The title 'Mary Help of Christians'

 The title, Mary Help of Christians, though not coined by Don Bosco was most promulgated by Don Bosco, within the Catholic Church.  Although initially, the title most used in the Oratory of Don Bosco was 'Seat of wisdom, pray for us'.  It is only in the early 1860s that  the invocation 'Mary Help of Christians' came to be in use and by 1867 came to be the mainstay of the Salesian prayer. 

Furthermore, the title, 'Mary, Help of Christians' is not used in the early editions of the Companion of Youth (the magazine/prayer book that Don Bosco wrote for the youth of his times - relevant even today!). 

The other most frequently used invocation in Mary's name was 'the Immaculate'.  Don Bosco particularly was fond of this title because it offered all, especially the young, the model and inspiration, to grow in purity of virtue.  In order to appease the Virgin, the young would be moved to make all necessary efforts (more out of fear and reverence) to avoid sin.  

Happy b'day Mother Mary

 Received a photo from home with the following b'day drawing with another colourful handwritten note.  It was meant for Mother Mary on her b'day.  Mum told my niece Anet, the artist and author to send it to me so that I could convey the wishes which were written in English to Mother Mary.  By the time I called back home in the evening, Anet was convinced that Mother Mary did not have a language barrier!!  She knew all languages, nonetheless I managed to convince her to prepare her next greeting in Konkani.  What convinced her was my argument that everyone writes and talks to Mother Mary in English, very few in Konkani.  

All of this just to get her to learn some Konkani - our mother tongue. As it is, my brother's and my konkani is bad. Anet's is hilarious! 

MHoC novena (day 9)

The final day of the novena to MHoC... Mary as mother and teacher

MHoC novena (day 8)

The penultimate day, we remember one most 'medical' among the Salesians (priests and brothers)... Br Zatti.

Someone who did not rue the fact that he could not get ordained as a priest because of his illness, something he contracted serving a priest suffering from TB.  As a brother he chooses his means of apostolate... nursing.  Combining professionalism with a deep faith, he stands as a great example in this time of the pandemic, of one who was always willing to serve, no matter what the cost... "What if Jesus were to come in person in the form of this patient?" 

MHoC novena (day 7)

Aptly dedicated and in appreciation of women...

Women, especially all mothers, are truly doctors of the body and the spirit!

MHoC novena (day 6)

Dedicating one's suffering.

Andrew Beltrami, affected by TB, which he contracted while assisting a priest with the same illness, was sick for the rest of his short life.  He dies at a tender age of 27.  But those few years of pain and suffering, he resigned himself to God.  Perhaps that was the reason he was able to write and do much work from his own room. 

That tranquility to accept the present and make the most of what one is blessed with, rather than rue the loss of what was...

MHoC novena (day 5)

The fifth day of the novena to Mary Help of Christians.

"I'm glad to be forgotten by everyone, but you!" Mary Mazzarello's words to God, after her debilitating typhus illness which leaves her physically weak and incapable of hard manual labour, which she earlier excelled at.  All of this due to her willingness to go and help her uncle's family at a time when all of them are bed ridden by the illness. 

The courage to take up risks and when no longer able to do all that what one was capable of, be eager to do what one still can.

MHoC novena (day 4)

Day 4 of the novena to Mary help of Christians...

Michael Rua, a 17 year old youngster is the first to volunteer to assist the cholera victims.  There are altogether 40 youngsters who volunteer.  They are praised by the local press for their fearless support of the cholera victims. 

Faith in God... trust in Don Bosco's guidance! 

MHoC novena (day 3)

Nothing shameful or bad to ask for help.  None of us is perfect or omnipotent.  We need help.  We need care. 

We pray for humility and courage to ask for help; for strength to overcome fear and shame; for grace to be ever willing and generous with the little we have.

