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VOLUME X - 1871-1874
of Saint John Bosco
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Father Angelo Amadei
FATHER ANGELO AMADEI (1868-
1945) succeeded Father Lemoyne in
1908 as the editor of the Salesian Bul-
letin and at the same time became his
invaluable assistant in the work of re-
search and compilation for The Bio-
graphical Memoirs.
At Father Lemoyne's death in 1916,
Father Amadei interrupted other literary
activities and undertook the continua-
tion of the work on The Biographical
Memoirs. After supervising the publica-
tion of Volume IX, he wrote and pub-
lished Volume X covering the years
1871-1874, a period characterized as
perhaps the most active and the most
interesting in the life of Saint John
Bosco.
He was relieved of further responsibil-
ity for The Biographical Memoirs so
that he could resume his earlier studies
and research, and devote his full atten-
tion to work on the life of Father Michael
Rua, the first successor of St. John
Bosco.
II Servo di Dio Michele Rua, a three-
volume work of patient and dedicated
scholarship, was his major achieve-
ment. His last important work was a
new edition of Father Lemoyne's two-
volume life of Don Bosco. He died in
Turin on January 16, 1945 at the age
of 76.
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~({!/~({!/~
1987
Membership
17,644
Countries
92
Provinces
77
Houses
1,572
Bishops
63
Archbishops
19
Cardinals
5
DJ;#)~~
dl(~~~r!~
1987
Membership
17,202
Countries
70
Provinces
77
Houses
1,506
Order From :
SALESIANA PUBLISHERS
475 North Ave., Box T • New Rochelle, N.Y. 10802
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Don Bosco's Statue In St. Peter's, Rome
A Faithful Translation of the Original Expertly Done
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The
Biographical Memoirs
of
Saint John Bosco
by
REV. ANGELO AMADEI, S.D.B.
AN AMERICAN EDITION
TRANSLATED
FROM THE ORIGINAL ITALIAN
REv. DIEGO BoRGATELLO, s.D.B.
Editor-in-chief
Volume X
1871-1874
SALESIANA PUBLISHERS
NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK
1977
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IMPRIMI POTEST: Very Rev. Salvatore Isgro, S.D.B.
Provincial
New Rochelle, N.Y., July 16, 1977
Copyright© 1977 by the Salesian Society, Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 65-3104rev
All Rights Reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
FIRST EDITION
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lrhirat,h
WITH PROFOUND GRATITUDE
TO
THE LATE, LAMENTED, AND HIGHLY ESTEEMED
VERY REVEREND FELIX J. PENNA, S.D.B.
(1904-1962)
TO WHOSE
WISDOM, FORESIGHT, AND NOBLE SALESIAN HEART
THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION
OF
THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
OF
SAINT JOHN BOSCO
IS
A LASTING MONUMENT
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This Volume
Is Affectionately Dedicated
To
Three Mothers:
MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
SAINT MARY MAZZARELLO
MOTHER ERSILIA CANTA
Outstanding Women
Whose Protection, Guidance and Love
Preserved
The Living Monument of Don Bosco
The Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians
Salesian Sisters of Saint John Bosco
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Editor's Preface to the First Nine Volumes
f fAINT John Bosco, the central figure of this vastly
extensive biography, was a towering person in the affairs of both
Church and State during the critical 19th century in Italy. He was
the founder of two very active religious congregations during a
time when orders were being suppressed; he was a trusted and
key liaison between the Papacy and the emerging Italian nation of
the Risorgimento; above all, in troubled times, he was the saintly
Christian educator who successfully wedded modern pedagogy to
Christ's law and Christ's love for the poor young, and thereby de-
served the proud title of Apostle of youth.
He is known familiarly throughout the world simply as Don
Bosco. J His now famous system of education, which he called the
Preventive System, was based on reason, religion and kindness,
and indicated by its descriptive name that, also in education, an
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. He always sought
to place pupils in the moral impossibility of committing sin, the
moral disorder from which all evils flow.
To ensure the continuation of his educational mission in behalf
of youth he founded two worldwide religious congregations, the
Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesian Society) and the Institute
of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters),
which today number more than 40,000 member·s conducting 2,800
educational institutions throughout the world.
To help in the difficult art of educating the young, Don Bosco
planned to expound his method of education in a book, but,
absorbed as he was in the task of firmly establishing his two
religious congregations and in unceasing other labors, he had to
content himself with a simple outline of his ideas in a golden little
treatise entitled The Preventive System in the Education of
Youth.
1Don is an abbreviation of the Latin dominus, master. It is used in Italy as a title for
priests: it stands for Father.
ix
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x
EDITOR'S PREFACE
Fortunately, The Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco are
ample compensation for a book which, if written, might have
given us only theories. These memoirs, a monumental work in
nineteen volumes, until recently reserved exclusively to Salesians
and published only in the original Italian, are now available,
unabridged, in this American edition not only to his spiritual
children, devotees and admirers, but also to all who are interested
in education.
In these volumes Don Bosco is shown in action; not theorizing
but educating. What he said and did in countless circumstances
was faithfully recorded by several of his spiritual sons, chief
among them Father Giovanni Battista Lemoyne. From the day he
first met Don Bosco in 1864 to his own death in 1916, Father
Lemoyne spent his life recording words and deeds of Don Bosco,
gathering documents, interviewing witnesses, and arranging raw
material for the present nineteen volumes of the life of Don
Bosco, eight of which he himself authored besides readying
another volume for the press before his death.
In the compilation of The Biographical Memoirs of St. John
Bosco, Father Lemoyne's primary sources were the Memorie
dell'Oratorio dal 1835 al 1855 (Memoirs of the Oratory from 1835
to 1855) written by Don Bosco himself, the diaries and chronicles
of various Salesians who daily recorded what Don Bosco said or
did, numerous letters of the Saint, the Cinque lustri di Storia
dell'Oratorio di S. Francesco di Sales (The History of the First
Twenty-Five Years of the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales) written
by Father John Bonetti, S.D.B., and personally checked by Don
Bosco, the proceedings of the diocesan process of beatification
and other unimpeachable contemporary documents and testimo-
nies. Above all, Father Lemoyne, intelligent, conscientious, and
well-informed, not only used reliable sources, but was himself an
eye-witness. He recorded what he personally saw and heard from
Don Bosco. This enabled him to write a true history even though
not according to modern critical methods. 2 He concerned himself
· 2 True history in the sense that what he narrates is substantially true, though his method
of presentation, his chronology, and his treatment of sources could stand improvement.
The episodes and incidents he reports did not necessarily take place exactly as described.
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EDITOR'S PREFACE
xi
principally with presenting chronologically his vast selected
material, and therefore his narrative is somewhat fragmentary
and may lack scientific method. It is nevertheless true history,
even Volume I which deals mainly with Don Bosco' s youth and the
training he received from Mamma Margaret, his mother. 3 When
gifted writers and scholars of the future will produce a critical
biography of Don Bosco, The Biowaphical Memoirs will still not
be surpassed because Father Lemoyne lived at Don Bosco's side,
wrote what he saw and heard, and eminently succeeded in giving
us a living portrait of Don Bosco.
In editing the translation of The Biographical Memoirs, accura-
cy and readability were the goals we set. This was not easy, and
occasionally, as regards the latter, we may have fallen short of the
mark. Nineteenth-century Italian does r:mt readily lend itself to an
agile version that strives to be an accurate translation and not a
paraphrase.
We have departed from the original in only one minor point: the
lengthy titles or series of subtitles in each chapter. Father
Lemoyne's method of chronological sequence in his narration
necessarily made the content of each chapter fragmentary. As it
was not possible, under these circumstances, to give them a
meaningful title and the volumes were not indexed, Father
Lemoyne prefaced each chapter with many subtitles. In some
volumes such subtitles fill a whole page. Since we have indexed
each volume and subtitles become unnecessary, we selected. in
each chapter the most outstanding episode and gave it a title.
Finally, although we did not aim at publishing a critical edition,
we researched and-in most cases-were able to enrich the text
by adding in brackets first names, dates, and scriptural sources,
as well as numerous, helpful footnotes.
May the reading of these Memoirs portraying the life of a man
whom Pope Pius XI called "a giant of sanctity" inspire his
'Cf. Francis Desramaut, S.D.B., Les Memorie I de Giovanni Battista Lemoyne, Etude.
d'un ouvrage fondamental sur la jeunesse de saint Jean Bosco, Lyon, 1962, pp. 4llff.
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xii
EDITOR'S PREFACE
spiritual children, to whom this work is primarily directed, and all
men and women of good will to walk their own path of life in a
spirit of service to God and man.
New Rocheile, N.'\\'..
June 5, 1965
Fr. Diego Borgatello, S.D.B.
Editor-in-chief
124th Anniversary of Don Bosco's Ordination
NOTE
As with Volumes VI, VII, VIII and IX we have omitted material
from the original text that is of little interest to American readers and of
no direct consequence to these biographical memoirs. Such omissions
will always be pointed out in the footnotes, except when they concern
Letture Cattoliche [Catholic Readings] in which case dots will be used.
Fr. Diego Borgatello, S.D.B.
Editor-in-chief
New Rochelle, N.Y.
July 16. 1977
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Acknowledgments
For the publication of TheBiographical Memoirs ofSaint John
Bosco we owe a debt of gratitude to the Reverends August Bosio,
S.D.B. and John J. Malloy, S.D.B., Provincials emeriti of the
Salesians in the eastern United States and sponsors of this project,
and to the Very Reverend Salvatore Isgro, S.D.B., their successor
in office.
As regards this volume, we wish to express special thanks to
Rev. Paul Aronica, S.D.B., Provincial Director of Education,
New Rochelle, N.Y., for his editorial assistance. We are also
grateful to those who have helped in one way or another, in par-
ticular the Reverends David J. DeBurgh, S.D.B. and Peter Lappin,
S.D.B., well-known writers, and Mr. Joseph Isola of the Paulist
Press in New York City. We also wish to acknowledge our indebt-
edness to the Ufficio Stampa of the Salesian Generalate, Rome,
for its Dizionario Biografico dei Salesiani, a valuable source of
many footnotes in this volume. Finally we wish to pay tribute to
the late Rev. Henry Sarnowski, S.D.B., Secretary of our Editorial
Board, for his valuable and generous help during the past fifteen
years. May he rest in peace with Saint John Bosco whom he so
loved on earth.
Fr. Diego Borgatello, S.D.B.
Editor-in-chief
EDITORIAL BOARD
Rev. Diego Borgatello, S.D.B., Chairman
Rev. Paul Aronica, S.D.B.
Rev. William Kelley, S.D.B.
Rev. Joseph Bajorek, S.D.B. Rev. Peter Lappin, S.D.B.
Rev. Emil Fardellone, S.D.B. Rev. Joseph Perozzi, S.D.B.
Rev. Chester Wisniewski, S. D.B.
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Contents
DEDICATION .............................................. v
EDITOR'S PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii
SALESIAN GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvii
AUTHOR'S PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix
Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle-1871-1874 .................... 1
2 Forging Ever Ahead-1871 . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . 80
3 Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872 ................ 122
4 Back to Work-1872 .................................... 157
5 An Important Mission-1871-1874 ........................ 183
6 The Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians .................. 246
7 Definitive Establishment of the Salesian Society-1871-1874 ....... 298
8 Teacher and Father-1871-1874 .................................................. 418
9 Ever Serene ................................................................................. 498
IO The Vision of the Future-1874 .............................................. 531
APPENDICES........................................................................... 581
INDEX ...... .. ............ ....... ... ....... ...... ... .... ....... .... .. ...... ... .. .......... 587
xv
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SALESIAN GLOSSARY
(For the General Reading Public)
ARTISANS: trade school students.
AssrsTANCE: Salesian method of supervision of boys and students, friendly and in-
formal in manner, stressing the prevention of disorders rather than the
punishment of offenders.
ASSISTANT: a Salesian engaged in supervising boys.
CLERIC a member of the Salesian Society training for the priesthood.
COADJUTOR: a lay member of the Salesian Society.
COMPANION OF YOUTH, THE: a prayer book composed by St. John Bosco for the
use of boys, originally entitled II Giovane Provveduto.
COOPERATOR: one who contributes in any manner to the development of Salesian
work.
EXERCISE FOR A HAPPY DEATH: a monthly practice of piety that promotes spiritual
recollection and fervor by meditation on one's eventual death. It stresses the re-
ception of the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion as if for the last
time.
FESTIVE ORATORY: a Salesian work which offers boys and young men organized
recreational, educational, and religious activities, mostly on Sundays and
festive days.
The Festive Oratory was St. John Bosco's first work and, for a good many years,
his only one. He called it ..oratory," that is, a place of prayer, because its primary
purpose was to teach boys to go to church and pray...Its objectives were the
practice of religion and virtue, the boys' moral education, and, consequently, the
salvation of their souls; recreation, entertainment, singing, and schooling, which
followed in due time, were only the means." (The Biographical Memoirs of St.
John Bosco, Vol. II, p. 71. See also Vol. III, pp. 671)
GooD NIGHT: a short talk immediately after night prayers, given by the Director
or someone in his stead. It consists of advice, exhortations, or occasional re-
marks.
ORATORY: see Festive Oratory, Oratory of St. Francis de Sales.
ORATORY, THE: abbreviated form of ..The Oratory of St. Francis de Sales." (See
below)
ORATORY OF ST. FRAN_crs DE SALES, THE: the first festive oratory and the first
boarding school for boys founded by St. John Bosco in a district of Turin known
as Valdocco; the motherhouse of the Salesian Congregation.
On a rainy night of May 1847 a hungry youngster, drenched from head to foot,
knocked at Don Rosco's door. Don Bosco's mother fed him and prepared a place
for him to sleep. (See The Biographical Memoirs of St. John Bosco, Vol. Ill, pp.
141 ff) Thus, side by side with the festive oratory there began a hospice that
eventually grew into a large boarding school and became the motherhouse of the
Salesian Congregation.
PREVENTIVE SYSTEM: the Salesian method of education and discipline, based on
reason and religion. It stresses vigilance, guidance, and sympathetic under-
standing in the training of the young.
VALDOcco: a district of Turin.
The name is probably a contraction of the Latin val/is occisorum. the valley of
the slain-i.e., some soldiers of the Theban Legion who were martyred under Em-
peror Maximian. The Salesian motherhouse stands on the site of their martyrdom.
(See The Biographical Memoirs ofSt. John Bosco, Vol. 11, pp. 233ff, 268)
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Author's Preface
a T long last here is Volume X, so eagerly awaited. Our
dear Father Lemoyne went to his eternal reward on September
14, 1916, while Volume IX was on the press. Since we were even
then helping him in his monumental task, it was only natural that
we should see that volume through publication in 1917.
"Why," many will ask, "was this volume published after Vol-
ume XIX?" We shall give a thorough answer after outlining its
contents. Volume X spans four years-perhaps the most labor-
ious and interesting-of Don Bosco's life, during which he unre-
mittingly and diligently strove to realize four important goals:
improving relations between Italy and the Vatican immediately
after Italy's seizure of Rome, the unqualified canonical approval
of the Salesian Society, the founding of a second religious family
[the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians], and planning a third
family [the Salesian Cooperators] so as to widen his field of
apostolate.
We have divided this volume into ten chapters, following a
chronological sequence in some and a topical sequence in the rest,
describing therein all that Don Bosco did to realize these goals
in that four-year period.
Chapter I is a collection of memoirs portraying his moral char-
acter, his unceasingly intimate union with God, and his ardent
desire to promote God's glory by saving souls.
Chapter 2 covers 1871, a year of godly initiative to further his
undertakings.
Chapter 3 describes the illness which struck him while at
Varazze, from which he recovered only thanks to God and to the
prayers and sacrifices of his sons, benefactors and admirers.
Chapter 4 tells of his activities in 1872, notwithstanding his
still poor health.
Chapter 5 illustrates the formidable task he undertook to alle-
viate the quite lamentable conditions of the Church in Italy at that
time and his role in the appointment of bishops to its more than
XIX
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xx
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
one hundred vacant sees and the restoration of diocesan revenues.
Formidable indeed was this task, without a doubt inspired by God.
Chapter 6 relates the beginnings of the Institute of the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians, for whose leadership Our Lord
chose Blessed Mary Mazzarello, 1 whose only ambition was to
follow and inculcate the program outlined by Don Bosco. "Woe
to us," she would often say, "if we do not become saints like our
holy father Don Bosco."
Chapter 7, which proved quite an undertaking to us too, de-
scribes Don Bosco's long, patient work for the definitive establish-
ment of the Salesian Society through the approval of its constitu-
tions.
Chapter 8 is an interesting treasury of documents depicting
Don Bosco's spirit, goodness and matchless charity, and of norms
and counsels to pupils, to Salesians, and especially to directors.
Its sources are the annual conferences [of St. Francis de Sales],
the conferences [of directors and prefects] in the fall, and the
annual spiritual retreats. Finally, it is also a treasury of Don
Bosco's circular letters to his Salesians.
Chapter 9 describes several grave difficulties and disappoint-
ments facing him in 1873-74.
Chapter 10 covers 1874 and highlights his concern for the future
of the Salesian Society. He gives solicitous attention to the faith-
ful observance of the new, definitively approved constitutions, to
expanding his apostolate in mission lands, to fostering vocations,
and to worldwide recruiting of generous cooperators who, though
living at home, would embody his spirit to the advantage of the
Church and civil society.
Obviously, this volume is highly engrossing, since it also con-
tains over three hundred and fifty letters and other writings of Don
Bosco.
I will now explain why the publication of this volume was so
long delayed. On February 7, 1888, a week after Don Bosco's
death, our revered Father Rua read to the members of the Supe-
rior Chapter the decrees of Pope Urban VIII concerning pro-
cedures to be followed at the death of persons who were held in
1Now St. Mary Mazzarella. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 24, 1951.
For biographical information see Vol. IX, pp. 289-94. [Editor]
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AUTHOR'S PREFACE
XXI
a repute of sanctity. The following day he announced that [Lucido]
Cardinal Parocchi, our protector, had suggested that he ask the
archbishop of Turin, [Cajetan] Cardinal Alimonda, to petition
the Holy See to allow preliminary proceedings for the cause of
Don Bosco 's beatification without delay, waiving prescriptions
to the contrary. Such steps were promptly taken, but difficulties
were immediately and insistently raised to such an extent that
the publication of The Biographical Memoirs was suspended in
1917-18 precisely because the difficulties which had been raised
referred to the four years covered in this volume.
By God's grace all objections were thoroughly refuted and re-
moved, and in the process the heroic virtues of our holy founder
shone ever more brightly. Triumph came on June 2, 1929, when
Don Bosco was raised to the honor of the altars.
All obstacles to resuming publication of these memoirs having
now been removed, Volume XI came out in 1930. By this time
we had been given the task of gathering biographical information
and writing the life story of Don Bosco's first successor. The
plentiful material sent to us by confreres, the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians and Salesian cooperators kept us from pub-
lishing the first volume before 1931; Volumes II and III and a
compendium followed in 1933 and 1934. Preparing a new edition
of Father Lemoyne's two-volume biography of Don Bosco also
kept us busy for another year, so that only in 1936 were we able
to resume work on Volume X. Hence its tardy publication.
As to the question of why this is such a bulky volume, our be-
loved Father Lemoyne, to whom the Salesians will always be
deeply grateful, diligently gathered sayings, episodes, letters,
writings, documents and assorted memoirs concerning Don Bosco.
After they were arranged in chronological order, they filled forty-
five large tomes of page proofs.
"Here," he said, "are the spirit, heart and educational system
of Don Bosco."
Since only Volumes XIII and XIV [of these page proofs], be-
sides the second part of Volume XII and a few pages of Volumes
XLII and XLIII, contained material referring, to this quadren-
nium, we did not expect to end up with a bulky volume, but we
could not avoid it.
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xxii
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
May God bless our patient effort and kindle an ever greater
affection for our most revered father and founder in the hearts
of our confreres, along with a firm resolve to live his spirit with
fidelity.
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THE
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS
OF
SAINT JOHN BOSCO
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CHAPTER 1
Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tol/e-1871-1874
PoPE Pius XI personally knew our holy founder. He
beatified and canonized him and extended his cult to the whole
Church. On March 19, 1929, in approving the miracles presented
for Don Bosco's beatification, he made this solemn declaration:
The bull of canonization of St. Thomas Aquinas states that, in the ab-
sence of other miracles, each article of his Summa was a miracle in it-
self. In our day too we could say that every year, every moment, of Don
Bosco's life was a miracle-indeed a series of miracles. Think of that
forsaken Becchi hamlet where this poor lad tended his father's herd, of
the tiny beginnings of his mission. and then of the more crucial and wor-
risome problems at Yaldocco.... Think of the great enterprises which
he started truly from nothing ... look at the wonderful development of
his undertakings, at the three great Salesian families-the Society of St.
Francis de Sales, the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, and the
admirable legion of cooperators. . . . Think of all this and your as-
tonishment cannot be less than that of witnessing a most extraordinary
miracle.
At the sight of such an abundant harvest of good, a question arises:
How could it all come about? There can only be one answer-the grace
of God, the hand of the Almighty. But whence did this great servant of
God draw the inexhaustible energy demanded by so many undertakings?
He himself constantly revealed this secret in the slogan which so often
recurs in Salesian undertakings, his own motto: Da mihi animas. cetera
tolle (Give me souls, away with the rest). This was his inmost secret-
the strength and ardor of his charity, of his genuine love for souls, stem-
ming from his love for Our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose mind, heart, and
precious blood he saw those very same souls. No sacrifice or enterprise
was too formidable for him in order to win souls who were so intensely
loved. 1
'Cf. L'Osservatore Romano, March 20-21, 1929. [Author]
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2
THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
This volume, spanning the years 1871-1874 of Don Bosco's life,
amply documents this solemn declaration of Pope Pius XI, to
whom we shall ever be most devotedly grateful. We shall see our
beloved father serenely and trustingly pursuing his mission with
prudence and with wisdom bestowed from on high, notwithstand-
ing frightening difficulties and most bitter opposition. We shall
also see him founding a new congregation for the education of
girls, shaping the Salesian Society to canonical requirements, and
sketching plans for the Association of Salesian Cooperators so as
to wide,n his field of apostolate in both civilized and uncivilized
lands for God's glory and the salvation of souls.
1. A FAITHFUL AND PRUDENT SERVANT
Throughout his lifetime Don Bosco wholeheartedly pursued no
other goal than that set for him by God as his singular mission
[the salvation of poor and abandoned boys].2
Prudent as a serpent and simple as a dove, this most faithful
servant of God carried out his divinely appointed mission in the
most appropriate way, adapting his program of action-all hustle
and bustle, publicity and growth-to the needs of his time in a
Christlike manner.
He immediately showed himself to be a creative genius deter-
mined to accomplish colossal tasks. Until 1860-that is, until he
had his own priests-he sought to keep secret the program out-
lined to him by the Most High. Only then did he reveal what he
intended to do, what he had to do. Repeatedly also he stated that
the work he had begun in obedience to God's will would spread to
such an extent that, though his predictions in regard to its future
might sound extravagant to others, they would in fact fall far too
short of the mark for him.
The first intimations of this apostolate and, still more, some
hints of its future development raised misgivings even in people
who sincerely admired him, so much so that two good well-inten-
tioned priests even tried to consign him to a local mental hospi-
2We are omitting an excerpt from a speech delivered by Caesar Balbo on February 12,
1911. [Editor]
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3
tal.3 Blessed Cafasso4 himself, who thought him inspired by God
and said so openly, when asked what he thought of "that poor
priest who has gone insane," replied, ''It's a mystery! I too can't
understand certain things, but, knowing that saints are not to be
judged from a human standpoint, I am content to admire what
they do!"
Whatever was puzzling about him stemmed from his manner of
acting which some people found unusual. A faithful imitator of
Our Lord, who revealed only the external aspects of His divine
mission through the Gospels and did not permit anything to be
written about His private life except routine matters, Don Bosco
too went about like any other ordinary good priest, constantly
keeping his own inner life hidden.
Whether partaking of the humble Oratory fare or of the sump-
tuous meals of the wealthy on whom he hopefully called for finan-
cial assistance or to offer due thanks, he was frugal without ever
making other people uncomfortable by a show of austerity. Con-
stantly even-tempered, he was cheerful and smiling, indifferent to
both praise and blame, especially if coming from the press which
persistently focused on him. He was so outspoken, bold, and sure
of himself with prominent people, civil authorities and crowds as
to seem at times almost foolhardy; by contrast, he was ordinarily
reserved, almost timid and thoughtful beyond words with his own
spiritual sons.
Serene and fearless when facing most rigid and strenuous op-
position or when confronted with lack of means and other depri-
vations, he was compassionate in the extreme to anyone in suffer-
ing. He felt the grief of others as keenly as his own. He would
weep at the bedside of a dying seminarian or at the news of a
pupil's death; he would become alarmed and worried if he wit-
nessed or learned of any infraction of the rules or if he was in-
formed of the disgraceful conduct of anyone. When he heard of
scandal-givers or blasphemers, he became very serious indeed
because of the horror and heartbreak he felt.
Cautious and prudent in conducting business, he was fatherly
3See Vol. II, pp. 323ff. [Editor]
4 Now St. Joseph Cafasso. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1947. For further in-
formation see the Indexes of preceding volumes. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
with his Salesians, sharing with them-and sometimes even with
his pupils-confidential matters, justifying himself with the
words: "I have no secrets from my sons!"
He firmly and tenaciously upheld his congregation and the
rights of its members because what he did directly or through his
sons was God-inspired, but he always overlooked and forgave
personal offenses.
He spent so many hours hearing confessions, receiving callers,
and attending to his voluminous mail that one would think he had
no time at all for prayer; still he incessantly prayed so that his in-
timate union with God shone through at every moment.
Regardless of the task at hand, even if extremely grave, he was
always so calm and undisturbed as to seem totally unconcerned
because, having already solved his problem through prayer, he
could handle it with dexterity and admirable wisdom. Briefly,
being always united with God, he refused no toil and patiently
bore discomforts while carefully concealing his extraordinary
mortifications.
At first sight, some of his actions and words might have been
open to misinterpretation even by those accustomed to observe
many extraordinary things in him. Severed from their context and
viewed independently from his singular mission, these actions or
words were not and could not be properly understood. In the In-
formative Process [for Don Bosco's beatification] Father Francis
Cerruti declared:
My conviction that Don Bosco had something special about him
which singularly marked him off from others was also shared by many
of my companions who knew him. Our common opinion was that Don
Bosco was a saint. I will not deny that at times, seeing him wholly ab-
sorbed with material concerns or doing things which suggested too much
reliance on human prudence or hearing him give vent to bitter com-
plaints which did not sound quite prudent or in keeping with charity and
resignation, I had my doubts, but they were short-lived. I soon realized
that my misgivings were a misunderstanding on my part, and that those
shortcomings stemmed at worst from those frailties to which even saints
are not totally immune. I once more became convinced of his sanctity.
To this day I firmly and deeply believe that Don Bosco was a saint.5
5We are omitting an article in Civilta Cattolica (1909, Vol. III, p. 529) eulogizing St.
Anselm of Aosta whose traits the author of this volume also ascribed to Don Bosco. [Edi-
tor]
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle-1871-1874
5
2. ALL FOR SOULS
Giving ceaseless glory to God by zealously saving souls is the
sum total of what Don Bosco did and ardently sought to do. God
and souls were the only loves of his entire life.
One day in his last years, on being reverently approached by a
young priest in Rome, he asked him, "Do you love Don Bosco?"
"Certainly, and very much," came the answer as the priest
bowed to kiss his hand.
"Do you know how you can prove your love for Don Bosco?
By wholeheartedly loving the Salesians !"
"I will!"
"But to love the Salesians, you must have great love for souls!"
That young priest was Father Raymond Angelo Jara, the fu-
ture bishop of San Carlos d'Ancud and of La Serena [Chile].
In order to do good to all, he neglected no opportunity to say a
kindly word or discreetly give a salutary admonition. Senator
Michelangelo Castelletti, who had succeeded Count [Louis] Ci-
brario as the king's first secretary for the Order of Sts. Maurice
and Lazarus, once called on Don Bosco for a favor, promising in
return full support in his undertakings. Don Bosco was glad to
oblige and they became fast friends, though ideologically far
apart. Accepting one of many invitations, Don Bosco eventually
called on the senator on the day of the First Communion of one
of his daughters-his favorite because of her extraordinary in-
nocence and goodness. Don Bosco spent a few hours with the
family and did not fail to say some salutary word to the little girl.
"Would you like this beautiful day to come back again?" he
asked.
"Oh, yes!"
"Well, ask Daddy to let you receive Communion again. Then
you will be able to pray for Daddy and Mommy, and the Lord
will comfort them and keep you good. Isn't that true, Senator?"
"Quite true! I am in full accord."
Running to her father, the child hugged and kissed him, while
his eyes filled with tears of joy.
On another occasion, in a town outside the province of Turin,
Don Bosco came to learn of the questionable conduct of one of
the bishop's closest assistants. Without delay he called on that
priest and spoke at length to him about the great caution which is
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
needed in admitting clerics to Holy Orders, especially in cases of
moral weakness, since the inevitable scandal would disgrace the
priesthood. Studiously refraining from sounding personal, but
convinced that his listener would take the hint. he went on to say
that such failings soon become common knowledge, to the detri-
ment of the clergy.
Nearly every day he would address an exhortation inspired by
the liturgy or other sources to his Salesians or pupils. but for each
he also had some kind personal word. Often, just before vesting
for Mass, he would call a pupil who happened to be in the sacristy
and whisper, ''What grace would you like me to ask for you from
Jesus during Holy Mass?"
In the playground too he would whisper advice to this or that
pupil. Besides the examples already published in the preceding
volumes, 1 Father Lemoyne gathered the following:
"Are you afraid that Jesus is angry with you? Trust yourself to the
Blessed Virgin. She will plead for you."
"Paradise is not for the lazy. Regnum coelorum vim patitur. et vio-
lenti rapiunt illud [The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the vio-
lent bear it away~Matt. l l, 12]."
"Are you being tossed about by some storm? Call on Mary, the star
of the sea."
"Can you think of God's judgment without trembling? Are you per-
haps holier than St. Jerome? Yet he too trembled."
"Do not rely too much on your own strength; even St. Peter fell."
"Let us get together and break the devil's horns."
"Do you want to become a good boy and feel happy? Turn your
thoughts to God, the source of all."
"Pray, pray well, and you will certainly be saved."
"With your help I want to make you happy in this world and in the
next."
"With your help I want to make a St. Aloysius out of you."
"He who perseveres until the end shall be saved. Praemium inchoan-
tibus promittitur. perseverantibus dabitur [The prize is promised to
those who start, but it is given only to those who persevere]."
To his Salesians and postulants he often repeated: "While on
1See Vol. VI, pp. 230-237, 445; Vol. VII, p. 180. [Editor]
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle-1871-1874
7
earth let us constantly work to save our own souls and many
others as well. We shall rest in heaven."
Endowed as he was with such charisms as reading the inmost
recesses of the heart, it was only natural that the most opportune
exhortations and admonitions, arousing compunction or inciting
to perfection, should come to his lips while hearing confessions.
Such was his faith in the efficacy of this sacrament that he spoke
of it continually, insistently recommending holy and firm resolu-
tions so as to avoid easy and disastrous relapses into sin.
In the Apostolic Process for Don Bosco's beatification Father
Michael Rua testified:
If he was to give the ..Good Night"2 to the pupils of a Salesian school
on two consecutive nights, one of them would be on confession, and if he
could address them only once, unfailingly he would say something about
it too....
He strove to gain his penitents' complete trust in order to urge them
to frequent the sacraments and thus enable them to mend their ways and
become virtuous. . . .
He was kind but did not shrink from impressing upon his penitents
the hideousness of their sins. He also saw through those who came to his
confessional with ulterior motives and nicely sent them off to some other
confessor. This could be surmised by their immediate withdrawal from
his confessional.
"Sooner than make a sacrilegious confession and Commu-
nion," he used to say, "change your confessor every time you go
to confession!"
In 1887, during the spiritual retreat for Salesian postulants at
I
Valsalice,3 we heard him say: "Don Bosco is old and can no
longer hear confessions regularly. Father Rua is taking his place
and he is very much like Don Bosco. So, go to Father Rua; but if
you feel otherwise, go to some other confessor.
"Try this, for example. You know that at night Sandro (the old
doorkeeper) locks the front door but leaves the key in the lock.
Well, get up about midnight, slip down to his lodge and very
quietly unlock the door. Then go up to the Capuchin monastery
2See Salesian Glossary. [Editor}
3A Salesian college on the hills in the outskirts of Turin. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
where they are saying Matins at that hour. Knock loudly two or
even three times and tell them that you want to go to confession.
Make a good confession and then come back to bed."
All the while he kept smiling very amiably. But, of course, he
fully stressed the importance of having a regular confessor. Once,
in Rome, he called on [Constantine] Cardinal Patrizi. During the
conversation, the latter told him: "For some time now I have
been concerned about a matter I would like to discuss with you,
but first let us pray for the Lord to enlighten us."
"You can tell me right now," Don Bosco interjected, "and I'll
give you my opinion."
"No, I'd rather not rush this matter."
A few days later, Don Bosco called again on the cardinal.
"My worry," the prelate told him, "is that here in Rome we
quite frequently have charismatic priests and religious, but hardly
ever any nuns, though there are so many of them. Very many are
as pious and holy as we could wish, but they are very ordinary.
How do you explain that? What's the cause and what's the rem-
edy?"
"It's quite simple," Don Bosco replied. ''In very many con-
vents here in Rome nuns have their own confessor and, oc-
casionally, even a spiritual director of their own choosing. What
needs to be done is to enforce what is a general rule everywhere
else, namely, have a regular confessor for all the nuns, appointed
by the superior, an extraordinary confessor every six months, and
another for the yearly spiritual retreat. Forbid the nuns from
going to confession to anyone they choose, and extraordinary
sanctity and supernatural gifts will again flourish among them."
"Right," the cardinal remarked after a few moments' reflec-
tion, "but attempting such a reform would stir up a hornets' nest
and perhaps be fruitless."
"Yet I am sure this is the cause," Don Bosco insisted.
Nevertheless, his fatherly discretion was exquisite. "While ex-
horting us to be frugal," Father Rua went on, "he did not want
his pupils-the younger ones especially-to subject themselves to
rigorous fasts and self-denials, for he was well aware that such
ideas could even be devil-inspired at times. Should a pupil or
youngster ask permission for a protracted fast or other severe
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tol/e-1871-1874
9
penance, such as sleeping on the bare ground, he would usually
suggest that he rather curb his eyes, tongue or will, or perform a
work of mercy; at the very most, he would allow him to skip
breakfast or the mid-afternoon snack."
In admonishing or counseling in confession, he was very brief
and always very much to the point. Having heard of his saintli-
ness, the Poor Claires of Alassio-good, holy nuns who in their
humble, hidden life desired nothing other than to grow in love of
God-felt the desire to confess to him at least once. Informed of
their wish during one of his visits to that city, Don Bosco kindly
agreed on condition that their self-accusation should not exceed
three minutes. The nuns promised to comply and the bishop of
Albenga gave permission. Even cloistered souls have scruples and
spiritual troubles; yet, when Don Bosco told his first penitent her
three minutes were up, the nun immediately obeyed. A couple
tried to object, but they were promptly silenced. It is obvious that
on this occasion too, Don Bosco read their hearts and put them at
peace, for all experienced a most holy satisfaction and inner joy.
On one of Don Bosco's trips to Rome during those years, the
Pope asked him: "Do you hear confessions in Rome too?"
"I will do so with Your Holiness' permission."
'
"Then hear my confession," replied the Pope, kneeling and
making his confession. He did so on other occasions as well, as
we learned from Father Joachim Berto, to whom Don Bosco con-
fided these incidents a few years later while he was referring to
the divine institution of this sacrament and the fact that the Pope
himself received it like any other Christian.
Among the material gathered by Father Lemoyne concerning
1871, there is an impressive proof of Don Bosco's resolute charity
in hearing the confession of a twenty-year-old medical student, an
orphan and former pupil of his at Lanzo, who died on September
16, 1869, as we gather from the Turin municipal records of that
year, File No. 2566. Since this most interesting incident has never
before been told, we simply cannot omit it.
Toward the end of August 1869, this youth-Caesar Bardi-
who was living with a guardian in Corso Ponte Mosca No. 6, not
far from the parish Church of Sts. Simon and Jude, fell cnucally
ill, but no one bothered to call a priest, for fear of unfavorable
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
comments from irreligious fellow tenants. The pastor, however,
had heard of the youth's critical condition and had twice attempt-
ed, though unsuccessfully, to see him. Fortunately, a good
woman, a fruit-vendor at the nearby outdoor market, heard in the
local pharmacy of the sick youth's condition and hastened to the
Oratory to inform Don Bosco that a pupil of his was dying and
was being kept from receiving the Last Sacraments.
Don Bosco at once went to the address. The servant who
opened the door immediately recognized him. having seen him
many times at Lanzo, and, knowing the reason of his visit, gave
him to understand that the matter posed some problems. Usher-
ing him in, he summoned his master. After some deliberate delay,
the latter received Don Bosco and icily inquired about the reason
for his visit.
"I came to see the patient."
"He is asleep now. It wouldn't do to wake him up."
"Then I'll wait."
Obviously the answer was not well received, but, convinced that
he had to be firm, Don Bosco stood his ground. The guardian ex-
cused himself, allegedly to check up on the boy, and Don Bosco
was left alone for over an hour. At last the lady of the house came
forward to tell Don Bosco that the patient was still asleep and
that the doctors had forbidden further visitors, lest the slightest
excitement seriously affect the patient.
Don Bosco then decided to make his position quite clear. "Lis-
ten," he replied, "Caesar was a pupil of mine at Lanzo. We were
quite close and knew each other very well. We have a very impor-
tant matter to discuss and it won't take long. I know he wants
me, and so I will not leave without first seeing him."
"This is too much!"
"Not at all! I am sure that Caesar wants to see me, and I'll
wait. If you try to stop me, I may even seek legal recourse."
"Would you dare to be so brash?"
"I don't care to be, but you must realize that your refusal in
this matter will become known. The news that Don Bosco was
kept from seeing a dying pupil of his will not be very flattering for
your family."
"But it's the doctor who forbade visitors!"
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera To/le-1871-1874
11
"You told me that already. If you cannot or will not take me to
Caesar, I will find him myself!"
"Very well then, to avoid unpleasantness I will go and see if he
is awake."
Having conferred with her husband, and influenced also by
their good servant who instilled some fear of God into them, she
returned and led Don Bosco to the patient's bedside, begging that
he not tire the young man.
Once the youth saw Don Bosco, he sat up and, flinging his
arms about him, repeatedly kissed him, exclaiming: "Oh, Don
Bosco, thanks for coming. I was waiting for you. I want to make
my confession."
"Please leave the room for a moment," Don Bosco told the by-
standers.
It was a most moving scene. After his confession, radiant with
joy, the young man insisted on having a picture of Our Lady
placed on the wall before him and he kept gazing at it lovingly.
When Don Bosco left the house, he was treated very courteous-
ly and was even offered vermouth, which he accepted as though
nothing unpleasant had occurred. Upon leaving, he made them
promise that they would let him see the young man again. The
latter died serenely two or three weeks later, although his rela-
tives neglected to have him receive Holy Viaticum or the Anoint-
ing of the Sick.
3. CONSTANTLY FAVORED BY Goo
Our holy founder's life reveals such a broad and incessant prac-
tice of charity that "what was said of another of God's cham-
pions1-'God gave him largeness of heart as the sand that is on
the shore' [3 Kgs. 4, 29]-might have been written for him." So
declared Pius XI in proclaiming the heroic nature of Don Bosco's
virtues.
"To be entitled to special favors from God," wrote St. John
Chrysostom, "one must seek souls, which are so dear to God,
work for their spiritual welfare, and provide for their salvation."
I King Solomon. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
St. Gregory the Great remarked, "In God's sight no sacrifice
rates as high as zeal for souls."
Not surprisingly, therefore, God, who habitually endows His
faithful servants with special gifts, bestowed charisms also on
Don Bosco to enable him to carry out a wider, more fruitful
apostolate. Almost invariably he could see things from afar, read
one's innermost secrets as though clearly printed on the page of a
book, and clearly see the future as well.
On September 18, 1870, fifteen-year-old Joseph Gamba of San
Damiano d' Asti entered the Oratory. In time he was ordained a
priest, became vicar general of his own native diocese, then bish-
op of Biella and Novara, and presently is our own beloved and
revered archbishop of Turin and a cardinal. He was at the Ora-
tory for just one year, but what follows ..remained firmly imprint-
ed on his mind" according to the testimony of Father Joseph
Angrisani, his secretary:
Don Bosco-the cardinal narrated-had been absent for many days.
( This probabl_v occurred in A U!(USt when he spent two weeks at the St.
Ignatius' Retreat House2 and nine or ten days at Nizza Monferrato.)
The first evening after his arrival he gave us the usual '"Good Night."
He was greeted by a long round of applause, and it took him some time
to reach the stand. When he finally mounted it, a deeply moving silence
fell over all. '"I have been away a long time, haven't l," he smilingly
remarked, "but what else could I do? You eat so much bread that Don
Bosco has to run out to find money to pay for it. But during my ab-
sence, I came back twice."
We looked at one another with eyes wide open in astonishment and
pricked up our ears.
"I truly did!" he went on. '"On one of these visits, I came into the
church during High Mass and noticed that one of you was missing. . . .
Tomorrow that boy will pack and go home because Don Bosco does not
want such boys. Bear it well in mind, my sons. Even from afar Don
Bosco always sees you!"
Now we felt more moved than surprised. As he stepped down from
the stand, we crowded around him, clamoring, "Who is it? Who is it?"
"I won't tell you," he gravely replied. "The one concerned will know
tomorrow."
2See Vol. II, pp. 96f. [Editor]
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle-1871-1874
13
The next day we found out that one of our schoolmates had gone
home.
Even from afar Don Bosco always sees you. 3
Almost routinely he could also penetrate the innermost recesses
of the heart.
Another pupil, with the same name and surname, Joseph
Gamba of Buttigliera d' Asti, who later became a Salesian priest
and provincial in Uruguay, entered the Oratory in the summer of
1872. On his very first confession to Don Bosco, the latter asked,
"Will you have full confidence in me?"
"Yes, Father!"
"Well, then, I will question you, and you must answer truthful-
ly."
"Yes, Father!"
"You did this, didn't you?"
"Yes, Father!"
"You didn't do that, did you?"
"No, Father!"
All his questions perfectly matched what the youngster had or
had not done, so that the confession which the lad had begun in a
state of mental confusion, and with the fear of unwittingly leaving
something out, ended with the certainty of having revealed every-
thing and with a most enviable peace of mind which henceforth
was never disturbed. Realizing that Don Bosco had read his heart
like an open book, Gamba not only never changed confessors
during his stay at the Oratory-for he was sure that he could
never find a better one-but he also tried not to commit any
faults because he did not cherish the thought of Don Bosco telling
him about them.
Reading so many similar incidents in these biographical mem-
oirs, Father Louis Nai4 felt impelled to write about an experience
3Cf. II Cardinale Giuseppe Gamba by Giuseppe Angrisani, Marietti, 1930, p. 16. [Au-
thor]
4 Louis Nai (1855-1932) completed his secondary schooling at the Oratory under Don
Bosco's guidance. In 1872 he took his first vows as a Salesian and was ordained a priest in
1877. From 1887 to 1892 he directed the Salesian school at San Benigno Canavese. At the
expiration of his term of office in 1892, he was appointed provincial of the Salesian houses
of Palestine until 1906, when he was named provincial in Chile. He held that office until
1925, when he officially visited the Salesian houses of some republics of South America on
behalf of the Superior General. That mission completed, he returned to headquarters in
Turin where, revered by all, he filled the office of director until his death in 1932. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
of his own from Santiago, Chile, addressing it to Father Julius
Barberis: 5
One evening in 1872-1 believe it was the last day of the students'
spiritual retreat-Don Bosco was hearing confessions behind the main
altar. I was one of the last penitents. When I was through with my con-
fession, Don Bosco said these precise words to me: "'At this moment
your whole future is wide open to me!" He then went on to tell me what
he saw. I recall experiencing then and there a heavenly joy. Now I can
swear under oath that everything Don Bosco told me did come true.
Related to this incident, which Father Nai repeatedly narrated
to everyone and which we published in the Bollettino Salesiano, 6
we received other details from Father John Baptist Lemoyne, ob-
viously confided to him by Father Nai:
The pupil Louis N. . . after making his confession one evening to
Don Bosco, was told by him: "At this moment your future is wide open
to me. I see a bear and a lion attacking you. They symbolize the trials
which you will be exposed to: moral struggles and calumnies. But I can
also see your good will! Do not be upset. Keep going." The youth later
confirmed under oath that he had indeed encountered these trials and
overcome them. In regard to calumny, a companion threatened to ac-
cuse him falsely to Don Bosco and indeed carried out his threat. Hear-
ing of this, Nai hastened to Don Bosco to defend himself, but Don
Bosco forestalled him, saying "Don't you trust me? Have no fear! I
know you well!"
On another occasion, after Nai had finished his confession, Don
Bosco asked him, ''Would you like to make a deal with me?"
"What kind?"
"Figure it out. I'll tell you about it some other time."
The boy waited anxiously for the day of his weekly confession in
order to have the riddle explained. When it finally came, he immediately
asked Don Bosco, "What's the deal?"
"Go to Father Rua!" Don Bosco replied.
5Julius Barberis (1847-1927) entered the Oratory in 1861, made his first vows in 1865,
and was ordained a priest in 1870. In 1873 he earned his degree in theology at the Univer-
sity of Turin. The following year he was appointed novice master-the first to hold this of-
fice in the Salesian Society. After twenty-five years in this position, he was appointed
provincial and in 1910 was finally elected Catechist General or spiritual director of the
whole Salesian Society. He died in that office in 1927. [Editor]
6Bo/lettino Salesiano, November, 1918, p. 219. [Author]
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15
More curious than ever, the lad complied. "Don Bosco sent me to
you," he told Father Rua.
"What for?"
"About some deal he wants to make with me."
Father Rua stopped to think a moment. "Oh yes," he replied. "Come
tomorrow to the conference in the Church of St. Francis de Sales. " 7
The conference was for Salesians. He attended and began to under-
stand.
When he was a Salesian priest and was prefect at San Benigno Cana-
vese, he once asked Don Bosco in the presence of Father Charles Vig-
lietti,8 "What particularly prompted you to tell me that you wanted to
make a deal with me when I was a young student?"
"While I was hearing confessions-Don Bosco replied-I often saw
little tongues of fire detach themselves from the candles on the altar of
Mary, Help of Christians, and, after moving in circles, flutter over the
heads of some boys. One of those tongues of fire settled over you."
For him those flames were obvious signs that those boys were to join
the Salesian Society. This happened many times, as he himself confided
to us in 1885.
Bernard Vacchina entered the Oratory in 1873 and later be-
came a priest and zealous missionary in Patagonia.9 From the
very beginning he too found out that Don Bosco could read into
consciences. Though he had made a general confession before en-
tering the Oratory, he repeated it to Father Cagliero and decided
to do likewise with Don Bosco. '"What is your name?" the latter
asked.
"Vacchina."
7The first church built by Don Bosco at the Oratory. See the Index of Volume IV. [Edi-
tor]
8Charles Viglietti (1864-1915) donned the clerical habit at Don Bosco's hands in 1882,
took his vows as a Salesian in 1883, and was ordained a priest in 1886. He was Don Bos-
co's personal secretary during the latter's last years. In 1896 he was sent to Bologna to
open a Salesian school. There he built a magnificent shrine to the Sacred Heart. In 1904
he was appointed director at Savona. In 1906 he was transferred in the same capacity to
Varazze where he remained in office until 1912 when he returned to the Oratory where a
painful illness ended his life in 1915. [Editor]
9Bernard Vacchina (1859-1935) donned the clerical habit in 1876 and took his vows in
1877. In 1879 he was assigned to Uruguay and later became secretary of the internuncio in
Buenos Aires where he was ordained a priest in 1882. In 1887 he was appointed provicar
apostolic of Central Patagonia. After nearly thirty years of missionary work, he retired to
St. John the Evangelist School in Buenos Aires, where he continued his priestly ministry
until his death in 1935. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Good! If you had not come yourself, I would have sent for
you."
After this exchange, the boy began to make a detailed confes-
sion. Occasionally Don Bosco would interrupt, saying, "Enough
of that!" When the lad was through, Don Bosco asked, HAny-
thing else?"
"No, Father, I've told you everything."
"What about this?" Don Bosco went on, reminding him of
something quite unconnected to the many things he had con-
fessed. Astonished and deeply moved, the lad broke into tears,
exclaiming, "It's true," and he kept crying for quite a while.
Another zealous missionary, Father Maggiorino Borgatello, 10
left us an interesting account of his first meeting with Don Bosco.
The lad entered the Salesian school of Varazze in 1873 with no
intention whatever of becoming a priest, still less a religious, and
particularly a Salesian, because he had misgivings about Don
Bosco and his work. Shortly after his arrival at the school, he was
not too happy to hear that Don Bosco was coming for a visit. His
report follows:
I was looking forward to seeing Don Bosco, but at the same time I
felt uneasy about being seen by him. When he arrived, all the pupils ran
elatedly to him, vying with one another to kiss his hand 11 while he
smiled and greeted them most amiably. I, too, approached him from the
rear, unseen, and kissed his hand just to be able to say afterward that I
too had done that. He pretended not to see me by turning his head away
from me, but he gripped one of my fingers and held it tightly, together
with the fingers of some ten or more other boys, so that I was obliged to
10 Maggiorino Borgatello (1857-1929) first met Don Bosco at the age of 16 and liked him
so much that he decided to bind himself to him for life. He took his vows as a Salesian in
1877 and was ordained a priest in 1880. In late 1888, after recovering from a severe illness
through Don Bosco's intercession, he volunteered for the missions of Patagonia and Tierra
del Fuego where he spent twenty-five years. In 1893 he started a museum of Indian ar-
tifacts and natural history in Punta Arenas. It is still extant and boasts a priceless collec-
tion. In 1925, on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the Salesian Missions, he published
a history of the apostolic endeavors of the Salesian missionaries in those far-off lands. In
1928 he authored a grammar and glossary of the Alakaluf Indians and in 1930 a biogra-
phy of another intrepid missionary, Monsignor Joseph Fagnano. He spent his last years as
assistant pastor in the Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians in Turin, where he died on
December 20, 1929. [Editor]
11 The customary mark of respect given to priests in Italy because at their ordination
their hands are anointed with holy oil. [Editor]
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17
follow him through the long corridor. As he went along, he gradually let
go of the other boys so that by the time he reached the wide staircase,
there were only two of us with him: John Bielli, a close friend and class-
mate of mine, now a priest, and myself. After chatting a while with
Bielli, Don Bosco dismissed him. He then turned to me. Until now he
had not looked at me at all, seemingly on purpose. Immediately I
thought to myself: Ah, now I'm in for it. How will I do? Don Bosco
gave me a piercing look that shook my every fiber. Unable to sustain his
scrutiny, I lowered my eyes in embarrassment and awe. I realized, and
am still convinced, that he was seeing into my very soul, not only what I
was then, but what I might become, with God's grace and his help.
Never in my life had I experienced anything of this sort. Very amiably
he asked my name, what I planned to do in the future, whether I liked
the school, and so on. He ended by saying, "'Remember, I want to be
your friend!" Dismissing me, he added, "Tomorrow I'll be hearing con-
fessions in the sacristy. Come and see me. We shall have a nice talk, and
you will be happy."
It is easier to imagine than to describe my feelings after this en-
counter. I was glad to have made his acquaintance. Then and there I felt
that I loved him, and all my misgivings instantly disappeared. I made
my confession to him the following day and, just as he had promised, I
was deeply satisfied. He himself laid bare the state of my conscience so
precisely but ever so gently that I was astonished and confused, wonder-
ing what was more admirable in him-his saintliness in reading into my
soul, or his kindness and tact in telling me what he saw. I wept with
sheer joy at having found such a dear friend and father, and ever after
my love for him increased with no abatement. Whenever I could I went
to confession to him and was always highly satisfied. At times he gave
me advice which had nothing to do with my confession, but after a few
moments' reflection I would realize that he was right. Only one who
could read into the inmost recesses of a conscience could have spoken as
he did. He also predicted several things to me which were fulfilled to the
letter.
These remarkable incidents were known to all at the Oratory,
so much so that several whose consciences were perhaps not quite
tranquil, and those who feared he might advise them to become
priests, shied away from his confessional. Apropos of this, on
July 8, 1873 he gave the following "Good Night":
[Some of you say:] "I don't want to go to confession to Don Bosco
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
because he tells me to become a priest and stay with him." The truth is
that only to those who I know for certain have been called by God do I
say that they should tranquilly persevere in this intention. As for re-
maining here, I would be displeased if some of you had this in mind.
Besides, it is quite fair that I too should confide in those who confide in
me and tell them whatever I think is best for their spiritual welfare. Fur-
thermore, what's wrong with suggesting to any of you to stay here with
the assurance of food and clothing, a higher education, exemption from
military service, and so on? I must also add that some come to me to
make a general confession, but then expect me to tell them their sins.
Now, let's get this straight: it's you who are supposed to tell me your
sins, not the other way around. If I were to make my confession to you,
you could tell on me because you are not bound by the seal of confes-
sion. (A general round of laughter.)
It's true that I started all this by telling the boys their sins, but this
has tired me so much that I cannot do it anymore now. Therefore, each
one must tell the sins he remembers. If the confessor wants to know
more, he will have to ask for himself.
It is a fact, though, that during these days I was able to see the pres-
ent, past and future of boys making their confession to me. I could have
written what was in store for them. So clearly could I see their future
that I could have written it with no fear of error. Those of you who con-
fided in me these past few days can be sure that the advice I gave was
right.
Let me close by asking you to do one thing: when you go to confes-
sion, put into practice your good resolutions. By the results you'll know
whether you have made a good confession. "By their fruits you will
know them" [Matt. 7, 16].
In 1864 also, at the close of the boys' retreat, Don Bosco had
lamented that some boys had not benefited by it at all.
"During the retreat," Don Bosco stated, "I could see the boys'
sins as plainly as if they were written before my eyes, so much so
that when some who wanted to make a general confession began
telling me their sins, I knew they actually were getting things
wrong. The insight I had was a singular gift of God. 'Can you still
see our sins?' some ask me. The answer is no. These boys did not
come to me then, and now it's too late!" Thus testified Father
Joachim Berto.
Don Bosco also predicted many vocations, some of which,
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle-1871-1874
19
everyone agrees, would have seemed unthinkable.
One day he met a young man who had no idea of becoming a
priest. "You are among the chosen," he told him. "The Lord
wants you. If only you root out certain habits, you will make a
good priest." In 1872 this same person donned the cassock and
entered the seminary. Being·rather indolent, however, he returned
to his family in 1876, planning to doff the cassock. Though his fa-
ther advised against it, he began to study French with the inten-
tion of becoming a merchant. Some time later, he went to confes-
sion to Father Pellico, S.J. "Persevere in your vocation," the
Jesuit told him. "You have been called to the priesthood. Follow
Don Bosco's advice and I will attend your first Mass." He did
persevere, but only half-heartedly, not responding to God's grace.
Years later, he settled down in earnest, however, and finally was
ordained. "Don Bosco was right," he exclaimed, overjoyed. "The
Lord indeed was calling me, and now I am happy!" Declared Fa-
ther Lemoyne in writing: 'This was confided to us by a diocesan
official."
In 1871 a Genoese lady and her two daughters accompanied a
cousin of theirs to the convent of the Nuns of the Perpetual Ado-
ration of the Blessed Sacrament in Monza. On the way, they
stopped in Turin to receive Don Bosco's blessing. He amiably
welcomed them and during the conversation in a non-committal
tone said a few prophetic things which were later thoroughly ful-
filled. Turning to the younger daughter, he said: "She will follow
her cousin!" Indeed, some two years later the young girl entered
that very convent, even though at the time Don Bosco had spoken
to her she had quite different plans. Then, addressing the elder
daughter, Don Bosco added, "But she will cause you a lot of
worry." This, too, came true. Because of her indecisiveness, it
took the girl a long time to find her place in life. Later, a series of
physical and moral drawbacks gravely worried her family, espe-
cially her mother, who later told this incident to Father Rua. A
written statement signed by the girls' mother is kept in our ar-
chives.
Father [Joachim] Berto took note of the following incident:
Yesterday morning, June 6, 1873, a tall young man called on Don
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Bosco. When he was ushered into his room, he broke into a rambling
chatter. After listening for a while, Don Bosco interrupted him, saying,
"You want to become a priest, don't you?"
"Yes. I just didn't know how to broach the subject. But my mother is
against it."
He went away satisfied, promising to write to Don Bosco, who sug-
gested that he start by being a missionary in his own village at his job as
a customs officer.
It was usual for Don Bosco to read into the human heart. Sev-
eral times in 1872, upon meeting one of the clerics who later
became a distinguished Salesian priest, he would tell him: "You
did this! You thought that! You have been worried by such and
such a doubt. You made such and such a plan. . . ."
"You are trying to guess," the cleric would reply in embarrass-
ment.
"No, I am sure."
"Someone must have told you!"
"No one told me a thing!"
"How could you know?"
"It's enough that I know."
"But how?"
"I can't tell you."
"Suppose I deny it?"
"Say what you like, but I am not mistaken."
Then he would confidently go into the details of whatever he
had said.
"And indeed he was right," this confrere and superior declared
to Father Lemoyne. "What he told me was perfectly true!" This
cleric had not disclosed his thoughts to anyone, and nobody could
have known what he had done.
Many other striking things occurred during those years, both
within the Oratory and out: predictions which came true in every
detail, and recoveries and other wonders which we cannot pass
over.
In June 1872, a pupil-Anthony Bruno of Rubiana-was in the
infirmary. Unable to take nourishment for a whole week, he was
drained of all strength. His illness was a puzzle to his doctor.
Visiting the boy late one evening, Don Bosco blessed him and told
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera To/le-1871-1874
21
him that he was to get up the following morning, although the
boy protested that he could not do so, since he could hardly rise
to his feet. "You will get up tomorrow," Don Bosco insisted,
"and you will even take a walk beyond the city limits." The boy
obediently arose the next day and went out for a walk as far as
the treasury, which was located at a considerable distance beyond
the ancient city walls. He was none the worse for it. In fact, he
suddenly felt better, regained his strength and appetite, and within
a short time had fully recovered. When he went to thank Don
Bosco, the latter acted as though it were nothing at all, and urged
that he see him in any physical or spiritual need.
Anthony Bruno had two brothers who lived at home with their
widowed mother. Father Joachim Berto,12 who likewise hailed
from Rubiana, left us this deposition about them:
One of them decided to seek his fortune in France and passed through
Turin to see his younger brother. The latter took him to Don Bosco who
tried his best to dissuade him from his plan, but the young man would
not take Don Bosco's advice. Less than a month later news came of his
death. The other brother had more docilely remained at home with his
mother, but in 1872 he was drafted. Since the widowed mother would
now be alone, Anthony would be forced to leave the Oratory, where he
had stayed for some time and to which he was strongly attached, in
order to help his mother. In his deep concern for this turn of events he
sought Don Bosco's advice. The latter put his mind at rest by telling him
that his brother would not be accepted into the army; he also exhorted
him to pray to St. Joseph and to the Blessed Virgin, the Help of Chris-
tians. He did so most willingly. Humanly speaking, there was no hope
whatever that his brother would be exempted from military service. No-
tified to report for his physical to Susa, the young man started out on
foot from his village with fellow draftees the night before, but on the
way his eye inexplicably began to swell very badly, so that at h,is physi-
cal he was immediately declared unfit, to the astonishment of all his
companions. Elated with joy, he returned home with his companions; on
12 Father Joachim Berto (1847-1914) entered the Oratory in 1862, joined the Salesian
Society in 1865, and was ordained a priest in 1871. While Berto was still a clerical student,
Don Bosco made him his secretary-a post he retained for the next twenty years, during
which he accompanied Don Bosco on his most important trips to Rome and Florence.
While acting as Don Bosco's secretary Father Berto also carefully recorded and document-
ed important details concerning Don Bosco and the Salesian Society and authored several
devotional and ascetical pamphlets. He died at the Oratory on February 21, 1914. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
the way the swelling disappeared and his eye again became perfectly
normal.
"This," Father Berto declared, "was repeatedly confirmed to
me by his brother, who is now a zealous lay Salesian in Paysandu,
Uruguay."
In 1892 the Salesian brother Felix Gavarino disclosed the fol-
lowing to Father Secundus Marchisio:
About the midd~e of March 1874, I became afflicted with an atrocious
toothache and an inflammation of the throat and tongue. That morning
I stayed in bed until about eight and then went to church for Mass. Our
good father Don Bosco, who was just vesting, saw me and beckoned me
to approach. It hurt me to speak and so with gestures I made him un-
derstand my trouble. He told me to kneel and blessed me. Wondrously
and instantly my pain vanished. Two years later the same illness re-
turned. Calling me to his room, Don Bosco stated, .. I will now give you
a blessing to last you your whole lifetime." In all truth, I have never
again had trouble with my throat.
Thus testified Father Marchisio during the Informative Pro-
cess.
Our dear brother-Marcellus Rossi-of Rosignano (Ales-
sandria) who became a Salesian in 1871 fell seriously ill at Alas-
sio in 1873. Informed of it, Don Bosco sent him his blessing.
Rossi recovered so swiftly that Father Bodrato 13 referred to him
as "a living miracle." One day in 1874, while he was supervising
apprentice bookbinders at the Oratory, he suffered several oral
hemorrhages and lost a large quantity of blood. The hemorrhages
continued for the next six days, making him most critically ill.
At the beginning of that year, Don Bosco had told the whole
Oratory community that five of them would die within that year.
In fact, some had already passed away. Don Bosco paid Rossi a
visit and blessed him. Suspecting that he might be one of the five,
the brother begged him to say plainly, without hesitation, if he
13Francis Bodrato (1823-1880) came to Don Bosco as a widower in 1864 and made his
first vows as a Salesian in 1865. Ordained a priest in 1869, he held various offices at Alas-
sio, Borgo San Martino, and the Oratory. In 1876 he led the second group of Salesian
missionaries to Argentina, and two years later Don Bosco appointed him provincial. He
died at Buenos Aires on August 4, 1880. [Editor]
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle-1871-1874
23
was really one of them because he felt he could die tranquilly.
"Don't worry," Don Bosco gently replied, "you still have to help
me save many souls." He recovered and was appointed the Ora-
tory's doorkeeper, a duty he fulfilled for more than forty-eight
years, while he also carried on a veritable apostolate that was the
admiration of all.
That same year, the cleric Moses Veronesi fell seriously-and
nearly hopelessly-ill. Writing to Don Bosco, who was then in
Liguria, Father Rua asked him for a blessing for the sick cleric.
"I shall send him a blessing," Don Bosco exclaimed, "but no
passport [for heaven]." Veronesi recovered completely. Reminisc-
ing with Don Bosco about this recovery on a later occasion, he
was told, "You will live past 72." Father Veronesi died February
3, 1930, at the age of 79. Probably, while making this prediction,
Don Bosco was thinking that he himself would only live to be 72.
The reputation that he could obtain heavenly favors through his
blessing and prayers was by now widespread. In Sampierdarena a
poor woman had a son who was paralyzed. Hearing that Don
Bosco was at St. Vincent de Paul Hospice, she hastened to bring
her child for his blessing. Finding others already there asking to
see Don Bosco, she waited patiently for a long time, but upon
learning that Don Bosco shortly had to leave, she cried out in des-
peration. Coming to her, Don Bosco blessed her son and told him
to make the Sign of the Cross with his paralyzed right arm. The
boy was instantly healed! Father Lemoyne was informed of this
by a Mr. Bruzzo of Genoa-an eighty-year-old gentleman who
came to know of this incident through a niece who had witnessed
the miracle.
Father Joseph Ronchail wrote to Father Rua, "While at Alas-
sio (after his sickness at Varazze). Don Bosco was asked by a Mr.
Louis Preve to come to his house and bless his wife because for
some months she had been unable to go out even for a short walk.
Our beloved Don Bosco obliged, and I accompanied him. There,
after some small talk about family affairs, he exhorted the sick
woman and her family to be devoted to the Blessed Virgin and
then gave her his blessing. Two days ago, Mr. Preve came to our
school and told me joyfully: 'Please let Don Bosco know that,
after receiving his blessing, my wife felt much better and has now
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
recovered completely. This morning in fact (a market day) she
went out for a walk with my eldest son.' "
On March 19, 1891 a Miss Josephine Monguzzi, of St. Eustor-
gius parish in Milan, later the principal of a girls' school in
Varese, sent a sworn deposition to Father Rua. In her report she
declared that for about twelve years she had been suffering from
constant, atrocious headaches, the result of a two-month-long ce-
rebral congestion. After fruitless efforts to regain her health, one
day in May 1872-while she was in Milan, a guest of her sister,
the principal of Istituto dell'Immacolata-she took the advice of
a pious priest and called on Don Bosco, who happened to be in
the city at that time, to ask for a special blessing. He willingly
obliged, but not without first exhorting her to have fervent faith
in the power of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Giving her a medal of
Mary, Help of Christians and of St. Joseph, he told her to kiss it
every night before going to bed, and to say a Pater, Ave and
Gloria until the feast of the Assumption, firmly believing that she
would recover. This indeed happened then and there! She was still
in Don Bosco's room when her headache totally disappeared.
In that same letter to Father Rua she declared that she had
been free of headaches for some twenty years and could devote
her full time to her office of principal of St. Joseph's Institute at
Varese Lombardo. She herself wrote and signed her deposition,
which was confirmed by Father Benigno Zini, pastor of Biumo
Inferiore, near Varese.
Many people appealed to Don Bosco by letter and found relief.
About 1872, Silvio Giannichini of Pascoso, Lucca, spent two
years on military duty at Piacenza. During that time he was
hospitalized several times for tonsillitis and once for diphtheria,
during which he almost died. Good medical care saved him. His
doctor, however, seeing him hospitalized repeatedly for the same
illness, insisted on surgery. Quite worried, the patient wrote to his
father, asking him to consult their family doctor. The latter's
reply was to go ahead with the operation, which he considered
quite safe. The soldier received his father's answer together with a
letter from his brother who was a priest. The latter-the soldier
wrote- "sympathizing with my plight, advised me to write to
Don Bosco for his blessing and his intercession with the Blessed
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Da Mihi Animas, Cetera Tolle-1871-1874
25
Virgin. I complied, with the result that I recovered completely
and kept quite well during the remainder of my military service.
Some fifty years have passed since then, and only once did I ever
have a slight sore throat, and that was when I went home on
furlough, probably due to the change of climate. I repeat and re-
affirm that I have never again suffered from a sore throat and
that I attribute my recovery to Don Bosco's blessing." His de-
claration was dated August 31, 1920.
Don Bosco was looked upon by all as a great servant of God, a
saint. In 1872 a certain Mary Sopetti of Mathi, Turin, became
the victim of a demoniacal obsession. Archbishop Gastaldi, on
being informed of this, suggested that she go to Don Bosco for a
blessing. The poor woman came to Turin on November 30, and at
about 9:30 she walked into Don Bosco's waiting room, where she
glumly sat in silence for a full hour. When finally her turn came
to see Don Bosco, she moved toward his door but seemed to be
pushed back with every step she took by some invisible hand. She
broke into wild and angry screams. ''No, no!" she shouted, her
head shaking and her body quivering all over. At last she man-
aged to enter Don Bosco's room, and bystanders strenuously
forced her to her knees. Meanwhile Father Berto, wondering
whether this was a genuine demoniacal obsession, asked Don
Bosco in a whisper if he should fetch a surplice and stole. He had
barely asked the question when the poor woman desperately
screamed, "No, no!" Don Bosco prayed over her but she shut
him off by clapping her hands over her ears. Then she went into a
series of unbelievable contortions as if she were suffocating. At
last, doubled up, she flung herself to the floor, hiding her face and
screaming, "No, no! Devil, devil!" Finally, as though choked by
the evil spirit, she broke into grunts and meows. It took incredible
strength to make her kiss a blessed medal, but as soon as Don
Bosco blessed her, she immediately calmed down and disclosed
that for the past three years, unless she went twice monthly to her
pastor for a blessing, she felt that she was choking. "The mere
presence of a priest, even if I do not see him," she declared, "is
enough to madden me. I can't pray. When somebody dies, even if
I don't know that person, I feel like choking. The torments I am
now enduring in your presence and as a result of your blessing are
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
more severe than when I am in the presence of other priests. I ex-
perience the same torments when I go to confession. If I don't
break out into wild screams and gestures-involuntary though
they are-I feel as if I were choking."
She looked quite tranquil as she left Don Bosco's room. He
had assured her that on his way to Lanzo he would stop at Mathi
to see her or at least inquire about her condition. He urged her to
kiss the medal of Mary, Help of Christians often and to recite the
Hail Mary, comforting her with the thought that through these
vexations Our Lord was offering her a chance of great merits.
Now and then that poor woman came back to the Oratory for
Don Bosco's blessing, and by January 2, 1883 she was almost
completely free of her grave tribulations. Outwardly, at least, she
no longer experienced repugnance or difficulty in Don Bosco's
presence or when receiving his blessing. This was stated by Father
[Joachim] Berto, a witness to these incidents.
Such was the esteem and, indeed, the veneration in which Don
Bosco was held at the Vatican that Pius IX entrusted to him a
seemingly endless investigation. A good woman whom some
priests believed to be charismatic because of her writings, which
seemed to be genuine revelations, had been persuaded to go to
Rome. The Pope sent her to Cardinal Patrizi, instructing him to
have her examined by Don Bosco, who was then in Rome. After
reading the woman's writings, Don Bosco talked with her and
remained convinced that they contained nothing to suggest a di-
vine revelation. Upon receiving Don Bosco's report, Pius IX was
pleased. "Don Bosco is the man for these things," he exclaimed.
"Whoever comes under his scrutiny is soundly probed and seen
in his true colors."
That poor woman may possibly have been under some illusion,
but she was neither proud nor insincere. Finally, she begged Don
Bosco to help her return to her home in peace, for after spending
six months in Rome calling on various ecclesiastics, she was al-
most penniless. Don Bosco got her what she needed from the car-
dinal vicar. After her return home, she very gratefully wrote sev-
eral times to Don Bosco, thanking him again and again.
Declared Father Rua during the Apostolic Process:
Pius IX, of saintly memory, esteemed Don Bosco very highly. Orally
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27
and in writing, he often consulted him on different matters pertaining to
the government of the Church during those very difficult times and
sought his advice [as we shall later see] even about future events affect-
ing the Church. Once, when a couple called on the Pope with their mute
eight-year-old son for his blessing, the Pope, knowing that Don Bosco
was then in Rome, said to them, "'Go to Don Bosco! Through Hisser-
vant the Lord will grant your request." Thus he showed that he regarded
Don Bosco as a man endowed with a prophetic spirit and other
charisms.
4. AT DoN Bosco's ScHooL
Holy enthusiasm and the heartfelt desire for a virtuous and
saintly life will blossom in any school where God's constant pres-
ence is felt as an enlightening, engaging influence. Grim, rigid and
ice-cold virtue repels, whereas virtue which is cheerful and happy,
because of its innate goodness, will charm and win over youthful
souls. Such was Don Bosco's school. In the Apostolic Process [for
Don Bosco's beatification] Father Rua testified:
Everything helped Don Bosco lift his mind to God and holiness.
Plants, flowers, fruits, birds, animals, and discoveries-past, present and
future-led him more and more to admire God's wisdom, power and
loving providence. So spontaneously did he express these sentiments that
it was obvious they sprang from a mind and heart constantly immersed
in contemplating God and His attributes.
Unceasingly and intimately united to God, Don Bosco felt it
was natural to keep also his pupils' hearts and minds attuned to
God. He constantly spoke of God, our duties toward Him, and
our eternal destiny. These were the' truths he wanted to be im-
pressed on his pupils, especially through regular catechism
classes. 'That was why," Father Bonetti stated, "he ordered that
all Salesian schools teach the entire diocesan catechism every
year. He attached great importance to its study. At his direction,
particularly solemn examinations were to be held twice a year [in
religion] and no excellence award in any subject was to be given
to any candidate, no matter how brilliant, who did not first acquit
himself laudably in this subject. At other times too he proposed
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
and offered special prizes to students who knew their catechism
by heart from beginning to end. The better to assure himself that
this subject was not neglected, he often asked teachers to show
him the weekly or monthly grades given to each pupil for his
knowledge of the catechism.
"Some years before he died," Father Bonetti continued, "he
directed that, besides the weekly catechism periods, an additional
half-hour of religious instruction be given in church on Sundays
and holy days, as was the custom in well-organized parishes."
"When I was with him at Alassio," testified Father Leonard
Murialdo, 1 "we spoke for some time with a boy whose name I
don't recall. In jest, Don Bosco suggested that I return there some
day to give this lad a spiritual retreat-the kind which leaves the
mind indelibly imprinted with the maxim Quad aeternum non est,
nihil est [What is not everlasting is worth nothing]. As he spoke,
his very mien and tone revealed the depth of his feeling."
Father [John] Garino, the first catechist at Alassio, recalled
how Don Bosco had given him a message for the director of this
school: '"Tell Father Cerruti that he must not fail to give the boys
one or two sermons a year about the presence of God."
In his "Good Nights" he stressed devotion to Our Blessed
Mother as the most powerful means to keep oneself in God's
grace. "It might be said," Father Rua declared, "that he could
not address his pupils without exhorting them to be devoted to
Her, especially to obtain Her aid in preserving their innocence.
He never failed to suggest nosegays2 in Her honor during the
novenas preceding Her principal feast days and throughout the
month of May." We found a collection of such nosegays, worded
as if they had been dictated by Our Lady herself. Father Lemoyne
assured us that they "were gathered from Don Bosco's lips or
written by him." We reproduce them here verbatim, in a certain
order, numbering them for a reason we shall reveal later. 3 These
I Leonard M urialdo, born in Turin of wealthy parents in 1828, became the priest of the
poor, like Don Bosco. In 1873 he founded the Pious Society of St. Joseph to look after
poor youth. He was also quite active in awakening Catholics to their rights and duties as
citizens. His last efforts were to further a movement for Christian democracy in Italy. He
died in 1900 and was proclaimed a saint by Pope Paul VI on May 3, 1970. [Editor]
2Virtuous acts, to be performed in honor of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin or some saint,
that comprised a type of spiritual bouquet symbolic of one's devotion. [Editor]
3See Appendix l. [Editor]
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and other nosegays, properly numbered, can be framed and dis-
played next to a little box containing numbered slips of paper-as
was once the custom in our schools-so that during novenas and
throughout May pupils can pick one and put into practice, as a
personal suggestion, the nosegay which has that number.
Don Bosco also used to recall the edifying examples of more
virtuous boys who had lived at the Oratory, particularly Dominic
Savio,4 especially when heavenly favors were being obtained
through his intercession. He published a variety of them in the
Appendix of several issues of Letture Cattoliche and in the new
editions of Savio's biography.5
Don Bosco's school-like Don Bosco himself-had a physiog-
nomy, a form, a program all its own.
"His method of education" remarked Father John Semeria,6
"embodied the sternest morality in a most attractive dress. Such
was the method of St. Francis de Sales and of St. Philip Neri,
based upon respect for youths' better instincts, and firm, vigorous
correction of their worst."
"Chastity," our holy founder used to state unequivocally,
"must be the outstanding trait of our Society, just as poverty and
obedience are respectively the hallmarks of the Franciscans and
of the Jesuits."
Chastity was his favorite virtue. In the Informative Process
Bishop John Cagliero testified as follows:
The moral virtues, particularly chastity, so adorned and sanctified his
exterior life that he seemed not only a saint, but an angel. His modesty,
candor and purity were truly angelic....
I recall that once, when consulted by a noble family about a marriage
annulment based on the husband's desertion barely two weeks after the
wedding, he felt that he had to ask whether or not the marriage had
been consummated. However, he could not bring himself to do so and
entrusted the matter to me.
All agree that he was outstanding in keeping the angelic virtue.
We were amazed-Father Rua declared during the Informative
4See the Indexes of Volumes V and VI. [Editor]
5We are omitting the description of two such favors. [Editor]
6John Semeria (l 867-1931) was a zealous Barnabite priest, renowned writer and lec-
turer, and father to war orphans. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Process-to see his reserve with women. Countess Callari, among
others, pointed out to me that Don Bosco never raised his eyes to
her face, to her great edification. Equally reserved was he with
those who devoutly asked him to make the Sign of the Cross with
his thumb on their foreheads or place his hand on their heads. He
always declined with the excuse that his priestly blessing was
quite as good. If he sometimes showed near annoyance, it was
when some indiscreet woman would grasp his hand and put it on
her ailing eyes or head. With his pupils, he was equally careful to
avoid anything even remotely unseemly; the same caution he
would impress on his priests and clerics.
Father Rua makes another important observation. When ques-
tioned during the Apostolic Process as to whether or not he be-
lieved that Don Bosco had had to overcome temptations against
purity, he replied with equal frankness:
I believe he must have been tempted against this virtue from the few
things he said when recommending that we be temperate in drinking and
abstain from exciting beverages. But I believe too that, thanks to his
self-control in avoiding sinful occasions and keeping himself always busy
at work for God's glory and the welfare of souls, his temptations must
have been quite rare and easily overcome to his great spiritual advan-
tage. All the more am I convinced of this by the constant self-denial he
exercised in curbing his passions. When recommending to his sons the
mortification of the senses, a matter in which he was the first to set the
example, he would often quote St. Paul's words: "I chastise my body
and bring it into subjection." [1 Cor. 9, 27] He did not openly practice
prolonged fasts, the wearing of hair shirts, scourging and similar austeri-
ties, but he did ceaselessly mortify his senses . . . following in this the
example of St. Francis de Sales, whom he had chosen as the model and
patron of his undertakings.
Bishop Parnes] Costamagna7 wrote: "Once when I was about
to leave to preach a spiritual retreat at one of our schools, Don
Bosco called me and said, 'Tell those dear sons of mine that al-
7James Costamagna entered the Oratory in 1858 at the age of twelve, became a Salesian
in 1867, and was ordained in 1868. He led the third group of Salesian missionaries to Ar-
gentina in 1877, opened the first Salesian house in Talca, Chile, in 1887, and was con-
secrated bishop and appointed First Vicar Apostolic of Mendez and Gualaquiza, Ecuador,
in 1895. He died in 1874 after much suffering, as Don Bosco had foretold. [Editor]
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though I have heard many sermons and read a great number of
good books throughout my long life, I have forgotten most of all
I heard or read. Yet I have never been able to forget a nasty word
which a bad companion told me when I was six or seven. The
devil saw to it that it should never escape me. Therefore, tell
those boys: "Woe to one who teaches bad words to others. Woe
to the scandal-giver!" ' "
Scandal-mongers so horrified him that he repeatedly stated,
"Were it not a sin, I would choke them with my own hands."
He tirelessly strove to instill love of chastity in all. During the
Informative Process Father Julius Barberis declared:
Don Bosco so loved chastity that he was not content merely with his
own perfect practice of this virtue and suggesting means for his Sale-
sians to keep themselves chaste; he was anxious, too, that the boys
Divine Providence had entrusted to him should preserve this beautiful
virtue unsullied. His main concern was to safeguard them from danger,
and for this he shortened vacations, was extraordinarily cautious in ap-
pointing assistants and teachers, and kept dormitories and all remote
areas locked throughout the day. He wanted broad unobstructed play-
grounds that would keep all the boys always in view, and he forbade
them to enter any dormitories but their own. They were not to go to
their superiors' bedrooms, though they were allowed in the offices of
those who had one, such as the director or the prefect. He would not let
assistants leave the boys unattended. At night they were to keep the cur-
tains of their cubicle partly drawn, the better to supervise. More impor-
tantly, he suggested enough precautions to his boys so that, if they
carried them out, they would certainly keep themselves chaste. Above
all, he urged the frequent reception of the sacraments and devotion to
Our Lady.
Because of the nature of his work, he had to take in lads who had oc-
casionally become victims of human passions. But he also took such
stringent precautions to keep them from harming others that hardly ever
were there serious complaints in this regard. In addition, he kept a
careful eye on these lads, and on realizing that any of them needed
closer supervision, he warned the other superiors to be likewise on
guard. Furthermore, he would instruct a boy he could trust to be always
with them, becoming their friends and striving to get them to receive the
sacraments. Thanks to such precautions, we are not surprised that ex-
traordinary conversions took place and grave disorders were averted.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Nor are we to wonder that singular, even extraordinary hap-
penings should take place among the Oratory boys! At the school
of such a saint as Don Bosco, lilies blossomed, and young angels
were fashioned, whom God sometimes used to transmit messages
to His most faithful servant.
One day in 1871, as many boys who knew that Don Bosco
would soon be going to Rome were crowding about him in the
playground, one stood up on tiptoe and whispered distinctly into
his ear: "Say this and this to the Pope!" When recreation was
over, Don Bosco went up to his room and sent for that boy. Upon
being asked to repeat what he had said but moments before, the
youngster replied, "I didn't tell you anything!" Don Bosco went
to Rome and forgot about the boy's message, but on his return to
the Oratory the same lad came up to him and said, "Don Bosco,
you were to give the Pope this message! Please do tell him." Don
Bosco again sent for him for questioning, and again the boy's
reply was, "I didn't tell you anything! I really didn't!" He said it
with such candor that Don Bosco did not insist, convinced that
the Lord had spoken to him both times through that boy. When
he went to Rome again, he gave the Pope the message. We do not
know this boy's identity; we only know that he later became a
Salesian, a priest and a missionary.
On another occasion, Don Bosco was preoccupied about a very
important matter and undecided on what course to follow. While
he was saying Mass, suddenly, at the Elevation, in a flash he saw
the course of action that would seemingly solve his problem. At
ease once more, he thanked God. After Mass, his altar boy ap-
proached him and said, "Do what came to your mind at the
Elevation."
Amazed, Don Bosco went up to his room and sent for the
youngster, but he was in for another surprise, for, upon being
questioned, the latter replied that he could not even remember
having spoken to him after Mass.
Other exceptional incidents proved the saintliness of many Ora-
tory boys. One day, while escorting a visiting priest to the altar of
Mary, Help of Christians, Don Bosco saw a lad suspended in
mid-air, rapt in adoration before the tabernacle at the rear of the
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33
main altar.8 Somewhat disconcerted by their arrival, the lad float-
ed like a feather down to Don Bosco's feet and asked for pardon
on his knees.
"Don't worry," Don Bosco told him. "Just go and join your
companions." Then, turning to the priest, he calmly remarked,
"One would assign such things to the Middle Ages, yet they hap-
pen today."
Once, on entering the church through the main entrance at a
time when it was empty, he saw one of his pupils high aloft, fac-
ing the large painting [of Mary, Help of Christians] above the
main altar. Duplicating the feat of St. Joseph of Copertino, he
had leapt into the air in an outburst of love to kiss Mary's image.
Don Bosco himself spoke of these occurrences on several oc-
casions. Present at one such occasion in Alassio was Father Louis
Rocca9 who in turn told Father Lemoyne about it.
Monsignor Andrew Scotton10 heard him tell an equally as-
tounding story that probably took place after 1874.
One morning a twelve- or thirteen-year-old lad, without leave,
walked up to Don Bosco's room and, bursting in, with an air of
authority told him, "Write!"
Don Bosco, quite used to this innocent boy's numerous
charisms, took up his pen and, at the lad's dictation, wrote down
the names and surnames of boys-mostly from Emilia 11 -who
had been enrolled at the Oratory through a trick of the Freema-
sons for the purpose of corrupting their schoolmates and eventu-
ally enticing them to join their secret society. All these boys car-
ried membership cards. The lad revealed all he knew in the
minutest detail, and for this reason the investigation that followed
was child's play. In no time the cabal was completely clear to
Don Bosco.
8The tabernacle of the main altar had two doors, one in front and one at the rear. [Edi-
tor]
9Louis Rocca (1853-1909) entered the Oratory in August 1868, donned the clerical habit
the following year, and took his vows as a Salesian in 1874. Ordained a priest in 1875, he
was stationed in Alassio for twenty years, first as a teacher, then as a prefect, and lastly as
a director. In 1895 he was elected economer general and held this office until his death in
1909. [Editor]
10A pastor and renowned preacher. [Editor]
11 A region of northern Italy. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Before dismissing his heaven-sent messenger, Don Bosco want-
ed to know how he had discovered the plot. Overcoming his reluc-
tance, the lad replied that for the past several days Our Lord had
shown him, as in a mirror, all he had told Don Bosco, adding that
after Holy Communion that very morning Our Lord had severely
chided him for failing to tell Don Bosco. For those who wish to
know, Miles Christi12 heard this story from Don Bosco himself. 13
He used to reveal these happenings confidentially and conclude
by saying, "Don Bosco is just a plain, ordinary priest, but he has
many saintly boys who draw God's blessings and men's good will
upon him."
5. A SINGULAR GIFT
Both Scripture and the lives of saints demonstrate that God
also uses dreams to guide His servants. Don Bosco was singularly
favored with this charism from his childhood, when the mission
was first revealed to him, and then throughout his whole life,
when he was shown the path to follow, the expansion of his apos-
tolate, and the most effective means for its success.
By fatherly and consistently heroic care he sought to guide the
young on their spiritual way by instilling into them God's love
and hatred of sin. In return the Lord opened to him singular
vistas whose simple description gave his words wondrous effec-
tiveness. At other times, God clearly showed him the precise spir-
itual state of his boys, pointing out how he might best draw them
to the worthy reception of the sacraments, true devotion to Our
Lady, love of purity, and a constant awareness of being prepared
for a sudden death. Besides prompting him to stress particular
norms of life to his spiritual sons, God from time to time also
showed him the course to follow in certain circumstances. We
may well say that even when asleep, Don Bosco never left his
spiritual sons and remained united with God.
We have already gathered and collated over one hundred and
forty reports of these singular visions, twelve of which pertain to
the years we are now describing. Some of these twelve are firm
summons to prepare for a saintly death, predictions of death, and
surprisingly clear revelations of consciences; others are lucid and
12Probably a diocesan publication. [Editor]
13Cf. La Riscossa, Breganze (Vicenza), August 17, 1907. [Author]
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striking catechetical illustrations. There is also one vision of the
Salesians' first mission field; other dreams concern public events.
Before reporting these dreams, we wish to state that all but
three are a summary of Don Bosco's narrations which often went
beyond one hour. Occasionally there may be inaccuracies, but we
hold them dear because they help us realize how and to what ex-
tent our holy founder was favored by God, and they acquaint us
with many valuable teachings. We shall present them in chrono-
logical order, starting with a precious letter from Don Bosco him-
self.
1. A Visit to the Salesian School at Lanzo
Turin, February 11, 1871
Dearly beloved sons:
Though I usually stay at the Oratory at this time of year, I would like
to come and spend the last days of the carnival season with you, my dear
sons in Jesus Christ. Your affection, so often demonstrated, and your
letters have led me to this decision. However, a far more important
reason is the visit I paid to you a few days ago without you or your su-
periors being aware of it.
It is a frightful and a very sad story. When I got to the church square,
I saw a horrible monster; it had huge, blazing eyes, a thick short snout,
a large mouth, a sharply pointed chin, doglike ears and two horns, much
like those of a big ram. It was playing with a few of its own kind.
"Beast of hell, what are you doing here?" I asked in terror.
"I'm playing because I have nothing else to do."
"I'd like to believe that! Have you decided to leave my boys alone?"
"Why should I bother with them? I have marvelous substitutes there,
a choice group of pupils who have volunteered to work faithfully for
me."
"I don't believe you, you base liar! We have so many practices of
piety: spiritual reading, meditation, confession...."
He laughed mockingly and motioned me to follow him into the sacris-
ty where Father Director was hearing confessions. "As you see, some
boys don't like me," he remarked, "but even here many serve my inter-
ests by making promises and breaking them. They keep confessing the
same sins, and that just delights me!"
Then he took me to a dormitory and pointed out several lads who had
no intention at all of going to Mass. He singled out one. "This fellow,"
he said, "came pretty close to death and made God a thousand prom-
ises. Now he is far worse than before!"
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
He then took me to other areas of the house and showed me things l
could never have believed. I won't mention them now, but I'll tell you in
person. After we returned to the church square where the other monsters
had stayed, I asked him, "What's the best help these boys give you?"
"Their talk. That's the main thing. Every word is a seed which bears
astounding fruit."
"Who are your worst enemies?"
"Boys who go to Communion."
"What hurts you most?"
"Devotion to Mary and...." But here he stopped, unwilling to con-·
tinue.
"And what else?"
In an emotional outburst, he successively took on the appearance of a
dog, a cat, a bear, and a wolf. Almost simultaneously, he now had three
horns, now five, now ten, with three, five or seven heads. I was shaking
like a leaf while the monster was trying to slink away. Determined to get
to the bottom of the matter, I commanded him, "I demand that you tell
me what thing you fear most here. I order you in the name of God, our
Creator and Master, whom we both must obey.''
As I spoke, all the monsters writhed and kept assuming frightful
shapes I hope never to see again. Then, amid horrible shrieks, they
screamed, "What hurts most and we fear most is carrying out resolu-
tions made in confession!"
With frightful, deafening shrieks, the monsters vanished like light-
ning, and I found myself sitting at my desk. The rest I will tell you in per-
son and explain it all to you.
God bless us.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
2. A Funereal Banner
At the beginning of November 1871 Don Bosco announced that
one of the Oratory pupils would die before the end of that
[school] year. When asked how he could make such a prediction,
he replied:
In a dream I saw a banner fluttering in the wind and borne, I believe,
by angels, though I can't be sure. One side of the banner showed a skele-
ton holding a scythe; the other bore a boy's name and below it "1871-
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37
72," signifying that he would die before the end of this [school] year.
This was narrated by Father [John Baptist] Lemoyne. Father
[Julius] Barberis too jotted down the following predictions of
death made by Don Bosco in those years [1871-1874], pointing
out that in his visit to the dormitories he was accompanied by
Our Lady:
In 1871 the Blessed Virgin led Don Bosco on an inspection tour of the
dormitories to single out a boy who would soon die, so that he might
prepare him for that fateful step.
Such visits to the dormitories were frequent. At times a placard at the
head of each bed marked the spiritual condition of the sleeper; oc-
casionally youngsters bore the name of a predominant vice branded on
their foreheads; once Don Bosco saw a sword hanging by a very fragile
thread over the head of a boy who tossed about in anguish as if prey to a
nightmare; at other times he saw devils surround certain boys, or per-
haps one single devil awaiting [God's] permission to kill a youngster.
Obviously these notes by Father Barberis refer to several
dreams which Don Bosco had during those years. The death of a
boy-Eugene Lecchi from Felizzano-fulfilled the above-men-
tioned prediction of November 1871.
3. The Devil in the Playground
During his illness at Varazze (December 1871 - January 1872)
Don Bosco had several dreams about the Oratory pupils. We
know this also from several letters of our confrere, Brother Peter
Enria I who was constantly at his side, and of Father John Baptist
Francesia, director. 2
I Peter Enria, born in 184 l, entered the Oratory in 1854. He later became a lay Salesian
and nursed Don Bosco during several illnesses, including his last. He died in 1898. [Editor]
2John Baptist Francesia (l 838-1930) began attending the Valdocco Festive Oratory
when about twelve; two years later he became a resident student. In 1859 he was one of the
sixteen pupils who joined Don Bosco in forming the Salesian Society. (See Vol. VI, pp.
18 l f) He was also the first Salesian to earn academic degrees at the University of Turin.
Ordained a priest in 1862, he soon filled critical administrative positions, distinguishing
himself by his fatherly kindness. He was a prolific writer and a distinguished Latin and
Italian scholar. His last forty years were spent at the Oratory, where he died on January
17, 1930. For further details see the Index of Volume VI. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
One night after his return to the Oratory at the beginning of
March-we do not know the exact date-Don Bosco narrated
one of these dreams to his pupils. They had already got an inkling
of it and were anxious to hear it from his very lips. A few days
later, on March 4 [1872], he returned to it and added other de-
tails.
Father [Joachim] Berto wrote a summary of it. Luckily, how-
ever, we have come into possession of a very interesting, more de-
tailed account, evidently written about that time, but we do not
know its author. We report it verbatim. A few details may appear
somewhat obscure, but its substance highlights this document's
singular importance.
Don Bosco's Account to the Oratory Students and Artisans
ofa Dream He Had during His Illness at Varazze
After I told some people that I had had a dream, others kept asking
me about it both in person and by mail. Hence, I will tell you about it,
but just for the sake of speaking, because dreams come when one is
asleep, and we are not to overrate them.
Throughout my illness you were always in my mind. Always, day and
night, I talked about you, because my heart was constantly with you.
Even when asleep, therefore, I dreamed about you and the Oratory. I
paid you several visits, and consequently I can talk about your concerns
even more knowingly perhaps than you can yourselves. Of course, I did
not come bodily or you would have seen me.
One night, no sooner had I fallen asleep than I immediately found
myself in your midst. I came out of our old church [of St. Francis de
Sales] and immediately spotted an individual in the corner of the play-
ground adjacent to the portico leading to the visitors' lounge. This man
was holding a writing tablet which listed all your names. He looked at
me and immediately jotted something down. Then he moved successive-
ly to the corner near the old classrooms and to the bottom of the stair-
case leading up to my room, and in no time roamed through the whole
playground checking things and taking notes.
Curious to know who he was and what he was writing, I tailed him,
but he moved so fast I soon had to trot to keep up with him. He also
went through the artisans' playground, checking and taking notes with
astonishing speed. Anxious to find out what he was writing, I drew
closer. Each line bore the name of a boy, beside which he would jot
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39
down something. While he gazed off here and there, I quickly flipped
some pages and saw that some names had on the opposite page pictures
of animals symbolizing the sins of those boys. Opposite one boy's name
was the picture of a swine, with the inscription: Comparatus est iumentis
insipientibus, et similis factus est illis [He has been compared to sense-
less beasts, and made like to them-Ps. 48, 21 ]. Other names were
marked on the facing page with a forked tongue and the legend: Sussur-
rones, detractores . . . digni sunt morte; et non so/um qui ea faciunt sed
etiam qui consentiunt facientibus [Whisperers, detractors . . . are
worthy of death; and not only they that do such things, but they also
that consent to them that do them-Rom. l, 30. 32]. I saw also pictures
of donkey ears, symbolizing evil talk, with the words: Corrumpunt
bonos mores colloquia prava [Evil companionships corrupt good morals
-1 Cor. 15, 33]. Others had an owl or some other animal beside their
names. I turned the pages very quickly and noticed that some names had
not been written in ink and so were hardly legible.
At this point I took a close look at that individual and noticed that he
had two reddish long ears. His face was as red as fire and his· eyes
seemed to flash with blood-red fiery sparks. Now I know who you are, I
said to myself. Then he walked around the playground two or three
more times, checking and taking notes. While he was busy with that, the
bell rang for church. I headed toward it and immediately he followed
me, stationing himself near the door, watching you as you passed
through. He too went inside then and stood just in front of the altar rail
gate, to keep an eye on you throughout the whole Mass. I didn't want to
miss anything and so, noticing that the sanctuary door was slightly ajar,
I stood there watching him. Father Cibrario3 was celebrating Mass. At
the Elevation the boys recited the versicle "'Blessed and praised every
moment be the Most Holy and Divine Sacrament." At that precise
moment I heard a resounding roar, as if the church were caving in. Both
the stranger and his writing tablet vanished in smoke, leaving but a
handful of ashes.
I thanked God for having thus overcome and driven the demon out of
His house. I also realized that attending Holy Mass destroys all devilish
gains and that the moment of the Elevation is especially terrible for him.
After Mass I walked out, convinced that I had gotten rid of that indi-
3Nicholas Cibrario was a priest when he made his first vows as a Salesian in 1867. In
1873 he became a member of the Oratory house chapter, but shortly afterward he was ap-
pointed director of the Salesian houses successively in Bordighera, Ventimiglia, and Valle-
crosia. At Vallecrosia, particularly, he labored very zealously for many years and was
greatly admired for his personal piety. He died on December 10, 1917. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
vidual, but, instead, there he was just outside the door, huddled up, lean-
ing with his back against the corner of the church. He wore a tattered
red cap th~ough which two long horns protruded from his head. "Ah,
you are still here, you hideous beast!" I shouted. My cries startled poor
Enria who was standing nearby, half-dozing. At that same moment I
awoke.
This is my dream, and even though it was nothing more than a dream,
I still learned something which had never before dawned on me. It is
this: the devil, not content with keeping a record of the evil he sees being
done because the Lord would not believe him on judgment day, uses the
very words of Holy Scripture and of God's commandments to condemn
[the guilty ones]. Thus he inflicts also the sentence.
\\1any of you might like to know whether I saw something about you
in that tablet and whether your names were clearly legible. I can't talk
about that now, but I will tell those who are interested privately.
I saw many other things in this dream. At times that individual hurled
angry words at me and at someone who was with me, but since it would
take too long, I'll tell you about it a little at a time.
Details of Don Rosco's Dream at Varazze
during His Illness4
I have many things to tell you about the past and present, but since so
many of you keep asking me about that dream, I'll go into some detail,
but briefly, lest it take too long.
I was asked whether I saw anything else after the writing tablet turned
into ashes. Yes, as soon as it vanished with that ugly rascal, a cloud of
sorts arose, and in its midst was a flag or banner bearing the inscription,
"Grace Obtained!" I saw other things too which I did not want to tell
you, lest you become swell-headed, but since you are all so good and vir-
tuous (don't take me seriously), I'll let you in on the secret. I saw that
during my absence you kept yourselves in God's grace. I can assure you
that you have obtained many spiritual favors, including my recovery, for
which you prayed so much. But this is not all. While I and someone else
kept tailing that hideous monster, watching his every move, I was able
to see that all your names were written in that tablet. Some pages had
only two or three names followed by these dates: 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875,
and 1876. Each date was followed by these words: Requiem aeternam
[Eternal rest]. On another page I again saw those words but no names. I
4 Don Bosco gave his description at the "Good Night" on March 4 [1872] to the [Ora-
tory] students and artisans. [Author]
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saw only as far as 1876, and counted Requiem aeternam twenty-two
times, six referring exclusively to 1872.
In trying to understand this, because you know that dreams must be
interpreted, I came to the conclusion that by 1876 we shall have to sing
Requiem aeternam twenty-two times. I was hesitant about this interpre-
tation. All of you being so healthy and strong, it seemed odd that so
many should die by that year, and yet I could draw no other conclusion.
Let us hope that what follows, i.e., Et lux perpetua /uceat eis [And let
perpetual light shine upon them], may also come true, and that we may
be able to say that such light indeed shines before our eyes.
Now I do not wish, nor is it proper, to disclose how many had the Re-
quiem aeternam beside their names or who they were. Let us leave this
among God's inscrutable secrets. Let us just strive to keep in God's
grace so that, when our day comes, we may tranquilly present ourselves
to Our Divine Judge.
Life is God's gift. By keeping us alive, He is constantly bestowing a
gift on us. On my part, since I regained my health through your prayers
-even though I was not too keen about recovering-I shall always
strive to spend it in God's service and for your spiritual welfare, so that
some day we may all enjoy God, who showers us so lavishly with bene-
fits in this vale of tears.
Patient research into scholastic and administrative records of
the Oratory and into the obituary kept by Father Rua revealed
that indeed there were twenty-two deaths-six in 1872, seven in
1873, four in 1874, and five in 1875.
Father [Joachim] Berto also made notes of this dream, but at a
later date, and as could be expected, some inaccuracies crept in.
Basing himself upon these notes, he stated during the Informative
Process [for Don Bosco's beatification] that Don Bosco had pre-
dicted six deaths for 1872 and twenty-one during the next three
years. He ended his testimony by stating, "Having seen with my
own eyes that the prediction for 1872 was perfectly fulfilled, I did
not bother to verify the others. I thought it a waste of time,
because, as it usually happened, the other twenty-one would sure-
ly die at the predicted time, as in fact, as far as I can remember,
they did."
In our account we excluded those who died outside the Ora-
tory, such as Cavazzoli at Lanzo, and others at Borgo San Mar-
tino, at St. John's Hospital [in Turin], or at home. If we were to
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
include them, the total number might even surpass that given by
Father Berto. We refrain from publicizing their names because,
as will be seen, we think it better not to say who some of them
were.
4. Ten of Us Have Not Made a Good Spiritual Retreat
From the 3rd to the 7th of July the Oratory pupils made a spir-
itual retreat preached by Father Lemoyne and Father Corsi.
After praying to God to know how fruitfully the retreat had been
made, Don Bosco had this dream which he later narrated to the
community:
I seemed to be in a playground far larger than ours at the Oratory, to-
tally surrounded by houses, trees and thickets. Scattered throughout
trees and thickets were nests full of fledglings about to fly off to other
places. While I was delightedly listening to their chirping, a little night-
ingale dropped in front of me. Oh, I exclaimed, you fell! Your wings
can't hold you yet and I'll catch you! I stepped forward and reached out
to pick it up. As I caught hold of its wings, the little bird shook itself
free and flew to the center of the playground. Poor little thing, I thought
to myself, your efforts are vain. You won't be able to get away because
/'II run after you and catch you. And so I did, but again the bird fooled
me the same way and flew off quite a distance. Oh, so you want to
match wits with me, I said. Well, we will see who is the winner! I went
after it a third time, but as though it purposely was trying to make a
fool of me, it slipped out of my hands as soon as I caught hold of it and
flew far off.
I was following its course, astonished at its daring, when suddenly a
large hawk swooped upon it and, clutching it in its hooked talons, car-
ried it off as prey. I shivered to see it. Bewailing the foolishness of the
incautious little bird, I kept following it with my eyes. I wanted to save
you, I s~id to myself, but you would not let me take hold of you. You
even tricked me three times in a row, and now you are paying for your
stubbornness. Turning toward me, the nightingale feebly chirped three
times, "There are ten of us ... ten of us...." StaFtled, I woke up and
naturally thought of the dream and of those mysterious words, but I
could not make head or tail of them.
The following night the dream returned. I seemed to be in the same
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43
playground, fenced in by the same houses, trees and thickets. The same
hawk with its grim expression and bloodshot eyes was near me. Blasting
it for its cruelty to that poor little bird, I threatened it with my fist. It
flew away in fright, dropping a note at my feet. Uneasily I picked it up
and read the names of ten boys here present. I quickly grasped the full
meaning. These were the boys who had no regard at all for the spiritual
retreat, who had not set their consciences straight, and who, rather than
return to God through Don Bosco. had preferred to yield to the devil.
I knelt down and thanked Mary, Help of Christians for so graciously
and singularly showing me those boys who had strayed from my side,
and I promised Her that I would never cease to do my utmost to reclaim
those lost sheep.
This report was by Father Berto and edited by Father Le-
moyne. Father Berto presented it also during the Informative
Process for the cause of our beloved father's beatification and
canonization with this remark: "I recall that Don Bosco saw to it
that those boys should be privately warned, and that one of them,
who refused to change his conduct, was dismissed from the Ora-
tory."
5. Back to School after the Summer Vacation
The following occurred and was narrated at the start of the
school year, 1872-1873, by Father Evasius Rabagliati, 1 then a
cleric at the Oratory:
I seemed to see what happens every year at this time. Summer vaca-
I Evasius Rabagliati (l 855-1929) became a Salesian in 1875. During the following year
he joined the second missionary expedition to Argentina and began his apostolate among
the Italian immigrants of Buenos Aires. Ordained a priest in 1877, he first accompanied
Bishop Jai;nes Costamagna to Patagonia, and then from 1880 to 1886 he directed the
Salesian school of San Nicolas de los Arroyos. In 1886 he crossed the Andes to his new
assignment at Conception, Chile, where he remained until 1890 when Father Rua sent him
to Bogota, Colombia, to open a trade school. After completing this assignment, he inter-
ested himself in the local leper colonies and greatly improved their services. In 1896 he
became provincial of the newly established Colombian province and governed it until 1910
when, for reasons of health, he had to retire. Sent back to Chile for a well-deserved rest,
he continued to work indefatigably in the priestly ministry and in seeking funds for the
Colombian lepers. He died in Santiago, Chile, on May 2, 1920. His death was signally
recognized by the Colombian government which declared a day of mourning in his honor.
[Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tion was over and the boys were coming back in groups to the Oratory. I
happened to meet one of them as I was leaving for town on business.
Since he did not greet me, I looked at him a moment and then called
him by name.
"Well, son, how was your vacation?"
""Fine!" he replied.
"Did you keep the good resolutions you made and told me about
before you left?"
"No, I didn't, because it was too hard. Here they are in this little box
along with your recommendations." He held a box under his arm.
"Why didn't you keep your word? You reneged on me and on the
Lord! Too bad! At least do your best to put your conscience in order
right away."
'"Oh, there is plenty of time for that!" he said and walked away.
I called him back again ...Why are you acting this way? If you do as I
say, you'll be glad."
··ugh!" he exclaimed and, shrugging his shoulders, went off. I sadly
followed him with my eyes and said to myself, Unfortunate lad! You
have ruined yourself. You don't even see the grave you have dug for
yourself Just then I heard the loud boom of a cannon. In terror, I woke
up and found myself sitting up in bed.
For some time I brooded over this dream, unable to set my mind at
rest. Then I fell asleep again and dreamed that I was crossing the play-
ground on my way toward the main entrance. When I got there I met
two morticians.
"Whom are you looking for?" I asked in great surprise.
"The dead boy!" they answered.
"What are you talking about? There is no dead boy here. You have
come to the wrong place."
"Not at all! Isn't this Don Bosco's Oratory?"
"Yes!"
"Well, we were told that one of your boys is dead and that we are to
take his body away."
What's going on? I wondered. I know nothing about it. Meanwhile I
was looking about for someone to talk to, but the playground was
deserted. Why is no one here? I asked myself. Where are all my boys?
After all. it is daytime! Still dumbfounded, I accompanied the two mor-
ticians to the portico and there saw a coffin. One side bore the boy's
name and the date 1872; on the other were these dreadful words: Vitia
eius cum pulvere dormient [His vices shall sleep with him in the dust-
Cf. Job 20, 11 ].
The morticians wanted to remove the body, but I would not let them.
"I will never allow a pupil of mine to be taken from me without talking
to him a last time before he goes." So saying, I went all around the cof-
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45
fin trying to pry it open, but I could not do so. I did not give up however
and stood my ground, arguing with the morticians who were now be-
coming angry. One of them got so enraged that he dealt the coffin a
mighty blow, bashing in its cover. The noise woke me up. Sad and
mournful, I remained awake until morning. The first thing I did was to
ask whether that lad was already back at the Oratory. Only when I was
assured that he was playing with the rest of the boys did my sorrow
abate a little.
This hapless pupil, apparently an artisan, was precisely the
same youth to whom Father Louis Piscetta2-a student at the
Oratory in 1872-73-specifically referred during the Informative
Process, as follows:
One evening in l 873 Don Bosco spoke to all the students and artisans
at the ··Good Night" and predicted, in my hearing, that a boy would die
and that his death would serve as an example not to be followed. A
month later, C-- 0--, fifteen. died, although at the time of the prediction
he seemed perfectly healthy. When he fell ill, several priests approached
him and earnestly begged him to set his conscience in order, but he ob-
stinately refused under various pretexts. He lost his hearing and speech,
and although he did somewhat regain these faculties shortly before
dying, he still would not agree to go to confession and passed away
without receiving the Last Sacraments. James Ceva was present at his
death, and Charles Fontana and Michael Vigna witnessed his obstinate
refusal.
Doubtless, Don Bosco did all he could to prepare the boy for
that great step, but unfortunately he had to leave the Oratory for
a few days. The hapless lad, who had been quite well, suddenly
fell ill. Father Cagliero3 was notified and very tactfully tried to
direct his thoughts to his soul, but the youth, barely fifteen, kept
2Father Piscetta became a Salesian at the age of sixteen in 1874. Ordained a priest in
1880, he earned his doctorate in theology and taught successively for nearly forty years
church history, canon law and moral theology in the Turin diocesan seminary. His work
Theo/ogiae Moralis E/ementa ran through several reprints and editions. From 1892 to
1907 he directed the Salesian Studentate of Philosophy at Valsalice (Turin), and in 1907
he became a member of the Superior Chapter of the Salesian Society. He died in 1925.
[Editor]
3John Cagliero (1838-1926) entered the Oratory in 1851. (See Vol. IV, pp. 200ft) He
was ordained a priest in 1862 and led the first group of Salesian missionaries to Patagonia
and Tierra del Fuego in 1875 (see Vol. XI, pp. 348f). He became the first Salesian bishop
in 1884 and a cardinal in 1915. He died at Rome in 1926. In June 1964, his remains were
brought back to Argentina and solemnly laid to rest in the cathedral of Viedma. For fur-
ther details see the Indexes of Volumes IV, V, VI, and XI. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
rejecting the urgency, claiming that he did not feel ready and
wanted to be left alone. Father Cagliero visited him again and
amiably engaged in small talk with him, but when he sought to
question the boy about his personal life, the latter, sensing what
this would lead to, fell silent after a few answers and turned his
back to him. Father Cagliero went around to the other side of the
bed, but again the boy turned his back without a word. This hap-
pened several times. He died without receiving the sacraments on
the same day that Don Bosco was returning to the Oratory. He
left a frightful impression on all the pupils which lasted a long
time!
6. Patagonia-The First Salesian Mission Field
The following dream made Don Bosco decide on his missionary
apostolate in Patagonia. He first narrated it in March 1876 to
Pius IX. Later he told it privately to a few Salesians. The first to
be so honored was Father Francis Bodrato on July 30 of that
year. That very evening, Father Bodrato repeated it to Father
Julius Barberis at Lanzo, where the latter had gone to spend a
few days of vacation with a group of clerical novices.
Three days later, Father Barberis was back in Turin at the Ora-
tory. While conversing with Don Bosco in the library, the latter
told him the dream as they paced back and forth. Father Barberis
did not disclose that he had already heard it, not only because he
was delighted to hear it again from Don Bosco's own lips, but
also because, in retelling his dreams, Don Bosco would add new
and interesting details.
Father Lemoyne, too, heard it from Don Bosco himself, and he
and Father Barberis wrote it down. Father Lemoyne stated that
Don Bosco confided to them that they were the very first ones to
whom he had narrated this kind of vision in detail. We report it
almost to the letter:
I seemed to be in a wild region I had never before seen, an immense
untilled plain, unbroken by hills or mountains, except at the farthest
end, where I could see the outline of jagged mountains. Throngs of
naked, dark-skinned, fierce-looking, long-haired men of exceptional
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47
height and build swarmed all over this plain. Their only garments were
hides strung across their shoulders. Their weapons were long spears and
slings.
These throngs, scattered about, presented varied sights to the specta-
tor: some men were hunting, others were carrying bloodied chunks of
meat at spear point, still others were fighting among themselves or with
European soldiers. I shuddered at the sight of corpses lying all over the
ground. Just then many people came into sight at the far edge of the
plain. Their clothing and demeanor told me they were missionaries of
various orders who had come to preach the Christian faith to these bar-
barians. I stared intently at them but could recognize no one. They
strode directly to those savages, but the latter immediately overwhelmed
them with fiendish fury and hatred, killing them, ripping them apart,
hacking them into pieces, and brandishing chunks of their flesh on the
barbs of their long spears. Now and then, fighting broke out again
among the savages or against neighboring tribes.
After witnessing this horrible bloodshed, I said to myself: How can
one convert so brutal a people? Then I saw a small band of other mis-
sionaries, led by a number of young boys, advance cheerfully toward
those savages.
I feared for them, thinking, They are walking to their death. I went to
meet them; they were clerics and priests. When I looked closely at them,
I recognized them as our own Salesians. I personally knew only those in
front, but I could see that the others too were Salesians.
How can this be? I exclaimed. I did not want them to advance any
further because I feared that soon their fate would be that of the former
missionaries. I was about to force them back when I saw that the bar-
barians seemed pleased by their arrival. Lowering their spears, they
warmly welcomed them. In utter amazement I said to myself: let's see
how things will turn out! I saw that our missionaries mingled with them
and taught them, and they docilely listened and learned quickly. They
readily accepted the missionaries' admonitions and put them into prac-
tice.
As I stood watching, I noticed that the missionaries were reciting the
rosary as they advanced, and that the savages, closing in from all sides,
made way for them and joined in the prayers.
After a while, our Salesians moved into the center of the throng and
knelt. Encircling them, the barbarians also knelt, laying their weapons
at the missionaries' feet. Then a missionary intoned: Praise Mary, Ye
Faithful TonKues, and, as with one voice, the song swelled in such uni-
son and power that I awoke, partly frightened.
I had this same dream four or five years ago, and it sharply impressed
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
me because I took it as a heavenly sign. Though I did not thoroughly
grasp its specific meaning, I understood that it referred to the foreign
missions, which even at that time were one of my most fervent aspira-
tions.
Thus the dream dated back to about 1872. At first Don Bosco
believed that it referred to the tribes of Ethiopia, later to the
regions around Hong Kong. and finally to the aborigines of Aus-
tralia and of the [East] Indies. It was only in 1874, when, as we
shall see, he received most pressing requests to send Salesians to
Argentina, that he clearly understood that the natives he had seen
in his dream lived in Patagonia, an immense region then almost
entirely unknown.
7. A Solemn Warning
At the "Good Night" on May 31, 1873, Don Bosco gave his
pupils a serious warning, which. he said, was "the result of his
humble prayers" and came from the Lord:
Throughout the whole month of May-he said-particularly during
the novena of Mary, Help of Christians, I constantly offered Masses
and prayers to Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin imploring them to let
me know what, most of alL drags souls into hell. I do not say now that
the Lord did or did not enlighten me. I only say that almost every night
I dreamed that this is due to the lack of firm resolves in confessions. I
seemed to see boys leaving church after confession, their heads sprouting
two horns.
What causes this? I asked myself. Ah, this is due to feeble resolutions.
That's why so many go frequently to confession but never mend their
ways and keep confessing the same sins over and over again. There are
some (I am only conjecturing. not going on anything heard in confes-
sion, because of the seal) who at the start of the school year were doing
rather poorly in studies and are still doing no better: there are others
who griped and are still griping. I thought it best to let you know this,
because it is the result of my humble prayers and because it does come
from the Lord.
Publicly he gave no other details, but undoubtedly he took ad-
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49
vantage of this dream to encourage and admonish. What little he
did say and the way he said it constituted a grave warning, such
as should frequently be given to our boys.
8-9. Singular Illustrations on Behalf
of the Church and Nations
Sincerely anxious to help all, he received singular illustrations
to point out the course he should take in alleviating the evils
which afflicted the Church and civil society.
The prophetic dream he had had in 18701 is not the only exam-
ple of its kind. On July 14, 1873, while searching for some papers
on Don Bosco's desk, Father Berto found a sheet dated May 24 -
June 24, 1873. Later, Don Bosco gave it to him to transcribe
along with another document which a messenger delivered to Em-
peror Franz Joseph I of Austria, king of Hungary and Bohemia,
on Don Bosco's behalf.
These last two dreams belong to our narrative, and we shall
recount them along with the first. although this has already been
published. All three come from a copy made by Father Berto and
patiently edited by Don Bosco himself, who also added marginal
notes. 2
This precious document is one of several copies of the "Three
Prophecies" which Don Bosco had Father Berto transcribe in 1874
to oblige some devout persons. How had they come to hear of it?
Naturally, to carry out the Lord's directives, Don Bosco had to
disclose the three prophecies to those who he thought should be
told. In 1870 he revealed the substance of the first vision3 to Pius
IX in a private audience on February 12.4 He had with him the
manuscript but did not dare submit it, and he limited himself to
reading an excerpt, which he had transcribed, concerning the
Pope himself. We shall identify this excerpt by marking it off
1See Vol. IX, pp. 373ff. [Editor]
2Later, Father Berto inserted into the manuscript a memorandum-Esordio delle cose
piu necessarie per la Chiesa [Foreword to What the Church Needs Most]-which Don
Bosco sent through Cardinal Bartolini to Leo XIII at the beginning of his pontificate.
[Author]
3See Vol. IX, pp. 373ff. [Editor]
4/bid.. p. 396. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
with asterisks. At his last audience with Pius IX that year, Don
Bosco spoke again of future political events so plainly and in such
detail that the latter stopped him in grief and dismay. 5 But after
the seizure of Rome, recalling his conversations with Don Bosco,
Pius IX sent word to him through a cardinal-who we firmly
believe was Joseph Berardi-that he was to speak out ""clearly
and explicitly, leaving nothing out."6 Don Bosco, who until then
had not inserted into the manuscript the passage he had read to
the Pope, added it to the transcript which he had Father Berto
make, and sent it to the Pope through the same cardinal. Pius IX
kept it among his papers together with the covering letter ad-
dressed to the cardinal.
The letter was anonymous. Why? Solely to remain incognito at
all costs. But in it he clearly stated that the document ""comes
from a person who has on other occasions proved that he has
been endowed with supernatural gifts" and that there were "other
things which cannot be entrusted to writing, but may be said in
person with all the secrecy the subject demands. . . . Should any-
thing seem obscure, I will try to make it clearer. . . . You may
freely use this document, but I do ask you not to mention my
name in any way, for reasons that you will readily appreciate. " 7
Don Bosco also enjoined absolute secrecy on his secretary in
regard to this matter. Father Berto jealously saved the original of
the second prophecy and the excerpt from the first in an envelope
on which he wrote: ""Original of an excerpt from a prophecy com-
pleting the one sent8 to the Holy Father on February 12, 1870,
which hinted at the above. . . . This excerpt was later inserted in
other transcripts made to oblige some devout persons. The origi-
nal is not here because it was returned to Don Bosco after the first
transcript was made from it. He destroyed it himself and pledged
me to absolute secrecy on the matter. Until his death I never
transgressed his order, despite the insistence and indiscretion of a
devout person."9
Was that really so? . . . In a letter to Father Rua dated March
51bid., p. 401. [Editor]
6Ibid. [Editor]
7Ibid. [Editor]
8Not sent, but communicated. [Author]
9Father Rua. [Author]
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51
8, 1874, whose original is in our possession, Father Berto wrote
from Rome: "Res secundae. Orate. Deus est nobis propitius
[Matters are favorable. Pray. God is good to us]. I believe he
[Don Bosco] will continue to keep the [manuscript of the] prophe-
cy, etc. Carefully scrutinize the passage: 'Before two full moons
shall have shone in the month of flowers, the rainbow of peace,
etc.' 10 Amazingly, this year the month of flowers [May] has two
full moons, respectively on the first and on the last day of the
month. On this basis, many are beginning to open their hearts to
hope. Fiat [Let it be so]."
What shall we make of this? Was Father Berto perhaps hinting
at the two other prophecies? Anyway, during his stay at Rome
with Don Bosco, he made several transcripts of the three prophe-
cies, and Don Bosco, as we shall indicate, saw to their delivery to
cardinals and prelates, always concealing the fact that they origi-
nated from him. Here is the precious document, containing:
1. The prophecy of 1870, generously annotated by Don Bosco
and followed by numerous clarifications which he also edited;
2. The prophecy of 1873, with autographed marginal notes,
followed by a comment (which he likewise edited) on the person
giving those revelations;
3. The letter to the emperor of Austria followed by a postscript
also edited by our holy founder.
First Prophecyt
God alone is almighty, all-knowing, all-seeing. God has neither past
nor future; everything is present to Him, everything at a single point of
time. Nothing eludes God. No person, no place is distant from Him. In
His infinite mercy and for His glory He alone can unveil the future to
man.
On the vigil of the Epiphany of this year, 1870, all material things in
my room disappeared, and I found myself contemplating supernatural
matters. It was only a matter of an instant, but I saw a great deal. Al-
though what I witnessed was sensibly present, I find it extremely dif-
ficult to communicate it to others intelligibly, as one may realize by
what follows. This is the Word of God in human parlance:
"War will come from the south, peace from the north.
10See Vol. IX, p. 376. [Editor]
I Revealed to Pius IX on February 12, 1870. (See Vol. IX, p. 377) Italics within paren-
theses indicate Don Bosco's marginal notes. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"The laws of France no longer recognize the Creator. The Creator
will reveal Himself by visiting her three times with the scourge of His
wrath. The first time He will destroy her pride by defeat, pillage, and
destruction of crops, cattle, and men. On His second visit the great
whore of Babylon, which the faithful grievingly call Europe's brothel,
shall lose her leader and fall prey to chaos.
"Paris! Paris! Instead of fortifying yourself with the Lord's name, you
surround yourself with houses of ill repute. You yourself shall destroy
them: your idol, the Pantheon, will be razed to the ground, so that it
may truthfully be said that "iniquity has lied to itself.' [Ps. 26, 12] Your
enemies will plunge you into anguish, famine, terror, and the contempt
of nations. But woe unto you if you do not recognize the hand which
smites you! I want to punish your immorality, your desertion, your con-
tempt for My law, says the Lord.
'"On My third visit, you shall fall under the foreign yoke. From afar
your enemies will see your palaces in flames, your home in ruins, soaked
in the blood of your heroes who are no more.
"But behold, a great warrior from the north appears, a banner in his
right hand, his arm bearing this inscription: ·irresistible is the hand of
the Lord.' At that moment the Venerable Old Man of Rome went for-
ward to meet him, wielding a flaming torch. The banner then grew
larger and its blackness became white as snow; in its center stood out
the name of the Almighty in golden letters.
"'The warrior (Don Carlos and the Pope) and his followers bowed
profoundly to the Venerable Old Man and joined hands with him.2
* "Now the voice of Heaven is addressed to the Shepherd of Shep-
herds. ( To Pius IX.) You are in solemn conference with your co-workers
(the Vatican Council). but the enemy of good never stands idle. He cun-
ningly plots and sets all his wiles against you. He will sow discord
among your helpers and will rear enemies among My sons. ( The grave
frustrations [suffered by Pius IX] during the Vatican Council.) The
powers of the world shall vomit fire. They would love to smother My
words in the throats of the guardians of My law, but they shall not
succeed. ( This has alreadv been attempted and will still be attempted.
especially in Prussia.) They shall do much harm, but only to themselves.
Hurry! If knots cannot be untied, sever them. Do not halt in the face of
difficulties, but go forth until the hydra of error has been beheaded
(throu!(h the proclamation of the do!(ma of papal infallibility). At this
blow earth and hell shall tremble, but the world will be saved and the
faithful shall exult. Gather around you only two co-workers, yet wherev-
2What follows between asterisks is the excerpt of the vision that Don Bosco read to Pius
IX on February 12, 1870. [Editor]
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53
er you go, carry on the task entrusted to you and bring it to completion
(the Vatican Council). Days go by swiftly and your years are reaching
their appointed number, but the great Queen shall always assist you,
and, as in the past, She shall always be magnum et singulare in Ecclesia
praesidium [the powerful, prodigious defense of the Church].*3
"But you, 0 Italy, land of blessings, who has plunged you into desola-
tion? Not your enemies, but your own friends. Do you not hear your
children begging for the bread of faith, unable to find one to break it for
them? What shall I do? I shall strike the shepherds and scatter the sheep
so that those who sit upon the chair of Moses may seek better pastures
and their flock may gently listen and be fed. (A seeming allusion to in-
adequate religious instruction.)
··sut My hand shall be heavy upon both flock and shepherds. Famine,
plague, and war shall cause mothers to mourn the blood of their sons
and husbands shed on foreign soil. (A seeming allusion to this year's
famine. Pestilence and war shall follow. I
"What shall befall you, ungrateful, effeminate, proud Rome? You
have reached a point when you seek and admire nought in your sover-
eign but luxury, forgetting that both your glory and his lies on Golgotha.
Now he is old, frail, defenseless, and dispossessed. (Present condition of
Pius IX. J Nevertheless, though captive, his words cause the whole world
to tremble.
"O Rome! Four times shall I come to you! The first time I shall smite
your regions and its people. The second time I shall bring slaughter and
destruction to your very gates. Should not that make you open your
eyes? A third time shall I come, and I will demolish your defenses and
defenders. ( The present state of Rome.) At My Father's command, ter-
ror, dismay, and desolation will reign.
"My wise followers flee (mam· live away from Rome. mam· are ob-
liged to disperse), but My law is still trod underfoot. Therefore, I shall
come a fourth time. Woe to you if My law again shall go unheeded.
There shall be defections among both learned and ignorant. ( This has
happened and is still happenin[!.) Your blood and that of your children
shall wipe out your transgressions. (A seeming allusion to some future
disaster.)
"War, plague, and famine are the scourges to smite human pride and
malice. ( This summarizes the above-mentioned punishments.) Where are
your magnificent villas and palaces, you people of wealth? ( We shall
see!) They have become the litter of squares and streets!
"And you priests, why are you not prostrate between the vestibule and
the altar, weeping and praying that the scourge may cease? Why do you
3End of the excerpt. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
not take up the shield of faith and preach My Word from the rooftops,
in the houses, streets, and squares, and even in inaccessible places? Do
you not know that this is the terrible two-edged sword which smites My
enemies and placates the wrath of God and man?
"These things shall inexorably come to pass, all in succession.
"Things follow too slowly upon each other, but the great Queen of
Heaven is at hand; the Lord's power is Hers. Like mist She shall scatter
Her enemies. She shall vest the Venerable Old Man with all his former
garments.
"There shall yet come a violent hurricane. Iniquity is at an end, sin
shall cease, and before two full moons shall have shone in the month of
flowers, the rainbow of peace shall appear on the earth.
'"The great Minister shall see the Bride of his King clothed in glory.
""Throughout the world a sun so bright shall shine as was never seen
since the flames of the Cenacle until today, nor shall it be seen again
until the end of time."
Clarifications
"War will come from the south . . . . " From France, which declared
war on Prussia.
••. . . peace from the north." From the north of Spain where the pres-
ent war began. Furthermore, Don Carlos resided in Vienna, which is
north of Italy.
""The Pantheon will be razed to the ground!" Contemporary
newspapers reported that it was damaged by several bombs. But what
concerns France has not yet fully taken place.
""But, behold, a great warrior from the north appears. . . ." Don
Carlos from northern Spain.4
''The Venerable Old Man of Rome went forward to meet him, wield-
ing a flaming torch." Faith in God which guides and upholds the great
warrior in his undertakings.
''The banner then grew larger and its blackness became white as
snow...." The massacre ceased. Blackness~symbol of death or per-
secution, such as the K ulturkampf:
" . . . in its center stood out the name of the Almighty in golden let-
ters." According to press reports, Don Carlos' banner bears on one side
a picture of the Heart of Jesus and on the reverse that of the Immacu-
late Conception.
4 Later on, Father Berto (so it seems) added a question mark and these words: "No. Em-
peror William [I] of Prussia." [Author]
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55
" ... wherever you go...." Seemingly an allusion to the Pope's
exile. See the second prophecy.
" ... war shall cause mothers to mourn the blood of their sons ...
shed on foreign soil." 5 This has still to come.
" ... I shall come a fourth time." This visit to Rome has still to take
place.
"There shall yet come a violent hurricane." See the next prophecy
where the hurricane is fully described.
••. . . before two full moons shall have shone in the month of flowers .
. . ." This year. 1874. the month of May has two full moons, one on the
l st and the other on the 31st.
••. . . the rainbow of peace. . . ." A hope which seemingly is rising in
Spain today, March I. 1874.
"Throughout the world a sun so bright shall shine. . . ." Triumph
and growth of Christianity.
••. . . his (the warrior's) arm bearing this inscription, 'Irresistible is
the hand of the Lord!' " Newspapers say that Don Carlos apparently
began his exploits without weapons, money or victuals, and only with
fourteen men. Yet today, April I. 1874, he has an army over 100,000
strong. There is no report as yet that he has lost a single battle.
Second Prophecy'
(May 24 - June 24. 1873)
It was a dark night (error). and men could no longer find their way
back to their own countries. Suddenly a most brilliant light (faith in
God and in His pol'.·er) shone in the sky, illuminating their way as at
high noon. At that moment from the Vatican came forth, as in proces-
sion, a multitude of men and women, young children, monks, nuns, and
priests, and at their head was the Pope. ( It seems to allude to the
suppression of' monasteries and schools run by religious and to the
Pope's exile.)
But a furious storm then broke out, somewhat dimming that light, as
if light and darkness were locked in battle. ( Perhaps this means a battle
between truth and error. or else a bloody war.) Meanwhile the long
procession reached a small square littered with dead and wounded,
many of whom cried for help.
The ranks of the procession thinned considerably. After a two-
5Here too there is a penciled addition: "Dogali." [Author] At Dogali, a small locality
about thirteen miles from Massaua, Eritrea, five hundred Italian soldiers were ambushed
and massacred in 1887. [Editor]
1This prophecy too was published in Volume IX, pp. 377f. Italics within parentheses in-
dicate Don Bosco's marginal notes. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
hundred-day march, all realized that they were no longer in Rome. In
dismay they swarmed about the Pontiff to protect him and minister to
him in his needs.
At that moment two angels appeared, bearing a banner which they
presented to the Supreme Pontiff, saying: ..Take the banner of Her who
battles and routs the most powerful armies on earth. Your enemies have
vanished; with tears and sighs your children plead for your return."
One side of the banner bore the inscription: ReKina sine labe concepta
[Queen conceived without sin], and the other side read: Auxilium Chris-
tianorum [Help of Christians].
The Pontiff accepted the banner gladly, but he became very distressed
to see how few were his followers.
But the two angels went on: ..Go now, comfort your children. Write
to your brothers scattered throughout the world that men must reform
their lives. This cannot be achieved unless the bread of the Divine Word
is broken among the peoples. Teach children their catechism and preach
detachment from earthly things. The time has come," the two angels
concluded, "when the poor will evangelize the world. Priests shall be
sought among those who wield the hoe, the spade, and the hammer, as
David prophesied: 'God lifted the poor man from the fields to place him
on the throne of the princes of His people.' "
On hearing this, the Pontiff moved on, and the ranks began to swell.
Upon reaching the Holy City, the Pontiff wept at the sight of its deso-
late citizens, for many of them were no longer. He then entered St.
Peter's and intoned the Te Deum. to which a chorus of angels respond-
ed, singing: Gloria in exce/sis Dea et in terra pax hominibus bonae
voluntatis [Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of
good will].
When the song was over, all darkness vanished and a blazing sun
shone. The population had declined greatly in the cities and in the coun-
tryside; the land was mangled as if by a hurricane and hailstorm, and
people sought each other, deeply moved, and saying: Est Deus in Israel
[There is God in Israel].
From the start of the exile until the intoning of the Te Deum. the sun
rose two hundred times. All the events described covered a period of
four hundred days.
Note
The person reporting these things is the same who unerringly predict-
ed what happened to France a year before it took place. These predic-
tions were widely known and were fulfilled day by day, as if a script
were being followed.
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According to this same person, France, Spain, Austria and a German
power would be the instruments of Divine Providence in preventing the
collapse of civil society and restoring peace to the Church which for so
long and in so many ways has been fought against. These events would
start in the spring of 1874 and would be completed within a year and a
few months, unless new iniquities should be perpetrated against God's
will.
Third Prophecy
Thus says the Lord to the emperor of Austria: '"Be of good cheer and
look after My faithful servants and yourself. My wrath is now spilling
over all the nations because they want to make people forget My laws,
glorifying those who defile them and oppressing My faithful adherents.
Will you be the rod of My power? Will you carry out My inscrutable
designs and become a benefactor of the world? Rely on the Northern
Powers, but not on Prussia. Enter into relations with Russia, but form
no alliance. Join forces with Catholic France; after France, you shall
have Spain. All together, become one in will and action. 1
"Observe absolute secrecy with the enemies of My holy name. Pru-
dence and vigor will make you and your allies invincible. Do not believe
the lies of whoever tells you otherwise. Abhor the enemies of the Cross.
Put your hope and trust in Me. I make armies victo,ious. I am the Sav-
ior of nations and sovereigns. Amen. Amen."
Note: This letter was sent to the emperor of Austria in July 1873
through a trusted person who delivered it to him in person. He read it
attentively and sent his hearty thanks to the sender, saying that he would
avail himself of it. 2
Qui legit, intelligat! The marginal notes and the clarifications
and comments in the text and footnotes make additional remarks
superfluous, except for one observation which we think is highly
interesting.
The first prophecy has these words for the Pope: "Wherever
you go. . . ." It was, indeed, generally taken for granted that the
Pope would leave Rome. He did not, however, and this was due
precisely to this message from Don Bosco: "Let the sentry, the
I Here Father Berto added this note: "This prophecy fitted the political situation in
Europe that year. Later, things changed, both in regard to France and to Prussia." [Au-
thor]
2Here he [Don Bosco] added the name of the trusted person-Countess Lutzow, an
admirer of his. On June 14 of that year she had sent him a 2,000 lire donation in thanks
for her husband's recovery through the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
angel of Israel, remain at his post and guard God's stronghold
and His holy ark." 3 The solemn tone of these words clearly re-
veals their source.
Nor did the Pope ever forget them! While even Catholics con-
tinued to believe that his departure from Rome was imminent,
Don Bosco, to the astonishment of all, hastened to defend the
rights of the Church and of the Supreme Pontiff so effectively
that the latter was able to appoint bishops for more than a
hundred vacant Italian dioceses without government.al interfer-
ence. At the same time, with the Holy Father's approval, he
began negotiations [with the government] concerning the bishops'
revenues. He did this on two trips he made to Rome in 1871.
Then, as soon as he began convalescing from the serious illness
that struck him at Varazze, he wrote to Premier [John] Lanza on
February 12 and April 8 [1872], expressing his pleasure at the
reverent and warm welcome that the new bishops were receiving
in the various dioceses. He also informed the Holy Father of this.
The latter replied in his own hand on May 1, confiding his full
trust in God's goodness and the enduring protection He had
promised to His Church.
We believe that at this time too these confidential exchanges
between Don Bosco and Pius IX strengthened the Pope in his
resolve not to leave Rome.4
And so, the sentry of Israel remained at his post, guarding
God's rock. On his part, until the end of his days, Don Bosco
kept hoping and working zealously for a reconciliation of Italy
and the Church. BWe are both of the same age," he wrote to a
fellow priest. BWhen we were born, Europe was settling down to
peace after long years of war. May we dare hope to see peace
in the world and the Church's triumph before the end of our lives?
We could then sing our Nunc dimittis. However, may God's will
be done in all things. The triumph of the Church is certain; if we
3See Vol. IX, p. 444. [Editor]
4We are omitting an article from Civilta Cattolica (1902, Vol. III, p. 286) about an au-
dience which Bishop Gaspard Mermillod of Geneva-later a cardinal-had with Pius IX.
After thanking the bishop for conveying to him on behalf of prominent Catholics the
reasons why he should leave Rome, the Pope added: "I concede that their arguments are
good . . . but I have one good reason that is overriding. . . . God is my witness that I do
not feel inspired to leave Rome.... This is the only reason that holds me back." [Editor]
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do not see it here below. we shall witness it, I hope, from heav-
en."
He did indeed see it from heaven [in 1929] when the Lateran
Treaty was signed. [As Pius XI declared] it gave ''God back to
Italy, and Italy back to God." The signing took place just a
month before Pius Xi's proclamation of the acceptance of the
miracles which had been submitted for Don Bosco's beatification.
In pointing out the "charming, admirable and striking coinci-
dence," the Pope characterized Don Bosco as a "great, faithful
and truly clear-sighted servant of the Church and of the Holy See.
. . ." Such indeed he always was! Pius XI then went on to state
that he had learned "from Don Bosco himself' how much "a
solution of this deplorable dissension was truly uppermost in his
thoughts and desires . . . a solution that would, above all, guar-
antee the honor of God and of the Church, and the welfare of
souls."5
10. A Visit to the Dormitories
At the "Good Night" on November 11, 1873, Don Bosco nar-
rated a dream he had had on November 8 and 10. We give it in
Father Berto's version:
I dreamed that I was visiting the dormitories. You were all sitting up
in bed. Suddenly a stranger appeared and, taking the lamp from me,
said: "Come and let me show you something!"
I followed him as he went from bed to bed and kept raising the lamp
so that I could see each boy's face. I looked carefully and saw each
boy's sins written on his forehead. The stranger advised me to take
notes, but, thinking I'd remember, I moved along a bit further, ignoring
his advice. Soon, though, realizing that I had been overconfident, I re-
traced my steps and jotted everything in my notebook.
While going down the long aisle, my guide turned to a corner where,
to my great joy, we saw a large number of boys whose faces and fore-
heads were as white and clean as snow. A little further, however, the
stranger marked out one boy whose face was marred with black spots;
as we went on, I saw many others in the same condition. I noted every-
5Cf. L'Osservatore Romano, March 20-21, 1929. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
thing, saying to myself, This way, I can warn them. At last, as we
reached the end of the dormitory, I heard a loud noise coming from a
corner, followed by an awesome singing of the Miserere.
"Who died?" I asked my guide.
"The one with the black spots."
"Impossible! Just last night he was alive!"
Taking a calendar, he pointed to December 5, 1873. "This boy shall
die before New Year's Day," he said. He then turned his back to me. I
turned about too and awoke in bed.
This was just a dream, but similar dreams have already come true on
other occasions. Dream or no dream, let us heed Our Lord's warnings to
be ever ready.
When he was through speaking, pupils, clerics and priests
crowded about him, anxious to know what he had seen on their
foreheads. A large number, some of them clerics, did not go to
bed until they had talked privately with him. Father Berto made
the following entry in his notes:
As I was going with him to his room, he told me that the lamp used
during his visit to the dormitories was the one he had in his room. Later,
as we were pacing up and down, he added, "How little it takes to shake
up the boys. No sermon could do as much. Yes, I must keep telling
them these things."
"They will surely do a lot of good," I remarked. "You'll have quite a
crowd for confessions tomorrow."
I also heard one boy say, "I don't want to ask him now [what he saw
on my forehead] because I wouldn't have the courage to go to confes-
sion tomorrow. . . ." The next morning, however, he did go to confes-
sion.
Commenting on the boys with spotted faces, he remarked, "One al-
ready asked me to tell him [what I saw]. I mentioned two or three things
and he stopped me, saying: 'Enough! You know too much!' "
The next morning I saw that he too was going to confession. On
December 4 the boy with the spotted face was still playing with his
friends, but at five that afternoon he fell sick with the flu and was taken
to the infirmary. During the night he made his confession and received
the Last Sacraments; by morning the end seemed near. His parents
came and took him to St. John's Hospital, where at 11 that evening,
December 5, he passed into eternity.
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Don Bosco was then in Lanzo. When he returned to the Ora-
tory on the following day, Saturday, December 6, the dead boy's
aunt tearfully gave him the sad news. It spread instantly, causing
general consternation.
"Unbelievable!" cried his schoolmates. "Just two days ago he
was with us on our weekly walk." 1
At the "Good Night" Don Bosco comforted them and told
them that their schoolmate had made a general confession even
before falling ill. Father Berto, who had taken the names of all
who questioned Don Bosco immediately after he had told his
dream, including the one who had shied from asking him but had
gone to confession the following morning and the one who was to
die, made the following statement during the Informative Pro-
cess:
On the evening of December 7, 1873, I accompanied Don Bosco to his
room and then asked him to tell me confidentially how he was able to
read the boys' consciences, especially their sins. "Well," he replied with
his usual kindliness, "nearly every night I dream that boys come to me
for their general confession and tell me all their sins. The next morning,
when they do really come for confession, all I need do is tell them their
sins."
"Write down these things," I said. "They are very helpful!"
"By no means! Such things are to be used only by one actively en-
gaged in the priestly ministry. . . ."
We might add: "And only when this priest is one favored by
God with such charisms!" He narrated a similar dream-a visit
to dormitories, the singing of the Miserere and an imminent
death-also to the boys at Lanzo on a visit to them that month.
In 1870, fifteen-year-old Julius Cavazzoli of Fabbrico, in the
diocese of Guastalla (Emilia), was admitted to the Oratory on the
recommendation of the pastor of Campagnola. Shortly afterward
he transferred to the Salesian school at Lanzo, but he returned to
the Oratory in 187 l. Toward the end of 1873 he fell ill and was
again sent to Lanzo in the hope that the climate would hasten his
I In Italy, at this time, Thursdays were a mid-week school holiday and the Oratory boys
went out for a walk in the city outskirts. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
recovery. He was there when Don Bosco told the above-men-
tioned dream which deeply impressed the pupils. Charles Baratta,
who had arrived in Lanzo only a few days before, recalled its
every detail many years later to the director, Father John Baptist
Lemoyne, who had taken no notes of it until then. On this oc-
casion, he jotted down the dream as follows:
It seemed to Don Bosco that a mysterious youth took him into one of
the dormitories while all the boys were asleep, and, holding a candle up
to the boys' faces, made them known to Don Bosco. The first ones had
clear foreheads, whereas others' foreheads were marked by either one or
two black lines symbolizing (venial sins). Other boys' faces were either
shrouded in fog or shadows or completely blackened by mortal sins.
Don Bosco took pencil and paper and jotted down their names and ap-
pearance. Hardly had he reached the end of the dormitory when, from
an opposite corner where all the boys were unmarred in their looks, he
suddenly heard the chant of the Miserere.
"Why the Miserere?" he asked his mysterious guide.
"So and so died on such and such a day!" was the reply.
"But how can that be? He was alive only a little while ago!"
"In God's sight the future is like the present."
Don Bosco concluded that this death would happen within a month,
but though he did not disclose the name, he exhorted all to be ready.
However, the boys kept saying that Don Bosco had revealed the boy's
name to the director. Fifteen days later, Cavazzoli fell ill and died. . . .
We heard the same story from Father John Gresino, a pupil at
Lanzo since 1872. He gave us a thorough account, asserting that
Don Bosco had confided to the director the name of the youth
who was to die.
This eighteen-year-old young man (born in January 1855) died
fifteen days later. Parish records state that he received "the sacra-
ment of Penance, Holy Viaticum and the papal blessing" but was
unwilling to die. The director showed him that he was fortunate
to be able to die well prepared. Would such be the case later?
"Well," the youth replied, "in that case I want to die, but how
does one go about dying?"
Short prayers for a happy death were suggested to him, and he
repeated them devoutly: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give you my
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heart and my soul. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, assist me in my last
agony. (The death rattle was audible.) Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you. . . ." He died
serenely on December 21, at 10:30.
