The hymn was written as a musical and poetic translation of the Strenna 2026, recalling its central themes: trust in the Word of the Lord, hope that does not disappoint, and the gospel image of empty jars filled with new life. The Italian text, written by Fr Palazzo himself, invites us to an attitude of listening, docility and service, in full harmony with the Salesian charism and with a privileged attention to young people and the poorest.
To encourage international dissemination, the hymn has been translated into several languages thanks to the collaboration of various Salesians: Fr Manolo Jimenéz (Spanish), Fr Mike Pace (English), Fr Adolphe-Marie Akpoué (French) and Fr Gilson Marcos da Silva (Portuguese), a concrete expression of the universal dimension of the Salesian Family.
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of numerous collaborators who generously put their talents to good use. The musical arrangement was handled by Fr Maurizio Palazzo together with Gian Paolo Guercio, who also oversaw the production and mixing at Sound Sistemi Recording Studio. The vocals are by Francesca Incardona and Loris Striglia, while the accompanying video was created by Katia Fiorito.
A Salesian priest and musician of recognised value, Fr Maurizio Palazzo, SDB, trained at the Conservatory of Turin and has a degree in Modern Literature. Author of numerous liturgical compositions widely used in ecclesiastical circles – including Hic est Domus mea – and of the book Per il Vangelo delle Domeniche (Elledici), he also composed the well-known musical about Don Bosco for the bicentenary of the saint’s birth. His work combines artistic quality, spiritual depth and pastoral commitment, placing music at the service of the liturgy, young people and the Salesian mission.
The lyrics and sheet music are also available in PDF format, while the video is available on the ANS YouTube channel and can also be downloaded in full HD at the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gUbWChQtJr7UiPN1rzhwTJtfbtuuKHG9
With ‘Do whatever he tells you’, the Strenna 2026 thus finds a musical voice that has already accompanied the spiritual journey of the Salesian Family in a concrete way, starting with the Spirituality Days celebrated in Valdocco.
