In this time of special grace, I reach out to you from Mornese to wish you a holy Easter of peace, the peace that Jesus gave us with His Resurrection.

In this regard, I make my own the first words of Pope Leo XIV, pronounced from the Loggia of the Blessings of St. Peter's Basilica on the day of his election:

"Peace be with you! This is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for God's flock. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all nations, and the whole earth. Peace be with you! This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed peace, and a disarming peace, humble and persevering."

How we wish that the gift of the Risen Lord might be welcomed and lived out by all, that all of humanity might live in the certainty that evil will not prevail, and that we are all in the hands and heart of God, even in this uncertain hour of our history.

From this place very dear to us, it feels natural to turn our thoughts to Mother Mazzarello, and to a life lived in the light of the Paschal Mystery, with which the daily existence of the early communities was deeply imbued. A review of her correspondence reveals an unwavering faith in the face of the trials and sufferings inherent in the mission, a mission that had only recently begun. With maternal confidence, she encourages the Animator of the Villa Colón house, Sister Angela Vallese, and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians within the community not to lose heart: "Take courage, my good Sisters; Jesus must be your whole strength. With Jesus, burdens become light, fatigue becomes easy, and thorns are turned into sweetness... But you must overcome yourselves, if you do not, everything becomes unbearable, and malice will keep springing up in our hearts like boils." (L 22).

Mother Mazzarello knows the human heart and understands that, often, it is precisely the stirrings of the heart that transform into sharp thorns, causing suffering. Yet it is possible to overcome everything by recognizing one's own limits, and those of others, within the logic of Easter.

The word courage is the most frequently repeated in the Letters, and in a certain sense, it echoes Jesus's invitation in the Gospel we will read at the Easter Vigil, "Do not be afraid!" (Mt 28:10); yes, because Jesus is Risen, and death has been defeated forever. He calls us to live in another dimension.

For Mother Mazzarello, it is an awareness that projects her toward the horizon of eternity: "Courage, then, my dearest Sisters in Jesus, let us remember that everything passes, so let nothing disturb us, since everything serves to acquire true happiness." (L 26).

The mystery of the Cross, when experienced in solitude, creates turmoil, perhaps even fear; yet, from a Paschal perspective, all is grace leading to the attainment of that true joy which nothing and no one can ever steal from us.

To Sr. Giuseppina Pacotto Mother Mazzarello writes:

"The final memento I give you is this; when the cross seems heavy, look at the one we wear around our necks and say, 'Oh, Jesus, You are my whole strength and with You, burdens become light, fatigue becomes easy, thorns are turned into sweetness.' But, my dear, you will have to overcome yourself, otherwise, everything will become heavy and unbearable." (L 64)

She returns to the same reminder. The cross alone would be meaningless; it is Jesus whom we wish to contemplate, the Risen Jesus, the Living One. We could cite many other letters or references from the life of our dear Mother, but I would like to link my reflection to the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, specifically to the Gospel of Matthew 28:1–10.

The Evangelist affirms the primacy of women in bearing witness to the Resurrection of Jesus, attributing to it extraordinary significance. Women, often undervalued in Jewish society, are chosen by God as the first witnesses to the Paschal Mystery. This reversal of human standards is characteristic of the Gospel, for God exalts the humble and confounds the powerful. The women's act of fidelity - going to the tomb alone at dawn - is rewarded with the greatest revelation. They become an image of the believing Church, called to proclaim without fear what it has seen and heard.

Indeed, the first Easter proclamation is, "Do not be afraid." The Risen One brings peace and joy, not terror. The angel confirms that the crucified Jesus - that is, the Jesus of history - has truly risen, keeping His promise. This Word of God is the foundation of our hope. We believe that the Resurrection is not a vague idea, but a real event, an experience that transforms our existence and our way of interpreting the reality around us: people, situations, doubts, and so much else that daily life holds in store for us.

The sending forth of the women on their missionary task immediately follows. The angel said to the women: "Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus, the crucified one. He is not here. For He has risen, just as He said; come, look at the place where He was laid. Go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee; there you will see Him.' Behold, I have told you."

The Resurrection is not a private matter to be guarded in silence, or in the timidity that sometimes overtakes us, but an event to be proclaimed with joy and strong faith, first and foremost through the witness of one's life, and then through words, so that it may be credible.

Contemplation of the Risen One, therefore, impels us toward mission. The reference to Galilee, the place where the preaching began, signifies a return to the roots of the faith for the sake of a new evangelization. "He goes before you" means that Jesus is always ahead of us: in mission, in suffering, and in future glory. "And behold, Jesus met them and said: 'Greetings'!" It is not the women who reach Jesus, but rather He who comes to meet them. This movement of grace underscores how the Christian faith is always a response to a divine initiative that transforms life, turning sadness into joy. Jesus' "Greetings" is brimming with joy, new life, and blessing.

In this time of precariousness, in a world traversed by wars, conflicts, and various forms of oppression, by contemplating the Risen Jesus, we can as Christians and consecrated women, be witnesses of hope within our own realities and bring new light to our relationships, particularly with those who share our daily lives and mission. The peace that the Risen Jesus came to bring is a gift for all, one to be embraced and made visible with a sense of responsibility and urgency, yet always with joy, in the certainty that the Risen One is with us!

Wishing a holy and radiant Easter to each of you, to your families, to the Educating Communities, to the Salesian Family, and to the young men and women who are so dear to our hearts. A special wish goes to the Rector Major of the Salesians, Father Fabio Attard, and to all the Confreres. Let us continue to invoke the gift of peace throughout the world and to pray for those communities that have been sorely tried by war, violence, injustice, and poverty.

To Mary, Mother of the Risen One, we entrust those living in situations of hardship and marginalization, who await a better, more just, and serene future. May everyone enjoy the peace and joy of Easter!

Photo by Sunguk Kim on Unsplash