Father Gresino also recalled Don Bosco saying that he had had
that dream the night before, nor should this be surprising, since
he himself used to say that nearly every night he dreamed of his
boys making their confession to him. His boundless fatherly love
well deserved that Our Lord should reveal to him also imminent
deaths so that he might prepare those concerned for that great
step....
I I. God's Power and Mercy
At the "Good Night" on November 29, 1873, after returning to
the Oratory from a visit to the Salesian schools at Sampier-
darena, Varazze and Alassio, Don Bosco narrated another dream.
Father Berto jotted it down and then wrote out this detailed
description:
These past few days, while I was away, I had a very frightening
dream. I went to bed one evening, thinking about the stranger who-as I
told you a few nights ago-had taken me in a dream through the dormi-
tories and with a lamp had shown me the boys' sins on their foreheads.
While I was wondering whether he was a human like us or a spirit in
human form, I fell asleep and immediately seemed to be carried back to
the Oratory. To my surprise, it was no longer here in Valdocco, but at
the entrance of a valley long and wide, hemmed in between two lovely
hills.
I was with you, but you were all silent and tense. Suddenly the sun
broke out, shining so strongly that we were forced to lower our heads.
We remained in that position for some time until the blinding light
dimmed almost to absolute darkness, making it difficult for us to see or
recognize even those closest to us.
The sudden change was very frightening. As I tried to figure out what
to do, a greenish light flashed at one corner of the valley and, streaming
across it, formed a graceful rainbow between the two hills. The darkness
receded, and from the rainbow-very similar to a rainbow after a heavy
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
rainfall or the aurora borealis-multi-colored beams of light streamed
into the valley.
While we were all intent on admiring and enjoying this charming
spectacle, I noticed a phenomenon even more astounding at the far end
of the valley-a gigantic electric globe hanging in midair, darting blind-
ing flashes in all directions so that no one could look at it without the
risk of falling to the ground in a daze. The globe kept floating down
toward us, illuminating the valley more brilliantly than ten of our suns
could have done at full noon. As it drew nearer and nearer, the boys,
blinded by its glare, dropped face to the ground, as if struck by light-
ning.
At first I too was terrified, but then, getting hold of myself, I forced
my eyes to gaze boldly upon the globe, following its movement until it
stopped some three hundred meters above our heads. Then I decided
that I must see what sort of phenomenon this was.
I scanned it thoroughly and, distant though it was, I could see that its
summit had the shape of a large sphere and bore a huge inscription:
..The Almighty." The whole globe was ringed by several tiers of balco-
nies, crowded with joyful, jubilant people: men and women, young and
old, dressed in sparkling, indescribably beautiful garments of many col-
ors. Their warm smiles and friendliness seemed to invite us to share
their joy and triumph.
From the center of this heavenly globe countless shafts of light radiat-
ed, flashing so blindingly that any boys looking at them were stunned,
staggered a moment, and then fell face down to the ground. I too, un-
able to endure such brilliance any longer, exclaimed, ..Oh Lord, I beg
You, either let this divine sight vanish or let me die, for I can no longer
withstand such extraordinary beauty!" Then I felt faint, and I too
dropped to the ground, with the cry, .. Let us invoke God's mercy!"
Coming to myself again, I stood up moments later and decided to
tour the valley and see what had happened to the boys. To my great
surprise and wonder, I saw that all were prostrate and motionless in
prayer. In order to find out whether they were dead or alive, I prodded
several with my foot, asking, '"What's the matter? Are you alive or
dead?" All gave me the same answer: ··1 am imploring God's mercy."
Then, to my deep sorrow, I came upon several, their faces as black as
coal, who kept gazing defiantly upon the globe, almost as if challenging
God. I went up and called them by name, but they gave no sign of life.
Paralyzed by the rays of light darting from the globe because of their
obstinate refusal to fall prostrate and implore God's mercy with their
companions, they had become as cold as ice. What grieved me even
more was that they were so numerous.
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Just then an abnormally huge, indescribably horrid monster rose up at
the far end of the valley. Never had I seen anything as frightening as
that! It strode toward us. I told all the boys to stand up, and they too
were terrorized by the horrible sight. Gasping in anguish, I searched
frantically for some Salesian to help me get the boys up the nearest hill
for safety, but I could find no one.
Meanwhile the monster kept getting closer and closer. When it was
about to overtake us, the brilliant globe, which until then had hovered
over our heads, quickly dropped almost to the ground, shielding us from
the monster, and at that moment a voice thundered through the valley,
"Nulla est conventio Christi cum Belia!." [2 Cor. 6, 15] No treaty is
possible between Christ and Belia), between the children of light and the
children of darkness, that is, between the good and the bad whom Holy
Scripture calls the children of Belia!.
At these words I awoke in a cold sweat. Although it was only mid-
night, I could not fall asleep again or feel warm the rest of the night. I
was amply consoled at having seen almost all our boys humbly seek
God's mercy and faithfully respond to His favors, but I must admit my
profound grief at the goodly number of proud, hard-hearted lads who
rejected God's loving invitation and drew His chastisements upon them-
selves.
I already summoned a few of these boys last night and others today so
that they may soon make their peace with God and stop abusing His
mercy and scandalizing their companions. There can be no alliance be-
tween God's children and the devil's followers. Nu/la est conventio
Christi cum Belia/. This is their last warning.
As you see, my dear boys, what I have told you is but a dream like all
the others. Still, let us thank God for using this means to show us our
spiritual condition. How generously He enlightens and favors those who
humbly implore His help and assistance in material and spiritual need.
Deus superbis resistit. humilibus autem dat gratiam [God resists the
proud, but gives grace to the humble-I Pet. 5:6].
According to Father Berto, Don Bosco did not further elabo-
rate on the details of the dream, but we can easily grasp the mes-
sage. As long as we are in this valley of tears, God permits
periods of light and darkness in our spiritual life, just as day al-
ternates with night. Those who withstand the darkness and appar-
ent abandonment humbly and trustingly, soon see light return
more brilliant than ever with a new magnificent rainbow. And if
they faithfully and most humbly keep their thoughts centered on
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
God, they come to understand ever more clearly their own noth-
ingness in face of God's sublime majesty and the ineffable beauty
of the reward He has prepared for us. Furthermore, they shall
always feel that they must remain prostrate before Him and im-
plore His infinite mercy.
Those instead who, full of themselves, neglect their spiritual life
and are concerned only with earthly matters soon lose God's
grace and repeatedly fall prey to the infernal monster who, like a
roaring lion, endlessly roams about seeking to wrest souls from
God.
Those who are habitually united with God remain unshaken
even when subjected to the most harrowing trials because God is
their shield. They can count on His help here below while ensur-
ing heaven for themselves. Humility, then, is the path to heaven.
Humility and greatness go hand in hand, St. Augustine said,
because the humble man is united with God. Humility does not
consist in shabbiness of dress, speech or demeanor, but in lying
prostrate-mind, heart and soul totally centered on God-with
full awareness of one's nothingness, in an endless plea for His
mercy.
Don Bosco constantly fought against all error and sin, but he
thought so highly of God's mercy that he openly proclaimed his
hope that even Voltaire had obtained God's pardon in his last
moments. This indicates how horrible seemed to him the fate of
those who died unreconciled with God.
12. A Prediction of Death
The following episode is told by Father Berto; we transcribe it
from the Informative Process [for Don Bosco's beatification]:
At the "Good Night" on Tuesday, November 17, 1874, Don Bosco
told the students that confessions would be heard the next day in prep-
aration for the Exercise for a Happy Death, scheduled for Thursday.
As usual, he urged us to make it well, saying: "I neither am nor wish to
be a prophet, but I can tell you that one of us who is present will not be
here to make it again. But I will not say who it is." As happened on sim-
ilar occasions, on stepping down from the stand, he was instantly sur-
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67
rounded by the boys who were eager to know if it was their turn to die.
His brief words drew a crowd of boys to his confessional both in the
morning and on the evening of the following day, as well as on Thursday
morning. They told me themselves that they all wanted to make a gener-
al confession.
Since I nearly always witnessed such examples of piety, I can state
that such predictions did our boys more good than ten spiritual retreats.
And this was the only reason that prompted Don Bosco to foretell
events, especially in public. He always urged us to keep these predictions
to ourselves and not to write to outsiders about them.
The better to assure myself that his predictions were not just a pious
trick on his part for our boys' spiritual benefit, two days later-Thurs-
day evening, November 19, 1874-while speaking familiarly with him in
his room, I confidentially asked how he could so boldly predict the
death of so many boys at a time when they were healthy and strong. In
particular, I singled out his prediction, just two days before, that most
certainly one boy would die before the next Exercise for a Happy Death.
Rather reluctantly, he answered: "I seemed to see all our boys walking
toward a meadow, each on a path marked only for him. Some paths
were very long, with signposts indicating the year 1874, 1875 and so on;
others were not quite as long, and still others were much shorter. A few
paths were very short and ended abruptly, marking the end of the boy's
life. There were also extremely short paths that were strewn with snares.
I saw one boy standing on the spot where his path ended. The barely leg-
ible signpost was inscribed "1875.' This boy will not have a chance for
another Exercise for a Happy Death, since he will die in 1874; possibly
he may barely see the dawn of 1875, but he cannot make this pious exer-
cise."
As far as I recall-Father Berto continued-the prediction was ful-
filled completely. I must add that we were so used to seeing these predic-
tions verified that we would all have been astonished had any of them
not come true. It would have been the exception to the rule.
We have no other details about this dream. As regards each of
Don Bosco's predictions coming perfectly true, Father Lemoyne
commented in writing:
Sometime between 1872 and 1874, he announced that a youth would
die by the end of the year, and the year closed with no death. However,
there was a very sick young man who would not hear of receiving the
sacraments. Everyone had tried to persuade him to do so, but in vain.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Prayers were being offered for his conversion in the city's religious
houses. He finally died in January after making his confession to Don
Bosco and receiving the sacraments.
The Oratory boys were quick to remind Don Bosco that his prediction
had not come true, although they did not really know what had hap-
pened. ··would you have me let him die without the sacraments?" Don
Bosco retorted. ··was I to allow such scandal in our house?"
Thus there was a prediction, a postponement of death and a
conversion. The young man was twenty-four, apparently a tool of
Freemasons who had sent him there for their own ends, according
to Father Evasius Rabagliati, an eye-witness.
These few incidents show us how highly we are to rate Don
Bosco's dreams. May God graciously grant us enough time to
publish them all. They document our beloved father's holiness in
a way proper to him and they are a perennial source of episodes,
exhortations and admonitions of real educational value not only
for us Salesians, but for all priests.
6. HUMBLE IN THE MIDST OF GLORY
Once excavations began for the foundations of the Church of
Mary, Help of Christians, an amazing contest started between
Don Bosco and Our Lady. Our saintly father busily sent out
flyers, holy pictures and medals of Mary, Help of Christians, to
encourage limitless trust in Her power and goodness, while, on
Her part, Our Lady granted all sorts of favors to Her most faith-
ful servant, who remained ever humble despite such distinction.
During the Apostolic Process [for Don Bosco's beatification] Fa-
ther Michael Rua remarked:
If anyone marveled at his vast undertakings, he would quickly inter-
rupt, saying: ••All glory and success are due to God and Mary, Help of
Christians!" When people called to tell him that his blessing or prayers
had been singularly effective, he would urge them to thank God, the
Blessed Virgin or the saint to whom they had prayed. Then, to belittle
himself, he would narrate some incident where his prayers had apparent-
ly failed. He particularly liked to tell how several people from Volvera
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(a village midway between Piossasco and None, near Turin) had asked
him to pray for the recovery of a person dear to them, for a good har-
vest or for some court settlement and who, later, had returned to say
"The person I recommended to you has died!" or "I can't make a big
donation because hail ruined my crops!" or "That lawsuit is still pend-
ing!" By telling such incidents, he gave people to understand that they
were to trust not in him, but in the maternal kindness of Mary, Help of
Christians and in the intercession of the saints.
Occasionally he spoke of extraordinary favors which people had re-
ceived after appealing to him either personally or by letter, but he
always did so in order to give increasing glory to God or to Mary, Help
of Christians, and to instill even greater faith in prayer. He urged all to
have a lively faith, to which he often attributed the favors received, say-
ing that it was the faith of the devout which won the favors they sought.
To honor Mary, Help of Christians he published several issues
of Letture Cattoliche [Catholic Readings], among them the May
issue of 1875, entitled: Mary, Help of Christians-A Report on
Favors Obtained During the First Seven Years Since the Dedica-
tion of Her Church. This 320-page issue, prefaced by a brief his-
torical outline of the devotion to Mary, Help of Christians and
the building of the church, described one hundred and ten favors
received through Her intercession. About twenty of them pertain
to the years 1871-1874, and we shall recount a few in chronolog-
ical order. 1 Remarkably, none of them alludes directly to Don
Bosco; a few simply mention "a priest" giving his blessing or "the
director" of the Oratory. We still have several original reports
edited by Don Bosco himself, always with this single viewpoint in
mind.
Great is God's goodness-he wrote in his own hand as a foreword to
one of them-when He grants some outstanding favor to us. Equally
great must our gratitude be to acknowledge it, make it known, and even
publicize it so that it may redound to His greater glory. It is imperative
to do so nowadays because by these extraordinary favors God wishes to
glorify His august Mother under Her title of Help of Christians.
No one should excuse himself from this duty of gratitude to his heav-
enly Benefactress. We can tell others of the favor received or promote
10ne of them is already fully reported in Volume IX, pp. 306f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
devotion to our heavenly Mother in some other way. Thus we will en-
courage others to appeal to Mary in their needs and make it easier for
ourselves to obtain new, more outstanding favors.
Be faithful-he earnestly went on~to whatever you have promised:
prayers, self-denials, confession and Communion, or works of charity.
"An unfaithful and foolish promise displeases God," says the Holy
Spirit. [Eccles. 5:3] Several times the failure to keep a promise prevent-
ed the granting of the favor itself. or at times even revoked it. 2
Favors were obtained particularly during the month of May,
and even more so during the novena and on the feast of Mary,
Help of Christians, when Don Bosco would spend almost the
whole day in the sacristy surrounded by many pilgrims. He prom-
ised to oblige all who sought his prayers, but he would often add,
"Favors are obtained not so much through my prayers as through
the faith and the works of mercy of those who request them." But
nothing could shake the belief of the faithful that it was he him-
self who obtained such favors from God and the Madonna!
Three conditions he always imposed:
1. That the grace might be also spiritually beneficial. Replying
to a certain Angela Piccardo, he wrote on the back of a holy pic-
ture of Mary, Help of Christians: "O Mary, obtain health for
Your daughter, if it will not prove harmful to her soul."3
Toward the end of 1874, a young Salesian cleric suffering from
a painful eye ailment wrote for Don Bosco's blessing. The latter
had someone reply thus: "God wants you to be: l. More faithful
in serving Him; 2. More detached from earthly things; 3. More
obedient. Without these conditions any blessing of mine would be
useless."
We do not know whether that young man recovered, but short-
ly afterward he left the Salesians, perhaps without having under-
stood Don Bosco's advice.
2. That one $hould fully trust in Our Lady's power and
goodness because such extraordinary graces demanded firm faith.
To a good priest who had asked prayers for a fellow priest, Don
2We are omitting the description of several favors received through the intercession of
Mary, Help of Christians. For similar wondrous cures see the Index of Volume IX under
"Cures." [Editor]
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Bosco replied that he would pray, but he also urged the writer to
pray.4 "It is faith that works wonders," he explained.
3. That, whenever possible, an offering be made for Salesian
works and, in some cases, for other charitable causes.
On this point, where others would have hesitated for fear of
criticism, he was unbelievably outspoken. On many an occasion
he would bluntly refer to a donation as an indispensable condi-
tion. He clearly acted as the representative of the Almighty, who
at his request would grant desired favors.
"Give what you can," he would say. ""Make a donation accord-
ing to your means. God sees your sincerity, love and sacrifice,
and He will grant what you need."
In extreme cases, when, so to speak, an extraordinary favor
had to be wrested, as, for example, when a rich man was hope-
lessly ill, dying or far advanced in years, he would set the sum at
ten to forty thousand lire. A favorite saying of his was that God
never lets Himself be outdone in generosity! From some he would
exact only a simple promise; from others he would insist that the
donation be made then and there, explaining, "God did not say:
'Promise and it will be given to you,' but "Give and it shall be
given to you.' We must therefore obligate God by advancing a
good deed. To tell God, 'If You do this, I shall do that,' is an un-
called-for distrust of God. We do not dictate to God. One who
puts himself entirely in God's hands will certainly be heard."
Toward the end of 1874, a Mr. Conte, who owned a farm at
Sestri Ponente, came to ask his advice about investing 60,000 lire
for the exclusive right to build and sell Hofman-patented furnaces
throughout Liguria. Don Bosco thought it over, prayed a while,
and then replied, "Yes, sign the contract. You will make a for-
tune, provided that you supply all the lime needed for a new wing
of our school at Sampierdarena!"
Mr. Conte agreed. The cornerstone of the new wing was laid on
February 14, 1875, and he punctually lived up to his promise.
Furthermore, with ecclesiastical permission he sent carloads of
sand-at times as many as twenty-on Sundays and holy days.
And when, later on, he fell victim to a type of persecution mania,
Don Bosco wrote to assure him in God's name that nothing un-
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
toward would ever happen to him. He put Don Bosco's letter in
his wallet, always kept it in a pocket over his heart, and became a
millionaire. His son, Father Louis Carmelo Conte, a lawyer of
the Roman Rota, disclosed this fact, and it was confirmed by Fa-
ther Paul Albera, director of the Salesian school in Sampier-
darena.
To Teresa Martinengo of Savona, who begged that he join her
in a novena to Mary, Help of Christians for the recovery of her
young son who was incurably ill, Don Bosco briefly replied:
"Keep praying, have faith, and do some deeds of mercy."5
Occasionally, knowing that a favor was not to be granted, he
made no promise. When he did promise and the petitioner did not
make himself undeserving, the grace was granted.
On other occasions, if someone left and rejected his conditions
and later, recognizing that it would be to his advantage, returned
to say that he would comply, he would promptly answer, "I can
no longer guarantee the favor you could have obtained yesterday.
It's too late now!"
It was God Himself who acted in this way to induce possible
wealthy donors not to procrastinate. We shall mention interesting
details.
Due to the amazing growth of the works God had entrusted to
him-a growth he himself fearlessly promoted-Don Bosco was
always in. grave financial straits. Far from hiding this fact, he
publicized it to solicit help from public and private charity. He
was convinced that by spurring the wealthy to implement the
Gospel teaching, "Give in alms what you can spare" [cf. Lk. 11,
41], he would help them as well as his underprivileged boys.
In such instances Mary, Help of Christians assisted him in a
striking way. Father John Baptist Lemoyne declared:
There must have been some understanding between Our Lady and
Don Bosco. One may well believe that She often appeared to him to tell
him what to do and how to do it. Among other things, we wish to say
that when he found himself in a serious financial bind, he would say, "I
know we are getting a substantial sum of money, but I do not know
where it is coming from-east, west or north."
5This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Sometimes he sent someone to the post office exclusively to see
whether the money he was expecting had arrived in the mail. Either it
actually had, or it would arrive shortly afterward. Who could have given
him this information?6
7. A JUST MAN
Don Bosco let slip no chance to urge his spiritual sons to show
their in.creasing gratitude to Mary, Help of Christians by the ex-
emplary practice of poverty. To encourage a praiseworthy love
and practice of this virtue, he used to tell them in moving terms
how even the poorest of the poor felt bound to make some offer-
ing in order to show their gratitude for favors received. He him-
self, fully aware of the extent of their sacrifice, was admirably
discreet with the poor. One day, returning to the Oratory from
town, he noticed a woman by the entrance. She was holding a
one-year-old baby boy in her arms, pale, emaciated, covered with
scabs, and looking more like a corpse than a child.
"Is this your son?" he asked the woman.
"Yes, Father."
"How long has he been sick?"
"From birth!"
"Have you taken him to a doctor?"
"Yes, Father, but he told me nothing can be done."
"Would you like him to be well?"
"Oh, how I would! My poor baby!" She kissed him, but the
child made no response.
"Have you prayed to Our Lady?"
"Yes, but nothing happened."
"Do you go to the sacraments?"
"Sometimes."
"Do you believe that the Madonna can cure your son?"
"Yes, but I do not deserve such a favor."
"If She were to cure him, what would you do for Her?"
"I would give Her whatever is dearest to me."
6We are omitting a flowery thanksgiving to Mary, Help of Christians by Father Le-
moyne for Her assistance to Don Bosco and to his spiritual sons. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
''Would you like me to give him the blessing of Mary, Help of
Christians?''
"Oh, yes, please!"
"As soon as you can, go to confession and Communion and for
nine days say three times a Pater, an Ave, and a Gloria in honor
of Mary, Help of Christians. Ask your husband to join you in
prayer and Our Lady will make your child well." Then he blessed
the little one.
Fifteen days later, a Sunday, the sacristy of the Church of
Mary, Help of Christians was crowded with people seeking to
speak to Don Bosco after he had finished hearing confessions.
Among them was a woman carrying a baby boy, kicking, eyes
sparkling, and very much alive. Elbowing her way through the
crowd, she got to Don Bosco. "Look at my boy," she exclaimed,
radiant with joy.
"What can I do for you, my good woman?" Don Bosco asked.
"Don't you see how well he is?" she continued.
"May the Lord keep him so. But can I do anything for you?"
He had forgotten the child he had blessed just two weeks before
when it seemed to be dying. The woman refreshed his memory
and told him that by the third or fourth day of the novena the
child had suddenly recovered. "Now," she continued, "I came to
meet my obligation." From a box she took a gold necklace, a pair
of earrings, and a ring, and she handed them to Don Bosco.
"Is this your offering?" he asked.
"Yes, Father. I promised Our Lady that I would give Her what
I cherish most. Please accept them."
"Have you no other possessions?"
"Nothing, Father, except what my husband earns working at
the foundry."
"Does he know that you are donating this jewelry to Our
Lady?"
"Yes, he knows and has gladly agreed."
"Have you any savings for emergencies?"
"What can we save on a three-lire-a-day salary?"
"What will you do in an emergency or sickness?"
"I am not worried. God will provide."
"You could count on this jewelry in an emergency. You could
sell or pawn it."
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"The Lord knows that we are poor, but I must do what I have
promised."
"Well," Don Bosco said, deeply moved, "let us do this. Our
Lady does not ask such a great sacrifice from you, but since it is
only proper that you give some tangible proof of your gratitude, I
will accept this ring. Keep the necklace and earrings." ,
"No, no!" cried the woman. "I promised all, and I want to give
all to Her!"
"No, do as I tell you. That is enough."
"But will Our Lady be pleased? I do not want to break my
promise. I am afraid She may punish me."
"I assure you, Our Lady is quite pleased with you."
"How do you know?"
"Take my word for it. In turn, I will use the value of the
necklace and earrings in Mary's honor and in your name."
"May I honestly do this?"
"Yes, you may."
The good woman paused, undecided, but then said, "So be it.
Do what you think is best, but I am still willing to give you all my
jewelry." Don Bosco was firm in his refusal and the woman re-
turned home quite happy-an admirable model of gratitude and
faith!
Father Lemoyne recorded another moving incident, as yet un-
published:
One morning, a poor man after an overnight walk [of some thirty-five
miles] from Alba went to confession and Communion in the Church of
Mary, Help of Christians and then called on Don Bosco to fulfill a vow.
Some time before, he had been critically ill and given up as hopeless by
his doctor. Aware of his desperate condition, he had promised to give all
he had to Our Lady and had instantly recovered.
Don Bosco listened, observing and noticing his shabby clothes and
wondering what alms he could afford. The man took a little packet from
his pocket, unwrapped it and formally handed a lira to Don Bosco.
"It is all I have," he said.
"Indeed?"
"Yes!"
''Do you have a little vineyard at home?"
"No, nothing at all."
"What kind of work do you do?"
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Manual labor. I live from hand to mouth."
••How will you go back home?"
••The same way I came-on foot."
··vou must be exhausted!"
••A little. It's a long way."
••Have you eaten this morning?"
••No, because I wanted to go to Communion. I ate some bread before
midnight."
••Have you any food with you?"
··None."
••Then please be my guest and stay overnight. You can return home
tomorrow if you wish."
••1 can't accept!"
··why not?"
"It wouldn't do to bring one lira and make you spend three or four!
That's no way to fulfill a vow."
••Listen, give your offering to Our Lady, and let me offer you hospi-
tality."
••1 can't accept because I know that Our Lady and you have but one
and the same purse."
··1 can promise you that the Madonna will not take it amiss if you
agree to be my guest."
••1 am not convinced, and I do not wish to bother you in any way."
••How will you manage to get home?"
·Tn start walking. When I get hungry, I'll beg for food: when I'm
tired, I'll rest by the wayside: at night some farmer will let me sleep in
his hayloft. Just now I must fulfill my vow to the letter. Good-bye and
pray for me." And with those words, he left abruptly.
Loving poverty as he did, and being most considerate toward
the poor, Don Bosco genuinely grieved at the sight of extravagant
luxury in homes he visited in search of financial help. 1
Throughout his life he displayed full trust in Divine Providence.
Declared Father Rua at the Informative Process:
If he was left a legacy-lands or houses-he pressed me to sell them
as quickly as possible and pay his debts without delay, thus forestalling
1We are omitting -an episode about a marchioness which has been narrated in Volume
IX, p. 142. We only add that the marchioness was eighty-four years old, she lived at 13
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, Turin, and the incident took place on September 19, 1871. [Ed-
itor]
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77
the danger of anyone becoming attached to it. Now and then he would
tell us, "Let us rid ourselves of these temporal possessions so that we
may give ourselves more fully to God's work. As long as we entrust our-
selves to Divine Providence, we shall not want for what is necessary and
our Society will prosper ever more. If we begin to hoard things, Divine
Providence will abandon us." It happened at times that I deferred the
sale of inherited property because I could not get an equitable price.
Don Bosco would then hound me, urging that I sell rather than wait for
a better deal at a future date. Occasionally, he even beat me to the
punch and sold it himself.
Following the example of St. Cajetan, he ardently wished that we
should live from hand to mouth with nothing to bank upon, and that any
money coming in should be promptly turned over to creditors. If he
learned of money being put aside, he would quickly insist upon its being
used as necessity demanded. He used to say that our congregation would
flourish as long as it kept itself in complete poverty.
Likewise, when a pupil admitted in confession that he had broken the
house rule by keeping money for himself, he considered the fault an in-
sult to Divine Providence and would demand that he hand the money
over to Father Prefect without delay. If the youngster refused and kept
confessing the same fault, he would threaten to withhold absolution.
"Love poverty," he constantly warned, "'if you want our con-
gregation to stay financially solvent."
Therefore, while "'chastity must be the outstanding trait of our
Society" along with a full, prompt, humble, and cheerful obe-
dience in our family life, it was the beloved practice of poverty
which Don Bosco made "his fundamental recommendation to all
the Salesians." It is obvious, of course, that Don Bosco wished us
to be exemplary in the practice of each religious vow!
We are never to forget that, by God's grace, our Society arose
spontaneously and almost unconsciously from the admiration and
gratitude which our holy founder evoked among his pupils. This is
the way nearly all the early Salesian vocations blossomed. Let
one example suffice.
In 1873 a bright, serious-minded Latin II student was one of
many boys crowding around Don Bosco in the porticoes during
recreation time. Noticing that the lad looked somewhat troubled
and anxious to speak to him, Don Bosco asked him, "Do you
want to tell me something?"
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Yes, Father."
"What is it?"
"It's private."
Drawing Don Bosco aside, the youngster whispered: "I would
like to give you something you will like."
"What is it?"
"Myself!" he exclaimed, standing almost on tiptoe and stretch-
ing out his arms. "I want to give you myself," he added gravely,
"so that from now on you may do whatever you want with me
and keep me always with you!"
"You could not have given me a finer present," Don Bosco
replied. "I accept it not for myself, but for the Lord, to whom I
offer and consecrate you."
This dear boy was Francis Piccollo from Pecetto, Turin, who
became a Salesian priest and later was appointed novice master,
director and provincial.
As we shall see, the love which his sons felt for Don Bosco was
matched by the esteem, respect and wonder which all sorts of
people, even from abroad, felt for him because of his extraordi-
nary virtues and apostolate. It was during these years that
Princess Maria Vittoria of Savoy-Carignano greeted a young
Oratory pupil, who was being introduced to her, with the words:
"How lucky you are to live with a saint!"
Declared Bishop John Cagliero in the Informative Process [for
Don Bosco's beatification]: "'This opinion of Don Bosco's saintli-
ness was deeply rooted in all sorts of people-noblemen, cler-
gymen and laymen. Far from declining, it waxed stronger every
year because of the fame of his lofty virtues and the extraordinary
gifts with which God had endowed him...." 2
If we want to be worthy of him, let us vie with his humility,
friendliness and other personal virtues, and let us strive to carry
out as perfectly as possible the following recommendations of his
which were most dear to his heart:
1. Thanks to Divine Providence, our congregation faces a
happy future, and its glory will last as long as our rules are ob-
served.
2. The purpose of our Society is our own sanctification and the
2We are omitting similar declarations from two former Oratory pupils. [Editor]
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79
salvation of souls through works of mercy.
3. I urge upon you the Christian education of youth, priestly
vocations, foreign missions, and above all the care of poor, home-
less boys.
4. My sons, I suggest neither penance nor any other austerity,
but work, work, work!
5. Work and temperance will make our Society flourish.
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CHAPTER 2
Forging Ever Ahead-1871
a.T the beginning of 1871, our Society had five houses:
the motherhouse in Turin, a junior seminary at Borgo San Mar-
tino, and boarding schools at Lanzo, Cherasco and Alassio. The
house at Trofarello1 was still used as a summer home, and the
recently vacated seminary at Mirabello2 was looked after by care-
takers.
Our members numbered seventy-seven: thirty perpetually pro-
fessed, and forty-seven with triennial vows. With the addition of
sixty-nine novices, total membership was boosted to one hundred
forty-six: twenty-seven priests, sixty-nine clerics, thirty-four coad-
jutors,3 and sixteen postulants not as yet invested with the clerical
garb.
We have been unable to trace the strenna4 Don Bosco gave that
year, but we do have a letter of his to Father John Bonetti, direc-
tor of the Bargo San Martino junior seminary, to whom he had
entrusted some work connected with his Church History. This
letter-undated but obviously written at the very beginning of
1871 while the Prussians were besieging Paris, which capitulated
on January 28-was delivered by a cleric little suited to our Soci-
ety because of his habit of inflicting physical punishment. In fact
he left shortly afterward. In this letter Don Bosco refers briefly to
the strenna and shows his fatherly goodness in looking forward to
1It had been donated to the Salesian Society by Father Matthew Franco, a devoted
benefactor. [Editor]
2See Vol. IX, pp. 413, 426. [Editor]
3Lay Salesians. [Editor]
4A New Year's gift customary in Italy. From the very beginning of the Oratory (see
Vol. Ill, p. 433) Don Bosco had started the custom of giving a 0 spiritual" strenna or gift
to his boys and co-workers on the last day of the year. It took the form of a motto or
slogan to be practiced throughout the year then about to dawn. This custom is still kept by
Don Bosco's successors. [Editor]
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81
treating the junior seminarians to a trip to Turin on the forthcom-
ing feast of Mary, Help of Christians:
Dear Father Bonetti:
[No date]
I shall send Pellegrini, who will do well, I think, just as he did here
with the Latin III pupils. He used to be rather quick to strike, but now
he seems to have gotten a good hold on himself.
Don't let the strenna alarm you, but let us not harbor illusions: God
has called us to a better world. It is up to you, my sons, to show your-
selves worthy, even more virtuous followers of your father.
Arrange to get here for the feast of St. Francis de Sales and we shall
talk over a number of things. The conference is scheduled for Monday,
[January] 30.5
As regards the Church History I'll write separately.
You can reassure our dear boys that their trip here for the feast of
Mary, Help of Christians is certain enough. Their contribution to the
festivities reads as follows: May 23, evening-Musical Selections by the
Junior Seminarians of Bargo San Martino.
I don't foresee problems with food and transportation. We shall pro-
vide lodging. After all, if the Prussians can sleep on bare ground around
Paris at twelve degrees below zero,6 we can surely manage with tents or
lean-tos and straw mattresses. At any rate, God willing, we'll do our
best to have a solemn celebration and a wonderful time.
We can already travel by train at half fare, but I hope I can get an
even better deal.
May God bless us all and keep us on the path to heaven. Amen.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. [John] Bosco
P.S. You'll find useful bits of information about the Popes of the first
three centuries in Volume I of Mansi's Acta Conciliorum.
As had been customary since 1865, the annual conference was
held on January 30, the feast of St. Francis de Sales, and was at-
tended by all the Oratory confreres and the directors of the other
houses. On that occasion two members took triennial vows. Af-
terward, the directors reported on the state of their respective
5This was the annual conference of St. Francis de Sales. See Vol. V, pp. 7f, Vol. VI, pp.
l 76ff, and the Indexes of Volumes VIII, IX and XI under "Conferences." [Editor]
6About 15° Fahrenheit. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
houses. Commenting on developments and improvements, Don
Bosco congratulated the directors for their tireless efforts and
then went on to recommend thrift, a return to the original pur-
pose of school dramatics,7 trust in Divine Providence, our protec-
tor in such difficult times, and obedience.
Seeing Don Bosco's constant interest in the welfare and growth
of each house encouraged all the confreres to outdo themselves.
In chronological order we shall present here instances of his fa-
therly care.
1. IN TURIN
In 1870 Don Bosco had purchased a fair-sized piece of land
behind the Oratory. While the square1 facing the shrine of Mary,
Help of Christians and the building along Via Cottolengo were
nearing completion, he renewed an application2 to the city build-
ing commission for permission to incorporate this piece of land to
the Oratory with a wall and use it for agricultural training. On
receiving permission, he had his contractor, Charles Buzzetti,3 do
the job.
Since Don Bosco's application had mentioned his intention of
training some of his pupils in horticulture, the mayor thought that
he might ask him to take over the direction of an agricultural
school about to be opened in Turin.
On February 27, 1869, Chevalier Charles Alphonsus Bonafous,
the former head of a leading commercial firm in Piedmont, had
died in Lyons, bequeathing substantial holdings to the city of
Turin to set up a large agricultural school for poor abandoned
boys. An ad hoc committee appointed by the city council drew up
basic statutes which were examined and adopted in 1870; finally,
in March 1871, the government recognized the proposed agricul-
7See Ch. 8, No. 9. [Editor]
1See Vol. IX, pp. 114, 414. [Editor]
20mitted in this edition. [Editor]
3Charles Buzzetti had attended Don Bosco's festive oratory with his two brothers Joseph
and Joshua in its very beginnings when it was still a "wandering oratory." (See Vol. V, p.
298. See also the Index of Volume II under "Festive Oratory.") To him Don Bosco had
entrusted the construction of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians. See Vol. VII, p.
279. [Editor]
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83
tural school as a legal moral body. At this point, the city council
turned to Don Bosco, whom they all admired for his successful
training of so many poor boys. Several committee members,
headed by Commendatore Ernest Riccardi of Netro, called on
him, and after some discussion on how to go about reforming
youngsters, they finally made their proposal.
When some good needed to be done, Don Bosco did not back
out lest it would remain undone through his fault, and so he im-
mediately replied that he would be not at all averse to accepting
such a worthy assignment. "But," he added, "I must have a free
hand in its internal administration and direction. Without that I
cannot accept responsibility for the boys' proper education and
conduct."
Commendatore Riccardi and the other committee members
agreed, and when Don Bosco asked what funds would be allotted
for the school's upkeep, they put the sum at 70,000 lire a year.
"Very well. Give me the 70,000 lire, and I will see to the proper
running of the school. As for other administrative matters, I
neither wish nor intend to be involved. That will be your con-
cern."
"How many boys can you annually care for with that sum?"
"Two hundred and eighty!"
"Impossible! How can you ever manage?"
"Leave that to me."
"How will you feed and house them?"
Don Bosco explained how the Oratory boys were cared for
regarding food, work, study, recreation, and character formation.
Full of admiration, the committee extolled him as an ideal educa-
tor and concluded that his program was by far the most advan-
tageous and economical.
"It's a deal," they concluded. "We shall so inform the city
council, and they will approve it at their next meeting. No one
could possibly object to such an advantageous agreement."
"Don't be so sure of that," Don Bosco replied. "You gentle-
men may believe that the matter is settled, but I certainly do
not."
"Oh, come now, the contract will be signed and sealed in a few
days. Who would turn down a guarantee to provide for such a
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
large number of boys? No one else would attempt it with only
70,000 lire."
"So you may believe, but you will see that I am right. Even if I
offered to provide for five hundred boys for the same sum, my
proposal would be rejected."
"Why?"
"Simply because a great many people are looking for a piece of
this project, and 70,000 lire is not a large enough sum for each to
make a little profit."
The men laughed, muttering a thousand denials and thoroughly
convinced that the matter was settled. Little did they realize that
Don Bosco had spoken the truth. At the council meeting the lead-
ers did praise Don Bosco, but then decided that they could not ac-
cept his offer since, they said, his close ties with the Jesuits and
the Pope clearly showed that he was opposed to their liberal
views.
Of course, the real reason for their refusal was what Don Bosco
had said. When the school opened in June l 872 with seventy boys
the entire administration was in the hands of laymen, and very
soon it ran into a financial crisis. Don Bosco was immediately
contacted again for new negotiations, but he declined, convinced
that it would be a waste of time since the matter was bound to
end up as it did before. In addition, the regulations approved on
July 19, 1871 regarding the religious education of those boys stat-
ed that they were to be brought up "in such practices of piety as
were considered necessary," but were to attend Mass only on
Sundays, while the "non-Catholic pupils" were to receive reli-
gious training "from ministers of their own faith."
At that time liberals and, possibly, some anticlericals ran City
Hall. Don Bosco had gone there several times to recommend a
well-known Catholic for a vacancy, but he was never even given
an interview. Finally he insisted on talking to Commendatore
Riccardi himself but was told that he was in conference.
"Then I will wait until he is finished," Don Bosco replied.
Informed of Don Bosco's insistence, Riccardi came out.
"What do you want?" he asked, somewhat annoyed.
Don Bosco tersely stated his business. "There's nothing more
involved than that," he concluded, "but I wanted to speak to you
personally."
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85
"Well," Riccardi answered, "let me tell you quite frankly that
I cannot grant your request. Look at the council membership.
Their policy, don't you see, is that City Hall jobs are open only to
their supporters."
Meanwhile other work was underway at the Oratory. On Feb-
ruary 2, Don Bosco contracted with Charles Buzzetti to build the
choir, both lateral sacristies of the Church of Mary, Help of
Christians, and adjacent porticoes. In the proposed choir area
there stood a mulberry tree that shaded the old Oratory gate
where young Felix Reviglio had sought refuge in its branches.4
Father [Angelo] Savio5 waited until Don Bosco would be away
for a few days and had it felled, knowing how sad he would be to
see it go. In fact, when he came back and saw the old tree gone,
he stood silently tearful for a few moments as though he had lost
a friend. How many cherished memories must have passed
through his mind!
Work began at once, and soon the walls of the two sacristies
began to rise, doubling their length. The sacristies were separated
by an oval-shaped choir whose cornice was supported by pillars.
The choir connected with the church through an arch in the apse
where the painting of Mary, Help of Christians hung until 1891,
when the first repairs and initial decorations were undertaken by
Father Rua in fulfillment of a vow.
On September 11, 1912 Joseph Freilino, a former Oratory
pupil and the chancellor of the Justice Department in Pavia, gave
us a written account of an incident which occurred in 1870-71. It
confirms Don Bosco's charism of seeing constantly all that was
happening at the Oratory-a reward for his burning desire to
prevent evil:6
I was in secondary school at the Oratory from 1868 to 1873 [wrote
Freilino]. Like others, I was easily swayed by companions and so I did
4See Vol. III, pp. 239-243. [Editor]
5Angelo Savio (1835-1893) entered the Oratory in 1850 and was among those who on
December 18, 1859 decided to band together with Don Bosco. (See Vol. VI, pp. 18lf) At
that meeting he was elected Economer General of the Salesian Society, a post to which he
was re-elected in 1869 and 1873. He left that office in 1875 to take over the construction
program of the Salesian Society. In 1885 he left for South America and opened Salesian
houses in various republics. He died in Guaransa (Ecuador) on January 17, 1893. In the
dream "The Wheel of Eternity," Don Bosco saw him in far distant regions. See Vol. VI,
pp. 540, 549. [Editor]
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
not always follow Don Bosco's fatherly advice, though I often did go to
him for confession.
What I say confirms the general belief of those days, namely, that
Don Bosco always kept his sons in view even if he was not bodily pres-
ent himself, and he would keep them from doing wrong, at times in a
physical way.
In 1870-71, the Oratory band, sporting yellow uniforms, played at the
wine fair during the carnival season. In those days, the building facing
Via Cottolengo was being lengthened to adjoin a private house which ex-
tended some twelve feet toward the side of the church where the main
entrance now stands. The yard between the building and the church was
enclosed by two wooden fences.
On the last Saturday of the carnival season, two or three other boys-
Boeri, Cirio and Camagna (or some surname like that)-and I decided
to slip out of the Oratory during evening confessions to go to the car-
nival. (I was only a boy and thought nothing of the consequences.) We
agreed to sneak out through this yard. We got through the first fence
easily enough because a board was missing. My friends cleared the sec-
ond fence, but somehow I couldn't make it, even though it was an easy
feat. I don't know how, but as I was standing almost in the middle of
the yard in front of a cellar window, rocks began falling about me,
breaking into pieces as they struck the pavement, but I was not hit. My
friends were telling me to hurry, but in my fright I kept saying that I
could not get over the fence and that rocks were flying at me. I still
don't know if they heard stones falling because the matter was never
brought up, but they climbed back into the yard, and we gave up the at-
tempt.
Later, taking a serious view of the matter, I felt-and still do-that
there was something extraordinary about it, especially in the light of
what happened later. No one knew of our plan, no one saw us go
through the fence, and none of us (I am quite certain) told Don Bosco
about it in confession. Yet, the next day, on our way to Mass, I saw
Don Bosco crossing the day boys' courtyard with some pupils and I
went up to him. Whispering into my ear, as was his custom, he asked
me in a fatherly way if I had gone out after all. I replied that I had not,
and he let me go.
Another similar occurrence confirmed my conviction that Don Bosco
watched constantly and personally over his sons (it would be ridiculous
to imagine that he watched only over me), and that he kept them visibly
before his eyes. I had planned to sneak out of the church during evening
confessions with some other companions for no specific purpose. I don't
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Forging Ever Ahead-1871
87
recall why, but we did not do it. And yet, the following morning, Don
Bosco asked me whether I had gone out.
During my five-year stay at the Oratory I was twice tempted to sneak
out for the fun of it, and both times Don Bosco knew about it. How?
Under the circumstances, I can only think that he saw me, even though
he was not physically present, and protected me.
On Ash Wednesday, Don Bosco went to Varazze to discuss ac-
cepting the direction of that school. The following Monday, Len-
ten catechism classes, conducted by priests, clerics and some
older pupils, began at the Oratory. They were held Monday
through Friday until Holy Week for a very large number of
neighborhood boys. The same procedure was followed at the St.
Aloysius and the St. Joseph festive oratories.
That year [1871], the Valdocco festive oratory took on new
life7 in the Church of St. Francis de Sales, which had been cleared
of all storage.8 By 1870 Don Bosco had entrusted its services to
Father Julius Barberis who had been ordained on December 17 of
that year. He said Holy Mass there, preached, and supervised the
boys, assisted by other Salesians. The play area, some three
hundred feet by fifty-five feet, was also provided with athletic
equipment. The festive oratory was reached through the square to
the left of the church at the far end of the playground and Ora-
tory.
On December 8, 1870, Pius IX, seeing the Church "persecuted
and oppressed everywhere by her enemies" to the extent of en-
couraging the godless to believe "that the gates of hell were about
to prevail against her," heeded the petitions of the world epis-
copate and declared St. Joseph patron of the Catholic Church,
"entrusting himself and all the faithful to his most powerful pro-
tection." He also raised the liturgical rank of the feast which was
to be solemnly observed on March 19. At Don Bosco's directive,
from 1871 onward, St. Joseph's feast was celebrated in all Sale-
sian houses as a holy day.
At this time too, Don Bosco decided to start work on the
7As regards its temporary decline see Vol. VI, p. 85. [Editor]
8After the opening of the new Church of Mary, Help of Christians, the Church of St.
Francis de Sales had been temporarily converted to several other uses. See Vol. IX, p. 350.
[Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Church of St. John the Evangelist and on a boarding school for
poor boys to be annexed to it along Viale del Re.9
To this effect he sent a circular dated October 12, 1870. An-
other, written by the vicar general of the Turin archdiocese for
the archbishop and dated October 13, 1870, was mailed some
time after the prelate's death, which occurred on October 16 of
that year. 10
His many difficulties in completing this project showed his
heroic fortitude. The land had been purchased for a high price, 11
but the artistic Romanesque plan of his architect, Count Arborio
Mella, required the addition of another parcel of land belonging
to a man named Morglia, who refused to sell regardless of price.
Don Bosco was then advised to appeal to the king, on the basis
of a law of June 25, 1865, to have his project declared necessary
to the public good. Thus Morglia's strip of land could be legally
expropriated. 12
We shall see how long and vexing his efforts were during these
years to buy that small parcel of land. When the matter was final-
ly settled, new problems arose when Archbishop Gastaldi, in
order to raise funds for St. Secundus Church, publicly announced
his intention to make it a monument to Pius IX. In view of that,
he stopped Don Bosco from referring to the Church of St. John
the Evangelist as a monument to that Pontiff. The dispute got as
far as the Holy See, and "I myself'-so testified Canon John
Baptist Anfossi in the Informative Process-"was asked to pre-
pare a memorandum for Cardinal Antonelli. In it I pointed out
how much earlier Don Bosco had planned to build a church as a
monument to Pius IX, and how I had myself pledged to donate
the main door which was to bear in bronze Pius IX's achieve-
ments."
In addition, another burden had been placed on Don Bosco. In
1867, property owners in Borgo San Secondo formed a commit-
tee to erect a public church near the Porta Nuova railroad sta-
tion. The city authorities approved one of several designs submit-
9Now named Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. [Editor]
10This paragraph is a condensation. We are omitting two letters of Don Bosco respec-
tively to Countess Callori and to Commendatore Dupraz along with a copy of his circular.
[Editor]
''See Vol. IX, p. 445. [Editor]
12We are omitting all the legal details. [Editor]
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ted and granted a building permit on January 2, 1868. They also
donated needed land and authorized a 30,000 lire subsidy toward
the.construction of the church on condition that a 100,000 lire de-
posit be made as a guarantee. Finding a fund-raiser was no easy
task, and the matter was halted until 1871, when the need for a
parish church in Borgo San Secondo was so urgent that the com-
mittee and prominent laymen and priests begged Don Bosco to
take over the project, convinced that he alone could see it
through. In fact, Monsignor [Joseph] Zappata, the vicar capitu-
lar, called him and frankly said that he considered him morally
bound to accept the task, lest the project collapse and through his
default many people be unable to meet their religious obligations.
Trusting in Divine Providence, Don Bosco agreed. Father An-
thony Nicco, the administrator of St. Charles parish, within whose
limits the new church was to be erected, joined Don Bosco and
the pastor of La Crocetta in asking the mayor to cut the red tape
delaying the start of the construction. The municipal authorities
cooperated fully and showed their trust in Don Bosco by waiving
the 100,000 lire deposit. His name, they said, was the best guar-
antee.13
2. AT LANZO
On February 11 [1871] Don Bosco wrote to Father Lemoyne:
Dear Father:
God willing, I shall be at Lanzo Monday morning. Read the [en-
closed] letter to the boys. I shall explain everything later. I will see you
soon.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
In the letter he told his "dearly beloved sons" that he had in-
visibly paid them a visit in the company of a horrible monster.1
His visit was unforgettable. His forewarning, followed up by a
13This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
1See pp. 35f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
detailed account of the dream, aroused most generous resolves in
the pupils' hearts.
Meanwhile, it became imperative to resume work on the new
wing, since the long bitter winter had damaged the entire edifice,
particularly where it was connected to the old building. On his re-
turn to Turin, Don Bosco appealed for financial help to Blaise
Foeri, a kind gentleman who lived at Lanzo. 2 A few days later he
again wrote to Father Lemoyne:
Dear Father:
April 27, 1871
I could not write you these last few days. My advice now is that you
had better make haste slowly. To get anywhere we must reach the root
of the problem. Once the boys decide to live their faith, things begin to
improve at once. What a pity that good parents are sometimes so little
heeded by their children. But what can we do? One person can disgrace
everyone! Yet even for the troublemakers things may improve. Pray and
do not fear. God will do the rest. This is the course to follow. May God
bless us all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Father Lemoyne has left no notes on this letter, which he filed
as the 18th from Don Bosco. From this and from the 19th letter,3
to which reference was already made in Volume IX,4 we clearly
see that Father Lemoyne was concerned about some boy's con-
duct and that Don Bosco advised him to pray and be patient, sure
of eventual improvement.
But now an interesting detail showing our founder's humility
comes up. On October 2, 1870, he had seen to the admission of
his young grandnephew Joseph, the son of Francis, to the Sale-
sian school at the regular rate. When the boy did not do well in
his studies, he brought him to the Oratory in 1873, and finally
sent him back home. Many years later, he frankly told Father
Lemoyne, "I sent my grandnephew to your school because I was
2We are omitting this letter. [Editor]
3Don Bosco's note, identified as No. 19 by Father Lemoyne, read: "Please come imme-
diately. Your son cannot remain here any longer. You will be told the reason in person."
[Author]
4See Vol. IX, pp. 443f. [Editor]
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Forging Ever Ahead-1871
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sure that, as a good friend of mine, you would take care of him. I
was hoping that he would do well and so felt at ease. When I saw
his examination scores, I was sadly disappointed and thought,
Didn't it ever dawn on that director that the little fellow was my
grandnephew, and that I had purposely entrusted the boy to him?
Why did he neglect him? Why didn't every teacher do all he could
to help the lad get at least passing marks? Why did they show me
such little consideration? In this frame of mind, I decided then
and there to board him near Bra with a priest, a friend of mine
who I felt would take the boy's success to heart. Suddenly, how-
ever, I took hold of myself and said: Do you see what affection
for your relatives is driving you to? And you preach detachment?
If your grandnephew failed, must you believe that the director
and the other teachers neglected their duty? Think no such
thoughts! Let Divine Providence guide events! I would like to
have had my own relative, one bearing my own name, join our
Congregation, but if this is not to be, perhaps it is not God's will.
So I now put my mind at rest and let things go their way quietly,
like water following its course."
However, the Lord willed that three of Joseph's sisters should
join the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.
One of them-Eulalia-became Assistant Mother General.
3. AT BORGO SAN MARTINO
The transfer of the junior seminary to Borgo San Martino so
nettled Mirabella's citizens that some of them "succeeded in hav-
ing a tax levied on our movable goods. Furthermore [on De-
cember 31, 1870] they had the entire school impounded for auc-
tion unless the tax amounting to two thousand and twenty-five
lire was paid within ten days."
Some difficulties were also raised by the provincial superin-
tendent of schools because of possible legal violations in transfer-
ring the seminary to a new locality, but a prompt explanation sat-
isfied the authorities, at least for the moment. 1 Nevertheless, Don
1This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Bosco felt that he should pay a visit to Borgo San Martino and so
informed the director. He went there during the first week of
Lent, on his return from Varazze.
Delighted by the happy news, Father Bonetti set about prepar-
ing his pupils for a fitting welcome by telling them and explaining
for several evenings in a row a dream which Don Bosco had had
in 1860 and had described to the Oratory pupils.2 It dealt with a
triple tier of tables arranged in an amphitheater. At the lowest,
seated in grief and filth and feeding on garbage, were boys in the
state of mortal sin; the middle tier, bathed in clear light, was oc-
cupied by lads who had regained God's grace by a good confes-
sion, and theirs was an exquisite meal served on rich dinnerware.
Lastly, the topmost tables were reserved for boys who had re-
tained their baptismal innocence. The choicest foods, an inde-
scribable joy, enchanting beauty and dazzling splendor outshining
the sun were their lot. "There were then two hundred and twelve
boys at the Oratory," Father Bonetti remarked, "but Don Bosco
saw only twelve seated at the innocents' table."
Pointing out the excellence and beauty of souls who retain their
innocence, he exhorted his pupils to keep themselves pure in heart
and body at all cost. He urged that they take advantage of Don
Bosco's visit and of his talks to form and keep this holy resolu-
tion. His fervent, thoughtful recommendations bore good fruit.
Don Bosco was given a moving welcome. On March 2 he received
the triennial vows of a Salesian. Back in Turin, he wrote to the
director thanking God for the happiness that those boys had given
him. 3
He returned to Borgo San Martino in August, again notifying
Father Bonetti beforehand. His visit, from August 1 to August 3,
was a blessing for the house.4
In one of these train trips to Borgo San Martino an amusing
incident occurred. Traveling in the same compartment with Don
Bosco were two men who began to talk about him-one enthusi-
astically praising him to the sky, the other harshly criticizing his
undertakings. They were hotly upholding their views until one of
2See Vol. VI, pp. 410f. [Editor]
3We are omitting Don Bosco's short note to Father Bonetti and also a digression about
unsuccessful attempts to sell the former junior seminary at Mirabello to meet construction
expenses for a new wing at the Salesian school in Lanzo. [Editor]
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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them noticed Don Bosco in the far comer. Hoping to end the
dispute, he said, "Here is a priest. Let him decide the matter.
We'll abide by whatever he says."
"Fine," the other replied.
"Forgive us, Father," the first said, "if we drag you into our
discussion, but in this case a priest should really be the judge.
Where are you from, Father?"
"Turin."
"Do you belong to the diocese?"
"Yes. I live in the city of Turin."
"Do you know Don Bosco?"
"Very much so!"
"Well, please tell us quite impartially which of us is right."
"Well," Don Bosco answered, "you, sir, have really over-
praised him. Don Bosco is not an angel, because angels do not
live on earth but in heaven. You, instead," he went on, turning to
the other, "have been overcritical. Don Bosco is certainly not the
villain you think."
"So, what is the right viewpoint?"
"Don Bosco is an ordinary priest who may well make mistakes,
but in doing good-little though it be-his only aim is to help his
fellow man."
By this time the train reached Bargo San Martino. As Don
Bosco alighted, a group of priests and clerics ran up to him,
greeting him joyously: "Don Bosco! Don Bosco!"
The man who had spoken ill of him was very embarrassed. He
hurriedly got off the train to apologize to Don Bosco, who gently
told him, "Never mind! Still, when you want to criticize someone,
make sure that he is not present."
4. WITHDRAWAL FROM CHERASCO
[In 1869] at the request of the town authorities and with the
Holy See's permission, Don Bosco had opened a boarding school
at Cherasco in a monastery formerly belonging to the Somaschi, 1
but from the very beginning this new foundation caused serious
troubles for him.
1See Vol. IX, pp. 315, 347. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
An unhealthy climate and uncomfortable accommodations,
partly owing to foot-dragging on the part of the town council,
prompted Don Bosco to write to the mayor on September 7,
1870, warning him that unless steps were taken, as agreed, to
remedy situations, he would have to withdraw. He also informed
him that he was meanwhile making no efforts to have his teachers
certified. A town council meeting on March 9, 1871 proved in-
conclusive, and two days later Don Bosco notified the mayor that
he was terminating his services at the end of that school year. The
matter went to court, and on October 17, 1871 Don Bosco was
enjoined to continue running the school. He appealed the verdict
on December 12, 1871, but the controversy went on for several
more years until October 1877, when a compromise was finally
reached.2
5. A NEW SALES IAN SCHOOL AT VA RAZZE
Toward the end of 1870, Father Paul Bonora, the pastor of St.
Ambrose and vicar forane of Varazze, wrote to Don Bosco and
asked him to take over the management of a handsome resident
school then being built in the upper part of town. 1 He had the
agreement of the mayor, Mr. Anthony Mombello, and the ap-
proval of Bishop John Baptist Cerruti of Savona. The widespread
satisfaction and praise generated by the opening of a Salesian
school at Alassio that same year had prompted this invitation to
Don Bosco.
In a holy desire to keep extending his sons' field of work, he
welcomed the proposal, all the more so because, as we have al-
ready remarked, he foresaw withdrawing from Cherasco. He
therefore invited the vicar forane to visit the Oratory, and nego-
tiations began by mail, asking him to draft a list of basic condi-
tions as soon as possible. In the meantime, Attorney Bartholo-
mew Fazio, the borough school deputy, in consultation with
Father Bonora, anticipated that wish and drew up a sketch which
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
1See Vol. IX, p. 456. [Editor]
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Forging Ever Ahead-1871
95
he handed over to the vicar, who in turn confidentially forwarded
it to Don Bosco. The latter studied it and then sent a draft of his
own to the vicar, who passed it on to the city council. The council
approved it in general, but suggested a meeting with Don Bosco
who promptly traveled to Varazze with his administrator, Father
Savio, on Ash Wednesday, February 22.2 Father Bonora met
them at the station and insisted that they be his guests.
After several discussions on details of the stipulation, the
mayor assured Don Bosco that an agreement would be reached
without difficulty. While inspecting the building, Father Savio
commented on the lack of space for a chapel, but the mayor as-
sured him that a large room on the ground floor was being set
aside for that purpose.
The new building was on a site previously owned by a nearby
Capuchin monastery. These religious had granted permission for
erecting the school, but since the mayor planned to use their
public church for the day students' Sunday services and thus run
a sort of festive oratory, Don Bosco made a quick trip to Genoa
to see the Capuchin provincial. The latter was out. Returning to
Varazze, Don Bosco called on the local superior who gave him to
understand that the Capuchin community would not favor the
plan. Don Bosco therefore frankly informed the mayor that he
would do nothing to embarrass those religious.
We do not know whether Don Bosco was hosted, as usual, dur-
ing his brief stay at Genoa by Canon Canale or by Father Capri-
le, the pastor of St. Luke's, but we do know that he called on
Marchioness Julie Centurione among others to thank her for her
invitation of December 28, 1870.3 This good lady became one of
his dedicated benefactresses.
Among his callers we must mention Joseph Prefumo, the presi-
dent of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the parish of the
Diecimila Crocifissi [Ten Thousand Crucified], and Dominic
Varetti, a member. Enthused by the good being done in Turin on
behalf of poor boys, they invited him to open a school in Genoa
for the same purpose. He pointed out to them the need of first
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
3See Vol. IX, p. 456. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
finding funds and a suitable site. Those good laymen promised to
work on that. Praising their zeal, he encouraged them and as-
sured them of his sincere collaboration.
A month later, on March 23, the Varazze city council unani-
mously decided to open the school under Don Bosco's direction.
Canon Dominic Mombello, the mayor's brother, promptly in-
formed Don Bosco of their decision.4
Proceedings for implementation went very smoothly. On April
6, the vice-prefect of the province of Savona ratified the decision
of the Varazze city council, and the mayor immediately sent of-
ficial confirmation of this5 to Don Bosco on April 7, 1871, giving
more significant details to be incorporated in the contract which
would be drawn up by Attorney John Maurice.
As soon as the contract was ready, Don Bosco received a copy
with an invitation to attend the board of aldermen's meeting in
order "to be of one mind about the aforesaid contract, prior to
submitting same to the city council for deliberation."
Don Bosco made corrections, deletions and observations which
for the most part were incorporated in the final draft, but we do
not know if he returned to Varazze.6 The definitive contract was
sent to him on July 22, 1871.
In due course Don Bosco signed and returned one copy to the
mayor. Having thus bound himself to open a boarding school at
Varazze for the forthcoming school year, on July 29 he formally
notified the mayor of Cherasco that he was withdrawing from
that school because of its unhealthy location. Immediately he
transferred the whole staff to Varazze, thus originating the belief
among us that the Cherasco school had been transferred to
Varazze.
The painstaking negotiations to open a new school at Varazze
had not gone unnoticed in Genoa, where, as we have already seen,
there was a great desire that Don Bosco should open a hostel for
poor boys. Thus Divine Providence was already setting the scene
for a new school to be opened there that year.
4We are omitting his letter. [Editor]
5We are omitting his letter. [Editor]
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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6. THIRD CENTENARY OF THE VICTORY AT LEPANTO
The third centenary of the victory at Lepanto (1571-1871) was
solemnly celebrated in the Church of Mary, Help of Christians. 1
Full of interesting details, the program2 was posted in all
churches. It was also published on the cover of the May issue of
Letture Catto/iche and on leaflets widely spread throughout the
city.
On the afternoon of May 21 many Turin vocalists joined the
Oratory choirboys in the little Church of St. Francis de Sales for
a final rehearsal of the Saepe dum Christi, a magnificent com-
position of Father John Cagliero that was stunningly rendered on
the feast day itself.3
At Don Bosco's wish, the festivities were most devout in church
and most joyful outdoors. The splendor of the sacred services was
truly moving. Outdoors, too, everything proceeded in a most or-
derly way, thanks to painstaking measures adopted by the superi-
ors under Father Rua's chairmanship to ensure the visitors' free
access to all playgrounds without prejudice to discipline and
order.
The church services were well attended, particularly on the
feast itself, May 24. Thousands received Holy Communion, and
Masses were said at every altar from early morning on.
At noon fifteen hundred guests-priests, benefactors, friends,
confreres and Salesian pupils from all the houses-were generous-
ly fed by Divine Providence in nine different dining rooms.
That day too Our Lady clearly manifested Her predilection for
Her most devoted servant. What follows was narrated by Father
Lemoyne, who also was at the Oratory:
A certain Mrs. Mary Rogattino, leading her blind child by the hand,
was ushered into Don Bosco's room, where many people were already
1We are omitting an article of Unita Cattolica, May 14, 1871, on this celebration. [Edi-
tor]
2See Appendix 2. We are omitting details about a bazaar, souvenirs and a brass band
concert. We are also omitting a letter of Don Bosco to Marchioness Uguccioni advising
her about some matters and inviting her to the celebrations. [Editor]
3We are omitting the pertinent invitation sent to distinguished guests and other details
about a bazaar. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
waiting. Emboldened by grief, she fell to her knees, crying, "My heart is
broken! God gave me a son in answer to many prayers, and now He
deprives him of sight. For two years I have seen him writhe under sur-
gery, and the doctors have now told me openly that he has no chance
and that I must resign myself to God's will. Lord! I have tried, but I
cannot! This sacrifice is too much! I cannot believe that God would
allow such a disaster to strike an innocent child.... I am this world's
unhappiest woman!"
Her sobs choked her. Don Bosco let her give free vent to grief for a
while and then most tactfully suggested words of comfort and Christian
resignation. "Have you prayed to Our Lady, asking Her to cure this
dear little angel?" he asked. "Perhaps God has permitted this misfor-
tune to test you in order to bestow His mercy upon your child and glori-
fy the Blessed Virgin. Ask Mary, Help of Christians to help you and
firmly believe that She can easily do what surgeons cannot. Did not St.
Bernard say that all favors pass through Mary's hands? Turn to Her
then in a novena and offer some sacrifice. I assure you that God will
heal your child if it will help his soul and yours."
Don Bosco was about to dismiss her, but she held her ground. "I will
not leave until you have blessed my child," she persisted. "A friend of
mine assured me that when she was sick she crawled here, and from the
moment that you blessed her she began to improve. Why can't the same
thing happen to my child? If St. Peter's shadow alone could straighten
the cripple and restore sight to the blind, why shouldn't I hope as much
from the blessing of another minister of God?"
Don Bosco looked at her for a moment, astonished by such insistent
faith.
"You are mistaken," he answered. "Put no such trust in my blessing
but in God through the powerful intercession of Mary, Help of Chris-
tians! I am only a feeble instrument of His hands!"
But the good woman kept insisting, so much so that Don Bosco told
the child to kneel, blessed him, gave him a medal of Mary, Help of
Christians, and serit him off, exhorting the mother to have faith. She
departed, practically convinced that she had obtained the coveted grace.
Nor was she mistaken, for when she again called on Don Bosco, her son
was perfectly healed.
"Well," Don Bosco told her, ''the best way for you to show your grat-
itude to Mary, Help of Christians is to bring up this divinely favored
child as a good Christian. Teach him the holy fear of God and reverence
for the Church and her ministers. Should God call your child to serve
Him more closely, do not hinder his vocation, but consecrate him to
God!"
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On the following Sunday, May 28, the feast of Pentecost, the
faithful again flocked to the services. Then, on June 1, the young
noblemen who had manned the various stands at the Oratory
bazaar gathered at the Oratory to present Don Bosco officially
with the net proceeds, nearly 4,000 lire.4
That same year the Blessed Virgin granted Don Bosco another
outstanding favor to benefit the whole Church~a decision to
found a second religious family to care for girls. To this end She
had already prepared a cornerstone in the person of a humble
peasant girl of Mornese, Blessed Mary Mazzarello,5 who was al-
ready sanctifying herself under the guidance of a Salesian priest,
Father Dominic Pestarino, of revered memory.
In the sixth chapter of this volume we shall describe this good
priest's apostolate, especially among young girls, through the So-
dality of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate from whose ranks
came the first sisters of the new congregation, filially devoted to
Don Bosco. We shall also show Don Bosco's painstaking efforts
for their religious formation and the heroic virtues of Mary Maz-
zarella, the unanimously chosen first superior, and, later, Mother
General.
7. FLORENCE AND ROME
Don Bosco was very anxious to open a house in Rome. An
offer for the Church of San Giovanni della PignaI had failed to
materialize, and nothing had come of negotiations for the Church.
of the Holy Shroud.2 He was now informed that the Salesians
would be asked to take over a school at Palombara, in the diocese
of Sabina, near Rome.
Bishop Emilian Manacorda [of Fossano],3 who took the trou-
ble of looking after Don Bosco's interests with the Holy See,
wrote to Father Rua on April 30 to let him know that he had ob-
tained an awaited favor, adding the following news:
Next week I go to Palombara to choose a residence for Don Bosco's
priests. The local pastors are quite pleased and so is the mayor. As soon
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
5Now Saint Mary Mazzarella. [Editor]
'See Vol. IX, pp. 393, 395, 405, 420f. [Editor]
2/bid., pp. 192, 223, 238, 255, 301, 368. [Editor]
3See Vol. V, p. 77. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
as I get back to Rome, I shall write to Don Bosco in detail. The school
will of course open in October, but it would be advisable to go there a
few months sooner. Show Don Bosco whatever pertains to the new
house and recommend me to his prayers and those of the whole Ora-
tory.
The Holy Father blesses Don Bosco and all his sons, and I beg for
your kind blessing.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Emilian Manacorda
But matters turned out otherwise. On May 10 he wrote to Don
Bosco:
As we were about to close formal and definitive negotiations for the
school at Palombara, the devil (he alone) wrecked our plans. The state
school inspector ended all negotiations with priests and proposed other
teachers, and the municipal council went along with his decision. Rome
is feeling the wind of change. [Hopefully] whatever has been agreed
upon will [eventually] be carried out; if not, we shall have to bide our
time....
What follows fully reveals how extraordinarily good-hearted
the bishop was:
Pray for me, and kindly have special prayers offered for a lady who is
horribly tormented. It is no business of mine, but at the foot of the altar
I have already repeatedly offered my life to Jesus in exchange for her
deliverance from her most wretched condition. Wholeheartedly I state
again that I would gladly die if I could thereby save that soul. And you,
Don Bosco, call on Our Lady, now that Her feast is approaching, and
we shall obtain this grace.
On June 1, he again expressed his belief that the Palombara
negotiations would turn out well and that it was inadvisable for
the time being to accept the Church of the Holy Shroud. Con-
fident that the Oratory would like to join in the solemn celebra-
tion of the Pope's jubilee, he asked Don Bosco to have someone
compose a few poems in honor of Pius IX.4 "The Holy Father is
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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in excellent health," he wrote, "and at Palombara all await the
day when everything will be as before with the former mayor in
office. As regards the [Church of the Holy] Shroud, I believe its
rector has already written to you. The .time is not right. Even dis-
cussing the matter would be considered an outrage. So just forget
it for the time being. . . ."
Why such a warning? To avoid what would have been labeled
an act of servility to the Italian government. This was the opinion
of many ecclesiastics because this church, though in Rome, had
ties with the House of Savoy, and the Salesian Society had its
motherhouse in Turin! Significantly, on April 2 of that same
year, Unita Cattolica announced in these terms the publication of
a booklet printed at the Oratory:
A pastor of Como has published a pamphlet entitled The Two Roses
of Paradise. a tale dedicated to the Princess of Piedmont. It was printed
in Turin by the Oratory Press. We have merely read its untimely title
and dedication. It would have been far better to write about the crown
of thorns afflicting our Holy Father and weep with him. Melius est ire
ad domum luctus quam ad domum convivii [It is better to go to the
house of mourning than to the house of feasting-Eccles. 7, 3]. It is bet-
ter to go to the Vatican than to the Quirinal.
Don Bosco had decided to go to Rome [on June 25] immediate-
ly after the feast of St. John the Baptist to pay his respects to the
Holy Father on the occasion of his pontifical jubilee. His plans
called for a stopover at Florence where-as we shall narrate in
Chapter 5-he intended to meet Minister Lanza in an attempt to
improve the Church's sad condition. His appointment with the
minister, however, was scheduled earlier than he had anticipated,
and so he had to set off from Turin on June 22.5 He met Lanza in
Florence and then went on immediately to Rome, where, after
other talks with Lanza and with Pius IX, he finally achieved his
intent-the Holy See's decision to fill vacant dioceses, particular-
ly in Italy, because after the seizure of Rome no consistories had
been held for this purpose. This was a matter of "worldwide inter-
est," as Don Bosco expressed himself in writing to Father Rua
5We are omitting a short letter to this effect to Marquis Uguccioni. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
and orally on the feast of St. John the Baptist [his name day] in
1872. This matter was indeed so important that, at the Pope's
own request, he assiduously helped also in selecting many epis-
copal candidates. [Here is his letter to Father Rua:]
Dear Father Rua:
July l, 1871
I have had two audiences with the Holy Father and all went well. I
am leaving for Florence this evening, where I'll remain for a couple of
days to collect a little money, if possible.
Tell Father Savio to push the construction of the Church of St. John
the Evangelist. I think we can hold St. Aloysius' feast on the 16th of this
month.
Remember me to our dear boys, and tell them that I am impatiently
looking forward to seeing them. I hope to be with them on Tuesday
[July 4]. I have a lot of things to tell them. I also wish to thank them for
their prayers. I always personally recommend them to God during Holy
Mass. Now there is a matter coming up of worldwide interest. Its suc-
cessful outcome depends on prayer and war against sin. So take heart.
From Florence I'll let you know the time of my arrival, but tell one
and all to abstain from celebrations. They wouldn't be proper in these
distressing times.
My regards to Goffi and Father Berto. May God bless us all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. Do what you must to have Ambrose Sala exempted from mili-
tary service. Go and see whether a girl named Avalle, whom I recom-
mended to the Holy Family Institute at St. Donatus, has been accepted.
I promised to pay four hundred lire upon her admission. Write to me at
Florence about it, since I need to know. She is a protegee of Commen-
datore Bona.
8. GRATITUDE DAY
Don Bosco did not want any celebration on his return, but to
make up for it his name day was celebrated with enthusiasm,
probably on the following Sunday. A hymn, composed by Father
Lemoyne and set to print, mentioned his journey to Rome and his
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103
prediction that Pius IX's pontificate would not only match but
surpass the length of St. Peter's, 1 but does not give the date on
which his name day was solemnly observed. The hymn had this
dedication: "To Fr. John Bosco, from the Boys of the Oratory of
St. Francis Sales on His Name Day after His Return from
Rome." The print shop apprentices, in turn, presented him with
what they called "a modest sample of their expertise in floral pat-
terns" -another poem by Father Lemoyne, bearing this dedica-
tion: "It is little compared to your merits, but nothing compared
to our love."
As always, it was a heart-warming and moving demonstration
with many compositions in prose and verse overflowing with holy
resolutions to advance steadfastly in virtue. 2
The alumni too, who in previous years had begun to attend the
occasion in order to express their gratitude,3 read out an address4
signed by forty-five of them. They were led by Father James
Bellia. In thanking them, Don Bosco mentioned the splendid cele-
brations held in Rome for the Pope's jubilee, adding that the fol-
lowing year he would give them much more consoling news.
Devotion to the Eucharist, frequent Communion and spontane-
ous visits to the Blessed Sacrament during recreation were educa-
tional aids Don Bosco never ceased to stress in the simplest and
most convincing manner. So effective were his words that when-
ever he was seen entering the church to visit the Blessed Sacra-
ment, boys would interrupt their games in a crowd and hasten
after him. Such devout scenes were particularly noticeable during
the Forty Hours devotion celebrated that year from the 13th to
the 15th of July.
As the school year was now drawing to a close, Father Rua,
faithfully carrying out Don Bosco's every counsel and wish, asked
all the directors to give a report of their individual houses on
these items:
1. Number of pupils at the beginning and at the end of the
year.
2. Number of pupils paying monthly fees.
'See Vol. IX, pp. 243, 248. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
3See Vol. IX, p. 428. [Editor]
40mitted in this edition. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
3. Number, names and duties of confreres.
4. Total and individual expenditures of confreres.
5. Total ordinary income and disbursements.
6. Total extraordinary income and disbursements.
7. Whether personnel changes were needed.
The report was due at the end of the school year so that needed
or opportune deliberations could be taken at the forthcoming
spiritual retreats.
In those years-as we gather from the Salesian Directory-
Father Rua was the prefect of the Salesian Society and of the
motherhouse as well, and monthly staff meetings were held under
his chairmanship to see about correcting or preventing irregulari-
ties or taking decisions.5
9. AT ST. IGNATIUS AND NIZZA MONFERRATO
On August 6 [1871], together with his confessor, Father Felix
Golzio, rector of the Convitto Ecclesiastico,1 Don Bosco went up
to St. Ignatius' Shrine2 above Lanzo, where the first retreat for
laymen was about to begin. Before leaving Turin, however, he
drafted a request to the Varazze superintendent of schools for
permission to open a school in that town. Father Rua mailed it on
August 8 along with pertinent information about the staff.3
Don Bosco remained at St. Ignatius' for two weeks, hearing the
confessions of most of the retreatants, who saw in him not merely
an excellent spiritual director, but an exceptionally pious and
learned priest. In the norms and advice he gave for Christian liv-
ing, especially to those seeking higher perfection, he seemed an-
other St. Philip Neri.4
Even there, our good father spent his free time at his desk, an-
swering personal and business letters. Learning that Mr. Prefumo
and Mr. Varetti had found a suitable building for the projected
5We are omitting a resume of meetings held in 1871 for the artisans' staff. [Editor]
1An ecclesiastical college specializing in pastoral theology. It was here that Don Bosco
started his work for boys while attending courses immediately after his ordination. See
Vol. II, pp. 31 ff, 54-61. [Editor]
2/bid., pp. 96f, l 12f. [Editor]
30mitted in this edition. [Editor]
4We are omitting the retreat resolutions of one of the retreatants. [Editor]
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105
boys' hostel in Genoa, he drew up a program and asked one of
the retreatants, Mr. Bartholomew Joseph Guanti, to recopy it in
good penmanship for him. This gentleman later became a priest,
and ten years after Don Bosco's death, while stationed in But-
tigliera d'Asti as chaplain, he reminisced about that retreat as
follows: 5
I made my spiritual retreat at St. Ignatius' Shrine over Lanzo on
August 9-20, 1871 and was given a room next to Don Bosco's. . . .
On the second day-if I remember correctly-he asked me to make a
neatly written copy of the regulations he was drawing up for the pro-
posed hostel at Marassi, near Genoa.
I gladly undertook the task, but, unable to decipher his corrections, I
often had to ask for explanations. The saintly man obliged several times,
but then, seeing that my frequent knocking at his door interrupted his
hearing of confessions, he said, "'Listen, consulting me so often makes
both of us lose time. From now on, if you can't read my writing, just
say, 'Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us,' and you'll have no trou-
ble." To my astonishment, that invocation made everything clear, and I
managed to finish the job without any difficulty. . . .6
Since the feast of the Assumption was approaching, his
thoughts turned to his distinguished benefactress, Marchioness
Mary Fassati. Unable to call on her or send a gift for her name
day, he wrote,7 promising to offer Holy Mass on that day for her
intention as a token of his heartfelt gratitude for her help in ob-
taining exemption from military service for several clerics of his.
On August 20 he returned to the Oratory. He was still at lunch
when two bishops from abroad who were on their way to Rome
called to pay their respects. When they were ushered into the din-
ing room he immediately arose and went to meet them. Warmly
greeting them, he invited them to sit down and eat, and he offered
one of them his own place. That prelate, however, would not hear
of it, and they sat down at his right and left. Before leaving, both
knelt and asked for his blessing. He demurred but finally obliged.
Father Dominic Milanesio, who witnessed this incident with other
confreres, is our source.
5We shall omit minor details. [Editor]
6At this point we are omitting a thank-you letter of Don Bosco for a donation received
for the new sacristy of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians. [Editor]
7We are omitting his letter and other short notes to Fr. Lemoyne and Fr. Rua. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
That same day, Stephen Ali,8 one of the Algerians at the Ora-
tory, returned home, having been summoned by Archbishop Lavi-
gerie. He had been one of the first boys from Africa and had
become an excellent Christian. At a very touching farewell, this
fine lad promised that he would never forget Don Bosco who had
been a father to him, assuring him that in his far distant land he
would always remember and bless the place where he had become
a child of God.
The following day Don Bosco went to Nizza Monferrato to
pursue the important matter that the Holy Father had entrusted
to him.9
Countess Gabriella Corsi of Bosnasco, nee Pelletta of Cos-
sombrato, had often invited him to her villa where he could work
even while relaxing. He finally accepted and sent word that he
would stay four days. The countess was so delighted to see him
again that she immediately insisted he stay for at least a week.
"If I stay here, who will find food for my boys?" Don Bosco
asked.
"Divine Providence will see to it," the countess retorted.
"Yes, but Providence also says: 'Help yourself, and I will help
you!' I must do my share and find some kindly people. . . ."
"How much do you need to feed your boys for these three extra
days?"
"Three thousand lire."
"I will give them to you if you will stay."
"In that case, I accept."
The countess gladly handed Don Bosco the sum, and he imme-
diately sent it to Turin.
On August 24 he wrote to Father Rua to inform him, among
other things, that he had invited Mr. Varetti of Genoa to come to
Nizza. 10 The latter promptly went there and told Don Bosco that
the house chosen for the hostel was Senator Cataldi's villa at
Marassi, a few kilometers east of Genoa's city limits. The site
was very pleasant, healthy and quiet, and the rent was a mere five
hundred lire which had already been paid. Don Bosco remarked
8See Vol. IX, pp. 348f, 369. [Editor]
9See pp. lOlf. [Editor]
10This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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that a private villa far from downtown was hardly suited to an
arts and trades school, but he was nevertheless glad to get it start-
ed, feeling certain that more suitable premises could be found
later with the aid of the St. Vincent de Paul Society .11
On August 28, Father Francesia went to Nizza for instructions
about opening the school at Varazze. Father Cerruti also went to
tell Don Bosco that many families in Alassio were eager to see a
lycee added to the local Salesian school. Since the municipal
authorities promised full moral support but no financial backing,
Don Bosco hesitated to take on such an expensive enterprise
which would require certified teachers and substantial outlays for
a physics laboratory and other equipment. However, after closely
studying the matter, he decided that he would ask the parents of
the local graduates to pay, as a temporary measure, a percentage
of the cost they would have to bear for boarding their sons in
Savona or Genoa.
Then in the presence of his benefactress, he smilingly remarked
to Father Cerruti, "Remember that the Alassio lycee was decided
on here at Nizza, in the villa of Countess Gabriella Corsi!"
The pupils' parents accepted his proposal. Three families prom-
ised to pay fifteen hundred lire each, two others pledged three
hundred lire apiece, and one offered two hundred lire for a period
of three years.
The work Don Bosco accomplished in those few days-which
he called days of relaxation and diversion-was quite substantial
and even demanding, particularly those first days when he was
carrying out the important task of selecting candidates for vacant
dioceses. Though his feet and legs had given him some trouble, he
left Nizza blessing God.
Back in Turin, he answered letters which had arrived during his
absence. One, sent by Father Oggero, the pastor of the former
Carthusian monastery of Rivarolo Ligure and a truly fine shep-
herd, reached him at Nizza. He had heard of the promised open-
ing of a Salesian hostel at Marassi and was very anxious to talk
to Don Bosco about the many poor lads of neighboring Sampier-
darena. He invited him to be his guest at the monastery for a few
11 We are omitting a short letter of Don Bosco to Father Rua giving him some news and
entrusting to him the printing of a circular. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
days and to discuss the matter at leisure. Don Bosco accepted
gladly and promised to pray and visit him:
Dear friend in the Lord:
Turin, August 30, 1871
May God be blessed in all things! He alone can buoy us up in the
midst of the terrible troubles which now morally oppress all mankind.
Let us pray. On my part I shall also have prayers offered at the altar of
Mary, Help of Christians for your intentions.
Since I must go to Genoa in the autumn, I gladly accept your gra-
cious invitation to spend a few days at the monastery where you are the
worthy pastor.
May God bless and help you fulfill your noble desires. Pray for me
and my poor boys.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
10. LIGURIA, FLORENCE AND ROME
At the beginning of September Don Bosco went to Genoa to
look over the villa at Marassi and to seek benefactors for that
foundation. We have no evidence that he went to the monastery
[of Rivarolo ]. but he did meet many laymen and priests.
On the way [to Marassi] he met Father Joseph Capecci, the
Augustinian pastor of Our Lady of Consolation Church in the
section of town called San Vincenzo. Don Bosco mentioned the
hostel he was about to open at Marassi and recommended it to
him since his parish near [the town gate called] Porta Pila was
not far from the hostel. This good religious told him that it would
be desirable and even necessary to also open a school or at least a
festive oratory in Alessandria where, in his frequent visits, he saw
swarms of boys idling in the streets. Fortunately, the girls of the
town were looked after by several orders of nuns. Don Bosco en-
couraged him to hope that this need would be met in due course.
How amazed and overjoyed the zealous religious was when a
Salesian oratory opened in Alessandria the very same year he was
appointed bishop of that city. Two years later, on April 30, 1899,
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109
at the inauguration of the adjoining school, he was delighted by
the sight of some four hundred boys receiving Holy Communion.
Later, at table, he recalled with deep emotion his encounter with
Don Bosco twenty-eight years before.
Don Bosco tried to speak with Marquis Ignatius Pallavicini,
but since the latter was away, he informed him in writing of the
forthcoming opening of a hostel at Marassi, warmly recommend-
ing it to his generosity. The marquis replied on October 9, pledg-
ing an annual donation of a thousand lire. 1
On September 6, Don Bosco went to Sestri Ponente to visit
Baroness Louise Cataldi, a future important benefactress of his.
From there he wrote as follows to Father Rua:
Dear Father Rua:
Villa Cataldi, Sestri Ponente, September 6, 1871
God willing, I shall be in Turin tomorrow morning at 11 :20. I think
that we should dine at Aunt Felicita's and have a little rejoicing to
prepare for Our Lady's feast day. We shall also have the opportunity to
discuss some matters.
If the prospectus for Varazze is ready, send some three hundred
copies to t~e mayor or to the pastor immediately. Then send one with a
covering letter to each of the dioceses of Savona, Genoa and Sarzana.
May God bless us all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
The covering letter urged the pastors to send boys inclined to
the priesthood to the Salesian schools of Marassi or Varazze.2
On September 7, Father Rua and Don Bosco dined at Aunt
Felicita's. This pious young woman named Felicita Orselli lived
with Teresa and Frances Fusero, two other devout ladies with
whom she shared interests. From the modest profits of a small
store Felicita Orselli had managed to take out a life annuity in
favor of Don Bosco and was overjoyed whenever she could pre-
pare a meal for him; he would go to her home only to give his un-
'This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
divided attention to urgent work that he could not do at the Ora-
tory.
On September 8, the feast of Our Lady's Nativity, awards for
excellence in studies and conduct were given at the Oratory to the
best students and, for the first time, also to artisans taking French
and regularly attending elementary school classes. Immediately
afterward, Don Bosco set out for Lanzo with the directors for
their annual spiritual retreat scheduled to start on September 11.
However, he had to leave at once for Florence at the urgent sum-
mons of Minister Lanza. From Florence he went on to Rome for
the grave matter that was of '"worldwide interest."
He stayed there only three days, enough for his purpose. On
September 15 he was back in Florence. While there he got word
from the Capuchin Fathers of Varazze about lively discontent in
that town caused by a rumor that he intended to take over the
Capuchin church for the benefit of the Salesian day students.3 To
dispel their fears, he sent their superior the following letter which
is on file in our archives:
Dear Reverend Father:
Florence, September 15, 1871
Be assured that Don Bosco will never cause the Capuchins any dif-
ficulty. I have always done and still do all I can for them by sending
them postulants and offering them my hospitality. From the start of the
troubles4 until now, I have always had several Capuchins as dear, wel-
come guests.
I have never asked anyone to negotiate about the Capuchin church in
Varazze. Your informer must have misunderstood what he heard, or
perhaps some self-appointed delegate took it upon himself to handle
matters which never entered my mind.
When we had to reply to the city council, who had suggested we use
your church for our day students, I went to Genoa myself to sound out
your provincial on this matter, but he was out of town. Therefore I re-
turned to Varazze and spoke at length with Father Christopher and Fa-
ther Guardian. Since they did not favor the plan, I personally called on
the mayor to tell him that I had no intention of using your church. I
added that I would provide for the boarders by turning a large room
3See p. 95. [Editor]
4The suppression of monastic orders and the confiscation of their property. See Vol.
VIII, pp. 184f. [Editor]
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into a chapel and that it was up to the city council to find some other
place for the day students. I did all this myself without consulting or
delegating anyone.
Times are difficult. Let us strive to help rather than hinder one an-
other.
You did the right thing in writing to me because you thus learned how
things really stand. Now you will know what to do and what to tell
others. I recommend great caution in accepting at face value what is at-
tributed to me. If you hear such things, you will do me a favor to let me
know about them. They will certainly serve as my norm in avoiding
statements or decisions that not only hurt charity but often hinder what
pertains to God's glory, for which we both work. May God bless us all.
Pray for me.
Yours sincerely,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. I am momentarily in Florence, but tomorrow I'll be back in
Turin.
In actual fact, while the boarders used a hall for a chapel, the
day boys went to the chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption,
quite near the school.
11. RETURN TO TURIN
Upon his return to the Oratory Don Bosco immediately went up
to Lanzo where two spiritual retreats were scheduled from the
18th to the 23rd and from the 25th to the 30th of September re-
spectively.
Back in Turin, he again left for Becchi1 to celebrate the feast of
Our Lady of the Rosary, and also to find time to line up his many
projects and rest a little, since he was utterly exhausted. This we
gather from letters2 to Thomas Uguccioni, a benefactor whom he
had been unable to see in Florence, and to Countess Callari.
He rested by working peacefully in a quiet, solitary environ-
1Becchi, Don Bosco's birthplace, was situated on the outskirts of Morialdo, one of five
hamlets which made up the town of Castelnuovo, fifteen miles from Turin. See Vol. I, p.
20. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ment, far from the many people who daily sought to see him.
In mid-October, Father Francesia took charge of the new
school of Varazze in the face of an unhappy coolness on the part
of the townsfolk.
On October 26 several well-known professors and men of let-
ters met at the Oratory to discuss which authors were to be pub-
lished in the monthly issues of Italian Classics for the Young. 3
These cordial meetings dated from 1869, when the publication
first began.
That same day Father Albera and two clerics left for the new
house at Marassi. When they called on Don Bosco to say good-
bye to him, ask for a kind word and receive his blessing, he
exclaimed: "So, you are going to Genoa to open a home for desti-
tute boys!"
"Yes, but we have no means," one of the three remarked.
"Don't worry about anything. The Holy Father sends you his
blessing. Trust fully in the Lord and He will provide. You will be
met at the station by someone who will take you to your lodging.
There you will open your mission."
Father Albera, the Oratory extern prefect,4 had put a little
money aside for initial needs. When Don Bosco asked whether he
needed anything, he replied, "No, Don Bosco, thank you. I al-
ready have five hundred lire."
"My dear Father," Don Bosco retorted, "you don't need that
much money. Isn't Divine Providence in Genoa as well? Have no
fear! Divine Providence will look after you. Don't worry!"
And taking a few lire out of his drawer-just enough for the
trip-he handed them to him in exchange for the five hundred!
That same day, Don Bosco fully rewrote his circular letter for
the opening of a lycee at Alassio.
Father Albera set out with his two companions, all their pos-
sessions in one traveling bag. Arriving at Genoa, they were met
by several members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society from the
parish of the Diecimila Crocifissi [Ten Thousand Crucified], led
by their president, Joseph Prefumo, and by Dominic Varetti.
3A type of juvenile "Book of the Month Club." See Vol. IX, pp. 51, 195ff, 39lf. [Edi-
tor]
4The extern prefect helped the director in matters of public relations, admissions, expul-
sions and bookkeeping. [Editor]
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These insisted that they first take some refreshment, and then
they brought them to Marassi to Senator Joseph Cataldi's villa,
which had been rented as their residence.
The first few days were very hard for these sons of Don Bosco.
They lacked everything and spent more than one night sleeping on
wooden chairs because they had no beds. God was putting them
to the test before showering His blessings on them.
In fact, as news spread through the town that a hostel was
opening where needy boys could receive a Christian education
and learn a trade or craft, generous benefactors came to their
help. Even kindly peasants of the neighborhood vied with each
other to provide them with necessities. Mr. Prefumo especially
proved a good father to the youngsters and often visited them,
particularly on the eve of solemn feasts, bringing gifts for them.
12. A LONG, EDIFYING CONTENTION
In 1870 friction developed between the Oratory and Bishop
Thomas Ghilardi of Mondovi because of a transaction involving
the purchase and resale of a printing press. Though conducted
with edifying charity on both sides, the contention lasted until
1871.
In June 1868, during the octave of the consecration of the
Church of Mary, Help of Christians,1 Bishop Ghilardi had asked
our confrere, Chevalier Frederick Oreglia, the manager of the
Oratory printshop, to buy a press for him.2
Some days earlier (June 3), at a bargain price of 8,500 lire,
Chevalier Oreglia had paid Dominic Fissore cash for a press for
the Oratory.3 Several people, learning of the transaction, immedi-
ately offered him a higher price for the press, going as high as
18,000 lire, to be paid by installments. Oreglia [disregarding the
highest bidders] ceded it to the bishop for 15,000 lire, the lowest
bid.
Two years later, in 1870, the bishop came to know of the dif-
1See Vol. IX, pp. 124-140. Bishop Ghilardi enhanced the solemnity of the festivities with
his active participation. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor)
3See Vol. IX, p. 147. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ference between his and Oreglia's payment for the press, and took
a trip to Turin to discuss the matter with Don Bosco. Since Don
Bosco was absent and Chevalier Oreglia had already left our So-
ciety to become a Jesuit,4 he spoke to Father Rua. On August 24,
1870, Father Rua replied in these terms:
After considering the matter, our dear Don Bosco has instructed me
to tell you that he does not think it right or fair for the Oratory to suffer
financial loss in the sale of a press to you and the printing of your
publications. Knowing that this press was for sale, Chevalier Oreglia
bought it at his own risk; then he quietly told of the sale only to a few
people. In return, he received three bids: one for 15,000 lire, another for
16,000, and a third for 18,000. Disregarding the others, he accepted the
first-your own-as a grateful gesture to a bishop so well-deserving of
the Church and so kindly disposed toward us. Chevalier Oreglia notified
Don Bosco about it this very year in Rome. Don Bosco respectfully
acquaints Your Excellency with these facts and will gladly accept your
observations.
The bishop replied on September 1, as follows:
Both Don Bosco and I feel the same in this matter; we both want
what is just and fair. I think we can solve our problem by asking others
for an equitable solution. I shall send my own side of the story to
Chevalier Oreglia for verification. Once we agree on the facts, we shall
submit the matter to two or three theologians of our mutual choice and
shall unquestioningly accept their decision. I am sure that Don Bosco
will agree, since I believe this is the most rational way to settle the mat-
ter for the peace of both our consciences. I have already begun a state-
ment of facts and shall send it to Rome as soon as I can, since I am anx-
ious to remove this thorn from my side.
I would also like Don Bosco to be informed of an error which Cheva-
lier Oreglia in Rome already knows about-namely, an overpayment on
my part of a thousand lire. Invoices show that I paid 16,000 lire instead
of 15,000. Therefore my printing bill should not exceed 5,000 lire, unless
I am mistaken. Your latest statement sets my debt at 6,500 lire.
The bishop had a charge account with the Oratory printshop
but for some years now he had fallen into arrears. Hence one
4/bid., pp. 335-338. [Editor]
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Forging Ever Ahead-1871
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should not be surprised that the bishop was not explicitly told that
the thousand lire had already been credited to his account. 5
The bishop and Don Bosco continued negotiations for a just
settlement. Don Bosco stated clearly that Chevalier Oreglia had
acted on behalf of the Oratory and had given him some 6,000 lire
profit on the resale of the press, adding that this sum would be
available for a settlement if so required. In writing to Father Rua,
the bishop stressed the part played by Oreglia and urged him to
verify this point again, so that the consultant theologians-Father
Stanislaus Eula for the bishop and Father Felix Golzio for Don
Bosco-might bear it in mind when handing down a definitive
judgment.
The matter of who owed what was also complicated by the fact
that the bishop's accounts with the Oratory printshop had not
been audited since 1865. This task was entrusted to Father Rua.
His report showed that the bishop owed 5,553 lire and 96 cen-
tesimi. The itemized statement was sent to the bishop with a copy
of the contract "stipulated between Don Bosco and Dominic Fis-
sore on June 3, 1868" in proof that Oreglia had acted as the agent
for Don Bosco and not for the bishop, as the latter was claiming.
At long last, thanks to a gracious gesture on the part of Cheva-
lier Oreglia-an offer of 3,000 lire to the bishop-and the latter's
payment of the balance he owed Don Bosco, the long contention
ended.6
13. WRITER AND PUBLISHER
Before closing this chapter, we must say something about Don
Bosco as a writer and publisher, his thoughtful charity in trying to
help people who sought his assistance, and his deep gratitude to
his benefactors. Lastly, we shall briefly describe deaths which oc-
curred during that year at the Oratory.
While at Becchi, he began compiling a collection of interesting
incidents in the life of Pius IX, which he published under that title
5We are omitting other details of this controversy that went on for nearly two years.
[Editor]
6The last three paragraphs are a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
in Letture Cattoliche. 1 Writing and spreading wholesome books
in popular style for young people and the masses was a constant
occupation of his.
Toward the end of 1870 he offered subscribers of Letture Cat-
toliche a new edition of his Church History which, two years
later, Father John Bonetti definitively revised and published. Fur-
thermore, Don Bosco never abandoned his idea of publishing, in
conjunction with competent persons, a more extensive church his-
tory2 that would spotlight the Popes' apostolic labors. This we
gather from the following letter to a priest whose identity is un-
known to us:
Dear Reverend Father:
October 20, 1871
Here is an outline of the church history I intend to compile with the
help of qualified people.
Part I: Ancient History, covering the first six centuries up to Mo-
hammed's flight [from Mecca] in 622. This part should be subdivided
into two periods: from the descent of the Holy Spirit up to 312, and
from that date to 622.
Part II: Middle Ages, from 622 to 1517. Here too there should be two
periods, from 622 to the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, and from then
to 1517.
Part III: Modern History, from 1517 to the death of Pius VI [in
1799], and from that date until the present time.
This is my initial plan, subject to change depending on suggestions
and observations.
At the end of each period, I would like you to compile a chapter en-
titled "Religious Events in Piedmont."
Viriliter age in Domino (Act manfully in the Lord).
Devotedly yours,
Fr. John Bosco
The Letture Cattoliche issues published in 1871 were as fol-
lows:
January. St. Joseph's Vicissitudes, a sacred drama by Fr. Lu-
cian Secco.
1This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
2See Vol. V, pp. 381ff. [Editor]
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117
February. A Cross Made More Bearable, a story by Fr. Caje-
tan Blandini.
March. A Soldier's Homecoming by Fr. Celestine Faggiani.
April. Papal Infallibility Explained to the People by Fr. Secon-
dus Franco, S.J.
May. The Blessed Virgin's Apparition at La Sa/ette and Other
Wondrous Events Compiled from Other Publications by Fr. John
Bosco.
June. A Lover of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, recollections by
Fr. A. M. Pagnone, Barnabite.
July. Life ofSt. Jerome Miani by Fr. Peter Bazetti.
August. The Crown of Virginity. Why the Diodati Translation
of the Bible Is Forbidden by Fr. Louis Bruno.
September. The Young Catholic Girl, reflections and readings
for Catholic girls by S.D.N.Z.
October. Devotion to the Guardian Angel, reflections and anec-
dotes by Fr. Vincent G. Berchialla.
November-December. Interesting Incidents in the Life of Pius
IX.3
14. ALL THINGS TO ALL
Don Bosco's all-embracing love was so well known and appre-
ciated that everyone regarded him as a friend and a father. Exam-
ples of such men include Baronet Rudolph Ricci requesting a
Mass to obtain God's help in examinations, Attorney Charles
Canton-a benefactor and departmental head of the Finance
Ministry in Florence-asking Don Bosco to put him in touch with
some good family in Rome where he was soon to be transferred,
Attorney Comaschi of Milan requesting a note of introduction to
Louis Giacosa, a lawyer, and many others. Similarly, when [in
1871] the Communards held sway in Paris, shooting the archbish-
op and burning down part of the city, Don Bosco had special
prayers offered at the Oratory for the restoration of peace in that
capital and so informed Mother Eudocia of the Faithful Com-
panions of Jesus, who had written to say how terribly worried she
3We are omitting a review of the May issue and Father Amadei's comments on the
August issue. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
was for the fate of their motherhouse. The good nuns were visibly
protected by God. When Don Bosco received the heartening news
along with a grateful donation, he immediately requested more
detailed information. 1
The veneration in which he was held everywhere was matched
by the trust with which city and government officials sought his
help in housing destitute boys. Appeals came from all sides and
he took the youngsters in with open arms! As every misfortune
moved him, so too every donation deeply aroused him to a grati-
tude which he never failed to manifest in every possible way. The
dearest, most appreciated gift he would offer to outstanding bene-
factors was to say a Mass for their intentions on solemn feasts
and on family anniversaries and to have the Oratory boys offer
their Holy Communions and special prayers.2
15. BELOVED PUPILS
From March to December 1871 nine deaths occurred at the
Oratory. Seven pupils died between March and June; a novice
died in November and another pupil passed away in December.
This last death had been predicted by Don Bosco. By God's
grace, all had led exemplary lives and died a holy death, as Father
Rua acknowledged in the Oratory obituary. Here are their edify-
ing biographies in capsule form:
Joseph Baggini of Torre de' Conti, 12, died on March 15, 1871. He
was a very lively, virtuous boy with great potential for good. God took
him after a brief illness, perhaps to keep him from danger. He received
the Last Sacraments and all the comforts of our religion.
John Broggi of Treviglio died on March 22 at the age of 18. His
progress in learning and piety was steady. Frequent reception of the sac-
raments increased his fervor. During his last months, he applied to the
Society of St. Francis de Sales and was accepted as an aspirant. Never
complaining, he was friendly to all, but intimate only with a few. He
predicted his death three days beforehand while apparently still in good
health. His death from asthma came fairly suddenly, but he was able to
receive the Anointing of the Sick. Fortunately he had gone to Commu-
nion the previous day.
'This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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119
Sebastian Astigiani of Monticelli died on April 2 at the age of 23.
Firmly determined to advance in virtue and learning, he compensated
for his mediocre intelligence by greater diligence and managed to keep
pace with the others. Fully resigned to God's will in his brief illness, he
died a holy death, comforted by the Last Sacraments.
Louis Trono of Mortara, 13, died on May 12. Innocence of life
marked him as a true follower of St. Aloysius. He loved Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament and received often. Before and after Communion he
looked like an angel. Obedient, affectionate and sincere, he won every-
body's heart. The Lord called him to join the blessed who accompany
the Immaculate Lamb singing a hymn they alone can chant.
Augustus Said, one of the young Algerians sent to the Oratory by
Archbishop Lavigerie, died on May 30. Meek and quiet, he probably
never annoyed anyone. Though only a recent convert, he loved Jesus in
the Blessed Sacrament and often asked to receive Him during his long
illness. Obedient, pious and studious, he longed to go as a missionary to
his fellow countrymen. Called to his heavenly reward, he will pray un-
ceasingly for the conversion of his fellow Algerians.
Joseph Penati of Treviglio died on June 18 at the age of 17. Of scant
intelligence and poor health, he was slow in studies but remarkable in
piety, obedience and helpfulness toward his companions. He fully trust-
ed his spiritual director and fervently desired to consecrate himself to
God, but poor health kept him from being accepted into the Salesian
Society.
Michael Franzero of Turin died on June 18 at the age of 11. He had
transferred from the Hospice of Charity to the Oratory with other com-
panions. His conduct was excellent. Though his life was ordinary, his
death was singular and enviable. On his last morning, though he had al-
ready received the Last Sacraments, he insisted on repeating his confes-
sion amid profuse tears of sorrow. He died in fullness of joy an hour
later, claiming that angels and the Blessed Virgin were coming to meet
him.
Father Rua jotted down the following additional details about
this youngster's holy death:
During his stay at the Oratory, Michael Franzero's conduct was that
of any good boy. His grades were always satisfactory. On or about June
7, 1871, one of the superiors, noticing how pale he looked, asked him if
I
he was sick. He replied that he felt poorly but not too ill. Since his
pulse seemed to indicate a slight fever, the same superior had him taken
to the infirmary. Through ten days of illness he was quite patient. When
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
asked how he felt, he always replied that he felt better. He particularly
liked to hear spiritual things or words of encouragement. On June 16 he
asked for and fervently received the Last Sacraments, though he did not
think he was seriously ill. During the night of June 17-18 he became
worse. With his usual patience, he kept repeating short invocations whis-
pered to him, but from time to time he would turn to his attendant and
say, "Please get me Father so-and-so," meaning the priest who had had
him sent to the infirmary. Upon being told that it was late and that the
priest needed his rest, he would quiet down for a while, only to renew his
request shortly afterward. Finally the priest was sent for in the early
hours of the morning. "I would like to make my confession," the boy
gravely told him.
"You made it only a few days ago," the priest replied. "You need not
repeat it."
"But I want to," the boy insisted.
The priest obliged, and during his confession Michael broke into co-
pious tears and loud exclamations: "Will God forgive me? Will He real-
ly?"
"Yes, He will; be tranquil," the priest comforted him. "Put your trust
in God who loves you very much." But the priest barely managed to
calm him down. He too felt deeply moved, as did the bystanders. Since
Michael had received Holy Viaticum only two days before, it was not
considered necessary for him to receive it again just then, since his con-
dition did not seem to have worsened.
The priest left to attend to some urgent duties, promising to ask his
companions to pray for him, and suggesting that he too speak a little
with Our Lord in his heart.
At about 7:30 while Michael's companions were in church praying for
him to Mary, Help of Christians, he began to gaze steadily at the infir-
mary ceiling and then broke into happy laughter. ''What's the matter?"
he was asked. "Can't you see who's coming to me?" he replied. "Look
at the angels-so many and so beautiful!" Beaming with joy, he kept
turning left and right as if greeting the newcomers, though he alone
could see them. Again he looked up to the ceiling, saying, "Oh, even
Our Lady is coming to see me. She is going to take me with Her. How
happy I am!" Then he became silent. Still smiling, and with his eyes
gazing upward, his pure soul joined the choir of angels escorting the Vir-
gin Mary, as we have good reason to believe. It was June 8, the third
Sunday of the month. Michael was but eleven.
The priest referred to was Father Rua himself who in his hu-
mility omitted yet another detail which we came to know through
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Forging Ever Ahead-1871
121
Father Bartholomew Molinari, a confrere of ours, who witnessed
Franzero's death. He told us that Father Rua was also present,
and that as soon as the pious boy breathed his last, Father Rua,
deeply moved, raised his eyes to heaven, exclaiming, HI think I
saw his soul fly heavenward like a dove!"
Joseph Abrami, born in Brescia August 19, 1855, died on November
19, 1871 at the age of 16. Having proved his virtue, he asked to join the
Salesian Society so as to offer his youth and whole life to God. Our
Heavenly Father was pleased with this offer and rewarded his ardent
desires by calling him to enjoy the reward of his willingness to leave
parents, relatives and friends for His sake. Strengthened by the Last
Sacraments, and mourned by companions and superiors, he died on
November 19, 1871 at the age of 16. Let us pray for the repose of his
soul if he has not yet entered heaven.
Eugene Lecchi of Felizzano died on December 18 at the age of 15.
Rather reserved in speech, he was good, respectful toward superiors, and
affable with his companions. He diligently fulfilled his religious duties
and was devout and reverent in church. He was also an excellent stu-
dent. Though he skipped grades he still managed to rank among the top
students in his class. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage within two days.
From these brief profiles how can we fail to see the admirable
and exemplary type of life that boys lived while in close contact
with Don Bosco?
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CHAPTER 3
Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
DoN Bosco had planned to visit his new schools a·t
Marassi, Varazze and Alassio at the start of the 1871-72 school
year, but when Turin's newly appointed archbishop scheduled his
official entry into the archdiocese for the same time, he decided to
wait until the ceremony was over. When he did go, he first went
to Genoa and then to Varazze. There suddenly he fell seriously ill.
The news, spreading rapidly, caused dismay among his sons and
friends.
We have gathered and assembled abundant documentation of
those tragic days. From first to last, the reports firmly prove Don
Bosco's virtue, holiness and trust in God. Likewise they show his
sons' anguish and their heartfelt prayers to Jesus in the Blessed
Sacrament and to Mary, Help of Christians for their dear father's
swift and complete recovery.
Were we to cite each of our sources we would never end, but we
do think it proper and dutiful to peruse them unhurriedly and
thoroughly, without fear of turning our narration into a detailed
diary. We aim to impress the reader with Don Bosco's sufferings
in those fifty days of anguish, fear and hope, the widespread anxi-
ety caused by his illness, and the efforts of his sons and admirers
to support him and obtain his recovery from God.
The principals in our narrative are Father John Baptist Fran-
cesia, director of the Varazze school and one of Don Bosco's
dearest and most loved spiritual sons, Peter Enria, his trusted, pa-
tient, solicitous nurse, and Joseph Buzzetti, one of the first boys
to attend Don Bosco's catechism classes at St. Francis of Assisi
and to cast his lot with him. To Buzzetti Enria sent daily bulletins
on Don Bosco's iiiness.
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
123
l. A GRAVE ILLNESS
In the autumn of 1871 as Archbishop Gastaldi made ready to
assume his duties as head of the archdiocese of Turin to the
chagrin of local anticlericals, the Gazzetta de/ Popolo, which had
made him its target as soon as his appointment was announced,
wrote on October 27, 1871: "The Vatican chose him most meticu-
lously in the hope that he may become a second Fransoni. " 1 The
article then went on to urge the city authorities to boycott the
reception ceremony. In fact, in response to the official announce-
ment of the archbishop's arrival date by the vicar capitular, Mon-
signor [Joseph] Zappata, Mayor Felix Rignon replied that ""in
view of new policies governing Church and State relations the
board of aldermen considered it inopportune to be represented at
the ceremonies."
Archbishop Gastaldi was again rebuffed by the king's neglect
to even acknowledge the letter announcing his forthcoming entry
into the archdiocese. The prefect of the Turin province was the
only one to receive the news favorably as we gather from this let-
ter of Don Bosco:
Most Reverend and dear Archbishop:
[October 1871]
I have spent two days here in Passerano at the Radicatis, where I
talked at length with another guest, Attorney Bonino, the vice-prefect of
Turin. He spoke favorably of your letter to the prefect and his reply,
and he expressed a genuine wish that your entrance into the diocese be a
solemn one.
"We shall have to see what the local civil authorities will do," I
remarked.
'Louis Fransoni (1789-1862) became bishop of Fossano in 1821 and apostolic adminis-
trator of the archdiocese of Turin in 1831. Named archbishop a year later, he zealously
promoted ecclesiastical discipline and studies. In 1848 anticlerical factions forced him out
of his see. He returned two years later and staunchly opposed the law abolishing church
tribunals. In reprisal he was jailed and fined. Released soon afterward, he was again im-
prisoned for having refused Holy Viaticum to an unrepentant cabinet minister who had
been mainly responsible for the enactment of the Siccardi law. Finally, in 1850 he was ex-
iled to Lyons, where he died on March 26, 1862. Throughout his tenure of office, he
unflinchingly supported Don Bosco. See the Indexes of Volumes II, III, IV, V, and VII
under "Fransoni." [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"You can be sure that they will rise fully to the occasion," he replied.
I shall give you more details in person. If you are still undecided
about a provicar, I suggest Father [John Baptist] Bertagna. He is
prayerful, scholarly, capable and well-to-do. He may accept. Make what
you wish of this suggestion. It's just a thought that crossed my mind. I
beg your blessing.
Gratefully and devotedly yours,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. Please do care for your health. The harvest is plentiful, and you
will find laborers.
Archbishop Gastaldi chose to enter the archdiocese officially
on Sunday, November 26. From Porta Nuova he made his way
privately to St. Philip Neri's where priests, confraternities, reli-
gious associations, and dignitaries were assembled to escort him
processionally to the cathedral. Suddenly it was rumored that a
riot was imminent. At the moment Don Bosco was standing near
the prelate. "What shall we do?" he asked.
"Something is wrong," the archbishop replied.
In fact, Father [Joseph] Ambrogio, a [notorious] apostate
priest,2 was in the crowd, trying to stir up trouble. 3 At this point,
Chevalier Bignami, chief of police, went up to him and, gripping
his shoulders, warned, "If you don't shut your mouth, I'll have
you tied up like a salami." Sensing trouble, the archbishop en-
tered his carriage and was driven off to the cathedral.
"Where is the archbishop? Where did he go?" people asked.
Gradually, as the hostile crowd dispersed, the clergy and the con-
fraternities set out processionally for the cathedral, where the
archbishop awaited them.
Don Bosco joined the procession with great effort because of a
severe pain in his shoulders and a strained heartbeat-the first
touches of the illness that was to fell him.
Having entered the cathedral processionally, the archbishop
mounted the pulpit and delivered a homily, repeating almost ver-
2see Vol. VII, p. 320. [Editor[
3In 1866, to minimize the harm done by this apostate, Don Bosco published a small
pamphlet entitled: Who Is Father Ambrogio? A Dialogue Between a Barber and a Theolo-
gian. It was spread far and wide. [Author]
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
125
batim what he had had published in Unita Cattolica on October
4. His appointment, he said, had been an unexpected act of Di-
vine Providence, free of all human choice. The Holy Spirit alone
had set him at the head of the Turin diocese. So heavily did he
stress this, that all in the know could not help remarking, as
Canon [Michael] Sorasio himself told us later, "Things look bad
for Don Bosco, bad indeed!"
Some days later, on December 2, Don Bosco left for Genoa,
spending the next day, the first Sunday of Advent, at Marassi,
where he met with several members of the St. Vincent de Paul
Society and with Father Albera, director of the new school, con-
cerning its needs.
On December 4 he went on. to Varazze. [A few days before] he
had written to a Mrs. Susanna Prato of Albisola Marina to say
that he would be visiting her and would appreciate it if she would
tell no one of his coming. This lady, a subscriber to Letture
Cattoliche since 1853, regularly received some forty copies of
each issue for free distribution. Although she did not then know
Don Bosco personally, she was so thrilled that she could hardly
wait. The courtesy was well deserved, because her life had been
one long series of charitable works.4
On the morning of December 6, Don Bosco, accompanied by
Father Francesia, went to say Mass at lnvrea in the castle of
Marchioness Julie Centurione. He then returned to Varazze and
in the afternoon took the train for Albisola. Words cannot de-
scribe the joy of the charitable seventy-year-old Susanna, who
always declared that that day had been the most delightful of her
life.
Don Bosco spoke at length with her because she knew many
important persons on the western Riviera and in Genoa. Having
influence with political and judicial authorities at the local, pro-
vincial and regional levels, she could be a great help to his new
school at Varazze in several ways.
On reaching the railroad station, Don Bosco found that his
train had already left. "If you plan to take the next one," some
employees suggested, "you had better go to Mrs. Susanna Pra-
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
to's. Other priests do. You can wait there at ease until it's time to
leave."
Don Bosco followed their advice and took the next train to
Varazze. A strong damp wind was blowing, and the round trip
tired him. So badly did his shoulder pain him that, on stepping
off the train, he suffered a stroke of sorts and had to be helped
home in the arms of those who had met him at the station. Once
in his room, they immediately slit his cassock at the side and put
him to bed. It was about seven in the evening. Dr. John Baptist
Carattini, hurriedly summoned. diagnosed the illness as rather
serious but-as Father Francesia wrote5- "he managed to dis-
semble." He was aware that a gush of blood was threatening the
heart and that the danger had to be averted at all costs. As we
stood there, trying to guess the nature of the illness from the doc-
tor's looks, the latter took Don Bosco's pulse, listened to the
heartbeat and called for various things, apparently fearing to
reveal his findings. Finally, in a non-committal tone, he asked
Don Bosco, "Would you mind some blood-letting?" It's seldom
done nowadays-and I go along with that-but in your case...."
"I am in your hands," Don Bosco answered with a smile. "Do
as you think best."
Yet the doctor still hesitated, so crucial seemed the decision. At
midnight, he decided to bleed Don Bosco, who immediately expe-
rienced relief as the pressure on his heart seemed to abate. Never-
theless, knowing the gravity of Don Bosco's condition, the doctor
stayed at his side and within two hours bled him again. "Thank
you, doctor," Don Bosco said. "That will do." At four in the
morning the doctor left, only to return at daybreak.
That day, December 7, Don Bosco was expected in Turin. A
telegram came in his stead: "December 7, 1871. Father's return
delayed; rheumatism aggravated, blood-letting done; nothing
alarming. Bosso." 6
In Varazze too the news spread immediately, to the dismay of
all his friends. At a session on November 27, the municipal coun-
cil had agreed to solemnize the opening of the [Salesian] school
5Cf. Bollettino Sa/esiano, September 1899, p. 244. [Author]
6We have no clue to the identity of the signer, but the original telegram in our archives
is signed "Basso." [Author]
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
127
with a testimonial dinner which was most likely to take place at
Don Bosco's visit. Of course, it had to be cancelled.
On December 8 his condition worsened. The mayor and the
pastor of St. Ambrose Church came to see him, and he asked
their prayers for his soul's salvation. Obviously he was in severe
pain, but he made no complaint. To those who sympathized, say-
ing "You must hurt badly," he would reply, "No, I'm just lazy
and like to rest in bed. Those who take care of me are the ones
who are suffering. The Lord endured so much for us; if we suffer
a bit for Him, we shall receive a heavenly reward. Jesus suffered
unto death on a hard cross. Why shouldn't I, a sinner, suffer
something?"
During those days his holiness was visibly matched by his sons'
love. From the very first night the cleric Peter Guidazio7 never
left his side. After teaching more than seven hours during the day,
he taught an evening class from eight to nine for some one
hundred adults, yet he felt it a privilege to nurse Don Bosco.
Later he wrote from Randazzo:
God knows my grief that first night! Don Bosco was in pain and, un-
able to move, would ask me to help him shift his position, sit up in bed,
or do something for him. I was alone, timid, uncertain, and very cold.
The first night finally went by. I shall always remember how Don Bosco
abruptly ordered me to bed and forbade me to teach that day. Knowing
I would upset school routine, I took up my usual tasks after Holy Mass
and kept teaching until nine at night, when I went back to Don Bosco's
room. I kept watch by him for eight nights while carrying out my regu-
lar duties during the day. In the morning Don Bosco always ordered me
to bed, and when I returned at night, he asked whether I had slept dur-
ing the day. Not to upset him, I said that I had. I did doze, however, be-
tween classes. I felt my strength draining away, especially after three or
four nights, under the strain of work and sleeplessness, and I even feared
that I might suddenly collapse. But I was ready to die if it would only
benefit Don Bosco.
7Peter Guidazio (1841-1902) entered the Oratory in 1862 at the age of twenty-two. Two
years later, Don Bosco opened the Lanzo school and sent him there to teach. He stayed six
years and showed himself to be a good teacher. Ordained in 1874, he was appointed
prefect of studies at the Or-atory. Later, he successively held important offices and greatly
contributed to the spread of Salesian schools in Sicily, where he died in 1902. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
During the day others took turns nursing him. Among them
was the cleric John Turco of Montafia d'Asti who had entered the
Oratory in 1852 with the intention of becoming a priest and later
had to leave for family reasons. Still, he persevered in his voca-
tion and returned to the Oratory in 1871. After donning the cas-
sock, he was sent to Varazze to teach mathematics and natural
history. He was so warm-hearted and solicitous that Don Bosco
used to call him his skillful therapist.
Don Bosco's illness was by no means slight. In the first few
days there was grave fear for his life. Hence his friends, first in
Varazze and then in Turin, questioned whether he was in good
hands, particularly since Dr. Carattini was new at Varazze.
Therefore, Father Francesia asked for a consultation with Dr.
Joseph Fissore of the University of Turin, a friend and admirer of
Don Bosco, who, at Father Rua's request, promptly obliged.
After an examination, he conferred with Dr. Carattini at length.
Our deeply worried confreres drew a long sigh of relief when he
stated, "Let Don Bosco feel confident with Dr. Carattini. He
deserves his full trust." Dr. Carattini grew very fond of Don
Bosco, and for twenty-five years he provided medical care for the
staff and pupils.
As soon as Mrs. Susanna Saettone heard of Don Bosco's
illness, she visited him several times, despite the rigid cold, always
to assure him that she and others were praying for his precious
health. This good lady's visits in those dark days cheered the
Salesians as well, and they began to look on her as a mother. She
in turn kindly called them her sons. It was fortunate that she did
show such esteem and regard for the Salesians, for, seeing her call
on Don Bosco so often, the people of Varazze came to realize
that he was a rare and unique person, a saint indeed. The cold dif-
fidence they had first shown to the Salesians vanished completely;
they became friendly and never stopped showing their cordial
friendship.
Nor did Don Bosco forget the generous souls who kept sending
their offerings to help his "little rascals" in those days. Knowing
how they would appreciate hearing from him, he sent word on the
fourth day of his sickness to his "good mamma," Countess Cal-
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Recovery from a Serious Jllness-1871-1872
129
lori, through Father Francesia, who signed himself "Your most
devoted servant and grandson."
One of those who kept insisting on daily bulletins of his condi-
tion was Countess Gabriella Corsi who offered to pay for all ex-
penses. Hence many telegrams were sent to her directly. In turn,
she promptly forwarded them to the Oratory. The first telegram
read: "Varazze, December 12, 1871. [Dr.] Fissore very encourag-
ing. Tranquil night. Rheumatism improved. Illness running its
course. Please forward. Francesia."
That same morning, Father [Francis] Cuffia, prefect of the
school, sent this first bulletin to the directors of the other Salesian
houses:
Our revered Don Bosco wants all our directors to have a complete
report on his illness. He also asks them to have prayers offered to God
through the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians for his recovery in
order that he may continue to work for the good of the Congregation
and of the youths entrusted to him by Divine Providence.
As you already know, he was overcome by a severe attack of rheuma-
tism here at Varazze on December 6. Fortunately the worst is over. All
that is left is a skin eruption. Doctor Fissore, who expressly came from
Turin to see him, found him in good shape and has assured us that he is
out of danger. However, a full recovery will take quite some time.
While wishing our directors to know this, our dear Don Bosco recom-
mends prudence, lest the confreres and boys be unduly alarmed. They
are only to request prayers for his speedy recovery. Hence, to eliminate
all anxiety, Don Bosco asks that a health bulletin be sent to the directors
several times a week, and daily if necessary.
Father Cuffia gave this additional information to Father Rua:
"Don Bosco spent a somewhat restless night. No new develop-
ments. The sickness has evolved into a skin rash which causes no
worry. Every five hours or so he has a slight fever." In another
letter that day, he told Father Rua: ''It is 4 P.M. and Don Bosco
has rallied a bit from the exhaustion that has overcome him since
one o'clock this morning. There is nothing to fear, but, to be
truthful, I am apprehensive at seeing him so depressed. Say noth-
ing of this because Don Bosco does not wish it to be known. I will
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
always tell you what I feel, see and think. Have prayers said for
him. To us and to many youngsters he is both father and angel."
The following day, the directors were again assured that Don
Bosco's condition was not alarming:
Our beloved father continues to improve. His rheumatism has almost
disappeared and his fever has abated considerably. The skin rash is still
there. We are ever more convinced that his recovery, protracted and
somewhat long drawn out, will present no danger. Don Bosco sends
greetings to you and to all the boys, and he strongly recommends him-
self to your prayers. If anything new occurs, you will be informed.
2. SERIOUS ANXIETY
At the request of Don Bosco, Brother Peter Enria arrived at
Varazze- on December 12 with Father Angelo Savio, economer
general, and Father Paul Albera, director at Marassi. This good
brother has never forgotten how privileged he felt to nurse Don
Bosco through this long, serious illness. 1
On arriving, he hurried to Don Bosco's bedside and was joyful-
ly welcomed. How deeply grieved he felt, however, to see Don
Bosco in bed and unable to move one arm. He had believed the
illness was slight, but he now realized that Don Bosco's condition
had worsened, as he was afflicted with a third attack of miliary
fever, which caused reddish-white blisters, the size of a millet
grain, to break out all over his body.
From the next day on, nursing duties were shared between the
cleric Guidazio and Brother Enria, the latter taking the day shift
to two in the morning, and the former from two to six. This
schedule held for about a month. At certain hours of the day
others came to relieve Enria for a while.
The course of the illness did not seem distressing. In fact, early
on the morning of December 13, Father Cuffia sent a telegram to
Countess Corsi: "Recovery steadily proceeding. Further tele-
grams unneeded." The Oratory was immensely relieved by the
message, but that same day Enria wrote to Joseph Buzzetti:
'This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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"Wednesday, the day after my arrival, Don Bosco had a very bad
time. A high temperature racked him for more than twenty
hours."
Father Francesia personally sent Father Rua these confidential
details:
This morning I sent you a cheering bulletin, but regretfully I cannot
continue to do so. Right after I sent it, our dear Don Bosco's tempera-
ture rose sharply and distressed him the whole day; it has not yet abat-
ed. In addition he had an exhausting attack of vomiting. We have been
anxious all day, whereas we had expected the very opposite. I hope he
will be able to get some rest tonight. He recommends himself to your
prayers. They have already been partly answered because the pain in his
arm has abated considerably. In fact, today he decided to use it and
shake it out of its laziness, as he jokingly says.
This evening we sat silently around his bed for a long time, not having
the courage to speak while he lay there in pain. Let us hope that our
own suffering, which we also offer to God for our father's speedy recov-
ery, will have its effect. Our boys here are praying hard. Loving him ar-
dently even before knowing him, they gave him a rousing welcome on
his arrival. Now they are very sad to think that he fell ill here at
Varazze. They would love to visit him, but prudence dictates otherwise.
We have not dared to remove the welcome posters we put up for his ar-
rival because he is already suffering so much. On the door of his room a
poster reads: "Long live Don Bosco!" Was this a greeting or a fear of
what might happen?
Yesterday's arrival of Father Savio, Father Albera, Father Ricchini
and Brother Enria was very touching. We looked at one another emo-
tionally and silently. Don Bosco too was deeply affected. Father Savio
said that people at the Oratory doubt [the gravity of] Don Bosco's
illness. Would that it were only a doubt!
This morning I had hoped to go to Nizza and help Father Cagliero
because Don Bosco seemed so much better, but this evening he told me
to forget about it. Poor Father Cagliero !
I express my own feelings, fears and observations without intending to
cause alarm for the future. His illness will certainly be a long one, but
not dangerous, according to Dr. Fissore, and we must accept that.
Meanwhile we must try to hasten the day of his return to console his
children.
Don Bosco is anxious to have that box of myrrh which you bought.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Have it brought up or sent up as soon as possible. He also has asked me
to tell you that the above details are for yourself alone.
On December 14, Enria wrote to Buzzetti: 2
Today, Thursday, he rested better and the fever gave him a little
respite. Right now (11:30 P.M.) as I write this, he has become more
tired and restless. His sense of taste is once more normal. Even when fe-
verish, he is never delirious. He suffers with enviable calm, neither com-
plaining nor moaning. He is always in good spirits and cheers us. We
are the sad ones. He thinks only of his beloved sons and often speaks of
Father Rua and the others. He asks for prayers. He would also like
word of Father Rua's mother, so please send me news. . . .
The good woman who had taken Mamma Margaret's place at
the Oratory in 1856 was then seriously ill.
Encouraging telegrams kept coming from Varazze, but on De-
cember 16, the opening of the Christmas novena, Father Fran-
cesia wired Father Rua: HFourth [miliary] outbreak. Let us pray.
Consultation of Dr. Fissore with another doctor requested. " 3 The
next morning a letter that Father Francesia had mailed before
sending the telegram reached Father Rua:
Yesterday-he wrote-things took a turn for the worse. Don Bosco
ran a temperature all day until eight o'clock. The doctor does not seem
to anticipate a crisis, either now or later, but he does not rule out that
one can come. I am frightened by hearing about several people who had
the same illness in Savona two or three years ago .... Today, all
danger seems past; if this continues, we can be sure of having Don Bosco
up and about by Christmas, but tomorrow, when you read this, I should
not be surprised if you were to receive a telegram telling of a restless
night and more miliary outbreaks.
Don Bosco asks Father Berto to search for the manuscript of the little
dictionary for his Church History. He fears that he left it at the Ora-
tory.
I wrote to Rome and Florence about Don Bosco, and we have a job
keeping everyone informed. I wish that I had a hundred hands to deal
with all the mail and not give the impression of being careless. Don
2We point out that in some letters, especially those of Enria, misspellings and grammati-
cal errors were corrected without, however, altering the meaning of the words. [Author]
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Bosco needs our attention too. We must spend much time at his bed-
side. . . .
Don Bosco was quite impressed by Father Golzio's4 kindness, and
were it not for the distance, he would ask him to come for a visit.
We do not know what Father Golzio did at the time of our fa-
ther's illness. The fact is that the news of his illness had spread,
causing grave fears and spurring people to offer fervent prayers to
the Lord for him.
Enria, too, confirmed that his illness was not as slight as might
be believed:
Don Bosco's illness has finally been diagnosed correctly. It is not a
touch of miliary fever, but the real thing. Miliary vesicles are now erupt-
ing throughout his skin for the fourth time. Continual fever and extreme
sweating are draining his strength.
Today, December 16, he has been quite restful. The fever left him
only toward evening, but returned at about seven and racked him until
two in the morning, when he fell asleep. The rheumatism in his arm has
almost disappeared and he can move it again. Now he can raise himself
in bed; formerly he could not. . . .
The same day, on a separate sheet, Father Francesia begged
Father Lazzero to urge the St. Joseph's Sodality to offer prayers
and Holy Communions. In turn, Buzzetti replied to Enria:
Dear Peter,
Thank you sincerely for your favor in keeping me informed about our
dear Don Bosco's health. I enclose stamps so you can daily send me
genuine news and not a fictitious report, as some do. Father Lazzero is
at Nizza Monferrato with Father Cagliero, and so I gave your letter to
Father Rua. It proved effective. This morning everyone received the sac-
raments. I hope that our prayers and those of the retreatants and bene-
factors will move Our Lord to have compassion on us and, if it be to our
advantage, preserve our father for us for years to come. I am convinced
that the Lord is punishing us by keeping our dear Don Bosco sick for
some time because we do not appreciate him as much as he deserves. So
4Fr. Felix Golzio had formerly been an assistant to Father Louis Guala, founder of the
Convitto Ecclesiastico in Turin, and to Father Cafasso, his successor. After the latter's
death, Father Golzio became rector of the Convitto and Don Bosco's confessor. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
let us pray and promise sincerely [to love him more], so that God may
soon give him back to us in good health.
Father Rua 's mother is better. This morning she attended Mass..
3. PRAYERS AND SELF-IMMOLATION
Father Rua at once sent Enria's note to Father Lazzero at
Nizza Monferrato with the message, "You see that things seem
to be taking a bad turn. Dr. Fissore will go to Varazze next Tues-
day. May God grant that he bring us good news. . . ." He also
sent copies of Father Francesia's telegram to all the directors,
urging personal and community prayers. The sad news inspired
generous sacrifices.
At this time (we do not know the precise date, because, to off-
set any alarm, no news was sent to the Oratory or any other
house) Don Bosco, realizing his critical condition, made his con-
fession to Father [Paul] Monbello, the pastor of St. Ambrose,
who had often visited him. Enria wrote:
Father Francesia brought him Holy Viaticum the following day. I
haven't the heart to write about it. At dawn Don Bosco told me, "Please
get altar cloths and set up a neat little altar for the Blessed Sacrament."
As I did so, he prayed like a saint preparing to receive Jesus worthily
into his heart. The tinkling bell aroused him, and when Father Francesia
brought the Blessed Sacrament into the room, he painfully tried to sit
up. Burning with desire to receive Jesus, he no longer seemed of this
world, his countenance radiant, serene like that of a seraph adoring the
Blessed Sacrament. Kneeling at his bedside, I suddenly realized that this
might be his last Communion, and so acute was my grief that I again of-
fered my life to God in exchange for his, my spiritual father. The rest of
that day he spent in thanksgiving.
Aware of the seriousness of his condition and wishing not to
encumber the Salesian Society with legal problems, Don Bosco
calmly and gently asked Father Francesia one evening to send for
a notary. Father Francesia broke down and slipped away into a
corner. There the matter ended.
Fever, skin eruptions and abundant perspiration sorely tried
him, but, as Enria declared, "He never complained. His only
worry was for us who feared to lose him. 'God provides for the
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
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birds of the air,' he kept saying, 'and He will look after the Ora-
tory children too.' He always managed to comfort his visitors."
"Immorality, loss of faith and materialism which strive to
worm themselves into the hearts of youth are this world's
plagues," he would lament. "To stem these evils, we must reach
out to young people, win their friendship and give them a genuine-
ly religious education. We must foster vocations and form good,
holy priests and religious who will dedicate themselves to young
people's education. Within a few years, I promise you, things will
change for better and religion will win out. . . . But to attain this,
we must stay with Christ's Vicar. Then will youth again love vir-
tue, faith and truth."
Enria soon noticed that Don Bosco loved to recall the early
days of the Oratory, and he often reminded him of them:
"Do you remember how your mother used to chide you whenever you
took in more boys?" I would ask him. 'You always bring in more boys,'
she would say, 'but how can we feed and dress them? We have nothing
and winter is setting in!'
"I slept a few nights myself on a bed of leaves with only a light
blanket over me. And when we were in bed, you and your mother mend-
ed our pants and jackets, because they were all we had. . . ."
Don Bosco would smile and remark, "How hard my mother worked!
Such a saintly woman! But Providence never failed us!"'
On Sunday, December 17, in spite of a racking fever, he spent
a peaceful night and slept until morning. At 10:30 a slight fever
returned. Anxiety and hope kept alternating and arousing an ever
more intense interest in his illness. 2
Meanwhile, news that Don Bosco had suffered another skin
eruption, his fourth, stirred up a contest of love and faith in all
Salesian houses. On December 18, Father Bonetti, director of
Bargo San Martino's junior seminary, wrote to Father Rua:
Dear Father,
Your telegram dismayed us. Please send a substitute confessor3 within
I Don Bosco always had the greatest veneration for his mother and repeatedly called her
a saint. When she died and the Oratory boys wept bitterly at her loss, he comforted them,
saying, "We have lost our mother, but I am sure that she will help us from heaven. She
was a saint!" [Author]
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
3At this time directors were also the ordinary confessors. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
a day or so and let me fly to Don Bosco's bedside! I again read the letter
he sent me last December 26. After telling me he would soon send me
the strenna, he added, "It will be my testament." You remember that I
told you of this and that you became concerned and approved my plan
to have the boys offer their daily Communion and prayers for his health.
At mid-January this year, Don Bosco, noting our anxiety, wrote to me
in these terms: "We must not harbor illusions. God wants us in a better
world than this. It is up to the sons to show themselves worthy of their
father and even better." It is clear that he forewarned us of his depar-
ture a year in advance. My dear Father Rua, I know your grief, but I
know not how to console you. May the Child Jesus and Mary, our good
Mother and our hope, comfort us in these trying hours. Please do send
me a confessor. . . ."
Hastening to express his grief upon learning that Don Bosco
had "suffered a turn for the worse," Father Pestarino wrote:
Yesterday evening I called a meeting of the Daughters of Mary Im-
maculate and told them the sad news. They all promised to pray their
utmost and arranged for a triduum of prayer in the parish church in
honor of Mary, Help of Christians, at their expense. They also resolved
to receive Holy Communion and as far as possible to make a daily visit
to the Blessed Sacrament. Surrounded by grief, I had one consolation-
one of them asked if she might offer her life to God in exchange for Don
Bosco's. Others too declared themselves ready to die to save Don Bos-
co's life. They will offer their lives during Holy Communion. I heartily
approved their request and, deeply moved, adjourned the meeting. I
must admit that their example inspired me to do the same during Holy
Mass.
Who cannot see Mary Mazzarella, ahead of all others, declare
herself ready to offer her life for Don Bosco?
Let us hope-Father Pestarino went on-that the Lord will accept
our prayers and the voluntary self-sacrifice of these souls. This morning
(December 18) I summoned the men and the boys of the parish and
urged them to pray and receive Holy Communion. I told the girls and
women of St. Theresa's Sodality the same thing. I celebrated High Mass
at Our Lady's altar and closed with Benediction and a strong exhorta-
tion to all the people to pray for Don Bosco.
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He ended his letter by saying that he had also written to neigh-
boring priests to enlist their aid for prayers in their parishes.4
In other places too, especially in Piedmont, private and public
prayers were offered for Don Bosco's recovery. Foremost in these
demonstrations of veneration and love was Bishop Eugene Gallet-
ti of Alba. On hearing the sad news, he was so shocked that he
fell to his knees and tearfully exclaimed, "Lord, if you seek a vic-
tim, here I am, but please spare Don Bosco!" He then wrote Don
Bosco a most moving letter, and after commending his vital and
providential mission, he added: ··1 have prayed and have asked
others to pray for you. I have offered my own life to the Lord,
that He may spare you for the sake of so many poor boys and the
Church's good." He stated the same to Father John Cagliero:
"My life is worth little or nothing. Don Bosco's is not only pre-
cious, but most useful to the welfare of the Church! Compared to
his, my life has utterly no value. He is a saint, and saints, we
know, are in this world for good reasons. " 5
All at the Oratory vied with each other in their filial devotion
to Don Bosco. Several pupils knelt at the altar of Mary, Help of
Christians, imploring Her to take them then and there to heaven
and spare Don Bosco. Among these was Louis Gamarra of Lom-
briasco who informed Enria of the offer they had made of their
lives. Enria read the letter to Don Bosco who tearfully sighed,
"How good they are! How much they love poor Don Bosco!" He
told Enria to thank them and urge them to continue their prayers
so pleasing to God.
In reference to Louis Gamarra, Enria made the following state-
ment in the Informative Process: "God seems to have granted his
prayer, for he died in my arms just a few years later (November
10, 1878), scarcely one year after his ordination."
Father Pestarino, too, departed from this earth barely two
years after his generous offer of sacrifice, and Bishop Galletti
"began to be troubled by various ailments, suffered a stroke, and
finally died [October 5, 1879] at the still hearty age of sixty-
three." Don Bosco, instead, "despite his sixty-four years, endless
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
5Cf. Summary of the Informative Process, p. 859. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
work and heavy preoccupations," kept going "in good health." 6
4. WIDESPREAD CONCERN
Such generosity resulted from Don Bosco's unequaled
goodness. Illness notwithstanding, his concern centered on his
spiritual sons. On December 19 [1872] Enria wrote to Father
Lazzero: 1
With all his troubles. he keeps light-hearted and, on seeing our gloom,
always thinks of a joke to cheer us up.
Prelates and pastors everywhere write to express their deep sympathy,
send a blessing, and assure him of prayers that his life, so precious to the
Church and souls, may be preserved. He knows that at the Oratory
prayers and Communions have been and are being offered for him, and
he is deeply grateful, attributing his improvement to them.
In heart and mind-even when asleep-he is always at the Oratory.
The other night he dreamt that he was driving the devil from it. It is
now four in the morning, and our good father is restless, unable to sleep,
and just about beginning to doze off. From a few rambling words I
gather that his mind is busy with great plans for the future of our
Congregation. . . .
Dr. Fissore arrived on December 20 with Countess Corsi and
her daughter. After examining Don Bosco, he assured us that he
would soon be convalescing. This visit did him a lot of good.2
Before leaving, Countess Corsi said that she wished to make his
room in Turin more comfortable by carpeting the cold tile floor
which probably caused his headaches. Don Bosco, who could not
tolerate carpets, or even a bedside rug, countered, "My good
lady, I would gratefully accept a thick layer of two-lire bills. They
would surely rid me of the headaches probably awaiting me at the
Oratory."
6Cf. Bollettino Sa/esiano, November 1879. [Author]
'Joseph Lazzero (1837-1910) entered the Oratory in 1857. In 1859 he was one of the
first young clerics to join Don Bosco in forming the Salesian Society. (See Vol. VI, pp.
18lf.) He made his triennial vows in 1862 and was ordained a priest three years later. In
1870 he made his perpetual profession. In 1874 Don Bosco appointed him to the Superior
Chapter and later entrusted him with important tasks. Stricken in 1897, he retired and
died after a long illness at Mathi (Turin) on March 7, 1910. [Editor]
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Regretfully the visit of the doctor and the countess was too
short and their departure depressed Don Bosco. A relapse fol-
lowed, and on December 22, feeling very low, he secretly jotted
down a testament. His condition remained unstable and took a
turn for the worse on the night of December 23 with miliary
outbreaks, heavy perspiration and an exhausting fever. Enria kept
the Oratory duly posted on all developments. 3
5. SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT
Despite his own mother's grave illness, Father Rua decided to
go to Varazze during the Christmas holidays, not later than the
feast of St. John the Evangelist [December 27]. Enria's letters
were regularly passed on to him, and every evening at the "Good
Night," either personally or through another priest, he shared the
news with the pupils, "urging them to keep praying and striving
to become better as long as God chose to chastize the shepherd
for the sins of his sheep," as Buzzetti declared.
Christmas at the Oratory was a sad but very devout occasion.
Though grieved by Don Bosco's absence from the Midnight
Mass, Salesians and pupils vied with one another in praying most
fervently for his recovery.1
Father Rua left for Varazze after arranging for a second and
more fervent novena to Mary, Help of Christians. Overjoyed at
his visit, Don Bosco told Enria, "I am glad, really glad, that Fa-
ther Rua came to see me." During that visit they held several
lengthy conversations in private.2
As soon as Father Cagliero returned to the Oratory, where a
second novena for Don Bosco had begun, he immediately took it
upon himself to invite the several religious communities of Turin
which he served to join in special prayers for Don Bosco. On
December 27 he wrote to Enria:
Dear Enria,
Give my heartfelt greetings to our dear father and tell him that I am
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
'We are omitting an exchange of letters between Brother Buzzetti and Enria concerning
Don Bosco's precarious condition. [Editor]
2We are omitting letters between Enria, Brother Buzzetti and Father Lazzero concern-
ing prayers offered for Don Bosco's recovery and his deep gratitude. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
keeping alive the flame of charity and prayer in all the religious commu-
nities in town.
I called on Archbishop Gastaldi who is very concerned about Don
Bosco's health and prays much for him. If danger arises, let me know
and I shall come immediately.
I often see Countess Corsi, our ••grandmother," and do my best to
console her. To lessen her grief I am forced to conceal my own.
It was at this time that Archbishop Gastaldi, seeing the apos-
tolic work of the Salesian Society, seems to have thought of turn-
ing it into a diocesan congregation.
"How many of you are firmly committed to your Society?" he
asked Father Cagliero.
"All the directors."
"And the others?"
"Over a hundred and fifty are faithful to their vows and will
remain so."
"What if Don Bosco dies?"
"We shall look for a successor!"
"Good, but let us hope that God will spare him!"
Father Cagliero, sensing the hope of the archbishop that,
should Don Bosco die at that time, the Salesians would turn to
him for direction, said nothing more. On leaving the archbishop's
residence, he met Canon [Francis] Marengo and told him of his
conversation. The canon, who knew the archbishop's mind, was
touched and gratified.
"Bless you!" he exclaimed. ''Your answer forestalled any harm
to your Congregation!"
Don Bosco's condition continued to improve. "Today," Enria
wrote on the evening of December 27, "he is well again. His skin
peels off in flakes some five or six centimeters wide. It is such a
joy to see him sitting up in bed, eating bland food, and talking
spiritedly with Father Rua about the Oratory. His nephew, Louis
Bosco, has been here for nearly a week."
"See how bad I am," Don Bosco jokingly told Enria one day-
"so bad that I have to shed my old skin! Let's hope the new one
will be tough enough to withstand the gales and thunderstorms
now lashing the world. I am confident that God will guarantee the
success of His work. Be convinced, my dear Enria, that all our
physical and mental powers, all our efforts, hurts and humilia-
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tions, should have but this goal-God's glory. When we strive for
our own glory, all our work is utterly worthless. Woe to the man
who expects worldly praise. The world is a bad paymaster and
most ungrateful." After pausing briefly, he went on: "Don Bosco
is but a humble peasant child whom our merciful God raised to
the priesthood through no merit of his. But see how good the
Lord is! He availed Himself of an ordinary priest to perform
wonders. All has been done and will be done for the greater glory
of God and His Church!"
6. HIGH HOPES
High hopes followed anxious days. The mail brought the Ora-
tory boys' New Year's greetings, and Don Bosco thanked them
through Enria who sent them daily bulletins on Don Bosco's
steady improvement. His benefactors vied with each other to send
him anything to help him, and the Oratory provided everything
else. Don Bosco acknowledged their solicitude. 1
Father Rua left Varazze on December 28, and after a brief
stopover at Genoa-Marassi, he arrived at the Oratory on the fol-
lowing day. A letter from Father Francesia, dated December 29,
reassured him that Don Bosco's recovery was slowly continuing.
