(ANS – Capriglio) – Last Monday, 23 April, at the parish church in Capriglio (Asti) an evening was organised to promote the cause for the Beatification of the Venerable Margaret Occhiena, Don Bosco’s mother.

Among the many taking part were Bishop Francesco Ravinale of Asti; the mayor and the parish priest of Capriglio – the birthplace of Mamma Margaret – Giovanni Carlo Barberis and Fr Domenico Valsania; the mayor and the parish priest of Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Dr. Giorgio Musso and Fr Eoardo Serra; the mayor of Montafia, Marina Conti; and a large group of members of the Salesian Family from Colle Don Bosco, led by Fr Egidio Deiana, who organised the evening.

Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, Postulator General of the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family was invited to give fresh impetus  to devotion to Mamma Margaret and he emphasised  the importance of increasing knowledge about her and insistent prayer both as individuals and as Christian communities and groups so as to obtain the miracle required for her beatification.

In addition, Fr Cameroni spoke about the relevance today of Mamma Margaret in the context of today’s families, with their positive and negative aspects since Don Bosco’s mother provides one of the most significant examples of spiritual motherhood with regard to priests.

In his concluding address Bishop Ravinale said how pleased he was with the evening, declaring that Mamma Margaret “had warmed his heart.” Then he spoke about the commitment of the diocese of Asti to promoting the cause for beatification, giving fresh attention to the family apostolate, and to the places associated with Mamma Margaret the bicentenary of whose marriage to Francesco Bosco occurs this year (6 June 1812).

At the end of the evening held in the local library a new web site was presented dedicated  to this worthy citizen of  Capriglio, for which the President of the “Association of the Friends of the Mamma Margaret Museum Mr Diego Occhiena is responsible.

Published 26/04/2012