MHoC novena (day 2)

The second day of the novena to Mary Help of Christians...
specially relevant to the present times... life during Coronavirus, recalling the time of the widespread cholera during Don Bosco's time.

MHoC novena (day 1)

A series of novena prayer, based on the Salesian history and recounting Mary's intervention in the life of Don Bosco and the Salesians.  

Mother Mary reaches her place

Mother Mary finally gets to her place in the grotto at home!  Long winding journey and a long-awaited occasion.  Couldn't be on a better day - feast of our Lady of Lourdes. 

Those at home, are already enjoying some special blessings of this day, this event, this devotion!  Thanks to Mother Mary! 

Widening and levelling piety

Within a span of a week there are two 'new' additions to the ordo - feasts that are being added.  Two days ago it was Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of the Church and tomorrow there is Jesus Christ the eternal high priest.  Wonder how relevant or meaningful are these additions in the present times. 

Honestly I know not and have not made any effort to find out the real rationale behind the institution of these two special days, but just out of a general feeling...

The first one, Mother Mary as the mother of the Church... well for us Catholics there never has been a doubt about that.  Most Christians and even non-Christians who have heard of Mother Mary have no problem in seeking her maternal protection and venerating her as 'mother'.  So then why exclusively title her as 'mother of the church'.   If any broaden the attitude to speak of her as mother of all!  Why so to speak monopolize her as to belonging and of the Church.  Why not be generous in stating that she is the mother of all.  That way those who want to approach her feel comfortable and not feel as though they are 'appropriating' someone else's family member. 

The second one, of Jesus the eternal high priest, appears very pessimistic.  In this age, especially in the West, where there is a real decline in the number of those joining priesthood and religious life, attributing the eternal priesthood to Jesus is like a consolation prize for those who do opt.  Moreover, why at all 'high priest'?  Sounds really hierarchical... exactly the opposite of the whole reality of incarnation and Jesus' own mission while on earth. 

More than mere additional special days of commemoration, we do need to widen our inclusive attitude and make our existing pieties more deep and social.  

Mother Mary as Holy Spirit

Fr Sean, the other day while celebrating Mass, accidently stated that Mother Mary was Holy Spirit for Don Bosco.  However, he then did realize that it was not very untrue either. 

I sat in the Chapel after Mass reflecting on this odd comparison.  The more I viewed it from my knowledge of Don Bosco and his ways of going about, the more true I found it to be.  Don Bosco rarely spoke of the Holy Spirit.  He certainly was no 'charismatic' preacher or advocate of the Holy Spirit.  However, everyone who has read his life or known him will vouch for the fact that he was an ardent devotee of Mother Mary.  So much so, I wonder if he ever mentioned Mary the same number of times as he mentioned Jesus in his whole lifetime.  Not to say that he considered Mother Mary to be greater than Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  None of that theological debate.  But if Holy Spirit is something that is considered as all-pervading and ever involved, for Don Bosco that was exactly how he viewed Mother Mary, as ever loving, all-pervading, and always close at hand. 

Hence in our Salesian tradition, we have a central place for Mother Mary.  Perhaps someday someone may wish to research the role of the Holy Spirit and Mother Mary in Don Bosco's life and the Salesian tradition.  I will not be surprised if he or she comes to the same conclusion: Mother Mary as the Holy Spirit, in the Salesian tradition!  

Mary's "Yes"

Mary, at the moment of the annunciation, had no clue or past experience, not in her own life, not in the history of her family, not in the history of her people, no history ever!  What she was facing and told was something no one had ever asked or done before.  She had no precedent to follow or seek guidance from. 

Not that Mary was trying to weigh the pros and cons of her decision and then reply on its basis. But the point is that she had no clue, absolutely none, as to what she was getting into. 

Or did she? She did know what it means to be a 'mother'.  Perhaps to some extent she could have figured out what being a 'mother outside marriage' could spell for her. 