The novena was obviously effective. On his part Enria carefully
kept the Oratory posted on Don Bosco's condition.
On New Year's eve Don Bosco insisted on giving the yearly
strenna to the confreres of the house who gathered around his
bed. He explained and inculcated the practice of two scriptural
texts: Praebe te ipsum exemplum bonorum operum [Show your-
self in all things an example of good works-Tit. 2, 7] and
Obedite praepositis vestris et subiacete eis; ipsi enim pervigilant
quasi pro animabus vestris reddituri [Obey your superiors and be
subject to them, for they keep watch as having to render an ac-
count of your souls-Heb. 13, 17]. Obedience is the key to good
example.2 Father [Francis] Cuffia dutifully sent a summary of
Don Bosco's talk to Father Rua.3
'This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2For more details about this strenna, see Ch. 8, No. 6. [Author]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
7. THE POPE'S BLESSING
On January 3, 1872 small blisters broke out over all Don Bos-
co's body, bringing him discomfort and causing apprehension,
though the doctor was quite optimistic. A cordial visit by Father
Dominic Pestarino on January 2 and by the bishop of Savona on
the following day helped to lift his spirits. Father Francesia and
Enria sent news respectively to Father Rua and Joseph Buzzetti.
A postscript to another letter from Father Francesia to Father
Rua, dated January 5, again raised hopes. It read: "Yesterday
Cardinal Antonelli telegraphed the Holy Father's blessing to Don
Bosco. Our father was delighted. He assured us that he had not
had so serene and restful a night as that following the Holy Fa-
ther's blessing. I shall save this telegram and in due time have it
properly framed." 1
When Father Francesia [later] read him the telegram, Father
Rua was truly delighted. "'The Pope," he exclaimed, ""has gra-
ciously remembered the least of his sons! Thanks and more
thanks! May God reward him for the happiness he has caused!
The blessing of Christ's Vicar brings joy to the heart and peace to
the soul!" Then, to memorialize the happy event, he asked Father
Francesia to have the telegram handsomely framed. "'Don Bosco
himself-Enria wrote-declares that his recovery is due to the
prayers said for him and to the Pope's blessing. " 2
Late in the evening of January 6 a delegation of twelve men ar-
rived from Mornese with gifts and greetings from the whole vil-
lage. After Mass the next morning, they went to see Don Bosco
and stood around his bed with their gifts of fruit, butter, honey,
eggs and wine at their feet. 3
'"It was truly a moving sight!" Enria told us. "Our good father
was touched by this demonstration of love and gratitude. We
thought of the good shepherds bearing gifts to the Child Jesus in
Bethlehem's cave."
Don Bosco too recalled the feast of the Epiphany which had
just gone by, and, thanking the men of Mornese, asked, ··would
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Recovery from a Serious Il/ness-1871-1872
143
you mind joining me in offering these gifts to the Infant Jesus,
that He help us become saints? I ask your forgiveness" -he went
on smilingly-"if I cannot entertain you longer as I did at Mor-
nese. God bless you. Pray for me. I shall pray for you and your
families, so that one day we may all form one happy family in
heaven. . . . Now I feel tired, but I hope that I can have a word
with each of you before you return home."
They left the room deeply moved and edified by his patient res-
ignation. That same day Father Francesia wrote to Father Rua:
Since the Holy Father's blessing, things have kept getting better. So
far he has had not the faintest sign of fever or any of the grim symptoms
of new outbreaks of the skin. He hopes to get up soon, probably during
the week. We can hardly wait for that day! How we long for it! This is
now his third day of convalescence. Let's keep praying and hoping. . . .
On January 7 Don Bosco asked Father Francesia to send news -
and his thanks to Countess Callori:
A slight relapse set in during the last few days-Father Francesia wrote
-but now, after the Holy Father's blessing, we have seen a marked im-
provement. The doctor has already allowed him to sit up in bed. . . .
Thank God, I hope we may now believe that Don Bosco is really and
truly convalescing. I dare not say it out loud. Once before I did at Don
Bosco's explicit request, only to face disappointing setbacks. Now let us
hope and trust in God.
Don Bosco thanks you for the thousand-lire bill you sent for the Ora-
tory, which is floating in debt. But this is not the least of his concerns.
When the day of his return to Turin draws nearer, I shall be happy to in-
form you. To give this letter true value, Don Bosco will add a few words
in his own hand, so I shall not even dare add my signature. . . .
Here Father Francesia handed the pen to Don Bosco who
added these few lines:
My good Mamma,
Varazze, January 7, 1872
Deo gratias I May God reward your kind anxiety in my regard and
your generous help to the Oratory in these last few days.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
God bless you, my good Mamma, and may He grant every favor to
you, to the count, and to your whole family. Continue to pray for this
bad child so that he may become good, always a most affectionate and
devoted son to you.
Fr. John Bosco4
8. ON THE WAY TO RECOVERY
Father Francesia finally sent the following good news to Father
Rua to pass it on to the Oratory community:
Dear Father Rua:
Varazze, January 9, 1872-2 P.M.
I take it on myself to satisfy your desire for news of Don Bosco
because I no longer trust anyone else, Father Rua included.
Yesterday Don Bosco felt really well. Only toward evening did he feel
tired with a slight headache, but he knew why. The delegation from
Mornese was still there. They were quite discreet, but they did have a
thousand things to tell him before leaving. Besides, Don Bosco felt
strong and was glad to talk to them. . . . Anyway, he spent a restful
night and felt well again this morning, although still a little tired.
He was told of your prayers first by Father Durando in a letter and
then personally by Father Cagliero who arrived here yesterday at 8:30.
As always Don Bosco was quite pleased. Now let us hope that the im-
provement will continue. If we shall have mild spring days like today
during the week, he may be able to get up by Saturday or Sunday. . . .
Countess Callari must probably be beside herself with joy because
yesterday he wrote her a note in his own hand. She is really lucky. It is
the second letter he has written from his bed.
I might never stop writing today, but I'm running out of paper. I hope
I can confirm this good news in a later letter.
Love me in the Lord. I am
Yours affectionately,
Father FrancesiaI
4We are omitting details about prayers and Masses being offered at the Oratory at the
boys' request for Don Bosco's full recovery. [Editor]
1We are omitting two letters of Enria: one to Brother Buzzetti about Don Bosco's pa-
tience, resignation and gratitude, and another to the Oratory artisans. [Editor]
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
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The news kept getting better. On January 11 Father Cagliero
wrote to Father Rua from Varazze: ''Don Bosco keeps improv-
ing. He no longer suffers hot and cold spells as he did the other
day. . . . By Sunday he will be allowed to get up and walk about
the room. If the improvement keeps up, we shall soon sing a Te
Deum."
The joy which everyone felt at this good news was indescrib-
able. 2
At last on January 14, Don Bosco got out of bed. "Don Bosco
was on his feet today for over two hours," Father Francesia wrote
to Father Rua. "At first he felt weak, but gradually his strength
returned. Our boys were most happy. After many vivas they ran
up to his room and we couldn't hold them back anymore. Smiling
joyfully, he greeted them sitting up in an armchair. We cried for
joy. May the Lord be praised for all He has already granted
us ...."
Enria sent more details to Brother Joseph Buzzetti:
Don Bosco is doing fine. He slept well during the night between Sat-
urday and Sunday. At 6 A.M. on Sunday, Father Francesia gave him
Holy Communion. . . . At eleven o'clock he insisted on getting dressed.
Fearing a collapse, since he had been in bed for six weeks, we made him
sit down, wrapped him in warm clothing and gave him lunch. Then,
hdped by three of us, he walked around the room four or five times. He
stayed out of bed until five in the evening. During this time all the pupils
quietly filed into his room to kiss his hand. All the time he had been ill
they had not seen him. In order to save his strength Don Bosco did not
speak, but his joy made him feel perfectly cured. The last group to visit
him was composed of the forty pupils-day and resident-of the cleric
Francis Borgatello. They gave him a pretty box of candy and a little
money. The love and joy with which they presented their little gifts was
heartwarming. Our good father was delighted, and after thanking them,
he gave each a piece of candy. He was truly happy and very bright.
At five he went back to bed, slept peacefully from six to seven, and
then again from ten till dawn. . . .
The pupils were aware of Don Bosco's affection for them. He
had often asked the director to give them his greetings and several
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
times had asked for the music teacher so that he could point out
certain flaws in the boys' singing. One day, feeling worse than
usual, he heard a boy crying beneath his window. "Please go
down and see what's wrong with that poor boy," he told Enria.
The lad was homesick; his mother had paid him a visit and had
just left. Some friendly words and candy cheered him up. Don
Bosco was so sensitive that he could not bear to see a child suffer.
If he learned that a boy had been ill-treated, he would reprimand
the offender severely. On the occasion of a school holiday, he rec-
ommended to the prefect that he give the boys a special treat at
dinner.3
As Enria explained to Don Bosco, Buzzetti was not visiting him
because, aside from considerations of distance and expense, he
did not want to arouse envy among the confreres or start a rush
to Varazze. Too many were anxious to visit Don Bosco. Anyway,
since it was proper that the coadjutor brothers should have a
chance to show their filial love, Brother Joseph Rossi was chosen
to represent them, to Don Bosco's great joy.4
On January 21, Father Francesia wrote to Father Rua:
Don Bosco is doing fine. We hope that by next week he will be able to
say Mass in the chapel. He reads his mail and last night he was deter-
mined to hear the confessions of a group of boys. The doctor is not keen
on letting him leave at the end of the month. With prayer, we can safely
hope that by February 2 we'll be able to set out for Turin. I desire that
more than you. . . .
The directors of Borgo San Martino and Lanzo had not yet vis-
ited him. Father Bonetti had been kept away by business but
hoped to go. Meanwhile Don Bosco sent word to Father Le-
moyne that he wanted to see him, "because without him he could
not feel well."
"Mind," Don Bosco told Father Cuffia, "Father Lemoyne will
receive the letter this Saturday [January 20]. On Sunday, after
3We are omitting a letter of Enria to Brother Joseph Buzzetti expressing Don Bosco's
wish to see him, and two letters of Father Francesia to Countess Callori and to Father Rua
respectively, confirming Don Bosco's steady improvement. [Editor]
4This paragraph is a condensation. We are omitting letters from Enria and Brother
Rossi to Brother Buzzetti and Father Rua respectively. [Editor]
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
147
evening services, he will leave immediately for Turin and stay the
night there. On Monday he will hop the first train and get to
Varazze at 2:30. Have someone meet him at the station to help
him with his bags."
"No," Father Cuffia objected. "Upon arriving at Sampier-
darena Father Lemoyne will go to Genoa to see his mother and
won't get here till Tuesday."
"You don't know Father Lemoyne," Don Bosco retorted.
So certain was Don Bosco that he had dinner ready to be sent
up to his room at three o'clock. But Father Cuffia, still incredu-
lous, sent nobody to the station.
Father Lemoyne arrived on Monday and, luggage in hand,
walked into Don Bosco's room at the hour Don Bosco had said,
having done exactly as the saint had predicted.
"Did anyone meet you at the station?" Don Bosco asked.
"I saw nobody."
"Didn't you go to Genoa to see your mother?"
"Do you think I would delay, knowing that you were anxiously
waiting for me? Forgive my saying so, but I still have a little
heart and brain left."
"What did you think when you heard of my illness? Were you
afraid I might die?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Do you recall the dream of the Ten Hills?5 You reached the
eighth hill. As I see it, each hill symbolizes ten years, so your life-
span will extend over the seventies. Furthermore, in the dream
you were bent over and toothless, and you are not so now."
"But here everyone feared I might die. On one particularly bad
evening, I wisely asked Father Francesia to send for a notary to
draw up my will, but he burst into tears and ran off."
He then told him that Father Cuffia had been certain he would
not come directly to Varazze. At three that afternoon, as he had
arranged, he dined in his room with Fathers Lemoyne, Francesia,
and Cuffia and the station-master. He had never felt so well since
his illness began. That day he was out of bed from ten in the
morning until nine at night.
5See Vol. VII, pp. 467-471. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Today is the first day I really feel like eating," he remarked
during the meal. "The other days I ate only to keep up my
strength."
It was hoped that he might return to Turin for the last Sunday
of the carnival season. On January 24 he walked down one floor
and paced up and down the clerics' dining room. Toward evening,
knowing how much he loved music, the organist of St. Ambrose
Church and several members of a symphony orchestra gave· a
concert in his room in the presence of several guests. The faultless
rendition enthralled Don Bosco who applauded generously and
thanked them.6
"If earthly music is so enchanting," he said, "what must heav-
en's music be like! May yours be the fortune of joining the great
heavenly orchestra one day and may we enjoy those sweet melo-
dies through eternity. I thank each of you (he named them one by
one) from the bottom of my heart for having so generously hon-
ored poor Don Bosco and for having afforded him so much plea-
sure! I also thank all the good people who with their prayers ob-
tained my full recovery. I thank the pastor, the mayor and all the
citizens of Varazze for the thoughtfulness and charity they have
shown me. . . ."
The following evening from nine to ten o'clock he spoke to all
the confreres about the gratitude we owe to our benefactors.
On January 26 he visited the chapel and then walked for about
an hour in the playground with Father Bonetti, director of the
Bargo San Martino junior seminary, who had finally come to
visit him on behalf of his entire school.
On January 27 Father Bonetti wrote to Father Rua:
At last I managed to pay my long-desired visit to our dearly cherished
Don Bosco. I found him quite well and was privileged to accompany
him to the chapel and to the playground, where he strolled for the first
time since his unfortunate illness. We must now organize a fitting
thanksgiving to God.
He asked me to tell you that on Monday [January 29] he will go to
Alassio and will stay there until next week. If necessary, you can reach
him there.
6This paragraph is a condensation. rEditor]
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
149
How is your mother? Give her Don Bosco's regards.7
P.S. Give my greetings to Father Francis Provera. His name day is
next Monday.8
With the grace of God, Don Bosco felt better and better as the
days went by. On Sunday, the 28th, the Salesian school of
Varazze celebrated the feast of St. Franci_s de Sales.
For the first time-Enria wrote-Don Bosco said the Community
Mass, but another priest distributed Holy Communion.
We had a wonderful celebration. At dinner Don Bosco hosted the pas-
tor and two canons, the mayor and Mr. Prefumo, who came especially
from Genoa, another gentleman and the doctor.
Nearly all the boys went to Holy Communion. The second Mass was
a High Mass. The playgrounds echoed with vivas to Don Bosco and
everyone was overjoyed at being able to thank God for his recovery.
After dinner, the pupils entertained Don Bosco with music and song,
prose and poetry.
9. FULL CONVALESCENCE
On January 30 Don Bosco set out for Alassio. He had a pleas-
ant trip and received a rousing welcome from superiors and
pupils. Father Francesia kept the Oratory informed of Don Bos-
co's departure from Varazze:
He will return here on Monday [February 5] and after a day or two
will continue on to Turin. I'll let you know the day and hour. . . . We
have decided to place this inscription above his bed: "In this bedroom
our dear father Don Bosco preached by his sufferings for fifty long anx-
ious days. He is out of danger, but not yet quite well. . . ." 1
7Father Rua's mother recovered and kept working for the Oratory boys for another five
years, her edifying life coming to an end on June 21, 1876. Joanna Magone died at the
Oratory on January 20, 1872. Father Rua's obituary carries this entry about her: "She was
privileged to be Michael Magone's mother. (See Indexes of Volumes VI and VII-Editor)
After his death she gave herself entirely to God's service. Allowed to end her days at the
Oratory where her son had led a saintly life, she showed her gratitude by working tireless-
ly. She always attended early Mass, loved prayer and feared sin. After an illness of seven
days she received the Last Rites and died fully resigned, invoking Jesus, Mary. and Joseph
and praying to her son Michael to take her with him to heaven." [Author]
8We are omitting a note of Father Francesia voicing misgivings about Don Bosco's trip
to Alassio. [Editor]
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Meanwhile at the Oratory the rejoicing at his imminent return
was reaching fever pitch, but Father Rua prudently insisted that
Don Bosco stay a little longer in Liguria because of Turin's ex-
tremely cold weather.2
Letters from the Salesian houses where superiors and pupils
constantly prayed for him had been and were his great comfort.
Though all longed for his return, they were still glad that he
would convalesce a little longer. Countess Callori too had pre-
vailed upon Father Francesia to persuade him to take this precau-
tion, but Don Bosco had already left for Alassio. Upon being told
of her anxiety, Don Bosco dutifully informed her on February 9
[1872] of his delayed return to Turin.3
That same day he wrote very warmly to Father Rua, informing
him definitely of the day of his return and of his wishes concern-
ing a reception:
Dearest Father Rua:
Alassio, February 9, 1872
The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with us! It is time, dear
Father Rua, that I tell you something definite to share with our beloved
confreres and boys. Thanks to so many prayers, I now feel strong
enough to start working again, though with some restraint. God willing,
I'll be back in Turin next Thursday [February 15, the second day of
Lent]. Really, I long to get back. My body is here, but my heart, my
thoughts and even my words are always with you at the Oratory. This is
a frailty, but I can't help it.
I shall arrive at 12:20 in the afternoon. It is my wish that there be no
reception with cheers, music and hand-kissing because my present condi-
tion might make it harmful. I shall enter the church through the main
portal to offer my thanks to Her to whom I owe my recovery. Then, if I
can, I will say a few words to the boys; otherwise, I shall postpone this
and go straight to the dining room.
When you tell our dear sons this news, please say that I thank them
all most heartily for their prayers. I thank all who wrote to me, especial-
ly those who offered up their life to God in exchange for mine. I know
who they are and I shall not forget them. When I am with them again, I
hope that I can say a lot of things which I cannot say now.
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
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May God bless you all and grant you constant good health and the
precious gift of perseverance in doing good. Our confreres here at Alas-
sio wish to be remembered to you. Continue to pray for me.
Most affectionately yours, in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. Let me know if it is very cold there, and whether or not you plan
to celebrate the feast of St. Francis de Sales on Sunday the 18th.
On February 10 he left Alassio after a warm send-off from the
pastor, Father [Francis] Della Valle, prominent citizens and
pupils. He stopped off at Albenga, where Bishop Anacleto Siboni
warmly greeted him and hosted him at dinner, and toward eve-
ning he returned to Varazze. The following day, Sunday, was
filled with solemn church services and joyful celebrations. He
found time, however, to write to the director of the junior semi-
nary at Bargo San Martino:
Dear Father Bonetti:
Varazze, February 11, 1872
God willing, we shall set off for Turin on Thursday, the 15th. You
might take the first train or, better still, the one arriving at Alessandria
around 9:30. That's when our train will pull in. It would have been too
expensive to reserve a whole compartment for ourselves. Buy a second-
class ticket to Turin. We shall do the same.
If you can't delay your return to Borgo San Martino until Monday,
we shall hold our annual conference on Friday evening.
Don't forget to bring with you all the money you can spare. Our cred-
itors are pressing us on all sides, and I am returning to Turin penniless.
At any rate, I hope we shall have a wonderful time together. May
God bless you and yours and keep you all steadfast on the road to heav-
en. Amen.
Most affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
10. RETURN TO THE ORATORY
Matchless and indescribable was the joy aroused by the an-
nouncement that Don Bosco was returning with the one who had
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
regularly kept them informed during the course of his illness. In
his facetious way, Father Joseph Bologna1 wrote to Enria, ad-
dressing him as Hlllustrious Baron Enria":
We are most impatient to see you. True, we are awaiting Don Bosco,
but we are also waiting for you. Villaris2 keeps running up to the belfry
with his field-glasses watching for your departure in order to start his
bell ringing.
When you get here we shall slaughter our finest pig-our very last!
The others have already met their end at the hand of the executioner.
Cagna3 has already baptized several bottles and Gastini4 has prepared
his rhymes.
On Tuesday [the last day of the carnival season] we shall have the
breaking of the piiiatas, and our brass band will be in full uniform but,
alas, without its general.5
Buzzetti wants you to bring something for April Fools' Day to present
to Merlo, our artist, who will paint our twelve tambourines for the new
polka that we will play at your arrival. The upholsterer is at work on
two magnificent armchairs: one for Don Bosco and the other at his right
for Enria....
I will close with baskets of greetings from all. If something new turns
up, Buzzetti wants to know it as soon as possible. . . .
On February 12 Enria sent his last bulletin from Varazze:
"Today Don Bosco went to Savona to dine with the bishop. He
was back by four. Our departure has now been set for Thursday,
February 15, at 5:30 A.M. At Sampierdarena we shall board the
express train due to arrive in Turin at 11 :30 A.M ...."
Meanwhile Father Provera was sending the directors of the
various houses the Program of the Festivities on the Occasion of
Don Bosco's Return:
1Father Joseph Bologna (1847-1907) entered the Oratory in 1863, joined the Salesian
Society in 1868, and was ordained a priest in 1872. In 1878 Don Bosco sent him to Mar-
seilles to open the St. Leo Festive Oratory, which he directed until 1892, when he was ap-
pointed provincial of the houses of southern France. In 1898 he was named provincial of
northern France and Belgium. He died at the Oratory on January 4, 1907. [Editor]
2The Oratory bell ringer. [Author]
3The cellarman. [Author]
4Charles Gastini was one of the Oratory pioneers. He entered it in 1848 at the age of
eleven at Don Bosco's invitation. (See Vol. III, pp. 243ff.) He became deeply attached to
him, and with his comical talents he delighted the Oratory boys for many years. [Editor]
5Enria, one of the first twelve boys to form the first Oratory band in 1855 at the age of
fourteen, later became its bandmaster. [Editor]
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Recovery from a Serious Illness-1871-1872
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Thursday, February 15-Arrival of Don Bosco
Friday, February 16-Annual Conference
Saturday, February 17-Entertainment
Sunday, February 18-First Sunday of Lent, Feast of St. Francis de
Sales
On February 14, Father Albera came from Marassi to Varazze
in order to accompany Don Bosco to Turin. Thanks to the sta-
tion-master, a second-class compartment had been reserved. All
Don Bosco's confreres and friends wanted him to travel first-
class, but he had replied that second-class was luxury enough and
that he would really prefer third-class himself.
We do not have all the letters which Don Bosco wrote at this
time to his kindest benefactors to thank them for their prayers
and solicitude during his illness, but we do have one which he
wrote from Varazze to the very devout and generous Countess
Uguccioni the evening before he left for Turin:
My dear Mamma:
Varazze, February 14, 1872
Before setting out for Turin, I want to write to my good mother to
thank her for her prayers and to let her know where I am. God willing, I
shall be in Turin tomorrow.
I am not yet fully recovered, but, with some moderation, I can attend
to a little more urgent business. Things have been going along without
me now for two and a half months.
I trust this letter finds you, Thomas and the rest of the family in good
health. May God grant you all a long, happy life and perseverance in
virtue.
If possible, please give my regards to Marchioness1 Nerli and Countess
Digny. Pray for me.
Yours gratefully.
Fr. John Bosco
On February 15, those leaving were torn by conflicting emo-
tions: the joy of soon being with their friends in Turin and the
regret of leaving other friends in Varazze. The pastor, the mayor,
town officials and several priests and laymen came to wish Don
Bosco a pleasant journey. He thanked them and again asked for
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
their prayers, assuring them that he would particularly pray for
them to Mary, Help of Christians. The pupils, lined up as Don
Bosco smilingly passed between their ranks, said good-bye to him
with reciprocal emotion and sadness. A crowd awaited him at the
station, and to all he said: "God bless you! I shall recommend all
of you to Our Lord and to Mary, Help of Christians!"
The station-master personally helped him aboard and kissed his
hand. In gratitude for his courtesy, Don Bosco asked him to con-
vey his regards to his family and to the station personnel.
Traveling with him were Father Francesia, Father Albera,
Enria and the cleric Turco. At Alessandria they were joined by
Father Bonetti who, as Father Francesia had been doing, kept
telling him funny anecdotes to ease his deep emotion. The doctor
had advised them to do so lest the excitement prove harmful to
his heart.
Arriving at Porta Nuova they found Countess Corsi's carriage
waiting for him. Father Francesia and Enria sat with him while
the others took another coach sent by the Oratory. In the square
facing the Church of Mary, Help of Christians, there stood no
brass band or reception committee, in deference to his request.
He immediately entered the church through the main portal, fol-
lowed by the superiors. Pupils, friends and many benefactors were
waiting for him inside. As soon as he set foot in the sanctuary,
Brother Buzzetti intoned the psalm Laudate, pueri, Dominum.
Kneeling at the altar of Mary, Help of Christians, surrounded by
the superiors, he prayed at great length, his countenance aglow
with holy love.
He arose and, walking to the altar rail, gazed silently and most
delightedly for a few moments at his beloved children. A wave of
emotion swept through all. Deeply moved himself, he thanked
them for all they had done to have his life spared, and he exhort-
ed them to keep praying for him and to thank Mary, Help of
Christians for all Her favors to the Oratory. . . . Then he fell
silent. He tried to say something else but was too moved. . . . He
waved and withdrew.
As soon as he started to speak, the pupils lowered their heads
to conceal their tears at the sound of his long-awaited but feeble
voice. Not one could bear to raise his eyes to look at him in those
moments.
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155
The superiors also were silent as they escorted him through the
playground. To break the spell, he turned to Father Rua and Fa-
ther Bonetti and smilingly remarked in Piedmontese, "I'm
hungry. Aren't you going to give me something to eat?"
Quite overcome, Enria had stayed back in the sanctuary, but
Buzzetti took him by the arm and brought him to the dining
room.
"Why the tears?" Don Bosco asked on noting the redness in his
eyes.
"I am overjoyed," sobbed Enria. Don Bosco was moved.
As emotions ebbed away, the festivities began as planned, fill-
ing all with joy. The annual conference for the Oratory Salesians
and the directors of the other houses was held on February 16.
Don Bosco again briefly expressed his thanks to his sons. Then
each director delivered a short report on his house, with Father
Pestarino offering a gratifying report on the Daughters of Mary,
Help of Christians.
The following day saw solemn church services in thanksgiving
to Mary, Help of Christians for Don Bosco's recovery. Canon
[John Baptist] Anfossi has left us this account:
Archbishop Gastaldi joined in the church services and gave Benedic-
tion of the Blessed Sacrament. Afterward he was invited to partake of
some refreshments while things were set up in the porticoes for an as-
sembly in his and Don Bosco's honor. I was there and saw the archbish-
op hurry downstairs so fast that Don Bosco could hardly keep up. Lusty
vivas and the strains of the band greeted him as he came through the
portico. When he was invited to sit by Don Bosco and other priests who
had come to celebrate his recovery. he pointedly ignored the invitation
and strode to his coach without even acknowledging Don Bosco's part-
ing words. I approached Don Bosco and said. "Don Bosco. I don't like
the way he left. This day of rejoicing has ended on a sour note. What
happened?"
..What can we do?" was the reply. ••The archbishop wants to head our
Congregation. That is too much. However, we shall see. . . ."
A family celebration followed. As Don Bosco sat on the dais,
the boys sang the anthem Don Bosco Is Safe and Sound, set to
music by Father Cagliero and scored for the brass band by Maes-
tro De Vecchi. Then a pupil, Stephen Trione, offered Don Bosco
a silver chalice, bought with the boys' savings. The presentation
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
was accompanied by the declamation of a poem composed that
morning by Father Lemoyne.
Countless lads had prepared poems, letters and addresses in
Italian, Latin and Piedmontese, but naturally they could not read
them all. As was customary on Don Bosco's name day, there was
a scramble to reach him, and only the nimblest and boldest man-
aged to recite the little pieces they had prepared. The rest had to
be satisfied with kissing his hand and handing him their little
compositions. It was love triumphant! Unfortunately no copy of
the poem Don Bosco Is Safe and Sound written by Father Fran-
cesia and scored by De Vecchi has reached us.
As we shall see, the Holy Father also congratulated Don Bosco
on his recovery. With God's blessing he now resumed his aposto-
late on behalf of youth, of the Church and of his country!
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CHAPTER 4
Back to Work-1872
:a.T the beginning of 1872, the Salesian Society had
thirty-three perpetually professed members and seventy in trienni-
al vows. The former group consisted of twenty-six priests, three
clerics and four coadjutors; the latter had eight priests, forty-five
clerics and seventeen coadjutors. There were also eighty-six pos-
tulants: a priest, thirty-three clerics, twenty-nine coadjutors, and
twenty-three secondary school students. This made a grand total
of one hundred and eighty-nine-thirty-five priests, eighty-one
clerics, fifty coadjutors and twenty-three young students.
In the Appendix of the Salesian Directory, after the previously
mentioned obituary of the cleric Abrami,1 Don Bosco added these
comments:
2. In 1871 our Society opened two new houses: St. Vincent's Hospice
in Genoa and a resident and day school at Varazze. Other foundations
are planned for 1872.
3. Our Society is growing fast. Let us strive to deserve God's favors
by fulfilling our duties exactly.
4. All are especially to foster and practice obedience to superiors and
mutual charity.
1. CONY ALESCENCE
Once he returned to the Oratory, Don Bosco resumed his usual
tasks, disregarding the pleas of confreres and friends to take
things easy during his convalescence. In fact, the after-effects of
his illness lingered for several months. In turn, headaches, tooth-
1See p. 121. [Editor]
157
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
aches, eye afflictions, mild miliary eruptions, and fever outbreaks
triggering copious sweating throughout the night often deprived
him of sleep. Furthermore, his legs again became swollen, causing
him serious inconvenience and forcing him to use elastic stockings
for the rest of his life.
Nevertheless, he was always prompt to hear confessions in the
morning, and during the afternoon he could never be prevailed
upon to nap in bed. If sleep overcame him, he would doze on a
chair for fifteen minutes or a half hour at most, and then he
would resume work. Likewise, he refused special food at table, as
Father Rua testified at the Apostolic Process:
He consented to take only a little vermouth before dinner at the doc-
tor's orders to counteract fever outbreaks which frequently plagued him
after his serious illness at Varazze in 1871-72. He did take a little wine
with his meals, but it was always generously watered. After his illness,
every month a good lady [Duchess Laval Montmorency] sent him a case
of choice wine to restore his strength, but he never drank it all, sharing
it with the others at table. There were always full bottles left over at the
end of each month-so many in fact that, for a number of years after
his death, they graced the table on special occasions.
For some three months he resigned himself to saying Mass
privately on a small altar in his waiting room with only a few per-
sons, outsiders included, in devout attendance. After Mass the
altar was stored inside a closet of the same room.
On February 23, 1872, a few days after his return from
Varazze, Amelia Josephine Crosa received Holy Communion
from his hand and, after Mass, a copy of his booklet Interesting
Episodes in the Life of Pius IX, on which he had himself written:
"The world is a deceiver. Only God is a fair paymaster." It was a
saying he often uttered to enkindle the love of God in devout
souls.
Grateful to all who had prayed for his recovery, he felt ever
more eager to consecrate his new lease on life to God's glory and
the welfare of souls. To the cleric Angelo Rigoli, a former Ora-
tory pupil, he sent a medal and a holy picture of St. Joseph bear-
ing a facsimile of Pius IX's signature beneath the words: Ite ad
Joseph, and he added these few lines:
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159
Dear Rigali.
Thank you for the prayers you offered for my recovery. Now pray
that I may save my soul. I am sending you the medal you wanted and a
holy picture of St. Joseph. Is Belfanti I with you? What is he doing? Is he
signing up many subscribers to Letture Cattoliche? Give my regards to
your superiors for me.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco 2
As we have already stated, the conduct of the Oratory pupils
during Don Bosco's illness was exemplary and devout, thanks
also to the constant vigilance of their superiors. In February
[1872] a meeting was held for the artisans' staff. The following in-
teresting report-the only one made of all the meetings held m
1872-comes from Father [Joseph] Lazzero:
The meeting was chaired by the Very Reverend Father Michael Rua,
Prefect. The following recommendations were made:
1. Great care should be used to make recreation periods beneficial to
both pupils and assistants. The latter must stay with the boys and share
their games and talk, always in a friendly and kind manner. Some
insolent boy may publicly poke fun at or insult an assistant. In that case,
it is wiser not to reprimand the boy then and there or to walk away. The
culprit should be called aside later and made aware of his fault and
rudeness. Repeated admonitions will definitely cool a youngster's impul-
siveness and will get him to improve his conduct.
2. All should aim at making themselves both loved and feared by the
boys. This can be easily done. When youngsters see an assistant genuine-
ly concerned about their welfare, they cannot help but love him. So also,
when they see that he keeps a tight rein on them and calls them to task
if they kick over the traces, they cannot help feeling a certain fear of
him, a reverential fear which they should have for superiors.
One thing that assistants must very carefully avoid is lowering them-
selves to the boys' level in speech and actions, and especially in games.
They should join in all activities, but at the same time they shoud keep
their place and show by their demeanor that they are educators. This
very recommendation was made last year but it bears repeating.
I A former pupil. [Author]
2We are omitting Father Rua's reply to routine yearly surveys of charitable institutions
and of public and private schools. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
3. It has been asked whether boys should always be told why they
were given poor grades. The answer is yes if a boy asks respectfully and
privately and shows that he intends to mend his ways. Reasons should
not be given if one asks arrogantly or publicly. A teacher should reply
seriously, "I shall tell you later!" Or he may say, "Go to the prefect of
studies and he will tell you." As long as a teacher feels he can handle the
problem, he should do so. On realizing that a situation is beyond him,
he had best consult his superior, who can then step in with greater effec-
tiveness.
4. One is not to become disheartened by hurts, even grave ones, from
boys. We sometimes have boys who have already been in all sorts of
mischief. A hapless assistant can be at his wit's end trying to understand
why he has to put up with such individuals. We cannot blame the teach-
er. Still, superiors should not react hastily, since they might cause their
best benefactors to withdraw their help, and all would then suffer. This
is not to say that nothing will be done. It is a question of biding one's
time~ eventually everything will be set right. 3
2. OUR LADY'S BANK
Divine Providence singularly helped Don Bosco through people
who by thrift and work had saved for their retirement and had no
heirs. Distrustful of banks, stocks or private loans in the wake of
sad tales of fraudulent bankruptcies which had flung even wealthy
people into misery, they turned to Don Bosco for advice on how
to invest their savings.
"Deposit them with the poor," he would tell them, "and Our
Lady will be your surety. Take your money to Our Lady's bank
and you will reap generous dividends." Thus several people se-
cured tranquility for themselves by offering to God and to Mary,
Help of Christians what they would have had to relinquish at
their death .1
3We are omitting the mention of a legacy by Countess Callori for an anniversary Mass
for one of her sons, the funding of a scholarship in the Salesian school of Alassio for
aspirants to the priesthood, a request by Don Bosco to a benefactor for financial aid, the
signing of a contract for the installation of a huge clock in one of the bell-towers of the
Church of Mary, Help of Christians, and a circular to raise funds for that purpose. [Edi-
tor]
1This sentence is a condensation. We are omitting a letter of Don Bosco to the bishop of
Acqui to enlist his aid in obtaining a cleric's exemption from military service, another let-
ter of his to Marchioness Uguccioni offering Easter greetings, and a new item in Unita
Cattolica about the conversion of a family of Lutherans to Catholicism in the Church of
Mary, Help of Christians. [Editor]
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On May 14, the first day of the novena of Mary, Help of Chris-
tians, Don Bosco resumed saying Mass in Her church for the first
time since his return from Varazze. In the sacristy he met a poor
old woman, stone-deaf, who begged for his blessing. He obliged,
and she instantly regained her hearing. She wept for joy, and,
having nothing to offer Our Lady then and there, she removed her
earrings and handed them to Don Bosco, promising to return with
a more valuable gift.
A few weeks earlier, another woman had come to him, leading
a six- or seven-year-old boy by the hand, since he could not walk
by himself. Don Bosco blessed him. The following day, the boy
was able to walk with the greatest ease. His mother returned to
thank Our Lady for the singular favor.
Since the feast of Mary, Help of Christians coincided with
Ember Friday of Pentecost, Don Bosco, in agreement with the
chancery, petitioned the Holy See for permission to anticipate the
feast by one day. 2 The petition was graciously granted.
Work in the church itself, including decorations, had been com-
pleted, and appurtenances for the apse and new sacristy had been
set in place. Volume IX3 mentioned the side altars with paintings
of their titulars, except for the one in the right transept which was
first dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and then in 1891 to
St. Francis de Sales. Opposite, in the left transept, stood St.
Ann's altar, which was dedicated in 1891 to Sts. Solutor, Adven-
tor and Octavius, since it stood on the exact site of their martyr-
dom.4 The Sacred Heart chapel was completed in 1872, and Don
Bosco described it in a booklet entitled Mary, Help of Chris-
tians.5
St. Joseph's painting was not as yet ready. As we shall see
later, it was solemnly unveiled in 1874 when work in the interior
of the church was completed.
2We are omitting the text of the petition. [Editor]
3Ibid., pp. I09f. [Editor]
4 Don Bosco explicitly stated that when the Blessed Virgin asked him to build the Church
of Mary, Help of Christians in the meadows of Valdocco, the "Valley of the Slain" (see
Vol. II, p. 234), She pointed out the site where the three soldiers had been martyred. This
site lay in the left transept in the inner part of St. Ann's chapel, later dedicated to the Holy
Martyrs and more recently to St. Mary Mazzarello. Since the floor has been substantially
raised in the restoration of the church, the exact spot of the martyrdom now lies in the
basement directly in front of the stairs leading into it. Across from it, to the left, is a side
chapel commemorating the apparition. [Author]
5We are omitting this description. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Abbot Maximilian Bardessono preached the novena of Mary,
Help of Christians.6 In the last few days of the festivities our
pupils at Lanzo, Borgo San Martino and Alassio joined in the
sacred services. On May 23, Archbishop Celestine Fissore of Ver-
celli preached and Abbot Bardessone delivered the homily. The
Oratory choir flawlessly sang Father Cagliero's composition
Sancta Maria, Succurre Miseris. 7 Attendance was so great that
the church could not hold the crowd, and so Don Bosco decided
to have an encore on the following Sunday, May 26. Unita Catto-
lica publicized the event.
A moving incident took place on May 24, the feast of Mary,
Help of Christians, a day of supreme joy, music and song. On this
occasion the pupils were allowed to spend their little savings on
playthings or souvenirs. All had money because those who were
well provided had generously shared with those in need. One of
these good-hearted pupils was Secundus Amerio, a Latin V stu-
dent. He had shared his funds with needy schoolmates and was
happily about to enjoy himself and perhaps buy a little souvenir
for his mother. As he walked up to one of the booths, he noticed
a mournful, almost tearful classmate who was trying to hide as
though in shame.
"What's the matter, Dominic? Why are you sad?" Amerio
asked.
"I haven't a cent. My mom is poor and my dad is dead. How
can I be happy?"
Amerio forgot about the gift and books he wanted to buy. Tak-
ing his six lire-all he had-he thrust three into Dominic's hand,
saying, "Send these to your mother. The rest we'll enjoy to-
gether.''
They stayed together the entire day. Amerio was then sixteen,
and though still in secondary school, he had already applied for
membership in the Salesian Society. Six years later he was or-
dained a priest, and in 1882 he departed this earth for heaven.8
Don Bosco's friends, benefactors, admirers and former pupils
were always glad to see him, especially when he celebrated his
6We are omitting details about a little bazaar held in the Oratory playground on May
19. [Editor]
7See Vol. IX, p. 128. [Editor]
8We are omitting two thank-you notes of Don Bosco to benefactors. [Editor]
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163
name day. This year Father Rua sent them the following invita-
tion:
Dear Friend:
Turin, June 21, 1872
On Monday, June 24, we shall celebrate the feast of St. John the Bap-
tist, the patron of our beloved director and father, Don Bosco. His sons
are eager to express their gratitude to him through song and music,
prose and poetry and a few gifts. To enhance the celebration, they ask
that you kindly honor the occasion with your presence. The program
will start at 7 P.M. on both Sunday and Monday.
Devotedly yours,
Father Michael Rua, Prefect
As always, this celebration was a warm, cordial testimonial of
gratitude spurring the participants to holy pursuits and leaving
cherished remembrances in the minds of all. Father Joseph Ber-
tello read a poem of his which had been set to music, and then
there followed vocal and instrumental selections, promises of last-
ing gratitude, heartfelt demonstrations of filial affection, frank
declarations of lifelong fidelity to Don Bosco's teachings, prom-
ises of daily prayers for God's abundant blessings, and insistent
requests that he pray for them.
Toward the middle of June of that year, as we shall narrate in
Chapter 5, a lurid newspaper had attempted to smear Don Bos-
co's reputation through a disgusting serial story which prompted
Abbot Maximilian Bardessono, preacher of the novena of Mary,
Help of Christians, to take up Don Bosco's defense with a short
biography. His former pupils too could not help referring to the
Masonic attempt in the devoted address9 they presented to him,
signed by forty-five of them and accompanied by an offering "in
token of their gratitude and esteem."
At the close of the celebration on the evening of June 24, Don
Bosco movingly addressed the 1,500 people present, recalling that
on the same dear occasion the previous year, he had assured them
that 1872 would bring some most encouraging news. He then
proceeded to list the events. First, thanks to Our Lady, bishops
90mitted in this edition along with similar addresses from pupils and staff. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
had been appointed to many vacant dioceses and were all in pos-
session of their respective sees. Second, thanks again to Mary,
Help of Christians, he had recovered from a nearly fatal illness.
And third, Pius IX, after surprisingly reigning longer than all his
predecessors, including St. Peter himself, still continued to enjoy
good health. He ended by saying that in the forthcoming school
year, 1872-73, they would have to prepare for either tears or
smiles.
As for the smiles, the Oratory choir and brass band had al-
ready had theirs that year immediately after the feast of Mary,
Help of Christians when, in token of his affection and admiration
for Don Bosco and his work, Bishop Ghilardi had invited them to
Mondovi 10 for the solemn closing of the grand festival he had
sponsored to honor St. Pius V, pope of Lepanto's victory, pride
of Piedmont and of the Dominican Order, and bishop of Mondovi
from March 27, 1560 to May 6, l 566. That year marked the third
centenary of his death (May 1, 1572) and the second centenary of
his beatification (April 27, 1672).
The festivities, held in May, opened with a novena in the cathe-
dral and closed on May 26 and 27 with pontifical Masses by
Archbishop [Stephen] Oreglia of Santo Stefano, papal nuncio to
Portugal, Bishop [Anthony] Colli of Alessandria and Bishop
[Emilian] Manacorda of Fossano. Elaborate illuminations, fire-
works and concerts enhanced the outdoor rejoicing.
The Oratory choirboys and musicians, a hundred or so, acquit-
ted themselves splendidly with their devout demeanor in church,
reception of the sacraments, and musical program. Their cheer-
fulness, a characteristic Oratory trait, left a most gratifying im-
pression.
They lodged in the seminary. One evening, as they were playing
while the rector and his staff looked on, Gastini, in a disguise that
concealed his identity even from our boys, leaped into their midst
and began to sing an aria from a comic opera. His voice gave him
away, and the boys instantly burst into laughter. The rector and
10We are omitting a digression about the resolution of a lengthy dispute that had arisen
between the bishop of Mondovi and Don Bosco concerning the sale of a printing press. See
pp. 113-115. fEditor]
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staff, however, taking him for an intruding fool, were about to
have him thrown out, when Enria, 11 hiding behind the boys,
chimed in with a falsetto voice. Even more shocked, the good fa-
thers could only exclaim, "Unbelievable! A woman! What
nerve!" Of course everyone burst into laughter. Those walls had
never resounded with such fun! Better still, Gastini made the
rounds, hat in hand, and collected a hundred lire for Don Bosco.
However, Don Bosco had his problems. The school superin-
tendent of the Alessandria province kept pestering the director of
the Salesian junior. seminary in Borgo San Martino for certifi-
cation of his teachers. Therefore, Don Bosco wrote to Father
Bonetti, advising him to produce the various written waivers that
had been granted to the school because it was a seminary. A sub-
stantial number of pupils in fact, who had prayed so much for his
recovery, aspired to the priesthood. Don Bosco wrote:
Dear Fr. Bonetti,
Turin, April 23, 1872
I suggest that you contact Commendatore Rho personally. Show him
the documents of our exemptions and let him talk to the school superin-
tendent. I'll do what I can here.
I am enclosing three chapters of my Bible History. Please return them
as soon as your eagle eye has checked them and your masterful hand has
set things straight.
Tell all the priests, clerics and boys that I appreciate the way each one
carries out his duties, and their kindness toward me. May God bless us
all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Father Bonetti exhorted the pupils to receive Holy Communion
to obtain God's help. In another letter Don Bosco assured him
that their school problems were solved for the present. With this
11 Peter Enria entered the Oratory in 1854 at the age of thirteen. He was first assigned to
learn a trade and three years later was transferred to the procurator's office. For many
years he was the factotum of the house. In 1878 he became a lay Salesian. Very dear to
Don Bosco, he nursed him during his last illness. [EditorJ
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
letter he enclosed a second batch of pages of his Bible History for
proofreading:
Dear Fr. Bonetti,
Turin, May 8, 1872
The storm has blown away. Tell your boys that the favor we sought
through their Holy Communion has been granted. A thousand demons
struck at our junior seminary, but Our Lady routed them all. Deo gra-
tias. I enclose three more chapters of my Bible History along with your
notes. God bless us all!
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Meanwhile, the school superintendent of the province of Turin
-a former priest named Rota-had inspected our grammar
school at Lanzo and sent a very discrediting report to the regional
authorities. Remonstrances and threats to close the school fol-
lowed.
Circumstances forced Don Bosco to write to Senator Victor
Zoppi, prefect of the province, on June 5, 1872, giving his side of
the teacher-certification problem, and stating their zeal, the
pupils' proficiency, and the complete satisfaction of Lanzo's mu-
nicipal authorities. In conclusion, he respectfully requested a for-
mal inspection by the regional superintendent. The prefect
promptly obliged. A committee headed by Superintendent Garelli
inspected the school and returned a very favorable report. Paul
Boselli, the future Minister of Public Education, also visited our
Lanzo school some time later and explicitly declared that it could
stand as a model to the public schools.
3. THE COLLEGE OF VALSALICE
At this time Don Bosco conceived a daring and very advan-
tageous plan-a regional seminary that could have been the fore-
runner of those which would spring up during the pontificate of
Pope Pius X. Because of ever dwindling priestly and religious
vocations and the government's insistence on certification of all
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teachers in church schools, he thought of a way to solve this grave
difficulty. His plan was to open in or around Turin an inter-
diocesan seminary for five or six hundred students from Pied-
mont, Liguria and even Lombardy. Upon ordination the students
would return to their respective dioceses. The bishops were to
share the finances, either directly or through generous benefac-
tors, so that even underprivileged candidates could realize their
vocation. What better way to meet the shortage of certified teach-
ers? Doubtless, excellent lay and clerical professors with academic
degrees in philosophy, theology and canon law would come to this
new seminary whose curriculum would extend from the third year
of secondary schooling to philosophy and theology. The bishops
of Piedmont, Liguria and Lombardy enthusiastically endorsed the
project. Most elated over it were the archbishops of Genoa and
Vercelli and the bishop of Novara. All, however, set one condi-
tion-that Don Bosco be its director.
On his return from Varazze, Don Bosco called on Archbishop
Gastaldi to discuss the plan. At first the prelate seemed to go
along with it, but soon he let it be known that he did not favor
having Don Bosco run this seminary. It was to be totally under
his control, particularly as regards curriculum and spiritual for-
mation. When the other bishops were told of this, they withdrew
their support, and this remarkable project collapsed.
Archbishop Gastaldi had something else in mind for Don
Bosco-a resident school, recently located on the road to Valsa-
lice, or as it was then called "Val Salici" or "Valsalici."1
In June 1863 the Gazzetta Vfficiale had published a decree of
Minister Amari closing down St. Primitivus School of the re-
nowned Christian Brothers in Turin. The people were so grieved
that within a month an "Association of Turinese Priests" was
founded "for the sole purpose of promoting the welfare of Church
and State through a truly Christian education of youth." In Oc-
tober of that year, a resident school was opened on the old road to
Valsalice in a building owned for years by the Christian Brothers
and was named "Collegio Valsalice." The founders of the Associ-
ation of Turinese Priests numbered seven-the minimum number
set by law-and seven they remained, notwithstanding efforts to
1The name was soon changed to "Valsalice." [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
increase their number, until 1868, when a few withdrew and the
association threatened to collapse, had not Father Michelotti and
Father Francis Barone, two leading founders, exerted themselves
to revitalize it and even to expand it by broadening its activities.
Beyond the resident school, they drew other plans to benefit
young people and adults, such as "day courses, night and Sunday
classes, religious lectures, catechetical instructions, parish mis-
sions, classes for rural folk, scholarships. . . ." Such expansion
naturally opened the way to increase the association's mem-
bership by inviting laymen "not only from Turin but from the en-
tire province and even from all of Piedmont and Italy." The ex-
pansion was needed to stem the tide of immorality and impiety
threatening both civil society and the Church. This was the point
of a memorandum which Father Barone sent to Archbishop Ric-
cardi of Turin in March 1869.
This plan never went through, but it at least kept afloat "Colle-
gio Valsalice" for three more years, after which dwindling enroll-
ment and increasing debts made its operation impossible. After
the installation of Archbishop Gastaldi, Father Barone, a class-
mate of his, promptly brought the gravity of the situation to his
attention, confident that he would persuade his fellow bishops in
Piedmont to join the board of directors of the Association of
Turinese Priests, strive to increase its membership and put it on a
solid, lasting basis.
Feelers had been sent out to the archbishop even before his in-
stallation, and the response had been that his first concern was his
own seminary. Still, yielding to pressure, he agreed to study the
report of the crisis of 1869 and the current precarious financial
condition of the Valsalice school. He was so engaged when Don
Bosco called on him to discuss his plan for an inter-diocesan sem-
inary, and then and there the archbishop thought of salvaging
Collegio Valsalice by entrusting it to Don Bosco.
As we have said, Archbishop Gastaldi at first seemed to favor
Don Bosco's plan but then, dismissing the subject, went on to tell
him of the deplorable condition of the Valsalice school, stressing
the urgency of saving the reputation of the Turinese clergy and
asking that he assume its administration.
Don Bosco pointed out that this was outside the scope of the
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Salesian Society, which had been established for the sons of the
poor, but the archbishop insisted so forcefully, almost to the point
of ordering him, that Don Bosco nodded in agreement, saying
that he would consult his councilors and later inform him of their
response.
The archbishop immediately reported this conversation to Fa-
ther Barone, advising that he call on Don Bosco and urge him not
to turn down his archbishop's request. Father Barone complied
and on bended knee tearfully begged Don Bosco to accept, since
only he could give the Valsalice school its former prestige.
Don Bosco called a council meeting, and its members unani-
mously rejected the proposal, declaring that the education of
wealthy boys was outside our sphere of activity. When Don Bosco
informed the archbishop of this, the latter repeated his request
and almost peremptorily demanded that Don Bosco oblige. Once
more Don Bosco convoked his councilors, explaining that he had
practically been ordered to comply and that he thought it best not
to antagonize the new archbishop. In conclusion he urged them to
reconsider their decision. In good-natured compliance they all
cast a favorable vote.
This happened in March. Shortly afterward Don Bosco went to
Lanzo, and while there he spoke to the director about the Valsa-
lice school, asking his opinion.
"Refuse!" Father Lemoyne answered.
"Are you against it too? Each and every one of you has reject-
ed the proposal."
"Then you should be pleased," rejoined Father Lemoyne. "It
shows that we mind your teachings. Haven't you told us again
and again that accepting schools for wealthy boys would mark the
beginning of our Congregation's downfall, and that we should
always work only with the children of the poor?"
"Quite true, but I am forced to accept this school because the
archbishop has ordered me to."
"In that case, I don't know what to say. Do as you think best
and we shall willingly go along. But if you should require my
vote, I would never say yes."
Other confreres to9 had told Don Bosco the same thing. Mean-
while, as an enticement, the archbishop had asked for and ob-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tained a special papal blessing for the Salesian Congregation. The
Collegio Valsalice was formally accepted in April [1872] and the
contract was signed in June. The previous administration carted
away the more valuable furniture and demanded a high price for
the rest. Once he took this fateful step, Don Bosco drafted a pro-
gram and submitted it for the archbishop's approval. Then, on
July 3, Unita Cattolica publicized the transfer of the school to the
Salesian Congregation.2
This was indeed a genuine sacrifice for Don Bosco, and he
spared no effort to revitalize the school. On October 3 the region-
al school superintendent announced that the board of education
had approved the reopening of Collegio Valsalice. Immediately a
smear campaign started. The very ones who had implored Don
Bosco to save the clergy's honor now began to speak disparaging-
ly of the Salesians, fearing that their success would cast asper-
sions on the previous administration. Don Bosco was accused of
rashness in thinking himself qualified to undertake the education
of young men of patrician families, and his Salesians were char-
acterized as not quite well-bred. These and other belittling allega-
tions scared off possible applicants. During the first few years, en-
rollment dropped to twenty, while the rent alone amounted to
7,000 lire annually. Yet Father Francis Dalmazzo, the director,
worked so well that the number of students gradually rose to
about one hundred. Later, Don Bosco purchased the building for
120,000 lire and in 1887 turned it into a seminary for foreign mis-
sions. Thus the Lord saw to it that, some months later, Don Bos-
co's body could be laid to rest there. And there it remained until
Don Bosco's beatification in 1929.
4. THE CHURCHES OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
AND ST. SECUNDUS
As we have said, 1 since Mr. Morglia refused to sell a strip of
land for the construction of the Church of St. John the Evange-
list, Don Bosco was forced to seek legal means to have his project
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
1See p. 88. [Editor]
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declared a public need and have that land expropriated. On April
16, 1872, therefore, he petitioned the king and supplied ,a detailed
description of his building project along with blueprints and other
pertinent information.2
Meanwhile, he was not neglecting the Church of St. Secundus. 3
On March 27, 1872 he asked the mayor for a permit to take pos-
session of the land set aside for this project and to fence off the
area for work to begin immediately. His requests were granted.
At the same time he won a reduction in freight charges for con-
struction material. Soon, however, a serious difficulty arose. Don
Bosco's plans called for the construction of a festive oratory ad-
jacent to the church; this was so essential to the project in his
mind that he would not build without it. However, the city au-
thorities refused to go along with his plans. The result was that he
suspended construction.4
5. FROM MARASSI TO SAMPIERDARENA
The Oratory students' annual spiritual retreat, preached by Fa-
ther Lemoyne and Father Corsi, took place from July 2 to July 6
and ran concurrently with the Forty Hours' devotions being held
in the Church of Mary, Help of Christians. By granting a cure,
Our Lady Herself provided the candles for the occasion. Shortly
before, a priest suffering from severe lung trouble had called on
Don Bosco for relief.
"Look," Don Bosco told him, "I'll give you the blessing of
Mary, Help of Christians, and if you recover, you will provide
candles for our forthcoming Forty Hours' devotions."
The priest agreed, and on July l he returned to fulfill his
pledge. His persistent cough had disappeared.
On July 6, Don Bosco, not yet fully recovered, went to Alassio.
Something curious occurred on the way. On February 10 of that
2This paragraph is a condensation. Unbelievably, it took nearly two years to have Don
Bosco's building project declared a public need, and three more years for the expropriation
of the land. [Editor]
3See pp. 88f. [Editor]
4This paragraph is a condensation. Eventually work was resumed in 1875 and the church
was consecrated in 1882. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
year a debate had been held in the Sala Tiberina in Rome con-
cerning St. Peter's stay in the Eternal City, a fact denied by Prot-
estants and upheld by Catholics. 1
During the train trip-precisely, between Savona and Albenga
-a friendly young lawyer heatedly discussed the matter in favor
of the Protestants.
"Sir," Don Bosco courteously interrupted him after a while,
"you say that you are knowledgeable in this matter, but I fully
disagree with you. Will you state your objections or shall I give
you my reasons?"
The lawyer presented his objections and Don Bosco rebutted
them, clearly proving that St. Peter had indeed journeyed to
Rome.2 Frankly conceding defeat, the lawyer asked his name.
"I'm the sexton of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians in
Turin!" Don Bosco Liokingly] replied.
At this, a woman who had attentively followed the conversation
immediately exclaimed, "You are Don Bosco!" He nodded in ac-
knowledgement, and she went on, "I have already visited your
church!" The lawyer in turn, delighted at this encounter, smiling-
ly remarked, "I studied your History of Italy and I know about
your Church History and Bible History too!"
The trip fatigued Don Bosco, so that, at Alassio, Enria had to
spend several nights at his bedside. During his stopover Don
Bosco was informed that at Sampierdarena, where he intended to
transfer the hospice he had opened at Marassi, everything was
ready for the purchase of St. Cajetan's Church and the adjacent
monastery. On July 16 he went to Genoa.3
Both buildings cost over 36,000 lire in cash. Baroness Cataldi,
the sister-in-law of Senator Joseph Cataldi, who had leased his
Marassi villa to us, personally knowing the great amount of good
being done at that hospice, generously donated the money, and, in
turn, Archbishop Magnasco of Genoa pledged 4,000 lire more for
immediate expenses. Apprised of this, on July 16 Don Bosco went
to Genoa to sign the contract, thank the archbishop and his other
benefactors, and inspect the new premises. The stately church was
1We are omitting press reports about this debate. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
3We are omitting details leading to the purchase of the church and monastery. [Editor]
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in deplorable condition. "Unbelievable!" he exclaimed. "How
senseless to work so hard to build new churches and neglect main-
taining those already in existence."
During his brief stay in Genoa he made and received several
visits. Among his callers was Canon [Francis] Ampugnani, then
residing at Marassi, who had been instrumental in purchasing the
Salesian school at Alassio.4 He tried to apologize for his initial
failure to hand it over to Don Bosco, as they had privately agreed
when he consented to act as Don Bosco's front in the transaction,
but Don Bosco changed the subject.
"What are you doing now?" he asked.
"Nothing! Just resting!"
"Resting while you are young and healthy?"
"I did a lot of work in America."
"Don't you know a priest rests in heaven? We shall have to
render God a strict account of the work we failed to do and the
time we wasted."
The canon was so stunned by these words that he could hardly
find his way out, and on the following day he returned to volun-
teer his services as a priest, organist or music teacher to Father
Albera, director of the hospice. "Don Bosco told me some fright-
ful things," he explained.
Don Bosco also met with the superior general of the Minim
Hermits of St. Francis of Paula, a scholarly man and pastor of a
local church.
"Father, you must have a great deal to do as superior general,"
he greeted him respectfully.
"Little or nothing! We have only a few members, you know!"
"How many novices have you?"
"None!"
"And students?"
"None!"
"Then why don't you get busy and prevent the dissolution of
your worthy Order whose mission has not yet been fully ac-
complished? Many glorious prophecies about your Order still
await fulfillment."
"We can't find vocations!"
4See Vol. IX, pp. 439ff. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"If you can't find them in Italy, go to France, to Spain, to
America, to Australia, but get someone to join you in perpetuat-
ing your illustrious Order. Yours is a very great responsibility,
and you have a grave account to give to God! Think of what your
sainted founder, St. Francis of Paula, had to suffer to establish
the Order! Would you let so many prayers, toils and hopes go to
waste?"
He spoke so solemnly, so authoritatively, and so vibrantly that
the good superior general felt crushed and promised to do his ut-
most. Don Bosco's love for all religious orders cannot be ade-
quately described. 5
6. AT ST. IGNATIUS' SHRINE AND NIZZA MONFERRATO
On the evening of August 4 Don Bosco paid a quick v1s1t to
Mornese to preside at the first religious profession of the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians. He then returned to the Ora-
tory, and on August 6 went up to St. Ignatius' Shrine where, al-
though quite busy with priestly ministrations, he still found time
to look after the Oratory's needs and answer his mail.'
On August 17 he was back in Turin after a brief stopover at
Mathi. Two days later he again went to Nizza Monferrato, where
Countess Corsi, whom he deservedly called "Mamma," had
pressed him to spend a few days in her cool summer home. He
obliged and continued to do so for a number of years in order to
enjoy some much needed rest and work undisturbed.2
His several trips to Nizza Monferrato gave Count Caesar
Balbo3 a chance to admire even more his singular virtues, par-
ticularly his ability to judge character at first sight. Marquis Phil-
ip Crispolti narrated the following incident:
One day, a boy reduced almost to idiocy by misery was brought to
5We are omitting a circular to solicit funds for the new foundation and other unimpor-
tant details. [Editor]
'We are omitting short notes to Fr. Berto, Fr. Rua, and Fr. Lemoyne and a letter to a
benefactor. [Editor]
2We are omitting a short business letter to Fr. Rua. [Editor]
3Caesar Balbo was a nephew of the better known Caesar Balbo (1789-1853) who in 1848
formed the first constitutional government in Piedmont. [Editor]
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Don Bosco in the hope that he would be accepted at the Oratory. Don
Bosco patted him on the head and asked him some questions. The inco-
herent replies revealed the lad's inability to understand. "But you can
play, can't you?" Don Bosco encouraged him. The boy's eyes lit up.
Then, as though striking a sensational bargain, Don Bosco exclaimed,
"This is just the boy I need," and he took him in. Several years later a
Salesian priest called at Count Balbo's residence and introduced himself
to the butler. The count did not recognize the name but received him
and was favorably impressed by his fine bearing, easy manners and keen
intelligence. ""You do not recognize me," the priest said after a while. •• I
am the boy who under sad circumstances met Don Bosco in your house
at Nizza."
In short, Don Bosco had correctly understood that poor boy
and had succeeded in making of him the director of a very impor-
tant boarding school.4
7. IN THE FALL
Now and then slight miliary eruptions still troubled Don Bosco.
Realizing that he had not fully recovered, both doctors and Sale-
sians insisted that he take some rest. Yielding to their advice, [on
or about September 9] he went to Vignale as a guest of Countess
Callari to whom he had written about it a few days before. There
he was looked after most solicitously.1
On his way back to Turin, he stopped briefly at Bargo San
Martino, where good Father Bonetti was in the thick of a polemic
with II Casalese, a local newspaper which had published a deroga-
tory review about a play-St. Eustache-staged by the junior
seminarians. The paper had labeled such entertainment for
youngsters absurd because it portrayed a Christian father allow-
ing his children to be martyred rather than have them apostatize.
Father Bonetti ably refuted the charges, and on September 5,
1872 legally forced the paper to publish his criticism. At about
the same time Unita Cattolica ran articles highly recommending
4We are omitting details about the successful result of the final state exams of the Ora-
tory students and the closing of the school year. [Editor]
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Don Bosco's schools in Alassio, Lanzo, Varazze, and Borgo San
Martino.2
From September 16 to September 28 Don Bosco preached two
spiritual retreats at Lanzo; he then went ~o Bricherasio to visit a
benefactor., On October 4 he was back in Turin. The following
day he headed for Becchi for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
Before leaving, however, he wrote to Countess Uguccioni to reas-
sure her about his health and seek her help for the three new
schools he was opening. He also asked her to direct pupils to
Valsalice. On the morning of October 11 he moved on to Cos-
tigliole di Saluzzo to visit Count Giriodi. From there he wrote to
Father Rua, urging him to take a few days' rest at Countess Cor-
si's home in Nizza Monferrato. 3 Father Rua replied that he could
not because of Father Provera's very poor health.4 Writing again,
Don Bosco asked him to make the necessary changes of personnel
for the forthcoming school year, and urged him to take good care
of Father Provera. He also informed him that he would be in
Mondovi from October 15 to October 18 as a guest of Professor
Thomas Vallauri5 of the University of Turin, a dear friend of his.
Actually, he was delayed for two days.6
While in Mondov1 he went with Professor Vallauri to Chiusa di
Pesio, where he met a biographer of Bodoni7 who wished to hear
Vallauri's opinion about his book. He read it to him, in fact, in
Don Bosco's presence, eliciting Vallauri's glowing praise. The bi-
ographer frankly invited his two listeners to point out any flaws.
"Well," Don Bosco replied, ~'I'd like to make an observation,
though, really, Dr. Vallauri is far more qualified to do so. I am
no man of letters, but, since you insist, I'll say this: Would it not
be better at the end to dwell on Bodoni's death?"
Both Vallauri and the biographer thought that the objection
2This paragraph is a condensation. [EditorJ
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
4Father Francis Provera was a member of the Superior Chapter. In 1861 Don Bosco
had told him, "Brace yourself for a good deal of suffering." See Vol. VI, pp. 623ff. [Edi-
tor]
5Thomas Vallauri (1805-1897) was a renowned lexicographer and a prominent man of
letters. [Editor]
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
7Giambattista Bodoni (1740-1813), an Italian printer, designed the type that was later
named after him. [Editor]
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was valid. "I think also," continued Don Bosco, "that you spend
too much time on other people in Bodoni's life and omit details of
his own. For instance, why not say that he went to Turin, received
the Last Sacraments and died there? And one word which you use
-and he pronounced it-does not sound Italian to me."
The writer paid close attention and jotted down the observa-
tions, while Vallauri shot up and bolted out of the room.
When Don Bosco later asked him why, he replied, "I couldn't
stand those observations of yours!"
"Well," his wife interjected, "you should learn from that writer
to listen to others' opinions."
"Professor," Don Bosco concluded, "you know that compared
to you I am but a novice, and you should have made those obser-
vations."
Bad weather prevented Don Bosco from returning to Turin on
Sunday, October 20. Considerately he wrote to Baron Charles
Ricci who expected him at the Oratory that day, and promised to
visit him at his summer home the following Monday, weather
permitting.8 During that visit, while he was conversing with the
baroness, she steered the subject to [Don Bosco's mysterious dog]
"Grigio." 9 The group was quite interested, but Don Bosco dis-
missed the subject.
"Let's forget it," he said. "I have not seen him for some time
now!"
It could not have been more than two years, since he had
publicly stated in 1870: "That dog has been an important part of
my life! It sounds ridiculous to call him an angel, yet it is no or-
dinary dog because I saw him again just two days ago!"
Before returning to Turin, he arranged to have Father Berto
visit the baron's summer home and say a Mass for the household.
Recalling her conversation with Don Bosco to Father Berto, the
baroness remarked, "It's amazing how Don Bosco can talk about
such extraordinary things so simply! One would think they had
happened to others, not to himself!"
Baron Feliciano Ricci added that thieves had broken into his
house one night and stolen all his money except for three thou-
8We are omitting his short letter. [Editor]
9See Vol. IV, pp. 496-502: Vol. VII, pp. 84f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
sand lire, the sum he had earlier loaned to Don Bosco and had
been repaid a few days before the burglary.
On his way back to Turin, Don Bosco stopped at Fossano to
visit the [gravely ill] countess of Camburzano who later recovered
and lived twenty more years, ever generously helping Salesian
projects.
At this time some Turinese printers decided to unite and peti-
tion the government to close down all printshops operated by
charitable institutions, alleging that competition was unfair and
their operation contrary to the public good. Learning of this
harmful plan, Don Bosco sent a memorandum to the chairman of
the association in rebuttal to the allegations. By coincidence, with
no previous accord with Don Bosco, Joseph Sandrone, a former
Oratory pupil then employed at the government printing office.
staunchly supported Don Bosco's arguments, so that the assem-
bly, notwithstanding resistance, withdrew its opposition to the
Oratory printshop. 10
8. OTHER RECOLLECTIONS
Meanwhile Don Bosco zealously continued his apostolate of
the press and published Letture Cattoliche and a new edition of
his Church History which was very favorably reviewed in the
April 25, 1872 issue of Unita Cattolica. 1
Before the year ended, Don Bosco visited the schools at Lanzo
and Sampierdarena, informing Father Lemoyne of his visit with
this memo:
Dear Father Lemoyne:
Turin, November 24, 1872
I hope to be with you at Lanzo next Wednesday. If possible, drop me
a line about any boys who need a little dressing down. It will come in
handy when I meet them.
Cordial greetings to you and all our boys.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
10This paragraph is a condensation. At this point we are omitting several items of
minimal importance to our readers. [Editor]
1This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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He arrived in Lanzo on the evening of November 29. Shortly
before supper, while all the pupils joyfully pressed about him,
they witnessed a most singular phenomenon lasting until midnight
-a shower of shooting stars, such as had never been seen in Pied-
mont. Father Denza2 claimed that 33,400 shooting stars were
counted in six and a half hours by four observatories! Some
pupils were frightened, but one bright lad dispelled their fears by
shouting, "'The angels are firing Roman candles to celebrate Don
Bosco's visit." All burst into a shout of vivas to Don Bosco.
The first week in December he went to Sampierdarena, where
the hospice had been moved from Marassi on November 11. He
was quite pleased to see how well it was doing, though the church
and the adjacent monastery-particularly roofs, floors, doors and
windows-were in very bad condition. Of course, most urgent
temporary repairs were under way. The monastery had two upper
floors, six rooms in a row on each floor opening on a fairly wide
corridor with windows overlooking a recently abandoned ceme-
tery. There was a shortage of house furniture and the kitchen was
too small. There was no playground, and the forty and more
pupils had to play as best they could in the small square fronting
the church. In rainy weather the only sheltered place available
was a passageway barely a few meters wide and as long as the
church, leading to the monastery staircase.
Yet despite these drawbacks, cheerfulness was the general rule.
At times even food was lacking. On such occasions Father Albera
would tearfully seek alms in town rather than be forced to dismiss
the boys. They would meanwhile gather around the altar and pray
for their daily bread, and the Lord always provided. In due time
regular services were held not only on Sundays and holy days but
on weekdays as well to the joy of the population. Father Lemoyne
left us these reminiscences:
How often, as a young boy, I used to pass in front of St. Cajetan's
Church and ask my father, "Don't they ever open this church?" Then he
would tell me its history. I learned how, during Napoleon's reign, the
classic paintings in the church had been removed to the sacristy of St.
Siro, another church which had been wrested from the Theatine Fathers.
2Francis Denza (1834-1894), a Barnabite, enjoyed European fame as a great meteo-
rologist. He directed the Vatican observatory from 1890 until his death. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
He also told me about "the bell of Divine Providence" which rang at
mealtime to invite the faithful to bring food to the monks, and how the
latter had never lacked for anything, though they had nothing of their
own.
I was most anxious to see the inside of St. Cajetan's Church, but I
could never do so because only one Mass was said on Sunday and that
at a very early hour. Who could have known then that a new religious
Congregation would buy the church and open it to the public and that I
myself, a member, would enter it many a time and say Mass there? How
good the Lord is!
Don Bosco was pleased to see things off to a good start and
suggested that the more urgent repairs be confidently undertaken.
The restoration was completed in 1875. A memorial tablet under
the choir loft reads as follows:
Joannes Bosco Sacerdos
Salesianae Pater Legifer
Hoc Templum Et Adjacens Coenobium
Aere Collatitio
Emit Ac Instauravit3
On December 9, he gave this "Good Night" to the Oratory
boys:
Last week I visited our new school at Sampierdarena near Genoa. I
was amazed to learn that although there are twenty thousand people in
the town, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is very rarely given
because of poor attendance. As you know, at least twelve people should
be present. Let's hope that things will improve. Now, on Sundays and
holy days, we regularly say Mass with a homily at five and at mid-
morning, and we also hold afternoon services, and the church is always
full.
I saw Father Albera teaching catechism to some forty boys who knew
nothing about religion. Their number has now increased and they are
eager to learn.
That same evening he congratulated the Oratory boys [for their
3ln 1872 Father John Bosco, father and founder of the Salesian Congregation, bought
and restored this church and the adjacent monastery with contributions from the faithful.
[Editor]
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Back to Work-1872
181
self-restraint] in a humorous situation. Father Berto is our source:
On Saturday, December 7, 1872, the vigil of the feast of the Immacu-
late Conception, Don Bosco was hearing confessions in his room. It was
so jammed with boys that when one was through, he could hardly elbow
his way out. A young boy called Prato, I believe, a Latin I student, had
a problem when he stood up after his confession. After trying in vain to
squeeze through the crowd, he firmly propped his feet against the bot-
tom part of the kneeler and lunged forward. Within seconds he found
himself squeezed on all sides. As he struggled to free himself, his sus-
penders snapped and he nearly lost his pants. Holding them up, he fi-
nally managed to get through the crowd. Don Bosco, who couldn't help
seeing the whole thing, later admitted that he found it very difficult to
keep serious. To his surprise and edification none of the boys even
smiled. Therefore he congratulated them when he narrated this incident
at the "Good Night" on Monday, December 9.
In these years too the Oratory could boast of many boys of
outstanding virtue. Their demeanor in church, their manner of
praying and their devotion at Holy Communion so edified people
that often some who had strayed from the Church were led back
to the sacraments.4
Meanwhile, ever tightening financial straits gave Don Bosco
the idea of trying a novel fund-raising scheme. Later, it looked
like an inspiration from above.
One evening, he told his pupils at the "Good Night": "I have
an idea which will benefit you. Pray. If it succeeds, I will tell you
about it."
His idea was to print a limited number of tickets and offer
them at ten lire each to benefactors toward a single prize-a
painting of Our Lady of Foligno. He consulted Father Rua, Fa-
ther Sala and Father Provera.
"Oh no!" they exclaimed. "People are fed up with lotteries.
They're worn out!"
"But we need money! Have you any suggestions?"
"How much will you sell the tickets for?" one of them asked.
"Fifty centesimi?"
"Or a lira?" another asked.
4We are omitting a letter to a benefactor for financial assistance in ransoming a cleric
from military service. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"That seems too much," the first one objected.
"I'll sell them for ten lire," Don Bosco replied.
~Ten?" they all gasped.
"Nobody, but nobody, will buy them!" Father Provera re-
marked, nervously rotating his biretta.
Though they all opposed the idea, Don Bosco stood firm. "At a
lower price," he argued, "it would look like a regular lottery, and
we would be taxed. We badly need food and clothing, and we
can't wait."5
And thus he kept moving forward, as if everything depended on
him, on a ceaseless search for financial help from anywhere. At
the same time he trusted fully in Divine Providence, as if he knew
for certain that God would ultimately provide!
5We are omitting a notice to the boys' parents about a raise in the monthly board and
tuition fees due to the increased cost of living. [Editor]
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CHAPTER 5
An Important Mission-1871-1874
THE following account of Don Bosco's relentless ef-
forts from 1871 to 1874 to heal the breach between the new king-
dom of Italy and the Church truly redounds to his glory and puts
him in a singularly attractive light. It is so unusual for an or-
dinary priest to undertake single-handedly, with bold fearlessness,
the mediation of the "Roman Question" that we are convinced he
involved himself through divine inspiration rather than through
personal initiative.
His boundless love embraced all people and races. His own
country, of course, he genuinely loved, but as God's minister he
also most deeply and effectively revered and loved the Church
and the Pope. We are convinced that he was truly guided by God.
It might be objected that, having finished the lengthy, painstaking
negotiations, he remarked that he would never again undertake
such a task, but we may attribute this to his customary humility.
He said much the same thing in 1884 when, after ten exhausting
years, the Salesian Society obtained the privileges usually granted
to definitively approved religious orders. "Had I anticipated the
heartaches, toils, difficulties and hostilities that are inevitable in
founding a religious congregation, I might not have had the
courage to attempt it."
1. WHAT AN AGE!
As Pius IX's silver jubilee approached, the Italian Catholic
Youth Association sent worldwide invitations to the solemn
event. Bishops likewise issued pastoral letters so as to arouse en-
thusiastic demonstrations of love and fidelity to the Vicar of
Christ and to promote pilgrimages to Rome.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Pius IX's own personality heightened the general feeling. Elect-
ed Pope after a brief forty-eight hour conclave, he promptly
granted amnesty to rebels, reformed laws, promoted popular
measures, and fostered the arts and sciences. Furthermore, he
signed concordats with eight nations, filled episcopal vacancies,
erected new dioceses, named St. Joseph universal patron of the
Catholic Church, and paid sublime honors to the Mother of God
by proclaiming the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Final-
ly, he promulgated the "Syllabus"1 and convoked the First Vati-
can Ecumenical Council. 2
Fittingly, therefore, the whole world stood in admiration as the
great event drew nigh. Uniquely, Pius IX was the first of the two
hundred and fifty-five Popes to equal the years of St. Peter's
reign.
Don Bosco too was very happy and directed that the event be
solemnly celebrated in all Salesian houses, as we see in this famil-
iar note to the director of the junior seminary at Borgo San Mar-
tino:
Dear Father Bonetti,
Turin, June 13, 1871
Friday [the 16th] is to be observed most solemnly. In the morning,
general Communion for the Pope. At dinner, an extra course. All day,
no school. In the evening, a suitable sermon and Benediction, and, if
possible, an illumination.
Cordial greetings to you and all the confreres and boys. I shall pray
for all of you in my Mass, and I ask that you remember me too.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. On that day, if advisable, recall Cattaneo or send him here.
This postscript concerned forgiving a pupil as a tribute to the
Pope. At the Oratory too he wanted this joyful occasion to be cel-
ebrated with solemn church services as in the greater feasts of the
year, with a display of flags, illumination and fireworks. Father
I A list of eighty errors accompanying his encyclical Quanta Cura issued in 1864. This is
not the "Syllabus" of St. Pius X issued in 1907 condemning sixty-five heretical proposi-
tions of Modernism. [Editor]
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
185
John Cagliero, at Don Bosco's request, obtained the required per-
mit for fireworks.
In those trying times the anticlerical press widely publicized the
government's directive to local authorities to safeguard the free-
dom of Catholics in their religious demonstrations, but little or
nothing was actually done to implement that order. In many
places people were forbidden to put lights on their houses, priests
were cautioned to keep their sermons in low key, and anyone
soliciting signatures for congratulatory letters to the Pope was
summarily hauled into court and had papers and signatures
smeared.
In Bologna the police threatened to arrest leading citizens; in
Padua, some fifty armed men crashed a crowded church, shouted
the preacher down and violently ejected the faithful; in St. John's
Church in Parma they caused a riot, screaming, "Down with the
Pope! Death to Catholics! Long live the revolution!" A bomb
exploded in the cathedral of Florence. Thugs assaulted priests in
the streets. A hissing rabble screamed insults at the well-liked
Archbishop Limberti, rushing his carriage and residence. For-
tunately the people rose to his defense. In Turin, too, stones were
hurled for hours at the homes of Marquis [Dominic] Fassati and
General Adolph Campana.
Of course, the government dared not forbid pilgrimages to
Rome, but it did block reduced fares and it poured units of cara-
binieri, police and cavalry into the city. Ruffians were hired to
harass pilgrims as they arrived at the Termini railroad station,
and wherever they went in the city insults were hurled against
them and the Pope. At the Church of the Gesu, armed gangs
rushed pilgrim groups flocking to the services. Outside the major
basilicas-even at the entrance of the Vatican-women were
taunted with catcalls, threats and obscenities. On one occasion,
some thugs pounced upon a group of unarmed young Catholics
with hatchets and handguns. Under flimsy pretexts private resi-
dences were invaded and windows shattered. The gangs always
went scot-free, while in the wake of disturbances the innocent
were jailed "for their own safety." If they complained, there
always was a pat answer: "You started it."3
3See Civilta Cattolica, Vol. III, July 3, 1871: The Pontifical Jubilee of Piw IX. [Au-
thor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Yet, in spite of the harassment, silent groups of pilgrims kept
visiting the holy places and the Vatican, where papal audiences
were granted uninterruptedly for twelve days. On June 21, the an-
niversary of his coronation, Pius IX addressed groups represent-
ing nearly a hundred Italian cities and towns, in these terms, at
times with tears:
From all over the Catholic world priceless tokens of affection have
come to me and thanks have been offered to God for having spared His
humble, worthless vicar. More priceless still are the tokens which come
from this noble group of Italians, for I am Italian myself. In recent
years this word has been evilly abused. When I blessed Italy from the
Quirinal Palace, which they say is now no longer mine, my words were
twisted to say I was blessing the revolution. . . . No, I was blessing
Italy, and I do so again because of the good that is being done in it out
of supernatural love and because of what Italian Catholics have suffered
and still suffer. . . .
Every region of Italy has given wonderful proofs of its affection for
me, but pardon me if first I single out Turin, for from Turin came the
first insults and evils that later spread throughout Italy. However, from
that source of evil have sprung also heartwarming proofs of piety and
love. There, the devoted faithful who observed my anniversary were
honored by having their windows shattered. . . .
During those days too, a hundred young ladies, mostly from
Piedmont, and fifteen other groups from various countries were
solemnly received by the Holy Father. The leader of the Pied-
montese group read an address and offered I 0,000 lire. The Holy
Father's response was so moving that very many of them could
not hold back their tears. Later, on leaving the Vatican, they too
were subjected to catcalls and insults.4
2. EPISCOPAL APPOINTMENTS
Though no one would ever dream, much less attempt amid
such turmoil to better the Church's condition in Italy, Don Bosco
sensed that the time had indeed come to appoint bishops to the
many vacant sees.
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
187
How to go about it? He decided to turn directly to the Pope,
since, in times of such unrest, none of his advisors could see the
possibility of appointing bishops to the one hundred and more
vacant sees of Italy without jeopardizing the Holy See's rights.
Meanwhile, an ever increasing· religious apathy kept causing ines-
timable harm to the faithful, to church discipline, and to priestly
and religious vocations. Many prelates, seeing this as a temporary
crisis, were absolutely determined that there should be no soften-
ing of the Church's rigid stance or even a semblance of it. Though
such a position was needed and justifiable in order to withstand
the malignity of the Church's enemies, Don Bosco did not favor
it. After praying and studying how to remedy at least some part
of so many evils, he set out to do something about it single-hand-
edly, just as he had done in 1867.1 He drew up a memorandum
in which, after describing the sorry conditions of so many dio-
ceses, he clearly stated that he did not believe that the present sit-
uation would change soon. Therefore, with the Holy Father's con-
sent, he was willing to explore the government's intentions
entirely on his own, in no way involving the Holy See. The
memorandum was delivered to the Holy Father through a most
trusted messenger. Pius IX, no doubt recalling the prophecy of
January 5, 18702 and guessing the identity of its author, not only
approved Don Bosco's plan but ordered him to carry it out.
Promptly Don Bosco contacted the Italian government which,
even though secure in the knowledge that no outside power was
then threatening to stop its ultimate conquest of Italy, still feared
some foreboding on its horizon. France, for one, felt still bound
by the September 14 convention between Napoleon and Italy
which guaranteed papal independence, and Austria, like other
powers, did not look kindly on the seizure of Rome.3 True, the
Italian government had promulgated the Law of Guarantees to
palliate the true state of things, but when outrages against the
sovereign dignity of Pius IX, on the occasion of his jubilee, went
unpunished, the mask fell. Pilgrims, many of them belonging to
noble families, spread the news all over the world, and repercus-
sions could be expected.
1See Vol. VIII, pp. 237-40, 259f, 279f, 329f. [Editor]
2See pp. 51-55. [Editor]
3We are omitting details. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Don Bosco felt that it was time to bring the following consider-
ations to the attention of the Italian government:
1. The need to ease worldwide indignation of Catholics and
dispel their apprehensions.
2. The need to show unmistakably that the Law of Guarantees
was no dead letter and that the government took seriously the
Pope's absolute freedom in exercising his spiritual authority.
3. Recognition of the Supreme Pontiffs prerogative to appoint
and assign bishops, while it was only to the government's self-in-
terest not to create difficulties and to grant appointees their tem-
poralities.
John Lanza, Premier and Minister of the Interior, in his anxi-
ety to show to Italy and other nations that conciliation with the
Holy See was achievable, promptly promised to study the propos-
als. On his part, Don Bosco had dec~ded that he would go to
Rome and congratulate the Holy Father on his papal jubilee
while stopping over in Florence to see Lanza. On June 20 he
received a commitment from Lanza to meet him on the evening
of the 22nd. Don Bosco left Turin on the morning of the 21st, ar-
rived in Florence at 7:35 P.M. and immediately called on the
minister.
Lanza, who had known Don Bosco for some time, was glad
that he was coming. In his contacts with him in 1865,4 he had
been impressed by a humorous remark made by Don Bosco which
he often liked to pass on to his colleagues: "I once asked Don
Bosco how he managed to keep providing for so many boys with-
out funds. His answer was that he huffed and puffed5 along like a
steam engine. I said that we, too, kept going the same way, and
he was happy that I had compared him to the kingdom of Italy!"
On being told that Don Bosco was in the waiting room, Lanza
went out and invited him into his office. Pausing in the center of
the room, Don Bosco said, HYour Excellency, thank you for giv-
ing me this audience. I assume you know why I am here. I desire
the good of both Church and State, but I believe Your Excellency
also realizes that I am a dyed-in-the-wool Catholic."
4See Vol. VIII, pp. 44ff, 95, 237f. [Editor]
5A pun on the Piedmontese word "puff," a colloquialism for "running into debt." [Edi-
tor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
189
"Oh, we know that Don Bosco is more Catholic than the Pope
himself!" Lanza gently retorted.
They discussed the appointment of bishops to vacant sees, the
Franco-Italian convention, and recent Roman events. "Had we
not stepped in," Lanza exclaimed, "the whole city would have
burned down!"
"Not really," Don Bosco frankly retorted. "I too know Rome,
and I can assure you there was not the slightest danger of that.
Now, however, we must try to correct the picture which certain
happenings have given to the entire Catholic world."
"For example?"
"The Law of Guarantees must not be a farce. Bishops should
be freely chosen by the Pope and enjoy the government's coopera-
tion as regards their revenues, thus safeguarding the Church's dig-
nity and rights. Besides, politics are to be kept out of this mat-
ter."
The minister seemed to agree, even appearing willing to accept
Don Bosco's views, and he assured him that he would not per-
sonally oppose them. Don Bosco urged that he persuade his col-
leagues to drop any plans to suppress several dioceses lest such an
odious measure further endanger negotiations. He then offered to
mediate personally with the Holy See once the government decid-
ed to seek an accord.
Just then the minister was summoned to an emergency cabinet
meeting with the king, and Don Bosco was left alone in the minis-
ter's office for over an hour. On his return, Lanza informed him
that the cabinet had no objection to the appointment of bishops,
but first wanted to discuss territorial limits of certain dioceses,
some very small. Without hesitation Don Bosco replied that never
-but never-would he negotiate such matters; further, if he were
forced to do so, he would even withdraw his mediation over the
appointment of bishops, because, he said, he was not an extraor-
dinary ambassador and would not presume to advise the Holy Fa-
ther. His only interest in the appointment of bishops was the spir-
itual well-being of the people. He added that such intrigue would
discredit the government by exposing its disregard for laws and
treaties, and that if the cabinet persisted in its plan, he would
withdraw completely from all negotiations.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
The minister asked him to wait and returned to the cabinet
meeting. It was finally decided to drop the idea of suppressing
certain dioceses and rather to open negotiations through Don
Bosco for appointments to vacant sees. However, within a few
days, complications arose.
The foregoing took place on June 22. Three days later, in
Florence, King Victor Emmanuel II signed a decree requiring the
royal exequatur or placet respectively for the implementation of
any bull, decree, brief, rescript or provision of the Holy See or of
the bishops that would concern the disposal of ecclesiastical prop-
erty or the conferral of benefices, except for the city of Rome and
its suburban sees.
This decree totally negated that of March 18, 1871 which
pledged government restraint from interfering with the practice of
any and all religions.
Don Bosco had foreseen serious difficulties, but not this last
decree. However, he determined to keep out of all entanglements
and compromises, forging discreetly ahead, satisfied for the time
being with obtaining even the bare minimum for the Church's in-
terests.6
Finally Lanza asked: "Shall we now leave for Rome?"
Don Bosco agreed, and they set out for the railroad station, the
minister and his colleagues by coach, Don Bosco on foot.
Among his papers Don Bosco had a letter from a certain Fa-
ther Dominic Berti, who wrote, ''Please see what you can do for
the safety of the historic house of St. Frances of Rome belonging
to her religious daughters, the Oblates of Tor de' Specchi. Try to
save it from the greedy confiscation commission without having
to go through the courts."
In Rome Don Bosco's host was Count [John] Vimercati, who
lived near St. Peter-in-Chains, the present residence of the
Canons Regular of the Lateran.
The decree of June 25 required bishops to submit all papal
bulls to the government for approval, but Don Bosco suggested
[to Lanza] that newly-elected bishops merely notify the authori-
ties of their appointment. Unfortunately, Lanza was not free to
act on his own in this matter. Several intransigent colleagues
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
191
firmly believed that their opposition to the granting of temporali-
ties would preclude episcopal appointments. Still, he promised
support, trusting that Don Bosco might be able to persuade the
Pope to make concessions.
"Look, Don Bosco," he finally exclaimed, "Catholics think
I'm against them, but that's not true at all!"
Don Bosco struck while the iron was hot. ''Then do me a
favor!"
"What is it?"
"Please spare the convents of the Oblates of Tor de' Specchi,
of the Sisters of Charity at Bacca della Verita, and [of the Reli-
gious of the Sacred Heart] at Trinita dei Monti."
His reasons were that the Oblates could assert their rights
through the courts, the Sisters of Charity worked in hospitals,
and the Religious of the Sacred Heart were French nationals.
Lanza thought a moment, made notes, and assured him that these
convents would not be confiscated. He kept his promise.
These consultations were all top secret, but the Pope had al-
ready been told of Don Bosco's arrival. On June 27, Countess
Matilda de Romelley of Belgium was received by the Holy Fa-
ther. "Have you seen Italy's treasure?" Pius IX asked her.
She replied that she did not know about it but would visit St.
Peter's Treasury in the next few days.
"But it is Italy's treasure that you should see," the Pope insist-
ed. "Come tomorrow and you will see it. . . . The treasure is our
Don Bosco!"
On June 28, eve of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, Don Bosco
went to the Vatican, where he was scheduled for a private audi-
ence with the Holy Father. This was an open sign of the latter's
benevolence and special interest, considering the enormous de-
mands on his time by frequent public and private audiences for
hosts of pilgrims.
As Don Bosco was ushered into the papal chamber, Pius IX
amiably looked at him and exclaimed, "Don Bosco, we have lost
St. Michael's Hospice."7
This vast charitable institute on the banks of the Tiber was par-
ticularly dear to the Pope because, as its director and administra-
1See Vol. V, pp. 543, 549ff; Vol. VIII, p. 303. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tor in former years, he had infused new life into the place, paid
off its debts and raised the standards of the vocational depart-
ment. Among other things, to encourage the boys in their work,
he had generously allowed them a share of the profits-an in-
novation which Don Bosco later introduced at the Oratory. Thus,
at graduation every pupil received a tidy sum of money.
3. RETROSPECT
Let us backtrack a bit. In referring to St. Michael's Hospice
the Pope wanted to remind Don Bosco not only of his efforts to
revitalize it, but also of the results of his inspection. 1 During his
last visit to Rome in January and February 1870, Don Bosco had
not been as enthusiastically received as in previous years.
In 1867, when people feared a rebellious attack on Rome, he
had clearly stated: "The Italians will not enter. It is easier for the
cobblestones of Rome to rise and fight one another than for the
revolution to succeed at this time. " 2 However, he was referring
only to the invasion attempts of that year. Quite different were
his perspectives for the years to follow. In October of that year, in
an apology to Countess Callari for the delayed publication of II
Cattolica Provveduto, 3 he said, "Rest assured, it will be off the
press before the unification of Italy, and this will be soon."4 From
then on, he gave no further assurances for the status quo in Rome
but dropped discreet hints about its possible seizure [by Italy].
This was not to the liking of people who obstinately believed it
could not happen, trusting in the veto and military mtervention of
other powers and even deluding themselves into expecting a heav-
enly intervention. Consequently they did not welcome his warn-
ings and, stubbornly clinging to their own views, began to have
misgivings about him. On his part, Don Bosco, realizing that he
was an unwelcome prophet, evaded direct answers to certain
questions and kept out of sight as much as he could.
1See Vol. VIII, p. 303. [Editor]
2/bid., p. 249. [Editor]
3A prayerbook for adults. See Vol. VII, pp. 473f. [Editor]
4The book was on sale on or about May 1868. See Vol. IX, pp. 1l6f. [Editor]
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193
Things had changed. Not long before, several friends and con-
fidants of his, anxious to know the fate of Rome, of Pius IX and
of papal temporal power, had asked his opinion, and he had told
them plainly that Pius IX would celebrate his [silver] jubilee [as
Pope] and would surpass St. Peter in the length of his pontificate.
Now, whenever he was sounded out on political matters, he gave
evasive replies, though he did declare that Napoleon would with-
draw the French garrison and the Italians would seize Rome. The
news spread and gave rise to false inferences. Moreover, some
curial prelates did not favor him and with disdain belittled rumors
of singular favors obtained through his blessing and his reputation
as a miracle-worker; others regarded such things as unbecoming
in Rome. There were also some others who had not forgotten his
inspection of St. Michael's Hospice and its aftermath and tried
again to have him summoned before the Congregation of the
Holy Office, perhaps to reopen the case against his booklet St.
Peter's Centenary5 which some people had wanted placed on the
Index of Forbidden Books in 1867.6
We now resume our narration of Don Bosco's audience with
Pius IX. After referring to St. Michael's Hospice, the Pope
dropped the subject and smilingly invited him to be seated. He
then proceeded to question him on the thorny task he had un-
dertaken.
Don Bosco briefed him thoroughly on his conferences with
Minister Lanza, the latter's friendly intentions, his promise to
prevent the confiscation of several convents, his support of steps
toward the appintment of bishops, and his hope that the Holy See
too would make some concessions. He also informed the Pope of
his proposal to Lanza that the Italian government be content with
merely being notified by the bishops of their appointments, and of
the rejection of this proposal by the cabinet majority. He conclud-
ed by saying that there was little to hope for, but that, no matter
what the outcome of the negotiations, he had conducted them
strictly on his own, without compromising the Holy Father in the
least.
The Pope approved of his procedure and then, in deep grief,
5See the Index of Volume VIII. [Editor]
6This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
went on to speak of the pitiful state of so many vacant sees. "I
am determined not to yield!" he exclaimed. "They want to en-
slave the Church. . . . Still, we must provide for the salvation of
souls, and so we shall have to do without revenues."
"Holy Father, that is the very thing I wanted to suggest!" Don
Bosco said.
"Fine! Try to continue the negotiations; try to ease this painful
situation. And now, my dear Don Bosco, what can I do for you?"
From a memorandum of his we learn that Don Bosco present-
ed Pius IX with an album commemorating his papal silver jubilee
with greetings and signatures of all the Salesians and pupils of
Lanzo, Borgo San Martino, Cherasco, Alassio, the Valdocco
Oratory and the St. Aloysius, Guardian Angel and St. Joseph fes-
tive oratories in Turin. Then, as usual, he requested spiritual
favors for benefactors and pupils, informed the Pope of his deci-
sion to build the churches of St. John the Evangelist and St.
Secundus in Turin, and acquainted him with his plans to open a
school at Varazze and another at Trecate. Finally, in view of
many requests for foundations in Italy, Switzerland, Algeria,
Egypt and even India and California, he asked Pius IX's advice
on priorities.
At that audience he also spoke of the good work being done for
girls by several convents in Turin, and he asked the Holy Father's
approval of his own plans to found an institute that would per-
form the same apostolic mission among girls as the Salesians
were doing among boys. He would think it over, Pius IX replied,
and would let him know his opinion in a later audience. As we
know, he finally approved of Don Bosco's plan.
4. WHAT OF THE FUTURE?
Toward the end of the audience, the Pope reiterated his inten-
tion to fill the vacant sees at any cost, but to do so secretly, in
order to forestall any new attempt of the government to stop him.
Eventually, at the right time, he would publicize what he had
done as an accomplished fact. This would show that his spiritual
authority was not to be curbed.
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To bring Don Bosco up to date on his plans, he called a meet-
ing of several prelates. They felt that various individuals who
knew the Italian clergy well should, privately or in consultation,
draw up a list of knowledgeable, prudent, exemplary priests for
each vacant see and send the lists secretly to the Holy See.
"I fear this plan may cause undue delays," Don Bosco com-
mented. "Would it not be better to select suitable candidates and
let the Holy Father appoint them as he sees fit?"
The Pope agreed. When he was again alone with Don Bosco, he
told him decisively, after a few moments of reflection, "I want
you to make a list for your region. Send it to me and I shall
approve it."
Don Bosco then went on to express his regret that a suggestion
of his concerning teachers in Rome under the papal government
had been disregarded. Back in 1867 several prelates had been
shocked to learn that Don Bosco was sending his priests and
clerics to the Royal University of Turin for degrees in literature,
philosophy and mathematics. He had given them his reasons and
had even urged that they do the same so that they would have cer-
tified teachers and be able to keep their schools open. Now [in
1871] the Italian government agreed to certify all teachers of the
former papal regime upon request. The offer was under discus-
sion. Some prelates, convinced that the new government was
short-lived, refused to accept the offer despite Don Bosco's insis-
tence that the new government was firmly entrenched and that it
would be wiser to accept its offer and keep young people from
being further hurt.
The Pope soon agreed with Don Bosco, but the Cardinal Secre-
tary of State and other prelates rejected his idea as a formal
recognition of the new regime. Since the state's offer of certifi-
cation was limited to a year and no request was received, all the
teachers of the former papal government lost their license-which
was precisely what the anticlericals wanted. On June 30 Minister
Lanza and most of his colleagues moved to Rome, and on July 2
King Victor Emmanuel II made his solemn entrance into the city.
Don Bosco again conferred with Lanza, stating clearly that the
Pope would make no humiliating concessions and so it would be
wise not to hinder his exercise of spiritual authority. In turn
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Lanza launched into his views on the matter, but Don Bosco,
exhausted by overwork and lack of a secretary, fell asleep. Lanza
let him doze, and when he awoke they both had a good laugh and
resumed their discussion. However, Don Bosco soon realized that
the government was using delaying tactics.
As he was leaving, the Masonic Grandmaster, Buscaglione, was
ushered in.
"Do you know who that priest is?" Lanza asked him.
"I saw a priest but didn't look at him!"
"It was Don Bosco."
"Don Bosco? Oh, I've known him for some time!"
Lanza then told him that he had fallen asleep right there.
In one of the above-mentioned interviews in Florence or Rome,
Lanza inquired about the Valdocco Oratory and suggested that
Don Bosco open a reformatory for juveniles in a monastery or
religious house.
"But that would mean putting out the monks or nuns," Don
Bosco remarked.
"You could easily arrange that with the Holy See!"
"Why can't you give up some barracks for that purpose?"
Lanza laughed, saying that he truly deserved to be made a
chevalier, but Don Bosco replied: "Thank you, I already have
enough crosses. Besides, with a cross on my chest, I would no
longer be poor Don Bosco nor would I dare beg for my boys any
longer!"
Back in Turin, he immediately began endeavoring to fulfill the
grave, difficult task the Pope had assigned him. He met with
trustworthy and knowledgeable persons, both personally and
through correspondence, to gather detailed, precise information
on possible candidates. Knowing that this was not enough, and
anxious not to arouse suspicion in wrong quarters by unusual
trips, Don Bosco told Countess Gabriella Corsi of his mission,
and on August 11, 1871 he arranged to stay at her villa, known as
the "casino" near Nizza Monferrato, for a few days toward the
end of August in order to confer with several priests. 1
Some days later, on August 18, he notifed her that he would ar-
1We are omitting his letter which is mostly to thank her for her constant financial help.
No mention is made of his mission. [Editor]
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197
rive on the 21st and tactfully suggested how she should handle vis-
itors, since, wherever he went, his presence was hard to keep a
secret. 2
He arrived at Nizza on the 21st. During the following days dis-
tinguished priests, previously contacted, came in from Piedmont,
Lombardy, Liguria, and even Sardinia and more distant regions.
On one day alone he received as many as eighteen vicars general
and capitular.
With patient attention to this important task, he left no stone
unturned to urge others to petition the Holy See to fill the vacant
sees. We have a letter of his to Canon [Peter] De Gaudenzi at
Vercelli:
Dear Canon:
Turin, September 4, 1871
Just now it would be most helpful if you could persuade the vicar gen-
eral to petition the Holy Father to appoint a bishop for Vercelli. This
could be done either personally, or in collegiality with the cathedral
chapter. Political implications can be avoided by stressing only the wel-
fare of souls. The petition should be sent without delay to Cardinal An-
tonelli along with a request for his support. If pastors or rectors [of
·public churches] wish to add their signatures, so much the better. I can-
not call on you, nor can I say anything more in writing, but all this is ex-
tremely important and urgent.
God bless us all. Please pray for me.
Your affectionate friend,
Fr. John Bosco
After a short trip to Varazze, Genoa and Sestri Ponente, Don
Bosco returned to Turin and on September 8 presided at the
prize-awarding assembly of the Oratory students. He then went to
Lanzo with the Superior Chapter to confer on Society matters
before the start of the annual spiritual retreat on September 11.
Meantime the prefect of the province of Turin received this con-
fidential telegram [from the Minister of the Interior]: "If Don
Bosco is in Turin, send for him and have him meet me as soon as
possible in Florence to discuss a matter known to him. Reply
requested. G. Lanza.''
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Victor Zoppi, the prefect, new in the office and not acquainted
with Don Bosco, quickly sent a messenger to the Oratory with an
apology for not coming himself. Actually he did not know where
Valdocco was, and he was astonished that the Minister of the In-
terior should apparently have highly confidential dealings with a
priest some people considered hostile to the new Italian kingdom.
Don Bosco got the letter at Lanzo and returned at once to
Turin with Father Cerruti, the director at Alassio, to call on the
prefect. When he was in the office, he asked Zoppi what he want-
ed to see him about.
'The matter is confidential," the prefect answered, handing
him the telegram. "I have no idea and don't care to know!"
With a touch of flattery, Don Bosco briefed him on the matter,
confident that his gesture of trust would win him the prefect's
support when Lanza would certainly consult him regarding epis-
copal appointees for Piedmont. Quite pleased, the prefect in-
troduced Don Bosco to his wife. He told her the same thing, and
she too felt honored by his gracious trust and joined in her hus-
band's praise of his undertaking.
As he was leaving the building, an incident occurred which Fa-
ther Cerruti reported at the Informative Process for Don Bosco's
beatification and canonization:
Don Bosco's humility was no less evident when he was praised~ he
kept calm, as though totally unconcerned. Sometimes, however, he was
moved, and I even saw him cry. I recall that in September 1871, when I
accompanied him on a call to the prefect of Turin, who (instructed by
Premier Lanza) had invited him to discuss episcopal appointments, the
doorkeeper's wife approached him as he was coming down the stairs and
asked for his blessing. He obliged...Dear God," she exclaimed, "it's like
seeing the Lord Himself!" Don Bosco reddened and with tears replied,
"Pray for me and my poor soul!"
On their way to the Oratory, he remarked to Father Cerruti,
"Do you know what that was all about? Premier Lanza had the
prefect of Turin ask me to meet him in Florence to discuss the ap-
pointment of bishops to the vacant sees."
Knowing nothing of such plans, Father Cerruti exclaimed, "It's
about time they thought of it!"
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"Oh, this has been going on for several months and it has kept
me quite busy, even to the extent of writing letters. Right now the
government is amenable for political reasons. Pius IX has explic-
itly ordered me to handle the negotiations and to compile a list
of qualified candidates."
We cannot conclude whether Don Bosco's interview with Zoppi
took place on the evening of September 9 or the morning of Sep-
tember 10, but it is a fact that Don Bosco immediately informed
the Salesian directors that the retreat was postponed for a week.
He then returned to Lanzo and briefed the members of the Supe-
rior Chapter on his new task, voicing some regret that the retreat
had been postponed and that his health was precarious. ''Truth-
fully,'' he said, "I feel rather tired, but the Church's welfare
comes ahead of even our Congregation's. I'll leave tonight at
seven and be in Florence tomorrow. Perhaps I'll have to go on to
Rome as well."
He changed his plans to go to Rome after the second spiritual
retreat, thinking that he should go earlier since he also had to go
to Florence. He also left word to tell inquirers that he had been
summoned to Rome "to assist someone very ill," meaning the
kingdom of Italy!
On September 11 he conferred with Lanza in Florence and then
telegraphed Father Rua: "Continuing journey. Return later. Shall
write. All fine. Bosco."
In Rome, he hastened to give the Holy Father his list of epis-
copal candidates. The Pope went over it carefully, and such was
his trust in Don Bosco that he endorsed it in full. He then asked
to which dioceses they should be appointed, and Don Bosco named
eighteen. Again the Pope approved. Thus testified Monsignor
[Emilian] Manacorda. Among the eighteen was Monsignor Jo-
seph Sciandra, cathedral archdeacon and seminary rector at
Mondov1 and vicar capitular of the Susa diocese. He was appoint-
ed to the see of Acqui.
"How about Genoa?" the Pope sked.
Taking out two sheaves of papers, Don Bosco handed one to
the Holy Father. "This concerns Monsignor [Salvator] Magnas-
co," he said, "who is widely praised for his zeal, but is opposed
by many who have written against him as approving the current
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
situation in Italy and being too loyal to Pope and Church."
He then handed him the other folder, saying, "This regards so-
and-so (he mentioned the name) whom many, including govern-
ment officials, consider worthy of the miter and who is very pop-
ular in Genoa.... But I was also informed that he may be a reg-
istered Freemason...."
Taken in by false reports, some Vatican officials favored the
second candidate. At this point, Pius IX called his secretary.
"Please ask Cardinal Antonelli to come down."
Returning, the secretary reported that the cardinal was in ur-
gent conference.
"Go back and ask him to come down for just a few minutes,"
the Pope insisted.
Cardinal Antonelli replied that he could not. The Pope wanted
him to hear Don Bosco's opinion because his information of this
candidate's intrigues had been obtained from government sources.
Don Bosco had even managed to get copies of letters that this
candidate had written to government officials soliciting their sup-
port. Since Cardinal Antonelli was not available, the Pope called
in a prelate and had him take this memo: "Monsignor Magnasco,
archbishop of Genoa." When the matter came up of replacing
Bishop Colli of Alessandria because of poor health resulting from
serious problems, Monsignor Manacorda kept telling Don Bosco,
"Have him promoted to the see of Turin, and we'll save him!"
However, Don Bosco had chosen Bishop Gastaldi of Saluzzo for
Turin, and because of his affection and gratitude for the bishop's
unfailing help, he would not change his mind. Also a strong man
was needed for Turin, and he asked the Pope to appoint Gastaldi.
Pius IX, gladly recalling Gastaldi's. stand in defense of papal in-
fallibility during the Vatican Council,3 and perhaps also looking
forward to having him at the Vatican, was reluctant, but Don
Bosco insisted so much that the Pope finally yielded. "You really
want him, and so I give him to you! Tell him from me that I now
make him archbishop of Turin, only to make him somewhat more
in a couple of years." This was a clear allusion to his elevation to
the college of cardinals.
3See Vol. IX, p. 404. [Editor]
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Don Bosco hurriedly telegraphed Gastaldi: "Excellency, I have
the honor to announce your coming appointment as archbishop of
Turin." Gastaldi was so overjoyed with the message that he cried
aloud to his secretary: "Chiuso, Chiuso, we're going to Turin!"
The Pope then asked Don Bosco to call on the Minister of the
Interior-unofficially and totally on his own-to learn the gov-
ernment's present intentions. Don Bosco got an appointment to
meet with Lanza and others.
"What would the government do if the Pope appointed new
bishops?" Don Bosco asked.
"He can't," one answered. "We won't allow it."
"Your Excellency," Don Bosco retorted, ""the Law of Guaran-
tees recognizes his right. It is part and parcel of his spiritual juris-
diction."
"If he does appoint bishops, we'll hold back their revenues by
not granting the exequatur."
"Why not abide by the Law of Guarantees and work out some
procedure acceptable to the Church?" Don Bosco insisted.
There followed, then, a long, polite discussion, but in spite of
Don Bosco's convincing arguments, it was to no avail. The minis-
ters were at a loss to find some way to drag on negotiations that
had started with their consent. Truthfully, they wanted to show a
conciliatory attitude, but they had to reckon with the secret socie-
ties.
Don Bosco then produced the list of the newly appointed bish-
ops. The ministers objected to Gastaldi as archbishop of Turin,
alleging his unacceptability to the royal court, but Don Bosco
rallied to his defense, pointing out his excellent intellectual quali-
ties, his degree in theology from the Royal University of Turin,
and his long work in England on behalf of Italian immigrants.
As regards Monsignor Magnasco, the minister informed Don
Bosco that they had the word of Genoa's authorities rating him
hopelessly papist. . . .
They wanted to doctor the list to suit their ends and still be-
lieved they could wreck the Pope's plans by denying the exequatur
and revenues, but Don Bosco quickly disabused them by quoting
the Pope's decision, "I shall change nothing!" He himself held his
ground. After completing his mission to the satisfaction and ad-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
miration of all, he notified Father Rua that he was soon return-
ing:
Dear Father Rua,
Rome, September 13, 1871
God willing, I shall arrive in Turin Saturday [the 16th] at 11 A. M.
Ask Aunt Felicity to prepare soup for us. Afterward I shall rest a little
either at her house or at the Oratory.
Find out: l. The approximate total of the flour tax for all our houses.
2. The total of boys in our schools who have been recommended by gov-
ernment authorities this year and in past years, as well as the number of
boys whose fathers are government employees.
Everything went on perfectly, but let us keep praying. Have every-
thing ready by Monday. God bless you all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Newspapers soon divulged Don Bosco's role in these episcopal
appointments. II Fanfulla. for example, carried this item on Oc-
tober 16:
The consistory will take place on October 27. In his address to the
cardinals Pius IX will deplore the persecution carried out against the
Church and the faithful in the Holy City. He will likewise condemn sac-
rilegious attacks against cloistered convents and religious women. As of
yesterday, fifty-nine vacant sees have been filled. 4 As regards northern
dioceses, the proposals of Don Bosco of Turin, expressly summoned to
Rome for this purpose, were accepted.
As a result of his last conferences with Don Bosco, Minister
Lanza felt quite favorably disposed toward him, and on October
9, 1871, in reply to a request, he granted the Oratory a 2,000 lire
subsidy. 5
[As we have seen] Don Bosco's clear-headed diplomacy safe-
guarded papal independence and provided for the welfare of many
souls. Furthermore, as subsequent events showed, he established a
4Actually only forty-one bishops were appointed in Italy and two in foreign mission ter-
ritories. [Author]
5This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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203
personal rapport with Lanza. After patiently achieving his mis-
sion, he called on the Pope before returning to Turin.
"Well, my dear Don Bosco," Pius IX greeted him, "you have
often asked and obtained titles of honor and high positions for
others. How about yourself?"
"Holy Father, just continue your kindness to poor Don
Bosco!"
'That you have most surely! What else?"
"Nothing more!"
On September 15, Don Bosco arrived in Turin and was met by
Father Rua at Porta Nuova. Together they went to the home of
the above-mentioned benefactress for lunch.
Meanwhile Bishop Gastaldi had been informed that Don Bosco
would be at the Oratory that afternoon. Hastening to Turin, he
got to the Oratory before Don Bosco. Priests and cle'rics warmly
welcomed their superior's good friend and the boys enthusi-
astically applauded him, remembering how often he had solemnly
celebrated Mass in the Church of Mary, Help of Christians. See-
ing Father Lemoyne, the bishop embraced him, and together they
went up to the small terrace flanking the Church of St. Francis de
Sales. There the bishop restlessly and impatiently waited for Don
Bosco.
When Don Bosco finally arrived, the boys rushed over to him
and slowed down his pace.
"He will never get here," the bishop kept muttering. Unable to
stand the strain, he cupped his hands before his mouth and shout-
ed full force, "Don Bosco! Don Bosco! Hurry!"
Don Bosco looked up and, seeing him, hurried toward him. The
bishop rushed to meet Don Bosco and, grasping his arm, led him
up to his room where they were closeted for some time. Toward
the end of their conversation Don Bosco gave him the Pope's
message. "Now archbishop, in a couple of years somewhat
more!"
"Let us leave that to Providence," Gastaldi responded.
That evening Don Bosco told the community that Bishop Gas-
taldi had been appointed archbishop of Turin and invited all to
rejoice because the prelate had always been so well disposed to-
ward the Oratory and Don Bosco.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
The next day, Sunday, Don Bosco spent long hours hearing the
boys' confessions, as all were eager to confide in him. Then on
Monday, September 18, he went up to Lanzo for the first spiri-
tual retreat.
The confreres were eagerly writing to ask him about the true
state of the negotiations for the episcopal appointments. He met a
barrage of questions.
"Don Bosco, you drew up the list, but will anything happen?
Will the Pope be able to install the bishops? Will the government
accept them? Will the bishops have to ask the government's per-
mission? Will they have to recognize the government by asking
for the exequatur?"
"You surely can make things difficult!" Don Bosco replied.
"Did Our Lord ask anybody's permission before sending His
apostles out to preach? All He said was 'Go!' and they went."
He made them understand that the Pope's rights and authority
had been safeguarded and that, by appealing to the Law of Guar-
antees, he had pledged the government not to interfere. What re-
ally mattered was that the vacant dioceses should have their shep-
herds. Whether or not the government would give them their
revenues was secondary. Don Bosco thus succeeded in making it
clear that the Church was independent of the State.
This viewpoint was further elucidated by Pius IX in an allocu-
tion on October 27, when he repeated almost verbatim what Don
Bosco had said at Lanzo: namely that, in virtue of his God-given
authority, without regard or permission of men, he was appoint-
ing new bishops.
Don Bosco also said quite candidly, "The Pope told me: 'Draw
up a list and give it to me!' "
And what he did was well done. Then he ended humbly: "I
wonder whether in the future any Salesian will ever find himself
in a position of having full freedom to select so many bishops, as
happened this year. . . ."
Listening in silence, the confreres were surprised that he left the
sentence incomplete by not adding "to me" and could not help
admiring his humility.
Don Bosco later confided to Father Cerruti all the toil and
frustrations he had encountered. "I did it to obey the Pope for the
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
205
good of the Church! But I feel a lot more at ease among my
sons!" He then repeated what he usually suggested to others when
they became depressed by difficulties or opposition. "The main
thing is not to get upset and to preserve charity! Let us overcome
evil with good. Then let us keep cheerful and united with God."
5. APPOINTMENTS FOR OVER A HUNDRED VACANT SEES
In the meantime, anticipating the Holy See's official announce-
ment, newspapers broke the news of Bishop Gastaldi's promo-
tion. On October 4, Unita Cattolica ran an article-obviously by
a subscriber-hailing the new archbishop and mutilating the facts
of the 1867 episcopal appointments by totally ignoring Don Bos-
co's role. Evidently it was no oversight! It was the first flash of
the harrowing unforeseen storm soon to break upon Don Bosco's
head. The article read:
Turin's New Archbishop
On September 23, Bishop Lawrence Gastaldi was duly informed by
Rome of his transfer from the diocese of Saluzzo to the archdiocese of
Turin. The news is most gratifying to the people of Turin. Our arch-
diocese is no longer vacant. Thanks to the Holy Father, we now have a
pious, devout, most zealous shepherd who embodies the finest virtues of
his immediate predecessors-he is firm and determined like Archbishop
Fransoni, gentle and amiable like Archbishop Riccardi.
Since we shall soon be paying Archbishop Gastaldi our homage and
unreservedly carry out his revered directives, we hasten to show how
magnificent a gift Pius IX grants to his beloved city of Turin.
Born in Turin on March 18, 1815, Lawrence Gastaldi was a canon of
St. Lawrence Church and a collegiate theologian of our university. In-
spired by fervent zeal for God's glory, he forsook comforts and honors
to preach the Gospel in England. 1 With singular talent, he soon learned
English and for several years preached the Catholic faith to many Angli-
cans whose bitterness ceased once they came to know him. While in
England he studied the present state of Protestantism in depth, its in-
1After his ordination, Gastaldi joined the Institute of Charity founded in 1828 by An-
tonio Rosmini and was sent to England. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
timate bonds to revolutionary movements, and the current trends and
moral evils of our society.
Intensely fond of his country. Bishop Gastaldi never forgot his native
Piedmont and kept himself alert to whatever might endanger its faith.
He loudly protested any insult to the Church, and we proudly published
his signed articles, the last appearing in Unita Cattolica on July 4, 1865,
issue 153.
At that time Xavier Vegezzi's2 mission in Rome for the appointment
of bishops to vacant sees had failed. Later, on June 28 [1865] we spon-
sored a declaration of thanks to Pius IX for his solicitude toward so
many of the faithful and a serious protest against those ministers who
had sabotaged negotiations by practically forcing the Roman Pontiff to
betray his obligations. Canon Lawrence Gastaldi was one of the first to
support our declaration and protest. On June 3 he wrote to us as fol-
lows:
··1 fully approve and praise Unita Cattolica's proposal of an open let-
ter from Italian Catholics to the Holy Father. To this end I enclose a
20-lire contribution. Canon Lawrence Gastaldi, Collegiate Theologian
of the University of Turin."
Twelve thick volumes of signatures (now in the Vatican Library) and
more than 355,000 lire were presented to the Holy Father-a proof of
divine blessing on the project.3
This serious protest very effectively prompted Premier Bettino Rica-
soli to resume negotiations. The Holy See readily obliged, and in a very
short time an agreement was reached.
Obviously Canon Gastaldi had ruined his chances of being among
possible episcopal appointees because these had to be approved by the
government, and it would naturally blacklist anyone who had bravely
shown his love and devotion to Pius IX by being among the first to pro-
test the breaking down of negotiations. But whether the government was
unaware of Canon Gastaldi's stand or had forgotten it, the canon was
appointed bishop of Saluzzo on March 17, 1867.
His admirable zeal for the Church's welfare soon gained him respect-
ful filial affection. Today, Saluzzo's sad loss is Turin's happy gain. Cer-
tainly, when Unita Cattolica published Canon Gastaldi's protest on July
4, no one could foresee that he would become archbishop of Turin in
1871.
2Xavier Vegezzi (1805-1888), a Turinese lawyer and deputy of the first Subalpine Parlia-
ment, became Finance Minister in 1860. In 1865 he conducted negotiations with James
Cardinal Antonelli for the appointment of bishops to vacant sees. They failed because of
the condition that appointees swear allegiance to the king. [Editor]
3Cf. Giornale di Roma, December 9, 1865. [Author]
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More than ever this proves that bishops do not owe their election to
men but to the Holy Spirit, who chooses them to govern the Church
founded by Jesus Christ. Men, events, and happenings are merely means
that Divine Providence is wont to use in place of miracles. Ultimately, it
is the Holy Spirit who chooses the candidate through the Roman Pontiff
and crowns his work.
Don Bosco read the article and got the message without per-
sonal distress.
On October 27, at an informal consistory for the new bishops,
Pius IX manifested his heartfelt grief in these words of the Psalm-
ist: "I can see how violence and discord fill the city; day and night
they stalk together along the city walls. Sorrow and misery live
inside...." [Ps. 55:9-10] He then went on:
We solemnly declare before the whole Church that we totally repudi-
ate the Law of Guarantees. We have already made this abundantly clear
in our encyclical of last May 15. We openly affirm that, in the exercise
of this gravest duty of our apostolic ministry, we act in virtue of the
power bestowed on us by Jesus Christ, Prince of pastors and Bishop of
souls, through the most blessed Peter, from whom, as our predecessor
St. Innocent said, "stem the episcopate itself and all its authority."
After bestowing the rochet on the fifteen bishops present, he
concluded:
My beloved brothers, your presence deeply consoles me, though my
joy is tempered by sadness. As Our Lord once sent His apostles, so I
now send you to the disconsolate dioceses of Italy so long bereaved of
shepherds. It hurts me to say it, but perhaps .. I am sending you forth
like sheep in the midst of wolves." [Matt. IO: 16] I know not whether
you will be allowed to have your ecclesiastical residences or whether you
will receive a living, but do not fear. Despite all they have done to me,
charity always provided for my needs. So will it be with you.
Once the news got out that the Pope had decided to go ahead
with his episcopal appointments, the perplexed government said
nothing, blocked from interfering by the Law of Guarantees and
fearing lest it expose the struggle of the Masons against the
Church.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
On November 27 [1871] the Italian parliament held its opening
session in the Montecitorio Palace. That same month, trusting in
Providence, the Pope proclaimed the appointment of fourteen
more Italian bishops, among them Bishop Emilian Manacorda, a
close friend of Don Bosco, who was assigned to Fossano. At a
third consistory, on December 2, eighteen more bishops were for-
mally appointed.4
The Cardinal Secretary of State then informed the new bishops
that the Pope wished them to take possession of their dioceses as
soon as possible, without in any way asking for the royal exequa-
tur. After merely informing the government of their appointment,
they were to start exercising their ministry, even if the govern-
ment held up their revenues.
Official government statistics of May 26, 1872 revealed that
from October 27, 1871 one hundred and seven bishops had been
appointed. Ninety-one "notified [the government] of their ap-
pointment by letter" and received an acknowledgment; fourteen
"gave no notice whatever"; only two obtained the royal exequatur
when, through a third party, they notified the government and
sent along a summary of the papal bull. The rest took up resi-
dence in their seminaries or in private homes, living on papal sub-
sidies although even these were cut in half by government taxes.
On February 23, 1872 Pius IX, comforted by the welcome
given to the bishops by the faithful and by the fact that the
Church, though impoverished, was finally free of government in-
terference in appointing bishops, exhorted the new group of bish-
ops to rejoice not so much for the love of their flocks but for the
privilege of being able to suffer in Christ's name. 5
6. THE PROBLEM OF TEMPORALITIES
Meanwhile anticlerical activity was making itself ever more ev-
ident in Rome. Between March and August 1871, twenty-four
convents and monasteries were confiscated under the pretext that
they were needed for schools, government offices, barracks, ware-
houses, courts of justice, stables, and even stud farms. Such was
4This paragraph is a condensation. [EditorJ
5This paragraph is a condensation. [EditorJ
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209
the lot of the Holy Cross Convent. By June 1872 thirty of the
largest religious institutes in Rome were requisitioned; even the
convent of the Oblates of St. Frances of Rome at Tor de' Specchi
was turned into a municipal school.
Don Bosco was grieved by these developments and longed to
remedy the evil. In November 1871 he wrote to Countess Callori:
"I suppose you already know that Monsignor Manacorda has
been appointed to Fossano to the city's joy. I think he will do
well. But no bishop has yet been given the keys of his residence or
revenues. Poor men! Where will they live? What about their sus-
tenance, furniture, clothes, etc.? Yet the Holy Father wants them
at their sees as soon as possible. We must pray."
Ever alert to better the Church's condition he sent this letter to
Minister Lanza while still convalescing in Varazze after his grave
illness:
Your Excellency:
Varazze, February 11, 1872
I should have given you a clearer idea of the revenues due to the
recently appointed bishops some time ago, but a severe illness kept me
from doing so. Please bear with me.
When I had the honor of talking to you on November 8, 1871 I un-
derstood that the government fully agreed to let the Pope choose his
bishops freely and that there would be no problem for their temporali-
ties. I informed the Holy Father of this, and two days later, when I
expressed his thanks to Your Excellency, you kindly confirmed the
above-mentioned agreement.
Now I am asked-and must give an answer-whether matters were
correctly understood and, if they were, whether something has arisen to
alter the situation. Will you kindly inform me? You would free me from
serious embarrassment and make the government's real intentions
known.
I think I should tell you that the faithful were everywhere quite
pleased with the recent appointments of bishops and that popular rejoic-
ing in each diocese was very enthusiastic. On all sides, people praised the
government in most flattering terms for having left the Pope and bish-
ops free to exercise their ministry. But when they saw that their bishops
had to settle for living quarters in the diocesan seminary or elsewhere,
public opinion reacted and took an abrupt turn.
I am sure that were Your Excellency to hear past and present com-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ment in this regard, you would take effective measures to remove all ob-
stacles. Seemingly you could eliminate them without detriment to either
party.
I write in full confidence and assure you that though as a Catholic
priest I am devoted to the head of the Church, I have always maintained
my loyalty to the government and have constantly offered all my poor
possessions, my strength and life to its people.
If you feel I can be of any use to the government or to the Church,
please let me know. God bless you.
Yours sincerely,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. After February 13 I shall be in Turin.
Lanza does not seem to have replied, but it is a fact that Don
Bosco wrote again on May 20, three months later, proposing that,
in order to obtain the exequatur, the Holy See send the govern-
ment an official list of newly appointed bishops indicating date of
appointment and diocese of assignment. 1
He still kept in touch with the Pope, sending news of the joyous
welcome given the new bishops and of his own recovery. Ap-
parently he also informed him of his current attempts [with
Lanza] for a satisfactory solution to the problem of temporalities.
The Holy Father replied with this warm letter in his own hand:
Beloved Son,
Rome, May l, 1872
26th Year of Our Pontificate
Greetings and Apostolic Benediction.
With pleasure we learned from your letter of April 8 that the bishops
appointed to the vacant Italian dioceses received a warm welcome and
that your city shows an increase of love for the Church. We were also
pleased to learn of your recovery and trust that God will long keep you
in good health.
As for your endeavors regarding the temporalities, we praise your fer-
vent zeal, but, seeing the state of things, it is better to pray that God will
change the hearts of men. Since He promised the Church perpetual pro-
tection, He cannot fail us.
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Confident in His powerful assistance, we most willingly impart to
you, your assistants and boys our apostolic benediction in token of our
fatherly affection.
Pope Pius IX
The new bishops' plight was sorry indeed. Although comforted
by the cordial welcome given to them, the Pope grieved for their
painful straits. Still he did not want them to request the govern-
ment's exequatur under any circumstance. Limiting themselves to
only informing the government of their appointment, they were to
start exercising their sacred ministry without further ado, even if
the government demanded formal submission of the papal bull of
appointment and a request for the exequatur.
This tug-of-war went on for some time. Regretfully, here and
there a bishop, acting on his own in disregard of directives, sub-
mitted to the government's demands and, of course, was ad-
monished by the Holy See. It was a thorny matter and both par-
ties longed to reach an agreement. Unfortunately, neither was
willing to do anything that might be interpreted as an' act of sub-
mission.
Don Bosco on his part did what the Pope had suggested: "[In
these matters] it is better to pray that God change the hearts of
men." However, he still trusted the motto, "God helps those who
help themselves," and so he continued to do all he could. 2
7. BACK IN ROME
Addressing the college of cardinals on June 17, 1872, Pius IX
again expressed his delight in having filled so many vacant sees in
Italy. However, the need to reach a compromise with the Italian
government on the exequatur was becoming ever more acute. Don
Bosco felt that he should renew his attempts, but the after-effects
of his grave illness and pressing work kept him from taking any
action for the rest of that year. In early 1873, however, he decided
to go to Rome for a threefold purpose: to sell lottery tickets on
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
behalf of the Oratory, to seek definitive approval of the constitu-
tions of the Salesian Society, and to confer again with the pre-
mier regarding episcopal revenues. 1
In token of his affection he called on Archbishop Gastaldi on
February 17, doubtless to assure him that he would do all he
could on his behalf. The next morning he left with Father [Joa-
chim] Berto. They expected to be joined by Father Franco, S.J .,
who was going to Bologna for a Lenten mission, but somehow he
was not to be found at the station. They finally met him at Ales-
sandria when changing trains. The trip to Piacenza was enjoyable,
as they conversed on a variety of subjects and the situation of the
Church in Italy .2
We have many letters of Father Berto to Father Rua and the
Oratory boys about this trip, as well as several notes he had jotted
down after the journey. They are too lengthy and a bit tiresome
because of many trivial details that bear more on the writer than
on Don Bosco. Since Father Rua digested the most interesting epi-
sodes into two circulars, we shall try to present a substantial and
faithful summary.
At their arrival in Piacenza, Father Franco took Don Bosco by
coach to Bargo della Marte, where several Jesuits lived privately,
and Don Bosco remained with them until night, enjoying their
warm hospitality. Dinner conversation turned to the dismal polit-
ical and religious situation in Italy, the general opinion being that
no improvement was to be expected and that darker clouds were
in the offing. Don Bosco did not share their views.
"Don't you think," he said, "that the Church has won a signal
victory in breaking loose from treaties which governments in-
terpreted as license to appoint bishops and even pastors? The
Church is freer now. Concordats which hampered her freedom
particularly in appointing bishops have been shoved aside, and
now the Pope can make decisions without regard to proposals or
approvals. As for bishops having to reside in their seminaries
because of government refusal of recognition, that is an evil only
insofar as it deprives them of lawful revenues, but some good has
come of it, since bishops now have closer contact with their sem-
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
213
inarians. Previously there was hardly any rapport, much less
confidence between them."
At 7:30 that evening Don Bosco and Father Berto boarded a
train for Parma, where they were guests of the Christian Brothers
at Borgo delle Calonne. The next morning Don Bosco celebrated
Community Mass and gave a brief, delightful homily. He lunched
at the seminary and on request entertained the faculty and pupils
with interesting episodes of the Oratory's beginnings.3 He spent
the evening of February 19 and most of the next day with Bishop
[Dominic] Villa who was in very poor health. "He was so com-
forted by Don Bosco's presence," wrote Father Berto, "that yes-
terday he pressed him to stay most of the day, and we postponed
our departure."
Don Bosco spent another night at Parma. The next day, Febru-
ary 20, he and the bishop went across town to see "Old Parma,"
possibly with a view to opening a school there.4 He also called on
Marquis Pallavicino, who, in Father Berta's report, "sent for him
several times. Many priests came to see him. Had we remained
there any longer, crowds would soon have been besieging him as
they do in Turin."
The same morning he celebrated Mass at the Ursuline convent.
Then, after mid-morning lunch at the seminary, he went to the
station and rejoined Father Franco for the trip to Bologna, where
he was the guest of the pastor of St. Martin's Church until Febru-
ary 22.
"On our arrival," Father Berto wrote, "the archbishop,
[Charles] Cardinal Morichini, Uestingly] sent word to Don Bosco
that he would be suspended from all faculties if he did not come
to see him at once! Of course, we obliged! We had dinner with
him the next day. Afterward he personally took us on a detailed
tour of his residence and seminary, treating us most gracious-
}y . . . . "
.
At mid-morning on February 22, Don Bosco left for Florence,
where he was hosted by Marchioness Nervi until the 24th, when
he resumed his journey to Rome, arriving at sunset. Monsignor
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
4At the time, at the suggestion of the charitable Marchioness Zambeccari, the opening
of a boys' home was under consideration. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Manacorda had a coach waiting which took him and Father
Berto to the home of Mr. Stephen Colonna, a Vatican employee.5
The next day, after Mass [in Mr. Colonna's private chapel] Don
Bosco called on Cardinal [Joseph] Berardi, his firm admirer and
champion who was ready to use his influence with the Pope for
any favors Don Bosco might seek from the Holy See.
Don Bosco set to work at once. The Pope again authorized him
to resume previous negotiations with the government; he was to
act entirely on his own and stand firm by the Law of Guarantees.
The crux of the problem was still: How were the bishops to
make formal request for temporalities without appearing to rec-
ognize the new kingdom of Italy? Many Vatican diplomats were
opposed to this-so much so that, were it in their power, they
would never tolerate negotiations. It took courage to attack this
knotty problem!
8. A PRECIOUS MEMORANDUM
[Before going to Rome] Don Bosco prudently consulted compe-
tent people on this matter, with the added hope of enlisting their
support should they discuss this problem with others. Father Se-
bastian Sanguinetti, S.J., one of the experts, drafted a memoran-
dum to be given to Don Bosco before leaving Turin or on reach-
ing Rome. It dealt with two problems: political elections in which
deputies of the clerical party were not then to participate,1 and a
formal request for the royal exequatur.
Here is [a condensation of] the second part of this memoran-
dum:
If the presentation of the papal bull is in any way interpreted as a
recognition, even implicit, of the present political situation and specifi-
cally of the Law of Guarantees, such a step is not to be even considered.
The problem however can be approached from a different angle. The
exequatur is openly an unjust, tyrannical imposition, but, being not in-
trinsically evil. it has been tolerated in some concordats. It is equally ev-
ident that a bishop, by sole right of his papal appointment, has full spiri-
5This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
1We omit this part because of its scant interest to our readers. [Editor]
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215
tual and temporal power; hence it is unjust to impose other conditions
upon him. Since, however, he is also a citizen, it would seem that he
may submit even to an odious and unjust law which does not force him
to do anything intrinsically evil; such is the case in mortgages or legacies
that concern an individual, not the Holy See. By submitting a papal bull
to the royal exequatur, the bishop would thus be acting as a citizen and
complying with an unjust law in order to gain possession of all his
rights. If the government still refuses the exequatur to any episcopal ap-
pointee despite his compliance, the Law of Guarantees would very clear-
ly stand out as a sham.
9. THE FIRST "MODUS VIVENDI"
Don Bosco set immediately to work. Like others, Cardinal An-
tonelli opposed all compromise and would tolerate no attempt in
that direction, but, knowing that Pius IX had given Don Bosco
full, though unofficial, powers, he did not interfere, being content
to keep informed on this holy but thorny project.
Don Bosco went to him on February 26. He was instantly ad-
mitted, and they were closeted for two hours. "The main topic,"
Father Berto wrote, "was episcopal revenues and how they could
be obtained from the government without prejudice to the Holy
See's rights." Happy with Don Bosco's visit, the cardinal dis-
cussed other important matters too and invited him to call again
soon. On the way home, Don Bosco confided to Father Berto,
"Cardinal Antonelli has great trust in me. He tells me even the
most secret things."
At Don Bosco's request, Pius IX reserved an audience for him
on June 27 at 6: 15 P.M. At his arrival at the Vatican several
prelates delightedly gathered about him. At 6:30 he was taken to
the Pope's chamber where he remained for an hour and a half.
Before leaving, Don Bosco sought a word of advice and a blessing
for his boys. "I most willingly bless them all," replied the Holy
Father, "but what else can I tell them except to persevere in vir-
tue? 'A young man according to his way: even when he is old, will
not depart from it.' Now excuse me a moment till I get a medal
for each of your boys. You will get the biggest."
It was dark when Don Bosco and Father Berto left the Vatican.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
··we achieved a lot," Don Bosco confided to Father Berto on
their way home. "I was well prepared in what to say and ask, and
the Pope liked that. He even said to me, 'We get a lot more done
this way!' "
Among other things, the Pope granted the title of monsignor to
Father Masnini, secretary of the bishop of Casale, and to Father
[John Baptist] Appendini, Don Bosco's seminary professor, now
the pastor at Villastellone.
Don Bosco also told Father Berto that he had offered Pius IX a
thousand marenghi1 on behalf of Marquis Fassati and other de-
vout persons and that he had easily obtained titles of honor for
Mr. Occelletti, Professor Lanfranchi, Attorney Alessio and Mar-
cello Arnaldi, "whereas the Pope usually showed annoyance when
others requested similar favors." He arrived home quite tired but
happy at the Holy Father's benevolence.
Don Bosco made another important call at Palazzo Braschi.2
Then, on March 4, Premier Lanza sent an urgent message to
meet him that day at his office at 2 P.M. On his arrival, the
ushers greeted him courteously and immediately notified Lanza,
who, urgently engaged at the moment, had Don Bosco and Father
Berto ushered to a private waiting room. At about 3 P.M., Lanza
conferred for an hour with Don Bosco, trying to find a solution.
Finally, he had the Ministers of War and of Justice and their
secretaries join them in conference. For the next two hours Don
Bosco was bombarded with questions, while he kept alert for a
chance to insert arguments in the Church's favor. He left the con-
ference in good spirits, but flushed and perspiring. "I'm exhaust-
ed," he told Father Berto. "My head feels like a balloon!"
He went down the stairs leaning on his arm and remarking with
a smile, "Had anyone been there, he would have told me, 'Don
Bosco, leave those scoundrels alone!' There I was like a stray
chick, surrounded by six rogues bent on confusing me with spe-
cious arguments. I pity Lanza! But they liked my approach: no
arguments, but a plain exposition of their faulty reasoning and of
its inevitable sad consequences."
I A marengo was a 20-franc gold coin minted by Napoleon to commemorate his victory
over Austrian and Russian forces at Marengo, a village near Alessandria, on June 14,
1800. This coin was used in Italy throughout the nineteenth century. [Editor]
2A majestic palace designed by the famous architect Cosimo Morelli and built in 1791
by Duke Luigi Braschi, the nephew of Pope Pius VI. [Editor]
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On the evening of March 6, he conferred again with Cardinal
Antonelli for over two hours. He also met once more with Lanza,
but we do not know the exact dates since Father Berto, busy at
selling lottery tickets, could not accompany Don Bosco every-
where. On March 12, however, Father Berto wrote to Father
Lemoyne at Lanzo: ''Minister Lanza seems kindly disposed to-
ward the bishops. Don Bosco's visit also influenced him to oppose
the suppression of generalates. In fact, he seems determined to re-
sign rather than permit it to happen. Let us pray. " 3
Many ecclesiastics, however, still disapproved of Don Bosco's
efforts. They believed that, being Piedmontese, he was mostly out
to put the new government in a good light and obtain concessions
for it. Instead, he had succeeded in convincing the government to
work toward a settlement. In a private memo of his he listed four
modi vivendi put forward by the Italian government toward a set-
tlement. They proved unacceptable to the Vatican, but still were a
step toward further negotiations.4
In his circulars to the Salesian directors, Father Rua did not
explicitly refer to Don Bosco's role in the negotiations but clearly
alluded to it in the closing remarks of his first circular, urging
special prayers for God's help in Don Bosco's holy undertaking:
As his privileged sons-he wrote-our task is to pray for his health,
so that, thanks to our prayers, he may obtain all he seeks both for us
and for so many souls who depend entirely on his charity. . . .
Perhaps we shall have the joy of seeing our dear Don Bosco again
next week. In the meantime he wants us to keep St. Joseph's feast with
solemnity. Let me stress that especially now he needs our prayers and
Communions.
Father Rua's two circulars are not dated, but the context
makes it clear that the first one was mailed the first week of
March, the second early in the third week of that month. From
the latter, we draw this excerpt:
Some persons, seeking Don Bosco's views on the present and future
condition of the Church, were told not to expect any change for the bet-
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ter throughout 1873 and no peace for the Church until the end of 1878.
He had already given this answer in 1847. We shall wait and see.
It was the common belief in Rome in 1873 that the Church
would triumph again in that year. From the Pope to the least of
the faithful, everyone lulled himself into this vain hope. Don
Bosco merely smiled. On his recent visit to Archbishop Lamberti
in Florence, the latter had told him, "Eight years ago, in this very
room, you told me that the Italians would take Rome, and I
refused to believe it. Tell me now, when shall we be free again?"
"Your Excellency, we are at the mercy of outlaws. It will be
some time before we are free, but not too long."
At this point, the archbishop called in his secretary. "Do you
recall," he asked, "that Don Bosco told us many years ago that
Rome would be seized? Record now that today, February 23,
1873, Don Bosco said it won't be too long before we shall be free,
but that enemy troops will be here until the end of 1875."
Twice he was asked the same question in Rome, and twice he
gave the same answer.
On March l0, while visiting Canon Ghiselini, he met Countess
Malvasia, the bishop of Neocaesaria, and a papal captain who
had been a prisoner of war in Alessandria. When the talk got
around to the current condition of Rome, he declared again,
"Things will not start to improve until 1875 and will not get back
to normal until 1878 or later."
Another evening he was at the home of Mrs. [Rose] Mercurelli
in Piazza Santa Chiara. The Superior General of the Dominicans
was also a guest and, sitting by Don Bosco for a while, discussed
the deplorable situation of the Church.
"Let's hope it will all end soon," he concluded. "The predic-
tions are very clear: this will be the year of triumph!"
"Not at all," Don Bosco replied. "We are only fooling our-
selves if we believe that Don Carlos will become king of Spain
and the count of Chambord king of France, and that both will
join forces and reinstate the Pope. Humanly speaking, such a
hope is baseless. If God so willed, it could happen instantly, but,
barring that, no improvement will come at all until 1875, and
things will not return to normal till early 1878 or even later. . . ."
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He reiterated the same thought to the Oblates at Tor de' Spec-
chi, to the Canons Regular at St. Peter's-in-Chains, and on other
occasions. Hearing these blunt predictions, the superior general of
the Dominicans exclaimed: "God spare us! If we have to go
through two or three more years of this, we shall be flayed alive.
We shall all be exiled!"
While returning to Turin, Don Bosco made a stopover in
Modena at Count [Ferdinand] Tarabini's. The count and countess
and their two sons, who had served in the papal army, after
deploring the troubled times, remarked, "Well, this year will
mark the triumph of the Church and of Pius IX."
"Not so," Don Bosco interjected. "There will be no change."
"But everyone says so," they insisted. "You surely know that
some time ago a Turinese priest predicted that three years after
Rome's seizure an angel would again crown the Pope."
"Fairy tales!" the younger son exclaimed.
"Don't you believe in prophecies?" another member of the
family asked Don Bosco.
"It's one thing to believe in prophecies but quite another to set
the time of their fulfillment," he replied.
"What is your basis for saying things will not improve until
1875?"
"Since 1848 I have been saying we cannot expect any improve-
ment until 1875. It may be just an idea or opinion of mine, but
things will not get better until 1875, and normalcy will not be re-
established until 1878. As regards the restoration of the old order,
I wonder whether it's even desirable. Personally, I do not wish it.
See how badly religion fared in Tuscany. The Church became
subject to the government. No one could be ordained and no pas-
tor appointed without its permission. The Church was a slave of
the State."
Asked how Rome could be freed, he replied, "I believe God
will use a devout king whose first endeavor will be to restore the
Pope's rights."
We must bear in mind that these conversations took place
before he had that vision (May 24-June 24, 1873)5 about the re-
5See pp. 55-57.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
establishment of peace in Europe, concerning which he had writ-
ten to Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. After that manifesta-
tion he started saying that God used certain communications to
offer suggestions and directives: however, if these were not fol-
lowed, the situation would remain unchanged.
Don Bosco left Rome on March 22, intending to stop over at
Florence, Modena, Bologna, and probably Milan. On the train he
remarked to Father Berto, ""Do you know why people respect and
trust me? Because I talk plainly. Then, too, God has given me a
certain something which convinces people that I am no fool. They
understand what I want."
He certainly possessed the gift of convincing people. No honest
adversary or enemy dealt with him without becoming his friend,
protector or benefactor or at least ceasing to fight him. Those
who had dealings with him-cabinet ministers and people of im-
portance included-would say, ''If only all priests were like him,
things would be much better!"
In Bologna he had dinner with Count Sassatelli. "The
newspapers say that you were called to Rome for consultation on
episcopal appointments," the count remarked. "Is that true?"
"Look," Don Bosco answered, "the Holy Father has regard for
Don Bosco not so much for his learning or virtue, but because he
speaks frankly and calls a spade a spade. One side demands too
much, the other is unyielding."
The count also said that some Milanese newspaper had referred
to him as the "Little Pope of Piedmont."
