Love for Mary

Love for the Blessed Virgin and Joy at Her triumphs sufficed to banish worry, discouragement and weariness from Don Bosco's heart. He proclaimed Her glories in his sermons, publicized them in books, and recalled them in friendly conversations and letters. The power of Mary under the title of "Help of Christians" was already known in many places, but as soon as the press began to publicize it, trust in Her was sparked everywhere. "Countless other people," Don Bosco wrote in 1868, "had recourse to Her with a novena, promising offerings if their prayers were heard. If I had to list all the graces received I could fill large volumes.... By granting such cures, God supplies us with the funds to finish the building of this church. Turin, Genova, Bologna, Naples, but above all Milan, Florence and Rome, experienced the goodness of Mary under the title of Help of Christians and showed their gratitude by their donations. More remote cities, too, such as Palermo, Vienna, Paris, London and Berlin, had recourse to Mary.... I am not aware that anyone prayed in vain. Spiritual and temporal favors, more or less extraordinary, always resulted from praying to our most merciful Mother, the mighty Help of Christians.... BM chap.31, p.175-176

Keep in mind that Don Bosco was a zealous spreader of Mary’s intercession as help of Christians. Wherever he went, he never failed to mention the glorious helps she has wrought to his spiritual sons. Mary, in turn, never ceased to amaze Don Bosco in her miracles and intercessions to God.

Article 20: The Preventive System and the Salesian Spirit “...Don Bosco passes this on to us as a way of living and of handing on the Gospel message, and of working with and through the young for their salvation. It permeates our approach to God, our personal relationships, and our manner of living in community through the exercise of charity that knows how to make itself loved.”