150th Anniversary of the Consecration of the
Basilica of Mary Help of Christians
(ANS – Turin – June 8) – After a long period of preparation, the
celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the consecration of the basilica of
Mary Help of Christians in Turin reached their climax on June 9. On the anniversary,
Archbishop Renato Boccardo of Spoleto presided over a solemn Eucharistic concelebration
in the basilica.
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| Abp. Renato Boccardo |
The presence of the archbishop of
Spoleto was not accidental. Fr. Guido Errico, director of the Salesian community
of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco, explains: “In two Good Nights to the boys
of the Oratory (in 1862 and 1865), St. John Bosco declared his enthusiasm and joy
over some prodigious contemporary events in Spoleto, linked to a Marian image.
He felt a special harmony with the title with which Archbishop Arnaldi of that city
in Umbria had baptized the Marian image (Auxilium Christianorum), and he
declared to one of the first Salesians, John Cagliero: ‘So far we have celebrated with solemnity and pomp the feast of Mary
Immaculate, on whose day the first works of the festive oratories began. But
our Lady wants us to honor her under the title Mary Help of Christians. The
times are so sad that we need the Blessed Virgin help us preserve the Christian
faith.”
Fr. Errico continues: “So it seemed
opportune to the Salesian community to invite the successor of that shepherd of
the church of Spoleto who suggested to the saint of young people the title of
the basilica that he built, in obedience to the Virgin Mary, after the
well-known dream of 1845.”
The solemn Mass was celebrated at 10:00
a.m. and broadcast worldwide via satellite by TELEPACE HD (channel 515 Sky), in
collaboration with Missioni Don Bosco. The live streaming is accessible on the
website: www.missionidonbosco.org.
Concelebrating the Eucharist together
with Abp. Boccardo and many other priests was Fr. Stefano Martoglio, general councilor
for the Mediterranean Region, representing Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime.
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| Celebrating the feast of MHC in 2012. Photo by Sr. Denise Sickinger, FMA |
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