On March 29 or 30 Don Bosco was back in Turin.
10. RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS
By this time the Italian government had decided to close all
religious houses in Rome and the province-311 monasteries with
4,326 male religious and 165 convents with 3,825 nuns, according
to government statistics of November 1872.
On June 2 [1873] a protest signed by eighty-two superiors gen-
eral was delivered to King Victor Emmanuel II, to the premier
and to the president of the Chamber of Deputies. On June 15, the
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superiors general were received by Pius IX. Addressing them, he
remarked:
Satan alone could have inspired this cruel assault on innocent people
who pray, study and enhance the Church in the peace and solitude of the
cloister.
It is Satan who prompts his followers to deprive this Holy See of its
firm supports and the faithful of their pastors in order to uproot their
faith and, were it possible, utterly destroy it.
Still, two comforting thoughts come to mind. The first is that souls
dear to God must be tested by tribulation. . . . Purified by suffering, the
Church will emerge stronger. . . . My other source of comfort and hope
is the spirit of fervent prayer prevailing everywhere. Wherever Jesus
Christ is known on earth, people are praying for their suffering Church.
This is a harbinger of forthcoming mercy. . . .
On June 25, Gazzetta U[ficiale published the decree of suppres-
sion which sent so many poor religious begging from door to
door. The institutions Don Bosco had recommended to Lanza
were spared, though several had to appeal to the courts. 1
On July 9 the Lanza cabinet fell and a new one was formed
under Premier Mark Minghetti. Don Bosco promptly brought
him up to date on the negotiations underway with the previous
cabinet. While awaiting a reply, he informed Cardinal Antonelli
that, with his permission, he would reopen negotiations, and the
cardinal agreed on August 6, 1873 in these terms:
To avoid all misunderstanding, let me set clear limits beyond which
you may not hold out any promise of cooperation or acquiescence by the
Holy See. Let me state too that, on request, the Sacred Consistorial
Congregation will readily release the names of episcopal appointees, the
dates of their appointments and the dioceses to which they have been as-
signed, along with a notice that the bull of appointment was sent to
each.
However, the government still was not satisfied. To avoid a
breach of negotiations Don Bosco earnestly proposed that each
cathedral chapter, chancery or other competent authority present
1See pp. 190f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
either the bull of appointment or a summary of it, but Cardinal
Antonelli stood firmly against this suggestion. Unshaken, Don
Bosco decided to confer with the Minister of Justice and Religion,
Paul Vigliani, well known for his desire to remove difficulties. In
a note dated October 12, 1873 he briefed him thoroughly on the
state of negotiations and drew his attention to the second of the
four modi vivendi proposed by the previous cabinet, seemingly the
most acceptable to both parties, by which the cathedral chapter
or the chancery or equivalent authority was required to give the
government a summary of the bull of appointment, along with a
declaration that nothing had been added to the routine wording of
such documents. Don Bosco concluded by offering his own unof-
ficial mediation.2
The minister replied promptly and most courteously:
Very Reverend Father:
October 15, 1873
. . . No one is more anxious than the premier and I to find a way to
end or at least ameliorate the sorry conditions of the Italian episcopate.
However, both sides must show good-will and Christian forbearance if a
satisfactory settlement is to be reached. I beg you, as a good priest and
citizen, to try to persuade the Holy See to make it possible for our
ministers to carry out the law, and I in turn will go to all lengths to fa-
cilitate the granting of the exequatur. You probably know that the
exequatur has been very easily granted to the bishops of Alessandria,
Saluzzo and Aosta. Why cannot the new bishops send at least a summa-
ry of the bull of their appointment through their cathedral chapter or the
local mayor or anyone else without loss of dignity? I really see nothing
in this to offend our holy religion.
I confide my views to you, trusting that you will support me in doing
what is right.
Devotedly yours,
Vigliani
The proposal that the bull of appointment be displayed in the
sacristy or at the cathedral doors, or that a summary be made
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
223
available to the government, gradually proved acceptable also to
the Holy See.3
11. BACK TO ROME AGAIN
Considering this state of affairs and needing to return to Rome
to speed up the definitive approval of the Salesian Constitutions,
Don Bosco hurried to wind up unfinished business and leave
shortly after Christmas. Father Berto again accompanied him:
We left the Oratory on December 29, 1873 at 5:15 A.M. and reached
Florence toward 6 P.M . . . . The devout Uguccioni family offered us
warm hospitality. . . . The next morning we left for Rome at about 8:15
A.M. and got there around 7 P.M., welcomed by Mr. [Alexander] Sigis-
mondi and Msgr. Masnini, former secretary of the bishop of Casale.
Mr. Sigismondi took us by carriage to his home where we were comfort-
ably lodged.
The next day, the last of the year, toward 4 P.M. we called on Minis-
ter Vigliani. Don Bosco was immediately ushered in and conferred with
him for an hour. Afterward the minister himself most courteously es-
corted him to the door. . . .
We then took a carriage to Cardinal Antonelli's. The audience lasted
an hour and a half. Later, we paid our respects to Cardinal Berardi and
returned to the Sigismondis. 1
Obviously Don Bosco lost no time in resuming negotiations for
the episcopal revenues. That very day [December 31] he wrote to
Archbishop Gastaldi, who probably would have preferred to go
his own way in that matter:
Your Excellency:
Rome, December 31, 1873
Today I talked at great length with X, who seems to be kindly dis-
posed. Commenting on the initial steps you two have taken, he said, ""I
expect him to ask not for the exequatur but for the temporalities." The
other high authority,2 however, won't hear of this. Play for time, and I'll
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
1These are excerpts from Father Berto's diary. [Editor]
2Cardinal Antonelli. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
write again in a few days. We are working on a basic compact that may
be acceptable to both parties.
If I hear of any trustworthy person leaving Rome for Turin, I shall
write in detail.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. John Bosco
On the evening of January 1, Father Berto again accompanied
Don Bosco to Cardinal Antonelli for another conference on epis-
copal temporalities. By now the government had left the solution
of their differences with the Church to Don Bosco who enjoyed
the full trust of the Pope and of several cardinals. According to
Father Berto, Don Bosco freely commuted every day between the
Pope and Minister Vigliani.3
That very evening Don Bosco again conferred with the minister
for over an hour and a half, emerging thoroughly exhausted.
As we came from the building-Father Berto wrote-he said, "I am
exhausted. Toward the end of our conference I told the minister: 'Sir,
I'm not used to such dealings. I am really done for!'
" 'So am I,' was the answer.
"I also told him that I had anticipated my trip to Rome so as to deal
with this matter before the opening of the parliament since he might not
be able to see me, but he replied, 'For you, Don Bosco, I would put ev-
erything aside. Come whenever you like.' Now and then he would praise
me, and I would say, 'Don't praise me, or I'll quickly ask you for a
favor.'
" 'Please do.'
"'Very well! Please grant the pastor of Incisa Belbo Inferiore his
temporality.'
"'Certainly,' he answered. The decree was mailed without delay."
No sooner did the pastor receive it than he telegraphed Don
Bosco in Turin. Father Rua forwarded the message to Don Bosco
with a postscript: "The pastor at Incisa wants you to know you
need not bother about the exequatur; Minister Vigliani has al-
ready sent it to him." So quickly had the decree in fact arrived
that not even Father Rua suspected that Don Bosco had obtained
it!
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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225
On January 5, Don Bosco had another audience with the Pope
to draw up a compromise between the formula proposed by the
government and that preferred by the Holy See.4
A compromise-already being followed by some-was finally
worked out enabling the bishops to request their revenues without
violating their conscience. Don Bosco jotted it down as follows:
Without personal involvement, let the bishop exhibit in the cathedral
sacristy, or elsewhere, the bull of appointment sent to him and to his
chapter. Let him also have someone, together with a notary public,
make authentic copies, to be sent to the Minister of Justice by the local
mayor, the prefect of the province or the attorney general who shall ask
the bishop either personally or by delegate if he intends to apply for his
revenue by that act. The bishop may reply affirmatively and say that he
is doing so in order to facilitate the free exercise of his pastoral mission.
The simple process of following these directives has already obtained
and will obtain from the Minister of Justice the concession of temporali-
ties to every bishop and legal recognition of episcopal status and author-
ity.
On January 6, Don Bosco wrote to Minister Vigliani and con-
ferred again with Cardinal Antonelli. He later remarked to Fa-
ther Berto, "They want to discuss matters with me as though I
knew everything-past, present and future. . . . As for the for-
mula of temporalities, the Pope told Cardinal Antonelli, 'Don
Bosco did such a masterful job that no cardinal could have done
better. He exhausted all possibilities. He did a superb job!'"
12. A CRY OF ALARM!
On January 8, 1873 Gazzetta di Torino ran this dispatch in its
column "Lettere Romane" [News from Rome]:
Your notable fellow citizen, Don Bosco, is now in Rome, with free
access to the Vatican. He is very well liked by the Pope, but he no
longer arouses the enthusiasm of his first visit. His star is on the wane.
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
He has ready access to the government too. I don't know what he's
doing, but it certainly seems important!
On the afternoon of January 9 Mother Galeffi, superioress of
the Oblates of St. Frances, had a coach bring Don Bosco to Piaz-
za Tor de' Specchi to see a poor sick man-the father of ten boys
-who had been ailing for two years. After a few cheering inspir-
ing words, Don Bosco blessed him and told him to trust and pray,
assuring him that he and the Oratory boys would also pray for
him and that he would gradually recover. He stressed, however,
that his recovery was to be the result of much prayer. Finally, he
promised to see him again, assuring him that though now, despite
all efforts, he could not stand even for a single moment, by then
he would be on his feet.
Father Berta's diary gives us additional news:
After leaving the sick man, we called on Mother Galeffi, who sent for
the lawyer handling their case with the government. Don Bosco listened
very carefully as the latter briefed him thoroughly on the matter. Then,
to the lawyer's surprise, Don Bosco gave him some expert pointers on
how to handle the case to see it through to a successful conclusion.
Foreseeing the chance of an unfavorable turn of the case or an undue
delay, he advised him to write to a government official in Florence, a
man named Cutica, who had the last say in these matters. "We are good
friends," Don Bosco told him. "Even if we suffer a setback, he will help
us by either suggesting a compromise or telling us how to gain an ul-
timate victory. Then we shall have to insure the houses and property of
Tor de' Specchi in such a way that the government may have no further
pretext [to take them over]." "Rest assured," said the lawyer, "that
your advice will be carried out faithfully."
Meanwhile, negotiations for the bishops' revenues seemed to be
taking a favorable turn, and an agreement was in the offing. On
January 10, Unita Cattolica editorialized as follows:
After witnessing the warm welcome of the faithful for their bishops
and the good done by the prelates, the mayors seem inclined to push for
reconciling law with justice. . . . In fact some mayors have already sent
certified copies of resumes of the bull of appointment of their bishops to
the Minister of Justice, and he will promptly send the exequatur.
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227
Archbishop Gastaldi had probably prompted this editorial. On
January 11, Don Bosco wrote to him:
Your Excellency:
Rome, January 11, 1874
I hurry to inform you that negot1at1ons regarding the matter you
know of are progressing nicely. Vigliani and his cabinet have already ac-
cepted the Holy See's formula. During the coming week it will be sent to
the Council of State, and it is hoped that it will gain approval. Then,
barring the devil's work, it will be effective immediately.
Vigliani told me repeatedly that he would be satisfied if you post the
bull addressed to the faithful and state that you are so doing to obtain
your temporalities. A similar case concerning the posting of bulls ad-
dressed to the clergy was discussed [at the Vatican] but the Holy Father
did not approve of it. Please bide your time until next week. Then I'll let
you know what is happening, and if our plan should fail, I shall consult
Cardinal Antonelli about posting the bull addressed to the clergy in the
sacristy. So far, [the Holy See] has not permitted any action which may
imply that the bishops are directly applying for or accepting an exequa-
tur.
Please remember me in your prayers.
Yours most respectfully,
Fr. John Bosco
But where the devil cannot insert his head, he thrusts his tail!
Those few lines in Gazzetta di Torino made an unfavorable im-
pression on high government circles, prompting its mouthpiece, II
Fanful/a, to state on January 11:
These past few days rumors of alleged efforts for conciliation between
Church and State have been rampant. There has even been talk of a
mission undertaken by a distinguished Piedmontese prelate that is said
to be progressing very well indeed. . . .
As for these rumors, we are quite confident in asserting that any
dealing with Vatican officials involves neither the Italian Government
nor the Holy See.
In truth, direct conciliation was not the point at issue, but a
step toward it. The following day, Monday, January 12, La Li-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
berta, a Roman evening daily, stated quite bluntly that the Bdis-
tinguished Piedmontese prelate" was Don Bosco:
Yesterday evening, II Fanfulla reported rumors of an attempted con-
ciliation between State and Church as being now in progress. Such at-
tempts are to be credited to Don Bosco, a devout, respected Piedmon-
tese priest who has been conferring with many officials for some time.
He is said to have been entrusted with this task by prelates of northern
Italy, but well-informed Church and State circles give no importance to
his efforts. Both sides know that it is useless to attempt a premature
solution to a problem. It may well be some while before the time is ripe.
These statements of II Fanfu/la and La Liberta were followed
on January 13 by a vicious, totally unfounded article in Gazzetta
d'Italia that reveals the hostility of those days:
Vatican News-Rome, January 11 {1873}. [Today] Don Bosco had a
two-hour secret audience with the Pope in the latter's private quarters.
We have no leads on this mystifying meeting of the Supreme Pontiff
with the Turin miracle-worker. Knowing that Don Bosco has in the past
been summoned to give the Holy Father prophecies, we may hope that
he has managed to reconcile two generally irreconcilable roles, namely,
prophet and courtier. . . .
Did he please our suspicious, irritable Pontiff? Who knows? Don
Bosco himself must have had his doubts when he got an unexpected invi-
tation from the commissioner1 of the Holy Roman Inquisition to drop
in for a brief visit. At one time such an invitation made one a candidate
for torture and the stake. Even a prophet would pale at such a dire fate!
If anyone was released from the clutches of the Holy Office, he emerged
with his hair turned white! We fortunately no longer witness such kindly
treatment, and the good Dominican Father Leo Sallua could not find it
in his heart to burn anybody, neither one of those Jesuits whom he so
cordially detests, nor the eminent author, [Camillus] Cardinal Tarquini,
whose book on concordats, says our good canonist De Angelis, reeks of
hersey.
The Holy Office commissioner warned Don Bosco that such was his
case. A heretical prophet is surely an unusual and frightening phenom-
enon . . . . But despite its gravity, the case is not desperate. Father
Sallua most gently informed Don Bosco that his book on St. Peter,
1A second-rank official, always a Dominican. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
229
Prince of the Apostles,2 deserved as forthright a condemnation as the
works of Gioberti and Rosmini, but that the Inquisition's supreme tribu-
nal would spare him this bitter blow because of his virtue and his unusu-
al reputation of sanctity. Accordingly the author had to withdraw and
correct his book without delay or be forced to see it put on the Index
and himself excommunicated, thus coming too close for comfort to the
tribunal.
Doubtless, the commissioner's talk with Don Bosco will give him ex-
cellent publicity, since everyone will be anxious to read his book before
it is pulled out of circulation and ripped apart by the fearful talons of
that grim tribunal. Everyone will want to read those pages which might
well have kindled the flames of a heretic's stake. . . . Public interest will
ride high because the author is regarded as a miracle-worker and the in-
fallible Pontiffs own prophet. How strange that he passes from the
Pope's quarters to those of the Holy Office! How wide a range of emo-
tions on a single day! Yet it is a fact that triumphant heroes were once
crowned on one summit of the Capitoline Hill while on another summit
of the same hill stood the Tarpeian Rock. 3 The Holy Office is the Vati-
can's Tarpeian Rock.
It was all, of course, a vicious lie! True, Don Bosco had called
on the commissioner of the Holy Office on January 9, and as Fa-
ther Berto wrote: ~'The Dominican received Don Bosco most cor-
dially." He called a second time, but Father Sallua was away.
Don Bosco later remarked: "I don't know how Gazzetta d'Italia
found out about my visit to Father Sallua, since I went at night.
The report about the visit is true, but the rest is false. I called on
him but spoke only to his assistant." 4
13. PRESS UPROAR
Meanwhile the press kept printing rubbish. On January 13,
L 'Italie, a French daily printed in Rome, denied that Don Bosco
2As regards the trouble this booklet caused Don Bosco, see the Index of Volume VIII
under "St. Peter's Centenary." See also Vol. IX, pp. 205f. [Editor]
3A cliff or rock used in Roman times for hurling convicted criminals to their deaths.
[Editor]
4We are omitting the description of visits Don Bosco made to benefactors and friendly
prelates. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
was working toward conciliation [between the Vatican and Italy]. 1
II Seco/o of Milan, however, viewed the matter very differently in
different dispatches dated January 13 and 14 respectively.
Rome, January 13. Don Bosco has been here for several days, seem-
ingly conferring with cardinals, high-ranking prelates, and politicians he
considers influential with cabinet ministers.
Nobody knows the terms of his proposed accord because nothing has
been leaked out yet, but clearly he is going about it with zeal.
If our information is correct, he has been well received and has ob-
tained a pledge of support from that insignificant neo-Catholic group in
the parliament who are headed quite hilariously by Honorable Emil
Broglio.
Meanwhile the semi-official press keeps insisting that the government
is convinced the time is not ripe for negotiations between Church and
State, and attaches no importance at all to this matter. Yet, the likes of
Minghetti, Finali and company, all dyed-in-the-wool doctrinairians,
look most favorably upon Don Bosco's efforts. Any acceptable proposal
from the Vatican would be viewed by them as an astounding success.
The matter is very grave, and friends of liberty must watch lest the
enemy penetrate the structure which our whole country erected with so
much sacrifice, and, once inside, tear it down, piece by piece. Water and
fire don't mix; neither can Vatican tenets and those of liberty....
The second article, dated January 14, was less caustic, but
manifestly pessimistic and untruthful about Don Bosco's accep-
tance at the Vatican.
Rome, January 14. Don Bosco's ridiculous attempts, made by man-
date of a fairly !arge number of our so-called politicians to bring about
reconciliation between the Holy See and the government, have miscar-
ried. All sensible people knew that this would happen from the very
start, but common sense no longer seems a needed prerequisite for poli-
ticians. One can understand how Don Bosco's fervent and sincere desire
for a reconciliation made it seem feasible to him, but the fact is that it
was nothing more than a fantastic pipe dream of a few individuals.
Besides, since a number of Piedmontese bishops had given him this hon-
orable trust, he naturally tried to carry it out with the diligence his con-
science dictated....
1This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Misslon-1871-1874
231
I believe that [at present] even an Italian general [symbolizing Italy,
the usurper] would be better received in the Vatican than poor Don
Bosco! He was told that his efforts were hurting the true interests of the
Church because she cannot stoop to negotiate with those who have
scorned and pillaged her and threaten to do worse; no conciliation can
be attempted unless former conditions are restored. Such gall! Not even
a conqueror so rashly dictates to a defeated foe! And yet, the van-
quished actually lays down the law to the victor.
Don Bosco's trip was also meant to explore all possible means of ob-
taining the exequatur for newly appointed bishops. . . . Indeed, he
pressed his influence on both the government and the Holy See in an at-
tempt to bring their demands to a compromise.
The press continued its ridiculous reports which we shall not
dignify with rebuttals. The uproar neither frightened nor stopped
Don Bosco.
On January 15, accompanied by Father Berto, he called on the
Minister of Justice for an hour and a half, and then walked over
to the Vatican to see Cardinal Antonelli and confer with him for
over an hour. Upon leaving, he remarked to his companion,
"We'll have to climb these stairs plenty ohimes yet!"2
On their way home, Father Berto asked if the archbishop of
Turin had already received his temporalities, and Don Bosco re-
plied: "He'll be one of the first to get them!"
After dinner that evening Don Bosco spoke of his mission in
Rome and showed how the press was way off target. They talked
about him for lack of anything better, he said. He then confided
to Mr. and Mrs. Sigismondi, "Now that we are alone, let me tell
you why I saw the cabinet ministers and Cardinal Antonelli. It
concerns the temporalities for the [newly appointed] bishops. We
must now pray. Our boys in Turin have been doing that. We have
reached an accord. Barring the devil's interference, instructions
will be sent to the bishops on Monday." Jokingly he added, "See
how important I am becoming!"3
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
3We are omitting other details and several newspaper articles on the proposed concilia-
tion between Italy and the Vatican. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
14. AGREEMENT IN SIGHT
A modus vivendi acceptable to both State and Church seemed
likely and Don Bosco hastened to inform Archbishop Gastaldi of
this:
Your Excellency,
Rome, January 16, 1874
With warm pleasure give you the news that an accord has been
reached through compromise. A notarized copy will be sent to you on
Monday [the 19th] along with a form letter to be filled out and forwarded
to the Minister of Justice. If you have any questions, write to me im-
mediately. The very first copy will be sent to you.
If I find someone leaving for Turin, I'll send more news.
I have been asked to beg Your Excellency to pray and have others
pray that God will keep Satan from wrecking things.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. John Bosco
As stated, on January 19, Cardinal Antonelli, acting for the
Consistorial Congregation, sent Archbishop Gastaldi official no-
tice of his appointment as archbishop of Turin and instructed that
he apply for the exequatur by forwarding the same notice to the
Minister of Justice personally Hand not through a third party" so
as to avoid publicity. But Archbishop Gastaldi entrusted that task
to the attorney general, a close friend to whom he had already
confided the news he had received from Don Bosco. In no time it
became public knowledge, and the anticlerical press spread its sar-
castic, hostile comments.1
Father Berto jotted down these notes:
January 19. Some people told Don Bosco that Minister Vigliani had
said, "I'd spend a whole day talking with Don Bosco."
At dinner Don Bosco remarked, ''I am working on something and
hope to succeed. It's about preventing the holding of a dance at the
Coliseum."
On my return from my visit with Cardinal Berardi I met Don Bosco
in Via Sistina. He was walking with a grenadier. "He is one of our first
'This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
233
Oratory pupils," Don Bosco told me. "His name is Viano. He learned I
was in Rome and has been trying to reach me these past three days. He
finally spotted me this morning. He is a lieutenant and expects a promo-
tion soon."
Don Bosco also told us how he had converted a Freemason whose son
is now in one of our schools. He also confided to us that it was his policy
never to answer hostile newspaper articles.
This evening he went to the Vatican. On the way he met Monsignor
Simeoni of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, who
asked him to accept a foreign mission. On arriving at the Vatican, Don
Bosco learned that Cardinal Antonelli was ill.
15. THE DEVIL'S TAIL
On January 20, Don Bosco returned to the Vatican with Father
Berto to fetch some papers and that afternoon conferred for half
an hour with Minister Vigliani after handing him a bull from
Cardinal Antonelli.
After we left-Father Berto wrote-Don Bosco told me that Vigliani
was upset with the archbishop of Turin. Don Bosco had written to him
to stop negotiating with the Attorney General since the matter was
about to be settled by the Minister of Justice and the Vatican. In turn,
the archbishop wrote to the Attorney General and to Cardinal Antonelli
to say that a compromise was in the making. This prompted Vigliani to
tell Don Bosco: '"Write to the archbishop and tell him for me that he is
being imprudent." To all appearances, if negotiations on the temporali-
ties went up in smoke, it would be partly due to Archbishop Gastaldi's
imprudence.
On January 24, after a two-hour conference with Minister Vi-
gliani, Don Bosco returned home and wrote to Archbishop Gastal-
di, as follows:
Your Excellency:
Rome, January 24, 1874
Everything seemed settled but not anymore. Minister Vigliani was an-
gered by a letter from the Attorney General informing him that Your
Excellency said that an accord had been reached on the temporalities.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
At the same time he got a letter asking him to forward the declaration
of the Consistorial Congregation to the Ministry of Justice because ev-
erything had been settled. Vigliani added that questions were being
raised and that a newspaper had published every detail. Today the
Council of State was upset by all this and new proposals will be made
tomorrow.
All have asked that I earnestly recommend that you maintain the
strictest secrecy in this affair. If you must, write only to Cardinal An-
tonelli or to Minister Vigliani. Several deputies have already called on
the minister to demand explanations about what has been leaked to the
press. In short, the devil is really at work!
Once an accord is reached, you will be told either by me or by Cardi-
nal Antonelli.
The Holy Father urges that we pray not so much for the temporali-
ties, but rather that difficulties will be removed from the exercise of the
bishops' pastoral ministry.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. John Bosco1
On January 26, Cardinal Antonelli told Don Bosco in con-
fidence that he was deeply annoyed by Gastaldi's disregard of in-
structions he had received to forward the statement of his ap-
pointment to the see of Turin.
That same evening Don Bosco pointed out that the primary
goal of his trip to Rome was the approval of the Salesian Consti-
tutions, and he remarked, "I am glad the newspapers are talking
about an alleged conciliation. This way no one will know the real
reason for my being here. I'm happy to go home with our consti-
tutions approved."
On January 30, evidently to counterbalance adverse press com-
ments about Don Bosco's activities, L'Osservatore Romano
reviewed very favorably several books printed by the Oratory
Press. 2
This praise of Don Bosco's zeal to spread wholesome literature
caused a certain Monsignor Nardi, auditor of the Holy Rota for
Austria and editor of Voce della Verita, to bristle. On February
•we are omitting details about Don Bosco's social visit to two former officials of the
papal government. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
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1, he published a scathing irresponsible article3 against Don
Bosco entitled ~The Conciliators," taking him to task for coming
to Rome to counsel the Supreme Pontiff!
The Vatican was highly displeased. Pius IX personally repri-
manded the prelate and ordered him to make some amends for
his insult to Don Bosco. Monsignor Nardi satisfied his conscience
by merely publishing on February 6 a few lines of praise about an
Oratory Press publication, but, as we shall see later, he kept re-
turning to the attack.4
Meanwhile, replying to Don Bosco's letter of January 24,
Archbishop Gastaldi offered this self-defense:
As regards the temporalities, I never said a word until I received Car-
dinal Antonelli's letters and the statement of Patriarch Antici. Only then
did I say anything, though I forbade coverage in Unita Cattolica.
Without delay I sent the patriarch's statement to the Attorney General
to be forwarded to the Minister of Justice with a letter similar to that I
had already sent to him after being promoted to the see of Turin. As yet
I have received no answer. As for myself. I do not mind residing where I
am, as long as my pastoral ministry is not hindered ... .5
On February 8, Don Bosco and some friends were received by
the Pope. Toward evening, one of them, Chevalier Charles Oc-
celletti, still deeply moved by his audience with the Pope, called
on Don Bosco before leaving for Turin. Don Bosco gave him the
following letter for Archbishop Gastaldi:
Your Excellency:
[February 8, 1874]
Through Chevalier Occelletti I send you news which could not other-
wise be entrusted to paper.
After matters had been settled and the Minister of Justice had per-
sonally drawn up a formula which was sent to you after the Holy See
had approved it, there seemed nothing more to fear. However, I was
hastily summoned and heard a lot of criticism of the archbishop of Turin
because he had publicized the fact. I was told that deputies threatened to
30mitted in this edition. [Editor]
4We are omitting some digressions from the main topic. [Editor]
5We are omitting repetitious pro and con press reports about Don Bosco's mediation.
[Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
raise questions in the Chamber and that the Council of State was now
undecided on what to do.
All this, however, was but a pretext to mask the true facts. Just the
day before, a strong letter against conciliation and the appointment of
bishops had come from Bismarck. For the moment the matter has been
shelved. I hope to write again before the week's end.
Remember me in your prayers. Please destroy this letter. . . .
Very devotedly yours,
Fr. John Bosco
16. TOTAL OPPOSITION
Adverse publicity and Bismarck's intervention made secrecy so
absolutely necessary that Don Bosco himself, as we gather from
Father Berto's diary, said nothing, even to his confidants. Mean-
while negotiations continued amid the clamor of the clerical, an-
ticlerical and Masonic press.1
On February 11, Don Bosco again called on Minister Vigliani.
Wrote Father Berto:
While they were in conference, Deputies Ricotti, Mamiani and Crispi
came to see the minister. They waited fifteen minutes, but when Vigliani
sent them word that he was busy, they left.
As we went out, Don Bosco said to me: "Vigliani asked me, •Are you
up-to-date about what is happening?'
"'No, sir.'
"'Take a look at this paper (it was La Voce de/la Verita) and tell me
if it is worth our while to negotiate with these people.' "
Don Bosco conferred with him for nearly an hour. On being asked
whether he read the newspapers, he answered, "None."
a ''Do you mean you don't subscribe to any, not even Unit Cattolica,
your local paper?"
"Correct !"
"I am glad to know it because everything they wrote seems to have
been personally suggested by you. " 2
'This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2We are omitting an article by Monsignor Nardi lamenting the alleged disregard of
papal instructions as regards the exequatur on the part of some bishops, and some other
items of minor importance. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
237
On February 16, Father Berto added this to his diary:
Among other things, Don Bosco told me: "The press notwithstanding,
we have achieved something. Vigliani told me that pastors could take
possession of their benefices and that a compromise has been reached
for episcopal revenues: instructions on procedures will be sent to them."
The Pope told Don Bosco, ..You did all that was humanly possible. A
whole team of theologians could not have done more. I regret that some
papers treated you so unfairly, but put up with it."
Meanwhile rumor had it that Don Bosco had come to Rome
also to obtain approval of the Salesian Society's rule. On Febru-
ary 21, II Popolo Romano ran this news item:
A committee of cardinals has been appointed to examine Don Bosco's
request to open in Rome, under the Holy See's patronage, a boarding
school similar to that of the Carissimi. The idea faces much opposition,
especially from Jesuits and French religious. Pius IX is said to favor
Don Bosco: not so the cardinals, except Berardi and one other.
The same day L'Osservatore Cattolica of Milan further mis-
represented the matter of the exequatur. 3
[At the Sigismondi home where he was residing] Don Bosco,
after supper, would often dwell on interesting topics. The follow-
ing excerpts are from Father Berto's diary:
Among other things, when questioned about the present turmoil and
the [future] triumph of the Church, Don Bosco would answer, "Nothing
will happen until 1875, but there will be a slight glimmer of hope shortly
before that date. However, matters will not be righted until 1878, and
even later, if obstacles intervene against God's will."
Asked about the interpretation of the prophecy that the rainbow of
peace would appear on earth before two full moons should have risen in
the month of flowers,4 he replied: "We must first find out when there
will be two full moons in the month of May." Immediately Mr. Sigis-
mondi got a calendar, and both he and I found that this year will indeed
have two full moons in May. . . .
On March 1, after calling on Cardinal Antonelli, as we returned
3We are omitting this article and other trivia. [Editor]
4See p. 54. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
home, Don Bosco told me that the cardinal had donated five hundred
francs for our boys and that he knows all about the press reports.
"Then Your Eminence knows the interpretation given to the current
negotiations for the bishops' temporalities," Don Bosco remarked.
"Yes, I do. Do you think we should say something about it?"
"I wonder! Whatever we say will be twisted!"
Cardinal Antonelli knows that Monsignor Nardi is to be blamed for
distorted reports in La Voce de/la Verita and in L 'Osservatore Cattolica
of Milan.
Don Bosco often remarked, "'These Catholic papers do more harm
than the whole anti-Catholic press. Their misrepresentations keep heap-
ing blame on the Holy See. The instructions sent to the bishops were ex-
actly those dictated to me by the Holy Father himself, nothing more,
nothing less."
Father Berto reports in his diary that on the evening of March
5 (as on other occasions) he and Don Bosco took a walk toward
the Pincio Hill. Along the way Don Bosco spoke about prophe-
cies.
Among other things he said, "The emperor of Austria personally
received the letter I sent him in July 1873. He read it secretly and sent
his thanks, adding that he would make use of the information." ...
When I asked how he managed to know about future things he
laughed the matter off, but when I pressed him he gravely replied, "You
mustn't insist on such matters."
On March 6, he and Father [John] Bertazzi, a missionary, called on
the secretary of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the
Faith, and then on Monsignor Peirano who told him that Cardinal An-
tonelli "had revoked the Pope's instructions to Don Bosco for forward-
ing to the bishops, even though the Holy Father himself had dictated
such instructions."
Evidently negotiations were tapering off on both ends.
After supper on March 7-Father Berta's diary continues-we
strolled in Piazza Mignanelli, talking about Archbishop Gastaldi. We
recalled that Pius IX had charged Don Bosco to tell Gastaldi of his ap-
pointment as archbishop of Turin, and of another promotion in a couple
of years.5
5See p. 200. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
239
Don Bosco had relayed the message, eliciting this reply from the arch-
bishop, "Let's leave it to Divine Providence."
"A consistory for the elevation of new cardinals is about to be held,"
I remarked. "Will Gastaldi be one of them?"
"Far from it," Don Bosco replied. ""When I see him, I'll tell him,
'New cardinals have been created, but I dared not recommend you while
you keep fighting my Congregation tooth and nail. Besides, my recom-
mendation would fall on deaf ears.' "
As we have seen, Don Bosco kept total silence on the matter of
the bishops' temporalities. On March 14, he wrote to Archbishop
Gastaldi and again suggested a compromise of which we have no
original:
Your Excellency:
Rome, March 14, 1874
Doubtless, you must now be vexed by all that has been said and sug-
gested for smoothing out the difficulties mentioned in the enclosed sheet.
Its outline may be adopted, as it was already suggested on another oc-
casion by the Minister of Justice. Seemingly that is all [the bishop of]
Susa did. Prudence will suggest your own course of action. I hope that I
may soon tell you all I know personally.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. John Bosco
Meanwhile Bismarck, adamantly opposing any settlement, kept
up his protest.
17. TOTAL FAILURE
Unfortunately all this came to naught, mainly because of the
press' lack of restraint, including Catholic papers. To a point ev-
erything had been going well, but when la Voce de/la Verita and
later L'Osservatore Cattolica of Milan accused Don Bosco of
championing conciliation, it became very difficult for him to con-
tinue his good offices. Bismarck, who had just opened his own
bitter warfare against the Catholic Church, immediately blocked
such attempts in blistering letters to Minister Vigliani.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
One day Don Bosco, as usual, called on the minister, only to
find him quite upset. "'We are in stormy waters," he confided to
Don Bosco. "You insisted that revenues be granted to the arch-
bishop of Turin, and most imprudently he wrote to several high
officials. It became a public matter, even abroad. Bismarck wrote
to tell me that he is astonished to see such concessions while Italy
and Prussia are well on the way to reach agreements on common
interests. I'm in a fine mess!"
Don Bosco asked Vigliani for a few hours to think things over
and returned that same evening. After a long conference they
agreed on a course of action demanding the greatest circumspec-
tion. However, time passed before negotiations could be resumed.
Finally, an accord seemed imminent. Don Bosco awaited a
final word from Vigliani in one of the rooms adjoining the
chamber of deputies. Several deputies, among them [Francis] Cris-
pi, learning of Don Bosco's presence, sought him out and crowd-
ed about him curiously, anxious to discover, as Don Bosco said
later, what kind of creature he was! Crispi thought this a good oc-
casion to ingratiate himself with the royal family by prevailing on
Don Bosco to obtain the Pope's permission for Mass to be cele-
brated in the Quirinal Palace as a favor to Princess Margaret.
Don Bosco replied that he found it presumptuous to ask the Pope
to revoke an interdict.
"But you know how to get around all sorts of difficulties,"
Crispi insisted. "Can't you find some solution to this problem?"
"Yes, one," Don Bosco retorted.
"Tell us!" several deputies exclaimed.
"Gentlemen, I dare not suggest it!"
"Speak up, speak up! Do you think we haven't the bravado to
go to Mass?"
"That's not the reason!"
"What, then?"
"Look, I speak frankly and call things by their name. I hesitate
to offend you all."
"Have no fear. We are outspoken too and appreciate honesty."
"Very well, then, I'll speak frankly. If you want Holy Mass in
the Quirinal Palace, you'll first have to vacate it!"
They looked at one another in amazement. "That was a bomb-
shell," they remarked. "You surely spoke openly!"
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
241
"I would never have said it," Don Bosco went on, "if you had
not forced me to. But is there any other way?"
"You're right!" they concluded.
Meanwhile Minister Vigliani had joined the group, but he was
soon called out by an usher. The Prussian ambassador's secretary
had just brought a very urgent dispatch. Vigliani returned in mo-
ments. "Gentlemen," he told Don Bosco and the group, "negotia-
tions for the temporalities have fallen through. Bismarck has just
telegraphed to say that there is to be no truce in the war against
the Pope."
The telegram expressed Bismarck's astonishment that the Ital-
ian government should come to terms with a priest while he him-
self was making every effort to sustain Italy. Emperor William I,
he added, was highly indignant, and reprisals would follow unless
negotiations with the Vatican were definitively ended.
"What can we do?" Vigliani pleaded. "We are in Prussia's
hands."
II Fischietto, a humorous tabloid of Turin, carried a cartoon:
Vigliani hanging open-mouthed on Don Bosco's words; Bismarck
kicking open the door to seize Vigliani; Don Bosco trying to re-
store calm by raising his right hand while sprinkling holy water
over Bismarck with his left.
Thus those painful negotiations ended. Don Bosco's efforts,
however, were not in vain. Several bishops had in fact obtained
their revenues, and others did get them later. More importantly,
all vacant sees had been filled. 1 But what pains, humiliations,
derision and insults he had had to bear for the apparent failure!
"I have toiled and hurt so much," he once exclaimed, ''that
never again will I undertake such a task! I'll stick to my
boys . . . . "
Meanwhile newspapers were announcing the approval of the
Society of St. Francis de Sales. On April 10, La Riforma stated:
Yesterday evening, the well-known Father Bosco was received by Pius
IX who accepted his rules for a big new monastic institute to replace
suppressed orders. A commission of cardinals approved this new insti-
tute and the Pope ratified it.
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Other papers carried the same news with favorable or hostile
comments.2 Two days later, on Sunday, April 12, La Capitale [an
anticlerical paper] mistakenly announced Don Bosco's departure
and again mockingly referred to his efforts for a conciliation be-
tween Italy and the Vatican. However, Don Bosco was still in
Rome. That day, La Voce de/la Verita, taking its cue from La
Nazione, declared that rumors about Vatican involvement in the
negotiations were just "tall stories." The article ended with derog-
atory remarks about Don Bosco's efforts. On April 14, II Fis-
chietto of Turin, believing that Don Bosco had already returned,
welcomed him with mocking comments about his efforts toward a
conciliation, and viciously styled him a miracle-worker when it
came to wresting money from pious simpletons!3
At 8:50 in the morning of April 14, Don Bosco and Father
Berto left for Florence. That night they were hosted by Marquis
Uguccioni and family. After supper, the marquis brought out a
copy of La Gazzetta d' Italia which spoke very warmly of Don
Bosco. The following day he said Mass in the family's private
chapel, and he later called on the editor of Le Journal de Florence
who had consistently supported his efforts. In all truth, had the
Catholic press been solidly behind his efforts, his patient toil
would have met better success.4
When Monsignor Nardi later called on him at the Oratory,
Don Bosco bluntly told him, "You did a real hatchet job on me!"
The monsignor tried to justify himself by saying that, far from
being a personal attack, his articles were merely a defense of prin-
ciples, but Don Bosco made it clear to him that certain state-
ments and disclosures had been inspired by sheer personal pride
and thus were totally inexcusable.
One day, Father Henry Massara, the editor of L'Osservatore
Cattolica of Milan, also called on Don Bosco while the latter was
hearing confessions. Father Sala took him on a tour of several
workshops. Afterward, as they proceeded to the Church [of
Mary, Help of Christians], they spotted Don Bosco in a crowd of
boys and went up to him.
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
243
"This is Father Massara, editor of L 'Osservatore Cattolica of
Milan," Father Sala told Don Bosco. With a smile Don Bosco
shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand and, looking at his
guest straight in the eye, exclaimed, "Massara! Yes, I remember
how nicely your paper treated me!" Father Massara was taken
aback.
"You know how it is," he barely managed to stammer. "I
didn't like it, either. I did not write that article. Monsignor Nardi
did, and we just published it!"
"I understand," Don Bosco replied. "You newsmen see things
your own way, while others judge otherwise. But let's forget it.
When did you arrive in Turin?" And he graciously steered the
conversation to more pleasant matters.
Don Bosco never kept silent when he felt it his duty to speak
out.5
While the press kept spouting nonsense about him even after
his return to Turin, he still enjoyed in Rome the esteem of those
who had dealt with him, and his repute for holiness was ever
greater at the Vatican. On March 14, 1888, shortly after Don
Bosco's death, Professor John Lorini sent this declaration to Fa-
ther Rua:
One evening in April 1874, I had a confidential meeting with Cardinal
Antonelli, and in the course of the conversation we talked about Lom-
bard and Piedmontese prelates. Naturally, we spoke also of Don Bosco
-that great yet humble priest whom the whole world even then extolled
-and recalled his wondrous undertakings and enormous contribution to
the welfare of mankind. At a certain point I ventured to ask, "Your
Eminence, why haven't you yet made that holy man a cardinal?"
Smilingly Antonelli replied softly, ..My friend, we have already writ-
ten him several times and would be happy to have him with us in consis-
tory, but he won't hear of it."
On April 27 of that year, on my return home to Tortona, I chanced to
meet Don Bosco humbly sitting in a corner of the waiting room of the
Alessandria railroad station. I hastened to greet him respectfully. After-
ward, I mentioned my conversation with Cardinal Antonelli and the
great desire in Rome to have him as a cardinal.
5We are omitting an article of La Gazzetta de/ Popolo of Turin (April 17, 1874) rehash-
ing the matter of conciliation between Italy and the Vatican, and another article of// Cit-
tadino of Genoa (April 14, 1874) stating that Don Bosco's real mission in Rome was the
Holy See's approval of his Congregation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"'Dear professor," Don Bosco replied in his pleasant, half-serious,
half-teasing way, "'what would I amount to as a cardinal? Nothing at
all! Now, at least, as a simple priest I can still do some good."
He pressed my hand affectionately, thanking me for my interest in
him. Shortly afterward he got into his train and vanished in a cloud of
dust and smoke, leaving me his blessing. I can never forget that mo-
ment, his words, and that last smile of his.
18. CONCLUSION
Even among the liberals the esteem Don Bosco enjoyed could
hardly have been greater. Throughout the rest of that year [1874]
he continued to do his best to obtain the temporalities for various
bishops, and his efforts were effective. That summer he warmly
pleaded with Minister Vigliani for Bishop De Gaudenzi of Vi-
gevano and Bishop Villa of Parma, eliciting this reply from the
minister himself:
Reverend and dear Don Bosco:
Rome, September 9, 1874
Some days ago we received a request for the exequatur from the bish-
op of Pavia. 1 I was delighted by his gesture of respect for the law. Why
do not the bishops of Vigevano and Parma, whom you recommend,
follow his example? Are not civil and church laws equal for all, or is the
conscience of the bishop of Pavia different from that of his brethren in
Christ? Surely not! Exhort them to follow this praiseworthy example.
The government will do its duty by granting the exequatur to anyone
who has not proven himself wholly undeserving of it. This is the sad
case, I regret to say, of the bishop of Mantua,2 who has recently been
sentenced to jail for his many acts of defiance and worse things. Much
as it pains me to send a bishop to prison like a common criminal, I must
maintain and enforce the laws of the land. Bishop Rota will be the disas-
ter of the diocese of Mantua, and he will eventually be forced to leave
unless he eases his hostility to the government and its laws.
I cannot reprieve Attorney Bertinelli as you recommend, since his of-
1Bishop Lucido Maria Parocchi, later cardinal, vicar of Leo XIII, and chancellor of the
Holy Roman Church. [Author]
2Peter Rota, bishop of Guastalla and then of Mantua, later became titular archbishop of
Thebes and canon of St. Peter's. His cause of beatification and canonization is in progress.
[Author]
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An Important Mission-1871-1874
245
fense is far too serious and his sentence far too light; furthermore he is
still at large. If he gives himself up, docilely goes to prison and serves a
fair part of his sentence, we shall consider condoning the rest. I am
amazed that a thief who has stolen so much money from the religious
whose trust he enjoyed should find so many intercessors among the
Roman prelates and even manage to scrounge for the good offices of
our excellent Don Bosco!
You know my desire to improve relations between Church and State,
and to what extent I was ready to go within the limits of the law, even to
the point of respecting certain vetoes and fears which I myself felt were
unreasonable before both God and man. Unfortunately I was badly
repaid, and now, because of the inexplicable resistance of the higher
clergy, I find I must be firm and avoid all semblance of weakness and,
worse yet, timid subjection. If all priests were prudent and sensible like
you, who are a virtuous priest and a good citizen, we would soon be
heartened by an improvement in Church and State relations. So, try to
make some prudent propaganda and perform the miracle which some
people find it impossible to achieve.
May God continue to bless your many charitable undertakings and
preserve you for the good of Church and State.
Yours devotedly,
Vigliani
Although negotiations had broken down, Vigliani still struggled
for a solution. The matter was discussed in the parliament in May
1875, but was opposed by the anticlerical party.3
On March 18, 1876 the Minghetti cabinet fell and was succeed-
ed on the 25th by that of Depretis. Minister Mancini, Vigliani's
successor, hastened to make more stringent regulations for grant-
ing the exequatur.
What was to be done? The harassed bishops were willing to en-
dure personal discomfort but could not ignore the vast spiritual
harm risked by their entire flock. They appealed therefore to the
Holy See for new instructions. On November 29, 1876, they were
notified that in view of the new, very special circumstances, they
could formally request the exequatur from the government.
Thus ended this thorny matter.4
3We are omitting the hostile comments of an anticlerical paper. [Editor]
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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CHAPTER 6
The Daughters ofMary, Help of Christians
THE years 1871-74 covered in this volume are the
most interesting of Don Bosco's life. They were the years when he
not only achieved the definitive approval of the Salesian Society
but also began to establish a sound basis for his second religious
congregation which was to benefit female youth throughout the
world.
It is only fitting therefore that we dwell a while on the origins
of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians so
as to understand better the Lord's designs as He guided every step
of His most faithful servant.
l. THE LORD'S DESIGNS
In 1837, during his second year of philosophy in the Chieri
seminary, Don Bosco felt a stronger desire for the apostolate
which he had seen distinctly outlined in dreams that centered on
Jesus and Mary. That year, God created two souls who were to
become most valuable helpmates to this new father and teacher of
youth: Mary Mazzarello and Michael Rua. Mary was born in the
Mazzarello hamlet near Mornese, in Monferrato, 1 on May 9, a
likely gift of the Blessed Virgin in the month consecrated to Her;
Michael was born in Turin, not far from the Valdocco 2 meadows
on June 9, conceivably a gift of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Mary's humble birth seemed to accentuate her singular charac-
ter. Her fellow villagers admired her radiant traits and charm as
she grew up lively and receptive, upright and resolute, devout and
I A most fertile, hilly district of Piedmont in northern Italy, renowned for its vineyards.
It was also Don Bosco's native district. [Editor]
2A section of Turin where Don Bosco began his work. For the origin of this name see
Vol. II, pp. 234f. [Editor]
246
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
247
fervent, gradually deepening her knowledge of heavenly things
and of right and wrong, such as rarely occurs at such a tender
age. Early she began to practice self-denial in food and drink,
avoided vain apparel, curbed her pride, listened effectively to the
Word of God, and attended catechism classes so diligently as to
surpass all the other children. She prepared for her First Commu-
nion by firmly resolving to avoid evil and do good. From that day
on, her love for Jesus grew so intense that she soon felt the need
of receiving the Holy Eucharist daily; then, at fifteen, of her own
free will, she offered God her virginity till death.
Later she moved to a farmhouse known as Valponasca, which
her parents rented from Marquis Doria, on the hill facing the
Mazzarella hamlet. The walk to church took her almost an hour
along the road, and at least a half hour along a trail. It was quite
edifying to see this lowly country girl get to church every morning
in time for Mass and Holy Communion. Neither fatigue (she was
a hard worker) nor inclement weather could keep her away. To
make sure of waking up on time, she occasionally slept on the
bare ground or girded herself uncomfortably. On awakening, if
the weather was good, she invited one of her sisters to go along; if
not, she set out alone, anxious to get to the church before anyone
else and give Jesus the first morning greeting. This was the only
reason she always left home so early. When she happened to find
the church closed, as was often the case, she would kneel on the
steps like Dominic Savio, adoring and praying until the door was
opened. Several times she got to the church by two or two-thirty
in the morning, and after praying at great length, she would sit
down to rest a little, as simple and humble as a dove. . . . After
Mass and Communion she would return home and promptly and
zestfully tackle her chores.
She would have loved to spend more time in church during the
day, but distance made that impossible; if, however, she ever had
to go back to the village for any reason, she never failed to drop
into church, fervently praying for quite a while before the taber-
nacle! Throughout the day her heart and mind would dwell on the
Blessed Sacrament and she would often lovingly gaze in the direc-
tion of the church. She did this unfailingly at the evening hour
when many devout souls, drawn by the zeal of their deeply pious
pastor, Father Dominic Pestarino, would gather in the church for
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
a short meditation or spiritual reading followed by the rosary and
Benediction. At that hour, as the candles glowed on the altar,
their light would shine through the stained glass windows and,
because of the location, be seen even from the Valponasca farm-
house. That sight would draw Mary from the family circle to the
window to gaze upon that brilliance, and with her eyes riveted to
the church, she would pray most fervently as if she were kneeling
there. Her family soon noticed this. Drawn by her example, her
father and mother, along with her three brothers and three sisters
-all younger than she-joined her in prayer.
In those days there were no girls' schools in the villages of
Piedmont. Eager for virtue through a deeper knowledge of her
religion and her duties, Mary privately learned to read and medi-
tate on such books as The Practice of Loving Jesus Christ, The
Eternal Maxims by St. Alphonsus, and The Spiritual Diary,
drawing from them inspiration and practical ways to live in union
with God.
Hers was a beautiful soul, known as such to others, partly
because of the singular remarks that came so spontaneously to
her lips when she ordinarily greeted acquaintances. Accustomed
to early morning walks to the church under the starry sky, she
would remark, "Look! So many stars and so brilliant! One day
they will lie beneath our feet and we shall soar over them!"
So wondrously did the Lord mold the first mother superior of
the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians that we may aptly
apply to her these words of Holy Scripture: "I have raised her up
to justice," that she may in turn educate other young girls to
uprightness and piety, "and I will direct all her ways." [Cf. Is. 45,
13]
In those days the deeply pious and unforgettable Father Dom-
inic Pestarino had begun his fruitful apostolate at Mornese, his
birthplace. While a seminarian in Genoa, he had struck up a close
friendship with both Canon [Cajetan] Alimonda-future cardinal
and archbishop of Turin-and the servant of God, Father Joseph
Frassinetti. After ordination, he returned to Mornese. At that
time hardly anyone went to Communion on weekdays, but,
thanks to his ardent zeal, within the span of but a few years the
majority of his parishioners, men and women, gradually began to
receive daily. Bishop [Modesto] Contratto of Acqui was so im-
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
249
pressed that, on a pastoral visit, he exclaimed, "Mornese is the
garden of my diocese!"
On her part, Mary Mazzarella was-and everyone knew it-its
loveliest flower. However, even though she shared Don Bosco's
hopes, she would not have been able then and there to assume
leadership of a large group of girls who aspired to a formal reli-
gious life, nor could she have instantly absorbed Don Bosco's
spirit if she had not always devoted herself to those same ideals.
On this score too the Lord prepared her in a surprising way. A
booklet by Father Frassinetti, Rule of the Pious Union of the
New Ursulines, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, under the
Patronage of St. Ursula and St. Angela Merici, gives us some in-
sights.
In Mornese, around 1850, Angelina Maccagno, a very devout
girl of eighteen, decided to give herself wholly to God without en-
tering a religious order. She revealed this to her cousin who readi-
ly seconded her plan. She then told Father Pestarino, her spiritual
director, who after mature reflection gave his approval. In agree-
ment with him, she drafted a rule for the guidance of the few girls
who had already rallied about her and of those who might later
decide to join. At that time Angelina knew nothing of The Com-
pany of St. Ursula, founded by St. Angela Merici and approved
by Paul III in 1544, but she might have read a book by a noble
lady entitled Callings Open to Maidens: Celibacy, Motives for
Choosing It and Means for Its Holy Observance While Remain-
ing in the World. 3 It was a free translation from the French with
the addition of a discourse by the [then] Blessed Alphonsus Li-
guori.4 In that discourse drawn from his Treasury ofSermon Ma-
terial, 5 St. Alphonsus, among other interesting things, remarks:
Holiness does not consist mainly in living in a convent or spending the
whole day in church, but in praying, receiving Communion whenever
possible, obeying and helping out with the house chores, avoiding world-
ly amusements, and patiently bearing fatigue and contempt. Were you
3Dei diversi stati che le donzelle possono abbracciare. e principa/mente de/ ce/ibato. dei
motivi di appigliarvisi e de/ modo di vivervi santamente anche in mezzo al/a societa, scritti
da una nobi/e donzel/a. Traduzione libera dal francese coll'aggiunta di un discorso del
Beato Alfonso de' Liguori, Genova, Tipografia Ponthenier, 1835. [Author]
4He was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI. [Editor]
5Selva di materie predicabi/i. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
to enter a convent, what do you think you would do? Spend your time in
church or in your cell, and then eat and play? True, some time is set
apart for prayer, Mass and Communion, but the rest of the time will be
employed in housework. This is particularly the lot of lay sisters; since
they do not have to recite the Divine Office, they do most of the work.
Everyone praises convent life and overlooks the fact that pious spinsters
would find it much easier to dedicate themselves to prayer and to the
pursuit of sanctity by practicing poverty in their homes than by enterinf
a convent. If only you knew, as I do, the many lay sisters who regret
having entered a convent, especially a large one, where they barely have
time to say their rosary!
What better advice for devout maidens who cannot leave their
families or are not well schooled, but would like to become nuns?
As it was, Angelina Maccagno wrote her rule in 1851 and Fa-
ther Pestarino forwarded it to Father Frassinetti for corrections,
alterations or additions. The good priest, distracted by other tasks
and even doubtful about the likelihood of success for such a proj-
ect, put the rule off to a more convenient time and ended up los-
ing the manuscript. After waiting over a year, Father Pestarino
sent him another copy and again asked him to look it over, but
Father Frassinetti kept delaying for two more years. Finally, in
1855, after consulting competent people, he compiled a rule,
faithfully following the outline sent him, "neither adding nor
changing anything substantially."6
After receiving this rule, Angelina Maccagno gathered her five
companions-among them Mary Mazzarello, eighteen-and on
Sunday, December 9, 1855, they officially started the Pious
Union of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate.7 When Bishop
Modesto Contratto of Acqui came to Mornese two years later for
the solemn closing of Mary's month, "he assembled these maid-
ens in the church, presided at a sort of religious profession on
their part and bestowed on each of them a medal of Mary Im-
6Cf.Rego/a de/la Pia Unione de/le Nuove Orso/ine, Fig/ie di Santa Maria lmmacolata
sotto la protezione di S. Angela Merici. Genova, Tipografia della Gioventu, 1867, p. 7.
[Author]
7Another sodality based on the same rule was started in Genoa in August 1856. There
too a number of copies were printed "in order that this sodality might become more
known and widespread." In fact, it spread "in Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy, Ver.eta,
Emilia, Romagna, Tuscany and probably in other parts of Italy as well . . . within a very
short time and on a scale which seemed portentous." Cf. Rego/a de/la Pia Unione de/le
Nuove Orsoline, p. 11. [Author]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
251
maculate, as required by the rule" which he had graciously ap-
proved that month.8
Mary was the youngest and most fervent of all the sodality
members. The wise and devout Father Pestarino would have liked
her to direct the new institution, but the Lord who had great
designs for her wanted her to be like Himself in adversity. He
therefore permitted that her nomination should prove unaccept-
able to some villagers, perhaps because she was just a simple
peasant girl. The leadership of the sodality was consequently
given to the very devout young lady who had initiated it. This we
gather from the first brief but interesting biography of Mary
Mazzarella published in the Bollettino Salesiano immediately
after her death.9 What follows is from this source:
Ignoring the rebuff, Mary Mazzarella continued to work for the suc-
cess of the new congregation, and she did her utmost to promote it by
her exemplary observance of the rules. Such was her desire to conform
her own will to that of her superior that, at the price of many a sacrifice,
she chose to subject herself even in such things as the purchase of a
dress, apron, handkerchief and other trivial items.
We might say that from 1857 on-perhaps as early as 1855-
she led the life of a religious. The sodality regulations in fact
declare: HThis sodality is made up of maidens who wish to be-
come saints not only by perfectly obeying God's laws, but also by
practicing the evangelical counsels . . . [maidens] who strive to
avoid even deliberate venial sin, to observe perpetual chastity, to
obey unreservedly their spiritual director in matters of conscience
and their superioress in what pertains to this rule, to practice the
virtue of poverty by being detached from worldly possessions and
8Until 1857, the Sodality of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate founded at Mornese
was believed to be "a brand new one." The belief persisted for another two years, until it
was discovered, generally speaking, that in substance and detail it was the same as the
famous "Company of St. Ursula" founded by St. Angela Merici at Brescia, and first
approved on August 8, 1536 by Monsignor Lawrence Mario, vicar general of Francis Car-
dinal Cornaro, bishop of that diocese. Further approval was granted by Pope Paul III on
June 9, 1544 after the foundress' death. St. Charles Borromeo thought so highly of this
congregation that he wished to see it established throughout his vast archdiocese. In fact, it
spread not only through Italy but through the whole of Christendom, thus making it quite
clear that the Sodality of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate could not truthfully be
called a new institution but rather a revitalized one. Cf. Rego/a de/la Pia Unione de/le
Nuove Orso/ine Figlie di Santa Maria Immacolata, etc., pp. 9-10. [Author]
9September, October, December 1881 and March, June 1882. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
usmg them for God's glory and the welfare of their fellow
beings." 10
Specific duties of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate included
"works of mercy, zeal for the glory of God and the welfare of
souls, the education of underprivileged girls, exhorting them to re-
ceive the sacraments frequently and attend catechism lessons. The
members were also expected to teach catechism and to strive to
instill love of piety and spiritual things in the more mature
girls" 11 -the very same duties, we might say, that Don Bosco had
assigned to the Salesians and would later assign to the Daughters
[of Mary, Help of Christians].
Here are other incidents which more clearly show that it was
truly the Lord who prepared His devout, strong handmaid to
become the first superioress of Don Bosco's second religious fam-
ily. Since she lived at a considerable distance from the village and
spent the day in farm work, she could not give herself as fully as
she wished to the apostolate outlined by the sodality regulations.
God, who draws good even from evil, soon removed every obsta-
cle. In 1858, a theft at the Valponasca hamlet prompted Mary's
father to move into the village proper. Two years later, a typhus
epidemic broke out. At Father Pestarino's advice, Mary nursed
her sick relatives as zealously as a "Sister of Charity" until she
herself finally fell ill and nearly died. From then on she was no
longer strong enough for farm work. She was twenty-three, and
feeling more eager than ever to devote herself fully to the welfare
of girls, she mulled over the thought of learning dressmaking and
then gathering the village girls to teach them not only the trade
but the practice of Christian virtues.
An unusual occurrence-we may consider it preternatural be-
cause it is beyond human explanation-perhaps led her to this
step. One day, while passing through Borgo Alto-where one day
a new cluster of buildings would forever draw the gaze of the
Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians-she saw a huge edifice
and many young girls playing about. She stood entranced. She
thought she was dreaming, yet she was fully awake, standing on
her own feet in the open air in daylight. She gazed and gazed,
ever more astonished, and at last exclaimed, "What is this? This
1°Cf. La monaca in casa, pp. 162f. [Author]
11 /bid., pp. 164f. [Author]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
253
building was not here before! I never saw it! What can it mean?"
She confided this incident to Father Pestarino, but the latter gave
no credence to it and even forbade her to think about it, although
it was indeed a singular premonition.
Anxious to help girls more than by only teaching them dress-
making, she spoke with Petronilla Mazzarello, a friend of hers.
Then, with their parents' and Father Pestarino's consent, both
decided to learn dressmaking, and spent six months at this task.
Their decision was a surprise to the whole village. Afterward,
they opened shops and began to teach a few girls. As a starter,
Mary gave them this program: HSee to it that every stitch be-
comes an act of love for God!"
This was in 1861-62. From then on, the designs of Providence
kept becoming clearer. When her father died, Petronilla renewed
her pledge to work with Mary Mazzarella. Apparently, the two
young women seemed to be branching off from their sodality's
goals or, rather, expanding them. They first set up shop in the
house of Teresa Pampuro, another Daughter of Mary Immacu-
late. Then, like Don Bosco's wandering Oratory, they moved to
several other places, finally settling in the Maccagno house. Soon
[crowded for space] they rented one room and then another and
took in two young orphan girls, then two more, thus starting a
small home for needy children. This was not enough! Shortly af-
terward, with the consent of the owner, Father Pestarino allowed
Mary to turn an adjacent small yard into a festive oratory.
Where did she get the idea? We cannot but see in Father Pes-
tarino another providential man. He, too, even before meeting
Don Bosco, deeply felt a particular calling to work for the
young. 12 Even before the death of his father-a prosperous
farmer-he secretly wished that he could have the piece of land
which formed part of his father's estate on the crest of Borgo
Alto. When his father died, he still kept his wish to himself, but,
luckily, that parcel of land did indeed fall to him. In his personal
memoirs he wrote:
For many years I had considered that. should the Lord wish that par-
ticular piece of land to become my own, I would build a ten- or twelve-
room house with a chapel for the village children. I hoped to assemble
12See Vol. VII, p. 174. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
them especially on Sundays and holy days, entertain them with whole-
some games, and then take them to the chapel for instruction in their
duties to God, parents and superiors.
He was already imbued with the Salesian spirit. Can we rea-
sonably not assume that he encouraged Mary Mazzarella to con-
secrate herself to that very apostolate on behalf of young girls?
In 1862 he met Don Bosco on the train while riding from Acqui
to Alessandria and conversed intimately with him about the
Daughters of Mary Immaculate and their good work. Don Bosco
in turn plainly told him that, in response to pressing requests
from prelates and bishops, he had for some time considered start-
ing a religious congregation to help girls as his Salesians were
helping boys. Though he could have done so, he said no more. At
any rate, it was a fruitful conversation which led to an invitation
to Father Pestarino to visit the Valdocco Oratory.
Undoubtedly Don Bosco could have said a lot more because
the Lord had repeatedly shown him in dreams and visions his
mission, the way, and the time to accomplish it. We believe that
from the very first dream, 13 which repeated itself time and
again, 14 with endless flocks of lambs and sheep, he was shown
that girls too were entrusted to his charity. Don Bosco always ex-
ercised a humble caution concerning dreams and even more so
when talking about them. He was indeed reticent about anything
that might smack of self-praise. In narrating some dreams, how-
ever, he let slip details that showed he knew his mission was to
reach out to girls as well as boys. True, as a young farmhand at
the Moglia farm, while looking after little George and the boys of
neighboring Moncucco, he kept refusing to have anything to do
with girls. 15 However, in harmony with this eminently proper con-
duct, such was his ardent charity that he would not have pre-
sumed to shirk any responsibility which God would show him as
needed for the salvation of other souls. In fact, in a dream of
1862, he told Marchioness Barolo: "Didn't Our Lord come into
this world to redeem both boys and girls? . . . Then I must take
care that His Blood be not uselessly shed for either group. " 16 The
13See Vol. I, pp. 95f. [Editor]
14/bid., pp. 182f, 229, 285, 315f. [Editor]
15/bid., p. 149. [Editor]
16See Vol. VII, pp. 128f. [Editor]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
255
following year when Caroline Provera [of Mirabelle] decided to
become a nun and joined the congregation of The Faithful Com-
panions of Jesus, he told her, "Wait a little 1while and Don Bosco
will have nuns just as he now has Salesian clerics and priests. " 17
Father Pestarino hastened to visit the Oratory and was so im-
pressed by Don Bosco's zeal and charity that he became his fast
friend and joined the Salesian Society. He would have stayed at
the Oratory with him immediately but Don Bosco, in view of Fa-
ther Pestarino's good work in his village, had him return there.
On that occasion he gave him two medals, and, on another, a
note not for Angela Maccagno or Teresa Pampuro, but for Mary
and Petronilla Mazzarella. The note read, "Prayer is fine, but do
your utmost to help the young; do all you can to prevent even one
single venial sin."
Prayer and work already characterized the little workshop and
home. The fledgling institution still lacked a chapel of its own,
but, since it was near the parish church, every heart was an altar,
thanks to Mary Mazzarello's example and constant exhortations.
On entering the shop, each girl would say, "Good morning!
Praised be Jesus Christ!" Then she would make the Sign of the
Cross and, facing Our Lady's picture, would say the Hail Mary
and the invocation "Mother of my Jesus, Mother of love, I offer
You my heart!" At the stroke of each hour, one of the girls would
lead in reciting the Hail Mary. Often Mary Mazzarello would
add, "One hour less in this world, one hour closer to heaven!"
As we have already noted, thanks to her zeal the tiny courtyard
was in effect turning into a small festive oratory where the girls
gladly flocked "to relax and amuse themselves-so the formal
decree opening her cause of beatification tells us-with time ap-
pointed for prayer and spiritual reading, church services, and rev-
erent reception of the sacraments in the parish church or at St.
Sylvester's, a rural chapel just outside the village."
In winter the girls lingered a few moments after services in the
little courtyard to plan for the following Sunday, but during the
rest of the year they returned to St. Sylvester's, where they re-
sumed games, singing and other diversions until dark. Then, be-
fore dismissing them, Mary would suggest an act of self-denial or
other good deed and would urge them to spend the week in a
11Jbid., pp. 175f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
spiritually fruitful manner. It was obvious that she was absorbing
and practicing ever more what Don Bosco had been instilling into
his Salesians~ the same she would instill into the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians.
That little festive oratory did indeed a lot of good. [The Bollet-
tino Salesiano thus described it in its October 1881 issue:]
Within a short time, the village girls attended church services more
devoutly and received the sacraments more frequently. They became
more obedient and docile, spent more evenings at home, and shunned
worldly amusements, especially dances and those questionable social
contacts which many young women acknowledge to have been the begin-
ning of their moral downfall. So visible was their improvement that
some parents entrusted their young girls to the Daughters (as they were
respectfully called) so that they might teach them sewing and religion
and thus train them for a truly Christian life.
This was the starting point of a religious community of sorts made up
of four Daughters of Mary Immaculate and a few girls. Founded on hu-
mility and poverty, with no other support than trust in God's goodness,
this community would grow into a religious congregation. If young
Mary Mazzarello was able to make such progress in Christian perfec-
tion and zeal for souls as a laywoman, what would she not achieve when
the Lord, rewarding her fidelity to His grace, would open a new path
before her, giving her access to an even larger field of work?
In 1864 Don Bosco made his last autumn excursion with his
young scamps. 18 Thanks to special railroad fares, his boys board-
ed a train at Villanova d'Asti and traveled to Genoa and Pegli.
On the return trip, they got off at Serravalle Scrivia and then
hiked to Mornese to oblige Father Pestarino, who had so repeat-
edly insisted that they visit him.
Mary Mazzarella tried to see as much of Don Bosco as she
could and inwardly rejoiced as he spoke to the Daughters of
Mary Immaculate. During the five days that he stayed at Mor-
nese, she listened with the Oratory boys as the good father gave
them the "Good Night," and she kept repeating: "Don Bosco is a
saint, a real saint! I know it!"
Don Bosco himself was moved by the villagers' festive recep-
tion and kindness. He wrote to Marchioness Fassati on October
18/bid., pp. 445-61. [Editor]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
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9: "I am at Mornese, diocese of Acqui, a village which resembles
a community of souls consecrated to God in piety, charity and
zeal. At my Mass this morning, about a thousand people received
Communion." There were other auspicious events, such as laying
the cornerstones of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians [in
Turin] on April 27, 1865 19 and of a large building, destined to
become a Salesian house, at Mornese on June 13 of that same
year, on the crest of Borgo Alto.
At the same time, the Sodality of the Daughters of Mary Im-
maculate was steering a new course. As we have said, some ladies
had begun to live together, while others-among them, Angela
Maccagno, foundress of the sodality-preferred to live at home
with their families. 20 After seeking Don Bosco's advice, Father
Pestarino tried to satisfy both groups by giving the former a bet-
ter home which he owned near the parish church. This group re-
tained its original name, "Daughters of Mary Immaculate," and
their residence too was called "House of Mary Immaculate"; the
other group, instead, took the name "New Ursulines," having
discovered that the sodality they had founded at Mornese differed
in no way from the St. Ursula's sodalities founded by St. Angela
Merici. 21
Meanwhile, the new school was rising on the crest of Borgo
Alto thanks to the volunteer labor of the whole village and the
contribution of building materials. In December 1867, Don Bosco
celebrated the first Holy Mass in the newly completed chapel,
"invoking," as is stated on a tablet, "God's blessing upon the new
building and the people of Mornese."
On this occasion Don Bosco stayed four days at Mornese
preaching in the parish church, visiting the sick and receiving
many visitors. He also privately addressed the little group resid-
ing in the "House of Mary Immaculate"-the training center for
women who would be the first to join the Institute of the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians.
19See Vol. VIII, p. 57. [Editor]
20See Vol. IX, pp. 293f. [Editor]
21 It was in this sodality that the first superioress of the Institute of the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians was wondrously molded. Don Bosco himself saw God's hand in
this, and in gratitude to the saintly foundress of The Company of St. Ursula, he directed
that the first festive oratory, opened in Turin in 1876 by the Daughters of Mary, Help of
Christians, be dedicated to St. Angela Merici. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Devotion to Our Lady under the title of HHelp of Christians"
had already spread through Piedmont for many years through
sodalities of the same name linked to the archconfraternity in
Munich. Here and there pictures of Our Lady under this title
were being painted and displayed.
Mary Mazzarello too used to invoke the Blessed Virgin as the
Help of Christians. When she was barely six, a chapel had been
dedicated to Mary, Help of Christians some five hundred feet
from the house of her birth. Who knows how many times the
devout child-alone or with her mother-must have brought wild
flowers to Her feet together with the flowers of her virginal heart!
When the family moved to Mornese, she found another picture
of Mary, Help of Christians on the wall of a house directly op-
posite her own. Every Saturday a lamp was lit beneath it, and
from May till autumn the neighborhood women would gather
before it every Sunday evening to recite the rosary and chant the
litany. Doubtless, Mary Mazzarello must have read and devoutly
chanted the invocation ''Help of Christians" countless times.
Thus, while supplying Don Bosco with money to build Her
church in Valdocco through all sorts of temporal and spiritual
favors, Our Lady was also molding the woman whom Don Bosco
would appoint as superioress of the new religious congregation
which had been years in the founding. At the same time the house
which would soon receive the new congregation's first members
was also being readied. The main part of it could have been made
habitable in a very short time, but progress was deliberately
slowed because some priests thought it inopportune to have an el-
ementary and secondary school for boys aspiring to the priest-
hood in Mornese to the detriment of the Acqui diocesan junior
seminary. Bishop Contratto, the founder, had died, and the dio-
cese had been vacant for quite some time. Nevertheless, Don
Bosco did not feel that he should wait for the appointment of a
new bishop with whom to confer and reach a friendly agreement.
2. Tow ARD THE GOAL
The Lord had made His plans clearly known, and the time had
come for Don Bosco to start forming his second religious family
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
259
for a broad apostolate on behalf of girls. There was also a press-
ing need to find and train postulants and finish the building which
would be used as a residence for the new community.
In March 1869, with these thoughts in mind, Don Bosco wrote
out and sent to Mary and Petronilla Mazzarella a daily program
and a few rules which he thought could start them and their
charges on a more regular routine. Then, in May 1870 both he
and Father [James] Costamagna went to Mornese for the first
Mass of Father Joseph Pestarino-Father Dominic's nephew-
and stayed there three days. Don Bosco took the occasion to rest
a bit, but, accustomed to shun idleness, he certainly looked into
the community life of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate to see
if they had fruitfully carried out his recommendations.
Unfortunately, neither the original nor a copy of Don Bosco's
recommendations is extant. Who knows how often the Daughters
must have handled them and how often Mary Mazzarella must
have read them to her companions! Fortunately, we can form a
fairly good idea of the letter from the recollections of Mother Pe-
tronilla, who unfalteringly used to summarize it as follows:
The day's program called for attendance at the early parish Mass with
private prayer for a half hour or forty-five minutes. Community meals
and recreation were to follow at set times, with spiritual reading in the
afternoon, and the rosary and sacred hymns toward evening while work
went on. Later, they were usually to join the villagers in the parish
church for night prayers and close the day by reciting at their bedside
seven Hail Marys in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The regulations contained the following suggestions: strive to be ever
aware of God's presence; frequently use short invocations, be gentle, pa-
tient and amiable; carefully supervise the girls, keep them occupied,
train them to a life of simple, sincere and spontaneous piety.
Such was the simple, charming spirit which Don Bosco wished
to instill into these young maidens. After his visit, they certainly
felt ever more eager to practice his exhortations.
In 1871, Father Pestarino went to the Oratory for the feast of
St. Francis de Sales, and on the evening of January 30 he took
part at the annual conference of directors. He, too, "was . . . in-
vited to give a report," as we read in the minutes of that confer-
ence. It was the general belief that Don Bosco had let him stay at
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Mornese so as to continue his former apostolate there, but no one
had any idea that Don Bosco would use him especially to es-
tablish his second religious family. The minutes record that Fa-
ther Pestarino, Hafter briefly showing how he tried to do good
especially during the carnival season, went on to speak of the
school then under construction, holding out the hope that it would
soon be completed."
But the private talk which he had with Don Bosco on that oc-
casion must have been a long one because a month later, on Feb-
ruary 28, he remarked to his nephew, Father Joseph: "When I
went to Turin, it had been definitely decided to open a large
boarding school. Don Bosco's ideas are vast, and from what I
gathered, more construction is in the offing. What we most need
is a road, and we are doing something about it . . . but who
would imagine. . . ." Just what did Don Bosco and Father Pes-
tarino talk about? Evidently the school under construction was to
perform a vital apostolate, but did Don Bosco then tell him in so
many words that the new building was destined for the new insti-
tute? If so, he must have said it in absolute secrecy, as is hinted at
by the words "who would imagine" and by what we are now
about to say.
To carry out Don Bosco's plans, it was highly desirable to
purchase a house belonging to a Mr. Carante, which was quite
close to the Doria Castle, the last building in that part of the
village. A two-story home, it had seven or eight rooms and an un-
finished section that could easily be made habitable. In between
was a small garden sloping down toward the new school. One-
third of the land belonged to Father Pestarino, the rest to Mr.
Carante. Since the purchase became necessary, Don Bosco decid-
ed to buy the whole pr.operty and asked Father Pestarino to han-
dle the matter. It all went through smoothly and quickly.
On March 31, Father Pestarino informed Don Bosco that he
had legally purchased the property in his name and "that the
whole village, and particularly the mayor, had received the news
most gladly." Thanks to unexpected and surprising donations, the
cost had been fully covered, and if Don Bosco cared to, he sug-
gested that he might send a book as a token of gratitude to the
notary, Mr. Traverso, and to the surveyor, Mr. Contino, who had
donated their services. On his part-Father Pestarino added-he
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would show his appreciation with a few bottles of choice wine.
The house would be ready at the end of June, but the current rent
was already to be paid to Don Bosco. Would Don Bosco in the
meantime send someone to look over the unfinished part and see
what could be done? In turn, he would do his best and pray.
Don Bosco, too, was praying in those days for enlightenment.
Since 1869 it had been the practice to start Our Lady's month in
the Church of Mary, Help of Christians on April 24 and solemnly
close it on May 24, the feast day itself. This year, before starting
the Marian devotions, Don Bosco summoned Fathers Rua, Ca-
gliero, Savio, Ghivarello, Durando and Albera to a chapter meet-
ing for a very important reason.
Many people-he told them-have repeatedly begged me to do for
girls the little good which, by God's grace, we are now doing for boys.
Were I to follow my own inclinations, I would not go into this type of
apostolate, but since the requests have been insistent and come from
very worthy persons, I fear to thwart God's plans by not giving this mat-
ter serious consideration. Hence I put it to you and urge you to ponder
it before the Lord, weighing the pros and cons, so as to reach a decision
that will redound to God's greater glory and the good of souls. All this
month, therefore, let our community and private prayers be directed to
obtain God's needed enlightenment in this important matter.
The chapter members withdrew deeply impressed. Toward the
end of April Don Bosco went to Mornese to see the new property
and visit the Daughters of Mary Immaculate to whom he un-
doubtedly gave a talk that proved spiritually fruitful.
The life led by that small community could not have been more
edifying. What follows is a description by Felicina Mazzarella,
Mary's sister, who also joined the Daughters of Mary, Help of
Christians:
When Mary Mazzarello attained her deepest desire to get a few good
girls together and live with them in an effort to serve the Lord better,
her joy was supreme. Generously she left parents, brothers and sisters
regardless of tears and heartaches.
In this untried way of life she proved her heroic courage. In her new
home she found the true poverty of Jesus Christ. Many times the little
community lacked food, even flour for "polenta," and often, when they
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
did have it, there was no wood to light a fire, so that she and a couple of
Daughters would have to go pick firewood in groves belonging to her
parents, acquaintances or the township. They would tie up a few bundles
and, packing them on their shoulders, like St. Frances of Rome, would
return home to prepare supper. When the "polenta" was ready, she took
it out to the courtyard and, putting the board on which it lay steaming
on the bare ground, called her companions to their lordly repast. They
had neither plates nor cutlery, only appetite. When they had nothing to
go with the "polenta," my sister seasoned the meal with delightful,
edifying remarks. Indeed, her talk seemed to give such spice to their
humble repast that it became tastier than the choicest dish. They were
poor, but rich in that joy which rose from the grace of God and their
desire to emulate Jesus and the Most Holy Virgin in the house of Naza-
reth.1
During Don Bosco's visit to Mornese, the Blessed Virgin gave
Her most devoted servant a sign of Her special love. We report
this truly singular incident exactly as it was recorded by Father
Lemoyne in the presence of witnesses who signed it:
[In the fall of 1870] the five-day-old son of a certain Jerome Bianchi
suffered an arm fracture while he was being dressed. The arm swelled
and festered at the elbow. At first the doctors hesitated to operate, hop-
ing that nature might help the bone fragments work their way out,
though the arm would be crippled, but when it got worse, fearing that
gangrene would set in, they decided to amputate. They did not operate,
however, because the child's mother preferred to have the baby die than
live without an arm. For six months the child cried in pain.
Don Bosco arrived in Mornese at the end of April. The mother
brought her child to him for his blessing, and after generously donating
her wedding jewelry, she begged him to name the date of her child's re-
covery. "Since you are so generous to the Madonna," Don Bosco smil-
ingly replied, "I am sure that your prayers will be heard and that your
son will be cured at the end of May. Meanwhile, pray."
The child's grave condition lasted until the very morning of May 31,
which marked the formal closing of the Marian devotions. That morn-
ing the whole family, except the child's mother and her father-in-law, at-
tended High Mass. As the noon bells rang out, the child suddenly be-
came fidgety, turned from side to side, and with his bad arm, which he
had never moved before, tried to pull away the veil covering the cradle.
'Bollettino Salesiano, December 1881. [Author]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
263
Jerome's father ran to call his daughter-in-law. When she quickly ar-
rived, she was amazed to see the child's arm completely healed with no
trace of sores. The bone was fully sound and whole.
The child lived two more years in perfect health, displaying an in-
telligence beyond his age. His mother called him "Our Lady's son." He
died of flux or intestinal inflammation.
Both Jerome Bianchi and his son, Father Joseph Bianchi, de-
clared themselves ready to testify under oath to the truthfulness
of this account.
At the close of Mary's month, Don Bosco again summoned the
chapter members and, beginning with Father Rua, asked them in-
dividually to give their opinion. All agreed it was very proper that
they provide Christian education for girls, as they had already
done for boys.
"Well, then," Don Bosco stated, "we can now be assured that
God wants us to look after girls as well as boys. And as a prac-
tical suggestion, I propose that the building which Father Pes-
tarino is erecting in Mornese be designated for this purpose."
Toward the middle of June he informed Father Pestarino of
this, as we gather from two signed notes of this good Salesian, of
which we report here the lengthier, more detailed one:
About mid-June of 1871, the esteemed Father John Bosco of Turin
conferred privately with Father Dominic Pestarino of Mornese at the
Valdocco Oratory about his desire to provide for the Christian educa-
tion of girls of the working class. Don Bosco pointed out that Mornese
was the best place for this work because of its healthy climate and
especially because of its strong religious environment. For some years
now, the Sodalities of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and of the
New U rsulines had flourished there, and it would be easy to choose
some of the ladies who might be inclined to live a community life with-
drawn from the world. Since they already felt comfortable with rules
and exercises of piety, they could form the nucleus of the Institute of the
Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. Their spirit, example and teach-
ing would benefit both older and younger girls [at Mornese] and-with
but minor changes suited to the difference in sex-they too could pro-
mote the Christian education of countless poor girls elsewhere, just as
Don Bosco was doing through his oratories and boarding schools. After
expressing his views, Don Bosco asked Father Pestarino to speak his
mind frankly concerning this plan.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Without hesitation Father Pestarino answered, ..If Don Bosco is will-
ing to direct this institute, I'll cooperate to the best of my ability."
"Good," Don Bosco replied...That's enough for now. Let us pray,
think and reflect. With the Lord's help, I hope that our plans will re-
dound to the greater glory of God."
After more remarks concerning choosing members and drawing up
basic rules, Father Pestarino left Don Bosco's room for a moment.
It must be noted that for some four or five years, Mary and Petronilla
Mazzarello, both Daughters of Mary Immaculate, had already been liv-
ing a formal community life and earning their keep with their work.
They had Don Bosco's permission but did not know of his plans con-
cerning them. Gradually, other young women and girls joined them:
Teresa Pampuro, Catherine Mazzarello, Felicina Mazzarello, Joan Fer-
rettino, Rosina Mazzarello Baroni, Mary Grosso, and Corinna Arrigot-
ti . . . .
This is the testimony of Father Pestarino. Although firmly con-
vinced that Don Bosco was being guided by God, Father Pes-
tarino kept seeing insurmountable obstacles in this undertaking.
True, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate were pious and virtu-
ous, but were they inclined to become nuns? They were happy
with their own way of life, and none of them had ever told him of
a wish to become a nun. In fact, far from encouraging them to do
so, he had constantly exhorted them to stay as they were so as to
benefit the village. These doubts seriously troubled him, but most
of all he worried about the villagers' reaction to these plans. Still,
sustained by Don Bosco, who assured him that this was God's
will, he began to carry it out regardless of the ill will which might
arise in the village and elsewhere.
"How can I find out which Daughters have a vocation?" he
asked Don Bosco.
"Look for those who obey even in the smallest detail, do not
fret when corrected, and practice self-denial."
We do not know just when Don Bosco told Father Pestarino
that the new religious institute, which he had decided to found,
was to be housed in the school under construction on Borgo Alto.
It is certain, however, that Father Pestarino was quite concerned.
On his return the Daughters of Mary Immaculate were surprised
not to see their director beaming with holy joy, as was the case
whenever he came back from visiting Don Bosco. "On similar oc-
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
265
casions-Sister Petronilla Mazzarello recalled-he looked heav-
enly, but now he seemed worried, perturbed, and grieved. We
were so concerned that we dared to ask why. 'Great changes are
afoot,' he replied after some hesitation. 'Don Bosco wants to put
girls instead of boys into our new school. Isn't that something?'
We were so far from thinking of what he would say next that we
stood speechless. We never even thought that they would talk
about us or that one day we would be nuns! But we did realize
that such a change would upset the whole village and would cause
Father Pestarino a lot of trouble."
In June Don Bosco went to Rome. We shall now quote from
the Bollettino Salesiano, March 1882:
In a private audience with Pius IX, of glorious memory, Don Bosco
spoke of his plan to found a congregation of nuns and requested his ad-
vice. "I shall think it over," the Pope replied. "I'll give you my opinion
in another audience."
A few days later, Don Bosco again called on the Holy Father, who
immediately told him, "I have thought about your plan. It seems to
redound to God's glory and the good of souls. In my opinion the sisters'
main goal should be to do for girls what the Salesians are now doing for
boys. As regards structure, let them be guided by you and your succes-
sors, just as the Sisters of Charity are guided by the Vincentians. Write
out their constitutions in this context and try them out. The rest will
come later."
Don Bosco hastened to inform Father Pestarino of the Pope's
approval and sent him a draft of rules for the postulants of the
new congregation, which would be called "Institute of the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians."
When Father Cerruti, the director at Alassio, heard of this, he
asked Don Bosco: "Do you want to found a congregation of
sisters?"
"The revolution used women to do great harm," Don Bosco
replied. "We shall use them to do much good."
He added that they would be known as Daughters of Mary,
Help of Christians, because he wanted the new institute to be yet
another monument of eternal gratitude for the singular graces ob-
tained from this loving Mother.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Evidently the Lord had clearly revealed the glorious future of
the new family to Don Bosco. He himself felt that he and others
had to pray, and that he had to do his utmost to prevent ever
more diligently any offense against God in order to obtain His as-
sistance in fulfilling this great mission.
3. THE CONSTITUTIONS
What were the first constitutions of the future sisters? It is
worthwhile to be thoroughly acquainted with them.
The first printed Rules or Constitutions of the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians were those published by the Oratory
Press in 1878. Luckily, we have an authentic copy of the original
submitted to the bishop of Acqui for approval at the end of 1875
or the beginning of 1876, as well as six other handwritten copies
of singular importance.
The first, in the writing of Father Pestarino, entitled Constitu-
tions and Regulations of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Chris-
tians, Under the Protection of . .. was soon changed to Consti-
tutions and Regulations of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate
and Help of Christians . . . in order to appease the group of the
New U rsulines who wanted to retain the character of their origi-
1
nal sodality. The second copy differs from the first only in minor
variations by Father Pestarino and Don Bosco and antecedes the
first professions. The third copy probably dates from the time of
the first religious professions and is clearly entitled Constitutions
and Regulations of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help
of Christians. The fourth copy, based on the third, has plentiful
corrections made by Don Bosco in 1875 before presenting it to
the bishop of Acqui. The fifth copy is only a transcription of the
fourth in Father Rua's hand, with a few additions of his own re-
tained also in the sixth copy with new corrections by Don Bosco.
The sixth one was the copy used for printing in 1878. 1
These details should suffice to show Don Bosco's serious efforts
to produce a definitive copy of the Constitutions of the Daughters
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
267
of Mary, Help of Christians. But how did the first draft come
about?
During his two years at the Rifugio,2 Don Bosco had come to
know both the rules of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and those of the
Sisters of St. Anne, founded in 1834 by the very devout Mar-
chioness Julie Falletti, nee Colbert, of Barolo. The latter rules
were definitively drafted in 1845, when Don Bosco was spiritual
director of St. Philomena's Hospital, founded by that noble lady.
It is quite plausible that Don Bosco helped out not only with the
definitive draft of those rules (which were approved by the Con-
gregation of Bishops and Regulars on March 8, 1846 and con-
firmed by Pope Gregory XVI on April 3 of that same year) but
also in correcting the galleys, since these rules, entitled Constitu-
tions and Regulations of the Institute of the Sisters of St. Anne,
were published in Turin by the Botta Press, printers to the arch-
bishop. Don Bosco doubtless consulted also the rules of other
congregations, since several copies of these are still extant in our
archives. However, he based himself principally on the first part
of the Constitutions of the Sisters of St. Anne, containing basic
regulations. Selecting appropriate passages from them and from
the Salesian Constitutions, he coordinated them into fifteen
chapters or titles, as they were called in the Constitutions of the
Sisters of St. Anne. 3 The first article of the first draft brilliantly
reveals Don Bosco's spirit. It reads: "The purpose of the Institute
of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians is to strive toward
one's personal perfection and to cooperate toward the spiritual
welfare of one's neighbor, especially by imparting a moral, reli-
gious education to girls of the working class."
The first printed edition differs only slightly in the wording:
"The purpose of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of
Christians is to strive toward one's own personal perfection, and
to cooperate toward the spiritual welfare of one's neighbor, espe-
cially by imparting a Christian education to girls of the working
class."
This was indeed the goal of Don Bosco's apostolate. In truth,
he never tired of telling his Salesians, "The purpose of our Soci-
2An institution for wayward girls where Don Bosco had been a chaplain. See Vol. II, pp.
184f. [Editor]
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ety is our own sanctification and the salvation of souls through
the works of mercy."4
After patiently and thoroughly editing the last draft, Don
Bosco asked Father Pestarino to have it copied in a good hand.
The latter availed himself of one of the Daughters as copyist and
dictated it to her. Thus the first exemplar of the constitutions of
the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians came into being. On
the title page, under the title, Father Pestarino added the date
"May 24, 1871" as a perpetual remembrance of the unanimous
consent of the Salesian Superior Chapter to the foundation of the
new institute, after a month of prayer to Mary, Help of Chris-
tians. Under this date he added this note: "January 29, 1872. For-
mation of the Chapter."5
In giving Father Pestarino the edited constitutions, Don Bosco
told him to show them also to the New Ursulines. As we have al-
ready mentioned, they immediately felt somewhat upset. We shall
later see that they too joined in the first election for a superioress,
but noting that their former companions were gradually forming
a new congregation which would soon considerably grow under
Don Bosco's guidance, they too decided to promote the growth of
their sodality by carrying out Father Joseph Frassinetti's direc-
tives, spelled out in his revision of their first regulations. The
revised regulations envisaged ecclesiastical local superiors and a
general superior along with local sister superiors and a mother
general. In their view, Don Bosco and his successors were to be
their ecclesiastical superiors general.6
Don Bosco graciously declined the offer but kept the manu-
script. They did not change their minds. In 1873, the rule which
Bishop Gentile had already approved was carefully revised and
printed in Acqui under the title Rule of the Pious Union of the
Daughters of Mary Immaculate Under the Patronage of St. Ur-
sula and St. Angela Merici. . . . It had been approved by Bishop
Joseph Sciandra of Acqui "for the purpose"-he wrote-"of
spurring our zealous pastors to establish this pious union in their
parishes, assuring them that wherever it is in operation it bears
abundant, most consoling fruit."
4We are omitting a detailed account of the parts that were drawn from the Salesian
Constitutions or from those of the Sisters of St. Anne. [Editor]
5We are omitting other details of interest only to historians. [Editor]
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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4. THE FIRST MOTHER SUPERIOR
As stated above, the postulants had had their constitutions
since 1871. On the feast of the Epiphany, 1872, several Mornese
villagers went to Varazze to see Don Bosco who was then just
recovering from a serious illness. 1 Father Pestarino had preceded
them. One day, when he was alone with Don Bosco, the latter
asked him about Mornese, the spirit reigning among the Daugh-
ters of Mary Immaculate, and whether any of those who had
lived in community for some years seemed qualified to enter the
new congregation. Father Pestarino's answer-as his memoirs
state-was that he could personally guarantee that a few would
be "ready to obey and make any sacrifice for the good of their
own souls and the souls of other girls and women."
Then-Don Bosco went on-we can carry out the plans we discussed
last summer in Turin. Upon arriving at Mornese, if you think it oppor-
tune, call those few together and have them choose the superior and the
chapter members, according to the regulations.2 In fact, summon all the
Daughters of Mary Immaculate, even those who live at home, and ask
them to pray, to be brave and do all for the glory of God and of the
Blessed Virgin. I shall pray for God's blessings on them and on this new
congregation.
Zealous Father Pestarino agreed. No choice had been made for
a religious habit. Don Bosco wanted it similar to the garb of
pious middle-class women, light brown in color with a small cape
over the dress and a thin black velvet trim on the sleeves. For
church and for walking they were to wear a sky-blue veil.3 Father
Pestarino had brought along a sample sewn by Mary Mazzarella,
and showed it to Don Bosco.
"Really, someone should put it on," Don Bosco remarked after
a brief look.
"Who?" Father Pestarino asked.
"You put it on," Don Bosco said to Enria. "Then we'll see
what a fine figure you cut!"
Enria complied while Don Bosco broke into laughter, remark-
1See pp. 142f. [Editor]
2See p. 259. [Editor]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ing, "You really look good!" He liked the cut but preferred a
darker color. He then went on to talk about the new congregation
and its needs. "They also covered many other topics," Enria
recalled, but, due to their poverty, the Daughters of Mary, Help
of Christians had to wait several years for their present religious
habit.
Father Pestarino returned to Mornese and carried out Don
Bosco's suggestions. On January 29, 1872, the feast of St. Francis
de Sales, twenty-seven Daughters of Mary Immaculate gathered
together. Father Pestarino briefed them on Don Bosco's ideas,
and after reciting the Veni, Creator before the crucifix that stood
on a table between two lighted candles, he invited them to go on
electing a superior. On the first ballot Mary Mazzarello received
21 of 27 votes. Immediately, the pious, humble maiden begged to
be excused. She thanked her companions for their trust but told
them that she did not feel up to the task. All press·ed her to ac-
cept, but she kept declaring that she would never consent unless
forced to do so by obedience. Father Pestarino made it clear that
he would not take sides without first consulting Don Bosco. At
this, Mary Mazzarello suddenly felt inspired to suggest humbly
that the best possible solution would be to leave the choice of a
superior to Don Bosco himself. Her companions agreed if she
would accept the office of first assistant with the title of mother
vicar. Next. they voted for a second assistant, and Petronilla
Mazzarello received 19 votes.
After Mary and Petronilla had left the room (we do not know
why) the voting continued with the following results: novice
mistress, Felicina Mazzarello, Mary's sister; economer, Joan Fer-
rettino; mother vicar for the Daughters of Mary Immaculate liv-
ing at home with their families, Angelina Maccagno, a teacher.
All this we get from Father Pestarino's notes which he used in
his report on The Beginnings of the Institute of the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians at the annual conference of St. Francis
de Sales held at the Oratory after Don Bosco's return from
Varazze. To it he added the following postscript: "In February
[1873] Don Bosco returned from Varazze to convalesce from his
illness and listened with pleasure to the above report at the annual
conference of the directors and Salesians."
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271
We do not know whether Don Bosco at this time went to Mor-
nese where he was anxiously awaited, but we think he must have,
for Father Pestarino had a lively hymn set to music by Father
[James] Costamagna, then teaching at Lanzo, for this occasion.
We think we have further proof of this visit in the following notes
which Father Pestarino himself jotted on a page of the first draft
of the constitutions:
What advice or counsel did Don Bosco leave? That we need people
who readily obey rather than command because there are enough of us
giving orders-people who can take corrections and admonitions with a
smile rather than a grudge. What does esteem and veneration for superi-
ors mean? [In revering them] when they do our will and yield to our
whims, or when they seek our spiritual good and try to teach us regulari-
ty, Christian mortification, and genuine love-a love not shown by flat-
tery but by sacrifice in every way, in concern for us, praying for us, ad-
vising us and dedicating their lives and selves for our welfare?
What should this new congregation practice and make a prior con-
cern? Its main endeavor should be that all members become familiar
with the rules and carry them out; that all practice self-sacrifice and
mortification, learn to obey rather than command, and keep united with
their superiors who have the welfare of the congregation at heart and
who are knowledgeable about community life and religious institutes,
whereas the members know little or nothing of it. If you notice anything
you feel is a drawback, the superiors will give it careful consideration
just as they do for whatever is necessary for the smooth running of
things and the carrying out of the rules. Let there be a spirit of submis-
sion and of unity with a superior even in trivial matters. At times a supe-
rior may err in the way [she carries out her duties]; we, in turn, may be
lacking in respect and obedience to her, we may seek to twist the rules
to suit ourselves, or we may give more attention to little things than to
important ones.
By their nature and by the opening words "[The congrega-
tion's] main endeavor should be that all members become famil-
iar with the rules and carry them out," these exhortations pertain
to the time when the first postulants were being trained.
As it is, the first step had now been taken and time was press-
ing to find a suitable dwelling for the little group of postulants.
The Carante house would serve some purpose, but it was too
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
small. Still, how could they move into the new building without
arousing the villagers' discontent?
Providence again stepped in. The rectory was too far gone for
repairing, and a temporary residence for the pastor was badly
needed. The municipal council discussed the matter on May 8 of
that year, and the minutes reflect its decision to demolish the old
rectory and build a new one. An alderman asked Father Pestarino
(a board member) to rent his own home to the municipality and
retain residence. Father Pestarino objected that it was being used
by the Daughters of Mary Immaculate in their efforts to benefit
the villagers. The alderman insisted, however, saying that the
Daughters could be moved into the new empty building in Borgo
Alto then nearing completion. Father Pestarino saw in this sug-
gestion the hand of Divine Providence and agreed to hand over
the keys of his house to the municipal authorities on May 25.
When did the Daughters actually move into the new building?
Discarding various dates which the first Daughters of Mary, Help
of Christians tried to recall from memory, we believe that the
move took place on either the vigil or the feast of Mary, Help of
Christians.
Since most of the finished rooms of the new building were al-
ready occupied by Father Pestarino and his household, the
Daughters of Mary Immaculate settled as best they could in some
rooms of the main floor and in the Carante house. It took them
little time to transport a few pieces of worn furniture and the
brood of silkworms which they had been raising to sell, although
they doubted that they would get any more cocoons. The Lord
rewarded their promptness, however, for they managed to gather
some 243 pounds of silkworms, which considerably helped them
to meet expenses.
As Father Joseph Pestarino told us and later wrote down, the
Daughters were never permanently or exclusively settled in the
Carante house. They moved into the new building gradually, so
that they seem to have been finally settled by the beginning of the
next year.
Naturally, the move did not at first cause any surprise, but
when it soon became known that these girls and others who were
joining them were setting up, or rather had already established, a
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The Daughters ofMary, Help of Christians
273
new religious congregation, lamentations and complaints came in
a flood. Only their general reverence for Don Bosco kept people
from openly voicing their indignation to Father Pestarino.
But who can tell how deeply moved Mary Mazzarella must
have been to set foot on the very spot where she had seen, long
before it came to pass, a building full of girls? Though still in ci-
vilian garb, she and her companions showed such zeal to follow
the way of life Don Bosco had outlined for them that, more than
novices, they could truthfully be called genuine nuns, and most
fervent ones at that!
They had hardly set foot inside their home-Sister Felicina Maz-
zarello wrote-than the rumor spread that they would not last long.
Humanly speaking, their poverty made this a reasonable expectation,
but Mary Mazzarello, undaunted and undismayed by these initial dif-
ficulties, set her mind and heart firmly on God, looking only to Him for
timely help.
She continued her hard-working, self-sacrificing life. She spent the en-
tire day piling up stones in the unfinished building. And how zealously
she persevered in her grueling task, inspiring her fellow sisters by word
and example! Washday too helped my sister and her worthy companions
to exercise virtue. The Roverno River was some distance from the vil-
lage. On washday, she never held back, but, taking a piece of bread or a
few slices of "polenta," she would trek to the river with others and stay
with them until the work was done. On these days they looked neither
sad nor discouraged, for in truth those were the days they loved best. By
her cheerful example this beloved sister knew how to flavor even the
hardest sacrifices with sweetness and delight, inspiring in all of us a
desire for greater suffering.
On returning home weary and soaked, she forgot herself and anxious-
ly saw to it that her sisters would change into dry clothes and take some-
thing warm. In short, she was a gentle mother, always placing her
daughters' comfort before her own.4
In such poverty and holiness, the first Daughters of Mary, Help
of Christians prepared themselves for receiving their religious
habit and taking their first vows.
4See Bollettino Salesiano, December 1881. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
5. FIRST CLOTHING DAY AND PROFESSION
After making arrangements with the newly appointed Bishop
[Joseph] Sciandra of Acqui for the much-awaited ceremony, Don
Bosco set July 31 through August 8 as the dates for a preparatory
spiritual retreat to be preached by Canon Raymond Olivieri of
the Acqui cathedral and Father Mark Mallarini, vicar forane of
Canelli. He promised to be present for the retreat closing.
"Tell those good Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians-he
wrote to the bishop-that I shall come and together we shall sign
the great promise of living and dying for the Lord under the pro-
tection and in the holy name of Mary, Help of Christians!"
After formally entering his diocese on the feast of the Epiphany
of this year, the bishop fell ill [some months later] after the
Corpus Christi procession. Since he had as yet no temporalities
and he needed rest in a bracing climate, he had gladly accepted
the offer of staying for some days in the new house of the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians. His quarters were set up in two
rooms on the second floor, where Father Pestarino had taken up
residence after giving his house near the church to the Daughters
of Mary Immaculate. The bishop was happy that he could assist
at the regular beginning of the new institute.
During the retreat he celebrated Mass daily for the little com-
munity, and at the beginning of August he accepted Don Bosco's
request to preside at the first clothing ceremony and the final pro-
fessions. Don Bosco saw th.is invitation not only as an act of def-
erence toward the bishop of the diocese, but also as a good reason
for not keeping his promise to attend the ceremony. There were
other reasons too: he was fatigued after his journey in Liguria, his
health was unstable, and a young Salesian, John Baptist Camisas-
sa, was seriously ill at the Oratory and died on August 3. Further-
more, he would soon have to attend the spiritual retreat at St. Ig-
natius' Shrine, as was his custom. Hence, after thanking the
bishop for accepting his invitation to preside, Don Bosco also
clearly stated that he would not be going to Mornese after all.
The Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians and Father Pes-
tarino would not hear of it and begged the bishop to press Don
Bosco to come. The bishop in turn sent his secretary, Father
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
275
Francis Berta, to the Oratory to persuade Don Bosco to make
this sacrifice.
As Father Berta told Father Lemoyne, Don Bosco yielded im-
mediately, and late on the evening of August 4 he reached Mor-
nese with Father Berta by coach. Knowing that Don Bosco had
recently suffered an attack of pleurisy and could not take the cool
evening air, the secretary wrapped a cloak as best he could about
Don Bosco's shoulders. At their arrival at Borgo Alto, the bishop
received Don Bosco with open arms, and on hearing that he could
not stay more than a day, he then and there agreed with him to
have the solemn ceremony the following day, consecrated to Our
Lady of the Snow, and to let the retreat run on to August 8.
That evening Don Bosco spoke to the sisters who were to take
vows, exhorting them to live like true nuns and to edify always by
their deameanor in church and everywhere, assuring them that
their conduct alone would do great good to anyone who saw
them. "Let your manner be neither hasty nor slow," he said. "Let
your bearing be modest and recollected, serene and unaffected.
Keep your eyes lowered, but not your head. Let your whole ap-
pearance speak of you as persons consecrated to God...."
The good father rose to his feet, and since they wen~ in a long
room, he walked through, saying, "This is how you must walk!"
All were moved by his admirable charity. He also urged modera-
tion in speaking and laughing. "Laugh and joke by all means," he
told them, "but with restraint, and not too noisily."
At nine the following morning they went to the chapel where
Bishop Sciandra blessed the habits of fifteen young women, which
they donned amid general emotion. Eleven also made their trien-
nial vows, among them Mary Mazzarella.
As the novices began reading the formula of the vows together,
Don Bosco, who stood by, asked them to read it one at a time,
and so they did. The professed and no~ices received respectively a
crucifix and a medal of Mary, Help of Christians, which they
wore about their necks from then on.
One girl had asked for the religious habit, but, at Don Bosco's
advice, her request was denied. She preferred her own devotions
to those of the community, and when Don Bosco was told, he
directed that she be asked to wait because she probably would not
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
persevere. In fact, not much later she went back to her family.
After the ceremony Don Bosco delivered a short address, m
which he said, among other things:
I can see you are pained to have all persecute you and turn their backs
on you. You are not to wonder; I am surprised they do not do even
worse. The father of St. Francis of Assisi hurt his holy son a great deal
more than this. . . . In time you will become holy and do much good to
many other souls if you remain humble. Among the small plants men-
tioned in Holy Scripture is the nard. In the Little Office of Our Lady
you read: Nardus mea dedit odorem suavitatis-My nard gave forth its
fragrance. [Cant. 1, 11] Do you know whence the fragrance comes? The
nard emits its perfume only when it is well minced. . . . Do not feel
hurt, my dear daughters, if now the world mistreats you. Take courage
and be glad, for this is the only way in which you can ~o something in
your new mission. The world is full of snares. You cannot take a step
without running into some danger, but if you live in accordance with
your new state, you will be untouched and be able to do great things for
your own souls and for those of your neighbors.
The villagers soon benefited by the new sisters' good example
and came to admire them.
Don Bosco also reminded them that from then on they would
simply be called "Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians." Inde-
scribable was the joy-the holy delight, we should say-which
flooded the hearts of the new sisters. All day the house resounded
with hymns to the Blessed Virgin. Here we can appropriately
quote Father Pestarino's evaluation of Sister Mary Mazzarella.
We draw from notes he made of the first Daughters of Mary,
Help of Christians who donned the habit and took their vows,
thus giving a formal beginning to their congregation. The manu-
script is no longer extant, but we have its contents in the De-
cember 1881 issue of the Bollettino Salesiano:
Mary Mazzarello consistently showed a fine spirit and a heart dis-
posed to piety. She frequently received the sacraments and was deeply
devoted to the Virgin Mary. She willingly joined the new congregation
and was always one of the most fervent in doing good and in obeying
her superiors. She was open, fervent, and extremely good-hearted. Very
receptive to the advice and admonition of her superiors, she readily ac-
corded them humble submission and respect. Her will and judgment
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The Daughters ofMary, Help of Christians
277
were always in agreement with theirs; so closely was she united to them
that she stated she was ready to sacrifice her life and her all in order to
obey them and to promote what was good. As vicar, she warmly pro-
posed and upheld what seemed to her reasonable, but she was ever ready
to humble herself and beg her companions to let her know when she was
wrong.
Before leaving that same evening for St. Ignatius' Shrine, Don
Bosco asked Father Pestarino for very detailed information about
his beloved new community and urged him to limit himself to
their spiritual direction only, leaving the sisters freedom of action
in all else. He was to be only their counselor and protector. He
approved that Sister Mary Mazzarello should continue as superi-
or under the title of "vicar," and that the other chapter members
elected in January should remain in office likewise. Sister Mary
Mazzarello begged that he soon appoint someone to take her
place, pleading her unfitness for the task, but Don Bosco an-
swered, "Don't worry, the Lord will provide!" 1
His hasty departure saddened the sisters, although he had told
them that they were not to grieve because, God willing, he would
return, and that, even while away from them, he would not forget
them. The spiritual retreat continued most devoutly until the clos-
ing ceremony on August 8. Bishop Sciandra had the minutes writ-
ten up and signed.2
6. RAPID GROWTH
Meanwhile, Mary, Help of Christians kept showering all sorts
of favors on the new congregation. The sisters' life style, the an-
gelic fervor on their faces, and their abject poverty could not but
please God.
That year they took in a few girls who were anxious to receive
a good upbringing. Eager to instill the genuine spirit of religious
life into his spiritual daughters, Don Bosco called on the mother
general of the Sisters of St. Anne in Turin in January 1873 and
asked if she would temporarily send two of her nuns to Mornese
1We are omitting a digression about the healing of a man suffering from sciatica. [Edi-
tor]
20mitted in this edition. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
to instruct his spiritual daughters in the duties of their vocation.
Mother Mary Dominici graciously obliged in order to show her
gratitude for Don Bosco's many favors to the Sisters of St. Anne
in their early days. During Lent she herself and Sister Frances
Garelli (her secretary and second general assistant) spent a few
days at Mornese, and after their return to Turin for the Easter
holidays, she sent her secretary back with Sister Angela Alloa. 1
The Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, especially Mary
Mazzarello, were very happy about this, for they were anxious to
advance in perfection. "There was a genuine holy competition-
declared Father John Cagliero-between the good Sisters of St.
Anne and Mary Mazzarello-the former in admiring the virtues
and holiness of Sister Mazzarello, and the latter in never ceasing
to praise the goodness and holy guidance of her instructors." Don
Bosco could not have found a better solution.
As time drew near for the bishop of Acqui to revisit Mornese
as he had promised, Don Bosco went there himself at the begin-
ning of July in order to be sure that the bishop's quarters would
be properly prepared in the Carante house. So impressed was he
by the sisters' fervor of life that in a short note to Father Rua he
exclaimed, "It is quite cool here, but there is a very strong flame
of love for God. " 2 A meaningful and unforgettable statement!
Don Bosco returned to Mornese with Father Cagliero the fol-
lowing month to pay his respects to the bishop and to encourage
the sisters making their spiritual retreat which was scheduled to
close on August 5 with the investiture of several postulants and
the religious professions of a few novices. When he met the bish-
op, he bowed to kiss his ring, but the latter promptly embraced
him. Present at the retreat were eleven sisters, three novices pre-
paring to make their vows, nine postulants who were to receive the
sacred habit, and ten women who had been admitted at Don Bos-
co's request. Joyously welcomed by all, he said a few kind words
to them, so gratified was he to see the Sisters of St. Anne.
Again he was not able to stay for the close of the retreat be-
cause of important business in Turin, but he took stock of every-
thing and told them that the bishop would give the closing ser-
1We are omitting an excerpt from the Annals and Chronicles of the Sisters of St. Anne
recording the above facts. [Editor]
2This sentence is an excerpt from that note. [Editor]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
279
mon. "Don't let yourselves be disheartened by difficulties," he
said in his final exhortation. "To avoid being trapped, make use
of these four means: keep your constitutions, pray with faith, love
one another, and be humble."
During this visit Sister Mary Mazzarella introduced to Don
Bosco Teresina Mazzarella, just fifteen, a Mornese girl of frail
health who sought to become a sister. Don Bosco gazed at her,
asked a few questions for detailed information, and then ex-
claimed, "Let her take the veil. Should she die soon, she will go
higher up in heaven!"
On August 4 he returned to Turin with Father Cagliero. On
August 5, the anniversary of the first investiture and first profes-
sions, the ceremony was renewed. Again Bishop Sciandra had a
record kept from which we report the following excerpt:
On August 5 [1873], at the close of the spiritual retreat preached by
Very Reverend Monsignor Andrew Scotton and Father Louis Portaluri,
S.J ., the novices, Rose Mazzarello, Mary Grosso, and Corinna Arrigot-
ti, took triennial vows. The following donned the religious habit: Vir-
ginia Magone, Mary Bodrato, Teresa Mazzarello, Carlotta Pestarino,
Mary Gastaldi, Angela Deambrogio, Emily Mosca, Angela Peretto and
Enrichetta Sorbone.
His Excellency, Bishop Joseph Sciandra of Acqui, who again honored
this house by selecting it for his summer vacation, gladly performed the
solemn ceremony, after celebrating Holy Mass on the morning of that
same day and administering Holy Communion. He received the trienni-
al vows of the sisters and conferred the habit upon the postulants.
From another contemporary report we gather the following:
The ceremony began at 9 A.M. . . . Veni, sponsa Christi, was in-
toned from the choirloft to the accompaniment of the harmonium,
voices and instrument blending in heavenly harmony. The brides . . .
dressed in their habit . . . resembled three angels. They advanced slow-
ly, eyes downcast, composed and devout, lips open in a smile that re-
vealed the peace and joy which filled their hearts on that unforgettable
day. All eyes were upon them. . . . When they came to the altar rail,
Bishop Joseph Sciandra (who had opened the ceremony by giving the
holy habit to the postulants) faced them, holding three crucifixes in his
hand, the same as those that we wear around our necks, a visible sign of
our profession, and putting them about their necks, he pronounced these
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
words: "My dear daughters, take this image of your beloved Jesus, the
symbol of our redemption. May it be of sweet comfort to you in the ad-
versities you will encounter along the path of life." He then took three
wreaths of red and white roses, and said: "Behold, my dear sisters, the
crowns which your beloved spouse Jesus has prepared for you." With a
trembling hand and emotion he placed the wreaths on their heads, thus
enhancing the sisters' gracefulness. The ceremony then ended with a
short sermon by the bishop on the Gospel episode concerning Mary and
Martha. He stressed their choice of Mary's part. Our Lord's brides wore
their crowns for the rest of the day, amid intermittent echoes of Praised
be Jesus, Praised be Mary, and Long live the brides, clear expressions of
the exultation of the entire community...
After night prayers, Mother Mary Mazzarella and the newly
professed sisters stayed in the chapel, prostrate at the foot of the
altar. Mother Vicar then removed the wreaths they had so desired
and would have preferred never to take off, and offered them to
Mary, Help of Christians, asking that She present them personal-
ly to Jesus, and in exchange adorn their hearts with all virtues
befitting Christ's true brides, preparing a crown of imperishable
heavenly roses to be placed on each of their heads by Jesus Him-
self, when it should please Him to summon them to the eternal
nuptials of heaven!3 Meanwhile, Don Bosco mailed a prospectus
of the Mornese boarding school throughout the diocese of Acqui
with a covering letter.4
During the summer vacation the two Sisters of St. Anne felt
they had accomplished their mission and left Mornese accom-
panied by the gratitude of the sisters and of Don Bosco who so
highly esteemed them.5 On their departure Sister Mary Maz-
zarella again pleaded for the election of a superior, but Don
Bosco willed that she continue in her office. However, lest she be
left on her own, he sent to Mornese Mrs. Mary Blengini, a Turin-
ese widow who had been under the spiritual direction of Blessed
[Joseph] Cafasso.6 She was to offer suitable advice and sugges-
tions. This pious lady stayed just two or three months at Mor-
3We are omitting a decree of Bishop Sciandra granting permission for church services in
the sisters' chapel and an article in Unita Cattolica concerning the successful examination
held at the sisters' school which the bishop presided over. [Editor]
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
5This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
6Blessed Joseph Cafasso was proclaimed a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1947. [Editor]
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
281
nese, carrying out her task although she did not approve of,
among other things, the extreme poverty of the place. She left
Mornese toward the end of 1873 with no intent ever to return, in-
forming Don Bosco of this. He preferred that she stay a little
longer, since he himself had to remain at some length in Rome.
[Early in 1874] he sent this note to Father Rua from Rome: "If
Mrs. Blengini has not returned to Mornese, tell her not to worry;
slowly things will work out right. I have already written her of
this, and my letter awaits her there."
On January 29 Sister Mary Poggio, one of the first professed
sisters, who had constantly done all she could to help her sisters
and ease their pains, was called to eternity, and Mary Maz-
zarello, in her deep humility, begged them to elect a superior,
since she felt she was unfit for such grave duty.
Don Bosco wanted Mrs. Blengini to stay with the sisters until
the election of a superior, which he had in mind to hold as soon as
possible. In the meantime, reluctant to leave the sisters to them-
selves, he did what the first draft of the constitutions prescribed:
namely that the superior general of the Salesian Society, from
whom the new congregation depended, could "be represented by a
priest delegated by him." He sent Father John Cagliero to act in
his stead, without giving him the title or office of director general,
since the new congregation had but one house at Mornese.
Father Cagliero went to Mornese during Lent to preach the
short retreat which was customary in Salesian houses, and Father
Pestarino took this occasion to introduce him to the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians as "Don Bosco's own vicar." On his
part, the future director general of the new congregation was
deeply impressed by the life style of those holy women.
Meanwhile, preparing for Don Bosco's convocation of the
directors' annual conference, after his return from Rome, Father
Pestarino jotted down the main items of the report which he gave
in full in the second half of April. It is a precious document
because it gives us a clear picture of the perfection attained by the
members of the new congregation, their fervor, and the esteem in
which the village held them. We report it verbatim, in its original
simplicity:
The convent of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, at Mor-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
nese has thirteen professed sisters. There were fourteen, but one has
passed to the bliss of heaven, as we have reason to hope. There are also
eight novices, eight postulants and seventeen boarders, for all of whom I
bless and praise the Lord.
It is a real joy to see in all the sisters and novices the Lord's true
spirit, shown in their ceaseless endeavor to abide by the holy exhorta-
tions which the great Pius IX sent them through Don Bosco, their supe-
rior general. They observe uniformity in dress, food, rest, work, permis-
sions, and care not to seek exceptions. Not many weeks ago, Sister
Vicar asked me whether she should serve coffee and milk [at breakfast]
since some postulants had been used to it and sometimes felt its lack.
She thought it would not be wrong to serve at least a little hot milk to
everyone. I agreed, and during a conference I suggested it, explaining
how I was in favor of it and how the thought had occurred to me several
times. On hearing this, first the teaching sisters and then all the rest sug-
gested that we wait a while because they felt quite well. They said they
had good appetites, so that not a crumb was left over at breakfast. They
also declared that it would be better to continue serving "polenta" and
boiled chestnuts since this was fare they all liked and found nourishing. I
said little in reply but told Sister Vicar to wait so as to have a better
chance to observe what course to follow.
Most manifest and gratifying is the genuine spirit of unity, charity,
and holy joy reigning among them at recreation, when they relax in sis-
terly togetherness. Though they are together at all other times, they
enjoy being together also at recreation.
Their piety, recollection, devout sacramental life, recitation of the
Divine Office and prayers edify me. The funeral of Sister Mary Poggio
was most moving. Many villagers wept, and young men told me that
they had really been deeply impressed by the sisters' composure and
unaffected modesty. In fact, the village girls were all for attending the
sisters' school!
Detachment from the world, parents and relatives, and even from
themselves as far as is humanly possible, is noticeable in all of them.
They are so regular and diligent in their duties that I have never heard
the slightest complaint from any of them. Rather, their anxiety is for the
well-being of the house.
I must add that the teachers give excellent example, even the lay
teacher of French and mathematics. She is exemplary, humble, respect-
ful toward all and deeply religious. She seems set on joining the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians, openly declaring that had she wanted
to become a nun in other convents where she served, she would have cast
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The Daughters ofMary, Help ofChristians
283
off the idea, but that, having come here with no such intention, her incli-
nation grew to stay and become a sister.
Aside from the one recent illness and death, all are in good health.
Nor are there complaints about the boarders, who are obedient and re-
spectful. Several are growing in piety and are inclined to join the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians. I must repeat my satisfaction and con-
tentment. It is a comfort to see them so respectful and cheerful, so eager
to hear my counsels. Even the young, when they know the director is
around, do not want to go to bed until he has said a few words to them.
It is obvious that these results stem from the blessing of the Lord, the
Blessed Virgin Mary, and the superior [general]. Their only wish is a
visit from their superior.
The single unpleasant factor is finances. The boarders are few and so
we are in debt; hence they live very frugally, although their food is
wholesome. Seemingly their debts outdo their credits. Let us hope in the
Lord. He will help us in this through Don Bosco and Father Rua . . .
and the other Salesian schools with which we are in close contact,
thanks to the debts we have incurred [for their help . . . ].
7. No ROSES WITHOUT THORNS!
The feast of the Ascension had a new joyful solemnity. Father
Cagliero had insisted with· Sister Mazzarella that the girls learn
Gregorian Chant and polyphony. On that day the new school
choir sang the Mass of the Holy Childhood, composed by Father
Cagliero himself, so exquisitely that Father Pestarino was deeply
moved. In his homily he could not help mentioning the rapid
growth of the congregation, praising the sisters and girls for the
diligence they showed in their respective duties. Flores ap-
paruerunt in terra nostra [Flowers have appeared in our land-
Cant. 2, 12], he exclaimed, and he applied the quotation to the
sisters, saying that they would be "the flowers of his immortal
crown. . . ." Then his voice broke into sobs and he knelt at the
foot of the altar.
Early the following morning he was in church for confessions
and Holy Communion. Later he went to the school, said Mass for
the sisters and the girls, and then read a short meditation from
Don Bosco's booklet Mary's Month, as he usually did on solemn
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
feasts. The meditation concerned death, and with deep feeling he
read this passage: "Death may overtake me in my sleep, at work,
on the street or elsewhere. Illness or accidents have taken many
lives and could take mine too. It could happen a year from now,
or even a month, a week, a day, an hour, and perhaps just as soon
as I finish reading this meditation. . . ." Abruptly he was over-
come by a sudden rush of tears! On regaining his composure, he
blessed the bystanders with a relic and then resumed his usual oc-
cupations. Toward eleven o'clock, while talking with [Bartholo-
mew] Scavini, a Salesian brother, and [Michael] Vigna, who were
there setting up school furniture, he suffered a cerebral stroke and
collapsed in their arms. Despite the care lavished on him by his
brother. a doctor, and by the village physician, his soul flew to
heaven about three in the afternoon. He was fifty-seven years old.
What consternation and grief for the whole convent! Let us
quote from the obituary published by Don Bosco at the end of the
Salesian Directory, 1875:
This worthy minister of the Lord was born of parents rich in worldly
goods, but even richer in the holy fear of the Lord. He wished to found
an institution which, after his death, would remind his beloved fellow
villagers of his love for them. In agreement with the local authorities
and with Don Bosco's consent he laid the foundations of a building for
the villagers' use-the future convent of the Daughters of Mary, Help of
Christians.
Having already sold most of his estate to support his many charitable
undertakings, he had to appeal to others, especially to the Salesian
Congregation, when he started the new building. Thus he saw his wish
fulfilled. Fired with priestly zeal, he consecrated his every effort and
what little life the Lord still granted him to the new congregation. . . .
Born wealthy, he became poor for the love of God. The Lord, who
rewards virtue and not wealth, certainly rewarded him with eternal
glory.
We too should learn not to overrate wealth and comforts; rather, we
should love poverty and work for God's glory. In his sermons and infor-
mal talks, Father Pestarino often repeated Our Lord's exhortation,
"Give alms from what you have." [Luke 11, 41] If you possess riches,
use them to make everlasting friends. Blessed is he because the Savior's
other words were also fulfilled in him: "Blessed are the poor in spirit
because theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [Matt. 5, 3]
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This good priest was highly esteemed and revered. Sister
Marietta Sorbone, a Daughter of Mary, Help of Christians who
had entered the convent just days before his death, stated that her
eyes were so swollen that she felt them popping out of their sock-
ets, so red with inflammation that they could bear no light at all,
and she had to remain closeted in a dark room. "On the day Fa-
ther Pestarino died," she wrote, "Mother Mary Mazzarello took
my hand, saying: 'Let us go to Father Pestarino. He will make
you well.' She led me to his corpse. With tears and prayers, she
passed the dead priest's hand over my eyes. Instantly the swelling
subsided and then disappeared. For the rest of the day she bade
me keep a cloth stained with his blood over my eyes. By the fol-
lowing morning I was cured."
The next day, Don Bosco sent Father Francis Bodrato, a
former village schoolmaster and a friend of Father Pestarino, to
Mornese to make the funeral arrangements. On the 17th Father
Cagliero, Father Lazzero and Charles Gastini arrived for the fu-
neral high Mass.
Father Pestarino was buried on the 18th, attended by the whole
village, and many priests and people of neighboring villages. A
week later, death's angel again visited the convent, taking one of
the pupils, Emily Chiara, a niece of Mrs. Blengini.
Don Bosco wrote to Bishop Sciandra:
Your Excellency:
Turin, May 22, 1874
The unexpected loss of our poor Father Pestarino has truly upset me.
I immediately sent Father Bodrato to Mornese because it is his native
village and he knows all the business affairs of our dear deceased friend.
I am now considering leaving Father Joseph Cagliero there; at present
he is spiritual director of our school in Varazze. He is fully commend-
able as to morals and learning and is a gifted preacher, but I would first
like to hear your own prayerful opinion.
It is understood that the convent at Mornese is always open to you if
ever you care to go to the country for a while. Indeed, I beg you to con-
tinue using that benevolent and fatherly authority which has been yours
up to now toward this house. I hope to go there before long. Please
remember us all in your prayers.
Devotedly yours,
Fr. John Bosco
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
On May 23, the new director, Father Joseph Cagliero, a cousin
of Father John, arrived from Varazze. But the painful trials or-
dained by the inscrutable designs of Divine Providence were not
yet over. On June 5, the first music teacher, Sister Corinna Ar-
rigotti, beloved and admired by all for her goodness and singular
virtues, passed away. Her death was also caused by the many suf-
ferings she had to endure in order to overcome the opposition she
had encountered in following her vocation.
8. AN UNFORGETTABLE VISIT
In the midst of these many trials, determined to set the new
congregation on a formal basis, Don Bosco paid a visit to Mor-
nese with Father John Cagliero toward the middle of June. Grief
filled the house [because of the recent deaths] and grief was the
tone of the inscription set over the main entrance: "Come, Fa-
ther! Your daughters await your coming like the sun after a terri-
ble storm."
Don Bosco was moved and with lowered eyes whispered to
those near him, "Does this house have any reason left for joy?"
Despite the grief, his welcome could not have been more re-
spectful and cordial, as a sister, a postulant, and then one of the
youngest girls greeted him in turn on behalf of each group of the
community. 1
Don Bosco warmly thanked them, saying that he had indeed
come to comfort them and attend the Month's Mind Mass for the
lamented Father Pestarino. He also informed them that he would
give a series of talks to candidates for the habit or for the vows
and would also formally set up a superior chapter since some
sisters would soon have to go to other places to fill the many
requests for kindergartens, schools and oratories for girls of
working families.
Thirteen postulants received their habit from Don Bosco's
hands and nine novices made their vows. Among the latter, two
were to be great assets to the congregation: Sister Emily Mosca,
a well-educated and exemplary young woman who would be assis-
I This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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tant general to the congregation for twenty-five years, and Sister
Enrichetta Sorbone, of Rosignano Monferrato, who entered the
convent at Mornese in 1872, was elected assistant in 1880, and
vicar general in 1881, an office which, God willing, she has now
[1939] held for fifty-eight years.
On June 15 Don Bosco attended the Month's Mind Mass for
Father Pestarino and then assembled the sisters for the election of
their superior. A crucifix was placed between two lighted candles
in the meeting room and, one by one, the sisters approached Don
Bosco and whispered to him the name of their choice. To the joy
of all Mary Mazzarella was the unanimous choice!
They proceeded then to elect the other chapter members with
the following results: vicar, Sister Petronilla Mazzarella;
economer, Sister Joan Ferrettino; assistant, Sister Felicina Maz-
zarella, Mary's sister; novice mistress, Sister Mary Grosso.
With his characteristic smile, Don Bosco closed the meeting by
saying, "I congratulate you on having been of one mind in select-
ing your mother superior. I could not have been more pleased."
He also agreed that they should call her "Mother," as they had
begun to do after Mrs. Blengini's departure, and he added that
they might so call also the other superiors. The ceremony ended
with the singing of the Te Deum.
That afternoon Don Bosco held another meeting with the
newly-elected superiors, encouraging them not to be dismayed by
recent losses but to see them as God-sent trials and a source of fu-
ture blessings. He expressed his satisfaction with the whole com-
munity's zeal for sanctity and gave them the following advice:
I exhort you to favor as much as you can the inclinations of novices
and sisters when assigning them duties. At times one may think it virtu-
ous to make a sister go against her natural tendencies with some task or
other, but this practice harms both sisters and congregation. Try to
teach them to mortify themselves and spiritualize these tendencies by
directing them to the glory to God.
He also repeated that he could not personally look after the
needs of their community because it would greatly expand, so he
appointed Father John Cagliero to represent him.
We think it proper to report here two specific statements made
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
by Bishop [John] Cagliero during the Informative Process for
Don Bosco's beatification and canonization:
Don Bosco always firmly maintained that boys were the special object
of his mission and only reluctantly did he concern himself with the spiri-
tual direction of women. This delicate reserve he carried to its extreme,
and he would not assume direct leadership of the Institute of the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians, which he had founded. He always ap-
pointed one of his priests to direct them in spiritual and material mat-
ters.
He kept this policy even in his later years, never dealing familiarly
with a girl, unless she was a little child, and even then I can state that he
did not linger with her, but after a few words of advice, he would bless
her together with her parents.
9. FILIAL DEVOTION
The circumstances we have recorded marked Don Bosco's
foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of
Christians. They are quite extraordinary and show that God guid-
ed him in this providential undertaking. He was astonished him-
self to see its expansion. "I recall," Canon John [Baptist] Anfossi
testified, "Don Bosco's surprise at the rapid growth of this con-
gregation, which, as he stated, was doubtless not his own doing,
but a special intervention of Providence. " 1
Don Bosco's visit brought joy to all. A few days later, the
mother superior, sisters, novices, postulants and pupils expressed
in writing their heartfelt gratitude on the occasion of his name
day. Their letters were accompanied by some handiwork from the
sisters. 2
With this comfort, the Lord prepared new afflictions for the
community; in August the new director, Father Joseph Cagliero,
fell gravely ill. Don Bosco sent a note to Father Rua from St. Ig-
natius' Shrine:
1We are omitting a letter of Don Bosco to a benefactress telling her of the fervor at
Mornese and of the sisters' needs. [Editor]
2This sentence is a condensation. We are also omitting a circular of Don Bosco to pious
ladies who used to make their spiritual retreat with the sisters at Mornese, informing them
that from then on they would make it apart from the sisters. [Editor]
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Dear Father Rua,
August 8, 1874
Please send someone to help Father Cagliero, and if possible the
[Oratory] infirmarian too.
Hasten the mail about the spiritual retreat for women and teachers.
We need to pray and to pray hard.
God bless us all. Good-bye until Friday, God willing.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Some days later the mayor of Mornese received the following
request from the brigadier of the carabinieri of the township of
Castelletto d'Orba, province of Alessandria:
Castelletto d'Orba, August 12, 1874
Please send this department information on your village's convent and
girls' school directed by Don Bosco of Turin. At whose expense was it
built, and how long has this Institute been operating? Does it have a
staff doctor and has any school inspector ever visited the school, as is
customary with similar institutions?
Ciro Stamari, Brigadier
Undoubtedly this inquiry had been prompted by the news that
a number of ladies were to meet in the convent of the Daughters
of Mary, Help of Christians, where the director lay seriously ill,
and where, during the course of the year, four deaths had oc-
curred. The mayor gave a prompt reassuring reply, we presume,
because the matter ended there.
The ladies' retreat, preached by Father John Cagliero and Fa-
ther [Mark] Mallarini, vicar forane of Canelli, was held most
edifyingly from August 22 to August 29.
On September 5 [1874] Father Joseph Cagliero died at the
youthful age of 27. Loving peace and quiet as he did, he felt that
he had found his heaven on earth at Mornese, far from worldly
din. His sickness, endured with full resignation, lasted over a
month. He received such excellent medical care that he com-
plained, "With such lavish attention what happens to the poverty
befitting a priest?" On a visit his father asked that he return home
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
with him, ,but the reply was, "I could receive no better care any-
where else. Not even a prince could be treated better!"
His unexpected death brought endless grief to our members.
Deeply saddened, Don Bosco wrote to the priest's brother, Cae-
sar, then a young cleric, as follows:
Dear Caesar:
Turin, September 8, 1874
I readily grasp your consternation and that of your parents over the
untimely death of your brother Joseph. I can understand it because of
the grief we all feel at the Oratory and in the houses. This is a test to
which God wishes to subject us. It has pleased Him, and so it came to
pass. Will it or not, we must adore the Lord's decrees.
But this holy death, the reward of a holy life, should comfort us. Tell
your father that his son Joseph is now his patron in heaven, and that
within a short time he will see him again, in far better condition than he
was in this earthly life.
I shall pray for you and your parents. In turn, pray for me. I hope to
be in Lanzo next week. Best wishes to all of you.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Meanwhile he promptly arranged for Father John Cagliero, a
cousin of the deceased, to go to Mornese temporarily. Shortly af-
terward he sent Father James Costamagna, outstanding in zeal
for the rules, who quickly came to admire the singular virtues of
Mary Mazzarello.
Indeed, anyone who knew her closely reached the same conclu-
sion. We report here Father Lemoyne's observations exactly as he
jotted them down:
Mary Mazzarello's virtues and activities led one to think highly of
her. She had a fiery nature tempered by sweetness and charity. She had
acquired great self-control and had learned to live constantly aware of
God's presence. She was careful to the extreme not to fail in either word
or deed. Outstanding was her common sense, sanctified by a supernatu-
ral love for souls. She would tolerate no singularity in the practices of
piety, displaying mature judgment, clear-sightedness, quickness of deci-
sion, and strength of will-power. Frank and outspoken in expressing and
holding to her opinions, she was equally submissive to Father Pes-
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tarino's decisions. She was sensitive but impartial to all. Her manner
was unworried and lively, but under control; her bearing was at once
unaffected and dignified.
She was not well educated because Mornese had no school for girls.
She could read, but not write.3 However, she had an excellent memory
and keen intelligence. Surprisingly she could calculate on her fingers
faster than others could on paper.
As a child she had always excelled in knowledge of the catechism and
in remembering her pastor's catechetical instructions. If asked, she
could answer promptly. She paid strict attention to the Gospel explana-
tions and the Sunday instructions, remembering them distinctly. Her fa-
vorite readings were the spiritual works of St. Alphonsus and of Father
[Joseph] Frassinetti....4
She was a very keen, level-headed and discerning peasant girl, yet
very humble. The March 1882 issue of the Bollettino Salesiano had this
to say about her: "Like a resplendent lamp, she cast the light of her
good works upon all. Primarily she was most diligent in seeing to the
observance of the rules and to preventing the slightest abuses from en-
tering in, comparing them to holes in a boat which gradually let it fill
with water and endanger the lives of those in it."
Bishop Costamagna was spiritual director at Mornese for three
years. He had the highest regard for the exemplary life of that
convent, exclaiming, "Truly that was a holy house. At its helm
stood a saint, Sister Mary Mazzarello. Who can worthily sing her
praise?"
Among the saintly traits of this chosen servant of God, Pope
Pius XI, in the decree of her heroic virtues, singled out her humil-
ity:
Humility was verily the characteristic trait of the Venerable Mary
Mazzarello, and a profound humility at that! She never lost sight of her
humble birth, state of life and undistinguished work. Her humility was
such that we wonder what God could find, so to speak, in a humble soul
-a truly deeply humble soul-to entice Him and lead Him to perform
lofty miracles through so lowly a channel.
3She quickly learned how to write from Emily Mosca. Her handwritten letters in our
possession prove her intelligence. [Author]
4Joseph Frassinetti (1804-1868) founded the Congregation of the Sons of Mary Immac-
ulate for the formation of holy priests. He was the pastor of St. Sabina Church in Genoa
and wrote several ascetical works. His cause of beatification was introduced in 1939. [Edi-
tor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
This frail, simple, poor peasant girl, who had hardly had an elementa-
ry education, soon manifested a singular, distinguished talent-that of
leadership. It was a rich talent indeed! And she had it to such a degree
that St. John Bosco, the famous Don Bosco, an expert appraiser of men
and a master in the art of government, saw it without delay and put it to
good use. The wisdom and effectiveness of that choice were proven both
in the firm, sound foundation of the new Institute of the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians, and in its rapid, surprising growth and devel-
opment.5
From the day she vowed herself to Mary, Help of Christians,
she strove after sanctity by taking Don Bosco as a model and car-
rying out his wishes.
"Let us live," she often repeated, "in the presence of God and
of Don Bosco. . . . This is what Don Bosco wishes! He speaks to
us in God's name and this is what we must do.'
Indeed, this was the secret of the Institute's wondrous develop-
ment: fidelity to the guidelines and advice of its holy founder in
all things!
The year 1874 marked the opening of the first house at Bargo
San Martino and the entrance into the Institute of the postulant
Catherine Daghero of Cumiana. Having heard of Don Bosco's
new religious family from her cousin, Father Joseph Daghero, a
Salesian, she overcame her serious doubts and dedicated herself
to that family with such exemplarity and generosity that in 1881
she was elected to succeed Mary Mazzarella. She wisely ruled the
congregation for forty-three years.
In Don Bosco's lifetime, three of his grandnieces also entered
the congregation: Rosina, Clementina, and Eulalie, daughters of
Francis and Angela Bosco. The first two passed on to their eter-
nal reward in their youth in 1892, while Eulalie was for many
years local superior, provincial, economer and councilor of the
Superior Chapter.
At Mary Mazzarello's death, the Institute had 26 houses, 139
sisters, and 50 novices. At Don Bosco's death it had 50 houses,
390 sisters and 99 novices, and at Father Rua's death it had 294
houses, 2,666 sisters, and 255 novices. Presently (December 31,
1938) it has 799 houses, 8,244 sisters and 738 novices!
5Cf. Decree Postquam Deus, May 3, 1936. [Author]
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More than a hundred Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians
are still alive who knew the holy founder and retain the most
cherished memories of him.
10. FOND RECOLLECTIONS
Since Don Bosco extended his anxious care to the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians, it is only fitting, if not dutiful, to
climax this part of his memoirs with a few simple but meaningful
anecdotes that will be both interesting and helpful to our future
members.
Don Bosco considered a [religious] vocation to be a singular
gift, and he used to tell his nuns:
"Sister, this is a great grace from Mary, Help of Christians, and you
are therefore deeply indebted to so good a Mother."
"Observe the constitutions even in small matters. Do good! Do every-
thing well! Pray devoutly, and carry out each menial duty well in the
kitchen or in the workshop."
"Consider every item of the rule as a memento of me. Keep working
without expecting an earthly reward. God's reward will be immensely
superior to your merits!"
"Work, work, and yours will be a handsome wage at the end of your
life."
He always had a kind word for all, especially for those assigned
to the humblest tasks. To some who worked in the kitchen of the
Salesian school at Borgo San Martino and had asked him for a
memento, he said, "Complain of neither cold nor heat. It's not
wrong to say occasionally 'How hot it is!' or 'How cold it is!' as
long as it is not in a tone of complaint. This is my memento for
you."
Another time he exclaimed, "Let me teach you holy pride. Yes,
holy pride! Each of you is to say, 'I want to be the best of all,' but
don't believe that you are so. With all good will, say, 'I will never
lower myself by committing sin. I want to die working!' Do you
understand? Let each of you strive to be the best of all by avoid-
ing every deliberate fault and by being happy to die while working
for God's glory!"
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Are you all happy?" he would say on other occasions. "I rec-
ommend holiness, health, knowledge and cheerfulness! Become so
many St. Theresas, all of you. Remember that the devil fears
cheerful people; he will try to discourage you because of all you
have to do."
Addressing sisters in a workshop, he cheered them by saying:
"While darning the socks of our young rascals, say to yourselves,
'These little feet will jump all about heaven!' While washing
dishes and doing all sorts of chores, you'll save many a soul!"
Naturally, we all have to suffer something in this world, no
matter what our state of life, but if we are true Christians and
want to deserve eternal happiness, we must imitate Jesus Christ
also in suffering. On this score, Don Bosco often said: "We must
all carry our cross as Jesus did, and ours is made of the afflictions
we encounter in this life! I know that some of you suffer a great
deal, but remember that our earthly thorns will turn into heavenly
roses."
He taught and admonished them with singular grace: "Take
care of little things! Look at a sack of rice! As long as the sack is
in good condition, it will stand upright, but if it has a small hole,
it will lose iis grains little by little, and the hole will increase until
the sack at last falls over. . . . So with us. If we are not careful in
small things, we fall into bigger sins little by little."
One day a sister in the kitchen moved a pot and happened to
stain her white bodice with broth. Don Bosco noticed it and re-
marked that those few drops had spoiled her dress. "The same
can be said of the soul," he remarked. "Even one little stain can
keep it from heaven."
In a Salesian school on the occasion of a special holiday,, the
sisters had one day bought a basket of luscious apples and placed
them on the window sill of the pantry. Suddenly they disap-
peared. Seeing Don Bosco, the superior asked him, "Father, do
you know what the boys did this morning? We had gotten some
very nice apples for the guests' dinner and the boys stole them
all!"
"It's not their fault," he calmly replied. "The fault is yours.
Tell the prefect that Don Bosco wants an iron grating over that
window without delay! Remember never to put boys in the oc-
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295
casion of doing something wrong. That is what Don Bosco's pre-
ventive system means."
At all times he was a good father and a model teacher!
He admired poverty, but wanted every necessary care given to
those in need. A very frail sister wished to return home for health
reasons. After urging the community to work for the Lord with
zeal, love and generosity, and to pray with faith and fervor, Don
Bosco went on, "The Lord has never let us want for what we
needed in health or sickness. If the doctor says that your diet
must have chicken, then the congregation will provide chicken.
Help me keep things going!"
Nevertheless, he always tried to avoid exceptions. One morn-
ing, after a lengthy spell of confessions, he was offered a cold
drink. "Don Bosco is not thirsty," he said with a smile, "and if he
were, cold water would suffice!"
Another time he was offered a cup of coffee with a whipped egg
yolk. He accepted it and began putting sugar into it.
"Father," the sister simply remarked, "I already put sugar in
it!"
"Don't you know that Don Bosco must copy the sweetness of
St. Francis de Sales?" he smilingly replied.
One morning at Lanzo he had breakfast with the director, but
only Don Bosco's cup had egg yolk whipped into it. He offered
his cup to the director. "Take this one," he said, "because Don
Bosco must set a good example. Besides, I don't need it." The
director would not take it, forcing it back upon Don Bosco. Don
Bosco took it, obeying like a child.
Bishop James Costamagna narrated another incident even
more charming:
Toward the end of 1874, the first offshoot of the motherhouse at Mor-
nese was transplanted in the Salesian school of Borgo San Martino.
Some months later, Don Bosco went for a visit. Sister Felicita Maz-
zarello (sister of the superior general) promptly went to him, rather
upset. "Don Bosco, what shall we do?" she asked.
"What's wrong?" asked Don Bosco.
"The director insists that we serve two courses at dinner. He claims
that if we do not eat a little more, we shall not last long here because
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
there is so much to do. But at our house in Mornese only one course is
served and everyone is happy and content. What are we to do-listen to
the director or do as we did at the motherhouse?"
"This is a grave matter," Don Bosco answered with mock seriousness.
"We must think it over well before giving a definite answer. Of course,
the director is to be obeyed; on the other hand, the customs of Mornese
also demand respect. I too am puzzled. Anyway, before I decide, let me
see today's two courses."
They brought them to him at once because it was almost dinner time.
Don Bosco emptied both plates into one and gave it to the sister. "This
should rid you all of fears," he said. "The two courses are now one.
Neither the director nor the motherhouse will have reason to be hurt." 1
There would be no end to all the little instances which the
Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians who knew Don Bosco still
recall. Certain that they will be published in some little volume to
perpetuate their memory, we limit ourselves to mentioning only a
few other noteworthy recommendations.
Don Bosco graciously reminded and urged the sisters to give
his regards to their parents when writing home: "In your letters,
tell your parents that Don Bosco prays for them, and always give
them my regards. Our Lady blesses those families who have given
their daughters to this congregation. . . . When you write to your
parents, tell them that Don Bosco sends them his regards and that
all those who have Salesians or Daughters of Mary, Help of
Christians [in their families] will be saved up to the third and
fourth generation.''
