CONCLUSIONTHE PERGOLA OF ROSES[187] A year after his arrival at Valdocco Don Bosco had a dream, which he recounted only in 1864 to a small group of Salesians whom he called together after the 'good night'. "I have already told you of several things I saw as in a dream. From them we can infer how much Our Lady loves and helps us. But now that we are alone together, I am going to tell you not just another dream, but something that Our Lady herself graciously showed me. I am doing this so that each of us may be convinced that it is Our Lady herself who wants our Congregation. This should spur us to work ever harder for God's greater glory. I tell you this in confidence". And he went on to describe the famous vision of the 'Pergola of roses'. Don Bosco was told to take off his shoes; this he did willingly, only to discover at once how many painful thorns were hidden among the flowers. They indicate the difficulties: both internal (need for mortification!) and external (need for apostolic courage). But he was not alone: "Many priests, clerics and lay people whom I had asked, began to follow me quite happily, attracted by the beauty of the flowers, but when they found they had to walk on piercing thorns and that these were sticking out on all sides, they began to cry out: We have been fooled! I replied: Let those who are only out for a good time go back again; the others follow me. Quite a number did go back.(...) But I was soon consoled when I saw a group of priests, clerics and laymen coming towards me. 'Here we are', they said, 'we are all yours and ready to follow you'. So I led them forward. Many of them I knew, but many more were strangers". The path brought them to another pleasant garden where a cool breeze cured all their injuries and led them to an imposing building where the Blessed Virgin explained the sense of the vision and encouraged her followers in their mission. As soon as the Mother of God finished speaking, I awoke and found myself in my room".1 This message is addressed primarily to us SDBs; in it we find echoed with certainty the Word of God. [188] In response let us note the need we have to renew our faith if
we want to become 'symbols', a bond of communion with our
brothers and sisters scattered all over the world.
|