The Salesian Mission: "Da mihi animas" and Fraternal Life

The Salesian Mission: “Da mihi animas” and Fraternal Life
Reflections of the Second Day of CG29

(ANS – Turin – February 19, 2025) – On the 2d day of the spiritual retreat of the 29th General Chapter, Fr. Pascual Chavez, rector major emeritus, led the chapter members in a profound reflection on the meaning of the Salesian mission, starting from the key expression “da mihi animas.” In the afternoon, the theme was broadened to include fraternal life in community, emphasizing the importance of communion and sharing as signs of evangelical witness.

“The expression da mihi animas is not limited to referring to a part of the person but rather to the person in his entirety,” explained Fr. Chavez during the morning session. He then delved deeper into the meaning of this phrase, which lies at the heart of the Salesian mission: “If it were simply about promoting the integral development of the person, we would not be any different from many other institutions working in the same direction. The word animas indicates the perspective from which we operate and the ultimate goal of our educational and evangelizing mission.”

Fr. Chavez invited the capitulars to rediscover the depth of this task, which entails a great responsibility before God. “Salvation does not mean reaching heaven with minimal effort,” he stressed. “The ideal of our educational and evangelizing work is holiness—in fact, the sanctification of our young people.”

With a striking metaphor, Fr. Chavez explained how our Triune God, perfect Love, did not settle for loving us from a distance but became man in Jesus Christ to manifest his love in a tangible way. “Exaggerating a bit,” Fr. Chavez remarked, “I would say that the Father, by sending the Son into the world, entrusted him with this mission: make yourself loved!”

In the afternoon, the reflection broadened to include a fundamental aspect of the Salesian mission: fraternal life in community. “Community life is not just a matter of coexistence,” explained Fr. Chavez, “but a prophecy of communion, a concrete sign of working together to bear witness to unity and the sharing of the pastoral-educational project.”

Fr. Chavez underscored the importance of building authentic fraternal relationships, based on mutual support, alignment of intentions, and sharing. “It is not just about living together but about living as brothers, supporting and collaborating with one another for a common goal.”

The Eucharistic celebration at midday in the basilica of Mary Help of Christians was presided over by Fr. Fernando Garcia Sanchez, provincial of the Madrid Province. In his homily, Fr. Garcia offered a reflection on the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus. “We live in a world where, at times, a deep connection with him is lacking,” he said. “But without Jesus, we can do nothing. We must renew our conviction that he walks and works with us.”

He added further that this relationship with Jesus frees us from external judgments and allows us to embrace the peace he bestows. “Faced with the challenges that even this CG29 seeks to address, we must overcome the fatalism that numbs the heart and pushes us toward complaints. The transformative power of the Gospel gives us a freedom and a peace that no one can take away from us.” With a vivid image, Fr. Garcia concluded, “After we have tasted the Bread of Christ, all other bread will leave us dissatisfied.”

The reflections of the 2d day of CG29 served as a call to the delegates to take responsibility for the Salesian mission, which goes beyond education and aims at holiness and the transformation of young lives. Community life, lived in fraternity and sharing, becomes a prophetic sign that bears witness to the love of God.