He also declared, "If the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary,
Help of Christians are faithful to their vocation, you will see what
wondrous results Mary, Help -of Christians will achieve through
them!"
But along with the promise of very abundant blessings, he also
spoke of the frightful woes which they would encounter if they
strayed from the path marked out for them. Cardinal John Cag-
liero heard him say this:
As long as the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary, Help of Chris-
1Cf. G. Costamagna, Lettere confidenzia/i ai Direttori delle Case Sa/esiane de/ Vicaria-
to sul Pacifico, Santiago, Escuela Tipografica Salesiana, 1901, pp. 283f. [Author]
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tians dedicate themselves to prayer and work and practice temperance
and poverty, the two congregations will do much good. But if by some
mischance they become lax and shy from work to seek life's comforts,
they will have run their course; they will slip into decline and fall apart.2
It is superfluous to add anything to this. The reader will under-
stand the warning of our holy founder in all its beauty and gravi-
ty....
2ln Don Bosco's own Memoirs from 1841 to 1886, the basic recommendation to all
Salesians is this:
"Love poverty if you wish to keep the finances of the congregation in good shape.
"See to it that no one can find reason to say: 'This furniture is far from poor. These
meals, these clothes, this room do not befit a poor person.' Anyone who gives a reasonable
motive for such remarks brings disaster upon our congregation, which is always to glory in
its vow of poverty."
At the end of this precious manuscript, eyeing the future, he explicitly added: "When
comforts and ease will rise among us, then our pious Society will have run its course."
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CHAPTER 7
Definitive Establishment of the
Sa/esian Society-1871-1874
DoN Bosco used to say that our Society really began
in 1841. In 1874 he wrote:
This Society is now thirty-three years old. It was born and bred in
stormy times and places, when all religious principles and authority,
especially that of the Supreme Pontiff, became targets for destruction.
In fact, all religious orders and congregations of men and women were
being disbanded, all collegiate chapters suppressed, and all the real es-
tate and property of seminaries and episcopal residences confiscated.
One might say that religious and priestly vocations were non-existent in
those years.. ·.. In 1852 our Society was approved by Archbishop
[Louis] Fransoni. Finally, in 1858, Pope Pius IX, a man who deeply
probed into methods of Christian education, drafted our Society's basic
rules.
It is clear that Don Bosco saw the Salesian Society's origins in
the immediate, cordial cooperation of laymen and priests in his
apostolate for youth. They were soon followed by his own pupils
who, prompted by heartfelt gratitude, generously resolved to stay
always with him and consecrate their whole life to God.
But let us not forget the pains and toil it cost him to give his
Society a formal religious basis and the many hardships he had to
endure even after obtaining the Holy See's definitive approval.
He put it succinctly: "Had I anticipated the heartaches, toil, op-
position and frustration that one must go through to found a
religious society, I might not have had the courage to attempt it."
1. THE FIRST RULES
Though the Salesian Society was born with no forethought, as
we have recalled, Don Bosco decided to cast it into a form com-
298
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 299
patible with the times, a congregation of exemplary priests and
laymen who would be linked by simple promises. However, Pope
Pius IX, whom Don Bosco called his "co-founder," pointed out
that if this institution was to keep united in spirit and action, it
would have to become a regular congregation; its rules might be
easy, but it would have to have the bond of religious vows. It
could even be called simply a society. He urged Don Bosco to
revise his rules accordingly,1 and Don Bosco complied. At an-
other audience he submitted the revised constitutions to the Holy
Father. 2
We cannot say just what the revisions were. Volume V of these
Biographical Memoirs has a version entitled: First Constitutions
of the Society of St. Francis de Sales, Submitted by Don Bosco
to Pius IX in 1858. 3 Undoubtedly this is the oldest copy extant,
but there may have been an earlier one. On his return to Turin,
Don Bosco read and reread the copy he had submitted to the
Pope; again and again he diligently went over it, so~much so that
we have been able to collate more than a dozen different versions,
all handwritten, all preceding the first Latin copy which was
printed at the Oratory in 1867.
In his work Don Bosco relied also on the rules of other ancient
and modern religious congregations, such as the Congregation of
the Charity Schools (The Cavanis Institute), the Rosminians and
the Oblates of Mary.4
The oldest version extant is that published in Volume V of
these Biographical Memoirs. It is in the hand of the cleric
Charles Ghivarello and contains many revisions and additions of
Don Bosco who, on Pius IX's advice, immediately dropped the
word "Congregation" for "Society." Another version, also writ-
ten by the cleric Ghivarello, is a clean copy of the foregoing and
has further amendments and additions of Don Bosco, plus sub-
sequent ones by Father Rua. It also contains three additional
chapters, entitled respectively Habit, Externs, and Formula of
Profession. Another copy, later than that sent to Archbishop
Fransoni in Lyons in 1860, has additional revisions and a new
1See Vol. V, p. 561. [Editor]
2/bid., pp. 596f, 608f. [Editor]
3/bid., pp. 635-645. [Editor]
4This paragraph and the next three are condensations. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
chapter concerning the election of the Rector Major.
A further version is that sent to Rome in 1864 which earned the
Decretum Laudis5 along with thirteen observations which
required modifications and additions to the rules. Two other ver-
sions, likewise in Italian, followed the Decretum Laudis. The
first, in Don Bosco's hand, has several revisions, including some
by Father Rua, and a complete rewriting of the chapter on the
election of the Rector Major; the second is simply a clean copy of
the former.
Finally we have three other handwritten versions in Latin. The
first has many amendments by Father Francis Cerruti, and a few
by Don Bosco, with Father Cerruti's complete translation of the
chapter De Rectoris M aioris Electione; the second copy, edited
for its Latin by Professor Vincent Lanfranchi and examined by
Don Bosco, incorporates all of Father Cerruti's amendments; the
third is a clean transcript of the second, and is almost identical to
the first version printed by the Oratory Press in 1867.
2. EVER FORWARD!
Immediately after the granting of the Decretum Laudis dif-
ficulties arose in regards to ordinations.
"Until then," Don Bosco declared, "our members were or-
dained by bishops according to the sacred canons. Upon request,
bishops gladly released the ordained priest to our houses, in re-
turn for the several clerics who went from our houses to the dioc-
esan seminary. Things changed after the granting of the Deere:..
tum Laudis, in virtue of which doubts arose about the candidate's
ordination for the Salesian Society or for the bishop. He could be
ordained neither for our Society because it could not issue dimis-
sorial letters, nor for the bishop because the ordinand belonged to
a religious society. . . ."
What was to be done? One solution remained: to petition the
Holy See for a definitive approval of our Society. In fact, in 1869,
after five long years "of uncertainties and difficulties," Don
Bosco, bearing commendatory letters from twenty-four bishops
and a Latin copy of the constitutions published in 1867, filed his
5See Vol. VII, pp. 425f. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 301
petition and obtained the definitive approval of the Salesian Soci-
ety, but not of the constitutions. That was postponed. Still. as the
Decree of March 1, 1869 stated, the Holy Father, "kindly acced-
ing to the petition of Father John Bosco, granted him, for ten
years, the faculty of issuing dimissorial letters for tonsure and
both minor and major orders to those students who had been ad-
mitted or would be admitted to any house of the aforesaid Con-
gregation, prior to their fourteenth year, and who in due time
joined or would join the aforesaid Congregation."
Certainly this was a very outstanding favor. But what about the
students who had entered or would enter our houses after their
fourteenth year? . . . This caused and intensified the problems in
view of the ever increasing number of members. To overcome
those problems, and especially to forestall them, Don Bosco ap-
pealed to the Holy See through the good offices of Monsignor
Manacorda, the future bishop of Fossano, who, knowing the ease
with which Joseph Cardinal Berardi could reach and influence the
Pope, used to entrust all his petitions to him. After all, it was
Cardinal Berardi, "that great and well-deserving prelate," who
had "formally advised Don Bosco to petition for the definitive ap-
proval of his Society."
In 1871 Don Bosco sought authorization to issue dimissorial
letters for several members of our Society who had entered our
houses after their fourteenth year. Pius IX consented by exception
and asked Cardinal Berardi to so inform Don Bosco. The latter
went to Rome shortly afterward for Pius IX's silver jubilee of
pontificate and had several talks with the cardinal on the present
and future condition of the Church in Italy. In July of that year
he again applied for advance authorization to grant dimissorial
letters for ten more candidates who had entered or would enter
the Salesian Society. The cardinal gave him to understand that he
had obtained this faculty only with difficulty.1
Meanwhile Catholics in Rome hoped to see the papal state
soon restored. Don Bosco, who kept sending confidential mes-
sages to the Holy Father in those years, usually saw to it that
Cardinal Berardi was kept informed.
Thanks to the faculty to grant dimissorial letters for a limited
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
number of members who had entered our Society after their four-
teenth year, all obstacles seemed momentarily overcome.
On returning from Varazze, Don Bosco entrusted all matters of
ordinations to Father John Cagliero, catechist, who continued to
benefit by the kindness of Monsignor Manacorda, even after the
latter left Rome for Fossano. At first, making minor errors in
sending necessary documents and in drafting the dimissorial let-
ters, he was graciously corrected by Monsignor Manacorda. In
turn, he cheerfully and gratefully received these corrections.2
This friendly interchange between prelates and various con-
freres of ours began to fade in the case of Archbishop Gastaldi,
who until then had been most friendly. During his tenure as bish-
op of Saluzzo he was most amiable to all our confreres, but on
becoming archbishop of Turin he immediately changed into quite
another person.
The first to notice this was Father James Costamagna when he
conducted a spiritual retreat for the pupils of La Generala3 during
Easter of 1872. At the closing of the retreat, Archbishop Gastaldi
celebrated Mass and administered confirmation. After the cere-
mony, Father Costamagna greeted him with the same easy cor-
diality he used when the archbishop had been first a canon and
then bishop of Saluzzo. Amiably he asked about his health, his
sister and niece, and many other things, in the presence of the
chaplain, the director and others. The archbishop stood stone-
faced and just stared with serious dignity. Father Costamagna
was shocked and kept his peace.
Some moments later, the archbishop asked him almost re-
proachfully, "Who are you?"
"I am Father Costamagna, who used to play and sing at Lanzo
when Your Excellency used to visit us so graciously."
The archbishop said not another word, contenting himself with
a haughty stare, as if to say, "Remember who I am, and keep
your distance," and then began to converse with others.
Father Cagliero, too, experienced this change in the archbish-
op. He often acted as Don Bosco's messenger to him, and one
day, while waiting to be introduced, he was told by the attendant
that His Excellency would receive him as Father Cagliero, not as
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
3A boys' reformatory in the outskirts of Turin. See Vol. V, pp. 140-146. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 303
a Salesian. "There is no Father Cagliero who is not a Salesian!"
he quickly retorted, loudly enough to be heard by the bystanders.
He excused himself and left.
What had happened? Archbishop Gastaldi of Turin was no
longer the friend and confidant of the Salesians, but their imme-
diate ecclesiastical superior who had begun to cherish the idea of
keeping the Salesian Society under his full personal jurisdiction.
On several occasions, when Don Bosco let him know how anx-
ious he was to open negotiations for the Holy See's definitive ap-
proval of the Salesian constitutions, the archbishop never failed to
mention the conditions under which it could be obtained. Still,
deeply admiring our holy founder and intimately convinced, as he
often declared, that God's hand was clearly evident in the Sale-
sian Congregation, he assured Don Bosco that he would gladly
help him as in the past, though he was adamant in his intention of
keeping the Salesian Congregation practically under his full con-
trol.
3. FIRST STEPS
It was imperative that Don Bosco act, and so he wrote to Car-
dinal Berardi, his friend, beseeching that he confer with the Holy
Father and find out whether he considered it opportune to initiate
regular proceedings toward obtaining a definitive approval [of the
Salesian constitutions].
On receiving an encouraging reply, 1 Don Bosco immediately
set about revising the 1867 version of the constitutions which he
had sent to Rome in 1869, when he had first petitioned the Holy
See for their definitive approval. Suggesting no further change,
Monsignor Stanislaus Svegliati, secretary of the Sacred Congre-
gation of Bishops and Regulars, insisted on full adherence to the
thirteen observations sent to him in 1864,2 and Don Bosco com-
plied. It was hard work, and it was not final.3
10mitted in this edition. [Editor]
2See Vol. VII, p. 425. [Editor]
3We are omitting all the complicated details of this revision. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
4. UNFORESEEN DIFFICULTIES
While Don Bosco, dreaming of his goal, kept at his task as-
siduously, the archbishop refused to yield. At first he assured Don
Bosco in a very courteous letter that he was always ready to help
him "succeed in obtaining full approval of the Vicar of Christ,"
but then he went on to ask him that he send the chancery docu-
ments proving the validity of dimissorial letters granted to those
Salesians who had allegedly entered the Oratory before their
fourteenth year. He also requested Don Bosco to make sure that
all ordinands would present themselves for "an examination in at
least two entire treatises of theology . . . to vary for every or-
dination," though it was a general rule that dimissorial letters ex-
empted religious from such examinations. Here is his letter:
Very Reverend and dear Father,
Turin Seminary, October 24, 1872
You know through long experience how deeply attached I am to the
Congregation you founded. I saw it grow like the grain of mustard seed,
and I never failed to support it whenever I could, since I considered it-
and still do-an undertaking inspired by God. You are also aware of my
protection of your Congregation while I was bishop of Saluzzo, so as to
obtain the Holy See's assistance and approval. Now that Divine Provi-
dence has elevated me to the archepiscopal see of Turin, I will very glad-
ly continue my assistance, so that it may obtain the Holy Father's full
approval. Nevertheless, even in promoting what is good, I must not in
any way fail in my duty. Mindful of the fact that good must be done in
the right way, I can only follow set rules, even at the risk of doing vio-
lence to my heart's inclinations.
The decree of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars of
March 9, 1869 authorizes you to issue dimissorial letters only to those
youths who entered the Oratory prior to their fourteenth year. It is
therefore absolutely necessary that pertinent documentation be submit-
ted to my chancery. Moreover, both the Council of Trent, Session 23,
Chapter 12, and the Roman Pontifical prescribe that "religious should
not be ordained without the bishop's diligent scrutiny."
In view of this, please instruct all members of your Congregation who
wish to receive tonsure and the minor or major orders to report to me
personally, at least forty days before ordination, with a certificate,
signed by you or your deputy, containing the following information:
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 305
name and surname of the student, father's name, birthplace, diocese of
birth or to which he may now belong under any title, exact age, year of
entrance into the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales which you founded,
number of years spent in the study of Latin, literature and theology and
where such studies were pursued, and likewise the year and day on
which he took or renewed triennial vows. Furthermore, each student
shall report for an examination in at least two entire treatises of theolo-
gy which will always differ according to each ordination and will deal
with the order they are about to receive. . . .
I could demand that your pupils attend lectures at my seminary, as
specified in the instruction of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and
Regulars of March 3, 1869, but I trust that the result of their examina-
tions will give such evidence of diligence and knowledge of theology as
to make the observance of that prescription unnecessary.
Wishing you all prosperity and God's blessing in your holy undertak-
ing, I remain in great esteem,
Devotedly yours in Christ,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop
Don Bosco's reply must have overflowed with anguish, but,
convinced that he was only doing his duty, the archbishop replied
the same day in kind but firm words:
Very Reverend and dear Father,
Turin Seminary, November 9, 1872
I am deeply distressed that you feel so grieved as to be unable to find
rest or relief. Surely you desire nothing less than to do God's will. He
who seeks nothing but this is never perturbed, no matter what happens
to the business he has at hand, but he serenely watches events, eager
only to wipe away any offense of God of which he may himself be guilty.
You wish to see your Congregation firmly established. Your wish will
be fulfilled, for the Lord has clearly indicated that such is His will, but
in order to reach this excellent goal, one must avail himself of suitable
means and not have recourse to those which would only obtain an op-
posite effect. The good name, continuity and growth of the Congrega-
tion of St. Francis de Sales, founded by you, depend first and foremost
on a good novitiate in which the members are trained in every virtue,
just as jewels are fashioned by the craftsman with chisel, hammer and
file. If there is no such novitiate, or if it does not resemble, at least to a
great extent, that of the Society of Jesus, your Congregation will lack
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
stability. This is the gist of what I shall say to the Holy See when the oc-
casion will demand it. Presently your Congregation lacks this novitiate.
With very few exceptions, its members were not trained by the founder,
save in a minimal manner; and all too often complaints are made that
many of these members lack virtue, especially humility, which all the
faithful expect to see in a religious worthy of this name.
I deeply regret to add that, in my opinion, such complaints seem quite
justified. A good religious is one who cannot be fashioned except
through lengthy and most careful training. This calls for a good novi-
tiate, which I do not think the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales has
as yet. I shall therefore be unable to support the Holy See's approval of
this Congregation, except under the express understanding that such a
novitiate be established.
Furthermore, while acknowledging that religious orders should rightly
be exempt from episcopal authority in all they need for their existence
and prosperity, I am nevertheless averse to unnecessary exemptions,
particularly when they are harmful. Such, in my opinion, is the exemp-
tion that would prevent bishops from carefully examining ordinands,
though the Council of Trent and the Roman Pontifical expressly order
bishops to do so. Unfortunately, little by little, abuses gained a foothold
in this matter and now force themselves as privileges, but the sad experi-
ence of the many religious, now disbanded, who lack the necessary doc-
trine and virtue required of good ministers of the Church clearly shows
that things were conducted haphazardly in this matter up to now and
that it is high time that we adhere scrupulously to the prescriptions of
the wise fathers of the Council of Trent.
Please understand that it is my intention to build, not to demolish, to
cooperate in what is good, not to obstruct. Therefore be of good cheer
and persevere light-heartedly in doing what you feel called to do by the
Lord. In the face of complaints do not be perturbed, but rather examine
them to see if they are justified and strive to correct what needs correct-
ing. If you meet with difficulties or humiliations, do not feel resentful, at
least externally, or permit any of your Congregation to feel that way ei-
ther, but let all of you be convinced that the most effective way to win
and triumph is to be patient, to pray and to humble yourselves before
God and men. Thus acted the sainted founders of religious orders, and
this has to be done too by those who intend to follow them in similar
foundations.
I felt I must write this in reply to your last letter. God bless you, your
Congregation and all your undertakings.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 307
The archbishop's explicit declaration not to favor the definitive
approval of the constitutions until a good novitiate had been regu-
larly established presented Don Bosco with many problems. He
had to contend with obstacles on the part of the government too.
"We have a novitiate," he declared, "but the present laws and the
place in which we live do not allow us to have a separate building
used exclusively for this purpose." The novitiate year, which we
called "testing period," was spent in a part of the motherhouse at
Valdocco. During this period, whenever necessary, the novices
were used to teach catechism, supervise pupils, conduct day or
evening class, and prepare boys for Confirmation, Communion,
and serving Mass.
Two weeks later, after mature deliberation, Don Bosco sent
this reply to the archbishop:
Your Excellency:
Turin, November 23, 1872
I thank you most heartily for the letter which you kindly deigned to
write. It did not mitigate my grief, but it did at least reveal some reasons
for your attitude in recent times in regard to my poor self and all the
members of the Society of St. Francis de Sales. You have reduced the
complaints to two: the lack of a good novitiate and the lack of religious
spirit in our members. These two points call for clarification both for me
and for Your Excellency, so please bear with what I am about to say.
Before the Holy See approved this Congregation, I had lengthy talks
with Monsignor Svegliati and Cardinal Quaglia, and finally with the
Holy Father. One evening Pius IX had me explain at great length the
reasons why, in my opinion, I considered this new Congregation to be
willed by God. I gave him all the answers he wanted. He then asked
whether such a Congregation could possibly survive in this day and age
among people who want to suppress such institutions. "How could you
have a house of studies and a novitiate?" he asked. I told him what I
had said to you only a few months earlier, namely that I did not intend
to found a religious order for penitents or converts who needed moral
reform. My intent is to gather boys and adults of long-proven morality
for eventual admission to our Congregation.
"How can you succeed in that?" interrupted the Holy Father.
"I have succeeded so far," I replied, "and I hope to continue as
regards the postulants we admit to our Society."
We draw our applicants from boys educated and trained in our houses
-country boys who have usually been selected and recommended by
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
their pastors because of their good moral qualities. Two-thirds of them
eventually return to their homes. Those we keep are trained in studies
and piety for a period of four to seven years, and even after such a
lengthy preparation only a few are admitted to the novitiate. For exam-
ple, this year one hundred and twenty boys completed their rhetoric
course in our houses; of these, one hundred and ten entered the clerical
state, but only twenty remained in our Congregation, the rest being
directed to their ordinaries.
Once admitted to the novitiate, our postulants have to spend two
years here in Turin, with daily spiritual reading, meditation, visits to the
Blessed Sacrament, examination of conscience, and a brief nightly talk
delivered by me, rarely by others. This applies to all postulants alike.
Twice a week there is a conference expressly directed to the postulants,
and once a week there is a conference for all members of the Society.
Learning of this, the Holy Father felt quite satisfied. ··God bless you,
my son," he said ... Keep up what you are doing, and your Congregation
will attain its goal. Should you encounter difficulties, let me know and
we shall find a way to overcome them."
As a result of this the decree of approval was issued and you have
seen it. On our part, we have carried on what was stated above.
From what I have said I think you will readily see that though we do
not have a novitiate in name, we have one in fact.
You add that, save for very rare exceptions, no members of the Sale-
sian Congregation seem to have the necessary virtues and that they are
especially deficient in humility. Humbly and respectfully I ask you to
point out such members to me by name, and I assure you that they will
be severely admonished, and only once. This is something that must be
brought to light-something that has been unknown to me until now
and unknown to Your Excellency until April of this year. Until that
time you saw, heard, read and, we might say, ran everything of impor-
tance in this house. Up to that time, both in public and in private, in
speaking and in writing, you always declared that this house was an ark
of safety for youths, a place where they could learn genuine piety and
other fine things. On this score I would like to say more things which I
do not wish to entrust to writing but which I hope to say in person,
whenever you can give me a hearing.
I thank you for your benevolent words. They are my only comfort.
Most gratefully yours in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
After drafting this reply, one night, while pacing up and down
in his room with Father Berto, he asked, "Have you seen the let-
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 309
ter that I am sending the archbishop?"
"Yes, Father."
"Just think! It was I who had him appointed bishop of Saluzzo
and then archbishop of Turin. I did all I could with the Holy See,
and especially with the Italian government which in no way would
accept him. And now see how he treats me! What letters he
writes! Everything was fine when he was bishop of Saluzzo. Then
he changed completely. He is surrounded by counselors like Fa-
ther Soldati who are hostile to us. How mutable are men! But this
too will pass. We are well liked in Rome. . . ."
Father Berto offered some comfort, but Don Bosco went on:
"It would not matter at all were he an enemy of mine trying to
thwart me, but it hurts because he is my friend." He then quoted
this passage from Scripture: Si inimicus meus ma/edixisset mihi,
sustinuissem utique ... tu vero, homo unanimis, dux meus et
notus meus. . . . " [If an enemy had reviled me, I could have
borne it . . . but you, my other self, my companion and my
bosom friend-Ps. 54, 13-14].
Certainly no one could have thought that Archbishop Gastaldi
would turn out this way. It is equally evident that he did not in-
tend to oppose or thwart Don Bosco, but thought it his duty to
act as he did.
Some days later, in fact, he invited Don Bosco to become a
member of the Academy of Church History he was planning to
found, and Don Bosco humbly accepted, suggesting that all
members be well known for their unlimited veneration and at-
tachment to the Holy See. Indeed, in 1874 he did become a
charter member, but he did not receive the appropriate diploma
until after the archbishop's death-a compliment and an insult. 1
At the beginning of December, the archbishop sent a Christmas
pastoral letter with various directives. The first, which aimed at
preventing disorders, forbade under automatic church penalties
the celebration of the customary three Midnight Masses in any
church where doors were left open for anyone to go in or out. It
also forbade all instrumental music. Don Bosco, who had ob-
tained this privilege for his houses from the Holy See in 1862,
first for seven years and then in perpetuity, so informed the arch-
I This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
bishop and also asked whether he would ordain a cleric during the
forthcoming ember days.2 Courteously but curtly the latter re-
plied:
Dear Reverend Father:
Turin Seminary, December 19, 1872
I readily allow you to use the faculty of administering Holy Commu-
nion during the Christmas Midnight Mass in your Oratory in Turin and
in other places of the archdiocese, provided that doors be closed to the
general public. I do not allow, however, the celebration of three Masses
even with closed doors because I dislike any action contrary to what the
Church has ordained ab immemorabili, namely that there be one Mass
during the night, one at dawn, and a third later in the day. I would like
your new religious Congregation to observe this ancient custom faith-
fully.
As regards the cleric Bruna, please have him report to me tomorrow
between 9 and 10 A.M.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop
Urgently needing an answer about ordination, Don Bosco
wrote again on December 20 before receiving his reply.
In turn, the following day, the archbishop, after reconsidering
the matter of celebrating three Masses during Christmas night,
replied that he would allow the three Masses in all Salesian
houses as long as the church doors were closed during their cele-
bration. Promptly Don Bosco informed the confreres, benefactors
and friends of this concession.3
Meanwhile the new version of the constitutions along with a
brief outline of the current state of the Salesian Society had al-
ready been typeset for Don Bosco to submit them to the Holy Fa-
ther with his petition for their definitive approval. As agreed upon
in several conversations, Don Bosco sent the archbishop a copy of
the galley proofs along with the most cordial good wishes of all
the Salesians and pupils for the forthcoming Christmas holidays:
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 311
Your Excellency:
Turin, December 23, 1872
At your gracious suggestion I am sending you galley proofs of the
Brevis Notitia4 which I intend to print and send to all members of the
Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars along with a copy of the
constitutions. Galley proofs of the latter will be mailed to you, although
you have already seen them. If you wish me to print your letter of com-
mendation in the Brevis Notitia for easier reading, please have it sent to
me. You may find some typographical errors in the enclosed galleys, but
they will be diligently corrected.
All members of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales, together
with the boys entrusted to their care, unanimously wish you a Merry
Christmas and implore God to grant you constant good health.
Most gratefully yours,
Fr. John Bosco
The archbishop had not yet drafted his letter of commendation
and did not think it should be included in the short history of the
Salesian Society.
This Brevis Notitia was a reprint of the Notitia Brevis Societa-
tis Sancti Francisci Salesii et Nonnulla Decreta ad Eamdem
Spectantia [Brief History of the Society of St. Francis de Sales
with Pertinent Decrees], published in 1868 and already submitted
to the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars.5 It was up-
dated to bring it in line with the growth of the Society and con-
tained the following declaration:
Lastly, our most benevolent archbishop, eager to add another to the
many important tokens of his favor he has granted us, praised the Sale-
sian Society in lofty terms, and in a decree of December 25, 1872 he
conceded parochial rights to the motherhouse and the adjacent Church
of Mary, Help of Christians, at the same time confirming and increasing
the privileges granted by his predecessors.
And now our archbishop and all the bishops of the ecclesiastical prov-
ince of Turin, together with very many others, appeal for the definitive
approval of the Salesian Society.
4A brief history of the Salesian Society. [Editor]
5See Vol. IX, p. 170. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
The archbishop read the proofs and returned them, frankly in-
forming Don Bosco that he was determined to keep the Salesian
Society under his jurisdiction and that his letter of commendation
had been drafted in this sense. With these words he presented a
copy to him. Don Bosco was astonished to find in it, after lavish
praises, four conditions that gave definite guidelines to the Sacred
Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, but he did not lose heart.
Steadfast in his intention, the archbishop drew up a new plan.
Confident of persuading other bishops to join him, he wrote a
confidential note to each bishop in Piedmont and to those who
had a Salesian house in their dioceses, stating the conditions they
were to keep in mind in drafting their commendatory letters,
should these be requested of them, for the approval of the consti-
tutions of the Society of St. Francis de Sales.
Bishop [Joseph] De Gaudenzi of Vigevano told Don Bosco of
this, frankly stating that he did not share the archbishop's opin-
ion. In turn, Don Bosco asked him to send him a copy of the let-
ter. Meanwhile he wrote to Monsignor Emilian Manacorda, in-
forming him of developments and telling him that he would arrive
in Rome between February 12 and 15.6
The bishop of Vigevano did send Don Bosco a copy of Arch-
bishop Gastaldi's letter, and we report it here:
Your Excellency:
Turin, January 11, 1873
The Very Reverend Father John Bosco of my diocese, wishing to ob-
tain the Holy See's definitive approval of his Congregation, has asked
me to support his petition to the Holy Father with a letter of recommen-
dation. I obliged with the following observations:
1. In my opinion, no members of the aforesaid Congregation should
be admitted to Holy Orders before pronouncing perpetual vows. Other-
wise, since they can leave the Congregation after ordination and be
without a patrimony, many may be tempted to join and make their tri-
ennial vows solely to complete their clerical studies at no expense and be
ordained. Then, at the expiration of their vows, they might return home
and offer their services to any bishop willing to accept them.
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 313
2. The norms controlling the novitiate should be such as to guarantee
the formation of religious well rooted in virtue, as is done in the Society
of Jesus.
3. Members of the Congregation who are to receive minor or major
orders should submit to the prescriptions of the Council of Trent, Ses-
sion 23, Chapter 12. The Pontificale Episcoporum De Ordinibus Con-
ferendis gives the same prescriptions. These ordinands, therefore, should
not claim to be ordained unless they are first examined by the bishop or
his delegate.
The bishop should also have the right to visit the churches and ora-
tories of the Congregation to ascertain whether they conform in every-
thing to church laws and whether the obligations attached to pious
legacies are fulfilled.
I am acquainting you with these things in the hope that, should you be
asked for a similar recommendation, you may see fit to state these same
conditions. In my opinion, they are indispensable if harmony is to be
maintained between the houses of this Congregation and their respective
bishops once, as I hope, the approval will come through.
Yours devotedly,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop
In the face of this oppos1t10n, Don Bosco was almost deter-
mined to suspend all efforts for a definitive approval. He there-
fore wrote to Monsignor Manacorda for his and for Cardinal
Berardi's advice.7
They replied that he was to forge ahead fearlessly. Still, he
prudently suspended the printing of the new constitutions until the
return of the archbishop, with whom he wanted to have another
talk. Meanwhile he wrote to the bishops of Casale, Albenga,
Genoa and Savona, and to the archbishop of Genoa, who had
Salesian houses in their dioceses, as well as to his dear friend,
Bishop De Gaudenzi of Vigevano, requesting a letter of commen-
dation that he could enclose with a petition that he was about to
submit to the Holy See for the definitive approval.
When Archbishop Gastaldi returned, Don Bosco wrote to Fa-
ther Chiuso [his secretary]:
7We are omitting this letter which repeats the aforesaid. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Dear Father,
February 17, 1873
Kindly tell the archbishop that I am leaving for Rome tomorrow
morning and that if there is anything I can do for him there, to get it
ready.
He would greatly oblige me if he would allow me a brief audience this
afternoon or evening.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
When Don Bosco was received, he immediately told the arch-
bishop that he would gladly be of service to him in Rome. The
archbishop gave him a copy of the letter of commendation he had
already sent to the Holy See for the approval of the Salesian So-
ciety.
Don Bosco read it and was deeply alarmed to see that it con-
tained more conditions than the previous letter of recommen-
dation did.
In fact, after repeating the [laudatory] statements he had made
[about the Salesian Congregation] while bishop of Saluzzo,8 he
went on to say that he wished the approval of the Salesian Con-
gregation to be subject to six explicit conditions, of which the last
was truly incredible:
1. The founder was to submit the definitive draft of the consti-
tutions.
2. These constitutions were to specify clearly how the novitiate
should be run.
3. No member of the Society was to be admitted to Holy
Orders before taking perpetual vows.
4. Candidates for Holy Orders were to be first examined by the
ordaining bishop, in conformity with the prescriptions of the
Council of Trent.
5. The bishop should have the right to inspect all the churches
and chapels to ascertain whether the sacred canons and other
church prescriptions were observed in all of them, and the obliga-
tions of pious legacies were scrupulously fulfilled.
6. The new Congregation should be exempt from episcopal ju-
8See Vol. VIII, p. 383. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 315
risdiction only to the extent necessary for its exi~tence, but no
more; for the rest, episcopal rights and duties were to remain per-
petually in force.
Don Bosco was so shocked that he gave the archbishop to un-
derstand that he might abandon any idea of submitting his peti-
tion for approval. He then left for Rome where, after stopovers at
Parma, Piacenza, Bologna and Florence, he came to know that
Archbishop Gastaldi had sent the following personal letter to
Cardinal Caterini, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the
Council:
Your Eminence:
Turin Seminary, February 19, 1873
The Very Reverend John Bosco of Castelnuovo in my diocese, found-
er of a congregation of priests which already has obtained a temporary
approval from the Holy See, has asked me to support his petition for the
definitive approval of his Congregation. He intends to submit this to the
Holy Father. I consented and gave my letter of commendation, of which
I enclose an original with my signature. In it I express what I deem es-
sential for the good of the Congregation and the preservation of peaceful
relations with the clergy of the dioceses where this Congregation may
expand.
The founder of this Congregation regarded these conditions as unac-
ceptable and told me that he would therefore leave things as they are for
the time being and submit no petition. Since the intention of the afore-
said founder was known in Rome, and inquiries will probably be made
as to why he changed his mind, I am sending you my commendation for
your perusal and judgment.
I am convinced that in this Congregation:
1. A regular novitiate is necessary; otherwise it will be impossible to
train men capable of keeping this Congregation in existence or in a
flourishing state.
2. Philosophical and theological studies must be much more serious
and sound than they have been hitherto.
3. No member should be admitted to Holy Orders before making
simple perpetual vows, from which the superior may dispense in the
name of the Supreme Pontiff. If they were admitted, as they now are, to
Holy Orders after taking only triennial vows, it is obyious that many
could enter this Congregation with no intention of remaining there, but
solely in order to become priests at no expense. Then, at the end of their
three-year term, which may expire immediately upon ordination, they
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316
THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
could leave and oblige bishops to accept them as they are, without hav-
ing been trained by them and perhaps holding opinions widely different
from those of the diocesan clergy.
I am therefore of the opinion that things should be left as they are for
the time being, allowing Don Bosco to issue dimissorial letters to
members who entered his Oratory prior to their fourteenth year, but it
would be wise to stipulate that only those who have taken perpetual
vows should be admitted to sacred orders.
Most respectfully yours,
+Lawrence, Archbishop
But the Lord was with His servant who, living in constant union
with Him, accepted both roses and thorns with equal serenity!
5. PRESENTATION OF THE PETITION
Don Bosco's arrival in Rome, Father Berto wrote, instantly
revived the enthusiasm of 1867 when Father Francesia had ac-
companied him.1
"The Pope, cardinals and other prelates-Father Berto con-
tinues-are very interested in seeing our Congregation quickly ex-
pand and meet the needs of society."
In fact everyone encouraged Don Bosco to proceed with the ap-
proval of his constitutions. The Holy Father himself, in their first
meeting on February 27, which lasted an hour and a quarter,
urged him to push forward undaunted.
"If it depended only on him," Don Bosco told Father Berto
later, "all would be promptly settled."
In the meantime Father Rua was urged to speed the mailing of
the new constitutions, then at the Oratory Press.
The one who generously helped him draft the petition to the
Holy Father and prepare pertinent documents was Archbishop
Vitelleschi himself, secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Bish-
ops and Regulars.
1See Vol. VIII, pp. 258-308. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 317
Though Don Bosco was in Rome, the Latin petition was dated
"Turin, March l, 1873." It read as follows:
Most Holy Father:
Turin, March 1, 1873
The Salesian Society which you founded, directed and strengthened
with your help and counsel now implores new favors of your great
goodness. The constant practice of the constitutions of this Society over
a period of some thirty years, the great difficulties and dangers it has
overcome, and its wondrous growth are all so many indications of God's
hand, as the bishops have recognized in their letters of recommendation.
Two things above all are now desired to complete the work: the defin-
itive approval of the constitutions and the full authorization to issue
dimissorial letters. They are the two favors I implore most humbly and
prayerfully.
In order that the current state of the Congregation may be ascer-
tained at a glance, the following enclosures are submitted:
1. A brief history or collection of documents regarding this Congre-
gation.
2. Several copies of the last edition of the constitutions.
3. A few explanations of several slight modifications which experi-
ence has shown to be very useful for the growth and consolidation of the
Congregation.
In your goodness and benevolence please add whatever you find lack-
ing.
All the members of this Congregation, proud to be your sons, while
placing this matter confidently in God's hands, fervently and personally
implore God to complete His work and inspire you to do whatever He
may judge best.
Meanwhile, prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, happier than all, I
remain,
Your most humble son,
Fr. John Bosco, Rector Major2
In his petition Don Bosco made no reference to new commen-
dations, but he soon received those he had requested and prompt-
ly passed them on to Archbishop Vitelleschi.
The first, which came from the bishops of Casale and of
Savona, were fully favorable and unconditional. The letter from
2We are omitting details about the items listed under No. 3 of the petition. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Bishop De Gaudenzi of Vigevano could not have been more ex-
tensive or cordial. Likewise, the one from Bishop Siboni of Al-
benga was most favorable. Only the archbishop of Genoa leaned
toward the views of Archbishop Gastaldi, though acknowledging
the beneficial results of the Salesian Hospice at Sampierdarena.3
While in Rome, Don Bosco begged Monsignor Manacorda to
add a brief recommendation of his own. This prelate, having no
time for it because of his manifold duties, drafted a letter as he
was returning to Rome from a trip to Assisi. He then made a good
copy immediately and had it sent to Don Bosco on March 11.
Without delay Don Bosco passed it on to Archbishop Vitelleschi,
with a reminder that there would be no others.
The prelate submitted all recommendations to the Holy Father,
who, after glancing at the names of the writers, picked that of
Bishop Manacorda and handed it to him, saying, "Read it!" He
listened attentively and was so delighted that he felt he did not
need to look at the others. "So, let us make Don Bosco happy,"
he exclaimed.
Noteworthy was Bishop Manacorda's reference to the novi-
tiate. After mentioning the various beneficial undertakings of the
Salesian Congregation, he added:
These and other fruits are owed to this excellent institute in which the
members are trained during the novitiate by the rector with daily confer-
ences and practices of piety while diligently pursuing their studies for the
common good. We have said "novitiate," to which we add "less obvious
than others," but a true novitiate such as is befitting and is demanded by
the good of the institute and of souls. It is obvious that running a novi-
tiate openly and glaringly under the eyes of those who would destroy
monastic orders would only be jeopardizing its very existence. . . . Fur-
thermore, the fact that at least a hundred pupils every year manifest a
priestly vocation and considerably add to the numbers of young men
who form the Church's hope in the seminaries of Piedmont proves that
Salesians are excellently trained in the novitiate. The pupils who enter
the seminaries are to be admired not only for their number, but especial-
ly for their piety and formation.
These letters of commendation made an excellent impression.
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 319
Although the observations expressed by Archbishop Gastaldi also
verbally still raised some doubts, it was promptly decided to turn
the constitutions over to a consultor for his examination so that
he might pass his verdict on them. "Our constitutions are now
under scrutiny, and we hope for a successful outcome," Father
Berto wrote to Father Lemoyne on March 12. In side notes he
added the following details. On a visit to Monsignor Fratejacci,
the talk turned to the negotiations for the definitive approval of
the constitutions of our Society. "I believe that the archbishop of
Turin will do a lot for you," the monsignor remarked.
"Far from it!" Don Bosco replied.
"Why not? It was you who proposed him as bishop of Saluzzo,
and then as archbishop of Turin!"
"Ah, Monsignor, I too can say like Coriolanus' mother, 'Had I
not had a son, I would not now be a slave!' Had I not made him a
bishop, I would now be having less trouble."
"I never knew that he was opposed to religious congregations,"
the monsignor added.
"True, they are not all faultless, but what is needed is reforma-
tion, not destruction."
"He ought to be admonished," the monsignor went on.
"He has been, and by the Holy Father himself. He was sus-
pending -priests right and left for trivial matters and continues to
do the same in Turin. See, he forces us to submit for censorship
arithmetic textbooks, almanacs and similar publications. He
keeps them for a long time and we have to wait and wait."
"I am really surprised, but I did notice during the [Ecumenical]
Council that he wore a cassock somewhat longer than usual on
the Council's session days and that made me wonder a little.
There is always the danger that this sort of person may turn to
Jansenism. I am sorry for you! I recall what you told me about
the bishops you had proposed. 'He is the holiest of all the bish-
ops,' you remarked about Bishop Galletti. 'And this is the most
learned,' you said of Bishop Gastaldi. Poor Don Bosco! I really
sympathize with you."
In truth, the path ahead still loomed long and steep, rocky and
thorny. He left Rome on March 22, arriving at the Oratory on
March 30. There Father Cagliero told him what happened when,
during his absence, he called on Archbishop Gastaldi to arrange
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
for ordinations. After a short, friendly talk, the archbishop re-
marked: "By the way, the seminary rector, Father Soldati, tells
me that a priest of yours came to the seminary and with his bois-
terous talk hurt the feelings of the superiors and scandalized the
seminarians."
"Forgive me, Your Excellency," exclaimed Father Cagliero. "I
did not know about this, but I do know that we sent Father
Bologna who has a loud voice and always talks loudly even at the
Oratory. He comes from a mountain village and has never lost
the habit of shouting."
"Well, admonish him anyway, because it is unseemly."
"I certainly will, Your Excellency, rest assured. Still, I do not
see why Father Soldati, a schoolmate of mine, should run imme-
diately to Your Excellency on such trivial matters. He could have
told me about it, and we would have remedied the situation."
That did it! The archbishop flung the list of candidates for
Holy Orders which he held in his hand to the floor and burst into
a string of invectives lasting over an hour.
When he finished his tirade, Father Cagliero picked up the
papers in silence, bowed, and withdrew with lowered head. From
that day on he found that he had to assume a cold manner which
displeased the archbishop, who really esteemed him highly.
Don Bosco, too, found him inclined to overreact in other mat-
ters. One day he had hardly been ushered into the archbishop's
office when the latter who was writing exclaimed, "Don Bosco, I
have a very serious matter at hand."
"I believe that everything the archbishop does is serious," Don
Bosco retorted.
"But this is exceptionally so! I am about to sign a document
concerning a canon!"
"A promotion?"
"Far from it! This is a suspension a divinis!"
"Please, do think it over very carefully...."
"The matter is a grave one, and the information I have re-
ceived is very precise."
"May I ask who this canon is?"
"So and so."
"Of Chieri?"
"Yes, of Chieri."
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 321
"Your Excellency, bear in mind that he has an excellent repu-
tation. The whole of Chieri knows and loves him. It would be a
scandal! Ecclesiastical authority would lose in prestige!"
"And yet, this has to be done," the archbishop resolutely stated.
And suspend him he did. The matter concerned a chapel. The
canon was rather stubborn. When the suspension arrived, he was
beside himself, for he had expected nothing like it. He immediate-
ly called on Don Bosco, begging that he accept him in one of his
houses and shield him from disgrace. Don Bosco sent him to
Alassio, not without incurring the archbishop's displeasure.
6. NEW STUMBLING BLOCKS
All who knew Archbishop Gastaldi detected two personalities
in him: a public one, inflexible and authoritarian, and the private
one, generous, amiable, gentle-hearted. Such was his love and
zeal for souls and the splendor of priestly virtue that once he even
knelt before an unfortunate priest, who had left his vocation and
for some time lived with a woman, and begged him to return to
the right path, promising to provide for his living and the wom-
an's hapless family. Unfortunately his repeated efforts to save
that soul were unsuccessful.
The fame that Don Bosco enjoyed, the authority he naturally
exercised in all Salesian houses, and the special confidence the
Pope had in him-all seemed so many diminutions of episcopal
authority to the archbishop. Firmly resolved to stand up for his
rights, he continually overreacted in making decisions. God per-
mitted this to happen so that Don Bosco might constantly ad-
vance by leaps and bounds along the path to perfection and ever
better structure our Society.
One day he asked the archbishop for a [written] statement that
he was not holding ordinations on Sitientes 1 Saturday, so that he
could send deacons Louis Lasagna and John Baptist Baccino, two
of his future missionaries, to another diocese for ordination as
priests. The archbishop's reply was in his own hand, unsigned,
and was delivered by his secretary. It read as follows:
•The Saturday before Passion Sunday in the old liturgy. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Whenever any member of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales
reports to the chancery of Turin for promotion to Sacred Orders or to
obtain the required authorization to be ordained in another diocese, he
must submit a certificate from the superior of the aforesaid Congrega-
tion or his representative, specifying the surname, name and age of the
candidate, his birthplace and diocese. Moreover, the superior or his rep-
resentative must testify:
1. That the candidate entered the Congregation of St. Francis de
Sales before his fourteenth year.
2. That he has made his triennial vows and they are still in force.
3. That he has successfully passed his examination.
4. The reason he did not report on the day when the archbishop was
holding ordinations.
Such certificates are to be submitted for the two deacons Louis La-
sagna and John Baccino.
[This reply was accompanied by the following note:]
Very Reverend Don Bosco:
Turin Seminary, April I0, 1873
His Excellency has instructed me to inform you that he can issue no
declaration unless you certify that the two above-mentioned ordinands
successfully passed in this chancery the examination required for the
order they expect to receive on the forthcoming Holy Saturday.
Yours devotedly,
T. Chiuso, Secretary
The archbishop could not demand this theology examination
because the Council of Trent reserved the right to the ordaining
bishop. But since the attempt to have members of our Congrega-
tion ordained in other dioceses on days when the archbishop him-
self was not ordaining seemed a trick to him-whereas it was
truly an urgent need of our Society-he was informed that the
two deacons would report for examination. However, fully deter-
mined to block the whole matter, he declared that the application
was to be submitted forty days in advance! It was impossible, and
so he was again asked to declare that he would not be holding or-
dinations on Holy Saturday, but he would neither admit the dea-
cons to examination nor accede to the request.
Soon after, he again demanded that the ordinands report to
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 323
him forty days in advance in order to be questioned in regard to
their surname, name, birthplace, locality where they had pursued
their studies prior to entering the Congregation, number of years
of their membership, whether they had taken triennial or perpetu-
al vows and when, their motives for entering the Congregation,
whether or not they were happy, the reason why they had left the
diocese, and so on. Such was truly a detailed examination into the
internal affairs of the Congregation, as if it were a simple dioce-
san institution!
Such procedures caused some ordinands to worry and hesitate
and led others to abandon their vocation. Still, for the sake of
peace, it was thought wiser to comply with the demands, even
though they violated church discipline.
The archbishop relentlessly complained that Don Bosco cul-
tivated vocations for himself, not for the diocese. One day, when
speaking of the dire need of vocations with several people in the
Convitto Ecclesiastico, he shook his head, exclaiming, "I know a
place where youths are trained for every other purpose than that
of helping the diocese!"
Everyone grasped the allusion. Hearing this, Father Ascanio
Savio, who taught moral theology, produced a list of priests at-
tending the Convitto and pointed out that only four of them had
not been educated in Don Bosco's Oratory.
"You always come out with something new!" the archbishop
commented.
"You too, Your Excellency!" Father Savio smilingly retorted.
That same month, the archbishop again wrote to Cardinal Biz-
zarri, prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regu-
lars, listing a long series of complaints and demands in order to
block the definitive approval of our constitutions, which, as he
knew, were then being examined:
Your Eminence:
Turin Seminary, April 20, 1873
I consider it my grave duty to inform Your Eminence and, through
you, the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars of the state of
affairs existing in the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales, founded by
the Very Reverend John Baptist Bosco, a priest of my diocese. In the
matter of this Congregation, I would very much like to learn from Your
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Eminence whether it is to be considered as approved by the Holy See
and therefore entitled to enjoy the privileges and rights of regulars, or as
simply enjoying the benevolence of the Holy See. In the latter case such
privileges as might have been granted would be temporary concessions
ad experimentum, not to be equated with privileges granted to regulars.
This Congregation was founded with the consent of Archbishop Louis
Fransoni of Turin; it continued with the consent of his successor, Arch-
bishop Alexander Riccardi, and it now has my consent because I wish it
to prosper and carry on with all my heart for the Christian education
and training of youth. Nevertheless I have not yet approved its rules,
nor was such approval requested of me or of any of my predecessors. In
fact, I do not feel I could approve the rules as they stand now and as
they have been printed this year by the aforesaid Congregation, because
they are very deficient in the matter of a good novitiate, without which
this Congregation will never have good religious generally, and con-
sequently will never enjoy a future guarantee of solidity and prosperity.
In my opinion, Don Bosco is very much in error in this matter of a
novitiate. I would think that all those who intend to take vows in a
congregation should be trained specifically for two years in humility and
self-abnegation, and that in order to attain full self-indifference, which is
the substantial characteristic of a religious, they should apply themselves
to special ascetical exercises, as is usually done in religious orders, espe-
cially in the Society of Jesus. Don Bosco seems to think that if he
admits to vows only those who attended his schools as children and have
been carefully observed every day for some seven or eight years, and
have always been found to be modest, pious, chaste, docile and mor-
tified, this is enough to declare them qualified to take vows. In my
opinion this is a mistake, because the knowledge gained of these boys
over such a long period may well show them to be excellent Christians,
but it does not guarantee that they have been formed to that spirit of
sacrifice, constancy in abnegation and self-indifference, without which
they will never persevere as religious. Many members of the Society of
Jesus have attended its colleges as boys for seven, eight and nine years,
but they are not exempt even from one single day of novitiate.
Because of the lack of a proper novitiate, some Salesians who had
taken their perpetual vows and seemed most determined to persevere
have already left the Congregation. When I sought the reason, they
replied that, not having had a proper novitiate, they had been unable to
develop an adequate religious spirit in themselves.
Furthermore this Congregation, with no intent to do so, considerably
upsets the ecclesiastical discipline of this diocese, and I fear that it will
do the same wherever it may establish itself. Why? Because its superior
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 325
has the faculty to admit youths to ordination if they entered his schools
prior to their fourteenth year and have already made triennial vows,
even if they do not have a patrimony. If the ordinands were to renew
vows and remain in the Congregation after their triennial vows have ex-
pired, everything would be fine. But it happens only too often that some
youths, unable to afford the seminary fees, enter this Congregation,
study gratuitously and are ordained under the title of common board;
then at the expiration of their triennial vows, they leave the Congrega-
tion and report to their bishops for incardination. Meanwhile they lack a
patrimony and the training they received is questionable. Was it on a
par with the education imparted in the diocese? I wouldn't be so con-
cerned if at least it had been Don Bosco himself who had examined
them and had also taught them himself. But no, it was someone else who
did not have Don Bosco's mind, eye or spirit. When I was at Saluzzo, a
person of my diocese was ordained in this Congregation, and a very
short time afterward he was expelled for his intemperate drinking, which
is still a problem for him. I therefore think that the faculty of admitting
to ordination youths bound only by triennial vows offers an all too easy
way of pursuing one's studies to young men who have no intention at all
of becoming religious, but who look to the religious life as a means of
livelihood. By joining Don Bosco's Congregation, they find a way to be
ordained without spending a cent, and once their triennial vows expire,
they report to their bishop, seeking both a position and a livelihood. In
deference to their priestly status, the bishop must perforce provide for
them even though he may have rejected them when they first applied to
assume the clerical state.
The problem worsens because of another faculty which Don Bosco
claims to have, namely that of presenting for Holy Orders youths who
entered his Congregation after their fourteenth and even after their
twentieth year. Some clerics who were dismissed from the seminary go
to Don Bosco and he takes them in without their bishop's explicit con-
sent. Then he sends them to teach in one of his schools in some distant
diocese, such as Varazze in the Savona diocese, or Alassio in the Alben-
ga diocese. While teaching, these young men study theology and in due
course are presented by Don Bosco to the local bishop who ordains them
with no further inquiry. Finally, when their triennial vows expire, the
young men return home as priests, while their ordinary has had nothing
at all to say in the matter. Indeed he may have dismissed them as un-
suitable.
Lastly this Congregation cannot have priests properly trained in phi-
losophy and sacred subjects because most of them pursue these studies
as clerics while teaching Latin or other subjects. Furthermore, though
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
the Holy See has ordered all the theology students of this Congregation
who resided in Turin to attend lectures in the archdiocesan seminary, a
way was found to dispense them from this prescription. So, in conclu-
sion, I would suggest:
1. That the rules of this Congregation be examined by the archbishop
of Turin for his approval. Should he deny it, he should state his reasons
for doing so to the bishops of Casale, Savona, Albenga and to the arch-
bishop of Genoa, where Don Bosco has houses, in order that an agree-
ment may be reached among them.
2. That Don Bosco be stopped from presenting any ordinand unless
he entered his schools prior to at least his sixteenth year and never left
them.
3. That he likewise be not allowed to present for ordination to sub-
deacon anyone who, besides fulfilling the requirements listed under No.
2, has not yet made his perpetual vows in the Congregation, these vows
being dispensable by the Supreme Pontiff.
4. That all theology students be required to attend classes for at least
four years in the seminary of the town in which their house is situated,
and that consequently no theology student be assigned to places where
there are no seminaries.
5. That prior to their ordination, all ordinands presented by Don
Bosco be bound to report to the bishop of that diocese, proving with
proper documentation that they entered the schools of the Salesian Con-
gregation prior to the age of sixteen and never left them, and that they
made their perpetual vows (if they are to receive major orders) and have
attended courses at the seminary. Then, they should be diligently ex-
amined by the bishop in compliance with the prescriptions of the Coun-
cil of Trent, Session 23, Chapter 12.
After submitting all these observations to the wisdom of the Sacred
Congregation, and primarily to Your Eminence, I will conclude by say-
ing that I am sorely afraid that unless prompt steps are taken, this
Congregation, because it lacks appropriate discipline, sound theological
formation and hence well-trained members, will be unable to survive,
and will at most live on until its founder dies. Then it will collapse,
dashing the hopes of its many well-wishers who have made great sacri-
fices to help its establishment.
I think I can count myself among them because, having seen it rise
and grow under my own eyes, I have supported it with my ministry as
priest, professor and bishop, as well as with my money. I have always
encouraged the founder, sustaining him with praise and approval, and
overlooking the Congregation's shortcomings so as not to dishearten
him. In addition, I did not have jurisdiction in the matter then. Because
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 327
of our sorry times I thought I could close an eye to the defects in view of
the immediate good results it produced, hoping that Divine Providence
would supply needed remedies. But now that this Congregation is part
of my diocese, I feel bound to examine things as they really are. I notice
that, notwithstanding its development, it is still far from having the
desired solidity, and I think it is my strict duty to manifest this state of
affairs to this Sacred Congregation, which is the instrument that God
will certainly use to rectify whatever is needed to make it sound and dur-
able.
Most respectfully yours,
+Lawrence, Archbishop of Turin
We need not refute certain assertions of Archbishop Gastaldi
because the reader will realize, as the narration progresses, that
they are exaggerated and untrue. It is enough to cite the example
of a resident of his diocese who was ordained a priest when he
was bishop of Saluzzo. This priest never belonged to the Salesian
Congregation but was ordained by Bishop Gastaldi, with the
required patrimony, against Don Bosco's advice.
As to his assertion that there was absolutely no novitiate, it
should be stressed that the novitiate was made in those days in the
best way possible. For in the early years of the Congregation
aspirants to the Society were accustomed to work on behalf of
boys by sharing their life in the study hall, dormitory, church,
playground and ,on walks, by enduring every sacrifice, and by
teaching in day or evening schools, while they kept up with their
own studies. It was not possible to do otherwise in those days. As
to practices of piety. we may say that they lasted from dawn to
dusk. Bishop Ghilardi of Mondovl knew of the life being led in
the Oratory. Father Durando, while staying with the bishop dur-
ing his spiritual retreat before ordination, was several times asked
to walk with him. "But what about my retreat?" he objected re-
spectfully. "What retreat?" answered the bishop. "You people at
the Oratory are always on retreat every day the year long!" In
short, even in this Don Bosco expressed his belief that it is better
to do good today as best we can than wait until tomorrow in the
hope of doing it better. "The best," he used to say, "is the enemy
of the good."
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
The archbishop was worried by the thought that Don Bosco
might receive full authorization to issue dimissorial letters, and
hence he proposed that he issue them exclusively for those who
had entered Salesian houses prior to not tQeir fourteenth but their
sixteenth year, with no further extension.
Another thing that nettled him was to see clerics leave the arch-
diocesan seminary and enter Salesian houses. Some left because
they felt the call to the religious life; others did so because of the
somewhat eccentric behavior of the rector, Father Soldati.
At this time, two clerics, Borel, or Borelli, and Angelo Rocca
had left the seminary. Don Bosco had accepted the former for a
few days' spiritual retreat to decide on his vocation. The following
week, in fact, he left the clerical state and returned to his family.
The other wanted to become a Salesian and Don Bosco sent him
to Lanzo to see whether he liked our way of life. The archbishop
learned of it and immediately had his secretary notify Don Bosco
that if those two clerics should ever ask to be ordained he would
never give his consent, and that he awaited a reply.2
Just what the reply was we do not know, but it certainly did not
succeed in soothing the archbishop, for he then had his secretary
issue the following explicit declaration:
Very Reverend Father:
Turin, May 7, 1873
His Excellency the archbishop wishes me to express his deepest re-
grets that he will not admit to ordination any members of the Congrega-
tion of St. Francis de Sales until you assure him that the young men
Borel and Rocca are no longer in any house of your Congregation, and
promise that you will no longer receive these or any other seminarians
of our diocese without the chancery's written consent.
Yours devotedly,
T. Chiuso, Secretary
In the Informative Process for Don Bosco's beatification Bish-
op Bertagna declared: "Don Bosco overlooked personal offenses
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor)
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 329
and most generously forgot them, but when opposed in his plans
for founding his Congregation, he did not always display the
same readiness to forget, nor did he pass it over in silence." Na-
turally he could not sometimes help but discuss these matters with
pious, learned priests from whom he sought advice. "Yet he was
so reserved," Father Rua testified, "that he would speak of these
matters only with those who had to know. Several of my con-
freres and I, who were always at his side, very rarely heard him
mention such things, because he would speak of them only to
those who had to help him in handling the unpleasant business,
such as secretaries and copyists."
But this letter of the archbishop so alarmed him that before
replying he went to Borgo San Martino for a three-day spiritual
retreat. Then he stated his case as if he were standing before
God's judgment seat. He wrote:
Your Excellency:
Bargo San Martino, May 14, 1873
The letters you sent me through your secretary, Father Chiuso, the
last especially, have given me much food for thought. To avoid a hasty
reply, I came here to Borgo San Martino to spend three days in spiritual
retreat, after which I now candidly manifest my reaction as though I
were present at God's judgment seat.
You sent me word that you will not admit to ordination any of our
clerics unless the cleric Borelli, who left two weeks ago, and the cleric
Rocca have been dismissed from our houses. Furthermore, you request
my formal promise that no one who has ever belonged to the diocesan
clergy of Turin shall ever be admitted to any house of our Congregation.
Since you give me no reasons, I believe I can make a few observa-
tions.
If these clerics have been expelled from the seminary, what does it
matter if they seek refuge in some religious house to reflect upon their
destiny or to prepare for an examination or to learn a trade that will en-
able them to earn a living? Should they be ostracized and forced into a
bitter fate because they have lost their vocation?
I think it would be wiser to help them find some place where they
have a chance to better themselves. This is what the bishops with whom
we are in contact have done and are doing. One might perhaps say that
these clerics should seek permission, thus solving all difficulties, but the
reply might be that forcing them to ask for permission puts a heavy bur-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
den upon them and on the congregation or house to which they seek ad-
mission. Besides, since this condition was not included in our Congrega-
tion's approval, its superior is not authorized to insert it, all the more so
since this permission has been requested several times and as often de-
nied. I feel you should rather realize that if these former seminarians are
told that they may not be received in any religious house by your order,
and must be driven from it, you would be making enemies of their
friends or relatives, especially since some of these clerics may have al-
ready started a course of study or be learning a trade.
Such a statement, which I do not consider I am authorized to make,
would erect a wall between the Salesian Congregation and the clergy of
this diocese to whose welfare it is especially dedicated and for which it
has been laboring for over thirty years. Should any ecclesiastical pre-
scription concerning such instances exist-I know of none-I will
promptly and unconditionally submit.
As for clerics who ask for Orders, I say that you must deny them or-
dination if you find them unworthy. If they are worthy, would you
perhaps reject them in reprisal, or for reasons unrelated to them per-
sonally, and thus deprive the Congregation, the Church, and your own
diocese of priests whom we so badly need?
I would think that this Congregation, which has unselfishly worked
for this diocese and since 1848 has supplied no less than two-thirds of its
clergy, does deserve some consideration, particularly because any cleric
or priest who comes to the Oratory does nothing more than change his
place of residence, and he still continues to work in and for the arch-
diocese of Turin. It is a fact that in the three instances when you refused
to ordain our clerics, you simply reduced the number of priests working
in this diocese.
Furthermore, I would remind Your Excellency that you and I have
people about us who are insidiously trying to wrest information from us
so that they can tell the world that the archbishop has severed relations
even with poor Don Bosco. In this connection, you are aware that but a
few days ago I made sacrifices, by no means insignificant, to prevent the
publication of certain derogatory articles.
I would also inform you that certain documents pilfered from govern-
ment files are circulating around Turin through a certain person's initia-
tive. They prove that if Canon Gastaldi was made bishop of Saluzzo, it
was at Don Bosco's suggestion, and that if the bishop of Saluzzo became
archbishop of Turin, it was also at Don Bosco's suggestion. They even
bear evidence of the difficulties that had to be overcome to achieve this.
There is also a record of the reasons why I championed you: among
others, the valuable help you gave our house and Congregation.
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 331
People are aware of how much we could do for one another if we mu-
tually agreed, and evil-intentioned persons would greatly rejoice to see
our friendship break up.
Now you might ask: What does Don Bosco want? Total submission
to, total agreement with my ecclesiastical superior. I ask nothing more
than what the Holy Father repeatedly told me on several occasions, and
what Your Excellency too said as bishop of Saluzzo: namely, that in
these trying times of ours a new congregation needs every possible lee-
way compatible with the ordinary's authority, and that in the face of dif-
ficulties it should be helped by advice and action as far as possible.
I have written this letter with the sole desire of saying what might
serve as a guide to both of us and promote God's glory. Nevertheless,
should any uncalled-for word have escaped me, I humbly beg pardon
and remain with deep veneration,
Your must humble servant,
Fr. John Bosco
But the archbishop held his ground and demanded that a state-
ment be issued specifying that no former seminarians of the arch-
diocese of Turin would any longer be admitted as clerics to the
Congregation without the chancery's consent, and he urged
Canon Marengo to try to persuade Don Bosco. Don Bosco yield-
ed, as follows:
[Turin] May 29, 1873
The undersigned, ever eager to gratify the wishes of His Excellency,
the archbishop of Turin, willingly declares:
1. That he will never admit as clerics into Salesian houses any former
seminarians of the Turin archdiocese, unless these youths have already
been received into the houses of this Congregation prior to their four-
teenth year, in conformity with the papal decree of March 1, 1869, or
unless they seek admittance in order to learn a trade or craft.
2. That such has been the rule hitherto, and that no exception whatso-
ever shall be made without the chancery's permission or consent.
3. In the belief that this faithfully interprets His Excellency's wishes,
this statement is made with the reservations and limits prescribed by the
sacred canons to safeguard the freedom of religious vocations.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
4. If further clarification is required, it will be supplied most prompt-
ly at a mere word from His Excellency, whose counsels shall always be
treasured by the undersigned.
Fr. John Bosco
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam
The reservations mentioned in No. 3 were not agreeable to the
archbishop; he rejected the statement and in every possible way
continued to look for means and ways to obstruct the approval of
the constitutions, again pressing the bishops of his ecclesiastical
province to support the conditions he had listed in his letter of
recommendation. [Bishop Formica of Cuneo, however, managed
to excuse himself from such a task.]3
Although all these obstacles were seemingly prompted by the
archbishop's sense of duty, they were obviously dictatorial and
overbearing, acting as so many piercing thorns in Don Bosco's
side.
That year the thirty-third edition of The Companion of Youth 4
appeared in print, with some "important additions," among
which Unita Cattolica5 cited "the arguments touched on in fifteen
chapters regarding the foundations of the Catholic faith in the
form of dialogue by the learned and pious author." Naturally, all
these additions were sent to the chancery for approval, and the
archbishop wanted to examine them himself. It happened that one
addition contained a poem by St. Alphonse. Immediately the
archbishop struck out a stanza, citing it as heretical. The protest
that those verses were by a doctor of the Church availed nothing.
"Monsignor Gastaldi is an archbishop, whereas St. Alphonse was
only a bishop!" the secretary told Don Bosco.
It was only natural that Don Bosco, although normally serene
and unperturbed even in the midst of the gravest trials, should
feel hurt and should occasionally voice that hurt. Our Lord too,
when driving the money-lenders from the temple they had pro-
faned, uttered severe words against them.
3We are omitting his reply to Archbishop Gastaldi. [Editor]
4A boys' prayerbook compiled by Don Bosco and first published in 1847 under the title
of II Giovane Provveduto. See Vol. III, pp. 6-18. [Editor]
SSee issue of August 7, 1873. [Author]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 333
On June 9, shortly before the hour for Benediction,6 Father
Berto was in the library with Don Bosco and remarked, "It seems
incredible that the archbishop who was so attached to the Oratory
has not set foot in it now for a year. How easily benefactors are
forgotten when they are no longer needed! I wonder if Mrs.
Maze7 knows about this."
"Of course she does!" Don Bosco replied. "When she visits
him, she asks for even the most trivial news of the Oratory. You
see, it is as Scripture says: Filios enutrivi et exaltavi, ipsi autem
spreverunt me [Sons have I raised and reared, but they have
disowned me-Is. 1, 2]."
Chimed in Father Berto, "Cognovit bas possessorem et asinus
praesepe Domini sui, Israel autem me non cognovit! 'The ox
knows its owner, and the ass its master's crib, but Israel has not
known me-Is. 1, 3]."
Father Berto then asked Don Bosco when Confirmation would
be administered.
"We will have to wait until we have found a modus vivendi
with the archbishop. It is ridiculous to say, as some do, 'If it is
God's will, things will fall into place without much ado.' But I
must find a way to make people understand what this will of God
is now. Meanwhile we keep going; with time everything will be
achieved."
So optimistic was his tone that one would think he knew the fu-
ture and was sure of the glorious outcome of his enterprise. So
stated Father Berto. He also added that on July 2, when "talking
with Don Bosco in his room, before retiring for the night," they
again spoke "of the strange behavior of the archbishop toward
us." At once Don Bosco became calm, and like one who moves
fearlessly forward because he knows what is ahead, he exclaimed,
"This too will pass! This conflict first gave me pain because I did
not know the reason for such behavior. Now that the Pope has
taught me how to act, no matter what the archbishop does, I will
hold my peace. He keeps posted on all we do and uses this infor-
mation against us. Don Bosco riles his nerves. He is doing his ut-
most to block our path, but we shall keep our calm and never
6At that time and for many years thereafter, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was
a daily practice of piety at the Oratory and in the other houses. [Editor]
7Countess Lorenzina Maze de la Roche was the niece of Archbishop Gastaldi. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
strike out against him. Should he get to the point of entering our
church to order us about, we shall say, 'You are welcome to
preach or offer Mass, but as for anything else, go about your
business.' "
As usual, the Lord strengthened him and showed him how this
conflict would end. We clearly repeat again that in treating Don
Bosco as he did, Archbishop Gastaldi neither intended wronging
him nor believed that he was; he thought that he was dutifully
acting in defense of his own episcopal rights and authority. This
was his utmost concern. Many times Don Bosco saw him under
this aspect in the following dream:
It seemed Don Bosco was hurrying to town on some urgent business,
although it was raining heavily. As he passed the episcopal residence, he
met Archbishop Gastaldi who appeared in his finest pontifical robes,
miter and all, and he too was going into the muddy streets under a pour-
ing rain.
Don Bosco approached him and urged him to go into the house before
his garments got soaked, but the archbishop gave him an indignant stare
and without a word went on his way. Don Bosco followed, reiterating
his plea that he listen. "Mind your own business!" the archbishop re-
plied, but no sooner had he said this than he slipped, fell to the ground,
and was covered with mud.
Don Bosco helped him to his feet, insisting that he return home, but
the archbishop replied: "Go your own way, I shall go mine," and paid
him no heed. Tearfully, Don Bosco kept following him at a distance, re-
peatedly begging him not to proceed further along that path. The arch-
bishop fell a second and a third time, becoming more and more soiled.
He rose to his feet but only with difficulty. He fell a fourth time, but
could not rise. His precious vestments were so bemired that his entire
body was coated with mud. He struggled uselessly to get to his feet, but
finally succumbed.
Don Bosco had this dream "as soon as he experienced dif-
ferences with his archbishop," and spoke of it to only a few
confreres, among whom was Father Bonora. This was only in
1884, a year after the archbishop's death.
In the galley proofs of Father Lemoyne's volumes, we find two
versions of this dream. The first is that which we have reported;
the second seems to be Father Bonora's account, as follows:
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 335
It was raining heavily, and I had to go into town on urgent business.
As I got near the archbishop's residence I saw a strange sight: the arch-
bishop was coming out pompously dressed in his episcopal robes. I ran
to his side and said, "Your Excellency, you are not going out in this ter-
rible weather, are you? The streets are deserted. Listen to me and go
back."
"It is not your business to advise me," he replied brusquely and
brushed me aside. "I'll mind my business and you mind yours."
After only a few steps he slipped and fell in the mud, thoroughly
soiling his robes. Five times I begged him to think of his dignity and go
back home, but in vain. Neither prayers nor pleas availed. He obstinate-
ly kept walking and fell a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth time.
When he got to his feet the last time he was unrecognizable; his whole
person was one body of mud. Then he fell again and rose no more.8
7. FINAL OBSERVATIONS
May 13, 1873 was Pius IX's eighty-first birthday. Don Bosco
sent the revered Pontiff an album signed by all his Salesians and
pupils. With it he included a modest offering of a hundred lire
and a letter assuring the Pope of their devoted prayers and loyal-
ty, most respectfully imploring that he definitively approve the
constitutions and grant all the spiritual favors he should deem ad-
visable.1
The Holy Father was impressed by this twofold homage of
devotion and filial affection; undoubtedly, he did bring pressure
to bear on the matter of the constitutions so as to please his most
affectionate son.
Unfortunately, however, news came that the consultor (Father
Bianchi, O.P.) had given a rather unfavorable report on the con-
stitutions recently submitted to the Sacred Congregation of Bish-
ops and Regulars. Don Bosco came to know this through Arch-
bishop Salvator Vitelleschi who, in a letter of May 19, 1873,
helpfully promised to send a summary of Father Bianchi's thirty-
eight observations for his study and opinion. In fact, on July 26
he sent it to Don Bosco, reduced to twenty-eight observations
8We have reported this dream so that i.he reader may understand better that the endless
aggravations Archbishop Gastaldi caused Don Bosco stemmed from his habitual authori-
tarian ways. [Author]
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
which dealt mainly with policies set up for new religious congre-
gations, suggesting that they be willingly accepted. That very day
Archbishop Gastaldi again wrote to the cardinal prefect of the
Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars to ascertain
whether our Society enjoyed the privileges of regulars and was
therefore exempt from episcopal jurisdiction.2
On August 18, Cardinal Bizzarri had the following rescript sent
to him:
[Rome] August 8, 1873
After examining Your Excellency's doubts regarding the Congrega-
tion of Father John Bosco, namely "whether the Congregation of St.
Francis de Sales, founded and directed by Father John Bosco, is directly
subject to the Holy See and exempt from episcopal jurisdiction," this
Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, after due consideration,
informs you that the aforesaid Congregation of St. Francis de Sales is
only an institute with simple vows and that such institutes are not ex-
empt from episcopal jurisdiction, except as regards their constitutions
when these have been approved by the Holy See and as regards special
privileges obtained from the same.
Although the constitutions of the aforesaid Congregation are now
under examination, prior to being submitted to the Holy See's approval,
we nevertheless must inform you that Father John Bosco has obtained
several special privileges from His Holiness regarding dimissorial letters
for a certain group of his pupils, and that recently, in an audience on
August 8, he obtained a similar privilege for six additional pupils.
A. Trombello, Under-Secretary
Archbishop Gastaldi's opposition, perhaps shared by other
bishops, certainly made it very difficult for Don Bosco to be at
ease, as Cardinal Berardi observed in a letter to him:
Dear Father John:
Rome, August 12, 1873
As I mentioned in my last letter to you, I am enclosing the rescript
which grants you the privilege you requested for six other pupils. I can-
not keep it secret that the opposition of several ordinaries has made it
quite difficult to obtain this favor. Fortunately we succeeded, thank
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 337
God. When you come, we can better discuss things in person.
Hoping to see you within a few days, I again beg a remembrance in
your prayers.
Yours devotedly,
G. Card. Berardi
Archbishop Gastaldi's determined oppos1t10n to the approval
of our constitutions was known to Bishop De Gaudenzi of Vi-
gevano, a close friend of Don Bosco. Thanking him for a letter of
encouragement and an offering, Don Bosco told him that he was
trying to find a way of overcoming the obstacles facing bishops
who had to provide teachers for their junior seminaries, and he
added that he would enjoy having a talk with him.3 We do not
know whether this conversation ever took place, but the good
bishop felt that he had to take up Don Bosco's cause. In an effort
to enlist influential people, he even wrote directly to Archbishop
Gastaldi and quite frankly stated complaints he had heard in
regard to his manner of acting, humbly pleading that he change
his ways.
The archbishop was infuriated and from Genoa wrote an indig-
nant reply. Bishop De Gaudenzi hastened to pass it on to Don
Bosco for his information.4 Archbishop Gastaldi's letter reads:
Your Excellency:
Genoa, August 3, 1873
Your last letter is but another thorn, nothing less than another thorn
added to the many that already pierce me. All the harder, sharper and
more painful is it because it purports to come from one who says he
loves and respects me.
Your letter was prompted by utterly false reports. Regretfully I
wonder how the bishop of Vigevano could take them as true and voice
them in a letter to the ecclesiastical superior of those individuals who
gave him such worthless, distorted information.
Has the archbishop of Vigevano forgotten hierarchical protocol which
requires that priests speaking ill of their bishop are to be presumed in
the wrong, and that, even were their complaints basically sound, their
action should be taken to denote a sad lack of virtue? Saints never spoke
We are omitting Don Bosco's letter. [Editor]
4We are omitting the bishop's short note covering this letter. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ill of their superiors, never stirred scandals concerning them.
I cannot guess the purpose of your letter, but if it meant to help, you
should have foreseen that it would more aptly achieve the opposite ef-
fect. To clarify the matter you allude to, and to remedy it-if this is at
all possible when dealing with people who refuse to rid themselves of fix-
ations even when asked to do so by their archbishop through a metro-
politan canon-then what is needed is not letters, but long, friendly con-
ferences.
I wish such a conference with Your Excellency, trusting that you will
see my reasons and manage to make them understood by the one person
who more than ever needs such an understanding.
Meanwhile, though it grievously pains me, I feel bound in strict duty
to continue acting as I have so far done to maintain church discipline. I
patiently await the day when God in His wisdom and justice will clearly
reveal all the rights and wrongs: et tune taus erit unicuique a Deo [and
then everyone will have his praise from God].
Yours devotedly,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop
The canon mentioned in the letter was Canon Francis Maren-
go. It was his task to recommend that Don Bosco declare he
would no longer accept former diocesan seminarians without the
chancery's consent.
The bishop of Vigevano, in return, sent a soothing letter to
Archbishop Gastaldi, expressing his willingness to confer with
him at any time but still defending Don Bosco's respectful con-
duct toward his ordinary.
Don Bosco was saddened by his archbishop's letter, which
reached him at St. Ignatius' Shrine where he was hearing confes-
sions of a special group of retreatants. From there he sent the fol-
lowing reply:
Your Excellency:
St. Ignatius' [Shrine], August 12, 1873
The bishop of Vigevano has informed me of a letter he wrote concern-
ing me and of your reply to him. If it had not been directed to a bishop,
I would have said that it had been written in jest. On the contrary, it was
deadly serious.
I deeply regret that you have thorns, but I cannot accept the inference
that they were inflicted by Don Bosco. I have always tried to lessen your
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 339
pains, and I know the sacrifices this cost me. My intentions have always
been good. I have never asked for more than that you tell me what it is
about me that displeases you. I have never succeeded in finding anything
specific. You refer to the mediation of a cathedral canon. I think I
agreed to do what was asked of me. You wanted me to declare that I
would not accept your seminarians without permission. This I did. You
mentioned Borelli, who was in our houses only long enough to make a
spiritual retreat, after which he left without his clerical habit. There was
talk of Rocca, and we agreed that to dismiss him abruptly would only
feed gossip to maligners, and so we are waiting till the end of the school
year. Father Marengo agreed to this decision. The school year ends on
September 4, after which that cleric will return home. In your place I
would have permitted him to stay where he is now, not only to give Don
Bosco one cleric in return for the several he sends to the diocesan semi-
nary every year, but also to make it generally known that, when a cleric
puts aside his vocation, he is not abandoned by his superior but is assist-
ed by him in all possible ways. Anyway, he will go home at the end of
the school year, unless he obtains the permission for which, he tells me,
he has made several applications.
As for the other things you say in your letter, I can state that though I
may have done things in my life for which I shall have to render an ac-
count to God, I am not aware that I ever did anything against Your Ex-
cellency. I believe that what I have said and done both publicly and
privately is proof enough of what I say. For the past sixteen months I
have pleaded with you to tell me what you hold against poor Don Bosco,
and so far I have heard nothing more than a few vague inferences. If
there is anything I do not know, please tell me, and even now I will
humbly beg your pardon. But let us not cast thorns upon thorns against
each other. I know that you have at heart the greater glory of God, and
so do I. So why can we not live in harmony? Please tell me what you
want from me.
I constantly pray and ask others to pray for the preservation of your
health.
Your humble servant,
Fr. John Bosco
During his free time at St. Ignatius' Shrine, Don Bosco also
wrote a Brief History of the Congregation which he planned to
publish and distribute in Rome to all those who might be able to
help him achieve his purpose more easily. He also made appropri-
ate comments on the latest Observations from Rome, assigning
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Father Berto to rewrite the whole thing in his neat hand. 5
While Don Bosco concentrated on preparing whatever he
would need in Rome to hasten the constitutions' approval, Arch-
bishop Gastaldi kept raising difficulties.
On August 22, [1873] Father Cagliero presented Subdeacon
Dominic Milanesio of Settimo Torinese for ordination scheduled
for September. All the requisite papers had already been submit-
ted with letters dated October 24, 1872 when he had been or-
dained a subdeacon in the spring. To his surprise, Father Cagliero
received a declaration from the archbishop:
In his Bull of 1568, Pope Pius V forbade ordinations titulo pauperta-
tis or mensae communis [under the title of poverty or of common board]
to candidates not perpetually professed in a religious order.
In view of this, the archbishop of Turin feels he may not ordain can-
didates lacking personal or ecclesiastical patrimony, unless it can be cer-
tified that they have taken perpetual vows as religious before a priest
who has and can show a papal rescript authorizing him to accept such
vows.
This meant a total ignoring of the decrees of the Holy See,
dated July 23, 1864 and March 1, 1869, which approved the
Salesian Congregation and appointed Don Bosco as its Superior
General for his lifetime with the faculty of issuing dimissorial let-
ters for minor and major orders to Salesian clerics who had en-
tered any of his houses prior to their fourteenth year. It also
disregarded special indults that Don Bosco had obtained in ad-
vance which authorized him to issue dimissorial letters to others
who had entered Salesian houses after their fourteenth year.
In September a seminarian from St. Julia's parish sought ad-
mission into the Salesian Congregation, but he was unable to get
either the consent or the prohibition of the archbishop, as his pas-
tor declared in a letter6 to Don Bosco. However, the cleric Angelo
Rocca did finally join the Salesian Society. After perpetual vows,
he was ordained a priest in 1876, and the following year he was
sent to direct the new house at La Spezia.
A safe voyage in such stormy seas could be plotted only by ob-
5We are omitting his short letter to Father Berto on this score. [Editor]
60mitted in this edition. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 341
taining the definitive approval of the constitutions. Don Bosco
decided to go to Rome before the end of the year, and in the
meantime he worked on a revision of the constitutions for sub-
mission to the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars.
Moreover, seeking ever more abundant heavenly blessings for
the Salesian Society, on November 15, 1873, at the start of the
new school year, he sent a circular "On Discipline" to all the
houses. After stressing the importance of observing the overall
rules of the Congregation and those pertaining to each individual
office, he drew up a program for directors, prefects, catechists,
teachers and assistants, warmly urging all members "to keep the
director informed of whatever may contribute to good and pre-
vent offense to God. " 7
8. RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS
Don Bosco arrived in Rome on the evening of December 30,
1873, accompanied by Father Berto. The latter, noticing par-
ticular needs here and there during these journeys, would urge
him to provide for them, but he would reply, "In the few years of
life that still remain for me I have no other interest than to settle
once and for all the affairs of our Congregation. Nothing else in-
terests me any longer." This goal became his dominant preoc-
cupation.
On arriving in Rome, he sought an audience with Archbishop
Vitelleschi, and the next day he wrote him a letter and called on
both Cardinal Antonelli and Cardinal Berardi. In the following
days, although deeply involved in negotiations concerning the
bishops' temporalities, he did not neglect the appro~al of the con-
stitutions. He met with the secretary of the Sacred Congregation
of Bishops and Regulars and had an audience with the Holy Fa-
ther on the vigil of the Epiphany. The audience forced him to can-
cel a visit with Monsignor Dell'Aquila. 1
During his papal audience, after describing the current status of
the Salesian Society and his desire to see it regularly established,
he presented Pius IX with several modest offerings from devout
7See Chapter 8, No. 13-3. [Author]
I This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
persons and with some new publications, particularly Father Ce-
lestine Durando's new Latin dictionary which had been printed at
the Oratory. Finally, he implored special favors for several bene-
factors and a plenary indulgence for all his pupils and the Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians.
His joy throughout his long talk with the Holy Father was
equaled by his yearning to see the Salesian Congregation defini-
tively established through the approval of its constitutions. This is
apparent in his letters, whether handwritten or dictated-all
signed by him-which he sent to the directors. These letters re-
flect his fervent desire to see his sons advance in virtue and the
trust he placed in their prayers; his fatherly concern shines
through them to a moving degree.
That evening he wrote letters to the Salesians and boys at
Lanzo and at the Oratory:
Rome, January 5, 1874
Dearest Father Lemoyne and you beloved sons at Lanzo:
My first words from Rome to our houses are addressed to you, my
dearly beloved sons at Lanzo. I choose you because I know your affec-
tion for me is great, as you have always shown me every time I came to
see you. When I can speak to you personally, I will tell you many more
things, but now I will begin with something directly concerning your
own good. At eleven this morning I had an audience with the Holy Fa-
ther. I found him amiable, generous and gracious in his concern for our
needs. He talked at length about our Congregation, our priests, clerics
and boys, and particularly about Lanzo, which I had mentioned to him
on a previous occasion. Then, wishing to give you a token of his par-
ticular regard, he asked me to tell you that he was sending you his holy
apostolic blessing with a plenary indulgence on the day when you go to
confession and Communion.
I thanked him for you and assured him that, besides receiving Com-
munion to gain this plenary indulgence, you would each receive a second
time for his intentions.
"Then I grant a plenary indulgence also for that Communion!" he
quickly replied.
Now, my dear children, admire the kindness of Christ's Vicar, as well
as the goodness of Our Lord who gives us so many effective ways to as-
sure our eternal salvation.
Meanwhile, my friends, did you begin the new school year well? Are
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 343
you all in good health? Are you all determined to better yourselves, to
become holy, to be always my consolation? I can hear your "Yes, yes"
coming straight from your hearts.
Your sincere promise now prompts a word of advice that will prove
very beneficial to you. It is the same as that already given to you by
your director: "If you want to be happy in this world and forever in a
blessed eternity, strive to avoid scandal and go often to Holy Commu-
nion."
And you, dear Father Lemoyne who so love your pupils, as I well
know, make sure that you explain this counsel in a clear and matter-of-
fact way. You will thus be doing them a great favor and will deeply
comfort me.
Just now I badly need your prayers. While assuring you of my own
special remembrance during Holy Mass, I ask you to receive Holy
Communion for my intention when you can.
May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with us. Special
regards to Father Lemoyne. Please exhort all, especially the priests, to
pray earnestly for the success of the many serious matters which I have
at hand. Give the enclosed letter to Father Costamagna and keep its
contents just between the two of you for the moment.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Rome, January 5, 1874, 11 P.M.
Dearest Father Rua and all dearly beloved sons at the Oratory,
It is but a short while since I left you, my beloved sons, but I have
many things to say and write. I shall talk to you about them at length
when I am back in Turin, but let me say a thing·or two in this letter.
First, I want to say that you are very dear to me and that wherever I
am I never cease praying for your spiritual and temporal welfare.
My trip was excellent, and I am staying in a home where I could not
possibly find more affection, even if I were with my own parents.
At 11 o'clock this morning Father Berto and I had an audience with
the Holy Father, who most willingly took time to discuss our Congrega-
tion-its priests, clerics, students, and artisans. He also spoke to us
about Hong Kong and many other matters.
I then showed him the dedication in Father Durando's dictionary, and
he was delighted. I explained the purpose of this dictionary and brought
to his attention that its author was a member of the Oratory and that it
had been typeset, printed and bound there. He listened to all this very
amiably.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
He then read Father Durando's dedication word by word, remarking,
"This is a task worthy of a priest. I am quite pleased. May God bless
him, as I do." So saying, he took his pen and wrote the words which can
be seen at the bottom of the dedication, and then signed his name.
He was also glad to give us other favors, among them his papal bless-
ing with a plenary indulgence on the day when you will go to confession
and Holy Communion.
I need your help very badly; I need your prayers for the successful
outcome of many serious matters which I now have in hand. Offer up a
Holy Communion for me, and I shall pray for you too. Soon I shall
write to you again. May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with
us, deliver us from sin and help us to persevere in virtue.
Dear Father Rua, so far I have received no news or letters from
Turin. Is it cold there? Have you had snow? Is anyone sick? What about
the matters of St. Blaise and of Vicino?
Dear Father Provera, I have asked the Holy Father for a special
blessing for you. Have faith, and let us hope in the goodness of God.
Love me in Jesus and Mary.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
The following day he wrote to the Salesians at Borgo San Mar-
tino and Turin-Valsalice giving them substantially the same news
and asking for their prayers. Doubtless he wrote also to the Sale-
sians and boys at Alassio, Varazze and Sampierdarena, but we
have no trace of those letters.2
That day he also wrote to the bishop of Vigevano concerning a
certain delicate matter:
Your Excellency,
Rome, January 6, 1874
It was a very good idea to write to me about the disagreeable Zinasco
affair. The minister listened to it all and then made a copy of your let-
ter. Since it contained nothing compromising, I let him do it, only point-
ing out its confidentiality.
If the devil does not interfere, I'll write to you again within the next
few days about something very important. Pray and have other good
souls pray for the successful outcome of this business.
Yesterday I talked at great length with the Holy Father, who is in ex-
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 345
cellent health. He sends you his apostolic blessing and asked me to so
inform you. Both he and Cardinal Antonelli are acquainted with the
Zinasco affair. I ask your blessing.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
As we have already said,3 it was amazing how much Don Bosco
got done during this stay in Rome for the Italian bishops' tem-
poralities, but even more intense was the task facing him for the
definitive establishment of the Salesian Society.
To form some idea of it, it would be sufficient to list all the
visits to cardinals and prelates that he considered necessary or
proper.
On January 3 he spoke with Archbishop Vitelleschi and again
had a long interview with him on the evening of the Epiphany; the
day before, he had had a long meeting with Cardinal Berardi. He
declared that he was happy to have been able to reach a perfect
understanding with the Holy Father, with the secretary of the
Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, and with his dear
friend Cardinal Berardi. Indeed, after the Holy Father, it was
Cardinal Berardi and Archbishop Vitelleschi who constantly
helped him reach his goal.
On January 8 he called on Constantine Cardinal Patrizi, after
he learned from the Pope that the cardinal vicar would probably
be a member of the special committee that was to meet for the
approval of the constitutions. The Pope personally informed him
that the archbishop of Turin was against their approval. The car-
dinal warmly welcomed Don Bosco and told him frankly and
plainly that he too could not get along with Archbishop Gastaldi.
On January 9 he went to the Holy Office to ask the commis-
sioner, Monsignor Sallua, O.P., to put in a good word with his
fellow Dominican, Father Bianchi, the consultor of the Sacred
Congregation of Bishops and Regulars who had made thirty-eight
"observations" [about the constitutions]. The monsignor, a Pied-
montese from the diocese of Mondovi who knew Don Bosco's
work, received him and treated him most cordially.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Vitelleschi gave him the welcome news
3See Chapter 5. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
that the Holy Father had already decided to appoint to the special
committee the Cardinal Vicar, Cardinal Berardi, and one of the
twelve cardinals created at the consistory of December 22, 1873-
possibly Cardinal Tarquini, S.J., or Cardinal Oreglia di Santo
Stefano.
Don Bosco also hastened to call on Stephen Cardinal Oreglia,
the brother of Chevalier Frederick Oreglia, who for some years
had been a member of our Society,4 and two days later he went to
the Altemps Palace in Piazza Navona for a talk with Cardinal
Monaco La Valletta. The latter-grave, dignified and yet humble
and warm-hearted-gave him a friendly welcome and amiably
conversed with him for an hour and a half. Besides other favors,
he granted him two rescripts at no cost for a private chapel on
behalf of two ladies, Mrs. Vicino and Mrs. Ghiglini. Don Bosco
was so 'thrilled when he returned home that, unable to hide his
joy, he told Father Berto, "Home visits are really so necessary.
At times a greeting or a sign of respect is enough to win over a
person! This was true of Cardinal Monaco La Valletta, who was
never very enthusiastic about us!"
On January 14 Stephen Colonna, an official in the Vatican
shipping department, invited Don Bosco to dine with several
other prelates, among whom was the newly created Alexander
Cardinal Franchi. Don Bosco spoke very little during the meal,
but toward the end, when asked to say something about the Ora-
tory and the difficulties he had had to overcome, he narrated how
he had suffered through twelve house searches. He did it with
such engaging charm and ease that he won everybody's heart.
When dinner was over, Cardinal Franchi drew him aside and
talked confidentially with him for an hour and a half, until the ar-
rival of Cardinal Martinelli who, before leaving, saluted him most
cordially.
On January 16 he summoned up his courage and called on Car-
dinal Bizzarri, prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and
Regulars. The prelate, although severe and almost scrupulous,
received him graciously and counseled him on so many points
that Don Bosco felt he had won his support.
On January 23 he paid his respects to Camillus Cardinal Tar-
4See Vol. IX, pp. 335f. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 347
quini, S.J., for whom he had a message from Father Secundus
Franco, S.J. He too was completely favorable to ,him. U nfortu-
nately, this new cardinal who was rumored to be a member of the
special committee fell ill a few days later and died on the morning
of February 15. Meanwhile Don Bosco entrusted the printing of
his revised constitutions to the press of the Congregation for the
Propagation of the Faith. In his revision-as he later declared-
he had incorporated "most of the twenty-eight 'Observations' "
that had been communicated to him, had toned down a few, and
had left untouched some articles "solely to rescue his Congrega-
tion from the shipwreck threatened by the severity of the civil
laws." This he had done in conformity with the advice and sug-
gestions he had recently received. 5
9. THE CONSULTATION
On February 3 Archbishop Vitelleschi informed Don Bosco
that the special committee had been appointed and consisted of:
Constantine Cardinal Patrizi, who was Pius IX's vicar general,
prefect of the Congregation of Rites and dean of the college of
cardinals; Antonine Cardinal De Luca, prefect of the Congrega-
tion of the Index; Joseph Cardinal Bizzarri, prefect of the Con-
gregation of Bishops and Regulars; and Thomas Cardinal Mar-
tinelli, newly created cardinal, who was later appointed pro-
prefect of the Congregation of Studies, then prefect of the Con-
gregation of Rites, and finally prefect of the Congregation of the
Index-four princes of the Church, highly eminent in every re-
gard.
In view of this and believing that the committee would meet
very soon, Don Bosco on February 5, "after praying during Holy
Mass for enlightenment from the Holy Spirit, and after asking a
special blessing from the Supreme Pontiff," sent a circular to his
"dear Salesian sons on a most critical matter: How To Keep and
Promote Morality among the Boys Entrusted to Us by Divine
Providence."
Every religious congregation has its own traits, and Don Bosco
swe are omitting details about each of the "Observations." lEditorJ
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
was in the habit of saying that our Society must be seen by all as
outstanding in the splendor of the angelic virtue.
"We are now facing the most important moment of our Con-
gregation," he wrote. "Therefore, help me by praying, and by
faithfully observing our rules. . . . May our efforts be crowned
by success for God's greater glory and the welfare of our own
souls and those of our pupils, who will ever be the glory of the
Salesian Society."
It was now imperative to prepare the Positio or Consultatio,
that is, all the documentation to be presented to the committee of
cardinals. This task was entrusted to Attorney Charles Menghini,
a summist of the Sacred Congregation, who soon realized the ad-
visability and necessity of meeting with our founder. On February
17, Archbishop Vitelleschi gave Don Bosco a letter of introduc-
tion to the lawyer who immediately treated him with outstanding
cordiality and confidence. In fact, on February 21 he showed him
several letters written by the archbishop of Turin to Cardinal Biz-
zarri. Among these were the letters of July 26, 1873-in which he
had asked whether the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales was
directly subject to the Holy See and immune from episcopal juris-
diction-and of January 9, 1874. The latter, even graver in tone,
had been written while Don Bosco was already in Rome. In this
letter, while avowing that he admired "the extraordinary qualities
and virtues" of Don Bosco and rejoiced that he should succeed
"in giving stable existence to a body of ecclesiastics primarily
dedicated to so important a mission as the education of youth,"
Archbishop Gastaldi again insisted on the necessity of imposing a
regular novitiate "of two years' duration" on the new Congrega-
tion, because while Don Bosco "has a special gift for training
young boys . . . he does not seem to possess this talent in train-
ing young clerics, or at least is not sufficiently assisted in this by
the members to whom he has entrusted their supervision."
Here is the letter:
Your Eminence:
Turin, January 9, 1874
A few months ago Your Eminence informed me that the Sacred
Congregation of Bishops and Regulars was examining the rules of the
Congregation of St. Francis de Sales, founded in Turin by Father John
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 349
Bosco. From your letter I gathered that this Congregation's approval by
the Holy See was quite imminent.
I admire Don Bosco's extraordinary qualities and virtues: I rejoice
over the good he has done and keeps doing on behalf of youth; I am
glad that he is succeeding in giving stable form to a body of ecclesiastics
primarily dedicated to so important a mission as the education of youth;
but I deem it my solemn duty to acquaint the aforesaid Sacred Congre-
gation, over which Your Eminence worthily presides, with the need that
a novitiate of two years' duration be made mandatory in the Congrega-
tion of St. Francis de Sales, so that the young clerics may be trained not
to command-as occurs now all too frequently through their being ap-
pointed teachers in the schools of the Congregation-but to obey, as in
the traditional novitiates of other religious congregations, especially of
the Society of Jesus. Don Bosco has a special gift for training young
boys, but he does not seem to possess this talent in training young
clerics, or at least he is not sufficiently assisted in this by the members
to whom he has entrusted their supervision. Several most deplorable in-
cidents bear witness to this.
As of now, seven clerics trained in Don Bosco's school were appointed
teachers or monitors in this city's home for deaf-mutes, and the ad-
ministration, headed by a layman known for piety, deep attachment to
the Church and reverence for the clergy, was not satisfied with any of
them because they lacked humility and docility.
The same complaint is heard in other institutions and seminaries of
clerics who did their liturgical, philosophical or th~ological studies in the
aforesaid Congregation of St. Francis de Sales. When I was bishop of
Saluzzo, I allowed one of my clerics to pursue all his studies in this
Congregation, and I relied on Don Bosco's testimony of moral conduct
and vocation. A month after ordination he was found to be an alcoholic,
and unhappily he is so today, so much so that he cannot be given work
because, besides being intemperate, he is also ignorant and rude.
Another priest just now also is a source of great embarrassment to
me. He received his clerical training in the Congregation of St. Francis
de Sales from 1862 until 1867. In 1868 the Turin chancery, relying on
testimonials of moral conduct supplied by the Congregation's superiors,
admitted him to the priesthood. Two years later he was assigned as an
assistant to a parish of this diocese, where he conducted himself so im-
morally that thirty-nine accusations have been alleged against him.
Fearing legal proceedings, he left the country. Since his crimes were
such as to call for extradition, the civil authorities may still track him
down and return him to Turin. In that case I shall have a scandal on my
hands whose enormous repercussions to the detriment of the clergy and
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
of religion I cannot gauge.
Father [Frederick] Oreglia, S.J., who for years belonged to this Con-
gregation, and who last year was stationed at the Roman College, can
explain in detail the kind of novitiate which exists in this Congregation.
I therefore implore Your Eminence, and through you the Sacred
Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, to impose the aforesaid novitiate
upon the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales. I would think that, con-
sidering the extremely difficult and delicate position in which we of the
archdiocese of Turin and the other sub-Alpine dioceses find ourselves,
the Holy See should allow the archbishop of Turin and the bishops in
whose dioceses there are ordinands of this Congregation to voice their
opinion as regards their promotion to Holy Orders so that none of its
members may be admitted without the positive and explicit consent of
the diocesan bishop. At present, ways are found to have them ordained
elsewhere without my knowledge. Nor would I deem it inappropriate if
the archbishop and other bishops were granted the faculty of examining
the members of this Congregation before admitting them to perpetual
VOWS.
I have now done my duty in conscience, and I declare myself prepared
to respect any decision reached by the Sacred Congregation.
Your most obedient and humble servant,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop of Turin
Don Bosco was upset on reading the first letter, and even more
so after reading the second. He had Father Berto copy them, and
he discussed them with Cardinal Berardi who, we believe, advised
him to refute the [second] letter directly. How? He decided to act
through a former pupil of his, and it was from him indeed that he
got a decisive refutation for the cardinals' committee. The refuta-
tion [in the form of a letter to Don Bosco] was anonymous, but it
had probably been copied by Father John Baptist Anfossi, 1 one of
the accused in that letter. We say "copied"2 by Father Anfossi
because we have the original by Don Bosco himself in our ar-
chives.
I John Baptist Anfossi, an orphan, entered the Oratory at the age of thirteen in De-
cember 1853. (See Vol. IV, pp. 467t) He became a Salesian in 1862 and was ordained a
priest in 1864. Later on he joined the diocesan clergy but remained always devoted to Don
Bosco. [Editor]
2We can hold it as certain that it was copied by Father John Anfossi. In 1877, seeing
that troubles were being heaped on Don Bosco's Congregation through the archbishop's
meticulous directives, he drew up an extended memorandum refuting in greater detail the
archbishop's letter of January 9, 1874. [Author]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 351
Very Reverend Don Bosco:
Turin, February 15, 1874
While you are anxiously striving in Rome to obtain [from the govern-
ment] our archbishop's revenues, he reciprocates in quite another fash-
ion. As I already told you last year, he used the pretext of learning from
the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars whether the Congregation of
St. Francis de Sales was exempt from the ordinary's jurisdiction, in
order to ask for the reasons why you had applied for such a privilege.
The [alleged] scandals and rebellion of Oratory members, added to his
fear that they might have even incurred ecclesiastical censures, prompt-
ed him to fulfill this duty of conscience (truly very delicate!) and write
that letter. This openly contradicts what he has said to me a thousand
times, namely that the Oratory priests and clerics should be proposed as
a model to all who love virtue.
Now, knowing that your Congregation's definitive approval is being
debated in Rome, he is endeavoring motu proprio, at no one's request,
to smear it in the blackest infamy. I do not know the exact date of this
specific document, but it was sent to Rome just after your departure for
that capital, that is, in early January of this year.
Looking upon the members of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops
and Regulars as mere children ignorant of the rudiments of Latin, he
even proposes the conditions which they should impose, and in trying to
justify what he says, he blasts the course of studies followed in your
houses (the only man in this world who has dared as much) and com-
plains that your sons lack humility and morals. Trying to corroborate
his statement, he declares that seven of your clerics were in a deaf-mute
home where everyone complained of their pride and insubordination. He
also cites the case of Father Chiapale of Saluzzo, saying that he learned
only drinking, ignorance and arrogance at the Oratory. He also men-
tions another pupil of yours who became an assistant pastor after leav-
ing the Oratory and is now on trial for immoral conduct. Hence, he
says, woe to the diocese of Turin and the other sub-Alpine dioceses if
your Congregation is approved or at least does not have certain condi-
tions slapped upon it.
I know you, the Oratory and the facts to which he refers. Having lived
in your house for six years, I am very indignant because it all amounts
to nothing but malicious spite. The people he refers to were either clerics
or priests of the diocesan seminary, so the responsibility is his an<l no
one else's. Chiapale did study at the Oratory and was known for his ex-
cellent conduct and alert intelligence. He is a musician, plays both piano
and organ, and is a very fine preacher. I came to know him quite well
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
because he was a classmate of mine. But it was not possible to know
whether any of us were given to drinking because pupils were not served
wine, and the priests received a limited quantity. Even so, if you will for-
give my saying so, that wine could sooner be called water tinged with
wine than wine tinged with water. I also know that Chiapale was never a
member of your Congregation because he told me so himself several
times.
I say these things so that you may avail yourself of this knowledge to
your own advantage, but I must confess that I do not understand the
reason for such conduct [on the part of the archbishop]. I have asked
several people what possible reason he could have to alternately praise
and condemn the Oratory. Some feel that perhaps, since it was Don
Bosco who raised him from the dust, gave him work and made a name
for him by publishing his books and doing everything he could to pro-
cure for him the position he now holds, he cannot help praising him.
Others say-and the archbishop himself told me-that he fears that Don
Bosco's priests may outdo his own, all the more so since his own semi-
narians want to leave and go with Don Bosco where they are better treat-
ed. In short, he is afraid of having a diocese within a diocese to his own
detriment. But if he continues to create new obstacles every day, I do
not know how it will all end. Believe me always to be,
Your most affectionate son,
N. N.
While Attorney Menghini was completing the set of documents
to be included in the Positio, Don Bosco submitted the galley
proofs of his Brief History of the Congregation. The lawyer found
it quite interesting, but too long to be inserted in the Positio, and
therefore he advised him to abridge it and to include more specif-
ic details. With ease Don Bosco set about this chore, and with the
lawyer's help he drafted a concise, thorough synthesis of the state
of the Salesian Society, its relations with the Holy See and bish-
ops, its constitutions, its standing in civil society, and its level of
development. This task, added to his other concerns, took up so
much of his time that on the morning of February 26, having to
deliver those pages to the printers, he was unable to celebrate
Mass. 3
In the synthesis [of the Brief History of the Congregation]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 353
which was incorporated in the Positio, we read the following sol-
emn declaration in capital letters: "The fundamental purpose of
the Salesian Congregation . . . from its very beginnings has con-
stantly been: TO UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE AUTHORI-
TY OF THE SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH BEFORE
THE LESS AFFLUENT CLASS OF SOCIETY, PAR-
TICULARLY BEFORE ENDANGERED YOUTH." (See
Rules, Chapters I and VI.)
On February 27, having a copy of Archbishop Gastaldi's letter
of January 9, 1874 and its refutation, he called on Cardinal
Berardi, who assured him that he would pass it on to the commit-
tee members and see to it that it finally reached Archbishop Vi-
telleschi. From him too Don Bosco received the best possible sup-
port. Accustomed in his frequent meetings with the archbishop-
Father Berto took notes during twenty such meetings-to ask if
there was anything which might still block approval, he was re-
peatedly told, "Do not worry! Wouldn't I tell you if there were?
Don't worry! Everything passes through my hands." And he also
heard him protest, "Archbishop Gastaldi's letters and the condi-
tions he would like to impose mean nothing at all."
On March 4 the new edition of the constitutions came off the
press and Father Berto brought copies to Archbishop Vitelleschi
and Attorney Menghini. On March 7 the constitutions and the
Positio were submitted to the cardinals' committee.4 Don Bosco
himself personally presented or mailed his Brief History of the
Congregation to each member of the committee. Finally, on
March 11 he was informed that the committee of cardinals would
meet on the 24th, the day of each month which we dedicate to
Mary, Help of Christians.
On March 16, elated with joy and emotion, he sent another
circular to all his houses to give the precious news to the Salesians
and pupils alike and invite them to "be one heart and soul in
imploring the Holy Spirit to enlighten the cardinals" who were to
give their opinion on a matter "which is of the greatest impor-
tance to our present and future welfare."
In sending a copy of the circular to Father Rua, he added a
covering letter in which he expressed his hopes of attaining his
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
goal on March 24 and of returning to the Oratory toward the end
of the month. He also gave him several tasks, including the send-
ing of a telegram of good wishes to Cardinal Berardi on the oc-
casion of his name day. He also sent similar notes to Father
Bonetti at Bargo San Martino and to Father Lemoyne at Lanzo,
alerting them that he might want them to meet him at Ales-
sandria and go on with him to Turin.5
10. AN INTERVAL
As we can see from letters in our archives, throughout his stay
in Rome Don Bosco did not forget his Salesians and pupils and
his new Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, nor other people
worthy of remembrance. Who knows how many letters he wrote
and sent to many places? The few we have will suffice to make us
realize how dearly he kept everybody in his mind and heart.
Many of these letters were addressed to Father Rua, to other
Salesians and to benefactors to inform them of special spiritual
favors obtained for them from the Holy Father.1
The progress of his pupils was particularly dear to his heart.
Here is a precious document which reveals him as educator, fa-
ther, and saint:
Dear Father Lazzero and my dear artisans,
Rome, January 20, 1874
Although I have already written to all my beloved sons at the Ora-
tory, I still feel I should make you happy and gratify my own wishes by
writing a special note to you artisans because you are the apple of my
eye and because I have asked a special blessing for you from the Holy
Father.
I don't have to tell you how dear you are to me, for I've proved that
already. Nor do I have to be told that you feel the same way about me
because you have always shown it. On what is our mutual affection
based? Money? Not mine, because I spend it all for you. Certainly not
yours, because-with no offense-you have none.
So, then, my affection is based on my desire to save your souls that
5This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
'This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 355
have all been redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. You love
me because I try to guide you on the path to eternal salvation. The wel-
fare of our souls therefore forms the basis of our affection.
But, my dear sons, do we really behave so as to save our souls, or are
we more likely to lose them? If Our Divine Savior were to summon us at
this moment, would we all be prepared? Good resolutions made but
never carried out, scandal given and not remedied, conversations leading
others to sin-all these are things for which we fear being punished. But
while Jesus Christ could justly reproach us for this, I am sure that many
of you would appear before Him with a clear conscience, and this great-
ly consoles me.
At any rate, my good friends, take heart, for I shall never stop pray-
ing for you, working for you, and thinking of you. All I ask is your good
will. Act out the words of St. Paul which I now adapt for you: "'Exhort
the boys to be frugal; let them never forget that all must die, and that,
after death, all must appear before the judgment seat of Jesus. One who
does not suffer here on earth with Jesus Christ shall not be crowned in
glory with Him in heaven. Avoid sin as your worst enemy. Flee from the
source of sin-foul conversations which are your moral ruin. Give one
another good example in word and deed. Father Lazzero will tell you
the rest.
Meanwhile, dear sons, I ask for the charity of your prayers. Let the
most fervent members of St. Joseph's Sodality offer up a Holy Commu-
nion for my intention.
May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with us to help us
persevere in virtue until death. Amen.
Your affectionate friend,
Fr. John Bosco2
During February two things happened at the Oratory which
better revealed heaven's special protection. Late one night at the
beginning of the month, in preparation for the feast of St. Jo-
seph,3 hearing a strange rumble near the vegetable garden, Father
Rua and Buzzetti hurried to see what had happened. A portion of
the top of the cesspool had fallen in. Noting a black patch on the
ground, Buzzetti held Father Rua back, and none too soon, be-
cause the rest of the top on which they had been standing only an
instant before sank into the nearly ten-foot hole which was full to
2We are omitting several other business letters to Father Rua. [Editor]
JThe month started on February 18 and ended with the feast day on March 19. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
the brim. Everyone attributed the escape of Father Rua and Buz-
zetti from a potentially fatal fall to a special grace from St.
Joseph.
Another even more singular thing happened on St. Joseph's
feast day. At 9:30 the bells were ringing for solemn High Mass
when suddenly the huge clapper of the biggest bell broke off and,
crashing through the terrace floor by the belfry, rebounded and
landed in the playground where the boys were at recreation. The
cleric Anacletus Ghione, who was playing directly underneath the
belfry, noticed the sudden silence and, looking up, saw the clapper
falling. "Get away, get away!" he yelled, and ran.
Almost every feast day, although it was off limits, some boys
used to sit on the terrace for a bit of sun while eating breakfast-
a bread roll. That morning particularly, the boys were engrossed
in their games. Only seconds before the clapper came to rest on
the ground, a group of older boys had stood talking on that very
spot. One youngster, not knowing why, said to the others, "Let's
move from here. Something might fall on our heads."
At the sudden crash Father Lazzero, who was also in the play-
ground, turned in fear and saw the cleric Ghione bending to pick
up the clapper and hoist it onto his shoulder. Father Ghivarello,
also present, testified that the clapper's enormous weight had the
impact of a cannonball as it hurtled through the air.
When Don Bosco was informed of what had happened he wrote
to Father Rua, thanking God that the damage had only been ma-
terial. He also gave him directives about certain things to be
done, and he enclosed the following letter for the deacon John
Turco whose father had recently died:4
Dear John Turco,
Rome, March 1, 1874
Father Rua wrote to me about your father's death. I felt deeply sorry
because he was very dear to me. May God grant him a place in heaven.
I have prayed and have asked others to pray for him and will continue
to do so.
I was glad to know that you were at his bedside. It may have in-
creased your sorrow, but your presence probably was his best comfort. I
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 357
hope his soul has fled to heaven where he will wait for you and me. May
it be God's will that we shall join him in that everlasting Kingdom.
Now, if you have business matters to look after, talk with Father Rua
who has full powers.
When I get back we'll discuss other things and strive to do things in
such a way as to please God, and, if we can, also men.
My dear John, pray for me. Right now I need prayers very badly.
Remember me to our friends. May God bless us all and keep us all on
the path of eternal salvation.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco5
Particular letters from Don Bosco were the pupils' delight, and
the cleric John Cinzano, eager for a special note to his students
similar to the one that Father Lazzero had received for the ar-
tisans, strongly suggested that their conduct be a hundred percent
exemplary for two weeks. He told Don Bosco of it and received
the following reply:
My dear Cinzano and pupils,
Rome, March 7, 1874
Your proposal that your boys pledge two weeks of faultless conduct
for my sake was an excellent one. The idea was laudable and the out-
come beyond all praise. You say nothing about yourself, but in telling
me that they all deserved an optime for two weeks, I gather that this
includes you too. Am I right?
I thank you and all your students for this present. I shall show my
gratitude when I get home. A glass of the finest wine to each will be a
sign of my delight.
Soon I will be back with you, about whom I think and worry, the
masters of my heart, and, as St. Paul says, my joy and my crown wher-
ever I go.
I know that you have prayed for me, and I thank you for it; later I
shall tell you what your prayers obtained.
But, my dear sons, things are moving faster and faster. Just now I ask
you to redouble your fervor and prayers and keep up your good conduct.
I can do little for you, but God will prepare for you a rich reward.
I shall pray for you too and bless you with all my heart. Please offer
up a Holy Communion for me and say a Pater and an Ave to St.
swe are omitting a few other short notes to Salesians and boys. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Joseph. May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
Amen.
And you, my dear Cinzano, act manfully so that you may be happily
crowned, and keep up your good example. Reprove, entreat, and rebuke
with all patience and teaching. Set your hopes in the Lord and He will
give you determination and strength. Try to see the Viancinos and re-
member me to them. Wish them the best of everything in my name.
Farewell in the Lord.
Fr. John Bosco
Throughout the rest of March he also wrote to benefactors,
thanking them or informing them of special favors and benedic-
tions obtained for them from the Holy Father.6
11. SUCCESS
Let us return to our narrative. In March Don Bosco had an-
other audience with the Holy Father, of which we have only a
memorandum [about papal blessings for benefactors, rosaries and
other matters]. Having insistently been asked to set up new foun-
dations, even in mission areas, he wrote for the Holy Father's
consent. 1
Meanwhile a new difficulty had arisen, probably because of the
consultor, Father Bianchi, who rejected the chapter De Externis,
even as an appendix. Immediately Don Bosco had the constitu-
tions reprinted without that chapter and with slight corrections
and additions. In fact, Attorney Menghini confided to Father
Berto that Father Bianchi had called on Cardinal Bizzarri to set
him against our Congregation. Always alert to ward off difficul-
ties, Don Bosco begged Monsignor Sallua to speak to Father
Bianchi, and the monsignor graciously obliged.2
That same day [March 17, 1874] Don Bosco was advised to
state briefly his reasons for insisting on the definitive approval of
the constitutions, so as to banish doubts and overcome obstacles.
He complied the following day and sent the following reasons to
6We are omitting these short notes. [Editor]
'We are omitting Don Bosco's letter. [Editor]
2We are omitting his notification to Don Bosco. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 359
the cardinals' committee, to Cardinal Berardi, to Archbishop Vi-
telleschi, and to the Holy Father:
Considerations That Prompt Father John Bosco
Humbly To Implore the Definitive Approval of
the Constitutions of the Salesian Society
1. This Congregation was definitively approved by a decree of March
1, 1869. Its constitutions have been tested for thirty-three years, during
which articles were modified, added or removed as experience dictated
for the smooth running of the Congregation.
2. There are commendatory letters of forty-four bishops requesting
this same favor. Considering the manner, -times and means by which this
Congregation was founded and the spiritual benefits that have resulted
through the Lord's mercy, the bishops see the hand of God in this under-
taking.
3. If good results were obtained through the practice of the rules,
more abundant fruits may be reasonably expected as a result of the
Holy See's observations now incorporated into the constitutions.
4. Sixteen houses in several dioceses require stable, clearly defined
relations with their respective ordinaries, as the ordinaries themselves
keep demanding.
5. Salesians now number some three hundred, their pupils nearly
seven thousand. Negotiations nearing completion for the opening of
houses in America, Africa and China necessarily call for rules eliminat-
ing the hesitancy which worries the members for fear of possible changes
in the rules themselves.
6. There is a need for a handbook for the practical application of the
constitutions in moral and mundane affairs-a most necessary work
that Father John Bosco anxiously desires to accomplish before his
death.
7. Should the need arise to modify an article of the constitutions, it
can be done when the triennial report is sent to the Holy See concerning
the moral, religious and material state of the Congregation, or during
the general chapters which are held every three years. During these
chapters, articles may be modified and others added, though they will
not be binding until the Holy See approves them. See Regulae, Ch. 6,
No. 2 and Ch. 7, No. 6.
8. We have a lively desire that this giant step, most important for any
religious congregation, be taken by the pious, scholarly, thoughtful and
most eminent cardinals whom the Holy Father has kindly chosen to give
their enlightened opinion on this matter.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
9. Finally [we make this appeal] so that our saintly, wonderful Pon-
tiff, who in loving fatherliness has both spiritually and materially
deigned to bless, protect and approve this Congregation, may also be the
one to give its constitutions definitive approval for the greater glory of
God and of the Catholic faith, for the welfare of souls, and for the honor
of the Salesian Society.
Untiring in tactful efforts to achieve his purpose, Don Bosco,
during the next few days, paid several visits to each member of
the special committee to offer his respects.
He talked for three hours with Cardinal Martinelli, who until
then had had a poor opinion of him, and left the prelate as-
tonished at the ease with which he solved all difficulties.
He offered two pictures of Our Lady to Cardinal Bizzarri, but
the prelate refused them. He then showed him a copy of the
circular he had sent to Salesian houses to order special prayers
for the cardinals' committee, but when the cardinal came to those
lines, he exclaimed, "For heaven's sake, I hope this is not a
bribe!"
"No," Don Bosco replied, "just a token of gratitude."
"I can't even accept that," the cardinal retorted. Then he went
on to say that nothing stood in the way of a definitive approval
because the Holy Father had told him to put aside scruples and
be generous.
The cardinal vicar kept him for about an hour and a half. The
first thing he said was that even before reading the Positio, he was
convinced that this new Congregation was God's work. He then
referred to several statements by Archbishop Gastaldi, but Don
Bosco explained his position so clearly that the cardinal ex-
claimed, "Well, at the most we shall make a few observations,
nothing more." At this point, Don Bosco mentioned his visit the
evening before with Cardinal Bizzarri, and the cardinal vicar had
a good laugh. He then cordially asked for prayers and assured
him of his hearty appreciation.
Cardinal De Luca, too, gave him a warm welcome, and when
Don Bosco finally asked for advice for which he would be most
grateful, he took Don Bosco's hand and, looking at him gravely
for a few minutes, exclaimed, "Beware of Turin's archbishop."
"Your Eminence," Don Bosco replied, "do not doubt that I
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 361
treasure your advice, but let us drop the subject."
In these visits he always left little gifts for everyone, including
the cardinals' relatives and domestic staffs. Such was his habit.
One evening while strolling along a lonely street with Father
Berto, he was approached by a beggar who asked for alms. Since
he had no money on him, he turned to Father Berto, but he didn't
have any either. Unfortunately, it could not be helped.
As they continued their walk, Father Berto pointed out that the
number of beggars was so large that if he were to give money to
all, he would need a large sum. Don Bosco replied: "Haven't you
ever heard: 'Give and it shall be given to you'?"
He would have liked to help the poor of the whole world, and
his charity was matched by his gratitude toward all who helped
him. He had sent the prefect of the province of Turin an unusual
gift from Rome, and the following reply came in:
Dear Father,
Turin, January 7, 1874
I am very grateful to you for your thoughtfulness, but please excuse
me if, in keeping with my policy of never accepting gifts from anybody,
I ask that you let me return the hare you so generously sent me. Believe
me, I am as grateful as though I had accepted it.
Yours devotedly,
Zoppi
But usually his little gifts were very welcome. To many people
in Rome, together with holy pictures of Our Lady, he offered a
copy of his History of Italy, which had been reprinted that year,
or a copy of The Companion of Youth.
He sent several bottles of Bordeaux and Macon wine to Cardi-
nal Berardi and to Marquis Angelo Vitelleschi, candy to Mar-
chioness Clotilde, and a box of dried figs to Archbishop Vi-
telleschi.
Since he was a guest of the Sigismondis, he wrote a poem3 for
the name day of the lady of the house and had Father Berto make
a copy of it. He then read it at table and offered it to her together
with a picture of St. Matilde, her patron.
He also offered a copy of the "Three Prophecies" that we have
30mitted in this edition. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
previously reported4 to the cardinal vicar, to Cardinal Berardi
and to several others. We need not repeat that he gave these
copies in strict confidence, without saying that he had written
them. He merely stated that he regarded such narratives as simple
inspirations or illuminations from God and that their fulfillment
depended on man's good will in following the directives contained
in such communications.
On March 23, one day before the scheduled meeting in which
the approval of the constitutions was to be discussed, he again
called on Cardinal Martinelli. When Don Bosco took his leave,
the cardinal said, "My vote will be affirmative with some obser-
vations." These concerned minor points.
Jubilantly Attorney Menghini told both Don Bosco and Father
Berto that he had called on the cardinal vicar and had found him
most favorable. The cardinal had said, "I did question Don Bosco
about his difficulties with his archbishop and his replies were
superb! Difficulties vanish before Don Bosco. Nothing is hard for
him. Everything is easy; all difficulties disappear." The attorney
added that Cardinal De Luca had told him he would vote iuxta
modum, i.e., in accordance with the petition.
That same day Don Bosco again wrote to Archbishop Vi-
telleschi, and Father Berto gave a lira to the sacristan of the
Church of San Andrea delle Fratte for two candles to be lighted
the following day before the altar of Our Lady of the Miracle.
At ten o'clock on the morning of March 24, the vigil of the An-
nunciation, the special committee met with the cardinal vicar, and
despite many variations and additions which had been made in
the constitutions, the result was highly favorable. But the debate
was prolonged on account of Archbishop Gastaldi's letters, espe-
cially that dated April 20, 1873.5 At one-thirty in the afternoon
the cardinals decided to meet again on the last day of the month.
Don Bosco had hoped for a favorable verdict that very day and
became quite worried. The news leaked out, and on March 25
Popolo Romano published the following wild statement:
Yesterday a committee of cardinals, presided over by the cardinal
vicar, discussed the petition of Father John Bosco of Turin, who is seek-
4See pp. 49-58. [Editor]
5See pp. 323-27. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 363
ing authorization to bring his Congregation to Rome and open two
schools here: one by the Church of the Holy Shroud, the other at Cec-
cano, on the Berardi property.
It is believed that the committee rejected the petition because of the
Jesuits' efforts to wipe out competition from Don Bosco.
As we have seen, this was not the only article because in those
days the press was taking a keen interest in Don Bosco's strenu-
ous efforts to help the bishops' temporalities.
On March 25, Father Berto had a Mass said at the altar of Our
Lady of the Miracle in the Church of San Andrea delle Fratte,
and informed the Salesian directors in Don Bosco's name that the
first meeting of the cardinals on March 24 had been successful
and that the second and last, hopefully favorable, was scheduled
for March 31. He also asked that they continue to have prayers
offered for Don Bosco's intentions.6
Don Bosco went immediately to Cardinal Berardi, who again
expressed his pleasure at the Oratory's telegram on the occasion
of his name day. After a cordial conversation, the cardinal ac-
companied Don Bosco to the door and told him not to worry; he
was to leave everything to him, and he would arrange matters. He
concluded by saying, "We know Don Bosco too well to give
credence to the archbishop of Turin!"
The corrections demanded by the committee of cardinals were
so many that Archbishop Vitelleschi asked for another four
copies of the constitutions, and Don Bosco sent him six, with the
correction of a capital N . . . suggested by Cardinal Martinelli.
Perhaps this was the first letter of the word "novitiate." Don
Bosco had been asked to submit a set of regulations for a novi-
tiate because without them the committee of cardinals could not
meet for a final decision.
What was to be done? Without delay, Don Bosco secured
copies of the rules of other religious congregations, read and
reread them, weighed carefully in his mind the advice of Arch-
bishop Vitelleschi and other prelates, and then, on the evening of
March 27, after a brief stroll in Piazza Barberini with Father
Berto, returned home to work at his desk until two the next
morning. He then called Father Berto, who had not gone to bed
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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364
THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
either, and asked him to copy in good handwriting the pages he
had written. Thus he was able to deliver them that same morning
to the secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regu-
lars.
On March 28 he went to Cardinal De Luca and showed him the
anonymous letter refuting Archbishop Gastaldi's accusations.7
"This is a find!" the cardinal exclaimed. "Send a copy to the
cardinals, myself included."
"But this is a secret."
"Not if it benefits a third party. Go on and do it!"
The anonymous letter, which we have already reported, was the
refutation of the letter sent to Cardinal Bizzarri on January 9 of
that same year. During the past few days, the cardinals' commit-
tee had become acquainted with Archbishop Gastaldi's even more
categorical letter of April 20, 1873 to Cardinal Caterini, prefect
of the Sacred Congregation of the Council.8 Don Bosco too was
informed of it and was advised to refute it directly. He did so and
sent a signed copy on March 29 and 30 to the cardinal vicar, to
Cardinal Martinelli, to Cardinal De Luca and to Archbishop Vi-
telleschi:
Memorandum Regarding a Letter of the Archbishop
of Turin about the Salesian Congregation
It must first be pointed out that until February 10, 1873 Archbishop
Gastaldi of Turin constantly declared himself to be a warm supporter
and tireless co-worker of the Salesian Congregation. On that date (Feb-
ruary 10, 1873) he warmly encouraged Father John Bosco to go to
Rome, and he provided him with a commendation in Latin in which he
declared that he had recognized God's hand in the rise and development
of this same Congregation. He also gave it extreme praise for all the
good it had done and still does, extolling its humble founder to the skies.
1. In that letter of commendation he states that the rules were never
approved by his predecessors.
Answer: Among the documents submitted to the Congregation of
Bishops and Regulars, there is the decree of Archbishop Fransoni
(March 31, 1852) in which the work of the [festive] oratories is ap-
7See pp. 348-52. [Editor]
8The letter to Cardinal Caterini was dated February 19, 1873. (Seep. 315.) The letter
of April 20, 1873 was addressed instead to Cardinal Bizzarri, prefect of the Sacred Con-
gregation of Bishops and Regulars. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 365
proved, Father John Bosco is appointed superior, and all necessary, op-
portune faculties are granted him for their successful operation.
2. No approval of the rules was ever sought either from him or from
Archbishop Riccardi.
Answer: Once an institute has been approved by any ordinary, it is
debatable whether it should request the approval of every new bishop.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that Father John Bosco addressed a petition to
Archbishop Riccardi seeking such confirmation, and the latter replied,
as Archbishop Gastaldi did later, that once an institute has been ap-
proved by the Holy See, it no longer needs any diocesan approval what-
ever. Then, wishing to help the stability of this institution, Archbishop
Gastaldi, on his own initiative, issued a decree confirming all privileges
and faculties granted by his predecessors, and adding new ones, among
them parochial rights (Decree of December 25, 1872).
3. There should be a two-year novitiate, exclusively ascetic.
Answer: This was possible in other days, but not in our country at this
time, because it would destroy the Salesian Congregation. Were the civil
authorities to know of the existence of a novitiate, they would abolish it
immediately and disperse the novices. Furthermore, this kind of a novi-
tiate would not be suited to the Salesian constitutions, based as they are
on the active life of the members and restricting them to those practices
which are essential for forming and maintaining the spirit of a good
priest. Moreover, such a novitiate would not be suitable for us because
the novices would not be able to practice the constitutions according to
the scope of our Congregation.
4. Professed members have already left the Congregation and caused
hard feelings, etc.
Answer: As of now one member has left, Father Frederick Oreglia,
who belonged to the Congregation as a lay religious and left in order to
enter the Society of Jesus and pursue priestly studies. He is now com-
mendably active in the sacred ministry.
5. This Congregation considerably upsets ecclesiastical discipline in
the diocese.
Answer: The accusation is gratuitous. The ordinary of Turin cannot
cite a single instance to substantiate his assertion.
6. All too often, members are ordained under the title of common
board after taking triennial vows and then leave, etc.
Answer: Another gratuitous assertion. As of now, no one of these has
left the Salesian Congregation.
7. When he was bishop of Saluzzo, one of his subjects left the Con-
gregation as soon as he was ordained, etc.
Answer: There is not a shred of truth in this. The priest to whom he
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
refers in this and other letters, and whom he would like to cite as an ex-
ample, never belonged to the Salesian Congregation. He was ordained
by Bishop Gastaldi with regular ecclesiastical patrimony, but without a
commendatory letter and contrary to Don Bosco's judgment, to whom
the ordinary had sent him and in whose house he had done his studies,
thanks to his charitable hospitality.
8. Clerics dismissed from the seminary and accepted into the Salesian
Congregation were sent to houses in other dioceses, ordained there, and
ultimately sent back to their original diocese.
Answer: No such thing has ever happened. Should it occur in the fu-
ture, the ordinary always has the power to accept or reject these can-
didates, just as he may reject any member who has left any other reli-
gious congregation.
9. It should also be borne in mind that were the suggested conditions
imposed on the Salesian Congregation, which has no material funds, it
would be obliged to close its houses and suspend religious instruction
because it would then have neither catechists nor teachers. Moreover,
being a moral body, it would come to the attention of civil authorities
and its members would immediately be disbanded, thus destroying the
Congregation itself.
10. I must also note that the present archbishop has never expressed
the slightest complaint or observation to the members or to the superior
of the Salesian Society. Indeed, whenever he wished to point out any
cleric of particular intelligence and outstanding virtue, it was always a
Salesian student.
11. The statements made in the letter of April 20, 1873 have been
repeated with different wording in three other secret letters of later date,
addressed to the selfsame Congregation of Bishops and Regulars and
containing always allusions to nebulous facts which have nothing at all
to do with the members of the Salesian Society.
12. For the sake of truth and to refute that letter, I find it quite fit-
ting to attach this memorandum to it.
Fr. John Bosco
On March 31 Father Berto returned to the Church of San
Andrea delle Fratte to have two candles lit before the altar of Our
Lady of the Miracle. At nine o'clock that morning, the special
committee of cardinals met to discuss the approval of our consti-
tutions and remained in session until one-thirty in the afternoon.
In regard to the question of "if and how the recent constitutions
of the Salesian Society should be approved," the reply was Affir-
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 367
mative et ad mentem [Affirmative and as explained below].
Here is the official document:
On March 24 and 31, 1874, special meetings were held by the most
eminent Cardinals Patrizi, De Luca, Bizzarri and Martinelli of the Holy
Roman Church. Presented with a question, they were of the opinion that
the answer should be Affirmative et ad mentem.
Explanation
[1] The observations made by the consultor Father Bianchi in his
report of May 9, 1873 ... must be inserted in the constitutions.
[2] Citation must be made in the aforesaid constitutions of two well-
known decrees of the Sacred Congregation concerning religious,
Romani Ponti.fices and Regularis Disciplinae, of January 25, 1848.
[3] Moreover all those modifications and amendments listed by the
secretary [of the Sacred Congregation] in the margin of the enclosed
copy and the additional articles, mainly concerning Chapter 14, De
Novitiorum magistro eorumque regimine, and Chapter 4, De voto pau-
pertatis, listed on a separate sheet, must be incorporated in the said con-
stitutions.
[4] In regard to the second observation made by the consultor Father
Bianchi concerning the faculty of issuing dimissorial letters for Holy
Orders, this privilege should be sought from the Holy Father for a
period of ten years in conformity with the decree of Pope Clement VIII,
March 15, 1596, Impositis Nobis, with the usual clauses of suspension
for those priests who might leave the Salesian Congregation, until they
shall have acquired an ecclesiastical patrimony. Such privilege, if con-
ferred by His Holiness, should not be inserted in the constitutions but is
to be granted in a separate rescript.
[5] A petition may be made to the Holy Father for approval of these
constitutions thus amended and amplified, said approval being definitive
and perpetual according to the opinion of three of the eminent Fathers,
and experimental and temporary in the opinion of one.
[+ Salvator Vitelleschi]
Archbishop ofSeleucia
Obviously the cardinals' committee had worked hard, and by
the favor of God and Mary, Help of Christians their opinion had
been utterly favorable.
It would have been impossible to ask for more. The cardinals
had first thought that the approval should be limited to an experi-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ment of ten years prior to granting the definitive approval, but
then, in view of Don Bosco's reiterated, fervent supplications, the
good offices of Cardinal Berardi, and the clearly favorable com-
ments of the Holy Father, they voted for a definitive approval,
three cardinals voting in favor and only one opting for the ad
decennium solution.
Archbishop Vitelleschi then asked for a special audience with
the Pope,: who granted it for the afternoon of Good Friday, April
3. After listening carefully to the report and realizing that one
vote was needed for a unanimous approval, he smilingly ex-
claimed, "Very well, I shall cast the missing vote."
The archbishop then added to the special committee's report a
declaration that the Holy Father confirmed it in the audience of
April 3, 1874 and ordered that the decree of the constitutions'
definitive approval be issued with a ten-year indult authorizing
Don Bosco to issue dimissorial letters to candidates for Orders,
including the priesthood, subject to conditions and safeguards
contained in the explanation accompanying the approval.9
At six that evening Archbishop Vitelleschi was still in audience.
Later that same evening, Don Bosco called on him to learn the
outcome, just as the archbishop was starting his dinner. After a
few moments, he had Don Bosco ushered in and immediately
exclaimed: "Don Bosco, rejoice! The constitutions of your Con-
gregation have been definitely approved, and you can issue uncon-
ditional dimissorial letters for ten years."
Bursting with joy, our saintly founder held out a piece of candy
which Mrs. Monti had given him, and with real simplicity offered
it to the prelate, saying, "You deserve it!"
On Holy Saturday, Don Bosco began to pay thank-you calls on
the committee members. Since the cardinal vicar had gone to St.
John Lateran to confer Holy Orders, he left a copy of the "Three
Prophecies" with his secretary for delivery to His Eminence. He
then went to Cardinal Martinelli, and on taking leave asked for
his blessing.
"Good servant of God," the cardinal exclaimed, "it is I who
need your blessing!"
He also called on Cardinal Bizzarri, who was then in audience
9This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 369
with the Pope. He then wrote to Father Rua: 10
Dear Father Rua,
Rome, April 4, 1874
... Our constitutions have been definitively approved, with the un-
conditional faculty of issuing dimissorial letters. When you come to
know everything, you will have to admit that, it truly is the fruit of our
prayers. The Holy Father granted approval yesterday evening at seven
o'clock, but do not voice it around. I am now taking care of loose ends.
God willing, I shall be back with my beloved sons toward the end of the
coming week. Give them all my best. . . . Cardinal Berardi was very
pleased with the telegram. He immediately replied with another ad-
dressed to the Superior of the Salesians in Turin. I do not know whether
you have received it.
Before leaving here, I shall let you know the time of my arrival. God
bless us all.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
On Easter Sunday he called on Cardinal De Luca who received
him with exquisite cordiality and frankly admitted that none of
the special committee members would have ever dreamed that the
Pope thought so highly of him. He also confided that on several
occasions the cardinal vicar had said, "I mean to wind up this
business. Let us help a poor priest who sacrifices himself com-
pletely for the good of souls.,, In conclusion the cardinal said,
"Now I have a favor to ask. Come to dinner on Wednesday, and
I shall invite other friends.,,
Don Bosco accepted and kept all the guests in good spirits with
his stories. The cardinal, too, though of a serious disposition,
laughed so much that he confessed that such a thing had never
happened to him before in his life.
The day was April 8. In the morning Don Bosco called on the
cardinal vicar to pay his respects, and the cardinal again told him
that all was due to the Pope. The Pope had told him that approv-
al was to be granted; the Pope wanted it.
That evening he returned to the Vatican at 7:30, having been
called for an audience with the Holy Father. He had to wait al-
10We report the most important part of his letter. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
most an hour. As soon as he entered, the Pope exclaimed, "This
time it's all over!"
"Yes, Holy Father, and I am most happy about it."
"So am I!" the Pope said.
Then in his usual simple way, Don Bosco offered the Pope a
copy of his History of Italy. Pius IX glanced through it, exclaim-
ing three or four times, "Long live Don Bosco!" and adding at
last: "I know the spirit which inspires you."
He granted him other favors, among them the faculty to assign
clerics during their year of novitiate to the same tasks which the
constitutions would assign them during their first period of proba-
tion, if he considered it for God's greater glory.
"But," he added, "do not assign them to the sacristy, lest they
become lazy. Put them to work!"
Don Bosco then thanked him for all his help toward the defini-
tive approval, and the Pope answered with a smile, "You are wel-
come, but now do not ask for anything else!"
"Still, Holy Father, there is one thing I must ask you for."
"Nothing more, nothing more!"
"Then the approval of the constitutions will avail me nothing."
"What is it that you still need?"
"A dispensation from the age requirement for the councilors of
our Congregation's [Superior] Chapter. The constitutions set the
minimum age at thirty-five, and as of now hardly any of my
priests are that old."
"Time will remedy the scandalous situation," the Pope an-
swered humorously, adding that for the present the status quo
should be kept, and later, if a new councilor had to be dispensed
from the age requirement, a request could be made to the Holy
See.
The Pope discussed other dispensations and finally rang for Fa-
ther Berto, who most humbly thanked him for all his kindness
and asked a special blessing for his parents and all the members
of the St. Aloysius, Immaculate Conception, St. Joseph, Blessed
Sacrament, and Altar Boys sodalities at the Oratory.
On their way downstairs, Don Bosco was greeted by Monsi-
gnor Negrotto and Monsignor Demerod. The latter asked how
matters stood.
"Very well," Don Bosco replied. "Our constitutions have been
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 371
approved. Now all we need is that you find a shed to shelter boys,
and we shall come and set up house in Rome, too."
Archbishop Vitelleschi had asked Father Berto to make a
handsome copy of the constitutions with the amendments stipu-
lated by the cardinals. On April 9, they read the completed copy
through together, and then he asked for another copy, since one
had to be filed with the Sacred Congregation, and the other with
Don Bosco. On April 11 the second copy was also completed, and
the archbishop made Father Berto promise to escort Don Bosco
to dinner at his house the following day, Sunday, April 12.
While Father Berto went about this task and handled other
business for Don Bosco, the latter made other calls. From Cardi-
nal Antonelli he learned that the Pope had ordered a copy of the
Positio for himself and that the cardinal, having read it carefully,
commented on it favorably to the Pope.
As soon as Cardinal Bizzarri saw Don Bosco, he asked, "Are
you satisfied now?"
"Very satisfied, Your Eminence!"
"The cardinals did not do very much," the cardinal went on.
"It was the Pope." As Don Bosco was thanking him, the prelate
interrupted him: "No need for thanks. I was only doing my
duty."
"We shall pray for you always and look on you as a father."
"A fine father I would be!" Even in conversation he was trou-
bled by scruples, and Don Bosco felt sorry for him.
That evening he dined with the Vitelleschis and presented Mar-
chioness Clotilde with a large box of candy for some twenty peo-
ple. It was not his first dinner with the Vitelleschis, and he en-
joyed the same pleasure with Cardinal Berardi, Monsignor
Fratejacci, the Irish seminary, Chevalier Balbo, the marchioness
of Villa Rios, Mrs. Giacinta Serafica, and others.
Archbishop Vitelleschi instructed Don Bosco to go to the chan-
cery the following morning at eleven o'clock and pick up the
decree of approval and the rescript for the dimissorial letters.
Among other things, Don Bosco confided to him that during his
audience with the Holy Father the latter had said, "What a
blunder you made in proposing Gastaldi as archbishop of Turin!
There are some serious things concerning him. You wanted it! It
serves you right! Now get out of it as best you can!"
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Holy Father," Don Bosco answered, "I am unfortunately
doing penance for it!"
"You know what Our Lord said to His disciples," the Pope
went on. " 'If you are persecuted in one city, flee to another.' So be
careful! Keep on your guard!"
Evidently the Pope, who loved him dearly, wanted to tell him
to establish his residence near the Holy See, but he did not elabo-
rate.
During his stay in Rome, Don Bosco said Mass in various
churches and convents. In the streets he was often stopped and
greeted by friends and former pupils. One of these, Lieutenant
Viano, who had been one of the first to frequent the Oratory at its
very beginnings, invited him to dinner at his house. Another ap-
proached him in the vicinity of the Church of San Andrea delle
Pratte, and Don Bosco exhorted him to fulfill his Easter duty. 11
That day (April 12) he also asked the head stenographer of the
chamber of deputies, "Have you fulfilled your Easter duty?"
"I don't know what to do," he replied. "I am a reporter for lib-
eral newspapers, and the priests won't give me absolution." Don
Bosco talked with him confidentially for a while.
On April 13 he said Mass at Tor de'Specchi. Afterward he
called on the Sisters of Charity at Bocca della Verita, on Arch-
bishop Vitelleschi, on Monsignor Fratejacci who loved him dear-
ly, and on Cardinal Berardi, while Father Berto went to pick up
the copy of the approved constitutions with the relative decree
and the rescript for the dimissorial letters. The decree read as
follows:
His Holiness Pope Pius IX, in an audience granted to the undersigned
secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars on Good
Friday, April 3, 1874, after carefully studying the letters of recommen-
dation from bishops of those dioceses which have houses of the Society
of St. Francis de Sales, and after observing the rich fruits reaped by the
said Society in the Lord's vineyard, approved and confirmed its consti-
tutions as written in this copy whose original is kept in the archives of
this Sacred Congregation. He likewise approves and confirms them with
this decree, due respect being paid to the jurisdiction of the ordinaries,
as prescribed by the sacred canons and the apostolic constitutions.
11 This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 373
Given in Rome by the Secretariat of the Sacred Congregation of
Bishops and Regulars on April 13, 1874.
+A.Cardinal Bizzarri, Prefect
+ Salvator, Archbishop ofSeleucia, Secretary
On April 3, Archbishop Vitelleschi had also informed the Holy
Father of the special committee's decision to authorize Don
Bosco to grant dimissorial letters ad decennium [for ten years]
and the Holy Father had agreed. To regularize the matter, the
archbishop himself wrote the application. 12 To it he added the
rescript for the dimissorials:
Rescript
In an audi~nce granted to the undersigned secretary of the Sacred
Congregation of Bishops and Regulars on Good Friday, April 3, 1874,
His Holiness, after examining the request, benignly granted to the peti-
tioner, the Superior General [of the Society of St. Francis de Sales], the
faculty to issue dimissorial letters for a period of ten years to the
members of his Congregation bound by the perpetual bond of simple
vows in order that, with due regard to whatever has to be observed, they
may be promoted to all the orders, including the priesthood, under the
title of common board. This is granted in a manner similar to the
privileges of those bound by solemn vows, according to the decree of
Clement VIII of March 15, 1596, without jeopardy to what is prescribed
in the Apostolic Constitutions, especially those of Benedict XIV of
blessed memory entitled Impositi and Nobis concerning the ordination
of religious bound by solemn vows. If some who have been ordained
under the title of common board should legitimately leave the said Con-
gregation or be dismissed from it, they shall be suspended from the exer-
cise of the orders they have received until, having provided themselves
with an adequate patrimony, they find a bishop who will benevolently
receive them.
+ A. Cardinal Bizzarri, Prefect
+ Salvator, Archbishop ofSe/eucia, Secretary
Once he had the decree of approval of the constitutions in his
hands, Don Bosco made it a point to inform Archbishop Gastaldi
of it immediately. We shall see shortly how the news was re-
12This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ceived! That same day, in agreement with Cardinal Patrizi, pre-
fect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, he humbly filed a peti-
tion through its secretary, Monsignor Bartolini, for permission to
anticipate or postpone the titular feast which fell on May 24 in the
Church of Mary, Help of Christians. His request was granted. 13
Seeing that he had achieved everything successfully, he wrote to
Marchioness Uguccioni to inform her that he would make a brief
stopover in Florence14 on his way back to Turin.
