want your companions to respect you? Always think well of everyone and be ready to help others. Do this and you will be happy.

Serve the Lord joyfully!

There are plenty of ways to practice mortification! Just patiently endure cold, heat, sickness, troubles, people, happenings, and so forth.

St John Bosco, pray for us

Dominic Savio (1842–1857) was born on April 2, 1842, in Riva near Chieri, Piedmont, Italy. Dominic was the son of a blacksmith and a seamstress. Raised in a devout Catholic family, he showed  remarkable piety from an early age, praying independently by age four and receiving First Communion at just seven - unusual for the time.

At twelve, Dominic met Saint John Bosco, who recognised his spiritual maturity and accepted him into the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales in Turin. Dominic expressed a strong desire to become a saint and followed a personal motto: “Death, but not sin.” He lived this ideal through daily prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, and acts of charity and reconciliation. He once famously broke up a fight between classmates by holding up a crucifix and urging them to forgive as Christ did.

Dominic founded the “Company of the Immaculate Conception,” a group dedicated to helping others and growing in holiness. Despite his youth, he was known for his joyful spirit, leadership, and deep devotion to Mary and the Eucharist.

His health declined due to lung illness, and he died peacefully on March 9, 1857, at age 14. Saint John Bosco wrote his biography, highlighting Dominic’s “heroic virtue.” Pope Pius XII canonized him in 1954, and his feast is celebrated on May 6. Dominic remains a patron of youth and choirboys.

The light made this photo difficult but on one occasion Don Bosco found Dominic in spiritual ecstasy behind the altar where celebrated Mass... Dominic had been to Mass at 8.00am and received Holy Communion and was still there at 2.00pm in thanksgiving having not moved. 

St Dominic Savio’s words for the way of hope

I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.

 Ask Jesus to make you a saint. After all, only He can do that. Go to confession regularly and to Communion as often as you can.

 I need nothing in this world in order to be happy. I only need to see Jesus in heaven, whom I now see and adore on the altar with the eyes of faith.

St Dominic Savio, pray for us

Maria Domenica Mazzarello (1837–1881) was an Italian nun and co-foundress of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, formally known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. Born in Mornese, Alessandria, Italy, she was the eldest of ten children in a hardworking peasant family. From a young age, Maria displayed deep faith, resilience, and a strong sense of charity.

At fifteen, she joined the Association of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, engaging in charitable works and spiritual formation. In 1860, during a typhoid epidemic, she cared for sick relatives and contracted the illness herself. Though she recovered, her health was permanently weakened, prompting her to leave fieldwork and train as a seamstress.

One day, she experienced a mystical vision of a building filled with girls and heard the words, “I entrust them to you.” Interpreting this as a divine call, she began teaching sewing and catechism to poor girls, aiming to protect them from the dangers of street life. With the support of her parish priest, Domenico Pestarino, and later St. John Bosco, she helped establish a religious community dedicated to the education and spiritual care of young women.

In 1872, the Salesian Sisters were officially founded, and Maria became their first superior. She led with humility, calling herself “the Vicar” and attributing true leadership to Our Lady. Despite her frail health, she remained active until her death on May 14, 1881. Canonized in 1951, she is remembered for her joyful spirit, maternal care, and dedication to youth

St Maria Domenica Mazzarello’s words for the way of hope

Love one another with true charity… that charity proper to Jesus, which never tired of suffering for us

Sadness is the mother of tepidness. Those who have started on a path of human and spiritual growth cannot be anything but serene and joyful. Moroseness is not proper in a mature person; it is rather a symptom of a mistaken outlook on things.

 Cheer up… Everything passes, so nothing shall upset us.

 Let prayer be the weapon that you always keep at hand

St Maria Domenica Mazzarello, pray for us