Or was she being 'naive'? Saying 'yes' without even a thought of what it actually means.  Just off hand.  Or totally distracted.  However the context in which Mary receives the message would not really make this possible.

So, ultimately, she did not have much!  Just "yes"! 

Mary our help

When we appoint someone at our house or in the institution as a domestic helper, we expect the person to do the duties entrusted or listed.  However, the work is actually ours.  It is our work that we should have otherwise done.  The helper appointed is actually assisting us in the task of doing our work.  Even when the one appointed does the work solely, it does not become her work.  If he or she does not do the work, either because the person is sick or has left the job, the one who employs has to find alternative hands or do it oneself.  It falls back to the one whose work it ultimately is. 

As we celebrate the feast of Mary our help, it is good to remind ourselves that the role of Mother Mary is that of a helper.  She is not the total answer to any and every of our question.  She isn't going to do all our work, taking it upon herself as if we had nothing to do with it.  Far from an employed or enslaved helper, she is one who volunteers to help.  In so much, as she offers her great courage and virtues as a support to our own efforts, she helps.  We need to take responsibility and be humble enough to seek her readily available intercession.

Happy feast!

Mary, Help of Christians (7)

Mary, Help of Christians (6)

In north-east of India, in Shillong, and specifically at Upper Shillong in the Salesian novitiate house chapel is the statue of Mary Help of Christians that was brought by one of the first Salesian missionaries who set foot in India in 1906 at Tanjore, Tamilnadu.  These missionaries from Italy carried with them the statue and it still is preserved with great care and venerated with great fervour. 

And Salesians everywhere have always proudly spoken of Mother Mary, under the title 'Mary help of Christians', wherever, whenever and however they've been able to.  Shrines to Our Lady help of Christians are just one of the direct means of spreading this devotion. 

Our Lady in our Salesian Chapel, Chertsey

Mary Help of Christians (5)

The painting was conceived by Don Bosco who spoke of it to the painter Lorenzone as a spectacle already seen.

The Most Holy Mary in high among the choruses of angels. Then the choruses of prophets, virgins and confessors. On the ground, the emblems of Mary's great victories and the peoples of the world raising their hands towards her asking for help. 

The painter made him see that painting such a picture would need a square and a church as large as Piazza Castello to house it. Don Bosco resigned himself to reducing the scale of his project. Lorenzone hired the highest hall in Palazzo Madama and started work. After three years, the great painting was hung in its place.

Don Bosco described it thus:

The Virgin standing out in a sea of light and majesty, surrounded by a horde of angels paying homage as if to their queen. With her right hand, she holds the sceptre, the symbol of her power, and with the left, the child with its arms open wide, offering its grace and mercy to those appealing to the majesty of his mother. Around and below them are the Apostles and the Evangelists in a state of sweet ecstasy, almost exclaiming: 'Regina Apostolorum, ora pro nobis', they contemplate the Holy Virgin in amazement. At the bottom of the picture, there is the city of Turin with the sanctuary of Valdocco in close up and with Superga in the background. The picture's greatest value is the religious ideal that makes a pious impression on whoever admires it. 

According to Don Bosco's description, the painting is an effective portrayal of the title: "Mary, Mother of the Church", and a great page in Marian catechesis.
(Source: Don Bosco Turin)

Mary Help of Christians (4)

Mary Mazzarello, the first founding superior of the Salesian Sisters (FMA) was also a great devotee of Mother Mary, especially under the title 'Mary Help of Christians'.  When Don Bosco christened the fledgling group of young girls as a religious congregation he gave them the name 'Daughters of Mary Help of Christians' (Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice in Italian).  

Mary Mazzarello is said to have always referred to herself as the vicar of the congregation, citing Mother Mary as the real and first superior.  Moreover, every night after locking the house, the keys of the house would be placed strategically at the feet of Mother Mary, a sign that the house and all its inmates were under her protection.  

Our Lady at the Chertsey cemetery, looking after the deceased Salesian Sisters