Before his departure, however, he received a telegram with the
news that Father Provera was dying. The following morning,
after celebrating Mass in the new private chapel of the Sigismon-
di household, before leaving for the station, he wrote to Father
Rua, and, separately, to the Oratory community as follows:
Dear Father Rua:
Rome, April 14, 1874
I have received your telegram. I believe that by now our dear Father
Provera is with his Creator. Though I have long been preparing myself
for this bitter loss, it grieves me deeply. Our Society has lost one of its
best members. It so pleased the Lord.
To Our Sons:
Today, Tuesday, April 14, after being away for three and a half
months, your father, brother and friend of your soul is leaving Rome. I
will spend the night and all Wednesday in Florence and hope to be with
you on Thursday at eight in the morning. There is no need for music or
welcome-home demonstrations. I shall go straight to the church where,
please God, I shall say Holy Mass for our dear and ever beloved Father
Provera.
I want to make you all happy. At the "Good Night" I'll tell you how.
God bless you all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
A servant of the Uguccioni family met him at the station in
Florence. He stayed in their house, and the next morning,
Wednesday, April 15, he celebrated Holy Mass. That evening he
13We are omitting the pertinent decree. [Editor]
14We are omitting this letter. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 375
left and, traveling all night, arrived in Turin at the Porta Nuova
station at 8:30 on Thursday morning.
No one was waiting for him because his letter had not yet ar-
rived and he was expected that evening. The boys were out for
their weekly walk. 15 Nevertheless, as soon as he reached the Ora-
tory, several Salesians gathered about him. Without delay he
went into the church to say Mass for the soul of Father Provera
who had died on the 14th. After Mass he prayed in thanksgiving
and had a cup of coffee in the sacristy, while the pupils, who had
meanwhile returned home, lined up in two rows to give him a
joyful welcome. He had been away over three and a half months.
It was an unforgettable demonstration that was rendered all the
more solemn by a truly singular occurrence. As Don Bosco stood
in the doorway of the sacristy facing the playground, he saw a
gorgeous ring of light like a martyr's halo over the Oratory,
especially above his own room. It was shining white, like an en-
chanting rainbow, its larger arc almost reaching to the sun and
encompassing another arc, of identical form, but multi-colored.
He saw it, but, saying nothing, turned his gaze instantly to his
pupils and confreres, who ran to him shouting and enthusi-
astically clapping their hands, vying to be among the first to kiss
his hand.
As soon as he got to his room he was asked to step out on the
balcony and see the spectacle. Everyone was staring up at the sky
which at that moment was perfectly clear, save for a veil en-
circling, like a thin cloud of smoke, the rainbow which hung in
mid-air above his room. By now it had grown bigger and more lu-
minous. As soon as Don Bosco appeared, the whole crowd shout-
ed once more, as though with a single voice: "Long live Don
Bosco! Long live Don Bosco!" and then the band began to play
amid general rejoicing.
After lunch the band played again, and the white rainbow reap-
peared near the sun, so large now that it seemed to encompass the
entire Oratory and the Church of Mary, Help of Christians.
When they asked his opinion, Don Bosco replied, "Perhaps in
this sign the Lord has given us a symbol of our victory over our
enemies through the unconditional approval of the Society of St.
15Thursdays were a mid-week school holiday. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Francis de Sales. Or perhaps He wishes to renew our faith and
comfort us with the thought that Father Provera has already been
gloriously crowned in heaven."
The directors of the different houses were also present, and he
held several conferences with them on the following days.
On the afternoon of April 18 he paid his respects to Archbishop
Gastaldi. The archbishop neither asked nor said anything about
the approval of the constitutions, being concerned exclusively
with the matter of episcopal revenues. Before dismissing him, he
offered to come to the Oratory the following day to celebrate the
Community Mass.
Don Bosco had written to him as follows:
Your Excellency:
Rome, April 13, 1874
I have just received the decree of the definitive approval of our consti-
tutions. It bears today's date. I want you, who have always stood by us,
to be the first to receive the news. I hope to be in Turin before the end of
the week to pay my respects in person and discuss other matters with
you.
Most gratefully yours,
Fr. John Bosco
The archbishop read it and certainly reread it and filed it away
after writing on the back of the folded sheet, at the top, these
words, underlining the last five: "April 13, 1874-Don Bosco-
Notification of the definitive approval of his institute, which how-
ever is not definitive."
How is one to explain such an attitude? Curiously, too, on
January 23 of that year 1874, he had founded the Academia His-
toriae Ecclesiasticae Subalpinae [Academy of Sub-Alpine Church
History], naming Don Bosco not only a member, but one of the
co-founders of the association . . . but as we have said, 16 no one
in our Congregation knew anything about this honor until 1885,
when Father Scolari found the pertinent diploma among the
papers of the deceased secretary of the academy, Father Paul
Capello, and sent to Father Rua Don Bosco's diploma, signed
and sealed by the archbishop.
16See p. 309. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 377
Anyway, on April 19, the second Sunday after Easter, and-as
Father Berto noted in his diary-"a feast day made solemn by
Don Bosco's return from Rome," Archbishop Gastaldi celebrated
the Community Mass and administered Holy Communion in the
Church of Mary, Help of Christians. High Mass followed at
10:30. A little while later, a short man came into Don Bosco's
waiting room, saying that he had a package for him. When he
was ushered in, he immediately set the package on the table, say-
ing that it was an offering for a grace received. Then, without
disclosing his identity, he left. The package contained bills
amounting to two thousand lire.
Dinner was attended by the members of the [Superior] Chapter
and the directors, as well as invited guests, among them Chevalier
Bacchialoni and Chevalier Lanfranchi. Don Bosco took this oc-
casion to present Mr. Balocco with a knight's cross. Then he
walked to the porticoes [where all the boys and Salesians were as-
sembled]. Several pupils read welcoming compositions in poetry
and prose, and the band played various musical selections. Such
joy lit up all faces that when he thanked them at the end of the
program, he had to make a real effort to control his emotion.
Then all filed into the church, where after the singing of the Te
Deum he gave Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. The un-
forgettable day ended with the performance of the play "The
Martyrdom of St. Eustace."
12. THE APPROVED TEXT
In his conferences with the directors, Don Bosco stressed how
difficult it had been to obtain the approval of the constitutions.
He had the approved text read out to them, but we have no
record of what we think he said concerning the additions, elimina-
tions and most important modifications that had been ordered by
the cardinals' special committee, especially in regard to the novi-
tiate.' Chapter 14, De Novitiorum Magistro eorumque regimine
I At this point the author presents a comparative study of the second edition of the con-
stitutions printed by the Propaganda Fide press and of the text definitively approved. We
are omitting this part which, in our opinion, may at present interest very few readers. [Edi-
tor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
[The Master of Novices and Their Rule], underwent corrections
and additions in the following articles:
7. The Rector Major, with the consent of the other superiors, will de-
termine in which houses novitiates should be established. But he may
never establish them without the permission of the Sacred Congregation
of Bishops and Regulars.
8. The novitiate building must be separated from the rest of the house
where professed members reside. It must have as many cells for the
night's rest as there are novices, unless there be a large dormitory with
ample space for each bed and for a cell or something similar for the
novice master.
9. The novice master must be perpetually professed, at least thirty-
five years old and a member for at least ten years. He is elected by the
General Chapter. Should he die during his term of office, the Rector
Major, with the consent of the Superior Chapter, will appoint another
one who will serve until the convocation of the next General Chapter.
11. In accepting novices, all prescriptions mentioned in Articles l and
5 of Chapter 11 must be precisely observed.
12. During the second probation period, i.e., during the novitiate
year, the novices must not take part in any of the activities proper to our
institute, in order that they may strive exclusively to advance in virtue
and Christian perfection according to the vocation to which they were
called. Nevertheless, on Sundays and holy days they may teach cate-
chism to children within the novitiate premises, under their master's
guidance and supervision.
13. If, after a year of novitiate, the candidate has proved that in all
things he will be able to promote the glory of God and th(? good of the
Congregation and has been exemplary in carrying out his practices of
piety and his other duties, the year of the second probation period may
be considered completed; otherwise it may be prolonged by a few
months and even for a year.
At the end of the chapter it was stated that during the third
probation period, i.e., during the time of his triennial vows, the
member could be assigned to any house of the Congregation, as
long as he could pursue his studies there.
Moreover, Don Bosco was authorized by Pius IX to make
changes in the constitutions whenever he believed it necessary or
opportune for the good of souls and therefore for God's glory. In
fact, in the first edition of the approved Rules or Constitutions of
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 379
the Society of St. Francis de Sales he added this note to Chapter
14, The Master of Novices and Their Rule: "Pope Pius IX be-
nignly granted that, during their second probation period, the
novices may take part in the activities of the first probation
period whenever it will seem conducive to God's greater glory.
This faculty was granted orally on April 8, 1874." In fact, in the
first Italian edition published in 1875, Don Bosco, by virtue of
this faculty, printed only seven of the seventeen articles of
Chapter 14, and precisely the first three and the last four, trans-
lated as follows:
1. Any applicant must undergo three probation periods before being
accepted into our Congregation. The first, which must precede the year
of novitiate, is called the aspirantate, the second is the novitiate, and the
third is the period of the triennial vows.
2. For the first probation period it will suffice that the applicant have
spent some time in a house of the Congregation or have been a pupil in
our schools, giving consistent proof of good moral character and in-
telligence.
3. If an adult wishes to join our Society and is admitted to the first
probation period, he must first make a few days' spiritual retreat. Then,
at least for a few months, he shall be employed in the various works of
the Congregation in order that he may acquaint himself with and prac-
tice that way of life which he wishes to embrace.
4. After the completion of the year of novitiate, the Superior
Chapter, after consulting with the novice master, may admit the novice
to triennial vows. This will be the third probation period.
5. During the time of his triennial vows, the member may be assigned
to any house of the Congregation, provided that he may pursue his
studies there. During this time the director of the house will look after the
new member as a novice master would.
6. During all these probation periods, the novice master or the direc-
tor of the house should strive to recommend and kindly instill into the
new members the mortification of the exterior senses and especially so-
briety. But in so doing, let him be prudent, lest he physically weaken the
members and make them less fit to fulfill their duties.
7. After a member has commendably completed these three proba-
tion periods and earnestly wishes to remain in the Congregation for life,
the Superior Chapter may admit him to perpetual vows. 2
2We are omitting details about the formula of profession. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Many variations and additions were suggested or imposed by
the cardinals' special committee, but, thanks to the solicitude and
exquisite kindness of Archbishop Vitelleschi and the Holy Fa-
ther's approval, the work was completed in a few days. Don
Bosco expressed his gratitude toward the prelate in a letter of
April 28, 1874,3 calling him ''our most distinguished benefactor."
13. MORE DIFFICULTIES
Don Bosco had now reached his goal in a truly remarkable
way, but the opposition and difficulties that he was to encounter
as Rector Major of the definitively approved Salesian Society
were just starting.
At the beginning of May he sent Father Rua to present the
rescript concerning dimissorials to the archbishop and to ask him
to ordain the clerics Caesar Chiala and Matthew Ottonello. Fa-
ther Chiuso [the archbishop's secretary] brought it to him. He
wanted to keep it, but Father Rua pointed out that his instruc-
tions were to merely show it to the archbishop. Promptly the lat-
ter refused to receive him. Don Bosco therefore had to write to
him as follows:
Your Excellency:
Turin, May 3, 1874
Father Rua informs me that before deciding whether to confer minor
orders on my two candidates, you wish to have on hand a certified copy
of the rescript concerning the faculty of issuing dimissorial letters.
In regard to this matter I received the following verbal instructions in
Rome: If the archbishop of Turin (other bishops never raised any dif-
ficulties on this score) wants to see the original decree, let him see it, but
do not leave it in anybody's hands. As for the constitutions, a copy may
be delivered to him, if he wishes, once they are in print. But if he wishes
to have an authenticated copy, it should be sent to the Congregation of
Bishops and Regulars to be compared with the original and authenti-
cated.
I exhort you to cooperate with me in trying to ease our tensions; each
30mitted in this edition. We are also omitting details about galley proofs of the consti-
tutions annotated by Don Bosco. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 381
of us already has enough of them from other sources.
I beg you respectfully to give Father Rua an answer. Please believe
that I have always striven to do well by you.
Your humble servant,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. I would have gladly called on you myself, but I had to go to
Genoa on business.
Three times Father Rua returned with this letter to the arch-
bishop's residence, but he was never received. Consequently, the
ordinations were suspended and Don Bosco informed Archbishop
V1telleschi of the situation. 1 The latter replied as follows:
Dear Father John:
Rome, May 21, 1874
I have read and pondered your letter, and since you ask my opinion, I
believe that the only thing to do now is to give the archbishop a certified
copy of the rescript from the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars for
his files, showing that you are authorized to issue dimissorial letters to
the members of your institute for a period of ten years. If you take my
advice, you have only to ask the secretary of the aforesaid Sacred Con-
gregation to send a duplicate copy to the archbishop. You may think
that this means bowing to the prelate's demands. Undoubtedly this is so,
but I think it is his right to demand such a document. In fact, if the or-
dinary must accept the dimissorials from the superior of the Salesian
Congregation and admit his candidates now and in the future, he must
according to law have legal and canonical evidence that this privilege
has been granted to the aforesaid _Congregation by the Holy See. And
how can he be sure without seeing and being given a certified copy of the
Holy See's concession for his archives? With such documentation, no or-
dinary can plead ignorance of this privilege or ignore the right of the Su-
perior General to issue dimissorial letters. I am sure that when this is
done, all reasonable opposition to this matter will cease on the part of
Turin's chancery. If not, the Sacred Congregation will always uphold
the favors and rights granted by the Holy See.
Yours devotedly,
+ Salvator Vitelleschi, Archbishop ofSeleucia
1We are omitting this letter which repeats the endless difficulties raised by the arch-
bishop whenever Don Bosco submitted candidates for ordinations. See pp. 304f, 321-28.
[Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Obligingly, Don Bosco immediately applied for a duplicate of
the rescript. Before it came, he received this uncalled-for admoni-
tion:
Very Reverend Father:
Turin, June 13, 1874
His Excellency, the archbishop, has instructed me to tell you that he
has heard that you are publishing certain letters of his, and that he is as-
tounded that this is being done without his prior consent. In writing to
you or about you, His Excellency never intended that his letters be made
public. He will be forced to lodge a serious complaint against you if you
do not desist from this plan, unless his consent is obtained for certain
specific letters.
Yours devotedly,
T. Thomas Chiuso, Secretary
As soon as he received a copy of the rescript, Don Bosco sent it
to the archbishop with this forthright declaration:
Dearest Father Chiuso:
Turin, June 17, 1874
I have no idea who could possibly imagine that I have published or
will publish letters of our archbishop. Assure him, I beg you, on my
behalf that [our Congregation] strictly prohibits printing anything with-
out ecclesiastical revision, all the more so when letters of the archbishop
are concerned. Nothing of the kind was ever published.
An authenticated duplicate of our faculty to issue dimissorial letters
has been made, as prescribed by the Sacred Congregation of Bishops
and Regulars, and I beg you to kindly pass it on to the archbishop or the
chancery.
Whenever you see anything [that may lead to misunderstandings],
please inform me so that I may explain and prevent disagreements,
which have unfortunately taken place so many times already. May God
grant us His grace!
Your humble servant,
Fr. John Bosco2
20n Father Chiuso's letter Don Bosco jotted this note: "Reply was sent that I never
said or dreamt any such thing." [Author]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 383
However, while having his secretary reply that he was satisfied
with Don Bosco's statement and had read the rescript with plea-
sure, the archbishop renewed his accusations:
Very Reverend Father:
Turin, June 17, 1874
I have informed His Excellency of your letter. He was satisfied with it
and was pleased to read the document from the Sacred Congregation of
Bishops and Regulars concerning you. Nevertheless, the archbishop was
informed by a trustworthy person that certain letters of his now in your
hands have already been printed or are about to be printed. Thus he
again declares that he never gave you or anybody else any writings con-
cerning you-whatever the form of such writing-with the intention that
they should be either partly or totally published.
His Excellency therefore hopes that you will rigorously respect his in-
tentions in this matter, lest he be highly displeased and lodge serious
complaints against you. Please remember me in your prayers.
Yours devotedly,
T. Chiuso, Secretary
Don Bosco again patiently replied that there was no truth in
such allegations and once more jotted this note on Father Chiu-
so's letter: "Replied a second time that such publication has never
been thought of."3
Seemingly the problem had come about in the following way.
After the approval of the constitutions, Bishop Galletti of Alba
had a talk with Don Bosco who showed him the Positio, i.e., the
set of documents to be examined by the cardinals' committee.
Among them, as we have already said, were two letters from
Archbishop Gastaldi. Bishop Galletti, who deeply revered and
loved Don Bosco, was astonished by the conditions which the
archbishop was placing for the constitutions' approval and saw fit
to mention it to him tactfully in an attempt to calm his animosity
and persuade him to take a favorable attitude. He took as his
springboard the tone of certain printed letters.... This prudent
endeavor availed nothing and only caused more trouble indirectly.
That same month the galley proofs of a poem written by Fa-
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ther Lemoyne for Don Bosco's name day (June 24) were submit-
ted to the archbishop. The poem presented a biblical allegory in
which our holy founder, like a new Moses, climbs Mount Sion,
where an angel of God, Pius IX, gives him the new law, the con-
stitutions of the Salesian Society. The proofs were returned with
this note from the archbishop himself: "It may be printed, but its
exaggerations, which serve no good purpose, are disapproved. " 4
In August, through Father Rua, Don Bosco asked the arch-
bishop to admit one of our clerics to the examination required for
sacred orders scheduled for September, i.e., forty days later, and
received the following reply:
Dear Father Rua:
Turin, August 9, 1874
His Excellency will expect the young candidate on Tuesday morning.
He should bring with him certificates of his perpetual vows, studies,
orders already received, and the diocese to which he belongs (this last
drawn up by you).
Devotedly yours,
Fr. Chiusc
P.S. Many thanks for the errand done yesterday.
That same month brought yet another conflict. Wishing to
please several wonderful teachers and professors, and to aid
others in self-renewal, Don Bosco decided to hold a spiritual re-
treat for them at the Salesian school in Lanzo during the first half
of September. To this effect he mailed a printed circular to those
he thought would be interested, mostly former pupils. A copy
reached Father Margotti, the editor of Unita Cattolica, who pub-
lished it in the August 23 issue.5
The archbishop immediately admonished Don Bosco that such
a spiritual retreat required his consent and that, though he was
willing to grant it, he considered it his strict duty to insist that
similar invitations not be published without his permission. He
4 Father Berto forwarded this note to Attorney Charles Menghini, who, as we shall see
in the last part of this book, remarked that the archbishop's censure was offensive also to
the Pope. [Author]
5The last two sentences are a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 385
also asked for the. preachers' names.
To end the matter at once, Don Bosco informed those few who
had sent in their names that the retreat had been cancelled, and
he notified the archbishop of his decision. He did not mention the
names of the preachers.
The archbishop was not appeased and continued to make all
sorts of inquiries, unceasingly complaining that such initiative
was an act of insubordination to episcopal authority, all the more
so since nearly all the elementary school teachers were priests.
Don Bosco got wind of this and in the following letter begged the
archbishop to let him speak for a moment Hin the language of the
heart" and to desist from such carping:
Your Excellency:
Turin, September 10, 1874
The care with which Your Excellency supervises our humble Congre-
gation shows that you wish us to observe exactly its rules and all ecclesi-
astical prescriptions. This will certainly be to our benefit and keep us
alert to our duty. For this, thanks with all our heart. Yet I hesitate to
believe that certain things accord with the spirit of the Church or can be
of any possible advantage to anybody.
I am not referring to several private letters of yours concerning us,
nor to your repeated reprimands for my having published several letters
of yours when no such thought has ever entered my mind. I refer exclu-
sively to the letter which you sent me [through your secretary] on Au-
gust 23 regarding the planned spiritual retreat to be held in our school at
Lanzo, and this solely because its publication [in Unita Cattolica] was
made without my knowledge or request at a time when I had already
decided that such a retreat would not be feasible. This should suffice to
banish any thought that I am acting in opposition to ecclesiastical au-
thority. Among other things, your letter stated, ••such retreats may not
be held save with the consent of the ecclesiastical authority." I have no
'idea where one can find such a prescription. I know the directives of the
Council of Trent (Session V, Chapter 2) and those of the Sacred Con-
gregation of Bishops and Regulars, according to which religious who
have not been approved for preaching should under certain circum-
stances ask for permission, and, under other circumstances, for the
blessing of the ordinary. I also know the prescriptions of the diocesan
synod, but all of them concern public churches, in which case I would
certainly have abided by them; indeed, I would not have failed to do
what was simply proper.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
However, this instance concerned only a few teachers who wished to
gather in a boarding school and devote themselves to a week of spiritual
retreat rather than to any other pursuit. It should also be borne in mind
that Your Excellency .has approved our priests for preaching and that,
from the very beginning of the Oratory, the ecclesiastical authorities
granted us permission to hold at will triduums, novenas, and spiritual re-
treats in the churches or chapels of our oratories. A special decree of
March 1852 granted us all necessary and adequate faculties. The origi-
nal decree is in your chancery; I handed it to you myself. In turn, Arch-
bishop Riccardi confirmed all these faculties, and you yourself, in grant-
ing certain parochial rights to the Church of Mary, Help of Christians,
assured me that by it you did not intend to revoke any of the conces-
sions granted by your predecessors.
For these reasons, spiritual retreats were held several times in Turin,
Moncalieri, Giaveno and Lanzo, without our ever having recourse to ec-
clesiastical authority. When you were but a canon, Your Excellency
yourself gladly preached them on several occasions here at Valdocco
and at Trofarello, and neither you nor I ever sought permission. In
doing what has been our custom for so many years, I was completely
convinced that I was not in conflict with canonical prescriptions or your
revered orders.
Before I received your letter, several people kept amplifying the re-
sentment you voiced to several persons, maliciously interpreting it as
your desire to hinder the spiritual welfare of the faithful. Many things
concerning both of us are exaggerated and misinterpreted by public
opinion, or rather by those who live slandering their fellow men. Now, I
beg you, let me speak for a moment in the language of the heart. I
believe that before God's judgment seat, both you and I, who am much
closer to it, would feel happier if, instead of aiming at what we think is
best, we were to wage war against evil and promote what is good, and if
we were to strive to return to those days when every idea of poor Don
Bosco was, in your eyes, a project to be carried out. Let there be an end
to letter writing which only increases heartaches and offers pretexts for
reproach and scorn to the Church's enemies. Would it not be better if,
instead of vague letters, you were to pinpoint what you want of our poor
Congregation whose members spare no effort to benefit the diocese en-
trusted to you by Divine Providence? Would it not be better to bury
once and for all the notion that some people foolishly try to attribute to
Don Bosco, namely that he wants to rule in other people's domain? I
have no intention of either offending or displeasing you, but if any invol-
untary word has hurt you, I humbly beg your forgiveness.
In this house we have always prayed and continue to pray for your
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 387
precious health. I fully trust that you recognize the humble writer of this
letter to have always been and to always be,
Your most devoted servant,
Fr. John Bosco
The archbishop became even more irritated and kept saying
abroad how many heartaches Don Bosco was causing him. Even
writing on business to Bishop Galletti of Alba, he enclosed an-
other sheet expressing his annoyance over the printing of his let-
ters and the announcement of a spiritual retreat without his per-
m1ss10n.
In reply, the kind bishop of Alba sent him a lengthy letter as-
suring him that the only letters of his that he had seen in print
were the two that the archbishop had sent to the Congregation of
Bishops and Regulars and had been incorporated in the Positio,
which Don Bosco had shown to him. The bishop added that he
believed they had been printed with the other documents by the
said Congregation. Bishop Galletti also reminded him that Pius
IX was well disposed toward Don Bosco and that, considering the
times, his Congregation needed equal support from the bishops.
Finally, he urged the archbishop to send for Don Bosco and tell
him exactly what he expected of him and amicably listen to his
arguments.6
Archbishop Gastaldi wrote again, enclosing Don Bosco's latest
letter. In turn, Bishop Galletti replied as follows:
Most revered and dear Archbishop:
Alba, September 14, 1874
All Jor Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Thank you for sending me Don Bosco's letter whose somewhat stiff
tone I cannot approve. For truth's sake, in due time and in the proper
place, I will speak my mind frankly and clearly to him, and he, no
doubt, will accept my observations in good part. At the end of his letter,
he too felt that he ought to add a word of apology, but I hope that he
will send you another couched in more fitting and gratifying terms.
I beg you not to lose God's charity and the patience of Jesus Christ!
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
I say no more because we are now having a spiritual retreat and I too
am making it, though not as fervently as I should. I kiss your hand in
Domino and remain,
Yours devotedly,
+ Eugene, Bishop
Determined not to give in, Archbishop Gastaldi continued to
spy on Don Bosco's movements, and, hearing that he had gone to
Lanzo to attend our spiritual retreat, he immediately sought de-
tailed information from Father Albert, the vicar forane. Not sat-
isfied with his reply, he sent him a second letter:
Very Reverend Father:
Turin, September 17, 1874
Once again I ask and expect a more explicit answer [to these ques-
tions]:
[1] Are there any persons not belonging to the Congregation of St.
Francis de Sales-i.e., who are not professed members, novices, pupils
or servants-taking part in the spiritual retreat presently being held in
the Salesian school at Lanzo?
[2] If there are, are they laymen, priests, or clerics of this arch-
diocese? In the latter case, I wish to have a list of these priests and
clerics.
As for you, you should never have taken part in a matter which is
good and proper in itself and greatly pleasing to the archbishop, but vi-
tiated by a spirit of insubordination evident in the failure to inform the
archbishop and in the irreverence shown to him when he reminded (he
did naught else but remind) those responsible of their duty. So please be
more careful in the future and do not cooperate in what is contrary to
the hierarchical order established by God.
Please also inform me if, during the coming week, there will be per-
sons who are not professed members, novices, pupils, or domestics. If
that should be the case, I pray you to remind Don Bosco, in my name
and as vicar forane, of his strict duty to apply for my permission.
If he asks, I authorize you to grant it in writing. Let me know
whether or not he requests it. If not, then neither you nor any of your
priests shall set foot in the school during the spiritual retreat. On my
part, I shall see to it that archepiscopal authority is not impaired by
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 389
someone who should be giving others the example of reverence toward
it.
Yours devotedly,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop
That same day, the vicar sent him this formal statement:
Lanzo, September 17, 1874
I can assure Your Excellency that all the persons now on retreat at
the school are members of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales.
There is no one, layman, cleric or priest, who does not belong to Don
Bosco's spiritual family, save for Father Longo, the pastor at Pessinetto,
as I have already informed you.
Regretting that I was led unknowingly into something displeasing to
my ecclesiastical superior-to whom I willingly render homage and obe-
dience all my life-I told Don Bosco about your letter. He was shocked
by the word "insubordination" and asked me to do my best to defend
him against such a charge concerning which he certainly does not want
to have to contend with you.
I told him, "Assure me in writing that there are no outsiders on this
retreat, and that if anyone asks to join, you will seek permissio'n in def-
erence to diocesan authority." He gave me the reply here enclosed:
"Assure the archbishop that I intend to obey him scrupulously, and
that I wish all others to do the same. If I can only know what he wants
from poor Don Bosco, I will make it my duty to do everything to his
fullest satisfaction."
Hoping that I have fulfilled your wishes and trusting that Your Ex-
cellency is persuaded I have done nothing displeasing to you, I remain
Your humble servant,
Fr. Albert, Vicar of Lanzo
But this was not the end! Ceaselessly probing, the archbishop
discovered that although Don Bosco had specifically and repeat-
edly assured him he had cancelled that spiritual retreat for teach-
ers, he had printed a circular on it. Consequently Father Chiuso
courteously wrote to Father Rua for a copy.7 At the same time, in
more weighty terms, he also wrote to Father Lazzero, prefect of
the Oratory, for a copy of the circular sent not only to teachers,
7We are omitting his brief request. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
but also to all pastors of the archdiocese:
Very Reverend Father:
Turin, September 18, 1874
The Congregation of St. Francis de Sales is guilty of lack of respect
and deference toward the archbishop because it did not submit to him a
copy of the circular letter regarding a spiritual retreat to be held in the
Salesian school at Lanzo-a circular sent also to all the pastors of the
diocese even after reiterated oral and written assurances that the retreat
had been cancelled. This is so serious that the archbishop finds himself
in the painful necessity of safeguarding the respect due to his dignity.
Therefore, in his name I warn you that if you do not send him a copy of
the aforementioned circular by this evening, the cleric Ottonello shall be
told not to report for ordination tomorrow morning. If no more printed
copies are on hand, you may send either the manuscript or the galley
proofs of same.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. T. Chiuso, Secretary
If the invitation had really been sent to all the pastors, a
hundred copies could have been immediately located, but then
and there not a single copy was to be found at the Oratory. In
obedience to the archbishop a galley proof was sent with a state-
ment that the circular had been printed quite some time before its
publication in Unita Cattolica.
The archbishop again wrote to the vicar forane at Lanzo:
Very Reverend Father:
Turin, September 19, 1874
I have received your last letter concerning the spiritual retreat in the
Salesian school at Lanzo and was deeply consoled by your holy attitude
with which I am already familiar.
How happy I would be if the superior of the Congregation of St.
Francis de Sales could prove he is innocent of any transgression! Unfor-
tunately, without telling me, he indiscriminately addresses a circular to
teachers, most of whom are my diocesan priests, and sends it to the pas-
tors without sending a copy to his archbishop, and this just as I am set-
ting up three successivy priests' retreats at Bra.
What can we say about such conduct? Unita Cattolica publicizes the
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 391
spiritual retreat announced in the circular, and only then do I come to
know of it. I send word to that superior that I gladly and willingly give
him full permission to hold the retreat, merely requesting that he send
me the names of the preachers and that he notify me in advance next
time. Within a few days he has someone else write to tell me that the re-
treat has been cancelled. Why cancel a good thing because of a warning?
Was it not my strict duty to admonish him? Could I have admonished
him more charitably? Isn't my authority a legacy which I am bound to
preserve? Meanwhile, how could he inform the teachers that the retreat
had been cancelled? He had to send out another circular. If you have a
copy, please send it to me. In fact, send me whatever he printed about
this ill-fated retreat.
When that same superior informed me that it had been cancelled, he
could also have told me that he was going to hold two closed retreats for
his own Salesians. Likewise he need not have written me a long letter
full of irreverent words. . . . I simply do not see how a priest who is
about to preach a spiritual retreat to his sons should start by failing to
respect his archbishop.
As vicar forane, tell him in my name that this is not the way to draw
God's blessings upon himself and his Congregation. Let him read the
terrible maledictions which a consecrating bishop calls down from heav-
en upon anyone who dares to show a lack of respect toward the bishop
he is consecrating. I know a religious institute which slighted Archbish-
op Fransoni. From that day the institute declined and came to naught.
I wish that superior every good, and hope he will prosper, but in duty
I must demand that, while he promotes what is good on one hand, he
not upset my administration on the other. On this score the competent
judge is the archbishop, not the superior. If he thinks he has been
wronged, let him appeal to the Pope, but let him not set himself up as a
judge.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
+Lawrence, Archbishop
Don Bosco was then still in Lanzo for the spiritual retreats
which were held from September 14-19, and again from Sep-
tember 21-26. Father Albert, who was preaching both retreats
with him, sent this clear, direct reply to the archbishop:
Your Excellency:
Lanzo, September 22, 1874
This is to inform you that I was requested by Don Bosco to join him
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
in preaching also the second spiritual retreat. I did not think you would
have me refuse this second invitation. Truthfully, Don Bosco is anxious
that I do what I can to restore harmony between him and you, and he
asks that I offer you whatever satisfaction you wish. He asks in the first
place that you believe him when he says that if he did send a circular to
teachers, it was solely in order to do good, particularly to laymen, and
that he did not think that this would displease you, since you too have
given him overall permission to hold triduums, novenas, and spiritual re-
treats. Whenever preaching is required for these events in the future-
except for his own personnel-he will gladly follow your lawful desires.
In regard to the announcement printed in Unita Cattolica, he begs
you to believe that he had nothing to do with it. Indeed, it was done
without his knowledge by someone who received the circular and
thought it a good idea to give it wider publicity.
He would also have you believe that when he cancelled that retreat, he
did not mean to spite you. He only thought that it was not feasible
because only a few had responded to the invitation. He decided to cancel
it and informed only those interested. He assured me that no circular
was written for this, nor were any phrases used in cancelling it which
could reflect unfavorably on Your Excellency.
As for the irreverent words to which you refer in your last letter, he
humbly begs your pardon if any such words escaped him, and he im-
plores that you interpret them solely in the sense he meant. He repeated-
ly told me: "Possibly I expressed myself in a way which could be misun-
derstood, but I never had, nor could I possibly have, any intention of
offending His Excellency. I wish I could convince him that I have
always had and still do have complete respect for his sacred person and
his very special dignity. Please assure him of this on my behalf." Finally
he kept insisting, "Write to His Excellency. Ask him to tell me clearly
what he wishes from me and what I must do to win his full satisfaction.
If it is at all possible, I will be delighted to give him this proof of my
personal devotion to him."
I hope that Your Excellency will do me the honor of having me act as
the interpreter of his wishes. With all my heart I pray that the Lord will
bless your holy intentions by disposing all things according to your
wishes.
Your most humble servant,
Fr. Albert, Vicar of Lanzo
Not even these clear assurances managed to appease Archbish-
op Gastaldi. Without delay he sent to the secretary of the Sacred
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 393
Congregation of Bishops and Regulars a long list of requests for
clarification on how our constitutions were to be applied. First
and foremost, he asked if they had really been "definitively ap-
proved by the Holy See." In all fairness we must admit that he
had not yet received an authenticated copy of the decree of ap-
proval and therefore felt justified in stating that he did not know
whether the constitutions had been approved. Obviously he disre-
garded the communication sent to him by Don Bosco on the very
day of the signing of the decree:
Your Excellency,
Turin, September 23, 1874
. . . I earnestly beg you to obtain for me from the Sacred Congrega-
tion of Bishops and Regulars an answer to the following questions:
1. Have the constitutions of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales.
founded and ruled by Father John Bosco of the Turin diocese, been
definitively approved by the Holy See?
2. Is the Congregation now classified as a religious order? Does it
enjoy all its privileges, and is it therefore immediately subject to the
Holy See and exempt from episcopal jurisdiction?
3. Has the bishop therefore been deprived of the right to visit the
churches and houses of this Congregation?
4. Is the superior of this Congregation allowed to accept into his
houses diocesan clerics either as novices so as to admit them later to
vows or as teachers or assistants without prior permission and even
against the will of the bishop who invested them with the clerical garb
and maintains them in his seminaries?
5. May the above-mentioned superior lawfully receive into his Con-
gregation clerics whom the bishop ordered to leave the clerical state
because he judged them unfit for the sacred ministry? May he do so
without the consent of the bishop or against the bishop's will?
If Your Excellency can get me an answer to these queries from the
Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, you will do me a great
favor because the above-mentioned superior positively states that he has
the right mentioned in the last two queries. This dangerously jeopardizes
the formation of our young clerics. There is no novitiate in the above-
mentioned Congregation, so that when a cleric is admitted he is immedi-
ately assigned to teach. Naturally, many clerics prefer to be teachers
rather than bear the daily seminary disciplines and be only pupils.
Yours devotedly,
+Lawrence, Archbishop
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Archbishop Gastaldi had initiated proceedings against some
priests and had written another letter only a short time before to
Archbishop Vitelleschi, secretary of the Congregation of Bishops
and Regulars. The latter's reply covered both letters:8
Your Excellency:
Rome, October 5, 1874
Because of the overload of business in the past few days, prior to
today's start of vacation for the Sacred Congregation, I have not had a
chance to acknowledge your letters of September 9 and 23.
As regards the queries of your second letter, I shall get you an answer
from the Sacred Congregation after the holidays. Meanwhile, however,
I can tell you that if the Reverend Don Bosco showed you, as I surmise
he did, the Holy See's decree of April 3, 1874 approving the constitu-
tions of his Congregation, you have a clear answer to the first of your
queries. As regards the effects flowing from the definitive approval of
the constitutions, I repeat that I shall have the answers in November. In
the meantime you may easily form guidelines by seeing what is being
done in many other congregations with simple vows here in Italy, and in
considerably more congregations in France and Belgium. They have
received similar approval and are to some extent similar. . . .
Yours devotedly,
+ Salvator, Archbishop ofSeleucia
Meanwhile, on September 21 Archbishop Gastaldi had his sec-
retary lodge another complaint against Don Bosco for having
asked a diocesan pastor to give the clerical garb to one of his
young parishioners who wished to enter the Salesian Society.9 In
complete deference to his ecclesiastical superior, Don Bosco re-
plied as follows:
Dear Father Chiuso:
Lanzo, September 27, 1874
I have received the letter in which you inform me of His Excellency's
disapproval of my request to have a pastor invest one of our pupils with
the clerical habit. Let me explain the circumstances.
8Since the first part of the letter has no bearing on the matter at hand, we omit it. [Edi-
tor]
9This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa!esian Society-1871-1874 395
A charitable person was willing to donate a cassock for this pupil but
wished to witness the ceremony. Hence, both the boy and his father
called on me on their pastor's behalf to ask if the ceremony could be
held in their own village instead of at the Oratory. On the basis of the
decree of March [31] 1852,10 granting me all needed and adequate facul-
ties for the Oratory, I consented. When that decree was issued, I asked
the vicar general, Father Ravina of blessed memory, and the provicar
Canon Fissore, now archbishop of Vercelli, whether the aforesaid facul-
ties would let me also invest young men with the clerical habit. They
both said that I could, on condition that should these clerics ever wish to
join the diocesan clergy, they would have to take the examinations pre-
scribed for candidates to the clerical state and for admission to the
diocese.
In virtue of this explanation I have bestowed the clerical habit per-
sonally or through others for over twenty-two years.
Thus Father Felix Reviglio was invested by Canon Ortalda, and Fa-
ther Joseph Rocchietti, the pastor of St. Egidius, by the vicar forane of
Castelnuovo d' Asti. And so it was with many others who in due time
took the regular test, prior to being admitted to the seminary.
Please note that the decree in question does not say "We delegate"
but "We grant." However, though I am convinced that I have not ex-
ceeded the concession made in regard to the above, I shall in the future
scrupulously abide by whatever pleases my ecclesiastical superior.
I beg you to inform His Excellency of this reply to the letter you
wrote to me in his name.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
The above explanations were of no use. In a more detailed let-
ter, the archbishop again sent word to Don Bosco through his sec-
retary that he no longer had the faculty of giving the clerical habit
to boys intending to join the diocesan clergy, since the Oratory
was no longer considered a diocesan seminary as it once had
been, 11 and that this was the policy maintained in the apostolic
schools of Turin. Finally, he informed him that the boy he had in-
vested did not intend to stay in the Salesian Congregation but
simply planned to get a free education and then leave. 12
Firmly convinced that he was acting in conformity with the
10See Vol. IV, p. 527. [Editor]
11 See Vol. III, pp. 428ff. [Editor]
12This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
sacred canons and that Don Bosco, disregarding all admonitions,
systematically and frequently exceeded the faculties granted him
by the Holy See, Archbishop Gastaldi now appealed directly to
the Pope.
From his lengthy statement of facts, we can clearly see why his
way of acting put him in constant formal opposition to Don
Bosco, though he "had no other purpose than to give glory to
God" and "follow in the footsteps of St. Charles in governing
[his] clergy and [his] entire flock":
Holy Father:
Turin, October 4, 1874
I trust that it will not displease Your Holiness if I explain my reasons
for this letter.
As soon as I returned from Santa Margherita Ligure, where I wrote a
long letter to you only last July 29, I immediately sent for Canon Louis
Anglesio, the successor of Canon Joseph Cottolengo in the direction of
the famous institution founded by the latter in Turin. As I wrote, he is a
singularly saintly man whom I often seek out for advice. I earnestly
begged him to examine my conduct and tell me sincerely coram Domino
whatever he might find reprehensible, bidding him to take all the time
he needed for such an examination. After a while he called on me to say
that he found nothing objectionable in my conduct as archbishop; on the
contrary, he could only approve all the measures I had taken for the ad-
ministration of this archdiocese.
Despite this, I do not presume to claim that I am blameless. In fact, I
would gladly have Your Holiness appoint a bishop, well informed of the
situation, to examine my conduct and regime.
The archbishop of Vercelli would really be in a position to pass true
judgment on the matter. He was born and reared in the diocese of Turin,
took his degree in theology and in civil and canon law, and has been a
provicar, cathedral canon, and later vicar general for several years. He
is pious, prudent, alert, and accustomed to seeing things under all
aspects, not just under one or two only, as most people do; he knows my
clergy and the business I have at hand. Better than anyone else, he can
pass proper judgment on my government of this diocese.
The bishops of Asti, Alba and Pinerolo can likewise judge the situa-
tion truthfully. The bishop of Alba was one of the first professors of the-
ology and church history here in Turin. Having taught for thirty-two
years, from 1835 until 1867, he personally knows most of the diocesan
clergy, has a firm grasp of the situation, knows what is to be done and
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 397
what I am doing, and is therefore eminently qualified to judge with full
knowledge of the facts. I am ready to state fully the principles that have
guided me in everything I have done and in the regime I have adopted
for this diocese to whatever bishop or committee of bishops Your Holi-
ness may entrust the task.
In the meantime I can assure Your Holiness that I never had, nor
have now, any other goal than to give glory to God and promote reli-
gion, and that, as far as I can, I intend to follow in the footsteps of St.
Charles [Borromeo] in governing my clergy and my entire flock.
Like St. Charles, one of my most acute griefs is that I am forced to
complain about a disorder caused by one who, while not guilty of mali-
cious intent, is still rather exclusively interested in the concerns of the
body he heads, thereby hindering the well-being of the diocese in which
this body exists. St. Charles, after entrusting his Arona seminary to the
Jesuits, was soon sorry because they were steering his best seminarians
into their own Society. Therefore he removed them from its direction.
By this act he did not show himself to be any less a friend to the Jesuits,
but continued to protect and hold them in high esteem. The same now
happens to me in regard to the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales,
founded and governed by Father John Bosco. Quite unintentionally this
Congregation considerably keeps upsetting the regime of my own semi-
narians, and it may well continue to upset it if Your Holiness does not
pronounce a decisive word. This I earnestly, humbly and fervently im-
plore.
The Very Reverend Don Bosco has performed a most praiseworthy
service in devising new methods of Christian education for youth. God
generously blessed him and rightly has Your Holiness favored him. In
the beginning his work was purely diocesan in nature, and then there
was no friction, nor could there have been any, with Turin's archbishop,
who in fact saw Don Bosco's house as a diocesan seminary, all the more
valuable since Turin's seminary remained closed from 1848 to 1863.
But when Don Bosco's work developed beyond all expectations and
spread into other dioceses, he conceived the idea of shaping it into a reg-
ular Congregation whose members should depend solely on its rector,
independent of episcopal authority. When he asked my opinion I con-
curred, and, consequently, wrote several letters commending his Congre-
gation to the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. However, I
never ceased to urge the establishment of a novitiate, during which time
aspirants should not be engaged in teaching or supervising boys but
should only devote themselves to the exercise of piety, mortification, and
ascetical studies, such as is done in novitiates of all religious congrega-
tions. By doing otherwise, I said: l. the members will lack the con-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
stancy essential to the solidity of a congregation; 2. many boys will
enter lightly, enticed by a life which conflicts but slightly with their self-
love, and they will not persevere, but will eventually leave the diocesan
seminary, after bringing considerable restlessness to their fellow semi-
narians. I also thought and hoped that all the applicants to Don Bosco's
Congregation would come from the ranks of boys trained and educated
in his schools, and that the diocesan seminary would not be upset in its
necessary discipline.
But Don Bosco never cared to establish a novitiate like those of other
congregations. Even now all his novices are busy teaching, tutoring or
supervising. They work hard, it is true, but they do not have to combat
self-love or dedicate themselves at length to ascetical or theological
studies; rather, they are catering to a youthful urge for authority.
Furthermore, he maintains an open-door policy for any seminarian of
mine who wishes to join his Congregation, even without my knowledge
and against my wishes; he even admits clerics whom, after a thorough
testing, I have rejected as unsuited to the priestly ministry. This breaks
down the prestige of episcopal authority. I have asked him to desist
from such practices. I sent a cathedral canon to make him realize the
impropriety of his action. I had him admonished by the bishop of Vi-
gevano, and recently again through Attorney Menghini, summist of the
Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, who came to Turin from
Rome last week. But it was all to no avail. He replied that the sacred
canons give him the right to accept anyone into his Congregation and
that, having sought advice in Rome (I do not know from whom), he was
told not to hinder vocations, regardless of the fact that most of my own
clerics-indeed all who enter his Congregation without my consent to
spend a few years there for their own convenience-are not there be-
cause they feel called to the religious life, but either because they find
Don Bosco's discipline less severe, or because they prefer to be teachers
or aides in his Congregation rather than students in my seminary; some-
times, too, this happe"ns because of financial reasons or a certain con-
tempt for the rector of the seminary.
Consider, for example, Torrazza, a young seminarian for several
years. He was admonished several times that his conduct did not befit a
candidate to the priesthood. He failed to correct himself, and so last
summer I told him to discard his cassock. Rather than abide by the
decision of his bishop, he went to Don Bosco, who without a word to me
accepted him into his house at Casale. I learned this today, quite by ac-
cident. Such action naturally encourages unruly clerics to flout both the
seminary rector and the archbishop. When admonished and threatened,
they say to their companions and even to their superiors, "I know where
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 399
to go if I am dismissed. Don Bosco will take me in. In spite of the arch-
bishop you'll see me at the altar, in the confessional and in the pulpit!"
This is precisely what that cleric Torrazza said openly and implicitly,
and what the cleric Rocca, too, said two years ago when he left my sem-
inary at midyear without taking leave of anybody. He, too, was immedi-
ately accepted by Don Bosco. Again, two years ago the cleric Milano,
while still my seminarian, received a letter from the director of one of
Don Bosco's houses, inviting him to go there as a teacher. Without say-
ing a word to anybody, and with no certificate, he went there without
telling me, and was admitted. Two years later he left because he refused
to take vows, and he returned to me, demanding that I give him credit
for his two years of teaching, though he took no philosophy or theology.
These are examples of what would have happened daily in my semi-
nary had I not reacted in the way that I did and still feel to be my grave
duty.
Now, may it please Your Holiness to allow me to set down a few
principles I see as self-evident, and then to draw the practical conclu-
sions that logically flow from them:
I. The Church's first, most urgent need is that every parish have
pastors full of God's spirit and endowed with the necessary knowledge
because nowadays even the remotest village, once isolated, is touched by
the world's turmoil in a thousand different ways. It is also necessary
that these pastors be assisted by an adequate number of holy, learned
priests.
2. Should the pastors and assistants not meet these standards, this
grave deficiency could not be adequately overcome by any number of
religious, no matter how learned or saintly, because their work is neces-
sarily restricted to specific areas. Their scattered appearance in individu-
al parishes is like a downpour of rain which fills the ditches and floods
the countryside for a short time but does not have the effect of a slow
steady rain or of the dew which soaks the ground all year long, render-
ing it fertile and fruitful.
3. The first preoccupation of a bishop, therefore, and his first thought
and desire, must be to provide each of his parishes with pastors and as-
sistants who are learned, saintly, hard-working and ready for sacrifice.
4. To attain so sacred, vital and indispensable a goal, one must use a
tried system that has been recognized by the Council of Trent as neces-
sary, and as, indeed, almost the only fully effective one: namely the cre-
ation, maintenance, promotion and proper establishment of diocesan
seminaries, the lack of which cannot be made up in any way.
5. To achieve their purpose, these seminaries must be run according
to a sound discipline permeated with God's spirit; they need, too, ade-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
quate financial support.
6. In this regard, the present laws have deprived the seminaries of my
diocese of more than 40,000 lire per year. I cannot therefore maintain
them unless the philosophy and theology students (approximately 150 in
number) pay an average monthly fee of sixteen lire. Any objection to
this would attack the very existence and preservation of these sacred in-
stitutions.
7. Discipline should be such as to make the seminary fully resemble a
religious house and the house in which Our Lord trained His first apos-
tles. Seminarians should be schooled in all virtues necessary to their
state, so that on becoming priests they may be religious in substance, if
not in all aspects of the religious life. The fine discipline presented by St.
Charles in the constitutions of his seminaries has, is, and always will be
in considerable contrast to human passions, which are common to all
people, even young clerics.
8. A cleric who sees several religious houses open to him for continu-
ing his studies at no cost may easily be led to leave a seminary even if he
pays only sixteen lire a month. If his example is followed by several
others, seminary income will lessen considerably as many others may
leave if that modest fee is not lowered, and it would amount to nothing
at all. In the case of an extremely poor cleric, people can always be
found to come to his aid, and I personally pay half the fees of such a
cleric.
9. Moreover, a cleric who dislikes seminary discipline, who must
often be reprimanded, who has no taste for daily study, and who sees
that he could instantly become a teacher or aide by entering Don Bos-
co's house, where he would no longer have the burden of daily lectures,
will easily go to Don Bosco under the pretext of a vocation. He knows
he does not need his archbishop's consent and can go even against his
will. If others follow his example, as many most certainly will, and the
archbishop has no way to stop it, it is obvious that the seminary will suf-
fer painfully. All too often superiors will have to close an eye to infrac-
tions, lessen admonitions and corrections, and slacken discipline to the
grave detriment of clerical formation, lest the seminary be forsaken by a
large number of clerics who will flock to Don Bosco, not in an effort to
increase their piety, fervor or activity, but to find less discipline and
greater permissiveness in everything.
10. Don Bosco's houses offer yet another attraction: the possibility of
being ordained titu/o mensae communis. True, only those who are per-
petually professed may be thus ordained, but by the same token those
perpetual vows may be dispensed by Don Bosco. Regrettably, easy dis-
pensations are the reason why such vows are all too frequently taken
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 401
quite lightly. My seminary has never placed an obstacle before a cleric
who showed a vocation for religious life; several have become Jesuits,
Capuchins or Vincentians. But the novitiate one has to undergo in these
and similar orders is such that no youth will be attracted by worldly
considerations. Before leaving the seminary to enter such orders as
these, clerics have sought their superiors' advice, prayed at great length,
studied the matter thoroughly, and finally taken a decision which their
archbishop could not but approve.
However, the kind of novitiate required in Don Bosco's houses offers
various earthly attractions, as I have described above. Not one of all the
clerics who left my seminary to enter his houses (all without my knowl-
edge and without testimonials) or did so after being dismissed by me
with an explicit order or with a suggestion to take off the clerical habit
asked for advice. No one showed any indication that he was going there
with the intention of leading a more perfect life. All, without exception.
made it clear that they were going for financial reasons or because they
could not stand seminary discipline or because they were determined to
be ordained despite the adverse judgment of their own archbishop.
Unfortunately my diocese sees much evil side by side with good.
Among my priests are some who are saintly, but there are also many-I
say, many, and with tears-who are completely unworthy of their priest-
hood from every standpoint. They are given to drink and licentiousness
and completely lack God's spirit.
Increasingly year by year the number of priests has dwindled to a
fourth of what it once was, and those few new priests are barely enough
to meet our needs. It is therefore absolutely necessary that those few be
good, and even excellent. Hence I must keep my seminary in the best
possible state. This is my tireless endeavor and my daily concern.
I must not be disturbed in any phase of my administration, especially
in the training of my seminarians. It is evident, instead, that Don Bos-
co's ways, as described above, do disturb me beyond words. Therefore-
and this is the judgment which I beg of Your Holiness-I pray that you
explicitly forbid the rector of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales in
Turin to accept, in any one of his houses, any of my clerics as a novice,
student or anything else without my written consent. Likewise, he is not
to accept without my consent any cleric of mine whom I may have or-
dered to discard the clerical habit. I pray that this be done as soon as
possible.
Don Bosco is free to gather as many boys as he wants in his houses,
educate them, choose from their number as many members for his
Congregation as he wishes, and promote them to Holy Orders. In this I
am ready to lend all my help. He may likewise accept as many laymen
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
of my diocese as he desires and make priests of them. I will joyfully give
him all my support as long as I give them the examinations prescribed
by the Council of Trent. But he is not to upset my seminary. He is not
to receive any of my seminarians or diocesan clerics whom I have
judged to be unsuited to the priesthood. If any seminarian of mine
reveals a genuine vocation for the above-mentioned Congregation, he
shall not be prevented from entering, but I feel it is only fair that I per-
sonally examine that vocation and pass judgment on it.
I think it pertinent to enclose for your information a true copy of a
letter written to me by Don Bosco last September 10. To understand its
contents, Your Holiness should know that this priest sent a printed invi-
tation to the pastors of my diocese, inviting municipal school teachers to
attend a spiritual retreat in his house at Lanzo. This invitation was sent
to the pastors of my diocese and I was not consulted or even sent a
copy. Bear in mind that the majority of school teachers are priests under
my jurisdiction and in no way subject to Don Bosco. When I learned of
this, I had my secretary send him a memo, reminding him that before
sending such an invitation he ought to have sought my permission, and
that I would willingly have given it with only the request that he send me
the names of the preachers and that next time he inform me in advance.
It must also be noted that at that time I was holding three consecutive
spiritual retreats for my priests.
Don Bosco sent the enclosed letter in reply. Various passages, as my
vicar general read them, were anything but reverent toward a bishop,
particularly toward one's own ordinary. However, I leave the judgment
to Your Holiness, to whose wisdom and authority I submit myself and
all I have said and done.
Humbly kissing your sacred feet, and invoking your blessing on my-
self, my clergy and my diocese, I remain
Your most humble son,
+ Lawrence, Archbishop of Turin
The archbishop had made the following three notations on Don
Bosco's letter of September 10, which he enclosed with his letter:
l. That the publication by Unita Cattolica of the invitation
sent out to pastors, without a copy being given to the archbishop,
had not been done without Don Bosco's knowledge.
2. That the sermons and retreats referred to in the letter con-
cerned members of the Congregation and their pupils, and that no
outsiders had been thereto invited.
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 403
3. That, therefore, the letter was irreverent.
The vicar general, Monsignor Zappata, who had declared the
letter to be "anything but reverent in many passages," did not fail
to admonish Don Bosco in writing. Don Bosco's reply, accom-
panied by two printed copies of the approved constitutions, was
as follows:
Very Reverend Vicar General:
Turin, October 11, 1874
Your kindly comments on my letter to the archbishop have convinced
me that I should have voiced my thoughts in another manner and with
other words. I certainly had no intention of offending anybody, least of
all my ecclesiastical superior.
Please kindly assure His Excellency that my intent was to speak with
my accustomed confidence and frankness, and that I humbly beg his in-
dulgence for any expression that may have displeased him.
I also beg you to assure him that, far from intending to annoy him, I
have always tried to lessen his aggravations, several times succeeding
even with considerable sacrifice.
Assure him of my wish to live in full harmony with him and all his di-
ocesan prescriptions. I intend to observe them just as I do those of other
bishops, especially those bishops in whose dioceses we have houses of
our Congregation.
Tell him that of his priests who once belonged to the Salesian Congre-
gation not one has given him cause for complaint by censurable conduct,
and that I hope they never will. Indeed, some fifty are now exerting all
their energy in his archdiocese.
I am convinced that in all I have said and done I have been acting
within the limits given to me by the diocesan authority, and that were
His Excellency to deal with this definitively approved Congregation as
he does with others, he would see that we do not stray from our tasks,
and that we would be happy to be warned whenever we fail in anything.
Assure him of my duty to uphold the observance of our constitutions
exactly as they have been approved, and to consecrate those few days of
life, which God mercifully still grants me, to countless improvements
which are exceedingly difficult to make because of the nature of my in-
stitute and the times in which we live. I need what indulgbnce the or-
dinaries can grant me without jeopardy to their own authority.
Some days ago I sent a printed copy of our constitutions to Rome for
comparison with the original. Though I have not yet had a reply I am
enclosing a copy for you and one for His Excellency. In case of any in-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
accuracy in comparison with the original, I shall hasten to inform you.
Thank you for the benefits granted to this house. I ask that you
remember me in your kind prayers.
Your devoted servant,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. Please forgive my scribble. I did not want to use a secretary, and
my eyesight is of little help.
He mentioned his problems in a letter to Archbishop Vi-
telleschi, who, apologizing for the delay, replied to him on Oc-
tober l: "How are you faring with your constitutions? In strictest
confidence l_et me tell you that the archbishop has sent a list of
queries or, rather, requests for explanations about the implemen-
tation of the aforesaid constitutions. He will have a reply in No-
vember, but I would think doubts are popping up where there is
no call for any. Please remember me in your prayers." 13
In view of this situation, especially the highly confidential in-
formation of Archbishop Gastaldi's list of queries concerning the
practice of the constitutions-evidently the Holy Father had men-
tioned Archbishop Gastaldi's letter to Archbishop Vitelleschi or
Cardinal Bizzarri-Don Bosco thought it wise and necessary to
send the following memo on his difficulties to Cardinal Bizzarri,
prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars:
Your Eminence:
Turin, October 12, 1874
The Society of St. Francis de Sales, which on many occasions benefit-
ed by your kindly influence, has always been treated most considerately
by all the bishops with whom it deals. Doubts concerning implementa-
tion of certain articles of the constitutions have disturbed only the arch-
bishop of Turin. I now detail the objects of these doubts and beg that
you charitably advise me. The facts are as follows:
1. Prior to admitting any Salesian to Holy Orders, the archbishop of
Turin demands that, forty days before, the candidate report to him with
the following information: name, surname, birthplace, elementary and
secondary school education prior to entering the Congregation, number
of years he has been in it, whether he has made triennial or perpetual
13This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 405
vows and when, what prompted him to enter the Congregation, whether
he is satisfied with his lot, why he left his own diocese, and so on.
Such a rigorous examination of religious who have tranquilly followed
their vocation for years has considerably disturbed some, causing
qualms of conscience. Nevertheless, pro bono pacis we agreed to these
demands.
2. The archbishop then sent word that he would admit none of our
candidates to Holy Orders unless I gave him written assurance that I
would not accept any former seminarian from his diocese. It should be
remembered that in conformity with the declarations of Benedict XIV
and of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars in 1837 in the
dispute between the bishop of Pinerolo and the Oblates (Collectanea, pp.
474-480) and with the declaration of 1859 (Collectanea, pp. 724-725), it
would seem that an ordinary may not prevent clerics and priests of his
diocese from entering a religious order if they feel called to it, since it is
a more perfect state. Still, even in this the wishes of the archbishop were
heeded, and we made this declaration with the proviso that I intended to
abide by the prescriptions of the Church which safeguard the freedom of
a religious vocation. This clause irritated him, so that he did not consid-
er the statement valid.
This caused a certain coolness and discouragement among the Sale-
sians. Seeing that they were openly opposed and refused Orders, some
decided to leave the Congregation.
3. Another point at issue is the matter of spiritual retreats which we
have been holding for laymen and priests for over twenty-six years. To
clarify the situation, let me point out that in 1844 Archbishop Fransoni
of glorious memory formally granted the faculty of holding triduums,
novenas and spiritual retreats in our churches without limitations of age
or category of persons. This faculty was confirmed by Archbishop Ric-
cardi, and on several occasions the present archbishop personally
preached these retreats. We had no complaints. In fact, we were always
encouraged in a practice which was considered a very effective means
for the spiritual welfare of the faithful, and it was done-and is being
done-by all the local religious institutes.
When the archbishop learned that we intended to hold a regular spiri-
tual retreat in our school at Lanzo at the beginning of September of this
year, restricted to a select group and not for the general public, he sent
word that "such retreats could not be held without permission of the ec-
clesiastical authority."
We obeyed and canceled the retreat. But on the 15th of that month,
when the Salesians gathered in the same school for their customary an-
nual retreat, the archbishop wrote to the vicar forane of Lanzo, instruct-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ing him to obtain from me the names and surnames of all retreatants
not belonging to our Congregation and of the preachers and confessors.
The vicar forane of Lanzo, pious, learned and prudent, acted in all
charity and tried to satisfy the archbishop by telling him that he himself
was preaching with Don Bosco and that all the retreatants were Sale-
sians.
The archbishop was not mollified, but wrote several other letters, ask-
ing the same things over and over again and adding other demands.
Among other things he threatened to deny Orders to one of our clerics
who after a two-year delay had finally been admitted. From the enclosed
letters you will easily understand how upset and discouraged were the
preachers, the confessors and the more than three hundred members of
our houses who had assembled there peacefully for a spiritual retreat.
I now present the following doubts. and beg you to advise me accord-
ingly.
1. Has the ordinary authority to examine minutely the vocation of
professed religious who have lived for a number of years in the Congre-
gation? (I do not refer here to theology examinations, to which our
members have always submitted, and still do submit.)
2. May the archbishop forbid the superior of a religious congregation
to accept clerics or priests who apply?
3. Must-or, rather, may-this superior declare that he will not ac-
cept such clerics, as requested?
4. Does the superior of a congregation, in accordance with the pre-
scriptions of the Council of Trent (Session V, Chapter 2) and the de-
claration of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars (Collec-
tanea, pp. 257, 313, 303, 430), have the authority to gather in any of his
houses or schools teachers or diocesan priests who wish to take part in
moral conferences or spiritual retreats?
5. May the ordinary, during a spiritual retreat for religious, inves-
tigate either personally or through others the identity of preachers, con-
fessors and retreatants not belonging to our Congregation?
I assure you that, whatever your answer or advice, the Salesians will
treasure it as a safe norm to be followed faithfully. In offering steadfast
homage to the Holy See by the exact observance of the constitutions it
has approved, I also intend the Salesians to be most obliging to their or-
dinaries to whose assistance they have dedicated themselves.
Please bear gently with me for the trouble I am giving you and accept
my deepest gratitude and respect.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 407
Some days later the Holy Father sent Archbishop Gastaldi's
letter to the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. After
reading the memorandums of the archbishop and of Don Bosco,
Archbishop Vitelleschi sketched a few notes in preparation for a
discussion to be held by the members of the Sacred Congregation.
"What a coincidence!" he exclaimed. "Five queries on one side
and five on the other!"
The friendly Cardinal Berardi was also briefed about these dis-
agreements and vexations. Toward the end of October he assured
Don Bosco that he had hinted to the right persons how an end
could be put to these unpleasant conflicts:
Dear Don Bosco:
Rome, October 26, 1874
My three months' stay at Ceccano for my health-which now, thank
God, has sufficiently improved-kept me from meeting the professor
you introduced to me and from receiving your message. I regret having
missed this opportunity, but I trust that there will be other occasions to
make up for it.
Though I am delighted to hear that your worthy Congregation is
doing excellently in all ways, I am very sorry to learn that a subtle war
of nerves is being waged against it. Most confidentially I want you to
know that the prelate in question writes very often, attacking you for
one reason or other, his principal complaint being that you are luring
youths from his seminary and jurisdiction to the jeopardy of his arch-
diocese. I have already suggested to the right persons what to do in
order to end these unpleasant conflicts, and I pray that the Lord will
bless my initiative and second my plan. . . .
Yours devotedly,
+ Joseph Cardinal Berardi
The following month Don Bosco sent his dear friend a concise
report on the difficulties facing him, along with a memorandum
on "the causes for the friction existing with the archbishop" so
that he might be fully informed about the situation.
Your Eminence:
Turin, November 7, 1874
I am most grateful for your gracious letter and thank you cordially
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
for the information. That you may have a correct idea regarding the fear
that I lure priests and clerics from their ordinary's jurisdiction, let me
explain a few things.
First of all, as regards the admission of novices, I have always abided
by the directives of Benedict XIV and the deliberations of the authorita-
tive Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. The archbishop, however,
relentlessly demanded a written assurance from me that I would not ac-
cept any cleric of his in our Congregation; otherwise he would no longer
admit any of our clerics to ordination. Pro bona pacis I yielded but
added: save for the Church's prescriptions safeguarding the freedom of
religious vocations. He disliked this condition, and matters reverted to
their former state.
Many of our students enter the diocesan seminary, but some cannot
manage to get into the good graces of the youthful rector and are con-
sequently dismissed and struck off the diocesan register despite their
good qualities. These poor youths return to us to continue their studies
or to learn a trade that may enable them to earn a living, but the or-
dinary is dead-set against allowing anyone to give them attention. Thus
to leave a youth to the streets after having previously lavished much care
on him seems sheer cruelty to me. Today I accepted one such youth.
Before leaving the seminary, he begged the chancery for a letter of rec-
ommendation. They wrote it, but the archbishop required that he fetch it
from him. Upon being queried as to his plans, the young man did his ut-
most to avoid a clear answer. "Tell me, or I shall not give you this testi-
monial," the archbishop warned him.
"In that case," the good youth replied, "I will tell you that I am going
to Don Bosco."
"If that is where you are going, I shall never give it to you," the arch-
bishop replied. "Go anywhere you want, but not to Don Bosco!" He has
said the same thing to others, and even to some priests who were educat-
ed here at the Oratory.
I assure Your Eminence that we keep praying for your good health.
Please bear with me, and remember me and this house in your kindly
prayers.
Most gratefully yours,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. Use the enclosed memorandum as you see fit. Pass it on either
to Archbishop Vitelleschi or to Cardinal Bizzarri, or destroy it if you
wish.
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 409
MEMORANDUM
I think it opportune to enclose a memorandum explaining the causes
for the friction existing with the archbishop. In my opinion, they are due
to unfounded information that some people give him. I will cite a few in-
stances:
1. The archbishop was made to believe that Father Chiapale and Fa-
ther Pignolo belonged to this Congregation. Neither has ever belonged
to us.
2. Several persons worked as monitors or teachers in the deaf-mute
home and gave a poor account of themselves; indeed; they behaved
badly. Without passing judgment, it is a fact that none of them were
ever Salesians.
3. It is alleged that many members left this Congregation and caused
much trouble in the dioceses that received them. I can give every assur-
ance that up to 1874 only one member has left our Congregation, and
this is Chevalier Oreglia, now Father Frederic Oreglia. He was a lay
Salesian and decided to leave in order to join the Jesuits and pursue his
studies in their Order.
4. The archbishop was made to believe that I was printing or had
printed certain private letters of his. He sent me several letters about
this. Such a thing never even crossed my mind.
5. I sent out a simple invitation for a routine spiritual retreat and the
archbishop told me that it had been a circular addressed to all pastors.
Neither I nor any other person acting on my behalf ever addressed such
an invitation to pastors.
6. I wrote to the archbishop trying to persuade him that this retreat,
which was to be held from September 7 to September 13, had been can-
celed, but someone immediately reported to him that Don Bosco, flaunt-
ing his disrespect for his ecclesiastical superior, had started the said re-
treat at Lanzo.
7. The vicar forane of Lanzo assured him that only members of our
Congregation were making the retreat, but someone instantly tried to
1
persuade the archbishop of the contrary. Consequently the retreat was
gravely upset and everybody was highly displeased.
I could go on with a long list of similar instances. Now what conclu-
sion can be drawn from such facts?
I am disheartened at having to struggle with other grave obstacles
while bearing the brunt of this state of affairs.
If you have any suggestions, please hold them until next week, be-
cause today, being quite penniless, I am setting out in search of money.
I shall be away a whole week.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Difficulties piled up unceasingly. At the beginning of No-
vember, Father Francis Paglia reported to the chancery, bearing
the following recommendation:
Turin, November 2, 1874
The undersigned certifies that Father Francis Paglia of the Congrega-
tion of St. Francis de Sales has completed his course of moral theology
at the Convitto Ecclesiastico, which he has attended more than two
years.
To be able to contribute to the spiritual welfare of the faithful by
hearing confessions, the undersigned recommends him to His Excellency
the archbishop to be admitted to the proper examination.
Fr. John Bosco
The archbishop refused under the pretext that Father Paglia
had not yet taken perpetual vows, although Don Bosco had the
Holy Father's authorization to grant a dispensation.
On another occasion, Father Rua called on the archbishop and
asked him to ordain a few clerics during the Advent ember days.
The response was that the archbishop would not ordain any Sale-
sian as long as former seminarians were accepted in Salesian
houses.
Once more Don Bosco wrote to him:
Your Excellency,
Turin, November 10, 1874
. . . I ask you to believe me when I say that up to now no cleric ex-
pelled from the Turin seminary has ever belonged to our Congregation,
either as a professed member or as a novice. At most, very few, finding
themselves homeless, came for a short period, but left as soon as they
could find accommodations elsewhere; others came to make a spiritual
retreat prior to leaving the clerical state, as the cleric Borelli did. All
were asked to get Your Excellency's consent, and when it was refused,
they were denied admission.
Please be good enough to believe me when I say that if I did decide to
offer temporary hospitality to those clerics, it was solely to mitigate the
resentment of their families and friends who kept spewing abuse against
you as one who wanted those former clerics to be forsaken by all.
With this, I humbly implore you graciously to admit our clerics to
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 411
Holy Orders. If you see fit to keep up your refusal, at least for my guid-
ance let me know in writing your reasons for doing so.
Whatever your decision, regardless of what is said of me, I can assure
you that I have always tried my best to treat my ecclesiastical superior
well, as well as the diocese entrusted to him by Divine Providence. This
I hope to keep doing for the rest of my life.
Your humble servant,
Fr. John Bosco
Father Rua, too, again appealed to the archbishop, declaring
that Don Bosco was willing to do what the prelate asked:
Your Excellency,
Turin, November 16, 1874
I know that after the meeting I was honored to have with Your Ex-
cellency, our beloved superior, Don Bosco, sent a letter to you. As a
follow-up, let me inform you that Don Bosco is fully disposed to accept
no longer any former seminarian of yours without your consent. In fact,
after sending you his letter, one called at the Oratory and was not ac-
cepted. Furthermore, Don Bosco is willing to have those he already ac-
cepted remove their clerical habit. Hence, if this is the only obstacle to
the ordination of our clerics, Your Excellency may now admit them to
Orders because from now on you will have no reason for complaint on
this score.
Please allow me to kiss your hand. From all of us at the Oratory,
myself in particular, expect a blessing.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. Michael Rua, Vice-Rector
No other way was left to avoid further difficulties but to obtain
from the Holy See the faculty to present dimissorials to any bish-
op. To obtain this Don Bosco wrote to Cardinal Berardi:
Your Eminence:
Turin, November 18, 1874
We are still beset with difficulties because our archbishop keeps creat-
ing grave problems for me and never manifests what he has against us
poor Salesians. For nearly three years now, he has refused to ordain our
clerics, except for one subdeacon last September after a thousand pleas
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
and difficulties.
Recently I asked him to admit one of our priests to the examination
that is a requisite for hearing confessions. He refused on the grounds
that this priest had taken only triennial vows. I told him that this was in
accordance with our constitutions. "Too bad," he replied. Meanwhile,
amid a crying need of confessors, one who is qualified and willing is
forced to remain idle.
I also asked him to ordain three of our clerics next Christmas. He
again refused, alleging that I was accepting his clerics in our Congrega-
tion. I assured him that up to now none of his clerics had been accepted.
He refused to believe me and stood firm in denying ordination.
I do not want to make matters worse. I believe that if Your Eminence
could obtain for me the Holy Father's permission to have these clerics
ordained by a bishop in whose diocese we have a house, I could fill a
grave need of ours. This is being done by all other orders and congrega-
tions, but I hesitate because our archbishop threatens with many penal-
ties the bishops who would lend themselves to this.
There is another way: the faculty of presenting dimissorial letters to
any bishop. Several religious orders have obtained this faculty, and the
Holy Father himself granted it to the Vincentians. However, I dare not
ask. I entrust the matter to your prudence. Archbishop Vitelleschi is
most favorable to us in everything, but he can only present the situation,
whereas Your Eminence can discuss the matter with the Holy Father.
I hope to visit Rome this winter and to be able to pay you my respects
and thank you for your goodness to us Salesians. Meanwhile we daily
pray that God will grant you good health for many years to come.
Yours devotedly.
Fr. John Bosco
With the letter he enclosed a petition imploring the above-men-
tioned faculty of presenting dimissorial letters to any bishop.14
Early in December, Archbishop Gastaldi, hearing that Father
Louis Guanella of the diocese of Como wished to become a Sale-
sian, wrote to the bishop: "Let Father Guanella be warned that if
he comes to this archdiocese he will never have my permission to
celebrate Mass, still less to hear confessions." In view of this, the
vicar general of Como sent this communication to the archpriest
at Prosto:
14We also have in our archives the copy of another petition addressed to the Holy Father
that same year for permission to request directly from pastors, rather than from or-
dinaries, testimonial letters for the admission of candidates to the novitiate. [Author]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Sa/esian Society-1871-1874 413
The bishop orders me to inform you as follows and to ask that you
notify the Very Reverend Father Louis Guanella accordingly. His Ex-
cellency the archbishop of Turin wrote to the bishop of Como that for
reasons of internal government he will not grant permission to celebrate
Mass, still less to hear confessions, to the administrator of the parish of
Savogno who intends to go to Turin.
Father Louis Guanella should not be upset by this order of His Ex-
cellency the archbishop since the reasons do not concern him personally
in any way.
Therefore, let the administrator of Savogno be of good heart and
postpone any thought of forsaking his parishioners; the permission he
had received to leave is herewith revoked. Rather, let him strive to
evangelize the people God has entrusted to him with all zeal and energy,
coupled with the necessary prudence.
Obviously the chancery of Como did not care to lose the deeply
pious and zealous administrator of Savogno, the future founder of
the Servants of Charity and of the Daughters of St. Mary of
Divine Providence. This unexpected opposition displeased Father
Guanella even more, and he wrote to Don Bosco:
Very Reverend Father:
Prosto di Chiavenna, December 14, 1874
I have just received the enclosed note and must admit that I am as-
tonished beyond words. It could be that such a harsh order was instigat-
ed by the local police. At the moment I can think of no other explana-
tion. You know the police surveillance I have been subjected to after
publishing my booklet Warnings, etc. I entrust myself to you and pray
that the Lord will disperse these stormy clouds and let me join you soon.
I have written to Father Sala and am sending him a telegram to hold up
the shipping of his belongings while I write this very day to the bishop of
Como and let him know that I welcome Father Sala in my parish just in
case I may be accepted in some other school of yours away from Turin.
This decree of the archbishop is truly a mystery. What have I got to do
with him? I would not have been under his jurisdiction. . . . Pray to the
Lord that I may become resigned to it all.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. Louis Guanella
On December 24, Christmas Eve, Archbishop Gastaldi took
another step. He sent Don Bosco a decree he had signed on De-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
cember 17, 1874, revoking all faculties, favors and privileges
granted by him and his predecessors to the Salesian Congrega-
tion.
Clearly this stepped-up, high-handed manner of acting created
a serious obstacle to the development of the Salesian Society,
which needed generous souls to accomplish its apostolate. Before
the end of the year, therefore, Don Bosco found himself forced to
acquaint the Holy Father with the difficulties which to him
seemed to be "obstacles to God's greater glory":
Holy Father:
Turin, December 30, 1874
On April 3 of this year Your Holiness deigned to grant definitive ap-
proval to the Salesian Society. By this act of sovereign clemency you
made it known that the Salesian Congregation and all its members were
placed under the lofty protection and tutelage of the Holy See. By this
approval the superior was instructed to promote exact observance of the
constitutions and respect for the authority of ordinaries. He was also
asked to help them as much as possible in these trying times and in this
general scarcity of priests.
The bishops with whom we have had dealings have constantly de-
clared themselves to be our protectors, and, in turn, the Salesians have
unanimously and wholeheartedly collaborated with them in the ministry
of preaching, catechizing, hearing confessions, saying Mass, conducting
schools and so on.
Only with His Excellency the archbishop of Turin have difficulties
arisen which seem to hinder the greater glory of God.
1. Besides requiring that our ordinands take theology examinations at
the seminary-a request we have always honored-he wants to question
them about their religious vocation. We obliged, but then he demanded
a written declaration that no former seminarian of his would ever be ac-
cepted into our Congregation. We consented under the condition that
the sacred canons safeguarding the freedom of religious vocations be
respected. He nevertheless continued to complain that we were accepting
his seminarians, whereas not one of them belongs to our Congregation.
2. For reasons unknown to us, during the past three years he has
refused to ordain our clerics. He made one single exception, after caus-
ing a great deal of difficulty, during the ember days of last fall. Hence
each ordination means a burden and expense for us, and, as a result,
workers in the Lord's vineyard have had to remain idle because of the
archbishop's refusal to ordain them.
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 415
3. The archbishop has unyieldingly refused to let any diocesan priest
enter our Congregation. Examples are Father Ascanio Savio and Father
John Olivero, both of them former pupils of ours. Not only that, but as
far as he can, he stands in the way of those from other dioceses as well.
A month ago he came to know that Father Louis Guanella, a pastor in
Lombardy, had decided to join the Salesian Society. Immediately,
through the bishop of Como, he had Father Guanella notified that he
would never be permitted to celebrate Mass or hear confessions in the
Turin archdiocese.
4. He also refuses to admit our priests to examinations for permission
to hear confessions. One such case is Father Francis Paglia, who is in
his eighth year of theological studies. At first the archbishop adduced
that he had not attended lectures in the diocesan seminary, then that he
had not undergone the yearly examinations, and finally that he, the
archbishop, had no time to look into this matter. When all these excuses
fell through, he gave the reason that Father Paglia was not perpetually
professed and so could not be allowed to take the test. But this is in ac-
cordance with our constitutions and no other ordinary raises the slight-
est difficulty. Besides, has not Your Holiness decreed that in all religious
orders simple temporary vows be made before the solemn perpetual
vows?
5. Ordinaries who have Salesian houses within their dioceses very
willingly grant all those faculties that may redound to the good of souls.
So also did the ordinaries of Turin, including Archbishop Gastaldi him-
self. Besides this approval, they also granted many privileges, such as
administering Holy Viaticum and Extreme Unction, conducting funeral
rites for the residents of our houses, holding triduums, novenas and spir-
itual retreats, imparting Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament, con-
ducting the Forty Hours devotion, and so on. But now, by a decree of
December 17, these faculties which effectively contribute to the good of
souls have been revoked, as you can see from the enclosed copy of the
decree and from the letters addressed to the undersigned last August and
September.
6. Because of the decrease of priests stemming from the archbishop's
refusal to ordain our candidates, the decrease of confessors because
applicants cannot take the required test, and the revocation of ordinary
faculties so useful especially to a young congregation, we could not open
schools where requests were made and can hardly exercise our priestly
ministry in favor of poor abandoned boys, notwithstanding many invita-
tions.
I have mentioned these facts not to lodge accusations or complaints,
but only to remove obstacles to God's greater glory. I humbly implore
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Your Holiness to keep the Salesians under your fatherly protection and
to advise us as you judge best for the good of souls.
Proud to pay you homage, I implore your apostolic blessing upon all
the Salesians, and especially upon my poor self.
Most gratefully yours,
Fr. John Bosco
We will close our narrative with two comments. The first, by
Father Rua, is recorded in the Informative Process [for Don Bos-
co's beatification and canonization]: "It was evident that Don
Bosco was suffering. At times I saw him weep for the grief he felt
at being at variance with his superior, with whom he wanted per-
fect harmony as they helped each other in promoting God's
greater glory. At times I even heard him exclaim: 'There is so
much good to be done, and I am so hindered that I cannot do
it!' "
The second comment is by Don Bosco. When some of us asked
him how he could ever have suggested the promotion of Bishop
Gastaldi to the archdiocese of Turin-naturally he had done it in
the belief that it would be advantageous, since he knew how much
the prelate loved and favored his institute-he answered humbly,
"Because I put more trust in men than in God!"
And now, having followed his long, patient toil for the defini-
tive approval of the constitutions, what can we resolve to do so as
to please him most? "Let us resolve to read carefully from time to
time the text approved by the Holy See so as to understand
thoroughly his spirit and live according to it in an exemplary
manner!"
Let us not forget his insistent recommendations:
"Abhor," he wrote to each director even before attaining his
goal, 15 "as poison revisions of the constitutions. Their exact ob-
servance is better than any revision. The best is the enemy of the
good."
"Let us strive," he said later in presenting the approved consti-
tutions to his confreres, "to observe our constitutions without try-
ing to improve or reform them. 'If the Salesians,' said our great
benefactor Pius IX, 'without pretending to make their constitu-
15Cf. Ricardi confidenziali ai Direttori. 1871, Chapter 8, No. 7, "Members of the
Society," Art. 4. [Editor]
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Definitive Establishment ofthe Salesian Society-1871-1874 417
tions better, take care to observe them carefully, their Society will
flourish ever more and more.' " 16
This was the constant exhortation of our most revered father
until the end of his days. As late as August 16, 1884 he wrote to
our dear Father Bonetti, councilor of the Superior Chapter and
later catechist general, from Pinerolo: "Throughout your whole
life preach this: Do not reform our rules, but observe them. Any-
one seeking reform deforms his way of life. Constantly urge the
exact observance of our constitutions. Remember: Qui timet
Deum nihil negligit [He who fears God neglects nothing-Eccl. 7,
19], and Qui spernit modica paulatim decidet [He who spurns
small things shall fall little by little-Eccl. 10, 1].
Thus our Society will faithfully pursue its goal through "the at-
tainment of Christian perfection by its members" and "every
work of spiritual charity on behalf of the young, especially of the
poorer classes." Our first work of charity will always be "to
gather together poor and neglected boys in order to teach them
the truths of the faith, especially on Sundays and holy days. As
far as possible, houses should be opened" for the needier ones,
"where, through the assistance of Divine Providence, they will be
provided with lodging, food and clothing. And while they will be
instructed in the truths of the Catholic faith, they shall also be
trained in some trade or craft." At the same time "boys who
show special aptitude for study and are of good moral conduct
shall be trained in piety," always giving "preference to the
poorest among them, because they would not be able to pursue
their studies elsewhere, provided they hold out some hope of a
priestly vocation."
Let us always bear in mind that providing new priests for the
Church, both in developed and undeveloped countries, was the
lifelong aspiration and untiring work of our sainted founder!
•6See the first Italian version of the constitutions (1875), p. xxxv. [Author]
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CHAPTERS
Teacher and Father-1871-74
.BNYONE doing an in-depth study of Don Bosco's life
for a thorough knowledge of his characteristic virtues will find
that this chapter will give him a better grasp of the saint's singu-
lar wisdom and fatherly goodness. We report several meaningful
episodes and many warm exhortations which kept springing from
his heart whenever and wherever he spoke with anyone, especially
when he visited a Salesian house. We include, too, an impressive
list of documents that illustrate, as preceding volumes have done,
his affectionate, tireless zeal as he educated boys to piety and vir-
tue through his ..Good Nights," strenne and BSuggestions for the
Summer Vacation." They also pinpoint the wise, concentrated ef-
forts he made from 1871 to 1874 to encourage his spiritual sons in
faithful adherence to religious life.
Here he saw fit to proceed slowly, step by step. because, as the
saying goes, haste makes waste, and, as he often said, the best is
the enemy of the good. ••If Don Bosco had stated bluntly that he
intended to make religious of us," Cardinal Cagliero often de-
clared, .. none of us might have stayed at the Oratory to become
Salesians." Even during the years when he labored intensely to
win definitive approval of the Salesian constitutions, Don Bosco .
always proceeded with the utmost discretion.
This chapter shall include several items: first his ..Confidential
Souvenirs" sent to all Salesian directors in 1871 and again two or
three times in later years in order that the same warm, sacred
family life of the Oratory might be lived in all other houses; sec-
ond, important summaries of the General Conferences held once
a year or more often; third, numerous interesting recollections of
his holy apostolate during the spiritual retreats at Lanzo as he
preached, heard confessions and personally interviewed all the
confreres. Finally, we close with seven simple, magnificent circu-
lar letters in which he outlined the life program of the Salesians.
418
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Teacher and Father-1871-74
419
We have reached a very interesting period in our sainted found-
er's life which will prove precious and helpful to all who are com-
mitted to his spirit, especially to those who must teach others to
follow his lead.
1. INCOMPARABLE!
Always and everywhere Don Bosco was singularly kind. To-
ward 1871 Francis Alemanno, a young laborer from Villamirog-
lio (Alessandria) who had moved to Turin with his family, began
coming to the Valdocco Oratory on Sundays. His father was sex-
ton of Immaculate Conception Parish in Bargo San Donato, and
the boy served daily Mass at Good Shepherd Institute. Invited to
come to the Oratory, he chanced upon Don Bosco on his very
first visit. It was Awards Day and Don Bosco was presiding.
After church services a small lottery was held and Alemanno won
a tie, which he put on at once.
"What is your name?" Don Bosco asked him.
"Francis Alemanno."
"Have you been here before?"
"No, Father!"
"Do you know anybody?"
"I know the priest who comes to say Mass every morning at
Good Shepherd."
"'Do you know Don Bosco?"
The youngster hesitated a moment; then he glanced up timidly
and said: "'You are Don Bosco!"
"'But do you know me?"
"Now I do!"
"'You will know me well if you let me help your soul."
"That's just what I am looking for-a friend who will take care
of me."
"'Well," Don Bosco concluded, '"this evening you won a tie,
and I will tie you with it to the Oratory so tightly that you won't
!Ver go away."
Young Alemanno, in fact, continued to frequent the Oratory
ssiduously, joined the Salesian Society with perpetual vows, and
,ied on September 5, 1885. In 1893 Father Francesia published
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
his biography in an issue of Letture Cattoliche, particularly
stressing his youth.
In 1871 eleven-year-old Paul Perrona of Valperga Canavese en-
tered the Oratory as a student. Rather shy, with no acquain-
tances, he always kept on the sidelines watching his companions
at play. One morning after Holy Mass, as he munched his bread
roll, leaning as usual against a column of the portico, he saw a
priest leave the church only to be instantly surrounded by boys
flocking to him from all sides. He greeted all with a smile, asking
questions and having a word for each.
Who can he be? Perrona wondered.
He went up and heard him explain some sort of riddle to an-
other new student: A + B - C-meaning in Italian: Allegro, piu
Buono. meno Cattivo. 1 The gist of it was: To be Don Bosco's
friend, you must try to be cheerful and better yourself. While this
was going on, young Perrona was wondering if the priest was Don
Bosco, but his thoughts were cut short as Don Bosco turned to
him affectionately. ""Who are you, son?" he asked ....What's your
name? When did you come?"
""Paul Perrona. I'm from Valperga, and I got here a couple of
days ago," the boy answered promptly.
... Do you want to be Don Bosco 's friend too?"
'"Certainly, but I haven't met Don Bosco yet."
General laughter greeted his candid answer, as everyone whis-
pered that Don Bosco was talking to him.
He snatched his cap off and with utmost confidence, not to say
joy, answered that he would like it very much because that was
just what he had in mind when he left home. His pastor, in fact,
had told him about that and had sent his personal regards to Don
Bosco.
'"Fine!" Don Bosco continued. ""I am glad to hear that. Now
do you know who Don Bosco is?"
'"It's you!"
'"Do you know what I want from my sons?"
""That we all be A + B - C."
'"Excellent!" said Don Bosco, ""We shall be good friends if you
do that."
'Cf. Biografie dei Sa/esiana defunti neg/i anni 1885-86, San Benigno Canavese, 1890,
Tipografia e Libreria Salesiana, p. 72. [Author]
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Teacher and Father-1871-74
421
He might have added more perhaps, but just then someone
came up to speak with him. Before leaving with the caller, Don
Bosco told the boy, ""Ask your companions what to do when you
want to speak to Don Bosco." He then walked off with the visi-
tor, slowly climbing the stairs to his room, while the boy looked
after him with shining eyes, already feeling warmth in his heart,
as though it had been touched by a ray of sunshine after a long
shower.
As soon as Don Bosco left, Perrona became aware of a boy at
his side who kept him company and engaged him in conversation.
Fighting his shyness, Perrona asked his new friend whether he
knew how to bring him to Don Bosco. ""If you like, I'll show you
right away," the latter answered. With a knowing smile he
brought him to the sacristy and showed him an armchair set
under a huge crucifix, flanked by two long kneelers. There, he
said, Don Bosco usually heard confessions and there he would be
waiting for him. Perrona thanked him and from that moment
prepared himself for the talk with Don Bosco he had agreed
upon. The next morning, in fact-the first stroke of good luck in
his entire stay at the Oratory, he used to call it-he made his con-
fession to Don Bosco for the first time, finding in him a helper,
father, and friend, essentially the one who was to lead him to
God.
Francis Piccollo of Pecetto Torinese entered the Oratory at the
beginning of August 1872. Don Bosco was away, and he soon
made friends with Father Peter Racca, who at Don Bosco's re-
turn introduced the new arrival to him. Young Francis, quite shy,
stood behind Father Racca. ""Listen, son," Don Bosco said, ""if
you are afraid of Don Bosco, you may stay with Father Racca.
It's all right!" Later, when Father Racca was assigned to Sam-
pierdarena and Piccollo was upset at his loss and constantly in
tears, Don Bosco sent word to him that if he wished to join Fa-
ther Racca he would gladly let him go to Sampierdarena. Instant-
ly the boy calmed down, saying that he was glad to remain with
Don Bosco. During his second year of Latin he again felt Don
Bosco's goodness and thus described the incident:
One day my mother came to see me while I was at play after lunch
and, among other things, told me she was upset because when she had
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
asked Father Bologna, the prefect.2 if she could delay an overdue mod-
est fee and pay it at vintage time, he had answered, "Unless you pay it, I
shall send your son home." She broke into sobs, and I had to leave her
in tears to report to my classroom. Later I was surprised to be sum-
moned again to the visitors' lounge because my mother was still there
and wanted to see me. I ran over and found my mother very cheerful,
bright with victory. '"I am not crying anymore, my dear," she said, "and
neither must you because I went to see Don Bosco and he told me,
·Don't cry, my good woman. Tell your son that if Father Bologna puts
him out the front door, he is to come back through the church. Don
Bosco will never send him away!' "
The same thing happened the following year to another pupil,
Eusebius Calvi of Palestro, who became a Salesian. He was anx-
ious and hurt because his family, in straitened circumstances,
could not pay his school fees, and Father Bologna, acting on Don
Bosco's word, had written to say that unless they paid the modest
overdue fee they should come to take their son home. Eusebius
knew that only Don Bosco could put matters right and drop the
debt, as he always did when he judged it proper, but he did not
have the courage to go to him personally. One day Don Bosco
met him, and noting his sadness at once he asked: ''What's the
trouble?"
"Don Bosco, my family cannot pay my bills, and Father Pre-
fect wrote to them. . . ."
"And so?"
"I shall have to leave school. .
"Are you Don Bosco's friend?"
"Oh yes!"
"Well then, we can easily set this straight. Write to your father
that he is not to worry about the overdue bill and is just to send
what he can in the future."
"But my father will not accept such a vague condition. He
wants to pay and prefers a fixed amount."
"What has your monthly fee been so far?"
"Twelve lire!"
"Well, write that from now on he will be charged only five lire
2The superior in charge of administration and extraordinary disciplinary measures. [Edi-
tor]
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Teacher and Father-1871-74
423
a month, to be paid when he can."
Calvi broke into tears of joy. Don Bosco gave· him a note for
Father Rua that settled the matter and allowed the boy to con-
tinue his schooling. Later he became a Salesian priest. Thousands
of pupils experienced similar tokens of his fatherly affection.
His charity was bountiful to all, including candidates for the
Salesian Society. During a brief stay at Peveragno in the fall of
1872 he was visited by the local druggist, Angelo Lago, who was
so charmed by his personality that he decided to sell his store,
give the proceeds to Don Bosco, and become a Salesian. He also
recommended a boy to Don Bosco for admission to the Oratory.
At that time Don Bosco was short of money, and since the good
druggist kept him informed of his transactions, Don Bosco gave
him suitable advice that enabled him to proceed prudently and
discreetly in disposing of his property. 3 Lago came to the Oratory
and became a Salesian that same year; then, at Don Bosco's ad-
vice, he started his theological studies, was ordained at the age of
forty-three, and became a saintly priest. Outstanding in faith and
humility, he had an angelic countenance, whether saying Mass,
reading the Divine Office, attending sacred services, or listening
to God's Word; even outside church his demeanor bespoke his
saintliness.
Assigned to Father Rua's office when the latter was successive-
ly prefect general of the Salesian Society, vicar, and finally Don
Bosco's first successor, he proved to be uniquely hard-working
and prudent, giving himself no relaxation and saying never a word
more than necessary. He was level-headed, serene, and ever intent
on his work even through many hours of the night. Despite such
activity and his frail build, he ate most frugal meals. His only re-
laxation was a brief stroll with a confrere after dinner and supper,
never omitting a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. Austere toward
himself, he was forever kind and most thoughtful of others in all
his dealings with them. At his death at an advanced age on March
14, 1914, all commented, ""He was a saint. If Father Lago did not
go straight to heaven, who ever will?"
The cleric Joseph Giulitto of Solero (Alessandria) asked to visit
his parents after taking his triennial vows. Don Bosco sent him
this amiable reply:
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Dear Giulitto:
Lanzo, September 26, 1871
I am allowing you a week's vacation at home provided you keep up
your studies and look for some good pupils for the Oratory. Give your
relatives and friends good example and come back. Remember me to
your family, especially to the priest who recommended you to us.
God bless you. Pray for me.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
The cleric Joseph Ronchail,4 a member of the house chapter at
Alassio, though only in minor orders, shortly before ordination to
the subdiaconate, hesitated to .take that step. He confided his
fears to Don Bosco, who replied by urging him to go ahead and
trust in God:
Dear Ronchail:
Turin, March 5, 1872
Do not worry about the matter you mentioned. Since you defeated the
devil, he is attempting a counterattack. Ignore him, and tranquilly re-
ceive holy orders, as I have already told you.
I recommend you to the Lord. Give my regards to your director, and
pray for me.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ.
Fr. John Bosco
Ronchail was ordained a subdeacon on March 16, a deacon in
May, and a priest in September. In October he was appointed
prefect of the Salesian school in Alassio.
Father John Garino,5 catechist at Alassio, who had pronounced
4Joseph Ronchail (1850-1898) first met Don Bosco in 1868. (See Vol. IX, pp. 148ff)
Convinced that the latter was inspired by God, he went to the Oratory and joined the
Salesian Society. He distinguished himself as a hard worker and zealous priest. He was
director of the Salesian school at Nice from 1876 to 1887 and in Paris in 1888. He also
acted as provincial of northern France and Belgium until his death in 1898. [Editor]
5Father John Garino had entered the Oratory in 1845. Ordained a priest in 1869, he dis-
tinguished himself as a Latin and Greek scholar and a fervent religious. He died in 1908.
[Editor]
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Teacher and Father-1871-74
425
his triennial vows on April 5, 1869, hesitated to take perpetual
vows. Don Bosco dispelled his fears with this letter:
Dear Father Garino:
Turin, March 21, 1872
Since you have neither difficulties nor doubts about your vocation,
take your perpetual vows in all tranquillity. Keep praying for me-for
my physical health, but far more for my spiritual health.
Give my regards to the director and all the confreres.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
A month later Father Garino took his perpetual vows. De-
clared Bishop James Costamagna:6
If all the Salesians who lived with Don Bosco were to tell of the care
he lavished on them, they would certainly fill many a large volume. Like
Our Divine Redeemer, he "'went about doing good" [Acts JO, 38]. He
took note of our physical and moral problems and pains as though they
were all his own, even when he knew that sometimes they were more
imaginary than real. He always let us have whatever was not physically
or morally harmful to us or to the Congregation. He was always glad to
say yes whenever he could do so; he never said no directly, lest he hurt
our feelings, but at the proper time he would speak frankly. He was well
aware that indecision and hesitation are nerve-wracking for both superi-
ors and subordinates.
He sought ways to relieve the burden of study and work with religious
celebrations, outings, stage plays and wholesome diversions. He wanted
us to take good care of our health because it belonged to the Congrega-
tion; thus we were told to avoid drafts and dampness, especially in the
spring and fall, and Jong exposure to the sun. Nor were we to pass from
hot to cold places without taking due precautions; we were not to loiter
in cold areas when perspiring, nor to eat and drink to excess or insuf-
ficiently; we were not to overexert ourselves when teaching or preaching,
nor do mental work immediately after meals, nor get too little sleep.
6James Costamagna entered the Oratory in 1858 at the age of twelve. He became a
Salesian in 1867 and was ordained in 1868. He led the third group of Salesian missionaries
to Argentina in 1877, opened the first Salesian house in Talca, Chile, in 1887, and was
consecrated bishop and appointed First Vicar Apostolic of Mendez and Gualaguiza, Ecua-
dor, in 1895. He died at Bernal (Argentina) on September 9, 1921. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Seven hours of sleep, he would say, are enough for both young and old,
but he gave directors an hour's leeway according to circumstances. He
also bade us to avoid yielding to depression, which subtly destroys even
the strongest physique, or to an exaggerated care of our health by con-
stant dependence on medicines that would ultimately ruin it.
2. VISITS TO THE SALESIAN HOUSES
Don Bosco was very wise in his counsel on all occasions, espe-
cially in private conversations and in his conferences to his con-
freres on his frequent visits to the houses. It is hard to give even a
compressed view of his broad apostolate during these visits, which
gradually increased his work load and made greater demands on
his charity. We have already admired him as a founder, and now
we will see him as a very loving, anxious father who felt he had to
cheer and buoy up his sons with his presence.
Although he discouraged having outside guests present to greet
him at his arrival ··so as not to waste any time," because he want-
ed to see and examine everything and talk with superiors and
pupils in private, he was always welcomed with incomparable cel-
ebration.
On arriving ""he immediately asked if anyone was sick," Father
Louis Piscetta declared, ··and would at once visit him." His was
a mother's concern for the sick, and he checked to see if they
were properly cared for. He had the same regard for those in frail
health and in good health. ··we must be thrifty," he used to say,
Hbut also charitable. They must be given every care in regard to
food, clothing and whatever they need."
On the first evening, he would again greet the community after
night prayers in simple, affectionate words. Once he started off at
Lanzo as follows: ·• 1 was at our school in Borgo San Martino
where we said many nice words about you which I need not
repeat here. Among other things, I was asked, "Do the Lanzo
boys love you and pray for you as much as we do? Do they strive
to please you as we do?' " These opening words immediately won
their full attention and devotion, enabling him to effectively tell
them what he had most at heart, so that they too would resolve to
live in the state of grace.
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427
Regardless of the school he was v1s1tmg, whether or not. they
were making the Exercise for a Happy Death or celebrating some
special feast, a long line of boys would form at his confessional,
since everyone wished to go to him.
After night prayers, he would gather the confreres together, ex-
cept for the few more experienced clerics who had to supervise the
dormitories, and in a conference on some important topic he
would give everyone practical advice which is well worth recalling
here.
In the few houses that we then had, most of the Salesians were
young clerics who were continuing their own studies while teach-
ing and supervising. To them he addressed the following exhorta-
tions:
You, as clerics, should teach the boys to respect superiors by your
own show of respect, manner of greeting them, and trust.
Superiors should take no offense at trivial things. They should keep
calm, forbear, bide their time and investigate before giving importance
to faults.
Teachers should bear in mind that teaching is but another means of
doing good. They are like pastors in their parishes, missionaries in the
apostolate. From time to time they should stress Christian truths, our
duties towaid God, the sacraments, and devotion to the Blessed Virgin.
In short, their teaching should be Christian, a frank and warm exhorta-
tion to their pupils to be good Christians. This is the secret of winning
their love and trust. Anyone who is too shy to exhort his pupils to piety
is an incompetent teacher; he will corrupt the hearts Divine Providence
has entrusted to him, thus earning their contempt.
No confrere should stoop to words of contempt or disapproval of any
other confrere, especially in front of pupils; a kingdom divided against
itself will fall. Cover each other's shortcomings and defend one another.
Never seek popularity: it will ultimately bring only disappointments.
Let no one criticize food or superiors' directives in front of the pupils,
because they will quickly do likewise. Grumbling begets immorality and
the ruin of souls for which we shall one day have to answer to God.
Then, too, what kind of example would we be giving in obedience, chari-
ty and mortification'?
Let us be punctual and dutiful in supervising in church, study hall,
and playground and when our pupils move from place to place or take
their weekly walk.
Let all clerics and priests be present at every church service. Priests
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
should say Mass either before or after Community Mass; if before, they
should make their thanksgiving while the others prepare for Mass or
recite their breviary. This is a very strict duty and helps the boys' behav-
ior and prayer. No one can see to this better than a teacher. Special
mention should be made of it in the monthly manifestation.
Supervision in the Studr Hall. This should aim not only at maintain-
ing silence, but especially at safeguarding morality. How is one man
alone to supervise several hundred boys'? Also the vice-monitors must be
at their posts, and this holds for those who should be in the study hall.
Our excuses will have to stand up to God's standards. Much harm can
be done in the study hall if supervision is lacking.
Supervision When Fi/in.~ from Place to Place. There should always be
an assistant I at the front and one at the rear. Whether on duty or not,
assistants must be the first to observe silence, lest the boys start whisper-
ing among themselves about only God knows what.
Supervision in the Dormitories. No assistant should have a cubicle
large enough for him to keep his books and study in it. The dormitory is
not for studying. and such practice would cause a waste of lighting. Let
the rules be observed. lest morality suffer. See that silence is strictly ob-
served, and never leave pupils alone in the dormitory.
Superv,:'lion during the Week.Ir Walks. Insofar as possible, pupils
should walk four abreast. so that each is kept in check by the others.
They are not to buy edibles or other things. since this would lead them
to keep money and tempt some to steal or bargain or secretly send out
objectionable letters. Never let the pupils stray from the ranks, unless
they must. and then alone. Without this supervision how many sins
might be committed, and foul conversations held. even with persons of
the other sex! Do not let the pupils buy alcoholic beverages or smoke.
Smoking irritates the insides.
On Thursdays,2 except for those supervising the boys on their weekly
walks, no one is to leave the house without the director's or prefect's
permission. Those who go out are not to drop into wineshops or private
homes. The director may need help and not know where to find it. Then,
too. obedience must sanctify everything.
Supervision at Recreation. Keep an eye on cliques. and find a way to
slip in and break them up discreetly with some excuse or other, such as
giving someone an errand to do. sending another to fetch a book and so
on. This applies to the clerics too. What have they to talk about so
much'? Most likely they will be grumbling.
I A Salesian engaged in supervising pupils. [Editor]
2A regular mid-week school holiday. [Editor]
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Supervision in the Classroom. Have pupils keep their hands on the
desk top; do not leave them unattended. When a teacher is through with
his class, let him patiently wait for the next teacher to take over.
If all the directors had noted the admonitions of our incompa-
rable master and father, as Father Lemoyne did, we would have a
most beautiful and authentic description of Don Bosco's educa-
tional system.
Here are other memorable instructions on punishments, grum-
bling, and a discreet reserve required in certain instances:
Assistants are not to punish, but simply to report transgressions to the
superiors. This will save them from odium and blunders. Boys who have
shown disrespect to an assistant are not to be punished unless the teach-
er is first consulted. Transgressions outside the classroom are within the
exclusive competence of the prefect, but any lack of respect to assistants
must be punished severely.
If a boy is sent out of the classroom for serious misconduct, the
prefect or the prefect of studies should ask the teacher to take him back
and see to it that, after proper admonishment, he is readmitted.
Never criticize or berate confreres or pupils in the presence of others.
Every word is to be inspired by charity. If someone must be ad-
monished, let it be done in private.
Never tell pupils' of confidential decisions made by superiors. Never
talk with pupils or employees about disorders that have occurred in
other schools, and do not tell pupils about disorders in other classrooms.
Never pry into the state of anyone's conscience or try to discover if
one frequents the sacraments. That is the duty of a prudent catechist.3
When reprimanding negligent pupils, let a teacher never remark on
the contrast between their receiving the sacraments and their conduct.
Keep full confidentiality with any boy who has come to you and
reported a grave transgression; the community may be generally told
that someone might have seen and reported the matter.
Never praise a boy in front of other confreres because such praise will
be repeated and may give rise to pride or special friendships.
Although pupils are forbidden to lay hands on one another, one is not
to be overly anxious when this occurs momentarily in supervised games.
Don Bosco had a kind word for everyone he met during his
3The superior in charge of spiritual matters. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
visits to the schools. He once gave a prefect the fo!lowing advice:
""Remember that pupils always consider the director to be first in
the house. Always act as his representative."
He insisted that a weekly lesson on good manners be never
omitted and that, upon arrival, an inventory be taken of each
pupil's belongings. He likewise urged that special care be taken of
younger lads as regards personal cleanliness, including the comb-
ing of their hair by some cleric or coadjutor4 or even some good-
hearted elderly woman.
He told an assistant, "Si vis amari, esto amabilis" [If you wish
to be loved, be amiable]. A boy's first impressions are those he re-
ceives at school. Do not irritate them by punishment or ill-treat-
ment, lest they curse priests and brothers. Some are already em-
bittered enough against priests."
At Lanzo, meeting the study hall assistant who had to supervise
two hundred pupils doing their homework in silence, he told him,
""Keep your eyes wide open. Although the Lord has sent us good
boys, still it is just as well that at times you be circumspect. Look,
ask, provide, and take even minor transgressions seriously, for
they could lead to grave disorders and an offense against God.
Keep a careful eye on the books they read, always show esteem
for all, and discourage no one; but do not weary of watching, ob-
serving, understanding, helping and being indulgent. Let reason
rather than feeling be always your guide."
One afternoon, talking with lower elementary grade teachers,
he offered the following suggestions:
At the start of the school year try to make school pleasant by leaving
aside dry rules of grammar and arithmetic. In an arithmetic class, have
pupils do mental calculations, occasionally couching a problem in a little
story. As for grammar, have pupils form simple sentences. Say, for ex-
ample, "Tell me some attribute of God." They will reply: "Eternal."
Then you will add, "Say: "God is eternal.' " In this way they will learn to
construct simple sentences. You will then go on to complex sentences,
thoroughly explaining subjects, attributes and so on. Finally, make them
write a short composition, a story, or a letter, examples of which you al-
ready have in some of the books. When they hand in their homework as-
4 A lay Salesian. [Editor]
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signments, read them all carefully and correct them: then dictate what
they have to study and make them learn it by heart.
When he was asked how to get children's attention in a sermon
so they could benefit from it, he answered: ""After you have ex-
plained your topic simply and clearly, always end with an historic
episode or an incident and then question them on what you have
said. If no one speaks up, give the answers yourself." This is what
he often did. Once, after preaching on St. Aloysius to the boys of
a festive oratory, he ended up by saying, ""Now, boys, you will be
going home and your good parents will ask you: "What did you
do at the Oratory?'
.. ·we kept the feast of St. Aloysius,' you will reply .
.. "And how?'
•• ·we had confession, Communion, music, a lottery, and a
stage play. And then Don Bosco came to give us a sermon.'
•• "What did he tell you?'
•• "He told us to imitate St. Aloysius by being obedient to our
parents and urged us to avoid bad companions, and to continue to
come to the Oratory.' "
He went on in this way and so impressed his message on their
minds that many of them proudly repeated it in detail to their
parents.
On his visits to our boarding schools at Lanzo, Borgo San
Martino, and Cherasco, and later at Varazze, Alassio and Yalsa-
lice, he kept suggesting that notices be sent to parents who were
behind in their fees. If no answer was received within a week, a
second courteous note was to be mailed, inviting them to set a
payment date. If this failed, they were to be told to settle overdue
accounts and advance an agreed monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly
fee within ten days; otherwise their boy would be sent home. But
he always made allowance for reasonable exceptions, as, for ex-
ample, if parents were known to have funds and· would eventually
meet their obligations or if boys had been sent or recommended
by their pastors.
He also wanted each school to bring pressure to bear upon
parents to provide their sons with suitable clothing. If family mis-
fortunes kept parents from paying their fees, they were to be ad-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
vised at the end of the school year to transfer their son to the Val-
docco Oratory. Such applications, he added, were to be
accompanied by the director's report on the boy's conduct and
school progress.
"Do you pray for your pupils?" he would ask the directors.
"Would you like me to suggest something your pupils will really
appreciate? Tell a good youngster, ·1 am pleased with you and I
shall write and tell your parents so., You will be surprised at the
effect on good boys. Strive to give the "Good Night' regularly
yourselves.,,
He earnestly invited them to tell him of their needs and hopes,
attentively watched over the observance of the constitutions and
regulations by both confreres and pupils, and kept an eye on the
financial administration. His most anxious care, however, was to
lessen or eliminate friction between individuals, neither judging
nor taking action against either party without first giving both of
them a patient hearing and weighing each side of the problem.
The same norms he prescribed to all superiors because, as he
said, this made one learn that what looked like a beam was noth-
ing but a speck.
His reaction was the same if a disagreement arose between a
subordinate and a superior. If the latter was at fault, he always
found a way to safeguard the rights of the innocent without preju-
dice to authority.
He always insisted that extreme caution be exercised in taking
grave steps, and in such instances he would himself seek advice.
Bishop Cagliero testified:
He often consulted those of us who were the older priests in the
Congregation. I recall once that, having to take a grave measure against
a confrere, he called me to his room and said, .. My duty forces me to
take this step, but, since this is a serious matter, I want your opinion."
.. I think," I told him, ..that you should once more act as a father to
him. He does not realize the gravity of his fault as we do, but, given
time, he will agree, mend his ways, and become a worthy member of the
Congregation."
Don Bosco was satisfied. That Salesian did mend his ways and is still
a great asset to our Society.
In certain cases-fortunately extremely rare-he had to take
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433
drastic measures and transfer a confrere to a different office or
place, but such was his tact that he never aroused the slightest
suspicion in anyone. He safeguarded the person's good name by
giving him for a time an equally honored task lest he become
downhearted; thus he encouraged him to strive for God's glory
and the welfare of souls. Father Francis Cerruti declared:
I shall always remember how one year at Alassio he sent me a con-
frere who was in serious trouble and for whom, humanly speaking, dis-
missal would have been a fitting punishment. In entrusting him to me,
he told me plainly the nature of his offense and he inform'ed the confrere
that his new director was acquainted with his problem. But in the same
breath he urged me to show him every consideration in the presence of
others, so that they should never know and the confrere might have a
chance to redeem himself. The latter was keenly touched by such charity
and delicacy on Don Bosco's part. .. I know that Don Bosco really cares
for me and wants to save me," he said one day. Little by little he
reformed and was saved.
3. WITH EVERYONE
When assigning even the humblest member of the Congrega-
tion, he was exquisitely kind and considerate. He never used a
tone of authority, but always spoke as if asking a favor. On this
score we have some noteworthy depositions.
Erminius Borio, an intelligent, strong-willed youth, was sent to
teach at Borgo San Martino as soon as he donned the cassock,
but he felt unhappy there. Realizing that it would be wiser to
recall him, Don Bosco promptly wrote to him as follows:
My dear Borio:
Turin.January 16, 1871
So that I may have you here for some needed work, and in order that
you may also more easily attend to your studies, I think it best that you
return to your old cage and to your unfaltering friend, Don Bosco.
Come whenever you like. Your bed is ready.
God bless you and believe me to be
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
P.S. Inform the director of my request and give him my regards.
will see you soon.
In 1872 Don Bosco's fatherliness won a precious Salesian voca-
tion. John Baptist Tamietti, who had entered the Oratory in 1860,
donned the cassock in 1863 and made his triennial vows two years
later. During this period he was an excellent teacher, but when his
vows expired, feeling disinclined to remain in the Congregation,
he repeatedly informed Don Bosco of this fact, begging that he
find him a teaching position elsewhere. Don Bosco always replied
that he was to leave all care of the future to him without worry.
Around June 1871, Tamietti once more told Don Bosco frankly
that the time had come for him to leave, and again he requested
that he kindly find him a teaching position, as he had promised.
"So you want to leave me?" Don Bosco exclaimed, looking
him straight in the eye, with tears in his own.
"You know quite well I never deceived you about this," Ta-
mietti insisted. "I do not think I have offended you by what I
said."
"Well, leave it to me!" Don Bosco replied.
Though convinced that Tamietti would not leave him, Don
Bosco kept his promise, and through the good offices of Professor
Lace he immediately found a teaching position for him in Valsa-
lice College, which at this time had not yet been entrusted to our
Society. Summer vacation came along and several teachers, look-
ing for freedom and money, left our schools, causing Don Bosco
anxiety about their replacement. Unexpectedly, Tamietti called
on Don Bosco. "Look, Father," he said, "I had planned to leave
for Valsalice, but that was when you had enough teachers. Now I
know you are short. Never let it be said that I left you in the
lurch when I could have helped. I shall stay on for one more
year."
"Only one?" Don Bosco asked, quite moved. "I've always said
that you were my friend! And now let me tell you that Valsalice
will be ours next year. . . ."
Tamietti remained at the Oratory for that school year. In the
spring, however, failing in health, he had to go home for a rest.
From there he assured Don Bosco of his good will and his inten-
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Teacher and Father-1871-74
435
tion to stay with him forever as a Salesian. Don Bosco's reply
follows:
Dear Tamietti,
Turin, April 25, 1872
Your letter pulls a thorn from my heart and enables me to do you the
good I could not do until now. Fine! Now you are in Don Bosco's
hands, and he knows what to do with you for God's greater glory and
your own spiritual welfare. On your return we'll discuss what's to be
done. Anyway:
l. I wish you to complete your literature courses.
2. Stay at home as long as your health requires, but the sooner you
come back, the sooner you will be with the one who truly loves you.
3. Your sister will be provided for. Let me know if she plans to enter
a convent or whether I should find her some good family. . . .
May God bless you! Give my regards to your parents and to your pas-
tor.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
Having taken over Valsalice College at the start of the new
school year, Don Bosco assigned Tamietti there as a teacher. He
had renewed his triennial vows in September. Since he was not
quite happy there, Don Bosco wrote this note to him:
Dear Tamietti,
Turin, November 18, 1872
I don't want to force you to remain at Valsalice. On the other hand I
need to test your obedience, especially in view of your forthcoming
reception of holy orders. I assign you, therefore, to Alassio, and I'll take
somebody from there to replace you at Valsalice. Make the necessary
arrangements with Father Dalmazzo, but try to end up your duties
gracefully. May God grant you humility and the holy virtue of obe-
dience.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
Finally he allowed him to remain at the Oratory. In 1873 Fa-
ther Tamietti was ordained a priest; the following year he made
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
his perpetual vows, and in 1878 he was sent to open the Salesian
school at Este. He died [in 1920] after rendering distinguished
services to our Society as provincial of the Salesian houses in
Liguria.
With his habitual charm Don Bosco won all hearts, and he was
quite aware of it. For this reason one of his most frequent exhor-
tations and admonitions was that obedience should be carried out
not for his sake, but for God's. In this connection Bishop James
Costamagna enthusiastically wrote:
How masterfully Don Bosco handled holy obedience! Normally he
favored our natural bent, and as far as possible he always assigned tasks
to our liking. If he had to give us a very difficult and arduous duty, he
would use roundabout ways to obtain our consent. He would wait to
speak to us after we had received Holy Communion because that was
the best moment to lay the burden of the cross upon us. He would come
toward us smiling and, taking us by the hand, would say: "I have need
of you. Would you do this for me? Would you have any problem in tak-
ing on this or that office? Do you feel you are sufficiently strong and
well enough prepared to teach that grade or take on this supervision or
the office of economer, prefect, teacher, etc., in that new Salesian
house?" Or he might take this approach: "Look, I have something very,
very important at hand that I do not wish to burden you with because it
is difficult; yet I have no one else but you who can help me out of this
difficulty. Do you feel up to it?"
This was truly an admirable strategy on the part of our good fa-
ther. ... Truthfully, Don Bosco handled us this way when we were inex-
perienced boys with no idea of what a religious vow means and our only
bond with him was our love and gratitude; his angelic countenance and
saintly manner vividly portrayed to us Our Lord among His Apostles.
(Even so, our obedience was supernatural, for we considered Don Bos-
co's commands as God's own.) But he kept the same strategy even later
after the Salesian Congregation was established, and we gladly ran to
him to have our heads chopped off symbolically and let ourselves be
fixed to the cross of the holy vows. Never, but never, did he order us to
do anything in the name of holy obedience (as some do too easily with-
out sufficient reason through ignorance or passion and sometimes with
no right). He would merely call us to a meeting and say without apolo-
gy: ··which of you would like to do Don Bosco a favor?" "I, I," we
would all answer unanimously. And no matter how heavy the demand
on our obedience, we were ready to obey. Don Bosco knew very well
that the shortest way to the heart is not the straight line of an absolute,
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irrevocable command, but rather the roundabout way of persuasiveness,
prudence, patience and holy love.
Sometimes it did happen that some of us were quite reluctant to obey;
then, rather than resort to threats or to the odious ..in the name of holy
obedience," he would say nothing and simply send for someone more
docile and ready to do what he had bidden. Then the one who had dis-
obeyed would stand there mortified and, approaching him with appre-
hension, would say: ""You know, Don Bosco, I'm really ready to obey.
I've thought things over, and I'm ready, as I said. Just order me to do
anything!"
.. Yes, some other time," Don Bosco would reply ... We shall see to-
morrow." But tomorrow did not come. The poor man would anxiously
report again and again, but only after putting him to the test for many
days would Don Bosco treat him as he had formerly (he was always a
father) by assigning some special task to him.
Such anxious consideration, inspired by heroic charity, always
worked wonders, and his spirit took root in every house with won-
derful results. "Already then," declared Canon John Baptist An-
fossi, "several bishops whom I had the honor of meeting-among
them Bishop Apollonio of Adria-remarked with wonder how
Don Bosco's spirit and educational method, which had spread so
rapidly through the many priests, his former pupils, had never
weakened but had kept its vigor and wisdom even in younger
priests."
We will now go on to report in an orderly fashion the impres-
sive collection of documents which confirm his fatherly wisdom
and kindness in guiding pupils and Salesians along the path of
virtue: the program of Christian life which he set before the
former, the "Good Nights" and the strenne, his confidential
memos to directors, reports and deliberations of the annual con-
ferences of St. Francis de Sales, his apostolate in spiritual re-
treats, his reflections on the religious life, and other precious
memoirs-among them his circular letters, some of which have
never before been published.
4. A PROGRAM OF CHRISTIAN LIVING FOR PUPILS
From his very first years of apostolate Don Bosco liked to give
pointed suggestions on summer vacation to his pupils at the Ora-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tory and later at Mirabello and Lanzo. In 1873, however, he had
them printed and given to each pupil. The handy leaflet contained
plain norms of Christian living-a simple, full program which any
boy could set for himself. It was also open to a detailed helpful
explanation by the director of each school in his HGood Nights"
to the boys.
The title page read: Tips to Boys for a Wholesome Summer
Vacation. The second page listed the following tips:
At all times avoid bad books, bad companions, and bad talk. Idleness
is a most cunning enemy you must always fight. Knowledge is folly
without fear of God. Go to confession and Communion as often as you
can. St. Philip Neri suggested weekly reception of these sacraments.
On Sunday listen to the Word of God and attend all the other church
services.
Go to Mass daily, and, if you can, serve. Also do a little spiritual
reading.
Say morning and night prayers every day with devotion.
Each morning meditate briefly on some truth of faith.
On the third page, facing these recommendations, was a series
of scriptural [and non-scriptural] quotations1 suited to the mental
capacity of junior high school pupils:
"Many who had practiced magical arts collected their books and
burnt them publicly." [Acts 19, 19]
"With the elect you will be elect and with the perverse you will be per-
verted." [Ps. 17, 27]
••Evil companionships corrupt good morals." [l Cor. 15, 33]
··use your time well." [Sir. 4, 23]2
"Idleness has taught much evil." [Sir. 33, 29]
·The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." [Ps. 110, 10]
••Pride is the beginning of all sin." [Sir. 10, 15]
•'All men are vain in whom there is not the knowledge of God." [Wis.
13, 1]
"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has life everlasting."
[Jn. 6, 55]
1Since the scriptural quotations are from the Latin Vulgate, the Douay version is used
when other versions substantially differ from the Latin text. [Editor]
2The Vulgate reads, "Fili, conserva tempus et devita a malo," whereas in Don Bosco's
leaflet the Latin text is given as "Fili, conserva tempus et tempus conservabit te." [Editor]
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"Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it." [Lk. 11,
28]
''Without the sacrifice of the Mass we would have been destroyed by
God like Sodom and Gomorrah." (Rodriguez)
"We ought as willingly to read devout and simple books as those that
are high and profound." (Imitation of Christ)
"O God, my God, to Thee do I watch at break of day." [Ps. 62, l]
"May our evening prayer ascend to you, 0 Lord, and may Your
mercy come down upon us." (Church prayer)
"Desolate it lies before me, desolate, all the land because no one takes
it to heart." [Jer. 12, 11]
"In my meditation a fire shall flame out." [Ps. 38, 4]
The fourth page of the copies meant for the Oratory pupils
carried an item from Father Rua: "Upon returning from vaca-
tion, each pupil must give the prefect of studies a certificate of
good conduct from his pastor."
5. THE "Gooo NIGHTS"
Aside from the few notes taken by Father Berto, which we have
duly reported here and there, we have but a few of the cherished
short talks which Don Bosco used to give to his pupils after night
prayers to their great spiritual advantage. Detailed scripts of
these talks, filling many notebooks, began to be made after the
erection of a regular novitiate, which remained at the Oratory for
five years.
For such a collection we are indebted to the clerics James
Gresino, Emmanuel Dompe, Caesar Peloso, and Francis Ghig-
liotto, and to Father Julius Barberis, the novice master.
The efficacy of speech, which Don Bosco had asked of God as
a special grace1 at his ordination, was admired by all on those oc-
casions. Many former pupils, still living, movingly remember
him.
When he stood up on a little platform or "sometimes on a
bench or chair," as Professor Alexander Fabre wrote, "he first
enumerated the lost-and-found articles of the day-a pencil,
•See Vol. I, p. 386. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
penknife, plaything, scarf, or cap. Then, when needed, he gave
directives for the following day. These were followed by a word of
advice or admonition which had been prompted by unusual events
or mishaps reported in the newspapers, or by an incident in the
life of the saint being honored that day or the next, and so on. He
spoke always with great candor, and with utmost conviction drew
a moral for daily living."
The few reminiscences which follow were jotted down by a
deeply pious man, Caesar Chiala, who in 1872 at the age of
thirty-five, after having been postmaster for over ten years, en-
tered the Oratory to join the Salesian Society. Having already
completed his philosophy courses, he immediately took up theo-
logical studies. He professed his vows in 1873, donned the cassock
the following year, and was ordained a priest on October 4, 1874.
The next two years he was catechist of the Oratory artisans, and
in his last year of life he was also intern prefect.2 Richly endowed
with merit, he passed into eternity on June 28, 1876.
NOVEMBER 5. Encouragement to New Pupils
On his arrival a new pupil is bewildered to see so many boys whose
cheerfulness only adds to his loneliness because he is a stranger. When
you spot such a lad, go over to him and be pleasant. Ask him where he
comes from, what grade he is in, if he knows where the study hall and
dining room are, what his favorite game is, and so on. Often just one
such friendly approach will cheer up the newcomer, make him a friend,
and even help him decide to stay on.
NOVEMBER 7, 1872. Dismissal of Two Boys
Two boys have been expelled: one for foul talk, the other for a breach
of discipline during the weekly walk. The first boy had been in trouble
last year and obviously did not improve during the summer vacation,
and so he was dismissed lest he corrupt his companions. The other was
similarly punished for disregarding a house rule about depositing money
[with Father Prefect] upon arrival. On the very first weekly walk, he
slipped away with some companions and took them to a wineshop, re-
turning only at suppertime.
2The intern prefect took the place of the director when the latter was absent, handled fi-
nances, supervised the coadjutor brothers, and, when necessary, took extraordinary disci-
plinary measures. The extern prefect, instead, assisted the director in matters of public
relations, admissions and expulsions. [Edi~or]
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It really seems odd that it should be so hard to keep this rule about
depositing money. One boy, who was known to be in violation, denied it
when questioned and denied it when searched. Finally, when his trunk
was opened and the money was found, he still denied it, protesting that
the money was in his trunk and not on his person. Then there are boys
who give their money to outsiders. I know of two fellows who arranged
to keep each other's money, so that, if caught, they could say the money
was not their own. These are all ruses that are sooner or later dis-
covered, and you should really do away with them.
Maybe it's only a matter of two so/di and one may shy from handing
them over. The amount itself is insignificant, but the act of obeying is
very important. The same applies when you find anything; hand it over
even though it may be nothing more than a broken nib or a button.
Regretfully, some boy~ are beginning to take schoolmates' books; they
will end badly, like a certain former pupil who began with books and
then gradually became a skilled thief, was caught red-handed, and was
expelled in disgrace.
If you want to buy books, subscribe to Letture Cattoliche and to Ital-
ian Classics for the Young; 3 your subscription rates are thirty so/di for
the former, and four lire for the latter.
NOVEMBER 10. Cry Wolf When Necessary
This Is Not Squealing, It Is Charity
If you were on a hill and saw somebody walking in the valley along a
road where a fierce wolf was hidden, you would shout a warning to that
person. You must do the same, my dear boys, when you become aware
of wolves in our midst-companions who use foul talk or try to entice
you to evil. Alerting superiors is an act of charity toward yourselves,
your companions, and even the poor wretch himself. I know you shy
from this because it is considered squealing. Still, if somebody tipped
you that a thief planned to break into your house, would you call him a
squealer? Can the thief rightly accuse that person of being a spy? Be-
sides, even if nobody alerts the superiors, the wolf will sooner or later
betray himself and then he will have no hope of being spared his punish-
ment or of having a chance to amend.
NOVEMBER 11. The Good Priest
That day several postulants had received the cassock. At the ''Good
Night" that same evening, Don Bosco commented as follows:
3See Vol. IX, pp. 51, 195f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
••An important person asked me what was the essential trait of a gen-
uinely good priest. I mentioned several, but he disagreed.
•• •No, no,' he said. •He alone is a true priest of whom one can say,
Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur [Blessed are the dead who die in
the Lord-Apoc. 14, 13].'
•The priest must die to the world and its pleasures and follow Jesus
Christ on the road of suffering and tribulation.,.
DECEMBER 20, 1872. On the Forthcoming Christmas Festivities
Christmas is not far off, and, as you were told, I earnestly wish you to
write to your parents and benefactors.
Did you have a holiday yesterday, Thursday? (Spontaneous shouts of
Yes and No) Well, tomorrow, Saturday, no homework should be given
to those who didn't get a holiday. Instead, let them write a Christmas
letter, following their teacher's outline. In your letter to benefactors, do
not forget to say, ""Thanks for all your kindness and care. At Christmas
I shall pray that God will bless you, grant you health and prosperity in
your work, and, above all, give you eternal happiness in heaven."
Rest assured, my boys, that these words always make a very fine im-
pression on those receiving them. They think: Here is a good-hearted
boy. Not knowing what to do for me, he wishes me all the very best I
could ever wish for myself.
Let us be quite joyful during the forthcoming holidays. Have fun, but
also think of the great mystery which is taking place. Let each think:
God becomes man! My soul must really be important if heaven and
earth are so moved, and God becomes.a child for my sake! And we must
be willing to make some little sacrifice for His sake. . . .
6. THE STRENNE
On December 31, 1871 Don Bosco was still at Varazze bedrid-
den, though he had been without a fever for several days. That
evening he gathered his Salesians about him and gave them as a
strenna1 "Good Example and Obedience," 2 directing that it be
I A New Year's gift customary in Italy. From the very beginning of the Oratory (see
Vol. III, p. 433) Don Bosco had started the custom of giving a "spiritual" strenna or gift
to his boys and co-workers on the last day of the year. It took the form of a motto or
slogan to be practiced throughout the year then about to dawn. This custom is still kept by
Don Bosco's successors. [Editor]
2See p. 141. [Editor]
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communicated to the other Salesian houses. He spoke as follows: 3
First, I thank God for having kept me alive and then I thank all of
you for solicitously looking after me night and day during my illness as
loving sons. On this day during all these past years I used to speak to
my boys and give then some salutary advice. Today I thought it best to
summon all of you, my dear sons, and through you everyone else in our
houses in Turin, Borgo San Martino, Lanzo, Alassio, and Marassi to
give you my strenna and wish you all a Happy New Year.
I shall talk about good example. Praebe te ipsum exemplum bonorum
operum [Show yourself in all things an example of good works-Tit. 2,
7], I say to each of you. Oh, yes, all of you are teachers; if you don't
teach a specific subject you must teach morality. Never try to tell others
to practice virtue or carry out a duty unless you first set the example.
Our Divine Master ..began to do and to teach" [Acts 1, 1]. Don't let it
happen that a boy surpasses you in virtue, for you would shame your
chosen state of perfection.
What is the key to good example? The rules of our Congregation,
especially obedience. He who observes the rules and is obedient will be
an example in everything else. Obedience, yes, but not the kind which
discusses and analyzes commands given, but true obedience, which
makes us cheerfully accept our orders, taking them all as something
good, commanded by the Lord. It is not for the subordinate to examine
orders but for the superior who shall have to render an account of every-
thing and everybody, especially of the souls Divine Providence has en-
trusted to him. Obedite praepositis vestris et subiacete eis; ipsi enim per-
vigilant quasi rationem pro animabus vestris reddituri [Obey your
superiors and be subject to them, for they keep watch as having to
render an account of your souls-Heb. 13, 17].
While speaking of obedience to superiors, I also mean to include
humble interdependence, fraternal correction, and our personal duty to
accept humbly any advice given to us by a companion or even a subordi-
nate. Let there never be criticism or grumbling among us. for one who
criticizes a confrere in any way betrays him!
Obedience! This obedience to the rules and to our superiors not only
makes us examples to others, prompting them to glorify Our Heavenly
Father, but it gladdens our hearts and will be our only consolation at the
end of life. I've always known this, but I experienced it particularly dur-
ing my recent illness. My greatest comfort was the thought that, by
God's grace, I had done something for His greater glory.
30ur source is the copy which Father Francis Cuffia, the prefect at Varazze, sent to Fa-
ther Bonetti, director of the Borgo San Martino junior seminary. Father Cuffia states that
he strove to jot it down verbatim. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
So take heart, dear boys! Take courage, one and all, especially you
here present. I really must tell you how happy I am over this house's
progress. Let us thank the Lord and the Blessed Virgin and give His
Holy Name glory and honor! Now, in wishing you a good night, I give
you my blessing. Adiutorium nostrum in nomine Domini qui fecit coe-
lum et terram. Copiosa benedictio Dei omnipotentis descendat super nos
et super opera nostra in nomine Patris. et Fi/ii, et Spiritus Sancti. [Our
help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth. May the
blessing of Almighty God descend abundantly upon us and our under-
takings in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.]
Before the end of 1872, he wrote a loving word to all his dear
children at Lanzo-director, priests, teachers, assistants and pu-
pils-urging unlimited trust in their director:
To My Beloved Sons at Lanzo:
[Turin, December 26, 1872]
Feast ofSt. Stephen
I was very happy to receive your best wishes. I thank you with all my
heart and shall gratefully remember them. May God reward your
kindness! Now a word to all of you.
Let Father Director never delay giving good advice and salutary ad-
monitions when the occasion comes.
Let the priests be one in matters of their own or the boys' eternal sal-
vation.
Let the teachers regularly examine their pupils, especially the slower
ones.
Let the assistants do their best to prevent foul conversations. Priests
and clerics should recall that they are "the salt of the earth . . . and the
light of the world" [Matt. 5, 13-14].
Let the pupils cherish modesty and moderation.
I urge all to place unlimited trust in their director.
May God bless you all and truly enrich you with the holy fear of God.
You are my pride and joy. Let no one pierce my heart with the thorns
of bad conduct. I promise to remember you throughout the coming year
in my daily Mass. In return, please commend my poor soul to God's
mercy lest I suffer its irreparable loss.
May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with us always.
Affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
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At the Oratory, too, he offered specific suggestions from the
pulpit of the Church of St. Francis de Sales to the prefects and
vice-prefects, teachers and craftsmasters, assistants, priests,
clerics, all Salesians and postulants, and ended up with a most
beautiful strenna for all. Our source is Father [Joachim] Berto:
At this time last year I was not with you. I was at death's door at
Varazze. Now, thank God, I am with you again. Gazing upon the com-
ing year, two thoughts come unwittingly to mind: that we shall have to
suffer hunger and disease, and that we shall have famine and death.
Were it possible, I would give each of you a particular strenna. Just
now I will give you one in general. First, what strenna should Don
Bosco get? That you pray to the Lord for me so that, while I strive to
save your souls, I may not neglect mine.
To the prefects and vice-prefects: Let them use authority for the spir-
itual and temporal welfare of their subjects.
To the teachers and craftsmasters: Let them take special care of their
slower pupils.
To the assistants, priests and clerics: Let them be light-bearers and
give good example to the lay members, and never allow themselves to be
surpassed in piety.
To the professed and to the postulants: That they observe the Congre-
gation's rules.
Now to all I propose St. Aloysius as their example, guide and protec-
tor, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as a friend to honor; and Mary,
Help of Christians as a mother to invoke.
Some time ago I said that one of us would be called to eternity before
the end of 1872. Some of you now ask, ""Why has no one died yet?" I
shall tell you why some other time. Perhaps the Lord wishes to wait and
give him time to regain divine grace, while we should pray that he be
well prepared.
At the close of 1873 Don Bosco was away from the Oratory,
having left for Rome on December 29. We have been unable to
learn what strenna he left or sent for the new year.
In 1874 he wrote the following letter to Father Bonetti and
perhaps expressed the same thoughts to his Oratory pupils:
Dear Father Bonetti:
Turin, December 30, 1874
For yourself: See to it that all with whom you come in contact be-
come your friends.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
For the prefect: Set aside treasures for this life and for eternity.
For the teachers and assistants: "In patientia vestra possidebitis
animas vestras [By your patience you will win your souls-Lk. 21, 19].
For the boys: Frequent Communion.
For all: Exact performance of one's duties.
May God bless you all and grant you the precious gift of perseverance
in doing good. Pray for me.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
7. CONFIDENTIAL DIRECTIVES
AND CLARIFICATIONS TO DIRECTORS
One of the earliest and most enlightening documents on the
system of education adopted and recommended by Don Bosco is
a memorandum which he gave to Father Rua in 1863 when he
sent him to direct the first daughter house at Mirabello Monfer-
rato. Father Rua always kept it hanging on the wall of his room
after Don Bosco's death.
We have three copies of this memorandum. The first one was
edited by Father Rua, while the second and third have revisions
and additions by Don Bosco. All three, however, antedate 1871.
Th.e third copy is the one that Don Bosco sent to our houses at
Borgo San Martino, Lanzo, Cherasco and Alassio on January 31,
1871. This copy, given to Father Rua in 1871, was transcribed
four years later and, after being revised by Don Bosco, was re-
turned to his successor with this note: "Father Rua, please read
caref~lly and send to press." Printed copies, dated "Christmas
Eve 1875," were sent out to the directors.
Shortly afterward, under the date "Feast of St. Joseph [March
19] 1876," a new edition with corrections and additions was print-
ed and mailed to the directors.
Indeed, Don Bosco was most anxious that these directives be
passed on. After careful study we reproduce here the still intact
copy sent to the director of Lanzo in 1871, relegating revisions
and additions incorporated in the last edition to footnotes so that
even at a first glance the reader may realize the document's im-
portance.
The 1886 edition alters the title "Confidential Directives to the
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Teacher and Father-1871-74
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Director of the House at. . . ." to "Christmas Strenna or Con-
fidential Reminders, etc...." because, having been mailed on
the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the forty-fifth anniversa-
ry of the Oratory, it was expected to reach most of the South
American houses by Christmas.
Here is this precious document, once labeled "confidential,"
but known to all today. Anyone seeking a full understanding of
Don Bosco's mind as founder and educator should read and
reread it carefully.
For Yourself
1. Let nothing upset you.
2. Avoid austerity in food. Be mortified in diligently fulfilling your
duties and patiently bearing annoyances. Both for your own health and
that of your subjects, take seven hours of rest at night, with a one-hour
leeway for reasonable motives.
3. Celebrate Holy Mass and recite the breviary pie, devote, attente1
[piously, devoutly and attentively]. This is for both you and y~rnr sub-
jects.
4. Never omit the morning meditation and a daily visit to the Blessed
Sacrament. As for the rest, carry out our rules.
5. Try to make yourself loved sooner than feared. 2 Let charity and
patience be your steady guide in commanding or admonishing. Let all
you do and say show that you are seeking the welfare of souls. Endure
anything and everything if it is a matter of reventing sin. Concentrate
your efforts on the spiritual, physical and intellectual well-being of the
boys entrusted to you by Divine Providence.
6. Always raise your mind and heart to God before any important
decision. When a report is made to you, listen to it completely and try to
ascertain the full facts before passing judgment.3 Often, things that at
first glance seem beams are nothing but specks.
Teachers
1. See that teachers have the necessary food and clothing. Be
thoughtful of their work load, and when they are sick or indisposed have
someone substitute for them.
1". • • recite the breviary pie, attente ac devote." [Author]
2The 1886 edition had: "Strive to make yourself loved rather than feared," whereas in
the copy amended by Don Bosco in 1876 the wording was, "if you want to be feared."
[Author]
3". • • but try to ascertain the full facts and to hear both sides before passing judg-
ment ...." [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
2. Talk with them often, either individually or as a group; see if they
are overworked, if they need clothes or books, if they are physically or
morally worn out or have disciplinary or scholastic problems with some
pupils. Do your utmost to provide for any need you discover.
3. In a special conference, urge them to quiz all pupils at random,
and have them read their compositions in turn. Let them avoid par-
ticular friendships and partiality. Let them never bring anyone into their
room.4
4. If they have to give pupils a special task or admonish them, let
them use a room reserved for that purpose.
5. On the occasion of a town celebration or school feast, of a novena
in honor of the Blessed Virgin or of a saint, when a mystery of our holy
religion is being commemorated, let teachers make a brief announce-
ment to that effect. This should never be omitted.
6. Take care lest teachers send pupils out of class or strike negligent
or unruly boys.5 In grave cases let them promptly report to the prefect
of studies or to the director.
7. Outside the classroom, teachers should not exercise authority:6
they should limit themselves to words of advice, warning or correction
as permitted and suggested by genuine charity.
Assistants and Dormitory Monitors
1. What has been said for teachers can largely apply to assistants and
dormitory monitors.
2. See that they have the time and facility for studying without jeo-
pardizing their duties.7
3. Talk willingly with them about their pupils' conduct. Their most
important duty is punctuality at their posts: dormitory, classroom or
workshop, playground, etc.
4. If you observe that any of them are forming a particular friendship
with any pupil, or that their office and moral standing are in danger,
prudently assign them to other duties. If the danger persists, inform
your superior immediately.
5. Call occasional meetings of all teachers, assistants, and dormitory
monitors to urge them to do their utmost to prevent foul conversations
4 ". • • let them never bring pupils or anyone else into their rooms." [Author]
5"Take care lest teachers send pupils out of class. If they are really forced to do so, let
them have someone accompany the culprit to the superior. They must never strike negli-
gent or unruly pupils for any reason at all." [Author]
6 '._ •• should not exercise authority over their pupils." [Author]
1"Try to apportion duties in such a way that both they and the teachers have time and
facility for their studies." [Author]
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and to eliminate books, writings, pictures and anything else which may
endanger the queenly virtue of purity. Let them give sound advice and
be kind-hearted toward everybody.
6. Let all take pains to ferret out pupils who are morally dangerous
and insist that they be reported.
Coadjutors and Domestic Personnel
1. They are not to deal familiarly with the pupils. See that they are
able to attend Mass every morning and receive the sacraments, as pre-
scribed by our rules. Urge domestics to go to confession every two
weeks or monthly.
2. Be very kind in giving orders; make it clear by word and deed that
you seek their spiritual welfare. Be especially attentive lest they become
too friendly with pupils or outsiders.
3. Never allow women in the dormitories or kitchen. They are not to
deal with anyone in the house, unless it be by reason of charity or strict
need. This article is eminently important.
4. If arguments or friction should arise among domestics, assistants,
pupils or others, listen kindly to everyone, but, as a rule, give your
opinion privately so that one may not hear what you say of the other.
5. A coadjutor of proven uprightness should supervise domestics in
their work and moral conduct and prevent pilfering or foul talk. Let him
constantly strive to keep them from running errands or becoming in-
volved with the [pupils'] parents, relatives or outsiders.
Pupils
1. Never accept pupils who have been expelled from other schools or
are otherwise known to you as immoral. If, despite due precautions, any
such boy is admitted, immediately assign him a trustworthy companion,
who is never to let him out of sight. Should the youngster fail against
morality, he should be warned once only; on a second fall, send him
home immediately.
2. Spend as much time as you can with your pupils. Try to whisper a
kind word to them privately,8 as you well know, whenever you see the
need. This is the great secret of becoming the master of their heart.
3. You may ask, "What shall I say?" Say what was once said to you.
For instance:
"How are you?"
8"Strive to make yourself known to the pupils and to know them, spending as much
time with them as possible, endeavoring to whisper some kind word in their ear." [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"Very well."
"How about your soul?"
"Not bad."
"Will you help me in an important task?"
"Yes, but what's it all about?"
"To make a good boy out of you," or "To save your soul," or "To
make you the best of all."
If you are talking to an unruly boy, you might say:
"When do you want to start?"
"Start what?"
"To be my pride and joy," or "To become another St. Aloysius."
To boys who go to the sacraments rather reluctantly, say:
"When shall we take the devil by the horns?"
"How?"
"With a good confession."
"Whenever you like."
"The sooner the better."
You might also ask: "When shall we do the wash?" or "Are you in
shape to help me take the devil by the horns?" or "Shall we be two good
friends in spiritual matters?" These and similar approaches will do.
4. In our houses the director is the ordinary confessor; make it clear
therefore that you are glad to carry out this task, but give them freedom
to go to other confessors if they wish.9 Tell them that you do not attend
meetings when superiors meet to discuss the pupils' moral conduct. Be
sure to dissipate even the shadow of a doubt that you might use anything
you heard in confession or that you even remember it. Nor must you
ever show even the slightest partiality toward anyone who prefers one
confessor to another.
