Gratitude to Benefactors

It was good news for Don Bosco because Rome vied with Florence in helping to build and furnish the Church of Mary Help of Christians. Since noble Florentine ladies had raised funds for six imposing candlesticks for the main altar, a Roman princess who got word of it decided to outdo them. She interested a group of noble ladies and so enthused them about Don Bosco that they decided to offer a magnificent carpet for the main altar, while another group of ladies began raising funds towards the side altar named for St. Peter. BM 57

Keep in mind that Don Bosco couldn’t not have thanked these wonderful benefactors. They may have been known only for the groups they belonged to, but they were equally generous, especially in sharing their treasures. As a Salesian, how do you say thank you to benefactors? How do you be a benefactor to others?

Article 79: Solidarity with the Poor “The spirit of poverty leads us to be one with the poor and to love them in Christ... In seeking and accepting help for the service of the needy, we imitate Don Bosco in his zeal and gratitude and like him, we retain the freedom the Gospel gives us. ‘Remember well,’ he tells us, ‘that what we have is not ours; it belongs to the poor; woe to us if we do not use it well.’”