In truth, the celebrations had already begun the previous day, Saturday 23rd, again with spiritual celebrations and symbolic gestures of great impact. For example, the Rosary and the evening Mass were framed by a spectacular tribute from the Turin Fire Brigade, who placed wreaths of flowers on the statues of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel and on the Virgin Mary, situated on the domes of the basilica; and with the night-long prayer marathon to the Holy Spirit, on the theme “Devoted to prayer with one accord, together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14). The vigil, opened by First Vespers of Pentecost, led by the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, was marked by a penitential liturgy, a Rosary, a night-time Mass, hymns and prayers, musical interludes accompanied by the harp of Maestra Eleonora Savio, and also included the launch of the new virtual tour of the Basilica.
Then, the whole day of 24 May passed in an atmosphere of palpable excitement: groups of pilgrims, religious, and devotees of every nationality, age, and skin colour… crowded the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, as well as the various courtyards and spaces of Valdocco, to take part in the numerous celebrations and activities scheduled – with seven Masses scheduled throughout the day.
At the main morning Mass, the one at 11 am (UTC+2) – following those presided over by representatives of partner institutions, such as the Cottolengo and the Major Seminary of Turin, and that of the Superior of the Salesians of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, Fr Leonardo Mancini – the principal celebrant was Cardinal Roberto Repole, Archbishop of Turin and Bishop of Susa, who in his homily, referring to the Gospel of John read to the assembly, observed how Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, “is nothing other than the full unfolding, in the life of the Church, of Christ’s Easter”.
In this sense, he went on to explain, receiving the Holy Spirit means “being grafted onto the Risen Christ” and therefore “taking part, from this moment onwards, in the energies of the Resurrection”; and the presence of Jesus in the Upper Room, who comes among the disciples gathered behind closed doors in prayer with Mary, makes it clear that the power of Christ now has no limits, nor boundaries: “there is now no place, nor situation in which He is not present”. A condition that also becomes a mission for “the men and women of Pentecost, who have received the gift of the Spirit”: that of carrying forward, without reservation, the mission of Jesus, the one He Himself received from the Father.
Pentecost, he concluded, therefore means that in whatever condition or state of mind, Christians are “in the presence of the Risen Christ”, and thus never alone; consequently, they are no longer victims of fear, but are encouraged to accept the divine mandate to live “His mission”, not their own.
In the afternoon, following the blessing of the young people, Adoration, Second Vespers and another Mass, the 11th Successor of Don Bosco, Fr Attard, presided over a Mass specially dedicated to the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement.
In his homily, the Rector Major noted the coincidence between the Solemnity of Pentecost and the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, identifying in this apparent “coincidence” a “provocation” that allows us to see “with new eyes” not only the mystery of the descent of the Holy Spirit, but also the mystery of Mary.
Thus, he urged the young people to take Mary as their example and to follow her on life’s journey through the three verbs that marked her life: “entrusting oneself, surrendering, and allowing oneself to be guided”.
The first step, that of entrusting oneself, is not “a passive surrender”: “Mary does not cease to be the protagonist of her own story”; on the contrary, “she becomes fully so precisely at the moment when she chooses no longer to hold it in her own hands”.
Thus, surrender too, “is not passive resignation”, but a “mature response” from one who has realised “that the truest life is not built by oneself, but is received” and becomes a sacred space “because something greater enters my heart, my very existence”.
Finally, allowing oneself to be guided: observing the transformation of the apostles, shut away in the Upper Room “out of fear”, who became proclaimers of the Kingdom after Pentecost, Fr Attard emphasised that it was “the fire of the Spirit” that changed their hearts – which “is not spiritual romanticism, it is not a cruise: it is a cross”; yet, “it is the most liberating thing that can happen”.
In conclusion, Don Bosco’s 11th Successor invited the young people: “Let us learn from Mary the three essential movements of Christian life. To entrust ourselves with determination, to surrender with wisdom, and to let ourselves be guided with great joy. Because life is a gift entrusted to us by God and when we cling to this gift as if it were our own property, we suffocate it, but if we entrust it to God, as Mary did, we see it blossom and flourish.”
Following this moving reflection, the assembly of the faithful joined the devotees gathered in the square of Mary Help of Christians, in front of the basilica, and the Oratorian and parish groups who had come from various ecclesial and Salesian communities throughout the city and the Piedmont region, and escorted the statue of Mary Help of Christians, duly illuminated and adorned with flowers, in procession.
The traditional Marian procession then concluded in front of the church, amidst new hymns, songs and prayers to Our Lady of Don Bosco, and with a spectacular fireworks display which, as a special feature this year, was intended to make this celebration—so dear to anyone who shares the Salesian spirit—even more popular and festive.
Speaking to ANS, the Rector of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Fr Michele Viviano, expressed his deep satisfaction with the outcome of the preparations and the extraordinary turnout of the faithful. After years marked by pandemic restrictions, he joyfully highlighted the peaceful and inspiring atmosphere that has prevailed over the past few days.
“It was very moving,” he said, “to see children, the elderly, people in wheelchairs, and a huge crowd walking together in the procession through the streets around Valdocco, honouring and praying to Our Lady. A tangible image of the Church walking united, in the simple and profound faith of the people of God”.
Fr Viviano also reiterated how Our Lady Help of Christians continues to bestow graces and signs of her presence even today, just as she did in Don Bosco’s time. The faithful – he observed – feel that the words of the Saint of Youth are true and relevant today: “Have faith in Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are”. And this year too, in Valdocco, that promise seemed to resonate powerfully in everyone’s hearts.
{gallery}ICP – Festa MA 2026{/gallery}