5. Foster and promote the Altar Boys, the St. Aloysius, the Blessed
Sacrament and the Immaculate Conception sodalities. Be their promot-
er, but not their director. 10 Regard these sodalities as the boys' own un-
dertakings whose supervision is entrusted to the catechist or spiritual
director. 11
9••••• but give them ample freedom to go to other confessors, if they so wish. [Author]
10••Recommend and promote the Altar Boys, the St. Aloysius, the Blessed Sacrament
and the Immaculate Conception sodalities. Show yourselffavorable and gratified toward
their members, but be only their promoter, not their director." [Author]
11 In the 1875 edition Article 6 followed: "As far as possible, leave odious or disciplinary
measures to others." In the 1866 edition there was this other addition: "When you discov-
er a grave transgression, summon the culprit or the suspect to your room; most charitably
try to make him admit his wrongdoing and guilt; then admonish him and invite him to set
his conscience at peace. In this way, by constant, kindly supervision, wonderful results and
self-reform have been obtained though they first seemed impossible." [Author]
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Outsiders
1. Let us gladly make ourselves available for religious services, ser-
mons, Masses, and confessions 12 when charity and duty permit, especial-
ly for the parish we belong to. Never accept obligations that would keep
you away from your house or hinder you in your duties.
2. As a courtesy, 13 priests not of the house should be invited to preach
on solemn feasts or attend our musical entertainments. The same cour-
tesy should be extended to civil authorities or to people who have done
us favors or are in a position to do so.
3. Charity and courtesy to all, residents and outsiders, should be a
director's outstanding traits.
4. If material interests are at stake, yield as far as you can, even at a
loss, when this will forestall quarrels or disputes that may violate chari-
ty.
5. In spiritual matters, try to solve problems in a manner that may
redound to God's greater glory. Commitments, pettiness, vengeful de-
sires, pride, claims, and even prestige must be sacrificed to prevent sin.
6. In very important matters bide your time, so as to pray and con-
sult pious, prudent persons.
Members of the Society
1. The exact observance of the rules, especially of obedience, is the
basis of everything. If you want others to obey you, set the example and
obey your superiors. 14 No one is fit to give orders unless he can obey.
2. Try to assign tasks fairly, without overburdening some, and see to
it that everyone can carry out his duties faithfully.
3. No member of the Congregation may sign contracts, receive
money, or make loans to relatives, friends or anyone else. Nor is anyone
to keep money or administer property unless expressly authorized by his
superior. The observance of this article will ward off the most fatal
blight that afflicts religious congregations.
4. Abhor as poison any revisions of the constitutions. Their exact ob-
servance is better than any revision. The best is the enemy of the good.
5. Study, time, and experience have convinced me that gluttony,
greed, and vainglory have been the ruin of flourishing congregations and
12"Let us willingly offer ourselves for religious services, sermons, Masses for the conve-
nience of the people, hearing confessions, etc." [Author]
13" As a courtesy, priests not of the house should occasionally be invited to preach, etc."
[Author]
14"If you wish others to obey you, set the example by obeying your superiors." [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
esteemed religious orders. Time will also teach you how true things are
even if now they may seem incredible to you. 15
Tips in Giving Orders
1. Try never to order your subordinates to do things beyond their
strength or contrary to their inclinations. Rather, do your best to favor
each one's tendencies by preferably assigning tasks you know to be more
to their liking. 16
2. Never order anything that may harm one's health, deprive him of
necessary rest, or conflict with other duties or orders issued by some
other superior.
3. In giving orders always be kind and considerate. Let there be no
threats, anger, and, least of all, force in what you say and do.
4. When you must order something hard or repugnant, use this ap-
proach: '"Could you do this or that?" or '"I have an important task that
I don't like to burden you with because it is difficult, but there is no one
else who can do it. Would you have time? Do you feel up to it? Would it
interfere with your other duties?" Experience proves that such overtures
at the right time are very effective.
5. Be thrifty in everything, but make sure that the sick lack for noth-
ing.17 Nevertheless, let all be reminded that we have made a vow of pov-
erty and that consequently we should not seek or even desire any kind of
comfort. We must love poverty and its companions. Let us therefore
avoid expenses not absolutely necessary in clothing, books, furniture,
travel, etc.
This is a kind of legacy I leave to the director of each house. If these
recommendations are practiced I shall die in peace, knowing that God
will certainly bless our Society, that it will prosper ever more and fulfill
its mission-God's greater glory and the salvation of souls. 18
How could anyone forget these sage teachings? Keeping this fa-
therly legacy is the only way to make his spirit thrive in our
15Here Article 6 was added: "Be most solicitous about promoting community life in
word and deed." [Author]
16"Never command what you think is beyond your subordinates' strength or when you
foresee you will not be obeyed. Try to avoid any order repugnant to them; rather, do your
best to favor their inclinations, preferably assigning tasks you know to be more to their
liking." [Author]
17"Be thrifty in everything, but make sure that the sick absolutely lack for nothing."
[Author]
18"This is a kind of legacy which I leave to the director of each house. If these recom-
mendations are practiced, I shall die in peace, knowing that our Society will prosper ever
more before mankind, will be blessed by the Lord and fulfill its mission which is God's
glory and the salvation of souls." [Author]
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houses and to live the family life which he singled out as their out-
standing trait. [Here are the focal points of our father's teach-
ings:]
. . . Try to make yourself loved sooner than feared.
. . . Always raise your mind and heart to God before any important
decision .
. . . Charity and courtesy to all. residents and outsiders, should be
your outstanding trait.
. . . Strive to make yourself known to the pupils and to know them,
spending as much time with them as possible.
. . . Leave odious or disciplinary measures to others.
. . . Do your best to favor each one's tendencies by preferably assign-
ing tasks you know to be more to their liking.
. . . When a report is made to you, listen to it all completely and try
to ascertain the full.facts and hear both sides before passing judgment.
. . . Be thrifty in everything, but make sure that the sick absolutely
lack for nothing.
. . . Abhor as poison any revisions of the constitutions. The best is
enemy of the good.
Such a program will help every religious community to form one
heart and soul with its superior.
To clarify and complete the confidential directives, several
norms, taken from various general conferences, were first gath-
ered into a handwritten copybook as soon as they were given.
Later they were grouped and finally edited personally by Father
Rua as we can tell from a copy found in his record book which
must have been the original from which copies were made and
sent to the directors with a new edition of the confidential direc-
tives on the feast of St. Joseph [March 19] 1876.
Clarifications and Additions to
"Confidential Directives to Directors"
1. Let the superior of each house solicitously set his school on a right
course and form his staff: teachers, assistants and domestic help. This
applies especially now when we are short of personnel and this personnel
is mostly young.
2. Let directors be most benign and considerate toward subordinates
and as far as possible avoid handling unpleasant matters. Disciplinary
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
measures should be assigned to the prefect. Important matters concern-
ing a confrere should be brought to the superior general's attention.
Reports to parents concerning their children's conduct should usually be
the director's task, but if it is neither possible nor opportune because of
severe measures to be taken, let him give suitable norms of action to the
prefect or someone else.
3. Directors should often reach ou to those who need help so as to en-
courage them in their efforts to improve themselves, discover their per-
sonal needs, and provide for them.
4. Special consideration is due to particularly deserving confreres in
regard to travel and other needs, especially in time of illness.
5. Professed members, clerical and lay, should be held in highest
regard in all our schools. They should be shown great trust, and even if
they may be less competent than others, they should be put in charge of
more delicate and confidential matters. They should be told or be made
aware that a certain task is given to them rather than to others because
they are professed members and are regarded as real brothers.
6. Let each director take deeply to heart the theology course and see
that it be diligently conducted and never omitted.
7. Every director should periodically speak or write to the rector
major about members whom they consider worthy of ordination. How-
ever, they should first discuss it with the house chapter and send in its
opinion. Let him also remember to return the pertinent papers properly
filled out.
8. Newly ordained priests should be given the opportunity of review-
ing moral theology.
9. Directors should never fail to give two conferences a month, one
concerning the rules, the other on some moral topic. If this occasionally
cannot be done, a spiritual reading should be substituted. This at least
should never be omitted.
10. The monthly manifestation, which should not be forgotten, should
be made diligently and unhurriedly. Each director should ask confreres
two questions especially:
a. Is there anything unpleasant in your duties which may hinder your
vocation and do you think you have made any spiritual progress since
your last manifestation?
b. Are you aware of anything to be done or prevented in order to
ward off offense against God, or remove a disorder or scandal?
Generally, they come to know things which would never enter our
minds and which they often think we already know or belittle. When a
manifestation reveals a source of evil or disorder in regard to any
member, make a note of it, and when it is that member's turn, question
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him pointedly or in a roundabout way, as you think best. Thus we can
forestall even grave dangers without offense and unobtrusively prevent
scandal. But be very careful not to touch on matters of conscience.
11. Manifestation and confession must be kept completely separate.
A manifestation must be limited to external things because we must use
it when necessary; this could not be done were we to enter into matters
of conscience; then we would risk trespassing upon confession.
12. In each school the director should make sure that the catechist
takes special care of the clerics, helping them to fulfill their duties dili-
gently, kindly advising them when they fail, and informing the director
when he notices danger or disorder. The director should frequently ask
him for a report.
13. Personally or through the catechist, the director should observe
how his priests celebrate Mass, opportunely reminding them to carry
out the sacred ceremonies, say Mass devoutly, and avoid both hurry and
delay when saying Mass in public.
14. Priests and clerics sent to say or serve Mass outside our schools
should be chosen from the most devout and knowledgeable in sacred
ceremonies. If there is no one available, it is better not to accept the in-
vitation, so as to protect the Congregation's good name and the reputa-
tion of the house.
15. Directors should take care lest teachers or confreres contract rela-
tionships with outsiders, and especially lest they visit them in their
homes.
16. As few lay teachers as possible should be hired, not only because
of the expense, but also because they generally have no concern for the
moral aspect of education, and this is and must unalterably be the first
and last goal of all our activities. When personnel can be reduced by
merging courses, let this be done: e.g., in history, let all study the Mid-
dle Ages one year and modern history the next; in philosophy, logic one
year and ethics the next. When a lay teacher is to be hired, the director
should first ask the rector major for advice and permission.
17. Directors should present a quarterly report on the sanitary, finan-
cial, academic and, especially, moral state of their school, with informa-
tion on the conduct of the members. This will help the rector major to
know the members of the Congregation.
18. As regards bookkeeping, the director should post all income and
cash that the prefect gives him every week; likewise, he should record all
expenses, including the cash he gives the prefect each week for ordinary
and special expenses, trying to group income and expenditures under
headings. If he has to make a particular secret expenditure, he will enter
it in a special ledger to be checked by the rector major. The director
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
shall use this ledger to present his personal financial account at the end
of each school year and whenever the rector major shall ask for it.
19. Let no changes be made in bookkeeping procedures without first
consulting the rector major.
20. As far as possible, the decrees issued by Rome in 1848 should be
carried out, without worry about rules which cannot be enacted just
now.
21. As regards the auditing required by those decrees, the chapter
members of individual houses will exercise the office of provincial audi-
tors, while the members of the Superior Chapter will act as general
auditors. This directive is temporary.
22. Regularly the directors' term of office is for six years, as it is for
members of the Superior Chapter, but the rector major may transfer
them even sooner, if necessary, or reconfirm them in office if God's
greater glory calls for it.
23. A goal of all directors and members of the Superior Chapter is
unifying the over-all government of the Congregation. A way must be
found to free the Salesian Chapter from the direction of the Oratory.19
P.S. In the autumn conferences of 1875 it was decided that in all our
schools, except the Oratory, evening classes should experimentally be
held before supper to see if they are more convenient, without however
changing the time for night prayers which must be kept at nine o'clock.
A close family unity through constant, loving and fatherly vigi-
lance, a common effort for an exemplary life, and a spirit of pov-
erty in community life were the exhortations which constantly
poured from our saintly founder's heart.
8. SPECIAL ADVICE AND ADMONITIONS
During spiritual retreats or on visits to the houses Don Bosco
never failed privately to admonish directors by word or writing
even if he thought it only a timely matter, and they in turn, as
deeply devoted sons, reverently took and valued their father's
words. The four following memos or notes-all in Don Bosco's
hand-clearly show his fatherly frankness and concern and the
humble devotion of those who have handed them down to us.
They did not mind exposing their own failings and weaknesses so
19The formation of the Oratory house chanter took place in 1873. [Author]
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as to save for posterity whate\\fer could portray Don Bosco's saint-
liness, wisdom and fatherliness.
We reproduce the first and third documents completely; the
second does not carry the addressee's name and we shall further
omit three words to shield his identity; so also with the fourth
document, dated HEve of the Assumption, 1874." All contain ad-
vice and admonitions which may be timely and helpful to others
now and in the future.
I. To Father Lemoyne
Spiritual Retreat-1871
l. Never omit the monthly manifestation and the two conferences:
one on the rules, the other on an ascetic subject.
2. Use your time well; study your sermons well and foster a spirit of
piety among your pupils.
3. Do not go out unless you have to, and then see to it that order and
morality are safeguarded.
II. To an Unident(fied Confrere
1. [Give] a sermon on the spirit of charity and fraternal unity. One
God, one master, one superior, one congregation.
2. {Do not neglect] the monthly manifestation and house chapter
meeting. Practice and fervently recommend down-to-earth meditation.
For example: on not keeping money for private use, on expending
money without the chapter's consent.
3. Never criticize what was done previously at . . . during or outside
school hours. Do not boast of your accomplishments or plans of action
either publicly or privately.
4. Do not become involved in unnecessary conversations, visits and
encounters. Avoid familiarity with persons of the opposite sex. Someone
brought to my attention your unduly long stay at ....
5. Respect and healthily fear the [local] clergy. Pile praise upon them
and never criticize. Don't boast at the expense of others when you
preach or speak.
6. Do all the good you can unobtrusively. The violet is hardly seen
but its scent tells you it is there.
Think about these things and practice them. We shall talk about them
in due time. Take the above from
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. Bosco
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Dear Father Bonetti:
III. To Father Bonetti
Turin, April 17, 1873
I do not think that disorders can be avoided if the basic rules of our
houses are not put into practice. Find out for yourself.
1. [Faithfully receive] the monthly manifestation, which stresses that
the superior must be frank with his subjects on all matters. They in turn
must open up; if they do not, they should be reminded of their obliga-
tion.
2. During the manifestation see if the confrere has improved; ascer-
tain if he has followed your advice, and insist that he practice it.
3. Never omit the two monthly conferences: one on an ascetical topic,
the other on the rules.
4. Summon your chapter and sometimes all your teachers to discuss
ways and means for faulty situations.
5. Remember that the director is not to do much himself but is to see
to it that each confrere does his work.
6. Read the norms I have given in writing to the directors of our
houses.
I expect nothing more than the observance of these articles, and then
God's grace will find ready access to your hearts. The spiritual retreat
will pave the way. I shall visit you during the first half of May, and then
you can tell me the results of all I have recommended. On the other
hand mundus in maligno positus est totus [the whole world is seated in
wickedness-I Jn. 5, 19] and we cannot change it. God bless us all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
IV. To an Unidentified Confrere
Dear ...
Eve of the Assumption, 1874
During this spiritual retreat I have spoken with several retreatants
from our schools and jotted down what I think should be seriously ex-
amined in . . . [your house]. So call Father Prefect and go over the fol-
lowing with him:
1. Do not forget what I earnestly suggested when you accompanied
meto ....
2. Both of you absent yourselves too easily to visit your pupils' fami-
lies or other friends.
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3. I heard serious complaints on discipline and cleanliness, personal
and general. These are fundamental. Who is in charge of these things?
Are the director and the prefect doing their work? Do they put this
before any other outside activity?
4. Many parents complain of the administration; many boys are over-
ly dissatisfied; others are favored too much, etc.
May God help us! Work for souls, especially your own. Amen.
Fr. John Bosco
9. REPORTS AND DELIBERATIONS OF THE GENERAL
AND OF THE FALL CONFERENCES
Our Society obtained its deeretum laudis [decree of praise] on
July 23, 1874, but the approval of its constitutions was deferred to
a more opportune time. 1 However, since the constitutions stated:
"Once a year, the rector [major] ... shall convoke the chapter
and the directors of individual houses to ascertain and provide for
the needs of the Society, taking whatever measures will be judged
opportune for the times, places and persons,,, this article began to
be implemented with a certain solemnity in 1865, when annual
general conferences were convoked on the feast of St. Francis de
Sales; all directors and all Salesians residing at the Oratory were
to attend.
If Don Bosco happened to be absent at that time, the patronal
feast and the conference were delayed until he returned. We have
some accounts of these conferences on loose sheets of paper. We
cannot say with certainty who drafted them, but it is obvious that
the work was done each time at Don Bosco's request. Hence we
must value them highly as so many pages of the genuine history
of our Society. They show us its gradual growth and our found-
er's zeal in promoting the observance of our constitutions.
1. In 1871 the general conference took place on January 30
and was attended by the directors of our schools at Borgo San
Martino, Lanzo, Cherasco and Alassio, and by Father Pestarino
and the Salesians residing at the Oratory. [The report follows:]
'See Vol. VII, p. 425. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
After the triennial profession of two confreres,2 Don Bosco asked
each director to report on the state of his school. First to speak was the
director at Borgo San Martino, and he was followed by those of Lanzo,
Cherasco and Alassio. With few and slight exceptions, all declared they
were satisfied with the conduct of their confreres, each emphasizing his
contentment and playing down his troubles. Father Pestarino, being also
asked to speak about Mornese, after a brief report of his efforts at doing
good especially during the last carnival days, spoke of the school con-
struction, expressing the hope that it would soon be ready. Don Bosco
then took the floor.
"Summing up all we have heard of the state of our houses," he said,
··we must thank the Lord who has thus blessed us. We see that, over this
year, good will, unity and love of work have increased in our Congrega-
tion. Not only do we already have an impressive number of young
postulants, but many other well-intentioned young men are seeking ad-
mission to our Society.
"Since we have spoken of all the other houses, I also should say
something about the Oratory, our motherhouse and headquarters, and
voice my satisfaction at the considerable progress made during the past
year. I see things getting more and more orderly. I am gratified, too, by
noted improvement in our artisans' conduct; in past years they were re-
ally a scourge in this house because of their lack of discipline. I don't
mean that they have become angels, but they have definitely improved,
and several have asked to join our Congregation. I also notice a more
pronounced endeavor to do good and a better sense of unity, so much
needed, among our confreres.
"I have seen that in all the houses everybody works quite hard. Those
who teach are also on hand to supervise in the dormitories, on weekly
walks, and in the playground. They tutor, keep order in the dining room
and still find time to read, study and prepare their lessons. Far from
being saddened, I rejoice because the devil cannot have the upper hand
where everyone is working so hard. This is true of every house, and the
same can be said of the Oratory. We have many confreres here, but we
also have plenty of work, not so noticeable, perhaps, but still requiring a
good deal of manpower. I did not think that we were all so busy until
one day when I sent for someone to transcribe two pages for me.
•• "Can you copy these two pages?' I asked.
" "Yes,' he answered, "but I shall have to drop such and such a thing.'
"I looked for someone else and got the same reply. I actually sent for
all the confreres in the house, and no one was free. Instead of being
2Cleric Louis Rocca and coadjutor brother Marcellus Rossi, assisted by Fathers Le-
moyne and Pestarino. [Author]
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sorry, I am glad and beg Our Lord to keep sending us work. The pity is
ours if we shun work or have little to do. Believe me, idleness and lack of
work are the ruin of religious congregations because idleness is the root
of all evil. We must therefore tremble at the mere thought that this
monster may worm his way into our midst.
"Then I need each one of you to be busy making money. We have im-
portant work afoot, entailing a huge outlay of at least 200,000 lire.
•• "What?' you may ask. "Don Bosco is always telling us to be de-
tached from wealth and not to keep or handle money, and now he urges
us to make money?'
.. "Yes,' I say, ·we must make money. We can do so most efficiently
by being thrifty and by doing without unnecessary things. We must
strive to save as much as we can in travel and clothing.'
"Obviously these small savings will not balance out our huge expendi-
tures, but if we do this, Divine Providence will send us the rest. We can
be quite sure of that, no matter what the amount. We need not worry
because, if the goal is good, Divine Providence will send us the means.
For instance, we have large-scale plans on hand and shall soon start
work on laying out a square in front of our church [of Mary, Help of
Christians]. It's a big project requiring a lot of money. We also have
plans for the church [of St. John the Evangelist] near the Protestant
church on which we hope to start construction this spring. We are build-
ing at Lanzo and repairs are in progress at Borgo San Martino and
Alassio. I do not have a cent, and yet I have already set deadlines and
signed contracts for cash payments because I am sure the Lord will send
us the money.
"I have also noticed that, once we own real estate, Divine Providence
stops helping us. As long as we have a strip of land, nothing comes in
and we are forced to sell it. Thus we must banish all thought of owning
real estate, because it becomes nothing but a hindrance.
"At the Oratory we cannot have the togetherness that we see in our
other houses because, besides our greater number, we also have some
people who do not belong to the Congregation and whom we tolerate for
reasons of convenience and regard. We hope in due time to house only
members of the Congregation.
"One more thing about saving. We are beginning to feel the effects of
a painful scourge-the draft. Before we can put a young man to work,
we must lay out a good sum of money for his education, maintenance,
clothing and, now, exemption from military service.
"Another thing to consider and correct concerns dramatics. I have
always allowed stage plays and shall continue to do so, but for our boys,
not for outsiders. Good or bad, dramatic presentations are needed in
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
every school because they are a means of learning public speaking,
declamation and intelligent reading. Besides, dramatics has become a
must, and life without it would be unbearable. I notice, though, that now
it is no longer what it should be and what it used to be. Stage plays are
no longer geared to our boys' needs but aim to please adults. I therefore
want it understood that our stage plays must strive to amuse and edu-
cate. There should be no scenes that may harden boys' hearts or unfa-
vorably impress their sensibilities. Give comedies, simple ones with a
moral. Let there be singing, because, besides being fun, it is also educa-
tional and in demand. Let boys declaim good poems. If you want guests,
invite benefactors. They will be happy to see that everything is done to
help youngsters, and this is the goal we are striving for with their help.
Let us never again see on stage objectionable costumes. Let it never hap-
pen that the virtue of modesty is offended. Let the performances impart
new knowledge-a tour of the Holy Land, episodes from Bible history
and so on-that will help us attain our goal. Nor do I intend to have
stage plays become public attractions so as to anger those who cannot
gain admission without buying tickets at any price. Moreover, I have
seen people in the audience dressed so immodestly that I wonder how
they managed to get in. Had it not been rude, I would have immediately
asked them to leave our premises. Nor can we tolerate certain words on
stage, such as 'Damn this or that.' If guests are to be invited, let them be
benefactors and no one else.
"I admit I ought to have said these things to the directors concerned,
but I chose to say them here in order that everyone may know how
things should be, and that nothing unseemly may gain acceptance.
"For the rest, let us eagerly encourage one another to work because,
regardless of our growth in membership, we are still too few considering
the number of requests for new houses. Messis quidem mu/ta, operarii
autem pauci [The harvest indeed is great, but the laborers are few-Lk.
10, 2]. Our Society's remarkable growth is truly a miracle, considering
these evil times, the widespread turmoil and the relentless warfare
directed against the faithful. In these days, when all monastic orders are
being suppressed by the state, when nuns can no longer feel safe in their
cloisters and monks have disappeared, we get together and, despite all
our enemies, grow in numbers, open houses, and do whatever good can
still be done. It is obvious that God's finger is here and that Our Lady is
protecting us. Monks have been exiled and we respond by changing
garb. We shall carry on in priestly robes, and should this too be forbid-
den, we shall use civilian garb and continue to do good. We shall even
grow beards if we must, because these things cannot keep us from doing
good. Freemasonry is against us en masse, everyone hates us and per-
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secutes us, yet we are tranquil and at peace because of God's help. We
have many newspapers against us; yet, despite this, our schools are ever
more greatly appreciated by the people, and we always have more appli-
cations than vacancies.
"I wish to close this evening by urging obedience, the virtue that
comprises all others. Believe me, if you do your superior's will in all
matters, you cannot err because the Lord supports and inspires the one
in command. Whoever tries to object and have the superior change his
mind makes a big mistake, because experience has taught me that every
time I changed my mind to follow someone else's opinion, things went
wrong. I can truly say that in a religious congregation obedience is all; if
that is lacking, the congregation will be a mess and go to ruin.
"Furthermore, I urge you all to obey the rules without exception,
because unfortunately the time will come when such exceptions will have
to be made, and I am frightened by the mere thought. I do not mean by
this to say that, when necessary, one should not use appropriate means;
if something is done by way of exception it must be out of sheer neces-
sity.
"I cannot cease exhorting you to work. I myself shall spend whatever
life remains to me solely for the welfare of boys. You all know I was
supposed to die at fifty, but a group of boys prayed and prolonged my
earthly stay.3 I thank the Lord for this grace, and I will spend my life
for the benefit of those who got it for me from God. Do likewise your-
selves, because •the harvest is indeed great, but the laborers are few' "
[Luke 10, 2].
Don Bosco also spoke at great length on school dramatics, and
we need not add a single syllable to clarify his clear, explicit in-
structions. Again, that same year, he published a four-page flier
which he sent to all the houses.4
2. In 1872 the general conference was held on Don Bosco's re-
turn from Varazze after his long, serious illness. All the Oratory
confreres attended with the directors of the various houses. We
have no record of the meeting, except for a mention of it by Fa-
ther Pestarino in a report he gave about the beginnings of the new
Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, a report
which Don Bosco "listened to with pleasure."
3See Vol. VI, p. 56; Vol. VIII, p. 96. [Editor]
4This was already mentioned in Volume VI of these memoirs. The complete set of regu-
lations is in that same volume, pp. 646-648. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
3. In 1873-before the feast of St. Francis de Sales, precisely
on January 12-a meeting was held "for the election of the
economer and three councilors to replace those whose term of of-
fice had expired." The four incumbents-Father Savio, Father
Provera, Father Durando and Father Ghivarello-were re-elect-
ed. On this occasion, Don Bosco uttered these memorable, pro-
phetic words:
I am delighted to see that our Congregation is growing every day.
Hence, the chapter we have re-elected this evening will continue to func-
tion as the chapter of this house for only a little while longer. Soon its
concetn will include, without distinction. each and every house.
Were it possible (he went on in a humorous vein) I would like to set
up a shed in the middle of the playground for the chapter members so
they could be isolated from all other mortals. But since they are still en-
titled to live on this earth, they may choose to reside in whatever house
it may seem best. To take their place here, a local chapter will be es-
tablished at the Oratory as in every house. Increasing numbers of our
members make this necessary. In this I clearly see God's intervention.
He it is who gives many young men the idea of joining our Society, of
leaving parents, money, and hopes of honorable, lucrative and eminent
positions. There are even some who donate all their possessions to the
house in full acceptance of Our Divine Master's counsel to forsake fa-
ther, mother, brother and sister, and to sell all one has in order to give
to the poor. Again, too, the Lord protects us by inducing those who hate
and persecute other religious societies to foster our work, and He even
provides us with means and weapons to repulse them, so to say.
Yet, though I most dearly wish our Congregation to grow and its
apostles to increase in numbers, my first and most fervent wish is that
these Salesians become zealous ministers, as worthy sons of St. Francis
de Sales as Jesuits are of the valiant St. Ignatius of Loyola. The whole
world-particularly evil men who" in a satanic hatred would like to see
this holy seed die out-is astonished. Persecutions, even the most horri-
ble blood-baths, do not dismay these brave souls. So scattered afield are
they that they no longer know each other's whereabouts; yet, separation
notwithstanding, they faithfully observe the rules given by their first su-
perior as though they were still living in community. Wherever you find
a Jesuit, there, I say, is a model of virtue, an exemplar of holiness. They
preach, hear confessions, and proclaim the Gospel. What more? When
evil men think they have done away with them, it is then that their
numbers increase and the good done to souls is greater.
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May it be the same with us, my sons. Think seriously of the life to
which God has called you, think and pray; and when joining our Con-
gregation, look up to these valiant sons of Christ and do likewise.
Whether priest or lay religious, whatever your task, always observe your
rules faithfully. You may be here at the Oratory or at Lanzo or in any
of our other houses; you might end up in France, Africa or America.
Still, alone or in community, always keep this Congregation's purpose
in mind: the education of youth and of our neighbor in general in the
arts and sciences, especially in religion. To put it briefly: the salvation of
souls. Were I to say what now flashes through my mind, I might tell you
of a great number of festive oratories scattered all over this earth in
France, Spain, Africa, America, and many other places, where our con-
freres work tirelessly in the vineyard of Jesus Christ. As of now, all this
is but an idea, but I feel I can speak of it already as an accomplished
fact.
However, since Pope Pius IX has urged us to restrict our activities to
Italy for the present because, as he says, it sorely needs our help, we
shall concentrate our work here in our own country. Whatever the dis-
position of heaven, always remember the purpose of this Congregation
which you are about to join or have already entered. Let us encourage
one another and work harmoniously and tirelessly, so that we may one
day join the company of the souls we have won for God and with them
enjoy the beatific vision of God for all eternity.
The annual general conference [of 1873] was held on the feast
of St. Francis de Sales to examine the needs of all the houses and
to provide for their smooth functioning, as we gather from this
brief report:
At this general meeting it was remarked that all the schools had
increased their enrollment. On the whole, the houses seemed to be run-
ning well. Particular mention was made of the opening of the Valsalice
College,5 of new buildings at Lanzo and Alassio, and of moving St. Vin-
cent's Hospice from Marassi to Sampierdarena. Don Bosco concluded
by warmly exhorting all to give good example and observe the rules
faithfully.
We also have a more detailed report which follows:
The conference opened with the usual invocation of the Holy Spirit.
5See pp. 166-170. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Don Bosco sat on a dais in the center of the assembly, flanked on both
sides by the directors of the various schools.
After opening the meeting, he asked Father Rua to read the names of
the members of the Superior Chapter and of the Oratory house chapter.
Until now the Oratory had depended on the Superior Chapter. He made
it clear that from now on the Superior Chapter would concern itself with
a general supervision of the houses rather than with the direction of any
particular house. However, since some members of the Oratory house
chapter had been appointed to the Superior Chapter and could not be
replaced immediately, they would continue to serve on both chapters.
There followed the reports from the various houses, starting from that
at Borgo San Martino, the oldest. Since its director was not present, not
much was said except that generally things were going very well, espe-
cially in spiritual matters.
Father Lemoyne, the director at Lanzo, spoke next, stating his great
satisfaction that the school was doing well both spiritually and material-
ly, thanks to God and his brother Salesians. He ended his report by
recommending his school to the prayers of all. Father Francesia then
reported on his house at Varazze, admitting that in the past school year
he had had to put up with very many heartaches, especially because of
two staff members who had no priestly call, but he ended by saying that
presently, thank God, things were going satisfactorily well. He too asked
for the prayers of all.
The next speaker, Father Cerruti, the director of the house at Alassio,
after noting that the school was doing well physically, intellectually and
morally, added that enrollment was growing so fast that he felt he would
soon be faced with lack of space. He ended his report with the usual ap-
peal for prayers.
Father Albera, the director of St. Vincent's Hospice at Sampier-
darena, then took the floor. Stressing the dire need for such a house in
that city, he showed how, with God's help, a great deal of good could be
accomplished, especially through religious instruction of its poorly edu-
cated inhabitants. He added that, in terms of the hospice's material
needs, they did the best they could; still, because of the steadily increas-
ing number of boys, the premises were becoming too crowded.
Father Dalmazzo, the director of the Valsalice College, then spoke,
complaining that it was just the opposite in his college; the enrollment
was very small-a mere twenty-two students-and the facilities were
very vast. Nevertheless, though the college seemed to be sterile ground
because it was not yet well known, some consoling success had already
been achieved. He too concluded by asking for everybody's prayers.
Father Pestarino, the director of the Daughters of Mary, Help of
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Christians, gave the last report, stating that at Mornese, too, things
were progressing, though the sisters had as yet no superior. He too rec-
ommended himself to the prayers of all.
After listening to all these reports, Don Bosco spoke:
"Now what is Don Bosco going to tell us, you will ask? I have so
many things to say that I would gladly keep talking until tomorrow
night, if other tasks did not prevent me from so doing. Besides, I would
not want to deprive you of supper. My dear sons, our Society is flourish-
ing, but we are passing through extremely critical times, especially for
food. So I urge you all not to waste anything. Be thrifty! I do not mean
that we should go hungry, no, nor that our fare should be changed. I
wish each one to eat according to his needs, with nothing being wasted
or damaged. What I say about food applies to everything. I beg all most
earnestly to avoid wastefulness in clothes, travel and everything else. In
a word, thrift in all respects.
.
"Now, what will Don Bosco primarily stress for our Society's good?
You can easily guess: the faithful observance of the rules. Yes, the faith-
ful observance of the rules. If we faithfully observe them, we shall be
pleasing to God (for none of you should fulfill his duties to please me or
anyone else), and we shall induce others to follow us. Verba movent, ex-
empla trahunt [Actions speak louder than words]. If, on the other hand,
we do not observe our rules. if we yield to gluttony, especially in drink-
ing, if we look distractedly about in church, particularly after Holy
Communion, what are others possibly to think of our Society? You may
have seen the effects of intemperance or greed in others. Once a good
young man told me that he would not become a priest for private rea-
sons he would not disclose to me. One day, as we walked together, I so
pressed him that finally he yielded. 'If you really want to know,' he said,
'it's this. One day my father and I went into a cafe and saw there a
drunken priest in shirt-sleeves. I was so disgusted by that sight that I
said, I'd sooner die than become a priest and give such scandal!' Now
do you see, my sons, what bad example can do?
"I then asked him: 'Did anybody hear what you said?' 'No one,' he
replied. So I tried to change his mind. 'You are not bound to give up the
priesthood just because you said you would not want to become a bad
priest. Your resolution should rather help you to become a good priest.'
He seemed convinced, but a few years later I heard he had died.
"My dear sons, I stand here like a captain surrounded by staff of-
ficers and a select squad ready to endure anything in order to please not
me-a poor paymaster-but God. Let us therefore strive so to conduct
ourselves that others may be edified. Let all be done for God's greater
glory."
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Several decisions were taken6 and copies were sent to the
houses. The original is in our archives.
4. That same year [1873] other meetings of directors and pre-
fects were held at the Oratory on September 9 before the annual
spiritual retreat. At that time, earnest steps were being taken for
the approval of the constitutions, and consequently their exempla-
ry observance had to be stressed while some advisable amend-
ments had to be considered before submitting them for definitive
approval.
The resolutions, edited by Father Rua and approved by Don
Bosco, were sent to the houses. They concerned members of the
Society submitting their writings prior to publication, how con-
freres were to relate to outsiders, why directors should be freed
from unpleasant duties and reserve the right of informing parents
of their sons' conduct, and a few detailed norms on observing the
vow of poverty.7
5. In 1874 the annual conference was held on April 17 and 18
after Don Bosco's return from Rome and the definitive approval
of the constitutions.
A memorandum in Father Lemoyne's hand gives us the high-
lights of what Don Bosco said in his deep gratitude to God for
this formal approval-dear and holy exhortations never to be for-
gotten! [He stressed the following points:]
Our constitutions have been approved; from now on we go forward in
a well-ordered manner.
The superior must be free to move the members about, especially for
the purpose of the priestly ministry.
Let us renounce personal inclinations and strive to form one body.
Let no one refuse to obey an order even if it may be burdensome or
distasteful.
Let all be both united. and truly obedient to their director. Rather
than interpret rules so as to dodge an order, let all interpret them so as
to carry it out promptly and cheerfully.
Let all respect the Congregation not just in general, but in each indi-
vidual member. God is our Father and the Congregation is our mother.
Let us therefore love it, defend its good name, and never do anything
6These dealt with admission policies, quarterly reports, textbooks, schedules, personnel
and so on. We omit them in this edition. [Editor]
7We are omitting the list of such decisions. [Editor]
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that may dishonor it, but rather be anxious for its growth and prosperi-
ty.
Guard against love of parents...He who loves father and mother more
than Me is not worthy of Me," Jesus said [Matt. 10, 37]. To us, our
home, parents, and brothers should be as though non-existent. We may
pray, advise, and even offer help when needed, but naught else. Jesus
was subject to Mary and Joseph but kept totally free in things concern-
ing His Heavenly Father's glory. When our parents call us home for a
few days, we must reply as Jesus did in the temple at the age of twelve.
That same reply should be given in similar circumstances.
Let us be steadfast in our resolutions, so that we do not commit our-
selves today and change our minds tomorrow. Let us not look back, but
go ahead freely and courageously. Let us observe not simply the rules
but even the particular prescriptions that are issued.
After speaking of examinations, scholastic records, exemption
from military service, and a formal novitiate which was to be set
up little by little, Don Bosco closed his talk:
Let no one seek his own interests, but those of Jesus Christ.
Let there be frequent conferences at which either Rodriguez8 shall be
read aloud or talks shall be given by the director on the subject of the
vows, the virtue of obedience. detachment from earthly things, chastity
and its safekeeping, and the manner of treating relatives.
A conference is to be held each week, and a chapter meeting every
two weeks.
Poor boys, spreading good books, and preaching are three vast fields
for our activities.
6. In the fall other general conferences were held which resem-
bled a general chapter. There were also meetings of prefects.
Such was Don Bosco's humility that in the general conferences
the main items in the agenda were the revision of the translation
of the constitutions and of the Regulations of the Salesian Associ-
ation or Pious Union of Cooperators which he was already plan-
ning to found.
These other topics were discussed: economizing by using a sin-
gle type of cloth for priestly garb, directors' private bookkeeping
8Alonso Rodriguez, S.J. (1526-1616), author of The Practice of Christian and Religious
Perfection. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
and term of office, evening schedules of vocal and instrumental
music, prayer style, the need of an archive for the Congregation,
and other minor matters, among them an earlier date for starting
the summer vacation, and opening a rest home in Chieri. A sum-
mary of the deliberations was drafted by Father Rua and sent to
all the houses. The prefects' meetings discussed the keeping of
poverty, uniformity of clothing, good manners, half-hour daily
meditation, and the smooth running of spiritual retreats without
creating a burden for the Oratory with the coming and going of
retreatants on their way to and from Lanzo. Other minor items
were also discussed.9
10. THE SPIRITUAL RETREATS
At that time [Salesian] spiritual retreats began on Monday eve-
ning and ended on Saturday morning since our few priests could
not possibly leave their houses on Sundays, when they were need-
ed in the local churches. Religious professions took place on Fri-
day so as not to delay the next morning's closing and prevent the
retreatants from returning to their houses the same day. Usually,
on their way to and from Lanzo, where regularly both spiritual
retreats were consecutively held, they merely passed through the
Oratory, coming and going the same day.
In 1871, after Don Bosco's return from Rome, the spiritual re-
treats were held September 18-23 and September 25-30. Father
Rua and other confreres took notes of Don Bosco's sermons
which, as usual, were listened to with delight and spiritual advan-
tage.1 On September 29 three Salesians took triennial vows, and
Father Dominic Belmonte and Father Joseph Monateri took their
perpetual vows.
On these retreats Don Bosco gave proof of his singular pa-
tience. Through the sexton's carelessness he had to sit through the
day, while hearing confessions, on a rickety chair flanked by an
old, bulky, clumsy kneeler which forced him into an extremely
9This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
1For these retreat notes see Appendix 3. [Editor]
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uncomfortable position, made worse by his habit of sitting with a
very modest, edifying, upright posture. When the retreat was
over, he called Father John Cagliero, the spiritual director, and
remarked smilingly, "Just look at this kneeler! It may serve as a
model! Have a sketch made!" The matter ended with a good
laugh.
In 1872 the two retreats were held September 16-21 and Sep-
tember 23-28. Besides being everybody's favorite confessor, Don
Bosco, as always, made himself available for private talks with
the retreatants, gave the cherished and timely "Good Nights,"
presided over the chapter meetings held to assign Salesians to the
various houses and to deliberate important matters, and preached
the instructions at both retreats.
As he taught and guided others, he constantly meditated on
eternity, often speaking of his own death. One day, when Father
Berto pointed out to him that many would find it hard to bear his
loss resignedly, he replied: "Well, if I were to die, good people
would mourn me a while and then all would be over, while the
devil would take a holiday because he would be rid of an enemy!"
On September 18, while strolling with Father Berto, he men-
tioned his health, causing Father Berto to remark that it was time
for Don Bosco to look after himself and rest a little.
"My life span was set at fifty," Don Bosco countered. "People
prayed and keep praying for me. These additional years are an
alms to me: the more generous the alms, the better is to be the
use they are put to."
His prudence was shown at chapter meetings in which school
staffs were set up for the following year. He wanted not only
directors, but all chapter members of each house to observe the
constitutions exemplarily and strive to have the confreres observe
them, lest they be held accountable for the failings of others. He
asserted that any religious community's decline was traceable to
superiors who failed to observe the rules and let things slide just
to preserve their popularity.
Occasionally he entrusted confreres with tasks seemingly above
their capacity, but it was soon evident that they had met the
challenge beyond all expectations. This was due, above all, to his
prayers and advice. In se11ding the newly appointed to their sta-
tions he exhorted them to pray. "God wants action," he would
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tell them, "and we must beg Him to avail Himself of us kindly
for His holy undertakings!"
One day, a certain confrere, who had struggled for some time
to make a project of his succeed, said to him, "At last I've suc-
ceeded! Without me the whole thing would have collapsed!" Don
Bosco humbly contented himself with telling the man to give
thanks to God, but that evening he confidentially told one of his
intimates, "The poor man does not know that for two months
Don Bosco has been praying and working for the success of his
undertaking!"
In 1872 he also summoned all the directors to special meetings
aimed at filling the needs of the houses. During his fatherly ex-
hortations, he showed the advisability and need of holding weekly
chapter meetings for the smooth running· of a school, of frequent-
ly checking the pupils' conduct and progress with their teachers,
of not reading newspapers in public, and of never discussing poli-
tics with confreres or pupils.
He personally never read newspapers, limiting himself to listen-
ing to Father Savio's digest of daily events whenever he needed to
know what was going on in the Church and in the nation. Still, he
did allow one good newspaper-one only-in each house, provid-
ed that it was not taken out of the faculty room.
He also spoke about letter-writing, giving those norms which,
at his command, were inserted in the Appendix to the Regula-
tions for the Houses in 1877. He likewise urged directors to have
the confreres teach their pupils good manners by word and exam-
ple.2
He also demonstrated how ill-mannered pupils were to be cor-
rected. '' If a youngster passes without greeting you, perhaps be-
cause he was never told to or just didn't think of it, you should be
the first to greet him. That will be the best lesson. If you think
you can teach a young lad manners by knocking his cap off, you
clearly show that you are ill-mannered and d9 not know how to
win a boy's heart. Then, too, aren't boys the beloved, most noble
sons of the King of kings? Who, with a spark of faith and charity
in his heart, would dare treat them harshly or contemptuously?"
Religious profession took place on September 20. Twenty-nine
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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members made their triennial vows; one, whose triennial vows
were expiring, made his perpetual vows. The ceremony was re-
peated on September 27 with twelve members taking triennial
vows, and three-among whom was the cleric Dominic Milanesio
-their perpetual vows. The retreat ended on September 28 and·
all returned to their schools.
The following day, nineteen-year-old Cleric Francis Carones of
Frassineto Po died in our school at Borgo San Martino. Another
Salesian, twenty-six-year-old John Baptist Camisassa, had died
on August 3 at the Oratory. Don Bosco highlighted their virtues
in the Appendix of the Directory of the Salesian Society as fol-
lows:
It has pleased our merciful God to call unto Himself two dear, virtu-
ous confreres of ours in Jesus Christ, both perpetually professed. . . .
The exemplary life that marked their stay with us, their fervent desire to
work for God's greater glory, their patience and resignation especially in
their last long illness, and their fervent reception of the Last Sacraments
and of all spiritual comforts give us a well-founded hope that they are
already resting at peace with God. Still, since He finds blemishes even
among His angels, let us remember them in our private and community
prayers so that any debts they may still have with Divine Justice may be
wiped out and they may soon be allowed to enjoy heavenly glory.
Let us try to imitate their detachment from earthly things and their
priceless virtue of obedience. Let us do our utmost to observe the rules
of our Congregation faithfully and thus be ready if God, in His infinite
mercy, were to see fit to summon some of us this year.
In 1873 the spiritual retreats were held September 15-20 and
September 22-27. During the first retreat twenty-one members
took triennial vows and one took perpetual vows; during the sec-
ond, ten made triennial vows and one made perpetual vows.
Luckily we have a few precious- summaries of Don Bosco's talks
which we shall later report.
We could unearth nothing noteworthy about the spiritual re-
treats of 1874 held at Lanzo September 14-19 and September 21-
26. At the first retreat twenty-six members took triennial vows,
and seven took perpetual vows; at the second, thirteen took trien-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
nial vows and eight took perpetual vows. Among the latter was·
Father Louis Lasagna.3
11. DON Bosco's CONCEPT OF THE RELIGIOUS LIFE
As we have said, we have a few summaries of Don Bosco's in-
structions preached during the spiritual retreats of 1873. They
were summarized by Caesar Chiala (who completed his novitiate
that same year although his name is not listed in the Directory).
The topics were: the need of a spiritual retreat, the vows, poverty,
and advantages of the religious life. Chiala also jotted down three
brief outlines on the end of man, the excellence of the religious
life, and the force of example.
Furthermore, he summarized four talks given by Don Bosco to
the postulants in the following order: October 29, 1872-Purpose
of the Salesian Society; December 2-Vow of Obedience; June
16, 1873-Chastity; September 1-Excellence of Vows. We be-
lieve our readers will be pleased to see them reported here verba-
tim. These summaries will illustrate, as in the preceding volumes, 1
Don Bosco's concept of the religious life and of the style in which
he wished his Salesians to live it.
As an introduction to these eight outlines, we present Father
Chiala's summary of one of the four instructions which Don
Bosco reserved to himself during the spiritual retreat of 1875
(preached by Father Francesia and Father Rua). Father [Julius]
Barberis published substantial summaries of the other three.
Introduction
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of precious
stones. There are plenty of stones on this earth, but not all of them are
precious. Some are more or less precious, others appear precious, while
3Louis Lasagna (1850-1895) first met Don Bosco in the summer of 1862 during one of
his outings with the Oratory boys. In October Louis entered the Oratory. (See Vol. VII,
pp. 164, 166, l79f) He received the cassock in 1866, took his first vows in 1868, was or-
dained in 1873, and joined the second missionary expedition to South America in 1876. As
director and provincial, he achieved marked success in the fields of education, social ac-
tion, agriculture, priestly vocations, and church construction and renovation. Consecrated
a bishop in 1893, he was entrusted with evangelizing the Indians of Mato Grosso (Brazil).
He died in a train collision on November 6, 1895. [Editor]
•See Vol. IV, pp. 294ff; Vol. VI, pp. 180f, 627; Vol. VII, pp. 417f; Vol. VIII, pp. 354ff;
Vol. IX, pp. 267-271. [Editor]
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still others, like the [so-called] infernal stone [silver nitrate], are fatal.
The same can be said of our deeds; they can be good, not so good,
bad or excellent. The excellent make heavy demands on us because
through them we can gain the kingdom of heaven.
Just as, among precious stones, some are worth all the others put
together, such as the so-called polar star and solitaire, so there are vir-
tues more precious than all others, because if one acquires them, he pos-
sesses them all. These are the virtues of poverty, obedience and chastity.
Let us examine our conscience to see if we have sought and found
these precious pearls, at least some valuable ones. If we should realize
that some are fake or harmful, let us think how best to rid ourselves of
them.
1. Necessity ofSpiritual Retreats
What is the purpose of spiritual exercises? We constantly exercise our-
selves in virtue. The saints longed to withdraw from the world and to
flee into the deserts. Read the biography of the Cure of Ars . . . .
What is the purpose of military maneuvers, feints, mock sorties, re-
treats and attacks? Routine drills on parade grounds no longer suffice;
general maneuvers are needed. From parade ground drills and tactical
boot camp exercises an army progresses to full field maneuvers in order
to be adept at war.
We too are soldiers...The life of man upon earth is a warfare," says
Holy Scripture. [Job 7, I] We are in training; we familiarize ourselves
with a variety of weapons and tactics. Our boot camps are our festive
oratories; we hold general maneuvers when we are entrusted with run-
ning a school; and lastly we wage war against our common enemy. This
war can be exterior when the world persecutes us or interior when God
tests our courage. No one will be crowned unless he has competed ac-
cording to the rules. [Cf. 2 Tim. 2, 5)
No one can escape battle. All must hold themselves ready for it. For
some heroes the battle is lifelong; for others it comes but late in life; for
still others yet it comes only at death's hour, as in the case of St.
Hilarion. But all have to be battle-tested; there is no way out.
Spiritual retreats, like naval maneuvers, are simple exercises without
fatal consequences in peacetime, but spelling defeat or victory in war-
time.
2. Advantages of the Religious Life
Religious life appears to be more burdensome than life in the world,
but this is not so. Observing the evangelical counsels makes it easier to
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
carry out God's precepts and those of the Church.
Young men loitering in a public square may at a quick glance look
like privileged people, free, better off than those youngsters disciplined
by a teacher, but soon enough a fight will break out among the former
and they blaspheme or teach others how to steal. They fall apart moral-
ly and end up in jail. The latter, however, get a good education, have a
career, lead a happy life and are a boon to society. . . .
The wheels of a cart and the wings of a bird are heavy, but neither
cart nor bird can get along without them.
Ancient warriors bore heavy shields, but you know how much they
counted on them.
A warship's steel hull is so massive that you wonder how the ship can
possibly move, but when its strength is put to the test, you understand
its value as you see gaping holes in the hulls of other ships. Then you are
convinced of the need of steel plating for those vessels. It matters that
we avoid small transgressions and not slip into serious ones.
Fabius Maximus avoided frontal attacks when fighting Hannibal. He
won by swift sallies upon straggling units of the army. The devil follows
the same strategy with religious....
3. Purpose of the Society
The purpose of our Society is to save our own souls and the souls of
others, especially of boys.
It would be a mistake to enter the Congregation in the hope of faring
better as regards food, health care, education, positions of authority,
fame, social contacts, and so on.2
Our goal is to save our souls and those of others. How noble an aim!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into this world for no other purpose
than to save what was lost. The finest gift and honor He bestowed on
His dearly beloved apostles and disciples was to send them out to evan-
gelize the world. It is noteworthy that He sent them first to Israel and
later to the whole world. So, also, we are to begin with those who are
nearest to us.
The best way to save our soul and that of others is to reform ourselves
and set a good example. Let us do everything with the precision of Swiss
watches. Let us perfectly carry out the task the Congregation has en-
trusted to us.
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Some lay religious may say, "The Congregation may well aim at ·sav-
ing souls, but this is for priests, not for us." Nowhere does the commu-
nion of saints appear so true as in a religious congregation, where any-
thing one religious does benefits the others. Those who preach and hear
confessions must eat. How would they manage without a cook? So, also,
learned teachers need clothes and shoes, and how will they get along
without tailors and shoemakers? The same is true of our bodies. The
head is more important than the leg, the eye more than the foot, but the
body needs both. If a thorn should pierce the foot. head, eyes and hands
are mobilized to its aid.
Here the comparison of a watch factory is quite apropos. When all
the components of a watch are precision-made, they mesh perfectly. The
result is a precision watch. True, some parts are more delicate and es-
sential than others, but remove any part at all and the watch will no
longer function properly.
One whose authority or learning gives him a higher position should
remember what David said at the height of his glory: "Being exalted, I
have been humbled and troubled." [Ps. 87, 16] The higher one's station,
the more the need to be humble. It's like a fireman's extension ladder;
the higher one climbs, the tighter must be his grip, lest he get dizzy. The
higher you go, the harder the fall!
4. The Vows
At the end of our life God will demand of us an account of how we
used our possessions and whether or not we gave our surplus to the
poor. If we did strip ourselves of our possessions, we can answer, ••Lord,
I gave them back to You long ago. They are Yours. They concern me
no longer."
Once the Lord said, ••If you give up the little you have for My sake, I
shall give you back much more. If you give up everything, you shall be
entitled to all that I have in store for you in heaven."
You know what Jesus Christ replied to Peter who told Him, ··Behold,
we have left all and followed You. . . ." [Matt. 19, 27) The cleaner the
break we make from it all, the more certain is our reward. Be it what it
may, an attachment to a person or thing or a whim chaining us to mate-
rial values, let us sever the link and our fortune will be assured. Besides,
in giving up earthly things we are but returning to God what He loaned
to us.
A saint felt embarrassed to say ••My God, I love You more than any-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
thing else" because he felt that he was saying, '"Lord, I love You more
than a strip of land, a scrap of flesh, a bit of rot!"
5. Excellence of Vows
A vow is a deliberate promise made to God to do something par-
ticularly good. For instance, a sick person promises God that he will
give the Church a thousand lire if he recovers. On recovery, this sum
belongs to God as vowed to Him. By the vow of poverty we hand over
all our possessions to God; by the vow of chastity we consecrate our
body to Him; by the vow of obedience we consecrate our soul to Him,
especially the will, our dominant faculty.
ls God pleased with this bond, this vow made to Him? More welcome
a gift cannot be found. Jesus Himself told those who sought to be closer
to Him and share His life to sell all and follow Him. For this reason he
proclaimed the beatitudes. Once Jesus appeared to St. Francis of Assisi
and asked him for a gift. When the saint replied that he had nothing,
Our Lord told him to search in his breast. He did and found a shining
gold coin. Jesus told Francis to do it twice more, and each time the lat-
ter brought out a golden coin. He then understood that those three coins
symbolized the religious vows.
Is there any difference between doing a good thing and binding one-
self to do it by vow? There is a vast difference! Friar Egidius, a com-
panion of St. Francis of Assisi, used to say that he preferred to win one
degree of grace as a religious than ten as a layman because a religious
has a far lesser chance to lose God's grace. Putting it in another way, if
one person promises you the yearly fruits of his tree and another offers
you the tree itself, which of the two is offering you a greater gift?
Some equate the merit of vows to those of martyrdom itself. Through
martyrdom one dispossesses himself of all and endures torment and
death; through his vows one performs the same act of love by readying
himself to drink the cup of this same torment in small sips. Through the
vows one regains his baptismal innocence. We have an example in St.
Anthony, who was carried to heaven by angels.
But if the spiritual gain is considerable, frightful is the punishment for
not keeping one's vows. Holy Scripture gives an example of this in
Ananias and Sapphira. A religious who was here at the Oratory asked
permission to leave his monastery, giving his father's advanced age as a
reason. When permission was denied, he left anyway. The day he arrived
home, he got into a quarrel with his father and drove him out of the
house. He then lived alone as a simple priest. Gradually he deteriorated,
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gave up his faith, went to England, and there one sad day was stabbed to
death. If only he had remained in his monastery!
6. Poverty
If we accept poverty we must also accept its companions and con-
sequences. We must ask ourselves, ..Am I poor or not?" If the answer is
••yes" we cannot complain.
Someone may object: '"I always have to do the most unpleasant tasks;
so and so has a nicer shirt than I and is better dressed. I never have free
time. If I go out for a walk, I have to escort the boys. I am always
crushed with work, while others do as they please. If the food at table
runs short or is unappetizing, I am always the one who has to put up
with it. St. John Chrysostom tells of a very poor youth who at home had
lacked everything but, on becoming a cleric, had the gall to complain
about the good food he was served.
If anyone was wealthy before becoming a religious, he should re-
member that by so doing he became poor. Jesus Christ began by doing.
In poverty He gave us most impressive lessons in His birth, life and
death. He preached and practiced detachment from one's parents. How
great the reward for those who make this generous sacrifice! ""Blessed
are the poor [in spirit], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [Matt. 5, 3]
He says ""is," not ..will be." The reason is obvious. In other passages,
He not only promises, but pledges His followers a hundredfold in this
world and eternal life. He says ""theirs is the kingdom of heaven" be-
cause it is ours almost by right.
[Some complain that] the rice is overcooked and the wine is sour.
""It's true," they say, ""that at home all I had was a piece of bread, but at
least I knew what I was eating. Here, instead, the soup and main dish
are a mess of leftovers and the bread is sometimes as black as coal." St.
Thomas of Villanova's hat lasted him forty years and St. Hilarion's robe
a lifetime.
""Poor in spirit." This must also be understood to mean that our pov-
erty is as yet imperfect. We are still far from attaining the ideal of
monastic poverty and that of Jesus Christ. Thus it is fitting that we at
least bear it in mind. Our gripes will then die on our lips. Let us there-
fore reflect on the poverty of those who truly practiced it.
For poverty's sake St. Philip Neri drank from a glass with a br0ken
stem, treasured as a relic in Cologne. So, if a faulty or chipped glass is
set at my place at table, I shall recall St. Philip's glass and say, '"Let me
be poor like Philip!"
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
7. Chastity
Chastity is the Christian's armor. Obedience and poverty are neces-
sary to religious life, while chastity is its crown and adornment. St. Paul
has taught us the need for this virtue. "This is the will of God," he
wrote, ••your sanctification." [l Thess. 4, 3] He then went on to explain
that this sanctification consists in being pure and chaste like Jesus
Christ.
Our Lord Himself taught us how much God values this virtue by
P'!ver tolerating even the slightest doubt in His life in this respect. When
he willed to come into this world, He chose the Virgin Mary as His
Mother and St. Joseph as His foster father. His favorite disciple was
chosen for his purity, and to him our dying Savior entrusted His Mother
while giving him to Her as a son. How many tokens of predilection did
He not give to John! He let him rest his head on His breast, and lifted
him into the highest spheres of contemplation . . . . What did John see
surrounding Christ in heaven? A throng of virgins singing a canticle
which no one else could learn.
By this virtue we become like angels and, as Jesus Christ told us, we
shall be such one day. St. John Chrysostom even says that we surpass
the angels because, having no bodies, they are not subject to our tempta-
tions.
There are three means of preserving this precious virtue: control of
the senses, prayer and sacraments, and control of the heart.
[l] Control of the eyes. ··1 made a covenant with my eyes that I
would not so much as think upon a virgin," said Job [31, 1]. What do
eyes have to do with thinking? One glance is enough to arouse a thou-
sand desires.
Control of the tongue. This applies especially to us who have to deal
with boys. An unguarded word can cause immense harm to their souls.
Control of the ears. Never listen to foul talk, and endeavor to stop
other people from listening.
Control of the touch. Keep your hands to yourself.
Control of the taste. ••Jn wine is debauchery," wrote St. Paul. [Eph. 5,
18]
[2] Prayer. The author of the Book of Wisdom says that he under-
stood he could never be chaste without God's help. Our efforts avail us
nothing. ••unless the Lord guard the city, in vain does the guard keep
vigil. [Ps. 126, l] Our heart is like a citadel; our senses are the enemy.
Sacraments. Holy Communion is ••wine springing forth virgins."
[Zech. 9, 17] In the sacrament of Penance we receive advice which more
particularly fits our needs. We are to tell the confessor everything that
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481
has to do with chastity; prudently, of course, we also mention our temp-
tations. All that bears on this subject calls for caution. In sins of impuri-
ty the matter is generally grave.
[3] Control of the heart. Keep it free of any inordinate affection, even
for good companions. We must avoid excessive familiarity because it is
very dangerous. . . . But can't one be a little freer and not so re-
strained? No. It is like slowly edging down a slope to pick a flower on
the brink of a precipice. One might safely climb back, but the grave
danger is that he may slip or become dizzy. Let us pray to St. Aloysius.
8. Vow of Obedience
The most important thing in our life is to do God's will. We must of
course first know it, so as not to follow our own will mistakenly. Let us
always bear in mind David's beautiful prayer: ..Teach me to do Your
will." [Ps. 142, 9] Let us make it our own.
The vow of obedience is what bolsters religious life. But this obe-
dience must be:
[a] Total. We are not to do things halfway.
[b] Cheerful. We must not show reluctance when commanded to do
something which goes against our grain. At times, knowing that a sub-
ject will sulk, a superior will not issue an order, even though his inaction
may prove to be harmful to the Congregation and God's glory.
[c] Prompt. Once we know a superior's intent, a vocal order or ring-
ing of a bell, we are to obey immediately. St. Aloysius would leave a
word half-said as soon as he heard the bell.
[d] Humble. We are not to think that the superior ordered us to do
something foolish or that it would have been better if he had told us to
do some other thing. God assists a superior in the discharge of his
duties. He may have seen things as you do and discarded the idea as in-
advisable.
It is also a sign of obedience not to persist in asking or refusing. One
may need something or believe that he does; thus he goes to his superior
and presses his point so insistently that he gets permission. . . . This is
forcing the superior's will.
The same can be said about refusing [to carry out an order]. A superi-
or may tell one who is overtired, "Sleep until seven tomorrow." But the
other wishes to get up at six in order to receive Holy Communion. Still,
he obeys. He earns the merit of the Communion he wished to receive
and the additional merit of obedience. The superior may tell another
confrere, "Teach that subject." The latter thinks himself unqualified and
declines. He fails in obedience by being so unbending.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
On his deathbed, St. Francis de Sales gave this final recommendation
to the Sisters of the Visitation: .. Do not persist in asking or refusing."
We, who regard him as our patron, must take this rule to heart.
Here are the other three notes by Father Chiala:
1. The End of Man. God gave man a heart which will always be rest-
less until it turns to God. [The heart of man is] like the needle of the
compass which always points north. Turn the compass whichever way
you want, but the needle always points to the pole; the farther one goes
in the opposite direction, the more the compass will show his deviation
from its proper route.
2. The Excellence of the ReliKious Life. The Imitation of Christ says:
..0 sacred state of religious bondage, which makes men equal to angels,
pleasing to God, terrible to the devils and commendable to all the faith-
ful. " 3 Religious life is the equivalent of martyrdom. Through the taking
of vows, sins are wiped out as regards both guilt and punishment.
3. Good Example. Jesus Christ "began to do and to teach." [Acts l,
l] You cannot teach meekness and mildness if someone who knows you
can say, ..Teacher, why are you so impatient and intolerant if you are
not treated with all consideration? You preach mortification to others
but are very far from practicing it yourself. All you worry about are
your own likes and dislikes and comforts..
12. OTHER PRECIOUS NOTES
These notes consist of four undated, handwritten summaries of
talks given by Don Bosco during spiritual retreats, of another
handwritten summary entitled Retreat Topics for Preachers, and,
lastly, of a draft by Father Lemoyne [of Don Bosco's recommen-
dations to directors].
1. Introduction
Purpose of military maneuvers. We too train ourselves to fight
against the enemy of souls.
We must be like gardeners who can always find something to do
among their plants, shrubs and flowers.
3Book 3, Ch. 10, No. 6. [Editor]
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[Something to think about:] Our Lord's remarks about the tree which
had not borne fruit for three years.
What are the fruits of our poverty, chastity and obedience?
Firm belief in the need of a self-examination.
Prayer.
Observance of the timetable.
2. Obedience
1. As a natural virtue.
2. As a Christian virtue.
3. As a religious and Salesian virtue.
4. God blesses the religious.
5. God consoles him in his earthly labors.
6. At the moment of death.
7. Obedience is the foundation and defense of the other virtues.
8. Obedience is the mainstay of religious orders.
9. Disobedience is their disintegration and ruin.
10. How Salesians should practice obedience.
11. The obedient religious are blessed on earth and handsomely re-
warded in heaven.
P.S. Segneri1 wrote a book on the virtue of obedience, and Rodri-
guez2 wrote a treatise. See also Scaramelli,3 St. Alphonse, De Ponte,4
and Magnum Theatrum vitae humanae, Art: Oboedientia.
3. Manifestation of Conscience
It is said that Pythagoras, the ancient famous philosopher, before ac-
cepting any pupil, would ask him for a detailed account of whatever
good or bad he had done in his life. After admitting him, he would still
want him to be most sincere in all things, claiming that unless he knew
him intimately, he could not do him the good he wished for him and felt
he needed.
I Paul Segneri, S.J. (1624-1694) was the most famous sacred orator of the seventeenth
century in Italy. [Editor]
2Alonso Rodriguez, S.J. (1526-1616), author of The Practice of Christian and Religious
Perfection. [Editor]
JJohn Baptist Scaramelli, S.J. (1687-1752) was a popular preacher of parish missions and
a renowned ascetical writer. [Editor]
4 Louis De Ponte, S.J. (originally Luis de la Puente, 1554-1624) was a philosopher,
theologian and ascetical writer. His cause of beatification, suspended in 1773 when the So-
ciety of Jesus was suppressed, was resumed in 1924. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Our Divine Savior raised this maxim to evangelical virtue when He
told His apostles: Habete flduciam 5-have the fullest confidence in Me.
Indeed, if one is to give a confrere rules for a way of life and advice suit-
ed to his needs, then needs must first be known.
4. The Kingdom of Heaven
Those who seek the kingdom of heaven are like a merchant in search
of precious stones.
l. Many seek riches, knowledge, honors, employment, art, crafts and
so on, but these are not genuine pearls. True pearls are the Christian
moral virtues, especially the theological virtues of faith, hope and chari-
ty. Then again, the pearl from which all virtues begin is Jesus Christ.
Let us imitate St. Paul's example.
2. These virtues may be sought through mental and vocal prayer and
through good works as the saints did.6
3. Religious life is a precious pearl through which we resolve to sell
all and renounce everything so as to find the precious pearl of our eter-
nal salvation.
4. Now let us examine how really precious are our pearls, i.e., our ac-
tions: our poverty, chastity, obedience, etc. Away with false pearls; let
us strive to acquire good ones at any cost.
5. ··sion the city of our strength; a wall and a bulwark shall be set
therein." [Is. 26, l]
••1t is difficult for a man to keep the commandments through which
we enter heaven unless he follows Christ's invitation and gives up his
riches." (St. Thomas Aquinas)
••The rules [of our Society] are the wings on which we fly, the wheels
which carry the cart." (St. Augustine)
An outline by Don Bosco, entitled Topics for the Preachers of
Our Spiritual Retreats, has this note by Father Rua: "Have Fa-
ther Barberis send a copy to all the preachers of our spiritual re-
treats." Undoubtedly it was written after 1874; still, we feel it is a
fitting conclusion to all we have reported.
Topics for the Preach~rs of Our Spiritual Retreats
l. Have patience in bearing our confreres' shortcomings. Let us warn
and correct them charitably and promptly.
5Matt. 14, 27. [Editor]"
6This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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2. Avoid criticism and blame; let us defend and help one another ma-
terially and spiritually.
3. Never complain about orders, refusals, food, clothing, assign-
ments, trials of life, duties.
4. Take extreme care in avoiding or preventing any word or deed
which is or may appear to be scandalous.
5. No Salesian should ever harbor a grudge for offenses received,
recall them in reproach or seek revenge.
6. Let bygones be bygones.
7. There should be diligence and effort on the part of all to enable all
Salesians to fulfill their duties exemplarily.
During the retreats of 1873, our good Father Lemoyne took
notes of some counsels given by Don Bosco on the spiritual rela-
tionship between directors and confreres, visits of the rector
major, and the sacrament of Penance. His advice is worth re-
membering.
It is true that directors were then also regular confessors in
their houses, whereas now, in view of the absolute prohibition
against hearing the confessions of one's own subjects, Don Bos-
co's exhortations and counsels would seem no longer relevant. We
must bear in mind, though, that their purpose was to make of all
the Salesian schools so many families in which the director was to
be "a father who could not but love and sympathize with his
sons" who would in turn be as so many brothers, forming one
heart and soul with their director. After the Holy See's decree of
1901, this family spirit, so cherished by Don Bosco, has unfortu-
nately weakened here and there. To make it flourish again and
keep it alive forever, a most effective means is the practice of the
precious fatherly exhortations which transpire from those pas-
sages that we report in italics.7
1. Let no one fear to confess to the director. He is a father, who can-
not help but love and sympathize with his sons.
2. The Rector Major is the extraordinary confessor. . . . The spirit
of the house must be transfused from the Rector Major to his directors
and from them to the confreres. During his visits the Rector Major
should always strive to strengthen the bonds between the members and
7We shall omit the context about the director and the Rector Major being respectively
the ordinary and extraordinary confessors except when it is necessary for a correct under-
standing of the italicized passages. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
their director. He should therefore interview everybody and dispel any
misapprehensions, difficulties, and animosities which so easily arise and
then hang on at length unless charity takes a hand.
3. The directors should never punish, reprimand, or threaten the
boys. With hearts full of charity, they should symbolize God's goodness.
Punishments and reprimands are the prefect's job. It takes but a mo-
ment to lose a boy's trust forever. Directors should have nothing to do
with the boys' conduct marks, and this should be known. They may,
however, change such marks when they are not warranted by the boys'
conduct, either on the strength of a manifestly sincere report or because
such is the opinion of the house members.
4. Every day at Holy Mass. the director should remember his peni-
tents, past, present and future, while they should never forget their con-
fessor [director] when hearing Mass or receiving Holy Communion.
5. Everyone will make an annual confession each year and a monthly
confession on the occasion of the Exercise for a Happy Death. On enter-
ing the Salesian Society, everyone shall make a general confession.
6. Every member of the Salesian Society should diligently study all
that pertains to the sacrament of Penance: the academic aspect in order
to refute objections, and the practical aspect so as to be able to make a
good confession. The practice of confession should be plainly ta~ght to
the boys without scholarly dissertations. To this end the Letture Catto-
liche issue entitled Dialogue Between a Lawyer and a Rural Pastor on
the Sacrament of Penance will be found particularly useful. 8
7. No one but the director shall admonish clerics and other confreres.
This duty shall not be entrusted to the prefect. The director himselfshall
kindly advise them on their duties but always in a charitable manner.
13. DON Bosco's CIRCULARS
The collection of Don Bosco's circulars published in 1896 by
Father Paul Albera, spiritual director of the Society, did not
include the letters dated before 1876 because of a lack of coor-
dination in the filing of documents. 1
Two circulars have already been published in other volumes of
these Biographical Memoirs. That on a candidate's purpose in
seeking admission to the Salesian Society, dated June 9, 1867,
8See Vol. V, pp. 162f. [Editor]
1Cf. Lettere Circo/ari di Don Bosco e di Don Rua ed altri loro scritti ai Sa/esiani
[Circulars and other writings of Don Bosco and Father Rua to the Salesians], Torino,
Tipografia Salesiana, 1896. [Author]
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Feast of Pentecost, can be found in Volume VIII,2 and the circular
on confidence in one's superior, dated Feast of the Assumption
1869, is published in Volume IX.3 We shall present here un-
published circulars in chronological order.
When we recall that Don Bosco wrote these circulars during
the years of his intense struggle for the definitive approval of the
Salesian Constitutions, we can be sure, without fear of exaggera-
tion, that those burning desires then uppermost in his spirit are so
also today and will continue to be so in the future. They are:
[I] That unity of spirit and administration in the Salesian Society
shine undimmed through the observance of every article of the constitu-
tions.
[2] That everyone be thrifty in all things and save as much as possi-
ble.
[3] That each confrere scrupulously observe both the constitutions
and the particular regulations touching his duties so as to foster dis-
cipline among the pupils.
[4] That good morals be constantly promoted with all suitable means
among the boys entrusted to us by Divine Providence.
[5] That each house faithfully observe the recommendations it has
received for smooth functioning.
[6] That efforts be made at any cost to give the Salesian Society
priests who are the salt of the earth in piety and learning and the light of
the world by the fine example they offer to guide souls to the good and the
virtuous.
These are the topics of our sainted father's circulars and we
present them to our readers.
1. Unity of Spirit and Administration throuf(h the Observance of Every
Article of the Constitutions
(Wedo not know 1f and when this circular was sent to the houses. We
print it here verbatim from Don Rosco's manuscript preserved in the
archives of the Salesian Society. Father Rua's collection of Don Rosco's
circulars starts with that dated "Feast of the Assumption, 1869," but
does not include this. Since this letter mentions the spiritual retreat to be
2See pp. 354ff. [Editor]
3See pp. 324ff. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
held at Trofarello, we may conclude that it antedates 1869, since the
yearly retreats were held at Lanzo from 1870 on. Anyway, it is a pre-
cious document entirely written by Don Bosco and hitherto unpublished.
Its weighty topic will always be welcomed by Salesians for study and
reflection.)
To My Beloved Sons and Confreres
of the Society ofSt. Francis de Sales
The month of May, which we traditionally consecrate to Mary, is
about to begin, and I feel that I should use this opportunity to share my
thoughts with my dear sons and confreres and bring up several things I
could not mention during the conferences of St. Francis de Sales.
I am convinced that you are all firmly determined to persevere in our
Society in order to do your utmost to win souls for God and save your
own souls. If we are to succeed in this vast undertaking, we must first
strive most zealously to practice the rules of our Society. Our constitu-
tions avail us nothing if they remain but a dead letter in a desk drawer.
If we wish our Society to advance with God's blessing, then it is indis-
pensable that every article of the constitutions be our norm of action.
Among several practical, most effective means to this end are unity of
spirit and unity of administration.
By unity of spirit I mean a firm, constant determination to will what
the superior believes may redound to God's greater glory and to reject
what he judges adverse to it. This determination is unshaken, regardless
of the obstacles that hinder our spiritual and eternal welfare. As St. Paul
declares, ''Charity bears with all things . . . endures all things." [1 Cor.
13, 4] This determination prompts a confrere to be prompt at his duties,
not just for the sake of carrying out an order, but because he wants to
promote God's glory. Hence, he promptly fulfills his spiritual duties:
meditation, prayer, visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and spiritual reading
at the appointed time. True, these are prescriptions of our rules, but
unless we strive to observe them for a supernatural motive, they are
soon forgotten.
A powerful means to preserve this spirit of unity is frequent reception
of the sacraments. Let priests do their utmost to celebrate Holy Mass
regularly and devoutly; those who are not priests should receive Com-
munion as often as possible. However, the basic thing is frequent confes-
sion. Let each one observe our rules in this matter. Moreover, every
confrere should realize that he absolutely needs full confidence in his su-
perior. The irksome problem is that many try to twist certain directives
of their superiors or discredit them. Hence, they relax their keeping of
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the rules, hurting themselves and making their superiors uneasy; then
they omit or disregard things which powerfully contribute to the welfare
of souls. Let each confrere renounce his will and give up all thought of
personal advantage. Let his only concern be that his response to duty
may redound to God's greater glory; then let him act with assurance.
Now comes a difficulty. Practical cases arise when it may seem better
to disregard an order. This is not true. It is always best to obey, never
altering the spirit of the rules as interpreted by your superior. Therefore,
let each of us strive to interpret, practice and recommend that the rules
be kept by our confreres; let us do for our neighbor whatever the superi-
or judges to be conducive to God's greater glory and the welfare of
souls. I hold this conclusion to be the rock foundation of a religious so-
ciety.
Unity of administration must go hand-in-hand with unity of spirit. A
religious wills to carry out Our Savior's teaching, that is, to give up all
he has or may obtain in this world in the hope of a better heavenly
reward. Father, mother, brothers, sisters, home and fortune of any kind
-all are given up for God's sake. But since a religious still has a soul
united to a body, he needs food, clothing, and equipment. While re-
nouncing all possessions, he tries to join a society in which he may receive
the necessities of life without burdening himself with temporal adminis-
tration. Now how is he to act in our Society in regard to temporal pos-
sessions? Since our rules provide for our temporal needs, let him observe
the rules and his needs will be taken care of. A garment and a crust of
bread must suffice for a religious. If more is needed, let him ask his su-
perior and it will be supplied. All efforts must be directed to this goal,
namely that, while we strive to procure advantage for our Society, we be
not self-centered. Let each member take care that there be but one
purse, just as there must be but one will. One seeking to sell, buy, barter
or retain money for his own use would resemble a farmer scattering the
grain while threshers pile it up. In this regard, I must beg you not to re-
tain money under the specious excuse of using it for the Society's profit.
The greatest advantage for the Society is that its rules be observed.
Let clothes, rooms and furnishings be ordinary. A religious must
always be ready to leave this world and appear before his Maker with no
regrets for leaving anything and with no cause for reprimand from his
Judge.
(Therefore let everything be done under the guidance of humble, trust-
ful obedience. Let nothing be concealed from the superior. Each one is
to open his heart to him with full candor, as a son would do to his fa-
ther.) This enables a superior to know how his sons are doing; he can
provide for their needs, take steps to facilitate the observance of the
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
rules, and promote the whole Society's welfare.
Much more remains to be said on this score. It shall come in another
letter and in special talks, particularly during the forthcoming spiritual
retreat at Trofarello, if our most merciful God will keep us alive till
then, as I hope, and enable all of us to meet there next September.
May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with us! May He
grant us fervor and the precious grace of persevering in our Society.
Amen.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
2. Thrift in Everything, Without Exaggeration,
Saving as Much as Possible
(This circular was sent while the definitive approval of the constitu-
tions was in its last stage. Hence, this letter and the two which follow
contain Don Rosco's three most important exhortations.)
June 4, 1873
To the Beloved Sons
of St. Francis de Sales at Valdocco
Experience, my most beloved sons, is a great teacher. If its lessons
benefit individuals and families, they most certainly will be more effec-
tive in religious congregations, whose only goal should be to know the
good in order to do it, and the evil in order to avoid it.
I therefore think it proper to point out some things that I observed on
my recent visits to our houses. I do this for the good of the confreres
and of the whole Society. My observations concern material interests,
morals and discipline-the subjects of three distinct circulars.
At this particular moment our main concern must be the financial sit-
uation of our houses. The purchase, construction, repairs and furnishing
of new houses have caused us heavy expenses, and the overall increase in
the cost of living boosts our monthly outlays far above our income.
Therefore we must most earnestly think about economizing and together
study practical ways to save. I list them briefly.
1. A moratorium on construction this year, except in cases of abso-
lute necessity. Also, only indispensable repairs are to be made, and in
each case a report and a cost estimate on the work must first be submit-
ted to the Superior Chapter.
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2. No traveling is to be done unless it be for the needs of the Congre-
gation. As far as possible, engagements, errands and obligations en-
tailing expense or loss of time should be avoided. Those who can pay for
such expenses themselves or through others should prudently do so.
3. Attention should be called to the observance of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5
and 6 of Chapter IV of our constitutions.4 Let directors explain them in
a practical manner; if necessary, let them discuss them with the individu-
als concerned or refer the matter to the superior. These articles are the
basis of religious life and by their nature lead to detachment from earth-
ly things, from persons and from one's very self. They effectively urge a
community to concentrate on doing one's personal duty for the greater
interests of the Congregation.
4. Books, clothes, linen, shoes, furniture and utensils should not be
purchased unless they are really needed. They should be repaired when-
ever it can properly be done.
5. Thrift in food can also be practiced by avoiding spoilage, buying
wholesale, and cutting down on more expensive items, such as meat and
wine. Practice economy in buying seasonings, and avoid the waste of
food, beverages, light and firewood. Limit invitations to dinner as much
as you can, and even in such cases we are never to forget that we depend
on Divine Providence, since we have no income, and that a spirit of pov-
erty must set the tone of all our houses. These things must all be taken
into due consideration.
6. Keep in contact with the other houses to help each other in pur-
chasing and allotting items which may be bought at lower prices in dif-
ferent localities.
By urging these measures, I do not mean to introduce too strict an
economy, but only to recommend thrift where possible. It is my will that
nothing be cut out which may help the physical and moral well-being of
my beloved c.onfreres and of the pupils whom Divine Providence has en-
trusted to us.
Hopefully I will soon write about other things that are equally impor-
tant. Meanwhile, every director should read and explain what I have
written here; he should also confer with his prefect, and after a few
weeks he should report on what has been done and planned in order to
achieve this objective.
On the whole I am quite satisfied with the moral, physical and intel-
lectual progress I found in our houses. For this thank God, Our Maker,
the Giver of all good, to whom honor and glory be accorded throughout
eternity. Amen.
May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with us and may God
4These articles dealt with the ownership and administration of one's own goods. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
bless and bolster all our undertakings. Pray for me who in fatherly love
remains in the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Your affectionate brother and friend,
Fr. John Bosco
3. On Discipline or the Exact Observance of All the Rules
(This is an authentic illustration by Don Bosco on how to live accord-
ing to our rules and customs. with special advice to directors. prefects.
catechists. teachers. a'8sistants. and all Salesians, so that discipline may
reign in our houses. and our pupils may constantly advance in virtue.
walkinf( steadfastly along the path of their eternal salvation.
Turin, November 15, 1873
To My Beloved Sons of the House of Turin
On Discipline
At the start of this new school year, beloved sons, I had best keep my
promise to speak to you on school discipline-our pupils' basis of good
morals and love of study.
This is not an essay on moral or civil rules concerning discipline. I
just want to explain those means which produced good results in my
forty-five years' experience.5 I hope that they will help you too as you
carry out your duties.
By discipline I do not mean correction, punishment or the cane-
things not to be mentioned among us-or even some special talent. By
discipline I mean a way of life which abides by the rules and customs of
an institute. As a first step, therefore, all rules must be observed by all if
we are to obtain the good effects of discipline. If members of a family
reap but one scatters, if in construction many build and one tears down,
the family will soon be wrecked and the building will collapse into a
heap of rubble. Therefore, both the members of the Congregation and
the pupils whom Providence sends to us must keep their own rules if dis-
cipline is to prove effective.
Believe me, dear sons, our pupils' moral and intellectual progress or
their ruin depends on this observance.
You will now ask: In practice, how can we acquire such a great
treasure? There are two things to do: one general, one specific. In gener-
5This clearly refers to Don Bosco's dream at the age of nine or ten when he learned the
method of education he was to follow and the means he was to use to succeed in his
apostolate. [Author] See Vol. I, pp. 95f. [Editor]
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al, let all observe the Congregation's rules and discipline will triumph.
Specifically, let each one be familiar with the rules concerning his own
office; let him observe them and have his subordinates observe them too.
If the superior does not keep the rules, he cannot expect his subordinates
to do what he himself neglects. '"Physician, cure yourself," he would be
told. [Luke 4, 23] Using practical examples, I will go through each of-
fice.
l. The Director. He must be familiar with the duties of members in
general and of those holding particular offices. He need not do much
himself. He must see to it that everyone does what is expected of him.
Our houses are like gardens. The head gardener need not exert himself;
he must just find, train, supervise and direct his helpers. He must be at
hand to help those who need assistance in important jobs. This head
gardener is the director; the tender young plants are his pupils; the help-
ers are the school staff who depend OP their master, the director, for he
is ultimately responsible for all.
The director will gain considerably if he does not leave his house ex-
cept for justifiable grave reasons, and then he should not leave unless he
appoints a substitute. He should in a kindly way visit or at least keep in-
formed about the dormitories, kitchen. infirmary, classes and study hall.
Let him always be a loving father. anxious to know everything in order
to do good to all and harm to none.
2. The Prefect. The prefect, dean of discipline, must see to the obser-
vance of the timetable and also prevent, as much as he can, contacts be-
tween boarders and outsiders. He shall also see that assistants and, gen-
erally, some superiors are with the boys during playtime, and that no
stops are made during the weekly walk lest pupils wander out of sight.
On these walks no one is to break ranks or go to cafes or restaurants.
No one should associate with outsiders or bring in books, newspapers or
letters without first having them checked by the superiors.
3. The Catechist. Let him bear in mind that our houses' spiritual and
moral growth depends on his promoting the Altar Boys and the Immac-
ulate Conception, Blessed Sacrament and St. Aloysius sodalities. Let
him see to it that all, especially coadjutors, may go to confession and
Communion with ease. If a domestic needs religious instruction, let him
ensure that he is well prepared for Communion and Confirmation, that
he learns to serve Mass, and so on. A few days before a solemn feast, he
should prepare the pupils in brief appropriate talks to celebrate that
feast with maximum ceremony and dignity.
4. Teachers. They should be the first to enter a classroom and the last
to leave. They should love all pupils equally, encouraging all and despis-
ing none. Let them feel for the less gifted, take special pains with them,
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
drill them often, and, if necessary, make sure that they get after-school
coaching. No teacher is to forget that he is a Christian teacher. There-
fore, whenever a topic under discussion or a forthcoming religious feast
offers an opportunity, let him give to his pupils some wholesome maxim,
advice or exhortation.
5. The Assistants. All who have some authority in the classrooms,
dormitories, kitchen, reception room, or anywhere else in the house
should be punctual at their posts. Let them observe the Society's rules,
especially the rules on the practices of piety. Let them also strive most
anxiously to forestall grumbling against superiors and the house man-
agement. Mostly, let them insist, recommend, and spare no efforts to
prevent foul conversation.
6. All are warmly urged to keep the director informed of anything
that may help to promote good and prevent sin.
One day the Lord said to a disciple: .. Do this and you shall live"
[Luke 10, 28], meaning: .. Observe My precepts, and you will have eter-
nal life." I say the same to you, beloved sons: strive to practice what
your most loving father has set forth here. You will receive God's bless-
ing and enjoy peace of heart, discipline will reign in our houses, and our
pupils will make steady advances in virtue, walking steadfastly along the
path of their eternal salvation.
May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with me and you, so
that all of us may constantly serve and love Him in this life, and one day
be joined in praising Him eternally in heaven. Amen.
Most affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
4. Promotinl( and Preserving Good Morals among the Boys Kindly
Entrusted to Us by Divine Providence
("O, chastity, chastity, how veat a virtue you are! As Ion[( as you
shine in our midst, as lonl( as we, sons of St. Francis de Sales, keep you
in high regard by avoidinl( worldliness and practicing modesty. temper-
ance and all that we have vowed to God, good morals will hold a high
place of honor among us and, like a flaminl( torch, saintliness will shine
in all our houses." All comment is superfluous! Nullum par elogium
[No praise is adequate].)
Rome, February 5, 1874
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495
To My Salesian Sons
in the House of( . .. Turin)
I am writing from this eternal city consecrated by the blood of Sts.
Peter and Paul, princes of the apostles, where I am handling matters of
our Congregation. After praying during Holy Mass for heavenly enlight-
enment and after asking the Holy Father's special blessing, I write to
you on a most important subject: Promoting and Preserving Good
Morals among the Boys Kindly Entrusted to Us by Divine Providence.
Lest I be too sketchy on this subject, I shall divide it into two sections:
1) The need of good morals among Salesians; 2) Means to spread and
maintain good morals among our pupils.
It is an axiom that invariably pupils' good morals depend on those
who teach, supervise. and guide them. As the saying goes, no one can
give what he himself has not. An empty sack yields no wheat, nor a
flask of dregs good wine. Hence before setting ourselves up as teachers,
it is essential that we have what we want to teach. Our Divine Master's
words are clear: .. you are the light of the world." This light of good ex-
amp.le must shine before all men, so that by seeing your good works,
they may be enticed to imitate you, and thus glorify Our Heavenly Fa-
ther. St. Jerome says that a doctor who does not know how to heal him-
self should not try to heal others. One could certainly apply to him the
Gospel words, "'Physician, cure yourself' [Luke 4, 23] If we want to
promote good morals and virtue among our pupils, let us strive to
possess them ourselves, to practice them and to make them shine forth
in word and action. Let us never expect our charges to practice what we
ourselves neglect.
How can we expect our pupils to be exemplary and devout when they
see us neglect our own practices of piety, our rising [at the appointed
time], our meditation, our confession and Communion, and our celebra-
tion of Holy Mass? How can a director, teacher or assistant demand
obedience when he himself irresponsibly neglects his own duties, freely
leaves the premises without permission, and busies himself with matters
outside his own duties? How can we expect others to be charitable, pa-
tient, and respectful if we ourselves fly into a rage, become violent and
criticize superiors, food and cooks? Surely, such a one would be told,
••physician, cure yourself."
Recently a boy who was reprimanded for reading a bad book candidly
remarked, ··1 didn't think it was wrong. I often saw my teacher reading
it."
Another time, a boy was asked why he had criticized the running of
the house in a letter. He replied that he had only written what he had
heard his monitor say several times.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Therefore, my dear sons, if we wish to promote good morals in our
houses, we must first set the example. Suggesting something good to
others while we ourselves do the opposite is like trying to dispel the
night darkness with an unlit lamp, like trying to drink wine from an
empty vessel, or, worse, like trying to season food with poison. In each
case one not only demotes good morals but really sets a bad example
and causes scandal. Then we are salt that has lost its tang ... You are the
salt of the earth," Christ told us ... But what if salt goes flat? How can
you restore its flavor? Then it is good for nothing but to be thrown out
and trampled underfoot." [Matt. 5, 13]
The press often bewails immoral acts that have ruined good morals
and caused horrible scandals. It is a great evil, a calamity, and I pray
that the Lord will close all our houses before any such disaster befalls
them.
I do not want to hide the fact that we live in calamitous times. To-
day's world is just as the Savior described it [through His beloved Apos-
tle]: "The whole world is in the power of the evil one." [1 John 5, 19]
People want to see and judge everything. Over and above its perverse
judgmeqt on matters concerning God, the world often exaggerates
things and very frequently maliciously invents them. But if it can luckily
base its judgment on true facts, you can imagine the uproar, the clamor
it makes! However, if we impartially search for the cause of these evils,
we shall discover in most instances that the salt has gone flat and the
light has been put out. In other words, when superiors ceased to be holy,
disaster befell their subjects.
O chastity, chastity, how great a virtue you are! As long as you shine
in our midst, as long as we, sons of St. Francis de Sales, keep you in
high regard by avoiding worldliness and practicing modesty, temperance
and all that we have vowed to God, good morals will hold a high place
of honor among us and, like a flaming torch, saintliness will shine in all
our houses.
God willing, I shall again be writing to you soon about certain means
which I believe are effective to promote and spread good morals among
our pupils.
Meanwhile, so that you may benefit from what this friend of your
souls has written, I recommend the following:
l. That three conferences-better still, three practical examinations-
be held, in which the do 's and don 'ts of the vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience be read and explained. Then, let everyone apply to himself
what is described in these chapters and firmly resolve to correct what-
ever he finds faulty in word and action as regards these vows.
2. Let us read the chapter on the practices of piety and then, kneeling
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497
at Our Lord's feet, resolve to carry them all out exemplarily at the cost
of any sacrifice. I shall join you in spirit in forming this resolution.
My beloved sons, we are living the most important moment of our
Congregation. Help me with your prayers and your exact observance of
the rules. God will then see to it that our efforts will be crowned with
success for His greater glory, and for the good of our own souls and of
the souls of our pupils, who will always be our Society's glory.
May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be ever with us, and may He
preserve us steadfast on the road to heaven. Amen.
Affectionately yours in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco6
These are the documents we have been able to compile.
What shall we say as a close to so many memorable precious
teachings? Let us practice what our sainted teacher and father
keeps saying to us from heaven: "My son, forget not my teach-
ing ...." [Prov. 3, 1] "Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep
my commandments. . . ." [Prov. 4, 4] "On the way of wisdom I
direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths. . . . Hold fast to
instruction; never let her go for she is your life." [Prov. 4, 11. 13]
6We are omitting the circular of March 16, 1874, whose content has already been
described (seep. 353), and two short circulars dated respectively September 27, 1874 and
November 23, 1874, giving suggestions for the smooth running of the houses and for the
study of theology. [Editor]
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CHAPTER 9
Ever Serene
a T the beginning of 1873 the Salesian Society had one
hundred and thirty-eight members (forty perpetually professed
and ninety-eight with triennial vows) in addition to ninety-two
postulants. Its total membership of two hundred and thirty con-
sisted of forty-two priests, ninety-seven clerics, sixty-three coad-
jutor brothers and twenty-eight junior seminarians. It had eight
houses: the motherhouse and Valsalice College [in Turin], board-
ing schools at Lanzo, Bargo San Martino, Varazze, Alassio, and
Sampierdarena, and, finally, the Institute of the Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians at Mornese. Additionally, Turin had
the festive oratories of St. Francis de Sales [at Valdocco], St.
Joseph in Sts. Peter and Paul's parish, St. Aloysius in St. Maxi-
mus' parish, and the Guardian Angel in St. Julia's parish.
On New Year's day a special meeting was held for the re-elec-
tion of several members of the Superior Chapter; then, on the
feast of St. Francis de Sales, the confreres of the motherhouse
chose their own house chapter so as to leave the Superior
Chapter entirely free to administer the whole Society.
The Superior Chapter consisted of Don Bosco, Father [Mi-
chael] Rua, Father [John] Cagliero, Father [Angelo] Savio, Fa-
ther [Francis] Provera, Father [Celestine] Durando, and Father
[Charles] Ghivarello. The Oratory Chapter had Don Bosco as
director, Father Rua as vicar, Father [Francis] Provera as pre-
fect, Father Joseph Lazzero as catechist, and Father Anthony
Sala as economer; the last three were respectively assisted by
Father Joseph Bologna, Father Joachim Berto and Father Fran-
cis Cuffia. Finally, the chapter also had three councillors: Fa-
ther Julius Barberis, Father Joseph Bertella and Father Nicho-
las Cibrario.
498
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499
l. GRAVE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
The year 1873 was marked by exceptional financial problems.
On January 3 Don Bosco wrote to the prefect of the province of
Turin to outline the Oratory's charitable work and humbly
request a government subsidy. He also called upon the support
of Commendatore Vittorio Villa, the provincial councillor. On
February 3 the province of Turin granted him a three hundred
lire subsidy. He also appealed to the Minister of the Interior and
got from him a grant of eight hundred lire. Amid these difficul-
ties Don Bosco contracted with John Baptist Coriasco to pur-
chase a small house near the Church of Mary, Help of Chris-
tians, which he asked Countess Callari to finance. At this time,
too, he received a hundred gold francs from Paris for the
Church of Mary, Help of Christians, and he promptly informed
the donor, the Superior of the Institute of the Faithful Com-
panions of Jesus, that he had received the gift. 1
Meanwhile he also sold ten-lire tickets for a lottery whose
prize was a precious painting of "The Madonna of Foligno"
together with thirty other awards of a hundred lire each. This
handsome painting adorned the sacristy wall, and both Father
Rua and others were grieved to think that it would soon be
taken away. [Joseph] Buzzetti told Don Bosco, who chuckled
and replied, "Well, tell them that from now on, at dinner time,
they can look at the painting!"
Thousands of circulars,2 sent by first class mail, advertised
the lottery as follows:
''The Madonna of Foligno" is the work of the renowned Raphael
Sanzio of Urbino. Born in 1483, he died in 1520 at Rome, at the young
age of 37. The painting shows the Blessed Virgin in a most expressive
lifelike manner amid clouds and surrounded by angels. Beneath Her,
St. Joseph, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Jerome stand around a beau-
tiful Infant Jesus who toys with His heavenly Mother's mantle. The
original painting, somewhat faded, is in the Vatican Gallery. The best
copy ever made is that being offered as the grand prize [of this lottery].
One art expert estimates its value at above four thousand lire.
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
20mitted in this edition. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Don Bosco asked the most prominent families of Milan to sell
the tickets, and he also asked Father Anthony Sala, the Oratory
economer, who came from Lombardy, to head a drive in the
large Lombard towns. Uncertain of success, Father Sala hesitat-
ed, but Don Bosco dispelled his worries. "Be confident," he told
him. "Those wealthy people will help us with their alms and we
will help them by giving them a chance to practice charity."
Thus reassured, Father Sala went to Lombardy with a
handwritten recommendation of Don Bosco. Don Bosco himself
mailed a modest number of tickets to outstanding benefactors
and prominent people. Many returned the tickets with their pay-
ment so that they could be resold and thus double the donations.
Orally and in writing he expressed his gratitude to all.3
Selling tickets was the third purpose of Don Bosco's trip to
Rome in February and March 1873 when he went to seek the
approval of the constitutions and the grant of temporalities to
the bishops of Italy. That was why he also stopped off at Piacen-
za, Parma, Bologna and Florence and prolonged his stay in
Rome.4
We have already seen his outstanding accomplishments in
Rome. 5 He had several audiences with Pius IX and obtained
special favors for several benefactors.
He also spared no efforts to sell the tickets from the center he
set up at the convent of the Oblates of Tor de' Specchi. Some
1,200 tickets, returned to the Oratory, were forwarded to Don
Bosco in Rome. To handle them and await his delayed papal au-
dience, he decided to postpone his departure from Rome by sev-
eral days.6
On March 18 he was warmly received by the Holy Father in
an audience of over an hour and obtained some spiritual favors
for all who had contributed to the lottery for the poor Oratory
boys. Before ending the audience, Pius IX summoned Father
Berto and, putting a lighted candle in his hand, led both of them
into an adjoining room which was full of precious objects. He
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
4We are omitting a thank-you note to Marchioness Bianca Malvezzi. [Editor]
5See Chapter 5, pp. 183-245. [Editor]
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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501
selected two for Don Bosco. Father Berto then knelt and ex-
pressed the Oratory boys' joy at being told of the Holy Father's
blessing. He also mentioned that all had received Holy Commu-
nion for him with the intention that God might preserve him for
years to come, and that they would continue to pray and be
ready to offer their lives, if by so doing they might lessen his
grief. "May the Lord always keep them in such holy sen-
timents," the Pope exclaimed, deeply moved.7
Don Bosco drew up and sent Father Rua a circular on the
spiritual favors he had obtained, instructing him to have it print-
ed and mailed to all those who had purchased or sold lottery
tickets. 8 Things were going well, as we gather from Father Ber-
to's letter to the Oratory:
Don Bosco says that he has never been as satisfied as on this trip to
Rome. Never has he accomplished so much. This is due to your
prayers. It is really true that experience helps. To attend to our affairs,
he left in the morning and did not get back till nine at night. Every-
where an eager crowd trailed after him, anxious for a word with him.
Poor Mr. [Stephen] Colonna, our gracious host, had to put up with
endless inquiries. Don Bosco gave him a watch, since he would accept
nothing for his hospitality.
Michael, the Colonnas' youngest son, has told us that a few
days before his birth his mother was stricken with such a grave
case of peritonitis that, without Don Bosco's prayers and bless-
ing, both he and his mother would not have survived.9
Father Berto continues:
Crowds came to see him off [at the Colonnas'] and to ask for his
prayers. Many were in tears when they learned that they could not bid
him good-bye, almost regretting that he had ever come to Rome for such
a brief stay. They followed us all the way to the railroad station.
Our train coach contained six Protestant ladies from New York. As
was true everywhere in Rome, Don Bosco won everyone's admiration
7We are omitting two thank-you notes by Don Bosco to Countess Corsi and Mar-
chioness Callari. [Editor]
8We are omitting a short note to Father Rua about scholastic matters and another
note to a countess. [Editor]
9This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
by his kindness, pleasant manners and serenity. Many, moved by his
virtue and friendliness, told me, 'This man is a saint, a real saint! Just
speaking once to him convinces you! With no funds at hand, he both
houses and feeds an endless number of destitute boys. Isn't this a constant
miracle?"
He also amiably made small talk with the Protestant ladies. They
were somewhat shy at first, but by the time we reached U mbria around
noon they were sharing their lunch with us. Throughout the rest of the
journey Don Bosco acquainted them with many remarkable things about
Italy. Finally toward evening, since his words would always aim at God's
greater glory, no matter what the topic, he invited them to visit the Ora-
tory during their stopover in Turin and offered them complimentary
copies of books on the Catholic faith. They promised to visit him, so
well disposed were they, and asked for his prayers ....
Keep up your prayers. We still have a sizable quantity of lottery tickets
to sell, and this delays our return. Don Bosco says that this trip has
greatly benefited his shaky health. Tomorrow night we expect to be in
Bologna. Now we are guests of Marchioness [Louise] Nerti who anx-
iously looks after our comfort.
In a few days I'll be back in my poor but dear room at the Oratory
and I'll be able to thank our most beloved Mother, Mary, Help of
Christians.
How trustingly the Romans seek Her help! They recommend them-
selves to our dear boys for various favors from Her. The lowly plain
of Valdocco will in its day become famous throughout the world. From
afar, people will come to kiss ground trodden by the "Apostle of Pied-
mond," as the Romans refer to Don Bosco. Rome may pride itself on
St. Philip Neri, but, by God's grace, it is our joy to have Don Bosco.
° Don Bosco left Rome for Modena on March 26. 1 From there,
the next day, Father Berto sent this note to the Oratory:
Keep praying. In two days we shall greet Piedmont's lovely, fertile
hills and again look upon our noble, stately Turin, and, with a song m
our heart, again embrace our dear ones. A telegram will give you our
time of arrival. Let Enria get the band out, because our father is re-
turning from Pius IX's eternal city in triumph!
10We are omitting a thank-you note by Don Bosco to a Roman benefactor and his fami-
ly. [Editor]
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503
Joseph Rossi, our coadjutor brother, who with Father Sala
had been entrusted with selling lottery tickets, met them in
Modena, and together all returned to Turin via Milan on March
29 or 30.
Since a substantial number of unsold tickets remained, a no-
tice was sent to all concerned that the drawing would be post-
poned until April 10. They were also informed of the spiritual
favors granted by the Holy Father. Shortly afterward, Don
Bosco decided on a further postponement until April 20, since
additional tickets had been returned without payment.II
Besides the donations received personally by Don Bosco and
those collected by Father Albera-all earmarked for the Sam-
pierdarena Hospice because of its extreme need-the lottery net-
ted 63,618 lire. The drawing was set for May 1 but an unexpect-
ed grave obstacle arose.I 2
2. UNFORESEEN SEIZURE
The deadline for the sale of lottery tickets was April 20.
While preparations were made for the drawing, someone in-
formed the prefect of the province of Turin that Don Bosco had
sponsored a public lottery without a permit. Immediately the
police seized the ledger containing the names of some donors
and sealed the painting of "The Madonna of Foligno," but they
could not get hold of the main ledger which had been hidden
away as soon as word got around of the Oratory's denunciation.
That day Don Bosco was at Sampierdarena. On returning to the
Oratory on April 30, he promptly went to the clerk in charge,
only to be told that this particular case was in the hands of the
royal prosecutor himself, Lawrence Eula. Helpfully the latter in-
structed Don Bosco on the steps to take, specifically stating that
11 This paragraph 1s a condensation. We are also omitting a number of letters by Don
Bosco to priests, laymen, and the royal family in reference to this lottery. [Editor]
12This paragraph is a condensation. At this point we are omitting a digression about a
pseudo-mystic who spent a few days at the Oratory before Don Bosco's return from
Rome. Don Bosco promptly invited him to leave. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
the appeal to public charity did not seem illegal to him at all. He
also promised to speak on his behalf. 1
On the evening of May 1, Don Bosco called on Thomas Villa,
one of Turin's ablest lawyers. After being briefed on the case, he
remarked, "Right is on our side," adding in a tone of apprecia-
tion, "I am glad you came to me. Come anytime!"
"Oh, no," Don Bosco countered. "For minor matters other
lawyers will do, but when my own good name and that of my in-
stitute are at stake, as is true now, I really need a first-class law-
yer."
"I am glad you called on me. Be assured that I shall be
delighted to plead your case. Even if I lose, I don't mind. It's a
case that appeals to me."
He did, in fact, lose the case. As Don Bosco remarked, Turin
then had quite a number of freemasons, including some whom
no one would ever suspect.2
Meanwhile word got around that Don Bosco had repeatedly
told intimate friends that he hoped the Pope would soon leave
Rome. Actually this was the opposite of what Don Bosco had
told Pius IX.3 Victor Zoppi himself, the prefect of the Turin
province, passed the rumor on to Uoder-Secretary of State,
Gaspar Cavallini, in an official letter to the Minister of the Inte-
rior concerning the court case against Don Bosco. [What follows
is an excerpt from Zoppi's letter:]
Undoubtedly I am not telling Your Excellency anything you do not
already know regarding attempts, allegedly in progress, to persuade
the Pope to leave Rome. Still, I think I must inform you that I have
been assured that Don Bosco discussed this at length with a few in-
timate friends, expressing the hope that His Holiness would finally
decide upon this step soon. I am also told that several Jesuits are pres-
ently visiting Don Bosco's institute.
The lottery case went to court and Don Bosco duly informed
all concerned. Then, realizing that the litigation would be long
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
3See pp. 57f. [Editor]
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505
drawn out, he requested permission for at least a drawing of the
thirty hundred-lire prizes. Regretfully Zoppi informed him that
he could not authorize even that. Finally, on October 4, 1874,
the court fined Don Bosco and confiscated the ~ainting of "The
Madonna of Foligno." Don Bosco appealed the verdict, substi-
tuted four thousand lire in cash for the painting, and proceeded
to draw the winning numbers and publicize the results. On Feb-
ruary 16, 1875 the Court of Appeals reduced the amount of the
fine but confirmed the painting's confiscation, whereupon Don
Bosco appealed to King Victor Emmanuel II for a remission of
the sentence. The king obliged and the decree reached Don
Bosco on November 11, 1875-the very day on which our first
missionaries were leaving for Argentina.4
3. DISAPPEARANCE OF A TESTAMENT
Concurrently with this litigation, a matter which should have
proven quite beneficial to Don Bosco actually got him into
serious trouble.
On March 27 [1874] Father Felix Golzio [rector of the Con-
vitto Ecclesiastico] died in Turin at the age of sixty-five. Don
Bosco thought so highly of him that, at Father Cafasso's death,
he had chosen him as his own spiritual director. Father Golzio
reciprocated Don Bosco's esteem and went to confession to him.
Both by word and in his will he had named his sister Euro.sia
Golzio, the wife of Colonel Clodoveo Monti, as his sole heir and
trustee, so that the modest dividends on his savings might be
used exclusively to redeem Don Bosco's clerics from military
service.
On learning of her brother's critical condition, Mrs. Monti
hastened from Rome to Turin, arriving after his death. The fol-
lowing day, Father Joseph Begliati, the administrator and vice-
rector ·at the Convitto Ecclesiastico, asked her about funeral ar-
rangements for her brother, since neither a will nor valuables
had been found in his desk and strongbox. The lady was as-
4This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tonished because she knew that the box contained not only his
handwritten will, but also two state bonds worth fifty lire each, a
bundle of other bonds in the denomination of five hundred lire,
other stocks and monies, a ledger of expenditures and monies
received, documents proving a credit of fifteen thousand lire
plus interest with his cousins, the ecclesiastic patrimony of the
deceased and of his dead brother Father Augustine, and, finally,
some family correspondence.
Father Begliati was surprised to hear this, and he assured her
that a thorough search would be made to find all that was law-
fully hers. He also informed her that since, Don Bosco had been
in Rome at the time, the priest who had assisted the rector dur-
ing the last days of his life had "searched through his drawers,
I
twice taking away bundles of papers."
The lady's dismay can be readily imagined. She thought that
she should take the matter to her lawyer, but Father Botto, a
venerable eighty-year-old priest who had been her advisor and
confessor from her childhood, persuaded her to proceed with the
utmost caution and to avoid hasty measures that would only
cause a tremendous scandal. She took his advice but got no-
where. She also wrote to Don Bosco, expressing her regret that
her brother's arrangements had been arbitrarily disregarded and
urging him to consult Father Begliati1 on unraveling this com-
plicated matter. Twice she went to the Oratory to brief him on
details, but he was out of town. Upon her return to Rome,
therefore, she wrote him a long letter to acquaint him fully with
the facts. Shortly afterward she mailed him a fifty-lire bond. Fi-
nally, on May 25, she appealed to Archbishop Gastaldi in these
words:
Some days before his death and before I got back to Rome, Father
Begliati assured me that among the valuables which my late brother,
Father Felix, kept in a strongbox there were two separate rolls con-
taining respectively fifteen and twenty-five gold marenghi. 2 The first
I A few days later, a stroke made Father Begliati speechless and he died shortly after-
ward. [Author]
2The marengo, a gold coin worth twenty francs, was minted by Napoleon I to commem-
orate his victory over Austrian and Russian troops on June 14, 1800 near the village of
Marengo in the province of Alessandria in northern Italy. [Editor]
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507
roll bore the title ''For the Holy Father," and the second "My Offer-
ing to Pius IX." According to Father Begliati both rolls were handed
over to Your Excellency.
Since I have obtained an audience with the Holy Father and wish
personally to carry out the pious will of my beloved deceased as heir to
both his estate and his religious sentiments toward the Holy See, I beg
Your Excellency to mail me the two aforesaid packages as soon as
possible.
Three days later, Father [Thomas] Chiuso [the archbishop's
secretary] answered as follows:
In reply to your letter of March 25, His Excellency has instructed
me to inform you that the twenty-five marenKhi which your good
brother Father Felix Golzio left for the Holy Father were sent immedi-
ately to him through Unita Cattolica. which listed this sum under the
initials N. N. to avoid paying a state inheritance tax. The other fifteen
will be sent to you by the forwarding agent Piatti, at a cost of four lire
and fifty-five centesimi which will be deducted from the total. . . .
Please send a receipt at your convenience.
I enclose the paper in which the marenKhi were wrapped. It seems
that they had been entrusted to Father Golzio's keeping, and so the
person who gave them may show up sometime to ask for them. True,
the words "Holy Father" are written on the reverse side of the paper.
After carefully perusing all the issues of Unitii Cattolica
from the day of his brother-in-law's death, Colonel Monti could
find no reference to Father Golzio's offering for the Holy Fa-
ther. On June 2, therefore, he wrote to Monsignor Fratejacci,3 a
friend of his who was already acquainted with the matter, la-
menting Archbishop Gastaldi's intrusion into Father Golzio's
testamentary arrangements.4
After "seeking Our Lady's cdunsel with three Hail Marys"
Mo:n,signor Fratejacci called on James Cardinal Antonelli to
brief him on the case in detail and to learn "what action would
be most convenient to safeguard the interests of that good and
holy priest Don Bosco, without resorting to the courts, so as to
3Monsignor John Baptist Fratejacci was a member of the staff of the cardinal vicar of
Rome and a great friend of Don Bosco. [Editor]
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
avoid the peril of scandalous reporting by the press.,, He then
wrote to Father Golzio's sister, Mrs. Eurosia Monti, as follows:
Cardinal Antonelli listened attentively to everything, and, fully rec-
ognizing the lawful rights of Mrs. Eurasia Monti and of Don Bosco,
and, most of all, the esteemed will of the late Father Felix Golzio,
graciously suggested the following:
"The lady should write to me a brief account of this case and for-
ward it through you. It should state:
"l. That the deceased really intended that annuities of almost one
thousand lire should be paid to Don Bosco for the redemption of his
clerics from military service.
"2. That these annuity bonds were really in the room of the late Fa-
ther Felix of honorable memory at the time of his death .
..3. That the above bonds and all else belonging to the deceased,
such as papers, money, etc., are now in the possession of Archbishop
Gastaldi or his representative.
••4_ That, lastly, the aforesaid archbishop has declined to hand over
the above securities and papers to Mrs. Eurasia Monti, to Don Bosco
and to other interested parties, regardless of repeated requests.
""After receiving this letter," the cardinal continued, ··1 shall send it
at once with a letter of my own to the Holy See's representative in
Turin, instructing him to call on the archbishop in my name and for-
mally request a thorough explanation. I think this will be the quickest
and the most direct and effective way to obtain what we want.
..I should like the lady to show deference to the archbishop's posi-
tion in her letter," His Eminence added, ••and to state that she has
refrained from legal proceedings for that reason, without, however,
saying she does not intend to have such recourse. This way my own let-
ter can more forcefully make this point and persuade the archbishop to
carry out his duty readily and willingly."
The lady presented her case in detail, Monsignor Fratejacci
delivered it to the cardinal, and the latter tactfully forwarded it
to Bishop Gastaldi. On October 25, 1873 Monsignor Fratejacci
wrote to Don Bosco:
After a long while, the archbishop whom you koow all too well an-
swered Cardinal Antonelli's masterful inquiry into whatever preceded,
accompanied or followed the death of our highly esteemed Father Gol-
zio. The archbishop maintained that, despite a thorough search, no will
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Ever Serene
509
was found from which one could juridically discover the wishes of the
deceased, and so he took everything over to guard it for the heirs. As to
the bundles of money, which His Eminence referred to in his letter,
since they were clearly addressed, the first containing fifteen marenf?hi
was handed over to Mrs. Eurasia, who wished to present them per-
sonally to the Holy Father, while the second was sent anonymously
and in small installments through Unita Cattolica to the Holy Father.
The archbishop also stated that the securities which had been found
among Father Golzio's papers had already been given according to his
instructions to the co-heirs. In closing, he claimed that he had done his
full duty in every regard and with care for the persons concerned, and
so had nothing else to do or say. In short, this was his reply to Cardi-
nal Antonelli. But here I must not omit to tell you that the archbishop
added that Mrs. Monti's numerous requests and statements had be-
come annoying and that he regretted above all that the Holy Father
himself and His Eminence should have been bothered about such a
matter. Nor was this all, for the archbishop ended his letter by stating,
.. I am not unaware, Your Eminence, that the director or superior of a
religious institute here in Turin is involved in this and is encouraging
the twisted designs of those who are trying to annoy and offend the
archbishop's sacred authority and office."
My dear Don Bosco, believe me when I say that the archbishop's
remonstrations left the cardinal totally unimpressed, since he had al-
ready been well informed of everything. Moreover, they only enabled
me to offer new, conclusive proof of the arbitrary actions and the mis-
taken and imprudent steps taken by that prelate which really do com-
promise his office, one whose honor should be better safeguarded.
The cardinal was disappointed over the outcome of his efforts [on
behalf of Mrs. Eurasia Monti and you]. . . .
Although I thought that he was convinced of the contrary, he told
me that [since the archbishop insisted there was no will] the case was
lost and one had to concede defeat and bear it patiently in resignation
to God's will who permitted this to happen. . . .
Nevertheless rumors of this controversy began to circulate,
and Mrs. Eurosia Monti received an offer to sell all claims to
her disputed inheritance and hand over all documents in her pos-
session so that the charges might be pressed even further and
widely publicized.
However, when Don Bosco again pleaded with her to desist
from further action, "since he wished to avoid any unpleas-
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510
THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
antness for his ecclesiastic superior," Mrs. Monti declared: "I
respect the religious sentiments of this pious priest too highly
not to comply with his wishes. God alone will pronounce an irre-
vocable judgment."
But the anticlericals did not keep silent. The lurid tabloid La
Pulce [The Flea], which started publication in October 1874,
gave a detailed report on the problems with Father Golzio's es-
tate in its issue of January 21, 1875, under the signature of
Dominic Pagani. The publishers added this note: "Dear Mr.
Pagani, you are a fine man. Your information is precious; keep
sending us such morsels and La Pulce will thank you from the
bottom of its heart."
As always, Don Bosco tried to end the clamor of the press,
even at the cost of financial sacrifice, lest discredit be cast on his
archbishop.
4. EVER SERENE
That year our dear father faced many other serious troubles,
yet maintained his habitual serenity, calmness and amiability, as
well as his knack of maintaining cordial relations with all who
came to him. 1
In May 1873 weighty business forced Don Bosco to travel to
Liguria, and he took the opportunity to visit several Salesian
houses. On returning to Turin he found several high-handed
memos from the archbishop. As we have said,2 he withdrew to
our junior seminary at Borgo San Martino for a three-day spiri-
tual retreat [before replying to Archbishop Gastaldi]. Afterward
he returned to the Oratory for the novena and feast of Mary,
Help of Christians and sent out a flier outlining the program of
the festivities. This solemn celebration gave him a most favor-
able opportunity to show his appreciation to his benefactors. On
May 18, 21 and 24 he invited several to dinner as an expression
of his gratitude, in order to keep the flames of charity alive in
their hearts.3
'We are omitting short letters to and from Don Bosco concerning requests for prayers
and thanks for spiritual favors received. [Editor]
2See pp. 329-331. [Editor]
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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511
The feast of May 24 was a most solemn one. The imposing
Mass of Maestro De Vecchi was sung with full orchestra, and
the evening services were graced by Father Cagliero's composi-
tion Sancta Maria, succurre miseris,4 rendered by three distinct
choirs. 5
A very singular occurrence happened that day, and Don
Bosco published the following account in Letture Cattoliche6
[Catholic Readings] to honor Mary, Help of Christians, while
concealing his own part in it:
On May 24, 1873, the solemn feast of Mary, Help of Christians, a
young officer called on the Oratory director in utter distress and sob-
bingly told him of his wife who was lying at home on the brink of
death after a long, harrowing illness. He begged that he do all he could
to obtain her recovery from God. The director comforted him and, see-
ing him so well disposed to pray, knelt with him and together they en-
treat~d Mary, Help of Christians for the dying woman's recovery.
Then he left.
Hardly an hour had passed when the officer dashed in, radiant with
joy. He was told that just then the director was entertaining benefac-
tors who had been invited to the celebra.tion and that he could not see
him . . . .
"Tell him my name," the officer replied. '"I must tell him but one
word!"
Upon being informed of the insistence, the director obliged. Deeply
moved, but full of joy, the officer told him, '"As soon as I left you, I
ran home. Would you believe it? My wife, whom I had left half dead,
had suddenly lost all pain and, feeling her strength returning, had
asked for her clothes. When I arrived she came to meet me, still weak,
but very much recovered."
As· he went on to describe the moment's feelings, he brought out a
fine gold bracelet. ••This is my wedding present to my wife," he said.
"We now most heartily give it to Mary, Help of Christians, to whom
we attribute this unhoped-for recovery."
Some moments later, the director rejoined his benefactors and
showed them the bracelet. •'This is a pledge of thanks," he said, ••for a
grace received today through the intercession of Mary, Help of Chris-
tians, whose solemn feast we are celebrating."
4See Vol. IX, p. 128. [Editor]
5This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
6See the issue Maria Ausiliatrice col racconto di a/cune grazie [Favors Received through
the Intercession of Mary, Help of Christians], p. 167. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
That day the Lord began to give him special revelations for
the good of the Church and of nations. Such revelations were
repeated on June 24, as we can see from the document entitled
"May 24, 1873-June 24, 1873" and from his letter to the Em-
peror of Austria.7
Meanwhile financial conditions continued to be very serious.
"Our poor coffers," he wrote on June 2 to Mother Galeffi, supe-
rior of the Oblates of St. Frances of Rome at Tor de' Specchi,
"are completely drained. . .."
In response to his appeal, Mother Galeffi and two other bene-
factresses sent him a money order on June 24. While thanking
her for her help on June 29, Don Bosco advised her to insure
such letters and exhorted her and her whole community to wear
the medal of Mary, Help of Christians and recite daily the Hail.
Holy Queen, assuring them that none of them would catch the
cholera which was then raging in various places. He also told
Mother Galeffi not to worry about the fate of her institute, as it
would not be confiscated.8
Aside from a few compositions, either publicly read or handed
to him, we have no other mementos of Don Bosco's name day9
on the feast of St. John the Baptist. We do have a printed hymn
for his name day, but it gives us no clue as to the year in which
it was sung in his honor.
Likewise we find no reference to the remark he had made dur-
ing the previous year regarding the Church's vicissitudes: "This
year (1872-1873) we shall know tears and smiles." Perhaps he
was alluding to the suppression of religious institutes in the
Roman province empowered by a royal decree issued in Turin
on June 19, 1873, as well as to the hope of a happy close to
negotiations on the bishops' temporalities. He might also have
been alluding to the Holy Father's poor health which had been
fully restored by the prayers of the faithful.
1See pp. 55-58. [Editor]
8This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
9 For its celebration in previous years see the Indexes of Volumes II through IX and Vol-
ume XI under Name Days. [Editor]
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513
Since Don Bosco's financial plight was well known, Father
[Joseph] Oreglia, S.J., as a token of his desire to help, received
permission to send him two legacies, six hundred lire in all, as a
stipend for four hundred Masses. The donors were Count Cae-
sar Arnaud of San Salvatore and his mother the countess.
That year, too, the junior seminary at Borgo San Martino
brought him annoyances because of demands made by the pro-
vincial superintendent of schools and difficulties in purchasing
the building. 10
On July 26, Monsignor Vitelleschi sent him more observa-
tions on the last version of the constitutions submitted to the
Holy Father in March. The archbishop of Turin, too, kept
creating difficulties. Overburdened as ever with work and wor-
ries, Don Bosco's health again began to fail. Fortunately the an-
nual retreat at St. Ignatius' Shrine was close at hand. From there
[at the beginning of August] he sent fairly good news about his
health to Father Rua, while entrusting him with several tasks.
He also added the following instructions:
Give the '"Good Night" to our dear boys. Tell them to be cheerful
and good. Here I pray for them to Our Lord, asking for each: health,
knowledge and sanctity.11
Dear sons, next Sunday I will say a Mass at this shrine for your in-
tentions; if you love me, offer up your Holy Communion for me. I also
pray for those who are taking exams. In this regard, tell those who are
still undecided about their vocation to wait for Il1e till the 14th of this
month. If they cannot, tell them to talk things over with you or to
come up for the retreat at Lanzo where we shall have a good time
together.
A hundred and ten truly exemplary laymen are now on retreat here.
They never leave me alone; they ask to speak to me at every hour.
May God keep you always healthy and in His grace. Keep smiling.
Amen.
10We are omitting details about these matters and also about the silver jubilee of Father
James Margotti as editor of Unita Cattolica. [Editor]
11See Vol. VI, pp. 227ff. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Shortly afterward, he again wrote to Father Rua:
St. Ignatius' Shrine, August 10, 1873
My dear Fr. Fua,
1. As regards the exams, do what you think is best. Why not start
them on the 28th of this month?
2. Let Father Gras 12 go to Valsalice, but first check with Father
Dalmazzo.
3. It's hot down there, but it's not cold up here.
4. I wasn't able to learn anything about Peyron's biography. Per-
haps it melted on the way.
5. I am enclosing some papers for you to process.
6. My health has improved considerably. Yesterday, though, I ran a
fever for some four hours toward evening-nothing too bad, just tired.
This retreat is proceeding surprisingly well. Practice charity in all
things. Act in such a way that all who deal with you may become your
friends.
Best wishes to you, to dear Father Provera and to the whole com-
munity.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ
Fr. John Bosco
The school year might have ended earlier than usual,. with the
award assembly solemnly held on August 22, because of the
Oratory's exceptional financial straits. The pupils were given a
leaflet, Tips to Boys for a Wholesome Summer Vacation, 13 and
told to return to school on October 15. 14
During that month [August 1873] he had an audience with
Archbishop Gastaldi to consider difficulties which the latter
kept raising against the definitive approval of our constitutions.
On September 3 Don Bosco was back at the Oratory, only to
leave the next day for Racconigi to preach a panegyric in honor
of Blessed Catherine Mattei; on September 5 he was at Cuneo,
at Our Lady of the Elm, to visit Brother Eugene Ricci des
12A guest at the Oratory. [Editor]
13See pp. 438f. [Editor]
14We are omitting a letter of Don Bosco to a benefactress and a short encouraging note
to a boy. [Editor]
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Ferres, the son of Baron Feliciano and Gabriella Beraudo of
Pralormo, a saintly twenty-four-year-old theology student who
had been sent home for reasons of health during the fall vaca-
tion. The family doctor found him thoroughly exhausted and
suffering from bronchitis. On reaching home the saintly youth
had told his mother, "Mamma, you must take my superior's
place. Please do as you will with me; remind me of all he told
me to do (and he listed those instructions for her); mostly, make
sure that I do not fail even slightly in obedience."
His sensitiveness was that of an angel-a living St. Aloysius!
One day, while strolling with him in the garden, his mother no-
ticed that he found it hard to walk ...You must be very weak
today, son," she remarked.
"Well, Mamma," he replied smilingly, "if I were not a reli-
giqus, I would give you my arm, I am so exhausted!"
"Do not let that stop you! You know I'm your appointed
nurse!"
"Yes, Mam ma, but first of :lll I am a religious," he replied
and unsupported he forced himself to walk.
Father Jerome Raffo's biography of this well-liked young reli-
gious, published in 1875, tells of two singular visits from the
"famous" Don Bosco. The first took place in 1866 when Eu-
gene, having recovered from a serious illness in 1864, was about
to leave for Paris to pursue higher studies in the renowned St.
Philomena School. Here is an excerpt from his biography:
He was set to leave at the beginning of October, but God, having al-
ready tested him through illness, wished to brace him against self-
complacence and its concomitant dangers. As a result, while visiting at
his cousins' for a birthday and having fun jumping across a ditch with
them, he tripped and broke his leg. The injury was not serious, but it
kept him in bed for several weeks with no hope of leaving [for Paris]
on the appointed day. His grief was intense, and, despite his manly
character, he wept-a very rare occurrence for one usually in firm con-
trol of his emotions. In addition, he was terribly bored with his pro-
longed idleness, for such it must have seemed to him. However, his
faith shone strongly, and he gave no thought as to what others might
think. When in good health, he had been in the habit of receiving Com-
munion every week, and now that he was disabled, he did the same.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Every Sunday the Holy Eucharist entered his room and the heart of
this faithful servant. . . .
When the saintly Don Bosco, well known in Italy and abroad for his
great works of charity, heard of Eugene's unlucky accident, he came to
see him, for he truly liked this pious youth, and that love was recipro-
cated. His fatherly concern for the young man, the warm welcome that
the ailing youth gave him, and his happiness defy description, for
God's minister was most eager to aid this soul so beloved of Jesus, and
he wished to endear him to Our Lord by increasing his love and trust
in Our Lady, since She alone of all creatures can help us to please Him,
the Infinite Good. He drew close to Eugene's bedside, his gentle, hum-
ble and revered aspect delighting and winning all hearts, and said with
a smile, "Dear son, how happy I would have been if you had broken
the other leg too!"
"What are you saying, Father!" exclaimed Eugene.
"Yes," the man of God calmly continued. "If you had broken both
legs you would appreciate Our Lady's power in healing you even more.
Cheer up and trust in the Holy Virgin Mary. At the end of this month
you will be able to set out on your journey." And indeed he did. 15
Father Berto heard of this singular incident from Eugene's
mother when in October 1872 he spent a few days at Our Lady
of the Elm. He also heard the following declaration from Rob-
ert, Eugene's brother: "Don Bosco told me that he can see into
the future. So clearly can he read into men's hearts that he is
positive of not making a mistake. He remarked, 'Perhaps this is
an intuition that the Lord has given me.'"
We have a demonstration of this in the second visit Don
Bosco paid to Eugene at the beginning of September 1873:
Brother Eugene Ricci, S.J. had been staying for some weeks at his
parents' villa, when Don Bosco, who had already comforted him once
before when he was still a layman, as I have already narrated, paid
him another visit which greatly cheered this young religious, for he
loved the man of God very dearly. During this visit Eugene's mother
confided to Don Bosco her fears for her son's very poor health. Proba-
bly Don Bosco gently chided her lack of hope because, after his depar-
15See Vita di Eugenio Ricci del/a Compagnia di Gesu {Life of Eugenio Ricci of the Soci-
ety of Jesus}, written by a priest of that same order. Turin, Giuseppe Speirani & Sons,
1871, pp. 13-15. [Author]
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ture, she told her son: ''Seemingly that holy man reproached my lack
of hope for your recovery." The prudent youth looked at his mother as
though he wished to assure himself that she was spiritually prepared
for what he was to reveal to her. Then he candidly replied, "Don Bosco
probably spoke that way because you are my mother, but when he
talked to me, he did not forget that I am first and foremost a religious,
and he asked me whether I would be willing to give my life to Jesus
were He to ask it of me. I pondered the question in my heart and an-
swered that I felt completely indifferent for either life or death, which-
ever might be God's will."
His gentle, calm appearance spoke far beyond his words. 16
At the beginning of October his parents brought him to Turin.
On November 19 he attended Holy Mass and received Holy
Communion in a little room next to his own, the celebrant being
Father Secundus Franco, S.J. The next morning, as his mother
wrote, "he passed, as we firmly hope, from the militant Society
of Jesus on earth to the triumphant Society of Jesus in heaven."
From Cuneo Don Bosco went to Nizza Monferrato, where he
stayed at Countess Corsi's villa. From there he wrote to Father
Sala who had gone to Rome:
Dear Father Sala:
Turin [sic] September 8, 1873
I have written to Count Berardi that I have decided to accept the
project if they will let me have the premises rent-free for six years. We
can make no further concession.
If this letter reaches you in Rome, try to call on Cardinal Antonelli
and Archbishop Vitelleschi, in case they have errands to entrust to
you. Also call on Mother Galeffi who is angry with you for not having
accepted Mr. Sigismondi's hospitality, as we had agreed. Bring back
some money and have a nice trip.
God bless you.
Your affectionate friend,
Fr. Bosco
P.S. A thousand good wishes to the whole Colonna family.
16/bid., pp. 204f. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Full of admiration for Don Bosco and most eager to entertain
him as their guest, the Sigismondis were delighted to host him
during the following year for three and a half months.
Don Bosco had given Father Sala a sealed package of papers
with strict instructions to deliver it personally to Cardinal An-
tonelli. As soon as the cardinal took the package, he quickly
opened it and, glancing through the contents, asked Father Sala
if he could return.
"Yes," he answered. "I am going to Ceccano, where we are
negotiating for a new Salesian house, but before returning to
Turin, I shall call again."
"Good! Meanwhile I'll ready some papers for you to bring to
Don Bosco.''
And so he did. Father Sala declared that he believed those
papers concerned the bishops' temporalities.
On one of his visits to the Vatican, Father Sala met the Pope
who, followed by a number of prelates, was on his way to the
garden for a stroll. One of them pointed out Father Sala to him,
saying, "He is a Salesian !"
The Pope stopped and beckoned him to approach. "So you
are with Don Bosco!" he exclaimed. "How is he?" Then, turning
to his retinue, he continued: "Don Bosco, as you must know,
has several boarding schools with crowds of boys pursuing
studies and trades." He then went on to tell them enthusi-
astically how Don Bosco himself had been a tailor, carpenter,
and shoemaker, and how at the Valdocco Oratory one could
hear the hum of machinery, the harmony of instrumental and
vocal music, the buzzing of saws, and the sound of hammers,
while in other buildings regular classes were held in academic
subjects. Everything, he said, was under the direction of Don
Bosco who coordinated and presided over the entire operation,
preached, heard confessions, fostered vocations, and kept every-
body cheerful and busy at play, until at last the bell rang and
each one silently went to his own place.
The venerabl6 Pontiff most energetically kept talking of Don
Bosco's apostolate, evidently recalling the days when he too had
benefited youngsters as director of the Tata Giovanni17 and St.
17See Vol. V, pp. 541f. [Editor]
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Michael1 8 hospices in Rome. He concluded by repeating: "And
how is Don Bosco? How is he? Is he well?"
Father Sala was astonished at such esteem and affection for
our father on the Pope's part.
Father [Charles] Ghivarello, the councillor of the Superior
Chapter, had invited the directors of the houses to meet at the
Oratory on September 9 for conferences which were to precede
the annual spiritual retreats, but Don Bosco was still out of
town and Father John Baptist Francesia was at Vignale. From
Nizza Monferrato Don Bosco sent a note to Father Rua on Sep-
tember 9, informing him that he would arrive in Turin from
Cuneo on Thursday, September 11, and that he would dine with
the Occelletti family. He also instructed him to meet him there
for dinner with the directors who had already arrived at the Ora-
tory and to send someone to replace Father Francesia so that he
too could be with them. 19
Charles Occelletti, a Knight of St. Gregory the Great, and
Pauline Occelletti, his sister, were great friends and benefactors
of Don Bosco. For the past twelve years, Charles Occelletti had
been conducting on his own premises a festive oratory for five
hundred boys. Like Count Charles Cays, he too donned the cler-
ical habit when he was quite past middle age, was ordained a
priest on December 21, 1878, and died on January 30, 1881 at
the age of sixty-nine, after having done a great amount of good
for youngsters, dried the tears of the poor, and provided large
quantities of flour for the Valdocco Oratory boys.
During the second week of September the Oratory and the
Salesian Society suffered two grave losses. On September 9, the
"servant of God, Father John Borel, model priest, father of the
poor, indefatigable laborer in the Lord's vineyard, especially
benefiting prisoners and inmates of the Rifugio and the Magda-
lenes," of which he was rector "for thirty-four years," ended his
life of labor at the age of seventy-five. He was mourned by all,
and especially by his [spiritual] daughters who gratefully erected
a tombstone engraved with the above epitaph over the spot
IM/bid., pp. 543f, 549ff, 577f. See also Vol. VIII, pp. 303f. [Editor]
19This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
where his remains still rest. His grave is near the center of the
first section of the cemetery, to the right of the entrance, pre-
cisely by the tomb of Silvio Pellico,20 in the lot reserved to the
Barolo institutions.
Our readers know how much this worthy priest of God did for
Don Bosco in the early years of his apostolate, first when Don
Bosco was spiritual director of St. Philomena Hospital, then
when he was driven from pillar to post, and later when he man-
aged to rent a battered shed that he converted into a chapel
which he blessed "on April 13, 1846, the day after Easter."21 So
great was the support he gave the Oratory in its early years, and
so grateful and appreciative was Don Bosco, that it seemed as
though the Oratory had risen through the initiative of "the spiri-
tual directors of the Penitent Sisters of St. Mary Magdalene and
of the Retreat of the Holy Virgin Mary, Refuge of Sinners in
Bargo Dora." In fact, the documents issued by the chancery in
reference to the first Oratory chapel as well as for· the new one
were addressed to Father Borel.
At first sight, this short priest seemed quite unremarkable,
but his quite simple, affable, modest, cheerful, unassuming and
affectionate ways, joined to a grave, prudent and dignified
priestly bearing, endeared him to all. Everyone loved and ad-
mired his fine prudence, wise advice, warm heart, affable ways,
and untiring priestly zeal which kept him entirely detached from
earthly things and totally absorbed in heavenly thoughts. Don
Bosco used to say that ten good priests could not have ac-
complished as much as Father Borel did alone. He came to the
Oratory nearly every Sunday for the afternoon instruction in
20Silvio Pellico (1789-1845), an Italian writer and patriot, spent most of his young
manhood in Milan where, in l g20, he joined the Carbonari. Arrested by the Austrians
who then ruled Lombardy, he was sentenced to twenty years of hard labor in the Spiel-
berg at Brunn. In 1830 he was pardoned and spent the rest of his life in Turin. Up to his
imprisonment Pellico had been a lukewarm Christian, but in the distress of prison life he
resolved to love God and his fellow men. In 1832 he wrote Le mie prigioni, the memoirs
of his imprisonment, which soon became the most famous book in the literature of the
Risorgimento. The Christian gentleness of this book at first disappointed some Italian
patriots, but it proved to be more damaging to Austria than the loss of a battle. Silvio
Pellico died in Turin in 1854. [Editor]
21 Volume II, p. 334, states that the Pinardi chapel was blessed by Don Bosco on Easter
Sunday, April 12, 1846. For details about Fr. Borel's zeal and constant help to Don Bosco
see the Indexes of Volumes II, III, IV, VII and IX. [Editor]
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catechism. Like Blessed Joseph Cafasso, he was an outstanding
apostle of Turin.
At his death, he did not have even enough money for his
burial! Several of our own directors, then in Turin on September
9 for a conference, were his pallbearers, and the rest followed to
the mortuary chapel along with the Oratory pupils, who were
led by our brass band. These were the priests, clerics and boys
whom, back in 1844, Don Bosco had told him he had seen in a
dream. 22
Father Borel's blessed memory will always be honored by us.
The other painful loss was that of our perpetually professed
confrere, Father Peter Racca, a catechist at Sampierdarena.
Due to poor health he had gone to Volvera, his native town, dur-
ing the summer months, hoping to regain his strength, but he
died suddenly there. Don Bosco hoped to publish a short biogra-
phy, asserting that "he had been a truly admirable, zealous, en-
ergetic and exemplary priest" and "that he so ardently desired
to do good that he felt deeply disappointed when he could not do
all the things he believed would promote God's greater glory."
Don Bosco did request and obtain edifying information about
Father Racca from priests who had known him at home, but,
somehow, the biography was never written. Father Racca was
only thirty years old, and though he hoped to recover, he would
always say, as did St. Martin of Tours, "Lord, if Your people
still need me, I will not shirk the toil, but Your will be done."
He died at his home during the evening of September 13, 1873.23
That year the annual spiritual retreats were held in Lanzo,
September 15-20 and 22-27.24 Don Bosco himself gave the in-
structions.25
5. A THORNY LEGACY
In the fall of 1873 Don Bosco was made "sole heir and execu-
tor" of Count Philip Belletrutti's estate. This testamentary des-
22See Vol. II, pp. 319f. [Editor]
23This is a condensation of the reports Don Bosco received from Volvera about Father
Racca. [Editor]
24See p. 473. [Editor]
25We are omitting details on various matters of little contemporary interest. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
ignation brought on a litigation that continued years atter Don
Bosco's death. [For a summary of the proceedings we refer our
readers to Volume XI, pages 460-462.] Among the beneficiaries
was Archbishop Gastaldi of Turin, to whom the count left four
thousand lire for the Sacred Heart Church in Via Nizza and
four thousand lire for the exemption of seminarians from mili-
tary service. Another bequest of six thousand lire bore the sim-
ple instruction, "To help build St. Secundus Church," without
identifying the legatee.1
At Count Belletrutti's death in September 1873 nobody knew
that Archbishop Gastaldi intended taking on the construction of
St. Secundus Church, a project which had been initiated by Don
Bosco.2 As it was, on November 21, 1874, the archbishop issued
a pastoral letter announcing resumption of work on this church
and expressing the hope that it would be completed by the end
of 1875. As things turned out, it was consecrated on April 11,
1882 by Archbishop Celestine Fissore of Vercelli. The May 1882
issue of the Bollettino Salesiano [Salesian Bulletin] thus de-
scribed the event:
The occasion was attended by eleven bishops in addition to a vast
crowd and a large number of priests and religious. The Apostolic
College seemed to have gathered with its Divine Teacher. Sadly, the
full complement had one absentee-Archbishop Lawrence Gastaldi,
who was said to be confined to his room because of gout.
The Oratory choir very willingly provided the singing and had the
distinction of being the first to make the new church resound with its
melodies. Our brass band likewise contributed selections after the
church services and during the church illumination till ten at night.
All devout Turinese had reason to rejoice, but much more so was
this true of Don Bosco and his Salesians. . . .
The article had been written by Father John Bonetti, who "for
the sake of truth and history" went on to tell how this church
had come to be built, "adding details that were not reported in
the contemporary local newspapers either because they went un-
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2See pp. 88f, 17 l, 194. [Editor]
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noticed or for reasons we need not investigate." His article
ended as follows:
Of the twenty-seven thousand lire spent by Don Bosco for initial
work, only twelve thousand were refunded and eventually used for the
Church of St. John the Evangelist. The other fifteen thousand, along
with numerous headaches, frustrations and heartaches, became his
contribution to St. Secundus Church. We have authentic documents to
prove our assertions. They are the basis of our account and will enable
others to write the rest of the story. From the little we have said we
can understand how Don Bosco-and all those who had labored for
the construction of this church from 1867-had reason to rejoice when
they saw it finally opened to public worship to meet a grave need of the
area.
6. 0rHER REMINISCENCES OF 1873 1
In October 1873 Father [Frederick] Albert,2 the vicar at
Lanzo, was notified that the Pope had appointed him bishop of
Pinerolo.3 This humble servant of God (whose cause of bea-
tification has been introduced) announced it tearfully from the
pulpit and implored his parishioners to pray that the Lord call
him to Himself before a miter could be placed on his head. The
announcement caused the whole parish grief. Moreover, false
rumor had it that Don Bosco had pushed that promotion so as
to take over the Immaculate Conception Hospice, founded by
Father Albert. Apprehensively Father Lemoyne wrote to Don
Bosco, as follows:
My dear Father in Jesus Christ,
[Lanzo] October 13, 18 73
I feel I must acquaint you with an unpleasant, ridiculous and absurd
piece of news.
Father Bertoldo imprudently blabbered that if the vicar of Lanzo
1We are omitting five pages of unrelated material that has little importance nowadays.
[Editor]
2See Vol. III, p. 152; Vol. VII, pp. 416, 476; Vol. IX, pp. 354f; Vol. X, pp. 388-392.
3A small industrial town in the province of Turin. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
goes to Pinerolo as bishop, the fault is Don Bosco's. It is asserted that
Don Bosco, to get the hospice, wants Father Albert removed from
Lanzo because he is overshadowed by him. I am at a loss to figure out
which outweighs the other, imprudence or malice.
Last night unknown vandals smashed our school windows and splat-
tered mud all over the wall facing the church square. Might it be
revenge?
Father Albert is deeply grieved by his appointment and by the ill-
feeling shown to us. Last year these very same people were saying that
Father Albert would never become bishop because it suited Don Bosco
better to keep him at Lanzo; now they say the opposite, but their
reason for wagging their tongues is always the same.
The vicar remonstrates with all against this gossip. He wept much
and told me he is being crushed by becoming bishop and seeing us
slandered by the townsfolk. '"I love Don Bosco," he added, '"and will
always do my utmost for the Salesian Society. Don Bosco loves me
too, I am sure of that. We know each other well. Regardless of
whether Don Bosco did or did not suggest that the Pope make me bish-
op, I'd rather die this very moment than have my parishioners harbor
such a suspicion." This he told me with tears. Church services and
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament are being held in all churches
and chapels of Lanzo to have the vicar stay. Everybody is most dis-
tressed. We share those feelings because we would lose our best sup-
port. These people do not understand how disastrous it is for us to lose
such a pastor, such a reliable protector, such a help for our school. Pa-
tience! God's will be done.
Your affectionate son,
Fr. John Baptist Lemoyne
Don Bosco simply replied in the margin: "Let nothing upset
you. God is with us. Patience; prayer."
As matters turned out, Pius IX accepted Father Albert's re-
fusal, and a solemn Te Deum was sung in the parish church in
thanksgiving.
We are not to be surprised that such a rumor, quite contrary
to what had been noised about but a year before, should have
arisen. There were people who misconstrued other dealings of
his with our founder, even to the point of believing and having
othe~s believe that the new wing of the Salesian school-built by
Don Bosco when he foresaw having to vacate the old monastery
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525
-was meant for workshops for the town's poor youngsters. Ac-
cording to these people, Father Albert had seen in a dream a
crowd of youngsters in school uniforms sporting a double row of
buttons in the front-the very uniform of our own pupils. The
real reason, however, was that Don Bosco, "to oblige the many
applications," advisedly had erected the "vast and comfortable
building with handsome porticoes in order that the pupils might
enjoy pleasant recreation sheltered from the winter cold," as the
1873 school brochure stated.
Don Bosco had to cancel his planned trip to the Cuneo prov-
ince because of grave and urgent matters-among them the con-
stitutions as demanded by the Holy See's latest recommen-
dations and the decision to resume negotiations for the bishops'
temporalities, as we gather from current letters exchanged be-
tween him and Minister Vigliani. On October 14, therefore, he
wrote to Father Peter Vallauri's sister at Peveragno to inform
her of his change of plans and to Father Rua to say that he
would return to Turin on the 18th.4
Doubtless, though, he got to Peveragno in the fall, probably
in September, immediately after his visit to Cuneo. Canon Jo-
seph Giubergia, rector of the [eighteenth-century] shrine of Vi-
coforte (Mondov'i), recalls having seen him at Peveragno that
year, as he writes:
It must have been not later than September 1873, I remember,
because of a violent storm that caught me and my friends and some
kindergarten children as we were all returning from a visit to Don
Bosco at Paschio. Even then he enjoyed the reputation of a saint. I ar-
rived in Peveragno in the morning and called on him in the afternoon,
and on this occasion, with his characteristic smile, he said to me, ''You
will become a priest!"
