Series of Reflections on Salesian Spirituality (10)

The Evangelical Counsels

Our profession is geared to helping us live the Christian life radically and more fully. We follow Jesus in his poverty, chastity and obedience. Don Bosco pointed out that the practice of the vows strengthens the bonds of brotherly love and makes our apostolic work coherent. They help us discern and welcome God’s action and transform us into genuine Christian educators of the young.

Don Rinaldi said, “The spirituality of a Salesian is guided by obedience.” In the Constitutions, Don Bosco put obedience as the first of the vows for his Salesians. Speaking of the spiritual formation of his sons he insisted on obedience as the first religious principle to be cultivated. Obedience is practised in a family spirit of love. Don Bosco held that “the dignity of a religious lies in his practice of poverty”, “which must be coupled with scrupulous personal cleanliness”. “We must eschew the abuse of the superfluous... what we possess is not ours, it belongs to the poor; woe to us if we do not make good use of it”, he admonishes. Hence, there is no room for soft living. We ought to be spartan-like and must “have poverty in our hearts if we wish to practice it.” Don Bosco had a high regard for chastity. He looked upon purity not just as another virtue, but as a concrete way of loving God and as a life style. This is why he placed it at the centre of his teaching on education. He wanted it to “become the pivot of all our actions”.

The distinctive quality of the Salesian spirit is not one single characteristic or virtue: it is a blending of attitudes, of profound convictions and well-tested methodological experiences, all combining to create a unique and peculiar style of holiness and apostolate. I have been a Salesian for a little over two years and find myself slowly picking up and growing in the Salesian spirit. This is a lifelong task and requires my daily commitment and effort.