Hajja Salesjana April-June 2021

23 H AJJA S ALESJANA who voiced them, Don Bosco would reply: "Don Albera has not only overcome those difficulties, but he will overcome many others, and he will be my second..." Without finishing that sentence, he put his hand over his eyes, like someone looking far into the distance. Then he continued, "Oh yes, Don Albera will be of great help!" Present at the conversation was a young man in his twenties, who became a Salesian and a priest and became the third successor of Don Bosco: Don Filippo Rinaldi. Don Bosco was similar to a magnificent tree that spreads out its powerful branches. The future of the Salesian work grew up around him. The “Little Don Bosco” By now everyone knew Don Paolo Albera's worth. In October 1881, he was sent to Marseilles as Provincial to the Houses of France. It is there he won the name, "little Don Bosco", as the newspapers and the many admirers of the Salesian Work defined him. In 1892, he was appointed General Catechist of the Pious Salesian Society. In 1900, he was commissioned by Don Rua to visit all the Salesian Houses in the two Americas as his representative. Over a three-year period, using the rudimentarymeans of transportation of that time and bearing with endless inconveniences, he visited all the Salesian presences in the New World. He returned enthusiastic: “Don Bosco's name paved the way, overcame obstacles, won hearts, and created friends - and why should we not say so? Don Bosco loosened purse strings and wallets and drew from them the means with which to found houses, workshops, schools, festive oratories, churches, hospitals, and everything needed for the salvation of countless souls. This is not a fleeting enthusiasm, nor will the sweet attraction and the salutary impression that the name of Don Bosco exerts on hearts wane over time. It continues to be pronounced in the Americas with veneration and gratitude by Prelates, Presidents, and Government Ministers, by every class of people, and entire peoples...” He would often repeat: “How much Don Bosco is loved! How much Mary Help of Christians loves us!” Don Bosco's Second Successor Don Albera was so esteemed that it seemed absolutely natural to elect him Rector Major on August 16, 1910. As soon as he was elected, he ran to Don Bosco's tomb: “I complained to him [Don Bosco] that he had let the rudder of the Salesian ship fall into such poor hands. To him, more with tears than with words, I poured out my anxieties, my fears, my extreme weakness, and since I had to carry the very heavy cross that had been placed on my wavering shoulders, I prayed to him with great fervor to come to my aid. I stood up from before that hallowed grave in Valsalice, if not completely reassured, at least more trusting and resigned. It goes without saying that I promised Don Bosco and Don Rua that I would spare nothing to preserve in our humble Congregation the spirit and traditions we learned from them.” The Lord amply blessed his life, which was characterized by hard work and filled with concern for others and good works. He gave him the consolation of seeing his labors blessed, in the number of Salesians which increased by almost a thousand during his Rectorate, despite the voids caused by the war; in the number of houses that increased by 103; in the new Missions opened in the Belgian Congo in Africa; in China and in Assam in Asia; in the Rio Negro in Brazil and in Chaco Paraguay in Latin America; in the growth of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, which he supported with affection; in the various houses of formation for new Candidates; and in the new and flourishing festive oratories. The Lord finally granted him the gift of overcoming the arduous trials of World War I by seeing the Pious Society resume its normal rhythm, with increasing attention to its spiritual life. He died silently on October 29, 1921, discreet as always. Before the recent transfer of his remains to the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, he had been laid to rest alongside Don Bosco and Don Rua in Valsalice. It was just and fitting that his tomb should be where his mind and heart were.