The next afternoon he came to Peveragno at the invitation of a
Joseph Campana, the assistant town clerk and a prominent tertiary.
He alighted from the coach in front of Campana's house and leaned on
a walking stick to relieve the pain in the leg that was troubling him.
Later there was a reception attended by the clergy and the civil au-
thorities ....
"In 1875," Canon Giubergia continued, ''mostly because of what
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Don Bosco had told me, I decided to take the clerical habit and enter
the Turin diocesan seminary. The evening before my entrance I called
on Don Bosco. Though it was two years since he had seen me, he im-
mediately recognized me. I remember his first words most distinctly:
..Giubergia, you have come to take the clerical habit."
"'Yes," I replied, "but not with you. I am entering the major semi-
nary."
..It doesn't matter," he countered; "you will become a priest."
He insisted that I be his guest and have supper with him in the supe-
riors' dining room. Placing me beside him, he served me himself, say-
ing: ""Eat! You are young and you wil! have loads of work to do."
After supper I escorted him into the playground, listened to his
"Good Night," and then went with him as far as the stairs leading to
his room. Finally I went into the church and there gave vent to my
feelings, weeping at length. The next day I entered the seminary.
As we have said, Don Bosco was working steadily at his desk
in order to hasten his return to Rome to secure the approval of
the Salesian constitutions and to attempt to improve the plight
of the Italian bishops. In view of this, on October 29, 1873 he
wrote to Mrs. Matilda Sigismondi to assure her that he would
gladly accept her hospitality for a good part of his stay at
Rome. During the second half of November he visited various
Salesian houses, always seeking means to have his clerics ex-
empted from military service~ Grateful for the financial assis-
tance of Countess Callari, he repeatedly thanked her with two
letters from Bargo San Martino and from Sampierdarena, dated
respectively November 14 and November 26. On November 29
he was back in Turin. On December 16 he wrote unsuccessfully
to the Department of Railroads for free passes and equally un-
successfully to the Defense Department for used clothing.5
Eight issues of Letture Cattoliche [Catholic Readings] came
out in 1873. They were:
January-March: Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of
America by Fr. John Baptist Lemoyne.
April: The Martyr Paul Emil Reynaud and John Pinna, Ap-
ostolic Missionaries.
May: Highlights of the Life of St. Gregory VII.
5This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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June-July: Serapia, An Episode of the Second Century.
August: How To Be Catholic in the Nineteenth Century.
September: Jesus Christ and His Church.
October-November: The Ferocious Bea$! Revealed to Our
Youths.
December: The Wonders of Our Lady of Lourdes.
The life of Christopher Columbus became quite popular and
several reprints were made also in deluxe editions. Don Bosco
himself had asked Father Lemoyne to undertake this task [in
1871] and had given him some directives:
My dear Fr. Lemoyne,
Turin, April 3, 1871
It is but fitting that a book about a Genoese navigator should be
given to a Genoese.6
The life of Christopher Columbus will be published as an issue of
Letture Cattoliche. It should have one or two hundred pages or more,
as you think necessary. In the Index of the two volumes [I am sending
you] you will find marginal markings: a broken line means that those
parts must be reproduced verbatim; a series of dots means that con-
densation is in order.
Of course, you are entirely free as regards style and contents. If you
find something pertinent in other sources, use it. For instance, in the
book fl Monachismo [Monasticism] by Tullio Dandolo there is a fine
chapter on Columbus' monastic life.
Work at this issue leisurely, but let the language, style and contents
come up to your usual high standards:
God bless you, your pupils and your whole staff and domestic per-
sonnel. May all of you pray for me.
Yours affectionately,
Fr. John Bosco
The 1874 issue of II Ga/antuomo [Don Bosco's National Al-
manac]7 contained one of many letters praising this publication.
In April 1873 he reprinted Mary's Month, 8 about which Uni-
6 Father Lemoyne was born in Genoa. [Editor]
7See Vol. IV, pp. 448f. See also the Indexes of Volumes IV through IX and Volume XI.
[Editor]
8See Vol. V, p. 535. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tii Cattolica wrote a favorable review. Shortly afterward II Gio-
vane Provveduto9 [The Companion of Youth] came off the press in
its thirty-third edition and was highly praised by the same paper
in its August 7 issue. 10
Another instance of Don Bosco's apostolate of the press was
his decision to publish a collection of Latin Christian authors
for Catholic schools to supplement his previous collection of
carefully expurgated Latin classics. 11 He entrusted the publica-
tion of the first volume of the Latin Christian Classics 12 to Fa-
ther John Tamietti, as we gather from a letter of his to Father
Anthony Belasio who had written a timely booklet on how
schools could contribute to a wholesome reform of civil soci-
ety .13
Generous, high-minded and untiring, Don Bosco could have
achieved top honors as "a scholar and thinker," as Pope Pius
XI declared, but with unmatched amiability and humility he
chose instead to make himself available to all through endless
projects, as if he had nothing else to do.
In December 1873, Father John Cagliero had the distinction
of being the first Salesian to earn his doctorate in theology at
the Royal University of Turin. In the Informative Process [for
Don Bosco's beatification] he declared:
Don Bosco often teased some of us, saying, "You, at least, are
somebody, whereas I am a nobody. You are philosophy professors and
doctors in literature or theology. Don Bosco is not even certified to
teach first graders. What a fine figure I'll cut when I get to heaven
with no degrees."
"Never mind," we would reply. "Your merits far surpass academic
titles. Your name alone is worth more than any title." Making a pun
of his name which meant ··wood," he would counter, ••My very name
is nothing but wood."
He said the same thing on another occasion to V. Garelli, the
provincial superintendent of schools. The latter, unaware that
Don Bosco was joking, took him seriously. "What? You are not
9A prayerbook for boys compiled by Don Bosco and first published in 1847. See Vol.
III, pp. 7-18. [Editor]
10This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
11See Vol. IX, pp. 194ff. [Editor]
12See Vol. XI, p. 402. [Editor]
13This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Ever Serene
529
a professor, you have no academic degrees, not even certifi-
cation to teach in elementary schools? Is it possible that school
authorities have done nothing to acknowledge your merits? I'll
take it upon myself to write to the Minister of Education. You'll
receive all the titles that your writings and undertakings de-
serve."
Quickly Don Bosco asked him not to bother because he had
spoken in jest. Still, the superintendent of schools could not
believe that Don Bosco had no academic titles. While showing
surprise, he also admired our dear founder's humility.
What Don Bosco had most at heart was to attain his goal-
definitive approval of the Salesian Society. On December 20,
1873, while getting ready for his trip to Rome, he wrote to
Countess U guccioni to thank her for her financial assistance and
to assure her of the prayers of the whole Oratory community.
He also promised to make a stopover in Florence in January on
his way to Rome. On Christmas Eve he sent his greetings to
Countess Callari. In turn, Cardinal Antonelli wrote to thank
him for his prayers. Likewise Monsignor Aeneas Sbarretti, sub-
stitute of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars,
thanked him for his greetings and assured him of his efforts "to
foster his justly anxious wishes." Obviously Don Bosco had soli-
cited help for the definitive approval of the Salesian constitu-
tions.14
Meanwhile cordial filial New Year's greetings of all the con-
freres and pupils of Lanzo arrived at the Oratory. On top of the
page signed by all the confreres, Father John Baptist Lemoyne
wrote: "Yearning for your blessing and a visit, all the confreres
beg for a written word of wisdom as a pledge that the new year
may prove to be a blessed one."
Father Louis Lasagna, 15 who was teaching the last two grades
14This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
15 Louis Lasagna (1850-1895) first met Don Bosco in the summer of 1862 during one
of the latter's outings with the Oratory boys. In October Louis entered the Oratory. (See
Vol. VII, pp. 164, 166, l 79f) He received the clerical garb in 1866, made his first vows in
1868, was ordained a priest in 1873, and joined the second missionary expedition to
South America in 1876. As director and provincial he achieved marked success in the
fields of education, social action, agriculture, priestly vocations, and church construction
or renovation. In 1893 he was consecrated bishop and entrusted with the evangelization
of the Indians of Mato Grosso (Brazil). He died in a train collision at Juiz de Fora
(Brazil) on November 6, 1895. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAl'NT JOHN BOSCO
of the secondary school department, added a statement to the
page signed by his pupils: ""Holding you, our common father, as
one of the dearest to our hearts, we older pupils of the Salesian
school at Lanzo, unable to do so in person, send you most sin-
cere greetings for the new year and for your life, which we
endlessly pray to be long, for the sake of our eternal salvation
and for the glory of our suffering Church."
Quite appropriately, Don Bosco's first letter from Rome was
addressed to the director and pupils of Lanzo.
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CHAPTER 10
The Vision of the Future-1874
THE Salesian Society's directory of 1874 listed forty-two
perpetually professed members, one hundred and six with trienni-
al vows, and one hundred and three postulants: in all, two
hundred and fifty-one priests, clerics, coadjutors and students. Of
the forty-nine priests, thirty were perpetually professed, sixteen
had taken triennial vows and three were postulants. The clerics
numbered one hundred and four-three perpetually professed,
sixty-one with triennial vows and forty postulants. Of the sixty-
two coadjutors nine were perpetually professed, twenty-eight had
taken triennial vows, and twenty-five were postulants. Of the
thirty-six students, one had taken triennial vows and thirty-five
were postulants.
In the Appendix of the 1875 directory, our beloved founder
prefaced biographical notes of some deceased confreres as fol-
lows:
The year 1874 was a memorable one for us, my beloved sons. On
April 3, after granting us great favors, His Holiness Pius IX kindly
approved our humble Congregation definitively. This glorious event
filled us with joy, but a series of events also deeply grieved us. On the
13th of that month God called Father [Francis] Provera to Himself, and
later, within but four months, Father [Dominic] Pestarino, the cleric
Ghione, and Father Joseph Cagliero.
In these dear confreres we lost four evangelical laborers: all perpetual-
ly professed, all warmly attached to the Salesian Congregation, faithful
observers of our constitutions, and zealous workers for the glory of God.
It is not surprising that these losses have deeply hurt our Society. But
God, infinitely good, who knows what is best for us, judged them al-
ready worthy of Him. We might say that they lived briefly but achieved
as much as if they had lived a long life: Brevi vivens tempore, explevit
531
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
tempora mu/ta. [Although his life was short, his accomplishments were
many-cf. Wis. 4, 13] And with well-founded reason we believe that
they, taken from us on earth, ,are now our intercessors in heaven.
The year 1874 was truly memorable for our Society, not only
because of its formal approval, but also because of our holy
founder's tireless efforts to open new houses abroad, increase the
number of its confreres and cooperators everywhere, and thus
broaden an apostolate for God's greater glory and the welfare of
souls.
Back in 1871 Don Bosco had asked the Holy Father's opinion
on responding to insistent requests for new foundations in Italy,
Switzerland, India, Algeria, Egypt and California. The Pope had
replied: "Just now concentrate your efforts on establishing your
Congregation firmly here in Italy. When it is time to send your
sons elsewhere, I shall let you know."
Immediately after the formal approval of the Salesian Society,
the Holy Father urged him to widen his field of activity wherever
he thought best.
1. WHILE IN ROME
During his months in Rome, Don Bosco, realizing that he had
to get a foothold near the Holy See, renewed his efforts to obtain
the Church of the Holy Shroud1 where he often said Mass. The
church belonged to the House of Savoy and was then being ser-
viced by Canon Grosset Mouchet of Pinerolo, an admirer of Don
Bosco. John Visone, who headed the royal palace staff, promised
to use his influence with the king to have the church entrusted to
the Salesians. On January 17, 1874 Don Bosco personally filed a
formal application.2
A few days later the official informed him that he could consid-
er the matter satisfactorily closed, but on February 27, after re-
peating that both the king and Minister Vigliani favored the
move, he showed him an article in Popo/o Romano. The gist of it
1See pp. 99f. See also Vol. IX, pp. 192, 223, 238, 301, 368f. [Editor]
20mitted in this edition. [Editor]
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533
was that a commission of cardinals had discussed the opening of a
Salesian school in Rome modeled on the school in Turin and that,
though the Holy Father and several cardinals favored the project,
other cardinals and the French clergy opposed it. Minister Vi-
gliani too, shaking his head, kept repeating, "Right now we are
suppressing religious orders here. . . . The government would
seem to contradict itself by setting up another one right here in
Rome!"
"But this is not a religious order," Don Bosco countered. "It is
a civil society!"
However, the project collapsed. The church had formerly be-
longed to the legation of the Duke of Savoy to the Holy See, and
from 1870 it had become the personal property of the House of
Savoy. Don Bosco no longer insisted because he realized that
many would interpret this step as an endorsement of the Italian
government.
Still hoping to open a house in Rome, Don Bosco turned his at-
tention to the Church of San Giovanni della Pigna, in the area of
Santa Maria sopra Minerva (the location of our liaison office
with the Holy See since 1902), and discussed the matter with
Constantine Cardinal Patrizi, who favored the idea. On Sep-
tember 28, 1874 he again brought the matter to the cardinal's at-
tention by letter, stressing his need of a Salesian residence in
Rome. In a reply of October 9, the latter pointed out that such a
move ,was inopportune, could offer a pretext to have the property
confiscated, and could gravely embarrass the present rector. Still,
he assured Don Bosco of continued support.3
Determined to begin building the Church of St. John the Evan-
gelist in Turin, Don Bosco obtained title to a small piece of land
over the opposition of Henry Morglia, a Protestant,4 and on Feb-
ruary 5, 1874 he again appealed to the head of the royal palace
staff to obtain a subsidy from the king. The building plans includ-
ed also a school and home for the area's destitute boys, and
therefore the undertaking was for the public good.5 Since all work
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
4See p. 88. [Editor]
5We are omitting Don Bosco's letter to this head official. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
had been suspended, this appeal too was unsuccessful.
We now present some news briefs by Father Joachim Berto on
Don Bosco's stay in Rome because they give us a better grasp of
our holy founder's spirit. Always alert, Don Bosco missed nothing
-good or bad-that went on about him. Writes Father Berto:
One day, as I was accompanying Don Bosco along Via Montanara,
he remarked, "Do you know what I was thinking of just now?"
"I have no idea!"
"I was thinking that, seeing what goes on here in Rome, one might
lose his faith."
"My reaction is quite the opposite," I replied. "Seeing that our reli-
gion remains unsullied by so many failings, I become more firmly con-
vinced of its divinity. Then, too, my faith is quite strengthened by the
religious monuments that surround us everywhere."
"True," Don Bosco went on, ··our religion is divine, but it is in human
hands, and even here there are sons of Adam."
Perhaps Don Bosco was trying to find out if I had been shocked by
knowing, seeing, and being in touch with certain human failings, ri-
valries, jealousy and intrigues among religious even in the Vatican it-
self. . . .
Ever merciful in judging, whenever he came to learn of a grave
scandal or a devout person's failure, our kindly father would
exclaim: "What can we expect! They too are sons of Adam!"
He always treated everyone kindly, even those who tried to
cross him, without showing offense. One day, turning into Via del
Tritone, he found the sidewalk blocked by a group of arrogant,
contemptuous young idlers. Drawing near, he smiled, doffed his
hat and bowed to them. Ashamed, they immediately yielded to
him with marks of esteem and respect.
Constantly and fearlessly consecrating every moment to God's
greater glory and the salvation of souls, he would often exclaim,
"I need people to help me get over obstacles, not raise them. I
wish they would look not at me, but at what is good and helpful
to religion and souls, because I am working for the Church."
He never lost heart at any unexpected setback or failure.
Again and again-Father Berto wrote-he would call in vain oncer-
tain people, hoping for favors or to settle matters affecting the welfare
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The Vision ofthe Future-1874
535
of others or of the Church. At times he would even climb four stories to
ask for alms. Seeing this, I could not help remarking, "Poor Don
Bosco! I wish our confreres and the Oratory boys could see how hard
you work to provide for them and realize your plans for them!" "I am
doing all this just to save this wretched soul of mine," he would modest-
ly reply. "We should be ready for anything to save our souls!"
Nothing really could rob him of his habitual calm and serenity.
Monsignor Manacorda once tried to make him lose his temper at
a dinner attended by many guests at the home of Chevalier Ste-
phen Colonna, head of the Vatican's shipping department. The
monsignor pestered him, chided him, argued with him, derided
him and did his utmost to upset him. Don Bosco smiled, jested,
explained, and kept his peace so tactfully that the frustrated mon-
signor, who greatly revered him, nearly lost his own temper. Don
Bosco had his own way of overcoming obstacles: he serenely ac-
cepted every humiliation!
God was by his servant's side. We have mentioned several
favors obtained through Don Bosco's blessing. Father Berto for-
mally testified to one during the Informative Process (for his bea-
tification):
In 1874 I was with Don Bosco in Rome. At about 5:00 on the evening
of February 16, I was walking with him toward Villa Ludovisi. As we
went by the Church of the Capuchins, a gentleman coming toward us
greeted Don Bosco as he passed us by. Don Bosco promptly returned
the greeting. At this the man turned back to thank him, telling him that
in 1867, when Don Bosco was a guest of Count [John] Vimercati near
the Church of St. Peter-in-Chains, he had been brought there to receive
his blessing. "At that time," he declared, "I was mentally ill, but I
remember that you told me not to fear because I would recover. In fact,
I have been quite well since then. I have seen you here in town several
times, but out of respect I never mustered enough courage to approach
you."6
6We are omitting the description of Don Bosco's visit to the Accademia dell'Arcadia, of
which he was a member, and other details concerning this literary institution. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
2. RETURN TO THE ORATORY
We have already described Don Bosco's return to the Oratory
and the attendant festivities. 1
While in Rome Don Bosco had had several talks with Colonel
Monti and his wife Eurasia. At their request he had obtained the
Pope's blessing on a crucifix that probably had belonged to Fa-
ther Felix Golzio, Eurasia's brother. With that blessing, Pius IX
granted special indulgences. Since time prevented him from pre-
senting the crucifix personally, Don Bosco brought it with him to
Turin, and from there he wrote to the colonel, tactfully mention-
ing also Archbishop Gastaldi's health. As far as they were con-
cerned, the controversy over Father Golzio's testament was a
thing of the past, though the anticlerical press zestfully kept it
alive:
My dear Colonel,
Turin, April 24, 1874
Belatedly I reply to your gracious letter. I left Rome early because I
wanted to see one of my dearest sons, Father Francis Provera, for the
last time. I was too late, arriving shortly after his burial. It thus pleased
God, and so be it. . . .
Matters concerning our Congregation were very successful. Every-
body was well disposed, especially the Pope, who treated me like a most
loving father.
With me now I have your crucifix enriched with all the requested in-
dulgences. If you wish, I shall mail it; otherwise I'll deliver it personally
when you return to our ancient capital.
I spoke with our archbishop. I found him most courteous. but painful-
ly distressed. He told me that for quite a time now he has not been able
to leave his residence because people now and then point at him and in-
sult him, and so he has had to curtail his walking. His sermons, which
once drew large crowds, are now pitifully attended. There is a remedy
for all this, but what can one do when the patient rejects both doctors
and medicines? . . .
•See pp. 375f. We are omitting a poem by Father Lemoyne giving vent to the Salesians'
enthusiasm for Don Bosco's success in obtaining the definitive approval of the constitu-
tions. [Editor]
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The Vision ofthe Future-1874
God bless you and Mrs. Eurasia.
prayers.
537
recommend myself to your
Devotedly yours,
Fr. John Bosco
How tactfully he dispelled all remembrance of their con-
troversy with the archbishop!
At about this time the Oratory press commissioned a small
color portrait of Father Borel and issued small prints of it. Unita
Cattolica published an article on the portrait in its April 5 issue. 2
On April 26, the feast of St. Joseph's patronage, the painting of
the holy patriarch was finally set over his altar in the Church of
Mary, Help of Christians and personally blessed by Don Bosco
himself. Years later Father Francis Piccollo described the scene:
Being near the altar, I was impressed by Don Bosco's devout rapture
as he often raised his eyes to the painting and movingly recited the ritual
prayers. The boys' choir too-over a hundred voices-aroused inex-
pressible spiritual delight when it sang Joseph quasi arcus refulget inter
nebulas gloriae et quasi flos rosarum in diebus vernis [Joseph shines like
a rainbow in the cloudy sky and like rose blossoms in springtime-cf.
Sir. 50, 8]. The roses in St. Joseph's hands and those evoked by the sil-
very voices transported us to an enchanted garden graced by the majes-
tic presence of Christ's foster father and scented by the fragrant virtues
of the great apostle of youth who stood at the saint's feet in ecstasy.
Don Bosco had photographs of the painting made for wide dis-
tribution by the Oratory bookstore, and Unita Cattolica pub-
lished a glowing article on this painting in its May 7 issue.3
Father Francis Giacomelli, Don Bosco's fellow seminarian and
his confessor as well after Father Golzio's death, told us that,
upon noticing that St. Joseph was dropping both red and white
roses [upon the Church of Mary, Help of Christians], he asked
Don Bosco, "What do these red and white roses symbolize?"
Receiving no answer, he went on, "I think that the white roses
2This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
3For a description of this painting see Vol. IX, p. 110. [Editor]
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538
THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
symbolize the favors that please us, while the red are those which
please God. What do you say?"
"Right," Don Bosco answered. "The red roses are the best!"
Another singular instance [forces us to go back two years].
In 1872 the Carlist party again took up arms in Spain and
proclaimed Don Carlos [III], son of Don Juan of Bourbon d' An-
jou, king of Spain under the title of Carlos VII. The latter, while
going to Spain to lead the insurgents, passed through Turin, ac-
companied by Count Servanzi, a member of the Vatican Noble
Guard, and with him called on Don Bosco. Without introducing
Don Carlos, Count Servanzi directed the conversation to the
Spanish uprising and asked Don Bosco what he thought of Don
Carlos' chances to regain the throne.
"Well," Don Bosco replied, "if it is God's will, he will succeed;
but human means alone will hardly suffice."
"Do you know this gentleman?" the count asked.
No one had told Don Bosco of his identity, but he promptly
replied, "Yes. He is Don Carlos!"
Don Carlos then spoke. "It's either now or never," he ex-
claimed. "I have many friends, you know, and, besides, right is
on my side!"
"Well, if you really hope to succeed and obtain God's bless-
ing," Don Bosco went on, "go there with upright intentions."
After talking of other matters, Don Bosco escorted Don Carlos
to the door. There he met Father Lemoyne and smilingly said to
him, "Let me present Don Carlos, pretender to the Spanish
throne!" Don Carlos shook hands with Father Lemoyne, and
then left.
But Don Bosco did not forget the young warrior in Spain. The
third Carlist war was waged first against Amadeus of Savoy, who
abdicated on February 11, 1873, then against the republicans, and
finally in 1874 against Alfonso XII. On April 29, 1874, Father
Berto wrote, "At about 8 this morning Don Bosco was in church
hearing confessions. Suddenly he stood up and seemed to find
himself in the midst of a battle between the republicans and the
Carlists. He heard repeated cannon fire from both sides and was
about to call and ask what was happening, when the scene sud-
denly disappeared. . . ."
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539
The war lasted two more years. Vanquished, Don Carlos left
Spain in 1876 and died at Varese, Italy, on July 18, 1909.
On May 10 Don Bosco went to Alassio where the pupils gave
him a most festive welcome.4 The feast of Mary, Help of Chris-
tians was celebrated with the usual pomp on May 28 because
Pentecost fell on the 24th.
On June 9 something astounding occurred in the sacristy, Fa-
ther Berto declared. Toward 11 :30 a woman walked in with a
Mrs. Pittatore of Fossano and a girl on crutches. They wanted
Don Bosco to bless the girl. Don Bosco prayed and asked the by-
standers to do likewise. Then, after suggesting more prayers, he
asked how long had the girl not been able to walk. "Four years,"
he was told. She could move only on crutches and had been
brought to the Oratory by coach. One leg was more crippled than
the other.
Don Bosco blessed her and then told her to drop her crutches
and walk up and down the sacristy. To the amazement and joy of
the sexton and of several people who stood by, the girl did as she
was told and then left without crutches, promising to return the
following day to thank the Blessed Virgin. Her crutches were
hung as an "ex-voto" in the sacristy.
The feast of St. John the Baptist [Don Bosco's name day]5 was
also celebrated very solemnly with the participation of the various
festive oratory boys of Turin. The hymn, written by Father Le-
moyne, as we have already mentioned,6 displeased Archbishop
Gastaldi, who did not forbid its publication, but disapproved of
its exaggerations.7
Doubtless, to one unacquainted intimately with Don Bosco's
life style and charisms, such praises could have seemed exaggera-
tions, and much more so if one were really bent on finding pre-
texts to criticize him. The festivities solemnizing Don Bosco's
name day were so grandiose that even Father Giacomelli, his con-
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
5At his Baptism Don Bosco had been named after the Apostle John, but in 1846 the
Oratory boys, believing his name to be John Baptist-a very popular saint in Turin-
began to celebrate his name day on June 24, the feast day of this saint. [Editor]
6See p. 384. [Editor]
7This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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540
THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
fessor, had this to say during the Informative Process [for Don
Bosco's beatification]:
When I pointed out that the boys staged far too grandiose a tribute to
him on his name day, he replied, "On the contrary, I personally like
such a show because it does them a lot of good by kindling respect and
love for their superiors."
The feast of St. Aloysius on June 28 was also a solemn celebration. It
gave Don Bosco a chance to express his gratitude through an address
read by one of the boys to Chevalier John Frisetti, chairman of the fes-
tivity. who treated the boys and presided over the conferring of good
conduct awards.8
On July 25, Don Bosco left for Sampierdarena, and he stayed
there till the 27th, when he went on to Sestri Ponente to visit
Baroness Cataldi. On the 28th he was in Genoa, and on the 29th
he returned to Turin. This same month he mailed a prospectus
and circular on the Valsalice College.9
In 1874 Don Bosco often visited Varazze and Alassio. At
Varazze anticlericals were stirring up serious problems, and Don
Bosco, though in poor health, had to go there several times for
these and other reasons. 10
Either that year or the following year Don Bosco was also in
Cuneo, as Father Francis Cottrino 11 testified:
For two years, 1874 and 1875, I attended the third and fourth grade in
the junior seminary of Cuneo. The system then in use featured no diver-
sions, no singing, limited recreation, little or no ceremony in the few
church services, and rare reception of the sacraments. Bishop [Andrew]
Formica, of happy memory, a saintly prelate who greatly revered our fa-
ther Don Bosco, invited him to visit our seminary. He came in June, ac-
companied by the bishop, and was received with honors usually reserved
to prelates. In the chapel he offered a brief prayer and then spoke to us
8This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
90mitted in this edition. [Editor]
10Tbis sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
11 Francis Cottrino (1864-1939) entered the Oratory at the age of thirteen in 1877. Four
years later he took his perpetual vows in the Salesian Congregation and was ordained a
priest in 1887. From 1892 to 1927 he directed several of our houses. A model of genuine
Salesian spirit to his dying day, he spent his last years as spiritual director of the novices at
Villa Moglia (Chieri). He died there on November 17, 1939. [Editor]
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The Vision ofthe Future-1874
541
so warmly and cordially that he filled us with wonder. We had never
seen anything like it. Our awe increased when. after a few pious exhorta-
tions, he told us that a bishop was treating us to refreshments and to a
fine outing to a place we had never visited before. Who could describe
our thrill at the idea of having a new place to visit besides our routine
walk to Madonna della Ripa? But then something seemed to spoil our
expectations. The sky suddenly darkened, and when Don Bosco finished
his talk, there was a furious downpour. We went to the dining room and
stood wide-eyed at the repast awaiting us. In no time we gobbled up ev-
erything. Meanwhile the clouds vanished and a cool breeze replaced the
sultry heat. Overjoyed, we set out along Viale degli Angeli and walked
all the way to the monastery of the Friars Minor Conventuals, where for
the first time we venerated the mortal remains of Blessed Angelo of
Chivasso. There too we most gratefully prayed for the unknown saintly
priest who had brought us such fun.
When I came to the Oratory in 1877 I learned the identity of the holy
priest and there met seven of my former fellow seminarians, Father
[Thomas] Chiappelli among them, all highly enthused about the ever so
different regime that reigned at the Oratory.
Father Cottrino told us another unpublished episode which
dates back to between 1886 and 1888. His brother had to report
to the local draft board for his physical, and Father Cottrino
feared that he might be inducted into the army. Luckily, he hap-
pened to see Don Bosco at San Benigno and told him of his
worry. Taking his hands, Don Bosco said, "Don't worry. Louis
will be rejected."
"But he is quite fit!"
"He will be rejected!"
"Besides, he has no reason for deferral."
"The army will not take him."
"He is healthier than I am, and husky!"
"They won't take him!"
Louis reported for his physical and was found temporarily unfit
because his chest measurements fell short of regulations by half a
centimeter! The following year he again reported for examina-
tion, and again was rejected. He reported a third time, and this
time Louis Bartholomew Cottrino (he had a middle name) was
found fit and assigned to the reserves.
As soon as he could, he went to Borgo San Martino to tell his
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
brother. "How did it go?" Father Cottrino asked.
"I'm in the army, first class!"
"Impossible!" Father Cottrino interrupted. "Don Bosco told
me again and again that you would not be inducted."
"Well now, listen carefully," his brother replied with a smile.
"I am drafted, but I shall not go on active duty because I am in
both the first and the third class."
"What do you mean?"
Wild with joy, Louis Bartholomew showed him his draft papers
which stated that Louis Cottrino had been classified as reserve
because Bartholomew Cottrino, being in the first category, was
already in the army!
Thus we could discern a prank of Divine Providence who often
plays in this world through the intercession of saints!
3. OBSERVANCE OF THE RULES
Once the Salesian constitutions were approved, a top priority
of Don Bosco was their exact observance. Hence he entrusted the
visitation of all the houses to Father Rua, his vicar and the Ora-
tory's vice-director, who was even then known as the "living
rule." Father Rua kept opportune notes in a booklet on such
things as slight deviations, failings, and imperfections, and, in
counterbalance, things he admired and praised. He took care to
speak of his observations with each director before leaving, and
sent a written report on his return to Turin. His booklet of obser-
vations covers visitations from 1874 to 1876 when provinces were
formally established. 1
Another top priority of Don Bosco was to set up a regular
novitiate or, rather, to order its regular functioning.
This had been Father Rua's duty up to 1874, but on November
7 of that year he passed it on to the newly-appointed novice
master, Father Julius Barberis, who compiled and published a
vade mecum for his novices. Presenting it to them on January 31,
1900, he declared: "My dear novices, last November 7 marked
1We are omitting Father Rua's notes. Interested readers may find them in the Italian
edition of this volume, pp. 1260-1266. [Editor]
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The Vision of the Future-1874
543
the twenty-fifth anniversary of my appointment as novice master
by the will of God and our good superiors-Don Bosco in par-
ticular."
Until the novitiate was transferred to San Benigno Canavese in
1879, he strove to train his charges as best he could, even isolat-
ing them from the rest of the Oratory community so as to form
them in the religious life in conformity with canon law and our
Society's spirit.
4. THE FOREIGN MISSIONS
Few saints had such a clear, detailed v1s10n of their future
apostolate from God as our founder. The vision he had had as a
young boy,1 as well as other dreams and visions which followed
him through life,2 showed him even details of his mission, so as to
guide him in its thorough fulfillment. In 1861, for instance, he
saw an immense crowd of boys of very different races, features
and tongues. He tried to identify them, but could recognize only a
very small fraction with their superiors.
"Who are they?" he asked his guide.
"Your sons! Listen, they are talking about you and your first
boys, their superiors now long dead, and the teachings you and
your first sons handed down to them. " 3 In fact, as other dreams
clearly tell us, he saw all his pupils and ours-past, present and
future! Such an event was truly miraculous.
In 1871 or 1872 he saw "an immense untilled plain, unbroken
by hills or mountains, except at the farthest end where he could
see the outline of jagged mountains. Throngs of nearly naked,
dark-skinned, fierce-looking, long-haired men of exceptional
height and build swarmed all over this plain. Their only garments
were hides strung across their shoulders." 4 He was seeing Pa-
tagonia.
After this vision, his former urge for the foreign mission was
1See Vol. I, pp. 95f. [Editor]
2See the Index of each volume under "Dreams (D.B.'s)." [Editor]
3See Vol. VI, p. 544. [Editor]
4See pp. 46f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
rekindled in his heart-as he declared in 1876-but he could not
tell what race those savages belonged to:
At first I thought they were Ethiopians. This reminded me of Bishop
[Daniel] Comboni's visit to the Oratory many years ago,5 and of the ap-
ostolic works of the Missionary Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
whose seminary had been founded in Verona by Bishop Comboni in
1871 to provide missionaries for his vicariate apostolic in Central Afri-
ca. But after questioning people who knew those regions and reading
books on the subject, I abandoned the thought.
Then I thought of Hong Kong, and when Monsignor Raimondi, who
was a missionary there, came to Turin to find recruits, I did for a time
enter into negotiations with him, but they led nowhere because he
wished to impose restrictions on our Congregation. In particular he
wanted to stipulate that whatever our Congregation might acquire as
gift or purchase should become mission property. For some time I
thought that those islanders were the savages I had seen in my dream,
but after some research I realized that my dream resembled neither the
land nor its inhabitants. The attempted negotiations forced me to study
new regions, but in vain.
Then, on a visit of Bishop Matthew Quinn of Sidney, I began to think
of Australia. I asked the bishop about the aborigines and their disposi-
tion, but his description did not fit what I had seen. Yet so vividly and
deeply had that dream impressed me that I could not ignore it. Past ex-
periences had taught me that whatever I saw would come true.
Little by little, Australia gave way in my mind to the island of Man-
galore, India. I read books, spoke with English missionaries who had
come from those regions, and through a curious mistake of inine in cer-
tain comparisons I became convinced that my dream concerned either
India or Australia. In fact I felt a renewed interest in the latter. For the
next four years I talked practically of riothing but those countries. I even
got to the point where Father [Joseph] Bologna and the cleric Quirino
had to start studying English in earnest. It was about this time that the
chemist Ferrero began to wander about the house, and then settled down
permanently with his maps of Christian India. There was even talk in
Rome of giving us a vicariate apostolic in that area.
At last, in 1874, the Argentine consul at Savona, Commendatore
[John Baptist] Gazzola, who had met me at Varazze and had observed
our spirit, spoke about us to the archbishop of Buenos Aires and to
many priests. They in turn became quite enthused about us and ex-
5See Vol. VII, p. 488. [Editor]
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545
pressed the wish for Salesian schools in their archdiocese. In fact, the
archbishop's secretary wrote to me stating that the Argentinians would
be delighted to welcome us there.
At the same time a letter came from Father [Peter] Ceccarelli, pastor
at San Nicolas de los Arroyos, a day's journey by boat from Buenos
Aires. This priest informed me that he had heard of us from the Argen-
tine consul and that, of his own initiative, he was quite willing to leave
his parish and town to us and carry out his priestly ministry elsewhere.
He told me that the city had built a boarding school and that the muni-
cipal officials were ready, at his suggestion, to give it to us, should we be
willing to accept it. He added that no other negotiations had taken
place. The Argentine consul at Savona favored the invitation and acted
as an intermediary.
The letters astounded me. I quickly got geography books about South
America and read them attentively. The text and illustrations perfectly
described the natives I had seen in my dream and the region where they
lived-Patagonia, that vast southern plain of the Argentine Republic!
After gathering a lot more information and receiving detailed explana-
tions, I put aside any doubts. All matched perfectly with my dream.
From then on I knew precisely where I was to direct my thoughts and
efforts.
Bishop Quinn had arranged to send five boys to the Oratory,
where they were to be educated free of charge and then sent back
to Australia to help him in his apostolate either as diocesan
priests or as Salesians, as the following letter tells us:
Very Reverend Father,
St. Mary's College, Donnybrook-Dublin
September 24, 1874
Your welcomed letter of the 21st reached me today, and I shall
[thoroughly] reply to it soon. I must leave Dublin today, and can write
but a few lines now. I remind you of our agreement: namely, that I am
to provide only for my pupils' travel expenses to Turin. We agreed that
five boys will soon arrive for future service in my Australian mission, as
either diocesan or Salesian priests.
They already know some Latin, Greek and mathematics. I do not
know if they are ready for rhetoric.
Yours sincerely,
+ Matthew Quinn
P.S. I am corresponding with Father Listin.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
While Don Bosco wa~_i~Rome, he was also approached by Fa-
ther John Bertazzi, a missionary from the United States, who for
some years had been thinking of opening a boarding school and
seminary at Savannah [Georgia] where boys might be prepared
for theological studies. Before leaving for Rome to realize this
plan, he had been instructed by Bishop Gross of Savannah to find
a religious congregation willing to assist him in this endeavor,
toward which he had contributed seven hundred acres of land. Fa-
ther Bertazzi also envisioned a boarding school alongside the di-
ocesan seminary to serve the townsfolk by offering a few scholar-
ships. The boarders' substantial fees would help to support the
school and seminary staffs.
"Such was my idea," Father Bertazzi declared, "but I told no
one of it, even though it was quite feasible, because I did not feel
that it was my task to carry it out. So I gave it little thought."
"Blessed be my boldness," he later wrote to Don Bosco, "in
telling you about it, though it was not exactly boldness. As soon
as I met you in Rome, I was won over by your kindness. At that
time I was on my way to the Jesuits with a letter for the Father
General. As fate would have it, I lost it at Foligno along with my
wallet and money (a godsend). Without it, I did not dare present
myself to his secretary. Instead, if you remember, I came to you
for help in obtaining a passport and did not speak of any other
matter except casually. When my search for the wallet proved
fruitless, I wrote to you again about it, and incidentally men-
tioned my plans for Savannah. The Lord saw to it that this should
fit in with your wishes; you asked me to see you and talk it over,
and the outcome was that when I left your office I had become a
son of yours."
Still trying to figure out which was the mission field that the
Lord had revealed to him, Don Bosco invited Father Bertazzi to
be his guest at the Oratory so that he could acquaint him with
what would be expected of the Salesians at Savannah.
Father Bertazzi obliged and remained a few days. When Don
Bosco returned, he presented him with a long memorandum
about his plans for Savannah. He also confided to him that he
would be extremely happy to become a Salesian, just as long as
he could return to his diocese, at the side of a bishop whom he
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deeply loved, to carry out the mission he had had so long at heart.
Good Father Bertazzi wanted to return to the United States
with only two Salesians. One was to study the outlay and then go
back to Turin and fully report to Don Bosco; the other was to
remain in the States. As for preferences, Father Bertazzi would
very much have liked Don Bosco himself to take the trip:
I insist-he wrote-that you make this sacrifice, if at all possible.
Otherwise I only know of three other people who could take your place:
Father Rua, Father Cagliero, or Father Savio....
Father Rua's standing and his discerning prudence, learning, refined
ways, and knowledge of English qualify him as the foremost candidate
from every viewpoint. I personally place great trust in him, and this
inclines me to be quite candid with him. Father Cagliero, a good spiri-
tual director and theologian and a very discerning man, has the advan-
tage of being already well known for his musical talents and would im..;
mediately win over the people; besides, he is quite qualified for the rest.
Father Savio is very wise, quite gracious, and a good businessman. You
can judge whether he is up to par for the rest. Father Dalmazzo too,
with his experience as director at Valsalice and his polished, charming
manners (so valued in the United States), could also be considered for
this task....
Among other things, he went on to describe "when, how and by
what route" they should set off. He also outlined the religious ser-
vice to be held for the missionaries' departure so aptly and in such
detail that we believe that his ideas guided Don Bosco in planning
the departure ceremony for his first missionaries.
Father Bertazzi reckoned that the farewell ceremony could be
held at the close of Mary's month or better still on May 24, the
solemn feast of Pentecost, but it was impossible to carry out his
plans then and there while he was in a hurry to return to the Unit-
ed States. Ultimately nothing came of it. But the United States
was not to be the first Salesian field of missionary activity. In his
eagerness to discover where he was called, Don Bosco left no
stone unturned in order to reach a final decision.
Father Dionysus Halinan, an English priest who had heard en-
thusiastic praises of the Salesian schools, came to visit the Ora-
tory. With the Pope's consent to open new houses abroad, Don
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Bosco asked him to send him a few boys who wished to become
missionaries or Salesians so that he could train them for the
priesthood. He still thought of countries within the British em-
pire. To this end, he provided him with a letter of recommen-
dation.
What most puzzled Don Bosco in his search for the missionary
field shown him in the dream was the fact that he had seen two
rivers at the mouth of an immense desert-rivers he could not
find in the maps over which he patiently pored. They were the
Rio Colorado and Rio Negro in Patagonia, but he discovered this
only after his first conversation in Turin with John Baptist Gazzo-
lo, the Argentine consul at Savona.6
This fine gentleman admired the educational system used in
our schools at Varazze, Alassio and Sampierdarena and had also
been fortunate enough to converse several times with Don Bosco.
In 1874 he came to Turin to ask him officially to open similar
schools in Argentina. We shall see how in a short time negotia-
tions were happily concluded.7
5. UNREMITTING 0PPOSITION 1
Meanwhile construction of the Church of St. John the Evange-
list was at a standstill. Court proceedings for taking over a strip
of land owned by a Mr. Morglia had been resumed on September
28, 1872 because of the latter's appeal alleging disregard of cer-
tain technicalities. The case dragged on until 1874, when Attorney
Francis Gilardini, on behalf of the Council of State, wrote to Don
Bosco as follows:
Rome, July 10, 1876
. . . A totally favorable verdict regarding the public need of your
church in Turin has been reached as of today. . . . A pertinent state-
ment authorizing expropriation of Mr. Morglia's land, according to the
6We ourselves recall having seen one of the old atlases examined by Don Bosco. The
southernmost part of Argentina bore these words: Patagonum regio, in qua inco/ae sunt
gigantes [Patagonia which is inhabited by giants]. [Author]
1See Vol. XI, pp. 129-142. [Editor]
1This whole section is a condensation. [Editor]
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549
plans of Edward Arborio Mella, can now be issued. . There is not
the slightest chance that the Ministry of Public Works may decide oth-
erwise. . . .
The goal seemed reached, but other difficulties cropped up for
three more years. Finally, on August 14, 1878, Archbishop Gas-
taldi blessed the cornerstone. Don Bosco, deeply moved, invoked
"constant good health, a long and happy life, family peace and
concord, success in undertakings, a hundredfold reward in this life
as promised by Christ himself, and-more abundant yet-the
reward in the life to come to all his benefactors."2
Equally long-drawn-out were negotiations for the sale of the
former junior seminary of Mirabello. They started toward the end
of 1872, but the contract was finally signed only in 1874. Provi-
dentially, this house, for us a perpetual memorial, became ours
again in 1938 as a junior seminary for future missionaries.
6. LAST TRIP TO ST. IGNATIUS' SHRINE 1
At the beginning of August 1874 Don Bosco went up to St. Ig-
natius' Shrine for the annual spiritual retreat, after duly inform-
ing the superiors of the Convitto Ecclesiastico. In the meantime
Archbishop Gastaldi had appointed some young priests to direct
it. As soon as Don Bosco arrived, one of them walked up to him
and said: "We have no more room!"
"I spoke to the superiors of the Convitto and they told me to
come, assuring me that there was room," Don Bosco countered.
"I don't know what else to say, but all the rooms are taken."
"Well, in that case I'll go back to Lanzo!"
"Do whatever you think best."
Since it was clear that he was not wanted, Don Bosco turned
back. On his way downstairs, he met a layman who was surprised
to see him leaving and asked why. Then he immediately hurried
to that priest and indignantly told him, "If there are no more
rooms, I will yield mine to Don Bosco, and I'll commute to Turin
2Cf. Bollettino Sa/esiano, September 1878. [Author]
1We are omitting a series of short notes to benefactors, to Father John Bonetti, and to
Bishop De Gaudenzi of Vigevano. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
for the night, but I will not have Don Bosco leave! This is a
shame! There always has been and always will be room for Don
Bosco!"
To forestall repercussions the priest yielded, and Don Bosco
stayed so as to avoid fanning discontent and complaints. But it
was the last time he went to St. Ignatius' Shrine, though he had
gone there every year since 1842. The popularity and confidence
he enjoyed at the shrine was the reason why he was no longer
wanted. From Lanzo he wrote to Father Rua:
Dear Father Rua:
St. Philip School, Lanzo, August 5, 1874
Tell Father Francesia and Father Cerruti to let the two Cuffia
brothers go. They should not be supplied with additional clothing be-
sides what they are wearing unless they received it from their parents or
relatives. Do not give them a certificate, either good or bad; take out
their overdue accounts and demand payment.
See that the letters for the ladies' spiritual retreat at Mornese are
mailed to the pastors around Mornese. The same should be done for the
teachers' retreat and for the Valsalice College prospectus.
God bless you all. Pray always for me.
Affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
The two Cuffia brothers were the first to leave the Salesian
Congregation without saying a word to their directors, Father
Francesia and Father Cerruti. Don Bosco, foreseeing their deser-
tion, instructed Father Rua to write their pastor a letter whose
original is completely in Don Bosco's own hand. Father Rua used
the same letter again when another priest left with ecclesiastical
patrimony:
Very Reverend Father:
[No date]
As prefect of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales, I request that
Your Reverence pass on to Father James Cuffia and Father Francis
Cuffia some matters of interest to them. Both belonged to this Congre-
gation and were ordained as its members.
Having now left the Salesian Congregation, it is essential that they
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551
comply with what is generically and specifically prescribed by the Holy
See, especially in the decree of approval of our Society. The decree
states: "If anyone leaves this Congregation, he is automatically suspend-
ed until, having provided himself with the required ecclesiastical pa-
trimony, he finds a bishop who will accept him into his diocese."
They have received no such communication because they left without
saying a word to their superior; it would certainly have come, had they
acted properly.
Confident of your assistance, I assure you of my help in any need.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. Michael Rua,
Prefect of the Salesian Convegation
We believe that in 1874 Don Bosco remained at St. Ignatius'
Shrine only for the first spiritual retreat which he personally
made in order to prepare himself a little for his own eternity, as
we gather from what he wrote on August 8 to Countess [Louise]
Viancino before returning to Turin: "Your letter reached me here
at St. Ignatius' Shrine where I am making my spiritual retreat in
order to prepare myself a little for my own eternity. I gravely
need this preparation and heartily recommend myself to your
charitable prayers. . . ." 2 The thought of death was uppermost
in his mind, and, as we shall see later, that year he again made his
last will and testament.
As was customary at the Oratory, his birthday was solemnly
celebrated on August 15, though he had been born on the 16th.
The celebration was enhanced by the presence of Bishop Au-
gust Negrotto, secret chamberlain to the Holy Father. A custom-
ary hymn in Don Bosco's honor was composed by the cleric John
Cinzano. We also have a few letters and addresses that were
publicly read on the evenings of August 14 and 15.3
We have no record, however, of anything Don Bosco said in
September at the yearly retreats for Salesians in Lanzo.4
2This is only an excerpt from Don Bosco's letter. [Editor]
1This sentence is a condensation. We are omitting a request on behalf of the archbishop
of Paris for information on the servant of God, Marie Madeleine Victoire de Bengy (1781-
1858), foundress of the Faithful Companions of Jesus whose cause of beatification and
canonization was being introduced. [Editor]
4We are omitting the resolutions taken by the cleric Joseph Giulitto on the occasion of
his perpetual vows, September 18, 1874. [Editor]
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On September 1, several students of our Valsalice College went
to Rome with their director, Father Francis Dalmazzo, and were
received by the Holy Father. Then, on September 12, 1874, Don
Bosco petitioned the mayor of Turin for subsidies on behalf of
students, both resident and day.5
7. REQUESTS FOR SALESIAN SCHOOLS
Toward the end of 1873 and for the next twelve months, many
insistent requests came from all parts of Italy. We shall mention
those of which we have records: Cogoleto, Alzano Maggiore, Ter-
ruggia, Genoa, Piacenza, Crema, Carpenedolo, Mornese, Pavia,
Ceva, Chiavenna and Campodolcino. None of them were accept-
ed except that for an elementary school at Mornese. 1
8. ARGENTINA
Toward the end of 1874, while invitations for Salesian founda-
tions kept pouring in from everywhere, Don Bosco received a for-
mal request for Salesians in Argentina. He himself stated: "The
first letters came during the Christmas novena, and I read them
to the Superior Chapter on the evening of December 22, 1874."
In August of that year, Consul John Baptist Gazzolo had in-
formed Archbishop Frederick Aneyros of Buenos Aires of his
eagerness to have the Salesians come to Argentina and, as a start,
to take over the church of the confraternity Mater Misericordiae
[Mother of Mercy], known as the Italian church. The archbishop
replied on October 10, 1874, through his secretary Monsignor
Anthony Espinosa, suggesting that the consul himself make his
proposal to the confraternity council.'
At the same time, the archbishop, knowing that a boys' board-
ing school was nearing completion at San Nicolas de los Arroyos
through the efforts of a group of citizens headed by a devout, gen-
erous, revered octogenarian, Joseph Francis Benitez, sent Gazzo-
5This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
1This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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Io's letter to the pastor of San Nicolas, Father Peter Ceccarelli.
The latter, a close friend of the consul, was delighted and ex-
pressed his satisfaction to the consul in a letter dated October 26,
1874.2 Then quickly he set things in motion for handing the new
boarding school over to our first missionaries. His proposal was
happily accepted. Full of joy, Father Ceccarelli then officially in-
formed the consul of this decision in a most interesting letter:
Your Excellency:
San Nicolas, November 11, 1874
It is an honor to inform you that the weighty matter entrusted to me
by the archbishop of Buenos Aires has been satisfactorily taken care of.
To start with, I was privileged to be chosen by the Lord to acquaint our
archbishop with the new Congregation of St. Francis de Sales-a very
easy task because between 1867-1869, as I well remember, I had the op-
portunity to admire the extraordinary zeal of the excellent, incompara-
ble Father John Baptist Bosco in Rome. Later, I was the instrument of
Divine Providence in successfully initiating negotiations to have the Sa-
lesian Congregation accepted in this city, where they will be in charge of
a fine boarding school, a magnificent church in the best part of the
town, and whatever a community of some five to nine priests and their
domestic help will need. I can also assure you that the archbishop and
his vicars general are eagerly awaiting this new Congregation. Hopefully
it will soon staff the new boarding school at San Nicolas and per-
manently administer it. The citizens' committee which had the school
built is most favorable to the reverend Salesian Fathers and, as of now,
regards itself as their champion. Furthermore, we have here a true man
of God, Joseph F. Benitez, who is a very wealthy octogenarian, a father
to the poor and a staunch Catholic. He is chairman of the aforesaid
committee, president of the chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society
and chairman of the churchwardens' council. He is very devoted to the
Holy Father Pope Pius IX, to whom he sends a donation of five thou-
sand lire or more every year. This gentleman is enthused over the Sale-
sian Fathers and tells me that he promises to provide for their needs out
of his own pocket.
I say nothing of myself because you know me and my love for my
brothers in Jesus Christ, for whom I am ready to give all I have, with
God's help, even my position and my very life, if necessary. How my
parish will benefit from them! I know that they will bring it new life and
20mitted in this edition. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
that, through their zeal, my parishioners will be renewed in spirit and
praise the Lord. As Scripture says, "The people that shall be created
shall praise the Lord." [Ps. 101, 19] What a joy for me to have been
Providence's instrument in helping the new Salesian Congregation to
sink its roots in the new world. Chosen by God to originate in my own
country, born in the noble and Catholic Turin, come of age in the shad-
ow of the Vatican, watered by the dew of virtue, and blessed by the hand
of the infallible Pontiff of the Immaculate Conception, it will now be
transplanted in this fair, welcoming, thriving city, to spread from here
throughout the whole of South America!
You well know this distant land, with its customs, manners, climate
and population. You also intimately know the humble person writing
this long letter, and the influential contacts he has made. Well now, I
shall do my utmost for the expansion of this blessed Congregation,
which is doing so much good everywhere, but is most needed in Ameri-
ca, where people hunger for a sound Roman Catholic education. Once it
is established here at San Nicolas, it will easily spread elsewhere because
the Americans, realizing its worth and God's protection on it, will love
and help it materially. The bishops of Parana, Salta and San Juan need
priests to staff their seminaries. God willing, I shall suggest these priests
to them and hope for their acceptance. Just now let us be satisfied with
our San Nicolas.
The school is being given to the Salesian Fathers under most favor-
able terms; you will get them by mail this week, signed by the commit-
tee chairman and the secretary. I hope you will find them acceptable.
It is my opinion that the Very Reverend Don Bosco should possibly
establish his blessed and holy Congregation in San Nicolas. Then, when
our offer has been accepted, he should choose gifted young men and
have them apply themselves full-time to the study of Spanish. They can
stay at my home and I will familiarize them with our customs, assist
them during the first weeks of teaching, and help them to gain the peo-
ple's confidence and affection. Thus I will complete the task that God
has given to me. This is the ardent desire and sincere hope which I
would like to see fulfilled this very day. Fulfilled it shall be, for it is
founded on the designs of Divine Providence which gently but firmly
carries its great undertakings to their conclusion by ways hidden to
human understanding, availing itself of most inadequate instruments so
that Divine Power may be made more apparent.
I close now by begging you to acquaint the Very Reverend Father
John Bosco, superior general, with the contents of this letter, and to do
your best to have the Salesian priests willingly accept the forthcoming
offer of a school in San Nicolas. Pleas~ keep me informed.
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My most grateful thanks to you for your interest in our America, and
please believe me when I say that I was delighted to hear our archbishop
repeatedly speak, in terms of respect and love, of you and your zeal for
the Catholic faith. I will not include the photographs of the archbishop
and of Monsignor Espinosa because they came out quite poorly, but I
will wait for better ones that are being readied. My respects to your
family.
Yours devotedly,
Fr. Peter B. Ceccarelli
P.S. As I was about to seal this letter, the committee informed me
that the Salesian Fathers have been accepted according to the terms I
proposed. The committee ·also requests me to mail you the formal invi-
tation so that you may present it to the reverend Fathers. I accept this
honorable charge. You will soon have all the documents.
P. B. Ceccarelli
A few days later, on December 2, he sent all the promised doc-
uments to the consul, who seems to have been a member or to
have been made an honorary member of the citizens' committee.3
There were three documents: a report on setting up and organiz-
ing a committee sponsoring the construction of the school, the act
constituting it, and finally a description of the building.
Along with the documents were two letters for Don Bosco,
respectively from Father Ceccarelli and from the chairman of the
committee. Father Ceccarrelli's letter could not have been more
enthusiastic:
Very Reverend Father:
San Nicolas, November 30, 1874
Though you do not know me, I make bold to address myself to you. J
most earnestly beg you to accept the invitation of the committee in
charge of the new boarding school of this city to run this school with the
same methods used by your well-deserving Congregation of St. Francis
de Sales in its schools for middle-class pupils. The Argentine consul in
3This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Savona will tell you about my own humble person and about San Nico-
las and the very favorable terms offered to you.
With pleasure I assure you that His Excellency, the archbishop of
Buenos Aires, warmly welcomes your Congregation to his archdiocese
and earnestly hopes that it may develop and prosper for the welfare of
souls and God's greater glory, since as of this moment he intends to be
its father and protector.
I say nothing of myself, except that I ardently desire to be useful to
your holy and meritorious Congregation which, in my humble opinion,
will expand extraordinarily in these endless plains that so badly need the
saving waters of eternal life flowing from the side of our most loving
Savior.
Let me offer you my humble services in anything you may need. I
hope that you will accept them in the same spirit in which they are of-
fered.
My home, friends, and indeed all I have are at the disposal of Your
Reverence and the Salesian Fathers. From this very moment I love them
as my dear brothers and place myself at your command.
Most respectfully and devotedly I kiss your sacred hand.
Yours obedient son in Jesus Christ,
Father Peter B. Ceccarelli
Mr. Francis J. Benitez too, chairman of the committee, thrilled
at the thought of having the Salesians there soon, wrote to him on
November 30, 1874, promising tickets for the voyage to Buenos
Aires of the first five missionaries he hoped to welcome and a
check for all other travel expenses.4
Consul Gazzola forwarded all letters and documents to Don
Bosco who, as we have said, publicly read them to the members
of the Superior Chapter on the evening of December 22. In turn,
he expressed his thanks to Monsignor Anthony Espinosa, Father
Peter Ceccarelli and the committee members of San Nicolas.
After complimentary remarks for Monsignor Espinosa and Con-
sul Gazzola, Don Bosco outlined his acceptance of their proposals
in these terms: 5
l. I am willing to send priests to Buenos Aires to establish some sort
4We are omitting his lengthy letter. [Editor]
5What follows is an excerpt from Don Bosco's letter to Monsignor Espinosa. [Editor]
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The Vision ofthe Future-1874
557
of headquarters. To this end it would be very helpful to have a church
for sacred services, and more especially for teaching catechism to the
most neglected children. The well-deserving Consul Gazzola has sug-
gested the Church of Our Lady of Mercy. If no public church is avail-
able, we could make do with some hall in which to gather and care for
destitute boys.
2. Later I will send enough priests, clerics and lay Salesians to San
Nicolas to take care of the religious services, choir and, if necessary,
teaching.
3. From these two locations Salesians could be sent wherever the or-
dinary thinks they are needed.
On Christmas Day 1874, Don Bosco wrote to Father Cec-
carelli, clearly emphasizing that all the Salesians desired was to
do priestly work, "especially on behalf of poor, abandoned
youth." "Our main field of apostolate," he added, "is catechiz-
ing, teaching, preaching, and running festive oratories, homes and
boarding schools." While thanking him for his truly unselfish
charity and zeal, Don Bosco begged him to stay on at San Nico-
las at least until the new missionaries had acquired sufficient
knowledge of the language and local customs to be able to pro-
mote God's greater glory. "Who knows?" he added. "By your ex-
ample, zeal and advice might you not become in practice our
Salesians' de facto superior? To sum it up, I beg you even now to
look upon us as your humble sons in Jesus Christ and to give us
advice or directives which you judge necessary or opportune in
this pious undertaking. May God bless you and grant you good
health to continue your work for the welfare of souls."
Both letters were handed to Consul Gazzolo who suggested
some corrections regarding names and titles. We do not know if
Don Bosco made them all; seemingly he did not, since they do not
appear in our archive copies. He also wrote to the committee to
say that he would gladly take over the direction of the boarding
school they had built for middle-class boys. However, he again
stressed that the principal objective of the Salesian Congregation
was to take care of poor, endangered boys, and that he hoped the
Salesian Fathers would be free to run evening classes for them
and to gather them on Sundays for catechetical instruction.
Thus, in no time at all it was decided to open the first houses in
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Argentina, the land of the first missionary field seen by Don
Bosco in a dream. There, quite soon, our missionaries would
make generous sacrifices!
9. THE THIRD f AMILY
Having seen to the Salesian Society's definitive approval, Don
Bosco quickly set about giving a formal structure to his third
family which, drawn by his love for youth, had begun gathering
about him from the very beginning of his apostolate.
"In 1841, as I dedicated myself to the festive oratories' aposto-
late"-he wrote-"several devout, zealous priests and laymen
joined me in caring for a harvest which even then promised much
for morally endangered boys. These co-workers or cooperators
constantly supported the charitable undertakings entrusted to us
by Divine Providence."
In 1845 Don Bosco obtained from Pope Gregory XVI a plen-
ary indulgence in articu/o mortis [at the point of death] for fifty
of his more outstanding benefactors. As early as 1850 he had
mulled over the idea of founding "a provisional pious union under
the patronage of St. Francis de Sales," for just as he "had freed
Savoy from Protestant errors by an enlightened zeal," this pious
union was likewise expected to be "the nucleus of a far-flung soci-
ety whose members would exert all efforts and use all lawful pains-
taking means" in their dedication "to those spiritual and cor-
poral works of mercy" which seemed "most timely and effective
to stem the tide of irreligion and, where possible, to wipe it out of
existence."
It was Don Bosco's idea that this union, made up of laymen
"lest malignant tongues label it a front for some priestly racket,"
was to be incorporated into the Salesian Society. Hence he in-
cluded the following explicit paragraph in the first draft of the
Salesian constitutions. Our source is one of the first copies writ-
ten by Cleric Charles Ghivarello. 1
1Charles Ghivarello (1853-1913) entered the Oratory at the age of twenty and received
the clerical habit from Don Bosco the following year. He made his first formal vows in
1862 and was ordained a priest in 1864. His building expertise greatly helped Don Bosco.
He filled important positions until his death in 1913. [Editor]
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Externs
1. Anyone, even if he is living with his family at home, may belong to
our Society.
2. The applicant will not take vows, but will strive to carry out those
rules of ours which suit his age and state of life.
3. To share in the spiritual treasury of the Salesian Society, the appli-
cant should at least promise the rector to employ both material goods
and all necessary efforts in things that the superior will judge conducive
to God's greater glory.
4. This promise, however, does not bind under any penalty of sin.
These same articles were also put into the Appendix of the
Latin text which Don Bosco submitted for definitive approval in
1873 and in the very first edition published in Rome in 1874 by
the Propaganda Fide Press.
After removing this paragraph from the constitutions at the ad-
vice of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars and
after obtaining their definitive approval, Don Bosco decided to set
up these outside members as a separate association or, rather,
third family, and briefly jotted down its general outline.
Association of St. Francis de Sales
Purpose and Means
The purpose of this association is to unite the laity and priests in un-
dertaking whatever will be considered conducive to God's greater glory
and the welfare of souls.
Their means will be zeal for God's glory and energetic charity to
employ whatever may spiritually or materially contribute toward such a
purpose without selfish interests or vainglory.
No branch of knowledge will be neglected if it can contribute to the
association's goal.
Membership
Every good Christian may join this association as long as he is deter-
mined to work in accordance with its goal and means.
Humbly accustomed to seek advice on important matters, he
disclosed his plan in 1874 to the Superior Chapter and to the
directors of our schools at Lanzo. Three years later he did the
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
same concerning the publication of the Bollettino Sa/esiano. Not
fully grasping the purpose of the Association of St. Francis de
Sales and regarding it as but another confraternity or pious so-
dality of little if any purpose, several Salesians voiced objections.
Don Bosco smilingly listened and then exclaimed: "You have
not quite grasped my idea, but you will see that this association
will become the bulwark of our Society! Think about it: We shall
discuss it again. . . ."
Since he had already sketched its program-which we have in
manuscript form-he had it read aloud. Later he revised it, in
such a way as to make it clear that he intended to give the as-
sociate members of the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales the
status of regular tertiaries.
Associate Members of the Congregation ofSt. Francis De Sales
To the Catholic Reader
In matters of great importance, men usually band together into a so-
ciety so that, through combined hard work and diligence, knowledge and
expertise, they may achieve their goals with the least possible loss. Now,
if the children of this world are so prudent in earthly matters-says Our
Lord-should not the children of light be much more prudent in using
all available means in the important matter of eternal salvation?
In this day and age a powerful means is a union of upright people. Vis
unita f ortior; funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur [Union is strength; a
triple-plaited cord is hard to break]. A strong man united to another
strong man certainly gains strength. A single cord is very weak indeed,
but when it is entwined with two others, it can hardly be broken. Simi-
larly, a Catholic, left to himself, can easily be overcome by the promot-
ers of evil, but if he is encouraged and helped by others, he becomes
strong, able to protect himself from spiritual harm and to promote the
welfare of his fellow men and of our holy faith.
This association aims at making good Catholics singleminded in their
efforts to promote their own eternal salvation and that of their fellow
men according to the rules of the Society of St. Francis de Sales.
The Association ofSt. Francis de Sales
To ensure their eternal salvation, many good Christians and many in-
fluential persons have insistently called for a Salesian association that
would offer ordinary people a norm of Christian life according to the
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spirit of the [Salesian] Congregation through the observance of those
rules which are compatible with their state of life.
Many people would most willingly leave this world in order to avoid
its dangers to their salvation and enjoy peace of heart by living a solitary
life in Jesus' love. However, not everyone is called to such a life because
of age, state of life, health and calling. To satisfy this overall desire we
propose the Pious Association of St. Francis de Sales whose objective is
twofold:
1. To offer a means of perfection to those who for sound reasons can-
not enter a religious institute.
2. To let them participate in public or private charitable and religious
activities of the Salesian Congregation for God's greater glory and the
welfare of souls.
These two goals may be easily attained by observing those rules of
this Congregation which are compatible with their state of life.
We may add another reason, perhaps more important: the need of
unity. Undeniably, men of the world join forces to further business inter-
ests, to spread bad literature, and to propagate evil doctrines among the
young-and they succeed marvelously! In view of this, should Catholics
stand idle, each left to his own devices, and allow their efforts to be
paralyzed by evil men? God forbid! Let us all band together under the
rules of the Salesian Congregation, form one heart and soul with our ex-
tern associates, and be true brothers, one for all and all for one, for bet-
ter or for worse. We shall certainly achieve this lofty goal by uniting this
association to the Salesian Congregation.
Purpose of This Association
The purpose of this association is to unite good Catholics in promot-
ing the interests of our holy faith and to assure their own salvation by
observing those rules of the Society of St. Francis de Sales2 which are
compatible with their state of life.
The main objectives for which all association members should strive
are the following:
1. Bettering themselves spiritually through works of mercy toward
their neighbor, especially toward poor, homeless boys. Bringing them up
in the holy fear of God will cause juvenile delinquency to decline, civil
society to reform, and countless souls to be saved.
2. Gathering poor boys, teaching them in one's own home, warning
them of dangers, and directing them where they may be instructed in the
2The Society or Congregation of St. Francis de Sales was approved by Pope Pius IX on
March 1, 1869. [Author]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
faith are activities in which every association member may usefully en-
gage himself. If one cannot do this personally, he may do so through
fellow workers, relatives, friends, acquaintances and others. One may
also pray for those who work or supply material means wherever they
are needed.3
3. In these troublesome times the lack of priestly vocations is keenly
felt. Every association member, therefore, will strive to help those boys
-the poor especially who show signs of a vocation-by good advice and
by steering them to such day or resident schools where they may receive
encouragement and mostly a religious education, without which there is
no true knowledge, morality or right upbringing. Without a thorough
grounding in the faith it is morally impossible to obtain a genuine priest-
ly call.
4. Every association member will do his utmost to forestall words or
acts against the Roman Pontiff or his supreme authority. He shall there-
fore abide by church laws and foster their observance, inculcate respect
for the Pope, bishops and priests, and promote catechetical instructions,
novenas, triduums, spiritual retreats and attendance at sermons. In gen-
eral he should take an active part in all these things and try to get others
involved.
5. Since nowadays books spread a flood of irreligious, immoral
teachings, Salesians shall not only earnestly try to block the distribution
of bad books but shall do their utmost to spread good books, leaflets,
and similar publications where they are most needed. Let each associa-
tion member start doing so in his own home and among his relatives,
friends and acquaintances, and then wherever it can be done.4
Rules for Sa/esian Associates
1. Anyone who is at least sixteen may join this assoc1at10n. Other
requirements are: good moral character, faithful practice of the Catholic
faith, and obedience to the Church and to the Roman Pontiff.
2. There are no external penances, but each association member must
distinguish himself among other Christians by modest dress, frugal
meals, unpretentious home furnishings, blameless speech, and the exact
fulfillment of his duties.
3. Every year association members shall make a spiritual retreat at
3To this end the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales runs homes in Turin and Sampier-
darena, boarding schools at Lanzo, Valsalice, Borgo San Martino, Varazze and Alassio,
and oratories in the city of Turin. [Author]
4The Salesian Congregation actively strives to spread good books, especially through its
monthly publications, Letture Catto/iche [Catholic Readings], and Italian Classics for the
Young. [Editor]
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563
home or in a church or retreat house. There is no set time for this re-
treat, but all members shall make a general confession; if they have al-
ready done so in the past, an annual confession will suffice.
Every month they shall make the Exercise for a Happy Death and re-
ceive the sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist as though they
were about to die. If they own any property, they shall make a will and
put their family affairs in order, as though they were indeed to leave this
world that very day.
4. They shall daily recite a Pater and an Ave to St. Francis de Sales
for the preservation and growth of our holy Catholic faith. Those who
recite the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin or the Divine Office are ex-
cused from this prayer, provided that they specify this intention when
saying the Office.
5. They shall devoutedly say their morning and night prayers, and
sanctify Sundays and holy days by attending Holy Mass, sermon and
Benediction and strictly avoiding all servile work.
6. Every association member shall give his full name and address,
place of birth, and state of life to the director of the association, who is
also the rector of the Church of Mary, Help of Christians in Turin. For
the greater convenience of applicants, in areas where there are Salesian
houses, the directors of such houses are allowed to enroll them but must
send the above-mentioned information to Turin for entry into the mem-
bership roster.
7. Every association member shall consider the Salesian Congrega-
tion as a mother, helping it by prayer and promoting its works, such as
catechism classes, spiritual retreats, sermons, novenas, triduums, boys'
homes, and public and private schools. They shall also give all the mate-
rial and spiritual help they can afford and consider useful for God's
greater glory and the welfare of souls.
8. Every day the superior of the Salesian Congregation shall have
prayers said for all association members and shall let them share in all
Masses, prayers, sermons and good works of the Salesians in their
priestly ministry and works of charity.
The day after the feast of St. Francis de Sales, all Salesian priests
shall offer Mass for deceased confreres. Those who are not priests shall
receive Holy Communion and recite five mysteries of the rosary and
other prayers.
9. The rector of the Salesian Congregation is also the superior of the
association. He is represented by the rector of the Church of Mary,
Help of Christians in Turin, to whom association members may apply in
case of necessity. However, in localities where there are Salesian houses,
association members shall apply to the directors.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
10. Should any association member fall sick, the superior shall be
told at once so that he may order public prayers on his behalf. The same
should be done without delay in the event of death. In the latter case, the
rector shall inform all association members at once, and they shall recite
five mysteries of the rosary and offer up Holy Communion for the
repose of the soul of the departed member.
11. Once a year the superior shall tell the members of those who
passed to a better life during that year and about undertakings for the
coming year which seem more urgent for God's greater glory.
12. The principal feast days of the Society are those of St. Francis de
Sales, Mary, Help of Christians and St. Joseph. Secondary feasts are
those of the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles, St. John the Baptist, Christ-
mas, Easter, Pentecost, Corpus Christi, All Saints and All Souls.
13. Every association member will contribute one lira annually to
defray publication, shipping costs and incidental expenses. Forgetfulness
or inability to do so will not deprive the member of prayers in case of
illness or death.
14. All members should strive to help one another by good example,
prayers, and even temporal assistance. Those who can do so are exhort-
ed to offer hospitality to members of the Congregation whenever neces-
sary. Such members earn the merit of that work of mercy known as
"sheltering the homeless."
15. These rules do not bind under penalty of either mortal or venial
sin, save in those things which are already commanded or prohibited by
the commandments of God and of the Church.
Later, some confreres and Don Bosco himself, who kept study-
ing the structure of this association, came to the conclusion that
it had best be simplified to broaden its appeal. That year Don
Bosco drafted, revised and published a new outline entitled Unione
Cristiana [Christian Association] that offered "to ordinary Chris-
tians a way of life akin to the religious life." In this new outline
"the Salesian Association" was substantially "a sort of third
order, as in ancient times, with this difference-that those third
orders aimed at Christian perfection through pious exercises,"
whereas the Salesian Association's "main purpose is an active
life, especially on behalf of morally endangered youth."
Following is the text published by Don Bosco:
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1. Christian Union
Feeble forces, when united, become stronger. Vis unita Jortior; union
is stre.ngth. A single strand may be easily broken, but several such
strands twined together form a strong cord which is very difficult to
break. Funiculus triplex difficile rumpitur [A triple-plaited cord is hard
to break]. That is what people of the world do in order to succeed in
business enterprises. We Christians must act likewise. Like the first
Christians, we must stand united as a single heart and soul in order to
succeed in the important venture of achieving eternal salvation. This is
the objective of the Salesian Association.
2. Salesian Association
The purpose of this association is to offer to people living in the world
a way of life somewhat similar to the religious life so that they may at
least partially enjoy that peace which is vainly sought in the world.
Many would willingly withdraw into a monastery but cannot do so
because of age, health, or state of life; very many others lack the oppor-
tunity or call and have no chance at all. Still, even in the midst of their
usual occupations, within their own family circle, they can lead a life
which is helpful to their fellow men and to themselves, almost as though
they lived in a religious community. For this reason the Salesian Associ-
ation may be regarded as one of the ancient third orders, with this dif-
ference: those third orders aimed at Christian perfection through pious
exercises, whereas this association has as its main purpose the active life,
especially on behalf of morally endangered youth.
3. Purpose of This Association
The same field of activity of the Salesian Congregation is open to all
association members.
(a) The first duty of association members is love for morally endan-
gered boys. Gathering them together, instructing them in the faith,
warning them of dangers and directing them where they may be instruct-
ed are activities in which all association members are invited to parti-
cipate with zeal. Anyone unable to take part personally may do so
through relatives or friends or through prayer or material help. It is also
the duty of the association to promote novenas, triduums, spiritual re-
treats and catechism classes, especially in areas lacking material and
moral means.
(b) Since the lack of priestly vocations is keenly felt nowadays, each
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
association member shall take special care of those boys who manifest
some sign of a vocation by their good moral and intellectual qualities.
They should counsel and direct them to those day or resident schools
which will assist them in following their vocation.
(c) They should strive to counteract godless literature by spreading
good books, pamphlets, leaflets and printed matter of any kind in those
places and among such persons as may be needed.
4. Bylaws
1. Anyone who is at least sixteen may join this association, provided
that he intends to abide by its rules.
2. The superior of the Salesian Congregation is also the superior of
this association.
3. Directors of Salesian houses are authorized to enroll members, but
must send their full names and addresses to headquarters so that they
may be entered in the association's register.
4. In villages or towns with no Salesian house but with at least ten as-
sociate members a leader will be appointed with the title of decurion.
Ten decurions may also have a leader whose title will be prefect of the
association.
The local pastor or an exemplary priest shall preferably be chosen as
prefect or decurion, and he will report directly to the superior. Where
there are less than ten associate members, they shall report to the direc-
tor of the nearest Salesian house or directly to the superior.
5. Decurions and prefects shall maintain contact with their respective
teams, but members may always consult their superior directly on mat-
ters they feel pertinent to public welfare, especially for young people.
6. At the end of each year, the superior shall advise members on
priorities for the coming year and inform them of members who have
died during the year, recommending prayers for their souls.
5. Special Obligations
1. There are no annual membership dues, but voluntary contributions
to sustain the association's activities are gratefully accepted. They may
be given to decurions, prefects, directors, or the superior himself.
6. Benefits
1. Members may gain many indulgences, a list of which will be
mailed to all.
2. They shall share in Masses, indulgences, prayers, novenas, tri-
duums, spiritual retreats, sermons, catechetical instructions and works
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of mercy which Salesians perform in their priestly ministry, particularly
in those Masses and prayers which are daily offered in the Church of
Mary, Help of Christians in Turin to invoke heavenly blessings on them
and their families.
3. On the day following the feast of St. Francis de Sales, every Sale-
sian priest and those priests belonging to the association will offer Mass
for deceased members. Lay members shall try to receive Holy Commu-
nion and say five mysteries of the rosary and other prayers for this in-
tention.
4. When a member is ill, the superior shall be informed at once so
that he can have special prayers said on his behalf. The same applies
when a member dies.
7. Religious Practices
1. Members are not bound to perform external penances but are
urged to observe modesty in dress, frugality in meals, simplicity in home
furnishings, propriety in speech and exactness in performing the duties
of their state of life.
2. They are urged to make a spiritual retreat for a few days each
year. On the last day of each month, or on another suitable day, they
shall make the Exercise for a Happy Death by receiving Penance and
Communion as if it were their last day of life.
3. Lay members shall daily recite a Pater and an Ave to St. Francis
de Sales for the Church's needs. Priests and lay members who daily
recite the Little Office of Our Lady or the Divine Office are excused
from this prayer if they specify this intention in reciting the Office.
4. Let all members receive Penance and the Holy Eucharist as often
as possible.
5. For everybody's tranquillity of conscience we declare that the rules
of this association do not oblige under penalty of sin save in those things
that are already commanded or forbidden by God and Holy Mother
Church. They should be observed because of their spiritual advantages
and the purpose of this association.5
After passing out copies of this draft to friends, Don Bosco re-
edited it, changing its name to "Association for Good Works,"
and sent both drafts to several bishops. In 1875, after receiving
letters of commendation from the bishops of Casale Monferrato,
5We are omitting the member's ::ipplication and pledge to further the association's goals.
[Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Acqui, Alberna, Alessandria, Vigevano, Tortona and Genoa, he
obtained special spiritual favors from the Holy See for the
members, and in 1876 he successfully had the association canoni-
cally established as the "Pious Union of Salesian Cooperators."
It is also quite evident that Don Bosco wanted his third family
to benefit not only the Salesian Society, but bishops in every field,
particularly in educating poor, abandoned youngsters.
In Don Bosco's mind the Salesian Cooperators were to be the
forerunners of Catholic Action.
10. IN THE FALL
After the spiritual retreats, Don Bosco decided to spend a few
days with the Fassati family at their summer home at Montema-
gno where he had sent Father John Baptist Francesia [for a few
days' rest]. During his stay, Father Francesia was asked about a
boarding school for a boy and dutifully wrote to Don Bosco, who
sent him the following reply:
Dear Father Francesia:
Lanzo, 27 . . .1
Your pen can get you anything at all from Don Bosco. I can't help
granting your request except for a slight alteration: let the boy come to
the Oratory rather than Varazze. There are good reasons for this, espe-
cially in your regard. Handle the whole thing; let the parents pay what
they can. We shall depend on Divine Providence for the rest.
Please give my regards to the Fassati family. If you write again, tell
me if they have other guests, particularly members of the De Maistre
family or the duchess of Montmorency. . . .
Dear Father Francesia, love me in the Lord and pray for me.
Affectionately in the Lord,
Fr. John Bosco
I According to the Epistolario di San Giovanni Bosco, Vol. II, Letter 1224, the date of
this letter is September 9, 1874. (Editor]
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He wrote to him again on October 3, informing him that twice
he had had to postpone his trip to Montemagno and that he was
wondering if the Fassati family would still be there the following
week. 2
As in previous years, he went to Becchi for the feast of Our
Lady of the Rosary. Sister Eulalia Bosco, his niece, jotted down
the following notes about this visit:
I recall that when I was between five and nine years old, Don Bosco
used to come to Becchi every year, arriving by coach from Chieri or
Buttigliera, sometimes on a Thursday, more frequently on a Saturday
evening, the eve of the_ieast of Our Lady of the Rosary. His secretary,
Father Berto, or some other priest came with him.
We little girls would anxiously await uncle's arrival because he always
brought us delicious pears or candy, but he would not give us his gifts
until he had asked us a few catechism questions or told us to make the
Sign of the Cross, about whose careful observance he was very par-
ticular.
I recall that when I was about eight years old (Eulalia was born in
1866) I went up to him while he was discussing something important-
or so I think-with my father. Tugging at his cassock, I asked, "Uncle,
will I become a nun?" With a stern glance my father made me under-
stand that this was not the time to bother him, but I kept asking the
question until Don Bosco replied with a loving smile, "Yes, you will
become a nun, but first you must grow up a lot. . . ."
In August 1881, I went to Nizza Monferrato on retreat and there
again met Don Bosco. Immediately after I greeted him, he said, "Your
sister Mary wanted to become a postulant this year, but Our Lady
wants to take her to heaven and expects you to take her place here." I
was astonished because since I was nine I had lost any thought or incli-
nation to become a nun. ''No!" I replied immediately. "Mary must not
die! Mamma has written that Mary is better, and I don't want to be-
come a nun."
"Mary will go to heaven, and you will become a nun!" he repeated.
"When the fish is in the net," he went on, "one should not let it escape."
In tears I hurried home to see my sister. Unfortunately, she died three
days later.
Seeing his words fulfilled, I immediately wanted to return to Nizza,
but my parents objected because I was too young. A year later, however,
they let me go to Turin with Sister Rosalia Pestarino to pay my respects
2This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
to my uncle and to tell him that I had decided to go to Nizza as a
postulant. My uncle, who for years had longed to see a nephew or niece
as a priest or nun, raised his eyes to heaven and exclaimed happily,
"Eulalia, you are my consolation."
On October 5, Don Bosco sent instructions to Father Rua
about personnel. On his return to the Oratory, he visited the Fas-
sati and Callori families, and from Vignole he wrote to Father
Berto [his secretary] to join him for some business. Meanwhile he
kept receiving requests from Rome for a Salesian priest to go to
the Concettini or Brothers Hospitallers of the Immaculate Con-
ception. In compliance he kept writing to Father Lemoyne at
Lanzo to see if Father Joseph Scappini could possibly leave for
Rome in early January and be replaced in two weeks by Father
Porta.3
11. THE SONS OF MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS
From the earliest years of the Oratory, and increasingly so
after he opened the secondary school for the boarders,1 several of
the young men expressed an eager wish to study for the priest-
hood. In response, in 1873-74 Don Bosco set up a special curricu-
lum for them which was nicknamed "school of fire" [because of
the students' ardor and eagerness].2 Several Salesians were dis-
pleased and voiced their opposition. They maintained that push-
ing these young men forward indiscriminately could not possibly
have good results; some, they argued, were barely able to keep up
with their normal studies, while the rest did not seem flexible
enough to be shaped into priestly material because of their set
ways. 3
Zealously but charitably, Father Rua instantly tried to dispel
such criticism, regarding it as prompted by exaggerated fears.
3This paragraph is a condensation. We are omitting another letter of Don Bosco to Fa-
ther Lemoyne on the same subject, an encouraging note to Cleric Cinzano, and other de-
tails. [Editor]
1See Vol. V, pp. 284, 362, 496f. [Editor]
2See Vol. XI, pp. 44ff. [Editor]
3Ibid., pp. 42f. [Editor]
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While kindly encouraging and helping these young adults, he kept
highlighting present and future benefits to persons who would like
to see the project fail. On this score he inserted the following in-
teresting statement into the Informative Process [for Don Bosco's
beatification and canonization]:
From the very start, when Don Bosco opened a secondary school for
residents, he saw among them adults who had been prevented by various
reasons from studying for the priesthood in their younger years and
were determined to set themselves to this task as soon as they could. On
the whole, Don Bosco saw that they were very diligent, genuinely pious
and quite willing to help younger schoolmates by supervising them and
waiting on them at table. He also noticed that they had a better chance
of becoming priests than the younger boys-so much so that he used to
say that at least eight out of ten would succeed. For this reason, in 1873-
74 he thought of separating them from the rest, not only to spare them
occasional embarrassment if they lagged behind their .younger class-
mates, but also to form their character more easily and to speed up their
progress in more important subjects by dropping less important ones.
This providential initiative, which was later called "The Sons of
Mary Project for Vocations to the Priesthood,"4 was established
on a firm basis within two years and, thanks to the commenda-
tion of several bishops and archbishops, received special spiritual
favors from Pope Pius IX. Father John Bonetti wrote:
When the Italian parliament abrogated seminarians' exemption from
military service, Don Bosco, foreseeing an ever greater scarcity of
priests in the future, decided to offset this deficiency by offering priest-
hood-oriented courses to young adults who were either exempt from mili-
tary service or had already served.
Meanwhile, Don Bosco gave himself no rest from finding finan-
cial help to exempt his clerics from military service.5
4/bid., p. 24. [Editor]
5This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
12. THE THOUGHT OF DEATH
In the late fall of 1874 a very strange thing occurred at the
Oratory. A young student, Louis Deppert, who later became a
Salesian, was knifed. Here is his own declaration:
One evening, late in the fall of 1874, while all were at supper and all
the Oratory was silent, I, Louis Deppert, was busily writing in the door-
keeper's lodge. The outside door was ajar. Suddenly it was flung open,
and three young draftees, obviously drunk, strode in. I approached them
and asked, "Can I help you?"
"We want to see Don Bosco," one replied.
"I'm sorry, but this is the wrong time. Come back tomorrow."
"We want to talk to him tonight," they insisted.
"I'm telling you that you cannot. He's at supper now, and anyway
this is no time for calls." I moved them toward the door and tried to
force them out and bolt it. They resisted, and I tried to bar their way by
firmly planting my feet and stretching my arms. With a quick exchange
of looks, one of them pulled out a knife and struck me in the chest.
Then they rushed out.
At first, unaware that I had been knifed, I locked the door and went
back to the desk. In minutes, however, I felt faint and saw that my
jacket was slit and drenched with blood. I got up to seek help but my
strength failed me. Luckily, [Andrew] Pelazza, who was walking in the
adjacent portico, helped me to the infirmary. In the fear that my wound
might be serious, perhaps even fatal, I was taken to Sts. Maurice and
Lazarus Hospital. Indeed, the wound was quite serious. Had it been a
little deeper, it would have been the end of me. Thanks to God and to
the care of skilled surgeons, I was able to leave the hospital in two
weeks. After a brief convalescence, I regained full health, continued my
studies and donned the cassock that same year.
What did those fellows want? Did they really wish to see Don Bosco
at that hour? What was behind it all? These were questions asked by
most people at the Oratory.
So much for Father [Louis] Deppert, but might we not specu-
late that those three ruffians had been hired to thrust that knife
into Don Bosco's heart? We think so, for this was not the last at-
tempt on Don Bosco's life by enemies of the Church.
Meanwhile Don Bosco, ever aware of death, as we have already
said. often spoke about it. For instance, in early January 1873 he
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573
repeatedly told a priest, "My concern now is to make our Society
grow as much as possible. Then I will sing the Nunc dimittis ser-
vum Tuum, Domine [Now, Lord, You can dismiss Your servant
in peace-Luke 2, 29].
Between 1871-74 he repeatedly drafted a last will and tes-
tament. Several such wills-including two drawn up respectively
in 1856, before Mamma Margaret's death, and in 1869-are in
our archives. 1
The testament of 1856 cited these directives about his funeral:
I want my funeral to be inexpensive. The pastor of Borga Dora has
promised to conduct it gratis. I deeply desire, however, that all the Ora-
tory boys and those attending our festive oratories be invited and be
given the blessed medals and small crucifixes which I have purposely set
aside for this. I want no inscription on my grave, but if any should be
placed, it should reflect these sentiments: "As he was dying, Father John
Bosco said this to his friends, 'Homo, humus; Jama, fumus; finis, cinis
[Man is clay; fame is smoke; the end is ashes]. 2
The testament listed also all the publications he had authored.3
It concluded with the following exhortation:
Turin, July 26, 1856
Reminders to My Sons So That They May All Be Saved
My sons, if you wish to ensure your eternal salvation:
I. Willingly hear the Word of God.
2. Beware of impurity.
3. Do all you can to make good confessions.
By this will and testament I intend to abrogate any and all previous
testamentary dispositions.
May the Lord's name be blessed now and forever.
Eternal rest grant unto me, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon
me.
Fr. John Bosco, Director
Oratory ofSt. Francis de Sales
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2This is only an excerpt from· Don Bosco's testament. [Editor]
3See Vol. V, pp. 472f. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Instead of the Requiem aeternam we heartily offer up to God a
hymn of thanksgiving for having summoned us to belong to the
family of such a father!
In a second will, in 1869, he named Father Michael Rua as his
sole heir, and, in the event of Father Rua's death, Father John
Cagliero.4 In 1871, while ill at Varazze, he secretly jotted down
the following declarations:
Varazze, December 22, 1871
I confirm my previous will which names Father Michael Rua, present
prefect of the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales, as sole heir and executor
of my will. Not included in the estate are my family property in Castel-
nuovo d'Asti, which I bequeath to my two nephews, Louis and Francis,
the sons of my deceased brother Joseph. Two years after my death, they
must give two hundred lire to each of the children of my stepbrother
Anthony who may be living at the time. Such sums are to be given with
no interest whate¥er.
He showed and perhaps also gave this declaration to Father
Rua when the latter visited him. In turn, Father Rua wrote the
following memo on a separate sheet:
Confidential
Should Don Bosco's nephews not be able to give their sisters and
cousins the two hundred lire they are entitled to, it is Don Bosco's inten-
tion, made known to me orally, that they be helped by the sole heir. To
this end he asked the latter to find out from them if they need help.
Father Rua, Prefect
In 1874 he rewrote his will, making more specific and most
charitable provisions for his relatives. There may have been other
revisions of his testament. Then, in 1884, before leaving for
France, he sent for a notary and again dictated a last will and tes-
tament, naming Father Rua and Father Cagliero as sole heirs,
but we have not personally seen this document. In the confidential
4This sentence is a condensation. We are omitting details about his other testaments.
[Editor]
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The Vision ofthe Future-1874
575
note mentioned above, Father Rua added this statement: "Sever-
al times during 1887 [Don Bosco] recommended to Father Rua
that he help his nephew Francis to clear up debts he had contract-
ed when dividing the estate with his brother Louis and in some
other contingency."
His concern for his family, especially under the straitened cir-
cumstances of his own life, resembled that of the greatest saints.5
13. AT NICE
In 1874 Don Bosco was urgently requested to open a school at
Nice, France. Accompanied by Father Joseph Ronchail, the pre-
fect of the Salesian boarding school at Alassio, he went to Nice
immediately after the feast of the Immaculate Conception to han-
dle this matter personally. Without much ado he agreed to send a
few Salesians there the following year. 1
During his two-day visit, he met a Mr. Joseph Canale who had
been one of the very first boys to attend his catechism classes in
the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Turin. 2 Mr. Canale, a
Genoese resident, was so overjoyed that Father Ronchail says he
found it very hard to part from Don Bosco. From Nice Don Bosco
wrote to Father Louis Guanella, who wanted to become a
Salesian: 3
Dear Father Louis:
Nice, December 12, 1874
Your place is ready. Come whenever you wish. When you get to
Turin, we shall see where we can best place you. I say this because of
5We are omitting a confidential remark of Don Bosco to Father Lemoyne concerning
Don Bosco's grandnephew because it is repetitious. It can be found verbatim on pp. 90-91
of this volume. [Editorl
1This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
2See Vol. II, pp. 59ff. [Editor]
3Father Louis Guanella (l 842-1915) did become a Salesian, but he later left and founded
the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence (1872) and of the Servants
of Charity (1886). His cause of beatification was introduced in 1939; he was beatified Oc-
tober 25, 1964. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
your own words: "If I am not accepted in your Congregation, I am de-
termined to apply to another one."
Just try to leave your affairs settled so that there will be no need for
you to have to go and care for them.
Goodbye, dear Father Louis. Have a nice trip, and may God bless us
all.
Yours affectionately in Jesus Christ,
Fr. John Bosco
P.S. I shall be in Turin on Thursday.
He also sent condolences to Father Rua for the loss of his
brother and advised him of his return to the Oratory on Thurs-
day.4
From Nice he artd Father Ronchail went to Ventimiglia where
he was awaited by the zealous and saintly missionary, Father Hy-
acinth Bianchi. Having learned that Don Bosco had founded the
Institute of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, he hoped
to persuade Don Bosco to open a novitiate in his parish where
eighteen young girls wished to become nuns. He said that he had
a residence for them. Don Bosco and Father Ronchail inspected it
and immediately found it utterly inadequate. Ultimately [in 1875]
Father Bianchi did found the Missionary Daughters of Mary
which now [1939] has several convents in Italy and abroad. After
a brief stopover at Alassio and Sampierdarena Don Bosco finally
returned to Turin on Christmas Eve and quickly sent greetings to
Countess Uguccioni and other benefactors.5
14. OTHER RECOLLECTIONS
We must still narrate Don Bosco's constant endeavor to spread
wholesome publications for the young and the common people.
As we have already said, 1 a most ardent desire of his was to inau-
gurate the publication of Latin Christian classics for secondary
academic schools. Accustomed as he was to extolling the value of
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
5This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
I See p. 528. [Editor]
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The Vision ofthe Future-1874
577
these works, he had mulled over this project for years. Professor
Thomas Vallauri2 had once criticized them in an essay, saying
that the authors had been more concerned about Christian truths
than about purity of language and style. When this criticism of
his came to Don Bosco's attention, the latter resolved to chal-
lenge the professor. The opportunity was not slow in coming. One
day Professor Vallauri called on him to discuss the printing of
some of his books.
"I am pleased to meet a writer known throughout Europe,"
Don Bosco exclaimed. "Your writings do great honor to the
Church."
"Are you serious or are you speaking tongue in cheek?" asked
the professor.
After a moment of silence, Don Bosco replied, "I say only this:
you hold that Latin Christian authors wrote without elegance of
style. And yet, St. Jerome has been rated with Titus Livius, Lac-
tantius with Tacitus, Justinus with. . . ."
Vallauri looked pensive, and after a moment's reflection he
exclaimed: "You're right! Tell me what I should amend and I'll
do it. I tell you that this is the first time that I ever bowed in
judgment to another. You have been quite frank. I like priests
who tell it the way it is!"
[In 1873] Father John Tamietti, catechist at Bargo San Mar-
tino, was entrusted with the publication of the first volume of this
series. The following year, while in Rome, Don Bosco kept inquir-
ing by letter about the progress of the work. 3 He believed it un-
fair and harmful to give a steady, exclusive diet of pagan authors
totally concerned with deep-rooted superstitions and mythologies
to students in secondary schools or lyceums. In counterbalance he
wanted them to read Christian authors for a more rounded Chris-
tian education. Indeed there were several Christian authors who,
without being overly meticulous in language and style, could well
hold their ground with the best pagan authors. This he stated in a
well-written Latin letter announcing the publication of Christian
Latin Authors. Regretfully, by 1881 only four1 volumes had been
2A contemporary lexicographer, prominent writer and dear friend of Don Bosco. See
Vol. IV, p. 442; Vol. VI, pp. 191, 596. [Editor]
3This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
published, but those were constantly being used in our schools to
the great advantage of our students. They also gave teachers a
chance to offer timely wholesome suggestions to their pupils.
From Rome Don Bosco wrote also to Father John Bonetti,
director at Bargo San Martino, urging him to start writing a life
of Our Lord, as they had agreed, but overwork prevented the lat-
ter from carrying out this cherished task.4 Promoting Catholic
publications for the common people and the young was Don Bos-
co's abiding anxiety and one of the special objectives of the Sale-
sian Society.5
In 1874 the sixth edition of Don Bosco's Arithmetic and the
Metric System was published and favorably reviewed- by Unita
Cattolica on October 24 of that same year. Following are the
issues of Letture£attoliche published during that same year:
January. Maximinus, a Youn{{ Boy's Meeting with a Protestant Min-
ister at the Capitol by Fr. John Bosco.
February. St. Joseph. Patron of the Catholic Church by Fr. Joseph
Frassinetti.
March. A Brief L(fe of St. Thomas Aquinas in the Sixth Centennial
of His 'Death by Fr. John Bonetti.
April. St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church [by
Fr. Thomas Chiuso ].
May. Heartless William, the Convict of Poissy, a translation from the
original French.
June. The Tail of the Great Beast.
July-December. The Evangelist of Wittenberg and the Protestant Ref-
ormation in Germany by Fr. John Baptist Lemoyne.
On January 30 [1874], in a laudatory article about Don Bosco's
publications, L'Osservatore Romano, after calling him a "miracle
of charity and modesty," went on to eulogize M aximinus, the
January issue of Letture Cattoliche. In turn, on February 12,
Unita Cattolica lavishly praised Letture Cattoliche's twenty-
second anniversary and its wholesome booklets.6
The April issue-the life of St. Ambrose-was the work of Fa-
4This sentence is a condensation. [Editor]
5We are omitting a corroborative declaration by a former pupil of Don Bosco. [Editor]
6This paragraph is a condensation. [Editor]
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The Vision ofthe Future-1874
579
ther Thomas Chiuso, Archbishop Gastaldi's secretary and a
member of the Accademia Ecclesiastica Subalpina [Subalpine Ec-
clesiastical Academy]. When, in 1871, restoration of the ancient
basilica of St. Ambrose was undertaken, a porphyry urn, sealed
with a slab of the same marble, was discovered one meter below
the floor of the main altar. Upon opening it in August of that
same year three skeletons were found in perfect condition. The
Holy See reserved to itself the authentication of these relics. After
a most accurate examination, on December 7, 1873 Pius IX con-
firmed the verdict of the Sacred Congregation of Rites that the
skeletons were those of Sts. Ambrose, Gervase and Protase.
We conclude with an incident that fully corroborates what we
have already said. It is a shining proof that not only Don Bosco,
but all who knew him well, clearly envisioned the marvelous fu-
ture of the Salesian Society. In 1874, on the fifteenth centenary of
the episcopal consecration of St. Ambrose, Archbishop Gastaldi
went to Milan to honor the occasion. At dinner, in the company
of many bishops and distinguished guests, he was asked, "Don
Bosco is in your archdiocese. How do you rate him and his Sale-
sians? We know he is disrupting your diocese. Frankly now, who
is this Don Bosco, and what does his Congregation do?"
"The Salesians are doing fine work," he replied, "but they
could do a lot more if they yielded to their archbishop. Doubtless,
within a short time, Don Bosco will astonish the whole world by
the vigor of his Congregation. It is still a fledgling organization,
but it will soon become a giant, thriving on the spirit of many
other religious congregations. While these are crushed by the per-
secution of the world and the devil, Don Bosco's Congregation
will expand all over the world, will be sought by all nations, and
will spread its branches from pole to pole. No human power will
ever stop its growth."
"But, Your Excellency, do you really believe . . . ?"
"Yes, I am convinced that the Salesians are destined to replace
outdated religious orders and inherit what was once theirs."
Despite these remarks the archbishop continued to oppose Don
Bosco, and when the latter once asked him why, he replied: "Even
the Church had to be persecuted for three centuries in order to
become strong and sink deep roots."
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
"But, Your Excellency," Don Bosco smilingly exclaimed, "l
would think you are putting yourself in none too good a com-
pany."
Thanks to God, the difficulties that Don Bosco encountered
helped to strengthen the foundations of his Congregation. Let us
conclude with a quote from our sainted founder: "If we want our
Society to advance with God's blessing. it is indispensable that
each article of the constitutions be the norm of all we do."
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APPENDICES
Appendix 1
NOSEGAYS
(See Page 28, footnote 3)
[I] I am your Mother. Offer Me your heart often during the day.
[2] At the strike of the hour whisper, "Hail, Mary, my solace and
hope!"
[3] Along with My name often invoke that of Jesus, My Son.
[4] Often, morning and night at least, kiss My medal.
[5] Greet My pictures without shyness if you see them as you walk.
[6] Get a beautiful picture of Me; often look at it and kiss it.
[7] Greet Me often with all your heart, and you shall have My love.
[8] Read some books about Me and My love for you.
[9] Write My name on your books and on your heart.
[10] Be humble, patient, prayerful, and spiritual-minded for My sake.
[11] Be readily obedient as I was at home and in the temple.
[12] For My sake, when you must, give in to the opinion of others.
[13] At prayer keep your hands clasped before your breast.
[14] By speaking of Me, try to increase the number of My devotees.
[15] Practice some mortification in My honor every Saturday.
[16] Recite My litany every Saturday to obtain the grace of a happy
death.
[17] Every Saturday try to receive Holy Communion in My honor.
[18] Go to Holy Communion often, especially on My feast days.
[19] Recommend sinners to Me when you receive Holy Communion.
[20] When you receive Holy Communion, ask Me for the grace of
purity and charity.
[21] Dear son, never commit a mortal sin.
[22] Resolve from this moment to prevent sin by word and example.
[23] If you really wish to please Me, recommend sinners to me.
[24] Avoid wild, irreverent companions.
[25] If you hear a blasphemy, immediately say in your heart: "Praised
forever be the names of Jesus and Mary!"
[26] Do not avenge yourself when offended. Forgive for My sake.
581
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
[27] Grumbling displeases Me. Neither indulge in it nor listen to it.
[28] Bear your troubles cheerfully for My sake.
[29] When troubled and afflicted, turn to Me, your Mother.
[30] If something unpleasant must be done, say readily, "Yes, for
Mary's sake."
[31] Avoid worldly amusements and choose solitude.
[32] Try to keep peace among your companions.
[33] How happy .you would make Me by a weekly good confession.
[34] Fully trust your regular confessor. Don't change him needlessly.
[35] Keep your confessor's advice in mind and do as he says.
[36] During your [summer] vacation, go to confession at least every
other week.
[37] Go to church regularly during your vacation so as to give a
good example.
[38] Love and respect priests. I, too, loved and respected the Apostles.
[39] Be grateful and respectful to those who help you materially and
spiritually.
[40] Put something aside and give to t}J.e poor for My sake.
[41] You are My garden. Grow the loveliest flowers.
[42] Strive to please My Son by practicing virtue.
[43] Let chastity, the angelic virtue, be your favorite.
[44] When tempted by impure thoughts, say at once: "Mothe1
most pure, pray for me."
[45] Keep your glances pure.
[46] Never read objectionable books. Consult your confessor before
reading a doubtful book.
[47] Be modest when dressing and undressing.
[48] Do not join in or listen to foul or worldly conversation.
[49] Speak no word, even in jest, which may cause bad thoughts.
[50] Do not associate with morally harmful people if you want Me
to talk to your heart.
[51] If you wish to be a favorite of Mine, love the child Jesus.
[52] Love Me much. I want to make you a saint.
Appendix 2
TRICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE
VICTORY AT LEPANTO IN 1571
(See Page 97, footnote 2)
Novena and Feast Day
A plenary indulgence may be gained by going to confession and Com-
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583
munion and visiting the Church of Mary, Help of Christians during the
novena and feast day.
Schedule of Religious Services
The novena will begin May 15. Masses will be celebrated daily until
noon, and ample opporutnities will be given to receive the sacraments.
Daily
7 A.M.-General Communion and special devotions.
Weekdays
7 P.M.-Singing of sacred hymns, sermon, and Benediction.
Sundays
May 21, 8:30 A.M.-Administration of the sacrament of Confir-
mation.
10:30 A.M.-Solemn High Mass
3:30 P.M.-Vespers, Sermon, Benediction.
May 24-Solemn Feast of Mary, Help of Christians
10 A.M.-Pontifical Mass. The Oratory's 200-voice choir accom-
pained by a select orchestra will sing a new, impressive Mass composed
by Father John Cagliero.
6 P.M.-Solemn vespers, sermon, Tantum Ergo and Benediction.
Note
1. During Vespers, a hymn composed by Father Cagliero will be
sung by a 300-voice choir with orchestra accompaniment. The hymn is a
musical interpretation of the famous battle and triumph of Christianity
at Lepanto through the help of Mary, Help of Christians. It will be sung
by the pupils of Turin, Lanzo, Cherasco, Alassio, and Borgo San Marti-
no with the participation of many distinguished Turin vocalists.
2. Those wishing to ioin the Association of Mary, Help of Christians
should go to the registration desk in the sacristy.
3. Offerings by the members of the aforesaid association or by others
will be used to defray construction costs of the choir and sacristy.
Other Details
The choirboys of Lanzo will sing at the evening services on May 21,
those of Cherasco on May 22, and those of Borgo San Martino on May
23. 1
1We are omitting other details about a bazaar, souvenirs, and brass band concert.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS OF SAINT JOHN BOSCO
Appendix 3
FATHER RUA'S NOTES ABOUT THE
SPIRITUAL RETREAT OF 1871
(See Page 470, footnote 1)
Introduction
As God called Abraham forth from his father's house, so He calls
us from the world in order that we may hear His voice.
1st Instruction: Confession
Refutation of Protestant tenets about the divine institution of confes-
sion.
Confidence one should have in one's confessor.
Confessor's duties toward the penitent.
Note
The director is the ordinary confessor in our houses for the preserva-
tion of unity of spirit and the appraisal of candidates for the priesthood
and the Salesian Society. The director, therefore, must seek to earn the
confidence of all by not joining the other superiors to give the students
conduct marks or to impose punishments. When these are called for,
let him give the task to the prefect.
The extraordinary confessor is the rector major to whom one should
first speak of the soul, and then of others matters when he visits the
house.
2nd Instruction: Prayer
Don Bosco mentioned that our rules call for at least one hour of
prayer. Three types of prayer:
(a) Vocal: community prayers and manner of saying them.
(b) Mental: meditation and manner of meditating.
(c) Mixed: short invocations during the day, especially in moments
of temptation.
3rd Instruction: Mortification
He began by citing the example of Our Savior, St. John the Baptist,
St. Paul and other saints to explain its necessity.
How to practice mortification of the sense of sight, in our apparel, in
eating and drinking.
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Appendices
585
Remove the wood from the fire if you want it to die out.
Avoid idleness, wining and dining if you want to control the rebellion
of the flesh.
Noteworthy things: gluttony ruined many religious institutes.
The notes of the other confreres pointed out:
1. The director's responsibility over the conduct ofhis confreres.
Every director is accountable to God for the soul of each of the con-
freres ·entrusted to him. He may run into resistance in some, but his
fatherly love, charity and prayer can overcome even the most difficult
characters. With the grace which rises from his office, one can turn
certain confreres into good, even holy servants of God.
In exhorting everyone to fulfill his duties, he often exclaimed, "Either
holy Salesians or no Salesians at all!"
2. The gratitude we owe to Mary, Help ofChristians.
To our great surprise-he said-only in heaven we shall realize what
the Most Holy Virgin Mary has done for us and how often she rescued
us from hell. We shall thank Her throughout all eternity. If all of us,
dear sons, had more faith and confidence in God and in Mary, Help
of Christians, we could save thousands of souls more than we have.
3. The request, which we may call habitual, for prayers to save his
soul.
Don Bosco's sermons always went to the heart because they always
centered around God's goodness. His trust in God's mercy was extra-
ordinary. He dwelt on it when preaching, hearing confessions or giving
the "Good Night," especially during spiritual retreats. At the close of
these retreats he regularly exhorted us to pray for the salvation of his
soul.
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INDEX
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INDEX
589
ABBREVIATIONS
B.S.
D. of M.H. of C.
D. of M.I.
D.B.
E.H.D.
G.N.
I.C.
L.C.
M.H. ofC.
S.C.
Blessed Sacrament
Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians
Daughters of Mary Immaculate
Don Bosco
Exercise for a Happy Death
Good Night
Immaculate Conception
Letture Cattoliche
Mary, Help of Christians
Salesian Congregation
A
Albera, Paul: director at Marassi,
l 12f; trust in Divine Providence,
179
Albert, Frederick: Archbishop Gastal-
di inquires about D.B., 388-392; ap-
pointment as bishop, 523ff
Algerians: departure of Algerian boy
from the Oratory, 106
Alumni: attachment to D.B., 232f
Anfossi, John Baptist: biographical
footnote, 350; collaboration in the
refutation of Archbishop Gastaldi's
allegations against D.B., 350
Angela Merici, St.: first festive ora-
tory of the D. of M.H. of C. dedi-
cated to, 257
Anticlericalism: in Piedmont and
other parts of Italy, 84f; during Pius
IX's silver jubilee celebrations, 185f;
confiscation of church property in
Rome, 208f, 220f
Antonelli, James: conferences with
D.B. about episcopal revenues, 215,
217, 223f; esteem for D.B., 215,
243f; mandate to D.B. to reopen ne-
gotiations with the Italian govern-
ment, 22lf; displeasure at Archbish-
op Gastaldi's disregard of officia!
instructions, 232, 234; recipient of
documents from D.B., 518
Argentina: formal request for Sale-
sians, 552-558; Don Bosco's accep-
tance and terms, 556f
B
Barberis, Julius: biographical foot-
note, 15; first novice master, 542;
vade mecum, 542f
Benefactors: D.B.'s gratitude for, 105,
118, 143, 36lf, 536; esteem for
D.B., 106; concern for D.B. during
his illness, 128f; outstanding b., 519,
552, 556
Benitez, Joseph F.: generosity, 552,
556
Berardi, Joseph: support of D.B., 407;
letter and memorandum from D.B.,
407ff; D.B.'s appeal to, 41 lf
Berto, Joachim: biographical footnote,
21
Birthdays: D.B.'s birthday, 551
Bishops: D.B.'s respect for, 105; ap-
pointments to vacant sees, 207f;
hardships of newly appointed b.,
209ff; support of D.B., 317f, 327,
337f, 387
Bizzarri, Joseph: memo from D.B.
about his difficulties with Archbish-
op Gastaldi, 404-407
Blessed Sacrament: value D.B. at-
tached to visits to the, 103; Mary
Mazzarello's devotion to the, 247f
Blessings (D.B.'s): efficacy of, 20-26,
97f, 161, 171, 262f, 535, 539
Bodrato, Francis: biographical foot-
note, 22
Bollettino Sa/esiano: article on Sister
Mary Mazzarello, 251, 276f, 291;
articles on the D. of M.H. of C.,
256; article on Pius IX's approval of
D.B.'s plans for a congregation of
nuns,265
Bologna, Joseph: biographical foot-
note, 152
Bonetti, John: letters from D.B. to,
81, 151, 165f, 445f; confidential ad-
vice from D.B., 458
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590
INDEX
Borel, John: death, 5l 9ff; memorial
tribute to, 537
Borgatello, Maggiorino: biographical
footnote, 16; first meeting with
D.B., 16f
Borgo San Martino: visits by D.B.,
92f, 426; D.B.'s spiritual retreat at,
329; annoyances from government
school authorities, 513
Boys: love for D.B., 137; generosity
toward their companions, l 62f; of
outstanding virtue, 119f, 181
c
Cafasso, Joseph, St.: opinion of D.B.,
3
Cagliero, Caesar: letter from D.B.,
290
Cagliero, John: biographical footnote,
45; appointment as D.B.'s delegate
to the D. of M.H. of C., 281; en-
trusted with all matters pertaining
to ordinations, 302; staunch loyalty
to D.B., 302f; doctorate in theology,
528
Cagliero, Joseph: director of the D. of
M.H. of C., 286; illness and death,
289
Cardinals: D.B.'s unwillingness to rec-
ommend Archbishop Gastaldi for
the college of, 239; invitation to
D.B. to accept the nomination to
the college of, 243; D.B.'s interviews
with c. about the Salesian Constitu-
tions, 360-364, 368f, 371
Catechesis: importance D.B. gave to,
27f; in the Salesian festive oratories
during Lent, 87
Catholic Press: praise of D.B.'s publi-
cations, 234; responsibility of some
Catholic papers for the breakdown
of negotiations concerning the
exequatur, 239; D.B.'s frankness
with the editors of two Catholic
papers, 242f; D.B.'s endeavors to
promote the, 576, 578. See also II
Ga/antuomo, Letture Catto/iche,
Latin Christian Classics
Ceccarelli, Peter 8.: eagerness to have
Salesians in Argentina, 553-558; let-
ter to D.B., 555f; letter from D.B.,
557
Charisms (D.B.'s): reading of hearts,
12f, 15f, 18, 20, 38f, 48, 59, 61; vi-
sion of things from afar, 12f, 85ff;
vision of future of his boys, 14f, 67;
revelations about the Church and
nations, 49-59, 512. See also Bless-
ings, Predictions
Charisms: of Salesian pupils, 32ff
Charity: of D.B. toward the suffering,
3; toward pupils, 419-423; toward
Salesians, 424ff, 432f, 433-436; to-
ward sinners or adversaries, 534
Chastity: the outstanding trait of the
S.C., 29; D.B.'s chastity, 29ff;
D.B.'s zeal to instill the virtue of,
31; summary of a sermon by D.B.
on, 480f. See also Purity, Girls
Chiuso, Thomas: letters from D.B.,
314, 382, 394; letters to D.B., 322,
328, 382f; letters to Fr. Rua, 384;
letters to Fr. Lazzero, 390
Christian Latin Authors see Latin
Christian Classics
Church (Catholic): D.B.'s love for the,
525f. See also Dioceses, Vacant;
Predictions
Church History (D.B.'s): new editions,
116, 178
Church of Mary, Help of Christians:
additional construction, 85, 160,
165; side altars and paintings, 161;
installation and blessing of St. Jo-
seph's painting, 537f. See also
Mary, Help of Christians
Church of St. Francis de Sales: re-
opening of the, 87
Church of St. John the Evangelist:
start of drive for the, 88; difficulties,
88, 170f, 533f, 548f; controversy
with Archbishop Gastaldi concern-
ing its dedication to Pius IX, 88
Church of St. Secundus: construction
entrusted to D.B., 89; difficulties,
171
Church of the Holy Shroud: negotia-
tions for the Church of the Holy
Shroud,99, 101, 532f
Cinzano, Joseph: letter from D.B.,
357f
Circulars (D.B.'s): on discipline, 341,
492f; on morality, 347f, 494-497; on
prayers for the approval of the Sale-
sian constitutions, 353; on unity of
spirit and administration, 487-490;
on thrift, 490ff; on spiritual favors
granted by Pius IX, 501. See also
Rua, Michael
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591
Clerics: D.B.'s exhortations to, 427ff;
tips to Salesian directors concerning
c., 448f
Coadjutors (Salesian): tips to Salesian
directors about c., 449
Communion, Holy: powerful weapon
against the devil, 36
Companion of Youth, The: thirty-
third edition, 332, 528; Archbishop
Gastaldi's objections to, 332
Company of St. Ursula: historical
footnote, 251
Conferences of St. Francis de Sales
(Annual): 1871, 81f, 259f, 459-463;
1872, 155, 464, 472; 1873, 464-468;
1874, 468ff; first convocation, 459
Confessions: D.B.'s insistence on brev-
ity of, 9; D.B.'s zeal in hearing c.,
9ff; signs of a good confession, 18;
importance of carrying out one's
resolutions, 36, 48
Confessors: freedom in choosing c., 7f;
importance of having a regular c., 8;
D.B.'s popularity as a c., 427
Contratto, Modesto: approval of the
rules of the D. of M.H. of C., 251
Conversation: D.B.'s indelible recol-
lection of a foul word, 30f; evil ef-
fects of foul c., 36
Cooperators see Salesian Cooperators
Costamagna, James: spiritual director
of the D. of M.H. of C., 290f; bio-
graphical footnote, 425
Cuneo: reminiscences about D.B.'s
visit to, 540f
D
Daghero, Catherine: first successor of
Mary Mazzarello, 292
Daughters of Mary, Help of Chris-
tians: first religious profession, 174;
plans for the start of the Institute of
the, 263; D.B.'s criteria in choosing
candidates, 264; official adoption of
the name, 265; reason for the adop-
tion of the name, 265; first constitu-
tions and revisions, 266ff; election
of the first superior and chapter,
269f; D.B.'s exhortation to the, 271,
293-296; new residence and initial
hardships, 272f; first spiritual re-
treat, investiture and religious pro-
fessions, 275f; assistance by the Sis-
ters of St. Anne, 277; second
spiritual retreat and professions,
278ff; deaths, 281, 285f; D.B.'s dele-
gates, 281, 286; annual report about
the, 281ff; visits by D.B. t\\l the, 286,
288; new postulants, 286, 288; new
election of superior and chapter,
287; D.B.'s advice about assigning
duties, 287; spiritual direction of
the, 288, 290; adversities, 289;
D.B.'s grand-nieces among the, 292;
statistics at Mary Mazzarello's
death, 292; D.B.'s concern for the
health of the, 295f; D.B.'s assurance
about the eternal salvation of the
parents of the, 296
Daughters of Mary Immaculate: of-
ficial start, 250; diocesan approval,
251; specific duties, 252; spirit of
prayer and work, 255; festive ora-
tory, 255f; visits by D.B., 256f, 259,
261; division into two groups, 257;
D.B.'s draft of a daily program for
the, 259; annual report, 260; plans
for a residence, 260; prayers for en-
lightenment about apostolate for
girls, 261; edifying life of the, 261 f;
change of name, 265; D.B.'s draft of
rules for postulants, 265
De Gaudenzi, Peter: support of D.B.,
337; letter from Archbishop Gastal-
di, 337f; letters from D.B., 344
Death: a frequent topic of D.B., 471,
551, 572f
Demoniac Possession: D.B. and a case
of, 25f
Dimissorials: authorization to D.B. to
issue d., 373; Archbishop Gastaldi's
disregard of Holy See's rescript
concerning d., 380f, 410f; D.B.'s ap-
peal to Rome, 411 f
Dioceses, Vacant: D.B.'s efforts to
help fill vacant d., 58, 101, llO, 183,
186-190, 193-202, 236; secular press
reports on D.B.'s activities in
Rome, 202, 225f, 227-231; D.B.'s
report to his Salesians about the va-
cant d., 204f; D.B.'s efforts to ob-
tain revenues to the newly appointed
bishops, 212, 214, 231, 237; disap-
proval of D.B.'s efforts, 217, 234f,
242; acceptable compromise con-
cerning episcopal revenues, 225;
Pius IX's praise of D.B., 237;
breakdown of negotiations, 238,
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INDEX
239f, 241, 245; benefits obtained
through D.B.'s efforts, 241
Directors (Salesian): confidential
directives to, 446-456; special meet-
ings of, 472; D.B.'s exhortations to
the directors in their capacity as or-
dinary confessors, 485f
Discipline: D.B.'s circular on, 341,
492ff
Dogs: D.B.'s mysterious dog, 177
Dreams (D.B. 's): topics, 34f; Visit to
the Sa/esian School at Lanzo, 35f;
predictions of deaths, 36, 40f, 44f,
59f; A Funereal Banner, 36f; The
Devil in the Playground, 37-41; Ten
of Us Have Not Made a Good Spir-
itual Retreat, 42f; Back to School
after the Summer Vacation, 43ff;
Patagonia, 46ff; A Solemn Warn-
ing, 48T; Singular Illustrations on
Behalf of the Church and Nations,
49-59; A Visit to the Dormitories,
59-63; salutary effects, 60; God's
Power and Mercy, 63ff; A Predic-
tion of Death, 67; a dream about
Archbishop Gastaldi, 394f
Durando, Celestine: presentation of
Latin dictionary to Pius IX, 342
Duties: D.B. 's advice about the assign-
ment of duties, 287
E
Enria, Peter: biographical footnote,
37; filial solicitude during D.B.'s
illness, 130
Esteem: for D.B., 26f, 78f, 89, 117f,
215,244,518f
Expedients (D.B.'s): confidential
words, 6
F
Family Spirit: D.B.'s concern for, 418,
485f
Fassati, Dominic: generosity toward
Pius IX, 216
Fatherliness: of D.B., 3f, 138, 145f,
357~419-426,433f
Festive Oratory (Valdocco): felling of
the mulberry tree, 85; increased at-
tendance, 87
Foreign Missions see Missions,
Foreign
Francesia, John Baptist: biographical
footnote, 37; director at Varazze,
112; letter from D.B., 568f
Fransoni, Louis: approval of the S.C.,
298
Frassinetti, Joseph: compilation of a
rule for the Pious Union of the D.
of M.I., 250; biographical footnote,
291
Fund Raising: often resorted to by
D.B., 181f
G
Ga/antuomo, //: 1874, 527
Galletti, Eugene: offer of his life to
save D.B.'s, 137; defense of D.B.,
387f
Garino, John: biographical footnote,
424
Gastaldi, Lawrence: installation as
archbishop of Turin, 123ff; forebod-
ings of troubles for D.B., 125; inter-
est about the future of the S.C.,
140; disagreement with D.B. at his
return from Varazze, 155; pressure
on D.B. about the Valsalice College,
167ff; D.B.'s part in the appoint-
ment of G. as archbishop of Turin,
200f, 231, 309; government opposi-
tion to the naming of, 201; D.B.'s
messages to, 201, 203, 239; ea-
gerness to meet D.B. at his return
from Rome, 203; press reports of
G.'s promotion, 205ff; letters from
D.B. to, 223f, 227, 232f, 235f, 239,
307f, 311, 329ff, 33 lf, 338f, 376,
380f, 385ff, 410f; D.B.'s efforts to
obtain the episcopal revenues for
G., 231; disregard of Vatican in-
structions, 232ff, 240, 340, 380, 41 O;
letters to D.B., 235, 304ff, 310, 322;
D.B.'s unwillingness to support G.'s
elevation to the college of cardinals,
239; increasing coldness toward the
S.C., 302f; determination to keep
the S.C. under his full control, 303,
312, 315; erratic behavior, 309f,
319ff, 332, 376; letters to the Holy
See against D.B., 315f, 323-327,
348ff; good faith in his opposition to
D.B., 334; D.B.'s dream about,
334f; rescript about the S.C. sent to,
336; letter to the bishop of Vi-
gevano, 337f; refutation of G.'s alle-
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593
gations against D.B., 35lf, 364f;
Pius IX's remarks to D.B. about his
having recommended G., 371f; reac-
tion at news of definitive approval
of the S.C., 376; refusal to accept
dimissorials for Salesian ordinands,
381; constant harassment of D.B.,
382-386, 394, 410f, 413f, 514;
request to the Holy See for clarifi-
cations about the approval of the
Salesian constitutions, 393; letter to
Pius IX complaining about D.B.,
396-402; letter from Fr. Rua, 411;
harassment of Father Guanella,
412f; D.B.'s comment about his rec-
ommendation of G., to Pius IX,
416; Fr. Rua's comments about
D.B.'s controversy with, 416; litiga-
tion about Fr. Golzio's testament,
506-510; reason for opposing D.B.,
579f
Gazzetta d' Italia: vicious article on
D.B., 228f
Gazzetta di Torino: article on D.B.'s
activities in Rome, 225f
Gazzola, John Baptist: eagerness to
have Salesians in Argentina, 552f,
556f
Genoa: St. Cajetan's Church, 172f
Ghilardi, John Thomas: long-drawn-
out dispute with D.B. about the pur-
chase of a printing press, 113ff
Ghivarello, Charles: biographical foot-
note, 558
Girls: part of D.B.'s mission field, 254;
D.B.'s intention to provide for the
Christian education of, 255, 26 l,
263; D.B.'s extreme reserve in deal-
ing with, 288
Good Nights (Salesian): Dates-
August 1871, 12; November 1872,
440ff; December 1872, 442; 1873, 48
Good Nights (Salesian): Topics-in-
visible visit of D.B. to the Oratory,
12; devotion to Our Lady, 28f; rea-
son why many people go to hell, 48;
visit to Salesian Hospice at Sam-
pierdarena, 180; encouragement to
new pupils, 440; dismissal of boys,
440f; reporting evil-doers, 441; out-
standing trait of a good priest, 442;
Christmas, 442
Giubergia, Joseph: reminiscences
about D.B., 525f
Golzio, Felix: biographical footnote,
133; litigation about his last will,
505-510
Gratitude: of D.B. for benefactors,
105, 118, 143, 361
Grigio: see Dogs
Guanella, Louis: harassment from
Archbishop Gastaldi, 4l2f; letter to
D.B., 413; letter from D.B., 575f
Guidazio, Peter: biographical foot-
note, 127
H
Holiness: D.B. 's reputation of, 4, 78f,
243, 502, 525
Humility: of D.B., 68f, 90f, 141, 198,
203f, 403, 432f; of Mary Maz-
zarella, 29lf
Illness (D.B.'s): at Varazze, 122-156;
start of, 126; health bulletins, 127,
129, 130-134, 138, 144f, 146; Holy
Viaticum, 134; self-immolation of
boys, confreres and friends, l 36f;
anxiety of benefactors and con-
freres, 128f, l35ff; slight improve-
ment, l39ff; Gastaldi's seeming in-
terest in assuming jurisdiction over
the S.C., 140; strenna to the con-
freres on New Year's eve, 141;
blessing from Pius IX, 142; visit by
a delegation from Mornese, 142f;
recovery, 146ff; convalescence, 149,
l57f, 175; return to the Oratory,
151-156
Italian Classics for the Young: annual
meeting of collaborators, l 12
L'Italie: press report on D.B.'s activi-
ties in Rome, 229f
J
Joseph, St.: patron of the Catholic
Church, 87; observance of the feast
at the Oratory, 87; installation and
blessing of painting in the Church of
M.H. of C., 537f
Journeys (D.B.'s): incidents, 92f, l 72,
501f; to Rome: 1871, 99, lOlf, l 10,
188-192, 199-203, 211-218; 1873-74,
211-218, 223-244, 315f, 341-374; to
Cuneo, 540f
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INDEX
K
Kindness: instances of D.B.'s k., 419-
426, 433-436
L
Lago, Angelo: biographical details,
423
Lanza, John: interviews with D.B.,
195f, 199, 201, 216f; message to
D.B., 196f; letters from D.B., 209f;
benevolence toward D.B., 202, 221
Lanzo: dream about the boys at
Lanzo, 35f, 89f, 444; letters from
D.B. to the boys at, 444; troubles
for D.B. because of a spiritual re-
treat for teachers and priests, 384f,
388-391
Lasagna, Louis: biographical footnote,
529
Latin Christian Classics: 528, 576ff
Law of Guarantees: Pius IX's repudia-
tion of the, 207
Lazzero, Joseph: biographical note,
138; letter from D.B., 354f
Legacies: D.B.'s troubles with, 505-
510, 521ff
Lemoyne, John Baptist: letters from
D.B. to, 89f, 178, 342f, 527; D.B.'s
high opinion of, 146f; confidence in
D.B.'s recovery, 147; evaluation of
Mary Mazzarello's virtues, 290f;
confidential advice from D.B., 457
Lepanto: tricentennial celebrations,
97, 164, Appendix 2
Letters (D.B.'s): to the boys at Lanzo,
35f, 89f, 444; to Salesians, 81, 89,
150f, 165f, 178, 202, 289, 342-345,
354f, 356-358, 374, 445f, 513f, 517,
527, 550, 568, 575f; to government
officials, 209; to Archbishop Gastal-
di, 223f, 227, 232f, 235f, 239, 307f,
311, 329ff, 33 lf, 338f, 380f, 385ff,
410f; to Bishop Sandria, 285; to
Bishop De Gaudenzi, 344f; to Arch-
bishop Vitalleschi, 381; to Father
Chiuso, 382, 394f; to Msgr. Zappa-
ta, 403f; to Cardinal Berardi, 407ff.
See also Benefactors, Circulars
Letture Cattoliche: issues in 1871,
116f; 1872, 206; 1873, 526; 1874,
578
Lotteries: D.B.'s need to raise funds
through, 499f, 503; unforeseen sei-
zure of a grand prize, 503ff
M
Maccagno, Angelina: vocation, 249;
draft of a rule for her followers,
249f
Magone, Joann: biographical foot-
note, 149
Manacorda, Emilian: services to D.B.,
99f, 301f, 318; zeal for souls, 100
Mary, Blessed Virgin: D.B.'s zeal in
promoting devotion to, 28f, 68f; de-
votion to M. a powerful weapon
against the devil, 36; favors ob-
tained through, 69-73, 98; D.B.'s
conditions for obtaining favors
from, 70f; D.B.'s great trust in, 72f;
nosegays in honor of, Appendix 1
Mary, Help of Christians: D.B.'s mes-
sage to Pius IX, 53; celebrations of
the feast at the Oratory: 1871, 97;
1872, 161f; 1873, 51 lf; 1874, 539;
devotion in Piedmont to, 258; favors
obtained through the intercession
of, 262f, 511 f. See also Church of
M.H. ofC.
Mazzarello, Mary, St.: biographical
details, 246ff, 253; singular piety,
247f, 255, 277; humility and zeal in
promoting the growth of the D. of
M.I., 251f; heroic charity, 252,
261 f; vision of a huge edifice, 252f;
gradual expansion of her apostolate,
253; note from D.B., 255; eagerness
to listen to D.B., 256; devotion to
M.H. of C., 258; first superior, 270;
insistence to be relieved of her
duties as superior, 270, 277, 280f;
re-election, 287; outstanding virtues,
290f; decree on heroic nature of vir-
tues, 291 f; sayings of, 292; statistics
at the death of, 292
Mazzarello, Petronilla: pledge to work
with Mary Mazzarello, 253; note
from D.B., 255
Merici, Angela, St.: see Angela Meri-
ci, St.
Metric System: D.B. 's contribution to
the introduction of the, 578
Missions, Foreign: D.B.'s dreams and
visions about the, 543f; D.B.'s ef-
forts to locate the land and people
seen in his dreams, 544-548; formal
request for Salesians from Argen-
tina, 552-558
Morality: D.B. 's circular on, 495ff
Mornese: townsfolk's visit to D.B. at
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Varazze, 142f; laying of the corner-
stone of a new Salesian school, 257;
D.B.'s first Mass in the newly com-
pleted chapel, 257. See also Daugh-
ters of Mary, Help of Christians,
Daughters of Mary Immaculate,
Mazzarello, M., Pestarino, D.
Mortification: D.B.'s practice of, 295
Mulberry Tree (Oratory): felling of
the, 85
Murialdo, Leonard, St.: biographical
footnote, 28
N
Nai, Louis: biographical footnote, 13;
D.B.'s prediction to, 14f
Name Day (D.B.'s): celebrations in
1871, 102f; 1872, 163; 1873, 512;
1874, 539f
Newspapers: secular press reports on
D.B.'s activities in Rome, 202, 225f,
227-231; norm for Salesian houses,
472
Nosegays: in honor of Mary, Appen-
dix l
Novitiate: D.B.'s concern for its regu-
lar functioning, 542
0
Obedience: D.B.'s tactfulness in han-
dling o., 436f; summary of a sermon
by D.B. on, 481ff
Obituaries: of Oratory boys, 118ff; of
Fr. Pestarino, 284f; of Salesians,
531f
Occelletti, Charles: biographical de-
tails, 519
Oratory, Festive (Valdocco): see Fes-
tive Oratory (Valdocco)
Oratory (Valdocco): expansion and
additions, 83, 85; edifying deaths:
1871, 118-121; 1872, 473; outstand-
ing virtue of pupils, 119f, 181; re-
port on how to deal with pupils,
159f; serious accidents averted,
355f; warm welcome at D.B.'s re-
turn from Rome, 375f; establish-
ment of a house chapter, 498
Oratory Press: criticism of a booklet
by the, 101; controversy with Bishop
Ghilardi, 113f; attempts to close
down the, 178
Oreglia, Frederick: controversy with
Bishop Ghilardi, 113f
595
p
Pampuro, Teresa: Daughter of Mary
Immaculate, 253
Parents: D.B.'s assurance as regards
the eternal salvation of p. of Sale-
sians and of D. of M.H. of C., 296
Parolina see Expedients (D.B.'s)
Past Pupils see Alumni
Patagonia: dream about, 46ff
Pellico, Silvio: biographical footnote,
520
Penance (Sacrament): D.B.'s high re-
gard for, 7f. See also Confessions,
Confessors
Penance (Virtue): D.B.'s prudence in
permitting p., 8f
Pestarino, Dominic: concern for
D.B.'s illness, 136; priestly zeal,
248f; close friendship with Fr. Fras-
sinetti, 249; inclination to work for
the young, 253f; first meeting with
D.B., 254; visit to the Oratory, 255;
report on the D. of M.I., 260; mis-
givings about D.B. 's plan to turn the
D. of M.1. into nuns and the boys'
school into a convent, 264f; notifica-
tion from D.B. of Pius IX's approv-
al of the new congregation hence-
forth to be known as "Institute of
the D. of M.H. of C.," 265; annual
report about the D. of M.H. of C.,
281ff; last homily to the D. of M.H.
of C. and sudden death, 283f; obitu-
ary in the Salesian Directory, 284f;
instant cures, 285; burial, 285;
Month's Mind Mass for, 287
Piscetta, Louis: biographical footnote,
45
Pius IX: esteem for D.B., 9, 26f, 191,
518f; reaction at D.B.'s prediction
of future events, 50; proclamation
of St. Joseph as patron of the Cath-
olic Church, 87; blessing to D.B.
during his illness, 142; silver jubilee,
183-186; briefing by D.B. about va-
cant sees, 193ff, l 99f; affection for
D.B., 203; repudiation of the Law of
Guarantees, 205ff; appointment of
bishops, 207f; letter to D.B., 210f;
audiences given to D.B., 215, 224,
369f, 499f; praise of D.B. for his
successful negotiations, 225, 237;
approval of D.B.'s plan for a con-
gregation of nuns, 265; support of
D.B., 316, 335; D.B.'s homage on
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INDEX
the birthday of, 335; remarks to
D.B. about his having recommended
Archbishop Gastaldi for the see of
Turin, 371 f; decree of approval of
the Salesian constitutions, 372f;
D.B.'s appeal against Gastaldi's ar-
bitrary revocation of faculties,
414ff; false rumors about Pius IX's
flight from Rome, 504
Pius XI: declaration on the occasion
of the approval of D.B.'s miracles,
If, 11; eulogy of Mary Mazzarello's
humility, 291 f
Poor: generosity of the, 73-76
Popes: D.B.'s staunch loyalty to the,
240f
Possession, Demoniac see Demoniac
Possession
Poverty: D.B.'s exhortation to practice
p. as an act of gratitude to M.H. of
C., 73: D.B.'s fundamental recom-
mendation to all the Salesians, 77;
summary of a sermon by D.B. on,
479
Predictions (D.B.'s): about the future
of the S.C., 2; about people's voca-
tion, 19, 569; about people's future,
21 f, 541 f; fulfillment of, 21 ff, 41 ff,
45, 67f, 262f, 569; about the
Church, 237f; about political events,
538f
Presence of God, Practice of the: im-
portance of stressing to boys the, 28
Preventive System (Salesian): applica-
tion of the, 427-431
Priests: D.B.'s concern about the bad
example of p., 5f
Provera, Francis: precarious health,
176; prediction by D.B., 176
Providence, Divine: D.B.'s reliance on,
76, 190f; Salesians' reliance on, 179
Prudence: of D.B. when forced to take
severe measures, 432f
Pupils: outstanding virtue of pupils,
119f, 181; tips to Salesian directors
about, 432, 449f, 472
Purity: D.B.'s solicitude in safeguard-
ing his boys' p., 31. See also Chas-
tity
R
Rabagliati, Evasius: biographical foot-
note, 43
Racca, Peter: biographical details, 521
Religious Life: summary of a sermon
by D.B. on the, 475f, 482
Retreats: D.B.'s dream about the re-
sults of, 42f; harassment of D.B. be-
cause of r. for teachers and priests,
384f, 388-391; D.B.'s defense, 385ff;
retreats for Salesians: 1871, 470f;
1872, 471ff; 1873, 473, 521; 1874,
473f; summary of D.B.'s sermons to
Salesians, 474-484; summary of a
sermon by D.B. on the necessity of,
475; topics recommended by D.B.
for retreats, 484f
Ricci des Ferres, Eugene: biographical
details, 515ff; visits by D.B. to, 516f
Rocca, Louis: biographical footnote,
33
Rome: D.B. 's desire to open a house
in, 99f, 53 lff; D.B.'s trips to Rome:
1871, 99f, lOlf, 110, 188-192, 199-
203; 1873-74, 211-218, 223, 244,
315f, 341-374, 533ff; D.B.'s popu-
larity in, l 92f, 500
Ronchail, Joseph: biographical foot-
note, 424
Rua, Michael: monthly staff meetings
presided over by, 104; letters from
D.B., 150f, 202, 289, 343f, 374,
513f, 550; circulars about D.B.'s ef-
forts on behalf of bishops, 2l 7f; let-
ters from Fr. Cliiuso, 384; letters to
Archbishop Gastaldi, 411; comment
about D.B.'s grief at finding himself
at loggerheads with Archbishop
Gastaldi, 416; official visit to all the
Salesian houses, 542; defense of the
Sons of Mary program, 571
Rules see Salesian Congregation-
Constitutions
s
St. Cajetan's Church: offered to D.B.,
l 72f; restoration of, 180
St. Ignatius' Shrine: D.B.'s last trip
to, 549ff
St. Michael's Hospice: loss of, 191 f
St. Peter's Centenary: efforts to re-
open the case against, 193; vicious
newspaper article, 228f
Saintliness: of Oratory boys, 119ff,
181
Sala, Anthony: letters from D.B., 517;
messenger to Cardinal Antonelli,
518; chance meeting with Pius IX,
518
Salesian Congregation: predictions
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597
about the future of the, 2; D.B.'s
recommendations for the growth of
the, 78f; statistics: 1871, 80; 1872,
157; 1873, 498; 1874, 531; origin
and structure, 298f; necessity of
vows, 299; difficulties in regard to
ordination, 300f; Brief History of
the, 339, 352f; fundamental purpose
of the, 353; revocation of faculties,
413f; D.B.'s appeal to Pius IX,
414ff; summary of a sermon by
D.B. on the purpose of the, 476f;
Superior Chapter (1873), 498; finan-
cial difficulties, 499. See also Obit-
uaries
Salesian Congregation - Constitu-
tions: steps for the definitive ap-
proval of the, 212, 223, 234, 303-
321, 341-347; press reports about
the approval of the, 237, 241f, 362;
first c. and subsequent revisions,
299f, 303, 310, 347; stumbling
blocks, 304-316, 321-341, 348ff,
358; appointment of a committee of
cardinals, 346ff; presentation of
D.B.'s petition, 316-321; D.B.'s dis-
couragement, 313, 315; encourage-
ment from Pius IX and bishops,
316ff; Brief History of the S.C.,
339, 352f; refutation of Archbishop
Gastaldi's allegations, 35 lf; prayers
for the enlightenment of the cardi-
nals' committee, 353; D.B.'s state-
ment to the cardinals' committee,
359f; D.B.'s refutation of Archbish-
op Gastaldi's letter to Cardinal Ca-
terini, 364ff; meeting and favorable
verdict of the cardinals' committee,
366f; definitive approval of the,
367f; decree of approval, 372f; cor-
rections and additions to the articles
concerning the novitiate, 378f;
Archbishop Gastaldi's request to
the Holy See for clarifications
about the approval of the Salesian
constitutions, 393; D.B.'s memo to
Cardinal Bizzarri on his difficulties
with Archbishop Gastaldi, 404-407;
D.B.'s insistent recommendations
about the observance of the, 416f,
471, 492ff, 542; observations from
the Holy See, 513
Salesian Congregation-Houses: clos-
ings, 93f, Turin, 83ff; Varazze, 94ff,
107; Rome, 99; Palombara, lOOf;
annual report, 103f; Marazzi, 106ff,
112; Alassio, 107; Alessandria, 108f;
Valsalice, 166-171; Genoa, l 72f;
Sampierdarena, 179; statistics:
1872, 157; 1873, 498; 1874, 575;
Pius IX's advice about opening new
houses, 532; requests for Salesian
schools, 552. See also Rome
Salesian Cooperators: origin of, 558f;
establishment as a separate body,
559-564; various names, 559, 564,
567, 568; misgivings on the part of
some Salesians, 560; revision of the
rules, 564-567
Salesian Directory: obituary of Sale-
sians, 284f
Salesian Sisters see Daughters of
Mary, Help of Christians
Salesians: D.B.'s assurance as regards
the eternal salvation of parents of,
296; exhortation to faithfulness to
their vocation, 296f; tips to directors
about their confreres, 451-455; con-
fidential exhortations .to two con-
freres, 457ff
Salesians, Lay see Coadjutors (Sale-
sian)
Salvation of Souls: the purpose of all
D.B.'s undertakings, 2, 5ff, 78f, 354f,
535; D.B.'s interest in the, 6, 198,
419ff; tips to Salesians for the s. of
their souls, 573
Sampierdarena: hardships of the Sale-
sian hospice, 179; visit by D.B., 180
Savio, Angelo: biographical footnote,
85
Scandal: D.B.'s abhorrence of, 31
Schools, Agricultural: offer to D.B.,
82ff
Sciandria, Joseph: presiding at the
first professions of the D. of M.H.
of C., 274f; letter from D.B., 285
Secolo, II: press reports on D.B. 's ac-
tivities in Rome, 230f
Serenity: of D.B. under all circum-
stances, 3, 333f, 510, 524, 535
Sermons: tips by D.B. on topics and
presentation, 431
Sick: D.B.'s solicitude for the, 426
Sin: D.B.'s efforts to· instill hatred of,
34; to be avoided at all costs, 255,
293,451
Sisters of St. Anne: assistance to the
D. of M.H. of C., 277-280
Sons of Mary: start, 570; objections to
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INDEX
the initiative, 570; Father Rua's de-
fense of the, 571
Spiritual Retreats see Retreats
Strenna: 1871, 80f; 1872, 141, 442f;
1873, 444f; 1874, 445f
Superiors: responsibility for the de-
cline of their religious communities,
471
T
Teachers: D.B.'s advice to Pius IX
about the certification of, 195; tips
to Salesian directors about t., 447f
Theater: regulations for the, 463
Thrift: D.B.'s circular on, 490ff
Turco, John: letter from D.B., 356f
u
Union with God: D.B.'s constant u., 4,
27
Unita Cattolica: article on Archbishop
Gastaldi's promotion, 205ff; article
on favorable turn of negotiations
about episcopal revenues, 226
Unity: D.B.'s circular on, 487-490
Ursula, St.-Company of see Com-
pany of St. Ursula
Ursulines, New: severance from the D.
of M.I., 257; first reaction to the
new constitutions of the D. of M.H.
of C., 268; decision to continue on
their own, 268
v
Vacations: D.B.'s tips for the summer
v., 438f, 514
Vacchina, Bernard: biographical foot-
note, 15; confession to D.B., 15f
Vade Mecum see Barberis, Julius
Valdocco Festive Oratory see Festive
Oratory (Valdocco)
Vallauri, Thomas: biographical foot-
note, 176; adverse reaction to D.B.'s
opinions, 176f
Valsalice: D.B.'s plans for an inter-
diocesan seminary, 166f; Archbish-
op Gastaldi's plans, 167ff; Superior
Chapter's rejection of pressure,
169f; formal acceptance of, 170
Varazze: D.B.'s dream about the Ora-
tory boys, 37-40; negotiations for a
Salesian school at, 94ff; D.B.'s
grave illness, 122-156
Vigliani, Paul: interviews with D.B.,
222ff, 231, 233, 236; letters to D.B.
concerning the exequatur, 222, 244f
Viglietti, Charles: biographical foot-
note, 15
Virtues, Moral: of D.B., 3f
Vocations (Priestly): predictions
about, 15, 19f; cultivated by D.B.
for the Turin archdiocese, 323. See
also Predictions (D.B.'s)
Vocations (Salesian): source of first
Salesian vocations, 77f; attracted by
D.B.'s kindness, 423-426
Vows: necessity of vows, 299; summa-
ry of a sermon by D.B. on the, 477-
482. See also Poverty, Chastity,
Obedience
w
Wills: D.B.'s last will and revisions,
573ff
Work: D.B.'s zeal in instilling love of,
173
Writings (D.B.'s): Church History,
116; issues of L.C. (1871), 116f
z
Zeal see Salvation of Souls