FEAST OF
SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE

Breakfast

Eucharist

Blessing of Statue of the Founder
in memory of the 44th General Chapter

Aperitive

Lunch

WE CELEBRATE OUR FOUNDER

15th of May, a special day for Lasallians all over the world. We celebrate our Founder. For us, who are at the Casa Generalizia, this feast has a special significance. This morning the gaze of all was directed to the reliquary in the sanctuary that contains his few remains. And the prayer of the Capitulants had added meaning, “St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us”.

The solemn Mass was presided over by Archbishop Gianfranco Agostino Gardin, OFM, Secretary of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life. The readings were done in Vietnamese (by a young Brother from Viet Nam) and in Arabic (by a Brother from the Near East). The hymns of the Mass were sung by all in English, Spanish, French and Italian, strong reminders of the international expansion of our Lasallian Institute.

We came together again in one of the central gardens of the House for the unveiling and blessing of the new statue of De La Salle, which will be a reminder of the 44th General Chapter. On this occasion, Brother Donato Petti, Visitor of Italy, made the offering and Brother Alvaro, in accepting, reminded us that in the celebration of the International Assembly last fall, the participants likewise wished to leave a souvenir, in that case a fig tree, which is already bearing fruit.

A fraternal banquet followed with the requisites toasts as well as a special cake, adorned with the image of St. John Baptist de La Salle as part of the “frosting”.



Later in the afternoon, the Institute archives were opened for a special showing of the autograph letters of the Founder and the original of the Bull of Approbation, documents that recall more than three centuries of our history.

The young (and not-so-young) Brothers have organized some sports. But there remain weeks of intense work for the Chapter.

COMING TO ROME AFTER 36 YEARS IN THE

From Courmayeur, at the foot of Mont Blanc, to the Casa Generalizia in Rome.  The Brothers of Italy have a vacation house in the Valley of Aosta, very near the frontier with Switzerland.  In that beautiful spot, there has been a sculpted group done in bronze by Peter Ferrari in 1971, a work he had done for the crypt of the Brothers in Turin where there is an identical copy.

This beautiful statue has recently been placed in the gardens of the Casa Generalizia.  It will be an historic reminder of the celebration of the 44th General Chapter of 2007 and an obligatory place to visit for whoever will be coming to the Via Aurelia.

Brother Francisco Martin who, with Brother Marcellino, was present for the transfer, has jotted down his impressions:
“Mont Blanc, from the night of this past 9th of May, will count on one fewer friend… that it had watched over for 36 years”.

OPINIONS

Vicentiu GHIURCA - Romania

The words that I think are the most appropriate to characterize the atmosphere are: a strong and authentic spirit of brotherhood.  Even though at times the language is an obstacle to understand and be understood, the smile of the Brothers is a very nice sort of answer that we do receive.

I have been well impressed with the organization, down to the last detail of the Chapter and the flexibility of the Central Commission to adjust and improve the previously set timetable.

Another aspect that makes me look to the three remaining weeks with such confidence, weeks that are going to be the most important part of the Chapter, is the disposition on the part of the Brothers to take the most decisive decisions for our Institute and for the good of the Lasallian Family.

Iván Mauricio PINCHEVSKY - Équateur

Ding…dong…The bell-tower of the Mother House reminds us that, even in this time of discernment, time passes inexorably. The Capitulants are scattered around the rooms, the gardens and in whatever corner might serve for finding the paths on which the Lord asks us where we are going today as an Institute.

At this stage of the Chapter some of us have moved from asking the Chapter to deal with the entire life of the Mission (which is equivalent to trying to re-float the Titanic, as Br.Alvaro told us in his opening address) to concentrating on what position we, the Brothers, should take in the common Lasallian Mission and in the new conglomerate which animates it (new in self-consciousness but already with a certain age in practice).

The bells are ringing again, and this time they are reminding us that it is time to go into groups “to share our dreams” , as Friar Carlos Aspiroz reminded us was done by Joseph the son of Jacob. In the end, a General Chapter is this….the possibility pf sharing our dreams and listening to those of many other people: other Brothers, Associates, the poor of our world, who are waiting for a prophetic word from those who have made public profession of giving their lives to the service of the God of the poor and the God of history…and once we have given our lives, what can tie us down?