1. Rooted in two pillars: Jesus in the Eucharist and Mary Help of Christians

Dear friends, as the Council of the Primary ADMA, on the 200th anniversary of the dream at nine, we wish to share some guidelines on how to make the Association's identity and mission relevant today, based on the experiences of these years.

Anchored to the two columns: Jesus in the Eucharist and Mary Help of Christians

Being part of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) means following a path of sanctification and apostolate according to Don Bosco's charism, having Mary Help of Christians as mother and teacher who takes us by the hand and leads us to Jesus.

We want to imitate Don Bosco who lives, in his tireless apostolate, in the continuous presence of God ("God sees you"), so much so as to be defined as ‘union with God in daily life’: feet on the ground and heart in heaven. His loving fatherliness shows us the right measure in everyday relationships and behaviour, to preserve joy and peace. He inspires us to trust in Jesus and docility to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, to live the present moment 'all for love and nothing by compulsion', as St. Francis de Sales teaches us.

This is why, we put our personal relationship with Jesus, the main pillar of ADMA, at the centre of our daily life. The great renewal of these years is precisely in the personal relationship of each associate with Jesus, in prayer and listening to the Word - personal and communitarian - and in the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation. Truly the power of the Holy Spirit nourishes and transforms our lives, enabling us to be 'leaven' in the contexts in which we live: family, work, friendships.

Mary, the other pillar, guides our steps, supports us in difficulties, comforts us in tribulations, educates us to love her Son and, rosary after rosary, makes us joyful and courageous witnesses of the Gospel. Being part of ADMA means, like Don Bosco, living with the knowledge that "She did everything". Mary mother and teacher, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, inspires us to the faith with her attitudes: "fiat", in listening to the Word; "magnificat", like her, learning to rejoice with a heart full of gratitude for the wonders of our life and of the others; "stabat", like her, we keep the hope in the most difficult situations and moments.