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ASSOCIATION MARY THE HELPER |
"To encourage the worship of the Blessed
Sacrament and the devotion to Mary Help of Christians"
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(Don Bosco, Association of
the Devotees of Mary Help of Christians,
san Benigno
can. 1890, page 33).
"Don
Bosco established the Association of Mary Help of Christians
connecting it with commitments easily fulfilled by most common
people, to the spirituality and the mission of the Salesian Congregation" -
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(CG 24 SDB, 1996, NR. 80).
'The Young Shepherdess' shows in a dream
to Giovannino, who is nine years old, the people and the ways
of his future mission (MB 1,123 and following).
In 1844 he dreams about the lambs that will follow him till the
destination of the journey: a courtyard, a church, many lambs
that change into shepherds, a second wonderful and high church
with the words:
"HERE
IS MY HOUSE, FROM HERE MY GLORY"
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To the questions don Bosco asks, the
young Shepherdess answers: "When
you see…you will understand" (MB 1,243). In 1845 in a dream
he sees many young people, a small
church, a much |
bigger one..and the Young Shepherdess
who  steps
on the ground and says: In this place where Avventor and Solutor
suffered martyrdom… I WANT GOD TO BE HONORED IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY"
.
On April 5, 1846
Don Bosco recognised the Pinardi
House which he had seen several times in his dreams and understands
(MB 2,245).
From that day to June 9,1868
the
day on which the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians was consacrated,
Don Bosco sees his dreams come true and once the 'House' is built,
here come the pilgrims. Don Bosco entrusts to them the spreading
of the glory of Mary Help of Christians in the world with the
Association (Don Rua, June 23, 1909).He obtains the erection
of the Association from the Archbishop of Turin, A. Riccardi,
on April 18, 1869. Pope Pius
IX on April 5, 1870
raises it to Archconfraternity
with the right to aggregate the Associations having the same
name and regulations in the Archdiocese of Turin.
In
1876 Don Bosco creates the Salesian Cooperators
with a stronger salesian commitment
but on march 2,1877 he obtains the right to aggregate the Associations
of the entire Piedmont. In 1889
Leo XIII authorises Don Rua to ERECT AND to AGGREGATE the Associations
in the Salesian Churches and in 1894 also in the Salesian Houses
over the world; in 1896 he can aggregate the ones of the diocesan
churches. |
On july 5, 1989
the Rector Major , Father Egidio Viganò, acknowledges
the fact that the ADMA belongs to the Salesian Family since it
comes from its original source and stresses the importance of
the Sanctuary
at Torino-Valdocco.
(Letter written by Father E. Viganò
to the members on July 24, 1989).
It is the SECOND GROUP OF THE SALESIAN
FAMILY ESTABLISHED BY DON BOSCO!
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REGULATIONS
OF THE ASSOCIATION |
Moved by the
Holy Spirit and responding to the needs and signals of the time,
Don Bosco gave life to various apostolic missions and a vast
movement of people who, in different ways, work to help the young
and working class.
The
Association of Mary Help of Christians was founded as a privileged
instrument to "promote the veneration of the Most Holy Sacrament
and Mary Help of Christians. It was canonically founded in the
Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, 18th April, 1869 and was
"by him considered almost an integral part of the Salesian
society".
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It was rapidly
promoted to archconfraternity by Pius IX, 5th April, 1870, with
the right to unite the associations throughout the world with
the same name and aim.
Finally,
24th July, 1989,
"the
Rector Major with his council, officially recognised the Association
of Mary Help of Christians' belonging to the Salesian Family."
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THE
NEW 'MARY THE HELPER ASSOCIATION' (ADMA) |
Don Bosco
built the Help of Christians votive Shrine (Torino-Valdocco 1868)
as the Virgin Mary had asked him in a dream. A year later he
founded the Archconfraternity Brotherhood of Mary Help of Christians
within the Basilica (18th April, 1869), in order to spread the
devotion to the Virgin as evoked by the name itself.
The Mary Help of Christians Sanctuary, the centre from which
the mission is spread all through the world, was for Don Bosco
the cohesive centre of all his institutions, a source of grace
and a sanctuary for the world.
The Association,
with its devotion to Mary Help of Christians, is one of the most
effective examples of promoting faith within the working class.
This motherly
and working presence of Mary lays at the foundation of the association
and is the inspiration for all those who work for God's Kingdom.
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Nature
and aim of ther Association |
The Mary the
Helper Association is a meeting place for the believers who take
part in its work. In accordance with Don Bosco's charisma, it
offers a journey of sanctification and apostleship.
In
particular it gives importance to the worship of Holy Jesus and
Mary help of Christians, in all its forms, both public and private
as long as they are recognised by the Church.
Within the
church it is a public association of believers who share its
inspiration and activities; it operates in accordance with the
Priests and other ecclesiastical groups, in particular with the
Salesians.
It has its own legal status as ruled by the church's Jurisprudence.
According to the legislation of each individual country, it can
obtain civil legal recognition, but it is not associated with
any political party, nor money making group.